PART 10
Buffy opened the front door and was startled to see her mother standing there, staring at her while eating one of the chocolate bar she sold her for the marching band.
“Hey! Uh, sorry I'm late. You know Giles. All slay, all the time.”
That’s when Giles stepped into view from the dining room with his arms crossed and a stern look on his face.
“Hello, Buffy.”
Buffy gestured into the living room, “Do you guys wanna watch some television? I hear there's a very insightful Nightline on.”
Joyce looked upset, “Buffy, you lied to us. And you made us into your alibis.
That's... playing us against each other, and that's not fair.”
“I called Willow.”
Buffy looked at a loss.
“You also lied to her about your whereabouts. We were all concerned.”
Joyce unwrapped her chocolate bar and held it out to Giles.
“Oh, thank you.” He said as he broke off a piece.
“Look, I'm sorry, but I had to...”
She turned around and walked into the living room. Joyce followed her, and
Giles did too, only a few paces behind.
“Were you at the Bronze? What was happening there that was so important?”
Buffy stopped, let out an exasperated sigh and turned to face her mother. She gestured and shrugged, “Bronze things. Things of Bronze.”
“Listen I didn’t mean to lie or-” Buffy stopped as a knock resounded on the front door which wasn't locked and Faith slowly stepped in.
“I'm sorry Joyce, mister Giles. We went slaying and we just only parted. I was just outside and I couldn’t help but hear. Buffy didn't want you to know because she knows you worry so... but I couldn't let you wonder.”
Buffy looked stunned but very fast hid it.
“How silly of you, Buffy. You know I feel better when I know you're not alone slaying.”
“Err, yes it's just, I thought you'd feel more reassured if you thought I was only training.”
Faith slightly stepped forward to Giles who was giving them a sceptical look.
“I know Buffy told you I get a little wild sometimes so... we thought it was better not to tell you we were on an unofficial hunt. We found a nest of vampires and we kind of sought them. They’re dust now. I’m the one who didn’t want to wait or say anything. We won’t do it again. I Promise.”
##I'm kinda lost right now.##
“At least you're both safe.” Joyce said with a smile while taking another bite of her chocolate bar. Giles did the same with one he took from his pocket.
“Ok, I guess I should leave now.”
“Why don't you stay for dinner, Faith?”
##Mom?! I mean, well, it would only be fair since she just saved my ass but.... what for? That's what I'm afraid of.##
“It's ok Miss S. I should probably go.”
“It's too bad, there are pizzas.”
##I can't help but smile. Her eyes always shine when you say the word pizza. That hasn't changed and it's cute.##
“Well, err.”
“Mister Giles and I need to discuss a few things. We won't even bother you.”
##That means I'm gonna be alone in the kitchen with her? How come I'm stressed already? I'm sure she won’t... Why is she here about this? I guess I'll find out soon cause she just nodded. Never could resist a pizza. ##
“Thanks Joyce.”
“Buffy?”
“Yes mom, I'll warm it. Alright then, let's go.”
The slayers headed to the kitchen. Buffy tried to hide the fact that she was nervous. She just didn't know how to 'take' the other slayer anymore.
She looked at the 2 box of pizzas and chose the second one. She cut some slices and put them in the microwave while Faith sat at the table. Buffy finally turned around. Faith was looking in front of her, at the table.
“So, err, you were in the area?”
“Yeah, just wandering. Didn’t see where I was.” Faith mentally slapped herself for being so lame.
“Yes, ok.” Buffy turned around to face the microwave again. Faith closed her eyes very fast as she shook her head in disbelief. She wondered, too, why it was so hard talking to Buffy now.
Buffy took the slices out of the microwave and gave two to Faith.
“Here, four-cheese pizza, your favorite.”
“You remember?”
“Like I would forget your likes for pizzas, mostly these?”
They slightly looked aside after a shy knowing smile at each other.
“Thank you for...,” Buffy bent her head; Giles and Joyce were in deep talk, apparently not about her, since they seemed to be talking about the chocolate bar. Buffy frowned and then went on, “what you did.”
“It's cool. I heard through the door. Mmmm that's so good.”
##Why am I shivering? I can't help it when she looks like that. I just like so much when it's like that, simple. She looks like... her. And that's a sight, a feeling that I can't help but love. I mean like.##
“Yes it is.”
They remained silent for a moment, glancing at each other there and then while eating.
“Right... I guess I should go now.”
“Well, ok then.” ##What else can I say?##
They both got up and headed to the kitchen's door side by side.
“Look, I gotta tell you something.”
“I need to tell you something.”
They both said at the same time and smiled at the fact.
“You go first.”
“No you go.”
##Damn, I always lose at this game. I can't win when she looks like a child with her embarrassed smile.##
“Ok, err, well, there's something I've wanted to tell you for a while. Err,”
“Listen B, you don't have to tell me your secret just because of tonight. I... I understand. We're just... well, you don’t have to.”
“But I do want to. I've wanted to but-”
“I didn't make it easy for you the other day, I know. I wanted to apologize for that. I was. I went a little crazy and I shouldn't have asked you that. I really... really shouldn't. I-I regret.”
They stared intensely at each other and Faith slightly frowned with a smile, “I guess I went first after all, didn’t I?”
Buffy couldn't help a pleased smile, “I guess you did and... I'm glad you did.”
##Means she cares.##
“I didn't want you to think I... You and me it's... Well, it's different and I.... I overstepped the border and I'm glad you reacted like you did. I-I don't want to spoil anything between us, you know. I like what we have, I think, I mean, being with- there, with all of you.”
##Now my heart rises in my chest again. I think it's better when we argue; she doesn't confuse me so much then. I'm a bad liar, she always confuses me. But still...##
“So, I 'm gonna let you go now B. You don't have to tell me, I really understand.”
“No Faith, really I. I really do want to tell you. I... I need to.”
Buffy looked sad again.
Faith moved closer, “Ok.”
She looked expectant. Buffy looked around.
“Err, let's go to my room, it's kind of complicated.”
Buffy, as a 'past' habit, took Faith's hand in hers to lead her to the stairs before realizing.
“Err, sorry.”
“It's ok.” Faith said, hiding the fact her hair went up on her arms at the contact.
Buffy closed her bedroom’s door behind them. She gestured Faith to sit on the bed while she remained at the center of the room. She started to play and pulled nervously on her fingers.
Faith remained silent, waiting patiently.
“It's not easy.”
“I get that.” Faith pointed out Buffy's hand as she was twisting her fingers. Buffy let go of it.
“Ok, whatever I tell you I want you to promise me you won't... I mean, you will try to think, I mean I don't mean that you don't think, I just-”
“Hey chill B. Damn did you kill a man to be so stressed out?”
“Actually it would rather be that I did not. I mean I did. I really did, he was dead and I don't know-”
Buffy stopped at Faith's look. They stared at each other. Buffy didn't need to say more for the other slayer to understand.
“He's back.”
Buffy tried to read Faith's stare but she couldn't.
“I wanted to tell someone, earlier, but I.... I freaked out and then I just.... I wanted to understand how, and why?”
“Where is he?”
“Faith. He's not bad. He's got his soul back.”
“And so you're back with him, then?”
“No, no I'm not.”
“You're telling me you don't feel anything for him anymore?”
“Faith I don't think this is what matters right now.”
“That's what matters to me. I mean, that you don't sleep with him again so that we don't have another slaughter in Sunnydale, that's just what I meant.”
##She's almost stammering? Does she really care that much? And... that way? No, no, don't think about this Buffy or it's gonna complicate the whole thing. ##
“Anyway, no, we're not together. I helped him to get better because he was really weak. He was... kinda wild when he came back.”
“How?”
“That's what I'd like to know. There's a mark at the mansion, on the floor like he just fell down from wherever Hell he was in.”
Faith got up.
“The mansion; so that's where he is.”
Buffy moved closer and put her arms on Faith's shoulders, “Faith, if you really l- care for me, please don't do anything. He doesn't know more than I do why he's back and he doesn't intend on staying. He has his soul back; he doesn't want to hurt anyone.”
They stared at each other.
“I told you because I trust you and I... I need you to trust me back.” Faith slightly looked aside. Buffy made her look at her, “I know I've lost your trust a long time ago and I need to know if there's a way you can find it back, deep inside of you. I'm not lying to you Faith; I've promised myself I would never lie to you again. So... do you believe me? Can you believe me again?”
Faith swallowed, “I've always believed in you, Buffy.”
Buffy gave her a warm smile.
“So, what do we do?” Faith said to move on from the 'emotional scene', Buffy let go of her shoulders at this moment.
“Well, not much. He's getting stronger and he says he will leave soon. I just... I thought I had to tell you.”
“Why me? Why not Red or Giles.”
“Giles? With what happened with Jenny and the torture thing? Not sure he'd be objective. And the guys, well, I already know their opinion.”
“Well, I don't think it's that different than mine, you know.”
“Yes but you can understand what it is, love and hurt, love through hurt, and passion, I mean. I-I don't know why I said that. Maybe I wanted to tell you because you weren't there last year. Or, ok, maybe I told you because we've been... close the way I was with... Or maybe closer. I mean, God I'm so tired I don't know what I'm saying anymore.” Buffy said as she sat on the bed.
Faith squat in front of her and put her hands on her knees, “It's ok, I get the idea. I mean, I'm here to back you up. But... I can't tell you that I trust him. Even less that I like him and don't tell me that I don't even know him. I just don't and won't like him and I don't want you to bug me with reasons for that, ok?”
Buffy nodded.
“I don't trust him, but I trust you, so I'll help you. As much as I can.”
Buffy put her hands on Faith's ones on her knees, “Thank you.”
Faith could see in her eyes how much she meant it. Buffy really looked tired and if she blocked hard her resentment for the whole Angel-Buffy connection, Faith could easily understand then how tiring these past weeks had probably been for her. She turned her hands and squeezed Buffy’s. The hair on her arms rose again. Buffy took a deeper breath. Then Faith got up again and sat beside her, at a safe distance from any hair rising.
“How long has he been back?”
“I'm not really sure. I've known for about 3 weeks. I'm sorry I-I wanted to tell you. I thought, but I, and you had just come back too and...”
“I get it, don't worry. I guess it was a little blurry for you.”
Buffy couldn’t hide it was.
“So we don’t do anything then. But then, what am I supposed to do? I mean, ok I can back you up, like tonight for example but what else, I mean, I’d rather you tell Willow if you need to, you know, talk to make you feel better, cause I’m not good with the talking and especially not if I have to hear about you and him you know. Don’t think I can do that.”
A why couldn’t help but form in Buffy’s mind and on her facial expression but she did not ask as Faith slightly looked aside.
“No I just. I guess it just... It bothered me to hide this from you and neither do you ask me why; it just did. And actually, I already do feel better now that I told you.”
They stared at each other and diverted their gaze after a while.
“Well, guess I should get going now.”
“Ok, you’re going straight home? I mean-“
Faith slightly smiled, “Don’t worry B. I won’t go and stake him. Didn’t I say so?”
“Yes, I’m, I’m sorry.”
“Not that I don’t want to. Chill B. I’m messing with you.”
“You always loved to do that.”
They slightly looked aside again after a slight glance.
“Ok, this time I should go. Well I’ll see you around. Don’t bother, I know the way.”
“Ok. Night Faith. See you... soon?”
Faith winked at her and Buffy smiled then Faith finally walked out of the room.
