"All right then, what's it going to be? As I've already confessed my deep affection for you, you know where I stand. You may rest assured though, if you choose not to come with me, I am leaving with Faith. She'll be a poor substitute, but she is a Slayer and I'm sure she'll provide me with many hours of entertainment. It's up to you, oh great leader. You decide who shall accompany me."
"You can be certain that neither Slayer is leaving here with you."
"Strong words Rupert, but what of your sacred duty? Didn't you swear to protect all of mankind? Well if you'll look right over there, you'll see that the Hellmouth is opening. We're just minutes away from the eventual destruction of every human being on this planet, all on your watch. I'm afraid we're going to have to sacrifice someone if we're to prevent that from happening."
"Okay."
"I'm sorry, what did you say Buffy?"
"I'll go with you."
"You bloody well will not!"
"First let Faith go."
"Oh I think not, I plan to leave here undead. You come to me, then you have my word I'll let her go."
Willow grabbed Buffy by the arm:
"This is crazy! You can't trust him!"
"Pardon me Ms. Rosenberg, but the Slayer and I have made an exchange like this before. I kept my word that time, didn't I Buffy?"
"..."
Everyone saw how upset Buffy looked, but it was Xander who asked the question:
"Buff, what exchange? What's he talking about?"
Spiran laughed:
"Oh my, haven't you told them what you did?"
"Fuck you."
"I'm afraid I must inform all of you that your hero has clay feet. She is..."
...This can't be right. B...B's not like that. She's...
"Faith, stay on track."
"I...I don't get this...Is this..."
"You know Faith, you're like the daughter I never had. No father could ever be prouder than I am. Now no more worrying about Buffy, do you think she's worried about you?"
"...Well yeah, think...I think she is...I...I love..."
"Quiet! Your precious Buffy is a double dealing whore, and she's not worth a minute of your time. When I think of how she's treated you, how she chose to love a vampire instead of you, well I think she needs to be taught a lesson. No one treats my Faith like that and gets away with it."
"Boss...something...This doesn't feel right...Like it's...Feels like it's not real..."
*Faith!*
"B?"
"Now you listen to me young lady, no one else cares about you, not like I do. I love you Faith, and I can't wait to see all the great things you're going to do. But you have to understand, Buffy doesn't care about you, she never will. Deep down, you know that."
*Faith, fight him! He's lying!*
"What's that voice?"
"Just some workers in the hall, finally getting started on the renovations. Hey, want a cookie and a glass of milk? There's nothing healthier for a young beautiful girl than a glass of milk."
"...Yeah sure, okay."
*Faith!*
"Boss...sounds like B."
"It's not! My God Faith, is this what you want? To spend your life mooning after a woman who couldn't care less about you? I'm offering you something here, the chance to make something of yourself, the chance to be someone who matters."
*Faith!*
"...I do...matter. I...I matter to...her."
"No you don't, and don't think it makes me happy to say so. But heck, that's her loss. She's the one who's not worthy of you Faith, she never was and she never will be."
"B..."
"She doesn't love you, she can't love you. You're a liar, a murderer, a selfish slut who cheats and steals and hurts everyone you come into contact with. You're filled with nothing except hate and fear and anger. How could she ever love that Faith?"
"No...that's not...not me, not anymore. I'm...I don't..."
"But I love you Faith, just like you are, and I see your potential. I see the greatness in you and I'm more than happy to help bring it out into the open. Together we're going to make sure the entire world sees just how special you really are, what a force you are to reckon with. I don't want anything from you in return except a little loyalty, and gosh darn it, that doesn't seem like it's too much to ask."
"...It's not...Boss..."
"You fit in here, this is where you belong. You're an extraordinary girl Faith with special skills and talents, and I understand that. I know what you want, and I'm going to do my darnedest to see that you get it."
"...Thanks...I...Means a...lot..."
"The important thing is I'll always be here for you, always. You're my Slayer, and I can tell you right now I've got the best one, hands down, no contest. So come on, drink up and we'll make our plans for..."
*Faith!*
"But I...I hear her."
"You know, you're starting to seem a little ungrateful, young lady. I'm offering you everything you've ever wanted, and this is how you repay me? Maybe you don't understand, but the simple truth is you've got no one else, no one."
*Faith!*
"I got her, asshole."
Faith's punch caught him by surprise, knocking him back several feet. Buffy was on him as Faith collapsed in a heap. Willow was back at the Hellmouth, frantically yelling out instructions to Giles and Dawn, while Xander and Anya ran to Faith as she struggled to get to her feet.
"That was remarkable. That little bitch is the first person to ever break my hold."
He and Buffy were circling each other as they looked for an opening.
"She's special like that."
"There's no need for us to fight Buffy. My people are all dead, thanks to those evil little balls of sunshine your group seems so fond of using. Somehow that seems like cheating."
"Oh well, too bad."
"I will leave and our paths will never cross again. Just let me go."
"Hmm, a new fantasy. Nope, can't say I'm buying it."
"So what do you intend to do?"
"I intend to end you."
"I won't go easily."
"Maybe not, but you'll go."
"You're so confident, it's hard to remember you pleading and crying and shaking in terror."
"For me too."
"Do you remember the sound his neck made as you snapped it?"
"..."
"You should have seen your face. There you were, The Slayer, Defender of the Innocent, suddenly reduced to nothing but a cold-blooded killer. It was my greatest hour."
"Really? Well this is your last one."
The battle was brutal, but it was short-lived. It wasn't long before Spiran found himself pinned to the ground, Buffy's stake hovering directly over his heart.
"Buffy, you don't want to do this."
"I...I don't?"
"No. It would be best for everyone if you let me go."
"Let you...go?"
"That's right Buffy, just let me go."
"You know, unless you're being all metaphorical...nope."
"Buffy..."
"I imagined this moment about a million times. All the ways I was going to make you suffer and pay for what you did."
The terror on Spiran's face was plain to see.
"And?"
"And that's just not me."
"It's not?"
"No. See, I'm Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and you? You're history."
She rammed the stake down with extra force to make sure it penetrated the spell surrounding him, and his eyes showed nothing but surprise that he was dead. Then he was dust and Buffy stood up.
"Took care of him pretty easy."
"Yeah, he wasn't much of a fighter. I guess all those years of playing mind games left him kind of rusty. Plus I think Will kind of messed up his reflection spell."
Faith's face looked guilty and uncertain as she struggled to meet Buffy's eyes:
"...B..."
"Shhh...Are you okay?"
"Yeah, back up to snuff."
"God, I was so..."
The ground began shaking ominously, jarring large pieces of the building loose.
"This can't be good. Will?"
"I need more time!"
Giles was with Willow, chanting as he ran around trying to set up some talisman, but it was evident there wasn't going to be enough time. The Hellmouth was opening, and it was opening now.
Buffy picked up her axe and Dawn handed her broadsword to Faith before she ran off to join the others. Buffy calmly looked at Faith:
"You ready for this?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
Willow and Giles were still doing whatever, but now Xander, Anya, and Dawn were the ones scurrying around as they tried to follow the shouted instructions.
Buffy stared at the Hellmouth, wondering how they were ever going to stop what was coming.
"B?"
Faith tapped her gently on the shoulder, so gently that Buffy couldn't help but smile as she turned back to face her. The world was ending, yet Faith could still make her happy just by being near. God, all the time they'd wasted...
"Hmmm?"
The blow caught Buffy right on the chin, lifting her off her feet and leaving her dazed as she hit the ground hard.
"Sorry B, it's the only way."
She never broke stride as she ran past the Scoobies:
"I got it guys. Take care of B."
And with that, Faith dove into the Hellmouth. There was nothing anyone could do to stop her. She was a Slayer after all, and she was moving way too fast.
As she began her dive, a blur lunged at her from behind, and Buffy just managed to grab her around the ankle. The problem was their momentum and the pull from the Hellmouth kept them moving forward, and forward was not the direction Buffy wanted to go.
It was Xander who moved next. He dove quickly, latching onto Buffy's legs as they desperately scrabbled for purchase on the concrete floor. Anya and Dawn followed, each wrapping their arms tightly around one of Xander's legs. Giles finished off the Scooby chain by encircling each girl's waist with his arms, and then wrapping his legs firmly around a nearly blown to bits radiator.
It worked, and the Slayers stopped moving. Buffy held Faith with her right hand, her left desperately clutching an exposed pipe. The strain was enormous as the Hellmouth was determined to have its very own Slayer. Buffy's arm was already beginning to shake, but her face showed nothing but determination.
"Let go B!"
"No! Will?!"
"Not yet!"
"Buffy, let go!"
"No!"
Buffy held her dangling there, neither pulling her up nor letting her go. The Hellmouth appeared confused by this turn of events. It strained to pull Faith all the way in, yet kept trying to expand as there was no real reason not to. The building was creaking and
groaning, and yet none of them seemed to register the danger they were in.
"Will?!"
"Not yet!"
"B..."
A medium-sized creature best described as a dragon, tried to squeeze past Faith, but she caught it by the neck and twisted. It flopped harmlessly to the floor, its broken neck assuring everyone that it no longer posed a threat.
"Goddamn it B, let me go!"
"No!"
"Let go or I'm gonna make ya!"
"I swear Faith, I'll follow you in!"
"Buffy..."
"I mean it! Will?!"
Another creature made a break for it, tearing a deep groove along Faith's arm as it exited. She snagged its leg as it sailed by, wrenching it back down. As it turned to attack her, she sliced her sword across its neck, the severed head bouncing onto the floor as the body drifted back down into the Hellmouth.
"B, I can see'em comin'! Let go!"
"Not in a million years! Will?!"
"Get ready!"
Willow was standing now, her hair completely white. More monsters were rushing towards the opening, and Faith was thrusting and parrying as she hung upside down. They could all hear the terrifying screams as the denizens of the Hellmouth began surging upward.
Buffy closed her eyes and tuned them out. She was listening for only one voice, and she could hear nothing else.
"By the Goddess Hecate, I command you...Close! Now Buffy!"
Buffy pulled with every ounce of strength she had and jerked Faith clear just as the Hellmouth snapped shut. The fissure sealed smoothly, the only sign that it had ever existed was the bodies and severed heads littering the floor.
The Slayers fell back breathing hard, but they were in a lot better shape than they had any right to be. Faith had a nasty looking gash on her arm and several small deep cuts on her cheek, while Buffy had a painful looking abrasion on her forehead and a severely bruised chin. Besides a myriad of unseen bumps and bruises, that seemed to be the extent of the damage.
"Okay guys, I think you can let go now."
The human chain slowly began unlocking their various grips.
"You ladies okay, Buffster?"
"We're perfect, thanks to you. That was really quick thinking."
"Well it's not like I could let two of my favorite girls just fall into the Hellmouth. I've heard through the grapevine they don't even have any pizza down there."
"Ha, ha, ha! Xander, that is so funny! Just the image of a grapevine actually speaking!"
Giles stood and began brushing himself off:
"Willow, are you quite all right over there?"
"A-okay. I'm not sure what color my hair is, but I don't feel all dark and veiny."
"Hair's red, Red."
"Okay, that's good to know. I was kinda worried ‘cause I..."
"Although you now resemble a skunk."
"What?!"
"An!"
"What? I didn't put it there!"
Dawn went into damage control:
"Don't worry Willow, it looks cool."
"You know, I believe there's quite a resemblance to Bonnie Raitt."
The look of horror on Willow's face surpassed anything they'd seen all day:
"What?! Oh Goddess, I look like an old woman?!"
"Bonnie Raitt's not at all old. In fact, I'd say she's quite sexy and..."
"What?!"
"Giles, we beg of you...no more with the talking."
He looked totally perplexed:
"Well I must say Buffy, I'm not at all sure what I've managed to stumble into and...Oh all right, fine. Xander, would you please bring the jeep ‘round?"
"Sure. Hey An I might get lonely, wanna come?"
There was a slight pause and then Anya smiled happily:
"Do I want to ...Oh Xander..."
"Please you two, just concentrate on bringing the car right next to this hole in the wall. That way we won't have to carry everything all the way around. No extracurricular activities, if you please."
The frown on Anya's face made it clear she wasn't pleased.
"Xander, I think he means we can't have our victory sex yet."
"Gotcha, Giles. We'll be right back."
They walked off giggling, their arms entwined around one another.
"Those two are completely insatiable. Well I believe I'd best check on Willow in the meantime."
"Okay, but no skunk or sex talk please."
"Buffy, I was merely attempting to...Oh sod off."
"Hey I heard that!"
"That's what you get for having Slayer ears."
Giles walked off, patting Dawn fondly on the shoulder as he passed by.
"Guys, look at all the vamp dust! Have you ever seen so much in one place at one time?!"
"You know, I don't think I have."
"Me neither. Hey Squirt, kinda lost your sword."
Dawn was busy kicking the dust all around.
"This is so gross!"
Buffy rolled her eyes:
"Well maybe you could stop playing around in it?"
"But there's so much of it...Ugh. Faith, did you say something?"
"Was telling you I lost your sword when B hauled me up."
"I don't care, we've got lots more."
"Thought it was your fave?"
"Nope, I never use that one because something might happen to it."
Faith laughed and shook her head.
"Makes sense."
"Yeah, if you're a weirdo."
"Takes one to know one Buffy!"
"Whatever."
Xander and Anya came roaring up in the jeep, honking all the way.
"Xander, is that cacophony really necessary?"
"No, but it's fun!"
"Quite. I guess I can't argue with youthful enthusiasm."
"Hey guys? I could use a little help over here, some of this stuff's recyclable."
Xander climbed back into the room through the hole in the wall, then reached out to help Anya:
"On our way, you little skunk witch, you."
"You know, I might just turn you into a skunk if you keep it up."
"Aw come on Will, it's already fading."
Willow's relief was apparent.
"It is? How come nobody told me?"
"It's faded a lot, Willow. Now it just looks like a big streak of urine."
"What?!"
"An!"
"Well it does. And could you tell me why you keep acting like I put it there?"
The Slayers watched everyone arguing as they cleaned up Willow's magic supplies, and finally Buffy turned to Faith:
"We did it."
"Looks like."
The Slayers stood side by side as they stared down at the now closed Hellmouth. It was a comfortable silence, a beautiful silence that lasted for several moments, and then Buffy punched Faith, knocking her to the ground.
"Ow! What the hell are you doing?"
"No, that's my question. What did you think you were doing?"
"...Righting a few wrongs."
"Not even close. All you were doing was scaring me to death."
"But I..."
"All the wrongs are righted Faith, all of them."
"Yeah but..."
"No ‘buts'."
Faith smiled up at Buffy almost shyly:
"...Okay. I'm sorry, B."
Buffy offered her hand and pulled her to her feet. Faith tried to step back, but Buffy pulled her close, wrapping her arms around her waist.
"It's okay, this time. But I swear, if you ever try anything like that again..."
"Not gonna, not without your say-so."
"God, if anything had happened to you..."
"Hey c'mon, you'd be okay. Life's gotta go on."
"Maybe, but I need you with me when it does."
They stood staring at each other until Dawn's voice interrupted them:
"Hey guys, come look at how these things are melting!"
"In a minute, Dawnie."
Faith looked around nervously. Everyone was still too busy to notice, but Faith knew that could change at any second.
"Let go B. Ya don't want everybody knowing we're..."
Buffy pulled her closer:
"Now see, you're all wrong again. I want everyone to know how I feel about you."
Faith tried without success to put some distance between them.
"No ya don't, not really. Just on a high from kicking all that undead ass."
"Oh I'm definitely hungry and horny, but you're the cause of that."
Faith squirmed to move away, but Buffy's arms held her in place.
"B, I'm a big girl. I get I'm not somebody you want other people to know about. It's okay if ya just wanna..."
"F?"
"Yeah?"
"I am deeply, passionately, insanely in love with you."
"..."
"You're everything I've been waiting for, everything I've been dreaming of. I'm yours if you want me...God Faith, I'm yours even if you don't."
Faith couldn't utter a sound.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"I...You love me?"
"Like I've never loved anyone."
"You...love me?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Maybe...Just way hard to believe."
"Well hopefully it won't take you long to get over that part of it."
"B...Buffy, are you sure?"
Buffy's hands entwined themselves in Faith's hair, pulling her so close their lips were just a breath apart.
"I'm so sure I...I'm as sure as...Okay, not great with the analogies, but I am nothing but sure. I've never been surer in my whole life."
"Yeah?"
"Oh yeah. ‘Sure' is my middle name, probably my first and last too."
"Will you two hurry up and...Hey guys, what are you doing?"
Buffy's eyes never left Faith's as she answered:
"Kissing the woman I love."
And then she did. It was a kiss full of promise, a kiss full of love and light and everything good, and Faith never hesitated.
She kissed Buffy back, trying her best to convey all that she felt, all that she wanted to give, and all that she wanted to take. She let Buffy have it all, everything that she was, and Buffy only pulled her closer.
When their lips finally parted, Faith found herself staring into the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen. There was nothing but warmth and love in them, and Faith felt like she was just floating. What she had always wanted most was now hers, and she could not believe she'd gotten so lucky.
"You are the best kisser ever. I could kiss you for hours and never get tired of it. Ooh and look, now I get the dimples. It's almost like you're happy about something."
"...B, you know how I feel about you?"
"Yes I do. Now, I absolutely do."
"Fuck, is this for real?"
"Nothing's ever been realer."
"Excuse me, but when you freaks are done making out..."
"Shut up Dawnie."
"You shut up...Barfy!"
"Um Buff?"
"Yep?"
Willow's smile was huge.
"I take it you two are a couple?"
"You take it right."
"In that case, let me officially welcome you both into the club."
"Thank you. I'm deliriously happy to be here."
"Woulda been a member sooner if I'da known B was a..."
"Ow! Anya, what was that for?!"
"I don't like the way you're looking at them."
"I was just sur..."
"I know men supposedly like the girl on girl action, but I'm not..."
"...prised. Honey, you're the only girl I want."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Oh Xander..."
Anya snuggled up against him as his arms went around her. It was a sweet and tender moment, and it lasted for about five seconds.
"Xander, does that mean there are some men you want?"
"What?! No! Gross, I'm not gay!"
All eyes turned to him.
"Not that it's gross or wrong or bad to be gay, of course it isn't. I could be gay, of course I could. Nothing wrong with that, not at all. And sometimes people think I'm gay, but I'm not! But it would be just fine, it'd even be great if I was gay, which I'm not, at all."
Giles attempted to get things back on track:
"Yes...Now that that's been sorted, perhaps we could all..."
"It's okay honey, I understand."
"You do? Oh thank God because I..."
"I've had urges ever since I met Faith...not that I plan on acting on them. I love you, and I really want to keep her as a friend. Plus now that Buffy's in the mix, well she doesn't strike me as the type who'd be willing to share. Hmm...what's her official position on sharing her lovers?"
"What?! How would I know?!"
"Well I saw how good-looking Angel was, and everybody knows you had a huge crush on Riley."
"Riley?! I did not!"
Giles was beet red as he tried to soldier on:
"...head home? Surely Buffy and Faith would very much like to avail themselves of a bed and..."
"Got that right, G-man."
A heart attack seemed imminent, but his voice stayed level:
"I was of course, referring to sleep."
"And I of course, was referring to fuc...Ow!"
"Yes, we are tired Giles."
"Thank you, Buffy. Xander, perhaps you'd assist in procuring room in the jeep for everyone?"
"Ah, at last. A manly job for a manly man."
"Wow, talk about overcompensating."
"Shut up, Will. I just meant instead of that sissy book research we've been doing nonstop."
Anya linked her arm with Xander's:
"Well if Xander's going, I am too."
"But of course Anya, that goes without saying. I've certainly no wish to interfere with your constant and annoying togetherness."
"You've got no idea how annoying togetherness can be. One time there was this wife who wished her husband would never leave her, and because she was such a shrew I..."
"I assure you I have no wish to hear this particular tale, so would you please..."
"I want to hear it! What did you do?!"
Dawn tagged along excitedly, eagerly awaiting all the sordid details.
"I made them Siamese twins."
"You did not! Did you?"
"I suppose the proper term now is ‘conjoined' twins."
"But you joined them?! How did they go to the bathroom?! Ewww, don't answer that!"
"It wasn't pleasant, but that was the least of their problems."
"What else?!"
"It gets funnier. I made it so they had to..."
Their voices mercifully faded away as they walked to the jeep, and then it was just Willow and the Slayers.
"Faith, before we go...Well I wanted to..."
"All cool Red, don't gotta say shit."
"Maybe, but I want to. Thank you for everything you did."
"No big, we all chipped in. Should be thanking you for even giving me a shot. Not like I deserved it."
"I think you deserve all kinds of things now, every one of them good."
"Don't know about that, but sure wanna take'em."
Faith began fidgeting, but she made herself stop.
"Willow, I'm sorry about everything before. Got no excuses, none at all. I was messed up and I let some way evil shit just start running me. I got in and I couldn't get out. Was like I was lost, so I used that as an excuse to head in even deeper. I'm sorry for hurting you and the people you care about. Know I don't have the right, but I'm kinda hoping maybe one day you might see your way clear to forg..."
Willow slammed into her with a forceful hug.
"I'm sorry too, Faith. I never really gave you a chance, not after I saw how much of an affect you had on Buffy. I was jealous, not in a sex way, a friend way...Of course since I'm gay...hey maybe it was in a sex way. I was probably repressing an attraction to her, and that kind of thing can make you all repressey and repressed, you know? I'm not sure...I know I liked her, and I for sure noticed how pretty she was the first second I saw her, but did I ‘like' like her? I just don't know...it's all sort of vague but..."
"Will..."
"...I know for sure I had a major crush on Xander, and of course I was crazy about Oz too. But Buffy was..."
"Will!"
"What?"
Buffy was laughing:
"When's the intermission?"
"Oh, was I doing it again?"
"Yep, the ‘Willow Babble Meter' was going full force."
"Sorry, sometimes I forget the true extent of my powers"
"All cool with me, I dig chicks who ramble."
Buffy blushed slightly as she smiled:
"Oh you do, do you?"
Faith's arm slinked around her waist, pulling Buffy up tight against her as she kissed the top of her head.
"Crazy for'em."
"Good to know. And Will, you know how huge I am with the love of Willow...the friend kind, not the ‘love' kind...Anyway, Giles wants you."
"Giles?! God Buffy, that's not even funny. It's just repulsive and..."
"Pardon me Willow, I believe we're going to need a spot of magic to deal with these blasted weapons. Could you..."
"Oh, that kind of want. Okay, that's a relief."
"I'm sorry?"
"Scary misunderstanding. Hmm...I guess I could just shrink them...No, I'll conjure up a rope to...Hey, a container that we can tie to the..."
She was off in a blaze of excitement, leaving the Slayers all alone.
"So B..."
"Yes?"
"This mean you're my girl?"
"Uh-huh."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Think I could get used to that."
"What about you?"
"What do ya mean?"
"Are you my girl?"
"Since the second I saw you, for better or worse."
"Hmm...I see."
"See what?"
"I think we just got married."
Faith began grinning, she knew what was coming.
"How ya figure?"
"Well you did say ‘for better or worse'. Put that together with the previous ‘I dos'..."
"Think there's some other stuff involved."
Buffy pretended to think about it, her face scrunched up in concentration.
"That's true. Okay, what about in sickness and in health?"
"Absolutely."
"‘Til death do us part?"
"Even longer."
"Do you promise to honor and cherish me?"
"Gonna fucking worship you."
"And it goes without saying you'll always obey me."
"Got us a sticking point there."
"Really?"
"Not too good at taking orders."
"Now that's a shame."
"Why's that?"
"Well, I was going to order you to kiss me."
"Oh."
"But if you don't want to follow orders..."
Buffy pretended to walk away, and Faith dragged her back.
"Thinking I could learn. Probably just need some practice, is all."
"I could help you with that."
"That'd be nice."
"Faith?"
"Yeah?"
"Kiss me, that's an order."
Faith pulled her close and happily did as she was told.
Buffy was hers, they were going to build a life together. Faith smiled into the kiss, she couldn't help it. The joy she felt was impossible to contain, and she almost melted as she felt Buffy smiling back.
All it had taken was an apocalypse to finally bring them together, and the way Faith saw it, it was a small price to pay. The kiss was still going, Buffy's hands were now moving, and everything was heating up perfectly. Then Willow was back, and this time her face was all business.
"It's time."
Buffy's mouth left Faith's reluctantly, her voice almost pleading:
"Just a couple more minutes Will."
"I'm sorry Buffy, it has to be now."
"Geez B, take it easy. Can definitely kiss you in the car."
Buffy turned back to her in a near panic:
"You have to promise me."
"Sure thing. Gonna kiss ya like there's no tomorrow."
"Promise me you'll remember that I love you."
"Trust me, no way I'm ever forgetting that."
"Faith, promise me!"
"Hey, calm down B. What the matter with..."
"Promise me!"
"Yeah okay, I promise."
"Buffy, we have to go."
"Faith, say it! Say the whole thing!"
"I promise you that I'll remember you love me. B, what the fuck is going on?"
Willow turned her attention to Faith:
"Just try to relax now."
"Funny thing Red, I was relaxed ‘til B went all...What's with the light?"
Buffy was clinging to her:
"Remember, you promised me."
"B, I know you love me and I'm never gonna forget it, okay? But right now that weird ass light's got me kinda spooked. You guys see it too, right?"
Buffy responded by holding onto her even tighter, almost painfully tight.
"I love you Faith, nothing can ever change that."
Faith wanted to respond, but she couldn't. The light was now a brilliant blue and she couldn't look away from it. It seemed to be taking over, everything was becoming lost to it. Everything was fading, everything except the sound of Buffy whispering over and over:
"I love you Faith, I love you."
Then even that was gone, and all that was left was the light. Faith felt herself drifting, then being pulled towards something, and she fought it. She was leaving Buffy behind and she became almost violent as she struggled to stay right where she was, where Buffy was.
After a brief battle, she was moving again. She could feel herself gaining speed, almost rocketing to her destination. Everything she was seemed to fade into nothingness, but she wasn't afraid.
It was comforting now, like she was returning to where she was meant to be. As she began losing consciousness, she heard a voice whispering:
"Remember Faith, I love you."
