Complement

XVII – This Twilight Garden

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She stood waiting in the hallway for the class to let out. She was sad, funny she never thought she would be sad about not going to school. But having to drop out of school this semester just brought back to her the grief, fresh and painful of her Mom's death.

She and Faith had their first real fight this morning about her dropping out of school. Buffy sighed; the day had started out so nicely, fantastic actually. First, with her waking up Faith, then later as Dawn for the first time had joined them to watch the sunrise. Buffy pulled herself away from all the painful memories as the students filed out of the classroom. She entered the class and saw Professor Lillian trying to get a jammed slide cartridge out of the projector.

"Um, Professor Lillian?"

"Sitting in the back today, Buffy?" He asked as he looked up at her.

"No. I'm sorry I missed the lecture... Was it good? I mean, I'm sure it was..." Buffy felt a little embarrassed and dropped her eyes from him and looked at the projector instead. "Want me to try?" She asked him a little hesitantly.

"Thanks. The cartridge is struck."

A minute ticked by as Buffy fiddled with the projectohe the took deep breaths, and tried to push down her reeling emotions.

"I actually just came by to tell you that I have to drop this class. All my classes. I'm not finishing the semester." Her voice was sad and she was unable to hide the emotion or keep it from showing on her face. "I'm sorry. I wish... but I can't be in school now. I've got to take care of my sister."

"I thought you might... I was sorry to hear of your loss." He returned her smile with a sad one of his own. He knew how she felt; he had lost loved ones too.

Buffy absently nodded her thanks to him. She continued to fiddle with the projector a second or two longer and then stopped.

"Um, so I have these forms from the Registrar's office that I need you to sign..." She took the form out of her bag and handed it to him, her hand trembling slightly. She waited for him to sign it.

"Seems like they're trying to make it harder to get out of college than to get in," he said as he handed the form back to her.

"Thanks."

He looked quizzically at her, thinking she looked a little lost. She was a little lost. She looked back at him, still not leaving.

"Is there something else?" His voice was soft, gentle, soothing.

"Oh no... Yes... Actually, yeah. I wanted to tell you how much I loved this class. It's like, in the middle of all this, I'm paranoid that you'll think I don't like poetry."

Buffy began to try to free the jammed slide cartridge again as she rambled...
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Ben was running down the hallway of the hospital towards another doctor. Trying to smooth his rumpled hair, he looked like he had just crawled out of bed; his clothes even more rumpled than his hair.

"Benjamin, this is a pleasant surprise."

"I'm sorry I'm late," he said hurriedly.

"You're not late."

Ben looked at his watch and looked back up at the doctor who was practically smirking at him.

"But sir..."

"You can't be late to a job you don't have. Interestingly enough, I've decided to give your job to someone who'd actually do it." The doctor was now openly smirking; his voice and stance were ironic. "Honest to God Ben, I've been calling you for two weeks. Where the hell have you been? I didn't want to...I'm sorry to fire you, but I need someone I can count on."

'Two weeks? I've been gone two weeks?' He was confused.

"I haven't been here..." Ben was stunned, as the reality of the situation started to dawn on him. That fucking bitch he thought silently. "I haven't been here in two weeks. There's an explanation for this... Which I can't exactly give you. I... can I just tell you it's not my fault?"

"Sure. You can also tell me that the dog ate your homework; or maybe eating Twinkies made you do it; or maybe, yeah, that there's a really wicked demonic creature living inside you that takes control of your body and forces you to do its bidding." The doctor paused in his sarcastic retort. His voice got hard, "Take responsibility for your actions, Ben..."

Ben was furious, he was going to find a way to kill her, he swore silently to himself. The doctor kept talking at him, he vaguely heard himself replying, but it was a blur, his mind too consumed by thoughts of killing Glory. The doctor was asking him for his ID badge. He took off his badge and stared at it for a moment, it was the one thing that had given him some identity of his own separate from Glory, he tossed it at the doctor, saying bitterly; "Take it. It's worthless anyway."

Ben wandered aimlessly around the hospital for a little while. He was furious, beyond furious; he entered the locker room, a heavy sigh escaping him. He opened his locker, started shoveling his belongings into his duffel bag muttering in anger under his breath, emotionally he was a mess.

"This is so unfair. You're taking everything away from me. Everything that I worked for. I earned. I care about. These are my choices. This is my life, and you're ruining it." He stopped his ranting, putting his hand over his stomach. He felt it, he felt her, the panic started rising up in him, the anger draining away to be replaced by terror.

"No...no...not here...not now. Please." He pleaded to no one, covering his face with his hands. He began to chant his name like it was a mantra.

"I'm Ben. I'm Ben. I'm Ben. I'm Ben. I'm Ben!"

He smashed his fist against the locker door as if to emphasis, to prove that he really was Ben.

"I'M BEN! I'M BEN! I'M BEN!" He yelled, but he wasn't strong enough. He watched in horror as his hand started to tremble and begin to change. To morph, like a vampire morphing into game face. His fingers became thinner, like a woman's, he whimpered as the nails grew longer and suddenly there was red polish on them. They started to drum against the locker impatiently. Even though he tried to stop them, they continued. He felt the change speed up, and he began to fade...

She ran her hands down her body, then back up to smooth down her hair.

"I'm hungry," Glory told the empty locker room rather grouchily.
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"Hey Bumble Bee."

"Hey Gary," Buffy answered him as she walked towards the gate to the garden. "I was hoping I would run into you or James today."

"Really? Why? What's up?"

"We're having the gang over tonight for a little BBQ. We were hoping that you two would join us."

"Sounds great. What time? And what would you like us to bring?"

"Five is fine. And the only thing you need to bring is yourselves."

"Okay, we'll be there with bells on," Gary laughed out.

Buffy waved goodbye and walked into the garden, closing the gate softly behind her. Faith was stretched out on a lounge chair on her stomach, in nothing but a bikini thong, she was, Buffy saw, sound asleep. Her body slick with tanning oil and Buffy knew the only reason she even had a thong on was because Faith didn't think it would be a good idea for Dawn to catch her sunbathing in the nude. She walked over to Faith and stood beside her, looking down at her.

Having to drop out of school today just made the reality that her Mom was really gone even harder to bare. In a way, she felt guilty, like she hadn't grieved enough, guilty that she had found love so soon after her Mom's death. As if her dying hadn't meant anything, as if it were nothing, guilty that she could move on so easily. It was probably why she had been so harsh with Faith this morning. Buffy heard their argument again in her head...
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"You don't have to drop out this semester B."

"Yes I do Faith. I need to be here for Dawn. I need to take care of her."

"I know that, but I can help. I can watch out for her when you're not here."

"It's not the same thing," Buffy wasn't even sure what the hell she was talking about.

"I know that. I realize I'm not her sister. But I love Dawn like she were my own sister. You can trust me to take care of her."

Buffy got mad in that second, she wasn't sure why, but it didn't stop her from feeling that way.

"How the hell would you know how to take care of her Faith? I don't even know what I'm doing. So how the hell could I trust you to do the right thing? Huh Faith?" She saw the hurt in Faith's eyes and instantly regretted what she said. She knew Faith was reading too much into her words, knew Faith thought she was referring to the past when she mentioned trust. Shit! That wasn't what she meant at all, she was taking her own insecurities about taking care of Dawn and projecting them onto Faith. Christ, she was scared, confused, and feeling way out of her league. Why didn't Faith know that? Why wasn't she feeling that?

Faith felt it all, got those goddamn fucking echoes and totally misinterpreted them.

"I love Dawn, Buffy. I would never do anything to hurt her." Faith said sadly.

Again, the anger came over Buffy and she didn't know why. Faith looked like she had been slapped, and Buffy knew she felt the anger coming from her.

"Faith... That's not what I..."

"That's exactly what you mean B. Fuck it. I wouldn't trust her with me either. Forget it... I thought I could help... Thought I was part of the family... Stupid me... " Faith's voice held no anger, it sounded almost defeated, resigned.

Buffy took a step towards Faith, her anger leaving instantly, but Faith moved away from her.

"I gotta go Giles is waiting for me." Faith turned and started walking towards the door.

"Faith! Wait! We need to talk about this...." Faith ignored her and kept walking, and Buffy let her. "Fuc"Fuck it; with the childhood I had I'd probably do more damage then good anyway." Faith mumbled before she slammed the door closed behind her.

Buffy had to strain to hear that last part even with her Slayer hearing.
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Buffy blinked her eyes rapidly, hearing those last words of Faith's echoing in her head, and her eyes traveled down the length of Faith's back stopping at the crisscross of scars that were right above her buttocks, and the few that traveled down further. They were faded, old, and thin, scars Faith had gotten long before she had been called. Scars that were almost nonexistent, Faith's Slayer healing having faded them more then they normally would. But even her Slayer healing couldn't make them go completely away. Buffy might not have even noticed them at all if iren\ren't for being a Slayer herself.

And the scars on her back weren't the only old scars Faith had either.

There was one that looked like a cigarette burn high up on the underside of her arm by her armpit. There were other lighter scars around Faith's left shoulder blade, more on her thighs, even a few on the backs of her calves. And two that made Buffy quiver at the thought of the pain they must have caused Faith. She had not seen them until the day she and Faith had made love outside in the bright afternoon sun. They were high up on the inside of her right thigh, lighter then the others, older, more faded. At first Buffy didn't know what they were, and then she felt the horror come over her when she realized they were two sets of bite marks. In that second of realization Buffy felt a red-hot hatred a hundred times worse then what she had felt when she had first seen the other scars. The hatred was directed solely at whoever had made those marks on Faith. She had and still wanted to rip that person to pieces with her bare hands, wanted to make them suffer long and painfully for what they had done to Faith.

It was the scars on Faith's lower back that she had noticed first, she had almost missed them they were so light, thin, and faded. She had started to trace along them with her fingers, trying to soothe away whatever pain was associated with them, knowing instinctively that Faith had not gotten them from anything Slayer related. Faith had instantly stiffened under her gentle fingers, and Buffy had been hit with one of the echoes so hard it made her gasp. The terror, the pain and the shame coming from Faith, had made her feel dizzy. She had quickly moved her fingers away from the spot, and scooted up to pull Faith into her arms.

"Faith?" She had questioned softly.

"I can't... Please... I can't..."

"Sssh. It's okay... It's okay baby... You don't have to..."

She had held Faith until she stopped trembling and drifted off into sleep.

When she was sure that Faith was sleeping, she had let go the tears she had been holding back. Tears for the pain, the hurt, the abuse that had been inflicted on Faith. Tears for the shame, the pain, the hurt, the fear that Faith still felt because of what had been done to her. Tears for the scars that she could not see with her eyes, that she knew were permanently etched upon Faith's soul. She had never tried to push Faith into talking about them, talking about what had been done to her. She just hoped someday, with time, as Faith learned to trust her more and more that she would come to her. Tell her what had happened, so together they could help her heal; help her finally lay those demons to rest.

Buffy blinked her eyes rapidly again coming out of the memory. She smiled softly at the sleeping beauty that owned her heart and soul. She sat down next to her, and gently ran her hand over her back.

"Faith..." Buffy said softly.

"B?" Faith said sleepily. She sat up rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She grabbed the T-shirt by the chair and pulled it over her head.

Faith looked like she had been crying.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean it this morning. I didn't mean it to sound how it sounded. I do trust you Faith. I know you would never do anything to hurt Dawn. I'm just confused. I'm scared. I don't know what I'm doing. I miss Mom. I'm afraid of screwing up Dawn's life, afraid of making mistakes. It all feels so out of my control. I know how to be a Slayer, a sister, a friend, but I haven't any idea how to be a parent and I'm scared and I took it out on you. I got angry and I don't know why. I know that you love Dawn..." As she said those last three words to Faith, it became clear to her why she got angry.

She had gotten angry because Faith had no problem telling her that she loved Dawn, or saying it to Dawn for that matter. Faith could say it to Angel, but she couldn't say it her. It wasn't that Buffy doubted that Faith loved her, was in love with her, because she believed that with every part of soul. It was that she needed to hear it sometimes, she needed to hear it this morning, when she was fee so so insecure, feeling so alone. She needed to know that someone loved her no matter what, and it wasn't until now that Buffy realized how much she wanted, needed to hear those words from Faith. But she wouldn't push her, knowing it was true was just going to have to be enough. Because after what happened when Buffy hirstirst discovered the scars, she was now more then ever convinced that those words had been used to hurt and punish Faith. She would just have to keep trying to show her with her actions the real meaning of those three words.

"I was afraid you wouldn't come back B." Faith's voice was so soft, Buffy almost didn't hear her.

Buffy gathered Faith into her arms, stroking her hair, holding her tight to her.

"Not come back? How could I not come back? It was just a fight; you had to know that with both our tempers that sooner or later we would have one. Hell, we'll probably have a lot of them. Stubborn as we are, both of us always thinking we are right. But not coming back never entered my mind. Just like it never entered my mind that you wouldn't be here when I got back. Don't you know by now that I want to spend the rest of my life with you and if there is an after life I want to spend that with you too?" Buffy pulled back a little so she could look into Faith's eyes. "Just so there is never any misunderstanding again. Just because we fight, or because I get angry, don't ever think I won't come back. I will always come back. I want to spend the rest of my life with you Faith. I can't imagine even having a life without you in it."

Faith let out a sigh, "I'm new at this relationship stuff. I'm use to people just leaving. It's been that way my whole life. I'm sorry. I let my old insecurities get the best of me. I was too busy jumping to conclusions to listen to you, to understand what you were going through. I'm sorry and I'll try not to do it again... And B... I couldn't imagine a life without you in it either."

Buffy smiled at Faith, and was rewarded with a smile in return, a smile so bright it was almost blinding.

"That's good F. You know why?" Faith just shook her head no at Buffy. "Cause I wasn't gonna give you a choice. You're stuck with me whether you like it or not."

"That's okay. Cause ya know what B?" This time Buffy shook her head no at Faith. "Being stuck with you, I like it. I like it a lot."

"Good! Here something else new about this relationship stuff." Buffy started as she stood drawing Faith up from the lounge chair and leading her towards the house. "After a fight comes the fun part."

"The fun part?"

"After the fight comes the making up. Something which I can't wait to teach you."

Faith felt a shudder of desire go right through her at the husky sound of Buffy's voice. She couldn't wait for Buffy to teach her about the making up part either.
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"Thinkin' I like this making up stuff a lot B." Faith rose from the bed stretching her lean body, she laughed when she saw the gleam return to Buffy's sleepy eyes.

Buffy sat up, reached out, pulling Faith to her, lifting her, so that Faith was facing her, straddling her thighs.

"Wasn't quite finished making up yet." She murmured in Faith's ear, her tongue snaking out to trace along the outer shell. Buffy smiled against Faith's neck as she slid her mouth down and felt a shudder of desire go through Faith.

"Hmmm. I think we already made up six or seven times so far B." Faith moaned out as Buffy leaned her back and captured one of her les les between her teeth.

Buffy sat back up abruptly grinning at Faith, she shrugged her shoulders, "Well... I suppose you're right. I mean I understand if you're not up for anymore making up... You youngins just don't have any stamina... Maybe I should ask Giles to start your stamina training again."

By the time Buffy had finished speaking Faith had pushed her gently, but firmly, back until she was lying on the bed.

Faith leaned down, and brought her mouth down on Buffy's, she whispered softly against Buffy's lips, before her tongue sought entrance. "Didn't say I didn't wanna keep making up B. Just said we already did a few times. We'll see who needs stamina training before we're finished making up."

Buffy flipped them over so that she was on top. She broke off the kiss and sat up straddling Faith's hips. She ran her hands down the column of Faith's neck, across her shoulder blades, down over her arms to her wrists.

"Faith baby..."

"Yeah B..."

"Was that a challenge? 'Cause that sounded like a challenge to me," Buffy said sweetly, running her hands back up Faith's arms.

"What?" Faith was having a hard time concentrating with that hot little body sitting on her. Buffy was rocking herself slowly against Faith's hips. She doubted Buffy even knew she was doing it. Faith ran her hands up Buffy's thighs to her hips. Gently she encouraged her to rock more, watching through half closed eyes as Buffy arched into her touch.

"You know about who was going to need stamina training..." Buffy was giving Faith that wicked, down right fucking evil grin of hers.

'Oh No! I'm in trouble now. Oh but I like this kind of trouble! Like it a lot!' Faith thought, and then couldn't help herself, as she returned a wicked and evil grin herself.

She practically purred to Buffy, "Think you're up to the challenge B?"

"Oh I know I am F," Buffy purred back. Grabbing Faith's hands from her hips, she slowly dragged them up her own body, sliding them over her breasts.

"You... ah... sure... B?" Faith groaned out as Buffy slowly stretched her arms up and over her head. Buffy slid her body down, nudging Faith's legs apart, laying between them, bringing her heat down onto Faith's own, laying almost fully upon her. Faith couldn't help herself as she instinctively lifted her hips into Buffy's.

"P-o-s-i-t-i-v-e-l-y... a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y..." Buffy rotated her hips slowly, pressing her heat hard into Faith's, with each drawn out word. Faith groaned with each circular rotation of Buffy's heat against her. She bent her knees, opening herself further to Buffy. Deciding she liked this game, Buffy continued. "O-n-e... h-u-n-d-r-e-d... p-e-r-c-t...t... u-p... f-o-r... i-t... F-a-i-t-h..."

She continued to smile down at Faith, locking their eyes. She kept up the slow circular motion of her hips, sliding against Faith, hot skin against hot skin, breasts brushing against breasts, wet heat on wet heat, sliding easier with each circular motion as their bodies became slippery with sweat. Faith was rising up to greet her giving back as good as she got, struggling a little to get her arms free, and Buffy just pressed down harder, holding her there.

Buffy got lost in those expressive eyes. Eyes that were staring back at her with so much love, that it made her breath catch. She got so caught up in what she was feeling coming to her from Faith, that she stopped moving. She slid her hands back down Faith's arms, rising up slightly to rest on her elbows.

"What B? Giving up so soon?" Faith smirked.

The smirked died on Faith's face when she saw how Buffy was looking at her, and her breath caught in return. Faith lifted her hand and lightly caressed the side of Buffy's face; she slid her hand down Buffy's neck, over her shoulder, down her back, and brought her other arm around and pd Bud Buffy down to her, holding her tightly.

"No. Not giving up. I... just..." - 'I just want to tell you I love you Faith and not have you be afraid of that.' "I don't want to play who has more stamina... I just want to make love with you." Buffy's words wrapped around Faith like a tender caress.

Faith ran her hands up to cup Buffy's face, as Buffy leaned down towards her. She mumbled breathlessly against Buffy lips, "It's all I've ever wanted..." a second before Buffy gave her one of the most tender, gentle, loving, sensuous kisses of her life.

Faith's hands ran up behind Buffy's neck, tangling in her hair, deepening the kiss, wanting it to last forever. Her whole body was quivering, a searing heat ran through her, and she was getting the same echo from Buffy.

Buffy leaned up a little on her elbows again, not breaking the kiss, her body was trembling, flushed, and she wanted it to never end. She began to circle her hips again unhudly,dly, as if they had all the time in the world.
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It seemed like they had been moving against each other for hours. Sliding, thrusting, touching, kissing, caressing. As their hands touched, fingers explored, learning each other's curves, the silken texture of the other's skin as if for the first time. Kissing with passion, teasingly, tongues dueling, tasting skin that glistened with sweat and desire. Kissing with tenderness, with love, with lust and with desire. Hands and mouths that left no part of each other untouched, unloved, tasted, explored, or caressed. They took each other up to the peak, eased each other down, time and again, not wanting this to end. Building up each other's desire even higher. Together they gave and took, neither one fighting for dominance or control, sharing the echoes of what the other was feeling, increasing the seardesidesire that was between them, they took each other to new heights. Not seeking release, not yet, wanting to stay on the crest, to stay there forever.

"Oh... God... B..." Faith said between breaths that she couldn't seem to catch. Buffy was above her pressing, circling, rotating, her heat on her again. She was being overwhelmed with what Buffy was making her feel, overwhelmed with the feelings that Buffy was sending to her in those odd echoes.

Buffy rose up again on her elbows, knowing her arms would not support her, she gazed down at Faith locking their eyes. She moved upon Faith in the same unhurried way as what felt like only minutes, but hours at the same time. The need for release was screaming through her body, screaming through Faith's, but still thoth oth held back, building each other up higher, seeking something, neither sure what it was they wanted, needed, just knowing it was there. Buffy wasn't even sure anymore what were her own feelings, and what were Faith's, they flowed together, merging, increasing in intensity.

"Tell me..." She managed to gasp out. "Tell me what you're feeling Faith."

"Don't... know if I can..." Faith wrapped her legs around Buffy opening more to her, bringing her down harder into her. Not sure anymore where Buffy ended and she began. Moaning and rising up into Buffy as they slid against each other's wet heat.

"I can feel you......... Feel what you're feeling......... Can you feel me?" Buffy lifted her hips slightly sliding her hand down between their bodies. Moaning as her fingers delved into Faith's molten drenched center. Tremors ran through her own body as Faith let out a little scream when she touched her.

Faith's legs fell from Buffy's waist as she surged up hard against Buffy's hand, forcing the back of it into contact with Buffy's own oversensitive core, causing Buffy to scream in return.

"Can feel you......... feel it all......... not sure anymore......... what's me.........what's you......... just know you make me feel wanted........." Faith closed her eyes her whole body straining, arching up into Buffy. Her arms came around Buffy pulling her down to her rolling them over to their sides. Their legs entwined, as she slid her own hand down the length of Buffy's body, slowly sliding her fingers into her slick center. ".........you make me feel beautiful......... make me feel whole........."

Slowly they brought each other up to the edge for the last time, still not wanting this exquisite torture to end. They were both trembling, shaking, quivering with need. Faith's heart was racing, her breathing ragged, there was molten lava flowing under her skin, through every cell in her body.

"Faith......... Open you eyes......... I... need to see you......... Need to see what you're feeling......... Please......"

Faith forced her eyes open and looked into Buffy's. What she saw there was all she needed to go spiraling over the edge. The feeling was so intense, so powerful she couldn't even scream, she gasped out Buffy's name as her body arched like a tightly strung bow into Buffy's. It was frightening it was so out of her control, she almost wanted to pull back from it.

"God you're beautiful........." Buffy felt Faith's climax echo through her and she went over the edge with her. The echoes she was getting from Faith joining with her own feelings sending her higher. She was breathless from the feelings, awed by them, every part of her bathing in them.

What Buffy was feeling crashed into Faith, intensifying what she was already feeling a hundred times. It was overwhelming her, she was helpless, was scared by all she was feeling, and afraid she was going to pass out from all of it.

"B......" Buffy's arms came around her immediately, understanding without being told what was happening.

"It's okay... got you... safe... stay with me...." Buffy mumbled out, pulling Faith close, soothing her, encourage her, bringing her even higher with her.

Faith fell into those arms, feeling safe, feeling loved, and went with Buffy, tumbling, giving up her control. She let herself be swept away by Buffy, by what she was feeling, what Buffy was feeling, swept away by what they made each other feel.
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Faith lay holding Buffy, stroking her hair, pressing her head tighter to her chest, to her heart. She was still stunned, amazed, humbled, even a little scared by what had happened between them. Each time they were together it became so much more. Each time they were together a little bit of the fear she felt that this would all go away became less. Each time they were together a little more of the pain, the hurt, the fear created from her past quietly died. Each time they were together, she learned a little bit more about what love really was.

She heard Buffy's slow even breathing and thought she was asleep.

"I love you B," Faith whispered a little bit frightened into Buffy's hair while she slept. This was the only time she had the courage, was not afraid to truly express what she felt for Buffy. With all her heart she wanted to, hoped someday she could tell Buffy this while she was awake without trembling from fear, waiting for the rejection she had been conditioned to expect. Faith drifted off to sleep, her mind and body exhausted.

Buffy's soul sang with joy when she heard those whispered words. She wanted to dance, to sing, she wanted to tell Faith she loved her too. She knew though to wait, knew Faith only said it because she thought she was asleep. Buffy could wait, there was still fear in Fait voi voice, she could wait forever, but she knew she wouldn't have to.

'I love you too Faith!' Buffy thought as she drifted off and joined Faith in sleep.
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I lift my lips from kissing you ~ To kiss the sky ~ Cloud soft and blue ~ And slow the sun melts down ~ Into your golden words for me ~ I lift my hands from touching you ~ To touch the wind that whispers through ~ This twilight garden ~ Turns into a world ~ Where dreams are real ~ No-one will ever take your place ~ I am lost in you ~ No-one will ever take your place ~ So in love with you...
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Buffy rolled over and wearily opened her eyes; the first thing she saw was the time on the clock.

"Shit... Shit... Shit..." Christ! It was four o'clock! Everyone was going to be here in an hour! "Faith! Get up..."

Faith mumbled something and rolled over on her stomach, burying her head under a pillow. What the hell had she been thinking letting Faith talk her into having a BBQ on a weeknight? Thank god, they had gone shopping yesterday for everything. Buffy yanked the pillow off Faith's head and swatted her on the butt with it.

"Come on sleepy head... Everyone is gonna be here in a hour... Get up!" More mumbling came from somewhere in the sheets from the raven-haired Slayer, "This was your idea!" Buffy was treated to another mumble that sounded a lot like 'don't wanna'. "FAITH! UP! NOW!"

"I'm up. I'm up," Faith grouched, rolling over onto her back. She raised her hands over her head and stretched arching off the bed, a small groan coming from her.

Buffy watched her, hell; her eyes were glued to Faith stretching on the bed. She was so beautiful in such an unconscious way, and unbelievably Buffy felt herself become incredibly wet.

'Bad Buffy. Bad... Bad... Bad... Cold shower... Company coming...'

Buffy ran for the bathroom before she ended up jumping Faith.

She started the shower, got in and began to wash herself, groaning a little as she ran the washcloth over her breasts. Immediately her thoughts drifted to Faith and Faith's hands, her mouth, henguengue.

'Bad Buffy. Later... Jump Faith later... Later after company leaves... Later...'

She felt Faith's arms come around her waist from behind.

'Bad is good! Jump Faith now!'

She turned around and practically slammed Faith into the shower wall. "Need you! Want you! Now!" She growled out to Faith, who just gave her a wolfish smile.
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They ran down the stairs like two little kids, laughing, and giggling. When they reached the bottom, Buffy caught Faith and picked her up in her arms.

"I've got you now my pretty." Buffy said doing a bad imitation of the Wicked-Witch from the Wizard of Oz. She started twirling them around in a circle, then out the door to the garden as her mouth came down to ravish Faith's. Wanting just to carry her back upstairs, wanting more of what they just did in the shower. God she wnsatnsatiable when it came to Faith, and Buffy smiled as Faith moaned low into her mouth, her hand sliding down over Buffy's breast. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who was insatiable, Buffy stopped twirling them and deepened the kiss.

"Ah... You did say five, right?"

Buffy almost dropped Faith when James spoke. The Chosen Two turned crimson when they saw that not just Gary and James were in the garden, but the Scoobs, Giles, Dawn, and Spike, who was lurking somewhere in the shadows.

"B... You wanna put me down?"

Buffy put Faith down as Gary scooted over closer to them.

"You know, you're not supposed to be late to your own BBQ." He told the two of them.

"Late? Why didn't you just yell up and let us know you were here?" Faith looked at Buffy incredulously not believing she had just played into Gary's hands.

"We ah did come in..." He looked at Buffy, arched his eyebrow and smiled at Faith, who was trying valiantly not to smile back. "But ah... Bumble Bee you were a little busy already yelling for ah... Faith. Don't worrmes mes and I covered for you both and kept everyone outside. Although Dawn wanted to know why she couldn't go in the house," Gary whispered to the pair with a lecherous wink.

Buffy felt herself getting redder with each word. "What time is it?" She choked out.

"Five-thirty Bumble Bee
F
Faith started laughing, and Buffy turned redder. "I wouldn't laugh too hard Faith, wait until you get the water bill next month."

"Don't care B! It'll be more than worth it!"

Buffy practically ran into the house away from the amused expressions of everyone, Faith following closely behind. They gathered up everything for the BBQ and brought it out. Faith went back in and filled up a cooler with soft drinks, and beer. She heated some blood up for Spike in the microwave and put it into a new hot-thermos that they had bought for him yesterday. Faith just hoped that Gary and James wouldn't notice and ask questions. Then again, very few people ever questioned anything weird on the Hellmouth.

Buffy cooked the hamburgers and hotdogs, while Faith doled out soda and or beer to everyone. Faith helped her bring over the two platters of food and saw the look of amazement on Gary and James faces when they saw how many burgers angs Bgs Buffy had made. There was enough food to feed a small army, or at the very least, the gang and two hungry Slayers. Everyone dug in and Faith made a plate for Buffy and herself.

"It gets hot standing over that grill." Buffy said to no one in particular, while she pulled her hair back into a ponytail.

Faith took a large bite of her burger and turned towards Buffy smiling and started choking.

'Oh shit! She's gonna kill me! Shit!' Faith thought frantically when she saw the bite mark, which was turning into a bruise on the side of Buffy's neck where it met her collarbone.

"B! Hair..." Faith strangled out low, hoping no one else would notice.

"Feels cooler this way."

"No... put..." Faith tried to get out, only to be cut off by Anya. 'Shit. Should of known!'

"Buffy you have a tick...no that's not it..." Anya paused her brows furrowed as she tried to think of the right word, and before Faith could stop her, she blurted out. "A hickey! That's it! Buffy you have a hickey on your neck." She smiled proud of herself for remembering the right word. "Did you get that while you and Faith were fu..."

Xander's hand came over Anya's mouth before she could finish her question. He groaned and smiled at her while she glared back at him. Everyone else was trying to get a look at Buffy's neck.

"Wicked. Nice job Faith!" Dawn said with a smirk while Gary burst out laughing.

"Sorry B." Faith mumbled out, looking down blushing.

Buffy felt herself start to blush too. She raised her hand up to her neck, and then remembered the finger marks. Fervently she hoped that the tank she had on was hiding the finger marks on her shoulders. Faith had grabbed her shoulders to keep her right where she was and doing what she was doing. Then Faith's grip had tightened to keep herself from falling in the shower when her knees had buckled while Buffy had been... 'Bad Buffy! Company's here. Don't go there...' But her mind went there anyway. Faith's head snapped up and she looked directly at Buffy. The flush that spread over the Chosen Twos', chest, neck, and faces weren't just from embarrassment.


Faith finally got a minute alone with the two witches. They were in the kitchen washing the dishes, while Buffy remained outside entertaining the rest of the troops.

"So did you pick that up for me today?" Faith looked at the witches barely able to contain her excitement; she was bouncing from foot to foot waiting for one of them to answer her.

They just smiled at her, enjoying teasing her. Thnew new she had been impatiently waiting, hoping that the shop owner would get the gift she had special ordered, or rather, had custom made in early so that she could make sure it was perfect.

"Weeeeellll?" She gave them her best pleading face. Didn't work. "Come on guys don't tease. Did ya get it???"

"Yup."

"Where is it? Let me see! Let me see!" Faith was bouncing on her feet again, clapping her hands, like a little kid who had just been told they were going out for ice cream.

Tara got her knapsack from the other room. She pulled out a long thin box and handed it to Faith, after making sure that Buffy was still outside. Faith opened the box, and let out a soft 'Wow'. They had done a great job! She turnrounround the box and showed the two witches.

"What do you think?" Faith nibbled on her bottom lip as she waited for their reaction.

"It's beautiful... But why the st..."

"Oh! I remember now..." Willow yelled excitedly cutting Tara off.

"Red! Keep your voice down or B's gonna come in here to see why you're yelling."

"Sorry!"

Faith was back to worrying her bottom lip again. She handed the box back to Tara, and then surprised both the witches by jumping up on the counter top. She opened the cabinet door and reached up grabbing something from the top shelf. Jumping back down, she handed an envelope to Tara.

"Do you think she'll like it?"

"I think she'll love it Faith. Don't you Tara?"

"Yeah I do. What's this Faith?" Tara waved the envelope at her.

"It's a card, a letter sort of to go with the gift. I ah... got inspired the other night." Faith was blushing.

"You look so cute when you blush Faith." Willow just couldn't resist teasing.

"Funny Red. Nobody told me the whole redemption package included blushing." Faith nibbled her bottom lip a little more. "Can you guys keep the stuff until this weekend? If I keep it here she'll find it."

"Sure not a problem. Now can someone please tell me..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"That was fun, wasn't it B?"

They were standing outside in the garden looking up at the stars. Everyone had left and Dawn was upstairs sleeping already. Faith was behind Buffy, her arms wrapped around her, her chin resting on Buffy's shoulder.

"Yeah it was. It's been a long time since we all just hung out and had fun. I really like Gary and James too. Although I wish Gary would quit calling me Bumble Bee."

"I think it's kinda cute."

"You would," Buffy snorted.

Faith trailed her mouth down the side of Buffy's neck to her shoulder. She pushed aside the tank with her nose and placed soft kisses along her shoulder. She saw the finger marks on Buffy's shoulder; she straightened up, and pushed aside the tank on the other side and saw that they were there as well. She delicately ran her fingertips along them.

"I'm s... ... I don't even remember doing that... I didn't..."

Buffy turned around immediately; she felt an echo of guilt coming from Faith.

"Don't apologize Faith, they'll be gone by tomorrow. I know you didn't mean to do it. There is no reason for you to feel guilty. Further, I'm not sorry." Buffy gently caressed Faith's face before she continued, "Hell do you know what it does to me to know that I make you feel like that? That I can make you mindless, out of control, make your knees buckle. That you trust me enough to even let me take you there. I know that you don't give up your control to anyone, that it's hard for you to trust people."

"I've never let myself... Never gave up control like this with anyone. Never let myself just let go... Never trusted anyone enough before. Only you B, you're the only one who's ever made me feel like this. I... I..." Faith just pulled Buffy tightly into her arms, still afraid to tell her she loved her. The child in her terrified that it would be thrown back in her face like it had always been. Afraid that if she said it aloud to Buffy that the spell would be broken and the reality of what had always been her life would come crashing back in.

Buffy tightened the embrace even more. "You're the only one that has ever made me feel this way Faith. Not even Angel made me feel like this. And you don't have to tell me, don't have to say it. I know how you feel, I can feel it inside me, can feel you in there, just like I know you can feel me."

They stood for the longest time just holding each other. Feeling the other's emotions echoing inside of them, and they both reveled in this new connection, couldn't imagine not having it there, couldn't remember what it was bef before now, and somehow knowing that it had always been there. They just hadn't been ready to understand or accept it before.

"Come on let's go in." Faith said as she felt Buffy shiver a little in her arms.

Neither saw as a cloud passed over the moon, and the night grew darker.
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...I lift my eyes from watching you ~ To watch the star rise shine onto ~ Your dreaming face and dreaminile ile ~ You're dreaming worlds for me ~ I lift my lips from kissing you ~ And kiss the sky wide deepest blue ~ And slow the moon swims up ~ Into your golden words for me ~ No-one will ever take your place ~ I am lost in you ~ No-one will ever take your place ~ So in love with you - The Cure
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Continued in Chapter XVIII – Between The Hammer & The Anvil