*****

Faith stepped tentatively out of the prison gates. She sniffed the air and it smelt different in someway to the air she had been breathing on the other side of the gates. The first thing she was going to do now that she was free was to thank the person who allowed her to be.

The hotel Hyperion is huge and Faith stands outside of it in awe. She remembers that she hasn't got alot of time and heads off to find the entrance. When inside Angel immediately comes upto her and hugs her tightly, telling her that Kate had mentioned that she would be getting out soon. Faith then thanks him for what he did for her, and tells him she will be grateful for eternity.

Angel offers her a job there with him, but Faith refuses it and tells him her parole officer has got her a job and a small town somewhere. She could see the shock on the handsome vampires features over her new-found direction. He also looks a little disappointed when Faith tells him she’s leaving town in around half an hour. After concealing his emotions he enquires as to what the job was.

Faith chuckled and smiled shyly, “When I was in prison, I got bored easily. As I didn’t want to go to any of those groups sessions their so keen on, I hide in the woodshop. I found something that I was good at, and it’s quite easy with slayer strength. Anyway, I qualified in carpentry, and got my GED, and my parole officer got me this job making things with this family business.” Faith stopped for a minute and reached into her backpack and searched for something. She found what she was looking and brought out a hand made stake, with a very smooth surface, and made of good quality wood. “I made you this, it was one of the first things I made. It’s sort of a thank-you present.”

Angel walked up to her and took the stake off her and looked at it. He found a little plaque attached to it and read it:

Angel looked like he was about to cry, and Faith got worried that she had done something wrong. All those thoughts though were pushed out of her mind when Angel pulled her into a tighter hug than before, and he kissed he on the cheek. “That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me Faith. Don’t stay away to long. And if you need anything don’t ever feel you can’t ask for my help.” Faith now looked like she was about cry, and took a piece of paper out of her pocket, and handed it to Angel. She told him that was where she would be staying, and if he needed help with any thing she would be there for him too. Both hugged again, and Angel kissed Faith goodbye and she headed off on her way.

She got to the address where she had to met her parole officer who was driving her to her new life. The journey was done in an easy silence, and Faith spent most of the journey looking out the window at the countryside whizzing by.

When she got there and was introduced to her boss, she immediately liked him, and quickly settled in. The town was small but made up of friendly people, who knew when not to push. The family who owned the business she worked for, quickly started treating her like one of their own, and Faith enjoyed it. She stayed out of trouble and everyone was pleased with her work, and she was soon promoted and given a pay rise. The fact that there was no vampires pleased Faith. She wasn’t shunning her responsibility, she just didn’t know if she was ready for it again. Her job came with a little cottage, and Faith settled into her new life and was pleased to go on like that. She built up saving, and regularly wrote and spoke to Angel. She hadn’t even thought of Buffy Anne Summers since she had been released. Life was going well, she was waiting for the curve that life liked to throw at her, but didn’t let it bog her down as she had in the past.

****

MEANWHILE IN SUNNYDALE:

Buffy was wandering around Restfields cemetery when she heard a high pitched scream. She quickly sprinted off in its direction and found a young boy around 10 years old, about to be fed off by a huge dumb looking vamp stuck in the sixties. Buffy quickly ran and hit him in the face allowing the boy to escape from his grasp. Buffy quickly staked the dazed vampire, and went to check on the young boy.

The would be victim was staring off to the side, and Buffy followed his gaze to find out what the boy was looking at. There was a body of a man lying on the floor, she walked over to it and checked for a pulse. As soon as she put her finger on the mans neck they became sticky from the mans blood. Buffy quickly yanked her hand away. She had never gotten used to the sight of human blood, and now with a little boy watching she didn’t want to touch it.

The little boy hadn’t moved, and Buffy couldn’t get him to speak. He wouldn’t or couldn’t tell her who the man was. As she didn’t know what to do she took him to Giles, he would know what to do. It took Giles a while to answer the door, and when he did, he was shocked to see Buffy standing there with the child. The slayer explained to Giles in the kitchen what had happened in hushed tones. When she had finished Giles took a soda out of his fridge and went out to the boy and Buffy followed. She sat next to him on the couch, while Giles sat opposite on the coffee table.

“I brought you a soda,” The boy took the can from Giles and began to drink it. “We want to help, get you home. Was the...um... Dead man your,.. um ..Father?” Giles was nervous as he had never had to do anything like this before and took his glasses off and began cleaning them with his handkerchief. Buffy put a reassuring hand on the boys knee to encourage him to answer.

He nodded his head an Buffy immediately felt a pang of guilt at the bottom of her stomach. Another person she hadn’t been able to save. “I’m sorry.” Buffy knew that was weak, but that was all she could offer. The boy however looked at her with anger in his eyes. and shouted at the top of his voice that he wasn’t and dropped his soda before running out of the door.

Buffy looked over at Giles in shock, and got up to follow the boy. She knew she had to follow him as she didn’t know if he had anywhere to go, and it was prime vamping hour. While she was running off after him at the back of her mind she kept thinking of his voice. It reminded her of someone else but she couldn’t remember whose.

The next morning Buffy woke up on Giles sofa. She had eventually caught up with the boy and taken him back to Giles. It had been a busy night for the boy who was tired so they had let him go to sleep in Giles spare room with the promise of sorting things out in the morning. She had also called Xander and asked him to stay the night at hers as Dawn would be home alone, and then called Dawn to explain things.

Buffy got up and headed to Giles kitchen to make some coffee as she couldn’t function in the mornings with out it. She also hadn’t gotten much sleep as she had been worried about the boy, and kept having nightmares. In one of them she would be waking around the cemetery patrolling when a hand would come out of one of the graves. It would claw out and stand in front of her. The dead and decaying body of her mother. She could remember the smell, and it made her retch. The women would mock her over her inability to save anybody, that was when she woke up with a sheen of sweat over her body and crying. She had dosed for the rest of the night, but she had been to scared of what she would see to fall asleep.

When she had made her coffee she turned ‘round to leave the kitchen and discovered the boy she had found the night before standing infront of her in one of Giles T-shirts. She jumped a little but the recovered and asked if he wanted anything. He asked for some OJ and Buffy got it for him. Both went back into the front room and sat on the couch. Buffy sat watching the boy, and tried to think what to say. They needed to find out if he had any other family as they should be worried. Giles chose that minute to come down stairs, dressed in tweed but not looking like he had gotten alot of sleep. He disappeared into the kitchen and filled up the kettle.

When he came back and sat in one of the arm chairs the uncomfortable silence continued until the young boy spoke up quietly. “I meant it.” He looks into Buffy’s eyes, and she can tell he is telling the truth. “I’m glad he’s dead. And I hope it was painful.”

Buffy and Giles were shocked by his quiet outburst. Last night they had both assumed that he had said what he had in the heat of the moment. Now he had reaffirmed what he said, they both wondered what could possibly happened to make him feel that way about his father. “So what do we call you?” Buffy tried to keep the tone of her voice light. They would get back to the subject of his father later. The boy told them his name was Elijah. Buffy smiled at that. she gently asked her next question. “Do you have anyone you want us to call? To get them to pick you up?”

The boy looked thoughtful for a moment, and then shook his head. “My mum’s dead. I have a Nan, but I don’t know where she is. Daddy never talked to her.” Buffy thought for a moment. If that was all the family the boy had she had to try and find them. Willow might be able to find her. She shared that thought with Giles who agreed, it was worth trying.

Buffy tried to have a conversation while Elijah, while Giles phoned Willow and Xander to get them to come over, with Dawn and Willow’s lap top. “I wish I was an only child. My sister is always getting on my nerves!”

Elijah sat looking into his lap while Giles came and sat down again. “My mum told me I had a sister. I don’t know what happened to her.” Buffy was shocked by this boys bad luck with family, and decided to stay away from the topic and hope Willow was able to come up with an address. She didn’t want this boy to have to go into an orphanage. To lighten the mood she told him to get dressed and she’d take him to get some breakfast as all Giles has is healthy stuff, which is no fun. While he was getting dress she told Giles that when people got here to start looking for his relatives. When Elijah came out he told Giles his Family name before heading off with Buffy.

The duo had a relaxed breakfast, and the conversation revolved around television programmes. On the way out of town, Buffy brought him some necessities such as a toothbrush, toothpaste and some underwear (which she felt strange doing). Buffy also stopped by her house and found it in a mess, and nobody was there, she had expected them to be at Giles already. She quickly showered and changed while Elijah sat in the living room watching Simpson reruns.

It didn’t take them long to reach Giles, and when they did they were met with a triumphant looking red-headed wicca. Who quickly told them she had found a phone number and address for his grandmother. Buffy hugged a thank-you and got ‘round to introducing everyone in the room to Elijah and vice-versa. Buffy took the number off Willow and went in an empty room to phone the only hope the little boy she had found last night had.

The phone took six rings before someone answered. An elderly voice saying hello reached her ear. She took a deep breath and began explaining. (Leaving out the vampire bits) The woman on the end of the phone had been shocked by the news and had declared that nothing would make her happier that to have her grandson live with her. She had missed not seeing him grow up, as far as Buffy could gather this was a result of family feuds. So Buffy would drive him to her in the morning.

Once this was arranged Buffy went back into the other room and told Elijah the news. He was really excited, and Buffy was relieved that he had a place to go to. As he was leaving tomorrow, today he was allowed to do whatever he wanted Buffy announced. (As Giles was paying!!) All of them had an enjoyable day shopping, playing miniature golf, and playing games. All ended up at Buffy’s house except Giles who went home. The evening consisted of watching brainless films that Xander chose which were suitable for Elijah, and eating takeaway pizza.

The next morning Buffy left with Elijah, and left everyone at her house with strict instructions to get the house spotless, or Dawn would be grounded for a month!! Buffy drove to the address where his grandmother lives in what was her mother’s SUV. It was on the outskirts of L.A, in a affluent area, and it didn’t take Buffy long to find. When they parked on the driveway, Elijah was understandable nervous, and Buffy gave him some gentle encouragement. When she knocked on the door, a woman who wasn’t as elderly as she sounded opened the door. Buffy assumed her to be around Fifty five years old, and was of average built and looked pleasant.

The lady knelt down so she was on ground level with the boy infront of her, and smiled. “I’m Sarah, Am I to assume you are Elijah. I haven’t seen you since you were just born, and in hospital with my daughter.” Elijah relaxed a little and took a liking to the woman. She seemed very friendly He smiled at her, and was rewarded with one in return. “You must be Miss Summers. Come in, I must thank-you for returning my grandson to me!”

Buffy politely accepted the offer, and the pair entered the house. They had lunch and talked easily, and Buffy was pleased that Elijah got on with his new found family. Sarah told Elijah she had set up a bedroom for him this morning, and he ran off to find it, and she looked fondly after him. She began to explain his past to Buffy who listened on in shock. Sarah had stopped talking to that side of the family when she questioned some bruises on her daughters body. She became increasingly worried for his welfare after phone conversations with his mother when she could hear screaming in the background, and called child welfare to voice her concerns. They in turn visited his house and questioned his father, they found Elijah to be in no danger, but she was cut off from the family. When she had finished, Buffy told that he had mentioned a sister.

“That is probably why I was so worried.” Sarah looked down into her tea, with the regret obvious in her voice. “She was born eight years before Elijah. She used to stay with me all the time. She was such a happy child when I saw her, until one day when she was over for the school holidays as she lived on the east coast in Boston. As did Elijah, I do not know what they were doing in your town.” She paused gathering her strength. “She was covered in bruises from head to toe. She shut herself in her room for days and wouldn’t come out until I promised her Macdonalds.” She laughed at the memory. “As she hadn’t eaten in days, she just seemed to inhaled everything in sight. She was such a pretty girl... Anyway, . she flew home three weeks later, and I thought nothing of it. She wouldn’t tell me where she got the bruises, or why she had gotten them. But when she had gone back to weeks I phoned her mother and she told me she had just disappeared. Run away. She was Eight, nearly nine, had the brownest eyes like her mother, and dark brown hair. I haven’t seen her since, I always thought if she had run away she would have come here.”

Buffy saw the sadness that the topic caused the woman, it was in her brown eyes. Then everything clicked. Where she had heard that voice before, the eyes had triggered it. “Faith” She said it quietly under her voice but the elderly woman heard and looked at her curiously and asked her what she said. She repeated Faiths name and Sarah asked her how she knew. Buffy didn’t want to explain, she just wanted to get out of there. She made her excuses to leave, and called out goodbye to Elijah, wishing him the best and telling him he could call or visit any time he wanted, and left.

As she drove out of the area towards home she grew very confused. Why had Faith run away like that, and never told any of her family that she was safe? Would she ever find out about her fathers death by a vampire? Would she care? Buffy was confused by all the questions floating around her head. She hadn’t thought about the other slayer in such along time, she didn’t know what to think about the other girl. She didn’t even know if she was still imprison. She try to concentrate on the road in front of her, and realised that she had missed her turnoff and was heading back into L.A. Maybe its for the best, she can go and talk to Angel for advice. She suspected he would know exactly where Faith was.

She was apprehensive about seeing Angel and stood at the bottom of the steps pacing thinking of what to say. That was until she walked into a rather angry looking ex-prom queen who started shouting about that she was wearing an expensive dress, which Buffy had just damaged. Cordelia told her to come in as she was busy or to go away. With not many options she decided to follow the brunette.

When she walked in she saw Angel and Wesley sitting at the reception reading what looked like books on Demonology. Cordelia announced for them to see who she found lurking at the bottom of the steps, and Wesley said a polite hello and enquired if she was alright as he hadn’t seen her since she had died nine months ago. Angel however, was shuffling foot to foot, and looked extremely nervous, but said hi all the same.

“It’s good to see you and everything, but I wanted to talk to Angel.” She hesitated before finishing as she saw the concerned look come over his features. “It’s about Faith.”

Angel immediately started to expect the worst, and jumped to the ex rogue and now good friend. “She’s got her life back on track. I know you may not believe this but she has changed. I don’t want you to go and upset her.” Wesley and Cordelia were as shocked as Buffy by his defence of Faith.

Although Buffy was upset by Angels defence of Faith, she had expected it. “I know you think I just want revenge. I don’t.” She didn’t want to explain what she had found out. “It’s just I have some information I think she deserves to hear. I came to see you as I don’t know what has gone on with her over the last two and a half years. I knew you could tell me.”

Angel looked pretty guilty, firstly for jumping at Buffy, and secondly for knowing about Faiths progress all along and not telling anyone. “What do you want to know?”

Wesley and Cordelia looked on in disgust, and were about to get vocal to Angel about how he had betrayed them when her told them to sit down and listen. “What has she done in prison? Is she still there? If not where is she now? and what is she doing?” Buffy blurted all these questions out at a rapid pace. And the other L.A people were looking at Angel expectantly. He sighed, before starting to explain.

“This is what I know, I’ll start from the beginning, when you left here last time. I visited her a few times in prison. She got into a couple of fights with over women, the guards beat her up for it until she learnt to control herself. She thought about what she did before, counsellors saw a vast improvement in her attitude, she got her GED and other qualifications. About four months ago she was let out for good behaviour, she had never been charged on murder charges despite her confession.” Angel could feel the accusing eyes on him from his employees, Buffy however seemed to understand his involvement with Faith reabilatation. “The day she got out she came and saw me here. She thanked me for helping her before. I offered her a job here, but she told me here parole officer had gotten her a job in a little town. She gave me a thank-you present she had made and left. She happy up there, she got her life to how she wants it. She isn’t slaying anymore as there aren’t any vampires there. But she’s happy and I don’t want that to change.”

Buffy smiled at her ex boyfriend. The other three couldn’t believe how calmly she was acting. “I don’t want to upset her like I said. But I do have some news she has a right to know. I also want to heal the rift between us, it’s time we did.” Angel understood what she meant and nodded that he approved. “So she made you a present? Do I get to see!” There was challenge in her voice, but it was good honoured. Angel was blushing like crazy, and the other two were curious and a little angry he hadn’t told them of her visit. He reached into the pocket of his long black duster jacket and pulled out the lovingly crafted wooden stake and handed it carefully to Buffy. He said he hadn’t used it yet as he wasn’t sure if he wanted to.

Buffy formed an affectionate smile when she read the engraving on the stake. She understood how difficult it would have been for Faith to admit she had needed somebody, and to say thank-you. She looked up into Angels eyes and they came to an agreement that Buffy was going to go an make her peace with the other slayer.

Angel wrote Buffy a copy of the address Faith had given him. She left straight afterwards saying thankyou. Angel however stood and awaited the onslaught from his co-workers, but it never came.

****
Part 2:

Once Buffy had driven out of the city, she phoned Giles on her cell phone and told him she would be staying in the city for a while. She also asked if he could look after Dawn while she was away, to which he agreed.

With everything settled she enjoyed the drive through the countryside to where Faith now was. It was around six in the evening when she found the address Angel had given her. When she knocked on the door she got no answer, but she could hear music playing in the background so she walked around to the back of the house. It was a cottage with a beautiful garden and spectacular views. At the back of the house there was an enclosed porch with windows all along.

She saw Faith sitting on the floor. She was wearing black shorts, and a black tank top with her hair tied back and only a little make-up on. In front of her was a little wooden horse which she was varnishing with great care. Buffy wondered whether Faith had made the child's toy herself. The music playing in the background made Buffy smile, it was Alicia Key's - Songs In A minor, the last thing she expected the once rogue slayer to listen to.

She couldn’t loiter outside all night, so decided to knock. It was a subdued knock as if the person knocking had doubts over whether to be knocking. Faith however did hear it, and glanced up to see the blonde slayer. She seemed to sit there wondering whether to pretend it was a figment of her imagination and go back to what she was doing. However she reluctantly got up and tentatively moved towards the door, her hand paused on the handle before she opened it up.

“Buffy?”

“Hey. Can I come in? I need to talk to you.” Buffy knew she was in no position to start making demands. She also didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot. She was relieved when Faith opened the door wider for her to enter, who turned the stereo off before leading her into the kitchen of the cottage.

Faith was confused as to why Buffy was here. She didn’t seem angry, which meant she didn’t come to continue their fight. Which relieved Faith as she knew she didn’t want to fight anymore. She also didn’t want to talk about the past either. “Look, Buffy, I don’t know why you came here. But if this is to talk about what happened before, there’s no need. I’ve learn from what happened, and now I want to move on. I am sorry for everything, but nothing can change what happened. I'm trying to built myself a life, and I'm doing well!” Most of what Faith had said had came from a tired sounding young woman. The last sentence was said however, with a lot of pride.

Buffy smiled at her. “No, That isn’t why I came here. I am happy for you though.” Buffy started playing with her hands, twisting them in knots. She didn't know what to say about the reason she came for. “A couple of days ago, I found this vamp. It was about to kill a little boy called Elijah. I stopped him, but the vamp had already killed his father.” Buffy looked at Faith trying to gage her reaction. The brunette looked extremely confused and was about to question why Buffy was telling her this when she held up a hand and continued. “Willow managed to trance his only living relative he knew about, which happened to be his grandmother. His mother died when he was a year old.... She was beaten to death by his father.

His name was Stan Adams.”

As soon as Buffy said the name Faith’s head jolted up and she looked at her counter part for conformation. The blonde gave it in the form of a slight nod. The shock was evident on the rogue who suddenly looked very young. “My father.” It was a quiet statement but Buffy heard it. “have you spoken to my grandmother?” Buffy nodded again and moved closer to the brunette who was becoming increasingly pale. “What did she tell you?”

“She said you were a beautiful girl who used to visit her during school holidays. Until one summer you turned up covered in bruises and wouldn't come out of your room. When you did eventually you stayed with her for four weeks. Afterwards when you had been home a few days you ran away. She said she had always hoped you would go to her, but you didn't. So she thought your father had killed you.”

Faith had tears running down her cheeks as she remembered what had happened. Buffy came upto her and wrapped her arms around her and Faith wept into her chest. When she had stopped crying Buffy made her a cup of tea. “He would have done if I had gone to hers.” Buffy just sat down next to faith and allowed her to say what she wanted to.

“Just before my visit, I had gone to the park with some friends. Dad had been out, so I just left a not on the kitchen table. When I got back he was furious..... Shouting how I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere without asking first. He was drunk and just started hitting me. Then he dragged me upto my room and locked me in. He stopped all the electric going to my room so it was pitch black.

“After about a day and a half he came into my room and asked if I was sorry. I told him I was,... and was like holding onto his legs begging me to let me out... He crouches down and tells me he only got angry because he loved me. Then he asks me if I want to show him how much I loved him.” Buffy knew what was coming and she reached over for faith’s hand and told her she didn’t have to continue. Faith just gave her a weak smile and told her she wanted to.

“Anyway, he stood up and walked over to my bed and sat down patting the space next to him. I go over, glad that he isn’t angry at me any more. He starts running his hand through my hair like he had thousands of times before when I was upset or something.....He says ‘How `bout giving daddy a kiss?” I go to kiss him on the cheek and he pins me down. He holds both my wrists above my wrists in on hand.

“I’m crying and screaming for him to stop as he starts touching me. Then he rips all my clothes off and rapes me.....” Faith looks down at her hands. You could tell she was reliving the memory in her head. “It seems to go on for hours, I never stop crying the whole time and I’ve lost my voice from all the screaming. When he’s finished, he just does up his trousers and leaves, locking the door behind him. My mum came up when she got home from work and tidied me up, washing away the blood and everything. She doesn’t say a word, as if I just fallen over and grazed my knee or something. After that I didn’t see him until I got back from my nans. He said he had missed me and was going to show me how much. I just ran. There was noway I was going through that again. If I had gone anywhere he knew, I would have been taken back, so I lived on the streets. Sometimes staying in hostels. When I was 14 my watcher found me, and told me my mum was dead. She never told me I had a brother though.”

Buffy couldn’t believe the history Faith had had. She knew the other girl wouldn’t want her pity however. “He’s living at your grandmothers, I took him there this morning. I’ve got an address and phone number. I didn’t tell her I knew you, but she’d be very happy to hear from you.”

Faith smiled a thank-you and was about to take her hand out of Buffy’s, when the blonde pulled her into a hug which Faith relaxed into. There wasn’t any walls between them anymore, and Faith didn’t have to act guarded around her counterpart. “Thanks. For listening, I’ve held on to that a long time. `spose Angel gave you my address?”

“Yeah, I went to see him after dropping off Elijah. He wasn’t keen on giving it to me so don’t be angry with him. About the other thing. I know I haven't always been there for you in the past, but from now on, don’t ever feel that you can’t ring or visit me. For anything, even just a chat about the weather!”

“Cool.” Faith was pleased with how the visit was going. “It’s late, do you want to stay here tonight? There’s a spare room and I can cook some dinner?”

Buffy told her she’d like that and the pair settled for a quiet evening. While the dinner was cooking Buffy watched in interest as the brunette finished varnishing the toy on the porch. As they did that Faith talked about her new life. There was absolutely no tension between the chosen two, it was as if none of the bad things that had happened, actually had.

****

Later that evening, having eaten dinner the pair sat in the living room watching a movie, while drinking a bottle of red wine. It was a horror movie, and Buffy kept hiding behind the brunette every time a monster burst out of a persons chest. Faith found the whole thing amusing. “It’s not that scary B.”

Buffy sat up and looked into Faith’s eyes. “I’ve missed that. You calling me B.” Faith tried to look away guiltily, but Buffy stopped her gently by putting a hand on her cheek. “I’ve missed you.” Faith was like a dear in headlights, and froze completely. She hadn’t had any expectations of repairing her friendship with the blonde, and now with Buffy looking at her intently all her old feelings forced themselves out the dark recesses of her mind where she had shoved them. Buffy’s lips closed in softly on hers, The kiss was slow and sensual, and quieted her inner concerns while at the same time making her stomach do back flips. She had never experienced any thing like it before, but knew she didn’t want it to stop. Neither did Buffy, but when she did slowly pull away she didn’t move away from the brunette.

“Wow, I never thought I’d be doing that. I’d hoped I would, but I never expected to.” Faith said quietly when the shock was over. Buffy was shocked by the revelation, and asked Faith why she hadn’t said anything when she had first come to Sunnydale.

“I didn’t see the point. I never thought I had a chance. You were all loved up with Angel, and I was just some fucked up whore invading on your life. No point setting myself up for a fall... All I ever wanted was one night with you. One perfect night.”

Buffy sat and thought for a moment before standing up and offering her hand to Faith. “Then I’ll give it to you.” The brunette’s eyes went wide, but she gave her hand to Buffy anyway and allowed herself to be lead where ever the object of her focus wanted. They went upto Faith’s bedroom, and Buffy led her over to the bed and undressed them both before kissing Faith again, who allowed the pace of what they were doing to be dictated by Buffy.

Both laid on there sides facing each other on Faiths bed and continued to kiss. Buffy’s hands gently began to explore Faith’s smooth body, She caressed the brunettes abdomen with her fingertips before running her had up to cup Faiths breast and roll her hard nipple around with her index finger and thumb. Faith gently moaned into Buffy’s mouth and wrapped her arms around her petite waist before rolling onto her back and pulling Buffy on top of her at the same time.

The build up was low and gentle, neither wanting to overpower the other. The entire night was spent with the pair learning each others bodies. Every thing about the girl laying in bed with them was learnt and committed to memory, the taste, smell, the feel, and the sounds the other made. They made love until their bodies were numb, no longer able to appreciate what the other was doing. They lost count of how many times each had come, as that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that they were together and touching one another, until both held onto each other and fell asleep.

****

Both woke up at the same time in late afternoon, and they just laid there, neither wanting to move and ruin the memory. The inevitability that Buffy would have to leave was a python wrapping around both of their chests. Faith was the one to mention it, to make it easier for Buffy. “It’ll be dark in a couple of hours. You’ll want to get back before it does.” Buffy closed her eyes so Faith couldn’t see the pain in them. Faith brought her hand upto Buffy’s faith and brushed some loose strands of hair away from the blonde’s beautiful face, before kissing her on the forehead. “It’s OK B. We both knew it would come to this. But I definitely don’t regret in one bit, It was the best night of my life.” When Buffy opened her eyes Faith could see the unshed tears in them and she kissed her tenderly on the lips.

With nothing to be said Faith got out of the bed and headed for the shower.

Now both were alone they cried about what they would have to do. Each didn’t want the other to see how it was affecting them, so as soon as Faith came into the room Buffy headed for the shower.

When both were dressed, Buffy was wearing Faith’s clothes as she didn’t have a change of clothes, Faith followed Buffy to her car and opened the door for her. There was no goodbye said, both knew it would hurt to much. The was just a brief kiss before the SUV pulled away from Faith leaving a dust cloud and her memory of what had happened. Faith knew it was something she would treasure for the rest of her life, and the memory would make her smile. She would know that for one night, she was in the arms of the person she loves more than anyone in the world, and they felt the same about her.

****

When Buffy got back to Sunnydale it was already dark. She decided to leave her sister at Giles apartment and she went home. She changed into her night-clothes, and carefully folded the clothes she had borrowed of Faith and placed them in the trunk she kept in her wardrobe. They would remain there forever, so whenever she wanted to remember that special night, the clothes would there to help, although she didn’t think she’d need it.

THE END