Chapter Twelve

 Endings

So, Will finally re-emerged looking rather crumpled and more than a little relaxed. Not surprising after sixteen hours with you locked in her room. She scampered up to Xander in the quadrant, “Great Goddess! Xander it's a miracle.” Willow had tears streaming down her face. I don't think her features have been dry since she first laid eyes on you. “Guess what? Faith found out where Buffy's really been all this time, and now they've made up and are all like a regular couple. And do you know where Buffy's been?” Will was so excited, she looked like she was about to explode with the effort of keeping it in, even for a second longer. “Xander,” she placed her hand on his arm, “Tara's alive! I didmanage to bring her back. That'swhat Buffy's been doing in that shed. She and Tara have been working on a spell to get her body back. And boy, did they get it back!” Willow blushed.

“Wow. Are you serious?” Xander looked amazed, “Buffy and Faith are a couple? No way!”

Willow was all like, “Xander?” She rapped on his head, to check if anyone was in. “Tara's alive!”

 “Yeah Will, that's great I can't wait to see her. But round here people get resurrected on a bi-weekly basis.” He was grinning, and that made Willow go all scowley. “Ok, ok.” Xander was trying his utmost to be good but looked a lot like Toby when he's caught stealing cookies and isn't especially sorry. He tries to look repentant but the delight in his face makes it difficult. “So the girl whose death sent my best friend to the brink of darkness where she all but destroyed the world, is back from the dead. No big. Tell me about Buffy and Faith.”

Will looked about as exasperated as when Andrew steals her spell book and she has to un-toadify him. Eventually, she shook her head. She knows Xander understands, he was there. He saw everything. Besides, if she'd stayed mad any longer he'd have just broken out the Snoopy dance.

Xander tugged at her sleeve, “Did you say couple as in holding hands in public and celebrating anniversaries?”

Will nodded.

 “This is just freaky.” Xander, apparently, was flabbergasted.

Sorry we stole your thunder. Don't be too mad at Xander, Anya's been torturing him and he's a little wound up. When they sit and chat in his room at night, he'll get up to put on some music or grab another bag of Cheezies and when he turns round, she'll have stripped.  What with her still being all ghostified, he can see everything he ever wanted, but can't touch. Anya never did lose her knack for vengeance; she's just learnt that revenge can be crueller minus the killing and maiming. She's still getting her own back for being jilted at the altar, and anything else Xander ever did that bugged her.

You'd think at the very least it would allay his fears. What with everything that's been happening, he's got a bit paranoid that everyone's gay but him. And Spike's been known to surreptitiously touch Xander's ass, which doesn't exactly help matters.

But that's nothing compared to Giles and Wes. They've actually developed something of a friendship. You won't believe this; they are now on first name terms. Shocking isn't it?

So, how's the body? Had any triple chocolate mint fudge cookie dough ice-cream yet? Being human has its advantages and from that smile on your face, you so agree. How's the sex? The kinky stuff is good post-death. Have you tried it? Strike that. Will's my best friend, la la la sodon't wanna know. Which is probably how you're gonna feel about what I'm gonna tell you. Oh God, well, speaking of sex…I cannot believe I am actually going to say this to you, it's like I got poked by a truth demon, oh well, at least I'm not singing. Small mercies and all that. Well, for once I did as I was told and was waiting not so patiently in my room at 7pm. Faith was a little late which made me a little annoyed because I was a little riled up. Before I'd had time to berate her time-keeping she'd already pushed me face first against my bedroom wall. She used some new blindfolding technique which involved pressing every inch of her body against mine while she tied a silk scarf round my eyes. Then she jostled me out to the car park. When we'd run into someone - for me that was literal running into -- she'd say “Can't stop, I'm helping Buffy train for blind combat.”

The trip on Spike's hog was an experience; blindfolded under the helmet, clutching onto Faith while she drove at some ludicrous speed. Despite my renewed bond with Faith, I'm never 100% sure I trust her. Maybe she wouldn't intentionally harm me but we also have different ideas of what might be considered `harmful.' Still, I can't deny the rush from having both Faith and the vibrations of the bike between my thighs. Ok, so I could've un-blindfolded myself and got free if I'd had to. But where's the fun in that?

Eventually we arrived at wherever it was she'd taken me. Faith removed my helmet, chuckling as I dismounted the bike, unable to see what the hell I was doing. Her touch was rough and abrupt as she tugged my hands behind my back, capturing my wrists with cold metal. You know anything involving me, Faith and handcuffs is unlikely to end well. When I started to protest, all she said was, “Want me to gag you B?” I shook my head emphatically. I like to talk. But you know that already.

Faith grasped the cuffs and guided me towards our destination. I could feel gravel under the heels of my sandals - the cute blue ones, and the night was silent apart from the thrum of distant traffic. I honestly had no idea what I was getting into. But I was soon shoved through an entrance where the floor became hard and even; maybe concrete or stone or something. Faith left me standing, face against a wall, just inside the doorway. “Don't move B, or there'll be hell to pay.”

Talk about tempting! But instead of my usual quipping and back-chat, I was quiet as I tried to figure out our location. Wherever it was seemed kinda spacious with high ceilings, I worked that out `cos of the clunking echo of Faith's boots as she moved around, and also on account of the draft. It was catching the band of skin where my adorable baby blue top didn't quite meet the top of my skirt. I shivered slightly. I was getting the same prickles of trepidation and excitement I get when I first enter the lair of a new demon species; anything could happen. So it was extra shocking and extra tingly when, in an instant, Faith was behind me slowly running a damp finger from the base of my throat down to the top of my cleavage. Then she spun me round, forcing her lips against mine, catching my bottom lip with her teeth. “Just one more minute B, and then you're in for a world of pain.”

“Pain? But…”

“Stow it B. You don't wanna make things worse for yourself do ya?” The sing song of her tone indicated more than a hint of pleasure, one might even say delight. Then I heard the charming scraping of furniture across concrete. My girl's all about the romance. Somehow, grabbing and manhandling me into a chair involved Faith dragging the back of her hand momentarily between my legs. Funny how these things work. I was just basking in the warmth where her hand had been when I flinched at the chill of yet more metal against my skin. Faith was - unsurprisingly, adept with multiple sets of cuffs and each of my wrists was being attached to the back legs of a straight-backed wooden chair. “I can do anything I want to you Buffy. I am a known murderer after all.” Her voice rang loud and clear through the warehouse, almost like she was…bragging.

Of all people, Faith knows exactly what is needed to fully restrain a Slayer. She's well aware that I can get out of a regular pair of handcuffs if need be. Still, I can't pretend I wasn't a little nervous. Faith isn't known for her self-control when it comes to attaching people to chairs or fun times with Buffy and handcuffs. “You might wanna stay perfectly still there B.” Suddenly the coolness of metal turned icy as an unknown object was leisurely dragged across my collarbone and down the length of my arm. I'd have put money on it being the flat side of a knife blade.

This was confirmed when Faith moved the knife so the point rested ever so lightly against my belly. Her hand gripped down on my shoulder as she swiftly swept the knife upwards, ripping open my shirt. We paused momentarily as the clatter and bounce of buttons scattering and colliding with concrete, reverberated within the silence of the warehouse. In one hasty gesture, Faith tore the remainder of the cute new shirt from my body. But when her hand dove into my bra I didn't spend long mourning the loss of cute and did I mention pricey, shirt. I was feeling more exposed by the moment as Faith languidly pried my legs apart, as if she had all the time in the world. There was some rough, half-hearted and all too brief fondling, during which she sighed as if groping me was a chore she had to endure. I was not a happy Slayer, but soon distracted as each of my ankles was cuffed to the front legs of the chair. “Faith, where did you get four sets of handcuffs? Actually, strike that, I so don't wanna know.”

It was getting harder to breathe. A bit of bondage is all well and fun but I don't like losing the use of my arms andlegs. I was poised for attack, unsure when it would come. She carelessly glided my skirt up over my thighs. I'm used to protecting potential targets and Faith's not what you'd call a predictable assailant. But it was thrilling, not knowing what she'd do next, especially when I felt the sharp edge of the knife blade gently grazing my inner thighs. My heart was pounding so hard it would have broken Dawn's stethoscope. I prayed Faith wasn't planning on going any higher with that knife.

“Frightened yet? Hoping one of your un-dead heroes will show and up and rescue you?”

“It's not totally scary `cos I know you wouldn't actually hurt me now.” As opposed to all those times in the past when she, you know, did.

Faith stood behind me and gently entwined her fingers in my hair, sweeping it away from my collar. The care in her movements was comforting and it was like she was my girl. My skin felt warm as her breathing quickened and she rasped in my ear. “Don't be so sure about that B. I am a psychotic murderer after all.” Faith dragged the smooth blade of what seemed to be an ever lengthening knife across the back of my neck. She scraped the skin there just enough to let me know how razor-sharp and lethal the knife trulywas.

“Move just a fraction of an inch B, and there'll be blood gushing down your back.”

You're getting all frowny. I know this isn't your thing but we're Slayers, we flirt with fatality. Ok, fair point; you've been doing a little more than dallying with death. But we're pushing against those edges on a daily basis, and slaying is hot. Knowing we might die at any moment. It may sound warped but urgent - sexy.

The flat side of the knife was cool and almost refreshing `cos my skin was all burny. What with being fully restrained with a blade to my throat and simultaneously groped by the hottest woman on earth. You could say I was flushed. Her breathing was getting heavy in that familiar way, I could tell she was getting off on this. But when Faith spoke her voice was low and ominous, and the knife; suddenly not so refreshing. I wasn't sure where Faith was going with this. Turns out she was going around the circumference of my neck, trailing the knife's pointy tip. “If I was having a murderous moment, I could slit your throat this instant. And don't think that just `cos I love you, I wouldn't do it. Never stopped me before.”

You know what my warped brain was thinking as she said that? `She loves me! She loves me!' Which isn't to say I wasn't a little nervous. I had no idea of the boundaries for this little adventure and way scarier; I doubted she did either. The blade was removed from my throat so no part of her body or artillery was touching me. I was listening for any signal that Faith's sanity had escaped back to Boston but all I could hear were her boots clunking across the warehouse floor and pausing before she stomped back towards me again. I was unsure what sign would tell me to un-cuff myself and go chase Faith's runaway mental health. She was more restless than when Giles is waiting for books to be returned after their due date. It sounded like maybe Faith was panicking. And then that nearly had me panicking, partly because semi- psychotic Slayer rapidly losing her grip and me - bound at her mercies in the middle of nowhere. But I was more worried for Faith; I'm only beginning to understand where she goes when she's on the edge and how much she's struggles and hurts when she's there. I wanted to take her hand and lead her safely away from the ledge, but any sudden movement and I might startle her, then she'd jump and the world would end. The haste and pounding of her footsteps had me wondering if she'd break into a sprint at any moment. I'd rather she came at me for real with the knife. I just didn't want her to leave.

Suddenly I was caught up in the mysterious familiar scent that is all Faith; musky spiciness with just a hint of sweet almost entirely masked by the reek of booze. She was close again. With force she tugged my head to hers. Her movements were urgent and frantic as she yanked painfully at the roots, locking her fingers into my hair. Her grasp tightened as she bit my lip, devouring me with her mouth so I knew she owned me.

Faith's teeth were vicious as her tongue overpowered mine. But my heart rate slowed to a steady thud; there was reassurance in the forceful craving of her kiss. My wait was over. Whatever was going to happen had already begun. The knife cut the breeze from around us as it clattered to the floor. The insistence of her lips breathed warm relief through my body. She was done torturing me.

She wrenched herself from the kiss as suddenly as it started.

And then I felt her heaviness against my knee as she perched on the edge of my lap. Her breathing sounded less regular than when she was violent; like Faith was nervous. I think she expected me to buck her from my lap, especially after all she'd done. Gradually she allowed her full weight to rest on my legs. Each shift in position was slow and tentative as Faith leaned into me. It's improbable I know, but she actually rested her head on my shoulder. And it hurt more than anything she'd done up to then because my arms were still tied behind me and I couldn't put them around her. It's probably why she did it.

I wanted to ask. I wanted her to undo the cuffs, but I wasn't sure if she really was done or if she'd let us stay intimate like that if I broke the silence. The wind rustled against the high windows of the warehouse. The air smelled of bonfires and crunched fall leaves. Faith kind of nuzzled into my neck and it was almost too much. She felt so soft against my skin and it was about fifty times as intense after the cold sharp fear. Every place where her body was connecting with mine felt warm and right and every other part of me was empty and draughty and I couldn't close the gap because my hands were still cuffed behind me. I gave an involuntary whimper. Faith gently removed the blindfold, easing two fingers down the side of my face. There was no longer anything hidden as she gazed at me like maybe this was the last time. Her face was almost pleading as she asked the unspoken question. Had she gone too far?  Momentary terror flickered across her face, wondering if his time, she was way beyond redemption, needing to know if even after this, I'd still want her. I tilted my head and half-smiled at her. For once I didn't feel compelled to speak. She looked back at me and for the first time in what seemed like forever there was no anger and challenge in her eyes. My voice came out quieter than I intended; “Un-cuff me Faith?” She slid her hand into the pocket of the leathers that clung so closely to her skin. Still sitting on my lap, she reached down and un-cuffed my ankles before leaning behind me and releasing my wrists. I shook off the cuffs along with the numbness in my fingers and brought my arms around, holding her to me. This is the hardest part to describe; it was like we were both there. Present with each other in a way we'd never been before. It's way ironic considering what we'd played out more than hinted at our shared past. In that moment afterwards, I felt close to her.

I pulled her tighter against my chest. “Sweetie, maybe that was too much for you? Perhaps we shouldn't do it again?”

“Couldn't take playing bad, B?”

I could see her defences crashing down between us. But she surprised me.

“It's…it's good to know I can stop. If I want to.”

I smiled at her.

“Besides, it was wicked hot.”

I nodded.

“So? You still think we're gonna lose the edge in our relationship and get all old and British like our Watcher-boys?”

Oh! So, that'swhat this had been about. The pain and bondage were Faith's way of allaying my fears. I'd been all worried that what with the recent honesty and niceness we might lose the tension, spark and hotness between us. So actually her torturing me was kinda romantic. “I'm definitely feeling all reassured about the spark but the whole lesbian bed death thing…” What? I read. “Well, I didn't notice any actual sex.”

Faith grinned and got up off my lap. “Buffy. You're my kinda girl.” She started walking toward the exit, but stopped halfway, tapping her boot against the concrete floor. “Actually, you are my girl.” She looked over her shoulder at me, grinning wider. “Now strip.”

“Huh?”

“I want you completely naked when I get back.”

 “Where are you going? What if someone comes in?”

“Just do it.” She walked out.

So I um…well, I complied and as Giles will tell you, I don't do that much. Everything was already undone, so I slipped off the remainder of my clothing. I hesitated when it came to my underwear but I was kinda excited to see what Faith was gonna do. The concrete was freezing under the soles of my bare feet and it wasn't exactly comfortable to be entirely naked in a huge draughty warehouse where an army of demons or bunch of drunk guys could come in at any moment. I folded my clothes and placed them on the chair. Then I scampered around picking the buttons up off the floor. When I was done, I started to wonder if this was some un-amusing scam of Faith's and she was just gonna leave me there. I shivered and started to get nervous. I was standing legs crossed and arms folded across my chest. And that's when Faith's head peaked round the door.

“Aw B, there's no need to be shy.”

 I tossed a button at her nose.

“Close your eyes and stay right where you are.”

“You don't have a crowd of people behind that door do you? Or a camera? If you have a camera I'll kill you. For real.”

“B, will you just shut up and trust me?”

“You tie me to a chair, threaten me with a knife and then leave me alone and naked in a big draughty warehouse and now you want me to trust you?”

“Give it a rest and do as you're told.”

I probably should know better but I closed my eyes anyway. I opened them when her warm palms slid along my skin, her arms curling around my waist. And I did feel safe then. The warehouse didn't seem so spacious and ominous with her this close. Faith leaned nearer into me. “Oh.” Looking down between us, a long slightly curved black dildo was pressing gently against me. I took a couple of steps back to get a better look and adjust to this surprising turn of events. You're surprised we never did that before? It's not like we never used anything. There were objects. It's just nothing was ever attached. Faith was still fully clothed but her leather pants were unbuttoned to make space for the protuberance. “Take your jacket off.” Those kinds of orders she's happy to comply with. She eased the jacket slowly from her shoulder and then flung it from her skin as if this was the beginning of a striptease. As fun as watching was and all, I like to participate. I began unlacing her corset top.

“Hurry up B. I'm good to go here. And so are you by the feel of things.” She'd dipped her thumb between my lips. Not my mouth…well you know what I mean. Ok, so sometimes I do still get a little embarrassed. So not looking at you right now. She was less impatient as she sucked her thumb while I freed her from the corset, which shockingly enough was made of black leather - which really suits her. But know what suits Faith even more? Being naked. I kissed her as I ran my fingers along her newly exposed breasts but she kept poking her new toy resolutely against me. I moved my hands to her hips running them curiously over the straps as I eased her leather pants over her smooth and really quite perfect ass. Mid-thigh I ran into a little trouble. Did I mention Faith's pants are kinda tight? So I crouched down and slowly began easing them down her thighs, by the time they reached her ankles, the long piece of silicone virtually touching my face became way too tempting, so I gave a little lick. When I looked up, Faith had a questioning half smile, so I dropped to my knees and placed my mouth over the head. “Owwwww. Knees.” I know I'm a Slayer but I don't need the discomfort of uneven concrete during my recreational time.

Faith picked me up and turning around plunked me and my sore knees down on something surprisingly soft. My quilt. “Faith? What the? When did this get here? And how did you get my quilt. You're gonna ruin it. The cover's Egyptian cotton and it cost…”

Faith was standing over me and I didn't get to finish my sentence because she grabbed the back of my head, fingers tugging my hair, pulling me forward forcing the dildo into my mouth.

“Shut up and suck my cock.” I thought about resisting, but it was seriously hot. Faith knows I don't do anything I don't want. So I sucked. I nearly knocked her to the ground however when she patted my head and said; “There's my good little Slayer.”

“I'll bite it off.”

She laughed. “That's the thing B, not such a scary threat when it's not the real thing.” She put her hand round the back of my head by means of some forceful encouragement. She was worse than Spike.

When I was done, she said; “Whoa B, that was wicked hot. Now, wanna get down to the main event?” She pushed me down onto the quilt.

I looked at the dildo looming above me. “It's uh…big.”

“Well, gotta compete with the cold and hard twins.” She grinned at me.

I grimaced. “You'd think that being with a woman I might get to by-pass the Freudian penis envy macho crap.”

“So, I'm bigger then?” I kissed her to shut her up.

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Remind me, why was I so keen to have Faith stay the night? I'm such a dope. On the occasional occasions she decides to stay over, sometimes when I wake up, Faith isn't even there. Plus my favourite axe has joined her for a little adventure and my favourite t-shirt that she wore to sleep in will turn up a month later stained with bbq rib sauce and demon entrails. Plus, does she really haveto leave her dirty laundry on my bedroom floor? I sometimes wonder how I ended up parenting two kids.

And as for Toby, he's just; Toby. I sat him down for this big conversation about how Faith and I are together and we're going to be a family. He just looked at me and rolled his eyes like I was his mom or something and was like, “Duh! Buffy. I think I know that.” Well, good for him `cos up to now I certainly didn't.

Anyhow, through Toby and the effect he's had on Faith, I realized something; the hurt she carries came before we ever crossed paths.  But if I didn't cause the hurt, then I can't undo it. Faith's been dashing down this boulevard of black cleavagey clothing and self-destruction, and it's not in my power to make things better. Do you have any idea how much I want to pound something right now? Think we can bring her mom back to life just so I can take some swings at her? But what Faith's gone through is bigger than the both of us. There's nothing to punch, and not the awesome-est crossbow or even a damn rocket launcher can fix this.

So this has been revelation week; there should be a festival. `Celebrating all things epiphany-y and Buffy'. Hmm, that might not work considering my revelation was all about how it's not always about me. That's a sucky revelation.

Anyway, back to Faith. I realized; I don't love her because she's the other pre-Scythe Share Slayer and we're connected. What she told me about her past made me physically hurt because it happened to Faith and I love her.

It's not like I haven't really loved people before. And you know how much I love Dawn. But that's different because my love for her is still about me - she's a Buffy extension. Actually, saying that to Dawn would get me killed with not a chance in hell of being resurrected. Ever. At all.

Dawn was made from me and created so I would protect her. With Faith it was the opposite; she got Slayered when my time was up. She was chosen because I'd expired. Turned out Xander giving me the kiss of life was one big cosmic hiccup. The whole point with Faith is; she's not me. I guess that's why she got me so mad; because she was the one person whose life wasn't about mine. That, and her looking better in a pair of leather pants than I do - and making me want to do distinctly non-heterosexual things to her while she was wearing them. Ironically she's been all mad `cos she thought her whole life was about me. Those Powers could sure use some vocational training.

I held myself responsible for everything that went down with Faith in Sunnydale. I know I actually blamed Faith, but deep down there was this part of me that knew I'd screwed up - big time. I had my chance and I didn't help her. Well, that's not strictly true I mean I tried, didn't succeed, didn't persevere. Like if you're in a cemetery and you're busy thinking about the things you'd like to do to your hot un-dead un-boyfriend but can't `cos he'd lose his soul and go all psychotically evil. But perhaps, despite this knowledge, you let your mind wander, just for a moment, and the vamp you're chasing gets away. Well, you don't just stand there continuing your very hot but distracting day I mean night dream, you chase that elusive vamp until he's good and staked. You don't stop until you're brushing the dust from your clothes and wishing in the name of all that is good and true you hadn't worn white.  But I didn't do that with Faith; the persevering thing.

I finally realized that it's not about Buffy - who knew? It never was. Knowing that did this weird thing. It gave me freedom to care about Faith. What she's going through touched me differently. I.e. it hurt like hell.

Life's funny isn't it? While getting all revelatory that I am powerless to make things better forFaith, I've started to think we might get something like the life I imagined. We're never gonna have some house with floral curtains and a neatly trimmed lawn. There is no polite dinner table conversation in our future. I used to think I wanted those things; desired a `normal' life. How could I now? I'll always be a Slayer and more so in the `burbs. That goes double for Faith. No bake sales or car pools for us.

Later, when I mentioned this to Faith, she said it was just as well; considering the law suits my driving would entail. Told you, polite conversation - not gonna happen. I wish you'd been there when I looked down into the crater that was Sunnydale. Seven years of fighting; and I won. We all won. We did it. Even the exhilaration in staking one measly vamp is more than in a decade of normal. Now I know that no cocktail party or cute designer heels will ever match that feeling. Sorry, just had to pinch myself to make sure it really was me speaking. 

Maybe I'm not making the wisest decision. I'm under no illusions that my love is going to save Faith or that it will make her monogamous, reliable or able to sleep in the same bed every night. I'm sure Angel, Giles and Willow will all tell me a thousand more times in our future that I really should leave. But I know already that I won't.

She makes me laugh a million times a day. And apart from giving me the best sex of my life…since the last time, she also does the sweetest things like wait in line for half an hour to get me those peach yogurts I like. When I, foolishly, told her, you can imagine her response;

“B, do ya know why I really get you the yogurt? It's not some generous chivalrous gesture ya know.”

“No?”

“It's `cos, you know that first night I met you behind the Bronze?”

“Uh huh”

“Well after, when I said slayin' got me hungry and horny…the look on your face!”

I blushed and covered my face with my hand. “Oh God! Then I said I sometimes crave a non-fat yogurt afterwards.”

“Yep.” Faith smirked, “And that's the moment.”

“What moment?”

She leaned over and just before she kissed me, said, “When I realised that I, you know…”

I nodded, still smiling when her lips met mine. Those are the most romantic words I've ever heard.

“So I save you your yogurt `cos it reminds me of that night and what a tight ass you were before ya met me.” She slung her arm across my shoulder, “Yeah B, I'm gonna haveta stick around to make sure you keep findin' the fun. We can't have you going back to non-fat yogurt as a post-slaying activity.”

*******

This morning when I woke up, Faith was still there. It's not always that way; sometimes in the morning she's gone. But now, Faith doesn't scream if she's afraid. She clatters into my room, making enough noise to ensure I'm awake, but never says a word. She just crawls into my bed. I wish I could vanish all her fears. But I can't `cos it's not all about me. See? I'm an inch taller; growth. Even if I can't avert the apocalypse in her dreams at least she doesn't have to be alone.

Sometimes on nights when we're patrolling, she doesn't respond to my clever quipping with sarcastic comments and rude retorts. In fact, on those nights she doesn't say much at all. After we've staked the blood-suckers, beheaded the monsters and brought the world back from the brink of peril, we return to the Academy. Faith lounges against the corridor wall and waits while I fumble for my room key. Then she follows me inside, wordlessly borrowing a t-shirt before climbing into bed. The only times we don't have sex are when she sleeps over.

All I've wanted all this time is for Faith to show her fear and let me see her vulnerability. But in the middle of the night when she's not armoured with leather or armed with a knife, the look in her eyes keeps me awake. It's like a kid who's been hurt more times than they have fingers to count on. The same look Toby has, only worse, because Faith's eyes question me. She waits in anticipation, silently asking when next I'm going to hurt her.

But now, when Faith's scared; she comes to me. This morning when I woke up, Faith was here. Sometimes Faith still has nightmares.

The End