Inititave HQ. 12:45.
Adam had managed to tear through the subterranean complex in just a few hours, every soldier who once stood in his way was now long dispatched of, simple corpses to reanimate before the time came to strike at the slayers. Maggie his mother had commanded him to do as such, she had come from beyond the grave as some sort of spirit, a spirit which commanded the young frankensteins monster to indulge in his baser, much more violent urges.
There were only two soldiers who now stood in his way, Forrest and Riley, they had decided to split up and launch seperate assaults upon Adam, hoping one or the other would be able to find an escape or fell the foul beast. but mothers orders were clear... all soldiers of the Intitave must die to be ressurected at a later date, they must build an army to dispose of the slayers. the one and only threat to a being Maggie had called ' The First '. the original evil which lay in all the hearts of man.
"Adam, my son... we must dispose of these slayers soon, or our plans will never come to fruition" Maggie cackled maniacally as Adam pumped his hard, muscular fist into Rileys battered and bruised head, shattering the blonde mans skull, his head falling apart, his blood and brains splattered across the wall. and Forrest had seen everything, even Maggie, who for a moment stared straight into his eyes. atleast he could swear she did. the icy stare had sent a cold shiver down his spine, he was momentarily frozen in place.
But she continued speaking "we all have a purpose Adam, in life and in death... and your purpose is to prove your superiority and violate the sacred order of the slayers line". her voice was deeper and darker then he remembered, she obviously wasn't the Maggie he knew, this must have been an imposter. he could just feel that something really bad was off about her, he just couldn't place what exactly.
She was circling Adam now and he tried to swipe at Maggie, his large bloodstained hands just phasing through her, unscathed, untouched.
"Mother, my brother is dead... you are dead, is this my purpose. death?" Adam asked her in a cold, receptive tone, he was like a child being taught important things he desperatly wanted to know from his loving, understanding mother.
"Death is your gift, your purpose, your only reason for living" Maggie softly told him as the monster wiped shards of bone and an obscene amount of brain and blood from his veiny green hands.
And that was enough for Forrest to get the hell outta dodge and he forced his weary legs into a full out sprint, even though they felt weighted down by led from all the fighting, all the failures and near death moments they had just experienced and now he was the last one left.
"she's dead..." Forrest wheezed as he ran full sprint to the nearest exit he could find as he heard Adam scream behind him.
"Rileys dead... Maggies a damn ghost and commanding that monstrous freak, what the hell is going on?!" forrest screamed into a secret elevator which led him directly to Rileys dorm room. the room was immaculate compared to the carnage he had just left behind.
Forrest knew, he had to find Buffy, he had to warn her... tell her what happened, to everyone, to Riley... she was the slayer, the monster feared her.
Forrest grabbed as many supplies and weapons as he could find around the room and packed everything up carefully. grenade launchers, full automatic rifles, ceramic knives, everything he could pack up that might be useful later...
With three bulging rucksacks fit to bursting, Forrest ran out the room still in fatifues, in the mid day sun... Riley had told Forrest once where her watcher lived, that's where he would search first... dead Maggies enemy was the slayers problem right now. maybe they would be able to fix this mess. maybe they could help him avenge Riley.
~~*
Buffy awoke within Faiths warm embrace, happiness spread throughout her entire body, mixed with a tender and sore feeling from last nights very dramatic and deeply pleasurable aerobic activities. Faith was already wide awake Buffy had come to realise, her not so subtle breathing had given her away as Buffy wiggled a bit in her arms and Faith uncharacteristically kissed the top of her head.
Laying on Faiths busty chest was suprsingly comfortable Buffy came to realise as she brought her hands up to meet the gorgeous brunettes slayers slender hands that wrapped around buffys tired frame and rested just below her right shoulder. Faiths thumb had been gently rubbing the supple skin for god knows how long and Buffy decided she would place her hand over Faiths and do the same. she needed her to feel their connection. to know that last night wasnt a one time thing. plus if she was completly honest with herself, she was happy Faith hadn't left her a dear john note before dissapearing into the Dawn to god knows where to do god knows what.
"What time is it baby?" Buffy inquired with a heavy morning voice still filled with tons of good sleep.
"About 9'ish... but i dont really feel like opening my eyes, or getting up B" Faith chuckled low which sent pleasent vibratiion throughout Buffys face as she snuggled harder.
"Do ya think mums back from work yet?" Buffy softly asked Faith as she lifted her hand and softly, deeply kissed the back of her palm before it fell back down to her side.
"Why?, ya looking for an excuse to run away from me..." Faith nervously shot out from seemingly nowhere.
But buffy was accustomed to this kind if behavior by now, she wouldnt bite as she had in the past. 'Ya not ruining 'our' perfect morning with self pity' Buffy told herself as she began to try and perfect a resoonse she knew would stop Faith in her tracks and she had the perfect one.
"Why would i run away... when we could go for round 2, or 5... i dunno, the scoring systems all screwy" Buffy cheerily laughed as she turned to mount Faiths waist with a suprising amount of effort needed as she ached and groaned in all the right places. she began to run her hand up from Faiths slender stomach to her bulging supple breasts. massaging however she felt as the girl began to lightly grind and moan beneath her golden goddess.
"Ya mum hasn't got in from last night blondie, or if she did... she's obviously a ninja" Faith pleasently moaned as Buffy started to tease her nipples betwixt her finger tips. Faith tried to say no with her hands but let them fall back down to her sides as she surrendered to Buffys sexual ministrations with barely any resistance.
"What, did i wear out the big bad Faith, cant she handle a wittle blonde slayer" Buffy teased as she pulled harder on her nipples and slowly twisted them, which let out a deep gutteral moan from Faith. her breath was far from steady as she was eye fucking her partner as she couldn't believe her luck.
"Fuck... B, when did you become so dominant?" the dark slayer queried amidst her blonde bed partners teasing.
"I just grew up, kinda happens when the girl you love is comatose... cause of my... stupid..." buffy trailed off but still managed to continue her teasing touch.
""Yes... say it again..." Faith begged with a breathy moan and a sexy come hither look.
"What that i'm stupid?" Buffy looked at Faith confused as she stopped teasing her rock hard nipples much to the brunettes displeasure. the moment was sudden and still before Faith worked out that Buffy may have had a brain fart and mentally face palmed herself before responding.
"No, you jackass..." Faith bellowed with an annoyed sigh as she noticed Buffy had realised her mistake and continued her teasing touch.
"The other thing..." she barely whispered, averting her eyes as Buffy could swear she spied a deep red blush force its way upon her cheeks and her shy look began to moisten Buffys center.
The room was still dark and they were both still under the covers, said soft covers were still draped over Buffys shoulders as she stradled Faiths bare waist with her short muscular legs and firm plump ass. her hands had moved from Faiths breasts and she had began to cup Faiths cheek with her left hand and hold herself up with her right. she lightly brought the ruby lipped angels pale face to meet hers and still she couldn't look Buffy directly in the eye. this was an awkward and brand new situation for her and Buffy going full lesbian dominatrix didnt change how deeply Faith had always felt for her, or how deeply Faith despised herself in every conceivable way... maybe in this reality that will never change but Buffy was going to try, she had a promise to keep to her other Faith.
"I love you Faith Lehane... from the day we met, i've never loved anyone or anything nearly half as deep... i belong to you" she thought maybe she was saying too much way to fast but she couldn't hold her feeling inside anymore. she needed Faith next to her day by day and the months that had passed without her here had been a depressing, living hell that she could share with no one. no one except the girl who was finally underneath her on this warm and wondrous morning.
Faith was staring into Buffys eyes, now searching them, trying to find the lie she obviously believed it to be, but Buffy never pulled away from her seeking gaze and the dark slayers face seemed to go cold as she came to some sort of internal realisation.
"i'm dead... arent i?" Faith blurted out suddenly and rather unexpectedly, it took Buffy for a spin as she had no earthly idea in how to respond to that.
"This cant be real, you cant be in love with me... i'm still in that coma, i died... i must of..." Faith was panicking now almost flailing about wildly, Buffy could feel her strength rise from underneath her, trying to force Buffy off and run away from this romantic moment. she couldn't begin to deal with everything, it was obviously a little bit much all at once for the poor girl.
Buffy pinned Faith down by the shoulders and hated what she was about to do as a rough slap connected with Faiths cheek and buffy quickly returned the hand to hold Faith in place. her only option was to shock the panicking girl and pray she didn't punch her back even harder.
"This is real Faith, dont you ever question it... it might sound crazy and hell i'm gonna sound really fucking posessive but, you are fucking mine and i am yours" Buffy leant down as the stunned slayer was shocked into place and silence underneath this extremly assertive version of Buffy she had never seen before.
"Say it..." buffy commanded with a stern voice that seemed to erupt from her throat and send waves of commanding tones her way.
"I, I belong t'ya" Faith was almost wordless as she let it slip, Buffys commands had caused her to become more submissive and stoo her from trying to wiggle away underneath the blonde slayers slender body.
"And..." the blonde girl again commanded but this time in a softer voice which lingered there in the air.
"You belong to me... your my, girl" Faith grinned at the word, girl as she went along with this possesive Buffys commands, never wanting to admit she really liked this take action Buffy alot more than dramatic princess Buffy.
Buffy leaned in to entrap Faith in a long and deep kiss and then she suddenly panicked herself as she had heard the door handle click and a familiar voice burst through the door with her usual calming tone shooting through the room with what felt like a truck horn to the young slayer.
"Buffy, are you here!" the red headed girl screamed as Buffys lips were locked in place with Faiths and she was sat there on top of her lover, barely covered and with eyes that looked like a deer in the headlights, naked... confused and just a little bit afraid of what was ro come.
~~*
"Hey Red... maybe knock next time eh" Faith was the first to speak after Buffy disengaged her hungry lips from the Dark eyed girl, she noticed she had a nervous quiver in her voice and a face that must of been as red as a gibbons backside.
Buffy had darted under the covers in an attempt to hide herself from the red headed witches look of shock that was plastered upon her face. she was holding onto Faith as tightly as she could which for a slayer... was pretty damn tight and if Faith had been a normal girl, she surmised a broken rib or two would be the least of her worries in this type of awkward situation. but Faith, even though embarrased couldnt help but enjoy Buffys cute attempt to hide herself under the covers and hold tightly onto the dark slayer for dear life as her best friend was standing at the door mouth agape and mind blown.
It felt to Faith as if Buffy was scared to let go of her or she would incure Willows wrath or a fear that old red would take her away... Faith had to get a grip of the situation before Willow would panick and zap or burn her out of existence. she quipped to herself that it was probably gonna be hard to get the burnt in Faith from the bed, bjt she cringed internally at the thiught that Buffy would probably have to chuck the matress.
"You... what.. how? how long... Buffy on top, What?" she screamed the last what in obvious confusion as she continued to babble on and trip perfectly over her own words, 'it was kinda cute when she stuttered and stumbled over herself like that' Faith thought to herself silently. before shaking her head and remembering how powerful the witch before them actually was and decided she needed to get Red outta here before she chucked some spells around or something.
"Red, all great questions but how about ya get gone and go home... this is our buisness y'know, kinda hasn't got a damn thing to do with ya" Faith kept her voice clear and metered, she kept eye contact with the enraged Willow but that just made the witch even more defiant. she waved her hand and the blinds flew open, the nearly spent candles went out jnstantly and the windows were opened by a powerful yet invisible force. this made Faith realise that the room probably reeked of hot steamy slayer sex, which instilled a sense of pride in the usually cocky bruntte. a cockiness that was instantly banished when she noticed Willow move towards her with an uncharacteristic darkness in her eyes and a red glow forming in her hands.
"You must o'of tricked her, some spell, a c'charm maybe" Willow raised her arm violently to aim point blank at Faithsnhead, her palm was flat and glowing an autumnal sparkly red.
"Red, not that this is any of ya damn fuckin! buisness but she can do whatever the hell she wants... doesnt have'ta run it by the scoobs to make it legit" Faith snapped back as she felt Buffys hands move under the pillows searching frantically for something.
"Buffy would n'never... never sleep with you Faith, you're beneath her!" Willow was now within point blank range almost touching her nose directly, the spell was blinding Faith as she prepared her sore muscles to engage in a daring escape with Buffy in her arms... maybe a combat role off the bed, maybe Red had a reload time and she could run with a naked Buffy out of the room and out of the house. yeah two nude slayers streaking down Rovello drive, that won't cause a scene and get the neighbours talking.
But Buffy had already sprung up from beneath the covers and had a knife pinned to willows slender, pale throat her free hand gripping the witches red locks in a vice like grip. as she directed Willows body away from her lovers worn out post Buffy sex form.
"You promised me you'd be silent as a mouse willow... move your hand away from my girls head, NOW!" Buffy growled angrily as her grip began quickly tightening as Willows eyes went wide in shocked horror. she was experiencing a protective Buffy she had never truly seen before and it was all for a girl who betrayed them not so long ago.
Willow begged "Buffy please.. s'she... she's done something to you, just let me grab everyone and we can figure out what charm or magicks she's controlling you with". her voice was full of defiant fear as the magick jn her hand dissipated fully.
"Why... so you can try to set me up with some creepy secret agent again, so you can try and control every aspect of my damn life..." Buffy was seething now as she let her anger seep throughout her words to come.
"I've waited months for her to wake up and come home to me, what did you think i was depressed over Angel or something?" she spat "a guy who fucked me, lost his soul, tortured us all and then finally left me because of his stupid Gypsy curse, what a guy eh! how lucky am i?" Buffy asked rhetorically.
Willow winced in pain as Buffy, who was fully nude walked Willow to the otherside of the room and pinned her roughly against the wall, the long bowie knife resting on Willows nervous jugular. she pinned her there deliberatly so she couldn't get a clean shot at Faith with her destructive magic power.
"Buffy please, i'm just trying to h'help you..." willow pleaded, her eyes wide and her face was a nervous wreck as she couldn't believe how her best friend was reacting. what she was saying began to shock the young witch to her very core.
Faith had managed to manouver herself behind Buffy as Willow was beggjng for her to help her subdue Faith who she believed was obviously controlling her friend somehow.
"Help... help me, where were you when i needed you, do you even understand me, do you even know how long i waited for Faith to wake up..." Buffys voice cracked as a tear streamed down her right eye.
Faith was now to the left side of the two girls and her hand was moving towards Buffys large knife wielding wrist and was going to attempt to disarm the slayer slowly to save Reds life as Buffy was more pissed than she had ever seen her before, even when they had their little fight to the death.
"Do you know how happy i was when she finally woke up, no you didnt, you never took a damn interest did you... just throw men at Buffy, hey maybe she'll forget her problems if we can just get her dicked down!" Buffy screamed the last part in Willows face and the witch visible recoiled and shrunk as if she was trying to sink into the bedroom wall to get away from Buffys rage.
Faiths hand was now on her wrist and locked in, she began to pull the knife away from Willows neck slowly and with great effort as she strained with all her might to get the knife away from the scared witches exposed throat.
"C'mon B, let Red go, she's just confused and trying to help..." Faith spoke softly as Willow was still shrinking away with her frightened eyes shut tightly as she didn't wish to anger Buffy anymore than she already had.
Yeah Faith was angry at Willow for what she had, believed to be true... but Buffy had a temper, she knew that first hand. Willow didnt need to be on the receiving end of it. hell the scar on her belly was enough to prove how cruel and determined Buffy could really be when she got an idea in her pretty blonde head.
"Why can't you just let me live my life, i waited so long for her to come home... where were you... WHERE WERE YOU" Buffy emotional bow had broken. as she screamed into Willows face as she tried her hardest to keep the blade in place.
"When she had no one, when she was laying in that shit hole back room, clinging on for dear life" tears flowed freely now as she sobbed and screamed her words into Willows frightened countenance.
Faith almost had the knife away just enough for Willow to break free, yh she might lose some of those rosy locks to Buffys vice like grip and slayer strength, but it was better than her life and hair grew back anyway even if it did look a little uneven in the first few months.
"You were busy fucking oz, then tara? i was alone, depressed and waiting for something i thought was impossible... everytime i kissed her goodbye" she spoke with a voice laced with repressed emotions that were finally boiling forth from deep within herself.
"It broke my heart... i cried every fucking night..." Buffy admitted to herself as much as everyone else in the room, words she had never said out loud, not even when she was alone in her college dorm room.
Faith managed to pull the knife away and wrench Buffy into a struggling embrace, Red collapsed to the floor and somehow her hair and neck were still intact. but she was definetly worse for wear emotionally.
"Red... go do whatever spells ya hav'ta do, fuck ya can even fireball me when were alone next time ya get'da chance" Faith started as the witch tried her hardest to gain some form of composure as she clawed at her neck checking for blood.
"But you need to leave right now" Faith calmly told the battered witch as she looked up at both of the naked slayers. Buffy was balling her eyes out in Faiths embrace, she had never jnown how Buffy had really felt for so long and she was hurt and confused with what her best friend had screamed in her face.
"I, didn't know, I'm sorry..." Willow cried as she hastily brought herself to her feet and slowly wobbled herself out the bedroom door and down the stairs.
Both slayers were alone as they heard the front door open and close with a slam, Buffy was gripping onto Faith for dear life now. sobbing into the brunettes soft pale white chest.
Minutes passed slowly as Faith simply stood in place between the bed and the door with her perplexing Slayer sobbing into her weary arms as she let out all the emotion she had hidden deep within for so long out into a world which had done nothing but bend and break her at every turn, every opportunity and the walls of life seemed to close in around her as this strange experience began to subside within the next. Faith was too mentally tired anymore to question anything so she had decided to just enjoy whatever slight reprieve she could get, it was time to grow up and maybe if she was lucky, this Buffy would notice her, the one who had continuously fought by her side... because she loved her.
It doesnt matter anymore if she was dead, all that mattered were the moments they shared, none of this could be real anyway, so why shouldn't she be herself... her real self, the one Buffy got to see, not the ego but the girl. she could do it and she knew it, it was gonna be weird for her after putting up all those emotional barriers but it was worth it if it meant her final moments in this coma were spent authentically. and hell if this was real... maybe it was the second chance she had needed to be someone who could be loved and she wanted to be loved truly, deeply and this was the woman she wanted to love her crying innher arms as Faith realised they had both been broken beyond repair by their not so chosen proffession.
"Baby... it's fine, she's gone... it doesn't matter what she thinks anyway, Reds always had a hate on for me, you know that" Faith forced a throaty chuckle as she tried her hardest to soothe the sobbing girl and bring some semblance of normality back to their crazy morning.
Buffy looked up at her from Faiths long, strong arms. "I hate them, sometimes" Buffy whined as she searched Faiths eyes for anything, something to hold on to, to prove she wss right about her friends. the way they never took the time to understand her, the way she always had to fight alone. she knew Faith understood her, she was the only one who ever really had.
"There your friends B, it was long overdue but... you'll get over it and be roasting marshmellows over Red magic fire hands in no time" she tried her hardest to lighten the mood and it did have a slight affect on the emotional slayer buried in her arms.
Faith had always wanted to slap some sense into Willow, hell both of em knew it and now here she was, wrenching a feral naked buffy off her best friend and saving the day. it made Faith writhe with strange heroic ideas and longing emotions, last night she tried to get Buffy to end her life and now she was saving Buffy from making one of the biggest mistakes of her life. also saving Willow from her selrighteous bullshit and Buffy sudden enraged reaction was definetly something she had never expected to see or do.
"Till then, why dont we get you in the shower... wash off last nights wonderful activities and see if we can't magic up some breakfast before mama Joyce gets home" Faith finished off her idea with a sudden kiss planted on Buffys cute little nose. she stared deeply into Faiths deep dark eyes and held her gaze for a lingering moment.
Buffy kissed Faiths nose back "I'm so happy you've come home... but you've still lost your iron maiden shirt" Buffy joked as she began wiping tears from her eyes.
Faith let Buffy gently go as she moved towards The bedroom door, "my maiden T looks better on you anyway" Faith told Buffy as she knew there was no chance she'd give it back anyway.
"Metal head, rock chick buffy kinda get my motor runnin anyway" she admitted to the golden haired beauty who was trying her best to compose herself as she came to terms with how protective of Faith she had become. it just be so confusing for the recently awoken slayer who was being continuosky bombarded with Buffys unfiltered emotions.
Faith sensually winked back at Buffy before motioning to the bathroom as she was still trying her hardest to lighten the dour mood that now hung over both their heads.
"Now lets get soaped up B, i wanna play out some long held onto fantasies and... well i kinda need you soaped up for all of em" Faith admitted as she was still trying to lighten the mood of Buffys over reactiion to Willow trying to kill Faith. well maybe not an over reaction but definetly a string one Faith had figured as she had to secretly admit she enjoyed being protected somfiercly by the blonde bombshell.
"Thank god for our slayer stamina" buffy giggled as she was now fully cried out for the moment.
She was now in front of Faith, her ass freshly slapped. Buffy jumped a bit as she turned round to meet Faith with a confused look on her face and a red shade appearing to deepky embed itself on her tanned face.
"I should be thanking the big man in the sky my'self baby, who knew i was gonna get a shower Buffy to play with"
Buffy giggled, "yh sorry, i was on back order" and she gave her a chaste kiss.
They both collected everything they needed and playfully ran into the bathroom, trying to live with the drama of the past few days before washing what they could away before greeting this brand new tommorow.
~~*
Forrest burst forth into Giles apartment, throwing his dufflebags full of equipment on the floor. this caused Xander to dangerously spill a cup of tea he had made for himself all over the floor. "where's the Slayers, we've got big problems" bellowed Forrest who just scared the absoloute hell out of everyone in the room.
This caliope had alerted Giles who was brandishing a rather large kitchen knife as he himself had just returned from the kitchen with Anya in tow, she was carrying a box of donuts and he two coffees in one hand which she was forced to put on the window side before he responded to this commandos querying. he kept his knife up at ready incase the Soldier was some crazed colleauge of Rileys, he never trusted the Inititiave anyway so it was better to let his instinct take center stage and just go with the flow.
"Buffy and Faith are most likely resting from their battle with Kurenos" Giles dryly proclaimed as he told the truth but gave no more information than that at this current junction.
"Then bring them here, that frankenstein monster attacked us... i'm the only survivor" Forrest said matter of factly while he closed the front door and checked to make sure he wasn't followed by the green abomination his boss had been coddling.
Xander chimed in nervously "only, as in not even Riley made it". his voice got low and sad as he let the words slip out of his mouth.
The whole room fell deathly silent as they took in the new information and tried to process it quickly
"only" whispered Forrest as he began to unpack all of his military gear and sort everything out so he could best plan for whatever came next before he could receive new commands from his superiors. this new information had shocked the group as they looked around at eachother as they absorbed the new status qou the best they could.
"But... Riley was strong" chimed in Anya. "how did he..." the room temperature felt like it just plummeted to below ice cold.
Forrest unpacked a few MRE's and laid out everything that had happened to him and Riley in the last 24 hours.
~~*
Joyce had returned home just before mid day, a headache forming as she went over some details from the nights long and boring corrections. how many ways could her fellow gallery workers screw up a shipping manifesto is beyond belief. she could feel another stress headache coming on and she new that aspirin might not be enough this time, she would need atleast two or three glasses of wine just to get some decent sleep.
She chuckled dryly as she realised you could never find the help these days and she opened the front door to the sound of running water and the sound of two girls giggling coming from upstairs.
Joyce began up the stairs and suddenly ths giggling stopped and all she could hear was the running water... and maybe some hushed tones and whispers although her headache that was forming didnt help her to sort out that information currently as she was sure she knew exactly what was going on now anyway.
Joyce sternly knocked on the door to the bathroom, noticing she heard one of the slayers behind it almost jumping out of their skin, it was probably Buffy she mused to herself as she waited patiently for an answer.
She was positive she could hear hushed tones and mumbling from behind the door, and then the little pattering of footsteps, too many to be just Buffy alone, she was certain Faith was in there bathroom with her.
After a moment the door cracked open slightly to reveal a cute little Buffy head, wet from the shower. and the nervousness she felt was slapped across her face as her eyes couldn't even meet her mothers without instantly darting in some other directiion.
"Hey mum, how was work? buffy asked nervously trying to cut the silence with a quickened word knife.
Joyce gave Buffy her best suspicous mum look, the one she always used whenever she knew Buffy was trying to hide something from her.
"Terribly boring, do you and Faith fancy some food" Joyce sighed as she couldn't pretend to be angry mom anymore, her headache was running rampant through her brain right now and it was in dire need of some heavy dose painkillers.
"Umm yh, food would be great... we're starving, slaying went on a bit longer than usual" Buffy squeaked
Joyce was no longer suspicous in the slightest, she knew exactly what was going on.
"I'll get right to it" she turned to leave but stopped in her tracks just as buffy was about to close the door and escape this very awkward situation.
"Should i bring you and Faith some fresh clothes" Joyce said matter of factly since she knew for a fact her daughter was bathing with the dark eyed Slayer.
This turned buffy a violent shade of red as she was now fully aware her mother knew her and Faith were showering together.
"Faith..." Buffy sputtered out nervously whilst trying her hardest to play it cool and failing miserably as she stood underneath her mothers oppresive gaze.
the air in the girl was completly sucked out of the young blonde as she began to show signs of panic on her face, Joyce realised poker was most definetly not her daughters game.
Joyce began tappin her foot in mock annoyance as Buffy couldn't form a single understandable word amidst her manic panic "Faith! honey... should i bring you some fresh clothes too?".
A silence presided over the moment until Faith finally spoke up from behind the door and revealed herself to definetly be exactly where she thought she was.
"Yh, that'd be great Mrs S" Faith croaked as Buffys head dropped in defeat.
Joyce began to quickly walk over to Buffys room, as Buffy hurried to close the bathroom door and retreat in shame and horror as her mother had easily deduced inna matter of moments that both slayers were alot closer than she had originally thought.
'Well, well' Joyce thought... 'they have definetly kissed and made up' she lightly giggled and walkes into her daughters messy bedroom.
This was quite the development, Joyce considered to herself as she spied the absoloute state of buffys room and realised she would have to try and set some rules and boundaries if Faith was going to be staying here, considering she was bathing right now with her only daughter.
'Whatever will i do with those two' Joyce privately wondered to herself as she sorted through Buffys clothes and Faiths which Buffy had stored here for the young dark haired beauty.
'They're messy and hopless' she realised as she had trouble finding anything clean or decent for them to wear.
~~*
Forrest had began sorting every piece of military equipment he brought with him in terms of purpose and usefulness, turning Giles apartment into an armory rather than the bachelor pad it once was. as the large soldier was checking bullet calibers and rifles inbetween an inventory of MRE ready meals and grenades of all size and uses.
Willow had arrived about twenty minutes ago with a unplaceable look plastered across her face that Xander and Giles had never seen before, it was like a mix between anger and worry but she had repelled the boys questioning and tried to make herself useful by helping out Forrest.
Xander had filled Willow in on everything that had happened in the past 24 hours which hadn't helped to take Willows mind off of whatever was bothering her in the slightest and she was remaining extremely tight lipped about it.
At any moment Xander thought she would trip into a thousand yard stare or a vietnam flashback or something with how somber she was being. but thankfully the ever blunt and literal Anyanka, hisnex vengeance demon girlfriend was having none of it and just blurted out what she was thinking as usual.
"Willow, you look absoloutly terrible" Anya bluntly blurted out as she handed willow a cup of peppermint tea in an attempt to help her calm down and maybe find out whatever happened to make her act the way she was.
No one had even seen the ex vengeance demon out the kettle on let alone bring out the cup of piping hot tea with her and thankfully it managed to work as the witch burnt her lip a bit on the piping hot peppermint that she realised quickky needed to cool down a little.
Willow sighed... "yh... me and Buffy kinda had a fallin out" as she placed the cup down on the coffe table ontop of a randomly placed coaster which she was sure may have been cracked a little bit but shencoukdn't be bothered to do anything about it.
Xander was standing still with his mouth agasp as Forrest handed him a 1911 and some spare mags, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. as he practised perfect trigger discipline and inspected the weapon after a short bout of shock had overtook him.
"What's goin down in wicca town wills, it's not like you two ta have a punch up" Xander joked "hopefully you got some good licks in". he mock boxed the air in an attempt to cheer her up and even fell over himsellf a bit on purpose to lighten the mood.
Willow looked panicked so she decided to just lie and keep it to herself... herself and Tara obviously but she wouldn't say anything as she didn't really know her friends that well anyway, not that she didn't want her too it was just difficult explaining to everyone she was in a secret lesbian relationship, especially after Oz...
"There was no punchies, just an overstepping of boundaries... on my side" Willow nervously chided herself with a soft slap in the cheeks.
She had even cast several spells after she had left Buffys, just to make a hundred percent sure Faith hadn't really magicked her way into Buffs bed. Tara hadn't taken the news well either... saying her girlfriend shouldn't be prying into her bestfriends love life. and Willow of course knew she was one hundred percent right... even after she convinced her shy girlfriend to help her anyway, just to make sure nothing magical was happening and it wasnt... nothing was amiss... Buffy really did posess an unbelievable amount of love for Faith. she even did a far off Aura check and Buffys Aura burned passionatly for the dark slayer and Faiths aura may have been troubled but was accepting and receptive to Buffys vibrant emerald energy.
maybe when they were both around she could perform a secret up close aura check and see exactly how Their Auras interact with eachother, Tara could help her as Aura reading was her current speciality. she had to be sure, as her magicks were new and not always a hundred percent perfectly cast as her nervousness always seemed to overpower her focus. but she had to stop thinking about that right now, that was future Willows problem.
Months of Riley being rejected only for him to now be dead inside the Inititave hideout, killed by his bosses frankenweenie of a monster. the news of The First evil making its first move against them was also extremly worrying willow considered. especially as they hadnt much to fight an incorporeal evil present from the begining of time, what could they do... put up a sign 'first evils not welcome, incorporeal beings will be shot again and again'. yeah, like that would work, where would you even find such a sign anyway.
And then there was Buffy laying on some hard truths back at her house, she was right aswell. Willow knew she could jump to conclusions every now and then. but how would she supposed to act, learning that her best friend had been pining over her darker half for so long, kissing her goodbye... every night she was trapped in that coma, a coma Buffy inflicted upon her. Buffy even pinned her up against the wall with a knife to protect Faith from her evisceration spell, she had thankfully stopped Willow from blasting Faiths head off with a rather nasty fireball spell...
And Faith had held Buffy back, evil, dark slayer, killer of men... Faith, saved Willow from her best friends righteous rage. she could see it in Buffys eyes, she was a hundred and ten percent done with everything Willow had been putting down recently. she had no idea they had fallen so far apart over the last couple of months, Willow was considering maybe it was the college workload mixed with the whole fighting evil forces and shacking up with Tara. she never stayed in her and Buffys dorm room anymore, of course they had fallen apart quite a bit, but Willow had never once thought she was so out of the loop she hadn't noticed how really depressed Buffy was. they were both nude also, she had seen everything they both posessed physically and if she was honest with herself, pangs of lust and jealous feelings were the least of her issues right now.
"Dont worry will, ya'll be hugging and makin up in no time" Xander offered her a soft smile trying to bring the mood up for the little moody Wiccan but it obviously wasn't happening anytime soon and he knew for a fact he had to just let it slide, he didn't wanna annoy a currently unhappy Willow.
Forrest handed an uzi to Willow which she eyed cautiously but accepted it even though she had no idea what to really do with it or why she would need it at all considering she could wipe this town off the map with enough prep time. not that she ever would Willow told herself not so convincingly.
Anya had grabbed herself a large barreled grenade launcher and also managed to pocket a demon taser for herself when Forrest wasn't looking. Xander and Giles had seen her do it but she gave them a look that seemed to say 'C'mon guys... we live in Sunnyhell' and they both seemed to accept it and keep their respective mouths closed.
"We need to call Buffy and tell her whats going on!" chimed in Forrest as he was obviously still dealing with the trauma of what he had seen not but an hour or two ago and the fear and angst was blatantly laced throughout his booming voice. it was not commanding but it did have a little bit of authority to it.
Giles decided to make the call before Forrest decided to pop a gasket and turn one of his many weapons on them, it's not like they knew the guy or could even trust him, but he was handing out weapons so, probably better to go along with him then not.
As he rang Anya decided to sit down next to willow on the sofa, eliciting an awkward moment between the two as she began to seem almost nervous as she began searching for the words she needed to ask the redhead some unknown question she probably wasn't ready to answer. considering she was still trying to overcome the mornings events.
Willow broke the silence "Can i... help you Anyanka?..." she leaned back a little as Anya scooched closer and was creepily closer than she was used to from anyone let alone Xanders weird ex demony girlfriend.
Anya beamed at the use of her demon name "Willow, is it true that Faith flirts with everyone?" she inquired earnestly as she searched Willows face for an answer.
"Why, do you ask?" Willow questioned suspicously as she scooched back up and was now at the end of the sofa and Anya stayed in place sensing the witches uncomfortable feelings towards the blonde.
Anya held out her finger to her lips, thinking how she could properly word her question as to obtain the most literal and logical answer, the most desirable answer she could pry from Willows Faith based experiences. although the witch interrupted her thoughts with what seemed to be good news.
"You dont have to worry about her stealing Xander ya'know... i thinks she likes girls more anyway.
Xander now chimed in with his own two cents, "yh she was always flirtin with Buffy, it was basically softcore at some points" Willow suddenly winced at Xanders description of Faith flirtin with her best friend. she still had no idea how to act after what she had just seen and been through with both of the warrior women.
"Softcore... oh no... what if she flirts with me as well, i'm also delightfully short and Buffy blonde?" which Xander internalised as 'yh, anya kind of is exactly what she said' and he scoffed at the dirty thoughts he was now having and had to calm himself down but Anya was not helping.
"What if she uses her flirty tricks on me, she is very, very attractive... i mean it's almost a miracle Buffy hasn't fallen for her thick red lips and deep dark eyes" Anya plainly said with a matter of fact tone to her upbeat voice which made everyone question if Anya was just secretly Bi or just a very experienced demon who didn't see or understand the whole current societal ideal of you're either this or that and nothing inbetween. but then again Anyas experience of over a thousand plus years would give her a vastly different perception concerning sexualities and how people were then compared to today.
Willow cringed internally, hiding the truth on her tired face, she was too tired anymore to even care about any of this, she needed a nap preferably in her dorm room with an extra snuggly Wiccan she was currently missing very much.
Xander gave Anya his patented 'what the hell' look and she instantly reacted in annoyance with a shrill tone he really didn't enjoy hearing.
"Oh c'mon Xander, dont tell me you haven't questioned it atleast once or twice... i mean she turned the old coffee table into a pile of splinters with Rileys face, if he was a vampire she would of racked up another in a long line of successful slays" Forrest stared blankly at Anyas words as he began to chow down on a jerky stick he just unwrapped from one of his many ration boxes.
"What does buffy going all professional wrestler with Riley have to do with Faith playing for both teams?" Xander said with an aire of innocent confusion as if he really had not once considered Buffys current behavior since Faith had been in her comatose state. she was thankful he was strong and handsome, even if he was a little dense when it came to his Buffy obsession, she could really blind him with anything as long as it was Slayer related Anya had realised in a somewhat annoying way as her guy was just staring at her dumbfounded.
Anya continually stared into her darling Xanders perplexed face and decided not to let up and fly on with her unfiltered thoughts.
"She's been quiet for months, barely speaks to any of us unless shes slaying some big bad and she needs our help..." she began to speak with her hands and everyone was now listening to her as if she was the only person in the room.
"And it all started after Faith fell into her coma..." Anya turned to Willow as if she should have seen this months ago and not this morning as she had.
"You tried to set her up with soldier boy and she ducked him at every turn, she was as uninterested in him as Xander is in Bondage play". she blurted out, really with no god damned filter and Xanders face turned paler than usual before exploding in a rainbow of pinky red hues.
"What, i'm not a big fan of whips and chain so sue me... plus... leather chaffes" he was now staring down at Giles floor trying to avoid peoples perceived gazes.
Anya ignored Xanders sudden defence of himself and she continued speaking "The thing is, the only time i've seen any light behind her pretty green eyes was yesterday, when Faith was standing over there" Anya pointed to where Faith was only yesterday before sinking back in to the sofa and making it seem to everyone else like they were either blind or very bad friends.
"I'm just saying, i was a vengeance demon for a long time before i became human once again... i'm pretty good at catching these things". she grinned with a degree of pride, knowing for a fact she was the best at her previous job.
Willow decided to pipe up as her brow had started to become permamently furrowed listening to Anyas observations.
"So what if she's gay, that isn't the problem... the problem is who you think she's into" Willow was still not ready to fully accept what she had seen, it was all too much. she had no idea if she could accept it anyway, let alone put up with the idea of her best friend dating a known soul having killer. But Willow knew her friends reactions would be useful in gauging how they might possibly accept or deny Tara and their relationship
Giles had quickly called the Summers household and only soent moments on the phone before putting it back down and joining the group as they were now arguing rather passionatly with eachother in a very controlled way.
"Anya, honey... you dont have the power left over to slaughter man and vampire alike and out stamina the toughest men without breaking a sweat" Xander told his girfriend as he stood a few feet away from her and was trying to make his point and Anya was having none of it.
"Which is a shame, but I think if Buffy really wished to give her a chance, why dont we all try... try and bring her into the fold cause lets face it she's alot more useful with us then against us and i aint trying to box a killer Slayer " Anyas eyes were piercing as she had cut through Xanders argument with very little effort as he knew she was right.
This silenced everyone. even Giles was stunned at Anyas words.
"Two well trained slayers is way better than one and i'd feel alot safer if we had someone as strong and beautiful as Buffy running around fighting the good fight cause screw us having to fight that messed up Frankenstein monster without those two in our corner" Anya stated it as if it was completly obvious and what everyone should be thinking, she had no idea why they wern't all on the same page as her.
Giles spoke up as he cleaned his glasses and placed them back on the bridge of his nose "Oh, Forrest... i just caught hold of both slayers within the midst of a mid day lunch, she made it clear we would see her coming down the street in an hour or so". Forrest acknowledge the watchers answerr before he decided to field strip his pistol on Giles brand new coffee table and Willow grabbed her peppermint tea so he had enough space to work.
Xander watched Giles return to his research books before turning back to Anyas line of conversation. trying to get a grio on what his girl was saying to them, he just couldn't seem to accept the idea and it was starting to agitate the ex demon.
"Anya, are you sure Buffy wasn't just depressed over Angel leaving..." he was just chucking ideas at the wall now and it was obvious he wanted any of them non Faith related to stick.
Anya frowned as she shimmy'd in place to get comfortable. "No i asked her once before we came over here to Giles's and she seemed to have completly forgotten he ever existed" Anya started before dropping another hard earned truth bomb.
"I also followed her to the hospital once and saw her holding Faiths hand and reading her books, not all of em comic as you would expect, one i'm sure was an Anne Rice novel...". Anya remembered how thanful she was Buffy had not seen her or she would of had a hard time explaining to the slayer why she was following her in the first place, that would of sucked.
Xander couldnt believe what he was hearing and was now becoming very confused why he had not seen the signs the same way Anya had.
"Anya... what the hell, why didnt you say anything" Xanders voice got higher as he tried to keep his emotions bottled and he was failing terribly.
She blankly stared at Xander as if he was the dumbest thing she had ever met but she didn't mean to make him fell like that but it was unavoidable at this point.
"I thought everybody knew... i mean she visited Faith in the hospital every night... she obviously cares for the pretty girl, who just happens to be a super powered killer". Anyas arms were up in the air at this point as she decided these idiots were actually pretty bad friends to Buffy.
The group fell into a deep comtemplating silence for the moment as there discussion eventually carried on and become a whole lot more heated, Forrest had no idea what was going onnso he just continued on with his inventory and prep work.
~~*
"So B... ya wanna talk about it?..." Faith sofly inquired with a cheeky grin on her lips.
"Nope" Buffy pouted and moaned playfully as she enjoyed the suns rays licking her bronzed skin.
Faith and Buffy were walking towards Giles apartment after what could only be described as the most awkward lunch the brunette had ever been apart of. Joyce was gliding around the kitchen cooking up a storm and her cooking was great... but damn did she put Buffy through the wringer and even Faith wasn't safe from her horribly blunt and ridiculously direct methods of questioning. especially after Buffys sudden acts of dominance over both Faith and Willow in the last 24 hours... it was kinda nice to see her get put in her place like a child who just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
"You buckled hard blondie... Joyce really cut you down to size, and to be honest... you look really cute when you're being told off by ya mummy" Faith giggled and then groaned as Buffy punched her in the shoulder with very little power behind it.
As Faith hastily rubbed her shoulder and playfully begged for Buffys mercy, Buffy huffed and puffed, she seemed like she was about to burst into some childish tantrum but held onto her cool as to not annoy Faith too much as all this girlfriend stuff was pretty much new to the original Faith.
"My mother just told me she also experimented in college Faith... i so didn't need that image poppin into my head..." Buffy was now shaking her head in disgust and hastily trying to walk the images out of her mind and scrub em clean with a very frenzied pace.
Faith had to speed up her walking pace as she wrapped an arm around Buffys neck and kissed her cheek lovingly as she was trying her hardest to stifle back a giggle at how childish Buffy was being right now, it was like how she was the first couple of weeks they met eachother. she hated to admit it but she had really missed this Buffy who now came with the added bonus of being a suprisingly open and dominant lesbian.
"Seems to me like Mrs S is kinda ok with us... going all horizontal" Faith chuckled. Buffy stopped in her tracks and it almost caused Faith to fall over in front of her if Buffy hadn't reacted and grabbed her hand and pulled her into a sudden embrace and continued moaning on.
"But... i thought she was gonna be all mad and hand wavy, not, oh you were tongue fucking this tall glass of delicous cola in my bathroom... nah that's great... so Faith can sleep in your bed now then" Buffy sighed as she went in for a kiss and Faith stopped her with a well placed finger on her supple pink lips.
"Are ya mad that mummy dearest just completly accepted it, without a fight?" Faith smirked with a knowing look.
Buffy used her right hand to remove Faiths finger and kiss the dark eyed girl who was annoyingly taller than her and she had to tippy toe to get enough purchase on her deep red lips, she tasted like cherries and smelt like passion fruit, just as she had remembered.
"Yh, kinda... i had a speech and everything'. she whined into Faith inviting mouth before disengaging and pouting at her with her beautiful puppy dog eyes melting Faiths hardened heart just a little.
"I was gonna scream my love for you from the rooftops, it was gonna be all romantic" her famously cute pout was employed in an attempt to convince Faith she was just a poor little misunderstood baby who needed her understanding in this difficult time. but the dark slayer was having none of it.
Faith instantly shattered that illusion in record time as she blurted out the obvious truth of the matter "We screamed the roof down last night B, we're lucky there was a storm cause, ya neightbours woulda been pissed and probably knocking the door down in an attempt to shut us up"
"Y'know, especially when you rode my face..." Faith blushed as she remembered the moans and groans her tongue had caused Buffy to experience as she had hungrily devoured the blonde slayers honey pot with an eager enthusiasm she had never had before when screwing, although this wasn't just some cheap lay to get rid of the itchies, no... it was making love and that scared Faith a little bjt.
Buffy gave her a sly grin as she reminisced on their new and explosive first time.
"Guess this girls gonna need ya to gag her... ya know, its better to be proactive about noise pollution". she joked as she gave Faith her 'come and get it' eyes and she was temoted to do just that if it wasn't for all the good aches they were both still experiencing, and the fact they were literally outside and on the way to her watchers flat. that definetly put a dampner on all things sexual with Buffy Summers, but the want was still very much there.
Faith ran her hand slowly along Buffys face and softly carresed her left ear, tenderly placing her long blonde hair behind it. "dont laught at me when i say this but i wanna make something very clear to my blonde bombshell of a girlfirend" Faith started to become all serious and naturally that began to worry Buffy quite a bit.
Buffy tilted her head a little to the side, worriedly waiting on Faith to spit it out as she struggled to find the right words to get her point across.
"I'm not perfect B... i got problems and hell i've killed people and i dont always feel bad about it either... just kinda... numb" she admitted to an attentive golden haired girl she was holding in her long, strong arms.
"But i adore ya... i really, truly, deeply love you Buffy" Faith struggled to get it all out, her hands were even shaking a bit, she couldn't stop shaking as she admitted how she felt and it scared her how easy it was becoming to just tell Buffy her inner most thoughts. even if she still believed there was a chance she was still in her coma, it was still difficult for her to be completly honest all the time.
Buffy brought her hand to meet Faiths, her cheek warming, her heart racing and yet she continued on, she had to get it all out in the open. she wished to be honest with this new and unknown version of Buffy she had never experienced before.
"I'm scared B, that you're gonna wake up, snap outta it and realise i aint worth the shit it takes to cover a farmers field" both of the slayers were closer now, basking in the 3 o clock California sun. the trees were under a light breeze and the street they were standing on was completly empty of any person. only the birds were singjng as the sun was blissfully shining down upon them.
"the only thing you should be scared of is me, kissing you to death, being unbearably clingy and most definetly jealous of anyone who check you out for to long" Buffy chuckled cutely before she stiffened up and admitted "i'm kinda, a little possesive..."
Faith lightly kissed Buffys foread. "good, i can deal with cute, clingy and possesive" Faith beamed an extremly flattering smile.
Buffys eyes were shining in the afternoon sun. "I love it when you smile like that baby...". she forgot to think again before she spoke and mentally slapped herself as she realised Faith probably needed to take this stuff slower than she was allowing her to.
"Ya kinda bring it out in me... man, we're really gay B" Faith mocked in jest as a crimson blush covered her cheeks and she realised they were both being openly gay in the middle of the street and no one was really accepting of that kind of behavior where she came from.
Buffy closed the distance between their lips with a dreamy look that made Faith flashback to last night, the mansion where they shared their first kiss in this reality and this morning and then twice again in the shower before they were busted by Buffys mother with her extremly underappreciated detective skills.
"I think i can live with that F, as long as it's only you" Buffy kissed her fellow slayer with a torrid, hungry passion as a loud screeching was heard as a man with a brand new and shiny sports bike suddenly came to a screeching halt, screaming "get a room ya dumb lesbos!" with all the brazen idiocy that only a homophobe could posess and dish out with very minimal effort.
Which angered Faith as she searched for something to chuck at the bike riding man who was preparing to ride away as Faith found a decent sized rock to launch hard and fast at the bastards head. "shove it up ya arse, ya bike riding cunt!" and she let the rock fly but regrettably missed as the man sped off chuckling to himself. the rock itself had smashed against a dark brick wall on the other side of the street and exploded upon impact, leaving a sizeable dent in the wall which made her realise it was probably better that she missed of the cops would be scraping dead bike cunt off the pavement.
"Wow..." Buffy croacked in an annoyed tone of voice "what a dick...". she juet stood in place dumbfounded as she realised Faith had dented the wall across the street considerably and needed to walk on fast before anyone noticed. maybe they should walk home a different way too she thought to herself.
Faith realised they were probably just a few minutes away from Giles front door and decided she needed to try and let her rage dissapate before dealing with the scoobs and their usual self righteous vitreal they all had for her. she had no idea what Willow had even said to the rest of em, maybe they were already deep into the Buffy/Faith lore as deep as a nerd was into warhammer or DnD. probably planning to kill her or something for daring to touch their precious little princess.
"Man... these dumb lesbos should really get a move on, dont'ya think Baby" Faith smirked a look that made Buffy just melt into her arms as they continued on towards Giles bachelor pad and try to get over the idiocy and hate they had just witnessed with their own four eyes..
Buffy had decided to ignore the stupid bike rider and enjoy her evening stroll with Faith, life would probably get a lot worse after they got to their destination as she had noted Giles had an unsteady voice over the phone. 'god, its gonna be annoying dealing with the Willow fallout if she had blabbed to everyone, whatever was going on with the Inititave, Riley... or even the council of Watchers. but hey, at least Kurenos was gone and his army of zombies along with him' Buffy thought happily to herself.that's one evil and annoying thing she dould cross off her to-do list.
'How bad could it really be anyway...' she joked with herself as they turned a corner and would soon be at the door and probably not ready to face whatever was coming.