The Three of Us

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This Chapter is beta free. Please disregard all gramma tickle errors and mastikes.

Last time I checked none of these Characters belonged to me!
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“Holy Fuck!” Faith bolted upright, gasping for breath, her heart hammering in her chest. The red neon glare from the motel sign out front turned the threadbare curtains into blood soaked rags. The thin cotton sheet slipped down her naked torso and pooled at her hips. She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing bringing her heart rate down as well. Images from the dream flitted across her eyelids. “Fuck,” she muttered, opening her eyes, “this is useless.” She looked at the tiny clock on the flimsy nightstand, 6:50 it read. ‘Great,’ she thought, ‘Almost a hour and a half sleep. That ought a get me through the day.’ She flopped back down on the bed and pulled the sheet up. She calmed herself and closed her eyes, ‘Coupla more hours and I’ll be good.’ She could see Buffy, and Cordelia dressed up at Caritas, then she was on the rooftop talking with Ichiro. Her eyes opened of their own accord and stared at the ceiling. A thousand thoughts suddenly charged through her mind, one after the other, tripping, stumbling, and crowding over top of each other. She sighed and tried to clear her mind, but one wouldn’t go away. “Why?” Rolling over she stared at the faded paint on the wall. It would lighten every time a car turned the corner in front of the motel. The car would putter down the road and her wall would dim again. She sighed; the wall wasn’t giving her any answers. She rolled over onto her back again, and blinked at the stains on the ceiling. ‘Okay,’ she thought, ‘it was a dream. That’s it, just a dream. No problemo, I just close my eyes and go back over the hot stuff.’ She closed her eyes and tried to will her self to sleep. Scenes kept popping up and running across her eyelids, good, bad, but still no answers. She sat up again and looked at the clock, 7:10, it glowed at her. ‘Only one way to figger it out,’ she tossed the sheet aside and stood. ‘I’m gonna have ta ask,’ she was surprised at the brief shiver that ran through her.

Her bare feet carried her across the worn carpet to the bathroom. She flipped the switch on when she closed the door, and the bare bulb over the vanity flickered into life. Pulling the flimsy shower curtain back, she twisted the taps to turn the water on. The pipes growled and rattled before spitting water out of the spout. She adjusted the squeaky taps, and tested the temperature with her hand. When it was hot enough, she stepped back and watched herself brush her hair out in the mirror. ‘Yeah, I need to do this. It felt too real, I’m wonderin’ if she felt it too.’ The face staring back at her didn’t reply.

Stepping out of the shower, a towel wrapped around her, she swiped the fog off of the mirror with a hand. She stared into her eyes amongst the drops of water, trying to read what her reflection told her. She picked up another towel and watched herself dry her hair. The same questions running through her mind and still only the one answer, ‘I gotta ask.’

She finished her hair and reached over picking up her mascara off the cracked lid on the toilet. She stared at it for a moment, before glancing at the tube of bright red lipstick sitting next to where the mascara had been. It was waiting to be dragged across her full lips and play its role in hiding her from the world. ‘No,’ she thought. She looked into her eyes again and searched the black orbs staring back, ‘Not today.’

She put the mascara back and picked up an elastic band. She reached up and pulled her hair into a ponytail and slipped the band around it. She blinked at herself, ‘Huh,’ she smirked at her reflection, ‘been awhile since we’ve taken this out in public.’

She opened the door and walked back into the room. She pulled one of the two drawers open and took out some clean underwear and a bra. She stood there after putting them on and gazed at her leathers. She slowly turned and her eyes travelled around the tiny room. ‘Nope,’ was the only word that came to mind. She pulled open the other drawer, taking out a plain white tee and a pair of faded Levi’s. They felt so comfortable, like a second skin when she pulled them on. The tee was tight, but not too tight, she smoothed it out as she tucked it in. She smiled to herself while she sat on the bed and pulled her boots on. ‘Don’t know what’ll happen,’ she thought, ‘but I’m okay with this.’ She pulled her duffel out from under the bed and removed her jean jacket. She stood in front of the mirror over the dresser and slipped it on. Lifting her Ray-Bans off the dresser she slid them on, ‘I’m so effin cool,’ she smiled to herself. Leaving the motel she headed for the school.

She stood outside the school and watched the building. Buffy was inside, she could feel the tingle of their slayer connection. ‘Well,’ she thought, ‘if she’s awake, she knows I’m in the neighbourhood.’ She looked around the yard for a brief moment, ‘Pitter, patter,’ she strode across the quad and took the stairs to the building two at a time. The soft tread of her boots in the hallway was the only sound she heard. Stopping in front of the library doors, she could see Buffy sitting at one of the tables, talking to Giles. She watched quietly for a few moments, before sighing, ‘I go through that door, nuthin’ stays the same.’ She took a deep breath, ‘No risk, no reward.’

Buffy looked toward the doors when she heard them start to swing open. Her brows furrowed as she tried to figure out who was strutting in the door. Her eyes widened when she realized it was Faith. “What are you doing here? Did Hell freeze over?” rolled out before she could stop it. “Eeep!” her hand flew to her mouth and a pink tinge crept up her cheeks. Faith stopped dead and stared through her sunglasses at the blond. All the old walls slammed down and a sarcastic, hurtful, comment started to form, ‘No’ she physically bit down on her cheek to hold back. A tremor of pain ran through her body, the coppery tang of her blood reminded her why she was there. ’Not this time.’ She drew in a breath, “Nice ta see you too, B.” She smirked and took her glasses off, folded them up and hung them by one arm, from a pocket in her jacket. Buffy stood and took the three steps to where Faith was standing. “I’m sorry; I’m just surprised to see you here this early.” She reached out and touched Faith’s elbow, “I shouldn’t have said that.” Both pairs of eyes widened at the contact, they looked at each other in surprise. Their eyes moved to where Buffy’s hand was resting on Faith’s elbow.

“Sorry,” Buffy snatched her hand away, “I didn’t mean to do that.”

Faith smiled, and Buffy could see it in her eyes, “Its okay, B, I liked it.”

Buffy nodded, Faith could see her thinking, “Why do you think we never felt that before?” She looked into Faith’s eyes, there was humour there.

“Probably cuz it’s the first time we’ve touched each other where we weren’t tryin’ ta kill each other,” she shrugged.

Buffy smiled widely, “That makes a lot of sense actually.” she looked at Faith for a moment; the brunette could see the indecision and just waited. “Can I,” Buffy paused, “Can I ask why you’re here this early?”

“Yeah,” Faith just looked at her with a smirk.

Buffy blew out a breath and smacked Faith lightly on the shoulder. “Okay, smartass,” she growled. Faith laughed, Buffy was surprised at how that made her feel. ‘Wow, I want to make her do that again,’ she thought to herself.

Faith briefly glanced over to where Giles was watching them, “I, unh, I umm...” Buffy tilted her head and looked at the dark slayer quizzically. Faith looked down and shook her head, “Man, it ain’t s’posed to be this hard.” She looked up at the blond and focused on her eyes, “I need to talk to ya.”

“Oh, sure,” Buffy hesitated, “sure, I can do that.” There was another pause, “Yeah I can do that,” she said with more confidence. “What about?” she asked.

Faith glanced at Giles again, “Unh,” she paused and looked off to the weapons cage. Buffy watched her, and waited. After a few moments Faith looked back at Buffy. The blond could see a look of determination in the dark slayer’s eyes. “How’d you sleep last night?” Faith held Buffy’s eyes with her own.

“Not well,” was the reply. “I only got about an hour and a half of sleep.” She bit her bottom lip for a second, “Then I woke my mom up,” she paused. Faith could see a decision being made behind the blond’s eyes. “I spent the rest of the night talking to her about some things.”

Faith nodded, “That’s about as much as I got.”

Buffy looked at her for a second, she smiled, “My turn,” she chirped.

Faith smirked, “Go ahead, B.”

Buffy looked at her intently, turned her head in a quick glance at Giles, then back to Faith. She leaned forward slightly, and whispered, “You ever know anybody named Ichiro?” Faith’s eyes popped open with a gasp; she stared at the blond, before slowly nodding her head in agreement. A small smile graced Buffy’s face, “Its okay, Faith.” She reached out and rested her hand on the dark slayer’s arm.

Faith relaxed slightly, surprised at how tense she had become. She checked the clock on the wall, and looked back to the blond. “You gotta test or anythin’ this mornin’” she asked.

Buffy thought for a moment, “Nah, nothing important, why?”

Faith smiled, “I think we should go get a coffee somewhere and talk about this some other place.” She stepped to her right and pointed at Giles, “Don’t think this is somethin’ he needs ta know. At least not yet,” she whispered.

Buffy looked over her shoulder at her watcher, he was staring at them intently. “I think you’re right, we need to take this elsewhere.”

“Excuse me girls,” Giles spoke up, “Is this Slayer related?” Buffy jumped slightly. He sighed, “Buffy I’ve been sitting here the entire time. Will you tell me what’s going on?” The two girls looked at him, neither saying a word. “Fine,” he huffed, “Is this conversation going to entail the end of the world?”

"Umm,” Faith glanced at Buffy, “I don’t think it should. But,” she shrugged, “Ya never know.”

“Great,” Giles muttered, “Just what I need first thing in the morning, cryptic slayers.” He sighed and shook his head, “If there is something I need to know, you will tell me?” He looked at each girl in turn.

“Yeah, G-man,” Faith spoke first, “If it’s important we’ll tell ya.”

Buffy nodded, “Thanks, Giles,” she looked at Faith. “When we figure this out we’ll let you know.” She turned to the dark slayer and held her elbow out, “C’mon Faith, Where do you wanna go?”

Faith looked at the proffered arm. “What the hell do I do with that?” she muttered.
“You’re supposed to put your arm through it,” Buffy smiled at the dark slayer. “Then we walk out of here arm in arm.”

“Really,” Faith deadpanned, “Then what?”

Buffy dropped her arm, and glared at her, “Fine.”

Faith could feel the blond’s icy tone chilling her flesh. “Just teasin’ ya, B.” She smiled warmly and extended her own arm, “Allow me, Ms. Summers.”

Buffy could feel her heart picking up speed as she slipped her arm through Faith’s. “Certainly, Ms....” Her eyes widened and the colour drained from her cheeks when she realized she didn’t know Faith’s last name.

Faith tugged her arm gently to get her attention, “Ms. Faith’s okay,” she smiled, looking into Buffy’s eyes. There was warmth there that Buffy had never seen before. “Like I said,” Faith’s warm voice soothed the agitated blond, “I need ta talk ta ya about a bunch of stuff.”

Faith’s smile widened when a sigh of relief escaped from the blond. “Will that be part of our conversation?” Faith nodded in reply. “Good,” Buffy squeezed Faith’s arm with her own. “Shall we go?”

Faith pulled her shades out of her pocket and flipped the arms open, “We shall.” The two slayers strode arm in arm across the floor, each extending an arm when they got to the doors, and swinging them open, they walked into their future together.

“JESUS!” shrilled down the hallway. “Are you trying to kill me?” Cordelia harped at the slayers. The doors had swung open right in front of her, causing her to drop her purse and books. “My God,” her voice was peeling the paint off the walls, “Do you two hooligans have any idea how traumatized I am?” “If I’ve broken a nail,” she was looking at her hands, “I’ll sue for everything you and your parents will ever make!” She looked at Faith, "That’s assuming you have any.”

“Cordelia!” Buffy yelped, “That’s terrible!”

Faith had let go of Buffy and knelt on one knee to pick up the brunette’s things. “B,” she said quietly, “It’s no problem.”

She stood and handed the things to Cordelia. She grabbed her purse from Faith, “If there’s anything missing, I’ll have you arrested.”

Faith smirked, “You do that.” She paused for a second, “C,” she asked, “Is that Cassini?” She pointed at the outfit Cordelia was wearing.

The brunette glanced down then looked back up to the dark slayer, “It is, why?” She answered in surprise.

“No reason,” Faith answered slowly. Her eyes trailed up and down Cordelia’s frame. “It just looks really good on ya.” She turned to Buffy, ignoring the slack jawed cheerleader in front of her, “C’mon B, let’s go.” She stepped around the speechless cheerleader and headed down the hall.

Buffy blinked twice, “Right,” she scurried after Faith. “Hey,” she whispered when she caught up, “How did you know that was Oleg Cassini she was wearing?”

Faith sighed and stopped, “B.” There was a slightly miffed tone, “I am a girl, remember?”

“Yeah, but...” Buffy trailed off again. “Wow,” she said after a moment, “I never would have guessed. Anymore surprises?”

Faith shrugged with a smile, “You’ll have to wait.”

“Hey,” came down the hallway from twenty feet away, where Cordelia was standing. “Where are you two going?”

Buffy’s head snapped to look down the hall, then back to Faith. The slayer pulled her shades off and rested them on her head. “We got some, umm, stuff ta talk about. So, we’re ah, gonna go talk.”

“Oh,” Cordelia answered. Her voice dropped slightly, “Yeah, I understand.”

Faith slid her glasses back into place, and the two slayers turned to leave. Cordelia watched them turn away together, “Faith,” she spoke up. The two slayers stopped and turned back again. She could feel their eyes burning into her. Cordelia didn’t understand where the trembling in her hands had come from, but she held her books and purse tight to her chest to hide it. She blew out a quick breath, “I know where you can get that dress you wore to Carita’s.” Her voice had trailed away to nothing at the end of the sentence. She watched the two slayers look at each other; a small smirk grew on Faith’s face, followed by a slight nod from Buffy.

Faith’s smirk grew to a smile toward the cheerleader, “Queen C,” she spoke, “We’re gonna go get a coffee, and talk about a few things.” Cordelia could feel the warmth in Faith’s voice caressing her skin. “Why don’t ya come with us? I think we all need ta talk.” Faith slowly brought her hand up and held it toward Cordelia.

“I think that would be a great idea, Cordy” Buffy brought her hand up as well.

The air rushed out of her, Cordelia didn’t know she’d been holding her breath. She could feel the glow in her cheeks from the smile on her face. “Just the three of us?” she said as she approached the two slayers.

The two fell into step with her, “Just the three of us,” they answered in unison.

THE END