Disclaimers: Joss, Mutant etc own them, not me. I make no claims. No harm intended.
Comments: I will not guarantee the happiness of Buffy and Faith.
Date Stamp: Miss K, aka Kitty wrote this 15.12.01
 
Buffy's POV
 
Slayers Do Christmas V - Atsureki
 
'So. Sounds like you had a good time in LA.'
 
Yeah, good time without me!
 
Ok, that's plain nasty.
I wouldn't have wanted her to have a bad time, maybe she could have been all weepy like me, but I'm sort of glad she had a good time.
Deep down.
Deep, deep down, I'm glad.
Like, really deep down.
Ok, enough already!
 
'So spill, what did you do while I was away, B?'
 
Lie your ass off, Buffy Summers!
Don't let her think you're all pathetic.
 
'Well, I've been catching up on all the lessons I missed, so not had that much time to go out.'
 
Oh, well done, really, really, well done.
What a great lie.
Except, Buffy, lies are meant to not be the truth!
Now you sound pathetic.
Like some lonely, weird person with no friends, who never goes outside and has loads of phobia's or something.
 
'Shit yeah, how's the study stuff coming along?'
 
First time for everything; Faith asking about school.
 
'Fine. Boring as ever. There, finished! Thank God, I'm sick of wrapping things now. Novelty wore off after the first ten seconds.'
 
I start picking the presents up and put them all back into my closet.
Just as I'm about to shut the door I see Faith's one in the corner.
I must've forgotten about it!
 
I pick it up and sit down next to her, as she clears away all the left over stuff.
 
'Only two days left until Christmas, Faith.'
 
'Yeah, can't get away from being reminded everywhere you go. When we were driving back every rest stop had some stupid Christmas lights display thing.'
 
We?
When WE were driving back?
Who's we?
I mean, she came back with someone?
 
Ok, how do I ask without sounding all Gestapo?
Oh, damn, I don't care.
 
'You got a lift back?'
 
Well that went better than me screaming WE? WHO'S WE?
 
'Huh? Yeah, never would've got that surfboard on a plane, B.'
 
She smiles and I feel my will power start to fall out of me.
Don't, please, Buffy, please!
 
'So, who'd you get a lift with? I mean, it wasn't Angel because of that small case of him being a Vampire and really not getting on well with sunlight. Cordy would have killed you before you even got out of LA. So, um, lift?'
 
Well you sound completely jealous and insane now.
Excellent, Buffy, you're great at this.
 
'The friend I was telling you about, Discord. I stayed at hers for half the time down there. She's kicking back at mine tonight. I should get going, really. I feel bad about leaving her on her own so long. I make a shitty host, I know.'
 
Discord?
Fine.
FINE!
Nice to see you really did move on, Faith.
Probably got to go back and get all naked with each other.
Discord?
Stupid name, I mean, Discord?
Sounds stupid.
This coming from the girl called Buffy!
Hey, look I'm not going to get insulted in my own head, thank you, so shut up.
 
'Guess you do need to go. Have to make sure your guest is all tucked up for the night, Faith.'
 
Half a tonne less, of the bitter and twisted tone next time, would be nice.
 
'Um, yeah, well she can tuck herself in, B.'
 
'Whatever. Thanks for helping. You better go now. Hate to keep you.'
 
Less nasty tone, not more!
 
'Yeah, you ok, B? You sound pissed. We've finished all the presents right? I'll stay and do the rest if you want. She'll wait.'
 
Oh, I bet she will.
I bet she'll wait, and wait and wait for you to come home.
Probably keeping the bed nice and toasty!
 
'I don't want to keep you from your friend.'
 
'Huh? Why you gone all frosty on me? Polar bears are gonna start wanting to rent your hall space if the temperature in here bottoms out again. What did I do?'
 
Everything that you weren't meant to.
Leave, have fun, get over me and especially, meet someone else!
 
'Christmas blues, sorry. Look you go. Thanks for helping me out.'
 
I get up and walk over to the door, opening it for her.
 
'I've done something to piss you off, B, I'm not stupid. What did I do?'
 
Yes you are stupid!
Shut up, Buffy, no she's not.
Stop being a bitch.
She hasn't done anything wrong, not one thing.
She's been all nice, and helped you, and you have to spaz out at her.
 
She pushes herself up and walks over, stopping a few inches away.
I turn my eyes away and look at the edge of the door that I'm holding.
 
'I don't understand what I did wrong? Hey, no wait, Dis and me...'
 
I cut her off before she can finish; I don't want to know, I really don't!
 
'Faith! You haven't done anything wrong, honestly, nothing. It was nice seeing you again. Thanks for coming round. I mean it.'
 
'Ok.'
 
She starts to walk out, then stops and turns back and hugs me.
My whole body melts into her; every single bit of me.
I slowly put my arms round her and hug her back.
I can't help it but I start crying.
I just...
I've missed her, this, everything.
For two months, I've missed this!
For two months I wanted to pick up the phone and call her.
For two months I wanted to catch a flight out and try and find her.
And now she's back and it doesn't matter.
 
Because this time I'm too late!