Just over an hour after Buffy had told Faith she loved her, and that she’d chosen her instead of Angel, they were climbing under the sheets on the large bed in their room. Faith was at a loss for words for the most part and had been happy when Buffy slipped next door to Willow’s room to see if they still had hot water so she could shower properly.

She was back now, clean and fresh, eyes sparkling at Faith every time they glanced at each other. It was like some cheesy movie, but Faith didn’t mind. She liked that Buffy couldn’t hide her small smile. Couldn’t hide the way she felt. They were both an open book now and they greedily wanted to read every single page.

“Mmm, comfy,” Buffy said with a contented sigh as she settled down into the pillows with Faith next to her.

“Best bed ever,” Faith agreed.

Faith stretched her tired limbs, feeling the tightness a good day’s battle will give you. It was a nice feeling for a slayer. Something to be proud of.

“How’s your side?” she asked turning towards Buffy, wanting to reach out and pull her closer but holding back until she was sure Buffy wanted to be closer.

“A little sore, but I was always a fast healer,” Buffy replied, yawning as she also turned so she could see Faith more easily. “You did awesome today,” she continued, reaching up and pushing dark hair behind Faith’s ear, letting her hand linger.

A small smile drifted over Faith’s lips.

“I’d tell you that you were even more awesome, but that’d get seriously corny and kinda embarrassing for both of us, so. . .just know that you fucking rock,” Faith said with a grin as she plucked Buffy’s hand from her face and pushed it under the covers so Buffy could rest it on Faith’s hip.

“Yeah, we don’t wanna get all corny,” Buffy agreed. “We’re too cool for corny.”

“Well I know I am but I can’t speak for you,” Faith jested. “You’re pretty much a dork most of the time.”

With mock indignation Buffy pinched at Faith’s side, earning a rather girly squeal that made her smile widely at her new lover.

“And you’re adorable,” Buffy pointed out, shuffling closer to Faith and basking in the warmth and the scent of her.

Faith scowled and licked her lips as if she were sizing up her prey.

“You did not just call me adorable, blondie,” Faith chastised, shaking her head. “You’re gonna pay for that.”

Before Buffy could react, her tired body begging for sleep, she found herself pinned under a very naked slayer.

“I should call you adorable more often,” Buffy noted, looking up into Faith’s brown eyes as they all but devoured her.

Buffy was naked herself, having decided not to put back on the gross underwear she’d had to leave on the bathroom floor. It had been a very good decision, even though Faith’s curves hovered just out of touching distance of her own.

“Probably not a great idea,” Faith warned, giving her a little snarl and quickly leaning down to nip at Buffy’s neck.

She lingered there, scraping her teeth lightly over Buffy’s neck and then flicking her tongue out to counter the sensation. It made Buffy squirm underneath Faith and she felt herself growing damp with need. As tired as she was, Faith couldn’t help but react to Buffy.

“I have to disagree,” Buffy said with a moan as Faith sucked on her neck hard enough to leave a mark – on anything other than slayer skin of course.

She ran her hands up Faith’s back, her short fingernails causing Faith to groan and grip the pillow hard by Buffy’s head where she rested her hands. This really probably wasn’t the time to start anything; they were both worn out, both emotionally depleted and unsure about what tomorrow would bring, but. . .there was lots of naked skin, and hot breaths, and the inevitability of post-slayage needs.

“I should let you sleep,” Faith said huskily, kissing her way up Buffy’s throat to her jaw, moving closer to her mouth.

“Sleep is for the weak,” Buffy mumbled, trying to pull Faith down to her so she could feel her all over.

“Dork,” Faith muttered with a grin as she reached Buffy’s lips, kissing her way over them softly before pressing harder against them, still holding herself over Buffy so they weren’t quite touching.

She could feel Buffy trying to bring them together, but once they were Faith knew there would be no stopping, and after a day like they’d just had she needed to be certain there would be no regrets.

“Dork lover,” Buffy countered, grinning now herself as she tangled her fingers into Faith’s hair and kissed Faith with as much need as she could convey.

They lost themselves in each other’s mouths, kissing deep and slow, tongues sliding and teeth clashing as the desires within them took over. They explored and revelled and Faith learned quickly that Buffy turned to complete mush when she dipped into her mouth again and again as if fucking it with her tongue. She could sense Buffy’s desperate need to feel all of her and Faith was done fighting the hands grabbing at her trying to pull her down. She relented, falling onto Buffy as they both groaned and their thighs slipped between each other’s legs, greeting wet heat with strong muscle.

Continuing to kiss as if the world was still doomed to come to an end any minute, they wrapped arms around each other to bring them even closer. Faith sighed into Buffy’s mouth as their breasts slid together, as their arousal coated each other in a wanton display of desperation as they moved in a rhythm neither of them had the power now to stop.

“You feel so good,” Buffy mumbled against Faith’s lips.

She’d never imagined that being with a girl could feel this amazing. The silky skin, curves, slight hints of hardened muscle that wasn’t hairy or overbearing; Buffy couldn’t get enough. As Faith’s stomach pressed against her own she swooned, as her breasts practically devoured Buffy’s with their delicious softness topped with hardened nipples she sighed, as Faith’s wet centre slicked over her thigh she let go of any doubts she’d ever had about giving herself completely to Faith.

This was everything she wanted.

Pulling Faith harder against her, Buffy spread her hands over Faith’s lower back, lifting her thigh a little higher so Faith could grind more easily against it. Faith sighed Buffy’s name into her neck and pushed her own thigh tighter into Buffy between her legs, causing Buffy to rub up against it as if her life depended on it.

Buffy could already feel herself approaching orgasm, the pressure on her clit from Faith’s hard muscle making her moan louder every time they moved in unison. She was more ready than she’d thought possible and was a little embarrassed, but Faith didn’t seem to be far behind as she ground into Buffy’s thigh, her breath coming quick, hands gripping Buffy tightly.

“Faith,” Buffy said, practically just a sigh on her lips as she took Faith’s face in her hands so she could look into her eyes.

What she saw there when Faith lifted her head to look down at her made Buffy’s heart thunder inside her chest. Faith’s eyes were almost black as the night, her lids heavy and mouth parted; lips full and kiss swollen. Buffy couldn’t help but nip at those lips, taking the bottom one between her own and sucking lightly. When she let go, kissing it before speaking, Buffy tried her best to focus on Faith’s eyes.

“Faith, slow down,” she implored, shuddering as Faith pressed hard against her with her thigh.

“Can’t,” Faith groaned, swiping at Buffy’s lips with her tongue as she grew even wetter against Buffy’s skin.

Her hips rolled into Buffy, every motion causing her clit to twitch, to clash against Buffy in a way that had Faith losing herself to the delicious tug of release. But something cut through the thick haze of lust and drove to her heart; Buffy wanted her to slow down, to take her time. As much as she just wanted them both to come, she understood Buffy’s request. She understood what it meant, what this meant. It wasn’t just sex, it was something more. Something that came from deeper inside them both.

Slowing her movements just a little, Faith gazed into Buffy’s eyes, finding herself captured in the sea of green that swirled within them; greener than she’d ever seen Buffy’s eyes before.

She kissed Buffy and moved her leg away from her wet centre just enough for Buffy to protest weakly. Smiling down at Buffy, Faith spoke softly to her, her voice thick with lust as she began to move them to a more upright position.

“Don’t worry. . .not going anywhere,” Faith assured. “Need you on my pussy.”

Her words almost made Buffy blush, though given the circumstances, and the memory of that morning still humming around her head, it was a little silly. Allowing Faith to manoeuvre her where she needed, Buffy almost melted into a puddle right off the bed as she felt the sudden wetness of Faith’s sex against her own.

They were partially sitting upright now and Faith had one leg over Buffy’s and one leg between, bringing them together in a rather. . .scissor-like effect. It made Buffy blush for sure as she looked down between them both, as she felt Faith’s arousal spreading over her right where she needed her to be. With a small wriggle Buffy was able to get as much contact as she could with Faith and she sighed in unadulterated bliss as Faith began to move against her, hips undulating so they were rubbing against each other in the best way possible.

“Oh god,” Buffy gasped, clinging to Faith’s shoulders as Faith’s hands held tightly to her hips, pulling Buffy against her harder and harder.

She threw her head back, savouring the feel of Faith’s clit bumping against her own. Finding it difficult to breathe as her senses were assaulted by the scent of sex and the sound of dripping pussies meeting with a wet smack.

“Jesus, Buffy,” Faith moaned, quickening their pace as she felt Buffy beginning to tense and tremble against her. “Don’t stop!”

One of Faith’s hands slid up Buffy’s stomach, gliding over her ribs to her breast where she fondled and tugged at Buffy’s nipple, at first gently, then harder as Buffy found herself drowning in sensation. Moaning deeply, Buffy bit on her lower lip in order not to make quite so much noise, but it was useless, she couldn’t hold it in and Faith’s name slipped out of her mouth in a wanton cry as she came hard against Faith’s pussy.

Shuddering into Faith, clawing at her shoulders, Buffy didn’t stop, almost screaming out as she came again as soon as Faith jerked against her in the grip of her own orgasm.

“Fuck!” Faith panted, over and over as her come poured over Buffy’s swollen sex, soaking them both.

They both took gasping breaths and sought out one another’s lips, kissing messily and loudly as they fell back to the bed, Faith on top of Buffy in a tangle of limbs and sheets. Tongues flicked and hands slid over each other, their desire for one another far from quenched as Buffy pulled Faith against her, wrapping her legs over Faith’s hips and moaning into her mouth.

She’d never felt need like this. Never wanted somebody to devour her as she did the same until neither could speak or think or talk. Until neither of them had the energy to move, because if they did have the energy then they would have continued fucking, making love, pleasuring each other into oblivion.

It wasn’t until hours later when Faith pulled her fingers from Buffy for the last time that night that they both felt done.

Faith had just spent the better part of forty minutes with her fingers buried inside Buffy, fucking her slowly, filling her, making her come again and again until she’d quickened her pace beyond what any normal human could do, making Buffy scream out her name as Faith came almost as loudly against her thigh.

Buffy was stiff and sore now, but completely content. This was how to properly celebrate saving the world.

“Ugh, I don’t think I can move anymore,” Buffy grunted, lying in the middle of the bed with her arms and legs spread out in complete submission.

She’d been tired before, now she was beyond exhausted. Totally fucked.

“Tell me about it,” Faith agreed, slumping on the bed, half of her covering Buffy as she tried to tug ineffectively at the sheet to pull over them both. “If I wasn’t a slayer I think I’d be dead right about now.”

“Nice way to go, though,” Buffy said with a grin, leaning down just a little to help Faith with the sheet.

They were both slick with sweat and covered in each other’s fluids, and the early morning air was making them both feel a little chilly now that the heat between them had died down. Not that Buffy would complain about being sticky and wet all over – it had been quite the night of firsts. And quite a night to remember.

“Hell yeah,” Faith drawled, closing her eyes as she draped an arm and a leg over Buffy, feeling Buffy move closer into her as she tucked the sheet around them. “You can fuck me to death any night of the week.”

“Any night?” Buffy asked, wondering if Faith quite understood the implications of such an idea.

After all, if they were to begin a relationship together then that would definitely help facilitate the possibility of nightly fucking – which could only be a good thing in Buffy’s eyes. She wasn’t certain Faith would want something that full on so soon, though. They still needed to work out the logistics.

Opening her eyes and looking into Buffy’s, Faith didn’t miss the little inflection in Buffy’s tone that meant she was hoping for an answer to her unspoken question. There was suddenly an awkwardness in the air. Now that they’d broken down their barriers physically, all that was left were the ones around their hearts, and neither of them was particularly good at this kind of thing, Faith especially.

“Any night,” Faith answered softly. “Every night.”

She leaned down and kissed Buffy so gently Buffy felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. Pressing her palm up against Faith’s heart she felt it pounding in a rhythm similar to her own. She felt the promise on Faith’s lips and the hope they both needed to believe in.

“I fucking love you, B,” Faith whispered against Buffy’s lips, making Buffy’s heart clench as she allowed herself to know it was the truth. “Even if you kick me to the curb, that’s not gonna change.”

Taking Faith’s face between her hands, Buffy smiled up at her.

“I’m not kicking you anywhere, not when you can do what you just did to me,” Buffy responded with a chuckle. “I’d like to keep you with me, if that’s ok.”

Faith chuckled along with Buffy, knowing she didn’t want to be anywhere but with Buffy for as long as she could. Fighting by her side had felt right. Being in her bed had felt right. Finally her heart felt at peace.

“Sounds good to me,” she replied, giving Buffy one last kiss before collapsing down beside her. “As long as you can keep up.”

She gave Buffy’s ass a squeeze and knew she’d understand.

“Oh, I’ll keep up,” Buffy assured with a grin, turning into Faith’s arms and snuggling as close as possible. “I’ll be happy to.”

They were both smiling wide as sleep began to claim them, their arms and legs entwined as they held each other close. Just before Faith drifted off she heard Buffy whisper her love for her and she pressed a kiss to her shoulder, too far gone now to even speak. She knew she didn’t need to, Buffy knew. They both knew.

Of course, when they awoke late the next morning, stretching lazily, stiff muscles protesting every movement as they made their way downstairs to the kitchen in new clothes that somebody had left outside the door, they soon realised that everybody else now also knew.

They’d apparently completely failed at keeping their inability to stop fucking quiet, and judging by the profuse blushes and giggles they received as they entered the dining room attached to the kitchen. . .any hope of keeping this new relationship under wraps was long gone. Buffy tried not to feel mortified but she couldn’t help it. Even her mother couldn’t look her in the eye and she had the distinct urge to crawl away and turn invisible, for at least the rest of the day.

But Faith had no such qualms. She could sense how uncomfortable Buffy felt so she decided the best way to deal with it was to act as if they had no reason to feel embarrassed at all, which they didn’t really; they’d only been doing what all people in love do when they’ve just saved the world and discovered that they wanted to spend the rest of forever eating each other out every night. It was no big deal for Faith.

“How about somebody gets us some breakfast,” she said easily, slipping her arm around Buffy as they walked towards the table in the middle of the small room.

She gave Kennedy a nod and Kennedy instructed a few of the younger girls to join her in the kitchen to help prepare another breakfast. She’d thank Kennedy later for that. Right now she was occupied with keeping her head held high for both her and Buffy.

“So is everybody just gonna stare at us for the rest of the day?” Faith asked.

Willow cleared her throat and Giles grabbed at his glasses, but it was Joyce’s glare that almost had Faith opting to take Buffy’s hand and get the hell out of there, only coming back when they’d all put their judgments aside and wrapped their heads around Buffy ever wanting to have anything to do with Faith in such an intimate way. Deciding almost right away that they’d probably be waiting forever for that, Faith thought it best just to cope with the stares and the glares.

Hopefully they wouldn’t cause Buffy to backtrack or second-guess what had just begun between them. The last thing they needed was heavy handed friends and relatives putting things in their heads that no longer needed to be there; barriers that had taken long enough to pull down.

After what felt like a lifetime of uncomfortable silence as both Faith and Buffy sat down, awaiting nourishment, Joyce finally spoke from her seated position at the other end of the table– seemingly for all of them if the nods and small smiles were anything to go by.

“I’ll be honest, it was just a little surprising,” Joyce said, clutching her hands together on the table. “And there are just some things a parent isn’t meant to hear, but you’re old enough to know what’s best for you, Buffy. And though I might not understand it right now, I’m just happy that you seem. . .happy. At least you certainly sounded happy last night.”

Buffy blushed profusely and slapped a hand over her eyes, as if hiding them would make everybody go away.

“Yes, well, after the couple of months we’ve had I don’t think anybody could begrudge you a little. . .” Giles began, searching for words he’d rather not say out loud.

Buffy got the message anyway and slipped her hand from her face just enough to say thank you, almost too quietly to hear. She had to attempt to find some dignity in this. It wasn’t as if being in love was a crime, even though none of them probably expected her to feel that way about Faith. She wished they hadn’t heard them going at it all night, but now that they had. . .well, there was really no point in shrinking away from it, or from the questions they no doubt all had. Like ripping off a band-aid it was probably best just to get this over with now.

“I’m sorry you all heard,” Buffy said quietly, glancing up at her friends and family, and noticing that some of the new slayers were slinking out of the room, obviously feeling this wasn’t for their ears. “We just. . .”

She looked over at Faith, seeing nothing but trust in Faith’s eyes despite everything they’d ever done to each other. If she were to deny what they felt for each other right now, in front of everybody she cared about, she knew she’d never see or hear from Faith again. That would be the end. Just the thought of that happening made her stomach twist in knots. She couldn’t lose her, so she had to be brave and honest.

“I love Faith,” Buffy said, smiling at Faith even though she hadn’t meant to. “I love her.”

Looking from Giles to Joyce and Dawn, from Willow to Xander, to Angel as he stood in the doorway with a sad smile on his lips, she waited for them to scoff or sigh. She waited for one of them, any of them to dare to tell her she was wrong, or crazy, or making a mistake. But none of them had harsh words, only love and acceptance.

As she took Faith’s hand in her own her friends gave her hugs and her mother kissed her on the forehead. Dawn made a face but she too at least had a nod of approval for her sister, and pretty soon Buffy and Faith were alone in the dining room with breakfast before them and nothing but eyes for each other.

It wouldn’t be an easy road they’d take together and they didn’t know what the future held, but they had each other. This time, they’d make it work.

“Love you too,” Faith said with a satisfied grin as she pulled Buffy onto her lap.

“Take me back to bed and show me,” Buffy responded, a glint in her eye that made Faith’s pulse race. “Show me the future.”