Chapter Eight 

The sunshine streaming in through the conference room windows wasn't having its usual effect on the small woman sitting at the huge table; in fact she wasn't even noticing it. She was staring off into space, a large stack of papers in front of her demanding her attention, but Buffy wasn't remotely in the mood to let herself be dictated to by anyone or anything.

She was still a little sore from the night before and her arm was still zinging her fairly regularly, but her physical aches and pains weren't the source of her discomfort, at least not her major discomfort. That was all coming from her head and her heart, and she could feel the tears trying to build inside her again. She struggled mightily to push them away, but a few trickled down her face despite her efforts.

Faith was leaving her in just four days and Buffy couldn't remember ever feeling pain like this before. The most obvious comparison was when Angel had left, but this was way worse. Maybe it was because she was older and the stakes were higher now, but she also knew that she loved Faith more than she'd ever loved Angel. Angel had always been a fantasy, but Faith was real life, the real life Buffy wanted.

This pain was deeper, everything that she was hurt, and it brought up all of the other times she'd been deserted by someone she loved. Her father, Angel, Riley, her mother, Giles, Spike, and now Faith…again.

Buffy had spent a lifetime trying to figure out why it always happened and she had managed to convince herself it was all due to some very strange and extenuating circumstances, and nothing else. Her father was a bad father, Angel was cursed, Riley was the wrong man, her mother was unlucky, Giles was mistaken, Spike had a destiny to fulfill, and Faith…well, Faith had been different.

She had always stood out from the pack and she still did, that was what made nothing about the current situation right or even remotely fair. And although Buffy was more than old enough to know that life was hardly ever fair, she was tired of always having it proven to her with the people she loved.

Faith's newest betrayal felt like exactly what it was: a new kind of betrayal, the biggest one ever, and Buffy saw her bright and shiny future receding into the distance, taunting her and enjoying her suffering as it left her standing in the dust. Her life, the joy and peace she had finally found, was being stripped away from her as if none of it had ever existed, and Buffy didn't understand why.

How was it possible that Faith had merely used her? She just couldn't wrap her mind around that idea because nothing had felt that way. Not one moment stood out as false to her, and yet the evidence was staring her right in the face and pushing her to the conclusion that it had all been a charade, a chance to…Well, a chance to what exactly?

Get in her pants? Make her admit to feelings that were better left unsaid? Force her to her knees pleading just so that Faith could tell her "no"? Maybe Buffy could have believed those reasons years ago, but she couldn't believe them now. Not after what they'd shared, not when she thought of the passion in those dark eyes, and not when she let herself feel those hands on her body.

Buffy was a woman who knew what love felt like, she'd been lucky enough to feel it more than once, and she had never felt a love as intense as the one Faith had branded her with. She had burned it into Buffy's skin with every touch, every look, every word; Faith had burned it in with everything she had.

No matter how Buffy looked at it, the whole situation was wrong. Faith had known for a month that she was leaving…a month…and she had chosen to remain silent. She had busied herself with making Buffy fall deeper and deeper in love with her, had whispered the sweetest words Buffy had ever heard, and the dirtiest ones too, and had offered everything Buffy had ever wanted, only to pull it away after dangling it so close.

Months ago Buffy might have believed the conclusion that the evidence was trying to lead her to, but she knew better now. Faith was not that cruel; she wouldn't do that to anyone, least of all to Buffy. That wasn't who Faith was anymore, she'd proven that time after time since she'd been back, and despite everything pushing Buffy in the other direction, she had her heels dug in and was refusing to let herself go there.

She had known from the start that letting herself get involved with Faith was going to be a challenging proposition. Only a fool would think it could be otherwise, and Buffy had never been a fool. But this was past what she'd expected, and it pushed all the wrong buttons in her and hurt her where she was the most vulnerable.

No matter how hard she tried, all Buffy could see was that she was being left……again. Everyone left her sooner or later, there was obviously something about her that caused the people she loved to run from her. She gave them her love, she gave them herself, and sooner or later they all got their fill and ran for the hills.

She had thought Faith was different, that it was true love, the kind that would last forever because it had already lasted through all of the heartache they'd caused each other over the years. But no, the joke was on Buffy because here was Faith running just like everyone else always did, and Buffy couldn't stand it.

Toss in the fact that Giles was leaving again as well and…

"Ah, Buffy. There you are."

She never even glanced up, her face not sad or angry, just blank as if she were empty inside. He continued:

"Might I have a word?"

"Have several, just not with me."

She gathered up her papers as she prepared to leave, but Giles' voice stopped her:

"Surely I mean more to you than that."

She stopped, finally meeting his eyes:

"What do you want, Giles? I already gave you my blessing, so just go. Best of luck."

"What I want is to talk this situation through with you."

She tossed the papers down furiously, not even noticing that several fell to the floor.

"So then, talk. Hey, why don't you give me the speech you gave me a couple of months ago, you know the one where you apologize for cutting me out of your life? Tell me again how you want us to be closer, how important it is for you to regain my trust."

"I understand your anger, Buffy, but I'm afraid you're not looking at the big picture."

"Maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm only seeing the picture where my Watcher is leaving me and taking the woman I love with him, just so they can go play their special little game again…all without any explanation or warning to me, of course. I'm not sure I can stand to look at the big picture, this one already hurts way too much."

His glasses were off as he sat down heavily in the chair across from her.

"Buffy, I am truly sorry. I'd planned to speak to you about this when I first decided to…"

"So then why didn't you? You had to know something like this was going to happen. What is it, Giles? Do you just not care or is it just none of my business again?"

"Faith asked me not to say anything until she'd spoken to you first, and despite my misgivings, I decided to honor her request. She managed to charm and wheedle my compliance for far too long, and I'm afraid we're now all paying the price for that error in judgment."

She sighed and bent down to pick up the papers that had fallen to the floor, then busied herself for a minute shuffling them all back into a neat pile.

"Here's what I don't understand: why does it have to be like this between us now? Just tell me, Giles, what have I done to make you think you have to hide everything from me?"

He responded instantly:

"Nothing, Buffy, you've done absolutely nothing. There've just been a confluence of events of late that have conspired to create the impression that I don't trust you. But I do trust you, implicitly."

She snorted derisively:

"Right, silly me. Giles, you haven't trusted me since Spike, and I don't get it. I wasn't wrong about him and my judgment wasn't impaired like you thought it was back then."

"Buffy, we've discussed this at length."

"Well, evidently it wasn't lengthy enough, and while we're at it, maybe we should have some lengthy talk about how you sent Faith on some covert murder mission…"

He slammed his fist down on the table:

"How many bloody times do you want me to explain that? I did not send her on a `murder mission'. My God, Buffy, how could you even think that of me?"

"I guess the same way you can think I'm not worthy of being let in on your plans whenever they're `sensitive'. Wasn't that the word you used?"

His hand rubbed over his face in frustration:

"You know very well I was trying to help Faith. I presented the mission to her in the way that would best allow her to accept. She was drifting, Buffy, becoming convinced that she was still the same young girl she used to be. I could not just sit idly by and allow that to happen. I knew she would never outright murder Lady Genevieve and she needed to know that too, once and for all."

"And I'm not even allowed to have a heads-up?"

"Are you trying to imply that you wouldn't have interfered if you'd known?"

Buffy stood glaring at him, her turmoil plain to see as she sat back down:

"…I probably would've."

"Yes, I believe you would have and that is why I couldn't confide in you. Buffy, she needed to do it on her own. She needed to discover for herself that she is not evil, that she can resist its pull no matter the temptation, and that she has something positive to offer in this world."

"Fine, okay. Even though I don't like how you did it, I get it. But now? I'm in love with her, you know that, and I just don't get how you can take her away…You're using her gratitude and loyalty against her and it's just not fair!"

"Buffy…"

Buffy leaned forward, tears filling her eyes as she looked at him:

"We have a chance here, Giles, a real chance. After all these years, everything we've done to each other, we finally have the chance to make things right. Please don't take that away from us."

He went to her then, his arms encircling her tightly. She resisted for only a moment before she collapsed into him and began sobbing:

"Please, Giles…"

"Shhh…it will be all right, I promise you, Buffy. It'll be all right."

When she had control of herself a few minutes later, he released her and reached into his pocket for his handkerchief. She wiped the tears from her face, blew her nose, and then grinned a little shakily at him:

"I'm guessing you'd rather I just keep this?"

"Yes, I think that'd be for the best."

He returned to his seat and waited until she looked him in the eye:

"Buffy, I have no wish to take Faith away from you. It never entered my head that she would plan to come along when I first broached the subject. I tried to dissuade her, but she became quite adamant all too quickly."

"Then why didn't you tell her you didn't expect her to go with you?"

"Because I know what this is all about. Faith doesn't want to leave you, not really. She's in love with you and has been for a long time, nearly from the start. The fact that you return her affections has been like a dream come true for her."

"So she's going to leave me?"

He smiled at her, his most reassuring and kind one, the one that told her he had confidence in her ability to get the job done.

"Buffy, I understand your anger towards both of us, but please, I ask that you put aside the immature way she's handled things and think the situation through. Talk to her, listen to her, and then…well, then if necessary, bloody well kick her arse."

"Giles…"

"She wants to explain things to you, let her. If you're going to be angry with anyone, then I'm your man. I should know better, I've had many relationships in my life and I understand what it takes to keep them going. Faith does not have the first clue, but trust me, she wants to learn."

Buffy had that frowny look on her face that said she was thinking, and thinking hard.

"Buffy, you've perhaps heard the expression: `in for a penny, in for a pound'?"

"I think so."

"Well, this would be the pound. Faith is a difficult young woman to deal with at times, but she is well worth the effort. She's in love with you, but she doesn't have any experience when it comes to this kind of thing. It might not seem fair, but I believe it's up to you to sort the situation out."

They sat quietly for several minutes, Buffy lost in thought as she mentally reviewed what Giles had said. For his part, Giles leaned back and watched the sunlight lazing its way down onto the lawn.

"Giles?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, Buffy, and I am sorry I've made such a hash of this. I just thought it best if she explained the situation to you herself, an event she assured me was most imminent nearly every time we spoke. She managed to string me along most impressively."

"Faith does have a way about her."

He stood and stretched, a fond smile on his face:

"I'd say that describes you quite nicely as well."

Buffy gathered up her stack of papers and they headed out, each off to different destinations with their minds on the same thing.

"I don't want you to go either, Giles."

"I know, I'm not looking forward to it myself. But we need these girls rounded up and it's my duty as a Watcher."

"Yeah, but I like it better when my Watcher's here."

"And I very much prefer to be near my Slayer, but there's really nothing to be done about it. Besides, I'm quite sure you're more than capable of handling anything that comes up."

"But…"

His arm wrapped around her shoulders and delivered a quick, but loving squeeze:

"Buffy, I'm only a phone call away and I shall be returning. However, if you feel the need to be under the direct supervision of a Watcher, Dawn has already volunteered to…"

"Over my dead body!"

"I'm afraid that threat doesn't have quite the same impact when uttered by you."

"Well this time I'll make sure I can't be brought back."

He laughed as he opened the door and motioned for her to go ahead:

"Now, Buffy, Dawn is going to make a splendid Watcher. She's brilliant with languages, fully understands a Slayer's needs, and she is cool, calm, and collected under pressure. Her grasp of demon lore is…"

Buffy made a throat cutting gesture.

"Oh, all right! But I'd say you've at best a year to prepare yourself for the certain eventuality that your baby sister is going to…"

"You know what? I've changed my mind. Go away! Go far, far away!"

They headed out into the hallway laughing as they walked.

"Buffy, I must say your fickleness is most…"

"Hey, guys!"

"Ah, just the young woman we were talking about."

Dawn looked flattered:

"You were talking about me?"

"Yeah, about how I'd rather be dead than…"

"…see you suffer again. So, how is normal size treating you?"

Dawn began walking backwards and talking exuberantly:

"Great! And it's about time too! Will says I need to keep drinking the antidote for another week, then I'm in the clear."

"That's wonderful news, Dawn, and I must say it's much nicer to have you inside the castle rather than outside roaming the grounds. That situation was by no means ideal, and it certainly didn't afford us much time to visit."

"I know! It was like I was a total outsider…Hahaha! `A total outsider', get it you guys?"

Buffy's impatience was barely contained:

"Yeah, it's hysterical. Have you seen Faith anywhere?"

Dawn rolled her eyes:

"Oh, so now you want to talk to her."                                             

"Do not start with me, just…"

Dawn stopped walking, effectively blocking the way.

"I mean, I get it: Faith did something bad, but why do you always…"

"Do you know where she is or not?!"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Buffy tried to move around Giles to grab Dawn, but he anticipated her reaction and slid over just enough to get in her way.

"Dawn, perhaps we should allow your sister her privacy when it comes to her romantic life? She and Faith have a somewhat convoluted history and making a go of their relationship is difficult at best."

"Yeah, but…"

"And if memory serves correctly, Buffy has been more than supportive when it comes to your romantic entanglements. I believe it's time to extend her the same courtesy."

Dawn was less than happy, but she nodded:

"Okay, she was heading to the pond. She said she wanted to be alone and think things over."

Buffy was already scooting around Giles and she patted Dawn's arm as she went past.

"Thanks, both of you."

With a last smile she took the turn that would take her to the side door and outside.

"Boy, do I ever hope they patch things up. They've both been such a big pain in the butt these last few days."

"I wholeheartedly concur, and Faith's approach to this situation has only made things that much worse."

"Well, yeah, duh. Nobody needs to do anything to trigger the bitch in Buffy, and Faith just normally does plenty of stupid things without creating more."

"Yes, well let's hope they right themselves with all due haste. In the meantime…"

He offered her his arm.

"… I'd like to speak with you about…"

Dawn had been smiling and giggling as she took his arm, but she stopped suddenly. Her voice rose in both pitch and volume:

"It was Willow! I told her not to touch it, but you know how she gets!"

He grimaced slightly:

"As I've yet to notice what you're so apparently willing to throw Willow to the lions over, perhaps you'd allow me to discuss my original topic with you."

"What? Oh, okay, so scratch all that. What did you want to talk about?"

"I'm going to ask you to increase your studies. Since you've decided against attending Berkeley, I feel we should discuss the very real possibility of your becoming a Watcher. Your knowledge and maturity, barring your interactions with your sister, have convinced me that you have exactly what it takes to make …"

The high-pitched squealing nearly blew out his eardrums.

"Really?! Do you think so?! Do you, Giles?!"

She hugged him while she was jumping up and down, nearly jostling his glasses from his face.

"Dawn, could we possibly…"

"Right, right. Maturity was one of the things."

She let go of him and composed herself, her face nothing but serious.

"Why yes, Giles, I'd be delighted to discuss the matter with you."

He stood looking at her, mentally counting and reaching four…

"Oh my God, I'm so excited!!!"

She was squealing and jumping again and Giles' smile was enormous as she grabbed his arm and led the way into his office.

*********************************************************

Faith was sitting in the shade, her legs extended out in front of her, her back to a tree. She was drinking her last beer slowly, nursing it to make it last. She had no desire to head back yet, at least it was peaceful where she was…well, except for the birds and squirrels.

She'd tuned them out about an hour ago, her thoughts too many to entertain the image of plunking one of the noisy little fuckers right into silence by tossing a bottle upside its head. All she could think about was Buffy, the woman she was in love with, the woman she'd fucked everything up with for the fifty millionth time.

She really was a loser, somebody who should stay far away from other people. What the hell had she been thinking going after Buffy and then letting Buffy come after her? She knew better, she'd always known better, but like the selfish bitch she was, she'd just gone ahead and done it anyway.

It was crystal clear to her why Buffy was so angry. Besides the "scummy lying not telling her" part, Faith had hit Buffy's sore spot: she was leaving her. Just like Buffy's other lovers, Faith was hauling ass. She was getting some and getting gone because apparently that's all Buffy was worth.

Faith swore and drained her beer. She wanted to fling the bottle into the water, but she couldn't bring herself to ruin the beauty of the place. The pond hadn't done a thing to her except give her some comfort and a place to hide out, and there was no way she was going to repay it by ruining it with her garbage. She had Buffy for that.

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes, willing the tears to stay away. She was tired of crying, tired of wanting to beat herself to a bloody pulp, and tired of going over things in her head without a solution anywhere in sight. She didn't know how to fix things, didn't have the first clue, and she knew without a doubt that she was going to be leaving with the situation just like it was.

Her eyes opened for reasons she at first couldn't understand, but then just like that she saw what the draw was. It was happening again: Buffy Summers was strolling through the field with her sunshine yellow hair blowing perfectly in the breeze, looking for all the world like she belonged there in the middle of nowhere…except Buffy wasn't strolling, Buffy was walking with purpose, her eyes staring at Faith every step of the way.

When she got there, Buffy sat down next to her, her legs crossed as she faced Faith. She said nothing, but after a minute of silent staring, she leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't gentle, it was angry and passionate, and yet the love was there and Faith could feel it. Buffy finally pulled away, her eyes dark green as they reflected every emotion that was running its way through her.

"Okay, you talk, I listen. Then I talk, you listen. Then we figure this out together."

Faith wasn't sure what she should do. She was scared and relieved, but she was mostly confused because even though it was obvious that Buffy was hurt and angry, she was still sitting there and she was doing it pretty calmly too. Faith just kept staring and she knew she was taking way too long to get started, but she couldn't seem to remember how to speak.

Buffy reached out and tangled their fingers together:

"I know this is hard, Faith. I can see you're scared, me too, but we're going to be okay because we're going to deal with this together. I don't know what the hell you were thinking, I don't know why the hell you were thinking it, but I do know I want to understand. Tell me what's going on, why it's going on. I'll listen, I promise."

Faith squirmed around, but made herself stay seated. Buffy waited patiently, her fingers soothing as they rubbed along her hand, and finally Faith found her voice:

"First thing…B, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. That was way fucking wrong, no excuse. I know better than that, I was just bein' a pussy and I'm sorry."

"It really hurt me, Faith, for a lot of reasons."

Faith squeezed Buffy's hand:

"I know, but none of those reasons are true. I just didn't wanna chance what we had goin', ya know? I've never had anything that good before and I didn't wanna lose it `fore I had to."

"`Before you had to'? Faith, you don't have to lose anything, but it's stuff like this that puts everything at risk."

Faith didn't respond and she looked so sad, Buffy began to panic:

"What is going on?" 

 "The deal's this, B: we, Giles and me, we signed up to do somethin' and I found out I'm good at it. Can actually do this thing without fuckin' it up. For once in my life I got somethin' I can be proud of."

"You mean saving Slayers in trouble?"

"See, I get them, I know how they feel, why they're on the run. I don't wanna leave you, B, I don't. But I don't have anything else in my life that…"

Buffy tightened her grip and held their joined hands up between them:

"You have me, Faith. You've got my love and you have a home here."

"Yeah, and how long's that gonna last? I get to be your whore `til I fuck up for good, which is somethin' we both know's comin' sooner than later."

Buffy recoiled, letting go of Faith's hand like she'd received an electric shock.

"How can you even say that to me?"

"I'm sorry, B. I know I talk different than you, but…"

"I love you, Faith, with everything that goes along with that. You aren't my whore, you're the woman I love, the person I want to make a life with."

"I know. It isn't you, B, it's all on me. Look, I got a job to do, a job I love…"

"Wow, you can say those words, just not to me."

Faith got to her feet and began pacing:

"B, I'm nobody special. All I got goin' for me is bein' a Slayer. Without that, I'm not worth shit."

"That is so not true, Faith. And if you give me a little time, if you give yourself a little time, you'll eventually see that."

"No, it'd be you who'd see somethin' and I don't want you to. You've already seen just about every lousy thing in me, kinda hoping we can skip the shit that's still under wraps."

Buffy didn't say anything, just sat there staring at the ground, her head shaking slowly from side to side. When she finally spoke, the anger was back in charge of her:

"So you're not even going to try? You're just going to leave and never look back?"

"I don't want to, B, but it's what's best for you."

"Oh I see, so this has nothing to do with you being the biggest emotional coward ever, right Faith?"

Faith flinched, the hurt clearly visible on her face as Buffy's shot hit the mark. It took her a few moments to respond:

"Great, next you can kick me in the balls."

"Don't tempt me."

Neither of them said anything, and Faith began pacing again. She kept glancing at Buffy, but after a few minutes had passed, she knew that Buffy wasn't going to go first. Faith sighed and just said it:

"Buffy, I get how you're lookin' at it, but there's no point in us hanging on to something that can't ever work. You should be with somebody who can give you…"

Buffy stood and casually brushed off her pants:

"That's a good point, Faith. Well okay then, if we're all done I guess I'll go find Satsu and see if she still wants me."

Faith couldn't stop her reaction. Her face turned red and she slammed her fist into the nearest tree.

"Something wrong, F?"

"What the fuck are you bringing her into this for?"

"What's it matter? You're breaking up with me, so…"

"B, would you stop bein' ridiculous?"

Buffy took a step closer, her face showing ever bit of the rage she felt:

"Me? I'm being ridiculous?! You're dumping me for your job, telling me we can't even try because that's all you are, that's all you have to offer. Fuck you, Faith. You need to go look up `ridiculous' in the dictionary. I'm pretty sure you're going to be the definition!"

"Okay, so maybe we don't have to shut it down completely. I can make it so I swing by sometimes and…"

"And what? Fuck me, then go again? Wow Faith, what a nifty plan, then I'll get to be the whore!"

Faith barely refrained from hitting the tree again:

"Goddamn it, Buffy! You're not a whore or a pimp or a john or a trick, all right? I just…I can't stay here and be second banana. Not when I got somethin' I can do better than anybody, not when I know if I don't go you're gonna end up hating me again!"

There was silence then, even the birds and squirrels were quiet as the words hung painfully in the air.

"Faith…God, I am not going to hate you. If I was, now would be the time, trust me. Please, let's just sit back down and talk about this calmly, okay?"

Buffy held out her hand again and after a slight delay, Faith took it and let herself be led back to her original spot under the tree.

"I get what you're saying about being good at your job, I do, and I'm not trying to take that away from you. But you can't just leave because you're scared of what might happen between us."

"What, you tryin' to say you're not worried that…"

"I'm not worried."

Faith snorted cynically, but Buffy kept going:

"I'm not, Faith. I know we're going to fight and argue, I know we're going to make each other crazy, but I also know we're going to make each other so happy. I want you, I want this, and I know it's right. We belong together, I feel it. Don't you?"

"…"

"Faith?"

"…Yeah, I do, but…"

"`But' nothing. We'll make the job thing work if that's what you need. I don't want you gone, not even for a day, but if you have to go away for chunks of time, okay. But you are always coming back home because we're a couple now and this is where you belong."

"But B…"

"Faith?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, don't ask me to pretend I don't feel that. I'm so tired of drifting through my life while I wait for you. Because that's what I've been doing all along, just killing time, and other things, while I waited for you. Well you're here now, and I'm not going to let you go…no matter what crap you try to pull."

Faith stared at her, her look disbelieving and hopeful:

"Jesus B, you sure you wanna do a long distance thing?"

"Well, `want' isn't exactly the right word, but I'll do it. I understand what you're saying about being the best at what you do, and I get why you feel like the runner-up here. It's stupid to think of it that way, but I get it."

"So you'd be okay with that kinda set-up?"

"Yes, I'm okay with it…for now."

Faith's smile lit up her whole face, her dimples deeper than Buffy had ever seen them.

"Man…that's…No way did I think…"

"Promise me you'll talk to me from now on."

"Absolutely, B. I'm sorry about keeping that shit a secret."

"I know.

Faith looked nervous again, but she plowed on ahead anyway:

"B?"

"Yes?"

"Look, none of this was Giles' fault. I kinda begged the guy and…"

"I know, we've already talked about everything. We're okay."

"Really? `Cause he loves you so much B, and I didn't mean to fuck stuff up between you guys again."

"You didn't. Me and Giles are just fine."

Faith's giant smile was back in full force:

"Guess we just gotta work out the fine print then."

Buffy edged closer to her:

"Uh-huh. Terms definitely have to be agreed upon…"

Her lips caressed Faith's neck.

"…arrangements definitely have to be made..."

Buffy smiled as she felt the shudder roll its way through Faith.

"…then it's…frequent flier miles, here we come."

Her hand was wandering and when she grazed Faith's breast and lingered there, Faith reached out and pulled her just as close as she could get her.

Her lips crashed into Buffy's, causing them both to moan. Their tongues struggled for control, but neither one got it. Faith didn't care, she spun Buffy, slamming her to the ground while she kept her own body on top of her.

Buffy laughed when her back hit the grass:

"Whoa, somebody's all worked up."

"Yeah, lemme show you how worked up, B."

"But what about those details we have to iron out?"

Faith sat up and began unbuttoning Buffy's blouse:

"Have my people call your people."

Buffy's hands began unbuckling Faith's belt:

"We have no people."

"Well, I sure need some. Might be able to stop me from bein' such a fuck up all…"

Buffy grabbed onto Faith's head and pulled her down into a kiss. She switched their positions quickly and efficiently, and Faith was on the ground before she could try to stop her.

"Shh…no more talking like that. You aren't a `fuck up', you just need a good woman to steer you in the right direction."

"Sounds about right. Hey, you know any chicks who could…"

Buffy's eyes narrowed:

"You know, I'm still kinda mad at you. You should probably be careful."

"I'm not scared, B."

"Hmm…let's see if we can change that."

Buffy stood and quickly stripped. Faith's eyes were huge as she followed her every move, and when Buffy was naked, she straddled Faith.

"Uh…Uh, B…this is sorta a public place and uh…"

Buffy leaned in, her eyes challenging as she rubbed against her:

"Scared, baby?"

"No, just…uh…just pointin' out that anybody could…uh…wander out here."

"Tell you what…"

Buffy's fingers quickly re-buckled Faith's belt.

"…we'll let you keep all of your clothes on. I'm sure I can find something else to do with my shy girl."

"B…"

"Shh…somebody might hear us."

Buffy tormented Faith for at least fifteen minutes. She caressed, rubbed, pulled, sucked, licked, and bit everything of Faith's that she could. At least she did while Faith behaved.

And Faith did behave, for a surprisingly long time. Finally she couldn't take it anymore and she reached for Buffy:

"Uh-uh. No touching, F."

Buffy pulled Faith's hands off of her, but in just seconds Faith was holding Buffy tightly by the waist and trying to flip her over and put herself on top. That was a definite no-no as far as Buffy was concerned.

She grabbed Faith's wrists and forced her hands down onto the ground on either side of her head. Faith tried to break loose and Buffy's grip tightened in response as she leaned in:

"Somebody doesn't understand what we're doing. Okay, let me explain: I'm getting to know my shy lover in a public place while I get a little payback as well. You're not allowed to touch me."

With her hands otherwise detained, Buffy increased her body's movements, writhing sensuously along Faith's supercharged one.

"Jesus, B!"

"Yes?"

"I can't…I'm…"

"Shh…you're just shy, sweetie. I'll take care of you...eventually."

Some language burst from Faith's mouth, but the words were so garbled they sounded like nothing either of them had ever heard before.

Buffy wriggled in between Faith's legs until their centers were touching, separated only by Faith's jeans, and she began pressing down and rotating her hips in a circular rhythm. Faith felt like she was on fire and her own legs quickly wrapped around Buffy's waist.

That was a mistake because Buffy immediately stopped all movement, her expression mocking:

"Oops, sorry, shy girl. That counts as touching."

"B, c'mon! I can't just lay here and…"

"And yet that's exactly what you're going to do if you want to…reach a certain place."

Faith looked in Buffy's eyes and had no doubt that she would stop if Faith didn't play along. She could see the amusement and love shining in the green depths, but she could also see the anger still simmering there. She painfully unwrapped her legs and lowered them back to the ground.

"Good decision. Now where were we?"

Buffy began moving again and Faith shut her eyes trying to hang on, but when Buffy's breath caressed her ear and the moans increased, Faith began pleading:

"Please, B. Please just let me touch you."

"Mmm…but you are touching me."

"Buffy…"

She let go of Faith's hands, sat astride one of her knees and began rocking slowly. Faith bent her leg and Buffy sighed almost blissfully:

"Oh yeah, stay right there…but don't move again."

Faith had to use every bit of her willpower not to grab Buffy somewhere, anywhere, with her newly freed hands. When Buffy began moving faster and fondling her own breasts, Faith began groaning almost continuously, her eyes staring with more lust and longing than she'd known it was possible to feel.

When Buffy finally got there, she leaned forward and made the sexiest noise Faith had ever heard, the sound somewhere between a whimper and a growl and blown out right into Faith's ear. That did it. She pulled Buffy's head back by her hair and smashed their lips together, her own orgasm rocketing through her before she even knew it was there.

They stayed where they were, neither seeing the need to change position. Faith's arms were wrapped around Buffy as she sprawled heavily on top of her and it was a while before they could speak.

"Fuck! B, that was…"

Buffy kissed her sweetly, then snuggled back in:

"I know that was kind of mean, but it turned out pretty good, right?"

"Uh…'pretty good'? That was fuckin' hot as hell."

"Aww, F...were you all hot and bothered because you had your clothes on?"

Faith was clearly amused:

"Yeah, but think it was more `cause of the naked, sexy blonde humpin' me.

"That probably factored in. So, what do you say I get dressed…"

"Bad idea."

Buffy laughed, but kept going.

"…and we head to our room to keep working out the details."

Faith was already on her feet, her hand extended to Buffy. She hauled her up, then unexpectedly lifted her, plopping Buffy across her shoulder. Buffy's head and arms were hanging down Faith's back and her ass was draped enticingly over Faith's breast.

"Great idea, B, but the gettin' dressed part's out."

Buffy laughed again:

"Okay, funny girl, put me down so I can…"

Faith delivered a loud smack and a louder kiss to Buffy's ass, then took off at a jog towards the castle.

"Faith!"

"Buffy!"

"Don't you dare!"

Faith's grin was huge:

"Too late, bitch, `cause I'm darin'. I'm darin' all the way."

Buffy grabbed Faith's hair and tugged sharply:

"Faith Lehane, unless you want to arrive home without any hair, you'd better put me down right now. OW!"

"Might wanna let go of the hair, B. `Specially when I got all these sensitive parts right here, all easy access and shit."

Buffy let go and began trying to charm her:

"Faith, baby, let's be reasonable."

"Good idea."

"I'll tell you what: you put me down, let me get my clothes and I'll…"

"Got plenty in your room. Can come back later for the ones ya had on."

Buffy started struggling, but Faith slapped her butt again, hard.

"Stop squirmin', B. Christ, way you're actin', anybody'd think you were shy."

"Faith, stop! I don't have any clothes on!"

"Play with fire, sometimes your ass gets hauled home naked."

By the time they'd arrived at the castle, Buffy had accepted her fate. Despite her embarrassment, she smiled and waved whenever they ran into anyone, although Dawn looked at them like they'd both gone crazy.

"Oh God, my eyes! My eyes! I should have gone to Berkeley!"

Giles poked his head out into the hallway to see what all the commotion was about:

"Heavens, what is going…Oh, good Lord!"

He immediately turned his head, apparently feeling it was of the utmost importance to study the wood around the office door.

"Hey, G-Man. Can't really talk, gotta get B upstairs."

"Oh yes, of course…um…Hello, Buffy."

Buffy would have bet even her ass was blushing fire truck red.

"Hi, Giles."

"So am I to assume you two have resolved your disagreement?"

"Could say that. Gonna head up and resolve it some more for a few hours, so make sure ya keep the world spinnin' without us."

"Yes, yes, we shall…of course. Come along, Dawn."

"Hey Buffy, I never knew you had so much hair on your big butt."

"What?!"

Buffy tried to swing around to look, but Faith's grip remained iron tight.

"I do not! You are such a liar!"

"Monkey butt! Monkey butt! Hey everybody, Buffy's got a butt like a monkey!!!"

Then she was gone, yanked backwards into Giles' office with the door shut firmly behind her. Faith was laughing as she climbed the stairs.

"I am so going to kill you."

"You're gonna try, B, but I'm not gonna let ya. Got other plans."

"Really, like what?"

They were at their room, and Faith said the secret phrase and opened the door. She carried Buffy in, kicked the door closed behind them, and then fumbled around for a few seconds as she blindly engaged the lock. When she'd managed to secure the door, she said the magic phrase again as she flipped Buffy down onto the bed and went right with her.

"Now where were we, Slayer?"

"I was getting ready to kill you."

"Oh yeah, well scratch that idea."

Faith kissed her and Buffy melted as their tongues met. When Faith pulled back, Buffy stopped her by lightly gripping Faith's bottom lip between her teeth. She almost laughed, but when Buffy applied more pressure, she decided to play it safe…safer.

Her hand went to Buffy's breast and began moving gently in just the way Buffy liked. She shifted her weight slightly and let her other hand travel slowly down Buffy's stomach. Thirty seconds later and Buffy's eyes closed as she murmured with pleasure, freeing Faith's lip.

She began kissing along Buffy's shoulder and neck, and when she reached her ear, she whispered:

"You're so beautiful, Buffy…like nobody else. Your skin's so soft, you smell so good, and you taste…God, B…the way you taste."

Faith was inside her then and Buffy began moving, already lost in the passion that only Faith could make her feel.

"Let it go, B. Come on, let me see you."                          

Buffy wrapped herself around Faith, cursing the clothes that were still between them. She wanted to stop and let Faith undress, but she couldn't, not that it was really up to her anyway.

"You're so wet and warm…so perfect…I love you, Buffy."

Buffy didn't exactly come. It wasn't really an orgasm. It was a full blown whirlwind of emotion, a hurricane, a maelstrom, a raging, surging explosion of feeling, and Buffy in that one singular moment truly knew what heaven was.

It was way better than she remembered and it was where she'd never expected to find it. It was right where she was, with the feel of rough denim rubbing against her skin, hard fingers spurring her onward, and a soft, husky voice whispering love into her ear.

As the ecstasy overtook her, Buffy knew she wasn't leaving this time, no matter who did what or when. Heaven was hers and she was keeping it, even if she had to kill everyone on the planet to…

When Buffy woke up almost an hour later, it was to find herself wrapped comfortably in Faith's arms. She was sleeping and Buffy kissed her lightly on the jaw not wanting to wake her, but Faith stirred anyway.

"Made it back, did ya, B?"

"Just barely."

"Well ya know how it is: I got the skills and I like to flaunt'em."

Buffy's hand twirled patterns around Faith's breast before slowly trailing downward:

"I see you finally got rid of your clothes."

"Yeah, just had to wait `til I knocked your ass out."

Buffy laughed and rolled over on top of her:

"Well, what was I thinking? I like you much better this way."

"Guess I had to straighten ya out."

"Not sure that's the right choice of words, F."

Faith grunted and jerked slightly as Buffy's fingers went somewhere decidedly "unstraight".

"Definitely seeing your point…ya big dyke."

"`Dyke'?! I am not!"

"Well let's see: got three of your fingers in your girl's snatch…"

"They're in your vagina or maybe in your pussy."

"Right, B. Like a more girly name's gonna change…Ahhh!"

Buffy smiled at her reaction:

"I prefer the term "lipstick lesbian."

"Even know what that means?"

"Not exactly, but it sounds pretty."

"Yeah, well I prefer rug munch…Oh fuck!"

Buffy kissed her, then pulled back a bit:

"You said you love me."

"Yeah, I did, `cause I do."

"I love you too."

"Works out good that way."

"Yes, it really does."

Buffy kept her hand where it was as she slid down Faith's body. She took her time, tasting every bit of Faith's skin as she went.

"Where ya…where ya goin', Slayer?"

""You don't know?"

"Just like to hear you say it."

Buffy laughed as she lay poised to begin. She wiggled her fingers, and Faith groaned and lifted her hips.

"Fine. I'm going muff diving, rug munching, I'll be eating at the downstairs café, okay?"

"More than okay. It's the best thing ever."

"Then shut up and let your delicate little lipstick lesbian do her thing."

"Lips are sealed, B."

"No F, they're wide-open, just like I like'em."

Faith smirked as she responded:

"Lick'em?"

"That too, shy girl."

And then heaven was on the move again.