Title: Just Another Love Story- Epilogue
Author: Nikita
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the great and
powerful Joss.
Feedback: You give me feedback, I give you cookies.
Notes: Spoilers for all BtVS 1-5 and AtS 1. The 1st
person stuff is Angel.
Archiving: Want, ask, have.
Dedication: To everyone who has sent me feedback
through this fic. Thank you so much, you make all the
late nights and not studying worth it, LOL.
(Today)
I pieced the story together from a phone call from
Giles, telling me what little information Buffy had
told them all yesterday, and the few words Faith
managed to say through her constant tears. She drove
to his house and left her there, running back to LA as
soon as she could, running back to the place she is
loved.
She is lying next to me, curled up, refusing to sleep
despite her exhaustion. Sleep seems like bliss when
consciousness is Hell, but I know why she holds back
from it. Tomorrow she will wake, and before she
realises, she will search for Buffy by her side. When
she doesn’t find her, a new wave of grief will begin.
Everywhere I look, I see my friends pain. Grief for
Buffy, grief for each other. Cordelia has cried all
day, wanting nothing more to comfort Faith, and not
being able to because she won’t allow anyone near her.
Anyone but me.
I understand. Guilt comes with seeing Cordelia,
memories with Wesley, embarrassment with Fred and
Gunn. But with me, there is understanding.
We walk the same road, we love the same girl. She will
stay here, clinging to me as I cling to her, seeing
Buffy in each other’s eyes.
Despite the pain, I believe Buffy made the right
choice. She chose a few days of love over a lifetime
without. And now it is up to us.
Up to us to help Faith understand that, and in time...
in time... she will.
She has to.
(One year ago)
Buffy opened her eyes to a blinding white light.
Standing groggily, she looked around the room, her
eyes finally resting on a person dressed in black.
Squinting, she tried to make out the oddly familiar
figure sitting in a chair with their feet resting on a
table.
“So this is your idea of heaven?” The figure asked,
swinging their legs down and turning to face her. “I
gotta say, B, pretty average. Thought you might come
up with something a bit more original.”
Buffy moved closer to the figure, her eyes becoming
accustomed to the brightness. “Faith?”
“Got in one, sweetie.” She grinned.
“But... this is heaven? You’re not dead... are you?”
Faith chuckled and stood up, lighting a cigarette.
“Heaven all right.” Her eyes drifted over Buffy’s
body, making her blush. “But no, I’m not dead.” She
took a drag off her cigarette and walked towards her.
“I’ll let you in on a secret.” She whispered
conspiratorially. “I’m not real.”
Buffy frowned at her. “Huh?”
“I gotta say I’m flattered, B.” Faith grinned. “I
thought you’d pick... uh... Tara? Y’know, like the
last time you needed a messenger.”
Buffy just stared at her, not understanding what she
was talking about. “I didn’t know you smoked.” She
said suddenly.
“I don’t.” Faith shrugged. “But it looks like you
think I should. Hey!” Faith looked down at her body,
which was now clad in hospital robes. “You feelin’
some guilt there, B?”
“You’re... however I imagine you?”
“Give the girl a prize.” Faith snorted. “But I gotta
say, I liked the leather more.”
Buffy grinned at her suddenly, and Faith was instantly
wearing a red cheerleader outfit.
“Haha.” She said sarcastically. “Me as a cheerleader?
C’mon! I think we’re supposed to be serious.”
“Sorry.” Buffy giggled as leather wearing Faith
reappeared.
“That’s better.” Faith stubbed out her cigarette and
turned back to Buffy. “Now... why the fuck are you
here?”
Dawn. Portal. Yes... it was coming back. Buffy nodded
to herself. “I saved Dawn.”
“Yeah, but you weren’t supposed to. Shit, B. When you
gonna give up the self- sacrificing stuff?”
Buffy shrugged. “She’s my sister.”
“Whatever. Point is, you’re getting another chance.”
“I am?” Buffy gasped, unsure whether that was
something to be happy about.
“Yeah, save the world a couple of hundred times and
the PTB feel they gotta hand out awards.” Faith walked
towards her slowly, and placed a hand gently on the
blonde’s arm. “Thing is... you’ve got a choice.”
Buffy looked at her hand on her arm, and then back up
to the brunette’s face, amazed at how innocent her
eyes suddenly looked. “I do?”
“You gotta be honest for this to work.” Faith smiled
gently. “Were you happy?”
“I was.” Buffy replied, before adding: “a long time
ago.”
Faith was nodding encouragingly at her. “When was the
last time?”
Buffy paused. “Angel.” She said. “When we... y’know.”
“Fucked like rabbits? Right, B. Honest.”
She sighed, and thought hard. She had been happy with
Angel, that was true, but pure, free, passionate,
ecstatic happiness? She turned her eyes back to the
slayer, who was now wearing white and not looking
happy about it. “I don’t know.”
Faith sighed. “Yeah, you do. You don’t have to tell
me.” She shrugged, but you know. Now, back in black?”
She nodded contentedly as her leather reappeared.
“Happiness isn’t easy to come by.” She shrugged. “You
know in your heart what you wanted, and it’s your
choice whether you take it or not.”
Buffy shifted from foot to foot as she watched the
slayer and remembered their time together. The time
before they fought.
“All you have to do, is accept it.” Faith grinned.
“Let yourself fall in love, and you’ll get your
happiness.” She reached out and touched her hair
softly. “Or live a long life without it. It’s up to
you.”
Buffy sighed and nodded. “I won’t fall for y- them.”
“Up to you.” The brunette shrugged. “Good luck.” Buffy
sighed and closed her eyes as the room started to
fade. “B?” Faith called out.
“Yeah?”
“Since I look so good with one, can you give me
another cig?”
Buffy couldn’t help but smile as she nodded and Faith
lit up and the room turned black.
As she disappeared, Faith sat back and sighed into the
dark. “Be seeing you.” She whispered softly. “Real
soon.”