Surprises

Disclaimer - see part one

Part 8
It was pushing four a.m., when Faith made her way back to the hotel. Plied with drinks and a little woozy from it, she stumbled, while going up the stairs, "Fuck," she said, trying her damndest to be quiet. She tiptoed quietly on, intent on making it to her room, and not waking anyone, especially Buffy.

The gang had left a couple of hours earlier, and Faith quickly got back in the habit of being alone at a club. Unfortunately, that habit including being a little reckless, and she had had too much to drink, and almost went home with a very sweet, very attractive and yet utterly unappealing girl. Apparently a moment of lucidity found her, and she was able to make an excuse and leave. She ran her hand over her neck, couldn't leave a little earlier, could you dumbass, she thought, as she felt what was the beginning of a telltale sign that she had been doing more than talking with the chick.

She opened the door to her room, and softly shut the door behind her. Letting her eyes get adjusted to the dark, she began to remove her shirt.

"Have fun?" Faith heard and jumped.

"Fuck me, Buffy. You scared the shit out of me." She said, still not turning the light on and trying to stumble to the bed, "What are you doing in here?"

"Waiting on you," Buffy answered, "You can turn the lights on, you know, it would make it a little easier."

h mah made her way over to the bed, "No way. Lights are bad. They hurt my eyes," she said, sitting on the end of the bed to remove her shoes.

She felt Buffy shift beside her, "I don't think it's the lights, but whatever. " She watched, in vain, as Faith tried to unbuckle her pants without having to stand up, "Lay back," Buffy told her.

Before tonight, Faith would have jumped at the chance to insert any number of sexual references, but now she just obeyed. Buffy finished what Faith had started, quickly getting the pants undone. The next part was a little more difficult.

"Jesus Faith," she said, "you could help, like a little bit. What did you do, glue these on?" Buffy said tugging the pants forcefully. She was thankful it was dark. She wasn't so sure that she needed to see the truth as to if Faith ever wore underwear or not. Faith had successfully removed her top and bra, and crawled under the blanket, before bolting back up.

"Hot," she exclaimed.

"Let me get you some water or something," Buffy said, turning on the bathroom light. Handing the water to Faith she noticed a scarlet mark, just above her jugular, "God, Faith," she said jumping onto the bed to look closer, "Oh my god. Did you get attacked?"

"Huh?" Faith mumbled.

"Did you get bit. There's a mark..." Buffy suddenly stopped, and backed away, "Oh, that's a, umm...yeah. Never mind," she said, backing off the bed and standing up.\raithaith looked at Buffy backing up, and put her hand to her neck, "B, wait...it's..."

Buffy raised a hand, "It's cool. That's what it is. None of my business."

Faith rose more fully from the bed and the sheet fell to her waist, "B wait. I can explain," Buffy stopped and looked at her, "It's not what you think" shut up dumbass, that'll make her believe you, she thought.

Buffy begin leaving now, "Like I said Faith, none of my business."

She turned to leave when she heard Faith whisper, "I want it to be."

Buffy turned back around and looked at her, "what?'

"I want it to be. Your business, I mean."

"Faith," Buffy sighed, "don't..."

She couldn't finish, because Faith had risen completely from the bed and stood in front of her, "No. I do. I want it to be your business," Faith knew the alcohol had dulled her senses but she couldn't help herself. It was as if she had to do it. Had to tell her. Even if she already knew the reply.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Buffy replied, so surprised that she didn't register Faith's nudity.

Faith grabbed her arm, "Yes you do B. You are not stupid. You know exactly what I'm talking about." Faith was holding Buffy's arm, getting closer, "Aren't you even a little bit curious as to why I'm still here. Why I came to help you at all. Why I asked you to fucking dance tonight. Do you? Fuck Buffy, I'd follow you anywhere, if you'd let me. The entire time I was in prison, you were the only thought I had. At first, I thought I could kill you, and that was enough, but, I was fucking fooling myself. Every dream I had, every single one, you were in. I couldn't escape you, and I didn't want to. I still don't. I love..."

Buffy twisted free of Faith's grasp, "No you don't. Don't say that."

Faith looked at her, astonished, "It's the truth B, I do..."

"Faith," Buffy said, "I mean it don't say it."

Faith backed away from her and sat back down. She couldn't believe what she had just done, what she had just said. She suddenly felt ill, and laown.own. "I'm sorry," she whispered, "I'm just drunk."

"I know," Buffy said, about to leave.

Faith knew she should just let it go. Go to sleep, pretend it never happened. But she couldn't. And it would never be like it didn't happened. Almost as if she couldn't help herself, she said, "no, you don't. You don't know shit, Buffy Anne Summer, nothing. You can't pretend this didn't happened. I can't pretend it didn't happen."

Buffy stood over the bed, "pretend what Faith? That you didn't just profess your love for me. I can and I will. Because there is no way in hell I can deal with this right now. You had no right thrusting this on me. I'm tired, and fuck, Faith..."

Faith sat up again, "thrusting this on you? You were the one in here waiting up for me. What did you want?"

"To make sure you got home safe," Buffy replied.

Oh, fuck you B," she said, getting angry and not giving a shit, "Fuck you. Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you. You can not play the sanctimonious super girl with me. I don't need her."

"Things don't go your way, and you get all mad," Buffy said, "Isn't that right, Faithy? You get pissed, you lash out, and I clean up your mess."

"You have never cleaned up shit, Buffy, unless you wanted to."

"Faith, you drain me," Buffy said, suddenly calm, and sitting on the bed, "You physically fucking drain me. I don't know what you're doing or why you're doing it most of the time. I can't deal with all of this. I can't. I'm sorry if you don't like that, but that's the way it has to be."

Faith was still angry, "You don't get to decide, Don't you get it? You are not the all powerful decision maker here? Everything is not about you."

Buffy sighed, "but this is."

"Get out," Faith said, looking at Buffy furiously, "just get out."

"Oh, that's it Faith," she said, "just hide. That always solves your problems."

"Goddammit B, isn't that what you want me to do," Faith slammed her fists on the mattress, "You can't fucking deal. You said so yourself. So get the fuck out, and you won't have to."

Buffy stood, and began explaining again, "you have no idea..."

Faith stood as well, "shut the fuck up," she said, rather too calmly, " and get the fuck out. Now."

"I should have known. Ruffle your feathers, and you turn into the old Faith," Buffy said.

Faith advanced on her pretty quickly. Buffy, who wasn't expecting it, stood stock still as Faith grabbed her with one hand, and raised the other. She pulled her closer, "Get the fuck out of my room." She stared into Buffy's eyes, waiting to meet any challenge the girl would give her.

Buffy stared back incredulously. Watching Faith's hand, "Are you going to hit me? Is that it? Do you want to fight?"

Faith said nothing but let Buffy's arm go and backed away.

Buffy walked closer to her, "I'll leave, but when I come in here tomorrow, I want to see you gone. I mean it. I want you out of here. Away from my family, away from me. I can't control you right now, I just don't have the energy." She turned and left, leaving Faith staring at a closed door.

In her head, she was scrng, ng, what? No. I'm sorry. Anything but the silence she delivered when Buffy told her to leave. She knew she didn't have to, Angel would take her side and some of the gang probably would to. And she didn't want to, she never wanted to be anywhere but with the blond. But that didn't matter. It was what Buffy wanted, and as much as Faith hated to admit it to anyone, even herself, that was the only thing that mattered to Faith. She slowly sighed and reached for her clothes. If Buffy wanted her gone, she was gone.

To be continued...