Faith peeked in the window. The scoobies were huddled around a collection of books having a heated discussion over something. Faith felt a tug at her jacket.

"C'mon." Buffy grabbed her hand and pulled Faith in behind her.

"Buffy!" Willow brightened.

"Hey there Buffster. Faith." Xander nodded at the slayers. Tara gave a friendly wave and Anya ignored them.

"Hi guys. So what's with the research mode? In case you've forgotten, `Hi, Buffy's not a cave person anymore'... No thanks to you of course, Xander." Buffy looked pointedly at Xander who ducked his head down sheepishly. Giles stepped toward them, smiling.

"Yes, they've told me. It's a relief to have you back, and Faith I believe I still owe you some money. You did a fine job. Thank you." Giles pulled out his wallet while Faith shook her head and tried to wave him off.

"Uh... No. No, that's alright." She blushed with shame, glancing over at a suddenly miffed Buffy.

"You charged him?!" Buffy was incredulous. "How could you?! Faith! And here I thought you did it because you cared about me!" She shoved the stunned brunette and moved toward her, outraged. "So Faith, how much? Hmmm? What were you charging my watcher? How much? Are you going to give him back some of that money, considering you took your fee out in trade?!!! HOW MUCH AM I WORTH TO YOU?!" Buffy advanced on Faith, shouting louder with each step. The younger slayer soon found herself in a corner, facing a furious little blonde.

"Uh... B, it wasn't like that. I mean, it was... but... Look ya gotta believe me... I...um... I..." Faith stumbled trying to move back further.

"WHAT?! WHAT IS IT THEN, FAITH?! YOU WHAT?!!!"

"I... I love you. I didn't before... I don't think I did... maybe... but... but then... I was taking care of you and... and I... and I just knew I did... that I love you... an'... and then nothing else mattered, ya know... I wasn't doin' it for money. I was taking care of you `cause... `cause I wanted to. Because I love you. I forgot about the deal with Giles. Honest, I did... don't be mad B... c'mon... please..." Faith swallowed hard, fearful that Buffy wouldn't believe her.

"It wasn't much, Buffy." Giles offered, feeling bad for Faith who now looked on the verge of tears.

"She must've spent it mostly on food. We kinda ate Faith out of house and home... or apartment, I guess." Xander chuckled trying to lighten the mood as Buffy faced off with the younger slayer.

"Buffy.." Willow tried as well, but Buffy interrupted.

"Stay out of this! It's between me and Faith." She took hold of Faith's jacket and yanked her into the workout room, closing the door. "Give me your wallet." Buffy held out her hand.

"Yeah. Okay." Faith passed it to her quietly. Buffy opened it, but there was no cash... just a credit card, her license, and a credit card receipt. Buffy pulled out the receipt and looked at it.

"Faith, are you crazy?! How could you waste so much money?! And at a toy store?! Why'd you buy that crap?"

"You were crying, B. What was I suppose to do?" Faith shifted from one foot to the other, embarrassed.

Buffy sighed, exasperated. "Ugh! What am I going to do with you?"

"I dunno." Faith looked down at the floor.

"That was rhetorical." Buffy shook her head, smiling at the nervous brunette. "Come here Faith."

Faith edged toward her. "You're not gonna hit me again, are ya? `Cause I'm not so sure I'm okay with that. My head still hurts from before."

"No, I'm not going hit you... although I probably should." Buffy teased, waiting patiently for her to come close. "How's this?" She pressed her lips to Faith's, slowly moving them along their soft fullness. *Mmmm... she's delicious... yum...* Buffy savored the taste and texture of Faith's mouth, falling against the taller girl.

"B? B?"

"Huh???" Buffy opened her eyes slowly and stared up at Faith who was grinning down at her.

"B, Giles is at the door."

"What?... Oh. Yeah. Okay. I'm good. Tell him to come in."

"He is." Faith rolled her eyes as Giles cleared his throat again.

"Ahem..." He stood just inside door. "Excuse me... If you two have worked things out, we really have that other issue that needs addressing."

"Yeah, the vamp cult!" Faith grunted. She still had a score to settle with them. Buffy nodded dumbly, still leaning up against her with a dazed expression. The little blonde was gazing at Faith's mouth as she spoke. "So whaddya want? We should go finish `em off, right?" Faith asked eagerly.

"Yes, that would be one solution. Buffy, do you have any suggestions?"

"Huh? What? Yes. Uh... what she said." Buffy smiled dreamily at Faith who glanced over at Giles and merely shrugged.

"Could you two step out here please." The watcher was a bit unnerved by Buffy's clinginess.

"Yeah, sure." Faith gently pushed Buffy off and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" The small slayer trailed after her.

"B, did you check out or somethin'? Geez!" Faith snickered, as she walked over to sit down with the others while Buffy remained in the doorway pouting.

"Okay, now that everyone is here." Giles began cautiously. He noticed Buffy glaring at Spike who had just entered.

"What's he doing here?" The tiny blonde growled.

"Keep your knickers on. I was invited... Jus' here to help out, luscious." He leered at Faith.

"Don't call her that?!" Buffy tensed up.

"Naw, it's okay B. It's kinda flattering. Besides me and Willy the bloody have an understanding, don't we?" She made a clicking sound and winked.

"Alright! That's it! Get out!" Buffy strode over and stepped in front of him. "We don't need his help!"

"Buffy, please." Giles sounded exasperated.

"He's been stalking her since she got back in town, and I don't like it."

"Huh?!" Spike and Faith exclaimed, looking surprised. The rest of the scoobies scooted their chairs away from the trio.

"Whaddya mean? Stalking me?"

"Yeah... uh... what... um... what are you talking about?... Are ya off your nut there, blondie?" Spike stumbled over the denial, nervously.

Faith's eyes narrowed. "You been following me, bleach boy?! Have you?!"

He scooted away from Faith, holding his hands up. "Now let's not get excited here."

"I don't get it. Why?! What were you up to?! Gonna catch me off guard and have a slayer drink, were ya?!" The brunette stepped close and yelled in his face.

"No, that's not why. Really. I just wanted to make sure that you were okay. I usually looked out for the little blonde one o'er there, but then you came to town and I felt sort of obligated." He stammered, blushing.

Faith considered him for a moment then stepped back, turning to look at Buffy who watched eagerly. Obviously the tiny blonde expected Faith to at least punch him.

"How would you know that he's been following me?" The dark slayer's eyes settled on Buffy.

"What? Why does that matter? He was. He just admitted it. Doesn't that bother you?!" Buffy was put off by the question.

Faith peered over at Spike and shrugged. "Naw, not really. Besides he saved my ass the other night."

"Damn right!" Spike straightened up.

"Enough!" Buffy yelled. She clenched her hands at her sides, and her face reddened. "It bothers me! Having some pervy vampire following around a slayer isn't good policy! And I'm not going to tolerate it anymore! The decision has been made! Come here, Faith!"

Faith arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. She sat down and reached for a coffee, turning to Willow. "Hey Red, is this one mine."

"Uh... yeah. We have doughnuts too." Willow awkwardly pushed the box toward her.

"FAITH!!!"

*****
Part 22: I Get The Sword

"Whaddya want B?! Do you want me to stake him?...hmm?... Is that what you want?!.. Why?!...for following me?!" Faith snickered at Buffy's reluctance to respond. "Naw, I didn't think so... `cause then I'd have to stake you too, wouldn't I? You both were doin' the same thing. `Cept lil ole Spikey's reasons seem purer then yours." Faith shook her head as if disappointed and reached past Tara for a doughnut.

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?! PURER?!" Buffy raged at the last bit.

"Buffster, I don't think Faith meant anything by it. I..." Xander bravely spoke up, but she cut him off mid-sentence.

"How would you know what she's talking about, Xander?! Because you slept with her once?! Is that why?!"

"Xander!" Anya screamed, hurt by the revelation. She got up and ran from the room.

"Anya, wait!" He rushed after the her.

Faith gave Buffy a disgusted look. "Nice job, B. Look I'm getting outta here before things get any uglier. G-man call me if you need help. Later." She headed for the door, but Buffy stepped in front of her.

"We're not through here!"

"Yes. We are!" Faith glanced down at Buffy's hand on her arm. "Move your hand before I do it for you."

"STOP IT, THIS INSTANT!" The ex-librarian shouted over the arguing.

The slayers stood glaring at each other.

"Faith, please come and sit back down." Giles voice softened.

"Fine!" Faith spoke through gritted teeth. She pulled her arm free and made her way back to the table. "We can do this now! This is what you want, B?... to argue with an audience?!"

Buffy's frown deepened.

"I'll go first." Faith sneered at the older slayer. "So B tell me what were you keepin' tabs on me for?! Still didn't trust me, right?!"

Buffy remained silent.

"Yep. Knew it." She glanced over at Giles. "Did you tell her to spy on me?"

"Um... No. No Faith, I wasn't aware of it." He fumbled with his glasses which he had been cleaning. Putting them on, he squinted at Buffy disapprovingly. "Buffy, is that true? Were you checking up on Faith even though I specifically asked you to leave her alone?"

"I wasn't exactly checking up on her?" Buffy shrugged as all eyes turned to her. "I was just... bored." She cringed at the ridiculousness of her own lie. "What I mean is, it was slow where I was patrolling." She carefully chose her words. "I had to go where the action was; it just seemed to follow Faith." The little blonde left out the part about slaying in record time and then racing across town at a breakneck speed just to `follow the action'.

Most of `the action' turned out to be her ogling Faith and, of course, her witnessing Spike ogling Faith. Luckily, all this was taking place in one of the least frequented cemeteries in town. Thanks to Buffy's personal intervention, it was the cemetery that Faith had been assigned.

`Least likely to find trouble there.' Is what she had told Giles, but now she was standing in front of him claiming it was the busiest. *Ugh! He'll never buy this story!* Buffy looked back at Giles, "So the reason was purely work related."

"I see." Giles tried masking his doubt as he peered over at the strangely quiet brunette. "Faith, it sounds like Buffy was just doing her job."

"Whatever." The younger slayer snapped, turning away from Buffy. "I don't care anymore. No more games. Right B?"

Buffy appeared stricken. "Faith, I'm sorry. I should have told you. I just wasn't ready for us to patrol together. I would have been eventually. I was adjusting."

"Yeah, well we both were I guess." Faith seemed subdued, lost in thought.

"Buffy, maybe you should...," Willow gestured toward Xander and Anya. The two had just returned from the outside.

"Apologize. Yeah. I'm on it." Buffy glanced at Faith giving her a weak smile. "Are we good still?"

"I hope so, B. `Cause that's all I want anymore." She spoke calmly, resigned.

Buffy's face lit up. She leaned over and kissed Faith before going over to talk to Xander and Anya.

Willow grinned, well pleased. *That has to be the sweetest thing I've ever heard Faith say. Look how happy she made Buffy.* She turned to look at her girlfriend who understood her thoughts. Tara nodded in agreement and gave a reassuring smile. *Maybe a Buffy and Faith thing won't be the end of the world. Go figure..*

"Hey Red, can I have another doughnut?" Faith's hand hovered over the box. "Please?"

"Oh Yeah, of course." Willow laughed, pushing them closer. "Have as many as you want?"

"Hey, you're alright Red. Ya know that? And don't listen to what that little cave-brat says." Faith winked, teasing her.

"I'll have another too." Xander sat back down next to Faith, smiling. "Scoot over, slayer."

"She has somewhere else to be anyway. Don't ya Faith?" Buffy rushed over and grabbed the younger girl's hand.

"Uh? I don't know? I guess." Faith let herself be dragged toward the workout room.

"We need to finish our talk. If you guys don't mind..." Buffy called over her shoulder.

"Actually, I do." Giles went unheard; the slayers were already locked in the room.

"Come here Faith." Buffy grabbed the confused girl and kissed her, tearing at her clothes. "A quickie Faith, like before we went to the store. Remember? I do." She smirked at Faith's surprised expression and then gave a sexy little growl before pushing her down and climbing on top.

"Shit B, not here!" It only took a few more kisses before Faith was convinced. The younger slayer started tearing at their clothes also. "C'mon B. Here lemme help you."

*Oh fuck!* Faith moaned as Buffy rubbed her naked little body over her.

"You know what I want?" The sexy blonde asked suggestively.

"I can guess." Faith laughed reaching for her.

"No." Buffy swatted at her. "No touch. No move."

Faith's eyes went wide until Buffy laughed playfully. "Damn B, you scared me." She chuckled too, but stopped as the small slayer crawled over her face and starting touching herself.

"Faith like Buffy? Hmmm? You want Buffy?"

"Yes." Faith said breathlessly, leaning up to try and lick her. Buffy gently pushed her back. "Holy fuck B, you're killing me. Please..."

"Not yet." Buffy licked her lips and smiled as she squatted just above Faith's mouth, and ran her fingers over her wet pussy. She smirked as she turned around and lowered herself onto Faith's face. Then Buffy stretched over the brunette and bent to kiss between her legs.

*Cripes... a sixty-nine with Buffy Summers!* Faith felt faint, overwhelmed by the treat of the Buffy's delicate taste, and the simultaneous pleasure from the flick of Buffy's tongue. She closed her eyes and her spread her legs wider, enjoying the feel of Buffy's lips moving lightly over her. *Damn... mmmm...oh fuckkkk...*

The little blonde buried her face between Faith's legs, as her body trembled on the brink of orgasm. *Too soon!* She pulled her mind away from the sensation of Faith suckling her clit and focused on tasting Faith. She ducked her head down and covered Faith's pussy with her mouth. Copying the brunette's technique, she sucked, hesitantly at first, but Faith's sighs and moans encouraged her.

*Mmmmm... I like this... oh my, I totallyyy like this!* Buffy sucked on the younger slayer's pussy, more eager by the second, nearly oblivious to Faith's shuddering spasms as she came hard in Buffy's mouth.

The little blonde whimpered in ecstasy as Faith's tongue slipped inside her. She sat up and wiggled down on it. "Oh god, Faith! I'm gonna cum... I'm soooo gonna cum... Oh yesssss... yes... oh hell yes... so gonna cum... oh.. mmmm... gonna nowww... AHHHHH!" Buffy screamed and swooned as a rush of fluid accompanied her orgasm.

She shakily climbed off of Faith and laid next to her trying to catch her breath. "Faith, that was... that was..." She was still panting.

"Good?" The brunette rolled on her side and studied the little slayer's profile.

"No... it was incredible." Buffy finally managed to get the words out. "I love you."

"Ha!" Faith smirked. "Typical... B, you just came all over my face, of course you think that you love me... right now."

She started to get up, but Buffy stopped her. "Look at me, Faith." Faith's eyes met Buffy's. "Faith, I love you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Buffy laughed as her breathing became more normal. "You silly, what do you think the real reason I was following you was?" She gave Faith a little pinch.

"Ouch!" The brunette rubbed her arm, and glanced back over at Buffy. "I just figured it's `cause you were worried I'd... I don't know... do something bad I guess."

"No. I wasn't worried about that when I went to see you." The older slayer watched the other girl carefully as she spoke. "I was worried you might get hurt."

"So I guess you were following me for the same reason as Spike?" Faith asked in disbelief.

Buffy cringed at the mention of Spike, but nodded. "I guess."

"Okay then. I forgive you, cave-brat."

"Cave-what?!"

Faith was saved by the knocking. "Um... Buffy... uh... if you guys are... uh... done talking..." Willow's voice slowly filtered through the door.

"B, we really should.." Faith reached for their clothes.

"Ready to go take care of those Moonies." Buffy teased.

"Huh?"

"The vampire cult, Faithy. You know, yours and Spike's foes."

"Hell yeah!" Faith was nearly dressed. "But I get the sword!"

The End