Disclaimers: Joss owns all the BTVS characters, not me. I make no claims
Me: I own Dizzy, Elle, Lucy and all other Heaven and Hell grrls. Do not take them, ever.
Title & Lyrics: From Veruca Salt's 'One Last Time', from the album 'Eight Arms To Hold You'. Nina and Louise own it, not me. I could never claim it.
Note: Yes, all the full stops are in the right places. It's all in how you read it.

//When you're nearby,
//I see you and want you to try,
//To love me like a monster.
 
Buffy's POV

Slayers Do Total Recall XIV - Euphoria Has Just Been Here, And She's Looking Terrible
 
'So...'
 
She hasn't even got anything to say to me.
I'm not even sure if I'm going to see her again, and she's not saying anything!
Ok then.
I pull a box out from my pocket.
I found it in the bedroom, earlier.
 
'You should have this now, even though it's late, but, well, there were reasons why that happened, so... there. You don't have to open it now, Faith.'
 
She holds the thin box and looks at it.
I think she's trying to figure out if she should open it now or not.
Well, she's going with the now, instead of the later.
 
'This is... this is from that shop with all the motorcycles in. You remembered?'
 
She picks the chain out and holds it in her hands, sort of weighing it.
She's got a little smile on her face, a real smile, like... before.
 
'Course, I remembered, silly. You didn't stop talking about it for days. I was speaking to the man who made it, they've got a workshop out back. There's gold everywhere! But I know you don't like Gold. Give it here, let me put it on you. Cool, so, I was talking to him and he's covered in tattoo's, and metal through his face. Anyway, his name's Marion and he sews quilts. Figure that one out! Never judge a book, I s'pose. There. It suits you, your skin. It looks so nice.'
 
'The guy with all the piercings makes quilts? He owns about ten Harleys! Shit.'
 
She starts laughing and pokes me in the ribs.
And it's like old times, like how we used to be.
 
'Wow, it's nice. Look, the links move round in all directions! This is cool, real cool. Fuck, best present, ever. Um, I have something for you. Hold up, it's in my other jacket. Wait there, don't move!'
 
She runs off into the bedroom, and I can hear her cursing and throwing stuff round.
Then she's in front of me, pushing her hair back, with a little box.
And her face's all excited and, well, not happy, but pretty close, as close as she's been for hours.
 
'You know how Dawn's got that ant farm? Well I thought you could have something more original. So I got you fleas. Nothing says I care more than itching for hours.'
 
She hands me the box and I stare at it, holding it between two of my fingers.
She got me fleas?
Wow, that's really. Gross!
 
'Shit, B. I'm kidding. Like I'd even know where to get fleas from. You're a spaz. Open it.'
 
I slowly open the lid, incase anything flies out at me, and something does jump out at me.
And I don't care, because it's... so, beautiful, it's...
 
'Wow, this is... I think I'm going to cry. This... you got this for me?'
 
She starts shifting round, on her feet, and she's all frowny.
 
'You don't like it? Shit, I knew you wouldn't...'
 
Her hand comes up to try and get the box back, and I slap it away.
 
'Get off my present! Faith, like it? This is... this is so wow!'
 
'You like it? Um, it's an emerald, and it's not silver, it's platinum. Thought you'd need something strong if you wore it when punching Vamps, you know, silver could get bent. If you look close, the emeralds all swirly, look, see?'
 
She holds up the ring and squints, then shows me.
 
'This must have cost loads. Ok, I feel like you bought me a house and I bought you a shed.'
 
'It's not about the cost. It's about the thought behind it, right? Thanks, for the chain. Seriously, thanks. It's great, look, it's like a snake! Cool!'
 
And we stand there, and I want to hug her, but I'm not sure if I should.
It's been like old times, just for these few minutes and I don't want her to go.
I don't know what I'll do without her, not again.
 
Then she hesitantly puts her arms round me and holds me.
I'm not sure if she feels uncomfortable or not.
And as she holds me I start to get all upset, because I can feel her and smell her hair.
See, this is what I'm going to miss; silly things like smelling her hair!
So, I take a chance, because I've got nothing else to lose.
Nothing.
 
'Faith, stay here, just for a day, one day, then you can go, please. I'll miss you so much.'
 
Her arms hold me tighter and I can feel her body shuddering, and I think she's crying again.
It's worse when someone all tough cries, it's like when men do it.
You know it takes loads for them to let go, and it makes it worse.
It's the same with Faith, everytime I see her cry makes me so sad.
 
'I have to go, B.'
 
'One more day, stay with me for one more day, please.'
 
I don't want her to go so badly it's making my chest hurt.
And then I remember what Elle said to me in the car, as we were heading to mine for dinner.
"Never doubt the power of true love, it can even bring the damned back from Hell."
That's what she said, and she's God, so she knows!
So I throw away all my pride, because she's going and I might not see her again.
And I don't care, I don't!
I love her and if it means I have to beg, then that's what I'll do.
I take a step back from her and get down on my knees.
 
She looks down at me, trying to figure out what I'm doing.
I rest my hands, softly on her thighs.
 
'I'm begging you, I'm on my knees and everything, please, Faith. One more day, then go if you have to. Just don't go leave like this, please.'
 
'Get off the... get off the floor, don't beg me. You shouldn't be begging me!'
 
'Yes I should, because I love you and you love me. One more day, please?'
 
'Don't...'
 
'Faith, please. Look. I'm really begging. I'd miss you. I'd miss your face, your lips, your smile, your frown, your leather pants, your boots, everything.'
 
She kneels down with me, taking my hands in hers.
See, I'd miss her eyes too!
 
'I have to... I need to go, to... you shouldn't love me, B. You're... like, you're good and, you know, everyone looks up to you. You're a great Slayer and you got loads of friends, and a great mom and sis. You should be with someone... someone who's, you know, the same, who's like you, not me.'
 
'You are great, you just don't see it. Dawn loves you, she thinks you're better than Brad Pitt, not in a lusty way, you know what I mean. Willow and Tara are your friends, and Xander, maybe not Anya, you two are always nipping at each other. If we're talking about the Slayer stuff, you're just like me. We're equal. The only reason I kick your ass so much is because you lose your temper and don't focus, you hot head! Last off, I love you, and you're not getting rid of me, no way. See, I'm still begging, this is how much I love you. One more day. That's all. One more day.'
 
She cuffs her eyes.
 
'Fuck it, my make up's screwed again!'
 
'One more day.'
 
'I don't know, B.'
 
'One more, only a little day. It'll go real quick.'
 
'I, I don't know.'
 
'I'll even promise not to babble.'
 
'Shit, don't know if I can refuse that.'
 
'You'll stay?'
 
'One day?'
 
'One.'
 
'You know I have to go after that, right?'
 
Don't start jumping up and down!
Ok, I'm kneeling and I don't think my knee caps would like it too much.
 
'Uh-huh!'
 
And stop nodding your head so much!
The silence stretches out, forever.
 
'Ok.'
 
And I don't know what I want to do more, yell 'cause I'm all happy, or cry, 'cause I'm all happy!
 
'Can I get off my knees now?'
 
'No. You have to stay like that until I come back from telling Dis.'
 
'Oh. Ok.'
 
'B, I'm kidding. You wanna come down with me, we can, maybe go for a walk after, to talk and shit. Yeah?'
 
'Sure.'
 
Finally; finally I get a break!
 
And I'm not wasting it, because she's not going to LA; not without a big ol' sneaky fight from me.