Complement

XIII – Breathe
(Part A)

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Faith snuggled deeper into the warm arms that were holding her. She was so liking this dream. Slowly as she came fully awake, the reality that the warm flesh she felt beneath her hand, the heart she could hear beating steadily in the chest on which her head lay, the scent she was surrounded by, which Faith could only describe as just Buffy, wasn't a dream. She was so liking this much better than any dream.

"Morning," came to her softly as she felt Buffy's hand slide up her arm and gently brushed the hair back from her face.

"Morning to you, too."

Faith slid up the bed and turned on her side so she could see Buffy. Still a little - hell, a lot, amazed that she was here. She had expected that when Buffy said she would take her home that she would bring her back to the Mansion. Faith had almost blurted out as much when they had pulled up in front of Buffy's house. Buffy had used the excuse that the doctor had told her to keep an eye on her for at the very least two days, because of the seriousness of her head injury. The doctor would only release Faith if Buffy gave him her word.

Buffy further surprised the Dark Slayer when she insisted that Faith stay in her room that night. Faith had agreed shyly, and wondered once again where the shyness was coming from. Shy was not a word she would have ever thought to use to describe herself. Brash, cocky, aggressive those were more like it. Shy? Not in a million years. Then again these last months had been full of surprises, she had been discovering things about herself that she still couldn't believe.

Buffy was already awake when Faith woke up. She had been listening to Faith's steady and even breathing as she had for most of the night. She had been afraid to sleep, after coming so close to almost losing her. Losing her before they even had a chance to begin again. Knowing they would need to talk about this, they had let themselves get distracted by each other, and they both could have ended up dead. Buffy once again gave silent thanks to whoever had granted them both another sunrise and had just spent the night listening to Faith breathe.

She propped herself up on her side, bending her elbow and resting the side of her head in her hand. Looking into Faith's deep, dark, brown eyes, Buffy let herself fall into them. Lifting her other hand she traced along Faith's hairline over her headhead, down between her eyebrows, along the bridge of her nose, down the side of it, to follow the line of her cheekbone, then finally come to stop at the corner of her mouth. Buffy's paused for a second then let her fingertips continued their journey, tracing around the outside of those slightly pouting lips, then dipping in to trace along the line that separated them.

Faith stared back into Buffy's open gaze. Letting herself tumble into the tantalizing faint touch of Buffy's fingertips as they explored the contours of her face. She couldn't remember anyone ever touching her this way. She struggled to think of a word to describe the feelings it created in her and then gave up, and just allowed herself to feel. She captured Buffy's fingertips between her lips. Her breath caught as she felt Buffy's fingertips continue their exploration, running along the inside of her lower lip, grazing along her teeth.

Buffy couldn't resist any longer she had to taste what her fingertips were exploring. Slowly she leaned down and captured Faith's mouth. Softly, so softly she kissed Faith, her mouth a mere whisper, her tongue tracing delicately, following along the same path her fingertips had taken on their exploration of Faith's mouth.

Faith let herself get caught up in the intricate spider web of feelings Buffy's kiss was stirring in her. So many different feelings, desire, lust, passion, joy, too many to count; all from those fingertips that had touched her so gently, and now from this light as air kiss. She began to tremble, the desire building up in her slowly, smoldering like a burning ember, so different from anything she had ever felt before. And Faith knew Buffy was feeling it too, could feel as the trembling started in Buffy. Then Buffy was pulling away, and Faith wanted to scream at the loss. She opened her eyes and saw the soft smile on Buffy's face and the promise in her eyes that there were would be many more such kisses.

The kiss left Faith wondering why everyone always rushed off in the morning. It certainly didn't explain the whole ta-do about morning breath, because as far as she was concerned, Buffy's breath was like roses, and her kiss tasted better than even the sweetest wine. The smile Faith bestowed on Buffy was brilliant, this was her very first, Spend-the-night-wake-up-next-to-and-share-a-morning- breath-kiss-with-soe.

This was the second one of Faith's secret wishes that Buffy had made come true for the Dark Slayer. Actually the second and third, because part of that secret wish was that the someone be Buffy.

Buffy saw the innocence in Faith in that brilliant smile and the breath caught in her chest. Her soft smile turned into a very large grin, then a giggle when Faith's stomach chose that moment to growl.

"Come on let's feed you. I think I'm scared of the way that stomach of yours growls."

It was a good thing Faith's stomach broke the moment; otherwise Buffy knew, if they stayed there a few seconds longer, she would have forgotten what slow meant. More than anything Buffy wanted to show the Dark Slayer how it should have been between them from the beginning. How it could have been if they both could have kept their innocence.
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I can feel the magic floating in the air ~ Being with you gets me that way ~ I watch the sunlight dance across your face ~ And I've never been this swept away ~All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze...
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Buffy was amazed by the amount of food Faith could eat and still keep that luscious, mouthwatering, delectable body.

'Easy there girl. Slow. Sister here. Hurt Slayer. Down girl. Slow, remember slow. Recite the alphabet, count sheep... Go crazy.'

"Do you want more to eat Faith?" Buffy was almost afraid to ask.

"I don't think there's anymore food left. I think there might be some crumbs left in the bottom of the bread bin..." Dawn said mischievously.

"Real funny kiddo. Good thing for you I'm hurt or there would be some serious tickling going on about right now."

"I'm not the one who's ticklish. Remember Faith?"

"You're ticklish Faith?" Buffy said with a cunning grin.

Oh this wasn't good. Faith didn't like the evil look that was in Buffy's eyes. Nope not good at all. Faith threw Dawn a, Thanks-a-whole-lot-for-telling look. Dawn just smiled at her. She liked having the Dark Slayer around. She was fun and she made Buffy smile.

"Don't know what she's talkin' 'bout B. Not ticklish. Nope not me. Not a ticklish bone in this body. Lots of healed broken bones, but no ticklish ones. Not a one." Faith knew she was snagged; the Willow babble mode did it. She never used to babble, lately she had become a babbling idiot, in fact, both her and Buffy had become babbling idiots. Even if she wasn't snagged she certainly was after Dawn's comment following her babble.

"Liar. You're such a liar. You know you're ticklish. If you weren't hurt I'd show Buffy just how ticklish you are. Even Mom knew you were ticklish. 'Sides it was the only way I ever won at Mortal Kombat. Liar!"

That evil gleam in Buffy's eyes just grew larger. Dawn had just given away one of the Dark Slayer's most well kept secrets. Being ticklish did not fit in with her whole Bad Girl image, not at all. Question now was; Was Buffy ticklish as well? At least that would even the playing field.

"So... Buffy... Are you ticklish?" Faith asked with a sly look. She didn't really expect Buffy to answer, she did expect that Dawn would though.

"Buffy is..."

"Dawn! We're sisters remember?" A little desperate.

"No fair B. That's sooooooo not fair." Faith tried out her best pout on Buffy. It didn't work.

"Who said anything about fair? This is tickling we're talking about here. There is nothing fair about tickling."

"True. Just be warned though. I will find out B. Ya coulda made it easy. But noooooo.... You are gonna make me find out the hard way. Just remember that simple fact, when all is said and done. "

This time, it was Buffy who didn't like the evil gleam in Faith's eyes. Faith wiggled her eyebrows at Buffy when she saw the evil gleam replaced by an ut-oh look.

Dawn started giggling at how silly the Chosen Two were being, Buffy joined her. Neither Summers' sister had felt this happy, carefree or young in a very long time.

Faith tried to keep the pain she felt when she wiggled her eyebrows out of her expression. She had forgotten the stitches she had gotten on and around her left temple and the large bruised lump. While she was healing faster than normal because of her Slayer healing, she was still in the It-hurts-like-hell stage of healing. Faith didn't care though because it was worth the pain just to hear the joyous sound of the two Summers' sisters giggles.

"Dawn do me a favor."

"What?" Dawn asked suspiciously.

"Run upstairs grab my wallet and car keys. We'll go rent some movies and do an all day movie, pizza and popcorn day. 'K?"

"Yay! I like those!\ Buf Buffy waited until her sister was out of earshot to speak. She didn't want to worry Dawn anymore, she had been almost hysterical when Faith hadn't woken up right away at the hospital. The doctor hadn't helped when he told Buffy, in front of Dawn, the next morning, considering the seriousness of Faith's head injury, he didn't know how long or even if Faith would wake up. They would have to wait and see. Dawn was afraid Faith had slipped into another coma, or worse she was going to die on them like their Mom had. It had taken all of Buffy's powers of persuasion to calm her down, especially since the same thoughts were echoing loudly through her own head.

"You okay? Do you want one of those pills?" Buffy hadn't missed the pain that flashed across Faith's face. She even had sort of sensed, almost felt a echo of it in herself. Odd.

"Nah. Don't like pills, no drugs. I'd rather be in pain." A shadow passed for the briefest second over the Dark Slayer's face and then it was gone. If Buffy didn't know better she would have thought she imagined it.

Buffy took in Faith's droopy eyes and knew Faith was getting tired and was in pain, the food and the conversation having sapped most of her energy. Not that Faith would ever admit it Buffy thought, wouldn't fit her whole Bad Girl image.

"My shoulder and head hurt a little and I am kinda tired though B." Faith smiled when Buffy's mouth dropped open. First though, she had to close her own because it had dropped open the second after she said it. It was a first for her, she never admitted to any weakness, showing weakness made you vulnerable to people. Not even to Angel, he had just always seemed to know. Most of the people she had met in her life took advantage of the vulnerable, the weak. But Faith knew Buffy wasn't one of those people. Faith had just taken the first baby steps in giving her trust to Buffy.

Buffy decided it was time she stopped making any assumptions about the Dark Slayer, and instead just take the time to get to know the woman who was sitting in front of her. The woman who had been surprising her left and right since her return to Sunnydale. Had she done that in the first place, the whole General B's got a new toy mess would have never happened.

Buffy made sure Faith was comfortable on the couch in the den before she and Dawn went out to get movies. She leaned down and gave Faith a quick kiss on the cheek before she left, whispering in her ear; "I miss you already."
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The doorbell woke Faith from her nap. Grumbling she staggered to the front door, thinking Buffy had forgotten her keys, and wondering why she would even bother to lock the door anyway. She could kick the shit out of anyone who came in uninvited, so what was the point? She was cranky, her head was throbbing, her shoulder was throbbing, as well as another part of her body, thanks to the dream she had been having about Buffy.

Faith wasn't a happy camper at the moment and she became even more unhappy when she saw who was standing on the doorstep.

"Hello. We came by to wish that you Get Well Later."

"Soon. Not later. It's Get Well Soon."

Faith stood there with her mouth hanging open, another thing she noticed she had been doing a lot of lately. Right now, she really wished she was dreaming.

"Oh. Are you sure?"

"Trust me it's Soon."

"Okay then Get Well Soon... Faith! These are for you. Traditional Get Well Soon gifts. I wanted to keep the Teddy Bear but Xander wouldn't let me." A card, a little teddy bear, a basket of candy, and a first aid kit were shoved into her arms.

Faith juggled the four items in her good arm, snapping her mouth closed before she started drooling like an idiot. 'Please oh please,' she thought, 'let me be dreaming.'

"Ah... Thanks?" Faith let out a sigh of relief when she saw Buffy and Dawn pull up in front of the house.

"Xander didn't want to come here. But I told him it wouldn't be proper. You are after all Buffy's Orgasm Buddy!"

"Anya." Xander groaned.

"What? Its true. Tell him that it's true."

"Tell him what's true Anya?" Buffy asked as she walked up with Dawn.

Faith frantically shook her head no at Buffy. A sharp pain went through her skull, it felt like someone had just jabbed her through the eye with an acupuncture needle. She hissed in pain, a wave of dizziness swiftly came at her and everything started to spin. She reached out blindly with her good arm seeking something to keep her from falling on her face. Her Get Well Soon gifts went flying, as well as Anya when Buffy pushed her out of the way to get to Faith.

For the second time in two days, Buffy caught Faith before she could fall.
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A few hours later Faith was almost wishing she had stayed at the hospital. Their movie, pizza and popcorn day had turned into a Scooby Fest. Willow and Tara had shown up a few minutes after Xander and Anya. Didn't these people have jobs, school, something, anything?

The only good thing about the day was that she had spent it on the couch with her head cradled in Buffy's lap. Relaxing into the feel of the hand that stroked her hair and the fingertips that ran random patterns across her neck, shoulder, and arm. There was comfort in those touches, a secure warm fuzzy feeling, of those just because touches. Faith was beginning to think getting hurt wasn't such a bad thing after all.

The absolute best part was that Buffy didn't care what anyone thought either. When they had first sat down to watch a movie, Faith had tried sitting on one end of the couch, but Buffy wasn't having any of it. She sat on the couch with her and gently, but firmly, pulled the Dark Slayer towards her, until Faith lay with her head in Buffy's lap. While Faith didn't care what anyone else thought - which really wasn't true, - she just wasn't going to let it stop her from being with Buffy, she did care about what Dawn thought. It was one thing for Dawn to know that she and Buffy were like Red and Blondie, but did she really understand what that meant? Faith would have known at fourteen, but Dawn wasn't her.

Dawn had seemed fine though, had even offered to get Faith a pillow to make her more comfortable. Even Dawn knew that while Buffy may look all soft and petite, it was deceptive; she was hard as a rock underneath. Faith declined the offer, preferring to lay her head on Buffy's warmth rather than a pillow any day.

This was a completely new type of P.D.A. - Public-Display-of-Affection - for Faith. Her previous experiences with it were more all the shove-your-tongue-down-someone's-throat-and-go-get-a-room type P.D.A.'s. Holding hands, an arm around the shoulder, soft kisses, things that lovers did, they were new to her. And she found she liked it, oh she liked it a whole goddamn lot. All these new sensations, these new types of emotions, feelings, Buffy had aroused in her in just one day, amazed, and overwhelmed her a little. One thing they did not do was scare her. No, not at all, not even a little. She couldn't wait to see what tomorrow would bring.

As Buffy continued to stroke her hair, the raven-haired Slayer drifted off once again to sleep.
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For the second morning in a row, Faith woke to the feeling of being cradled in Buffy's arms. This time it was she who just lay listening to Buffy's even and steady breathing, her heart beating slowly. The Scoobs had left around nine the night before, when Tara had ushered them out after seeing how tired Buffy was.

Tara took one look at Buffy and figured she hadn't had much sleep since Faith had gotten hurt. Faith was already asleep; her head still on Buffy's lap, and Buffy seemed more asleep, than awake. Faith was so deeply asleep that she hadn't even woken up until Buffy had tucked her into bed, waking when Buffy hadn't crawled right in beside her. She mumbled a protest, and Buffy was immediately by her side, soothing her, telling her she would be gone only for a second, she needed to get ready for bed. Both Slayers fell to sleep seconds after Buffy crawled into bed beside Faith.

The Chosen Two both jumped when Buffy's alarm clock went off.

"Nonononononono." Grumbling, she didn't want to wake up. "Damndamndamndamn"

One of them had to move and shut off the clock or at least hit the snooze button. Supporting herself with her good arm Faith reached over Buffy with her injured arm, it still hurt, but the pain wasn't quite as bad as yesterday. She slammed the clock's snooze button.

Buffy's arms came fully around her pulling Faith down and closer to her. Faith leaned down and planted a light butterfly kiss first on one closed eyelid and then on the other.

"Mmmmmm. Like this."

Faith continued to place light butterfly kisses all over Buffy's face. She was liking this morning thing. Finally after a dozen or so kisses Faith leaned in and claimed Buffy's mouth with her own. Giving to Buffy that same light as air kiss, Buffy had given to her yesterday. Pulling away, she traced along Buffy's jaw line with her tongue up to her ear. She caught Buffy's earlobe with her teeth and nibbled it gently.

"Morning." The sound of Faith's voice, low, raspy, and laced with desire, sent a shudder of electricity through Buffy.

Buffy pulled Faith down onto her and gently pressed Faith's head into her shoulder. 'Slow, remember slow,' she thought.

"Morning. How are you feeling today?"

"Better. Less pain in my shoulder. Throbbing is gone in my head." Faith left out the part about other parts of her anatomy throbbing. 'Slow, slow, want to take this slow,' she thought, echoing Buffy's sentiments.

"Good morning." Dawn yelled from the hallway, in a voice that was way too cheerful for either Slayer. Morning people they were not.

With a groan, both got up.
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...When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms ~ The whole world just fades away ~ The only thing I hear ~ Is the beating of your heart...
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When Buffy got fro from driving Dawn to school Faith was nowhere to be found. She climbed the stairs up to her bedroom thinking that maybe she had gone back to bed.

"Goddamn, son-of-bitch! This sucks! Ahhhhh..."

Buffy went back down the hall when she realized that Faith was in the bathroom.

"Faith. You all right?" Buffy asked through the door.

Faith had run herself a bath after Buffy left. She had thought it would be easier than taking a shower since she wasn't supposed to get her stitches wet. She was wrong, she couldn't figure out how to get her hair wet without drowning herself and she really, really, wanted to wash her hair.

"Faith?"

"I...um..."

'Fuck this is embarrassing.'

"B, I kinda need some help."

Buffy rushed through the door; her first thought was that Faith was hurt. She stopped so abruptly that she slid on the bathroom floor and almost fell. There was Faith smiling at her, sitting in all her naked glory in bathbathtub and Buffy felt herself turning beet red.

'OHMYGOD! Control! Control is goooood! OHMYGOD!'

"Help... ah... help with what?"

'Help with touching... That would be... Touching help... Hope it's touching help...'

"I want to wash my hair but I can't seem to..." Faith trailed off when she felt the desire that was radiating from Buffy reach out and wash over her. A low moan escaped from her lips.

Buffy moved towards Faith in a trance. She knelt down besides the tub. Reaching past Faith, she grabbed the plastic cup off the ledge of the tub.

"I can help with that," Buffy leaned towards Faith and placed her hand behind her neck and under her hair. "Lean back."

Faith leaned back into Buffy's hand, her eyes never leaving her face. Buffy dipped the cup into the water filling it. She wanted to dip her head down and capture one of those tantalizing breasts that were jutting up out of the water just begging for the touch of her mouth. Instead, she poured the water over Faith's hair, refilling the cup time and again until Faith's hair was thoroughly wet, just like Buffy was.

Buffy stood and took the shampoo off the shelf. She sat down on the side of the tub and poured some of the shampoo onto Faith's hair. Leaning into her, Buffy began to massthe the shampoo into Faith's scalp, careful to keep it away from the stitches along her hairline. How many times had she run her hands through Faith's hair and had never let herself notice how thick it was, how much like raw silk it felt beneath her fingers? She applied pressure with her thumbs and fingertips, rubbing in small circles. Sliding the pads of her fingers from Faith's hairline down to the nape of her neck, then using just her thumbs she massaged all the way around Faith's hairline. The warmth of Faith's breath caressing her neck and chest with each exhale of air. The tickling sensation of each breath causing even more heat to flood through Buffy's veins.

Faith closed her eyes and relaxed into Buffy's touch. A tingling sensation ran down the length of her spine with each touch of Buffy's fingers against her scalp. She gasped in pleasure when Buffy touched a sensitive spot behind her ears, sending a bolt of fire running down her back.

Buffy washed Faith's hair for what seemed like hours. Then her hand was once more behind her neck. Faith leaned back without being told, as Buffy rinsed the shampoo from her hair.

Faith ran her hand up Buffy's arm, over her shoulder to reach behind her neck and draw her down, bringing Buffy's mouth to her. Kissing Buffy with raw desire, her tongue deftly gained access. Buffy moaned into Faith's mouth, and Faith deepened their kiss. Running her tongue along the length of Buffy's, then retreating, only to have Buffy's follow. She pulled Buffy's tongue deeper into her mouth sucking on it gently.

Faith's whole body was quivering with desire, a fire burned inside her, reaching down into her core.

Buffy felt like she was on fire, she felt Faith quivering beneath her hand and it only added more fuel to the fire. A fire that streaked right down to the core of her, she felt like she was going to go over the edge just from this kiss.

The Chosen Two broke apart, both breathing heavily. Buffy slowly opened her eyes and found Faith's were still closed.

"Faith?" Was that her voice, so deep, so low, so husky?

With every part of her being Buffy wanted to make love with Faith, and she had no doubts that Faith wanted that too. But... Slow, Faith had asked her to go slow... And Buffy wanted that too. How much longer either one of them could go slow Buffy didn't know. Was she waiting for some sign? Some sign from Faith that she had finally given up the foolish notion that she wasn't good enough. A sign that Faith had given her, her trust? A sign that Faith no longer saw her as General B, but as Buffy. Somehow, Buffy knew they would both know when the time was right. Give them both some time to move away from the bad memories, and build some new ones.

When they did finally make love, Buffy wanted it to be perfect. Without ever being told she knew that Faith had never made love... She waited for the raven-hair Slayer to look at her; her eyes would tell Buffy if the time was now. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew that Faith felt the same way as she did.

Faith slowly opened her eyes. She was physically ready to make love with Buffy, her body was demanding it, but emotionally she wasn't ready.

She wanted a little more time...

A little more time to separate these new emotions...

A little more time to experience what it was like to be innocent...

A little more time to move away from the bad memories...

A little more time to build good memories...

A little more time because she was truly beginning to believe that she was good enough...

A little more time for that light in the dark tunnel that had been her life to get brighter...

Buffy looked in Faith's eyes and searched for her answer. It was what she hoped. She smiled and let out a shaky breath.

"B... I want to... But... I'm..." Buffy stopped her with a brief, light as air morning kiss.

"I know... I do too... I hoped though you would feel the same..."

Faith let out a sigh of both relief and frustration. Relief because Buffy understood and frustration because Faith's own body didn't.

"I think I better let you finish your bath now..." Buffy rose from the side of the tub. She wasn't quite sure how she made it to the door her legs were so weak. She turned around before she left.

"If you need me I'll be in Mom's bathroom taking about an hour long cold shower." She closed the door to the sound of Faith's light laughter and a grumbled, I know exactly how you feel.
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...'Cause I can feel you breathe ~ It's washing over me ~ And suddenly I'm melting into you ~ There's nothing left to prove ~ Baby, all we need is just to be ~ Caught up in the touch ~ Slow and steady rush ~ Baby, isn't that the way that love's suppose to be ~ I can feel you breathe ~ Just breathe...
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Buffy went downstairs and found Faith sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in front of her. She poured herself a cup and joined the Dark Slayer at the table. They sat in comfortable silence at the table drinking their coffee.

The scorching fire that had been running through both Slayers' veins was still there, only now it was more like a steady stream of warmth flowing through their veins. Both knew that a single touch would set the fire ablaze in seconds. Both knew that if they wanted to go slow staying in the same house, sleeping in the same bed every night was not going to work. Both knew the time would come soon enough for that, for now they were both in perfect accord that they wanted to take it slow, for as long, well not too long, as they could. Now all one of them needed to do was find the courage to say it aloud.

'Fear. Not gonna let the fear own me anymore.'

"Thanks for washing my hair B." 'Not the best way to start this conversation,' Faith thought as she felt herself blushing.

"It was my pleasure..." So much more was implied in that simple phrase and Buffy joined Faith in blushing.

"B?" Buffy looked expectantly at Faith and she knew that Faith was the one who had found the courage to bring up the subject of her going back to the Mansion.

It dawned on Buffy that over the last few weeks it has been Faith who, despite any insecurities, any fears she may have, had always been the one to tackle the difficult things, the stuff that was really important. The Faith Buffy had known would have avoided them, played them off. The Faith sitting in front of Buffy now didn't avoid the hard stuff, she took it head on and tried to resolve it. And Buffy was proud of her, proud because Faith had managed to pull herself out of the cesspool that had been her life and rise above it. Faith had her feet squarely planted on the road to redemption, to making a better life for herself, making a better, safer world, and no matter what anyone threw her way, she wasn't budging off that path. Buffy was finally beginning truly to see the woman Faith was, the woman Faith was becoming, the woman that Angel had seen that Faith could be. The Faith she was inside, the woman that she had always been in her soul. The light that shined from the Dark Slayer was blinding. And Buffy felt honored and fortunate that Faith wanted to share it with her.

Buffy smiled encouragingly at Faith as she watched her struggle to find the right words.

"B. This morning... The bath... Shit, I'm not sure how to even say this." Faith paused trying to make some coherency out of her jumbled thoughts. She knew what she wanted to say but not how. This talking about things was hard, it was going to take some practice and she was sure that she would screw it up a lot, she just hoped that Buffy would understand her meaning behind the words rather than what the words themselves said. She had a funny feeling this was never going to be one of her strong points.

"It was nice... Well, it was more than nice, way, way, more, ya know?" Faith felt the heat rush to her groin just at the thought. If she kept this up, they would be celebrating their one-year anniversary by the time she finished what she wanted to say.

'Whoa! One-year anniversary! Me and Buffy. Woo Hoo!'

Buffy watched as a... the only way she could think of it was as a dreamy far off look came into Faith eyes. She wanted to know what that look was for, and she fervently hoped that whatever it was for included her.

"What ya thinking about Faith?"

Faith was so caught up in the fantasy of her and Buffy and a future together, that without giving it a second thought she answered Buffy, and said exactly what was on her mind.

"That at the rate I'm going trying to tell you that I should probably go and stay at the mansion if this whole slow thing is going to work, we'll be celebrating our one-year anniversary."

Faith's own words shocked her right back into the here and now. She looked directly at Buffy and for once Buffy saw that the Dark Slayereyeseyes held not the slightest hint that Buffy would reject her or the idea of a future of them together. Instead, what Buffy saw was hope, and Buffy knew that her eyes held that same look. Hope that given their short lives as Slayers they would both still be alive.

As they continued to look at each other there was no need for them to speak to understand what the other was thinking. Because in both their heart of hearts they both now truly believed that whatever time they had left would be spent together.
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...In a way I know my heart is waking up ~ As all the walls come tumbling down ~ Closer than I've ever felt before ~ And I know, and you know ~ There's no need for words right now...
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There were clothes strewn all over the room. Across the bed, on the floor, over the back of the chaise lounge, a trail from the closet into the bathroom, there was even a pair of underwear hanging off the chandelier.

"This... nothing... skanky... who... never... gonna... now I'm gonna be late... shit... sucks... not a fucking thing... tramp wear... should of went shopping... dumb ass."

Willow and Tara were sitting on the chaise lounge watching the Dark Slayer as she mumbled under her breath. Pulling out her clothes and quickly flinging them across the room. She was running around in a silk robe, her hair still dripping wet, no make-up on yet and Buffy was due to pick her up in an hour for their first ever, real date. It was an understatement to say that Faith was a fucking nervous wreck.

Faith turned and looked at the two witches when she heard a snicker come from their direction.

"This ain't funny!" Faith started ranting, and started rummaging through her closet again, throwing clothes. "I can't go out lookin like a skanky whore. Who the fuck taught me how to dress? Look at these clothes. Fucking A! I can't go. That's it! I musta had a screw loose. Who am I kidding..." Faith trailed off when she heard the witches out and out giggling. She turned towards them again.

"It's not funny!!!! Who invited you here anyway? You're no help. Come on it's not funny! Stop laughing."

'Oh my god! I'm whining. I don't whine.'

Willow and Tara started laughing even harder, tears rolling down their faces. As she watched them, she started to see the humor in the situation. Faith started laughing herself, she couldn't help it. How stupid was she being, it was pretty obvious by now Buffy could give two-shits what Faith wore. The last three days with Buffy had been the most amazing of her life, and she had been in sweats and a tee-shirt for all of them, and Buffy didn't seo mio mind at all. Still Faith wanted to look nice; they were after all going out to dinner, making their first public appearance as a couple. She didn't want anyone wondering why the golden-haired Slayer was out with the skanky slut. Faith didn't give a damn what anyone thought of her, but she did care about what other people thought about Buffy.

"This issss just tooooooo cute..." Willow choked out between fits of laughter.

"This is not cute. It's not funny. It's, it's, it's..."

Willow got up from the chaise lounge deciding to help Faith now that it looked like she had calmed down. She had tried before but had practically gotten buried under clothes as the Dark Slayer rejected just about everything in her closet, her dresser drawers, and the boxes that up until an hour ago had still been unpacked.

"Okay let's see what we've got here."

Faith turned towards Willow about to start ranting again until she saw Willow standing less than a foot from her, hands on her hips in total Resolve Face...

Even Faith knew better than to fuck with Resolve Face Willow.
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"Hi Buffy. Dawnie." Tara had run downstairs to get the door while Willow helped Faith finish getting ready. "Faith will be down in a minute."

Tara had to suppress the smile that was threatening to appear. Buffy was rocking from foot to foot; it was obvious that she was just as nervous as Faith. You would think that these two barely knew each other, but the more Tara thought about it in a way they really didn't. Having sex with someone didn't mean squat when it came to knowing who a person was. Both Buffy and Faith had changed a lot over the last year or so. Granted Faith had changed a hell of a lot more, but Tara had a sneaky suspicion that Buffy's soul had always recognized who the real Faith was. It had just taken her a while to understand and accept that.

It was so cute that they were trying to start over; both witches knew that it couldn't be easy. Hell you couldn't stand too close to either of them when they were in the room together without getting scorched by the heat that was between them. Secretly both witches were glad they were taking this time to get to really know each other instead of trying to pick up where they had left off and change it from there. While Faith might still have a hard time believing it, both Willow and Tara were pulling for her, pulling for both her and Buffy. The witches knew, had absolutely no doubt that the Chosen Two belonged together.

Tara and Willow had volunteered to watch Dawn. It was Faith suggestion that they do it at the mansion since Glory didn't know about her. They all thought it would be safest here. Neither Buffy nor Faith liked the idea of leaving Dawn alone for too long, it had taken quite a lot of doing to get them to go out alone tonight.

"So what movies did you get for us to watch Dawn?"
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Buffy rose from the couch and started walking towards the stairs when she heard Faith and Willow coming down. She stopped moving the second Faith came into view she stopped breathing too.

Faith had on a pair of dove gray hip-hugger glove leather pants, with black platform Muro boots. A silk gray v-neck sleeveless shirt, which had an even lighter stitched paisley design running through it. She wore a full-length woman's lightweight black silk blend duster. Her raven hair was its customary wild 'finger-running' through it look. Her eyelids were done in brown and green tones of eye shadow to bring out the little specks of emerald that were almost invisible in those dark brown eyes. White pencil eyeliner was used with a thin-line of dark brown liquid eyeliner drawn over the top of the white. The combination of dark on light made her eyes appear even larger. Her black eyelashes seemed almost impossibly long. Instead of her customary red lipstick, her lips were outlined in a dark chocolate brown and glossed with a very light bronze.

Faith walked hesitantly towards Buffy, the whole shyness thing kicking in again.

'Damn shoulda never let Red dress me, do the make up! What the fuck is with this shy thing?'

Faith stopped in front of Buffy, feeling a little awkward, not really sure how to stand, what to do with her hands. Buffy saw the shyness in Faith's eyes, and if she could stop gawking long enough she could maybe say something.

"Is a... this alri..."

"Beautiful. My god. You are beautiful... Not that you aren't all the time... But... Wow!!!"

"Thank Red she..." Faith nervously looked around for Willow and saw that everyone else had disappeared from the room. She wasn't used to anyone telling her she was beautiful, other not so nice things yes, and those she knew how to respond to, but not beautiful.

Buffy had one of Faith's hands in hers, and was removing the lifting glove from it before she had a chance to stop her. Faith had refused to remove them even when Willow had pulled Resolve Face on her again. Buffy saw the panic flare up in Faith's eyes when it sunk in what she was doing. Buffy didn't want to ruin this moment, this date by starting it off this way, but she didn't want Faith to feel like she needed to hide her hands or the scars, just because she wasn't ready to talk about them.

When Buffy had seen, or rather acknowledge, their presence in the hospital, she had wondered how Faith had gotten them. Then over the course of the next two days when she had gotten a better look at them when Faith was sleeping, she began to get a very good idea of how they had gotten there. Her heart broke a little when she realized they were self-inflicted and once again, Buffy silently thanked Angel for seeing in Faith what she had refused to let herself see. Buffy knew he had gotten Faith through this, had gotten her to stop inflicting uporselrself this self-mutilation.

"B don't! I like them. Want to keep them on..."

"It's okay Faith. I've seen the scars. I refused to acknowledge them when I saw them before. And I am ashamed of that. Then at the hospital I... You don't have to tell me about them if you don't want. When you're ready you can tell me. You don't have to hide them. I promise not to ask. I can wait." Buffy paused and smiled at her.

"B... I want to tell you... I... its just... It's still to hard... And my hands... they're ugly... they..."

Faith was struggling she wanted to tell Buffy about it, she just couldn't yet. Didn't even know if she could explain it. Was a little afraid to travel back into that quiet, dark place to tell her about it. She could look at her hands now, she still saw/sensed the blood, but just acknowledged it presence, accepting it as part of her. Though, every once in a while she still had nightmares about it. The damage though she had done to her hands was ugly and she didn't want to let anyone see it. Didn't want to see that pitying look in anyone's eyes when they realized how the scars had come to be.

"There is absolutely nothing ugly about you Faith. Nothing ugly about those scars." Then Buffy raised Faith's hand to her mouth and kissed the back of it very softly.

Still holding the Dark Slayer's hand Buffy said a little shyly, a little embarrassed;

"I like the warmth of your hand in mine. I know that's selfish of me. I can't help it. I just like the feel of you."

Faith looked into Buffy's eyes, eyes that did not stare back at her with any pity. Eyes that stared back at her with so much more, but pity wasn't any part of that more.

Faith took off the other glove hef. Ff. For the first time since Angel had bought them for her, she went out into the world without them and it wasn't because she had momentarily forgotten abohe she scars upon her hands.
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They went to a nice little Family, as in gay, restaurant and dance club that Red and Blondie had told Faith about right outside of town.

They had a quiet dinner, just being together was enough, they held hands through most of it. Both of them got a good laugh, first at the look the waiter had given them when they ordered so much food, then later when he came back to clear the table and saw they had eaten it all. The look, however, he gave Faith when she asked him what they had for dessert was priceless. Faith swore to Buffy after he left that he was ready to look under the table to see if they had hidden any food under there. They weren't laughing so hard though when the bill came. Unless one of them hit the lottery both Slayers knew that they wouldn't be eating out a lot, it was just too expensive with the amount of food they ate. Then again, they could as eas eat a big snack before they went out to eat.

Money was going to become an issue soon for Faith. The money she had made while working for Angel wasn't going to last forever, she was going to need to find a job. A real job. Had Faith ever bothered to look at the balance for her checking account instead of just always throwing away the slips from the ATM machine, she would have been surprised to see how much money was actually in there. Without telling her Angel had taken a portion of her pay each week and given it to Wesley to invest for her, and as it turned out the investments had been good ones.

"I should start looking for a job. Especially since I doubt the council is going to put me on the payroll."

"Do you know what you would like to do?"

"Never really thought about it much. Figured it didn't matter ya know, being a Slayer and all... I never even finished high school. I guess I really won't have many choices in any case 'cause of that."

"What about getting your G.E.D. first. Willow could help you. Then maybe college."

"G.E.D. hmmm... That I could do. College? Don't know about that B. Me and college. Not really the book smart type. Street smart type is more like it."

"I don't believe that for a second. I think you can do anything you set your mind to."

"You're just saying that 'cause you want to get in my pants." Faith turned beet red. Christ how the hell could she have said that?

'Real smooth! Way to go. Way to impress B. Sure can dress me up but can't keep the trash out.'

"You're right about that. Get in them. Oh yeah. Get them off too..." Faith swore Buffy purred as she said that. Before Faith had a chance to react, Buffy got all serious on her again. "You can do whatever you set your mind to. You've already proven that. You turned your whole life around Faith, not many people can do that."

"I had help. Angel helped me. I could never have done it without him." Faith saw the guilt flashed across Buffy's face, in a weird way she kind of almost felt an echo of it in herself.

"B... I didn't mean to... Ah fuck!"

"It's okay Faith. He was the one that helped you. We both know that, we talked about this. I am glad he was there for you. Glad someone was there for you. When I couldn't, wouldn't be there for you. In the lrun run though it was you who did this for yourself. You who had to want to change. You could have had a hundred people helping you, but if you didn't want to change it wouldn't have mattered. Give yourself some, no, a lot of credit. It was all you in the end."

What do you say to something like that? Say to someone that has that much belief in you. It kind of scared Faith in a way that Buffy believed in her so much scared her because she was afraid to disappoint her. The more though Faith thought about it the more she realized that Buffy was right, in the end it all came down to her making the choice to change. To take back control of her life, going to Angel had been the first step. The second had been asking for his help, so trying to kill him as a way to ask for it wasn't the best way she could have done it, there were better ways for sure. Faith finally realized that asking for help didn't make you weak, wasn't something to be embarrassed about, it meant simply that you just needed help, and there was no shame in that.

"Maybe tomorrow we can go find out about me getting a G.E.D., not promising about the college thing though. But I kinda always thought I would like to do something that helped deprived kids ya know. I suppose I would have to go to school for that. What do ya think B?"
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They sat at the table holding hands and talking for hours. At first Faith was uncomfortable with Buffy holding her hands, with having her scars exposed, so out in the open. Expecting, that despite her promise, Buffy would ask her about the scars, but Buffy surprised Faith, she didn't ask once or even hint around or about them. It was like she accepted them as part of Faith, much in the same way that Faith had accepted them herself.

It wasn't like Buffy was ignoring them either. She was just waiting for Faith to tell her about them. Faith realized after a while that for most of the night while Buffy had been holding her hands, she had been running her thumbs lightly across the scars. Tracing them as if to soothe away the hurt, the pain, as if she understood the how and the why they came to be. At some level Faith knew that Buffy did understand, did know the how and why. Like Faith, Buffy had blood on her hands, only the blood on her hands was Faith's. And Faith knew that Buffy still hadn't forgiven herself, and didn't really believe that Faith had forgiven her either. Had to believe otherwise the past would always haunt them, they would never really move past it. She had to figure out a way to get Buffy really to believe within her heart that she had forgiven her and then Buffy would finally be able to forgive herself.

"Hey," Faith pulled herself out of her contemplation. She smiled at Buffy. "Want to dance Faith?"

"Sure," Faith said before she realized it was a slow song. Slow dancing wasn't something she was really experienced with. Buffy was already pulling her towards the dance floor. Faith tugged at her to stop, and Buffy turned giving her a quizzical look.

"B... I... well I don't really know how to slow dance."

"I do." Buffy pulled a semi-reluctant Faith out to the dance floor before she had a chance to protest further.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy pulled Faith close to her, sliding her arms around her waist under her jacket. She began to move them as Faith's arms came up and around her neck. Their bodies brushing intimately against each other, thighs brushing thighs, hips pressed to hips, breast to breast. Buffy could feel Faith's heartbeat against her chest.

Faith leaned her forehead against Buffy's, her breath caressing Buffy's face. She let Buffy move them slowly around the dance floor and not once did the thought occur to her that this would be the last time, like it had the only other time they had slow danced.

Faith ran her hand up the back of Buffy's neck to tangle in her hair. Buffy tighten her arms around Faith in response. Her other hand ran down to Buffy's shoulder lightly massaging the muscle there, sliding up along the to her collarbone with slight, almost non-existent touches, then back again.

Buffy's own hands were wandering in random patterns over Faith's back. Liking the way the silk felt under her hands, cool and smooth in contrast to the heat she could feel coming from Faith, awaking in her a similar heat. She ran one of her hands along Faith's side, her thumb grazing along the outside of Faith's breast and was rewarded with a low gasp from her.

Buffy's other hand moved lower down Faith's back pressing them closer. A low moan escaped Buffy as she felt Faith's lips graze her ear, down to right below itkisskiss her softly, her tongue sneaking out for a quick taste. Buffy continued to move them around the dance floor her feet having a will of their own; dancing was the last thing on her mind.

Faith pulled back a little from her, her gaze traveling down to Buffy's mouth. Buffy's lips parted slightly in anticipation as Faith began to lower her head towards her. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest; she closed her eyes waiting, wanting that kiss. Wanting, needing that delectable mouth upon her, wanting, needing to taste the sweetness that was Faith.

Faith lowered her head towards Buffy her own heart beating an erratic cadence in her chest. She saw as Buffy's lips parted slightly in anticipation, as her eyes closed waiting for her kiss. Her hand slid once more up the back of Buffy's neck to tangle in her hair, she moved Buffy's head towards her to meet her halfway. Then she found Buffy's mouth with her own.

The rest of the world ceased to exist for the two Slayers. There was nothing but the feel of being in each other's arms. Nothing but the feel of their mouths upon the other's in that delicate, tender, sweet kiss. The sensation of tasting each other's breath, a feeling of breathing in each other's soul. The call of the other, as tongues touched, explored and tasted. The warm flow of passion that was running through both of their veins, the current of electricity that flowed between them. Knowing that for right now this was enough, this slow building fire, this anticipation of what would eventually come, this feeling of falling in love all over again. Of at last falling in love with the other they had both finally allowed the other to see. Each knowing that what they had felt before did not even come close to what was beginning to happen between them now.

Now that they had finally learned to see.
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...'Cause I can feel you breathe ~ It's washing over me ~ And suddenly I'm melting into you ~ There's nothing left to prove ~ Baby, all we need is just to be ~ Caught up in the touch ~ Slow and steady rush ~ Baby, isn't that the way that love's suppose to be ~ I can feel you breathe ~ Just breathe...
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"There is no way that all of us, and all of them are going to fit in the car!"

Faith, Buffy and Dawn were standing by one of the rides at the fair they decided would be a fun date for not only themselves, but something they could do with Dawn. The fifteen stuffed animals Faith had won surrounded them; there would have been more had Buffy not stopped Faith.

They had spent the night going on the rides, eating cotton candy, hamburgers, hot dogs and more cotton candy. Buffy had fun watching the Dark Slayer all night; it was inconceivable to her that Faith had never been to a fair before. Inconceivable that no one had ever taken Faith to one ever. All night long Buffy watched as Faith and Dawn giggled like little kids. How Faith seemed to find joy in the simplest of things. From the thrill she got from going on her first ever roller coaster, begging to go on it again and again. How she blushed when Buffy wanted to go on the Tunnel of Love ride, how she seemed almost shy when Buffy took her hand into hers and held it the whole of the ride. How Faith dragged Buffy and Dawn from ride to ride, food stand to food stand. The sound of her laughter, so young and carefree in the house of mirrors, to her later grumbling under her breath when she couldn't find her way out of the maze. The way she clutched Buffy's hand in a death grip when they went through the Haunted House.

Then Buffy had made the mistake of saying how cute the stuff animals all were, and Faith had found herself a mission. She was determined to get every single different one for Buffy.

"Ah B, come on look how cute they are!"

"I didn't say they weren't cute. All I said was that we all can't possibly fit in the car."

Faith knew Buffy was right, what the heck was she going to do with them? She looked around and an idea came to her. She picked up the little black teddy bear. She walked over to a little boy who had been staring at all of the stuffed animals. Faith smiled at his mother, who in spite of herself smiled back at the Dark Slayer. Bending down low so that she was at eye level with the little boy, she held out the teddy bear to him.

"This is for you." The little boy looked up at his mother who nodded her head it was all right. He turned and gave Faith a toothless smile and took the teddy bear eagerly from her.

"Take good care of him, 'K."

"'K, thanks"

"You're welcome." Faith waved goodbye and walked back over towards the Summers.

She was rewarded withutifutiful smiles from the Summers' sisters when she reached them. She snatched up a few more of the stuffed animals and looking around again headed off towards other little children to give them away. Buffy noticed that the children Faith gave them to were the ones who seemed to come from poor families. Whose parents didn't seem to have the means to waste twenty dollars trying to win a five-dollar stuffed animal for their kids.

Faith continued to amaze Buffy every d car car caring side of her, the way she noticed the little things, there was so much more to her than Buffy ever imagined. It awed her how much Faith gave back to a world that had never given her much of anything at all.

Faith returned for the last time and held out her hands for the white and black stuffed panthers that Buffy was holding.

"Not these. I want to keep them." Something about the way Buffy said it aroused Faith's curiosity.
Why?Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you want to keep them B?"

"Because."

"That's not an answer B."

"Wellt'st's the only answer you're gonna get F!"

"Really..." Faith started to advance on Buffy, and Buffy didn't like the evil gleam in her eyes. Buffy turned and started to run, she knew that evil gleam.

Dawn chased after the Slayers, thinking, 'Oh here we go again!' Dawn knew what that evil gleam meant as well, it didn't matter which of them had it.

Faith caught Buffy on the field outside of the fair grounds and tackled her, twisting so that it was she who fell to the ground, Buffy on top of her. Faith quickly reversed their positions. Kneeling with a knee on either side of Buffy's waist, she looked down at the beautiful woman who was still holding the two panthers tightly to her chest.

"Last chance to tell B!" Buffy shook her head no at Faith. "Okay, don't say I didn't warn you."

Faith began tickling Buffy, wtarttarted yelling for her to stop, or she was going to pay in between fits of laughter. Buffy could get out of this, but she loved the almost childlike joy Faith got out of this. She seemed so young and carefree, and in re, it, it made Buffy feel the same way. In a way, it made them both feel like they were just two ordinary people. Faith continued to tickle Buffy, until Dawn who had finally caught up, tackled her. Now it was her turn to be tickled by the Summers' sisters, begging them to stop in between shrieks of laughter. Then Buffy and Faith ganged up on Dawn, then Dawn and Faith on Buffy, until they were all gasping for breath, their sides hurting from laughing so hard, and tears were rolling down their faces.

Faith never did find out why Buffy wanted to keep the light and dark stuffed panthers.
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Continued in Chapter XIII - Breathe (Part B)