Fate

The door to the Summers' home swung open and the blonde stepped over the threshold. She sighed as she slipped the jacket from her shoulders and placed it on the peg. Casting a quick glance towards the kitchen, she noticed the familiar note sitting on the island counter.

“Another night, another show,” Buffy whispered to herself as she walked into the kitchen and picked up the note.

~~~Buffy,

We had a last minute show in San Diego. Won't be home for a few days. There's some money in the drawer by the fridge. Be safe.

Love,
Mom~~~

“San Diego? Hmm,” Buffy nodded as she rumpled the paper and threw it into the trash. Opening the fridge, she pulled out the milk carton and turned it up to her lips to take a long drink. Once she had her fill, she replaced the carton and turned to head up the stairs, clicking off the light on her way.

***

“So...” Willow's brow arched slightly as she watched the impossible feat in front of her unfold. “You gonna eat all...that?”

Kennedy looked up through a mouthful of burger. “Whaf?”

“Oh, nothing,” the witch replied, grimacing. “Just...asking.”

The slayer swallowed the bite and reached for her milk, downing half the glass in one gulp. “I get a killer case of the hungries after a good slay, alright?”

Willow peered at the brunette over the rim of her glass. “Hmm.”

“What?” Kennedy said, slumping back in the booth. She reached out and popped a handful of fries into her mouth. “So I got a healty appetite.”

“Apparently, it's not only for food.” Willow felt the words slip past her lips before she could catch herself. Her eyes suddenly widened and she stuttered to correct herself. “I...what I mean...I was just...I-I mean...”

“Red?” Kennedy interrupted with a grin. “Chill. It's cool.”

“I-I'm sorry,” Willow said with a deep blush. “I didn't mean to make it sound like you were...are...” Willow paused, her eyes going wide. “NOT that you are! I mean, y-you're not...”

Kennedy reached across the table and placed a calloused hand on the soft skin of the witch's. “Willow, calm down. It's okay. I mean, it's not like I haven't heard it before.”

Willow's eyes fell to their hands and Kennedy quickly retracted her own. Clearing her throat, she popped a few more fries in her mouth and looked away.

“You called me Willow.”

The slayer's head jerked back, her eyes landing on the witch's. “That's your name, ain't it?”

“Yeah,” the redhead nodded meekly. “But that's the first time you've said it since...”

Both women averted their eyes. Then tension of the moment hanging in the air above them like a looming black cloud.

“These are really good fries,” Kennedy said, finally breaking the silence. “You should try 'em.” She pushed the plate towards the redhead as she popped a few more into her mouth.

Willow reached out slowly and lifted a single fry before placing it in her mouth.

***

Buffy turned out the bathroom light and headed for her beadroom. Her wet hair hung loosely around her head as she carried her torn jeans and dirty shirt into her room. She pushed the door shut softly behind her and threw the clothes onto a chair.

The slayer let out a deep sigh as she turned to pick up her brush from her dresser. She gazed up at her reflection in the mirror as she slowly began to brush her hair.

“You shouldn't leave this open.”

The sudden intrusion of her silence caused the slayer to sling the brush into the air before it came crashing down on top of the dresser. She swiftly turned to face the source of her sudden fright.

“Anyone could just climb right in,” Faith smiled from her place just outside the blonde's bedroom window.

“You stalking me now?” Buffy asked annoyed as she turned back to face her mirror. She looked up to see only the reflection of herself and the window staring back at her.

“You can look all night,” Faith sighed, eyeing the blank reflection across the room. “I won't be there. Believe me, I know.”

Buffy remained quiet as she very slowly ran the brush through her hair.

“Funny thing,” Faith smiled slightly. “Some nights, I just...stand there and stare into it like I'm gonna scare it into showing up. Big bad scary vamp that I am.” The vampire shook her head. “Not like I got anything else better to do. There's only so much you can put in a mansion before...”

“Mansion?” Buffy repeated incredulously. “You live in a...mansion?”

“Speaking strictly technical here,” Faith started, but was cut off as the slayer turned and stared her down. “Okay, it's a mansion, but it wasn't my choice. It's the best I could find on short notice.”

“But...” Buffy started, but abruptly changed her train of thought. “Okay, I refuse to have any type of conversation with you as long as you're hanging from my windowsill.”

Faith looked up at Buffy with a painful expression. “I...I mean, I can't...”

“Oh, right,” Buffy turned to place her brush back on the dresser before walking over to the window. She looked deep in thought for a moment. “This is that thing where you're a vampire and I'm the inhabitant so I have to invite you in before you can actually...come in, right?”

“Yeah, that's the one,” Faith answered.

“Right, I knew that,” Buffy sighed. “So...do I just...?” she asked, motioning towards herself. The brunette just nodded quietly.

“Come in, Faith.”

The vampire eyed the windowsill warily before slowly placing one foot and then the other into the room.

“Whew,” she sighed. “Glad that's over.”

“So, what actually happens if you try to come in without an invite?” Buffy asked curiously.

“Well,” Faith started, running her eyes over the edges of the window. “There's lots of screaming, and blood, and then something with a puppy...”

Buffy's eyes widened and Faith looked down at her with a half-smile. “I'm kidding. I don't actually know what happens, but I'm sure it involves two out of the three.”

The slayer sighed, and cracked a slight smile of her own. “You're really not like other vampires, are you?” The blonde turned and took a seat on the edge of her bed. She peered up at the vampire through hazel eyes as she pulled the stuffed pig into her lap.

Faith gazed down into the stare locked in on her. If she had one, her heartbeat would have stopped in that instant.

“I mean,” Buffy continued without interruption. “You're surprsingly well dressed,” she added, eyeing Faith's attire, “you don't smell...dead, and you have yourself that flashy and always charming sense of humor.” The slayer played with the pig's ears as she stared up at the vampire. “Can't really say I've ever dusted a vamp that had any of the above.”

“Yeah, well,” Faith stuttered, clearing her throat. “I...I read a lot of Cosmo.”

Buffy laughed and Faith smiled.

After the laughter died down, both women found themselves locked in a passionate stare. “You have a nice smile, too,” Buffy finally whsipered, breaking the moment.

A look of anguish passed over Faith's face and she averted her eyes. “No, I don't.”

“Yeah, ya do.”

“Would you just...stop saying that?” Faith asked, but kept her head turned away from the slayer. “If you only knew...you wouldn't say such things.”

Buffy's brow furrowed and she placed the pig on the bed beside her. “If...I only knew what?” When she receieved no answer, she slowly stood and made her way across the room to stand in front of the other woman.

“Faith?”

The vampire's head quickly snapped around to reveal lifeless yellow eyes, a rigged forehead and large canines.

“Still think I have a nice smile?”

Buffy jumped back, slightly startled at the abrupt change in the other woman's appearance, but she quickly recovered and stood her ground.

“Faith, you're not...” Buffy began as she reached up and placed a hand on the vampire's shoulder. Faith jerked away in pain and her features returned to normal.

The blonde's brow furrowed as she looked from the vampire's face to her shoulder and back again. “Faith, what's wr...” The words died in her throat when she pulled her hand away to see her fingers coated in blood.

Buffy's gaze lingered on the crimson liquid before shooting up to meet the vampire's. “Faith? What happened?”

The brunette looked away and sighed. “I ran into some not not so friendly friends of yours on the way out of the graveyard. Guess it musta slipped my mind that souless demon's don't exactly go for the 'redemption' kick.”

Buffy was busy concentrating on the gash on the vampire's right shoulder. “Yeah, they're not too keen on...” The blonde stopped and looked up into deep brown eyes. “Did you say souless? As opposed to what?”

Faith just averted her eyes once again.

“Souled?” Buffy whispered, realization finally setting in.

The vampire's tortured gaze met the slayer's and she sighed. “It's...complicated.”

“Complicated?” Buffy repeated. “You have a soul. You're a vampire with a soul. I don't think 'complicated' is even in the ball park here.” Buffy shrugged before adding, “'S not even a synonym.”

Faith looked sharply and Buffy sighed in annoyance. “I may be blonde, but I'm not a retard. I do know a few big words.”

“That's not what I...I mean, I...” Faith gave up and just sighed.

Buffy decided to let it go and turned her attention back to the gash in Faith's shoulder. “We should get this patched up. I know you're 'undead' and everything, but I also know you're not impervious to pain.”

Faith smiled. “That's two in the same night. I'm impressed.”

Buffy couldn't fight the smile as it creeped across her lips. She tugged on Faith's arm to lead her towards the bed. “Yeah well, I'm an impressive gal.” She motioned for Faith to take a seat and the vampire reluctantly complied.

“There's a first aid kit in the bathroom. I'll go get it while you...” Buffy trailed off, and a light blush tinted the tips of her ears. “I'll need to get to the cut, so...you should probably...” She trailed off once again and motioned to the vampire's duster. “Yeah.”

The blonde turned and quickly left the room.

Faith sighed and grimaced as she reached up to pull the heavy coat from her shoulders. With a limited amount of struggle, she managed to get the garment down her arms and laid it back against the bed. She had just reached up to start on the buttons of her shirt when the blonde walked back in.

“We don't have anymore of that salve stuff, but it's probably better anyway because it smells like ass...” Buffy looked up to catch a glimpse of toned abs and faded scars. “...phalt.”

Faith looked up at the slayer as she opened the last button of her shirt. The material hung down loosely from her shoulders as she waited for the blonde's next move. “I thought...I mean, I just figured it would be easier without the...shirt.”

“What?” Buffy asked, still in a daze. “Oh, yeah, yeah. O-of course,” she added in quick recovery. “Easier's always...easier.” She smiled nervously as she walked over to stand behind and off to the side of the vampire.

Buffy lost all conscious thought when she watched the white shirt flutter and then fall completely from the vampire's body.

The room was deathly quiet as Faith waited. “Buffy?”

The sound of the vampire's husky voice caused the slayer to jump. “Huh? I mean, yeah. The bandage.” She placed the kit on the bed and rummaged around until she found some clean gauze and tape. She looked up at the nasty gash running along the back of Faith's shoulder and wordlessly went to work on the bandage.

Buffy's eyes flickered up momentarily and she caught sight of something on the vampire's right upper arm. “Is that...a tattoo?”

Faith turned her eyes to her arm and lifted it slightly. “Yeah. I got it a few years ago in Haiti. This old medicine man picked it out.”

“Did he know you were a...y'know?”

“Yes,” Faith answered instantly. “He never said, but he knew. I'm not even sure what it means or even what it is, but I just know that I like it.”

Buffy smiled. “I like it too. It's se...” Her eyes widened and she stumbled to correct herself. “...cond to none!” The blonde tried in a vain attempt to save her nearly tragic slip. She closed her eyes and let out a breath.

Faith just smiled. “Thanks.”

Buffy shook her head and mumbled to herself as she placed the last piece of tape on the bandage. “There ya go. All set.”

Faith glanced at the blonde over her shoulder. “Thank you. Feels better already,” she added as she pulled the shirt back over her shoulders and started to re-button it.

“Hey,” Buffy smiled nervously, “anytime you want to come over and...bleed on my things, you go right ahead.” Her eyes slid shut and she cursed under her breath.

The vampire pulled the duster back on and slowly stood. “Thanks, I'll do that,” she replied with a smile. Her eyes lingered on the blonde a moment longer before she forced herself to look away. “I should go. I just wanted to stop by to ask you to come by tomorrow. I have some things I need to discuss with you.”

“Sure,” Buffy nodded. “I have to go by the Magic Box for some slayer stuff with Giles, but after that...I'm all yours.”

“Great,” Faith smiled and reached into her coat pocket. She produced a small slip of paper and handed it to the slayer. “Just let yourself in. I would be the courteous host and answer the door, but I'm not really keen on the whole 'bursting into flames'.”

“Right,” Buffy smiled as she reached up to take the paper. “Don't blame you.”

Faith allowed herself one last lingering look, catching the slayer's eyes in a dead stare as their fingers brushed in the passing.

Buffy felt herself unconsciously leaning forward towards the vampire. Her head screamed to pull away, but her heart screamed louder.

Just as their lips were about to meet, Faith suddenly pulled back, looking slightly panicked. “I should go,” she whispered again.

In a flash she was out the window and into the night.

Buffy remained frozen in place, clutching the first aid kit in one hand and the folded slip of paper in the other. She finally managed to cast a glance over at the window to see the curtains blowing in the breeze.

“Bye.”

***

Willow moaned as her head slammed back into the hard wood of the motel door. She moaned again when she felt a strong, calloused hand slide up the outside of her thigh.

Breaking away from the kiss, the redhead pulled back just enough to stare into the slayer's eyes.

“Kennedy,” she panted, “maybe we shouldn't.”

“Why not?” the slayer breathed, staring deeply into the witch's eyes. “Don't you wanna?”

“Y-yes, I do,” the redhead answered shakily. “But, after what happened last time...”

“Shh, no more thinking,” Kennedy interrupted with a light kiss. “Just kissing.”

The slayer followed up the command with a heated kiss and it didn't take long for the witch to give in and allow herself to be taken.