Adult-FanFiction.org : Buffy

Everything Is Different Now	By : Declan Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female > Buffy/Faith Views: 7516 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy The Vampire Slayer Television Series. Joss Whedon does. This is done for simple fun, I'm not making any money from this.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Wake Up Call: Part 1 (Love You And Leave You)

As Buffy’s eyes fluttered awake, she felt warm and contented and a little spacey. She looked across her bed. Faith, lay on her side looking back at her with a knowing smile.
Buffy frowned, more in puzzlement than alarm. “Faith. You’re not supposed to be in my room.”
Faith’s smile widened as she propped herself up on an elbow, and Buffy watched as her t-shirt stretched taut across her chest under the covers. “Since when do I ever do what I’m supposed to? Rule-breaker, that’s me.”
Buffy didn’t answer; her mind was a little swirly with the fog of sleep. She sat up and absently pulled the covers around her, before she looked around, puzzled. Wasn’t she supposed to be doing something?
Faith chuckled and nudged her with a foot under the covers. “Riley. You were doing Riley, B. Took ya long enough. Goody two-shoes.” She said the last part with a little shake of her head.
Buffy remembered and then looked sadly at Faith. “So this...this is a dream.”
“Uh-huh.” Faith said it slowly, like Buffy was being exceptionally dim. Which apparently, dream-Buffy was. “Look at you, all wicked smart. Figured that one out all by yourself. Waking up in your room, with me. And with me all not being in a coma.”
“Is this a slayer dream?” Buffy said, her voice rising a little in hope. They hadn’t shared a slayer dream since before graduation. She dozed off a couple of times in the hospital in the hope of somehow ‘drifting’ into Faith’s dreams, but nothing had ever happened.
Faith sat up in bed with her, arching her back and stretching her arms above her head elaborately, smiling as Buffy shyly looked away. “Well, this is your dream. And y’are a slayer, so...”
“You know what I mean: are you real?” Buffy knew that was a stupid way of phrasing the question but she didn’t care.
“Does it matter? I could be ‘real Faith’ or I could be a manifestation of your repressed guilt about moving on and such. Or I could be the Djinn.”
Buffy looked sharply at the other girl, eyes narrowing.
Faith smirked and swatted Buffy’s arm lightly. “I’m not ‘kay, so chill. But the other stuff sounds like some o’ that psych bullshit you like so much, so... prob’ly not.”
Buffy sagged slightly, a curious mix of relief and disappointment came over her. “Oh.”
Faith smiled at Buffy, and leaned forward a little, her voice wheedling. “So...c’mon, what was he like? Captain Middle-America?”
Buffy felt her lips curl. “You don’t know? If you were me then you’d know.” Although she was teasing, Buffy was back to being confused again. Wasn’t there a rule that if you knew that you were dreaming, you automatically woke up?
Faith shook her head. “You’re over-thinkin’ it. Which for you is really somethin’ t’see.”
Buffy protested, “Are you sassing me? My own mind is giving me dream-sass. That’s just great. I hate my mind.”
Faith nodded sympathetically, scrunching her face. “As you prove every time ya drink one of those over-priced, syrupy iced mocha’s.”
Buffy ignored the comment and looked over at Faith, taking in her mussed dark curls, fresh face and her smile. “I miss you.”
Faith gave an exaggerated grimace. “Man, he was that bad, huh? You pining for me already?”
Buffy hit Faith with a pillow, or dream-Faith with the representation of a pillow. Stupid dream.
“Shut up. I like him, okay? You’re just trying to undermine my burgeoning self-confidence in this new relationship.”
Faith laughed huskily as she knocked away the pillow. “Okay, quit it, Blondie. I was teasin’.” As she looked over at Buffy, her expression became more serious. “It’s just... ever since the end of the world didn’t happen, y’haven’t even come by the hospital. What gives?”
Buffy looked down sorrowfully. “I just...couldn’t any more, the guilt was killing me, and I was so miserable. I mean, am I not allowed to be happy? Or... to try and be happy, at least for a little while? ‘Cause it’s actually working: it’s starting to. Is that so wrong?”
Faith shrugged as she flopped back down on the bed, hands folded across her stomach. She smiled sadly. “Beats me.” There was another pregnant pause, before her eyes met Buffy’s. “Getting towards that time. You ready?”
Buffy shook her head, not understanding Faith’s sudden change of tone. “What are you…?”
Faith looked away, and stared up at the ceiling, her face blank, smile gone. “No peace, B. No peace.”

*~~*

Buffy snapped open her eyes. Morning sunlight streamed across her face. She wasn’t in her room, this was Riley’s place, and she was in his bed. She remembered now.
Ignoring the faint flutter of panic across her mind, she turned over and saw Riley, already awake and lying on his side. He smiled at her.
Buffy relaxed. ‘Oh, Riley’s still here. That’s good. Possibly willing to raise that to great except, I’m dreaming about Faith...Bad, bad Buffy. Really have to snap out of my funk, she’s gone and there’s nothing I can do to change that.’
He gave her an affectionate smile. “Hey. What’s the matter? You weren’t expecting to see me?”
She returned his smile. “I never know what to expect.”
They looked at each other for a long moment. Buffy took in his square-cut features, his adorable smile. This was good: real, solid. She leaned forward and kissed him, nice and sweet and long. Not a bad way to start the morning.
After a moment, there was a strange electronic beeping that came from Riley’s bedside table. Buffy sniggered against Riley’s mouth before pulling away. “Your robot bird sounds hungry.”
Riley grinned as he turned over. “It’s just a reminder to take my vitamins.” He reached over, turned off the alarm before opening a bottle of pills.
“You’re kidding?” she asked slightly incredulously.
She watched as he poured out some water and swallowed a capsule. Like a little boy taking his medicine. ‘Or a six-foot something, muscle-y boy taking his medicine at any rate’.
She smiled to herself as he turned back and settled down, comfortable.
He sighed. “Sorry.”
She laughed as she reached over and affectionately played with his hair. “Quite the regimental soldier”, she teased.
“I am how they trained me.” He said it lightly, looking more like he wanted to get back to the kissing.
Buffy was curious, she remembered Willow’s questions about the Initiative from last night. If Buffy knew more, that would be good, right? “They? Who’s ‘they’?”
His face was guileless, trusting. “You know, the government. Plucked me out of Special Op training for this.”
Buffy looked pensive, deciding whether to push the issue. A gentle nudge couldn’t hurt, right? She couldn’t imagine ‘monster hunting’ was your typical job opening. “What did they tell you it was for?”
Riley smiled at her question. “Didn’t. In the military you learn to follow orders, not ask questions.”
Buffy shook her head, puzzled. “I don’t understand. Aren’t you curious about all the science and research stuff they’re doing?”
Riley looked at her before just shrugging a little. “I know all I need to know. We’re doing good here. Protecting the public. Removing the sub-terrestrial threat? It’s work worth doing.”
Buffy thought for a moment. She got that Riley was being straight-forward, as honest as he could be, but Willow was right, Buffy needed to test the information that Ethan Rayne had given them on 314, just to see how Riley reacted.
She tensed: she never really liked it when slayer stuff honed in on her personal life.
As she opened her mouth to speak the phone rang, with a grunt Riley picked it up and answered. “Riley” He sat up, surprised. “Mr. Giles? Uh, yeah sure, she’s here.”
Buffy eyes widened as she sat upright. She looked alarmed as Riley tried to hand her the phone.
She mouthed ‘No’ and shook her head before Riley insisted. He rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he pushed the phone into her hand. “Hi, Giles” she answered sweetly. “You just caught me popping in to get, uh, the psychology assignments for next week. What’s up?”
Giles’ tone was businesslike. “Ah, Buffy. Good, I’ve been trying to reach you. It’s rather urgent and something that is best discussed face to face. Could you come over as quickly as possible?”
Buffy raised her eyebrows at Riley, but nodded. “Oh, sure. Slayer-stuff?”
He didn’t give anything away, just answered brusquely. “Yes and no. Quick as you can if you please. Goodbye.”
Buffy stared at the phone after he hung up. She guessed it was some sort of emergency. Monster-rampage? Nice for him: Giles tended to spend a lot of time spinning his wheels these days, since information on the djinn had dried up.
The djinn...The Faith dream. She looked over at Riley who smiled at her, bemused. “What was all that about?”
Buffy frowned at the phone as she handed it back. “Oh, slayer-stuff. Giles was big with the vague. Looks like I have to get straight over there. Sorry.”
“Well, I deciphered that it was a business call, with my keen brain. I meant the other stuff, when I handed you the phone. I mean, Mr. Giles knows about us, right?”
Buffy shifted uncomfortably. “Uh, yeah. But he knows about the dating, not about... Its fine, y’know, Giles just looks out for me. Um, he always has.”
Riley nodded, then frowned in worry: “Is he going to give me ‘the talk’ later on?”
Buffy smirked and shook her head. “No. But he might make you some tea and ask about your intentions. I think that’s how things are done in England.”
Riley pretended to look relieved as he got out of bed. “Well, a long as I can prepare myself, I think I can manage an interrogation.”
Buffy was looking around for her top as she saw that Riley was pulling on a t-shirt. “What are you doing? I’m the one who has to leave; you don’t need to go running off anywhere. Unless of course its one of your regimented ‘morning runs’.”
He shot that boyish grin her way. “If you have to get straight over to Mr. Giles, I’ll drive you. Score some boyfriend points.”
“Oh. That’s sweet, thanks. Wasn’t really gonna enjoy that walk.” Buffy shot him a coy look, “For some reason I’m a little tired this morning.”
His smile widened. “Are those more boyfriend points?”
Buffy batted her eyelashes at him. “...Maybe.”
The moment was cut short as the phone rang again. Riley stared at it for a moment then shrugged. “Looks like they just missed us, c’mon.”

*~~*

Riding with the top down and wind in her hair was a nice way to be refreshed. ‘And the upside being it’s probably way healthier than coffee.’
Buffy liked the way Riley drove. Relaxed and at ease, not reckless, just coolly confident, as he cruised comfortably through traffic that Buffy just knew would freak the hell out of her if she were in his place. He kept one guiding hand on the wheel, and occasionally looked over at her, giving that smile of his, the one that said he couldn’t believe his luck.
Buffy hoped that she could mirror those feelings soon. And she was getting there. She liked Riley a lot: he was funny, sweet, and thoughtful. A bit... earnest sometimes, but that could be nice. Okay, so he wasn’t heart-racingly, blood-pumpingly sexy, but that was also was good, because it was a contrast to...before.
Since her birthday, Buffy had really thrown herself into her relationship with Riley, shutting out thoughts about Faith, and even neglecting her friends to some extent, which was bad, true, but it would only be for a little while. They understood that she’d been alone for a long time now, too long actually.
And if Willow ever found somebody new, or if Xander decided to ditch Anya, (here’s hoping) and find another girl, Buffy hoped that she would be a good friend and understand enough to allow them some space to explore... stuff. To lose themselves in good-time feelings, like Buffy was doing.
Riley looked over at her. “Looks kinda busy up there?”
Buffy blinked slowly before smiling. “Hmn? Oh, just my brain switching modes.” She tapped her temple, “Takes a little time to reboot.”
“Well, times up. We’re here.” He eased the car slowly up onto the curb. They were on the street next to Giles’ apartment block. Buffy looked at her watch. Record time.
“Wow. You’re fast, yet safe. How do you do that?”
“Well, when they talk about ‘manpower’, that’s what they’re usually refer... Wait, you are referring to my driving skills, right?”
She smiled sweetly. “Correct.”
After a quick glance for oncoming traffic, she opened the passenger door and stepped out onto the street, walking around the sidewalk on Riley’s side. She leaned into the car, cupping the back of his head before giving him a long, lingering kiss on the mouth. She moaned softly before pulling back and smiling again. “Thanks for the ride,” she murmured.
“Don’t mention it.” Riley looked into her eyes expectantly, “Y’know, if you want I could come with and help out? If it’s slayer related...”
“Uh-uh. No way. You already heard the call of duty, which you ignored. Now duty is probably wondering why you aren’t returning her calls and is now flirting with...honour or...shooting things, y’know, one of those other military virtues.”
Riley nodded slowly as he got that far away look in his eye. “I do enjoy shooting things.”
Buffy laughed. “So go, someone somewhere needs a shelf putting up. Man-power”, she added in way of explanation.
Riley nodded as he started the car. “I’ll call you later. Be careful.”
“Bye.” She gave a contented wave as the car pulled away and watched as he took off down the street, headed back to the college. Buffy turned to enter the apartment complex before pausing, feeling her hairs suddenly stand on end, as though she were being watched.
She frowned and looked up and down the street. There was hardly anybody around at this time of the morning. Giles’ neighbours were all a bunch of sleepy late-risers anyhow, not many joggers or rat-racers around here. Just a kid riding a skateboard on the other side of the street and a couple further down who had stopped to play with their dog, nothing dangerous.
With a shrug and a bounce, she skipped down the steps and over to his door, and without bothering to knock she walked in. After all, if Giles was phoning her, he was dressed and, ye gods, hopefully alone.
Immediately, Buffy saw Giles standing pensively by the kitchen area, unhappily munching on some sort of health food bar. Xander and Anya sat on the couch looking bored, but Xander brightened when she entered.
Spike was also there, his ‘daytime jogging’ blanket thrown over the table. He gave her his patented dirty look before looking exasperated at Giles. “Great, wonder-britches is here, now can we get down to it?”
Buffy’s good mood soured. “What are you doing here Spike? Apart from standing around, being annoying?”
“He’s being hunted,” Xander piped up, “Your boyfriend’s army buddies have got him hopping about.”
Buffy turned to Giles in disbelief as she gestured at Spike. “This. This is what you thought was an immediate emergency. ‘Cause it’s kind of the opposite.”
“Oi! And what do you think ‘appens to you when your fancy man finds out you’ve been harbouring a known terror of the underworld.”
Xander couldn’t help but chime in. “I’d put the emphasis on ‘former’ there, Spike.”
Buffy turned to Spike and smiled sweetly. “And how will he know any of that after I’ve finished sweeping up your remains?”
Spike took a step back and looked wary. “You’re bluffing.”
As usual when it came to Spike, within minutes Buffy felt like reaching for the nearest weapon. “And you’d be wise not to threaten...”
Giles sighed. “Alright, that’s enough. Buffy, Spike’s arrival is purely coincidental I assure you. My news is far more vital than that. I...had a phone call this morning...”
Anya interrupted. “He won’t say from who. But he’s been crabbier than usual, and he’s eaten four of Xander’s currency bricks.”
“Health food bars, sweetie”, Xander corrected her gently.
Anya replied. “Which you will trade for currency, I don’t care what they do.”
Buffy threw up her arms. “Will somebody please tell me why I’m here before I decide to arm myself?”
Giles rubbed his forehead. “It’s... Faith. She, ah, woke up. Last night. She beat somebody up, took their wallet and disappeared out of the hospital. No one knows where she is.”
Buffy was stunned. “Faith..?” Faith was awake. She was alive and awake and moving around. ‘And hitting people?’
Xander’s reaction was immediate agitation. “Hey now, why didn’t you tell us this sooner?”
“Because I only received the phone call this morning, and wanted to tell everybody together,” he said patiently. “I, ah, rang your dorm room earlier but there was no answer. Have you seen Willow this morning?” he asked Buffy.
She shook her head. “I came straight over. But I don’t think Faith would...”
“She might.” Xander replied anxiously, “She might be gunning for any one of us. Probably me.”
Buffy shook her head. “The first thing Faith would do is confront me. She’s not exactly low profile girl.” She hoped she sounded surer than she felt. Faith had been awake for hours and Buffy hadn’t known. She’d been... busy.
‘When am I gonna learn. Bad things happen when I have sex.’
Except she didn’t know that this was a ‘bad thing’ exactly, it didn’t feel bad. It felt... mixed. To see Faith again would be, well, a miracle. To see her, to hear her talk – two things Buffy thought she wouldn’t experience for a very long time – would be wonderful. But there was also the fact that this wasn’t ‘her’ Faith. She wasn’t sure what would happen. And then there was the whole Riley situation...
She shook off those thoughts. “First off, I’ll find Willow, check that she’s okay, then I’ll patrol, let Faith make the first move.”
Xander muttered to himself. “She does like making the first move.”
Anya finally made the connection. “Oh, then this is the girl you had sex with before me?” Xander flinched.
“No she di…!” Buffy cut in, before remembering. She looked contrite, “Actually you’re right, she did.”
Xander looked searchingly at Buffy. “Riley and his pals might come in handy when it comes to the whole ‘dealing with Faith’ thing.”
Buffy didn’t particularly like that idea. The Initiative was equipped to deal with demons, not slayers, and there was stuff she still didn’t know about them. She trusted Riley, but... No. She’d prefer to keep things untangled for now if she could.
Buffy put those thoughts to one side and looked at Giles. “Maybe. But I have to find her first. I mean, we don’t know where she is, or what she feeling... She could be terrified. Maybe she doesn’t even remember stuff. Or she does and she’s sorry, hiding and alone somewhere?”
Giles voice was tentative. “It’s possible.”
Spike chose this moment to speak up. “Judging by the quivering your boy,” he gestured at Xander, “...Is doing, I’m thinking you’re being a bit ‘glass-half full’ about this bint.”
Buffy didn’t appreciate his commentary. “Shut up, Spike.”
Xander protested. “Her ‘boy’? I’m not her ‘boy’!”
Anya put her hand protectively on his shoulder. “He’s my boy.” She nodded at Buffy, “And you be sure to make that clear to this ‘Faith’ woman, he’s moved on.”
Xander grouched. “I’m no one’s boy. I’m a man.”
Spike jeered. “A cowering man if I’m seeing things right.”
Xander jabbed a finger defensively. “Hey! You don’t know this girl, okay. She’s a crazy man-hungry skank, and she’s had a taste of the Xander. I’m not safe.”
Buffy flinched at Xander’s description and snapped. “Then go and cower in your basement.”
Ignoring Xander’s hurt, she gestured at the door and then to Spike. “As you can see we have actual important things that we actually care about. So...I think in your culture the phrase goes something like ‘Sod...’”
Spike waved a hand impatiently and jabbed at his back. “I’ve got something in my bleedin’ shoulder woman! And I’m not going anywhere ‘til it’s dealt with. Bunch o’those trigger-happy lunatics are probably on their way here now to do me in.”
Buffy wanted to talk privately with Giles, but there was zero chance of that happening with Spike throwing a cockney tantrum in Giles’ apartment. For all Buffy knew, this was what Riley had been called away for and was now on his way back.
She scowled at Spike. “Fine. Giles? Fetch me a knife, preferably one that you wouldn’t mind losing.”
“Very well” Giles said cautiously.
“You be gentle now,” Spike warned her, growling.
Buffy thought about it. “Well, I’ll be fast, which seems to be your main concern. But don’t worry; only about seventy percent of me is actually going to really enjoy this.”
Spike sneered at her. “You blonde bit...”
Buffy slammed a fist into his face so he went crashing to the floor. “Okay, maybe eighty.” She held out her hand and Giles handed her a knife. With slayer strength, Buffy should be able to dig out any bullet no problem.
She just hoped this was as easy as Faith made it look.

*~~*

Xander came back from the bathroom still looking queasy. “Okay, the tracer’s flushed. Plus the contents of my stomach...and a chunk of Spike.”
Spike groaned from where he still lay on the floor. “Soddin’ hell.”
Buffy got up from her where she was crouched. “Spike, you’re safe, now shut up and lay still.” She turned to Giles, “We need to talk.”
She then looked at Xander. “Listen, Xand. I actually do think it’s a good idea for you to lay low, Faith doesn’t know where you live so you should be safe there. I’ll patrol tonight; see if I can’t draw her out. Tomorrow we’ll see where we are and rethink stuff. Sound good?”
Xander still looked a little wide-eyed at the bloody mess that was Spike’s back. “Hey, I’ll lay so low I’ll technically be underground... Actually, I will be, so... Plus, when did you get so damn scary?”
Buffy shrugged. “What? Oh. He, uh, spoiled my morning.”
Xander looked at Buffy knowingly. “Are you sure you don’t mean Faith?”
‘Oh boy...’ “Faith...I can handle.” She turned to Giles, “Giles, could I get a minute?”
They left Xander and Anya and walked down the corridor, stepping into the privacy of his bathroom. Buffy watched Giles close the door as she tried to manage her growing anxiety. “Is there anything else?”
Giles understood her meaning immediately. “No, you know what I know. First thing this morning, I was contacted by the hospital because, as we discussed, I was to be her emergency contact if Faith’s condition ever... changed. They told me what had happened and asked me if I’d seen her, if she had made any sort of contact. She hadn’t.”
“When did they say she woke up?”
Giles leaned against the sink as he cleaned his glasses. “She disappeared between two and four yesterday morning. It appears as though they were a tad slow in checking on her. When they found that poor fellow the janitor they must have made the connection.”
“But she hasn’t... hurt anybody else?”
“Not so far.” Giles shook his head, “But the police, no doubt, will be out in force looking for her.”
Buffy screwed her determination. “Then we have to find her before they do.”
“Yes, quite. For both their sakes.” Giles hesitated, “Buffy... please bear in mind that Faith...this Faith isn’t...”
Buffy was firm. “I know Giles, I’m clear on this. But I also know... I just know she can be a good person. I just have to give her a chance.”
“Then I hope she takes it,” Giles replied gently, nodding his head in sympathy. “So, what is your plan?”
Buffy gestured to herself. “Firstly, change. Then I might blow off my classes and check out Faith’s old haunts until the sun goes down. Then I’ll patrol and act all bait-y.”
With that she walked out of the kitchen to find not only Xander and Anya had left, but Spike too, without so much as a ‘Thank you for brutally stabbing me in the back several times’.
Some people.
She turned back to Giles. “Look, I know you said things with the Djinn ended in a big, solid roadblock-thing but, with Faith being awake now and me not being able to...explain any kind of sitch to the gang, I think maybe we could uh, review or go... over stuff.” She knew she sounded way too vague about all of this.
Giles sighed. “I’m not sure there are any avenues that I haven’t already tried...”
Buffy interrupted him, nervously. “There’s something else. Last night, I had a dream...about Faith”, she ventured awkwardly. “It wasn’t, she wasn’t real, I don’t think, but she said something to me before I woke up... I think it was...’No peace’.”
“Sounds rather ominous,” Giles mused.
“It was the same thing I heard after the wish was undone. This creepy whispering voice saying it, ‘No peace’. Whatever this thing wants, Faith is a definitely part of its plan. We have to get more information, find out why it wants her.”
“Well,” Giles reasoned, “Faith is technically the slayer, the last in the line of chosen. Or, maybe it’s more than that – perhaps something about her is... unique, special.”
“Like what?”
“Well, some slayers have different abilities: they vary from chosen to chosen, girl to girl. You, for example, have been known to have prophetic dreams, useful ones as it happens, as the recent business with the Gentlemen showed. Not every slayer has that ability.”
“Score one for me”, Buffy said lightly, “but we know this genie has met a slayer before right? Marion, was it?”
“Merewyn. I remember, the Saxon girl who saved the monks from the monastery. But it seems that those accounts were absent from her Watcher’s account of her tales.”
“Well, maybe he forgot to write it down? Maybe, like me, she’s super busy all the time and that was just, like ‘a day in the life’ or something.”
Giles chewed thoughtfully on his glasses as he slipped into Watcher mode. “No. I believe that the, ah, other Giles was correct in his summations that somebody is hiding accounts of the djinn’s activities throughout history.”
Buffy feigned a scowl. “I knew you’d say that. You’re always taking his side. Always agreeing with yourself.”
Giles replied with dry amusement. “Yes, well, ah, it is nice to have an intelligent second opinion to fall back on.”
Suddenly Buffy remembered something. “The First!”
Giles gave her a puzzled look. “Buffy?”
“Ooh, I’m so stupid. That thing you said about second...The First, the second time around said something. It was ranting away in this cave it had trapped me in, and it mention the djinn, not by name, which is why I kinda, well, forgot. But it said...” Buffy racked her memory, “that he had a, um, ‘Hook in my soul’, which I guess was true, with the weakness and dizziness. And that...’the last time he got free, kingdoms fell and thousands died, plus slayers.” She smiled triumphantly, “So... look for other gaps in the slayer chronicle things... slayers that died under mysterious circumstances. Maybe you can see a pattern, one that Faith fits.”
“Perhaps,” Giles paced, “although it sounds like this thing is... imprisoned, restrained somehow. That could be of vital importance.” He frowned sternly at Buffy, “Why didn’t you mention this before?”
Buffy pouted under his gaze. “Hey, I-I mentioned it to ‘other-Giles’, I just... thought I told you too, okay. You try having two sets of memories! A-and I came up with it now didn’t I?”
Giles let out a long-suffering sigh. “Yes, well it’s something.”
“Good,” Buffy chirped as she headed towards the door, “now I’m going to play to my strengths and go and look for my possibly-psychotic ex. I’ll check in later.”

*~~*

Buffy returned to her dorm to see Willow in the corridor, obviously just returning from class. She called out to her friend in relief. “Willow!”
Willow turned her head as she opened the door. “Oh. Hey Buffy. You’re running kinda late. Busy?”
Buffy nodded as she followed her inside. “Yep. Feisty demon.”
Willow grinned as she took off her book bag and sat on the bed. “Strange nickname for your boyfriend you got there.”
Buffy smiled in return. “Riley was a perfect gentleman. Or a feisty gentleman anyway. No demony-ness to speak of.” Buffy’s smile slipped as it was replaced with apprehensiveness. “Listen, sorry about bailing on you guys at The Bronze last night.”
Willow looked unhappy. “Yeah...that’s...I’m...Don’t worry about it. So...”
Buffy curled her legs under her as she sat down on her bed opposite Willow, nervously smoothing out the comforter as she settled. “Actually I’m glad I caught you. There’s news...that I need to...Um, Faith’s awake.”
Willow blinked in surprise. “Oh...Oh! That’s...Is that why you were out so late last night?”
“No, I was just at Giles’, he called this morning. He, uh, couldn’t reach you to tell you to come over. He was worried...we all were.” Buffy glanced curiously at Willow’s un-slept-in bed. “Where were you anyway?”
Willow gave a tight, awkward smile that Buffy saw too often these days. “Just...uh, studying at the library. So, what are you gonna do, about Faith I mean?”
Buffy nodded determinedly. “The plan, as it stands, is to check out her usual haunts, find her and then... deal with her.” She looked at Willow expectantly, “Still working on the details obviously. Any suggestions?”
“Well, if I have a vote, I’d definitely like to see punching as a key part of the plan.” Willow nodded, “Punching is good.”
What else had Buffy expected?
“Yeah... Good on paper. Punching is an option, there’s no denying it. But the point is; you shouldn’t worry about Faith, okay?”
Willow made a face. “Well, I don’t. Not really. When it comes to Faith I only tend to worry about you... and me, it has to be said. Being held at knifepoint? Kinda sticks in the memory.” She sighed, “It’s a shame. That was the funnest coma ever.”
Buffy pushed down the twinge of hurt at the comment: she knew that Willow was blissfully unaware of Buffy’s many, many hospital visits, and it really wouldn’t do any good to bring them up now.
Putting on her cheery face, Buffy stood up. “Tell you what, give me a little while to freshen up and you can have a slayer escort anywhere on campus. How’s that sound?”
Willow’s smile returned. “That’d be nice. You can tell me all about last night. The Riley bits, not the, eh, oogley demon bits.”
Buffy nodded as she grabbed her towel and bathrobe from her closet and went across the hallway to the bathroom, pondering the situation as she went.
She still so clearly remembered the time when Faith and Willow and Xander had been close friends: when the brunette slayer was just one of the gang, watching their backs, and offering words of encouragement. When Buffy had trusted her to keep them safe.
And now? Both her friends seemed awfully eager for Buffy to stop Faith, by beating the crap out of her or by turning her over to the Initiative. It was understandable, but also just too depressing.
‘Well, in the end they’ll both follow my lead. If I can reach Faith, get her to trust in me, get her on my side again... and then things might not be so bad. And someday...Someday what? We’ll all hang out, big laughs? Yeah, because Xander and Angel had been best buds after Angel lost, then regained his soul...
Buffy frowned as she undressed and stepped into the shower stall.
Faulty analogy, since Xander had always disliked Angel. But Xander and Willow had gotten along fine with Faith to begin with: it was only after Gwendolyn Post that Faith decided to give everybody the cold shoulder and Buffy hadn’t really felt like forcing the issue.
Then, of course there were the things that Buffy had only caught the second time around, such as Willow’s insecurities about Buffy and Faith’s slayer bond, not trusting the strength of their own friendship. Plus there was what Faith did to Xander, both times.
But now?
Buffy poured some shower gel onto her hand as she stepped under the spray, closing her eyes as she ran her hands across her arms and shoulders. Focus on one thing at a time. First, find Faith. So, where would she go? Her old apartment? Buffy was pretty sure somebody new was living there now, so she should go there first. But afterwards...the town hall, the high school, or what was left of it, The Bronze maybe? Or should she focus on the graveyards, crypts and abandoned places that Faith would hide out in?
Buffy pictured herself searching the graveyards, combing the streets, before finding Faith alone somewhere. The brunette would turn, wary of an attack, but Buffy would talk to her and gently tell her that everything would be alright. She would tell Faith she wasn’t alone anymore, that she was safe.
Then Faith would break down, her walls cracking just like before, and Buffy would hug her and hold her close and cradle the shivering, pale girl.
She would smell Faith’s hair as she smoothed it, comforting her; she’d listen to her strong heartbeat; feel the warmth of Faith’s body pressed up against her. Buffy would tilt Faith’s chin up to meet her gaze, look deep into her eyes, now alive and sparkling, but still so sad. She would murmur soft words of sympathy and encouragement and then gently press her lips against Faith’s own, comforting her. In every unspoken way, she would show Faith that she was now protected and loved and cared for as she tenderly stroked her finger down Faith’s face, following the line of her throat as her hand followed the curves of the other girl’s form from memory...
Buffy blinked as she realised what she was doing, jerking her hands away from where they lingered, softly caressing the tops of her thighs. She let out a shameful, shaky breath.
‘What the hell is wrong with me? That...isn’t going to happen, it’s not. I’m with Riley and Faith isn’t even...’
No, Buffy wouldn’t lie to herself. She now knew that, in all likelihood, Faith had always had strong feelings for her. Maybe Faith couldn’t express them properly, but they had been there and on some level Buffy had known that. She’d always known that, but had ignored it.
‘Just...keep it simple. Find Faith, talk to her, reason with her, and explain that things are different. Then...take it from there, see what happens.’
Not daring to remain in the shower any longer, Buffy turned off the water before drying herself off quickly and stepping into her robe.
She had a busy day ahead of her.
*~~*
After dressing in an outfit that was both stylish and combat ready (just in case), the two of them left the dorm and headed for the centre of campus.
Buffy casually checked out the look she’d settled on: a cute, diaphanous pink blouse over a dark tank top, dark pants and her leather jacket. Her hair was tied back into a loose (but hopefully attractive) arrangement. She hoped that Willow hadn’t noticed Buffy carefully applying fresh lip-gloss and eyeliner to go Faith hunting, because, really, if pressed, Buffy had no answer to that question.
‘I’m just prepared. If I look good, then I feel good. And therefore… ready to fight? Urgh, my self-rationalisation sucks.’
Buffy and Willow now strolled aimlessly across campus, making their way to the quad for lack of a better plan.
Buffy glanced sidelong at Willow. “So...Where were we?”
Willow grinned. “Uh...ooh, Riley bits!”
Buffy scowled in jest. “I’m not discussing Riley’s bits.”
Still grinning, Willow made an impatient face. “No! Not his bits, his parts! I mean, the Riley parts of last night. What happened?”
Buffy beamed. “Well, after we took down the polka demon, we... there might’ve been slight... happenings.”
Willow looked like she was about to burst with excitement. “Ooh, I love this part. Where it’s all new and everything’s a discovery? So, detail? I-I mean, not details, no diagrams for this girl, just...a blurry, out-of-focus photograph is fine?”
Buffy smiled to herself. “It was...nice. It was really nice. And intense.”
“Well, that’s good. Because it’s been a while.” Willow looked sympathetically at her friend, “It’s about time you got some lovin’.”
“You’re telling me. I would’ve liked a little more, maybe, but then Giles called and I had to scramble.”
“Are you going to tell Riley about Faith?”
Buffy shrugged. “I guess I’ll have to eventually. I mean, I managed to edit her out of all the Angel-y parts I told him. Just vagueness, but no flat-out lies.”
Willow looked thrown: “Why did you do that? I mean, Angel was kinda your...well, he was the big vampire in your closet right?”
‘Because retelling it would’ve been way too painful.’

“I figured one morally shades-of-grey person from my past was enough for Riley to cope with. Dating a vampire is one thing, trying to kill somebody...”
Willow, being a good friend, jumped to her defence. “But there were circumstances, Buffy. It wasn’t like, in cold blood or anything.”
Buffy shook her head. “But it was, Will. It was bloody and pre-meditated and all those other bad words you hear on cop shows. I just... I don’t know if Riley would understand.”
“He would if he met her”, Willow grumbled, “but I get it. It’s a strange situation. And at least you’re not alone in this. The police are all over the place. Hey, maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll nab her. With tasers and batons and stuff. Throw Faith in the slammer before you find her.”
Buffy mulled the image in her mind as the two of them walked down the quad steps.
Faith was too smart to just walk around in broad daylight. And besides, Buffy doubted the cops would be any sort of match for the other slayer. They’d just end up getting hurt, or worse, which would fall into the category of very bad news.
Buffy skirted her way past a group of flyer waving students as she and Willow approached the centre of the quad. In front of them people gathered around the campus notice boards, Willow seemed to be content to wander over there and browse.
Buffy nodded thoughtfully as she decided to humour her friend. “I suppose. The pressure is definitely high. Though if I were her, I’d get out of Dodge post-haste.”
The girl facing the notice board in front of her turned around and Faith was standing there, dressed all in black, eyes bright and alive and cold. “You’re not me.”
Buffy froze. ‘Or, could be I underestimated Faith’s smartness.
- 1
- 2
- 3
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Everything Is Different Now