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Heart's Desire	By : PencilNeck Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female > Buffy/Faith Views: 9582 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 33
- 34
- 35
Chapter 34:�
Dance with Me

�Buffy!��
Giles catches up to her in the hall.�
�I�d like to run something past you.�

�Can you walk it past me?�� Buffy stops, leaning against the wall.� �I�m feeling a little slow.�

�If you like the idea, I�ll announce it at
lunch.�� Giles flips through his
agenda.� �Give everyone some time.�

�Time to do what, exactly?�� Buffy furrows her brow.

�Find a date, obviously.�� Giles twitches his lip.� �One can�t have a Valentine�s Day Dance
without dance partners.�

�Valentine�s Day?�
Already?�� Buffy blinks.� Calculates.�
Then squints at him suspiciously.�
�Who are you and what have you done with
Giles?�

�I assure you Buffy, I am myself.�� Giles raises his brow.� �Our morale needs boosting.� Our spirits need lifting.� The bonds that keep us together need to be
reinforced!��

He pumps his arm with enthusiasm.� �And from my experience with teenaged
girls,� Giles gives her a fatherly smile.��
�Whatever they may be up against, nothing will keep them from a good
party.�

�I didn�t know I was such a good influence.�� Buffy smiles up at him affectionately.� She allows herself a moment to
reminisce.� �It�s a great idea.��

�Excellent.��
Giles adjusts his glasses.� �I�ll
get on it then.�

�Who is she?��
Buffy tilts her head.� �The one
that�s got you all about the cupids and the cinnamon hearts?�

�I�ve no idea what you�re talking about.�� Giles backs away down the hall in a
hurry.� �Very busy.� Must go.�

Buffy gives the wall a conspiratory look.� �There
is so totally a �she�.��

********************

Kennedy
pulls the rental car up to the curb.�
Checks the address Giles gave her against the number marked sloppily on
the bricks in faded white paint.�
Satisfied, she steps out of the car.�
Hits the lock button twice to hear the short beep of confirmation.� Squinting against the flickering floodlight,
she walks up the unkempt path and into the lobby.� Studies the ancient intercom.� Finally she finds the right button, and
presses it.

�Who�s
that then?�� The voice is gruff, and
male.

�My
name is Kennedy��

�We
don�t want any.�� He cuts her off.� �Clear off!�

She
presses the button again.

�Go
away!�

�Listen!� You called us, buddy!�� Kennedy spouts off before he can hang up
again.

She
waits.� The only answer she gets is a
light click.� He�s unlocked the door.

Kennedy
takes the stairs two at a time.�

Reaching
the apartment door, she finds it open.�
The smell of musty air and grease hang heavy.� The lights are all off, or they haven�t paid
the electric bill in a while.

�Hello?�� Kennedy pushes the door open, and the light
from the hall spills in.� �Mr. Laramie?�

She
takes a step into the foyer.

�He�s
gone to his room.�� A quiet voice from
the darkness.

�Brigitte?�� Kennedy takes another step.� �My name�s��

�You�re
from that place.�� The voice wavers.� �You�re here to take me away.� They said� they take freaks like me and
they��

�You�re
not a freak.�� Kennedy peers into the
dark.� Finds a shape.� �You�re special.� And I won�t take you anywhere you don�t want to
go.�

The
shape takes a step forward, becoming a girl about the age of thirteen.� Long mousy brown hair, too skinny to be
pretty.� She holds her arm across her
with one hand.� She won�t look up.

�When
did it start?�� Kennedy tries to build a
connection.

��bout
three weeks ago.�� Brigitte stares down,
shifting on her feet.� �My mate at school,
he pushed me.� I-I pushed back.� He just� flew!�

�Is
he alright?�� Kennedy has to ask.

�He
didn�t even bleed.� He was just angry
because he cried.�� Brigitte scoffs.� Then gets uncomfortable.� �But his parents made a big thing of it� and
now�� Everyone�s afraid of me.� Even me Dad��

�Your
father, is he��
Kennedy doesn�t know how to be tactful about this.� �Does he� hurt you?�

�No!� Never!��
Brigitte�s eyes get watery.� �He l-loves
me� we used to go out, have a laugh.� But
now��

�He
ignores you.�� Kennedy growls.�

�Yeah.�� Brigitte�s tears start their downward
journey.�

�Hey�� Kennedy takes one step, reaching for her
hand.� �I�m starved.� Let�s you and me go grab some food.� Talk about some stuff.�

Brigitte
looks down the dark hall, fixed on the closed door at the end.

�We
can bring something back for him, if you want.��
Kennedy offers.� �My treat.�

Brigitte
smiles.� Just a little lift at the
corners of her mouth.� Her bony fingers
land gently in Kennedy�s palm.

It�s
enough for Kennedy.� She grins back.

********************

�You
have enough stakes?�� Buffy flits from
the window to the bed.

�Yes.�� Faith rolls her eyes.� Finishes tucking her pant leg into her boot.

�How
about the scythe?� Is it sharp?�� Buffy reaches for it.

�It�s
magic!� Of course it�s sharp!�� Faith holds it up over Buffy�s head.� Points at the bed.� �Go.�
Sit.�

Buffy
sits on the bed, knitting her fingers into knots.

�What
about your team?� Are they ready?�� Buffy�s brows gather in the centre of her
forehead.� �A sloppy team makes for
sloppy slayage.�
I should tag along.� Watch your
back.��

Buffy
stands up.� Faith walks over, pushes her
in the chest.� She falls back down with a
bounce.

�It�s
a routine patrol.� Nothing I can�t
handle.�� Faith stares her down.� Turns back to her weaponry.� �With my luck, it�ll be a quiet night.�

�Aha!� You�re going looking for badness!�� Buffy leaps up, beginning to pace.� �You�re gonna jump
in without thinking!� You�re gonna put yourself in danger!� God, you�re gonna
get yourself��

�That�s
it!�� Faith storms back to Buffy.� Grabs her firmly with both arms.� �Get a grip, B.� Right now!�

�I�m
gripping!�� Buffy struggles.� �I�m gripping the fact that you�re so eager for
some action that you don�t care if� mfffff!�

Faith�s
put her in a headlock.� One had firmly
over Buffy�s mouth.�

�Back
in the day, I�d have hit ya.� And you�d have bitten my hand off by
now.�� Faith whispers, chuckling.� �I�d say we�ve both grown.�

Faith
moves Buffy against the wall.� Turns her
around, facing her.� Keeps her hand over
Buffy�s mouth.

�Now,
here�s the deal.�� Faith looks into
Buffy�s eyes.� �I�m gonna
go out on my patrol.� When I come back
without a scratch, you�re gonna never worry about
this with me again.�

�Bu-hfff!�� Buffy tries
to argue.� The hand says no.

�No
buts!�� Faith takes a step back, leaving
Buffy free to scowl.� �We do what we
do.� No point in working yourself up
about it.� Whatever this is, it can�t
touch us.�

�How
can you�� Buffy wants to scream.� Which makes her want to
cry.

�No.�� Faith cups Buffy�s chin.� Flexes her thumb over the soft skin.� �This ends now.�

Faith
gives Buffy a lopsided grin.� Grabs up a
set of knives, tucking them in her belt.

�Later!�� Faith saunters toward the exit.

�Faith!�� Buffy shouts after her.�

�First
rule.�� Faith pauses at the door.� �I remember.�

Buffy
rewards her with a rough smile.� It�s
real but filled with worry.

She
watches Faith go.� Long after the door
has closed and the sound of footsteps have echoed away.

She
sits on the bed.� Stares at the ceiling.

�Don�t
die.�

********************

Willow
hops nervously at the entrance to the dining hall.� Her eyes flit from one end of the room to the
other.� Her hands, damp and itchy, rub
against the ice blue fabric of her dress.�

�Look
at us!�� Buffy walks up behind her.� �All gussied up, with no dates in sight.� Memories of high school.� They should bottle it� and unh, bury it
somewhere.� Cos really, nobody wants
that.�

�Wow,
Buffy!�� Willow takes in the sight of her
friend.� �You look amazing!�

Buffy
fiddles with the chain of her bracelet.�
Looks down at the slinky, pale gray dress she�d agonized over for the
past week.� She smiles, checking out her
friend.

�Thanks
Will.� You look pretty amazing
yourself.�� Buffy touches Willow�s
dress.� �Silk?� I love silk!�

�Uh-huh,
for all the good it�s doing.�� Willow
frowns.� Takes another look around.

�Ahh.� No Kennedy, no happies for Willow.��
Buffy leans against the wall.�
�She�ll show.� She�d be crazy not
to want to be rubbing up against you in that dress.�

�Buffy!�� Willow looks down, embarassed.� But smiles at the compliment.

�C�mon,
Will.� That was tame.�� Buffy teases.�
�That was like, the PG version of what I was gonna
say.�

�Faith
is a bad influence on you.�� Willow
scolds.�

�Am
I rubbing you the wrong way?�� Buffy
stops to giggle.� �You think Faith�s
rubbing off on me?�

�Buffy!�� Willow turns a deep and interesting shade of
red.� �Enough with the� rubbing!�

�But
I have more!�� Buffy starts to elaborate.

�Punch?�� Willow hastily tries to distract Buffy with
liquid refreshment.

�Sure.�� It works.

Willow
grabs two cups.� They stand awkwardly and
silently, staring out at the people starting to file in.� Minutes tick by.

�Oh
god.� We�re those girls.�� Buffy gasps.�

�What
girls?�� Willow doesn�t know.

�Those
girls that can�t function in social settings without our dates!�� Buffy is horrified.

�Oh,
you mean those girls that hang out by the refreshment table so they don�t look
like�� Willow�s eyes bulge.� ��total losers!�

�Exactly!�� Buffy shrieks.

�We
can�t be those girls!�� Willow
denies.� �We hated those girls!�

�I
know!�� Buffy�s incredulous.� She bangs her paper cup down for effect.�

�All
dependent on their men.�� Willow
agrees.� �Waiting for their stupid
boyfriends to show up and validate their existences��

�Ladies!�� Xander walks up to them,
open armed.

�We
don�t need you!�� Willow points at
him.� �We�re perfectly valid on our own,
you know!�

Xander
opens his mouth, about to ask for an explanation.� Then he just shrugs, lowers his arms and
turns.� He walks into the crowd.

�You
sure told him.�� Buffy nods.

�Damn
skippy.��
Willow puts her hands on her hips.

The
silence between them starts off comfortable.�
Grows large and cumbersome.� The
weight of it finally gets to them.

�Xander!�� In unison, they both rush off to find him.

********************

�You
cost me ten bucks.�� Xander whispers into
Buffy�s ear.

�Then
you and Willow should stop betting on my love life.�� Buffy smirks.�

�And
Kennedy.�� Xander gestures to an out of
the way table, where Willow and Kennedy are happily smooching away.

�Kennedy?�� Buffy shakes her head.� �You guys suck.�

Xander
spins her out and pulls her back.� It�s
rather elegant.

�Happy?�� It�s all that matters to him.

�I
would be if she�d get here.�� Buffy looks
out over Xander�s shoulder.�

�I�m
singing the same song.�� Xander grins his sloppy grin.�
�Renee�s on the late shift.�

�I�m
glad you guys worked it out.�� Buffy lays
her head on his shoulder.� �She�s good
for you.�

�Truer
words were never� Hey!�� Xander objects
to the arm forcefully pulling him away.�
Until he sees who it is.�

�Hey
yourself.�� Faith wraps an arm around
Buffy�s waist.� Whispers in her ear.� �Wicked dress.��

�Thanks.�� Buffy blushes down to her toes.� �You too��
I mean�� You look��

�Hot.�� Xander speaks the truth.

�I
thought so.�� Faith grins, looking down
at her black pinstripe trousers, heeled boots and loose backless v-neck.�

�Modesty,�
Xander pecks her on the cheek before she can step away.� �Such an attractive quality.�

�Eyes
front, Harris!�� Renee spins him around.

�Yes,
ma�am.�� Xander gives his girl a quick
kiss.� �Although technically I can only
obey half that order.�

�Details,
details.�� Renee pulls him away.� Turns to the girls.� �I�m stealing him.� See ya!�

�Later!�� Faith rolls her eyes.

�Speaking
of late-itude��
Buffy inquires.� �Why are
you?��

�Had
a thing.�� Faith pulls Buffy close.� �You�ll forgive me.��

�Unless
it involves many feet rubbings and chocolate feedings,� Buffy warns.� �I wouldn�t be too sure.�

�You
won�t stay mad.�� Faith pulls Buffy to
the dance floor.� �Trust me.�

Buffy
does.

********************

Giles
watches the crowd.� He sips delicately at
the overly sweet punch, eyes wandering from face to face.� Catches movement at the open entrance.� A man in a dark tuxedo.� A young woman, breathtaking in a slim black
dress.� Her short boyish hair wavy and
dark.� Clearing his throat, he makes his
move.

�Ah,
Mr. Campbell.� Delighted you could make
it.�� Giles grabs his hand, shaking it
enthusiastically.� His smile a little too
wide.� �How are things at the bookstore?�

�Ach,
same as ever!� Little mongrels coming in,
messing about.� All mooning over this
Twilight fella.�
Ruddy sparkling vampires, have ye ever heard such a load of
nonsense?�� Mr. Campbell wipes at a red
stain on his white shirt.� �Have ye met
my grandson, Colin?�

A
tall, chiseled young man strides up behind them.

�Colin,
I presume.�� Giles reaches for his hand.

�Aye.�� The boy takes it, gripping hard.� �Thank ye for the
invitation.�

�It�s
nothing, really.�� Giles winces, taking
his hand back and shaking out the pain.�
He spots the couple from before, and steers the Campbells
in their direction.

�Dawn!�� Giles calls out.� The woman in black turns.

�Hey
Giles!�� Dawn grins.� �This is awesome!� Did you see my dress?� Andrew and I were shopping for days and then
I saw this and it was all over.�

�I
already had this.�� Andrew steps up from
behind her, fidgeting in his tuxedo.� �I
wanted Timothy Dalton from License to Kill, but
Massimo said��

�Dawn,�
Giles makes the introductions.� �This is
Mr. Campbell and his son Colin.�

�Hiya-yaahhh�� Dawn
notices Colin.� Her eyelids flutter.� She stands up straighter.� Extends her hand.

�This
is the lovely lass I was telling you about.��
Mr. Campbell ribs his son.� �More
hours in the bookstore, m�boy!� Told ye it�d do ye
good!�

Dawn
smiles shyly.� Colin returns it for a
moment, taking her hand and bowing to kiss it.�

�Like
father, like son.�� Dawn murmurs,
blushing lightly.�

�Now,
dear.� Has Colin told ye
that he�s away at college?�� Mr. Campbell
asks, dragging the two young people aside.�
�No?� Come on lad!� No need to be shy��

�Andrew,
could I have a word.�� Giles escorts
Andrew a few feet away.

�I�m
supposed to stay with Dawn.�� Andrew eyes
the refreshment table.� �She�s my date.�

�Yes.�� Giles takes off his glasses.� Pulls the handkerchief from his breast
pocket.� Wipes down the lenses.� Places both in his pocket.� �Regarding that.�

Giles
leans in.

�There
is something I wish to explain to you.� I
would very much like it if you remained silent for the entirety of the
conversation, unless you are asked a direct question.�

Andrew
looks up.� Notices that a small crowd has
gathered behind Giles. �He points.

�I
am aware.�� Giles steps back.

�What
are your intentions toward Dawn?�� Buffy
steps in, arms crossed.

�I
love Dawn!�� Andrew protests.� �She�s smart like Willow, and funny like
Xander, and cool like Faith, and brave like you!� But she�s better, cos
she doesn�t gang up on me or ignore me��

�You�re
right.�� Willow steps up.� �Dawn is the best part of us.� And we would hate to see her in trouble, or
in pain.�

�Right.� Because there�s this thing I like to
call�� Xander steps in, pausing for
dramatic effect.� �The Chain of Pain.�

Andrew
gulps.

�Dawn
gets hurt?� That makes us all hurt.�� Xander comes threateningly close.� �And you know what happens next?�

�I
hope nothing with blood.�� Andrew closes
his eyes.� �Blood makes me queasy.�

��Then you�d best take special care of her
while she�s under your charge.�� Giles
gives him a menacing glare.

�Because
I hear even a whisper about something happening to Dawn?�� Faith gives her best psycho impression.� �A hang nail, even.� I�m coming to bring the pain right to your
door.�

�We�re
all coming.��
Willow smiles.� �Remember the last
time I got miffed at you?�

�Was
that a direct question?�� Andrew shakes
in his Italian boots.�

�I
believe that was rhetorical.�� Giles
looks back at Dawn.� She seems fairly
distracted by Colin�s broad shoulders.�
�This is not.� Do you comprehend
what we�re telling you?�

Andrew
pauses.� A glimmer of understanding
reaches his face.

�I think I do.�� Andrew stands up straight.� �You�re trusting
me.� And you�re worried.� But I�ll take care of her, I promise.�

Buffy steps up, her lips
raised in a smile that�s both sad and grateful.

�Thank you, Andrew.�� She puts out her hand.� She expects him to shake it.

Instead he raises it to his
lips.

�Non � affatto,
mia ragazza.�� Andrew smiles proudly.�

�Um, ew!�� Buffy
yanks her hand back.� The group of them start to walk away.

�Remember!�� Xander feels unfulfilled.� He turns back for one last glare.� �Chain of Pain!�

�It�s over, Xander.�� Willow pushes him away.

�You guys can still come visit!�� Andrew
calls after them as they disperse.�

********************

�What
was that all about?�� Adia
gestures behind Giles.

�Oh,
nothing really.�� Giles smiles briefly,
gathering more sickening punch into a paper cup.� �Small unh� personal matter to attend to.�

�I
see.�� Adia
holds out her empty cup.�

�Are
you enjoying yourself?�� Giles fills the
cup, careful not to spill.�

�I
am.� Very much.�� Adia takes a
sip.� It�s much too sweet.� �Although I do feel a bit out of place.� The music� is� how do I
say��

�Abhorrent?�� Giles helps.�
�Ghastly?�

�I
was not going to say that!�� Adia laughs.� �I
might have thought it.� But I wasn�t
going to say it.�

�Well,
let�s see what we can do about it.��
Giles puts his drink down.�
Strides over to the booth and has a word with the D.J.

Adia watches him flip through the young man�s collection of CD�s.� He pulls one out, presses it into the man�s
hands.� It looks as though Giles is
giving him a stern talking to.� The D.J.,
looking suitably terrified, clutches the disk and nods.� Giles turns, walking toward Adia with a smile on his face.

�Bloody
pillock doesn�t even know what he has.�� Giles looks disgusted.

�And
what is it you asked him to play?�� Adia asks.�

�And
now�� The D.J. tries to sound smooth
over the microphone.� �By special
request, something a little different.�

�Some
music, for a change.�� Giles hears the
first few notes.� He extends his
hand.� �If you would do me the honour.�

�Oh,
this song!�� Adia
smiles, full of nostalgia.� �It is so
beautiful��

Giles
leads her to the dance floor.� Mick Jagger sings softly against the straining violins.� They dance in the way they have been taught;
his hand on her waist, hers on his shoulder.�
Giles leads her around in a refined half-circle.

The
crowd on the floor changes from a throbbing chaos to organized pairs, watching
and trying to emulate the older couple.�
As the last strains of Tears Go By fade out, the D.J. manages to appease
Giles further by digging out some more classics.� He pulls Adia
closer, changing his rhythm effortlessly.�

�I
know this�� Adia
starts.

�Whiter
Shade of Pale.�� Giles answers
immediately.� �I must have terrified the
poor bastard.�

�All
the better for us.�� Adia
looks up at him.� A chill runs through
her.

�Are
you alright?�� Giles takes a step
back.�

�Very
much so.�� Adia
takes a step forward.

From
across the floor, Buffy watches them carefully.�
She turns to Faith with a definitive nod.

�I
knew there was a �she�.�

********************

�These
shoes are evil!�� Buffy hops in place, trying
to take them off.� �My blisters have
blisters!�

�So
why�d you buy �em?��
Faith offers her arm.�

�They
were pretty and they went with my dress.��
Buffy takes it, steadies herself.�
Pulls the shoes off with relative ease.�
Dangles them in her fingers as they continue walking down the hall.� �And then you said my legs looked lickable�� And then
my mind went a little fuzzy.� Next thing
I knew, I was at the register.�

�So
it�s my fault.�� Faith nods solemnly.

�Yuh-huh.�� Buffy
agrees.

�Then
I should do something to fix it.�� Faith
doesn�t give Buffy a chance.� She scoops
her up and carries her to the end of the hall.

Buffy
squeals and fakes dissent with some lame kicks and weak slaps.� She�s actually quite happy with the
arrangement.

Faith
sets her down, fumbling for her key.�
Once she manages to unlock the door, she turns to Buffy.� There�s an entirely new look on her face.

�Can
you�� Faith fidgets.� �Unh� close your eyes?��

Buffy
realizes that the look she�s getting is embarrassment.� Maybe even a little shyness.� She smiles indulgently at Faith.� Does what she�s told.

Faith
leads her blindly into the room.� Just a
few steps.

�So�� Faith forgets her lines.� �You can open �em,
I guess.�

Buffy
opens her eyes.� She looks around.

She
wants to cry.

Faith
has redecorated.� A hundred tiny hand-cut
construction paper hearts have been taped sloppily on the wall.� Petals strewn on the floor from more than
just roses.�

�I
thought maybe you were probably kinda over
roses.�� Faith squirms.� �Everybody gets those, you know?� So I grabbed a whole bunch of different
ones��

Buffy
looks over to the bed.� Petals cover the
sheets.� Something pink nestled between
the pillows.� She leans over to inspect
it.

Then
bursts out laughing.

Faith
has taped white construction paper wings onto a pink pig that more than
resembles Mr. Gordo.� Buffy scoops it up,
hugging it tight.� Still unable to keep
her laughter in check.

�What
happened to cherubs?�� She giggles.

�Creepy.�� Faith shrugs.�
�Fat babies that care about who�s doin�
who?� Seriously wrong.�

�And
the pig?�� Buffy kisses its little pug
nose.

�Made
sense at the time?�� Faith looks
uncomfortable.�

Buffy
loops her arms around Faith�s neck.� Her
head resting on Faith�s shoulder.�

�Something
about �when pigs fly�, I�m guessing.� �Buffy zooms the pig
around behind Faith�s back.�

�Something
like that.��
Faith mumbles, trying to pull away.�

Buffy
stops flying the pig.� Pulls back from
Faith.� Looks at her very carefully.�

�This
is the best thing anyone�s ever done for me in the everness
of ever.�� Buffy stares Faith down.� Then thrusts the pig in her face.� �So stop with the mopey
and help me name him.�

�Bacon?�� Faith grins, both at her joke and at Buffy�s
words.

�Rude!�� Buffy smacks her with the pig.� One of the wings falls off.� �See what you did?�

�What
I did?�� Faith rolls her eyes.� �You�re the one introducing him to violence!�

�You�re
the one planning to eat him!�� Buffy pets
the pig�s head.�

Faith
raises a brow.� Takes a step
forward.�

�Him?� No.��
Faith�s eyes make her intentions clear.

Buffy
stutters.� Blushes.

Exactly
what Faith expects.
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Heart's Desire