Seasons of Faith

 

Seasons of faith

Chapter 7

 

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Buffy and Faith are sharing a dream

 

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The club is quiet. A spotlight is shining on the red curtains fronting the stage. The crowd is milling about, waiting for the act to appear onstage.

The emcee, dressed in a truly cheesy tux(and looking amazingly like Xander) comes to the microphone in front of the curtains.

“ Ladies and Gentlemen, fresh from their sold out engagement at The Bronze in Sunnydale, the Morpheus Club is proud to present…”

“Buffy and the Slayerettes”

The crowd applauds.

The curtains part, and Buffy and Faith are fronting the Slayerettes, Each has a handheld mic. Willow, Anya and Tara are sharing a standing mic in the back behind them. All are wearing black evening length dresses with sequins.

Buffy: Does she love me I wanna know

Faith : How can I tell if she loves me so?

Willow, Tara, Anya: Is it in her eyes?

Buffy : Oh no, you’ll be deceived

Willow, Tara Anya: Is it in her sighs?

Faith: Oh, no she’ll make believe

Willow, Tara, Anya: Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop

Buffy& Faith: If you wanna know, if she loves you so

Willow, Tara, Anya: Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop

Buffy & Faith: It’s in her kiss

Willow, Tara , Anya: That’s where it is Oh Yeah!

Willow, Tara , Anya: Is it in her face?

Faith : Oh no that’s just her charm

Willow, Tara , Anya: In her warm embrace?

Buffy: Oh no that’s just her arms

Willow, Tara, Anya: Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop

Buffy & Faith: If you wanna know, if she loves you so

Willow, Tara, Anya: Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop

Buffy & Faith: It’s in her kiss

Willow, Tara, Anya: That’s where it is. Oh Yeah!

Faith: Oh, oh , oh kiss her, and squeeze her tight

And find out what you wanna know

Buffy: If it’s love, if it really is

It’s there in her kiss

( Buffy and Faith look at each other, and smile)

 

Willow, Tara, Anya: How about the way she acts?

Buffy & Faith: (Sharing a mic): Oh no that’s not the way

And you’re not listening to a word I say

Willow, Tara, Anya: Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop

Buffy & Faith : If you wanna know, if she loves you so

Willow, Tara, Anya: Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop

Buffy & Faith : It’s in her kiss

Willow, Tara, Anya: That’s where it is

Buffy & Faith: Oh, It’s in her kiss

Willow, Tara, Anya: That’s where it is . Oh yeah!

Faith & Buffy:(together) Oh, oh, oh kiss her, and squeeze her tight

And find out what you wanna know

If it’s love, if it really is

It’s there in her kiss

Willow, Tara, Anya: How about the way she acts?

Buffy & Faith: (Shaking their fingers): Oh no that’s not the way

And you’re not listening to a word I say

Willow, Tara, Anya: Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop

Buffy & Faith : If you wanna know, if she loves you so

Willow, Tara, Anya: Shoop, shoop, shoop, shoop

Buffy & Faith : It’s in her kiss

Willow, Tara, Anya: That’s where it is !

Buffy & Faith : Oh yeah, It’s in her kiss

Willow, Tara, Anya: That’s where it is !

Buffy & Faith: Oh, oh it’s in her kiss

Willow, Tara, Anya: That’s where it is !*

Buffy and Faith come together and kiss

The crowd goes wild!

 

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Faith opens her eyes, to see Buffy looking at her

“ It’s in her kiss” Buffy sings softly to Faith

Faith smiles” Oh yeah!”

They snuggle together and kiss

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Buffy, Willow and Tara are at a table at The Bronze.

The three women are waiting for Faith to show. Tara and Willow are holding hands, giving each other shy glances. Buffy is watching them from across the table, and smiling.

So, she’s finally gone public, Buffy thinks to herself. She was happy to see Will so happy again. It had been a long time, and it warmed Buffy’s heart.

It had taken awhile, but Will had finally told Buffy about Tara a couple of weeks ago. She was all nervous, and anxiously, because she was afraid of Buffy’s reaction. Buffy simply smiled, and hugged her, and told her how happy she was.

Buffy remembered how hard it had been when she had told the Scoobies about Faith… only to find out they already knew, and approved. She even remembered how Willow had hugged her, and asked her how it was. Now she knew.

It was sweet watching them. Reminded her so much of how she and Faith were…are. It was so great, what she and Faith had finally come to. It had been hard, very hard, to get to this place. Getting through Faith’s walls… and her own. But they were talking now, really talking, and it was going better than it had ever been. Faith was really working her tail off, doing therapy, working, going to school. Patrolling. Buffy was so proud of her… and so happy. Faith had become more confident of them... as a couple. She wasn’t looking for the holes anymore, wasn’t trying to shield herself anymore. She was putting herself into the relationship, and really doing her best to reach out and take Buffy deep inside herself. She was opening up to Buffy, telling her about her life. Buffy had been horrified at some of the things Faith had endured. She didn’t flinch, she put herself into support mode, letting Faith know that no matter what, she was there for her. And Faith was responding.

Faith was opening up to others too. Before, she had been highly suspicious of Willow. She had been polite, always, but there was a reserve of distrust(protecting herself from feeling… caring). But she started now to reach out… and Will was reaching back. They’re becoming closer, and this also made Buffy happy. And Tara. When Willow brought her by… Faith responded immediately to the Blonde Wicca’s innate sweetness. They were becoming buds…really close. Both Buffy and Will saw it, and it was so …good. They both loved it. The two would be like, polar opposites. But they found something in each other that attracted them like Buffy and Willow had found that special place for themselves. And Buffy was very happy to find Faith making a friend for herself, rather than just making Buffy’s friends her own, too.

Willow and Tara were looking at Buffy, both looking a bit antsy. But they also were concerned, cause Faith hadn’t shown yet. But it wasn’t really late yet, so they weren’t anxious, or anything like that. Just they wanted Buffy not to be sitting alone here.

“ Hey, Buffy, you seem to be a little lost over there. You ok?” Willow asked, smiling at her.

“ Just thinking about my honey” Buffy said, smiling back. “ And waiting for her. I guess she musta run into some vamps. Think I should go looking for her?” Buffy asks, maybe starting to feel the tiniest spark of concern.

“I’m sure she’s ok, Buffy” Tara says.” You know Faith, she really gets into her work. She’ll be here soon”

“Yeah” Buffy says, a little forlorn. “ But I need my smoochies”

All three of the women laugh a little at that.

Willow is particularly happy with how things are turning out. Finding Tara had …been so wonderful. Since that first night, when they went for Tea, things had just clicked. They were both Wicca, both totally into it, and both… just so right together. The first time they had made love had been both sweet and mind blowing for Will. It had opened new vistas for her. And she was grateful particularly to Buffy and Faith, cause they had shown her the possibilities of such a relationship.

She was happy too, how Faith and Buffy seemed happier these days. She had known that there had been tension between them. Particularly after she had moved into the Apartment. But, she had tried her best to stay out of it, because she knew her interfering would only make matters worse. But she had listened to Buffy as she had anguished over it, and had felt really bad. And partly guilty for what was happening. She knew Faith… had the idea she was trying to horn in on Buffy. But that simply wasn’t true…ok…not entirely true. Will had to admit that at first, she had been more than a little jealous of Faith. That is, when she first came to Sunnydale. And suspicious of her. But as she was around Faith, and saw how happy she made Buffy, how much she loved and cared for Buffy, her feelings toward Faith changed. She began to respect her, and admire her. And to feel an affection for her. Because, of course, anyone who loved Buffy had to be ok, right? And she saw how happy Faith made Buffy, and that sealed the deal. What they had was special, and Will hoped someday she could have that too…and now, she was sure she had it.

“Hey, guys. Faith’ll be here soon. Why don’t you hit the dance floor?” Buffy said. She could see they wanted to, but didn’t want to leave her alone.

“You’re sure, Buffy?” Willow asked.

“Yeah, it’s good. Go for it” She smiled.

Tara and Willow get up, and head out on the floor. Buffy watches them dance.

Buffy felt particularly happy tonight. Sometimes, she wanted to pinch herself. Be sure she wasn’t dreaming. But it seemed, after that last fight, Faith and her had move so much closer. Faith was opening up in so many ways, ways she hadn’t before. Buffy had been pleased and touched. And finding herself falling even deeper in love with Faith(if that was possible). Faith always puts on this act of being so tough, so hard-nosed and bad-assed. But to Buffy, she was revealing this soft side. This little girl that lived inside her. The girl who craved love and affection like food and water. Who was so tender, so sweet, so gentle. The most ordinary things they did together became special. Watching TV. I mean, they would sit together, and Buffy would lay down, her head on Faith’s lap… and Faith would just spend hours playing with her hair. And Buffy loved it. Or Faith would lean over, and lay her head on Buffy’s shoulder, and it was …amazing. Holding Faith’s hand made Buffy get little thrills and chills. She had never ever felt this kind of love for anyone, and sometimes it was so intense, it scared her. But Faith was always there. To hold her, to comfort her, to make her feel loved and safe.

Always there. To make me safe. To love me

Buffy looked at her watch, growing a little more concerned. Where is she?

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Faith was nearly dancing through patrol.

She couldn’t help it. She felt so good. Her heart felt so light, and so full at the same time.

Ever since that night, when she and Buffy had nearly lost each other, and then come together so strongly, Faith had a whole new outlook on her life, and her life with Buffy. She had started to open up, really open up to Buffy. Tell her things she never told anyone, things she had been ashamed of all her life. She saw Buffy had been horrified. But not horrified of Faith, but FOR Faith. She had reached out, and pulled Faith in, and comforted her. And Buffy had taken on her pain, as if it were her own. She helped Faith start to heal, to start to be able to put it behind her. She found her love for the little blonde, the one who was so tiny, and so powerful, growing more each day. Growing deeper, and richer.

God I’m such a dope, Faith thought to herself. To even think of ever leaving her. She’s my world. She makes me feel so.. special. And loved. And God what would I do without her, anyway? Be some total loser? You betcha. But she makes me feel like a champ. God, life without her ….no, there is no life without her. Just survival. And that’s nothin’. And the coolest? She makes me know she needs me too. God, I need that so much. I see it in her eyes. It’s probably always been there. I've been so blind. But I can see now…and she did that.

I just love her more and more each day. Every day she does somethin’ that just makes me …happy, and crazier about her. God, how can one woman be so much? I still dunno what she sees in me that’s so special, but it must be somethin’. She’s way too smart to waste time on a loser. And …know what? I don’t feel like one anymore. Cause she doesn’t see me that way!

Faith is getting ready to wrap it up. It’s been light tonight, and she’s anxious to get to The Bronze. To she her baby. And to hang with her friends. Yeah… my friends, too. Wow, that’s so new! And I love it. So dumb about how I felt about Red. I can see now that sure, she loves B…damn, who wouldn’t? Exceptsome demon, or perv or somethin’. But it’s not something I should be jealous about…it’s like…how can you help lovin’ B? I sure can’t. And B loves me… and anyway, Red’s found Tara. And that is so totally cool, too. And Tara’s a kick. I mean, she so sweet…but sometimes, she just comes out with this little bit of wickedness that so totally blows you away. Red’s a lucky girl… but not nearly as lucky as this girl. Anyway, time to wrap up this party.

“Ok, come on out. I know you’re there. Just come out, I’ll dust you, it’ll be done. Ya know, if you’re gonna lurk , do it at a greater distance, ya loser” Faith calls out. She had felt the presence for awhile, but had ignored it. Wasn’t sure if a threat or not…but still…lets get this party done.

“What?” The man, emerging from the shadows says. “ No hugs for dear old dad?”

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“No hugs for dear old dad?”

Faith’s mouth takes on a sneer. Her face becomes a mask of revulsion. Dear old dad. Oh yeah. Her mouth tastes like bile.

Paul DeMarco was nothing, if not a sleaze. If you looked up “slime ball “ in the dictionary, his face was next to it. He was a wife beater, an abuser, a petty criminal. All in all, the world would be a lot better off if he had never existed. But he had. And the only good thing he had done in his life… using his sperm to create Faith, had been an accident. One he had lived with for 5 years, before deserting his abused wife and child to the tender mercies of the lower side of Boston. I have to apologize. Slime ball is too good for him. Can’t think of a word that describes him, not one that can be said in mixed company.

Faith spits out” What the fuck do you want?”

Paul says “ Now, Faith, is that any way to talk to your daddy?”

“ Daddy, my ass. Only thing you did for me was contribute sperm, and then made me and mom pay for it by using us as punching bags. So, again, what the fuck you want?” Faith sneers, and drops into a defensive posture. Trust is not real big in the DeMarco family.

“ I see” Paul Demarco snickers.” Fine. All business then. I need money, Faith. And you’re gonna get it for me”

“Right. Sure. And Ed McMahon’s gonna come by any day now with my million dollar check. Shove off, Loser. Aint got time for ya” Faith starts to turn away.

“Oh, I don’t expect you to give it to me, Faith. But you’re gonna get it for me” Paul has pulled out a pistol. Faith looks at him and laughs.

“ You asshole. You couldn’t get that fired before….” But suddenly, like a magician’s trick, a dart appears on her chest” What the…” She starts at him, but another dart, then another appears… She suddenly feels woozy, and her legs feel weak. “Whatta Fuck you do …you mutha…” Then she passes out. She collapses.

Paul DeMarco, ever the brave man, waits to be sure the tranquilizers have kicked in. Then he goes over, and to be doubly sure, kicks Faith. No reaction. He smiles.

“Finally, something that alkie mom of yours did pays off. Gonna make a bunch on you, Faith.” He grins, scornfully. “ Who’s the loser now, Faith?”

Picking her up, he tosses her on his shoulder, and carries her out.

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Buffy’s getting worried.

Way past worried. It’s getting late, and Faith is still a no show. This isn’t right. Something’s wrong. Way wrong. She has to go looking for her. She shoulda been here an hour ago. She looks around for Willow, and sees her with Tara at the bar. They are getting drinks. She goes over to them.

“Hey, guys. I’m getting worried. Faith shoulda been here long ago. I’m gonna go see if I can find her” Buffy says.

“You want us to go along?” Willow asks, seeing her friends distress.

“Naw. You guys hang here. In case she comes in, ok? If she does, give me a call on the cell” Buffy says.

“Sure, Buffy. You sure? We don’t mind “ Tara says. She’s a bit worried, too.

“ No,. I want here covered too, in case” Buffy says. She head for the door.

Buffy heads for the exit, her fear growing.

She’s gotta be ok… she’s just gotta.

 

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Paul DeMarco approaches the apartment.

It’s located in a run down part of Sunnydale, one of those non-descript hovels known in any city over 50,000.

” God, this bitch is heavy” he says. As a precaution, he tied her hands and feet. Made her more awkward to carry, but better safe than sorry…always Paul’s big motto.

He checks the apartment number, then, satisfied, he knocks. The door opens onto a security chain, and a voice with a slightly British accent asks “ Yes?”

“Gotcha your package” Paul says, impatiently.

“ Oh. Good. Come in then” the voice says. The door closes, the chain is unhooked, and the door is opened wide. Paul makes his way in.

“So, where do ya want it? “ Paul asks, wanting to get rid of Faith.

“ Just put her on the floor” The man says

Paul sets Faith, none too gently , down on the floor. He straightens up, and faces the other man.

“ So, about my money?” he asks. He wants to get gone.

“ Oh, yes. Right. Well, you did your part. Your money is over there” The man points to the table. There is an attaché case on it.

Paul walks over to the table, and opens the case. Score! Big time. Finally. Who woulda thought some worthless brat would turn out to be worth so much?

What he doesn’t notice is the second man, emerging from the shadows. He is too busy thinking about how he’s gonna spend this money. His greed is fired up at the prospects.

“ Hey, why you want her…” But he’s interrupted when the second man puts a choke hold on him, then gags him. He holds him tightly, while the first man comes over to him.

“ Did you really think we would pay you so much for such a simple job? Especially when we provided everything? You Americans really are pretty stupid” The man says. “ Anyway, we have a much better purpose for you.”

Paul DeMarco, gagged, can’t ask. But his eyes do. Then he sees the knife… it's large, and wicked sharp. His eyes go wide.

The first man grins, and then plunges the knife into Paul DeMarco. Paul struggles, but its no good. The second man has him held tightly. The first man twists the knife in him, enjoying DeMarco’s suffering. Slowly, the life goes out of Paul DeMarco, and he finally goes limp in the second man’s arms. They lay him on the floor, close to Faith.

No one will miss Paul DeMarco much. If at all.

The men check Faith. She is still out. Considering the Trank load, she should be out for another hour. Plenty of time

The first man cut’s Faith’s rope with another knife.. He then extracts the knife he used to kill Paul DeMarco with, and wipes his fingerprints off it. He takes Faith’s hand, and puts the knife in it, closing her fingers around it. Then, carefully, the eliminate all traces of their presence. After they are done, they wait for a bit. Then the second man, using his cell, calls 911 to report a disturbance at this address. They head towards the door.

The first man turns back towards Faith and grins. He says out loud

“ Goodbye, Faith. Travers sends his love. He hopes you like your new life…as long as it lasts.”

They depart, leaving the unconscious Faith with the body.

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*The Shoop Shoop Song by Rudy Clark