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illustrationillustrationCV-24

Another follow-up to CV-1.

 

God, I hate the back seats of police cars. They have their very own smell. Hell, I just hate police cars, period end. Police anything. You can have it.

Looking out the side window helps me stay in control. Makes it seem almost like just riding in any old car. Of course, I'd rather listen to some nice heavy metal than the Sunnydale dispatcher.

When I look forward, it's bars. Bars are what I do not want to see. And these are heavier bars than you normally find in a pigmobile–I'm a connoisseur. Come to think of it, I bet me and Buffy are personally responsible for the reinforced bars. Once upon a time...

Another thing I don't want to see is my handcuffs. Damn, when that Cassie chick sees something, you don't get away from it! But I make myself look down. Jiggle the chain. Pull the rings. Strong enough to hold a Slayer? Probably not.

Yeah. I can survive this I think. I'd give a hell of a lot not to have to, but maybe this is just one more way I have to pay. This is the way it has to end. This is the solution.

This trip isn't so bad anyway. The worst ride was the one to the police station. They've got real bars there. Even before I was inside, the sight of the barred windows on the second floor made my breath stop from panic.

I look out the window again, count the sidewalk sections gliding past, and put bars and cuffs out of my mind. Just breathe. Get through one moment at a time. How many years have I already survived that way? It's the only way to be, sometimes.

We pass the light at Jackson. That's where we would have turned if they were taking me home. I can just see Revello, looking way down the street. A familiar house on the corner–one you can see from Buffy's bedroom window. I want to go there, so bad. Go home to my sanctuary, slam the door, and get Willow to whip me up some spell that keeps the cops away.

But home is not where I'm going, and this ride is going to last a while. So I clench my fists and count more sidewalk.

It seems like ten years. The cops up front don't feel like chatting, and I'm glad, but the dispatcher is going to drive me bonkers. Sounds just like a prison guard's walkie talkie, to me.

Eventually, we round a corner and I see the big barred gates. The car slows down. The cop in the passenger seat, the one who really bugs the hell out of me, looks over his shoulder with a sneer. "End of the line, Missy!"

"You can keep going, if it's all the same to you," I say.

The driver, the big cop, looks at me in the mirror. "Green Valley. We're here."

"Right. But go on to the corner–the city park."

The car stops where the cemetery ends and the park begins. Planting just one foot outside the car makes me feel a hundred times better.

And then I see something that makes me feel a thousand times better.

I step out of the car, handcuffs jangling. I start to smile, but I'm not gonna say anything.

Like hell I'm not! I'm just busting to say something.

"See that girl?" I point proudly. "With the cooler? That's my wife."

The asshole in the passenger seat frowns, but the big guy just shrugs. "Your wife's got herself a handful."

"Yeah, she does. Her name's Buffy. And you know what?" I grin at the bug guy. "She could kick your ass just as bad as I did!" He looks away with a sigh. Poor guy. Didn't leave him with a whole lot of dignity this afternoon. "Hey, don't beat yourself up over it." I shut the car door. "See you guys around."

 


 

I approach Buffy slowly. I meant to set all this up for her, but she's done a fine job on her own. Picnic blanket and all.

She's happy to see me, but she narrows her eyes. "You're late."

I shrug. "Half an hour. Could be worse. This is the new, improved, responsible Faith. Some things can't wait."

She looks me up and down, eyes narrowing further. "You're a cop."

"I'm not a cop, B."

"Then what's with the uniform? And the handcuffs. And the club. And the little hat!"

"You forgot the badge. See? Shiny."

She shakes her head, bewildered, and points an accusing finger. "You're a cop!"

"Little known fact, B... you need training to be a cop. Not to mention a little bit cleaner record than mine."

"So what exactly are you?"

I owe my wife a picnic–and some explanation. I was kind of hoping not to combine them. I was going to sleep on the whole thing and tell her tomorrow. But... who knew duty would call so soon?

I kneel down and take her hands. "My official title is NPS. 'Nocturnal Perpetrators Specialist.'"

"And what exactly does that mean?"

I shrug. "Vampire Slayer."

"You get paid to be a Slayer?!"

I give her a look. "I suppose it's your valuable expertise with the college admissions process that makes you a guidance counselor over the Hellmouth."

"OK, fair enough. So... wow... this is pretty exciting! What do you have to do?"

"It's pretty cushy, B! Work a couple days a month training Sunnydale's finest, check out weird deaths like Mr. No-Eyes when they need me, do whatever I damn well please the rest of the time... and collect a nice fat paycheck."

"How fat are we talking, baby?" I tell her and her jaw drops. "That's almost twice what I get paid to be a Slayer... and I have more experience!"

"Hey, you said Career Day filed you under Law Enforcement. Not my fault if you didn't listen! Besides, having a Slayer on location at the Hellmouth is probably for the best." I take my cap off.

"Put it back on." She smiles.

I put it on again. "Why?"

"It's kinda sexy."

"I don't think that's the idea. The duds are supposed to get me respect."

She leans forward and we kiss, gently but deeply. "You've got all kinds of respect from me, Faith... even with the uniform off."

"We'll have to try that later, B." I look down at myself, jingle my cuffs, and shudder involuntarily at the sound. "The uniform didn't really earn me much respect today. One of the guys who picked me up–the small one–he's a real piece of work. Laughed at the idea of bringing me along on the case."

Buffy knows me by now. "I hope you didn't hurt him too bad."

"Nah. Actually I didn't figure it would do much good to lay into him."

"Wow, such restraint!"

"Threw his partner against a tree, though. The really big guy. He's pretty cool. Got him in a stranglehold. Broke his gun in two."

She's taken aback. "Why'd you take it out on him?"

"Buffy, I'm a jailbird. Trust me, I know how to build a reputation."

I open the cooler and take out ham sandwiches. Dawn's recipe–minus the licorice. And pretzels, just 'cause they looked good on the bag. And a couple of brews. I open a bottle with my teeth and pass it do Buffy.

She smiles when I spit the cap back into the cooler. "That's my wife!"

I open the pretzels. "They don't have any salt!" I try one. "These are nasty."

"Faith... you're supposed to microwave those. That's why they were in the freezer. You put the salt on yourself."

I take a closer look at the bag. "Damn, pretzels got complicated while I was in the clink." OK, forget the pretzels.

"You know, B, I'm starting to feel like I just might fit in out here."

"In the park?"

"Out of prison."

"Of course you fit in. You did before, remember, way back when?"

I shake my head. "No. I never did, really. Didn't even want to. But I do now. I feel like I finally know what to do, and how to do it. I've got a job, friends... even acquaintances! The Chief, Cassie's mom..."

"Even a free cooler."

"Damn straight."

I just love Buffy's smile...

I wait until we're done with the sandwiches and off on a stroll before I start talking messy stuff. "So... the strangled guy with the eyes eaten out. Here's what was carved on his chest." I take out a sketch I made. Not fridge material, but good enough.

"Looks a little like what we found two days ago. On that other body's arm. You know, the one with the tongue missing. I bet there's a connection."

"Yep. Time for Giles to hit the books. See? My little career is already helping us do our thing. We wouldn't have heard about this new body for days, if ever... and forget seeing the symbol up close. Now we get the heads up on everything!"

"Sure beats reading about it all in the paper!"

"Yep. And I met with the Chief tonight. She's the one who emailed my web site and offered me the job. I'm gonna put my Top Ten Vampire Tips in the new police handbook. And in the community flyer next week. My web address too. And that flyer's gonna be everywhere. That ought to piss of the bloodsuckers!"

"People will think it's just a joke."

"Just what the Chief said. And so what? Long as they read it. Some of 'em will learn it's not a joke, about the same time it saves their lives. And in about three weeks, every cop's gonna have a club with wood inside. Not to go staking vamps–these guys are amateurs. But at least they'll be ready to defend themselves. At least they'll make the vamps think a little harder before feeding on my town."

Buffy laughs. "The Council's gonna freak! You really are a terrible Slayer. Thousands of years of secrecy and you throw it all away! Web sites and flyers and a job for the government!"

"Screw secrecy. I want everything on our side we can get. And you know what this means, don't you? A free pass. You and me can do what we need to do. Break into places, start fires, drag rocket launchers around... maybe a little sixty-nine in the front yard... anything! Anybody stops us, I just show this and we're good." I flash my badge. "The Chief already sent out the memo."

"Don't tell me you're going to patrol in uniform."

"Hell no! This thing's hot!" I undo buttons to let in some air. And let out some cleavage. "I'll keep the badge handy is all. You can have one too–just in case. And don't you get it B? I'm set for my parole now. I've got the Chief of Police on my side! A fake job description end everything. Some nonsense about nighttime gang activity. Not a damn thing the parole board can do to me now. And when the cops catch me in a dark alley with my new bow... it's not a parole violation now. 'Cause they'll never report it."

"You should be really proud. It's the perfect job." She stops walking to give me hug.

"Yeah, if I didn't hate it so much."

"Hate it?"

"B, I don't even want to see a cop again. Jails, handcuffs, police coming to the house all the time... the whole thing just gives me the major willies. Almost didn't take the job."

"I didn't think of that. But somehow I think you'll do just fine, baby."

"I'm workin' on it. Beating up that cop for show kinda loosened me up." I take out the Chief's card and give it to Buffy. "Hang onto this. 'Cause we can call them, too. The whole force is under orders to do what NPS says."

"That's all we need. Bunch of gun-happy cops getting in the way."

"Think about it, B. They can block streets. Evacuate people. Put out APB's when we're on the chase. Loan us cars. Actually, I'm kinda hoping for motorcycles. Anyway, there's a lot they can do without getting underfoot."

"You've been thinking a lot about this." We sit down in the grass at the base of a tree.

"Yeah. Me and the Chief. She's cool. Hey, guess what they call me at work? Ms. Summers. You believe that? Ha! Ms. Summers!"

"Come here, Ms. Summers." She draws me close and pushes me down to the ground, sitting over me. We kiss so long that only Slayers could stay conscious.

"Wow..." I gasp. She sits up and I just look into her eyes for a long time. "So... what do you think of me being a Sunnydale city employee again, B?" Last time was for the Mayor's office, of course.

She shakes her head. "I think it's amazing."

"You know why I did it, don't you B? Why I worked up the nerve to go through with it? For our future."

"I know, baby. They can't take you away from me anymore."

"Not just that, B. I'm talkin' future. You know, the thing Slayers never get, what with the dying young and all. Well screw that, we're having one. You know what's going to happen?"

"Tell me."

"We're gonna go to college part time like we talked about. Maybe have some classes with the Creature. And then we're gonna adopt a rugrat. Maybe even two!"

"I like that dream. I think we just might be pretty good parents."

"To hell with dreams. I'm sick of 'em. That's all I've had for years. This is life, B. We are gonna have kids. We're gonna love 'em so much, B! We're gonna live to see them grow up. We're gonna get them through Hellmouth High in one piece. We're gonna live to see whatever they hell they decide do with their lives. Might even live to see Dawn be the first lesbian First Lady of the U S of A!"

She laughs. "Ok, now where did that dream come from?"

"Well, I just figure Cassie's going places... what with the precog thing she's got going."

"Those two are pretty cute together aren't they?"

"Yeah. Reminds me of when I first fell in love. In a little prison trailer." I roll her to the ground and take my preferred place on top. "With peas too gross to do anything with but throw at each other!"

She smiles. "Oh, god. The pea fight! That's a story we'll tell our kids."

"Kids, and grandkids too."

"Grandkids? You are officially scaring me, Faith."

"Scaring myself, B! But what the hell, yeah–grandkids. And they'll come over for Thanksgiving and cheer while Gramma Faith and Gramma B kick the living shit out of each other. Gramma Faith might even let Gramma B win sometimes. And then the Grammas'll have to turn Barney way up loud, so we can screw in the basement while the turkey cooks."

"Sounds like a genuine Kodak moment." She laughs but there are tears in her eyes.

"It's all gonna happen, B. I won't stand for anything less."

"Maybe it will, sweetie."

"It will. We're gonna be the Slayers that live. But it ain't gonna happen by accident. It ain't gonna happen just by wanting it. It's gonna happen because we're gonna make this town ours. That's why I worked up the nerve to do this job. We've got the Scoobies, we've got the cops... and pretty soon everybody in town is going to know how to fight a vampire on their own–even the folks who don't believe. Then... I don't know... maybe we get the cops to put night alarms on all the cemeteries. Maybe cameras in the morgues and funeral homes. Maybe we let the demon bars know there's a reward out for anyone or any thing that kills people in our city. No offense, B, but you've been thinking small for too long. We're gonna make this town a living hell for demons. If you're up for it."

Kiss. "Wow, that planning thing you got into in prison really stuck! Let's do it, baby."

"What, right here in public, B?"

She rolls her eyes. "You're impossible."

"Yeah, well you're easy. But dessert first. Then we can see about other temptations!" We climb to our feet and walk back towards the picnic blanket. And my big blue cooler. It's big and red. Guess I'm a sucker for gifts–even from banks.

"Dessert?" Buffy inquires. "Homemade cake?"

"Yep. My first one. A success. Cake... and then another special surprise, B."

But neither of us can make it through a single slice of cake. Buffy puts her fork down. "Hey, I better save room for the other treat."

I look at her sheepishly. "It's awful, isn't it? Like eating an old sponge."

She puts her hand on mine. "It is. It really is. But you'll be happy to hear that I didn't marry you for your baking. And I love you for trying."

"OK, B, I won't torture us. Leave the cake for the birds, if they'll touch it. Damn... it was a mix, too, all I had to do was add water."

"I bet Dawn'll help you figure out where you went wrong."

"Oh, she told me I was forgetting the spaghetti layer, but I said I'd rather stick to the directions."

I take out two cans–labels gone–and a can opener. "Surprise time."

She looks at me like I'm crazy, and then makes a face at the smell from the cans. "What is that stuff?!"

"What do you think it is, B?" I hand her a can of soft, gray pellets, take one for myself, and then walk away from her into the late afternoon sun. Not for effect–I do it so the sun will blind her.

I turn around and whip a pellet at her head. Hard.

"Ow!" She looks at me like I'm insane. "What are you doing?" She scoops up a pellet with a grimace and throws, nailing me right in the boob. It rolls down my cleavage and I have to shake it free.

I throw one back even harder, grinning. "I'm taking the worst peas money can buy and whipping them at my wife."

She laughs and hides behind a tree to take another shot at me. "I can't believe you!"

And then the peas are flying, the slime is getting in our hair, and we're laughing so hard we're in tears... It's like we're back in trailer CV-1, a year and half ago... but with a different ending. No teary goodbyes. This time, the walls and guards have vanished. This time, we know we're in love.

 


 

We lie together as the day ends, exhausted and slap-happy, picking peas and grass out of each others' hair.

"Jeez, B, you even got a pea down your undies." I finger the crotch of her pants.

She looks around in alarm, but nobody's in sight, and the nearby bushes give us some privacy. She doesn't move my hand away.

"I do not."

"Yeah, I can feel it," I say, seriously. I rub the pea, then unzip her jeans to hold it through just her panties.

"That's not a pea!" She giggles, but her face turns serious as I do my thing.

"Want," I say, fingering a growing damp spot in the white fabric. "Take." I slip three fingers into the waistband. "Have." With a sharp tug I yank her panties out through her fly. Good 'ol Slayer strength!

"Hey!" she yelps. I tug her pants down a little. She looks around nervously. "You sure... we can get away with this? What if someone wanders by?"

"I told ya, B." I lower my head to kiss the pea in question. "Chief's on my side. We're untouchable." And alone, for that matter. Nobody's gonna wander by.

I push my lips out to nuzzle her dripping labia, getting my face nice and wet, and then slide up so she can see. I know it turns her on to see her own wetness on my mouth. I move close and let her lick my lips, and then begin sucking her tongue in just the way I plan to suck several other parts of her.

I work my fingers slowly into her, unbutton her shirt, and kiss her breasts. She opens my uniform to fondle mine, and then slides my pants down to my knees so that she can be in me while I'm in her.

We can't help making sounds, but neither of us is thinking of being caught anymore.

Soon we've repositioned to use our mouths. I wear her like mask over my lips and nose, tasting her deep inside.

I'm surprised when I come first. A few seconds before my tongue feels her own vagina contract. I'm surprised when I realize I'm screaming. I'm surprised when it just keeps happening, for both of us... beautiful agony that just won't let us go.

And then, after a time, when we're starting to recover a little, I'm surprised to realize it has never felt better. Not even after slaying.

I relax, all comfy, lying on my side with her thighs still around my head. I watch her sex slowly fold closed, and her hair dance as I breathe. I feel her hot puffs of air on me, too, an odd sensation now that I'm hairless.

We rearrange ourselves on the tangled blanket to spoon together for warmth–beats pants any day–and watch the sun set. Buffy's wearing that vulnerable, confused look she gets after an orgasm. It earns her a kiss.

"I love you Faith," she breathes.

"Right back at ya, B." I stretch contentedly. "I could just lie here like this all night."

"It's a deal."

"I have other plans, though."

"Patrol. That could be fun." But she sounds far from willing to get up.

"Forget patrol. I think I'm gonna screw my wife a few more times."

She starts to caress the shaved skin between my legs. "OK. That sounds even nicer."

 


 

Distant headlights from the road wash over us. The car drives on, but the glare wakes me out of my sleepiness. How long have we been cuddling?

"So much for showing you a good time without sex, B."

She stretches contentedly on the grass. "I'll live."

"Still feeling left out?"

"Not even a little. This was the best first date ever." She props herself up on one elbow and I hand her her pants. "I was so busy worrying about you... I just never thought you might be worried about me."

"Course I was. I can tell when something's up with my wife! I knew you were feeling left out by me and the Creature. And I had the picnic thing planned even before I started to worry. Just so you know. All part of the me loving you thing."

"I know you did. I never doubted that you cared. I guess I've just had trouble getting used to how things are gonna be. I didn't know what to think. You've been right there, in our home... and I've still been missing you."

I slide up behind her to help buckle her belt. "Were you afraid I wouldn't still want you, now that I'm free? I mean, everything's different all of a sudden."

She's quiet for a while. "I guess maybe I was a little afraid. Only a teeny bit."

"Me too, B."

"So you're not mad?"

"Course not. It's a weird time. We'll get used to it."

"Get used to waking up next to you? I can't promise anything."

I know how she feels. Eventually I'll stop waking up and thinking I'm still in prison every morning. But I may never get used to that moment every day when I first feel her warmth, or hear her breathing, or smell her hair. Not even when we're Gramma Faith and Gramma B.

I think now is the time.

"I do have one more little thing for you, B." I take a small box out of my pocket and hand it to her. Double-giftwrapped 'cause I think that's fun. Almost forgot it when I changed into my uniform! "I know we decided against the whole ring thing, but... I kinda wanted you to have this."

She tears off the paper, opens the box, and her eyes light up. She's speechless.

"I saw one of these babies in prison and I knew I'd have to get you one. Tricky to find in Sunnydale, but I got lucky. It's silver. No two alike." The one I picked for her has a sun design. "Get it? Sun... Summers. I don't know. I thought it was right for you."

She turns the ring over in her fingers, smiling. She reads the engraving inside: "F & B. LOVE." She puts it on. "I love it. I'm never taking it off."

"Where it when you feel like it. Not like it's a wedding ring. I just thought it was cool." Although somehow the thought of her wearing it always feels nice. "By the way, try pushing the bottom with your thumb."

She does and a small but very sharp blade springs out of the sun design. Her eyes widen. "Where did you find this?"

"Wasn't easy. Should be good in a fight, though! For your thinner-skinned demons, anyway."

"I'll admit, I thought giving a ring was a little on the cutesy side for you... but I take it back!" She folds the blade away carefully. "It's the best wedding ring I could ever ask for."

"It's not really a wedding ring."

"Would it bother you if it was?"

I shrug. "Not really. I like to think of you wearing it."

"Then I guess it's OK to give you these. Got 'em from my dad. Never seemed to be the right moment to give them to you. I wasn't sure what you'd think." And she takes out a little wrapped box! Triple-wrapped, with a zillion ribbons! Buffy knows I love opening presents. I work myself into a near frenzy, tearing through to the surprise.

Oh my god! Now that's what I call a gift. I feel silly gaping at a diamond. Never thought I'd be like that, but here I am. And it is a pretty wicked diamond, after all. An engagement ring and a wedding band. "Damn, Buffy... if you'd proposed with this, I might have said yes, the first time!"

"No, you would have thought I was even crazier... Try them on. They were Mom's. She'd have wanted me to give them to my wife. Dad thought so too."

I slip them on–the wrong way, but Buffy gets me straightened out. All I can think to say is, "Damn..." again.

"Now, wear it when you want, just like you said."

"Sure thing. Special occasions. Can you see me wearing a rock all the time? Not a good ring for fighting, either... unless..." I push the bottom of the diamond ring. Nothing.

Buffy laughs. "No, Mom didn't wear a mini switchblade around."

"I'm not one for big rings, B, but this is... this is so cool. I can't believe it... your mom's... it just... it means so much. Thanks, Buffy. I think I like the rings even better than the bow! That's saying something."

"I know, you practically sleep with that thing."

"I might if I didn't have you!"

Buffy laces her boots, looking a little self-conscious about our recent indecent exposure."Guess we'd better head back. Will and Tara and Dawn are coming on patrol."

"Yeah, best not to make the Creature wait when she's itching for a fight. She's at least half Slayer."

"I told you so. And she's more like you than me. She likes patrolling. I never did, until you came along."

"I'm kinda surprised Willow and Tara are coming. They seem so busy lately. And all huggy and kissy. More than usual, I mean."

"Working on the wedding, I guess." We both smile to think of our friends' happiness.

"You think that's all? If you ask me, those two are still keeping a secret."

"Maybe they have a surprise or two planned for the wedding. I mean... if Tara's ready to stop rain, they probably have some other magic in the works too."

"Maybe." I'm not convinced. They were just a little too quick to agree when I decided their secret was the wedding. Then a thought hits me and I grin. "Or maybe they're getting up to kinkiness in the sack! Dawn did say they always shut themselves in the bedroom early. Maybe they're afraid to shock us if we found out!"

"Shock us? Hardly! ...Did we really just make love for two hours in the park?"

"Course not. Even I'm not that depraved! Hour and a half, tops. Guess we'll have to finish after patrol."

She shakes her head. "Sometimes I just don't know what I'm going to do with you."

"You married trouble, B!"

She puts her arms around my neck. "I'm counting on it."

 


 

Buffy wasn't sad coming here, but I still find a tear in my eye as she puts the flowers in front of the grave. I put my hands on her shoulders gently, and give her a minute in silence. Now I know why she chose the park next to this cemetery.

She gets up. "Thanks. I really wanted to come here with you. Like maybe it would let her see our happiness a little clearer."

"Yeah. I wanted to say goodbye anyway. She was the best mom ever, I think."

"Yes, she sure was. I'm an amateur at best."

I sigh deeply. "You know what I want?"

She looks worried. She knows I'm thinking about my own mom, who tried to keep us apart just for spite. "Faith..."

"I want to write to my mom and tell her I'm free, and I'm with you, and that she made it happen. She tried to keep me in jail, but my lawyer tricked her. I'm free because of her. I'm with you because she's a shitty mom. I want her to know that. And then I want to forget her. Go back to telling people my parents are dead."

"I know, baby. But I think we better let sleeping dogs drink. Promise you won't write to her. I'll help you forget her."

Kiss. "Then it's a promise." We hold each other lightly for a while. I think about Buffy's mom, and finger the rings on my hand. I'm not sure I deserve to wear them, but I'll do my best. I say my silent goodbyes. I wish I'd known her better.

We separate and Buffy picks up the cooler to start the walk home.

"I'll be with you in a second, B."

She sees the tears on my cheek and nods. "OK, baby."

I turn back to the gravestone and speak softly. "I'll take good care of her. Promise."

 

~ Continued with "CV-25" (final chapter) ~

 

If you're enjoying this story, try I Have Never Been to Boston. Dawn sets out to say goodbye to someone she loves–but who she knows never even existed!

I always appreciate feedback in my Guestbook, or by email. Reader responses will determine whether I publish more stories, and will help improve them! Thanks for reading! (If you'd like to be notified when I post new stories, let me know.)

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