Change of Season

A change of seasons, Part 11
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.

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1

Joyce stands in the doorway, looking at Faith with a tightened jaw and compressed lips.

"Well, do you have anything to say at all?" Joyce asks, impatiently.

Faith on the other hand, stands there feeling foolish and slightly guilty. She struggles to hold up Buffy, who's almost dead weight in her arms, and tries to come up with some explanation. Then it hits her.

Wait a goddamn minute! I didn't do anything WRONG!

"Joyce, don't ya think maybe we should get Buffy upstairs first"
Faith says quietly, "We can talk about this later, right?"

"Mom!" Buffy suddenly comes alive, looking at her mother with slightly out of focus eyes. "Look what I found!" She turns to Faith, draping her arms over her. "Isn't she cute? Can I keep her?"

Thanks a bunch, Blondie. You're so helping here. Faith lets out a sigh.

"What's wrong with her?" Joyce says, "Why is she acting like this?"

"She's drunk, Joyce. And I think they slipped something in her drink." Faith is fighting off Buffy, who at the moment is trying to pet her like a poodle. "Can we just get her upstairs and put to bed?"

"Bed? I'm not sleepy. I wanna… have fun!" Buffy breaks away from Faith, and starts dancing around a little on the porch. "Hey, whoa!
Who's spinning the house?" She leans wobbly over to Faith, "is it you? Are you spinning the house? Hmmm?" She starts to giggle, then her legs give out from under her. "Whoops!" Then the happy look disappears, and her forehead wrinkles. "Hey, I don't…" then she falls over on the porch.

Faith sighs, and goes to pick up the fallen girl. Joyce comes out to help, and between them they start to lead the semi-conscious Buffy towards the stairs.

Joyce is silent, but Faith can read the anger in her eyes. What? She thinks I did this to her? I took her out and got her drunk? Faith feels her anger rising as they ascend the staircase. Well, I guess it's true. No good deed goes unpunished…

At the top of the stairs, Buffy suddenly comes alive, stiffening in the two women's arms.

"I… don't feel so… good…" Buffy moans, her face taking a sudden greenish cast. She starts to struggle in their grip.

"Oh… shit…" Faith turns to Joyce, "Where's the bathroom?"

"This way," Joyce leads the way, mom suddenly taking over. "Help me get her to the…"

But it's too late. Buffy suddenly lurches a bit, and hurls on the bathroom floor.

"Fuck!" Faith swears, taking the sick girl from Joyce and forcing her towards the toilet. "I got her. You might wanna clean that up before we all start barfing," Faith feels her own gorge rise,
smelling Buffy's vomit.

She holds the young woman's head over the toilet as Buffy vomits some more.

Joyce sighs, watching her eldest daughter being sick while held by her lover. She turns and starts to fetch a bucket and mop from the pantry downstairs.

"Mom?"

Joyce turns to see her younger daughter in the hallway, rubbing her eyes and looking sleepy.

"What's going on?"

"It's nothing, Dawn. Go back to bed."

"I heard the commotion, and… " She looks in the bathroom, and sees Buffy being held by another woman. A strange woman. "Who's that"
She looks closer. "Is Buffy naked?" Her eyes go wide. "Buffy's NAKED!"

"Dawn, please. Buffy's ill. Just go back to bed; there's nothing you can do!" Joyce snaps at her, losing her patience.

Dawn looks at the tableau in the bathroom, than back to her mom.

"But…"

"Now, Dawn! Go to bed!"

Dawn gets that look only teenage girls can get when thwarted.

"Fine!" She turns on a dime, and huffs back to her room, closing the door none too gently.

Joyce lets out a breath, then turns and goes to get a bucket and mop.

Dawn has no intention of following her mother's orders. She peeks out, and seeing Joyce gone, hurries to the bathroom.

She's greeted by the stench of drying vomit, which makes her stomach turn over. She looks in, to see Buffy, looking pale and wan,
holding onto the toilet. Over her, holding her head in position, is a strange brunette woman.

"Hey," Dawn whispers.

Faith looks up, and arches a brow.

"Hey, who're you?"

"That's my question," Dawn says, "Who're you?" She looks at Buffy. "What happened to her?" She smirks. "Why is my sister naked?"

"She got drunk… now she's paying for it." Faith turns back to Buffy,
who has a session of dry heaves.

"God, it stinks in here," Dawn pinches her nose to keep the smell out.

"No kidding?" Faith lets out a breath. "So, who are you?"

"You first."

Faith rolls her eyes.

"I'm Faith. I kinda brought your sister home."

"Hey, I'm Dawn."

"Glad to meetcha…" Buffy suddenly has another spasm. "Whoops, here we go again." Faith holds Buffy's head while another ribbon of spew comes up.

"Oh, GROSS!" Dawn makes a face.

"Dawn Marie Summers!" an angry voice makes Dawn jump. "Didn't I tell you to go to bed!"

She turns to see her mom, red faced, glaring at her.

"But, mom…"

"No buts, young lady. Bed, now!"

"Aw, poop. You never let me in on the good stuff," Dawn turns to go back to her room. "I'm not a child, you know!"

"Da-aa-awn!" Joyce's voice gets that tone that says one more word and you're in trouble missy. Dawn backs off.

"I'm going, I'm going, geeze" She mutters, walking towards her room. "God, Buffy screws up and I get the heat. It's not fair." Her door slams, again.

Joyce feels her shoulder's slump, and she can feel the hurt welling up in her breast. She covers it, though, and instead puts down the bucket and pulls out the mop.

Joyce's body language isn't lost on Faith, however. She gets up and takes the mop.

"I'll get that. I think she's done… for now. Maybe you should put her to bed? Well…" She looks at Buffy, and notes the vomit on her body. "Cleaning her up a bit first might be better."

Buffy sits leaning on the toilet, looking pale. She mutters something over and over.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"

Joyce goes to her daughter, and helping her up, steers her toward the tub.

Faith grabs the rags Joyce brought, and spreads them on the floor,
to pick up Buffy's little gift. After the rags do their work, Faith piles them in a corner… hopefully, she'll burn them… and gets the mop, starting to clean the floor.

Joyce at this point has shoved her daughter into the shower, and turning it on, gets squeals out of Buffy.

"Wha? What're you doing? Drown me? Trying to drown me?"

"Buffy, hold still," Joyce says firmly. Using a bath sponge and soap, she starts to wash down her daughter's front. "Stop wriggling around, Buffy!"

Buffy bats at Joyce's hands, trying to make her stop. She moves away from her, opposite the doors, arms crossing over herself protectively.

"Don't. Lemme alone. Don't!" Buffy bats at Joyce, "Don't DO that! I don't wanna…" She starts to weep. "Just lemme 'lone, lemme go!"

Joyce, struggling with the recalcitrant teenager, is getting rather soaked by the shower.

"Buffy, stop acting this way. I just want to clean you up and put you to bed…"

"Joyce, let me help…"

"Haven't you helped enough?" Joyce, frustrated, whirls on her. "I can handle my daughter."

As soon as the words are out of her mouth, she's regretting it. She sees the look in Faith's eyes, and her heart sinks. Shoot, what the hell am I doing? She's just trying to help me.

"Faith, I'm…"

"It's ok, Joyce," Faith says, grabbing the bucket and mop, stuffing the stinking rags under her arm. "I'll take care of these. You take care of her."

"Faith…" Joyce calls out, but Faith is already out of the bathroom.
Again, she feels a stab of hurt, but again covers it, turning to her daughter.

Buffy is standing under the shower now. She's gone quiet, compliant.
She looks like a drowned hamster.

"Ok, Buffy, let's get you finished," Joyce says, turning off the taps, and pulling Buffy out of the shower.

"Mom?" Buffy seems to be more aware, more sober. "What's going on?"

Joyce grabs a towel, and starts drying off her daughter. It's déjà vu time for her. This is something she used to do when Buffy was a little girl. Except that was pleasant, and this wasn't.

"We'll talk about it in the morning, Buffy."

Joyce shucks off her robe, now half soaked, and leads Buffy to her room. Sitting her daughter on the bed, she goes over, and gets a large nightshirt for the girl; Buffy's usual sleepwear.

"Put up your arms, honey," Joyce says, slipping the shirt over her head as Buffy raises her arms. "There… now, you should get some sleep."

"Where'd she go?"

"Who, Buffy?"

"The girl. Faith? Where'd she go?"

"She went downstairs, Buffy."

"She hates me, right?" Buffy says, looking down at her hands.

"No, Buffy, she doesn't hate you," Joyce sits next to her. "I think she's shook up by what happened, but she doesn't hate you."

"You hate me though, don't you?" Buffy slides away a little.

"No, I don't hate you either. I'm upset, yes, and I'm disappointed.
But I could never hate you, honey."

"I'm sorry, mom," Buffy says, looking up at her, "I really am."

"I know, Buffy," Joyce has heard this before. "Get some sleep. We'll talk in the morning."

Buffy lies down, and Joyce stands up, heading towards the door.

"Mom?"

Joyce turns to look.

"What is it, dear?"

"C-Could you tell her I'm sorry, please?"

"All right, Buffy, Joyce switches out the light. "Good night."

She walks out the door, closing it behind her.

Buffy lays in the darkness, eyes wide open. What happened? What did I do? Did I … I remember drinking beer and feeling really … mmmm …
good … and… oh…then there were all these guys, and…I don't remember…
I don't REMEMBER!

I didn't do nothing! I know I didn't! Did I? Oh god, am I some kind of.. NO! Maybe?… it's so fuzzy… I wish I could just remember…

Do you? Do you really? Then what? I mean, what does it matter, after what you've done, Buffy? Hmmm? And did it help, really? Did it change anything? No!

You know you're worthless, Buffy. You're a waste of space. No one wants you; they'd be happier if you'd just disappear. It's all the same; just like before. You can't do anything right…

She buries her face in the pillow, biting it to stifle her sobs. If only she could just not think about it anymore.

If only she could stop thinking about everything. If she could just stop.

She just wants to sleep. To forget.

2

Joyce finds Faith down in the living room, pacing back and forth in front of the window.

Faith looks at her with hardened eyes, her mouth a grim slash on her face.

"Is she ok now? Did you get her settled down?" Faith asks, her voice tight.

"Yes she's sleeping. At least, she's laying down quietly," Joyce moves into the living room, standing just inside the doorway. "Thank you, Faith, for bringing her home safe."

Faith just looks at her, and for a few moments there's nothing but silent tension between the two.

"I guess I better be going then," Faith heads towards the door. She stops and sighs. "Can I borrow some money for cab fare? I left my bike at the college. I used what I had getting us here."

"Faith, you don't have to go," Joyce walks over to her. "Why don't you stay? I mean, you can sleep on the sofa. I'll get you some blankets and a pillow, ok?"

"I don't think that's a good idea, Joyce," Faith looks at her with smoldering eyes. "I really need to go. Can I borrow the money or not?"

"Faith, please don't be stubborn. Stay. I need you to stay," Joyce lays a hand on her arm. "I really need to talk to you about what happened…"

"There's nothing to talk about," Faith says, shaking off her hand. "You've pretty much made up your mind what happened. And I really need to be elsewhere right now…" She shakes her head, and walks to the door. "Forget the money, I'll walk home."

"Faith, don't be ridiculous. It's nearly 5 miles to your place. You wouldn't get home til dawn."

"Wouldn't be the first time." She opens the door, "later, Joyce."

A chill passes through Joyce. She realizes if Faith walks out that door now, she may never see her again.

She rushes to Faith, grabbing her arm to stop her.

"Joyce, please, let me go, all right? Right now, I don't want to be here!"

"Faith, stop! Please!" Joyce runs over to her, catching her arm. "Don't go, please…I'm divorcing Hank!"

If Joyce wanted to freeze Faith in her tracks, she succeeded beyond her expectations.

Faith looks at her, mouth half open.

"What?"

"I'm going to divorce Hank."

Faith suddenly seems to come alive. All the anger seems to have vaporized out of her eyes. She starts to slide her arms around Joyce's neck when they hear a creak on the stair. Startled, they almost explode away from each other, as if they were doing something wrong.

Buffy, looking pale and bedraggled, walks into the foyer. She catches the look on their faces, however.

"What's going on?"

"Buffy, what're you doing out of bed?" Joyce asks, going to her daughter.

"I feel ucky. I was getting some water." She looks back and forth at them. "What're you to doing, anyway?"

"I was trying to get… uhhh…" Joyce pretends not to remember Faith's name.

"Faith," Faith adds in, playing along.

"Right, Faith here to stay overnight. She evidently left her bike at the party… right?"

"My motorcycle, yeah," Faith affirms.

"Motorcycle? Those are kind of dangerous…"

"Mom, please!" Buffy says, sounding embarrassed. She turns to Faith. "She's like that. She tries to be mom to everybody. Don't even listen to her… well, except about the staying part. You'll stay , right?" She moves over and takes Faith's hand. "Please?"

"I dunno, I should get home…"

"Don't be silly, Ms… ?"

" McKerrigan, Faith McKerrigan. You might want to write that down."

"Ms. McKerrigan," Joyce gives her a little look. " We have pillows and blankets, we can make you comfy on the couch. What do you say?"

"She could sleep in my bed!"

"Buffy!"

"Mom, geeze. I mean, she can like sleep in my bed and I'll take the sofa. God!" She turns to Faith. "My mom is totally weird. Ignore her. But stay, ok?"

"Buffy, I think you should go back to your bed. Get your water and go."

"Mom!"

"Elizabeth Anne Summers. You're still in trouble, lots of it. Don't push the respite, got it?"

"I'm going, I'm going," Buffy retreats, knowing her mom using her three names?… means 'I'm at the edge of my patience with you, young lady.' She turns to Faith. "But, you're gonna stay, right?"

"Ok, ok, I'll stay!" Faith puts up her hands in mock surrender. "Boy, most people are happy to see my back."

"Great, that's great. Mom makes the best waffles. You'll love 'em"
She turns to her mom, "You'll make waffles, right?"

"Buffy, bed! Don't make me repeat myself!"

"I'm going…" Impulsively, Buffy goes to Faith and kisses her on the cheek. "Thanks…" She smiles, rubbing her hand on Faith's arm. She hurries off to the kitchen.

Joyce half grins, looking at her daughter, then back at Faith. "Well, she really likes you." She smirks a little. "If I didn't know better, I'd say a certain daughter of mine has a crush on you."

Faith shakes her head. "She barely knows me."

Buffy comes back, carrying a glass of water.

"Goodnight, guys," She sips her water. "You'll be here in the morning, right?" She asks Faith.

"I guess."

"Cool." She leans over, and surprises Joyce when she kisses her on the cheek. "G'night, mom." Buffy turns and hurries upstairs.

They watch her go, and then Joyce turns to Faith, smirking. She rubs her cheek.

"Oh yeah, big crush."

"That's ridiculous, Joyce!"

"Hmmm… dunno. I can understand it, as you say, totally." She smiles at Faith. "So, Will you stay? So we can talk?"

Faith hesitates, frowning.

"Were you shitting me… about you and Hank?"

Joyce shakes her head, afraid to speak. Afraid she'll blow it.

"Yeah, ok. But can I get some coffee? I'm fading here. It's been a long day…"

"We could talk in the morning, I guess…"

"No, we better talk tonight."

They walk towards the kitchen. Faith sits at the breakfast bar,
while Joyce goes to make coffee.

"Joyce, did you know Buffy was at a college party tonight?"

"What!" Joyce almost drops the coffee pot. "College party? No…
she was supposed to be at the party of one of her school friends"
She stares at Faith. "You were there… at a college party?"

"I was working, Joyce, tending bar. I wanted some extra money."

"Oh… sorry…" Joyce blushes a little. God, Joyce, don't make it worse!

Dammit, Joyce! When are you going to start trusting me? Not everyone cheats. I'm NOT HANK! I love you, came 3000 miles to be with you. I don't want anyone else but you! Faith burns a little, thinking Joyce is never going to trust her.

"Look, that's not important right now," Faith says out loud. "What IS important is that Buffy was at that party, and you didn't know about it."

Joyce feels the anger rising in her. "I'm going to ground her until she's 35! God, what was she thinking?"

"Obviously, she wasn't. And that wasn't the worst of it, Joyce."

Joyce sets a cup of coffee in front of Faith, and turns to get a cup for herself. She gets a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Not the worst?" She sounds worried. "What? What else happened?"

"I don't know how to tell you this, Joyce, so I'll just come out with it," Faith stares at her cup. "Buffy nearly got raped tonight."

She hears a clatter, and looking up, sees Joyce has dropped her cup.
She's standing there, staring at Faith, her face colorless.

"Raped?" She says, her voice a whisper.

"Joyce, it's ok. She's ok. I didn't let them touch her. But … if I hadn't been working that party…"

"Oh, my god. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" Joyce just stands there in shock. "oh god, how could I let this happen! My baby almost… oh god, oh god, oh god!"

"Joyce!" Faith is up off the stool, and into the kitchen. She puts her arms around Joyce, holding her. "It's ok, now. It's all ok now."

"No, it's not ok! It's not OK!" Joyce almost yells at Faith. "I'm the worst mother in the world! I let my baby go to some party without checking it out, and she comes home drunk, and now I find out she nearly got raped! Not ok, Faith! Not even close to ok"
Joyce tries to wriggle out of Faith's embrace, but Faith won't let her. "I'm so stupid! I'm the worst mother EVER!" She starts to cry. "I'm horrible! God, my poor baby!"

"Joyce, Joyce! Stop it!" Faith hugs her tighter. "It's not your fault. There was no way you could've known. None. This isn't your fault!"

"I don't know what to do, I don't!" Joyce cries, clinging to Faith. "It's starting all over again. I thought we'd… she'd be safe here. Away from those kids in L.A. Away from that place! But god,
it's like before. I don't know how to reach her! I don't know how to fix this!"

"Joyce no, it's not like that. Buffy fought back! She did! She cried out for help… she didn't just zone out and take it. She fought back.
That's how I found her, and … she's not a bad girl, Joyce. Just confused. Just…"

"I've tried so hard. I've tried to make it a good place for her, a good home. But it's been so hard, with her dad away. She really loves her dad… and then he showed up Thursday night, and …"

"He showed up?" Faith pulls back a bit, looking at Joyce. "He was here, this Thursday?"

Joyce nods. "He was here, waiting for me, when I got home…"

"Oh, Joyce, oh man … that's bad … did he … did he know… about us?"

"No… no…" Joyce smirks a little. "He accused me of running around with a client… a male client… but he didn't know I was with you…"

Faith lets out a sigh of relief. She knows what Hank did the last time he found out about them. God, if he ever … oh god, I don't even want to think about that!

"Joyce, I don't get it. Why was he here? I thought you said he only came home on weekends… ?"

"That's just it. He does. I was shocked. But evidently, Dawn called him, to try to… Buffy and I had been fighting a lot, and Dawn was worried, and called her dad to come and try to make peace between us…" She shakes her head. "That's so ironic, it's almost funny. Hank…
doing anything for this family… is a joke…"

"What did he do?"

"He started in on lecturing me, and… well, to cut to the chase, he started giving me a ration of crap, and I told him to get out…"

What?

"What?"

"I'm so sick of him, Faith. I've had it up to here. So I told him to get out… I'm divorcing him again, Faith." She smiles a little at Faith. "That's partly what I was trying to get ahold of you about.
The old divorce papers were still active… and I got him to sign them. Once I file, after the waiting period, it's over… I'm free of Hank Summers forever!"

Faith's face suddenly clouds over. She looks at Joyce with strangely.

"How. How did you get him to do it? I mean, it seemed like he loved torturing you by not divorcing you," Faith is worried. "What did you have to do?"

Joyce smiles a wicked little smile.

"I took a page out of his book, Faith. I found out something on him that could ruin him, professionally and financially. He was …
willing to sign, provided I kept things to myself."

Faith stares at her, eyes wide.

"What?" Joyce asks, misinterpreting Faith's response.

"You're… so evil!" Faith snickers. "God, I would've love to be a fly on the wall to see his ugly face when you got him! "

"I'm finally free of that bastard," Joyce is almost exultant. "God,
it feels great to be free."

Faith feels a small knot in her stomach. Free? Is that what she wants? Maybe that's what she needs. Maybe being with me right now isn't what she really needs. Maybe there's no place for me here… not now…

"Hey, Joyce, this is like…this is great, you know? I'm so happy for you." Faith forces a grin. She pushes away the coffee and stands up. "Anyway, we talked. I'm glad you're finally divorcing that cheating rat. But it's getting late, and I gotta lot to do tomorrow…

"Faith?" Joyce looks puzzled. "You're leaving?"

" Oh yeah," Faith smiles, jollying up her tone, "I really gotta get my bike back tomorrow, and then talk to Mike. See if I gotta job,
you know? And there's the whole school thing. Busy, busy girl here, " She starts towards the door, " hey, I'll talk at you later,
ok?" Faith turns, starting towards the door. "Or call me, ok? When you get time…" half her grin collapses as she feels the knot in her stomach getting larger. " Seeya, Joyce."

Joyce sees her going, and her heart sinks. What's going on? Why is she leaving? What did I say?

"Faith, wait. We still have other things to talk about. Buffy and…"

"That's family stuff, Joyce. Nothing I'm part of. And I'm really bushed…"

Something clicks in Joyce's brain. Oh god. She thought when I was happy to be free, she thought I meant I… oh no, I'm going to lose her for sure now!

Joyce does something radical. She needs to, if she's going to get Faith's attention.

"Faith!" Joyce calls out to Faith's back.

God, Joyce, can't you just let me go? Do you have to keep rubbing it in? I'm going, ok? Don't make it harder. Faith sighs. She turns to Joyce, and her jaw drops.

Joyce is standing there, nightgown pooled at her ankles. She's totally nude.

"J-Joyce?" her voice almost squeaks.

Joyce almost revels in Faith's reaction. She feels her nipples harden as she sees the confusion mixed with lust on Faith's face.

Stepping away from her nightgown, she walks towards Faith. She approaches the girl cautiously, not wanting to scare her. She takes Faith's hand in her own.

"You're very much a part of this family, Faith, " Joyce says softly,
gently squeezing Faith's hand. "Very much a part of it." She brings her body next to Faith's, her breast pressing gently into Faith's arm. "Don't you realize that yet?" She gently strokes Faith's back.

Faith stands still, very still. She feels like the bird being surrounded by the serpent. Her heart beats rapidly in her chest. Is it fear, or is it… lust?

Why is she doing this to me? Why can't she just let me go? God, why does she have to torture me this way? Faith feels major tingles starting in her body, and her mind starts to fog a little. God, am I crazy? Torture me, god, torture me some more!

Joyce slides herself around Faith, coming up behind her. She slips her arms around Faith, encircling her waist. She leans her head on Faith's shoulder.

"Baby," She coos softly, "do you gotta go? I mean, really?" She leans over, nibbling on Faith's ear. "I've been sooo lonely without you. I've missed you so much these past couple of days…" Her hands move up from Faith's waist, cupping her breasts. "Isn't there some way I can get you to stay?" She squeezes Faith's breasts lightly,
smiling to herself when she hears a heavy sigh out of Faith. She starts to rub herself against Faith's back. "I mean, don't you wanna be with me anymore? Not even a itty bitty little bit?" She sticks her tongue in Faith's ear. Faith moans softly.

"Joyce," Faith pants, her center shooting fire throughout her body. "What're you doing?" Thoughts of leaving disappear as she feels her nipples harden achingly at Joyce's touches. "We can't… the girls… they might… oh god…" She quivers slightly when she feels the tip of Joyce's tongue touch the back of her ear.

"Shhh, baby. I have a little sofa bed downstairs in the basement.
Like the one at my office? Think we could find a use for it?" Her tongue traces a line down Faith's neck.

"OH… god yeah…" Faith turns in Joyce's arms, and suddenly she's got her lips glued to Joyce's mouth, her tongue demanding access, which is gladly given. Her hands are on Joyce's butt cheeks, squeezing them almost roughly. Joyce moans into her mouth.

"I love you, baby," Joyce mumbles as she lays kisses on Faith's face. "I love you so much, I've missed being with you so much," she pants, her lips locking on Faith's again. Their tongues duel in sweet passion, caressing and stroking, dominating and submitting to each other's fire. "I need you here, with me, all the time, lover.
Please, don't you want to be here with me?"

Faith moans, and suddenly Joyce feels herself being lifted off the floor. She feels Faith cradle her in her arms, and she chuckles softly.

"Silly girl, you don't have to carry me," She nonetheless puts an arm around Faith's neck. "I can walk." She snuggles closer.

Faith, for her part, is having a hard time maintaining balance. Her knees are trembling from the fires Joyce has lit in her, and Joyce is taller and a little heavier than she is, making holding her this way a bit awkward. Still, she soldiers on.

"Don't be a dope, Joyce. Not lettin' ya down til we reach that bed"
Faith kind of circles around, looking for a door. "Er… exactly where is the basement?"

"Over there, goofball," Joyce laughs, pointing at the cellar door.
She leans over, sucking on the sensitive skin of Faith's neck. "Mmmm, tasty."

Faith's chest is heaving, and her arms are trembling along with her legs now.

"That's so not helping me, Joyce." She pants, walking towards the cellar.

"How 'bout this?" Joyce playfully squeezes her breast through her shirt.

"Ah geeze," Faith feels a very familiar dampness developing between her thighs. "Joyce, that's really not helping…"

Still, somehow(with a little assist from Joyce with the door), she manages to get Joyce through the door, which she kicks closed after.

3

Once downstairs, Faith sets Joyce down on the floor, and starts to open up the sofa bed. Joyce playfully starts to tug at Faith's clothing, as if she can't wait for the younger woman to get naked.
Her hands start to wander over Faith's ass, now a prime target since she's bending over.

"Mmmm… pretty behind," Joyce coos softly, rubbing and squeezing Faith's derriere.

"Do you want me to get this open or not?" Faith complains, as Joyce's playfulness makes it harder and harder for her to concentrate. "Gimme a break here…" She says, as she finally gets the mattress extracted from the sofa.

"Oh, I'm going to give you something, honey," Joyce says, pulling Faith up into her arms. She begins to kiss her hotly, as her hands start to unbutton her blouse. Impatient with the buttons, she starts tearing off the buttons.

"Joyce, god, that's the only one I got to wear!" Faith tries to push Joyce away, but Joyce won't be denied.

"I gotta blouse upstairs you can wear," Joyce says huskily, pulling the blouse out of Faith's pants. She starts on the pants. Her fingers fumble over the belt. "God, I can never get these things open."

"I got it, I got it!" Faith chuckles, stepping back and undoing her pants. A nasty little thought occurs to her.Teasingly, she starts a slow little strip tease for Joyce's benefit.

She lower and raises the zipper on her pants, then starts to roll her hips, sliding her pants down then pulling them up. Turning, she does the same, playing peek-a-boo with Joyce, revealing and covering her panty clad ass.

"Stop it, you meanie!" Joyce grumbles, her labials getting wetter by the moment. "Get NAKED!" She groans.

Faith chuckles, and lets the pants drop to the ground, shaking her ass tauntingly at Joyce. Using her feet, she slips off her slip on boots, kicking them across the floor. Her socks are next, and then she's standing there, ripped open shirt, her vest, bra and panties the only thing separating her from total nakedness.

Joyce drools as Faith continues her little strip tease, shrugging off the vest and thrusting her chest out. She toys with her shirt,
sliding it off her shoulders while facing away from Joyce, wiggling her bottom at her at the same time. Then she slides it back up,
hearing Joyce's groan and chuckling. She finally lets it drop, and reaches around to undo her bra.

Joyce is like an overheated radiator stuck on high. The more Faith teases her, the more steam builds up in Joyce. She feels a strong quiver in her mons when Faith turns and slides down her bra straps,
in preparation of losing it entirely. Oh god, she's so nasty! Why doesn't she just lose that damned thing and let me get at her beautiful breasts? Joyce feels the desire to grab the girl and cover her with hot wet kisses grow harder to resist.

Without even realizing it, her hand has crept southward, and is at the moment gently stroking her vulva.

Faith notices it, and feels her own strong shudder way down low.
Watching Joyce masturbate over her is making Faith incredibly hot.
She lets her brassiere drop, revealing her breasts. Her nipples are standing up proud and hard, ready for Joyce's close inspection.

Losing her train of thought, she just gives up and strips off her panties, revealing her sweet dark V of trimmed fur bordering her slit. She starts to pant in anticipation. Her own hand slips down to her mound, and she starts to mirror Joyce's action.

"Oh my god that's so hot," Faith growls, watching Joyce intently.

"What?"

"Watching you masturbate, baby. It's hot," Faith pants, her own finger sliding up and down her slit.

"Oh god, I didn't even…" Joyce stops and turns red, "I was just so turned on I…"

"Don't stop!" Faith groans, "I love watching you playing with yourself!"

"You do?" God, she never ceases to amaze me! Joyce gets a wicked little smile on her face. She walks over to the bed, and sits down,
spreading her legs. "Come here."

Faith stumbles over to Joyce, as if pulled by an invisible string around her waist.

"Kneel down, honey," Joyce says softly. Faith complies.

Joyce slips her fingers sexily to her mound, and begins to rub herself. She hears Faith moan.

"You like that?" Joyce says softly, her voice husky with passion.

"Uh-huh," Faith, kneeling in front of Joyce, rubs herself furiously.
Her eyes are glued to Joyce's fingers and pussy.

"Does that make you hot, baby? Me playing with myself?" Joyce moans softly, as strong rivers of ice and fire start to flow in her core. "You like watching me?"

"Yeah, goddamn it's sooo hot." Faith almost groans the response.
Losing anything remotely like control, Faith almost lunges at Joyce,
grabbing her thighs and burying her face between them.

"Oh god, Faith, yes …" Joyce sighs, laying back as Faith takes over.

Faith uses her tongue like a feather, lightly stroking it over Joyce's puffy lips. Joyce moans softly, appreciatively as Faith caresses her pussy, her hips starting to rock gently back and forth.

Faith revels in Joyce's taste, a combination of sweet and sour,
musky and spicy. Her tongue gently parts her lips, stoking teasingly in a vertical motion, occasionally pausing at Joyce's clit, peeking cutely from it's hood.

Joyce moans increase in volume as Faith works. Her tongue slips inside Joyce, flickering softly on the vaginal walls. Faith uses her thumb to draw teasing circles around Joyce's erect clit, causing Joyce to buck her hips, wanting more.

"Oh… baby…that's sooo … oh god, Faith I adore you sooo much… oh…
YES… there… baby please, don't tease me… do it THERE… yes… mmmm…
oooohhhhh… oh god, oh god that's sooo… babbeee I love you sooo much…. Uhhhhhh…."

Faith smiles, knowing she's driving Joyce crazy in the best way. She uses her thumbs to part Joyce's lips, and pushing her face forward,
stabs her tongue deep up Joyce's love canal.

Joyce's hand comes down, pressing Faith's face into her pussy. Her head is rolling back and forth on her pillow, her face flushed in need and desire. She gasps as she feels Faith's finger flicking her clit.

"GOD YESSSS DO THAAAATTT!" Joyce groans loudly. Her butt starts to bouncing on the bed.

But Faith has other nasty ideas in mind. She gently pushes Joyce's legs up, causing her to reveal more of her bottom. Stopping her oral ministrations for a moment, eliciting at protest from Joyce, she gently sucks on her middle finger, coating it with her saliva and Joyce's juices. Smiling, she returns her mouth to Joyce's pussy.

"God, don't TEASE me like that!" Joyce growls, obviously at a point of needing to cum. " That's just nasty!"

"Oh? How 'bout this?" Faith mumbles… and slips her wet finger through Joyce's rear puckered hole.

Joyce lets out an appreciative below as Faith begins go finger fuck her tight little rear hole.

"GODDDD YEEESSSS oh FAITH BABY I LOVE YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!" Joyce screams feeling the pressure in her start to build and build. " OH baby you're so nasty I just love it do that Yes baby do that love that oh god oh god oh god I'm gonna…."

Joyce lets out a high scream, and the floodgates open.

Faith smiles as Joyce's sweet honey flows out of her. She rubs her face in it, reveling in the smell and taste. Her tongue hungrily begins to lick over Joyce's mound, pussy and legs, devouring Joyce's sweetness.

Joyce is bucking crazily on the bed, her thighs clamping closed on Faith's head. Faith holds of for dear life, knowing Joyce gets quite physical when she cums.

Wave after wave crest over Joyce, her cries gradually softening into moan, the gurgles of happiness and satisfaction.

Faith cleans her lover as best she can, gradually working her way up her body. She kisses the soft skin of Joyce's belly, loving the taste and texture. She works up, licking, kissing and tenderly nibbling at the skin. When she reaches Joyce's breasts, nipples still erect, she gently uses her teeth to pull on them, knowing Joyce enjoys that.

Joyce, tired, happy, and a little shaky, throws her arms around Faith, and pulls her up into a wet, hot kiss.

Joyce rolls Faith over on her side, her arms caressing her warm,
soft body.

"Oh god, Faith I love you so much. I need you so much, " Joyce babbles as she strives to touch ever little bit of her sweet lover. "You make me feel so special, so needed. I need you ever day,
every minute, baby."

She covers Faith's face with wet soft kisses, her hands wandering over Faith's back and gently cupping Faith's ass.

"You're so beautiful, lovebug. Every time you smile at me, I feel my heart beat fast in my chest," Joyce strokes Faith lovingly. "You make me feel like no one's ever made me feel before. I need you baby, I so need you!"

Faith, normally the aggressor, submits to Joyce's caresses. She senses Joyce needs this, and she wants to give it to her.

Joyce rolls Faith over, and she slides on top of Faith.

"What're you gonna do, baby?" Faith asks, looking up in her lover's eyes.

Joyce just smiles, then cover's Faith's rich, sensual mouth with her own. She kisses her deeply, sucking on her soft lips, and gently pushes her tongue into Faith's willing mouth.

Taking at trick out of Faith's book, Joyce arches herself up,
aligning her hips with Faith's. Reaching between them, she gently pulls Faith's lips apart, then pushes her own pussy against Faith's.
She slowly begins to rub against Faith.

"Oh, you bad, bad girl!" Faith squeals, slapping her hands on Joyce's humping globes, then pulling her closer, She begins to hump back at her. "God I love this…" She sighs, already beginning to feel the wonderful sparks flowing from her pussy through her body.

"Shhh," Joyce quiets her with another kiss, as she begins to hump Faith harder, rubbing against her moistening lips.

Faith wraps her legs around Joyce's hips, and adjusting carefully,
manages to bring their engorged clits together.

Sparks turn to infernos as the sensitive nubs rub together.

"Yeah, yeah, oh Yeah, Joy! Yeah, fuck me baby, fuck me good. You fuck me sooo good," Faith moans, her fires building into raging flames. She feels Joyce's whole body move in the action, rubbing her breasts against her own.

Joyce captures her lips in another overheated kiss, tongues fighting, caressing and loving each other as their bodies hump in a frenzy.

Both feel the familiar pressure building, and that only causes them to rub harder, faster together. Their buds are red, the stimulation and rubbing causing them to swell even further with blood. Their hips are almost banging together, then rolling, sensually to the point of obscene.

Both women's cries are muffled by their lover's mouths.

Almost in unison, their bodies stiffen as huge orgasms take them over, rocking them in the waves of their mutual passion. They cling to each other, shuddering, trembling, caressing, their mouths still locked in a passionately fiery kiss.

They lay there for the longest time, Joyce on Top, Faith under her,
holding each other tightly. They finally roll over on their side,
hands moving to caress and touch each other.

Faith moves down a little, nuzzling her face between Joyce's breasts. She turns, and lightly begins to lick idly at Joyce's nipple.

Joyce's eyelid's flutter at the touch of Faith's tongue. Her eyes open, and she looks down and smiles.

"Hi," She says breathily, still trying to catch her breath. She came so hard, she's still a little dizzy. "That was… wow!"

"Oh fuck yeah, that was so wow!" Faith agrees. Her hand rubs lovingly over Joyce's tummy. "Fuck you're so hot!"

"Mmmm… you were pretty damned inferno like yourself," Joyce smiles,
looking at her lover. "Come here, you, I want a kiss!"

Faith slides up, and obliges, pushing her tongue deep into Joyce's mouth. They share a warm kiss, tongues lightly caressing and dancing in each other's mouths.

They spend some time just kissing and caressing each other,
looking into each other's eyes.

"I love you so much," Joyce says, pulling Faith close and hugging her. "I so happy you're going to be here with us now. God, I want you all the time." She kisses Faith passionately.

"I adore you, Joyce," Faith mumbles against Joyce's mouth. " This is like a dream… I can't believe it's real…it's actually happening"
She returns the kiss with fervor.

"Believe it," Joyce says, panting as they break the kiss. "It's very real."

"Mmmm," Faith murmurs softly. She snuggles closer to Joyce.

They kiss some more, and Faith slips her arm around Joyce, holding her close to her. They settle down to enjoy the afterglow.

"Joyce… what about Dawn and Buffy?"

"Let 'em get their own girl," Joyce teases, pinching Faith on the bottom.

"You little shit," Faith pinches her back. "I'm serious. This is gonna be kind hard for them. I mean, accepting me as… well, us being a couple, you know?"

"I know it will, " Joyce says softly, " but I also know I need you as part of my life, Faith. I really do! I can't imagine living without you."

Faith feels that all too familiar melting of her heart like a Popsicle in August. She pulls Joyce even closer, if that's possible.

"God, I love you!" Faith rubs her hands up and down, over Joyce's back and ass.

"You better, girl. Or I'm going to be really hurt after you seduced me!"

"Me? It was you that got naked as a jaybird upstairs! Coming over and rubbing that sexy hot body all over me…"

"I'm talking about back in Massachusetts ," Joyce teasingly slaps her ass. "God, you came on to me like a runaway train."

"Yeah, well, I didn't hear you protesting TOO loudly… though screaming was heard…"

"You …you… doll!" Joyce kisses her again. She starts to kiss her way down Faith's neck, her soft lips sending lovely tingles through Faith.

"Ok, enough," Faith chuckles as she gently pushes Joyce away. "We really have to talk about this. Buffy and Dawn are important here too. I don't want them hating me for stealing their mother away from their dad!"

"Faith… maybe we should wait a little… I mean, about us being a couple…"

"Oh," Faith can't quite hide her disappointment.

"Honey, look. Buffy obviously thinks you walk on water, and I know Dawn will adore you too. I mean, they are my daughters. They've got good taste…" She smiles at Faith, "… and once they're used to you being around, we'll tell them. I promise."

Faith sighs. God, more hiding. Still, at least I'll be around…and it won't be forever…

"Ok, Joyce, I understand," Faith nods. "probably best anyway. I mean, they must be pretty upset about the divorce and all…"

Joyce makes a guilty face.

Faith doesn't fail to see it.

"Joyce, they know about the divorce, right?"

Joyce swallows hard.

"They know, right?" Faith is more insistent.

"I… well, with everything? I haven't told them yet. I was waiting for the right time…"

"WHEN? When they're 30?" Faith sits up, leaning on her knees.

"Faith! God, I just got Henry to sign the papers Thursday night.
Please, I just need to…"

"Tell them Joyce. They've got to know. You've got to tell them. They deserve that!"

"I know, I know…"Joyce looks at her. "Tomorrow. I'll tell them tomorrow…"

"Ok, well, maybe I should go before they get up, you know? I mean,
this is family stuff…"

"Oh, god no! I need you here, Faith, please. This is going to be so hard. I need the moral support to get through it."

"Won't they be kinda suspicious if I'm still here when you tell them? I mean, they aren't stupid, Joyce. They're gonna figure something's going on."

"We'll work it out… if need be, I'll put off about the divorce for a couple of days, until things settle down a little."

"No! That you have to tell them. Maybe I should stay away for awhile, until after you've told them…?"

"No!" Joyce grabs her, and pulls her close. "NO! I … need you here now, Faith McKerrigan! Now!" Before Faith can protest, Joyce gives her a toe curling kiss.

When the kiss breaks, Faith licks her lips. They feel slightly abused.

" Well, when you put it that way…" She grabs Joyce, who giggles again, and they kiss hotly.

Breaking the kiss, Faith jumps up, and shouts at the top of her lungs!

"WHOO HOOOO!"

" Oh my god, FAITH!" Joyce turns three shades of red. "The girls!
They'll hear you! They might come down looking for what's causing the ruckus!"

"Let 'em," Faith growls playfully. "I got nothing to hide!"

Faith bounces on the bed.

"You're terrible!" Joyce shakes her head. She grabs at Faith's leg,
and Faith comes crashing down, right on top of Joyce. "OOOOFFFF!
And you weigh a ton!" Joyce laughs.

Faith sits up, straddling Joyce. She leans over, raining little kisses all over her upper abdomen.

"Faith! What're you doing now?" Joyce laughs, " That tickles!"

"I'm kissing the boo boos!" She grins, and starts stabbing her tongue at Joyce's breast. "Mmmm… ok, now I'm kissing the boobies."

"Stop!" Joyce pushes her away. "No time for that now! We've got to figure this out!"

"God, you're no fun at all!" Faith pouts as she gets off Joyce. She flounces down on the mattress next to her.

"Now, now, I didn't say we're NEVER going to do it again," She pats Faith on the leg. "just, there's so much that needs to be worked out."

"Planning too much? Never a good idea," Faith protests. "Seems every time you plan something out, something comes along to mess it up!"

"I know, still…"

"I mean, like your divorce the first time? Everything was fine until Hank came along and…" Faith shakes her head. "I can't believe that guy. I mean, he doesn't love you. He fucks around on you, and yet he doesn't want to let you go. What's his problem, anyway?"

"I dunno, Faith. He's a selfish prick, that's all I know…"

"Well, at least this time you got him to sign off without any trouble."

"Yeah," Joyce remembers that night, and her tone reflects it.

Faith catches something off in Joyce's tone, and looks at her.

"He did sign off, right? You said he signed the papers."

"Yes, he did, Faith," Joyce agrees. "Just, he wasn't really gracious about it."

"Well, what do you expect? He's a sore loser!"

"No, I mean… he got rather upset."

"Upset?" A little warning buzzer goes off in Faith's head. "What do you mean?"

"Upset! I mean, he got angry…" Joyce shrugs. She turns away, not really wanting Faith to read her face at the moment.

"Joyce…?" Faith feels something's not being said. "Joyce, what? What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing, "Joyce evades. "look, it's over, ok? I got him to sign,
that's the important thing." She turns back to Faith, a wicked smile on her face. "Anyway, who wants to talk about old Hank Summers anyway? I mean, can you think of a bigger mood killer?" She moves over on Faith, and starts tickling her. "And baby, I'm so in the mood." She starts raining little kisses on Faith's face, as her hands pinch and poke at Faith.

"Stop it! STOP IT!" Faith giggles, batting her hands away. "C'mon,
Joyce, this isn't going to get anything done. We have to talk about this."

"Too much talking," Joyce gets more aggressive, pushing Faith back on the bed. "Playtime now…" She starts to get seriously friendly with her mouth and hands.

Faith feels all the familiar tingles and urges, and it would be sooo easy to just go along with it. But she just can't. NO! She's hiding something.

"Joyce, No! STOP!" Faith pushes Joyce away, sitting up and crossing her arms over her chest. "We've got to talk. You're not telling me something."

"I told you everything!" Joyce protests, sounding irritated. "God,
what do you want, a notarized letter? There's nothing more to tell.
Hank came, I made him sign the papers, and that's the important thing!"

"No, us, you and me, being honest with each other! That's the important thing, Joyce. The last time we didn't tell each other everything? It nearly broke us up for good. So, I wanna know. What else?"

"Faith, can't you just let it go? It's not important anymore…"

"Joyce, tell me!"

Joyce sighs. She was hoping to avoid this. She knows how angry Faith can get.

"Look, as I said? He didn't take it well, at all. He got really mad.
Madder than I've ever seen him…"

"And?"

"And… he threw things…"

"And, what else?" Faith feels a knot of anger growing in her stomach.

"And… " Oh god, don't let her explode " … he hit me…" Her voice trails off.

Faith sits very still. Her face loses its color, and little spots of red appear on her cheeks. Her eyes narrow.

"That son-of-a-bitch" She growls very softly.

"Faith, forget it. It's done and over…"

"No, it's NOT over…" Faith hops off the bed. She starts looking for her clothes.

"Faith!" Joyce gets up, following her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I'm looking for my clothes!" She looks around. "Shit, where's my other boot!"

"Faith! Stop this! It's over, let it go…" Joyce grabs her arm,
trying to pull her back to the bed.

Faith shakes her off.

"He hit you, Joyce! I can't just stand by while he hit you!" She starts throwing clothes. "Where the fuck did my boot go?"

" Faith!" Joyce grabs her, whirling her around. "What the hell do you think you're going to do about it?"

"I'm going to find that miserable excuse for a man and beat him senseless, Joyce!" Faith pushes her away. "now, let me do what I gotta do…"

Joyce, scared, gets desperate. She comes behind Faith and pushes her against a wall. She leans on her, not letting her move.

"You'll do no such thing, Faith McKerrigan. You'll stay here and let this alone!"

"No, I won't!" Faith pushes back, throwing Joyce off. "he's gonna be one sorry son of a b…"

She hears Joyce moan, and turns to see her on the floor.

"Oh… god, Joyce… Joyce, baby, are you ok? I didn't mean to…" She rushes to Joyce, kneeling next to her.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Joyce waves her off. She sits there for a minute, then stands.

Faith stands up, looking and feeling guilty.

"I'm sorry, Joyce, I didn't mean to…"

"But you did, Faith. That's the point. You got angry, and out of control, and you hurt me. How's that different from what Henry did"
Joyce turns, and walks back to the bed, sitting down.

"Joyce… oh, god, Joyce I'm so sorry!" Faith comes over to her,
kneeling in front of her. "I'm … please, don't be angry. I didn't mean to…" She wraps her arms around Joyce's legs, laying her head on Joyce's lap.

"I know, I know, honey," Joyce says soothingly, stoking her hair. "But you let anger get the better of you. You lashed out,
angry at him, and hurt me."

"I'm sorry," Faith looks up, tears in her eyes.

"Honey, I'm not mad. Just, hasn't there been enough of this stuff? I mean… what good will it do if you're in jail because you assault Hank? He wins, again. He splits us up, again! Don't let that Irish temper of yours let him win." She cups Faith's face in her hands. "Promise me you'll let this go now…"

"But…"

"Promise me, Faith. I need you here. Not in jail."

Faith looks down and sighs, feeling a little frustrated. "I promise."

"Good," Joyce leans over, kissing her softly on the lips. "It's all gonna be good now."

"He better not show his face up here, trying anything like that again, or all bets are off, Joyce!"

"He won't. He's too much of a coward, and he has too much to lose.
If he tries something, I'll have the police on his ass in a second.
And it won't be just because he threatened us," Joyce lips tighten.

"But he might. He's not… like you said, he's a coward. And he's likely to pick on someone he thinks is weaker than him. Maybe not you, but what about the girls?"

"He wouldn't do that. They're his daughters. He loves them."

"Joyce, he hit you. Do you think he'd stop at hurting them, if he thought it would give him leverage over you?"

Joyce looks at Faith, and her expression changes to one of worried mom.

"Oh god, what am I gonna do? I can't be with the girls all the time.
What if he shows up here, and I'm away? He might…"

"Joyce, I got an idea."

Joyce turns to her, expectantly.

"Look, you're right. You can't be here all the time. Especially nights, when you have a showing or whatever. I'm pretty sure the girls will be safe in school. But maybe, someone should be around when you're not here, and they are."

"Like a guard? A bodyguard?" Joyce shakes her head, "I can't afford that. I mean, I'd do anything to protect the girls, but a bodyguard costs a fortune, Faith. I couldn't swing that."

"Well, I know someone who could do it say for… oh, room and board?"

"Who?"

Faith smiles broadly at her.

"You?"

"Hey, don't give me that look, Joyce Summers. I was raised in South Boston. Fighting is a way of life there, and you ask around. Faith is no slouch when it comes to protecting herself or her loved ones."

"Loved ones?" Joyce smiles a tiny smile.

"Well, you love 'em, and I love you. So that works out." Faith's tone turns serious. "Look, Joyce, I'm serious here. Hank might've backed off, but he might be back, and he might hurt you. Or the girls. Maybe we can't totally protect them, but together we can do a better job of it than apart, don't you think?"

"Faith, thank you. Really. But it's not fair to you. I mean, what about your job? And School? I won't let you give that up for me and the girls."

"Look, Joyce, frankly? After what happened tonight? I'm probably out of a job. And, I didn't know rents were so high out here. It's been a real struggle making ends meet, you know? Why do you think I took the weekend gig? I needed the money…"

"Yet, you go and buy expensive flowers and things for me," Joyce blushes, a little embarrassed.

"Hey, gotta treat my girl right, don't I?" Faith reaches over and hugs her, giving her a kiss.

"Why didn't you tell me you were having money problems?" Joyce says,
after the kiss breaks. "I would've helped you out."

"Not a moocher, Joyce," Faith says with some pride. "I take care of myself. Always have."

Joyce looks at the proud, dignified(even if naked) girl across from her, and feels her heart swell in pride. And she loves me. God, I'm the luckiest woman ever!

"You know something," Joyce says quietly, "I like it. I like the idea a lot. I know I'd feel a lot better with someone in the house that can take care of herself. And you could have your own little space, right down here… " she waves her hands, indicating the cellar. "We can fix it up a little, give you a proper bed and desk,
and there's room for you to set up an easel, if you wanted to do some painting. Yes, this could work out very nicely…"

"I don't take charity, Joyce," Faith says, catching on to Joyce's intention. "I'll figure a way to pay you…"

"You'll pay me in peace of mind. I'd feel a whole lot safer with you around, Faith. And believe me, there's ALWAYS plenty of chores to go around…"

"Damn, I thought I left chores behind when I got kicked outta my parent's place." Faith pretends to think about it. "That might be a deal buster."

"Faith," Joyce puts on a mock stern expression, "everyone pulls their weight around here…"

"Yeah, but I'm sleepin' with the boss," Faith slides into Joyce's lap, putting a pouty expression on her face. "Doesn't that count for nothin'?" She slips her arms around Joyce.

"Well, I thought that was part of the benefit's package." Joyce puts her arms around Faith, and they kiss.

"Hmmm… you're a tough negotiator," Faith smiles, kissing Joyce again.

"So, we've got a deal, then?" Joyce says into the kiss, her hands stroking over Faith's back.

"Mmm-hmmm…" Faith murmurs.

They kiss for awhile longer, things getting a bit more heated. Then a loud sigh emits from Faith, and she pulls away.

"Faith? What is it?" Joyce says, trying to pull the girl back.

Faith shakes her head, and slips her pretty bottom off Joyce's lap.
She sits by the edge of the bed, turned to face Joyce.

"Faith, what is it? What's wrong?" Joyce grows a little worried.

"Look, this new ' not hiding stuff' thing we agreed to? There's something I haven't told you…"

Joyce is getting really worried now. "What is it Faith?"

"It's about Buffy."

Joyce sighs. When isn't It about Buffy? "What about Buffy?"

"I wasn't hiding anything from you, Joyce," Faith says, hands in lap, "this happened before I knew Buffy was your daughter…"

"Faith? What?"

"Last night wasn't the first time I met Buffy."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, when I was working at the bar, she came in one night…"

"I don't understand?" Joyce feels confused.

"I'm not ratting her out here. It's not about that. She came in, and she came up to the bar, trying to buy beer. Well, I knew just looking at her that she wasn't 21, so I refused to serve her, and pretty much threw her out of the place. You're really supposed to be at least 18 to be in there, and 21 to buy anything besides a coke…"

"When was this?" Joyce asks, suddenly very interested.

"I dunno… week, two weeks ago?"

"That must've been the night she snuck out of her room… I caught her sneaking back in ,and she had beer on her breath."

"Well, yeah, that's the thing. She was with some people. They had beer. I think they dared her to like try to get beer from me… well,
beer and more…"

"What?"

"Well, she kind of flirted with me, wanted to get my phone number and you know…"

"Oh my god! My daughter picking up strangers in bars. What's next?"

"Joyce, that's not the point."

"What is the point?"

"Joyce, she was with a group of people that night. Particularly, she was with a group of girls. All I think she goes to school with. One in particular…"

"I'm not following you…" Joyce is getting more confused by the second.

"She was with this girl at the bar, and tonight… well, last night now… she was with the same girl at the party…"

"And you think…" it's suddenly dawning on Joyce, "… you think this girl brought her to the party?"

Faith nods.

"She was pretty chummy with Buffy at the bar, and she was in the same room I found Buffy in when I got her out of that party…" Faith puts up her hands. "I'm not accusing anyone of anything here; the girl said she was duped like Buffy. But…"

"You don't believe her?" Joyce says right out.

"Like I said, I'm not accusing her of anything. Just, she didn't seem to be playing it straight with me… that's all… I think she knew more than she was letting on… no proof here… just a feeling."

"What's the girls name?"

"Dunno, really. I mean, in the confusion, I didn't stop and ask"
Faith thinks for a moment. " Buffy did mumble something about a Cor…
or Cordy… or something like that … while we were driving around,
looking for home… but…" Faith shrugs. "…might've been someone else…"

"Oh man…" Joyce seems to shrink a little. " Buffy's doing it again.
Hanging with the wrong kids. Obviously this girl is getting her in trouble…" She looks up at Faith, brow furrowed. "I just don't have a clue how to handle her anymore. I mean… grounding isn't working… and I won't spank her… I can't, that's not right to hit your kids… but…
sometimes… I just wish I could run away and forget all this…"

"I know, I know," Faith moves over to her, taking her in a hug. "It'll be ok. Buffy's not a bad kid, I don't think. She's just confused…"

"God, about what? I'm just finding out I might be a lesbian, I'm getting divorced, and I have two daughters I'm finding out I don't have a clue about… I'm confused!" She looks at Faith. "I don't suppose you wanna be mom for awhile, huh?"

Faith shakes her head.

"No, I'm mom, I gotta figure it out," Joyce says, "just wish I knew what was going on in that head of hers…"

"Maybe I can talk to her. I mean, I can empathize. Not exactly the same thing, but my parents sort of divorced me…"

"You'd do that? Maybe she'll listen to you…"

"Joyce, I'll talk to her, but you're still going to have to punish her."

"Don't suppose I could chain her to her bed?" Joyce says, only half kidding.

"I don't think so, " Faith chuckles. "Look, it'll work out. Just do what you gotta, and I'll try to talk to her, and maybe we can learn what's up with her."

"God, I hope so. I can't take much more of this, " Joyce runs her hand through her hair. "I'm going to be totally gray if she keeps this up."

"Hmmm…" Faith leans in, grabbing Joyce, "I think gray is sexy." She starts to kiss Joyce's neck.

Joyce slaps her lightly on the arm, "You're just horny…" Joyce giggles as Faith starts laying raspberry kisses on her shoulders.

"And that's bad… how?" Faith mumbles through her kisses.

"Well for one thing, it's getting… " Joyce looks at the window,
seeing daylight" … it's morning. Oh my god, it's morning!"

"Hmmm… love to make love in the morning…" Faith starts squeezing one of Joyce's breasts.

"Stop!" Joyce bats her hand, pulling away. "That's all nice when your single, Faith, but I've got a family… and oh my god, my clothes! I've got to get my clothes. They're still in the kitchen!"

"Ok," Faith shrugs, pulling back. "you don't know what you're missing."

"Got a pretty good idea of what I'm missing, but I've got to get my clothes, and take a shower, and make breakfast…"

She waits, looking at Faith.

"What?" Faith says, sitting there.

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Get dressed, and get my clothes from the kitchen."

"No way. Who was your servant last week, lady?"

"Hey! I can't go up there like this!"

" Looks like your gonna have to."

"Faith, please, go get my clothes!"

"You get them, I dare you!"

"What are we? 12? You dare me?"

"Yeah. I dare you…" Faith smirks. "I double dare you!"

"Fine!" Joyce throws up her hands. "I'll get them!"

She stands up, and walks away, heading for the stairs.

Faith watches her, and lets out a low wolf whistle.

Joyce can't help the little thrill that goes through her body. She stops halfway up the steps, one hip thrust out.

"You know, I'm going to have to take a shower before I come back down… I wouldn't mind a little company…" She gives Faith the once over, and then continues her journey up the stairs.

Faith sits there for a moment, drinking in the sexy little sway Joyce added to her walk. Then she's off the bed, and quickly runs up the stairs behind her.

4

"Stop it!" Joyce complained, giggling.

All the way to the shower, Faith and Joyce engage in a running game of grab ass. When they weren't taking a kissing break, of course.
Such as the one they took in the kitchen when Joyce retrieves her clothes, and one at the bottom of the stairs, lingering a bit as tongues swapped between their mouths. Then they ran upstairs, Joyce leading, Faith in hot pursuit, grabbing and pinching at her swaying butt.

At the top of the stair, Faith grabs Joyce, and tickles her mercilessly.

"Stop it!" Joyce tries to wiggle away, but Faith blocks her exit.
Her fingers sweep over her naked lover, causing her to bite her lip so she doesn't laugh too loudly.

"Please, Faith, they'll hear us. They're just down the hall!"

"Guess we'll have to do something about that, huh?" Faith smiles wickedly.

Before Joyce can react, Faith grabs her wrists, and pushes her up against the wall, holding her wrists above her head. She presses herself up against Joyce so she can't move, then kisses her deeply and passionately.

"MMMmm" is all that's heard from Joyce as Faith continues to kiss her.

Faith rubs her body up against Joyce, and Joyce responds, her own body moving against Faith's.

"We gotta stop. We gotta," Joyce pants, breaking the kiss. "Dawn and Buffy will hear us!"

"Spoilsport," Faith releases her, and sets her lips in a moue, "You're no fun at all."

God, she's sooo adorable, Joyce looks at Faith's pouting face. And damned if she doesn't know it!

"C'mon," Joyce takes her hand, leading her in the bathroom. "I need a shower, and so do you. Probably icy would be best to cool us off."

"Is that what you really want?" Faith reaches around to cup Joyce's breasts as the door closes behind her. Giggling is heard.

"Whaaat?" Dawn sits up suddenly in her bed, looking around. She brushes the errant hair out of her face and looks around. "What's that?"

She listens for a second, and hears a light bump on the wall down the hall. She listens again, but the bump isn't repeated. Yawning,
she's about to go back to sleep when she hears some giggling.

"What's going on out there?" She mutters to herself. Throwing off the blankets, she rises out of her bed.

Padding over to the door, she listens for awhile, but no noise is repeated. I'm dreaming. I wish. I was having the nicest dream where Xander had his arms around me, and was kissing me sooo tenderly…
what's that?

She hears a soft moan, then some more bumps against the wall.

What the heck is going on out there?

She opens her door, and peers out. She's just in time to see the bathroom door closing.

Oh, man. Must be Buffy. Probably still a little drunk, and a lot hung over. Probably bouncing off the walls. God!

Shaking her head, she retreats to her room. Walking over to her bed,
she notices it's 5:30 in the morning.

"Good," She mumbles, as she flings herself back into her bed. She snuggles down into the soft warmth, and soon feels the tendrils of sleep wrapping around her. Maybe I can get a few more Z's and a few more Xander Dream smoochies before I gotta get up.

She's soon back to sleep.

Buffy feels the sun on her face, groans, and rolls over, pulling the blanket over her head.

So don't want to wake up. Just want to lie here and die. Die quietly, without this pounding headache. Oooh man, it hurts.
Everything hurts. My hair hurts… stupid, why did I go to that party,
again? Oh yeah, Cordelia invited me. I thought we'd meet some buff guys, flirt a little, whatever. Instead I feel like I got hit by a really angry truck. And my tongue. Did they like dance on my tongue?

Feeling like crap isn't the only reason Buffy wants to hide. She knows her mom is going to be on her like flies on a corpse.
Appropriate, considering how she feels. Just wish I could remember what happened. I had a lousy beer… ok, maybe two, next thing I know I'm on a table dancing and a bunch of guys were… what? God, I can't remember. I can't THINK with this throbber… Oh, well, I'm sure Faith filled her in on the details. Damn, I'm going to be grounded until I collect social security. This blows, so blows. I don't EVEN remember if I had fun. Everything is sooo hazy!

What am I gonna tell mom? I know I'm going to get the look. The Mom look of death. I gotta come up with something… Ok, went to Cordy's party, and we decided to move it to the Frat house? No, that won't work. Ok, ok… Cordy got a call at her party, and a friend was stuck at the Frat house. She needed our help… yeah, that's good… so we went, just to get her out of there, but… let's see… when we got there… we couldn't find her. We were looking around, and got directed to that room upstairs, and hey, everything seemed ok… it was quiet… and they said her friend would be right out, and they gave us a beer… and I know I shouldn't have drunk it, but it was only a beer, right? But they must've put something in it, and … I don't remember much after that. That's not a lie, for sure! And then Faith came in and found me, and we bolted outta there. Right, right…
ok, that's good… was I dancing on the table? Geeze…

Buffy peeks from under the covers, and seeing the sun, drags her head back under. Ok, maybe if I'm quiet, and I stay here no one will notice I'm not there and then this drum machine in my head will stop and I'll feel better and be able to think…

"Buffy!"

Aw, crapolla ruhola! What the hell?

"Buffy! Wake UP!"

Buffy throws off the covers, and sits up, grabbing her head when the invisible spikes slam into her brain. She looks through slightly foggy eyes at her sister, dressed and standing in the doorway, arms crossed over her chest. And smirking. The brat is smirking at me!

"WHAT?" Buffy growls at her, holding her head. "It's not … it's Sunday, let me alone!" Buffy collapses back on the bed.

"Mom's been calling for you like for 15 minutes… she doesn't sound happy," Dawn is almost chortling in glee.

Buffy glares balefully at her sister, wondering what shade of purple she'll turn if Buffy gets up and wraps her fingers around her smart alecky neck. With a loud groan, Buffy sits up and swings her legs to the floor. She feels dizzy, and braces herself on the bed.

"I'm sick," Buffy mumbles wretchedly, "Tell mom I'm too sick to come down right now."

"No way. Think I'm gonna get in the way of the Wrath of Mom?" Dawn laughs. "Man, you look horrible!"

"Well, you're no sight when you drag outta bed, either, squirt!"

"Yeah, well, at least I don't look like I tried to drink the party dry all by myself," Dawn makes a face, waving her hand. "You reek,
Buffy."

"Excuse me, little Merry smart ass. I haven't had a chance to shower or nothing…"

"Yeah, you better after last night…"

" What about last night? What do you know about last night?"

"Only that you were hugging the toilet like it was your last friend,
and vomited on the floor and junk," Dawn leans against the door jamb, her smirk bigger. "You were so bad that girl … Faith?… had to hold your head while you puked."

Buffy closes her eyes in some pain. God, she must think I'm totally gross!

"… I wouldn't worry to much about it though," Dawn says lightly, "I don't think she noticed to much after you threw up all over yourself."

Buffy groans audibly. She starts to pull the covers back over herself, desperately hoping this day, and the nightmare, will just go away.

"Hey, don't do that," Dawn comes in. She grabs the blankets and pulls them off her sister. "Mom wants to see you…"

"Get OUT!" Buffy barks, kicking out at her sister. "Just let me alone."

"Uh-uh. Mom's got that 'look' going. No way I'm telling her your not coming down. Get up, wash up and go downstairs." She grabs at Buffy's arm, pulling her up.

"You're evil, you know that, don't you? You're a changeling. They switched you with my real sister at birth," Buffy protests as Dawn drags her away from her bed, towards the door. "Your mother was a howler monkey, and your daddy…"

Her speech is cut off when Dawn shoves her in the hall and closes the door after her.

5

"Buffy! Dawn!"

Joyce stands at the foot of the stairs, looking up. Her arms are crossed over her chest, and there isn't a happy expression on her face.

"Would you girls hurry up! Breakfast is getting cold."

Dawn's face appears at the top of the stairs.

"We'll be right down, mom. Almost ready."

Her face disappears.

Joyce sighs, and turns towards the dining room, going over to stand next to her chair. She nervously grips the back, staring at the entrance to the living room.

Faith is sitting close to the end of the table, watching Joyce. She outwardly appears to be calm, but she's worried. Joyce has been fluttering about since they came downstairs.

"Joyce, sit down. Try to relax, honey."

"Relax? How can I relax?" Joyce is clearly agitated. "My eldest daughter lies to me, and goes to some college party, where she nearly gets raped. She's been pushing the envelope for awhile, but this burst right through it. My god, I don't even have a clue how to control her anymore. Talking to her doesn't work, I've tried grounding her. God, I even hit her when she got me so angry…" Joyce finds herself suddenly short of breath. "God, I can't even breathe now…"

Faith gets up, and goes to Joyce, putting her arm around her.

"Baby, it's not gonna help if you get yourself all bent. Nothing happened to Buffy, she's fine. And believe me, she's going to be suffering for awhile with a killer hangover. I don't think she'll be pulling any crap like that again."

"God, I wish I could believe you. But I can't even trust her out of my sight anymore! God, what if she'd been hurt… or worse? If you hadn't been there…"

"But I was, Joyce, I was…" She tries to hug Joyce, but Joyce pulls away. Sighing, Faith returns to her seat. "It's not really about her though, is it?"

"Of course it's about her! This is the last straw! I'm really considering boarding school. I just can't take this anymore…"

"Joyce, you know as well as I do that you're supermom. You'd figure this out. It's the other… isn't it?"

A string seems to be cut in Joyce, and all of a sudden, she slumps,
sitting heavily in her chair. Leaning on her hand, she looks at Faith.

"How am I going to tell them? I mean, they're going to be devastated."

"I'm no expert, Joyce, that's a fact. But I don't think you raised dumb daughters. They gotta know things haven't been hunky dory 'round here for awhile. And it's not like this is the first time you went through this with them. They aren't gonna be doing cartwheels, that's for sure. But they're not gonna be bowled over,
either. Not if they got any sense at all."

"Easy for you to say. You've never been through this…"

"Yeah, well, it wasn't a bunch of roses when I came out to my parents, Joyce," Faith says, her eyes narrowing a little. "They pretty much divorced me. Well, cut me dead might be a better description…"

Joyce, immediately regretful, reaches out and cover's Faith's hand.

"I'm sorry, Faith. I forgot. That must've been horrible for you."

"It wasn't Sunday in the park, gotta say. But the deal is, I got over it, Joyce. Not saying it doesn't bother me at times, but I dealt. They'll deal, too. If they're anything like their mom,
they'll deal ok." She squeezes Joyce's hand. "Everything's gonna be 5 by 5 Joyce, trust me."

"5 by 5? What's that mean?" Joyce looks puzzled.

"Sorry. An expression I picked up from my dad. He was in the military, Air force. It really good, at least that's how I mean it…"

"You really miss them, don't you? Your folks?"

"Yeah, gotta admit I do. I mean, they're a bunch of bigoted,
stubborn Mick potato eaters, but they're my folks, Joyce. I love 'em, even if the feeling's not mutual…" Faith frowns a little.

"Trust me. They might be … disappointed, Faith, but they love you.
They do. I'm a mom, I know these things. I bet they miss you too."

"Sure they do. So much so that when anyone asks after me, they say they got three sons, but don't got a daughter," Faith chuckles, but it's a bitter laugh.

"Oh, Faith," Joyce squeezes her hand back, "I'm sorry. I mean…"

"Forget it, Joyce. What's done is done, can't undone it."

"Have you talked to Paulie lately?"

"Ya mean that big galoot I introduced you to in Boston? The one pretending to be my brother?" Faith grins crookedly. "We aint on the best of terms, if you catch my drift."

"It's because of me, isn't it?" There's a little guilt in Joyce's voice. "I remember he didn't like me too much."

"Aw, what does that mook know, anyway?" Faith makes a rude noise. "He's just pissed cuz I decided to come out here after ya.
He's a dope… I mean, look at his parents." She grins.

"Faith! He's your brother. He stuck by you even after your parents didn't. You should make it up with him." Joyce sighs. "I know I came off bad with him, and considering what happened in Salem, can you blame him? He must see me as the conniving bitch that broke his little sister's heart." She smiles at Faith. "I like him, even if,
as you say, the feeling's not mutual."

"Aw, he's a dope Joyce. He don't know ya like I do. If he did, and wasn't such a blockhead, he'd see what a classy lady you are!"

"You're such the charmer, aren't you?" Joyce says, but she can't help blushing a little from happiness. God, she's the sweetest thing. How could her parents not adore her?

The sound of footsteps is heard on the stairs, and the two let of each other's hands, returning them to their owners.

" Would you stop, already?" Buffy's voice full of impatience, is heard ." Stop making a big deal out of it."

"Fine, whatEVER!" Dawn shoots back, sounding disgusted. "Look like a drowned rat. See if I care!"

"Well, I sure don't. I mean, it's only mom, for god's sake. I feel like crap, what do I care if I look…"

Buffy enters the dining room and stops dead in her tracks when she sees Faith sitting at the table. A large blush suffuses her face.

Dawn, not paying attention, runs into her sister, knocking her forward, almost into the table.

" … crap!" Buffy swears.

"Move your … oh… hey, what're you doing here?" Dawn notices Faith for the first time. She walks around Buffy and smiles. "Ignore my stupid older sister. Hey."

"Hey," Faith responds, raising a hand.

"What're you doing here?" Buffy's tone is surprised, suspicious and embarrassed. She's suddenly very aware she's in some rather old clothes, and her hair is lying limp on her head.

"I asked her to stay," Joyce says simply, her tone neutral. " I mean, she did bring you home last night, and she left her motorcycle at the college. She didn't have any way to get home except walk, and I wasn't going to let her walk that late at night. And anyway, I would think you could be a touch more grateful, young lady,
considering!"

Buffy looks upset, humiliated and contrite all at once. Oh, great going, Buffy. Make her feel unwelcome, why don't you. Are you congenitally stupid, or did you just pick that up on your own?

"Hey, I'm sorry," Buffy says, looking down, "really. And thanks, I mean it." She looks up.

"Hey, it's cool, don't sweat it," Faith says. "And you were right,
Buffy," Faith indicates the empty plate in front of her, " the waffles were great. Thanks again, Joyce."

Oh, we're on first name basis now? Buffy looks at the two of them.

"A pleasure, Faith," Joyce nods.

"You made waffles? So cool, mom," Dawn smiles. "Can I have some?"

"Help yourself, honey, they're in the kitchen."

"Thanks, mom," Dawn starts towards the kitchen. Buffy starts to follow her.

"Where exactly are you going, Buffy?" Joyce says, stopping her with her voice.

"!… was going to get some breakfast…"

"I think we need to have a little talk, don't you?"

Buffy frowns, but turns back towards the table.

"Joyce, maybe you should let her get something to eat. She looks pretty awful. She might listen better on a full stomach."

Buffy shoots Faith a grateful look.

"I really will, mom. Please?"

Joyce waves impatiently towards the kitchen; Buffy bolts before she can change her mind.

"I really wish you wouldn't do that," Joyce says, a little annoyed .

"What?" Faith looks a little puzzled. "Joyce, I know hangovers,
believe me. I specialized in them for awhile. Thing is, if she's like me, she has a drum beating in her head right now, and she wouldn't hear hardly anything you said. Eating will help that a little."

"I really wish I felt sorry for her, but I don't, Faith. She did this to herself." She frowns. "You interfering for her won't help any."

"Ok, I'm sorry, ok?" Faith shakes her head. "Won't say another word,
ok?"

" Great waffles as usual," Dawn comes bursting in, carrying a plate and breaking up the conversation. "Thanks again, mom." She makes her way to the table, deliberately sitting across from Faith. "Aren't you gonna have any?" She starts on her breakfast.

"Hey, I already ate like 3, you know?" Faith grins. "They're great,
but I'm stuffed."

Buffy comes in, carrying a plate. She sees Dawn sitting across from Faith, and frowns. She sits down across from her mom, and looks down at her plate.

"So, you got a bike, huh?" Dawn says, ignoring her sister and talking to Faith. "I think that's so cool."

"it's nothing, really. Just an old junker I brought back from the dead. It's not fancy, but it gets me there."

"Wow, you like repaired it yourself? That's awesome." Dawn grins at Faith.

"Yeah, well, where I grew up, if ya didn't do it yourself, you weren't gonna have it. Not lots of money to go around for like bikes and stuff. Anyway, I had 3 idiot brothers to help me with the heavy lifting," Faith chuckles. "They're all thumbs when it comes to bikes, but my brother Paulie is pretty good with cars."

"Buffy, are you planning on eating those, or just going to stare at them?" Joyce asks, a little impatiently.

"I'm not hungry," Buffy mutters, pushing the plate away. She starts to get up.

"Sit down, young lady. We've got some talking to do."

Buffy looks as if she's going to say something, but thinks better of it. She sits back down.

"What?" She says, looking at her mom.

"Well, I'd rather like an explanation for last night, Buffy."

"God, mom!" Buffy looks over at Faith. " Geeze, we have company for god's sake!"

"Hey, maybe I should split," Faith stands up. "I gotta get my bike back anyway and …"

"Sit down, Faith," Joyce almost snaps at her. Then she turns and softens her tone. "Please, you're part of this, ok?"

Faith sighs, sitting back down.

Buffy sits silently, staring at both of them. What's going on here?

Joyce turns her attention back to Buffy.

"You lied to me, Buffy. You said you were going to your friends house, to her party, and you wind up at a college fraternity party.
What do you have to say about that?"

"Didn't lie," Buffy says sullenly.

"Buffy, don't sit there and try to lie to me again!"

"I didn't lie. I started out at Cordelia's, but she got a call from a friend who got stuck at that college party. We only went to try to help her out…"

"So, of course, you just happened to wander upstairs, and happened to have some beers, and just decided to what? Have sex with half the boys there? Is that what you're telling me?"

"No! Of course not!" Buffy mutters. " Just … well, ok, I had a beer…
ONE beer… but they musta put something in it, cuz I don't remember anything much after…"

"What were you doing even having ONE beer, young lady? Last time I checked, you had to be 21 to drink in this state…"

"God, mom, it was just a beer. Everyone was drinking beer…"

"And I suppose if everyone decided to jump off the roof, well, you'd do that too?"

Buffy mutters something under her breath.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear that," Joyce says, tightly.

"I said, like you'd even care."

Joyce sits there, stunned.

"My god, Buffy! You're my daughter! Of course I care about what happens to you. What is wrong with you?"

"Oh, really? So how come you're like never here anymore? You're always at the gallery. Geeze, I hardly remember I have a mom. You're there almost every night…"

"Buffy, how many times do I have to explain it to you? This is a new business. It takes a lot of time to set up. It's not like you and Dawn are 10 years old. You're almost an adult… well, age wise,
anyway. Do I have to be here every night for you? Do you really want that? Or is this just a way to make me feel bad. Believe me, I'd rather be at home. But, frankly, that just can't be anymore, Buffy.
I have to make a go of this business so I can support us…"

"What about Dad? He can support us…"

"You're father… " Joyce shakes her head, realizing she has no choice. She has to tell them, and now. "… isn't part of this anymore, Buffy."

Both Dawn and Buffy look at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Buffy asks. Her tone is bordering on hostile.

"That means, you're Father and I just agreed Thursday night that this charade can't go on any longer. We're getting a divorce."

Buffy and Dawn look at each other, both a little stunned. Then Buffy smiles cynically.

"Yeah, sure, you said that last summer, too. We saw how that happened."

"It's happening, Buffy. Your father has signed the divorce papers. I just need to file them."

"But… but I thought you and he worked it out…" Dawn says, still confused, working on hurt. "I thought you were back together…"

"Honey," Joyce turns to her younger daughter. "We tried. We really did. But it just didn't work out." For some reason, Joyce still protects her ex-husband. "We just know it's not going to work,
honey. So, we finally decided this would be for the best."

"For whom? For you?" Buffy says, her tone turning ugly. "So, now what? You kick out dad so you can go running around with whoever it is you've been having those 'late night meetings' with? Do you think I'm stupid, mom? Don't you think I know you've been cheating on Dad?
What kind of…"

SLAP!

"Joyce!" Faith stands up.

"Mom!" Dawn shouts.

"Well, well…" Buffy rubs her burning cheek. "Truth hurts, huh,
Joyce ?"

"Go to your room, Buffy. I don't want to look at you right now"
Joyce's voice is strained from restraining her anger. "I've had enough of your lip, young lady."

"I'm not going anywhere, Joyce," Buffy almost sneers at her. "I just call 'em as I see 'em"

"Dawn?" Joyce turns to her youngest daughter. "Go upstairs or outside. I don't care which, just leave the room, please."

"No, I'm not going anywhere! I'm part of this family too!"

Joyce shuts her eyes, then sighs.

"Fine, maybe you should both find out what kind of man your father is. Buffy, I know you think Hank Summers walks on water, he can do no wrong. Well, I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but your father is a lying, cheating bastard!"

"Don't you call my dad a bastard, you whore!"

Joyce feels a strong urge to slap her daughter again, but restrains herself.

"It's a fact, Buffy. Like it or not. I have proof if you need it,
but your father has been cheating on me for years. I've tried to ignore it, look the other way, but frankly, I've had enough. And after your father hit me on Thursday, I wasn't taking any more!"

"He hit you?" Dawn almost gasps

"You're so lying. You're just trying to make him look bad, so you look good. He'd never hit you!"

"You want proof?" Joyce suddenly grabs her daughter, and drags her into the living room.

"Joyce! What're you doing!" Faith follows her, and is followed by Dawn.

"Showing her proof," Joyce says, pulling Buffy over close to the wall. "See that dent in the wall, Buffy? Wasn't there before Thursday. That's where your father knocked me against the wall." She grabs Buffy's hand, and puts it to her head. "Feel that? That's the bump I still have from your father's little escapade."

She roughly turns her daughter around.

"Look carefully, Buffy. Notice anything missing?"

Buffy looks, and shakes her head.

"Remember the lamp that used to sit there?" She points at the now empty side table. "That's the one your father threw at me Thursday night." She turns Buffy around to face her. "Get it through your head, Buffy Anne Summers. You're father's no misunderstood saint.
He's a wife beating philanderer. The sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be!"

Buffy's face is red, and her eyes are shiny, as if she's going to cry. She pushes Joyce away from her violently. Without saying another word, she runs up the stairs, two at a time. A few seconds later, her door is heard to slam shut.

Joyce starts up the stairs, but Faith stops her.

"I've got to go to her…"

"Let her be, Joyce. She needs to work this out for herself."

"But…"

"Joyce, I think you have someone else who needs some attention."

Joyce turns, and sees Dawn staring at her, wide eyed. She looks stunned, confused and upset.

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. That's why I wanted you to…"

"He hit you?" Dawn asks in a quiet, shocked tone. "Dad hit you?"

"I'm sorry, baby. I didn't want you to know. I don't want you to be angry at him…"

"I called him… I thought …oh god ,mom, I'm sooo sorry, I didn't know he'd…" Dawn starts to shake.

"Baby, baby, it's ok, it's ok, " Joyce goes to Dawn, taking her in her arms. "I know you didn't mean anything bad." She rubs Dawn's back. "It's ok, now, honey… really…"

"I… why… how could he be so… " Dawn breaks from her mother's arms. "I…" She looks at Joyce, then at Faith, then back at her mother. "God, I'm so sorry…"

Turning, she runs upstairs.

Joyce suddenly feels dizzy, and sits down hard in one of the chairs.

"Joyce, honey, are you ok?" Faith comes to her, kneeling by her chair.

"No, I'm really not," Joyce says, softly, staring at her feet. She looks up at Faith, an odd expression on her face.

"Well, that really went well, didn't it?"

Faith just sits by her, gently stroking her arm.

TBC.