Disclaimers: Joss owns them, not me. I make no claims. No harm intended, at all.
Date Stamp: Miss K, aka Kitty wrote this 15.12.01
Dedication: This goes out to poor Piper who had to archive all fifty odd parts of SDV. Poor lass. Also to Liv for making me laugh with her mistakes!
Title: Religious Faith.
 
Buffy's POV
 
Slayers Do Christmas IV - Shinkou
 
You're so easy, Buffy.
All she has to do is come round here with that big grin, spin you some lines, and you bring her up to your room, so she can twist your ribbon.
Ok, that can work two ways; so she can help with the wrapping.
Yup, happier with the way that sounds.
 
I need a glass of water?!
I mean, not even I'd say something that stupid.
And, I'm sooo still mad at her, like Uber mad.
I'm so mad that I might have to hit her again.
Ok, not hard, just a slap or maybe a pinch or something.
 
'Where's the ribbon then, B?'
 
I watch her as she sits down on the bed and puts her glass of water down.
 
At least she's drunk some of it.
She does look nice.
Those are her favourite pants, and her favourite top, and...
Hold up, she's wearing all of her best clothes?!
 
'Are you going out after this, Faith?'
 
Why'd she get all glamed up?
Oh, she probably has a new... thing, person, girlfriend, and she's meeting her after.
I stop what I'm doing and look down at my hands on the presents.
What if she just came round for the friends thing?
Here I am, all me, me, me, thinking she wants to get back in my pants, and maybe she just wants to, I don't know, gossip.
Oh.
 
'Going out? I only got back a few hours ago. I still have to unpack all my stuff. Why'd you think I was going out?'
 
'Because you have all your best stuff on. Never mind. Scissors, Faith?'
 
She picks them up and sits, crossed legged, next to me.
 
'Nice to see you noticed, B.'
 
'Whatever. Scissors, Faith, scissors?'
 
Don't say anything else nice to her, she doesn't deserve it.
She hands me them and our fingers touch and she just stops.
Neither of us move, and I feel her skin softly brush against mine.
 
'I missed you, B. Really missed you.'
 
I pull the scissors out of her hand, fast, and impale them on the closet door, next to me.
 
'Oh, is that why I heard from you twice in two months, because you missed me? Kind of gives the wrong impression, Faith. Thought I'd let you know, for the next girl you screw around with!'
 
I fix a super strength glare over to her, and she drops her eyes and starts making bows.
We just sit in silence, for almost ever, until I can't take it anymore.
 
'How's Angel?'
 
'Yeah he's fine, doing good, solving crimes, you know.'
 
'Cordy?'
 
'She's cool, she got an acting job the other week. Some bit part, but better than nothing.'
 
Mental note not to ring Cordy in the next week or she'll talk my ear off about acting stuff.
I'll have to send her a card though, just for waking up on time and getting to an audition, let alone actually walking away with a part.
 
I sneak a look over at Faith and she looks so sad, and I can't help feel guilty.
Why can't I be all 'tough Buffy' and forget about her, like she did with me?
 
'Thanks for helping me with the bows, Faith.'
 
'S'ok, B.'
 
Don't start crying, you've cried enough over her!
I've had to up my water intake, I've been so weepy.
Been dehydrated most of the 8 weeks and 3 days and...
Don't start counting the hours again, you'll get all depressed and have to eat more ice-cream.
 
Maybe she's feeling sorry for me?
I don't want pity company!
 
'You don't have to help me, you can go if you want.'
 
'No, I want to help you. I... you know, I want to do stuff with you, B. I really did miss you. Hold up! Don't say anything. I know I didn't call that much, or like, at all, really. You didn't either. You had my number and you didn't call once, not once. So we're even on that score. You know why I went away, why i had to go away. You wanted this.'
 
I WHAT?
Oh, so the worng thing to say.
You almost had me!
 
'I wanted this? Hello? Did I tell you to disappear off the face of the Earth for two months? Sorry, can't hear you, oh right, because you don't have an answer. You left in the middle of the night, or whenever you went. I close my eyes, then open them again and you're gone! Don't slide the blame over here.'
 
'I should go, look, I'm sorry, B. I... it doesn't matter. Happy Christmas 'n' all.'
 
I hear my door open and her walking down the stairs.
You're letting her go again, Buffy.
You wished, every single night when she was gone, that she'd turn up at your door.
Now you have it, you let her go!
What is it with me?!
 
'Hey! You haven't done all my ribbons!'
 
I hear her footsteps pause on the stairs, then start back up.
 
I look round as her head moves round the door.
She's all smiley and happy.
 
'Slave driver!'
 
'It's Christmas. 'Tis the season to buy people gifts they don't want and wrap them in lovely paper so they look all nice. That way they get a shock when they open them and find you've bough them crap. Sit back down and tell me what you did in LA then.'
 
Be happy she's back, Buffy.
 
Be happy!