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Witch's Faith
Mrs. Betts knocked even louder on Buffy's door, and then finally tried the knob. Locked.
Moving slowly, in a daze, Faith rose from clinging to Buffy's leg and clicked the lock open. The Watcher entered, carrying her pickaxe and looking haggard and drained. Faith stepped back and Buffy took her in her free arm. The blonde Slayer's other hand tensed on the trigger of her crossbow, which she still held down at her side.
Mrs. Betts removed a piece of paper from her pocket: the verdict she had written down upon receiving the Council's call. She and Buffy stared intently at one another for a long moment, each of them remembering another night when she had read a statement from the Council to Faith, and Buffy had aimed that very crossbow at her heart. Mrs. Betts knew how misguided she had been that night when she had come to take Faith back to prison, and if Buffy were to kill her now, there would be some justice in it. The Watcher nervously shifted the balance of the axe in one hand.
Time seemed to slow down for Willow, every sense magnified by the powers she had unleashed to prepare for this moment. From her position on the couch she could see a battered station wagon pull up behind Mrs. Betts' car. Five people waited inside. The Council was here in force. No doubt other agents were in the area as well.
Upstairs, Tara and Dawn held each others' hands so tightly it hurt, holding their breaths and listening to what was happening below. Tara spoke a simple chant in her mind, focussing her own powers and keeping them ready in case she should decide to use them.
Mrs. Betts closed her eyes for a moment, took a shaky breath, and began to read the Council's statement.
"The Watchers' Council addresses Faith, the Vampire Slayer. You have been called to wield power for great good or great evil, and you chose the path of evil. You were given one final chance to perform a trial that should have been simple, but for you was not. You were directed to defeat a single, unremarkable vampire." Mrs. Betts' words became choked with tears but she continued. "Ultimately, the weakness you showed in refusing to do so demonstrates a humanity and compassion that may in fact be your greatest strength. You have recently exhibited incredible courage, loyalty, dedication and self-sacrifice. You do honor to the Council, to your predecessors Buffy and Kendra, and to the tradition of the Slayer. The Council has moved to confirm your release from prison, without parole obligations, and you may now freely use your identity without fear of the law. A bank account has been set up in your name with funds to help you begin what will certainly be a future of great deeds. The Watchers' Council is pleased to welcome back a brave Slayer, and an outstanding human being."
Everyone was silent for a long moment. Faith could not believe what she had just heard.
"What a bunch of pompous assholes!" cried Dawn, running down the stairs and hugging the two Slayers gleefully. Tara followed her, stunned. Mrs. Betts smiled. Then Faith smiled too. And then everyone was laughing–and crying. Everyone except for Buffy.
"I won't argue with that, Dawn!" said Mrs. Betts.
Faith hugged Buffy tight, noticing the Slayer's lack of reaction but too overwhelmed with joy to be alarmed. "I can't believe it, Mrs. Betts! I'm free!" Dawn and Tara sat down beside Willow, and the three hugged each other in unimaginable relief. But Tara could detect the telltale glow of powerful magic pent up in Willow's eyes.
Mrs. Betts sighed, still unable to believe what had happened herself. "Your former supporters on the Council came around to my point of view. We were able to persuade the others. I won't pretend it was easy! I should tell you that the money in your account–it's at the First Bank of Sunnydale–didn't come from the Council itself. Your friends on the Council contributed the money personally."
"Including you," said Faith.
"I contributed as well, yes. You're a high school dropout just freed from prison... we didn't think it was right to leave you with nothing! It's no fortune, but it will help."
"Wow. I don't know what to say... thank you so much, Mrs. Betts! For everything!"
"You are more than welcome, and it is you who deserve our thanks. There are a few other matters I have to convey as well."
"What matters?"
"First of all, Sunnydale does not need two Slayers. I'm afraid the Council would like you to take up your duties elsewhere. They are certain you will understand your obligation in that regard."
Faith pressed closer to Buffy. "I won't go. I won't leave Buffy."
Buffy still stood immobile with her crossbow loaded. She was grateful that Faith was safe for the moment, and might now live on even after her own death. But she had reached her limit. She had hidden the knowledge that she or Faith would die for so long, and living with that had been pure torture. She had been certain it would all be over now. But instead, she was still waiting to die, and waiting to find out if Faith would die as well. Either result would satisfy the Oracle, but no one could say when. Perhaps not today, but "soon." It was a burden Buffy could no longer bear.
"That is your decision to make, of course," said Mrs. Betts with a small smile. "I tried to tell the Council you'd never agree to go." And besides, the Council knew as well as Mrs. Betts that Buffy would be gone before long, and then the Hellmouth would need another Slayer after all. "The Council would also like you to have a Watcher. I'd be honored if you would let me continue in that role. I have been called to England to deal with some new Council business today–I suddenly seem to be in favor with the powers that be–but then I can come back."
"Mrs. Betts, you're the best Watcher ever! But you've trained me well. I don't need a full-time Watcher now. Buffy is all the Watcher I need." She nuzzled Buffy's cheek, beginning to realize that something was wrong with the Slayer. Buffy still did not move or respond. Faith frowned slightly, concerned.
"I understand," said Mrs. Betts, "But always remember that you do have a Watcher, and you can call on me whenever you need." Her smile was sad, because she knew that Faith would not have Buffy for long. "And you can count on me stopping by Sunnydale from time to time to check on my Slayer."
"I'm glad."
Mrs. Betts nodded, but then her expression darkened slightly. There was a less pleasant matter to discuss. "There's something else you both should know, something the Council doesn't talk about very often."
"What?" asked Faith, worried.
"It's about what you... did... with Elise. I think you both recognize an obsession inside yourselves that is not good. Well... I want you to know, that is something every Slayer has faced. More than a few have died because of it. It is the darker side of your instinct to slay. We realized that this was the cause of much of what went on with you and Elise. But the danger's not over for you. There may be other vampires who will tempt each of you. Perhaps, together, you can help each other through it."
Faith nodded solemnly, feeling slightly better to know that others had faced this problem before. "I think we can."
Mrs. Betts smiled again. "Well... I have to catch my flight soon, but you'll see me around again! There's just one more thing, really..."
"Yes?"
Mrs. Betts raised her pickaxe. "I want you to have this. I know you wanted one, and it's the only one there is."
"Oh, Mrs. Betts, I can't take that from you!"
But Mrs. Betts pressed the weapon into Faith's hands. "It has served me well for many years, and a very wise and brave man before me. Now it will serve you. I think it should stay with someone who will actually use it!"
"Thank you so much. I..." Faith paused, realizing that she had a gift of her own to give. She walked over to the bookshelf and picked up the shapeless figure she had carved of a vampire just after being staked. Only Mrs. Betts had been able to tell what it was. "Here... not quite as useful, but this is for you."
Mrs. Betts smiled and accepted the gift. "I will always treasure this." She turned to leave, opening the door and noticing that the rest of her party was waiting for her in their car. She looked back at the Slayers. Buffy was frozen with the same intense expression she had worn when Mrs. Betts had arrived, but Faith hung onto her lovingly. "By the way... congratulations. I must be getting soft in my old age, but I really wanted to see you two together! You deserve each other."
Suddenly a sharp impact shook the room–a sound that brought back chilling memories for Faith, Willow and Tara. The sound of a crossbow bolt. Buffy had fired her weapon into the floor beside her. Then her eyes closed and she slowly collapsed to the ground. On the couch, Willow's body began to shake violently.
Buffy was in Heaven again, and everything was wonderful. She danced around and around and around, with Faith in her arms.
"Willow! Look at me! Only at me!" The witch obeyed, staring into Tara's eyes. Tara had rushed her down to the basement, seeing that Willow was about to harm herself or someone else. Tara laid her hands on Willow's shoulders and felt the redhead shaking. The girl's pupils glowed like burning candles, but the whites had gone black. They needed to deal with this quickly. Upstairs, Dawn was screaming, but Faith was as silent as her fallen lover.
"We'll do this together, Willow... are you ready?"
Willow nodded, her face twisted with effort. "Now," said Tara. "Let go...."
A shock seemed to pass through both witches, and the air in the basement suddenly turned freezing cold. Willow stopped shaking and sat down slowly on the floor, pale, panting and clearly disoriented. But her eyes were normal. The energy she had been storing up was gone, wasted... but it could do no harm now. The spells and potions hidden around the house were now dead.
"Are you all right, darling?" asked Tara, alarmed. She sat beside Willow and rubbed the girl's hand between both of her own. She hoped she had not done something terrible to Willow, sending her back down the path of magical addition.
Willow nodded and managed to stand up, but Tara could see she was very dizzy. Willow's voice was weak. "I wanted to use those spells. Every last one. I wanted to use my power so bad! But I didn't. I couldn't. Not without you saying it was OK."
Tars smiled with watering eyes. "Thank you for doing this for me, Willow. Thank you for letting me use your power, and for not using it yourself. I know it wasn't easy." Tara had told Willow exactly what spells to prepare, but she was glad they were not needed. "I couldn't just stand by helpless when they were going to kill Faith. And you are so powerful. I understand how tempting that power is now. I kind of wanted us to blow a giant hole in the floor right here and now, just because we could!"
"Well, you're too good, Tara... too strong and good. Strong enough to handle your power and mine." Willow's head was clearing. She tried to take a step and Tara caught her as she stumbled.
"That was you own strength, too, Willow, feeling all that power and yet letting me decide whether to use it. That was a huge challenge and nobody would have blamed you if you weren't ready for it yet. But you were. I think it's safe to say we can start using your powers again. Carefully. Together."
"I'm looking forward to that! I almost lost it, though, when... Buffy! Is she all right?" Suddenly Willow's mind was focussed.
Now that Willow was safe and her arsenal of spells was defused, Tara felt a fresh surge of fear for the Slayer. "I don't know. We'd better go to her. Can you walk?"
Willow staggered a bit, but ran up the steps with Tara close behind, following the sounds of Dawn sobbing.
Moving automatically, in shock, Faith found herself carrying Buffy's limp form up to their bed. It seemed to her that strong, powerful Buffy ought to weigh far more than a normal person, as if her very muscles were steel. But in fact she felt surprisingly light and fragile in Faith's arms.
Dawn was crying. "Why? Everything is OK now! Why is she like that?" She helped Faith lay Buffy out on the bed. Buffy was supposed to take care of Faith today... but it had worked out the other way around.
"I don't know, Dawn. I don't know." She leaned forward to kiss Buffy's unmoving lips. "Come back to me, Buffy. We can be together now!"
Mrs. Betts appeared in the doorway. She had changed to a later flight, very worried about Buffy. Willow and Tara appeared behind her.
"I don't understand!" cried Faith bitterly. She could not feel the joy she deserved... not without Buffy.
Tara approached and spread her hand over Buffy's face. Her fingers glowed slightly. She nodded to Willow who joined her, laying her own hand over her lover's. The glow brightened.
After a minute or two, the witches moved away. "Nothing," said Tara, shaking her head. "It's nothing magical, it's just... her." She and Willow both had a good idea what had caused Buffy so much stress that she had removed herself from the world. It seemed that the Oracle's prediction of death might have been self-fulfilling.
Hours passed, and Buffy did not improve. She was breathing, and she responded slightly to Faith's touch, but she did not awaken. Faith curled up beside her, giving her love that she did not even know if Buffy was aware of. Dawn, the witches, and the Watcher kept vigil, feeling helpless and afraid. Considering the words of the Oracle, it seemed unlikely that Buffy would ever recover.
Eventually, Mrs. Betts had to leave. The Council's business could not wait, and she could do nothing to help here. She had given Faith her phone number in England, and told her to call immediately with any news. With a heavy heart and a desperate wish that Faith, at least, would somehow survive this, Mrs. Betts drove away.
Should we tell Faith about the Oracle? Tara thought to Willow.
I don't know, replied Willow. She was wondering if somehow simply being in this coma-like state might answer the Oracle's prediction. But it really didn't–Buffy was still a Slayer, even now.
Willow looked at the two lovers lying together on top of the blankets, and then at the faceless statue that Buffy displayed proudly on her dresser. It was all too sad for words–and it could have been so wonderful. Willow got up from her chair and took the wooden figure in her hands. She looked at the Slayers again, and then back at the statue, and her eyes suddenly widened.
"What is it, Willow?" Dawn noticed the odd expression the redhead wore.
"I have to catch Mrs. Betts!" she said, and flew out of the room clutching the statue. The front door slammed. Dawn and Tara looked at each other, mystified.
"Back off! What the hell?!" Mrs. Betts muttered at the car honking right behind her bumper. "Oh... Willow!" She pulled off to the side and put on her flashers.
Willow screeched to a stop behind her and leapt out, holding what looked like another of Faith's carvings. The Watcher rolled down her window apprehensively. "Willow? What is it? Is it Buffy?"
Willow was highly agitated and not entirely coherent. "The Oracle! Mrs. Betts! I thought... but I didn't want to tell the others... I wanted you to tell me what you thought first... maybe I'm just crazy... what if it already... Look Mrs. Betts, look!" She held out the statue of the Slayer with no face.
Mrs. Betts took it and went pale. She wondered what had made Faith carve a statue of the Slayer who would be called after her. "Faith carved this... it means she planned to die!"
"No, Mrs. Betts! I think..." Willow took a deep breath, forcing herself to organize her words. "Mrs. Betts, you said there have been two Slayers at once before."
"Yes, several times."
"Have two Slayers ever been enemies before? Before Faith and Buffy?"
"Well, I don't believe so. They have almost never met or even heard of one another. Worldwide travel is a recent thing."
"The Oracle said... 'The Slayer is divided. It is an abomination which must be righted.' Well... maybe the problem wasn't just that there were two Slayers... that's against the tradition, but it happens. Maybe the real problem was that the Slayers were enemies!"
Mrs. Betts thought about this. She knew that if the Oracle demon could possibly mislead its audience, it would always do so. But the words seemed reasonably clear. She quoted more of the prophesy. "'The fate of the Slayers is written. Soon there will be not two, but one.'"
Faith pointed to the figure in Mrs. Betts' hand.
"I don't understand what you're saying, Willow. Who is this a statue of?"
"Buffy told me. It's not the next Slayer. And it's not Buffy or Faith, either... it's both of them. Together! And it made me think... what if the Slayers are already no longer two, but one! They've gone from enemies to lovers... divided to united... could that fulfill the prophesy? Could that be their fate? Not death, but love?"
Mrs. Betts thought about this for some time. Then she dialed her phone. "Betts here. You'll have to go ahead without me. I have to change my flight again. Tanaka can fill me in if I miss too much.... Look–something has come up with the Slayers. It's important..... No, I can't.... Fine. Goodbye."
"Will the Council be pissed at you?" asked Willow.
"You bet. But I'll be back in favor once I bring them the correct interpretation of the Slayer's Oracle!"
Tara left Dawn with the Slayers and joined Mrs. Betts and Willow downstairs. She listened to what they had to say, and a smile crept over her face. "I agree. It makes sense!"
"I guess we can never really know, though," said Willow, frowning. "It could still mean death."
"No, we can't be sure," agreed Mrs. Betts. "Buffy might be in danger or she might not be, we just don't know. The same is true for Faith, for you, for Tara... for all of us. Not knowing the future is the natural state of things. The state of things without any Oracle at all. That's good enough for me."
The witches thought about this. "If you're right," said Tara, "then the prophesy really was self-fulfilling. Buffy only gave Faith a chance because she was afraid of the Oracle!"
Mrs. Betts raised her eyebrows. She had not know that. "That is exactly the kind of trick a demon oracle would love to set in motion."
Willow contemplated that possibility. "So... what if I had never summoned the Oracle at all? Buffy and Faith would never have gotten together?"
"We'll never know, Willow," the Watcher said, "but some things are meant to be... Oracle or no Oracle. I think maybe they would still have gotten together some day. Eventually."
Willow was lost for a moment in memories of her doomed relationship with Faith. She knew she was meant to be with Tara... and it seemed that Faith was meant for someone else. "So you think I'm right about this?" asked the redhead. "Should we tell the others?"
Tara and the Watcher nodded, excited. This was wonderful beyond belief–if only Buffy would recover!
Willow explained the Oracle to Faith and Dawn, who were delighted at what the prophesy seemed to say. But they were horrified to realize the burden that had been borne by everyone who had known of the Oracle. And especially by Buffy! How could Buffy have remained sane? Faith doubted that she would have been strong enough to survive, if it had been her who knew and yet suffered in silence.
Willow had half-hoped that on some level Buffy was hearing the explanation, and that it might help her. But Buffy still lay motionless, eyes closed.
Faith sat down beside Buffy, in awe of this creature who had faced so much by her side, while carrying such a terrible and secret burden. It was no wonder she had eventually snapped. "Buffy... did you hear what Willow said? You're not going to die. Neither of us is." Faith kissed Buffy on the lips and forehead. Buffy stirred slightly. "We can be together now, Buffy. Forever. The two Slayers are one!" No further sign from the Slayer.
Faith leaned in and whispered in Buffy's ear, too softly for the others to hear. "Little Faith needs you!"
Buffy's body convulsed and suddenly she was crying. Faith held her tight, crying as well.
"She's back!" Dawn whispered, emotionally drained.
"I dreamed I was with you in Heaven," cried Buffy.
Faith stroked Buffy's cheek. "But you're not. You're with me right here." This was yet one more incredible thing Willow had done for Faith, and the Slayer was filled once again with gratitude toward her former lover. Her eyes met Willow's for just a moment, and both women knew that the love they shared would always be a part of them, even though it would never again be spoken. That was OK. Things were as they should be.
"I can't believe it..." sobbed Buffy, letting out weeks of repressed fear and anger, and feeling a rising joy like nothing she had ever known.
"It's true, my love. It's fate. We're together."
Buffy pulled Faith's face to hers and kissed her as though it were the last kiss they would ever share. But she finally knew that there would be many more to come.
Night had fallen, and Mrs. Betts was making another attempt to catch a flight to England. But spirits were high, and saying goodbye outside Buffy's house was taking a long time. "Thank you for a wonderful dinner, Dawn. Everything I've heard about your cooking is true!" Dawn smiled. Mrs. Betts prayed for a smooth flight after the girl's unusual cuisine.
The Watcher opened her car door, but Buffy put a hand on her arm. "Mrs. Betts... you've done so much for Faith for so many years... I know she's thanked you about a hundred times. But I want to thank you too. For looking out for my little Faith until I was ready for her." The Slayer kissed Mrs. Betts on the cheek.
The older woman blushed. "Well it's your turn to look out for her now. You two take care of each other, you hear me?"
Faith put her arm around Buffy's waist. "Sure thing... Mrs. Bitch."
"Please! All of you... The name is Dorothy!" The Watcher climbed into her car and was gone.
The five girls waved until she turned the corner, and then moved back inside. Dawn felt a bit left out. Willow and Tara were all over each other, and Buffy and Faith just sat around smiling and staring at each other as if they were the ones with telepathy.
Buffy was largely recovered from her breakdown, but her thoughts were still in turmoil. Unlike Faith, she had never seen their relationship as long-term. Because she had believed death would soon part them. And now she faced the prospect of a lifetime with Faith. How did that change their relationship? Did Buffy truly love Faith when the pressure of the Oracle was removed? Absolutely... with all her heart. She always had and always would. It was just so strange. Instead of being dead, for all intents and purposes she suddenly found herself married–to the last person on Earth she would have expected. It would take some getting used to.
"I hate to break up the party," said Tara, "but Willow has been a very good girl today. I have a reward for her upstairs and I think she wants it now." The witches nearly tripped each other rushing up the stairs.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Buffy said to Faith.
Faith was certain she was. "I think we deserve a reward too!" She picked up her new pickaxe. Buffy gathered stakes. With Faith around, being a Vampire Slayer was more than just a job.
"We're going on patrol, Dawnie," said Buffy, "don't wait up." Dawn's face fell. She had been through living hell! She wanted to celebrate too, not sit home alone.
Faith whispered in her lover's ear. "Buffy... what if she came on patrol with us? As long as we're not going anywhere too dangerous?"
Buffy chose to respond out loud. "We can't take Dawn, she can't look out for herself! She'll be terrified!"
"I take personal offense at that, B!" replied Faith, half-joking. "Who do you think has been training her for weeks? Tomorrow I start her on staff fighting."
Dawn beamed. Faith had said many times that she was good, but now she knew it wasn't just talk. "I promise I won't be any trouble! If anything happens that you don't want me around for, I'll lock myself in the car. I promise!"
Buffy raised an eyebrow and looked at Faith quizzically. Faith was just as protective of the Key as Buffy was... so she must really think Dawn had some fighting skills. And somehow, going slaying with her sister actually sounded fun. "We'll give it a try. But not every time. Not when we're facing anything really dangerous. So don't get used to it."
"Thanks, Buffy!" Dawn hugged her sister, and then Faith.
They sought out some of Elise's recent followers, slaying each one only when it was certain the vampire was alone. Faith slew two and Buffy three. Dawn slew one, and defended herself quite well from the others. Buffy was very impressed, and Faith was proud of her pupil.
It was clear that Dawn did not find slaying frightening at all. She seemed almost as exhilarated as the Slayers. When the three returned home, Dawn insisted on breaking into the food she had packed for Faith's escape. She hungrily consumed two plastic bags of her peppermint-patty-and-sundried-tomato snack mix.
"I think our Dawnie has some Slayer in her," laughed Faith. The girls retired to their rooms, although Dawn was too excited to sleep. She could hardly wait until the next school day ended and she could resume her training.
Faith and Buffy had their own reasons for putting off sleep.
Kneeling on the bed in their robes, the Slayers kissed, lightly and tenderly at first, and then gasping with passion. Faith slid her knee up under Buffy's robe and pressed against the Slayer's private flesh. Buffy tried to unfasten Faith's robe, and ended up tearing the buttons apart instead. She stripped Faith to her panties, and then tore those apart with her teeth before she even knew what she was doing. She ran her hands possessively over the brunette's powerful body, vaguely aware that she was being more open about her desire now that she knew this relationship was going to last. There were aspects of her feelings for Faith that it no longer made sense to hide. Faith had some sense of how Willow must have felt, facing the ravenous desire of a Slayer. And Faith's own desire was heightened tonight as well.
Buffy quickly shed her own clothes, pushed Faith to the mattress and fell on top of her, knowing full well that Faith was unlikely to handle this well. But, she thought, Faith really ought to trust her lover, and tonight, Buffy was ready to push those limits. Faith reacted immediately to Buffy's weight, rolling her to one side and fighting her way on top of the other Slayer. The two were kissing, stroking, and thrusting their bodies together–but a power struggle was going on at the same time. They rolled back and forth, wrestling with a strength that would have broken a normal person's bones. Buffy wanted to contain Faith, keep her, protect her... possess her. But Faith felt trapped–terrified on a deep level beyond conscious thought–whenever Buffy moved on top of her.
Did she think Buffy would hurt her? Kill her? That if she allowed herself to be immobilized, even for a second, that Buffy's true intentions would be revealed, and Faith would be betrayed again? On an intellectual level, no. Faith was... almost certain that Buffy would never hurt her, even when overcome by her aggressive sexual desire. But Faith had been that certain again and again in her life, always to be betrayed in the end. And so something inside her could not allow the trust–the weakness–of submitting her body to Buffy's strength. On a deep, instinctual level, Faith began to feel downright panic. Buffy was the stronger Slayer. Each time Buffy's limbs clamped around her, even in the midst of a loving kiss, Faith felt an overpowering urge to escape–or fight for her life.
Faith had never seen Buffy quite like this, and she began to feel almost as though she were in combat rather than making love to her soulmate. She was prepared at any moment to use the only advantage the weak can seize: surprise. She prevented herself from doing so by focussing on the thought that she could, the moment she needed to. She would kick Buffy away and run for the door. Or slam her hard on the floor beside the bed, gaining the upper hand before Buffy could react.
And when Faith found herself momentarily in the dominant position? She knew it was because Buffy allowed it. Even then, Faith did not truly hold power over Buffy.
So they embraced... and fought. They laughed, of course–this was a silly game! But they both knew it was no game. Buffy considered just pushing Faith aside and getting up. Making some excuse to continue this later, and going to the bathroom to calm herself down. But Buffy wanted Faith now. And how would next time be any different? She found her need growing out of control, and nipped Faith's lower lip with her teeth. This seemed right, to Faith–arousing, even–and yet at the same time, utterly terrifying. She gathered her strength, stopped resisting just long enough to catch Buffy off-guard, and when she was in a favorable position beside the Slayer, she ducked down out of Buffy's arms and kicked her away hard. Buffy hit the wall and dropped beside the bed, while Faith jumped to her feet on the other side, braced instinctively for an attack.
Buffy was angry and in pain, but seeing the vulnerability and fear in Faith's eyes, she felt only love and tenderness. "Faith... you know I will never hurt you. I will never let anything or anyone hurt you ever again. If you don't want something, just tell me." Climbing back onto the bed, she approached Faith with caution and took her hand gently. Now both hands. Faith clasped Buffy's fingers in return and allowed herself to be led back into bed. And then suddenly Faith was on her back again, and Buffy had both surprise and strength on her side. She sat on Faith's upper thighs and held the younger girl's hands to the mattress. Faith's teeth clenched and she fought back.
"Faith!" Buffy hissed insistently, bringing her face close to her partner's. "Trust me...." She kissed Faith's lips. "Little Faith... trust... me..."
Little Faith.... Faith realized that she felt little. She felt herself in terrible danger. And completely safe. She struggled against Buffy, but she had little hope–not while Buffy was expecting it. And her muscles ached–she was running out of strength while Buffy seemed as powerful as ever. She wanted to give Buffy the trust she deserved, but she couldn't. Buffy moved Faith's hands together over the girl's head, so she could hold Faith down with one hand. With the other, she reached between Faith's legs and slid her fingers in deep between the girl's eager lips, removing them wet and shiny. She applied the slippery liquid to Faith's nipples, the sensation causing Faith to writhe against the Slayer's weight. "My little, little Faith." Buffy muttered affectionately, and kissed one nipple. "Trust me." She kissed the other, then licked, tasting Faith's moisture. Faith fought down the urge to fight, knowing it was no use.
Then Buffy took the nipple between her teeth. Faith felt the strength in those jaws, and her inner panic threatened to consume her entirely. "Buffy!" she whimpered. Buffy bit down gently, relishing the feel of the hardened flesh.
It hurt just a little, and at the same time it felt wonderful. Faith was consumed with love and lust for the powerful and lovely creature who held her. Something subtle and bitter seemed to snap inside of her. Something that had built up over years of hardship, loss, and loneliness.
Faith closed her eyes and went limp. Her surrender filled her not with terror but with peace and a sense of completion. She was loved. Buffy's teeth and tongue were her entire world. Buffy released her grip on Faith's arms and lifted her weight off the other Slayer's legs. But Faith knew Buffy could pin her again in an instant. Faith lay still, trembling and breathing rapidly. Buffy bit down on the other nipple–harder. Aroused beyond belief, Faith did not stir or even open her eyes when she felt silk being knotted firmly around her wrists and ankles. She was born to belong to Buffy, and they both knew it.
Little Faith melted into the mattress and awaited Buffy's intentions. For the first time in her life, she trusted. Completely.
The End.
~
I would be grateful if you would email me and tell me what you thought of this story. (The DOT in my address is to keep spam away. My correct address is at "yahoo.com". Or, use my Guestbook.) Reader responses will determine whether I publish more stories, and will help improve them! Criticism is welcomed–tell me what you liked and didn't. Thanks for reading!
I don't currently plan any sequels to "Witch's Faith," but it's a possibility sometime. "Inside You" might one day serve as a kind of "alternate universe" sequel to this story, but it is a very different kind of story and is not what I would envision as a true sequel. It might even evolve in a totally separate direction when I write it. If you'd like to receive an email when I post future stories on my site, just ask.
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If you enjoyed this story, try my Faith/Buffy CV Series, or the short Willow/Tara fiction Nowhere Far Enough... What if Willow used black magic to force Tara to come back to her? And see my Links for fiction by other authors.
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