Her Destiny's Will

Buffy dusted the vamp and walked back towards the brunette by the tree. Her furrowed brow and pout made Faith ask.

“What’s wrong girlfriend? You dusted the vamp, why the frown?” Faith walked alongside Buffy. A stake that was grasped in the brunette’s hand tapped rhythmically against her thigh.

“I was just thinking.” Buffy released a sigh.

“About?” Faith raised her eyebrows.

“Well, about the slaying. We…us, you and me, you and I, together with the slaying…” Buffy was slightly flustered. The blonde’s hands were flying in the air, trying to make sense of what she was saying.

“Whoa, slow down there B. You’re starting to sound like Red. Now, I thought you said you were thinking about slaying. It is about the slaying, right?”

“Yeah, it is. But I was just asking myself why WE still slay even though the Potentials were just activated. Don’t we get like…a vacation?” Buffy pouted.

"We slay because that's what we are. Red's spell didn't change who we are, just the destinies of all the other girls’." Faith's brow matched Buffy's.

"I know, but we have a chance to leave all that now. There are thousands of activated slayers around the world. We have an opportunity to finally retire. Don't you want that too?" Faith had stopped walking. Buffy turned around to look at her. Faith's gaze remained on the ground.

“Faith…”

“No B, listen.” Faith’s hair covered her eyes, disallowing Buffy to see the emotions that were invading her.

“After the Hellmouth closed, you gave all of us a choice. Funny, I didn’t think that option was open for me too.” She chuckled lowly. Buffy kept staring, she remembered that day too. It was all too fresh in her mind.

“... what do you think we should do, Buffy?” Willow looked expectantly at her long time friend.

“Yeah, you're not the one and only chosen anymore. Just gotta live like a person. How's that feel?” Faith eyed her as well, wondering what there was to do now that it was all over.

“Yeah, Buffy. What are we gonna do now?”

Buffy let her smile grow as she looked out at the crater that was once Sunnydale. What should they do? There were slayers waking up all around the world, should she seek them out and train them? Giles tapped her on the shoulder.

“Buffy, I think it’s imperative that we get the wounded to a hospital.”

“Yea, we should.” Buffy shook herself out of her stupor and walked onto the bus. She spoke to the group in her General Buffy voice.

“Ok, all the wounded will be brought to Glendale Hospital in the town over. All of you conscious and able will converse with Giles and me about your future plans once we arrive at the Hyperion. Whether you choose to fight in Cleveland or not is a decision only you can make. For now, thank whatever higher power you believe in that you survived. Mourn the ones we have all lost.”

Buffy sat down in a seat next to Faith. The usually fidgeting brunette stared out through her window, silent with a frown.

“You did good. “ Buffy put her hand on the Bostonian’s arm. Faith turned her head towards the blonde. She was a little unsure of what Buffy would decide for her. Besides, what did she expect? Buffy would likely give her ass a Slayer kick out the door and back behind bars.

“What are you gonna do now Faith? I meant it when I told everyone the decision is theirs, and I meant you included. I won’t kick you out and shove you away, I made that mistake before.” The little blonde’s eyes clouded from the memories.

“I dunno, B. I figured I’d still fight the good fight. But I don’t exactly know where that is and who I’m going with…What are you gonna do?”

“I figured I’d still fight. Like you said, the slayer isn’t just another part of us, it is us. There are tons of slayers waking up so I thought I could train them in Cleveland with Giles.” Buffy looked out the window Faith had recently stared through.

“Yeah, Cleveland…” Faith cleared her throat. Should she ask to join them? Or would Buffy just laugh in her face?

“doyouwanttocomewithus?”

“Huh?” Faith only deciphered the “us” part. Buffy cleared her throat and averted her eyes from the brunette, looking like there was something fascinating on the seat cushion. She asked again in a small voice.

“Do you want to come with me to Cleveland…errr I mean us, us to Cleveland?” She looked at Faith again, hoping that the brunette didn’t laugh in her face. Faith was floored. Did Buffy ask her? Just to make sure, she pinched herself. Ouch! Ok, it’s real. She gave Buffy a grin.

“Sure B.”

Faith shook her head to get through the haze of memories. Buffy was still in front of her. It seemed like she was remembering that day too.

“You told me we could live like regular people.” The little blonde lifted her eyes towards the brunette’s.

“No, I said YOU could live like a regular person.” Faith replied pointedly.

“It still doesn’t mean we couldn’t live normal lives. Let the new slayers handle the demon world for once.” Buffy crossed her arms and pouted.

“Come on B. You can’t honestly tell me that you’d rather be all domestic than kickin’ a little undead ass?” Faith had stepped a few feet closer to Buffy.

“No, I could live without the kill.” Buffy replied, though it was more like a stubborn retort. Faith inched closer to Buffy’s body, making sure that there was only an inch between them.

“Really? So the hum coming off of your body wasn’t because of the vamp you just dusted? Tell me you’re not aching to do it again.” Faith breathed into Buffy’s ear. She listened to the rapid beating of the blonde’s heart and grinned.

“I’m not…” Buffy tried to finish her sentence but shut her eyes when Faith subtly caressed her sides.

“Is that right?” Faith’s hand trailed up to Buffy’s torso and rested over her heart.

“Your head must be lying B, because your heart is goin’ a mile a minute.”

“Don’t…” The blonde slayer managed to mumble out.

“Don’t what?” Faith returned to the crook of Buffy’s neck. She inhaled her scent, vanilla with a tinge of something imperceptible. Buffy was having a hard time maintaining her line of thinking.

“Don’t…don’t you want a family?” The question stopped Faith in her tracks, making her body stiffen.

“Faith?” Buffy was wondering why Faith had suddenly gone quiet. The taller slayer took a few steps back.

“We wouldn’t be able to have families if we were still Slayers, Faith. It wouldn’t be safe. Hell, I’ve endangered my family because I’m the Slayer. It wouldn’t be much different if I had kids of my own. I’d be fending off demons while changing diapers. Remember Nicki Wood? She died on a mission when Robin was barely five. A child needs their parents to rely on and actually be THERE. ”

“Then don’t.” Faith walked along, trying not to make eye contact with the blonde.

“Come on Faith. I bet you’ve thought of a family of your own one day.” Buffy walked alongside Faith, trying to keep with her strides.

“Nah, hasn’t crossed my mind.” Faith still wouldn’t look at her. Buffy stopped Faith and place her hands on the other girl’s shoulders.

“Look at me in the eyes and tell me you’ve never thought of the tiniest possibility of having a family of your own.” Faith sighed and glanced up at Buffy.

“B…of course I want a DUCK!!”

“You want a duck?” Buffy cocked her head to the side.

Faith grabbed Buffy and threw her out of the way. A creature with hoofed feet, short tail, and a horn protruding from its head charged speedily towards the brunette. Faith braced herself for impact but was forcefully head butted in the stomach by the creature. She flew a few yards backwards against a tree. With a grunt of pain she slid herself up and readied herself for another attack. As she steadied herself she couldn’t help but laugh. Faith was facing a demon that appeared to resemble a rhinoceros. She chuckled and called out to Buffy.

“B! Call the zoo! I think they let a rhino escape!”

Buffy brushed herself off and took a better look at their opponent. The rhinoceros snorted and turned to face her. Its eyes flashed blue and began to charge.

“AHH! Demon rhino!” Buffy dodged the demon and ran towards Faith. They both ran through the cemetery. The demon crashed through gravestones mere feet behind the slayers.

“Aren’t we supposed to be slaying the demon and NOT running away from it?”

Faith yelled over to Buffy as she jumped over a gravestone.

“If you want to be demon rhino fodder, be my guest! How do you suggest killing it? Riding it like a cowboy till it gets tired?!” Buffy leapt over another gravestone but tripped over a root after her landing and hit her head on another gravestone. The demon was heading towards her at full speed; it’s dangerously sharp horn at the ready. Faith noticed Buffy had tripped and passed out. She ran as fast as she could towards her unmoving body.

Faith couldn’t move Buffy out of the way fast enough so she used her own body to protect her from the blow.

“NO!” She screamed aloud at the last moment. Her voice echoed through the cemetery.

Strangely enough, the demon stopped mid charge and stared at Faith.

“Leave. Now.” Faith’s voice sounded foreign, but she was not aware of it at the time.

The demon turned around and ran away. Faith’s protective hold on the smaller slayer did not loosen until the demon had fled out of sight. She cradled Buffy in her arms and moved her hair away from her eyes.

“B! B! Wake up!” Faith lightly patted her cheeks in hopes of bringing her to consciousness.

Buffy groaned and her eyelids fluttered open. She stared up at Faith’s worried expression and furrowed her brows.

“What happened… and what’s with the blue eyes?”

“Huh?”