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6. Sassy Eggs |
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Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:07 pm Posts: 445 Topics: 2 Location: on the slutty end of the rainbow *smirks*
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OKAY PEOPLE!! IM BACK!! lol... Really, guys. I am really sorry it took me so long to finish this damn chapter. I tried to make it the best that I could, I hope I did....im not sure if I did but....lets have hope... First, I would like to write a note... 1-NOTE:: Many thanks to my dear Beta Rick, dude, I owe you one. You're always supporting and helping me and encouraging me to write and do my best. And to my dear buddy Chris, dude, you're awesome. I dont know how you bear with me, you're always helping me so I really wanna thank you. For real, you're awesome. 2-NOTE:: The situations with Dawn and Faith, especially the fist one in the couch (you'll see) is kinda like to break the tension. And something like that actually happened to me. lol.. I added two small flashbacks to show how the situation was like when Faith got to England, maybe they're not much, but I hope I didn’t screw it up... I hope the wait was worthy, if it wasn’t....the insults please at this address... AleEmily_gotica@hotmail.com (dont want public insults). Now, here is the chapter... CHAPTER 3- Revelations or more questions? Part II “This is a conversation I’m not gonna like, right?” Faith asked unnecessarily, standing in front of the other two women who were sitting on the couch. “You probably won’t, Faith. Please, sit down” Tara indicated the Slayer to sit and after hesitating a moment Faith obeyed. “Who wrote the notebook, Faith? And don’t tell me Fred did because it wasn’t her magical signature what I felt” “Fred wrote it, T” Faith answered. “You’ve seen her handwriting, it was Fred” “Do not try to fool me, Faith. Yes, that was Fred’s handwriting, but we both know she’s not that good with magic. And you can’t fool me when it comes to magic, especially Willow’s” Tara calmly said, focusing her blue eyes on Faith. Faith sighed, suddenly feeling trapped. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you, T. I can’t tell you anything, I don’t know anything” Faith lied, trying hard to hide the sudden nervousness in her voice. “We know Willow is with you in LA or that at least you know where she is. We know that the two of you have become friends, Faith. Please, just tell us the truth” Dawn added. “I can’t tell you anything, ‘kay? I made a promise. I won’t break it; I promised and won’t break it!” Faith snapped. “Why? Why doesn’t she want us to know about her well being?” Tara snapped back. “Why? We all know she’s the one that sends those Christmas presents… Why would Willow do that if she didn’t care?” The blonde took a deep breath and tried to calm her tone. “Please, Faith. We need to know, I need to know…” Tara’s eyes were looking right into Faith’s, showing her the pain and suffering they held within, but also something the Slayer couldn’t put her finger on it… love, maybe? “Tara, you, Dawn, Xander… you guys have been great to me. You forgave all my mistakes and have become really good friends. But although it may sound weird to hear this from me…Will became my family, and I won’t break the promise I made to the only family I ever had” Faith finished saying this and ran one of her hands through her dark hair, looking down. Then she rested her elbows on her knees and tried to control her breathing and her now racing heart. She wouldn’t break her promise…
“What the hell…” Faith looked around, but nobody had said anything, and that voice didn’t belong to either of the women in front of her.
“What’s wrong, Faith?” Dawn asked.
“What happened?” Tara also asked.
“Nothing guys… I’ll go get another beer, ‘kay. Just need a minute”
Faith ran to the kitchen to get another beer from the fridge and began pacing around, wondering how the hell she would get out of that mess. She couldn’t break the promise she’d made…
“It is time, Faith…” a voice said from behind her and the Slayer almost drops her beer bottle. Right there, standing in front of her was Cordelia Chase, former cheerleader and member of Angel Investigations crew, now a member of the Powers that Be. The young brunette was wearing a long white robe with a golden pattern all over and golden sandals.
“Holy shit, Cordy! What the fuck are you doing here?” Faith asked dumbstruck.
“Hello to you too, Faith” Cordelia rolled her eyes at her. “I came to talk to you. Why else would I be here?”
“To talk to me? Why?”
“Geez, you can be dense sometimes, Faith” Cordelia stopped herself from rolling her eyes again. “I’ve seen your little chat with Tara and Dawn”
“What’s the deal with that? I won’t say a shit to them, even if I have to be a bitch. I won’t break my promise”
“You have to, Faith” Cordelia said.
“What? Are you crazy? I won’t do that!”
“You have to. It’s time for the truth to come out, Faith. Tara deserves to know it all and you have to tell her”
“Everything?” And Faith’s eyes strangely showed fear for a moment.
“You have to tell her about what happened 8 years ago, how Willow grew up. You have to explain to her because you’re the only one who can. You were sent here because you’re the only one who can”
“I was sent?”
“Yes. I gave Angel the idea of sending you in his place. You can be mad at me if you want to but you need to understand. You’re the only one who can explain to Tara what Willow went through because you were there the whole time, Faith”
“I have to tell her… everything? Including…that not so little detail?” Faith lowered her voice in case of the other women in the house decided to come looking for her.
“No. There are some secrets that only Willow can explain, Faith” Cordelia said before sighing and looking down for a moment. When she looked up again, her eyes met Faith’s and added. “It’s time, Faith, for them to go home”
“So…it’s over, then? You said before, that only when the danger was gone, would be time for the truth to come out” Faith hesitated, wanting to make sure that there was no danger before doing one of the biggest things of her life.
“The danger is over, Faith” Cordelia confirmed and her lips curled into a small smile.
“Really?”
“Yes. And now I must go, you have work to do and don’t worry, everything will be fine”
“Thank you, Queen C. I hope you’re right”
“Give Lil’ Red a kiss for me”
And the Power that Be simply vanished in the air. Faith looked up at the ceiling and joked.
“No sparkles, no blinding light? That must be frustrating, right, Queen C? You always liked big entrances!”
The Slayer laughed and took a deep breath. If Cordelia asked her to break her promise then she was telling the truth, the danger was really over, and it was time for the truth to come out to the light…
Red’s voice said in the back of her head…
“Faith, we were thinking you ran away or something” Dawn joked when the dark-haired Slayer appear again in the living room and sat down in front of them again.
“I needed to think. And I got a deal for ya”
“What’s the deal?” Tara asked.
“I get to ask you two things. It’s not really my place, but I need to know before I say anything. Then I’ll tell you everything and you can ask anything you want, I can’t guarantee I’ll answer all you ask though.”
“Sounds fair” Tara agreed, already anxious to hear all she’s been missing during those long years.
“‘Kay. Are you completely, 100% sure that…Have you forgiven Red for the mistakes she made?”
“Faith, it’s been 8 years! 8! Don’t you think that I wouldn’t be talking about this if I wasn’t over what happened? For a while I thought that I had to be angry at her, but I can’t… I just can’t be mad at Willow. And I had 8 years to forget and forgive, Faith”
“Good. You still love her? You still love her in such a way that even after Willow tells you the things that I can’t you’ll be willing to take the risk?”
“Faith, Willow is my soulmate. I love more than life. I need her…I need her to breathe, to live… Without Willow I only exist, Im not complete…” Tara said confidently. Faith looked at her, not being able to hide her surprise but a moment later she smiled.
Faith thought.
“There’s something wrong that Tara needs to know, Faith?” Dawn asked, her eyes watching every move Faith was doing and noticing the sadness that clouded her eyes for a second.
“No guys” Faith answered. “But there’s a lot of stuff that you and Red need to talk about. And I really hope that you remember what you just said… it all happened 8 years ago…”
“Goddess Faith! You sound like she killed somebody” Tara’s eyes shot wide open. “She didn’t, did she?”
“No, she didn’t. Why would you think that? But there is stuff only Red can explain and you’re gonna be REALLY pissed at her…”
“I don’t care whatever it is. We can work it out. I only want to understand… See if I still have a chance…”
Faith was silent…
“‘Kay, I guess it’s my turn…” Faith hesitated for a second, wondering again if this was really the best thing to do, but she cleared her throat and said. “Well, you know how everything changed when Percy became the head of the Council; he sure kicked those bastards’ asses. Traver’s face…that was priceless… I wish I could have seen that and taken a picture, that mother fucker… When Percy came to LA and told me they wanted to give me a second chance I couldn’t believe it. I thought that it was some kind of trap or somethin’. It wasn’t. They cleaned my record, took me to England and explain what the plan was. I would work with the G-man and a coven friend of his. He would be my babysitter, basically. During the trip to his house, I was sure it was all a set up to kill me or somethin’. After all, Giles hated me. So I asked him…”
* * * * Giles was driving towards his house, which was just outside of London. The Watcher glanced at Faith, who was sitting in the passenger seat in complete silence staring at the world outside the window.
“Are you alright, Faith?” Giles asked his silent companion.
“Yeah. Im fine, G-man” Faith absently answered, not looking at him.
“I can imagine this past few days have been very confusing, Faith. And I hope that we can-”
“Why are you here, Giles? Why did you volunteer? You still want revenge for all the shit I did?” Faith cut him off angrily. “Whatever you’ve planned, let’s get over with it”
“Faith, I understand how you might think that this is some kind of trap but I assure you that my intentions towards you are not of that kind” at first his tone was polite but after saying this, the older man sighed and seemed lost in thoughts for a moment, which after he added. “Faith, I know I used to see everything as black or white, but I realized that I also made mistakes the first time. So I am begging you, let me help you. I want to do things right this time, Faith”
“Why the sudden change, G-man? What’s in it for ya?”
“I truly want to make amends with you, Faith and I hope that helping you, you can forgive me for the mistakes I did and-”
“What’s the catch?” Faith interrupted him.
“Excuse me?”
“Yeah…There’s always a catch. I know you want somethin’ G-man. Out with it, just say it”
“I don’t request anything from you, Faith. But I will be honest with you, I was hoping that while we’re helping you to get back on your feet, you would be able to help me with a…a dear friend of mine, who is going through a very bad time of her life”
“You want my help? It must be some heavy shit if you’re that desperate…”
“No, actually, I had other options, but I thought that you would be the right person to help me with her”
“What’s her deal? What did she do?” A now curious Faith asked.
“Well…she has made some bad choices lately and…”the British man pondered for a second if he should explain everything. “Just like you, she is trying to make amends, redeem herself for the mistakes she’s made and learn how to get back on her feet. You won’t have to help much, Faith, she only needs a…um…a woman’s help, if you understand what I’m trying to say.”
“Let me guess… withdrawals?” Giles nodded silently and Faith thought about it for a second, now she understood what the Watcher was asking her. She had seen too many girls and boys suffering the withdrawals, shaking until they couldn’t even dress by themselves or do something as simple as feed… “She did drugs, then”
“You could say so, yes. She has been living with me for the past two weeks and started to work with the coven, but she is still weak. And I am afraid that I can’t help her all the time, I can’t be with her always and of course, sometimes she doesn’t let me help her at all”
“She’s stubborn, huh? And been with ya for only two weeks? What did she do to decide to get clean?” Faith asked. “C’mon, G-man, every junkie has to mess up really bad before decide to get clean”
“Well…” Giles sighed again and cleared his throat. “I don’t know if I should be the one to tell you that, Faith…”
“C’mon, Giles. I killed a guy, been in jail, nothin’ can surprise me anymore” Faith said bluntly.
“She used magic to manipulate her girlfriend’s mind and almost killed her best friend’s sister” the Watcher sighed, suddenly seeming more tired and older than Faith had ever noticed. The Dark Slayer thought about this for a moment, and realization hit her…
“NO WAY!” Faith exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.
* * * * Dawn had gone to the kitchen to get a round of beers, sensing they would need them and returned a moment later handling the beers to her friends. Faith took a moment to enjoy the cool taste in her mouth before continuing with her story… As the words left her mouth she saw every single memory rising in front of her eyes like they were part of some old movie, not part of the same reality…it all happened such a long time ago…
“When I realized that it was Red who was livin’ with him, I was shocked, to say the least… Giles told me everything…” Faith trailed off not wanting to talk about how much she understood what happened to Willow, the pull of the power, the rush…and how wonderful it felt back then… “We got to his house and heard a loud noise comin’ from somewhere. We ran to what I noticed was the kitchen. It was a mess, food was all over the island and we found Red on the floor curled up into a ball, huggin’ her knees to her chest tryin’ to control her body. She’s got an attack while she was tryin’ to cook somethin’ for me as a welcome. She was shakin’ so badly…”
* * * * The Watcher pulled the key from his jacket pocket and opened the door to the large house. They were in front of the stairway to the upper floors, a door to enter the garage by their right and the living room to their left.
“Eh...well, now allow me to see where Willow is and then, I’ll take your stuff up to your room, Faith, please…this is your house” Giles left his keys on the table by the door and hung his jacket on the little hook.
“Nah, don’t worry, G-man. I’ll take care of that later, but I’d love a beer right now” Faith walked into the living room taking in her new ‘home’. The living room consisted of one large couch and two comfy looking big armchairs facing each other from opposite corners of the couch. Directly in front of the couch there was a new plasma TV, no doubt Willow had gotten it and a Playstation with several video games, no doubt also her property.
There was a loud noise coming from somewhere and Faith followed Giles into the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a door. The Watcher and the Slayer ran inside to find food spread on the kitchen island and what seemed to be lasagna all over the floor. They heard sobs and rounded the island… Willow was laying on the cold floor curled up in a ball, her arms hugging her knees to her chest and still shaking uncontrollably.
Something inside of Faith broke when she saw the sweet naïve redhead there on the floor shaking, crying and with bags under her eyes, looking weak and broken…
“Dear Lord, Willow… Come here, sweet child…” Giles knelt by her side and pulled her into his arms. At first Willow didn’t want to let go of the hold she had on her knees but her arms couldn’t take anymore and had to let go.
“I’m so… sorry, Giles. I wa-as tryin’ to pre-epare dinner. I’m so, so sorry, Giles...I’m so stupid, so stupid…”
“No, no, no, my dear…relax, Willow, let it flow through you…” Giles was telling her in a low voice while holding the redhead. Slowly Willow’s body relaxed and the shaking ended just like the tears… “Do you feel better, Willow?”
“Yes, Giles. Thank you… I just wanted to prepare some dinner before you and Faith arrived but when I was taking the lasagna out of the oven…I lost it. Im sorry. I’ll clean everything up and then make something else…” Willow was starting to babble, trying to stand and falling down again and stuttering all at once. What had happened to the perky always happy redhead? Faith felt a pang of something inside of her but she couldn’t put her finger on it…
“No, no, no. You young lady are going upstairs and have a bath. I will make sure this gets clean and I’ll order some food from that Italian place you like so much. Now, can you stand?”
Willow tried again to stand up but ended up falling down on Giles again.
“Sorry, Giles. You know how my legs get after a big attack…” Willow apologized, her voice raspy and tired.
“Let me take care of that, Red” Faith finally said, slid one arm under Willow’s knees and her other arm around her waist to lift her up without effort.
“Are you sure, Faith?” Giles asked, looking at her as if asking if she was going to help or not.
“Yeah, I’ll take Red upstairs” Faith said before walking out of the kitchen through the living room and up to the upper floor. “Which one?” The Slayer asked and Willow simple pointed to the second door on the right side of the hallway. She was awfully quiet but Faith didn’t comment anything.
Willow reached out to grab the door knob and open the door, still being carried by Faith.
The bedroom was simple, a big comfy bed in the middle of the room, one nigh table on each side of the bed, a closet and a bathroom and a shelf with books, double french doors leaded to the balcony and a small desk with Willow’s laptop was placed by the doors.
“Nice room, Red” Faith said placing carefully the redhead on the bed. Willow again didn’t answer but instead she lowered her gaze to the floor and simply stood there. “I’ll go and run you a bath, ‘kay?” Again, the redhead simply nodded.
Faith went to the bathroom, ran Willow a bath and came back to the room, shifting from foot to foot wondering if she also had to help Willow taking her clothes off…
“Red, can you take your clothes off or you need my help?” Faith asked trying to be gentle with the fragile looking redhead.
“No, I can…thanks, Faith…” Finally Willow spoke in a low voice that didn’t sound like hers at all. But when the redhead tried to undone the first button of her shirt her hands started to shake slightly so Faith asked.
“You sure you don’t need help, Red? Looks like you do”
“No, I’m fine Faith” Willow stubbornly said trying again to undone the button.
“Here, let me help you, Red” Faith said, she knelt in front of Willow and helped her to get rid of the shirt. “Don’t worry, I’m not tryin’ to cop a feel, Red, you’re not my type” The Slayer joke actually made a little smile appear in Willow’s lips and blush a little.
“Help me to get up” Willow asked and carefully Faith helped her to stand and walk towards the bathroom, still wearing her jeans and her bra. Faith helped her to sit down on the edge of the tub stood up.
“I’ll be right outside, when you’re done, just call me. And don’t worry, I’ll close my eyes” Faith joked and that little smile showed up again in Willow’s lips.
Faith sat on the bed waiting patiently for the redhead to finish. Now she understood why Giles wanted her to help her, now she understood that they had more in common than they always thought. After hearing from Giles what happened in Sunnydale and seeing the usually perky redhead so…broken, she understood they were the same and that the only way to redeem themselves from the mistakes they did was to actually help each other…
* * * *
“Since that first night we started to get along, we were surprised to be honest, we never thought we could become friends but we did. Durin’ the following days and weeks, I tried to make every single joke I could just to see her smilin’, I noticed that every time the smile would last a little longer and her mood would be happier, so that was a good goal” Faith was explaining. “She was gettin’ better and better, she would shake only a little or not at all until they simply disappeared, just like the depression. About after three months is when she started to have contact with you guys. I gotta say that it was priceless to see her so nervous before sendin’ an e-mail and I teased her without mercy for it. She kept gettin’ better; we both were working with the coven, meditatin’, learnin’ about the nature of the darkness and the light, the Earth. It was kinda cool actually, if I gotta be honest. I started working with Giles, Red went back to school. Hell she even convinced me to go back to school”
“Really?” Dawn couldn’t help to show the surprise in her voice.
“Yes. With her help, I finished high school and even went to college. Oxford. Impressive, huh?” Faith grinned. “Anyway. After a little more than a year, Willow started to practice again with the coven, she didn’t want to do magic again, but she had to. There were…um…things that forced her to understand that she needed to start practicin’ again”
“What happened?” Tara was the one to ask this time.
“Some big Bad that tried to kick our asses, she was needed, she knew, we all knew it. Red had to start again. She worked her ass off with the coven, you’d be proud of her, T” her own mind replied. “Anyway… so, Red started to work in the Council, buildin’ their security mixin’ tech stuff with magic. We really had fun doin’ that…” Faith chuckled.
“Why?”
“Cause I was helpin’ her. She did the whole deal and I tried to break in, it was a hell lot of fun!” Faith chuckled again and fell silent again.
Of course Faith forgot to mention all the times she had held Willow while the redhead cried, all the times she had to carry her because her body would shake in such a way that she could harm herself, all the nights they had stayed up talking until late, how many nights she had to calm her friend after the nightmares, or how Willow sometimes wasn’t able to feed by herself and she and Giles would always be there to help…No, of course she hadn’t mentioned that…
“Faith” The Slayer looked up, Tara’s voice making her snapped out of her trance.
“Yeah, sorry. Kinda spaced out for a sec”
“Why did Willow cut all contact with us?” Tara asked.
“Well…” Faith actually choked trying to get the words out of her mouth. How could she explain what happened without revealing too much?
“It was Buffy, wasn’t she?” Dawn asked. “You were in LA when she made that trip years ago” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement the former Key made, sadness pouring from every word.
“I always thought you were a smart cookie, big D” Faith nodded at her.
“Buffy? Goddess… What did she do? Beat Willow up?” Tara frowned, she couldn’t believe this! Buffy? The friend who had looked after her so many times was the one responsible that Willow had cut all contact? She knew that Buffy was a little bit obsessed with her but…that was something completely different.
“Red and I were in LA, yes. Things were goin’ good, the mails, the phone calls, Red wanted to go slow and try to make it up with you guys, especially you, T” Faith began. “She didn’t want you to know we were in the States ‘cause she wanted to go slow. Patience was never her best virtue but y’know…she was doin’ it for her and you. That afternoon she was alone in the hotel, we were gone to kill a nest of vamps we found the night before. B showed up, as soon as she saw Red alone started to yell at her all this bullshit… B yelled how she had to stay the hell away from you, she said that Red had betrayed you all and your lives were better without her. B told her that she wasn’t worthy of any of you…that if she still cared a little about you guys she would leave you all alone, especially you T”
“And…” Tara knew Faith wasn’t over and she wanted to hear it all.
“B reminded her of what she did. Went yellin’ around how she was…a rapist, how she ruined everyone’s lives and that didn’t deserve to be forgiven…” By now Faith’s hands had become fists, fighting back the anger that made her blood boil and didn’t even bother to wipe away the tear rolling down her cheek.
“My God…Buffy…” Dawn shook her head and wiped away her own tears.
“How could she? How could she do that?” Tara whispered, trying hard not to feel sick by what Faith was telling her.
“We came back and found Red on the floor cryin’ and B still yellin’ at her. I made the others leave and started fightin’ with B. That stupid bitch wouldn’t keep her mouth shut and kept yellin’ that Red was…” Faith gulped some air. “Worse than your family and…Glory together…”
“Don’t continue if you don’t want to, Faith” Dawn told her to help her calm down. This obviously affected Faith more than she was trying to let on, but the Slayer wasn’t doing such a great job…
“In the end, B and I were fightin’ with our fists…I didn’t want to, I tried makin’ her leave without gettin’ there, but I lost it when she saw…” Faith realized what she was about to reveal and stopped, took a deep breath and continue. “Fang-boy stepped in between us. I went to Will to make sure she was okay while Angel tried to make Buffy leave without havin’ to kick her ass out. My big Red was no fool though ‘cause she stood up, looked at B right in the eye and said ‘I know I don’t deserve Tara, but you don’t either and she’ll never love you as more than a friend. You’re dead inside, Buffy’…”
This time Faith smiled, obviously proud of her friend while Dawn wrapped one of her arms around Tara, offering her silent support.
“So that is why Willow stopped trying to contact us?” Tara asked.
“Yeah, that and well.. B told her you were movin’ on, datin’ again…”
“I’m so kicking my sister’s ass in the moment she enters this house” Dawn muttered.
“I should kick her ass, Dawnie. She’s your sister, after all” Tara whispered. “I hate her right now…” The blonde Wiccan added through gritted teeth.
“Let it go, T. She doesn’t deserve it”
“I know… I’m just so…pissed at her right now…I need to drink some water…” Tara ran to the kitchen.
Faith sighed, tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and looked at Dawn from the corner of her eye. The Slayer tried in vain to shut the part of her brain that remained aware of how beautiful the younger girl was and how hot she looked in those tight jeans and fitting dark blue shirt, opened just the necessary to show some collarbone and just the beginning of her full breasts... Faith cleared her throat and took a deep breath, trying not to look at Dawn.
In front of her, Dawn was having some similar thoughts. The former Key was getting worried about Tara, the blonde had taken the news too well for her taste. She knew Tara was angry, and she also knew that the blonde Wiccan would never show it if she could stop herself. A part of her was feeling hopeful at the chance that maybe her favourite couple, the one she looked up to as a role models, could after all be together again…The brunette still held the childish hope that love may win in the end…
Dawn noticed that Faith was staring at her and the intensity in the Slayer’s eyes but she didn’t look back. Dawn’s eyes roamed down a little and the brunette almost jumped of the surprise when she saw Faith’s nipples standing erect through the fabric of the tank top and she silently gulped.
Dawn insulted herself for letting those long lost thoughts invade her mind, especially in a moment like this…
A loud crash made them look in the direction of the kitchen and then to each other.
“Maybe you should go after her, D”
“Yes”
Dawn went to the kitchen to find Tara picking up the pieces of the broken glass and throwing them into the trashcan.
“What happened Tara?”
“Nothing, I just…lost control I guess…” Tara wouldn’t look at Dawn when the brunette walked closer so former Key put her hands on Tara’s shoulders and made her look at her. Tears were rolling down Tara’s cheeks and the brunette’s heart just broke. They hugged and held each other while Tara quietly sobbed.
“Feeling better?” The brunette asked when she felt Tara calming and her body relaxing.
“Yes, I just needed to…let go” Tara cleaned her tear strained cheeks and took a deep breath.
“Are you sure you’re up to keep talking?”
“Yes, I need this…I do” This time her voice sound firmer and Dawn remember Tara had her own resolve-face.
“Let’s go back, then”
“You alright, Tara?” Faith asked her when they returned to the living room.
“Yes, I’m okay, Faith” Tara didn’t waste time and asked. “So, what happened after?”
“After what happened with B, Red was kinda depressed for a few weeks, the only person who actually got her out from that was… Fuck, you’re gonna find out anyway. It was the Xand-man. He was the only one who could get her out of that state”
“Xander?” Both Tara and Dawn couldn’t help their surprise.
“Don’t be mad at him, Red made him promise that he wouldn’t say anythin’… He never liked keepin’ secrets from you guys but Red had been like a sister since they were like 5…”
“They’ve kept the contact all this years?” Dawn asked but strangely didn’t seem angry.
“Yes. He’s been a very good friend stayin’ in touch all this time, visitin’… Please, don’t be mad at him”
“We could never be mad at him for being a good friend, Faith” Tara reassured the Slayer with a small but sincere smile and Faith clearly relaxed.
“Yeah, Faith. He was keeping his promise, we’d have no reason to be mad at him” Dawn agreed, although deep inside she was planning on getting him back for not telling her.
“Great…”
“Xander helped her, then?”
“Yes. Don’t ask me how, but the dude got to the hotel and in a couple of hours, everything was normal again, like no shit happened. I didn’t care as long Will was okay”
“So, you stayed with Angel and his crew all this time?” Dawn asked.
“No way, no. We went back to England. Red didn’t wanna be here anymore. So went back to the lives we had there, both of us workin’ with the Council, training with the G-man (you’d be surprised at how good Red is at karate), Red was always studyin’ some new crap, workin’ with the coven… That was it ‘till about four years ago, Angel needed some help, we came back to help him, we decided to stay in LA. Percy-boy made the Council built us a house, the Xand-man took care of that. I think he was happy when we told him he could spend the money of the Council” Faith laughed remembering the face of the young man when they told him. “Willow’s been working in creatin’ computer programs and that kind of shit, I’ve been working teaching karate in a local gym in West Hollywood. The last year, Red was in the cover of that magazine… Today’s Technology because of the software she created and Microsoft bought the software”
“We saw that magazine. Tara still has like five copies of it in her room. I think she uses them as porn” Dawn joked and covered her face with her hands when the now blushing Tara hit her arm playfully.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Dawnie” Tara replied.
“Red does the same with your books, Blondie” Faith teased a little noticing how the tension left her.
“Shut up, it’s not about that and you two know it” Tara said seriously, although a little smile appeared in her lips.
“We know, Tare, we’re just joking” Dawn said still giggling a little.
“Yes, Blondie, we are. And congrats for the last book, by the way. Totally forgot about it” Faith said.
“Really? You read my books?” Tara couldn’t hide her surprise and after a moment her eyes widened in fear. “Willow read my books?”
“She loves ‘em, of course she does. I remember when the first one came up, Red was nervous about buyin’ the damn book for like…a week. She wouldn’t say anythin’ to me, but I knew she was tryin’ to get it but she was too much of a big chicken to go and buy it. So I went to the book store, got the damn book and drop it in front of her on the couch. ‘A present, let me borrow it later to read it’ I said and left her alone. She cried all the time she spent readin’ it. She did the same with the second…”
“She cried?”
“With every page. But it was a good thing, they were…happy tears. She may don’t say it but she’s proud of ya”
“I always…I always thought about the possibility of Willow reading my books. I…I don’t know…I always hoped she liked them”
“She does, she loves them” Faith reassured her with a smile neither Tara nor Dawn had ever seen before.
The three young women fell into a strangely comfortable silence for a few minutes until Tara spoke again.
“You said that I could ask questions”
“And I also said that I didn’t promise I’d answer everything” Faith replied.
“So…Willow life is good, right?” Tara asked, suddenly feeling a little nervous.
“She’s okay… She’s got a good job, friends who take care of her, yeah…”
“You’re always with her, are you? You’ve been always by her side…”
“It may sound weird to hear this from me, but Red became my family. The only one I ever had. She never turned her back on me” Faith explained softly, obviously not very comfortable with the topic but she knew it was necessary.
“You mean like we did to her?” The blonde Wiccan snapped and the hurt in her voice was worse than a punch for the Slayer.
“I’m not saying that, Tara. I’d never say that. Who would I be to judge?” Faith took a deep breath and stood up, pacing around the room.
“Im sorry, I didn’t mean…I am really sorry Faith…” Tara tried to apologize. She hadn’t meant to say that to her and she didn’t even know why she said it…
“It’s cool, T. Don’t sweat it” Faith waved a hand and ran said hand through her hair to pull it away from her face. The Slayer sat down on the couch again.
“Is… Is Willow seeing somebody?” As soon as the words left her mouth Tara’s heart began to beat faster and louder and the blonde Wiccan was scared the others may be able to hear it.
“Red hasn’t dated anybody since you, T. In 8 years nobody could make Red go on more than one date. She had a few but never dated the same girl twice and don’t get me wrong. She’s not like me in the whole use ‘em and leave ‘em”
“Sounds familiar…” Dawn muttered under her breath and raised an eyebrow at Tara.
“Really? I knew it! I told Red you were alone…. Damn, I’m good…”
“You think Willow still feels something for me? You think there’s still hope for us?”
“T, I know Red still loves you. I don’t get all that soul-mate crap but you and Red have that. She loves you and even if she was with somebody, she could never love ‘em like she loves ya”
“Really?”
“Yes, T. She does love you. Trust me I know. Red and I talked about this lots of times” The Slayer confirmed, feeling uncomfortable with the topic of the conversation. After all, the only person she ever talked about this kind of things was Willow, and always hearing her redhead friend’s thoughts not talking about hers… But they were friends, they had welcomed her and she could trust them…
Just like Willow, she had also come a long way….
“You think that…if I call her…she’ll want to see me?”
“You should just go, Tare. I mean, Willow won’t expect you and you’ll have the surprise factor on your side. Don’t forget what she thinks” Dawn suggested.
“That I’m a mega-bitch who turned her back on her and didn’t even wait more than a few weeks to start dating again?” Tara ironically guessed.
“Probably” The former Key nodded.
“Hey, no she doesn’t” Faith contradicted them. “Haven’t you heard a shit of what I been tellin’ ya? Willow doesn’t think that you turned your back on her. She knows you did the right thing. Period. What she does think is that you stopped lovin’ ‘er. She won’t say nothin’ to me but I know it kills ‘er to think that you stopped lovin’ ‘er and moved on, Tara” Faith added seriously.
“But I do love her…” Tara whispered, feeling sad and knowing that Willow’s fears were also hers…
“I don’t know about you guys but that couch is lookin’ really comfy and I’m dead tired” Faith said yawing.
“Want me to wake you up for breakfast, Faith?” Tara asked kindly.
“No, wait… What time is B comin’ back? I wanna get outta here before I strangle her” Faith chuckled.
“She won’t be home ‘till the afternoon. It’s always like that” Dawn answered and Faith looked at her not quite understanding. “She leaves every night after dinner and comes back the next afternoon or night. Nobody knows where she goes or what she does”
“Whoa. Not even I did that. She’s really that…um…”
“Dead inside” Dawn completed what Faith didn’t say.
There was a moment of silence, the three women thinking what to do next…
“I really hope Red’s not kickin’ my ass for this” Faith thought out loud.
“What you mean?” Dawn asked.
“I wasn’t supposed to say anything. I promised. But still I opened my big mouth. I hope Red doesn’t get mad at me”
“She won’t, Faith” Tara tried to make her feel better. She understood how much the Slayer was actually risking by telling her all this…
“How are you gonna do that, Tare?” Dawn asked and she and her friend locked gazes. “Okay, let’s do it”
“What? What the hell just happened?” Faith asked, because she knew something happened between the two girls but she didn’t quite understand what…
“Give me a minute to do one phone call and I’ll tell you” Tara left the room, leaving behind a Dawn who wouldn’t say a thing and a confused Faith.
The former Key and the Slayer were left alone in a room full of silence, stealing glances at each other and silently wondering what the future would have in store for them…
Tara returned to see her friends lost in each other’s eyes and looking away as soon as she entered the room. The Blonde Wiccan shook her head tired of them acting like teenagers and spoke to get their attention.
“It’s all set up” She told Dawn.
“T. What the hell are you talking about?” Faith asked obviously a little upset at not understanding what was happening.
“We’re leaving with you to LA. Angel said we could stay with him for as long as we want to. Dawnie, you don’t have to go…but you’re more than welcome”
“I’m in. Got nothing to keep me here anymore” Dawn told her firmly. “No job, I’ll talk to Mark tomorrow and I’m not willing to keep wasting my life worrying about Buffy when she doesn’t even care”
“Wait…. WHAT?” Faith kept looking from Tara to Dawn and back to Tara. “T… You lost it, right? Are you fucking crazy? OH fuck me… Red’s sooo kickin’ my ass now…” Faith hit her forehead with her palm and ran her hand through her hair.
“Everything’s gonna be fine, Faith. Please, Faith…I have to do this” The Slayer and the Wiccan locked gazes.
“‘Kay. Tomorrow I’m meetin’ the Xand-man for lunch. After lunch I come back and we leave…if you’re not ready, then I’m leavin’ alone, ‘kay?”
“Sounds fair to me. I only need to pack everything in my car and I’ll call Evelyn from the car” Tara greed.
“Evelyn?”
“My editor. Dawn, is that okay with you?”
“Sure, Tare. No problem” The younger girl agreed.
“Great. Faith, Angel said to remind you that tomorrow is Saturday. What does that mean?”
“Holy shit! Saturday!”
“And what does that mean?” Dawn asked.
“Every Saturday Will, I and the others go to Caritas to have a drink and just chill. If some gets a little drunk, usually sings a song. And from time to time, Lorne allows Red and Me to set up the instruments and play a few songs. Tomorrow, Red and I are playin’ with two friends” Faith explained. “The regulars in Caritas love us. When they see the instruments in the stage is ‘cause we’re singin’ and they go crazy…”
“You serious?” Dawn looked at her with wide eyes.
“Hell yeah! Red and I gave that song Drive and whole new meanin’, ya know…” Faith gave her one of her best and sexiest grins, making Dawn gulp air and lick her suddenly dry lips.
“What do you mean?” She dared to ask. The former Key hoped Faith wouldn’t notice the husky tone.
“Let’s just say that I can make a crow go wild. Red and I played in a friend’s club a few times and damn…they went wild!” Faith laughed out loud. “And then went all romantic when Red started singin’ one of those love songs…”
“Since when Willow sings in front of people? I used to have to beg her!” Tara NOW was shocked! Willow wouldn’t even sing in the shower because she was afraid somebody may hear her and now she was a regular singer in not just one but two clubs?
“Red decided to take lessons a few years ago and begged me to go with her, the big chicken. We took singing lessons and the G-man taught us how to play guitar and bass. I know what you’re thinkin’. Who would’ve thought, right? Me and Red doin’ that kind of shit? But it was fun and we have lots of fun sometimes”
“Wow…I never thought that…She never said anything about…” Tara stuttered.
Faith stood up and place and hand on Tara’s shoulder. The small smiled on her lips was so unusual in the Slayer and showed a sweetness that only Willow had ever seen.
“There’s something you need to understand, T. Some things will never change. But she’s a whole different person now. She’s not that Willow anymore. Your Willow, is still there somewhere, but changed. Just like you’re not the same girl who couldn’t say two words without stutterin’”
“I do understand that, Faith”
“Great. Now, guys…I’m really tired and it’s gettin’ late, y’know…” Faith yawned and stretched her arms behind her head.
“Yes, I’ll bring you a blanket and a pillow” Tara said.
“Or you could sleep in my room” Dawn blurted out before she could stop herself. “I mean… You can stay in my room and I’ll stay in Buffy’s”
“Nah, don’t worry, big D. The couch is fine” Faith smile at her. The Slayer took her backpack and said. “I’ll go change in the bathroom”
The former Key couldn’t stop herself. Her eyes were glue to Faith’s butt as the Slayer walked past her to go upstairs. Tara noticed this and raised an eyebrow to her surrogate sister.
“Still has some effect on you, huh?” The blonde Wiccan asked softly so in case Faith returned she wouldn’t be able to hear her.
“Yeah…” Her brain finally registered what Tara had just said. “What?”
“Faith… She still affects you” It wasn’t a question.
“I have no idea what you mean”
Tara raised an eyebrow again and smiled amused at the cute intent to look innocent.
“Sweetie, we spend way too much time together, c’mon…”
“Well…I will admit that she does look…nice in those clothes. Especially in those leather pants, she looks so hot. Her butt looks so delicious I’d love to…ehhh… There’s no way I’m digging out of this hole now, right?” Dawn looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
“I don’t think so, darling”
“‘Kay, she’s hot, so what?”
“Since she got out of jail and the first time she came back you’ve been acting like this…You’ve had the biggest crush on her for years, Dawn. I may not say some things but I notice everything that happens around us, my friend”
“I don’t know about a crush, but she sure gets me all hot and bothered” Dawn admitted and didn’t look at Tara. “She always got me like that”
“Totally understandable, sweetie. She’s a strong good looking woman, confident and sensual. I understand that you feel attracted to her”
Dawn thought. “But you don’t want her” The former Key said instead.
“No, but she’s not my type. And I am still in love with Willow, Dawn”
“That’s my point…”
“I think that you just need to think about what you want and then make up your mind, honey. Otherwise you’ll drive yourself crazy. I’ll go get those blankets for Faith now”
Tara went upstairs and Faith came down a second later wearing nothing more than a black sports bra and black boxers shorts. Dawn almost died right there…
“I thought you’ll be in bed by now, big D” Faith told her and dropped her backpack onto the floor by the couch.
“I was about to go. You don’t wear anything but black, Faith?” Dawn tried to joke to forget the fire that woke up within her at seeing Faith’s tan skin and strong muscles with every move the Slayer made.
“I usually sleep naked, D. This is my chill outfit” Faith grinned at the open mouthed Dawn.
“Well…is a good thing you’re not naked, then. ‘Cause Tara would die of the heart attack” Dawn joked.
“And you, big D?” Faith flirted before she could stop herself. “You’d have a heart attack?”
“Me? Nah! You have nothing I haven’t seen before, Faith. I bet you got good stuff but nothing I haven’t seen before in the showers at school” gulp
Faith walked past her heading to the kitchen and stopped for only a second to whisper huskily in her ear.
“Too bad you have a boyfriend. Or I could show you what a great…stuff I got…” The Slayer grinned while leaving the room.
Dawn tried to speak. She opened and closed her mouth but no sound came out. Tried clearing her throat and it worked enough to mutter ‘oh god’.
Tara came back holding sheets, a blanket and a pillow under her arm.
“Dawnie, you still here? I thought you’d be in bed by now” Tara told her friend and began to prepare a bed on the couch for Faith.
“Yeah…it’s just…We were talking and…Faith…she’s…” Dawn tried to speak but she couldn’t blush, gulp and talk at the same time.
“Yo, T! You didn’t have to do that. I could’ve done it myself” Faith was drinking her beer while walking into the living room again and sitting in the loveseat and crossing her legs Indian style.
“Don’t worry, Faith…” Tara held back a fit of laughter after she saw what the Slayer was wearing. No wonder Dawn was acting like a horny teenager again…
“Okay, this is all set up…” Tara walked over Dawn and squeezed her arm momentarily.
“Thanks, T. I really thank you” Faith stood up and looked at the other two girls. “You too, D”
“No problem, Faith. It’s a pleasure to help you” Dawn blurted out before Tara could say something.
“And I thank you, Faith” Tara added. “Have a good night”
“You too, guys”
Dawn tried to say ‘good night’ as well but right on time Faith hand bent over to stretch before going to bed and the speak was lost in Dawn, so instead she stuttered something unintelligible before being dragged upstairs by Tara…
So, this was the chapter. I hope you liked it, guys. I tried to mix some humor, I didnt want a super dramatic chapter or something like that. I dont like too much drama, y'know...
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