Independence

By Norwalker

Part 5 of

Summary: What did  Willow and Faith discuss in that little car trip from L.A. to Sunnydale in season 7? And what were the consequences? A Willow/ Faith story

Rating: R, Very R

Category: romance/drama/angst

Spoilers: Possible season 7 spoilers. Possible season 4 Angel spoilers. C'mon, you must have seen 'em by now!

Time Line: Mid season 7(after the return of Faith) and beyond

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon , Mutant Enemy and Fox own them.

Warnings: Adult themes, violence, sexual situations between members of the same gender. Please be aware, character death is always a distinct possibility. It can happen here, so don't say I didn't warn you!!! Any racist remarks are spoken by the characters, and are in no way shared by the author. This story is not meant for children.

Ok, now I know they've gone nuts.

That plan of theirs is one screwball idea. I mean, they expect me to buy into that … scythe? thingie is gonna make all the potentials slayers? All that outta one little weapon? I don't care what kinda power that things got, it aint no miracle stick, I can tell ya that. But boy did the potentials buy it. Whooo hooo they want it bad. I can see it in their eyes. Especially Ken-doll. Man, she's practically salivating over the idea. Maybe she just wants enough strength to whoop my ass, dunno. She's one jealous little bitch, I'll tell ya. Funny too. Confronts me today, warning me off, whatta hoot!

It was after weapons' practice. I let her lead the group, cuz frankly she's not too bad with the stuff. Thought it'd give her a little thrill to be in charge ya know? What a joke! Anyway, she comes up to me in the backyard, right?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

" Hey, Faith, " Kennedy calls out to Faith, who's just about to the back door, " Can I talk with you ?"

" Yeah, sure, why not?" Faith says, turning around and going back out into the yard. Why do I get the feelin' this aint gonna be good?." What's the what, Kenny?" Faith asks. She sees the expression on Kennedy's face, and is already feeling this is going to be bad. Worse than she thought.

" What's the deal with you and Wills, Faith?" Kennedy asks straight out.

" Deal? Whatcha talkin' about, Kenny?" Faith asks, " no 'deal' … we're friends is all".

" Uh-huh, " Kennedy says, not buying that one for a minute, " Let me make this clear to you, Faith. Willow's mine, she belongs to me."

" She's… yours, " Faith says, a slight mocking tone creeping into her voice, " so like, you own her then? Hmmm. Funny that, thought slavery was like illegal?"

" Funny, Faith, but we're together, me and Willow. So back off. Quit trying to make time, " Kennedy says, her voice edgy.

" Excuse me? Did I just drop into another dimension, or something?" Faith says, fully mocking now, with a definite undercurrent of irritability. " Are you deaf, stupid, or both? I just said there's no "deal" between me and Red. We're friends, got it , moron? Is that clear enough for you? I aint tryin' to horn in on 'your' girl, stupid, so drop the jealous crap!".

"Don't play all innocent with me, Jail bitch. I know she's sneakin' around to see ya. So, I'm tellin' you, back off!" Kennedy says, her face flushing.

" Sneakin' around? Come on, 'baby bitch', Faith says, incredulous, " you gotta be jokin, right? No sneakin' here, girl".

"Really? How come she's lying about who she's with then? I mean about her going to Tara's grave. She told me she went with Xander, but that's a lie. She came back smellin' of dope, and I'd just seen Xander 15 minutes before… no dope on him. I aint stupid, Faith. I know you were with her. I could still smell the dope in your jacket the next day. So cut the crap, and tell me the truth. What's going on between you and Wills?" Kennedy, never overly smart, is just inches from Faith's face. She's almost spitting the words at her.

Faith pushes her back, rather more gently than she wanted to. " Ya know, for not being stupid, you're doin a pretty good imitation of it. I went with her to Tara's grave, because she asked me to. She couldn’t find anyone else, and you get all jealous of the time she spends there. God, you're a case, Ken-doll" Faith says, deliberately irritating her with the hated nick name, " You're even jealous of a dead girl. "

"Don't talk to me like that!' Kennedy snarls at her, " Like I'm some kinda kid!"

"Then stop acting like one!" Faith says, " Get over yourself. No ones tryin' to steal Red from you, especially not me!"

" You're a fucking liar!" Kennedy shouts at her, " I don't know what the deal is, but I can see the way she looks at you. She thinks you're special. Well, I don't get it. You're just some trampy escaped ex-con slut, far as I can see!".

"Really?" Faith says, her temper beginning to rise, " Well, guess it's better than some half baked slayer wannabe. Who frankly has the brains of a turnip, and the self-confidence of a cat at a dog show. You're pathetic!" Faith, starting to steam, turns to stalk off… tired to death of Kennedy's crap.

" Hey… HEY!!! Don't you turn your back on me, bitch!" Kennedy reaches out and grabs Faith's shoulder.

Faith stands stock still. The tension ripples through her body. She growls over her shoulder.

" If you wanna keep that hand, you damned well better get it off my shoulder," Faith's voice is low, but deadly.

"Whatcha gonna do, Faith? Hit me?" Kennedy sneers. She knows Faith won't hit her, for Willow's sake.

But that doesn't mean Faith won't do anything. Before she can think, Kennedy finds herself flying over Faith's shoulder, and landing hard on the ground. She starts to get up when a voice comes floating over from the porch.

"What's going on here?" Willow asks, looking over the situation. She doesn't look especially pleased.

" Nothin', " Faith replies, helping Kennedy up, " Ken-doll wanted a little demo of an over the shoulder toss, and I gave her one… right Kenny?" Faith looks at her as if to say, ' be smart and just go along'.

Kennedy, however, is too mad to get it. She turns, and starts to tear into Faith. Not expecting it, Faith is knocked back, but only for a second. She holds Kennedy back, and does a leg sweep on her, knocking her to the ground.

" Stop it, STOP IT!" Willow shouts, " The both of you, knock it off." She marches over to where Kennedy is laying on the ground, and helps her up. " Don't we have enough trouble with The First, without you two fighting? I can't believe you two!" Willow says, crossly, " Are you children? Why're you fighting, anyway?"

" Ask her, Red, I don't want nothin' to do with this!" Faith says, her temper on the rise again, " She's got real problems. Like jealousy to the max, for one. Tell her to back the fuck off!"

" Faith, she's hot tempered , I know" Willow says, " But I really expect more maturity out of you. I mean, you know she doesn't stand a chance against you in a fight, and yet here you are, fighting with her. What're you thinking, anyway?"

" I'm thinking, Red, that I coulda done a lot more damage to her if I'd wanted to, " Faith says, her voice low, but serious, " I held back, I tried to walk away, but she wasn’t havin' none of it, " Faith turns on Kennedy, " I don't get you, and I don't like you. But for Red's sake, I've been tolerating you. But if you start calling me names again, start getting in my face again, and all bets are off, Kenny. Got it?"

" Back off, Faith!", Willow says, her face flushed angrily. For a brief moment, her eyes turn black. " Just leave her alone!"

" Fine, I'll do that, if she leaves me alone!" Faith says, irritated. " She started this!"

" And you decided to teach her a lesson, huh?" Willow says, " Well, you need to start being a little more mature, Faith. Walk away, got it?"

" I tried to walk away, " Faith protests.

" Try harder, " Willow says.

"Fine, if that's what you want, I'll walk away. My pleasure, " Faith says, sarcastically. She turns and starts to storm off, but then stops, and says over her shoulder, " just keep her outta my way!" She starts to walk away, but stops again. She turns back. " Matter of fact, the both of you keep the hell outta my way! I don't need this crap, from either of you!" She turns on her heel, and storms into the house.

Losers, both of them. They deserve each other. I hope they fucking choke!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Where the fuck was I? Oh yeah. Red and Buffy now got this idea that they can make slayers outta the bunch of girls scouts they call potentials. Well, I can tell ya their full of crap. It aint gonna happen, and we're all probably gonna get our heads torn off in this fight.

But ya know? I kinda hope I'm wrong. I hope they succeed, and they make all these little twerps slayers. That way, if I survive, I can just walk away from this crap. Start having a real life. Whatever happens, if I survive, I'm so outta here they'll choke on my dust. And I'll be laughin' as they choke.

They're nuts. The whole bunch of 'em

Willow and Kennedy watch as Faith storms out of the backyard. Kennedy, standing behind Willow, chuckles.

" Stupid slut" She says, " You showed her. She's nothing but a …." But she doesn’t get to finish.

Willow turns on her, and slaps her as hard as she can. Kennedy stands shocked.

" What the hell?" Kennedy says, rubbing her quickly reddening cheek.

" I'm sick to death of your little jealousy games, Kenny" Willow says, her voice rising, " I'm sick to death of having to defend you to everybody. What the heck is your trauma, moron ?" Willow spits at her, " If you can't trust me by now, if you don't believe I love you by now, then you better get your ass outta my room. Cuz I'm about this close to kicking you out, anyway!"

" Well, maybe I wouldn't have reason to be jealous if you didn't lie to me, Wills, " Kennedy retorts, " You lied about going to Tara's grave with Xander. I know that! You were with her, doing who knows what!"

" You're right, I shouldn't have lied. But I was tired, and upset, and didn't want to fight. And I know if I'd told you I went with Faith to the graveyard, you would've had another one of your jealousy fits. Am I right?" Willow says, angrily.

Kennedy just stares at her sullenly ,feeling she's in the right.

" I'm tired of this constant jealousy from you, Kenny, " Willow says, " I'm tired of feeling like you don't trust me. Let me make this as clear as possible. I DON'T LOVE FAITH, I LOVE YOU! I DON'T LOVE ANYONE BUT YOU!" Willow is getting angrier by the moment, and Kennedy, sensing her rage, backs off.

" I … I just love you so much, Wills. I don't … I can't stand the idea of losing you. Not to her" Kennedy nods her head towards the house, indicating Faith, " Not to anybody. I get crazy, I know. But I'm sorry, I really am!"

Willow rubs her forehead, as if she's got a headache. She shakes her head. " No, I'm sorry, I just can't deal with it anymore. You're not losing me, Kenny. But if you keep this up, you will. That's a promise. NOT because I want to be with someone else, just because I won't want to be with YOU. This stops now, I don't want any more of this crap, or I swear, it's over. Do you get it?"

Kennedy nods.

" Not good enough, say it" Willow says, firmly.

" I get it, ok?" Kennedy says, contritely.

" Good. Because I figure you understand what I mean. One more time, Kenny. That's all it's gonna take." Willow turns and starts to walk off. She turns back. " You better figure on NOT sleeping in the bed tonight, clear?"

" Yes, " Kennedy says, barely audible.

"Fine, " Willow barks, then she turns and leaves.

Kennedy stands there for awhile, head down, fists clenched. She's not a happy camper, but she knows she's almost blown it today. She's got to be more careful.

But she's gonna get Faith back, one way or another.

That's a promise.

She leaves.

Buffy is at the bottom of the stairs when she hears a door to one of the bedrooms slam shut so hard, it sounds like it's going to come off it's hinges. She knows only one other person with that kind of strength… two, actually, but Spike isn't here.

Now what? She asks herself.

At that moment, Kennedy comes slamming through the living room. Her face is grim, and she's moving like her tail is on fire.

Why oh why do I get the feeling that she's got something to do with this?

" Hey, hold up, Kennedy. What's going on?" Buffy asks, but Kennedy just brushes by her, ignoring her. Buffy rolls her eyes.

One of these days…. Buffy thinks to herself, grimly.

Next to come through the living room is Willow. She also looks grim, and is flushed and angry to boot. Buffy, now getting irritated, plants herself in front of Willow, effectively halting her.

" Ok, Will, spill it. What's goin' on? I've got one pissed off, wanting to tear the place apart slayer upstairs. I got one pissed off SiT brushing past me like the wind, and I've got, " She looks carefully at Willow, who's going red in the neck, " One very angry Wicca standing in front of me, shooting daggers out of her eyes. With everything that's going down tomorrow, I'm thinking, I don't need this. So, what's the haps, Will?"

Willow stares at her, impatiently, " God just a fucking mess, Buffy. A total fucking mess, " Willow says, the frustration, anger and feeling of helplessness coming through loud and clear in her voice. She makes an impatiently rude noise.

Buffy looks at her long time friend and confidant, worried. She's heard Willow maybe use the "F " word three times in her life. She's feeling a little nervous, because Willow has to be pretty far pushed to the edge before she uses it. And pushing the witch to the edge is not a good idea.

Buffy puts her hands on her hips, and strikes a stern pose. " My god, Willow, do you use that mouth to kiss your mother with?" She asks, not able to entirely play it straight, the mockery and amusement carrying through her tone

Willow looks at Buffy flabbergasted. She sees this tiny blonde woman standing in front of her, looking all too much like her own mother. She can almost see Buffy point straight upstairs, at the bathroom, and telling her, " Young lady, go wash your mouth out with soap!". It's so off the wall and unexpected that she immediately feels the rage in her dissipate, replaced by a desire to giggle. Which of course, she tries to suppress, because well… heck, she's angry. But of course that just makes it worse, and she lets out a giggle.

Buffy retains her stance, but a tiny little grin appears on her face. She gives Willow a sidelong glance, as if to say " Now, what was so tragic?" and that does it. Willow bursts out laughing, releasing all the built up tension.

When she finally regains control, she growls out at Buffy, playfully, " Grrrrrr… how do you do that, Buff? God, I should be so peed at you!" Willow says, gasping, the giggles still present, " but I'm not." She takes a breath, and tries to look serious again, but it's nearly hopeless. Still, she tries. " This is serious!"

" Well, how about telling me what's going on?" Buffy says.

" It's Kennedy and Faith. I caught them fighting outside, " Willow says, a trace of guilt creeping into her voice.

" Swell… just what we need. Hurricane meets volcano on the day before we go after the first, " Buffy sighs. She notes the tone in Willow's voice, " so what were they fighting about, anyway?"

Willow blushes, and looks at the floor. " Me, " She says, in a small voice.

" Willow, you minx!" Buffy says in high humor. Willow looks up, throwing daggers at Buffy with her eyes.

" What?" Buffy says, chuckling, " It's funny!"

" It's so not funny!" Willow says, perturbed, " they really don't need to be at each other's throats right now".

" Look, Will , " Buffy says, suddenly sober, " Even if our plan goes well, we still face the distinct possibility that we could lose tomorrow. I'm sorry, I'm not being very sympathetic, " Buffy says, contritely, " But I got bigger things on my mind right now. The fact that you've got two women jealous of each other over you? Well, that's just bonus, as I see it."

" Buffy, you're so off base, " Willow says, defensively, " there's like nothing between Faith and me. I'm with Kennedy".

" Uh-huh, " Buffy says, knowingly, " if you say so, Will " . But her expression belies her words.

" Buffeee!" Willow protests, " Faith and I are just friends. That's all."

" Gee, Will, did I say any different?" Buffy asks, innocently.

" Grrrrrr. Buffy, you make me so…." Willow is ready to explode again, " I'm telling you, nothing is going on between me and Faith. Geeze, do I gotta draw you a diagram?"

" Gee, Will. Chill. I'm only yanking your chain, " Buffy says, mildly. Wasn't sure before, but I'm thinking that one brunette slayer and one red headed witch definitely have something going… even if they don't get it! " But I've still got two very stubborn women with very ruffled feathers in the house. So, gotta ask, whose you gonna try to unruffle first?"

" Well, Ms. Nosy Parker, " Willow says, annoyed, " NOT that it's any of your business, but Faith," Willow says, " ONLY because I was rather unfair to her!"

" Sure, sure, I gotcha, Will" Buffy grins, like the Cheshire cat. It's too fun, teasing Willow. Not enough fun, lately.

" Well, Ms. Think-I-know-it-all, you don't know anything!" Willow sputters, " I love Kennedy! I do!"

" Will, honey, it's ok, " Buffy says, mildly, " I'm so not arguing with you." She walks over and gives Willow a hug, which just adds confusion to her already cyclonic confusion. While holding her, she whispers in her ear, " Ya know, if I were you, I'd go for the hottie" Buffy give her a friendly pat on the butt, and breaks the clinch, walking to the kitchen.

" But… but… their BOTH hotties !" Willow calls out after Buffy, confused and miserable. Realizing what she just said, she blushes.

Damn!

To be continued.