Seventeen

TURNABOUT

“You keep staring at the Key,” Xander said.

They were dressed again now, and sitting on the couch together. Xander was drinking beer. Empty bottles littered the floor in front of the couch. Willow leaned her head on his shoulder, and held his hand.

She wanted to be close to him.

She didn’t want to lose him...

Xander hadn’t heard her, when she’d whispered Buffy’s name. Willow thanked the Goddess for that.

Now, she was trying to figure out what to do about it.

But, for some reason, she couldn’t take her eyes off the Key.

“Yeah,” Willow said.

“Why?”
“Don’t know. How many beers have you had?

“A buzzable amount. But not a drunken amount. Five or six.”

“You gonna just leave the empties on the floor here like this?”

“You’re my old ball and chain. Shouldn’t you be cleaning up after me?”

“That’s what I love about you, sweetie,” Willow said, and smiled, and kissed him. “How brave you are.”

“Lemme see this Key thing, see what you’re so damn interested in,” Xander said, and picked up the Key from the coffee table. “You should be totally letting me feel you up and instead this rock’s beating my time.”

“You can feel me up. You can always feel me up. I’m, y’know, your girlfriend.”

She looked up into his eyes.

“I love you, Xander,” Willow said. “You...you know that right? That I love you?”

“Sure, cowgirl,” he said, and smiled his goofy smile. “Fun to hear anyway. “For the record, I love you too.”

She kissed him.

She held the kiss...she didn’t want to let him go.

Eventually, he gently withdrew, giggling.

“I’m gonna need to recharge awhile longer if that’s what you’re after,” he said. “You insatiable vixen.”

“Better not keep me waiting too long,” Willow said, and giggled too.

“Are you using me for my body?” Xander said. “That’s perfectly okay with me, by the way. I was just wondering.”

“I like you for more than your body,” Willow said. “But the body’s a nice little throw-in.”

“Little?” he said, and grinned.

She smiled.

“Big,” she said. “Humungous. I’m your cowgirl, right? Well, you’re hung like a--”

Faith cleared her throat.

They looked up. Faith was leaning on the wall, grinning at them.

“Not interrupting anything, am I?” she said.

“Um...nope,” Willow said, and blushed.

“We were just...uh...talking,” Xander said.

“Such pervs,” Faith said, shaking her head, as she walked to the couch.

To Faith, the couch smelled like sex, and lots of it. Faith sat down beside Willow. Willow smelled like sex, too. And lots of it.

“Um...so what’s up?” Willow said.

Everyone Wants Willow, Faith thought, and smiled.

“Okay,” Faith said. “Me and B talked stuff out. She let me have the pics.”

“Really?” Willow said, her eyes widening. “That’s...oh Goddess, that’s so awesome! Finally.”

“G-Man take off?” Faith said.

“Yeah,” Xander said. “He doesn’t want to be here when Angel arrives. Says he’ll be back tomorrow sometime.”

“Okay. I’m holding onto the pics but I promised B I wouldn’t throw them away,” Faith said. “So look. B’s in a bad place, you both know it. But I need you guys to not act all weird around her, okay? She needs to be strong, it’s what keeps her going, it’s who she is. You gotta keep letting her be strong for you guys. She’s willing to let her guard down for me, but just me. So you guys can’t be acting different around her, okay? She’s still the leader. She’s still in charge.”

“I’ll make sure I keep screwing stuff up,” Xander said. “Make sure I get into jams she can get me out of.”

“Cool,” Faith said. “And don’t think I forgot about your training, Xan Man. That’s startin’ up the second all this shit with those wolf vamps is over.” She raised her eyebrow. “Assuming Will doesn’t tire you out too much.”

Willow giggled, and blushed again.

“When we start up the training Will can be my cardio workout,” Xander said. “Ow,” he added, as Willow did something to his leg.

“You two,” Faith said, shaking her head. “I’m not sure I’m old enough to be hanging around with you guys. I’m like, young and impressionable.”

“Maybe we can teach you some stuff,” Willow said. “Don’t even think it,” she added, pointing at Xander. “Not Katie Holmes either.”

“Don’t worry hon, you’re got me too tired out to think those evil thoughts right now,” Xander said. “So Faith, while we have you here, there’s something Will and I want to talk to you about. It’s...about Buffy.”

“Uh...sure, what’s up?” Faith said.

“This isn’t like, we’re, y’know, goin’ behind Buffy’s back or anything,” Willow said. “It’s just we kinda wanna feel you out on this before Buffy brings it up. Because Buffy’s gonna bring it up soon and it’s probably better you hear it from us first and things don’t get all...um...tense.”

“You said you told me everything, Will,” Faith said, sitting up and looking intently at her. “Something you left out?”

“No, nothing like that sweetie,” Willow said, and patted her hand. Faith relaxed. “It’s just, this situation, with the Key and the new vamps and the fact they attacked us right in the open in the Bronze like that...Buffy’s gettin’ all...”

“She wants our D.O.R.’s,” Xander said. “She says there are gonna be tough decisions coming down and sure, she’ll talk with us first but ultimately she’s gonna be the one who decides.”

“Uh-huh,” Faith said.

“It’s always sorta been this way,” Willow said. “I mean, y’know, Buffy’s all the Slayer and everything, we just try to help out a little here and there...”

“You guys do a lot more than just help out a little,” Faith said.

“Thanks, but...anyway...y’know, Buffy’s usually the one who sorta comes up with the plan?” Willow said. “Or at least, like, approves the plan if someone else came up with it and then she says okay, yeah, that’s what we’ll do. But now she’s like, being all official about it.”

“And this thing with the new vamps brought this on?” Faith said.

“No,” Xander said. “She says that but this is really all about Angel.” He shook his head. “Like every other frigging thing in our lives.”

“Yeah, when she decided she’s bringing Angel in to help she knew we wouldn’t like it but she says it has to be done,” Willow said. “And, y’know, she’s right about that. But she says there are gonna be lots more hard decisions coming and she wants us all to, y’know, even if we disagree with her? To, um...”

“Fall in line,” Xander said. “Look, I’d follow Buffy into hell, okay? She says we get input, she’ll hear us out first before she moves, and that’s all I need. But we wanted to be sure you wouldn’t...take it the wrong way. Like you said, she’s in a bad place. Will and I have known for a long time that Buffy’s screwed up. So we figure the last thing she needs is to have to fight with you over this.”

“How’s this work with the G-Man?” Faith said. “You said B’s always been like, kinda sorta in charge. What’s G-Man think about that?”

“He doesn’t love it but it’s just how Buffy is,” Willow said. “From the first day, like literally, when we all got together and went after our first vampires? Buffy was all like, ‘okay, here’s what we’re gonna do’. Giles helped, and I helped, and Xander helped, and we all kinda brainstormed and came up with the plan together. But Buffy like, approved the plan. You could tell even then that she wasn’t gonna do anything that she didn’t agree with and if we couldn’t all agree on a plan that she liked then she would just go out and do it all herself.”

“G-Man sure is different from Becca,” Faith said. “Buffy pulled that shit with Becca? Becca would laugh her ass off. Laugh her ass off. She’d think it’s cute. For like a second.”

“Yeah?” Xander said, and grinned. “Then what?”

Willow smiled.

“She’d kick Buffy’s little butt,” Faith said. “Okay, you guys don’t have to worry, I got no problem with B bein’ in charge.”

“Really?” Willow said. “But...you’re a Slayer too.”

“Y’know, it’s funny,” Faith said. “Back before I became the Slayer, when I was just a potential? Becca told me stories about the Slayer...about all the Slayers who came before. And she told me about Buffy, and Kendra. And I got it in my head that the Slayer equaled Buffy. Like, all those other Slayers from before? Or Kendra, who was around at the same time as B? Yeah, I knew they were Slayers but for some reason whenever the word ‘Slayer’ went through my head I always thought about Buffy. The stories Becca told me? The stuff Buffy did? Buffy was...” Faith looked at them, and grinned. “And by the way, if either of you guys tell Buffy this I’m gonna kick your butts, just so you know.”

“Our lips are sealed, sweetie,” Willow said, and smiled a knowing smile.

“Buffy was always my hero,” Faith said. “I always hoped that if I ever became the Slayer? I could be like, maybe half the Slayer she is. That’s all I hoped for, all I wanted. To be maybe just half the Slayer...half the woman Buffy Summers is. I thought about her a lot. And now that I know her? Now that I love her? She’s still my hero. She’s my hero even more now.”

“Changed my mind,” Xander said, and giggled. “I’m telling her.”

“You better not tell her,” Faith said. “So gettin’ that D.O.R.”

“It’s okay,” Xander said. “Buffy’s my hero too.”

“Hey, honey,” Faith said, and walked back into Buffy’s bedroom, and shut the door behind her.

The room was dark. The curtains were drawn. Only the soft glow from the streetlamp outside, stealing in through a gap in the curtains, gave any light.

Buffy was lying naked on the bed.

“Wow,” Faith said.

Buffy lay on her side, with her head propped up on her hand, and a modest little smile. Her other hand covered her breasts. She held her legs together.

“What?” Buffy said.

“You’re beautiful, Buffy,” Faith said.

She was the most beautiful thing Faith had ever seen. Faith wanted to kiss her feet. She wanted to worship her.

Buffy averted her eyes, and blushed.

“Yeah?” Buffy said.

“I’m a lesbian,” Faith said. “I’m such a damn lesbian.”

Faith undressed, in the dark. Buffy watched her, and scratched her toenails up and down the bedsheet.

A moment later, Faith stood naked in front of her.

“You’re my lion,” Buffy whispered.

“Thought I was your cub?” Faith said, and smiled, and sat beside Buffy on the bed.

“You’re a grown-up cat now,” Buffy said.

Faith nodded, and ran her fingers down Buffy’s back, and over her legs.

“You gettin’ shy on me, beautiful?” Faith whispered, and began to kiss Buffy, starting with her feet. She worked her way up. She took her time.

“No,” Buffy said, and turned over onto her back, and let Faith see all of her, when Faith finally reached her lips.

Faith moved on top of her. Buffy hugged her, and brought her close, so their breasts were touching.

“You are such a damn lesbian,” Buffy said, and smiled.

“Yeah? What about you?” Faith said.

“Me?” Buffy said. “I’ve decided I’m totally straight. In fact, I am totally...” Buffy kissed Faith, and played with her hair.

“...Grossed out...” Buffy whispered, and ran her tongue along Faith’s neck, behind her ear, where Faith’s scent was strong.

“...By this whole girl on girl thing,” Buffy whispered, and moved her hands over Faith’s ass, and caressed it.

“Yeah, I can tell you’re real uncomfortable with it,” Faith said. “I talked with Will and Xander.”

“What did you guys talk about?”

“How you’re all like sayin’ you’re in charge. Will and Xander wanted to just give me a heads-up before you told me, they wanted to make sure everything goes smooth between you and me.”

“Is everything gonna go smooth?” Buffy said, and kissed her again.

“Sure.”

“You’re not gonna fight me on this?”

“Nope.”

“Maybe you should fight me on this. Maybe you should be the one in charge.”

“I got no problem with you bein’ in charge, B.”

“Why not? You’ve heard how I’ve screwed everything else up.”

“What I’ve heard is how you try. How you don’t give up. How you saved the world. How you died for your friends. No one better to lead than you. Long as I get to throw my two cents in I’m good. I’ll follow you anywhere, beautiful.”

They kissed.

“Why? Why am I...why should I be in charge?” Buffy said. “Maybe you should be. Maybe Willow should be.”

“Look, if you don’t wanna take point on this? I’ll step up,” Faith said, as Buffy pulled her closer. “I can do it. But I know you can do it too. You wanna hang back, let me take the weight? I will, honey. You just let me know what you wanna do. But if you wanna lead? I’ll always follow you.”

“Is it just because you love me?” Buffy said. “Are you gonna follow me just because I’m your girl?”

“No,” Faith said. “Because you’re Buffy Summers.”

Buffy nodded, and looked up into Faith’s eyes.

“I love you,” Buffy said.

“I love you too, beautiful,” Faith said.

Buffy ran her feet up and down the backs of Faith’s thighs. Buffy’s nipples were hard. Her pussy was wet, too; Faith could smell it.

“I want you to take me tonight, baby,” Buffy whispered.

“I want to take care of you, honey,” Faith whispered. “I wanna keep you warm. That’s all I wanna do. I need to take care of my girl tonight.”

The window was open a crack; the world smelled like a garden. A little breeze came into the room. It was cool, but not cold; it was just right. It kissed their skin, let them feel their blood flowing.

Buffy moved her hair aside, and turned her head, revealing the left side of her neck...and the old bite wound there.

Faith kissed it.

Faith felt Buffy’s breath, warm on her cheek. She took in Buffy’s scent. She could hear Buffy’s heart now, beating fast; she could feel it, against her breasts.

“Make me bleed for you,” Buffy whispered, and wrapped her legs around Faith, and caressed the backs of her thighs with her feet. “I wanna bleed for you, baby. I want you to take me.”

They looked into each other’s eyes.

“Make me bleed,” Buffy whispered, and kissed her. She took hold of Faith’s tongue with her lips, and sucked on it.

Faith felt Buffy’s pussy, slick against her now.

“I just...want to take care of you,” Faith whispered, and took Buffy’s hand, and kissed it...and then kissed her wrist, where the wound was. “I want to make love to you tonight, honey. I want us to be soft, tonight. We can do that other stuff...another time, okay? Tonight, I just want to take care of my girl.”

“You’re a lion, baby,” Buffy said, and caressed Faith’s hair, and licked her neck. “But you’ve never shown me. I’ve never seen her. I want to see her. I want to see my lion tonight.”

Buffy brought Faith’s mouth back down to her neck.

“Buffy...not tonight,” Faith whispered, and kissed the wound again. “Another night, okay, beautiful? I promise.”

“Tonight,” Buffy whispered, and yanked Faith’s hair, hard. Faith gasped. “I need it tonight.”

“Buffy...” Faith said, and gently pulled Buffy’s hand from her hair. “I just...I don’t want...”

“I’ve been...I’ve been bad, right?” Buffy said, and smiled. “I’m a bad girl, remember? You gotta...you gotta punish me.”

“Buffy...” Faith said, and gently kissed her. “Honey...I don’t...”

Buffy yanked Faith’s hair again. Faith grunted, and showed Buffy her teeth for a second, this time.

“Hurt me,” Buffy hissed.

“Buffy!” Faith shouted, and grabbed her hand. “What are you doing? Honey...what is this?”

Buffy kissed her. She tore into Faith’s mouth, jamming her tongue down her throat. As the kiss ended, Buffy bit down on Faith’s lip, and yanked her hair again, harder. Faith snarled, this time.

“I see her now,” Buffy whispered. “I know she’s in there.”

“Stop it,” Faith said. “Honey...please? Stop.”

“Make me,” Buffy hissed, and yanked Faith’s hair again, as hard as she could without pulling it out of her head.

Faith screamed, but the scream turned into a roar...

Faith grabbed Buffy’s hands, and roared in Buffy’s face. She slammed Buffy’s hands back to the bed, pinning them.

She roared in Buffy’s face again, even louder, and showed her all her teeth, and looked down into her eyes...

Faith’s brown eyes had a light in them now, that Buffy had never seen before. It was a golden light...Faith’s eyes were two pinpoints of gold.

They penetrated Buffy...held her in place...froze her.

“There she is,” Buffy whispered. “My lion. You’re so beautiful, baby.”

Faith growled at her.

Buffy turned her head...and offered Faith her neck.

Still growling, Faith moved her nose to Buffy’s neck, where the wound was, and sniffed at it.

She ran her teeth across it.

Buffy’s breathing sped up.

Faith took both of Buffy’s hands in one of hers, and pinned them over Buffy’s head. She looked down into Buffy’s eyes again as she did it, and growled.

Buffy knew what the growl meant.

Faith grabbed Buffy’s long, blonde hair in her other hand, looping it around her fist, like a rope. She held it tight, held Buffy in place.

“Take me,” Buffy whispered. “Please, baby?”

Faith lunged for Buffy’s neck, roaring again. Buffy gasped, and winced, and felt her heart beat faster.

Faith bit down on Buffy’s neck...slowly, gently. Buffy wrapped her legs tight around Faith, and moaned.

Buffy whimpered, as Faith’s teeth penetrated her like razors, and Faith began taking her blood, and swallowing it. Faith snarled, and held her in place.

Faith began thrusting into Buffy, ramming her body against her, grinding their pussies together. Buffy was drenched. Faith was wet now, too; Buffy smelled it, and she felt it. Faith’s pussy was warm and slippery against her.

As Buffy felt her blood, steadily coursing out of her and entering Faith, a warmth suffused her; it was an enervating, numb feeling that spread through her body, and made her want to sleep. Faith’s grip on her arms and her hair had softened now, as Buffy didn’t struggle. Faith was still snarling, but Buffy thought there was a different quality to it, now. Buffy understood it...she understood what Faith was saying. The snarl had been angry before, when Buffy was fighting her. Now that Buffy had surrendered, and given herself to Faith, the snarl was different. The snarl said Buffy belonged to her. It said Faith would always take care of her, now that Buffy was hers...

Faith was moving faster now, as she rammed into her; Buffy spread her legs as wide as she could, and sped up her own motion to keep time as Faith fucked her. Faith moved up a little higher, and rubbed her pussy against Buffy’s clit. Buffy began squealing. She knew she was going to come soon.

Buffy smelled Faith’s musky peach scent all around her. The muscles in Faith’s legs were hard as steel beneath Buffy’s feet, but her skin was soft.

Faith was taking more blood than Buffy had taken. Buffy felt weak. She could feel all her energy, leaving her, entering Faith...

“Punish me,” Buffy whispered, and started to cry. “Take it...take it all. Take it all, baby. I need to be punished.”

Faith released Buffy’s hair, and caressed it.

And Faith growled, a satisfied growl, as she took Buffy’s blood, and fucked her...

Buffy came. It was a different kind of orgasm; it was a warmth, that filled her up, permeated her...and when Buffy was finally full, when that warmth had finally found every part of her, she felt a shudder move through her, slowly; like a blanket being pulled up over her, like a caress. She screamed, and thrashed around beneath Faith, but Faith held her still...

And kept taking her blood...

Buffy felt something else now...fear.

She was weak. And if Faith didn’t stop...

Buffy knew she wouldn’t be able to stop Faith, now.

If Faith didn’t stop...

Buffy cried, and whimpered, and felt her heart beating so fast she thought it would explode out of her chest...

Buffy closed her eyes, held them shut tight, as Faith took her blood...as Buffy felt her life, flowing out of her...and her tears, flowing down her cheeks...

And she felt afraid...

And Faith stopped.

Buffy gasped, and opened her eyes. She tried to get her breathing back under control.

She felt Faith, licking her neck now, licking the wound.

Faith was still holding her hands, pinning her to the bed. Buffy realized her hands hurt, now. She hadn’t noticed before. But Faith was caressing her hair.

They were quiet for a moment, as Faith licked the wound closed.

When Faith had finished, she moved away from Buffy’s neck, and released Buffy’s hands.

She knelt above Buffy’s chest, and looked down at her.

Faith’s mouth was covered with blood. Faith’s eyes were golden. They stabbed down into Buffy...penetrated her...

When Buffy looked up at Faith, she saw a lion.

“You taste sweet,” Faith said.

Faith’s voice sounded different, now. It was softer, but more forceful at the same time; every word hung in the air and lingered. It touched a place deep inside Buffy, when she heard it; she felt herself respond to it instinctively, physically, as if her body was an instrument being played. She thrilled to it. Faith’s voice was like a sudden, unexpected caress.

Faith’s voice sounded like fire crackling. It sounded like stealthy footfalls in the tall grass.

“I love you,” Buffy said, with tears on her cheeks. “I love you so much, Faith. I love you more than anything in the world, baby.”

“Do you?” Faith said. “I guess tonight we’ll see.”

Faith smiled. She showed Buffy her teeth. Her teeth were stained red with Buffy’s blood.

When Buffy looked up at that smile, a shudder went through her.

“What...what do you mean?” Buffy said.

Faith laughed.

“Buffy Summers,” Faith said, still laughing. “The great Buffy Summers. My girl. You really do think the whole fucking world revolves around you, don’t you? And y’know what? Maybe you’re right. Maybe the whole world really does revolve around you, beautiful. Mine does, anyway.”

Faith leaned in close to her, and looked straight down into her eyes.

Buffy was frozen...

Blood stained Faith’s lips, and her chin, and her teeth. She smiled again. Faith’s bloody smile was beautiful, and hideous. Buffy wanted to look away, but she couldn’t...

“You’re the most beautiful girl in the world,” Faith said. “The most beautiful girl that’s ever walked on God’s fucking earth. And you know it, don’t you? Yup, you know you’re all that...you know you’re the great Buffy Summers. Saved the world, a few times now, and did it with style. And, the rest of us? Me, Will, Xander, all of us? We’re just part of your life’s great play, aren’t we? Just supporting actors, on your fucking stage. We’re all just part of the epic story of Buffy Summers.”

“That’s...not...” Buffy started to say...

Faith held her finger to Buffy’s lips.

“You talk too much, B,” Faith said. “Always makin’ with the speeches. Only one that gets to make speeches to me is Becca. You’re not her.”

Faith brushed her bloody lips against Buffy’s.

“Taste, beautiful,” Faith whispered. “Taste how sweet you are.”

Faith kissed her. Buffy tasted her own blood. It was warm, and it had a sweet taste, and it was a little bit salty at the same time.

They kissed, until the blood was gone...they shared it, took it inside themselves.

“Lick me clean,” Faith whispered.

Buffy licked all the blood from Faith’s chin.

When Buffy was done, Faith straddled Buffy’s chest again, and looked down at her, and smiled.

“So I’m your lion, huh?” Faith said.

“Yeah,” Buffy said. “I love you. I don’t...I don’t think everything revolves around me.”

Faith laughed again.

“Sure you do, girlfriend,” Faith said. “And why shouldn’t it? You’re Buffy. You’re beautiful, you’re strong, you’re smart...well...not that smart. Sometimes you can be a little clueless. Like, for instance? Now.”

Faith grabbed Buffy’s hair, and yanked it so hard Buffy screamed, and tears came to her eyes.

Faith smiled.

“You thought you could control this, huh beautiful?” Faith snarled. “The way you control everything else. Thought like, you could be in charge even when you were playin’ at not bein’ in charge. I mean, you know the world revolves around you, right? So then you figure, why should this be any different? I’m the great Buffy Summers! I’ll be on top, even when I’m on the bottom.”

Buffy shook her head.

“That’s not how it is, baby,” Buffy whimpered. “It’s not--”

She screamed again, as Faith yanked her hair.

“I’m your lion, huh?” Faith snarled, as she looked down into Buffy’s eyes, and held her still. “So I guess you figure I’m like...your pet lion. Your lion on a leash. That it? That what I am?”

Buffy shook her head, and tears filled her eyes.

Faith yanked her hair again. Buffy screamed.

“Fucking answer me,” Faith said.

Buffy’s scent changed...she was becoming afraid now. Faith could smell it on her...

Faith had what she wanted.

“No, baby...I love you, I love you!” Buffy whimpered, and started sobbing. “You’re strong, and...and a lion and...so beautiful and...I love you.”

Faith let Buffy’s hair go, and caressed her cheek. She looked down into her eyes.

She kissed her, softly.

“I love you too,” Faith said. “You’re my girl, Buffy. You always will be. Okay, beautiful?”

“I’m your girl,” Buffy said, and cried. “I’m your girl.”

“You’re my girl,” Faith said, and held her. “You’re my girl.”

They stayed like that, for awhile. Faith kissed Buffy’s tears, until they were gone.

Then Faith whispered something in her ear.

“But tonight, I’m gonna hurt you,” Faith whispered. “Tonight, for the first time in your life? You’re not gonna be in control.”

Faith looked down into Buffy’s eyes again. Faith’s eyes still held Buffy, transfixed.

“I’m pissed at you,” Faith said, and caressed Buffy’s hair. “Been pissed at you for awhile. That doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t change how I love you. But there’s a lot of stuff...stuff we gotta talk out, before Angel gets here. We’re gonna play Confessions again. I know I love you more than anything in the world. But by the time we’re done tonight? I’m gonna know how much you love me. I’m gonna fuckin’ know, Buffy.”

“I love you more than anything in the world,” Buffy said. “More than anyone. You’re all that’s in my heart.”

“Will’s downstairs, Angel’s comin’ over tonight. Seems to me your heart’s pretty crowded, B. You sure there’s enough room in there for me?”

“It’s all for you, baby,” Buffy said, and reached out, to touch Faith’s cheek. “My heart’s all for you.”

Faith took her hand, and held her arm, straight up in the air. She moved herself closer to Buffy’s face, and smiled.

“I meant it when I said there’s never been anyone as beautiful as you,” Faith said, and took Buffy’s other hand, and held it straight up, and smiled down at her. “But, looking at your pretty face now? I think it could use a little something. You wanna look perfect for when your boyfriend gets here, right?”

Faith was straddling Buffy’s face now, kneeling directly above her lips.

“I think your face needs to be all sticky,” Faith said. “I’m gonna grind my lil’ kitty all over your face, and you’re gonna make me come, so you can look pretty for when Angel gets here. Okay, honey?”

Buffy blushed, and nodded.

“When Mr. Hottie gets here he’s gonna smell my kitty all over you,” Faith said. “Isn’t he, honey?”

“Yeah,” Buffy whispered.

Faith held Buffy’s arms up in the air over her head with one hand. She held her still.

She lowered herself to Buffy’s lips, and began fucking her face. She held Buffy’s arms like reins, and rode her like a horse.

Faith’s pussy was slick and sticky on Buffy’s lips, and her taste was strong and sweet. Buffy tried to keep up, as Faith rode her face faster and faster, nearly smothering her. Whenever Buffy had a hard time breathing Faith sat up a little, to allow her to catch her breath, but then a few seconds later her pussy would be right back in Buffy’s face, grinding against her...

“Don’t close your fucking eyes,” Faith growled. “Look up at me while I’m fucking you.”

Buffy opened her eyes and looked up at Faith, and ate her pussy as best she could, but Faith was riding her face so hard and so fast now that Buffy couldn’t keep up with her...

“Get that fucking tongue up there,” Faith growled. “I know you can do better than that.”

Buffy stuck her tongue up Faith’s pussy as far as it could go. Faith threw her head back, and moaned.

“Good girl,” Faith murmured. “You’re my good girl, huh honey?”

Buffy looked up at Faith, and nodded, and licked her pussy.

Faith rode Buffy’s face, and looked down into her eyes. Buffy didn’t look away. She couldn’t...

“My kitty’s greased lightning, honey,” Faith said, and smiled, as she started riding Buffy even harder. “Go Greased Lightning, go.” Faith giggled.

Buffy squirmed underneath her, trying to breathe. Faith’s pussy was warm and wet, and its musky peach scent filled Buffy’s nostrils. Faith’s pussy scent, and her lion’s smile, and her dark eyes, with their golden light...those were the only things that existed now; they were Buffy’s whole world.

Faith began caressing Buffy’s pussy with the index finger of her left hand. Buffy began to moan, the sweet sounds muffled beneath Faith’s pussy.

“Shoulda shaved, huh honey?” Faith said, and giggled. “You’re gonna get rug burn. From now on I’ll keep it all smooth for you down there for when I ride your face. Okay, honey?”

Buffy moaned. She was arching her hips now, as Faith expertly stroked her pussy. Faith could make Buffy come with one finger; she’d done it before. Buffy thought she just did it to show off...

She was doing it now. She stroked Buffy’s pussy, and her clit, using only her index finger, as she rode Buffy’s face.

Buffy began scratching her toenails up and down the bedsheet, tearing it to shreds. She gasped and squealed and squirmed around beneath Faith’s pussy, as Faith rode her...

“My girl’s gonna come for me, huh?” Faith whispered.

Buffy nodded, and felt herself beginning to tremble, felt her body becoming hot, all over...felt her nerves tingling, her blood surging through her...

“You’re gonna come because you just love my lil’ kitty jammed in your face, huh?” Faith said, and smiled, showing Buffy her teeth.

Buffy nodded, and began screaming, as Faith rode her, and caressed her pussy...

“Come on honey,” Faith whispered. “Be a good girl and come for me.”

Buffy came; it felt like her whole body exploded. She shrieked, beneath Faith’s pussy, and threw her arms forward and kicked her legs out. Faith held on, but she was nearly thrown.

Faith laughed, and bounced up and down on Buffy’s face. Her pussy smacked into Buffy’s mouth.

“Damn, pardner, I’m thinkin’ this filly ain’t broken in yet,” Faith said, in her best stab at a Western accent. “Reckon we’re gonna have to ride her ’round the barn a few more times, boys.”

Faith rode Buffy harder, smothering her face with her pussy now...

“Go Greased Lightning, you’re burning up the quarter mile,” Faith sang, thrusting her hips forward and grinding her pussy against Buffy’s face in perfect time to the song. “Greased Lightning, go Greased Lightning...”

Faith giggled.

“With new pistons, plugs, and shocks I can get off my rocks...you know that I ain't braggin’ she's a real pussy wagon, Greased Lightning,” Faith sang, and fucked Buffy’s face to the words...

Faith’s legs started shaking.

“Oh God, honey!” Faith suddenly squealed, and came. She screamed, and her legs shook. She rammed her quivering pussy against Buffy’s face as her orgasm quaked through her, and she held it there; Buffy wasn’t getting any air now. She squirmed beneath Faith’s pussy, and Faith lifted herself up a little, so Buffy could take a breath.

Buffy’s face was red, and sticky with Faith’s pussy juice. She was breathing hard, dragging in air. So was Faith.

But when Buffy looked up into Faith’s eyes, there was something different.

Faith always cried when she came...

This time, she didn’t.

Faith looked down at Buffy, and giggled.

“You do know how to eat pussy, girlfriend,” Faith said. “God damn that was good. I just loved dancing all over your pretty face, honey.”

Faith leaned down, and kissed her. But she still held Buffy’s arms in the air over her head.

“I’m gonna dance on your face again now, okay honey?” Faith said. “Are you gonna be a good girl and make me come again?”

“Yeah,” Buffy said.

“You liked it, huh honey?” Faith said. “You liked me riding you.”

Buffy blushed. She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t...Faith’s eyes held her...and Faith’s voice caressed her...

“You can tell me, honey,” Faith said, softly, and kissed her. “Know the answer anyway. Tell me the truth now, don’t you lie to me. Because, lyin’? Girls who lie are bad girls. And bad girls get punished. You’re gonna find out about that later. But right now, tell me. It got you off, me riding your face. Didn’t it?”

Buffy nodded.

“Not just because you love my lil’ kitty either,” Faith said. “You liked being under me. You liked being held down. You liked not being in control.”

“Yeah,” Buffy whispered.

“That’s good,” Faith said, and smiled, and sat up, and lowered her pussy to Buffy’s lips again. “Because I’m not done riding that pretty face. Now get that tongue back up there.”

Buffy stuck her tongue up Faith’s pussy again, as far as it could go, and started fucking her with it.

“Good girl,” Faith murmured, and looked down at her, as she began to move her pussy up and down Buffy’s lips. “Good girl.”

Buffy nodded.

Faith was moving slower, this time; she was gentle. She didn’t crush her pussy against Buffy’s face. Buffy was able to keep up, and she had room to breathe. She kissed and licked Faith’s pussy, and Faith gently rode her, looking down at her with golden eyes that never blinked, never wavered.

“I love you, Buffy,” Faith said. “You’re my girl.”

“I love you too,” Buffy said.

“Are you gonna be a good girl and make me come?” Faith said.

“I’m gonna be a good girl,” Buffy whispered, and licked Faith’s pussy, and luxuriated in Faith’s scent.

“I’m gonna make you come too, okay beautiful?” Faith said, and held up her left index finger. “I always take care of my girl.”

Buffy nodded, and then immediately started to moan, as Faith began caressing her pussy with her finger.

“That’s my girl,” Faith whispered, as she looked down into Buffy’s eyes, and expertly stroked her pussy, and rode her face, moving slow. “That’s my girl.”

“Damn,” Faith said, a little while later. “Didn’t think anything could beat Greased Lightning. But your little pussy wagon came faster, honey.”

“It’s that frigging finger of yours,” Buffy said, and giggled. “I want a rematch.”

They laid on the bed together, and Faith held Buffy in her arms, and kissed her, all over her face.

“You don’ have to kiss it off,” Buffy whispered. “I don’t mind. I don’t mind...having your scent on me.”

“And I don’t mind kissing you, beautiful,” Faith whispered, as she covered Buffy’s face with soft kisses. “Besides, my pussy scent’s practically all the way down into your pores now, the way I rode you. I want Angel to smell me on you, but I don’t need Will and Xander smelling it. Uh, especially not Xander.”

“Greased Lightning,” Buffy said, and giggled. “Even when you’re making me your bitch you’re a goof. I love you, baby.”

“I love you too,” Faith said.

Faith looked down into Buffy’s eyes again, and kissed her hand.

“And I want you to remember that, keep it right next to your heart tonight, okay?” Faith said. “Remember that I love you. Because tonight’s gonna be rough, honey. We got a lot of stuff to sort out, you and me.”

“How come...you didn’t mention it before?” Buffy said. “That we have stuff to sort out? I thought...we sorted stuff out in the motel room yesterday.”

“I was kinda holding some stuff in before. But I’m sick of holding stuff in. Plus, after all the stuff Will just told me...figure today’s a good day just to clear the air, start fresh...see where we stand.”

Buffy nodded.

“I’m pissed at you, Buffy,” Faith said. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I still love you just as much as ever. I’ll always love you, no matter what... but I’m pissed at you. And I don’t like the feeling. So one way or another, we’re gonna work this shit out tonight. Okay, beautiful?”

“Okay,” Buffy said. “So you...really think that...I think the world revolves around me?”

“Yeah,” Faith said. “I don’t mean it in a bad way. I’m not saying you’re like, full of yourself. Just...being the Slayer kinda screwed you up. I mean, you really are separate from everyone else. You save the world and you got responsibilities regular people can’t imagine. Yeah, Will and Xander and Giles are right there with you but at the end of the day it’s still really on your shoulders. You never liked it but you accepted it, got used to it eventually. And now it’s just kinda who you are. You’re Buffy and you save the world and you know it, you know you’re really important. And you gotta think about life and death all the time, you gotta think like a general because you’re in a war. You gotta lead all the time. It screwed you up. It changed you.”

“Yeah,” Buffy said. “I guess...I guess you’re right.”

Faith kissed her again.

“Worst part was, no one could understand,” Faith said. “No one could understand how hard it was, being you. Will and Xander, you talk to them but they still can’t really understand. You always felt alone. You were alone out there, like the sun in the sky, honey. So you thought everything revolved around you.”

Buffy nodded. Faith looked into her eyes.

“But you know what, beautiful?” Faith said. “You’re not alone anymore. Now you got me. And of all the people in the world? I’m the one who can understand. I know how it feels, that weight you got on your shoulders. I know how heavy it is. How if you screw up someone might die. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re a hunter, and the world is your jungle. Will and Xander and Giles, they don’t see the world the way we do; they can’t. They don’t understand the world the way we do. You and I are clued in to the big secret but they aren’t, they can’t ever be. You and I know the world is divided up into predators and prey, and we’re the predators. You and I know blood tastes sweet, and fear smells sweet. You and I know life is about strength and weakness, and blood and fucking, and love and hate. Nothing else matters worth a damn.”

“I love you,” Buffy said. “I love you, Faith.”

“I love you too,” Faith said. “We’re meant to be, Buffy. The world brought us together because we’re meant to be together. Yeah, we both have other people we’ve cared about? But no one else can ever love you the way I do. And no one else can ever love me the way you do.”

“I’m gonna love you forever,” Buffy said. “So...you said you were pissed at me before. How come?”

Faith grabbed Buffy by the hair, yanking it hard. Buffy whimpered, and tears came into her eyes again.

Faith yanked her hair again. Buffy screamed this time. Faith looked into Buffy’s eyes, and brought Buffy to her lips, and kissed her, as tears rolled down Buffy’s cheeks.

“Get down on your knees, and we’ll discuss it,” Faith said.

Buffy crawled off of the bed, as Faith held her hair like a leash. Faith sat on the edge of the bed, and Buffy knelt in front of her.

“You’re a perceptive girl, how about you try to guess why I’m pissed at you,” Faith said. “While you’re kissing my feet.”

Buffy took Faith’s right foot in her hand, and kissed it.

“Look at me while you do it,” Faith said.

Buffy looked up at Faith, and began covering her foot with kisses.

They were quiet for awhile, as Buffy kissed Faith’s foot.

“Now the left,” Faith said, eventually.

Buffy took Faith’s left foot in her hand, and began kissing it, as Faith looked down into her eyes.

“So? Any guesses?” Faith said. “Why am I pissed at you?”

“Because...I was with Angel,” Buffy said, and kissed Faith’s foot. “Because it was...wrong. He lost his soul, and...”

“Nope. You didn’t know that would happen. Wasn’t your fault. Try again.”

“Because...I lied. I lied about Angel...went to see him, without telling you. It was cheating. I cheated on you.”

“Bingo. So you said you wanted me to hurt you, punish you. How come? Got something else you want to tell me?”

“Yeah. There’s...one more thing.”

Buffy started to cry.

“Hey,” Faith said. “Come up here, honey. Come up here.”

Faith took her in her arms, and kissed her, and held her tight.

“What did I say before?” Faith whispered. “Remember? That I love you. That you’re my girl. That you always will be. Okay, honey?”

“Willow told you...how she has your memories,” Buffy said.

“Yeah,” Faith said.

“She...sometimes she gets confused, and...thinks she’s you,” Buffy said, and leaned her head against Faith’s shoulder, as Faith stroked her hair. “And...last night...when she told me she got your memories...we were talking in the kitchen about it, and...she got confused. She...thought she was in love with me, the way you are. She...she wanted me. In bed.”

“I know. She told me she...was like, having fantasies about you.”

“What she didn’t tell you...was that I kissed her.”

Faith stopped stroking Buffy’s hair.

“No,” Faith said. “She didn’t tell me that.”

“She wanted to tell you,” Buffy said. “But I told her I had to be the one to tell you.”

“Is it because...you love her more than me?” Faith whispered. “Is that...is that why you kissed her?”

Buffy looked Faith in the eyes.

“No,” Buffy said. “I loved her first. And I still love her. But I love you more. You’re the one I want to spend my life with.”

Faith nodded...

But she wasn’t sure she believed her.

“Then why...did you kiss her?” Faith said.

Buffy moved away from Faith, and sat beside her on the bed.

Faith kept her arm around her.

“She was...confused,” Buffy said. “She wanted me, the way you do. I knew it was gonna be a problem...a constant problem. I thought...I needed to scare her. I needed to show her that this wasn’t her. And I needed to show her that she could hurt us, hurt all of us, if she didn’t stop...if she didn’t find herself again.”

“So you...kissed her?” Faith said.

“I carried her into the living room. I got undressed, and I told her to get undressed too. Then I laid down on the couch with her, and hugged her, and talked to her.”

Faith was quiet. She watched Buffy, as Buffy stared at the wall.

“I needed to scare her,” Buffy said. “To do that...I had to offer it to her. I couldn’t fake it, couldn’t pretend. It had to be real. I needed to make her understand that she could destroy everything...her and Xander, you and me...so I told her I’d make love to her, if she wanted me to.”

Faith felt the cold thing inside her, again.

Her arm was still around Buffy.

Faith held on to her.

She held on by her fingernails...

“But I told her I wouldn’t lie about it,” Buffy said. “That I’d tell you, and you’d...you’d leave me. And if she didn’t tell Xander, I said I’d tell him, and he would leave her. I asked her if that’s what she wanted, for me to cheat on you, and for her to cheat on Xander. I asked her to decide what she wanted...who she loved. I told her all our lives were in her hands. And they were. Last night, they were.”

“And...what happened?” Faith whispered.

“Will found her way back,” Buffy said. “When I asked who she loved... she said Xander. And she found her way back to herself. The kiss...it was...a way for her to sort of let it all go...to let me go. It was just one kiss...a goodbye kiss.”

“And that’s all that happened?” Faith said.

“Yeah. Are you gonna leave me now?”

“No.”

“Maybe you should. Maybe you should...leave me for...”

Buffy looked down at her hands.

“Willow told me about Tara,” Buffy said. “She sounds nice. Sounds like... someone who wouldn’t lie to you, or kiss other girls.”

“I’m not leaving you for Tara,” Faith said. “I care about her. But you’re my girl, not her.”

“Why?” Buffy whispered.

Faith turned Buffy toward her, so she could see her face.

Faith held out her arms.

Buffy fell into them.

“Because that’s how it is,” Faith said, and held her tight. “How it’s meant to be. Might as well ask why the sun comes up in the morning.”

“I love you,” Buffy whispered, and started to cry. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Faith said.

Faith raised Buffy’s head, and looked at her.

Her eyes were still two golden points of light. They still held Buffy, transfixed.

Faith kissed Buffy’s tears away.

The room, the whole world, was silent. There was no one else in the world, anymore...Willow, Tara, Angel, they didn’t exist. The world, for this moment, was just for them.

They knew the moment wouldn’t last forever. They lived it, every second.

Faith kissed Buffy’s tears, and took her hands, and kissed the wounds on her wrists. Buffy curled up against Faith’s breasts, and held onto her as tight as she could. Faith was warm. Buffy had never felt so warm, before.

They were quiet. They took in each other’s scents, and listened to each other breathe...felt each other’s hearts beating. Talking didn’t seem right, somehow. There weren’t any words, for that moment. Words would have changed it, made it less than it was; by defining the moment, by naming it, the words would have stolen its magic away. It was just for them.

They stayed that way, for a long time. Faith held Buffy in her arms, and kissed her. Buffy curled up against Faith’s breasts, and Faith rocked her.

Eventually, Faith spoke.

“Wouldn’t have left even if something did happen with Will,” Faith said. “Long as you don’t lie to me, I’m staying. I’m staying as long as you’ll have me.”

“Okay,” Buffy said. “So I guess we’re gonna be together forever.”

“We’ll see,” Faith said. “I kissed Tara last week.”

“You...kissed her? Last week?” Buffy said.

“The night you offered to let me stay, and I said no, and we fought? I met Tara that night, and stayed over her house. On the couch. I kissed her the next morning. I thought...you didn’t love me. Thought you loved Will, and maybe Angel too. Didn’t think there was room for me.”

“I’m only for you, Faith. I belong to you. No one else, baby.”

“Tara didn’t make the first move. She wasn’t like, tryin’ to scoop me up. I started it. I wanted it...and if Tara had said yes when I wanted more... maybe you and me wouldn’t be here right now. But Tara cares about me. She wants good stuff for me. I told her everything. About Becca, and you, and Will and Xander and Giles...about how I’m a Slayer, everything. And she made me promise to try to get it together with you guys one more time first, because she could tell I love you. So...I tried to stop being...so in my own head all the time. I hung out with Will last week, and it was good. And then came the night with the wolf vamps... and me and you in my motel the next day...and you know the rest.”

“Tara sounds awesome. I had Will try to bring her here for the party, but she wasn’t home.”

“Don’t want her here right now. With these new vamps, we’ve got a target on our backs. She hangs with us right now, she could get hurt. Will and Xander and Giles know the score, but Tara doesn’t. I don’t want her hurt.”

“So how did you meet Tara, anyway?”

Faith looked at Buffy, and Buffy looked back...

“I met her when I tried to kill myself,” Faith said.

Buffy froze. The color drained from her face. Her hands began to shake.

“What?” Buffy whispered.

Faith took her hands in hers.

“The night we fought...when I wouldn’t stay at your place, and you told me maybe I should go back to Boston,” Faith said. “I thought...you didn’t love me. I thought we were done. I went up to the top of the lighthouse on Kingman’s Bluff. I was gonna jump.”

“No, baby,” Buffy whispered, and started to cry again. Faith hugged her.

“Tara was there,” Faith said. “She saved me...talked me down. Actually she just kinda grabbed me and wouldn’t let me go. Girl’s got a strong grip. She took me back to her place and we hung out, played video games, smoked a few joints. She cooked for me. I slept on the couch. I hung out with her most of last week.”

“Oh God, baby...” Buffy said, as she cried. “Oh, God...what did I do? What did I do?! What did I DO?! To ALL of you?!”

“You tell me,” Faith said, and let go of her, and stood up, and walked to the window. “What do you think you did?”

Faith looked out the window, as Buffy sat on the bed behind her, and cried.

“Oh God, oh no, oh no...” Buffy said, holding her head in her hands, and shaking it back and forth.

“How about I get the ball rollin’ for you, like, give you a recap of recent events,” Faith said. “Then you can decide what you did. So. Previously, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...”

Faith turned, and looked at her.

“You dated a vampire,” Faith said. “Sure, you didn’t know he’d go bad, but you sure knew he used to be bad. You knew he killed thousands of people. You knew he raped girls. Didn’t stop you from riding his knob though.”

Buffy wasn’t looking at her. She was looking down at the floor, and holding her head in her hands, and shaking.

“And you showed your boyfriend such a good time that he lost his soul,” Faith said. “Ooops. Angelus killed those eighteen little girls. He killed Giles’ lady. Did it real sick, too. Then he kidnapped Will, made her remember being raped every day and living in a fucking closet. Will has to live with that now, but not just Will. Xander has to live with it too. Even worse, Xander doesn’t know it all, he only thinks Angelus said stuff to Will, he doesn’t know Angelus made Dru give her those memories. And we can’t ever tell Xander about it because if we do we lose him and Will. So now we all have to fucking lie to Xander like, forever. To top it all off, once Angel got back from the hell dimension, you went behind my back to be with him. And I almost killed myself over it. All caught up now?”

Faith leaned against the wall by the window, and watched Buffy cry.

Faith wanted to go to her, and hold her. She didn’t let herself.

“So we’re back to the question,” Faith said. “What did you do to us? Look at me.”

Buffy looked down at the floor, her shoulders heaving as she cried.

“Look at me,” Faith said.

Buffy looked up at her...

Faith’s eyes held her.

“What did you do to us?” Faith said.

“I almost got you all killed,” Buffy said. “I hurt you all. I betrayed you all. Jenny’s dead, and Will...she...was raped and...you...”

“That why you wanted me to punish you tonight?” Faith said. “That why you think you’re bad?”

Buffy nodded.

Faith walked back to Buffy, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Get over my knee,” Faith said.

Buffy looked up at her, uncomprehending.

“What?” Buffy said.

“Do I fucking stutter?” Faith said. “Do it.”

Buffy blushed. She hesitated.

Then she wiped her tears away, and slowly laid herself across Faith’s knees. Faith held Buffy’s hands behind her back.

Faith spanked her ass, hard. The smack reverberated through the room; it sounded like a firecracker. Buffy gasped.

“You want to be punished?” Faith said. “I’ll fucking punish you.”

Smack! Faith spanked Buffy’s ass again, harder. Buffy whimpered, this time. Tears fell down her cheeks again.

“Hear that?” Faith said. “Damn, B, the sound of your pretty little ass being spanked sure does carry, huh? They’re gonna hear this all the way downstairs.”

Smack! Faith spanked Buffy’s ass again. Buffy grit her teeth, and whimpered through them.

“Willow and Xander can hear,” Faith said. “Wonder what they’re thinking?”

Smack!

Buffy’s ass was red now; Faith wasn’t going easy on her. Faith caressed Buffy’s ass, and noticed that Buffy’s pussy was wet.

“You want me to call Will up here?” Faith said.

Smack!

“Answer me,” Faith said.

“No,” Buffy whispered.

Smack! Buffy screamed, and shuddered, as Faith’s hand came down on her ass like a hammer.

“I think you do,” Faith said. “I think you want Will to see you like this. I think maybe I’ll call her in here. I mean, you like being naked with her, right?”

Buffy shook her head. Her breathing came in quick shallow gasps. She quivered, as Faith caressed her ass, and she waited for the hammer to fall again.

“I don’t...I just...wanna be with you, baby,” Buffy said, her voice shaky.

“Got a funny way of showing it,” Faith said.

Smack! Buffy winced, and held her eyes shut tight, and grit her teeth.

“First you go on a couple of dates with Angel, then you’re gettin’ naked with Will,” Faith said. “Shit, if that’s wantin’ to be with me, I wonder how the hell you’d act if you didn’t want to be with me? What, would you go out and shoot a fucking porno?”

Buffy was crying now.

“I didn’t...with Will...I just wanted to...” Buffy started to say.

Smack! Buffy screamed.

“Sure, you wanted to scare her straight,” Faith said. “Kinda literally, right? But you wanted to be naked with her too, didn’t you?”

Smack! SMACK! Buffy screamed again, as Faith spanked her ass twice in succession, once for each cheek, even harder than she had before.

“Don’t you fucking lie to me,” Faith said. “You wanted to be naked with her, didn’t you? Yeah, you didn’t want to cheat on me, but being able to get naked with Will while telling yourself it was all about helping her...that was just too good an opportunity to pass up, right?”

Smack! SMACK!

Buffy screamed again.

“Think you better answer me before your ass falls off,” Faith said. “You’re lookin’ like a tomato now.”

“I...I...liked it but...I don’t...it won’t...ever happen again, baby,” Buffy whimpered. “Not ever again.”

“Damn skippy it fucking won’t,” Faith snarled, and yanked Buffy’s hair.

“I’m sorry...! I’m sorry, baby...!” Buffy whimpered.

“Been sayin’ that a lot,” Faith said. “Way I figure it, words don’t count for shit. What matters is how we act.”

Faith noticed Buffy’s pussy was so wet it was dripping down her leg now. She caressed Buffy’s ass, as Buffy shook, and cried. Buffy flinched, when Faith’s hand touched her ass; she was wondering when the hammer would fall again.

“We can say we love each other,” Faith said. “And it’s nice. But it doesn’t count for shit, Buffy. What counts is proving it.”

Buffy nodded.

“And you did,” Faith said, and kissed her cheek. “You’ve been proving you love me for awhile now. I was just too wrapped up in myself to see.”

“I...did?” Buffy whispered, her lips trembling. “I...proved it?”

“You never gave up on me,” Faith said. “Even when I was all stubborn, and I gave you every reason to. You brought me food, because you loved me... because you couldn’t handle thinking about me being hungry. You kept me warm, when I was cold. The night I didn’t want to stay here with you, and you got fed up with how I was always blowing you guys off, and you told me maybe I should go back to Boston, the next day you snuck into my motel room and brought me more food anyway. You always take care of me.”

“Because I love you baby,” Buffy whispered. “I just...want to be with you. I don’t want anyone else. I’ll always take care of you.”

“I know,” Faith said. “I know, honey. Now, back to the question. What did you do to us? Wanna know the answer?”

“I already know,” Buffy said.

“No, you don’t. The answer is, you didn’t do anything to us,” Faith said. “Angelus did stuff to Will and Giles and Xander. He did stuff to you. Yeah, you went behind my back seeing Angel, but I’m the one who gave up on me that night when I wanted to kill myself, not you.”

Faith turned Buffy over in her lap, and kissed her. She lifted her up in her arms, and laid her on the bed, and laid down next to her.

She held Buffy close, and kissed her tears away.

“You’re my girl,” Faith said. “I say it a lot. But I’ll always prove it, too. I’ll never leave you, Buffy. As long as you don’t lie to me? I won’t ever leave you. I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me. Okay, beautiful?”

“Okay,” Buffy whispered, and curled up against Faith’s breasts.

“No matter what you do, no matter what happens, you can tell me,” Faith said. “You won’t lose me. Yeah, maybe I’ll get pissed. But you won’t lose me. But we have to be honest with each other, Buffy. You can tell me you love me more than you love Willow, and I believe you. But you have to prove it, too.”

“I will,” Buffy said, and kissed Faith’s breasts. “I’m gonna prove it for the rest of my life. I’m your girl. No one else’s.”

Faith lifted Buffy’s chin, and looked into her eyes.

“Yeah, beautiful,” Faith said. “You are.”

They kissed.

“Your bum’s all red, honey,” Faith whispered. “How’d it get all red?”

“Because you spanked it,” Buffy said, and smiled.

Smack! Faith leaned over and spanked Buffy’s ass again. Buffy whimpered, and tears filled her eyes.

Faith kissed her.

“How’d it get all red?” Faith whispered.

“Because...because I lied,” Buffy said.

“Don’t do it again,” Faith said.

“I won’t baby,” Buffy said. “I won’t, I won’t ever.”

Faith caressed Buffy’s ass. Buffy winced.

“Hurts?” Faith said.

“Yeah,” Buffy said. “Stings.”

“Wait here,” Faith said.

She went to the bureau, pulled out a nightgown, threw it on, and walked out of the room.

She came back a moment later with a bottle.

“Noticed this in your medicine cabinet before,” Faith said, and took her nightgown back off. “Says it’s good for sore skin.”

Faith laid down next to Buffy again, turned her over onto her stomach, and curled up beside her. She kissed Buffy’s neck, and squeezed some of the ointment from the bottle into her hand, and began gently massaging it over Buffy’s butt.

“How’s this, honey?” Faith whispered.

The ointment felt cool on Buffy’s skin; it felt good. Buffy liked the way it smelled, too; it smelled like aloe.

“It feels good,” Buffy said.

Faith massaged the ointment over Buffy’s butt, and kissed her neck.

They were quiet.

Buffy’s pussy was still wet; Faith could smell it.

“You liked it, huh?” Faith said. “You liked being spanked. Your pretty little pussy’s all wet, honey.”

Buffy blushed.

“It’s okay,” Faith said.

“You must think I’m like...a freak,” Buffy whispered.

Faith kissed her cheek.

“No,” Faith said. “You’re my girl. It’s all you are. You’re not anything else. Okay, beautiful?”

Buffy nodded. Faith squeezed more of the ointment into her hand, and massaged it into Buffy’s butt.

“It’s not so red now,” Faith said.

“It’s not stinging anymore,” Buffy said.

“From now on?” Faith said. “I’m gonna spank your bum when you’re a bad girl. Okay, honey?”

“Okay,” Buffy said, and smiled...and blushed again. She hid her face in the pillow.

Faith kissed her cheek, and turned her onto her side, so she could see her face. She looked down into her eyes.

“I know you liked it,” Faith said. “So we’ll do it sometimes. But if you ever lie to me again? Then I’ll spank you so you don’t like it. You understand?”

Buffy nodded.

“Wanna know why I’m pissed at you?” Faith said.

Buffy nodded.

“Because you were reckless...you were careless...with us,” Faith said. “Our thing? It’s beautiful, and it’s stronger than anything in the world. But at the beginning, it was real fragile, honey. And you were careless with it.”

“I’m sorry,” Buffy whispered. “I won’t...I won’t ever do anything like that again.”

“Already forgave you in the motel room yesterday. But I was still pissed. You thought you could like, juggle me and Angel, but you almost dropped you and me, honey. You and me, we almost smashed to pieces. Those lies, they had me thinking our thing didn’t matter to you.”

“It matters,” Buffy whispered, and looked up at Faith, with tears in her eyes. “It matters more than anything else, baby. More than anything else.”

Faith hugged her.

“Okay,” Faith said. “I’m not pissed anymore. Okay, honey? Clean slate.”

“No clean slate,” Buffy said. “What I did was wrong, and I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. I can’t...can’t pretend...”

Buffy’s face crumpled up; she burst into tears.

“You almost...you almost died, baby,” Buffy whispered, and cried. “My baby almost died. My baby almost died because of me.”

Faith hugged her, and held her tight.

“Because I love you,” Faith whispered. “I’d die for you, Buffy Summers.”

“I’d die for you, Faith Lehane,” Buffy whispered.

“We got that part down. Now let’s concentrate on living for each other, okay, honey?” Faith said.

“Yeah,” Buffy said.

Faith held Buffy in her arms for awhile, and whispered things in her ear. She whispered that she’d always love her. That she’d never leave her...that she’d always protect her. Buffy nodded, and rested her head against Faith’s breasts.

“Kinda gettin’ horny again, beautiful,” Faith said, after awhile. “I need you again, one more time before he gets here.”

“Go Greased Lightning, go?” Buffy said, and giggled.

“Nah,” Faith said, and got up. “This time you’re the one who’s gonna be takin’ a ride.”

Faith moved to the bureau, and pulled the dildo out of the bottom drawer, and put it on. She sat on the edge of the bed.

“Get on your knees for me, beautiful,” Faith said.

Buffy knelt down in front of her.

“Ever give a blowjob before?” Faith said.

Buffy shook her head.

“Not with Angel?” Faith said.

“We were only together like that for one day,” Buffy said. “We...had sex, but...I didn’t do that.”

“Did you come for him?”

Buffy blushed. “Yeah,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” Faith said. “That was...petty. I had no right to ask that.”

“It’s okay,” Buffy said, and smiled. “I’m your girl. So you get to ask about anything you want.”

“It’s just...I get jealous,” Faith said. “Jealous when I think of you with anyone else.”

“Because I belong to you. And I’ll never be with anyone else again,” Buffy said, and kissed the dildo. “Not ever again, baby.”

Buffy took the dildo in her mouth, and awkwardly started sucking it. She looked up into Faith’s eyes while she did it.

After about a minute, Faith smiled.

Buffy took the dildo out of her mouth.

“What?” Buffy said.

“Nothing,” Faith said, her smile growing wider.

“Um...I give a bad blowjob, don’t I?” Buffy said, and grinned. “I like, totally suck at sucking.”

“Your technique, uh, leaves a little something to be desired,” Faith said. “If I was a guy I’d be all sad right now. Plus I’d probably be like, ‘Ow’.”

They giggled.

“But I’m not a guy,” Faith said, and kissed her. “And my girl? She takes care of my lil’ kitty just right.”

“I wanna take care of it now,” Buffy whispered. “I wanna kiss your pussy again, baby. Do you wanna be on top of me again? We can do it that way if you want. We can do it that way all the time if you want.”

“You don’t like having a dick in your mouth, huh?”

“I don’t hate it, but...I don’t know. It doesn’t really do anything for me.”

“You’re my gay girl, huh, honey?” Faith whispered, and kissed Buffy, and began sucking on her tongue.

Buffy nodded.

They kissed, and Faith sucked on Buffy’s tongue...

Buffy started to take the dildo off Faith, but Faith stopped her.

“I’m gonna be petty again,” Faith said. “You didn’t blow him, but you had his dick in you, and you liked it. So you’re gonna have my dick in you tonight.”

“Okay,” Buffy said.

Faith lifted Buffy up in her arms, and laid her on the bed.

Faith laid on top of her.

Buffy was nervous; Faith smelled it on her.

At first, Faith didn’t know why...

Then she understood.

“Listen, honey,” Faith said, and kissed her. “I know you’re nervous. I know you’re nervous that like, maybe you won’t come for me, when we do this. But it’s okay. I know you wanna come for me, and you do come for me honey, you come when I kiss you there, or when my finger’s there. So if you can’t come when I fuck you this way, it’s okay. But don’t you try to fake it. Faking it is just a kind of lie. If you try to fake it I’ll spank your bum. You understand?”

“Yeah,” Buffy said, and smiled. “I’m definitely gonna fake it now.”

They giggled.

Buffy opened her legs, and Faith positioned herself against Buffy’s pussy lips. They were wet.

Buffy put her arms around Faith, and moaned.

“Ready, beautiful?” Faith said.

“I love you,” Buffy said. “I love you so much, baby.”

“I love you too,” Faith said, and thrust her hips forward.

Buffy was wet, but she was tight; it took awhile. Faith fucked her slowly at first, only using the tip of the dildo.

“Is it okay, honey?” Faith said.

Buffy nodded. “I love you,” she said.

“I love you too,” Faith said.

Faith kissed Buffy’s neck, and held her in her arms, and went slow. Buffy breathed, faster now, in Faith’s ear, and ran her hands down Faith’s back, and caressed her ass.

Buffy’s pussy was gradually adjusting to the thickness of the dildo; Faith was able to move another inch into her. Buffy moaned, and moved her legs back, toward her chest. Faith leaned into her, and took Buffy’s legs over her shoulders, and knelt on the bed as she fucked her. She was able to get the dildo in halfway now, and Buffy’s moans came faster.

Buffy was scrunched up into a little ball, now, and Faith was able to concentrate on moving against her clit. Buffy held onto Faith’s ass as Faith fucked her, and her moans were soft and steady.

Faith looked down into Buffy’s eyes, and smiled.

“Flexible,” Faith said.

Buffy giggled.

“Now’s the part where you’re gonna come for me honey,” Faith said.

“It...it is?” Buffy said. She looked nervous.

Faith smiled, and held up her right index finger.

“Suck,” she said, and touched it to Buffy’s lips. “No teeth, please.”

Buffy sucked on Faith’s finger, as Faith fucked her.

“Get it nice and wet, okay beautiful?” Faith whispered. She thrust herself the rest of the way into Buffy now. Buffy closed her eyes, and moaned.

“Good girl,” Faith said, and took her finger out of Buffy’s mouth. At the same time, she gently pulled out of her.

“What are you doing?” Buffy said.

“Guess,” Faith said, and turned Buffy over onto her stomach.

Buffy got up onto her knees, bent over, and stuck her ass up in the air. Faith entered her from behind. The dildo went right in this time. Buffy’s moans got louder.

Faith was pretty sure she could make Buffy come this way, but there was something she wanted to try. She wanted to test a theory.

She caressed Buffy’s ass with her index finger, moving it gently back and forth across the tiny opening. The opening was very small, about the size of a penny. It looked like a little pink star.

Buffy gasped. A shudder went through her.

Faith held her finger against the opening, and exerted a steady pressure.

“Baby...” Buffy whispered, and rammed her ass back hard against the dildo, and against Faith’s finger. Faith wasn’t moving now, wasn’t using her hips at all; Buffy was doing the fucking for both of them.

Faith slipped the tip of her long finger into Buffy’s ass. Buffy’s moans became screams, and she fucked the dildo, and Faith’s finger, even harder.

“You like this, honey?” Faith said.

“Yeah...yeah...” Buffy gasped.

Faith slipped her finger the rest of the way up Buffy’s ass. Her finger was wet from Buffy’s mouth, and it went in easily enough; but Faith still went slow, to be sure not to hurt her. Buffy screamed anyway, but Faith knew it wasn’t because she was in pain.

Faith gently pulled the dildo out of Buffy’s pussy, and fucked Buffy’s ass with her finger instead. She held her finger straight out in front of her, and Buffy backed up into it, screaming with every thrust.

“Good girl,” Faith said, and began caressing Buffy’s clit with her other hand. “That’s a good girl. Fuck my finger now. Fuck it like a good girl, and I’ll make you come, okay, honey?”

“Okay,” Buffy whimpered. “I’ll...I’ll be good. I’ll be a good girl...”

Buffy came less than a minute later, shrieking at the top of her lungs and arching her back like a cat, and digging her fingernails and toenails into the bedsheet, slashing it to ribbons.

“Uh...here’s hoping Will and Xander don’t run up here to see what the screaming’s about,” Faith said, as she gently slid her finger out of Buffy, and took the dildo off. “Sort of a compromising position here.”

“I think Will...um...understands about how we get,” Buffy said, as she caught her breath. “That was...um...I never...did that before.”

“Yeah, me neither. But you sure looked like you were having a good time though. Makes me wonder what I’ve been missing.”

Buffy collapsed on her stomach on the bed. Faith laid down beside her, and hugged her.

“That was...um...” Buffy said.

“Sure was,” Faith said.

“I was planning on doing that for you next time we sixty-nined and you totally ruined my surprise,” Buffy said, and blushed a little.

“You can still do it sometime,” Faith said.

“Am I a pervert?”

“One of us probably is.”

Buffy kissed her.

“Wherever you went to buy the dildo,” Faith whispered, and caressed Buffy’s hair. “Do you wanna go there and buy another one...maybe a smaller, thinner one? And then if you’re a good girl I can take care of you with it sometimes? You wanna do that, honey? Would my girl like that?”

“If I answer yes does that make me like...a freak?” Buffy whispered.

Faith shook her head.

“You’re my girl,” Faith whispered. “It’s the only thing you are.”

“Okay,” Buffy said. “We can...buy another one. There’s this pervo store a few blocks from The Magic Box.”

“We’ll pick it out together, okay, honey?” Faith said. “And whenever you wanna be a good girl for me I’ll take care of you with it, nice and slow, okay?”

Buffy nodded. “Not like, all the time? But...sometimes,” she said. “In my old Sex Ed book it said that if you do that like every day it can lead to health problems. So maybe like...once or twice a month.”

“Okay, beautiful,” Faith said.

“I love you, baby,” Buffy said.

“I love you too,” Faith said.

“Do other lesbians do it? Or are we like, the weirdos of the universe?”

“I’m not really up on like, other gay gals and what they do when they’re feelin’ frisky? But I bet if they had girlfriends with pretty little asses like yours they’d wanna do it every damn day. Anyway...Angel’s gonna be here soon, we better get dressed.”

Faith started to get up. Buffy pulled her back down to the bed.

“What about my rematch, baby?” Buffy said, and smiled. She put her hands around Faith’s hips, and lifted Faith up so she was kneeling over her chest. “I wanna race Greased Lightning again.”

“Want me to take you for a ride, huh, honey?” Faith said, and raised her eyebrow.

Buffy giggled, and nodded. She pulled Faith toward her face, until Faith was kneeling over her lips.

“What if Angel gets here while, uh, the race is still in progress?” Faith said, as Buffy raised her arms up over her head, and Faith took her wrists in her hand, and pinned her.

“He can wait on the porch until we’re done,” Buffy said. “I need to lick my baby’s pussy again.”

“Think I should give you a head start?” Faith said, and held up her left index finger, and raised her eyebrow again. “This finger’s rocket fuel for your lil’ pussy wagon, honey.”

Buffy giggled. “No, I want it to be a fair competition,” she said. “I think Greased Lightning’s gonna be a lot faster this time when it comes across the finish line.” She craned her neck up, and stuck her tongue out, and gave Faith’s pussy a little lick. “This tongue? Rocket fuel.”

“Them’s fightin’ words, pardner,” Faith said. “I think you need to be rode around the barn a few more times.”

“I do, baby,” Buffy whispered, and opened her legs. “Saddle me up.”

Faith lowered herself toward Buffy’s lips.

Buffy looked up at Faith’s pussy, and took in her musky peach scent. She felt her blood race.

“I figured out which one of us is the pervert,” Buffy whispered, and kissed her there.

An hour later, the doorbell rang.

Buffy, Faith, Willow and Xander were in the living room, waiting for it. Buffy and Faith had known Angel was coming when he was two blocks away.

They all stood up. Faith stood very close to Buffy. Faith had her red leather coat on. And her stake in her hand.

Buffy opened the door. Angel was standing on the step, in the darkness.

He wore a long black coat that moved in the breeze like wings. He carried a large leather duffel bag over his shoulder. He held some sort of rectangular carrying case that looked like it was made out of plywood in one hand, and a book in the other: The Scarlet Letter. He looked better; his nose didn’t look broken anymore. But the deep gash Buffy had made when she’d scratched his face was still there.

“Angel,” Buffy said.

“Buffy,” Angel said.

He didn’t look at Faith, or Willow, or Xander. He looked at Buffy.

“You’re still reading that book,” Buffy said. Her arms were folded across her chest and she stood stiff and straight as a board.

But she shivered, a little. The breeze had grown cold.

Angel didn’t shiver.

His scent came to Buffy. Rotten meat...but there was something else.

It was jasmine.

Buffy focused in on it. The jasmine smell was coming from his hands. He had been picking jasmine flowers before he arrived.

“Yeah,” Angel said. His eyes caught the glare from the porch light, and reflected it back at her, cold and silver. He was a night thing. Those dark eyes never showed the sun. They were never warm, never reflected golden. They were always cold. They always reflected silver. Buffy remembered Faith’s golden eyes, when the lion in her had come out.

“Is it like a hundred years old and you bought it for twenty cents in like Transylvania and you’ve been lugging it around forever since then even though it’s all beat up because you’re too cheap to just buy the paperback?” Buffy said.

“You have to invite me in,” Angel said.

“I know,” Buffy said.

“Bought it for a shilling in Liverpool in 1901. I’ve never been to Transylvania. Been to Borsa though. It’s near Transylvania.”

“What’s a shilling?”

“British currency. Used to be a twentieth of a pound. Probably comes out to about twenty cents today.”

Buffy nodded. “Is Borsa nice?” she said.

“No,” Angel said. “It’s all mountains and churches and gypsies.”

“You’re too cheap to buy the paperback, aren’t you?”

“Yeah,” he said, and his mouth moved; he nearly smiled. “I am.”

“Knew it.”

His eyes hadn’t left hers for a second. He hadn’t blinked. She hadn’t either. But she could never outstare him and they both knew it.

He looked away. Out of politeness, Buffy knew. She took the opportunity to blink.

“What’s in the weird crate thing?” Buffy said.

“Something for Willow,” Angel said.

“For Willow?”

“Yeah.”

Buffy nodded. They looked at each other.

“You brought food,” Buffy said. “I can smell it in the bag.”

“Pig’s blood,” he said. “Enough for a week. Brought some weapons too.”

“Need anything else?”

“Place to sleep. Couch will do.”

“Couch is what I had in mind.”

“I know.”

She looked away from him, and knew they were over...that they could never go back, now. That she would never be his, and he would never be hers... she admitted it to herself. Accepted it.

She felt cold. Her legs felt weak. She felt like she was in a whirlpool...like she was spinning in every direction, and being dragged down, sucked under. She felt like she was shaking all over, even though she stood perfectly still.

She thought she might fall...

Faith took her hand.

Faith’s hand was warm. It was strong. It centered Buffy...held her up.

“Come in, Angel,” Buffy said, and stepped aside, closer to Faith.

Angel stepped into the house.

He looked at Willow first.

“Hello, Willow,” he said.

“Hello, Angel,” Willow said.

The fear hit her, when she looked at him; it wasn’t as bad as it had been before but she still felt it. She saw herself, in the closet.

She made herself stop thinking about it.

She looked in Angel’s eyes. She thought he looked tired.

“Have you been sleeping?” Willow said. She didn’t know why she said it. She felt stupid, for saying it.

“No,” Angel said. “Have you been...okay?”

“Mostly,” Willow said.

“Good,” Angel said.

“That’s...for me?” Willow said, and looked at the plywood case.

“Um...yeah,” Angel said. “If...you don’t want to accept it...I understand.”

They faced each other. Willow looked into Angel’s eyes...made herself look into them.

Angel blinked, and looked down at the floor.

“Can I...open it?” Willow said.

She felt Xander stiffen beside her.

“I’ll, um, open it for you,” Angel said. “Weird nineteenth-century latch thing going on here.”

He bent down, and snapped open a series of latches. The plywood case fell open in two sections. Angel removed one section, and then they could all see what was inside.

It was a painting.

It was a landscape: a painting of a garden that went on forever under a golden sun in a clear blue sky; a universe of green, dotted with flowers as bright as stars...

“That’s...one of Cassie’s,” Willow said.

“The only one that survived,” Angel said. “Drusilla burned them.”

“Who’s Cassie?” Xander said.

No one responded. Finally Willow said, “Drusilla’s sister. She used to paint...her paintings were...I mean...Drusilla said her paintings were beautiful.”

“Yeah,” Angel said. “They were. I’ve kept this one...everywhere I’ve gone, I’ve taken it with me, kept it safe. It’s all that’s left of her now.”

Angel removed the painting from the case, and peeled a thin layer of translucent wrapping from it.

He held the painting out to Willow.

“I thought...you might like to have it,” he said.

No one spoke. Willow felt everyone’s eyes on her.

Willow felt Xander beside her; he was still tense. She knew what he wanted her to say.

Willow looked at the painting again. It was beautiful. The flowers leaped from the canvas; that golden sun lit up the room. When she looked at that painting, Willow was standing in a garden, under a clear blue sky, and the intoxicating scent of a thousand flowers came to her, all mingled together on a gentle breeze. The golden sun warmed her. She felt the breeze, on her skin.

“I can’t accept it,” Willow said. She made herself look Angel in the eyes again, when she said it.

“Yeah...um...okay,” Angel said. “I...understand. I’m...sorry. I guess...it wasn’t a good idea.”

He looked down at the floor. Then he bent down, and hurriedly put the painting back in its plastic wrapping, and then back into the case.

Buffy watched him. His movements were always economical, swift, precise, with absolutely no wasted motion; now they weren’t. He fumbled at the latches on the plywood case.

Willow watched the painting...all that was left of Cassie. She watched it return to the shadows...she watched, as its light was extinguished.

Cassie, Willow remembered herself whispering. Look at me.

Willow remembered Cassie looking at her. She remembered Cassie’s green eyes...she remembered her red hair. It was done up in a chignon bun. It always was...

She remembered sitting in the closet, and thinking about Cassie...holding on to the memory of her, because it was all she had there, in the dark. She remembered thinking about checker tournaments...and laughing in the garden, as Cassie painted her portrait...laughing in the sun, as she laid there in the dark...

Willow remembered the tear rolling down her cheek...she thought she could feel it now.

She remembered the feel of the revolver in her hand. It felt cold and hard.

I love you, Willow remembered herself saying...

Angel finally got the latches to work, and closed the case.

Buffy watched him. When he straightened up and looked at them again, his eyes were different. He always stared directly at whoever he was talking to, looked them straight in the eye; it was jarring but that’s just how he was and she had eventually gotten used to it. Now he wasn’t doing that. His eyes were unfocused. He looked into the middle distance.

Xander put his arm around Willow.

“Xander,” Angel said.

“How’s things, Nosferatu?” Xander said.

“Run through with a sword. Hell dimension. Brought back. Don’t know how or why,” Angel said. “You?”

“Been thinking about killing you a lot,” Xander said. “Don’t touch my beer. It’s in the ’fridge.”

“You still drink Rolling Rock?” Angel said.

“Yeah,” Xander said.

“Piss water,” Angel said, and nearly smiled again.

Buffy watched Angel’s eyes. He had recovered his composure. He was looking straight at Xander now.

“You still Guinness?” Xander said.

“I’m Irish and old-fashioned,” Angel said.

“Will said you just stood there when she shot that fireball at you,” Xander said. “If I tried to kill you would you stand there and let me?”

“No,” Angel said. “You always kinda got on my nerves. But I’d let Buffy or Willow kill me.”

“Willow and Buffy won’t kill you,” Xander said.

“Sucks for you,” Angel said.

Xander nodded. Then he smiled.

“Have you met Faith?” Xander said. “Faith, the Vampire Slayer. Notice how I emphasized ‘Vampire Slayer’?”

Angel looked at Faith. She had been looking straight at him from the moment Buffy opened the door.

“Hello, Faith,” Angel said.

“Angel,” Faith said. Angel noticed she was standing with her legs slightly apart, her weight on the balls of her feet. Ready for a fight.

“So what’s the plan, Buffy?” Angel said, still looking at Faith. Faith was still holding Buffy’s hand.

“We’re all tired,” Buffy said. “Let’s...get some sleep. Make plans in the morning. You can have the living room. You know where the ‘fridge is if you wanna put your blood in there. My Mom’s on vacation for a couple weeks.”

“Giles?” Angel said.

“Tomorrow,” Buffy said.

Angel nodded.

“And on that note,” Xander said, and turned away with his arm around Willow, and walked upstairs with her.

“Good night, Angel,” Buffy said, and walked away, holding Faith’s hand.

“Good night,” Angel said.

Faith didn’t move. She kept her eyes on Angel.

Buffy turned.

“Faith,” Buffy said.

Faith twirled her stake back along her fingers, and holstered it in the inside pocket of her coat. She smiled, and showed Angel her teeth.

“Catch ya later,” she said, and put her arm around Buffy, and walked upstairs with her.