Chicago Loop

I flew down the stairs quickly, knowing there was no time to lose. God only knows what big-bad had hold on my B. I grabbed my jacket, no time to get changed, my mind set on one quest. The smell of pancakes and bacon wafting from the kitchen, despite the fact I was so freaking starved, didn't stop me.

"Good morning, Faith,"

"B, I ain't got time to talk. I gotta…" I stopped dead in my tracks, and dropped the jacket. She gave me a big cheesy grin, and munched on a slice of bacon.

"Surprise…I actually cooked and did it well." She stood there proudly. "Hey…what did Willow say to you to get you down here so fast? I could use ammunition like that when we go out on patrol…seeing as how lately your mind is in la-la land."

I glanced over my shoulder to see Willow hopping down the stairs, beaming proudly. "It was really easy, Buffy. All…All you have to do is…" I rushed to Willow's side.

"Red, you and I need to talk…NOW!" I took hold of her arm and dragged her back upstairs, seeing B shrug her shoulders without giving my actions two seconds of attention.

"Ow…ow…ow…OW! HEY! That…that hurts!" Willow grabbed her arm as I let go, wincing in pain. "Wh-what the hell is this all about? Buffy wanted me to get you downstairs quickly, a-and I did. And now, I can't tell her how I woke you up? Have you gone all psycho-crazy on us again?"

I shook my head. "No, Red. For the first time, I'm seeing clearly. God, I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you, but you know B better than me." I sat at the edge of the bed, rubbing my temples. "Um…has she been having…dreams…involving me?" I looked up to see Willow hanging her head sullenly. "Red?"

Willow gulped a little air, and nodded. "I'm sorry, Faith. I-it's true. And she's not too happy with the idea either."

I felt my heart drop into my stomach, breaking into a million pieces. I didn't want to believe that B, of all people, the one who is always preaching acceptance and love and all this hippy shit is actually not pleased that she could be loved? Ok, ok, I can't blame her for not really wanting to accept that someone who had tried to kill her actually does give a damn, but, hey. I got emotions too. I felt my jaw clench in defense to what Willow had just told me, and took a deep breath.

"I see. Um…can you tell B that I just wanted to get changed. I'll be down in a minute." Willow nodded and left, closing the door behind her. Sighing, I took a good look around, thinking. Yeah, it's been nice staying here with them. But I can't do this anymore. I set myself up for heartbreak. Again. Fuck….

**********Buffy's POV**********

I waited for Faith to come back down for breakfast. I spent a good part of the morning burning the batter and not cooking the bacon long enough before finally perfecting the lost art of the pancake/bacon breakfast for her not to enjoy it. I felt a little guilty, not telling her about the dreams I've been having. I just can't bring myself to tell Faith that she's…

I saw Willow coming down the stairs with a guilt-ridden face. I knew she must have said something. "Will, what's wrong?" I munched on another piece of bacon.

"Buffy…she-she knows about the dreams. I think she's been having them too. She said she'll be down in a minute and she's getting dressed." Willow hung her head.

"Willow…what did you tell Faith to get her down here so fast." I asked again.

"I told her you were missing. I think she…she likes you." Willow looked up at me, a glimpse of jealously and sadness in her eyes.

I pursed my lips together, my chest filling with hope. In a soft voice, I replied "I hope so," Brushing the hair out of my eyes, I gave Willow a look. "Go check on Faith…you know I can't have her running away. Not until Giles figures these dreams out."

Willow nodded and started for the stairs. "You know, Buffy, I'll support you in anything you do. And…I'll support you with who you chose to…date…but…why Faith?"

"Because…because I believe she's wholly good in most of her actions. And yes, you don't have to remind me that she's tried to kill us all…but I know she can love, and I don't want to make this a conquest, because it's just going to turn sour if she can't love me back."

I turned to get silverware for our breakfast while Willow headed up the stairs, mumbling, "She always loves the broody, moody, dark, evil types…why can't she just…"

I looked at the ceiling, and hollered, "I HEARD THAT, WILL!" Sighing, I continued getting prepared for our meal. I'm hoping that afterwards, I can get Faith to come with me to Giles's peacefully so we can keep her here, keep her from getting…

My dreams have been becoming all too frequent lately when it came to the matter of Faith. We're in some unfamiliar town, over in one of the Eastern states, (I think Giles said it sounded a lot like New Hampshire or Massachusetts, but he wasn't sure), and there's these two girls…one that lives in the area, and the other had been traveling with Faith and I halfway across the states, and there's a jealous rage between the four of us, for what matter, I have no clue. I guess the battle stirs up some nasty big-bad and it…doesn't end very well with Faith. So, my brilliant plan is to keep Faith here as long as we can until we can all figure out who these girls are and what kind of demon was conjured.

This brings me to another demon I have to battle…when do I tell her? Confess my undying love to her, that every time she runs, every time she disappears, it breaks my heart a little more with each footstep she takes away from me. Even when we were enemies, I still felt the flutter, my heart betraying me, loving someone that was dripping with evil intentions. Secretly, though, I think neither of us wanted to ever kill each other. It was almost symbolic, to destroy the ones we love because we can't have them. Ok, so I'm a sick, sick puppy. The only one who even knows of my true Faith emotions is Willow, and ever since the…tragedy, she seems to have taken quite the sabbatical, in which I mean I've caught her staring at my ass and waiting for my emotions to come around.

I placed the three plates on the table and flopped in my chair, sipping coffee wistfully, wondering how and when I'm going to declare that Faith is my world. I mean, I hope this entire endeavor is kinda like being with a guy. Well, without the whole penis thing.

Willow came scrambling down the stairs, shocked. "Buffy! Faith is missing! She-she left out the bedroom window!" Her face was flushed and she was panting.

I giggled. "Look, just because it worked on Faith doesn't mean that I'm that stupid."

Willow gave me a concerned look. "Buffy…I-I'm serious"

I laughed harder, and that's when she grasped my arm and dragged me upstairs, pointed to the room, and I peered in. "Oh. Great…I'm sorry I didn't believe you, Wills." I looked around, taking inventory of what she might have taken…nothing spectacular…just her wallet, her clothes…MY LEATHER JACKET!!!!

I paced, thinking. "Where the hell would she go?"

Willow sighed, dejectedly. "Maybe we should go talk to Giles. He-he might know where she could be heading."

I nodded, sighing. "She didn't have much money, so I'm pretty sure that she won't get anywhere fast. Let's get to Giles."