The Courtship of Buffy Summers

The leading lady of this story sits a little impatiently on the couch. Faith dropped them off forty-five minutes ago and said she’d be back in half an hour. She’s fifteen minutes late and Buffy is starting to think that maybe she isn’t going to show up. ‘I really hope she shows up. My mom went all out and ordered Chinese food. She only does that for the people she likes. If she doesn’t show up my mom will never let us go out.’


The blonde gives a small start when the doorbell rings. She’s on her feet in seconds and heading for the front door. She hears Dawn complain that they had to wait for Faith, and that the food it probably cold. Buffy just rolls her eyes and opens the door. ‘Ok, so she’s obviously trying to impress my mother,’ she thinks and eyes Faith up and down. She can’t help the small smile that appears on her face. It’s safe to say that the blonde likes this little make over.


The first thing she notices is Faith’s make up, or more accurately is the lack of Faith’s make up. The dark eyeliner, dark eyeshadow and dark lipstick are gone. Instead Faith is going for a more natural look and is using only earthy colors. Her clothes are a little different then what she normally wears. Jeans, and a tank top yes, but they’re not dark colors. The jeans are light blue, and the tank top is white with a large red rose across the front. Her hair is just as unruly as it always is and Buffy knows that it would take longer then half an hour to tame it.


“Sorry I’m late,” Faith says and shifts around as if she’s uncomfortable. “My truck wouldn’t start.” She stops and gives Buffy this look like she’s waiting for something. The blonde is still a little shocked by the brunette’s appearance to notice the expression. “Are you gonna let me in or are we gonna stand out here all night?” ‘What’s with the tone?’ Buffy thinks and steps aside to let Faith in. The brunette walks passed her without another word. The blonde’s eyebrows furrow and she closes the door.


“Hey, I’m sorry I didn’t mention this before,” Buffy says and faces the brunette in the foyer. ‘Jeez, what’s her problem? Did she have a fight with her brother or foster parents before she came here?’ the blonde thinks and tries to look like she doesn’t notice Faith’s bad mood. ‘I’m sure she doesn’t want to talk about it in here. I’ll see if she wants to talk later.’ “But my mom has some special rules about tonight. She doesn’t want us going up to my bedroom, or making out, and if Dawn wants to hang out with us we have to let her.” The blonde is expecting Faith to make some jokes or give her a ‘your mom is crazy’ type of look but she doesn’t get either of those.


“No problem,” she says and lets out a little sigh. ‘Seriously what is her problem? I hope she isn’t like this all night or Mom probably won’t un-ground me. And if she doesn’t un-ground me then Faith and I will never be able to spend some legitimate girlfriend time together. The sneaking around is fun and everything, but eventually we’re going to get caught. Ok, stop obsessing. Faith knows how important this dinner is, so I know she’ll come through.’


“We better hurry and get into the dinning room. Mom ordered Chinese and Dawn’s not the most patient person in the world when she’s hungry.” ‘Oh God, I hope that didn’t sound bitchy. I wasn’t trying to sound bitchy. Damn, I hope she doesn’t think I’m blaming her for being late. That truck is a piece of crap and it isn’t her fault.’ Buffy tries to take Faith by the hand but the brunette starts walking towards the dinning room, ignoring the blonde completely.


“It’s nice of you girls to join us,” Buffy’s mom says and gives the girls a small smile. Buffy rolls her eyes when she sees that her sister is already digging into the food. ‘She couldn’t wait two more minutes?’ she thinks and takes her seat. She watches as Faith sits down on the opposite side of the table. ‘Why is she sitting there? She probably thinks my mom doesn’t want her sitting next to me. Well, I guess better safe then sorry.’


“Sorry I’m so late, but my truck wouldn’t start,” Faith says as she sits down. She watches for any sign that Buffy’s mom is mad at her. ‘’Cause that’s just what I need right now,’ she thinks. ‘She’s still smiling so I guess she isn’t mad.’


“That’s ok. The only one getting impatient was Dawn,” the mother says and glances at her youngest daughter. “Well, dig in. I ordered extra everything so feel free to have seconds or thirds if you like.” ‘Is she calling me fat?’ Faith thinks and starts to load up her plate. There’s an awkward pause as everyone puts the yummy smelling food on their plates. Faith has no idea what to say so she stays quiet. Buffy wants to say something but it’s personal and she’d rather not say it in front of her mother and sister.


Buffy looks into Faith’s eyes from across the table and she smiles a little smile. But it goes away very quickly when Faith looks down at her plate and takes a large bite of the chicken chow mein and pan fried noodles. ‘Why is she acting like this? I get that she doesn’t want to sit by me because she doesn’t want to make Mom mad, but why won’t she smile at me? Mom won’t get mad if she smiles at me. Did I do something wrong?’


“Faith?” Joyce says and the brunette looks over at her almost immediately. The other two girls look at her as well, but Dawn’s attention can only be held for so long when she’s eating. The little hairs on the back of the blonde’s neck stand up and she gets a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. ‘This can’t be good,’ she thinks and slurps up a noodle. “I know the last dinner we had together ended badly, and I’d like to apologize. I was out of line-”


“No, Mrs. Summers, you weren’t. I wouldn’t trust me either if I believed half of what the good people of Sunnydale have to say about me,” Faith says somewhat sarcastically at the ‘good people’ part, and takes a drink of water. Much like her daughters, Joyce is a very stubborn woman and when she gets her mind set on something there is no changing it.


“I should have given you the benefit of the doubt.” Faith goes to interrupt but Joyce will have none of it. “Now Faith, don’t argue.” She gives the brunette the ‘mom look’ and Faith stays quiet. ‘This is bullshit. She shouldn’t apologize to me. Especially not in front of Buffy and Dawn. This is so embarrassing,’ she thinks and takes a bite from her shrimp. “You and Buffy have been dating for a little over a month now, and I’ll be honest I didn’t expect you to be around this long.” Buffy glares at her mother and then sends Faith an apologetic look. ‘This is so embarrassing. Why is she talking about this now? Why is she talking about it at all?’


“I care about her a lot,” Faith says and then looks over at the blonde. Their eyes meet and for Buffy it’s like the whole world is fading away under Faith’s intense gaze. “She’s one of the few people I trust, and I’d never hurt her.” ‘Ok, why does it sound like she’s implying something else?’ the blonde thinks and Faith looks away. ‘I wish I knew what she was talking about. This whole being confused thing is making me feel like a dumb blonde. And don’t you dare say anything.’ I wouldn’t dare.


“That’s good to know,” Joyce says and draws the attention back to her. “I’m sure Buffy’s informed you that I’m considering ending her punishment a little early.” Buffy tries not to smile, Faith grins a little bit, and Dawn looks outraged. She doesn’t want to embarrass herself in front of company though, so she keeps quiet. But she’s going to have a very serious talk with her mother about this.


“Yeah, she mentioned something about that,” Faith says, trying to be slick about it. She isn’t sure why she wants to be slick about it, she just does. Like if Joyce thinks Buffy was talking about it none stop then she’d say no or something. But to the blonde her voice sounds different. ‘Why does she sound bored? Doesn’t she want me un-grounded?’ As she waits for her mother to continue she steals glances at Faith.


“I need to make sure we’re clear on a few things,” Joyce says and Buffy gulps. ‘Great, she’s going to give Faith the ‘if you touch my daughter in a sexual way you’re dead’. I was really hoping she wouldn’t do something like this. Especially in front of Dawn, this is so embarrassing.’ “I understand that you to want to be together, but it can’t be late at night or in my daughter’s bedroom. Especially when I’m unaware of it.” ‘Are we ever going to live that down? I already apologized for that like a thousand times.’


“I’m really sorry about that,” Faith says and puts her fork down. “I got back from L.A. and I wanted to see her. I know I should have waited until the next day, but I didn’t think I was going to miss her that much.” She blushes at that and Joyce has to bite back a smile. ‘I can’t believe I blushed. God, that’s so embarrassing.’


“Aww, that’s so cute,” Dawn says and receives to nasty glares from her mother and sister. “Ok, jeez, I was just joking.” Then she turns her attention to Faith. “I thought you were a tough, bad girl, what happened to that?” Buffy rolls her eyes, Joyce sighs, and Faith smiles. She looks at the youngest girl and gives her a little cocky smirk.


“I am a tough, bad girl. Just because you’re tough and bad it doesn’t mean you can’t care about people.” ‘Oh man if only Willow and Xander could be here for this. I’m sure they wouldn’t believe it even if they were here. I wonder if they’re ever going to accept the fact that Faith is different? They are getting better, though, I have to give them that.’


“Well, Shelly Pomeroy said that you don’t care about people. That you sleep around and you tell lies to get into other girl’s pants.” Her voice is hard and cold. The fiery look in her eyes ‘causes a shiver to run up and down Faith’s spine. ‘Jeez, I definitely don’t want to piss her off. Joyce and Buffy both yell at the younger girl. She doesn’t pay attention to them however, because her gaze is locked with Faith’s. As mad as Joyce is at her youngest daughter for being so rude she can’t help but be curious as to what Faith’s response will be.


“I used to be like that, yeah.” ‘Oh God, she so didn’t say that. Mom will never let me go out with her now.’ The three Summers’ women are holding their breath, and waiting for Faith to continue. “But I’m totally different now. I care about your sister, and I’m not going to hurt her. In any way, shape for form.” The tension in the air could be cut with a knife, and everyone can feel it. Faith looks over at the eldest of the all the Summers and she’s nervous. She wanted to be honest with Dawn, but she had momentarily forgotten that their mom is in the room.


“Faith, I think we need to have a little talk,” Joyce says and stands up from her seat. ‘Oh God, what is she doing?’ Buffy thinks and holds her breath. “Out on the back patio for some privacy, please.” Buffy watches as her girlfriend gets up and follows her mother out of the room, through the kitchen and out the back door. She looks over at her sister and they lock gazes. Then, as if someone shouted out the word ‘go’, both sisters jump up from their seats and race for the back door. Buffy gets their first, but is shoved aside by Dawn.


“Get out of my way you freak. This is all your fault. You just had to go all psycho and say that in front of Mom. Now she’s never going to let me go out with Faith. She’ll probably ground me until I leave for college just so we can’t go out.” She pushes her sister out of the way and puts her ear to the door. ‘What are they talking about out there?’


“Good, I’m glad,” Dawn says and folds her arms across her chest. “Everybody said that Faith’s a total slut. If you do sleep with her you might catch something.” Without thinking Buffy spins around and slaps her younger sister across the face. She regrets it as soon as it happens, and they both look shocked by the action.


“Dawnie, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it.” The younger girl doesn’t say anything. She just gently puts her hand over the red spot that’s forming on her skin. “Faith isn’t like that anymore. She would never hurt me. And she doesn’t have anything. She told me she went to the doctor and got checked out after the last girl she was with, and she’s clean. I know you’re worried about me, and it’s sweet that you are, but you don’t have anything to worry about.” Buffy’s heart feels like it’s been put in a vice when she sees the tears welling up in her baby sister’s eyes.


“You never hit me before she came around so maybe I do,” she says then turns around and stomps up the stairs to her bedroom. ‘God, I can’t do anything right, can I?’ she thinks and then goes back to eavesdropping. All she can hear is mumbling and it’s starting to irritate her. She’s naturally very curious person, and something like this will drive her crazy. ‘I need to make sure Mom isn’t saying anything embarrassing. What if she’s threatening her or something? I can’t believe I slapped Dawnie. I hope she doesn’t nark on me, I’m in enough trouble as it is. I should probably go apologize. No, I can do that later.’


Almost half an hour later she hears footsteps walking towards the door, and she runs back into the dinning room. The last thing she needs is being caught eavesdropping on that conversation. ‘Mom would be pissed and Faith would think I’m a total freak.’ She tries to act like she’s been sitting there the entire time, but it’s obvious that isn’t the case. The two walk back into the dinning room and they’re both laughing, and smiling really wide. ‘What the hell? Since when are they all buddy-buddy? I don’t think I like the idea of my mom and my girlfriend getting along that well, bad things could happen to me.’


“So, what were you guys talking about?” she asks and watches as they take their places at the table. Her mother gives her a questioning look and then nods her head towards the chair that Dawn had been sitting in. Buffy instantly gets a little nervous, and very guilty. “She isn’t feeling well. I think she ate too much too fast.” ‘No, I didn’t mean for you to go check on her,’ the blonde thinks as her mother stands up.


“I better go make sure she’s alright. I think you two need to have a talk.” Then she exits the room leaving the blonde totally confused and the brunette looking a little guilty. Buffy looks over at her girlfriend with a questioning look and Faith purposely stares at her plate to avoid the look. ‘Why won’t she look at me? She’s been acting really weird tonight. First she shows up looking like she had to force herself to come here, then she didn’t give me a kiss. She always gives me a kiss hello. She’s being nice to my family but she’s distant with me. What did I do?’


“What do we need to talk about?” she asks and watches as Faith pushes the food around on her plate with her fork. The silence causes the blonde to panic and jump to all sorts of horrible conclusions. The guilty look on the brunette’s face isn’t helping matters at all. “Are you going to break up with me?” That gets a reaction out of Faith. She whips her head up and her eyes are wide with shock. ‘Ok, I’ll take that as a no.’


“Because if you are I’d really like to know. I don’t want to show up at school tomorrow and try to hang out with you if you don’t want anything to do with me anymore.” She knows she’s being a little over the top, and she’s doing it on purpose. Maybe if she’s a little melodramatic about it Faith will actually tell her what’s going on, instead of staring at her plate like she’s never seen Chinese food before.


“I don’t want to break up with you,” her voice is full of disbelief like she just can’t wrap her mind around what Buffy said. “There’s just some things that bothered me a little bit, and your mom thinks we should talk about it instead of me being bitchy about it and you not knowing why I’m acting like some bratty kid.” ‘Umm, ok. She’s actually going to listen to my mom? That’s a little weird. According to her she barely listens to her foster parents, and she’s going to take my mom’s advice? That’s strange.’


“Yeah, I think we should talk about it. If I’m doing something wrong then you should tell me so I’ll stop.” Buffy watches as Faith sighs and shifts around a little uncomfortably in her chair. “Lets go out to the living room. This might be a long conversation and we should be comfortable.” Faith nods her head and they both get up and go into the living room. Buffy sits down at the far end of the couch, and Faith sits down in the middle. They’re sitting close, but there’s enough distance between them so neither of them feels crowded.


“I’m not good at the whole relationship thing,” Faith says and sighs a little. Buffy watches in anticipation and tries to stay patient as Faith stops to collect her thoughts and figure out how to put those thoughts into words. “Today you were...asking more questions then you normally do, and I felt like you were nagging at me.” ‘I was nagging her? When was I nagging her?’ “I know you were just curious because someone else answered my phone. But just because some other girl answers my phone it doesn’t mean I’m cheating on you.” ‘Ok so maybe I wasn’t as cool about that as I thought.’


“I know I told you that I didn’t, but I have told my friends about some of the stuff that we do. They’re my friends, they want to know if we’re doing anything. I didn’t go into detail or anything, but they know we’ve fooled around a little.” ‘Oh God, she told them?’ “Lying to people is just something that I used to do. But when I lied to you I felt guilty about it. I’ve never felt guilty because of it before and it scared me, and I’m sorry I was a little...cold when I showed up. And I’ve been friends with them for a long time, and I tell them about the important stuff that happens to me.”


“I was just being paranoid. I know you’re going to talk to your friends, and I don’t care. But I just feel like we don’t know each other as well as I want us to, and I know you won’t hurt me, but sometimes I feel like you want to take things further just so you can tell your friends about the things we do.” ‘God, I can’t believe I just said that. But it’s true. Sometimes she gets a little...persistent, and it’s like she has some other agenda or something.’


“That’s not true. Sometimes I can get a little...grabby but you have to understand that it’s been a long time since I’ve been with anybody and my body is just isn’t used to that. And when we’re together and you do that thing with your tongue it turns me on so much.” Buffy blushes a little bit and looks down at her lap. ‘I really hope Mom isn’t listening to this conversation or I’ll never leave the house again.’ “I trust you, and I need you to trust me or this isn’t gonna work.” Buffy is quiet as she thinks about everything that Faith has said. After a minute or two she finally comes to a decision.


“I trust you,” she whispers, and takes one of Faith’s hands in her own. “I get like this sometimes, it’s not you, I swear. Things between us have been so great, and nothing great in my life ever works out. I guess I have this weird self-destructive thing going on. I thought there was a problem, but instead of figuring out what it was I created one, and I’m so sorry. I promise I’ll work on it, though. It might take some time, but I’ll work on it.”


They scoot towards each other and their lips meet in a soft kiss. The soft kiss quickly turns into more. Faith wraps her arms around Buffy’s waist and pulls her closer. Buffy gently caresses one of the brunette’s soft cheeks, and moans softly when Faith starts to rub her back. ‘I know this is going to sound totally cheesy but when she kisses me like this the rest of the world melts away,’ the blonde thinks and pulls back for some much needed oxygen. She looks deeply into Faith’s eyes and somehow she just knows that everything is going to be ok.