Last Watcher
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A Christmas Miracle in Black (Short story set after s7)
As Laura walked along beside Jack she felt like she was walking on air. She Glanced across at his smiling face with it's strong jawline & deep blue eyes & her heart gave a little
flutter. Jack had invited her to go with him to a party at one of the posh hotels uptown.
She had been reluctant at first but she had heard about those sort of parties & of all the beautiful, famous people that went to them & finally agreed to go with him.
She couldn't believe it, things like this simply didn't happen to her! It wasn't that she wasn't pretty, her girlfriends said she was, but she had a habit of 'blending into the
background' so guys just didn't notice her. But tonight, at her works Christmas party Jack had appeared & swept her off her feet. They had talked for a while then he had even convinced
her to dance with him. Now they were going to a swanky party uptown!
He flashed her a dazzling smile & took her hand, causing her heartrate to surge again. He was incredibly handsome with his dark hair & his expensive suit. Laura wondered how he could
afford a suit like that on the wages he must be on in the accounting department. At least she thought that's where he said he worked, she didn't remember seeing him around the offices
before, but he was at her works party so he must work there....maybe he's new?
She had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't been paying attention to where he was leading her & she suddenly found herself in a backstreet she didn't recognise. She was about
to question where he was going when he turned & led her into a dark alley that looked like it led nowhere. She pulled against him & made him stop.
"What's up my dear?" He asked turning on that smile again, but where it had been so charming before it now seemed quite sinister.
"Where are we going? Is this the way to the party?"
"It's a shortcut!" He smiled, "We want to get there before all the fun starts at midnight don't we?" He started to pull her, gently but firmly, further into the alley.
She pulled against him again, starting to panic now.
"I...I've changed my mind. I want to go back!" She said trying to pull her hand free of his grasp, but she couldn't break free of his powerful grip.
Laura couldn't believe how stupid she had been, she had left the party without telling anyone where she was going, with a man she had only just met. Now she was alone in the dark with him, and no one knows she's here. She tried to sound confident even though she was past worried & heading rapidly into terrified.
"I'll scream!"
He looked at her for a moment as if looking to see if she was bluffing. Then he just sighed.
In a blur of movement he reached out, grabbed her by the throat & slammed her hard back into the alley wall. He held her there with one hand effortlessly, her feet not touching the ground.
She started to scream but he tightened his grip, cutting off the scream & nearly causing her to black out. He slowly leaned towards her his face changing into that of a monster.
"I was intending to give you to a friend as a Christmas present but I guess I'll have to think of something else & just eat you myself..."
Even if he wasn't holding her throat she wouldn't have been able to scream now, she was frozen in abject terror. Gone were the deep blue, replaced by glowing yellow eyes, & his mouth
sprouted fangs like some kind of big cat. He let her down & clamped one hand down on her shoulder. The other he placed on top of her head, pulling it to one side. With a hideous leer
he bared his fangs & leaned towards her exposed throat.
"Oh c'mon man, it's freakin Christmas eve, & I've got places to be!"
A voice, a female voice & it had come from just behind him.
He froze for a moment, then slowly straightened up, his fangs had only just pricked the flesh leaving tiny beads of blood on the smooth white skin. He turned slowly, still keeping a tight hold on Laura.
"I don't know who you are, or how you managed to sneak up without me hearing you, but you've made a big mistake little......"
As he spoke he shot out a hand at incredible speed to grab the newcomer but, moving just as fast, she effortlessly leant back just far enough to avoid being caught.
He hissed & glared down at his hand, seemingly unable to comprehend how he had missed her as the girl stood there just out of reach.
The girl was young, probably only in her early twenties, & all dressed in black. In one hand she held a small box wrapped in red paper & in the other hand a knife or something that
looked like it was made out of wood..... She showed no sign of fear, or even surprise at coming face to face with this monster....in fact she looked almost bored.
"Lets make this quick bozo, I don't wanna be here all night!"
She dropped into a fighting stance holding the sharpened wood out in front of her like a weapon. Was this girl mad? Jack, or whatever he was, was incredibly strong & she was going to
fight him with just a pointy stick?
Laura tried to shout a warning to the girl but before she could Jack hurled her back against the wall knocking all the air out of her lungs & causing her to bang her head, hard. Through the pain she thought she heard him hiss one word as he squared up to the girl...Whatever it was, sounded like sayer or seer, it just made her smile.
He lunged at her, impossibly fast, swinging his fist at her face, but somehow she blocked his punch & brought her knee up into his ribs. Laura heard the sharp crack as something snapped &
he let out a yelp of pain. Holding his ribs with his left hand he tried to backhand her but even though he moved blindingly quick, she ducked under it easily, as if she had all the time in the world.
Laura watched appalled as they fought. The girl almost seemed to be playing with him as, no matter how much he tried he couldn't seem to land a single blow.
Then, as he tried again to punch her in the face, she grabbed his arm, twisted it so she could look at his watch, then hit him with a punch that almost lifted him off his feet.
As he staggered back she rammed him up against the wall with one hand as she raised her pointy stick in the other.
"Well, it's been fun but I really gotta go now!"
As Laura watched the macabre scene, the girl plunged the wood deep into his chest, but instead of a spurt blood he just exploded into a cloud of dust & was gone.
The girl dusted herself down then went to retrieve the red package she had dropped when the fighting started. She inspected the wrapping carefully.
Laura just sat there, trying to get her head around what she had just witnessed. The girl finally looked over at her.
"You're safe now....go home!"
Laura tried to stand up but she was shaking like a leaf & slipped back against the wall. The girl held out a hand & pulled her to her feet. Her grip was powerful, way more powerful than
her physique would suggest. She was about to ask her who, or what she was when the alley was bathed in coloured flashing lights. A Police cruiser pulled across the end of the alley &
two cops came running towards her, guns drawn.
They approached warily waving guns & flashlights back & forth across the alley.
"You okay lady? We got reports of screams, like someone was being assaulted?"
Relief washing over her Laura straightened her clothes....she looked a mess.
"Oh yes officer, this guy grabbed me. He turned into some kind of monster & tried to bite my neck but this girl saved me!"
The cop looked at her like she was nuts.
"Erm what girl? You're the only person here..."
Laura looked around to where the girl had been moments before. The cops shone their flashlights all around the alley. It ended about 50 feet further back. Blocked by a 3 storey building.
Apart from a couple of retracted fire escapes about 10 feet up there was nothing else. No way out. The only doors were between her & the cops. The girl had just vanished into thin air.
"But she was right here?"
She spun round in a circle trying to work out where the girl could have gone, but the blow to the head had left her dazed & she nearly fell over, stumbling into the wall.
The two cops looked at each other & one rolled his eyes.
"Yeah!" Said the other one, "Call the wagon, she can sleep it off down at the precinct...let them deal with it in the morning".
As the confused figure was led out of the alley mumbling about monsters & vanishing supergirls, high above on a fire escape a dark figure tucked a small red parcel inside her jacket & slid
silently off into the night.
Buffy sat alone in her apartment in downtown Cleveland. She had moved there with Willow & the gang soon after they had defeated 'The First' but the Cleveland Hellmouth had turned out
to be dormant & had less demonic activity than most other cities. Due to this, & the fact that they now had enough Slayers to fight the good fight all over the world, the others had slowly moved on until only Buffy remained. Buffy had nowhere else to go.
She sat there staring down into her mug of Cocoa, an old black & white movie playing on the TV in the corner. She had no idea what the movie was called but it now started going on about the miracle of Christmas & how it is a time to be together with the ones you love.
A tear slowly ran down her cheek & dripped into her mug.
She couldn't take the movie any more & started flicking through the channels but everything seemed to be all about spending Christmas with family & friends & Buffy has neither.
Finally she got up & switched the TV off. As she headed back to the sofa she glanced down at the base of the Christmas tree & the little pile of presents, all for her. No one else would be there to open presents this year. In all her crazy life Buffy had never felt so alone.
The tears start to flow freely.
For a moment she considered calling her sister, but the time difference meant it was the middle of the night over there & she probably wouldn't appreciate being woken up by her elder
sister blubbing down the line at her.
She looked over at the sofa & the blanket she had been snuggling under & decided that if she was just going to sit there & stare into space she might as well go upstairs to bed, at least
she could try & get some sleep & dream of times when she meant something.
Just as her foot touched the first stair she got a strange feeling & all her senses were instantly alert. Even so the doorbell ringing made her jump.
Buffy wasn't expecting any visitors, especially at this time of night. Ok, it could just be some students out to earn some extra beer money by singing Christmas Carols, but her Slayer
senses were telling her something wasn't right.
She pulled a stake from the jacket, hung by the door, & peered through the spyhole.
There was one person stood outside, dressed all in black, with their back to the door.
Buffy opened the door slowly, the stake ready behind her back...just in case.
"Hello?"
The figure turned around & Buffy's heart skipped a beat. There on her doorstep was the last person she ever expected to see.
"Hey B, how ya doing?"
It had been a year since Sunnydale became an 'Innie' & the gang had started to break apart.
Faith had been the first to leave, going back to LA where she was still wanted for busting out of jail to help Angel, who was for his part trying to get her prison sentence overturned.
Buffy had heard that Angel's Law firm had got her released early, but she had heard nothing of her whereabouts since.
"Faith?" Was all Buffy could manage at that moment.
"That's me!" Grinned Faith & noticing the stake added "I see you were expecting me?"
Buffy shook her head & put the stake back in her jacket.
"Sorry, wasn't sure who was calling at this hour. Please, come in"
Faith hesitated & with a strange look on her face held out a parcel, neatly wrapped in red paper with little cartoon Christmas trees & Santas on it.
"I um.....just wanted to give you this." She looked really uncomfortable.
Buffy took the present with a warm smile, then gave her a guilty look.
"Thankyou Faith! I um, wasn't expecting you to call so I, um haven't got anything for you in return. But if you come in I could at least offer you a drink?"
"It's ok B. Wasn't expecting anything turning up outta the blue like this. So I'll just be off then...."
"you're not stopping?" said Buffy, trying, but not able to hide her disappointment.
"Nah, I've got places to be. Besides I don't want to gatecrash the party or.....?"
She leaned forward & looked into the empty living room with a frown.
"Erm B. Where is everyone?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's Christmas Eve B, thought you'd be elbow deep in scoobies by now?"
Her frown got deeper.
"They not coming till tomorrow then?"
When Buffy didn't reply Faith stepped inside & looked around. There were no decorations, except for the small tree & all the presents underneath had been posted there.
She turned to Buffy & finally got to see her face in the light & didn't like what she saw.
"Have you been crying?"
Buffy shook her head but it was obvious she was lying.
"Buffy? Where is everyone? Everyone is okay aren't they?"
Buffy nodded her face crumpling & she could hold back the tears no longer. She closed the front door & leant back against it burying her face in her hands as her shoulders shook slightly.
Faith didn't know what to do. She had never been good at the comfort thing & would normally just take off & leave them to it, but something was very wrong here, & this was Buffy.
She stepped forward & awkwardly put her arms around Buffy. As soon as she did so Buffy swung her arms around Faith pulled her in tightly &, burying her face in her shoulder, started sobbing uncontrollably.
Faith just held her. Part of her revelling in having Buffy in her arms, & part seriously worried at what had happened to all her gang of hangers on.
After a while Buffy stepped back & tried to dry her eyes on her sleeve.
"I'm sorry.....I shouldn't have....." She mumbled.
Faith led her over to the sofa & sat her down. Sitting down next to her she said quietly.
"How about you tell me what's going on here B, cos I'm getting....."
"No ones coming!" interrupted Buffy.
"What?"
"Everyone's somewhere else, got somewhere better to be!"
"Okay, I'm obviously way outta the loop as usual so why don't you fill me in?"
Buffy wiped her eyes again before starting to speak.
"Dawnie is at college in Milan & is spending Christmas with her new friends there."
"Milan? That's in Italy isn't it?"
Buffy nodded & Faith whistled.
"Sounds like the little brats got some brains in her head, who woulda figured."
Buffy smiled weakly before continuing.
"Willow had a rough breakup with Kennedy & has thrown herself into the whole Earth Magic thing. She's in England studying with a coven of White Witches. Giles, Xander & Andrew are in Scotland setting up a new Watchers Council & training school & all the new Slayers have been assigned duties elsewhere....."
"Wow! I really was outta the loop" Said Faith, shocked at how Buffy had been abandoned.
Faith picked at the zip of her black leather jacket.
"So, no boyfriend in tow then?" She tried to sound casual but didn't quite pull it off.
Buffy snorted.
"Boyfriend? Hah, not had one of those since Riley dumped me!"
"What about the leather coated chuckle brothers?"
Buffy gave a pained look.
"Spike was not my boyfriend!"
"You seemed pretty couple-ey to me back in SunnyD."
Buffy shook her head sadly.
"You know he's still alive then....or still undead.....whatever...."
Faith chuckled.
"Yeah, spoke to Angel a few times, told me blondie had turned up there still as annoying as ever."
"Well he's still in LA with Angel as far as I know, only he's obsessing over some blue haired Demon woman now, so I guess he's over me too."
"So, you were just going to sit here on your own all over Christmas then?"
"Well I heard they play a mean game of dominoes down at the local soup kitchen...."
Faith looked into sad red eyes.
"No one should be alone at Christmas Buffy!"
"What like we were going to leave you all alone in that crappy Motel room in Sunnydale?"
"you didn't though did you, you invited me to your house, remember?"
Buffy looked down at her hands with a guilty look on her face.
"You do know it was my Mom that suggested I invite you. I was totally oblivious as to how crappy your life was back then."
"What, like I didn't know about yours until just now? You had other more important things to worry about that night."
"Yeah I invited you round then had to bail & left you Momsitting."
"It was fun though, your Mom was a blast!"
Buffy let out a long sigh.
"We never did get to spend Christmas together did we? Never got to spend much time together at all."
"Well then." Said Faith brightening up, "Think it's time we changed that then don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Look Buffy, there's no way I'm leaving you on your own at Christmas, so we'll have a party with just the two of us!"
"But I thought you had somewhere you had to be?"
Faith pulled a face.
"Complete lie, told so I wouldn't have to face all your friends that don't like me!"
She shrugged & let out a long sigh.
"Truth is, I got no one to be with either! Was just going to find a bar, crawl inside a bottle & probably do something stupid. Just wanted to see you one more time before I did. Y'know, in case it was the last chance I got."
Buffy pulled Faith into a big hug. For a moment the dark Slayer froze, but then relaxed into the embrace, wrapping her arms around Buffy & holding her tight.
When they finally pulled apart Buffy was frowning.
"What about principal, I mean Robin Wood? I thought you two were getting close?"
"Hell no. Cut the boy loose as soon as I knew he was going to be okay. Boy had more issues than National Geographic. You know he actually thought he was prettier than me!"
Buffy actually laughed at that.
"He was alright, but definitely not as pretty as you...."
Buffy trailed off blushing bright red.
"You really think so?" Faith looked surprised.
Buffy nodded, if possible going an even darker shade of red.
"Wow! That means a lot coming from you!"
Buffy frowned. "Why coming from me?"
"Oh come on Buffy, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. The one who could get anyone she chose if she really tried. For you to think I'm pretty is a real compliment."
Buffy snorted.
"Yeah right! I'm beating the guys off with a stick these days. I'm surprised you managed to get past the queue of guys outside wanting to be with me!"
"Who said anything about guys?"
"What?"
Faith seemed to be having an internal discussion over what she should say next.
"What are you talking about Faith?"
Faith sighed again & seemed to come to a decision. her face took on a sad expression.
"Okay I'm probably ruining the moment here, but I know I'm not the only person that noticed."
"Noticed what? What are you trying to say?" Buffy cut in, she sounded angry.
Faith shut her eyes as she spoke.
"When you're with a guy you think you like, you send out mixed signals. You say you like him but act like you don't. Guys see you & think they don't stand a chance with a girl as beautiful
as you. So when you act like your not interested they give up & move on."
"I loved Riley!"
"Did you? Did you ever tell him? Because he certainly didn't believe it!"
"How would you know? Oh, yeah, the body swap thing."
Buffy still looked annoyed, but sad now too.
"So he didn't think that I loved him?"
"Not from what I heard."
Buffy hung her head & sighed.
"I'm not sure I did either to be honest. I wanted to, but Slayer duties always got in the way."
"Now you see I don't think they did."
"What do you mean?" Buffy stopped, frowning again, "And what did you mean by who said anything about guys?"
Faith winced & tilted her head to one side.
"I'm just sayin the reason you keep putting the guys off is because, deep down, your interests lie somewhere else, not with guys at all?"
Buffy's mouth opened & closed twice before she found her voice.
"Are you saying I'm secretly gay!!?"
Faith held her hands up & backed away slightly.
"I'm just saying your subconscious may be trying to tell you something, that's all."
"I think I would be the first to know if I preferred Girls Faith." Buffy folded her arms as she spoke but her face didn't reflect the certainty of her words.
Faith raised an eyebrow.
"Am I right in saying Red felt the same way, till she met Tara?"
"But I'm not into Girls! Any girl!" She sounded more like she was trying to convince herself now.
Her last remark caused Faith's face to fall.
"Don't knock it till you've tried it B."
"Oh & I suppose you have of.......oh!" Buffy's eyes widened. "Oh!"
Faith pulled a 'Now you know' face & shrugged, nodding slightly.
Buffy was silent for a moment as this new information sank in.
"But I thought you couldn't get enough of men....?"
"I use men, cause they're so easy to pull, but nothing beats a girl in the sack!"
Buffy just stared.
"Cant believe you never caught on B, Red guessed straight away."
She put a hand over her mouth.
"Willow knew you were into girls?"
Faith snorted.
"Yeah, think that's why she never liked me, thought I was gonna take her girl away from her."
"Tara only ever had eyes for Willow."
Faith smiled.
"You still don't get it do you? This was long before she came along. I'm talking about when I first came to SunnyD."
Buffy's mind was racing. She got the feeling she should be picking up on something here but couldn't work out what.
Faith threw up her hands.
"Jeez B. Red was worried I was going to steal her Slayer from her."
Buffy's eyes went wide again.
"She had a huge crush on you. But she realised how I felt about you & thought I was going to steal you away from her."
"You.....?"
Buffy's mind had stalled. Now, as she thought back it was quite obvious Faith was flirting with her when she first came to town. How had she not seen it for what it was?
"Took me a while to realise you were not interested in me. Wasn't used to folk rejecting my advances. Kinda lost it & made a lot of really bad decisions."
"So all that time you had a crush on me?" Saying it out loud made Buffy's pulse race.
More than a crush girlfriend. I had it bad for you, still do I guess?"
Buffy felt her face go red again. Her brain was having real trouble coping with what Faith had just told her. Part of her was horrified that Faith felt that way about her. But another, larger part felt something different & she really didn't want to find out what that feeling was as she had a sneaking suspicion it would reveal something about herself she had kept hidden, even from herself. And if she opened that door, even just a tiny bit, there would be no closing it again.
She suddenly realised Faith had stood up & was heading for the door. A resigned look on her face.
"What? Are you going? I thought you were going to stay?"
Faith looked at her a moment.
"Figured you'd want me gone after what I just told ya?"
A little voice in Buffy's head suggested that might be a good idea, but that was shouted down by the part of her that really didn't want to be alone. Plus she was slowly coming to terms with Faith being in love with her & felt surprisingly okay with idea.
"Don't go....I, I don't want to be alone right now, & I think you don't either?"
"Not if I've got a choice in the matter." Mumbled Faith, looking hopeful.
"Well then. Please stay!"
There was an awkward silence for a moment as Faith seemed unsure whether Buffy really wanted her there or not.
Buffy finally broke the silence with a cough, her mouth suddenly bone dry.
"God I need a drink! Would you like something too?"
"Got any whisky?"
"Think so. Want some?"
"Hell yeah. Never tried to open up about my feelings like that before. I can't stop from shaking!"
"Me too!" admitted Buffy as she grabbed the bottle from a cupboard & poured two large glasses. She handed one to Faith & raised hers.
"Happy Christmas Faith!"
"You too B!"
Faith grinned as Buffy pulled a face as the alcohol went down but immediately took another mouthful.
Two hours & several large shots of whisky later........
"Can I open my present now then?"
Buffy leaned towards Faith & gave her a 'pretty please' smile.
"I'm no expert, but aren't you supposed to wait until Christmas day before you start opening presents?"
Buffy pouted & looked longingly at the small red package that Faith had brought. She desperately wanted to know what Faith had got her. She had a pretty good idea what was in all the other presents that her friends & sister had sent, mainly because most of them had asked her what she wanted. But Faith's gift was a complete mystery.
Looking at the presents it suddenly struck her that there was nothing there for Faith to open. No gifts for her at all. Buffy felt a wave of guilt wash over her.
"I'm really sorry about not getting you a present Faith." She said sadly.
"Like I said B, you had no way of knowing I was gonna show up so why would you?"
"But I should have done anyway!"
"Relax B, no ones ever got me anything before, even if they knew I was gonna be there. So it's not like It's a big deal."
Buffy sat up so fast she nearly fell off the couch.
"What? No one? As in, you've never had a Christmas present...ever?"
"Well one year my Mom gave me a bottle of beer wrapped in the bag her Meds came in, but most years she was too wasted to even know who I was, let alone what day it was!"
Buffy felt sick. She couldn't imagine living a life where no one cared about you, not even your own Mother. She thought about the times when as a girl she had sulked or thrown a tantrum because her parents hadn't bought her the exact thing she wanted. But to get nothing....ever.
"W-what about Birthdays?"
Faith gave her a 'What do you think' look & the knot in Buffy's stomach got even tighter.
Faith frowned, glass halfway to her mouth.
"Not sure I even remember what day it is actually?"
Buffy's mouth hung open in disbelief. How could anyone not know their own Birthday?
"You don't know when your Birthday is?"
Faith just shrugged & took a sip at her drink.
"Never had a reason to care!"
"That's crazy! Do you even know how old you are then?"
Faith thought for a moment.
"Twenty, I think. Maybe twenty one?" She shrugged again. "Can't see that it matters, it's just a number. Another year still breathing!"
Buffy didn't have the faintest idea how to react to that. Her Birthdays hadn't always gone all that smoothly, but at least she had her family & friends around her.
She looked over at the pile of presents again. She was feeling guilty enough at the thought of opening them in front of Faith before, now the guilt would be overwhelming.
For a moment she thought about giving some of the presents to Faith, but as if she was reading her mind Faith snorted & waved a hand dismissively.
"Don't even think about it B, I don't need your charity. Not what I came here for!"
Faith's comment made a question spring to mind & it slipped out before she could stop it.
"What did you come here for then Faith?"
As soon as the words left her mouth she knew she had said the wrong thing. Faith would probably take that as a sign she wasn't welcome get angry & leave, disappear again.
She was so busy kicking herself for asking such a stupid question that she didn't notice the strange look that appeared on Faith's face for a brief moment before she managed to get herself under control.
The momentary pause gave Buffy time to recover too, so when Faith started to get to her feet Buffy gently put a hand on her arm.
"I'm sorry Faith, that was a stupid question. I don't care why you came, I'm just glad that you did. Please don't go."
Buffy saw the look of anger slowly subside into, something else, was that sadness?
The moment was brief replaced by her usual unreadable mask, but it had been there & it cut Buffy like a knife to the gut.
Still holding Faith in place Buffy took a big gulp of her drink & came to a decision.
"We're Slayers, the chosen ones. Destined to fight alone against the forces of evil. We are not meant to have friends, Birthdays, Christmas. We are supposed to just sit in the darkness & fight till we die....again!"
Faith raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk sliding across her face at Buffy's little rant.
She ticked a glance down to where Buffy's hand was gripping her thigh & her pulse quickened slightly.
"Well I say bullcrap! why should we be forever alone? We fight the fight & kill the bad guys. I say we deserve some down time, together!"
Faith was seriously amused now but she didn't stop Buffy's rant as she was intrigued to see where she was going with it.
Buffy sank another mouthful of liquor.
"I say that you & I should spend Christmas together. Who cares if no one else wants to be with us, we've got each other! I say lets make this the best Christmas ever..and....and....and I think I should stop drinking now 'cos I think..."
She collapsed face first into Faith's lap, her empty glass falling from her hand & rolling under the sofa.
Faith was truly grateful Buffy never saw the expression on her face for the moment, or maybe two, before she pulled herself together & gently sat her upright again.
"Jeez B, all this time & you still can't hold your liquor?"
"Yet you seem to be holding me okay!" Slurred Buffy, with what she probably thought was a sexy grin.
Alcohol stung Faith's nose as she nearly choked. Had she heard that right? She shook her head & cleared her throat. swallowing hard.
No, she's drunk as a skunk. Do skunks even drink? Anyhow, no way did she mean anything by that. Just my dirty mind.
Faith sighed & helped Buffy to her feet. She slowly let go but had to grab her by the upper arms again to prevent her crashing to the floor.
"Okaaay! Man you're wasted. Think it's time you went to bed!"
Buffy tutted & wagged her finger, bleary eyed.
"I'm a good girl! I don't do that sort of thing, not on a first date anyway. But seeing as it's you.....lets go!"
Faith was so shocked she only just stopped Buffy from walking straight into the wall by the stairs. She knew it was only the alcohol talking, but Buffy's words were making her feel things she didn't even have a name for, let alone could control.
She was seriously considering leaving Buffy sat on the sofa & running away. Very far away! To someplace with a shower & lots of cold water.
Buffy's legs chose this moment to give out completely & she slumped in Faith's arms, her head lolling on Faith's shoulder.
"Whoa! Think I might need some help?"
Buffy's warm breath on her neck sent a shiver down her spine & she pressed her eyes shut. Drunken Buffy was doing her head in. Her mind was screaming at her to get the hell out of there, but for some reason her body wasn't listening.
She gently picked Buffy up & carried her upstairs.
Carefully she placed her down on the bed & covered her with the duvet. She hesitated for a moment before leaning down & gently placing a kiss on Buffy's forehead.
She hovered there for a moment memorising her face. She had the gut feeling that when she walked out of there she would never see Buffy again.
Finally, with what could have been a tear forming in the corner of her eye, she started to straighten up.
"Goodbye B. You don't know how hard it is for me to...."
Suddenly Buffy surged upright in bed & grabbed Faith's arm in a tight grip.
"Nooo! Don't go! Please stay with me! Stay for chrishmass..."
She sat down on the bed again as Buffy struggled to focus on her.
"Please don't leave me on my own!" The puppy-dog eyes dealt the killer blow.
Faith's mind was spinning. She knew she should make her excuses & leave, but her body refused to move. She just sat there like an idiot, frozen to the spot.
Buffy took two deep breaths & licked her dry lips.
"Look, I may be a li'l drunk right now...."
"More than a little B!" Grinned Faith.
"Okay, maybe a lot drunk and....and I can't remember what I was goin to say now!"
Faith chuckled. "Sorry B!"
"I'm sure it was something really impotent too...."
She wiped a hand down over her face.
"It gets so lonely here all by myself all the time."
Faith swallowed hard. the walls she had spent her whole life building up & hiding behind were starting to crumble. If she didn't get out now she would be done for!
Buffy pulled a face & stuck out her tongue.
"Ugh! My mouth is really dry. I need a glass of water!"
She started to get off the bed but nearly fell head first onto the bedroom floor.
Faith just managed to catch her in time & roll her back onto the bed.
"You stay there. I'll get you a drink!" Said Faith, standing.
She headed downstairs & stopped by the front door. It would be easy to just walk out the door & keep going. Not stop till the jungles of South America. But before she knew what she was doing she was in the small kitchen, looking for a glass.
As she searched the cupboards, she noticed a calander pinned up on the wall. The only thing written on the page for December was a call from Dawn on the 15th. She looked back at the previous pages. The same thing was written for November 15th. From what she could see, Dawn only called her sister once a month. Was that all?
There was no mention of Willow calling since September.
How could they all forget about her like that?
One of the main problems Faith had faced when she first came to Sunnydale was a strong feeling of jealousy. Buffy had everything, friends, family, a living Watcher.
Faith had none of these things.
But when she tried to become a part of the group Buffy had pushed her away. Okay, so she had probably been mostly to blame for that, but it still stung. Hurt so bad that it had triggered the downward spiral that ended up in an alleyway in LA in the rain, begging Angel to end her.
Now, seeing Buffy hung out to dry by her whole gang of friends should have made her happy, to see Buffy go through something like what she had endured, but it relly didn't. She actually felt bad for her, almost guilty. like somehow it was all her fault, again.
Stopping only to knock back another shot of Jack, she found herself heading back upstairs with a large cup of water.
Back in the bedroom, Buffy was struggling into a brightly colored pair of 'Hello Kitty' pajamas. It looked like she had put the pants on back-to-front, but Faith decided not to say anything. Getting her to take them off again to turn them around would mean going places Faith really couldn't handle right now.
She waited for Buffy to settle before holding out the drink.
"Here!" She said. Averting her eyes from the top three buttons that were undone on the pajama top.
"Ooh, thanks!" Said Buffy, taking it from her & gulping it down.
The smile she gave Faith as she handed it back sent a warm pulse surging right through her & dealt another blow to her carefully crafted walls.
"Right B, think you need to get some sleep!"
"Not till you come here & get in too!"
Faith nearly dropped the cup as Buffy held the sheets back & pointed to the bed.
"What?"
Buffy folded her arms & frowned.
"Tomorrow is Christmas day. When I open the present you brought me I'm going to want to say thankyou....but I can't do that if you've gone away!"
She pointed at the bed again.
"I know what you're like. If I don't keep a hold on you you'll sneak away in the night like a sneaky thing and.....and I don't think I could take that!"
She looked up at Faith & the last of her defences crumbled.
With her mouth suddenly dry, Faith sat down on the bed & started to pull off her boots.
"Just hold me, please!" Buffy rolled over onto her side & indicated that Faith should lay down behind her.
Heart beating wildly, Faith lay down & tried to get comfortable. This was as close to spooning as it was possible to get without actually doing so, & Faith had never in her whole life even come this close before. So when Buffy reached behind her, grabbed Faith's hand & pulled it so her arm was around Buffy's middle, she very nearly lost her nerve.
It took every ounce of willpower she possessed not to pull her arm back & run!
"Mmmm, it's been so long....." Mumbled Buffy.
She snuggled back into Faith.
"So long since I slept with strong arms around me!" Her voice was almost a sigh & Faith began to think she was already half asleep, but then she let out a long sigh & the sound of her breathing changed.
"Goodnight B." Whispered Faith.
Any thoughts she might have had of waiting until Buffy was sound asleep then pulling her arm free & moving somewhere else were instantly dashed as, the moment she started to move her arm, Buffy clamped her own arms tighter around it.
She shut her eyes & groaned slightly. There was no way she was getting free without waking Buffy up. She was stuck there, at least until Buffy moved in her sleep.
Faith just lay there, breathing in the slight perfume of Buffy's shampoo. This was a million miles away from how she expected to spend the night. Many times she had dreamed of spending the night with Buffy, but this was't quite how she had pictured it going.
She sighed. There was no way she was going to get any sleep like this, with Buffy so close yet still out of reach.
But the railroad had increased security for some reason & her usual mode of transport had been far more stressful than usual. The guards actually searched the empty wagons several times on the trip from LA & she had to switch wagons or hide regularly. That & the alcohol meant that in a short time, the room was silent except for the shallow breathing of two sleeping Slayers.
I'll post the second half tomorrow!
As Laura walked along beside Jack she felt like she was walking on air. She Glanced across at his smiling face with it's strong jawline & deep blue eyes & her heart gave a little
flutter. Jack had invited her to go with him to a party at one of the posh hotels uptown.
She had been reluctant at first but she had heard about those sort of parties & of all the beautiful, famous people that went to them & finally agreed to go with him.
She couldn't believe it, things like this simply didn't happen to her! It wasn't that she wasn't pretty, her girlfriends said she was, but she had a habit of 'blending into the
background' so guys just didn't notice her. But tonight, at her works Christmas party Jack had appeared & swept her off her feet. They had talked for a while then he had even convinced
her to dance with him. Now they were going to a swanky party uptown!
He flashed her a dazzling smile & took her hand, causing her heartrate to surge again. He was incredibly handsome with his dark hair & his expensive suit. Laura wondered how he could
afford a suit like that on the wages he must be on in the accounting department. At least she thought that's where he said he worked, she didn't remember seeing him around the offices
before, but he was at her works party so he must work there....maybe he's new?
She had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't been paying attention to where he was leading her & she suddenly found herself in a backstreet she didn't recognise. She was about
to question where he was going when he turned & led her into a dark alley that looked like it led nowhere. She pulled against him & made him stop.
"What's up my dear?" He asked turning on that smile again, but where it had been so charming before it now seemed quite sinister.
"Where are we going? Is this the way to the party?"
"It's a shortcut!" He smiled, "We want to get there before all the fun starts at midnight don't we?" He started to pull her, gently but firmly, further into the alley.
She pulled against him again, starting to panic now.
"I...I've changed my mind. I want to go back!" She said trying to pull her hand free of his grasp, but she couldn't break free of his powerful grip.
Laura couldn't believe how stupid she had been, she had left the party without telling anyone where she was going, with a man she had only just met. Now she was alone in the dark with him, and no one knows she's here. She tried to sound confident even though she was past worried & heading rapidly into terrified.
"I'll scream!"
He looked at her for a moment as if looking to see if she was bluffing. Then he just sighed.
In a blur of movement he reached out, grabbed her by the throat & slammed her hard back into the alley wall. He held her there with one hand effortlessly, her feet not touching the ground.
She started to scream but he tightened his grip, cutting off the scream & nearly causing her to black out. He slowly leaned towards her his face changing into that of a monster.
"I was intending to give you to a friend as a Christmas present but I guess I'll have to think of something else & just eat you myself..."
Even if he wasn't holding her throat she wouldn't have been able to scream now, she was frozen in abject terror. Gone were the deep blue, replaced by glowing yellow eyes, & his mouth
sprouted fangs like some kind of big cat. He let her down & clamped one hand down on her shoulder. The other he placed on top of her head, pulling it to one side. With a hideous leer
he bared his fangs & leaned towards her exposed throat.
"Oh c'mon man, it's freakin Christmas eve, & I've got places to be!"
A voice, a female voice & it had come from just behind him.
He froze for a moment, then slowly straightened up, his fangs had only just pricked the flesh leaving tiny beads of blood on the smooth white skin. He turned slowly, still keeping a tight hold on Laura.
"I don't know who you are, or how you managed to sneak up without me hearing you, but you've made a big mistake little......"
As he spoke he shot out a hand at incredible speed to grab the newcomer but, moving just as fast, she effortlessly leant back just far enough to avoid being caught.
He hissed & glared down at his hand, seemingly unable to comprehend how he had missed her as the girl stood there just out of reach.
The girl was young, probably only in her early twenties, & all dressed in black. In one hand she held a small box wrapped in red paper & in the other hand a knife or something that
looked like it was made out of wood..... She showed no sign of fear, or even surprise at coming face to face with this monster....in fact she looked almost bored.
"Lets make this quick bozo, I don't wanna be here all night!"
She dropped into a fighting stance holding the sharpened wood out in front of her like a weapon. Was this girl mad? Jack, or whatever he was, was incredibly strong & she was going to
fight him with just a pointy stick?
Laura tried to shout a warning to the girl but before she could Jack hurled her back against the wall knocking all the air out of her lungs & causing her to bang her head, hard. Through the pain she thought she heard him hiss one word as he squared up to the girl...Whatever it was, sounded like sayer or seer, it just made her smile.
He lunged at her, impossibly fast, swinging his fist at her face, but somehow she blocked his punch & brought her knee up into his ribs. Laura heard the sharp crack as something snapped &
he let out a yelp of pain. Holding his ribs with his left hand he tried to backhand her but even though he moved blindingly quick, she ducked under it easily, as if she had all the time in the world.
Laura watched appalled as they fought. The girl almost seemed to be playing with him as, no matter how much he tried he couldn't seem to land a single blow.
Then, as he tried again to punch her in the face, she grabbed his arm, twisted it so she could look at his watch, then hit him with a punch that almost lifted him off his feet.
As he staggered back she rammed him up against the wall with one hand as she raised her pointy stick in the other.
"Well, it's been fun but I really gotta go now!"
As Laura watched the macabre scene, the girl plunged the wood deep into his chest, but instead of a spurt blood he just exploded into a cloud of dust & was gone.
The girl dusted herself down then went to retrieve the red package she had dropped when the fighting started. She inspected the wrapping carefully.
Laura just sat there, trying to get her head around what she had just witnessed. The girl finally looked over at her.
"You're safe now....go home!"
Laura tried to stand up but she was shaking like a leaf & slipped back against the wall. The girl held out a hand & pulled her to her feet. Her grip was powerful, way more powerful than
her physique would suggest. She was about to ask her who, or what she was when the alley was bathed in coloured flashing lights. A Police cruiser pulled across the end of the alley &
two cops came running towards her, guns drawn.
They approached warily waving guns & flashlights back & forth across the alley.
"You okay lady? We got reports of screams, like someone was being assaulted?"
Relief washing over her Laura straightened her clothes....she looked a mess.
"Oh yes officer, this guy grabbed me. He turned into some kind of monster & tried to bite my neck but this girl saved me!"
The cop looked at her like she was nuts.
"Erm what girl? You're the only person here..."
Laura looked around to where the girl had been moments before. The cops shone their flashlights all around the alley. It ended about 50 feet further back. Blocked by a 3 storey building.
Apart from a couple of retracted fire escapes about 10 feet up there was nothing else. No way out. The only doors were between her & the cops. The girl had just vanished into thin air.
"But she was right here?"
She spun round in a circle trying to work out where the girl could have gone, but the blow to the head had left her dazed & she nearly fell over, stumbling into the wall.
The two cops looked at each other & one rolled his eyes.
"Yeah!" Said the other one, "Call the wagon, she can sleep it off down at the precinct...let them deal with it in the morning".
As the confused figure was led out of the alley mumbling about monsters & vanishing supergirls, high above on a fire escape a dark figure tucked a small red parcel inside her jacket & slid
silently off into the night.
Buffy sat alone in her apartment in downtown Cleveland. She had moved there with Willow & the gang soon after they had defeated 'The First' but the Cleveland Hellmouth had turned out
to be dormant & had less demonic activity than most other cities. Due to this, & the fact that they now had enough Slayers to fight the good fight all over the world, the others had slowly moved on until only Buffy remained. Buffy had nowhere else to go.
She sat there staring down into her mug of Cocoa, an old black & white movie playing on the TV in the corner. She had no idea what the movie was called but it now started going on about the miracle of Christmas & how it is a time to be together with the ones you love.
A tear slowly ran down her cheek & dripped into her mug.
She couldn't take the movie any more & started flicking through the channels but everything seemed to be all about spending Christmas with family & friends & Buffy has neither.
Finally she got up & switched the TV off. As she headed back to the sofa she glanced down at the base of the Christmas tree & the little pile of presents, all for her. No one else would be there to open presents this year. In all her crazy life Buffy had never felt so alone.
The tears start to flow freely.
For a moment she considered calling her sister, but the time difference meant it was the middle of the night over there & she probably wouldn't appreciate being woken up by her elder
sister blubbing down the line at her.
She looked over at the sofa & the blanket she had been snuggling under & decided that if she was just going to sit there & stare into space she might as well go upstairs to bed, at least
she could try & get some sleep & dream of times when she meant something.
Just as her foot touched the first stair she got a strange feeling & all her senses were instantly alert. Even so the doorbell ringing made her jump.
Buffy wasn't expecting any visitors, especially at this time of night. Ok, it could just be some students out to earn some extra beer money by singing Christmas Carols, but her Slayer
senses were telling her something wasn't right.
She pulled a stake from the jacket, hung by the door, & peered through the spyhole.
There was one person stood outside, dressed all in black, with their back to the door.
Buffy opened the door slowly, the stake ready behind her back...just in case.
"Hello?"
The figure turned around & Buffy's heart skipped a beat. There on her doorstep was the last person she ever expected to see.
"Hey B, how ya doing?"
It had been a year since Sunnydale became an 'Innie' & the gang had started to break apart.
Faith had been the first to leave, going back to LA where she was still wanted for busting out of jail to help Angel, who was for his part trying to get her prison sentence overturned.
Buffy had heard that Angel's Law firm had got her released early, but she had heard nothing of her whereabouts since.
"Faith?" Was all Buffy could manage at that moment.
"That's me!" Grinned Faith & noticing the stake added "I see you were expecting me?"
Buffy shook her head & put the stake back in her jacket.
"Sorry, wasn't sure who was calling at this hour. Please, come in"
Faith hesitated & with a strange look on her face held out a parcel, neatly wrapped in red paper with little cartoon Christmas trees & Santas on it.
"I um.....just wanted to give you this." She looked really uncomfortable.
Buffy took the present with a warm smile, then gave her a guilty look.
"Thankyou Faith! I um, wasn't expecting you to call so I, um haven't got anything for you in return. But if you come in I could at least offer you a drink?"
"It's ok B. Wasn't expecting anything turning up outta the blue like this. So I'll just be off then...."
"you're not stopping?" said Buffy, trying, but not able to hide her disappointment.
"Nah, I've got places to be. Besides I don't want to gatecrash the party or.....?"
She leaned forward & looked into the empty living room with a frown.
"Erm B. Where is everyone?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's Christmas Eve B, thought you'd be elbow deep in scoobies by now?"
Her frown got deeper.
"They not coming till tomorrow then?"
When Buffy didn't reply Faith stepped inside & looked around. There were no decorations, except for the small tree & all the presents underneath had been posted there.
She turned to Buffy & finally got to see her face in the light & didn't like what she saw.
"Have you been crying?"
Buffy shook her head but it was obvious she was lying.
"Buffy? Where is everyone? Everyone is okay aren't they?"
Buffy nodded her face crumpling & she could hold back the tears no longer. She closed the front door & leant back against it burying her face in her hands as her shoulders shook slightly.
Faith didn't know what to do. She had never been good at the comfort thing & would normally just take off & leave them to it, but something was very wrong here, & this was Buffy.
She stepped forward & awkwardly put her arms around Buffy. As soon as she did so Buffy swung her arms around Faith pulled her in tightly &, burying her face in her shoulder, started sobbing uncontrollably.
Faith just held her. Part of her revelling in having Buffy in her arms, & part seriously worried at what had happened to all her gang of hangers on.
After a while Buffy stepped back & tried to dry her eyes on her sleeve.
"I'm sorry.....I shouldn't have....." She mumbled.
Faith led her over to the sofa & sat her down. Sitting down next to her she said quietly.
"How about you tell me what's going on here B, cos I'm getting....."
"No ones coming!" interrupted Buffy.
"What?"
"Everyone's somewhere else, got somewhere better to be!"
"Okay, I'm obviously way outta the loop as usual so why don't you fill me in?"
Buffy wiped her eyes again before starting to speak.
"Dawnie is at college in Milan & is spending Christmas with her new friends there."
"Milan? That's in Italy isn't it?"
Buffy nodded & Faith whistled.
"Sounds like the little brats got some brains in her head, who woulda figured."
Buffy smiled weakly before continuing.
"Willow had a rough breakup with Kennedy & has thrown herself into the whole Earth Magic thing. She's in England studying with a coven of White Witches. Giles, Xander & Andrew are in Scotland setting up a new Watchers Council & training school & all the new Slayers have been assigned duties elsewhere....."
"Wow! I really was outta the loop" Said Faith, shocked at how Buffy had been abandoned.
Faith picked at the zip of her black leather jacket.
"So, no boyfriend in tow then?" She tried to sound casual but didn't quite pull it off.
Buffy snorted.
"Boyfriend? Hah, not had one of those since Riley dumped me!"
"What about the leather coated chuckle brothers?"
Buffy gave a pained look.
"Spike was not my boyfriend!"
"You seemed pretty couple-ey to me back in SunnyD."
Buffy shook her head sadly.
"You know he's still alive then....or still undead.....whatever...."
Faith chuckled.
"Yeah, spoke to Angel a few times, told me blondie had turned up there still as annoying as ever."
"Well he's still in LA with Angel as far as I know, only he's obsessing over some blue haired Demon woman now, so I guess he's over me too."
"So, you were just going to sit here on your own all over Christmas then?"
"Well I heard they play a mean game of dominoes down at the local soup kitchen...."
Faith looked into sad red eyes.
"No one should be alone at Christmas Buffy!"
"What like we were going to leave you all alone in that crappy Motel room in Sunnydale?"
"you didn't though did you, you invited me to your house, remember?"
Buffy looked down at her hands with a guilty look on her face.
"You do know it was my Mom that suggested I invite you. I was totally oblivious as to how crappy your life was back then."
"What, like I didn't know about yours until just now? You had other more important things to worry about that night."
"Yeah I invited you round then had to bail & left you Momsitting."
"It was fun though, your Mom was a blast!"
Buffy let out a long sigh.
"We never did get to spend Christmas together did we? Never got to spend much time together at all."
"Well then." Said Faith brightening up, "Think it's time we changed that then don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Look Buffy, there's no way I'm leaving you on your own at Christmas, so we'll have a party with just the two of us!"
"But I thought you had somewhere you had to be?"
Faith pulled a face.
"Complete lie, told so I wouldn't have to face all your friends that don't like me!"
She shrugged & let out a long sigh.
"Truth is, I got no one to be with either! Was just going to find a bar, crawl inside a bottle & probably do something stupid. Just wanted to see you one more time before I did. Y'know, in case it was the last chance I got."
Buffy pulled Faith into a big hug. For a moment the dark Slayer froze, but then relaxed into the embrace, wrapping her arms around Buffy & holding her tight.
When they finally pulled apart Buffy was frowning.
"What about principal, I mean Robin Wood? I thought you two were getting close?"
"Hell no. Cut the boy loose as soon as I knew he was going to be okay. Boy had more issues than National Geographic. You know he actually thought he was prettier than me!"
Buffy actually laughed at that.
"He was alright, but definitely not as pretty as you...."
Buffy trailed off blushing bright red.
"You really think so?" Faith looked surprised.
Buffy nodded, if possible going an even darker shade of red.
"Wow! That means a lot coming from you!"
Buffy frowned. "Why coming from me?"
"Oh come on Buffy, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. The one who could get anyone she chose if she really tried. For you to think I'm pretty is a real compliment."
Buffy snorted.
"Yeah right! I'm beating the guys off with a stick these days. I'm surprised you managed to get past the queue of guys outside wanting to be with me!"
"Who said anything about guys?"
"What?"
Faith seemed to be having an internal discussion over what she should say next.
"What are you talking about Faith?"
Faith sighed again & seemed to come to a decision. her face took on a sad expression.
"Okay I'm probably ruining the moment here, but I know I'm not the only person that noticed."
"Noticed what? What are you trying to say?" Buffy cut in, she sounded angry.
Faith shut her eyes as she spoke.
"When you're with a guy you think you like, you send out mixed signals. You say you like him but act like you don't. Guys see you & think they don't stand a chance with a girl as beautiful
as you. So when you act like your not interested they give up & move on."
"I loved Riley!"
"Did you? Did you ever tell him? Because he certainly didn't believe it!"
"How would you know? Oh, yeah, the body swap thing."
Buffy still looked annoyed, but sad now too.
"So he didn't think that I loved him?"
"Not from what I heard."
Buffy hung her head & sighed.
"I'm not sure I did either to be honest. I wanted to, but Slayer duties always got in the way."
"Now you see I don't think they did."
"What do you mean?" Buffy stopped, frowning again, "And what did you mean by who said anything about guys?"
Faith winced & tilted her head to one side.
"I'm just sayin the reason you keep putting the guys off is because, deep down, your interests lie somewhere else, not with guys at all?"
Buffy's mouth opened & closed twice before she found her voice.
"Are you saying I'm secretly gay!!?"
Faith held her hands up & backed away slightly.
"I'm just saying your subconscious may be trying to tell you something, that's all."
"I think I would be the first to know if I preferred Girls Faith." Buffy folded her arms as she spoke but her face didn't reflect the certainty of her words.
Faith raised an eyebrow.
"Am I right in saying Red felt the same way, till she met Tara?"
"But I'm not into Girls! Any girl!" She sounded more like she was trying to convince herself now.
Her last remark caused Faith's face to fall.
"Don't knock it till you've tried it B."
"Oh & I suppose you have of.......oh!" Buffy's eyes widened. "Oh!"
Faith pulled a 'Now you know' face & shrugged, nodding slightly.
Buffy was silent for a moment as this new information sank in.
"But I thought you couldn't get enough of men....?"
"I use men, cause they're so easy to pull, but nothing beats a girl in the sack!"
Buffy just stared.
"Cant believe you never caught on B, Red guessed straight away."
She put a hand over her mouth.
"Willow knew you were into girls?"
Faith snorted.
"Yeah, think that's why she never liked me, thought I was gonna take her girl away from her."
"Tara only ever had eyes for Willow."
Faith smiled.
"You still don't get it do you? This was long before she came along. I'm talking about when I first came to SunnyD."
Buffy's mind was racing. She got the feeling she should be picking up on something here but couldn't work out what.
Faith threw up her hands.
"Jeez B. Red was worried I was going to steal her Slayer from her."
Buffy's eyes went wide again.
"She had a huge crush on you. But she realised how I felt about you & thought I was going to steal you away from her."
"You.....?"
Buffy's mind had stalled. Now, as she thought back it was quite obvious Faith was flirting with her when she first came to town. How had she not seen it for what it was?
"Took me a while to realise you were not interested in me. Wasn't used to folk rejecting my advances. Kinda lost it & made a lot of really bad decisions."
"So all that time you had a crush on me?" Saying it out loud made Buffy's pulse race.
More than a crush girlfriend. I had it bad for you, still do I guess?"
Buffy felt her face go red again. Her brain was having real trouble coping with what Faith had just told her. Part of her was horrified that Faith felt that way about her. But another, larger part felt something different & she really didn't want to find out what that feeling was as she had a sneaking suspicion it would reveal something about herself she had kept hidden, even from herself. And if she opened that door, even just a tiny bit, there would be no closing it again.
She suddenly realised Faith had stood up & was heading for the door. A resigned look on her face.
"What? Are you going? I thought you were going to stay?"
Faith looked at her a moment.
"Figured you'd want me gone after what I just told ya?"
A little voice in Buffy's head suggested that might be a good idea, but that was shouted down by the part of her that really didn't want to be alone. Plus she was slowly coming to terms with Faith being in love with her & felt surprisingly okay with idea.
"Don't go....I, I don't want to be alone right now, & I think you don't either?"
"Not if I've got a choice in the matter." Mumbled Faith, looking hopeful.
"Well then. Please stay!"
There was an awkward silence for a moment as Faith seemed unsure whether Buffy really wanted her there or not.
Buffy finally broke the silence with a cough, her mouth suddenly bone dry.
"God I need a drink! Would you like something too?"
"Got any whisky?"
"Think so. Want some?"
"Hell yeah. Never tried to open up about my feelings like that before. I can't stop from shaking!"
"Me too!" admitted Buffy as she grabbed the bottle from a cupboard & poured two large glasses. She handed one to Faith & raised hers.
"Happy Christmas Faith!"
"You too B!"
Faith grinned as Buffy pulled a face as the alcohol went down but immediately took another mouthful.
Two hours & several large shots of whisky later........
"Can I open my present now then?"
Buffy leaned towards Faith & gave her a 'pretty please' smile.
"I'm no expert, but aren't you supposed to wait until Christmas day before you start opening presents?"
Buffy pouted & looked longingly at the small red package that Faith had brought. She desperately wanted to know what Faith had got her. She had a pretty good idea what was in all the other presents that her friends & sister had sent, mainly because most of them had asked her what she wanted. But Faith's gift was a complete mystery.
Looking at the presents it suddenly struck her that there was nothing there for Faith to open. No gifts for her at all. Buffy felt a wave of guilt wash over her.
"I'm really sorry about not getting you a present Faith." She said sadly.
"Like I said B, you had no way of knowing I was gonna show up so why would you?"
"But I should have done anyway!"
"Relax B, no ones ever got me anything before, even if they knew I was gonna be there. So it's not like It's a big deal."
Buffy sat up so fast she nearly fell off the couch.
"What? No one? As in, you've never had a Christmas present...ever?"
"Well one year my Mom gave me a bottle of beer wrapped in the bag her Meds came in, but most years she was too wasted to even know who I was, let alone what day it was!"
Buffy felt sick. She couldn't imagine living a life where no one cared about you, not even your own Mother. She thought about the times when as a girl she had sulked or thrown a tantrum because her parents hadn't bought her the exact thing she wanted. But to get nothing....ever.
"W-what about Birthdays?"
Faith gave her a 'What do you think' look & the knot in Buffy's stomach got even tighter.
Faith frowned, glass halfway to her mouth.
"Not sure I even remember what day it is actually?"
Buffy's mouth hung open in disbelief. How could anyone not know their own Birthday?
"You don't know when your Birthday is?"
Faith just shrugged & took a sip at her drink.
"Never had a reason to care!"
"That's crazy! Do you even know how old you are then?"
Faith thought for a moment.
"Twenty, I think. Maybe twenty one?" She shrugged again. "Can't see that it matters, it's just a number. Another year still breathing!"
Buffy didn't have the faintest idea how to react to that. Her Birthdays hadn't always gone all that smoothly, but at least she had her family & friends around her.
She looked over at the pile of presents again. She was feeling guilty enough at the thought of opening them in front of Faith before, now the guilt would be overwhelming.
For a moment she thought about giving some of the presents to Faith, but as if she was reading her mind Faith snorted & waved a hand dismissively.
"Don't even think about it B, I don't need your charity. Not what I came here for!"
Faith's comment made a question spring to mind & it slipped out before she could stop it.
"What did you come here for then Faith?"
As soon as the words left her mouth she knew she had said the wrong thing. Faith would probably take that as a sign she wasn't welcome get angry & leave, disappear again.
She was so busy kicking herself for asking such a stupid question that she didn't notice the strange look that appeared on Faith's face for a brief moment before she managed to get herself under control.
The momentary pause gave Buffy time to recover too, so when Faith started to get to her feet Buffy gently put a hand on her arm.
"I'm sorry Faith, that was a stupid question. I don't care why you came, I'm just glad that you did. Please don't go."
Buffy saw the look of anger slowly subside into, something else, was that sadness?
The moment was brief replaced by her usual unreadable mask, but it had been there & it cut Buffy like a knife to the gut.
Still holding Faith in place Buffy took a big gulp of her drink & came to a decision.
"We're Slayers, the chosen ones. Destined to fight alone against the forces of evil. We are not meant to have friends, Birthdays, Christmas. We are supposed to just sit in the darkness & fight till we die....again!"
Faith raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk sliding across her face at Buffy's little rant.
She ticked a glance down to where Buffy's hand was gripping her thigh & her pulse quickened slightly.
"Well I say bullcrap! why should we be forever alone? We fight the fight & kill the bad guys. I say we deserve some down time, together!"
Faith was seriously amused now but she didn't stop Buffy's rant as she was intrigued to see where she was going with it.
Buffy sank another mouthful of liquor.
"I say that you & I should spend Christmas together. Who cares if no one else wants to be with us, we've got each other! I say lets make this the best Christmas ever..and....and....and I think I should stop drinking now 'cos I think..."
She collapsed face first into Faith's lap, her empty glass falling from her hand & rolling under the sofa.
Faith was truly grateful Buffy never saw the expression on her face for the moment, or maybe two, before she pulled herself together & gently sat her upright again.
"Jeez B, all this time & you still can't hold your liquor?"
"Yet you seem to be holding me okay!" Slurred Buffy, with what she probably thought was a sexy grin.
Alcohol stung Faith's nose as she nearly choked. Had she heard that right? She shook her head & cleared her throat. swallowing hard.
No, she's drunk as a skunk. Do skunks even drink? Anyhow, no way did she mean anything by that. Just my dirty mind.
Faith sighed & helped Buffy to her feet. She slowly let go but had to grab her by the upper arms again to prevent her crashing to the floor.
"Okaaay! Man you're wasted. Think it's time you went to bed!"
Buffy tutted & wagged her finger, bleary eyed.
"I'm a good girl! I don't do that sort of thing, not on a first date anyway. But seeing as it's you.....lets go!"
Faith was so shocked she only just stopped Buffy from walking straight into the wall by the stairs. She knew it was only the alcohol talking, but Buffy's words were making her feel things she didn't even have a name for, let alone could control.
She was seriously considering leaving Buffy sat on the sofa & running away. Very far away! To someplace with a shower & lots of cold water.
Buffy's legs chose this moment to give out completely & she slumped in Faith's arms, her head lolling on Faith's shoulder.
"Whoa! Think I might need some help?"
Buffy's warm breath on her neck sent a shiver down her spine & she pressed her eyes shut. Drunken Buffy was doing her head in. Her mind was screaming at her to get the hell out of there, but for some reason her body wasn't listening.
She gently picked Buffy up & carried her upstairs.
Carefully she placed her down on the bed & covered her with the duvet. She hesitated for a moment before leaning down & gently placing a kiss on Buffy's forehead.
She hovered there for a moment memorising her face. She had the gut feeling that when she walked out of there she would never see Buffy again.
Finally, with what could have been a tear forming in the corner of her eye, she started to straighten up.
"Goodbye B. You don't know how hard it is for me to...."
Suddenly Buffy surged upright in bed & grabbed Faith's arm in a tight grip.
"Nooo! Don't go! Please stay with me! Stay for chrishmass..."
She sat down on the bed again as Buffy struggled to focus on her.
"Please don't leave me on my own!" The puppy-dog eyes dealt the killer blow.
Faith's mind was spinning. She knew she should make her excuses & leave, but her body refused to move. She just sat there like an idiot, frozen to the spot.
Buffy took two deep breaths & licked her dry lips.
"Look, I may be a li'l drunk right now...."
"More than a little B!" Grinned Faith.
"Okay, maybe a lot drunk and....and I can't remember what I was goin to say now!"
Faith chuckled. "Sorry B!"
"I'm sure it was something really impotent too...."
She wiped a hand down over her face.
"It gets so lonely here all by myself all the time."
Faith swallowed hard. the walls she had spent her whole life building up & hiding behind were starting to crumble. If she didn't get out now she would be done for!
Buffy pulled a face & stuck out her tongue.
"Ugh! My mouth is really dry. I need a glass of water!"
She started to get off the bed but nearly fell head first onto the bedroom floor.
Faith just managed to catch her in time & roll her back onto the bed.
"You stay there. I'll get you a drink!" Said Faith, standing.
She headed downstairs & stopped by the front door. It would be easy to just walk out the door & keep going. Not stop till the jungles of South America. But before she knew what she was doing she was in the small kitchen, looking for a glass.
As she searched the cupboards, she noticed a calander pinned up on the wall. The only thing written on the page for December was a call from Dawn on the 15th. She looked back at the previous pages. The same thing was written for November 15th. From what she could see, Dawn only called her sister once a month. Was that all?
There was no mention of Willow calling since September.
How could they all forget about her like that?
One of the main problems Faith had faced when she first came to Sunnydale was a strong feeling of jealousy. Buffy had everything, friends, family, a living Watcher.
Faith had none of these things.
But when she tried to become a part of the group Buffy had pushed her away. Okay, so she had probably been mostly to blame for that, but it still stung. Hurt so bad that it had triggered the downward spiral that ended up in an alleyway in LA in the rain, begging Angel to end her.
Now, seeing Buffy hung out to dry by her whole gang of friends should have made her happy, to see Buffy go through something like what she had endured, but it relly didn't. She actually felt bad for her, almost guilty. like somehow it was all her fault, again.
Stopping only to knock back another shot of Jack, she found herself heading back upstairs with a large cup of water.
Back in the bedroom, Buffy was struggling into a brightly colored pair of 'Hello Kitty' pajamas. It looked like she had put the pants on back-to-front, but Faith decided not to say anything. Getting her to take them off again to turn them around would mean going places Faith really couldn't handle right now.
She waited for Buffy to settle before holding out the drink.
"Here!" She said. Averting her eyes from the top three buttons that were undone on the pajama top.
"Ooh, thanks!" Said Buffy, taking it from her & gulping it down.
The smile she gave Faith as she handed it back sent a warm pulse surging right through her & dealt another blow to her carefully crafted walls.
"Right B, think you need to get some sleep!"
"Not till you come here & get in too!"
Faith nearly dropped the cup as Buffy held the sheets back & pointed to the bed.
"What?"
Buffy folded her arms & frowned.
"Tomorrow is Christmas day. When I open the present you brought me I'm going to want to say thankyou....but I can't do that if you've gone away!"
She pointed at the bed again.
"I know what you're like. If I don't keep a hold on you you'll sneak away in the night like a sneaky thing and.....and I don't think I could take that!"
She looked up at Faith & the last of her defences crumbled.
With her mouth suddenly dry, Faith sat down on the bed & started to pull off her boots.
"Just hold me, please!" Buffy rolled over onto her side & indicated that Faith should lay down behind her.
Heart beating wildly, Faith lay down & tried to get comfortable. This was as close to spooning as it was possible to get without actually doing so, & Faith had never in her whole life even come this close before. So when Buffy reached behind her, grabbed Faith's hand & pulled it so her arm was around Buffy's middle, she very nearly lost her nerve.
It took every ounce of willpower she possessed not to pull her arm back & run!
"Mmmm, it's been so long....." Mumbled Buffy.
She snuggled back into Faith.
"So long since I slept with strong arms around me!" Her voice was almost a sigh & Faith began to think she was already half asleep, but then she let out a long sigh & the sound of her breathing changed.
"Goodnight B." Whispered Faith.
Any thoughts she might have had of waiting until Buffy was sound asleep then pulling her arm free & moving somewhere else were instantly dashed as, the moment she started to move her arm, Buffy clamped her own arms tighter around it.
She shut her eyes & groaned slightly. There was no way she was getting free without waking Buffy up. She was stuck there, at least until Buffy moved in her sleep.
Faith just lay there, breathing in the slight perfume of Buffy's shampoo. This was a million miles away from how she expected to spend the night. Many times she had dreamed of spending the night with Buffy, but this was't quite how she had pictured it going.
She sighed. There was no way she was going to get any sleep like this, with Buffy so close yet still out of reach.
But the railroad had increased security for some reason & her usual mode of transport had been far more stressful than usual. The guards actually searched the empty wagons several times on the trip from LA & she had to switch wagons or hide regularly. That & the alcohol meant that in a short time, the room was silent except for the shallow breathing of two sleeping Slayers.
I'll post the second half tomorrow!
