Living on the edge

I know I know, Im a terrible person. But here is the next chapter in this story. A little slow moving but I havent worked on this in a LONG time. So please please please let me know if your interested in more.


Disclaimer: See chapter 1




Left to lose


“Is the hard part over?” Buffy questioned hopefully, looking through the kitchen window with Faith at her side. The others where sitting around the table waiting for Giles to prepare dinner.

“We bein’ honest here B? Cause I think its just getting’ started. This atoning shits a bitch.”

Buffy sighed and grasped her lover’s hand. “Come with me?”

“Anywhere.”

The girls entered the house. Everyone instantly dropped their chatter into an awkward silence. Faith ran her palms over her jean covered thighs nervously. “So…ah…what’s for dinner.”

“A spot of O neg for the house vamp.” Spike tried to be friendly.

“Yes… Im afraid its become rather apparent the ice box and pantry have been stocked by twenty-something year old girls, rendering me at a loss. What exactly is a ‘hot pocket’?”

Everyone let go of a giggle while Xander muttered something about an STD.

“I’ve put in an order to the local pub. Dinner should arrive shortly.” As if on cue the chime of the doorbell rang through the house.

“I’ll get it.” Faith ran to the front door. She returned with four bags of food.

“Jesus Giles. Who do you think your feeding?” Willow’s eyes went wide.

“What? This should be enough.” Faith managed to grumble through an already half eaten cheeseburger.

“Somethings haven’t changed.” Xander seated himself next to Faith and reached into the bag she was holding.

“Hey that s mine!”

“Faith the whole bag is not yours there’s like five burgers in there let alone countless fries.”

“Whats your point? Its mine. I’m hungry.”

“Giles? A little help here?”

Giles shook his head. “Yes…somethings haven’t changed.” He looked to Buffy for help.

“No. Uh-uh. There is one thing I will not do and that’s come between Faith and her food.” Buffy finished her comment and smiled quietly to herself. She felt like herself again.

*** *** *** ***

Everyone had had their fill of greasy tavern food and settled into the couches in the livingroom.

“I have an idea.” Tara offered a rare glimpse of Initiative. “When I was in school there was an exercise we used to do. I mean if you’re interested.”

“Sure sweetie.”

“Well I was just thinking that since we’re all getting to know eachother again it might be fun. We go around and everyone gets to ask each person one question, something they don’t know about that person.” Everyone could tell she was unsure of herself.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea.” Buffy said smiling. “How about you start?”

“Ok…Um…Will…what’s your faveorite memory of Buffy?”

“Me first huh? That’s easy. When she first got to Sunnydale and was in the process of being inducted into the cordettes, she was so nice to me, it cost her her popularity.”

“Who needed that headache anyway?” Buffy squeezed the redheads hand.

“Ok…Buffy.” Tara became anxious, not wanting to overstep her bounds. “This is easy, How did you pick the name Gage?”

“Ok this is embracing. Faith used to make me watch that creepy movie ‘Pet cemetery’ and she just loved that little boy…it seemed like a good idea at the time.” The elder Slayer tried to defend herself.

“That’s sweet baby. We are never going to tell him that.”

“Your turn Faith. Why did you get the tattoo?”

“The one on my arm?”

“There’s more?” Xander asked inquisitively.

“Xan, out of the gutter. Yes the one on your arm.”

“Theres a few more, but that one? It’s totally bad ass.”

“It sure is princess.” Buffy’s voice was fake.

“Questions and answers only.” Tara kept them on track. “Xander…same question as Will.”

“It would have to be all the times she saved the world cause that pretty much rocks.”

“Spike, same question.”

“My favorite huh? This ranks pretty high. Little miss priss finaly pulled the stake out of her…”

Tara coughed. “Moving on! Giles, You have the two longest living Slayers. What’s your secret?”

Giles appeared deep in thought. After a long pause a smile crept on to his lips. “Brandy…lots of it.”

*** *** *** ***

Spike and Giles had both asked their series of questions, leaving the core group.

Xander opted to go next. “Faith, what are your other tattoos?”

“I have the letter ‘B’ on the back of my neck. Two stakes crossed over a heart between my shoulder blades. Barbed wire around my ankle, and a pair of Angel wings on my lower back and coming soon I’m going to have ‘Gage’ Written under the ‘B’.”

“Buffy have you partaken in the unforgivable sin that is body art?”

“Yeah I…I have the Chinese symbol for Faith on my right wrist and the symbol for chosen on my left and Gage’s time and date of birth around my ankle.”

He asked a series of goofy questions before passing the torch to Faith.

Faith smiled and looked straight at Xander. “So when are you gonna pick a team?”

Xander’s face turned red. “I’d like to keep my options open thank you.”

“Willow…” Faith paused. “Do you still hate me?” Her voice was small.

“Faith…I…I was scared of you I … No I don’t hate you. Seeing how happy you make Buffy…we have things to work on but…No I guess the answer is no, I don’t hate you.” With that she reached over Buffy to hug the brunette.

“Buffy… I do have one question I always wanted answered. When did you know you loved me?”

“Wow that’s…wow. I knew for sure the night we fought Gwendolyn Post. But I knew I was in trouble the very first time I laid eyes on you.”

Faith asked the remainder of her questions with the humor and wit everyone had grown to love.

Willow remained neutral with her inquiries saying she was not ready to delve into all of her serious wonderings just yet.

Buffy forwent her turn. Promising that she would make it up only when she was back in Sunnydale.

It was Giles that brought the meeting to a close. “I think it best that we all retire.” It was all the tired group needed to excuse themselves to bed.

Buffy snuggled into her companion that night, feeling for the first time in many years that she was on the right track.