Broken

Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Stay with me


Faith awoke the next morning in a panic. She flung herself out of bed and frantically searched for her clothing before realizing where she was. The soft coo of Buffy’s voice could be heard from the kitchen.

Faith pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a tank top before heading down stairs. She found Buffy drinking coffee with Willow.

“Mornin’ B.” Faith whispered under her breath. She seated herself on a chair as if it were going to break.

“Good morning ye of the blanket stealers. Do you want something to eat?” Buffy smiled at her. “No…I…you don’t have to bother.” “Nonsense.” Buffy waved her off as she busied herself with the task at hand. She soon placed a bowl of fruity pebbles in front of Faith. “You like these right? I remember that you like these.” Faith gave a small nod and devoured her cereal, her eyes darting back and forth. Willow looked questionably at Buffy. The blonde shrugged her shoulders.

Willow stood and grabbed her coat. “Well, gotta go. You know with the classes and the gaining of knowledge. I’ll see you two later.” The redhead glanced at Faith one last time and dashed out of the door.

“She…She doesn’t want me here. Maybe I should just go B.” Faith stated softly. “No!” Buffy ordered all too quickly. “I mean…where would you go? It’s fine if you stay here…good even…” Buffy was running out of convincing arguments. “…It’s my house anyway.” She pouted and tapped her fingers nervously on the counter.

Faith let out a small chuckle. “Ok B.” “Listen Faith I gotta run to work. It’ll only be a few minutes, unless you…” “No prob B. Take your time. I might shower. You know it might be nice to do it with out twenty other woman.” “Alright, well you know where it is.”

Faith put her bowl in the sink and headed upstairs. Buffy was ready to pull out of the driveway when she realized that Faith had no way to contact her. She ran back inside and up the steps. The door was open to the bathroom, so she knocked and then entered.

“Faith I…” She stopped dead in her tracks. Faith reeled around coving herself with a towel. “Buffy…”

Buffy stared horrified at the bruises and scars that dotted Faith body. Some looking like they had been there all her life. “What?…” “Prison B, what can I say?” she shifted awkwardly.
Buffy stepped forward, tracing one scar that ran straight across Faith’s chest. She couldn’t believe that she has insisted that Faith turn herself over to such an awful place. “Don’t touch me.” Faith growled.

“You’re hurt.”

“Get out.”

“Faith don’t be ridiculous let me…” Faith shoved Buffy against the door that slammed under her weight. A veil of shock fell over Buffy’s face.

“I said don’t touch me. Buffy, you can’t touch me. Not like this.”

“Faith I…I don’t understand.”

“Buffy I can’t. I’m disgusting…” Her voice was small.

“You’re not making any sense. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“That’s right you don’t!” She shook, slamming her hand into the door next to Buffy’s face.

“Explain it to me.” Buffy tried to prompt.

“Haven’t you seen it? Noticed it even?”

“I don’t understand Faith.” She squeezed the younger girls hand in comfort. Faith noticed this and began to shake..

“What is it Faith?” There was a long silence.

“You can’t see me like this. I’m such a mess. This isn’t how I wanted it to go. You’re better than this…than me…”

“Faith what are you…”

“I’m in love with you Buffy.”

Buffy’s mouth dropped open and her body went cold. “No.” She said slouching to the floor.

Faith dressed quickly, tears streaming down her face. “I told you that you wouldn’t understand. With that Faith was gone, before Buffy could stop her.

*** *** ***

Willow returned home at 5:00 PM. She was surprised to find Buffy sitting motionless at the kitchen table with a cup of stake coffee planted undisturbed in front of her. “What’s wrong Buff?” Willow questioned her friend. “Faith.” Buffy stated simply

“Well yeah we all know that.”

“No.” Buffy corrected. “Faith is gone.”

“She skipped town again? God that is so like her!”

“Will…shut up.”

“What? Buffy…”

Buffy began to cry. “She loves me. She told me today and I was a total spaz. She left.”

“Well buffy you’re not into girls so of course you freaked.” Willow tried to console.

“Yeah but how do I know that? I don’t know all the secrets that are me. In high school you weren’t into girls either and now you’re like super gay. She dumped her head in her hands. “What should I do?”

“I don’t know, I guess, what do you want to do?”

“Willow…I…I don’t want her to leave. What does that mean?”

“Buff go find her. Figure things out.” She placed and loving hand on Buffy’s shoulder.

“Thanks Will.” Buffy grabbed her coat and ran out of the kitchen door.

*** *** ***

Buffy found herself down in the train yard. She could feel that Faith was here. “Faith!!!! Faith!!!!” She wondered around the rust cars. There was a chill in the air and everything in the train yard groaned at the slightest breeze.

“Faith where are you?!” Buffy was losing hope.

The brunette dropped gracefully out of the car in front of Buffy. “Oh thank God.” Buffy gasped, walking towards her.

“Go home.” The dark slayer ordered.

“Faith…”

“No. Go home Buffy. I’m not explaining how I feel about you so that you can turn me down and I’m sure as hell not going to listen to any of the self-righteous-how-dare-you shit.”

Tears welled up in Buffy’s eyes as Faith crawled back onto the train. “Don’t go!” She pleaded. “Faith! Please don’t leave me again!” The small girl screamed over the roar of the starting engine.

Faith heard Buffy’s pleas and cursed herself as she climbed out of the door again. Buffy ran to her. “Please don’t leave me.” She cried, wrapping herself around the other girl.

“Faith I cant do it. I cant pretend to be strong anymore. Please don’t make me be the strong one anymore.” Faith felt unsure of how to react. She hesitantly pulled Buffy into an embrace.

“Faith, today when you told me that you loved me I was scared, scared because I’ve felt it to… I just…” She stopped, Faith’s lips catching hers in a kiss. To Faith’s surprise the kiss was being returned. The kiss was long and full of pent up desire.

Buffy stepped back and placed her hands on Faith’s face. “See? No need to run.” Faith ran her hands through Buffy’s hair. “God B. You’re the only thing that’s kept me alive for the past 4 years and I just knew that I could never have you and here you are in my arms.” She hugged her again.

“Surprise, surprise.” Buffy laughed. “Listen I staked 13 vamps last night. Will has a late class and Dawn is staying at a friend’s. We can…order pizza and dish on all the latest prison gossip.”

They walked hand in hand back to Buffy’s The house was empty, as expected.

“So B, what happens now?” Faith asked, fidgeting with her hands.

“We indulge in round tomato-y cheese covered goodness?” Buffy giggled.

“No I mean with like us and the gang.”

“We tell them of course. Well Will already knows and Dawn and Xander will be cake… You ever wonder why things are a piece of cake or easy as pie? Cause some pies are hard to make.” Faith kissed her. “Shhh.” Faith flinched as Buffy grazed her arm.

“That is it!” Buffy commanded. “Off with your clothes, let me inspect you.” She paused. “Oh that sentence just started out on a one way track to badness.” She rolled her eyes at herself.

“B I’m fine, really.”

Buffy placed her hands on her hips and pouted. “Ok Ok you win, I give.”

Buffy searched her over, cleaning all her cuts and smearing them with salve. “They really did a number on you in there. Why didn’t you fight back? You do remember super human strength right?”

“Yeah but in there you get in one fight and you’re pegged, the fighting never stops and I just wanted to do my time. It’s wicked hard to lay low.”

Faith felt a sharp burn on her back. “Damn B ease up.” “I’m not pushing hard this cut should have had stitches.

“Slayer healing, I don’t need stitches.” Buffy frowned at Faith.

“That doesn’t mean anything Faith. You cant always rely on…”

“I know.” Faith turned to face her counter part. “I know B. please don’t lecture me again. You don’t have to worry. I am more careful now and besides I have you to watch my back.”

“Well I do kick major ass.” Faith winced again but not from the pain.

“Buffy I cant.”

“Cant what?

“Be this close, your hands.”

“Are they cold?” Faith looked at her stupidly. Buffy glanced at her hand, which was resting on Faith’s breast.

“Oh! God! I am so sorry!”

“Buff? Who you talking to?” Xander asked, entering the front door.

“Oh god I’m having that dream again!” he rubbed his eyes dramatically. Faith threw on her shirt and Buffy jumped off her seat.

“What are you doing here?” She ordered.

“I think the better question is what is Faith doing here, topless I might add.” Buffy shifted awkwardly.

“Xand can I talk to you in the kitchen for a minute?” Xander followed her.

“She showed up last night to get some help.”
“Then where did the whole Faith being half naked come into play?”

“I was applying some medication.”

“Alrighty, well I’ll just leave you two be.”

“Ah, there is something else that I think would be easier to get off my chest. Faith and I… I mean we… well you see… Xander I think Faith and I are kinda… you know… together.” The man’s mouth dropped.

“This is that dream!”

“No it’s not. You know if you think about it, it really makes sense. My endless string of bad relationships and I’ve always felt closer that normal with Faith and man that body… hey you didn’t care when Willow was gay!” Buffy pouted slightly. Faith joined her side.

“B if this is gonna cause problems…”

“No it’s not.” Xander reassured her. “It’s just new and exciting, let me emphasize exciting.”

“You’re drooling.” Faith grinned.

“Sorry.”

“I’m not going to tell Dawn right away. She’s still kinda wigged that Faith is here in the first place.

“No prob.” Xander said. “Thanks bro.” Faith playfully punched him in the arms. “I’m beat B. I’m gonna go crash.”

“Ok, keep my side warm for me.” Buffy kissed Faith softly before she hopped up the stairs.

“So this is for real?” Xander asked.

“Yep, in the flesh. Xander pondered for a moment.

“That’s cool… If you don’t mind I’m gonna go home and…”

“If you finish that sentence you wont be able to.”

“Ok, then I’m just gonna go.”

“Good call.” Buffy locked the door behind him and headed up the stairs

“Hey you.” She said plopping down next to Faith. Faith pulled Buffy down to her and buried her face in Buffy’s hair. The scent of fresh apples and a strong floral aroma filled her nose. “I’ve never done this.” Faith mused.

“Done what?”

“Cuddled.” Faith said placing her hands on top of Buffy’s

“I’ve never enjoyed it this much.” Buffy offered, snuggling impossibly closer to Faith.

The room soon fell quiet. Buffy listened until she heard Faith begin to breathe softly, signaling that she was asleep.