Disclaimers: Joss own all BTVS characters, I own the rest. I make no claims to his.
Title: It's a line from 'Too Late' by No Doubt. I could never own it, ever.
Authors Comments: Look at us, we're still on Xmas day, even though it's the 27th! Oh well.
Dedications: To Elizalover, aka Gwen's bitch. I'm with you, baby.
 

Faith's POV

Slayers Do Christmas XLVII - I'm Nervously Cradling Our Young Love

If I see another bit of turkey, or ham, or anything that looks like a vegetable I'm gonna chuck!

Today's been a blur .
B and Dawn clawing at each other, Mrs. S looking like she's going to pass out, and me trying not to swear too much; which is harder then I thought.
 
'Hey, Dis, you coming out for a smoke?'
 
'Faith, that's the best Christmas present ever.'
 
The cool air washes over me, making me feel less like I'm going to bust the seams on my leathers.
 
'You ok, Dis, you been sort of quiet.'
 
She has.
She's been all; 'yes ma'am', 'no thank you Mrs Summers', 'let me get that for you'.
Been a crazy day, nice though, shit, best Christmas I've ever had.
Had my girl, my cuz, Dawnie and Mrs. S; sort of like it should be, with people you... you know, like a lot.
Not like my when I was at home.
Not like at home.
Don't even go there, Faith.
Lose that thought, right now!
 
'I'm ok, you know, I'm not usually here for Christmas. It's weird, that's all.'
 
Oh, ok, I'm with that one.
 
'Usually with the big G, huh? I didn't think, Dis, I can make an excuse and you can bright light your way up to see Elle and your girls, if you want.'
 
'Nah, s'ok.'
 
She sits down on the porch, and kicks at the wooden step.
Yeah, there's more going on to this than she's saying.
 
'What's up, girlfriend. Tell me or I'll get Mrs. S to give me copies of those pictures from earlier. You know, the ones with you and that fake smile in a big ol' paper hat, pulling a cracker with B.'
 
She starts laughing, and pulls me down next to her, giving me a big bear hug.
 
'Careful, I'm fragile, Dis!'
 
She gives my hair a ruffle and kisses my forehead; always makes me smile when she does shit like that, what can I say, I'm a sucker for her.
 
'So what's with you being all down, come on, let it out. It'll only eat you up if you keep it in, Dis.'
 
'You need to stop watching Oprah. I was thinking that I need to get back home tonight, to LA, I mean. I have work over the New Year. I need to get prepared.'
 
'You're not going to be here for New Year? But you promised... '
 
I thought we could all hang out and, I don't know, get boozed up and be stupid.
She promised we'd have a family Christmas and New Year, that it'd be like the stuff we never got as kids.
Fuck it, never stake your heart out on a promise, from anyone, Faith!
There all the same, even blood.
Even family.
 
'You've got your honey, you'll have a good time.'
 
'I wanted to have a good time with you there as well. I've got used to you telling me to get my feet off the table and stuff. You said we'd have a family Christmas and New Year.'
 
'I feel shitty about it. I don't want to work but there's no getting out of it, I tried. Raphael's got the flu, downed him like a nun at a tequila party.'
 
'Whatever. You coming back in? I need to make sure B hasn't toasted Dawn on the fire.'
 
'Faith, don't get all...'
 
'I'm not.'
 
I push up and she takes hold of my hand, and me being an asshole, I shake it off and storm back in.
 
See, when it comes down to it, everyone, blood or not lets you down in the end.
 
Buffy's POV
 
I. Am. Going. To. Kill. Her!
She's so not getting any of her presents.
One more time; if she whispers lesbian, one. More. Time!!!
 
'Buffy?'
 
She leans over, making sure mom can't hear and I know what she's going to say.
I know it.
I KNOW IT!
 
'Don't, I mean it Dawn.'
 
Then she... arghhhh!
 
'Lesbian!'
 
I grab her off her chair, throw her on the sofa, and jump on top of her.
 
'Buffy, get off your sister, now!'
 
I get that point right in her ribs that makes her laugh, and poke the hell, sorry, out of it.
 
'Mom, it's not me, it's her!'
 
'Girls, I'm going upstairs to have my breakdown in private. Don't hurt your sister, Buffy.'
 
I grab her arms, tighter, and she's laughing so hard her eyes are streaming.
She tries to buck me off and I fall right on top of her.
Damn it, I'm not letting go, no way.
Big sis is going to teach brat a lesson!
Don't. Mess. With. A. Slayer.
 
Then she whispers something to me, all breathless, from being tickled so much.
 
'Are you really dating Faith? I won't tell, I promise.'
 
I stop, and lie there, on top of her.
She's all smiley and covered in tears.
 
'If this is a trick, Dawn, I'm going to kill you!'
 
'It's not a trick, are you two dating?'
 
Ok, here's the thing, and by thing I mean, you know, the thing.
Anyway, I could lie, but then, you know, I don't see why I have to.
I'm not doing anything wrong, we're not doing anything wrong.
We're in love and... well, we love each other, so, I shouldn't have to be all afraid to say it.
But just in case mom spaz's, I'll whisper it, so she doesn't hear just yet, even though she's upstairs and can't hear through the floor, but still...
 
'Buffy! Are you?'
 
'Yes, don't tell mom, she'll freak and try and make me stop dating her. Please, Dawnie?'
 
'I'm not a rat. Ok, just wanted to know.'
 
'Ok... yeah, well, why the sudden niceness?'
 
'Because you're my sister and it means that we're forced, through blood, to forever know each other. So that means, I have to know about your hot news. Mom hasn't got a clue, owww, get your elbow out of my ribs.'
 
'Sorry. Did you speak to her about us?'
 
'Chill out. I'm Dawn, no-one thinks I have a brain. I asked her about Faith and some other stuff. She just thinks you two hang out a lot.'
 
Ok, so, wow, this is sort of on the verge of freaking me out.
Dawn being nice?
Well, it had to happen one day, she's my sister, I have to stick by her through this phase.
 
'Oh. Well. I'm going to tell mom, not yet though. Did you see her in the kitchen earlier? She massacred that ham. Can so see where I get my killing skills from. She's too close to the edge today.'
 
'My lips are sealed. I like Faith anyway, she's cool. Is Elle still going to pick me up from school one day?'
 
'Faith's sorting out with Dis, so yes, squirt!'
 
She pushes me off of her, and we look at each other.
 
'Dawn, did we just bond, or, something weird like that?'
 
'I think so. I won't tell if you don't.'
 
'Agreed. Squirt!'
 
'This is freaking me out, we're agreeing now. I'm going upstairs to get away from you.'
 
I wink at her and watch her as she runs upstairs, pausing at the top to flip me the finger.
She's such a little brat sometimes!
 
'Hey, B. You two seem ok then.'
 
I jump at Faith's voice, behind me.
She's leaning up against the wall, looking all sad.
 
'Didn't see you there. Just me and Dawny getting over our sister turmoil. Family, you know.'
 
As I watch her, I catch this look, just for a split second, one tiny, tiny second, and it almost breaks my heart.
She drops her eyes to the floor, and I think she's going to start crying, but then she pulls it back with a deep breath and a fake smile.
 
'Yeah, family, right.'
 
'Are you ok, Faith?'
 
'Five by five, B. I've said thanks to your mom, I'm heading off. Dis has to pack her stuff up, she's going back to LA tonight. Work shit and... look, can you come round to mine later? I've still got a present I want to give you, like, not in front of everyone.'
 
Dis is going?
I thought she was staying for...
Oh; Oh!
Family, Faith, Dis going; ok, you moron, way to make her feel bad, even though it wasn't on purpose.
 
'When's she going?'
 
'Nine. You don't have to come round, you know, Christmas is for families and stuff so... '
 
She folds her arms round herself, walks up to me and kisses my cheek, softly.
 
'I need to go, B. Come round if you can.'
 
Before I can even open my mouth, she's gone, and I'm standing all alone, surrounded by Christmas cheer, but not feeling any of it.