Title: Is It Love?
Author: Sarah
Rating: PG-13 for now.
Disclaimer: You have no idea how much I wish they were all mine but
they aren't.
Notes: Okay, this is kinda an AU where Faith's been in Sunnydale all
along and is Buffy's best friend. I don't know where this fic is
going, but I imagine it'll be a fun ride.
Dedication: For Anne for inspiring me to write my first Faith and
Cordy fic. And I also have to give a shout out to Harper who wrote
Let That Lonesome Whistle. It put anything I could ever write,
especially Faith/Cordy wise to shame.

sailortenoh@hotmail.com

****

There was a slight rapping at the window that woke Buffy from her
state of half sleep in the middle of the night. Glancing at her clock
she noticed that it was almost two in the morning. With a groan she
rubbed her puffy eyes and stood up, already knowing who it would
be. "You do realize that normal people sleep at this hour right?"
Buffy asked as she opened her window to allow a dark figure access to
her room.

"Since when am I normal?" Faith retorted as she climbed in and
plopped down on Buffy's bed.

"Okay fine, scratch that question. Let's try this one. What do you
want Faith?" Buffy replied as she layed down on her bed next to
Faith.

"You?" Faith tried, half serious and half not.

"Sorry but you know that one's not happening any time soon. Care to
try again?" Buffy asked as she tried to stifle a yawn. She rolled
onto her side and placed her hand on Faith's stomach and looked at
the younger girl.

"How about Cordelia?" Faith asked, this time she was completely
serious. Unfortunately for her Buffy didn't know she was serious and
started laughing. "Okay, I'm not seeing what's so funny here B."

"Are you actually serious? You can't actually like her." Buffy
replied, trying her best to keep from laughing more.

"Who said anything about liking her?" Faith asked with a wicked smile.

"Oh no. There's is no way I'm helping you if all you want is to get
into Cordelia's pants."

Faith let out a small laugh at her stubborn best friend and moved so
she was laying on her side facing Buffy. "I never said that's all I
wanted to do. There's plenty of fun things I could do that don't
involve me in her pants."

"Okay, so didn't need to go to that scary visual place Faith. And
even if I did help you what on earth make you think you stood any
chance at all of getting with Cordy? She hates us or have you
forgotten that?"

"This is me B, I'm irresistible. I just need your help on how to deal
with that girlie shit. Come on, please?" Faith gave Buffy her best
puppy dog eyes and even though the moon and stars outside provided
the only light in the room, Buffy knew she couldn't resist that.

"Fine, you win. But if you get me in trouble over this you're going
to pay for it okay? And please remind me again just why you're my
best friend?" Buffy asked with a smile as she crawled under the
covers.

"I just told you B. I'm irresistible. Even to you straight girls. Not
to mention the fact that I have such wonderful fashion sense. And I'm
the only one you know that you don't ever have to pretend in front
of. Good enough for you?"

"For now," Buffy grinned. "Now go to sleep and quit waking me up in
the middle of the night. Mom gave you a key in case you ever needed a
place to stay. Next time try using it okay?"

"Maybe. But this was urgent." Faith said as she stood from Buffy's
bed and started walking towards the door.

"There's nothing urgent about conning me to help you get into Cordy's
pants at this hour when I should be sleeping. And where are you
going?" Buffy asked sleepily.

"I'm hungry and I'm not tired. Since I did all the slaying tonight
while you went prancing around with dead boy I gotta wind down. You
know slaying makes me hungry amongst other things," Faith said with a
wink before heading out of Buffy's room, softly shutting the door
behind her.

Buffy let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head as she buried
herself deeper in her blankets. She had no clue what she had just
gotten herself into, but one thing was for sure. She definitely
wasn't looking forward to whatever it was that she knew Faith was
going to pull at school the next day.

****

"Hey Miss S," Faith said as she walked into the kitchen at the
Summers residence the next morning. "Morning B," Faith added as she
nodded towards her best friend.

At Joyce's quizzical look Buffy just shook her head as she finished
eating her muffin. "She still hasn't learned to use the front door
mom. She woke me up by banging on my window and crashed on the couch
last night," Buffy explained almost routinely.

Joyce just shook her head, wondering why Faith would never learn that
she was now considered a part of the family.

"You ready?" Buffy asked with her usual perkiness as she stood up
from her table.

"Do I gotta go? It's not like I have school," Faith whined.

"You know you really should try to go back to school Faith," Joyce
slipped in, going back into mother mode.

"I am going back, see me going now?" Faith questioned, trying to
evade the long discussion she knew would follow if she didn't get out
as fast as she could. "Come on B, you know I've got big plans for
this morning," Faith grinned, remembering her plans to captivate
Cordelia.

Buffy rolled her eyes as the younger girl linked arms with her and
drug her out of the house. "You do know that you're completely on
your own with this right?" Buffy questioned as her and Faith headed
towards school.

"No way B, you agreed to help last night," Faith reminded her.

"But it was like two in the morning. That's so not fair," Buffy said
with a small pout.

"Not my fault B. You agreed, can't take it back or else you'd be a
liar. We can't have that now can we? Besides, where's the fun in
fair?"

"Where's the fun in this? All of these schemes you get do nothing but
get us in trouble, or either horribly embarrassed," Buffy stated.

"Loosen up B. We're still alive and kickin' right? What else do you
need? Other than to find the fun of course. And speaking of fun,"
Faith trailed off as she saw Cordelia's car pulling up in the school
parking lot. "Let the games begin," Faith added a moment later as she
rubbed her hands together, a wicked smile forming on her lips.

"Just what are you going to do?" Buffy asked nervously as she watched
the cocky smile forming on Faith's lips.

"I'm going to seduce Miss. Chase of course," Faith stated as she
quickened her pace and began walking towards where Cordelia had just
parked.

"You know she's not going to give you the time of day," Buffy called
out to Faith as she stopped where she was and watched her friend.
Faith didn't turn around but Buffy didn't fail to notice the slight
shrug of her shoulders indicating that she could care less.

As Faith approached Cordelia's car she took in a shaky breath before
opening the driver's side door and grinning at Cordelia. "Allow me,"
Faith said softly.

"As if," Cordelia snorted in disgust. "You know the school parking
lot is the wrong place to be looking for handouts," Cordelia paused
to eye Faith's outfit. "Which you so obviously are seeing as that you
can't afford decent clothes. Maybe if you'd go to school you could
actually make something of your life. Oh wait, one needs brains to go
to school."

"Then what are you doing here?" Faith retorted. "Did you take a wrong
turn somewhere?"
Cordelia crossed her arms and huffed in anger as Faith stared her
down. "What's the matter? Use all your insults in one turn, or would
you like to step on my ego some more?" Faith asked.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that trash had feelings," the taller
girl snapped.

"You know what? Fuck you," Faith said as she turned around to walk
away.

Cordelia looked around the parking lot to make sure no one was
listening before calling out to Faith. "In your dreams."

Faith stopped in her tracks, and turned around with a wide grin on
her lips. "Every night Queen C. And you know, dreams can come true,"
Faith said as she licked her lips and winked at Cordelia. As she
started walking back towards Buffy, Faith could see Cordelia storming
off into school and she let out a small laugh.

"That was your great plan? To piss her off?" Buffy asked as the two
started walking into the school themselves.

"Well what would you suggest I do?" Faith asked. "Hey, do you think
anyone ever realizes I don't actually go to school here?"

"I don't know," Buffy answered, to both questions. "Why don't you
tell her she looks nice? Get her flowers," the blonde shrugged at a
loss for words. "But you should stop pissing her off so much if you
want her to let you close to her. And quit with all the sexual
advances, that only freaks her out and pisses her off more. And you
should start school again."

Faith wrapped her arm around Buffy's shoulders as the two entered the
library. "I don't need school B, I'm a slayer. That's all I need. And
you're missing the biggest point here. There's a thin line between
love and hate. And where there's hate, there's passion just waiting
to be discovered. And where there's passion, there's me and Cordy
getting it on," Faith concluded as she sat up on one of the tables in
the library. "It's all simple really."

"Well if it's so simple why did you wake me up at an ungodly hour and
ask for my help?" Buffy questioned as she sat down next to her best
friend on the table.

"How often do my plans actually work? I'm sure you'll come along with
your 'I told you so' and then you can fix everything for me," Faith
informed her with her winning grin.

"Once again, why am I best friends with a complete nutcase?" Buffy
questioned with a wry grin of her own.

"Because if you hated me there'd be passion and we'd be groping each
other all the time?" Faith offered weakly, just as Xander and Willow
walked into the library. Buffy looked immediately at the shy red
head, and both girls blushed furiously. Xander just smiled goofily
and began to stare off into space, obviously wasting no time in
making a mental picture of what Faith just said. Faith noticed this
and smiled to herself as she hopped off the table. "See B, X-man at
least likes the thought of you and I getting it on," Faith said with
huskily as she winked at Xander, who was trying his best to not drool.

"Oh, are you saying you're giving up on seducing Cordelia already?"
Buffy asked with a hint of a challenge in her voice once she finally
recovered from Faith's blatant attempts at flirting with her. Best
friend or not, she wasn't sure if she'd ever get used to that.

Eyeing Buffy as if she were sizing her up, Faith laughed at her
friend's words. "Are you saying you don't think I can get her?" Faith
raised an eyebrow, as Buffy stood up and walked in front of her.

"Not without my help," Buffy replied. She knew this was the best
thing she could do. It would keep her out of trouble, and her best
friend would still be happy. After all, Faith loved nothing in the
world more than a good challenge, and the feeling of pride she got
when she overcame one. Buffy had learned that over time, so she knew
Faith wouldn't take offense, or get defensive at her words.

"You're on girlfriend," Faith answered, meeting the challenge with a
look of defiance already in her eyes.

Luckily for Willow, who was about to blush herself to death, and
Xander who was about to drown himself in drool at what the two
slayers had been talking about, the bell went off indicating that it
was time for classes to begin. "Good luck, F. You're gonna need it,"
Buffy drawled out as she stole a page from Faith's book and winked at
her best friend just before disappearing from the library with Willow
and Xander in tow.

**********

"What to do," Faith said to herself as she drummed her hands on the
library table, already trying to figure out how she'd go about
getting Cordelia to like her without Buffy's help. Finally a thought
popped into Faith's head and she stood up and walked into Giles'
office and smiled at the watcher. Sure he was old, but he was smart,
wasn't he? "I need your help G-man,"

Giles looked up from the book he was currently engrossed in and gave
his slayer a confused look. "You need my help?" He questioned
slowly. "You need my help, at this hour in the morning?"

"Yes, I need your help. You're supposed to have brains and stuff
aren't you? And no poking fun of me this early in the morning, I am
capable of waking up before noon," Faith informed him, trying her
best to actually act hurt.

"And what is it that you need my help with?" Giles asked as he
removed his glasses to polish them in his usual manner. "Slaying
problems?"

"No, nothing like that," Faith told him as she looked around the
office. "You know what, nevermind, I changed my mind." Faith quickly
made her way out of the office before Giles could even say anything,
leaving the poor man horribly confused. Shrugging his shoulders
knowing that Faith would come to him when she was ready if it were
anything important he went back to his book, deciding not to think to
much on what might be bothering Faith. Luckily for him, he didn't
know.

Faith walked through the halls, making sure to keep a wary eye out
for any teachers or authority figures that might mistake her for an
actual student and try to shoo her into a class or something. Just as
Faith rounded another corner she saw a sight that put that cocky
smirk back on her face. "Must be my lucky day," Faith said quietly to
herself as she walked over to where she saw Cordelia fussing with her
jammed locker.

"Eww, you again?" Cordelia asked as Faith leaned against the lockers,
grinning widely at her. "Why do you even hang out here when you don't
go to school? Can we say looser much?"

"Nice one C, very original. And all I came to do was offer you some
help to try and make up for earlier," Faith said earnestly.

"Well I can do this on my own," Cordelia replied as she stubbornly
tried to open her locker again. "I hate these damn things," Cordelia
shouted out in frustration.

"Quit being stubborn and let me help. I won't move until you do."

"Why are you such a pain in my ass?" Cordelia asked, to both Faith
and the locker.

"You know if your ass is in such pain I'd be more than happy to kiss
it better for you," Faith replied with a small chuckle.

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" Cordelia responded as she slammed the
palm of her hand against the locker and groaned in frustration.
Nudging Cordelia out of the way gently Faith stood in front of the
locker and looked at the taller girl expectantly. "What?"

"What's your combination?" Faith asked, rolling her eyes at the
cheerleader.

"I'm not telling you," Cordelia replied as she crossed her arms over
her chest.

"What damage could it possibly do? Do you think I'm going to come
steal your books? Or maybe your nail file?" Faith asked, already
frustrated with how this was turning out.

"Like I'd ever leave my nail file in there. I need that with me at
all times. How else would I get through class?" Cordelia scoffed,
horrified at the thought of being without her nail file. Faith
laughed in amusement at the thought and once again asked Cordelia for
her locker combination, and this time the taller girl relented and
told her.

Entering the numbers in the lock, followed by a gentle 'tap' to the
locker, it popped open and Faith smiled proudly at Cordelia. "There
you go your highness," Faith said, mock bowing down to Cordelia.

"Yes, I suppose it is good to know you peasants are good for
something," Cordelia replied with a smile of her own as she grabbed
her book from the locker.

Faith leaned back up against the lockers and looked at Cordelia
fondly, for the first time actually having the desire to do more with
her than just jump her bones. For once, she actually had the desire
to get to know the girl behind the bitch. No one could possibly
really be that big of a bitch without part of it being an act. "Do I
have to be a peasant? Can't I be like a princess or something?" Faith
questioned, almost insulted at being called a peasant.

"You a princess? The day you wear pink is the day I'll call you
princess," Cordelia laughed. "With the way you act I'd say your more
like a prince anyways," Cordelia added.

"Then let me be your prince," Faith replied, before she could even
stop herself. 'Good job F, finally get her to stop being Queen Bitch-
A-Lot and you have to go and stick your foot in your mouth,' the
young slayer thought to herself.

"Look, I've gotta get back to class," Cordelia stated dumbly, trying
her best to ignore what Faith just said to her. "Thanks for helping
with the locker," she told Faith as she began to walk past her.

"Hey C," Faith called out, hoping to make sure that Cordelia would
actually remember this. When the cheerleader turned around to face
her Faith just smiled sheepishly at her. "You know, you're a pretty
cool person when you drop that holier than thou act. We could
actually get along one day, think about it." Faith nodded at Cordelia
before turning around and walking away, making sure that the girl
wouldn't be able to see her wide ass grin. 'See B, I don't need your
help at all,' Faith thought.

Cordelia watched as Faith fell back into her cocky strut, almost
paralyzed by what just happened. She knew Faith had the hots for her,
that much had been painfully obvious for some time. And at first it
freaked Cordelia out, but when she decided to look at is as 'I'm so
hot even girls want me' it only served to boost her ego more. But
Faith's comment about being her prince, had actually sounded honest
and even semi romantic and it caught her off guard.

Cordelia shook her head and laughed at herself. Faith was one of her
worst enemies, how could they possibly ever get along? Okay, so they
could get along if it weren't for their opposite status', but it's
wasn't Cordelia's fault that she was popular and Faith was a nobody.
At least that's how Cordelia decided to reason things out in her
head. She wasn't about to give her popularity up to take a chance at
being friends with Faith, even if she had actually enjoyed just being
around her. Dismissing it as just another 'odd' occurrence Cordelia
walked back to class, her only worry being about what to wear to the
Bronze later that night.

**********
"I'm telling ya B, she wants me bad," Faith said as her and Buffy
left the last graveyard after patrol.

"Just because you had a conversation with her doesn't mean she wants
you Faith," Buffy replied as they began walking towards the Bronze.

"She smiled at me B. I'm telling you, it's love," Faith said with a
grin as she twirled her stake in her hands.

"Love?" Buffy arched an eyebrow at her best friend and shook her
head. "If you even start to think that you actually love her I'm
going to beat the crap of you okay? In her pants fine, but she's a
bitch, you can't love her Faith. And you don't even know her."

"But you didn't see the way she smiled at me. It was so amazing. It
made me all... Warm and fuzzy," Faith said shyly, and Buffy just
burst out laughing at her best friend.

"Warm and fuzzy?" She questioned between fits of laughter. "Some bad
ass you are huh?"

"You're so going to pay for that," Faith grinned as she began chasing
after Buffy, who started running at full speed towards the Bronze to
escape the punishment she'd pay for mocking her best friend.

"Base!" Buffy called as she reached the Bronze and put her hand
against the wall.

"You can't call base. We're not playing hide and seek. That's not
fair," Faith said, using her best friend's pout against her.

"Sure I can. I can do anything I want," Buffy concluded with a
smile. "Now quit pouting, it's not an attractive look for a bad ass
like you."

"Fuck you," Faith said playfully as Buffy grabbed her hand and drug
her into the Bronze.

"I think I'll pass," the blonde replied with a smile. "Wouldn't want
to wear you out before you got to Queen C now would I? Besides, I
don't make you all warm and fuzzy," Buffy said, trying to stifle
another giggle.

"Maybe not, but you make me plenty hot," Faith replied as she raised
an eyebrow at Buffy.

"Gross," Buffy stuck her tongue out a Faith and gave her a playful
shove. "Go find your girl. Remember, you're on your own with this."

"Don't need help, you'll see," Faith called out as she watched Buffy
make her way to their usual table where Xander and Willow were
already sitting. Scanning the club it didn't take long for Faith to
spot out Cordelia and her band of sheep and she quickly made her way
over to the girl, deciding that she'd figure out what to do once she
actually got there.

Just as she approached Cordelia, Faith didn't fail to notice the
glares she was receiving from Harmony and the others. Turning her
attention to Cordelia who was just smiling softly at her Faith felt
her heart leap a little and locked eyes with the cheerleader. Just
then the DJ began to play a song that Faith recognized from Buffy's
absurd cd collection and she grinned widely. "Mind if I borrow this?"
Faith asked as she grabbed a cell phone from some girl's hand.
Raising the antenna on it Faith laughed ruefully, wondering just when
she had become the queen of cheese.

<Your flirt finds me out
Teases the crack in me
Smittens me with hope
Possibly maybe, Probably love>

Faith continued to keep her eyes locked with Cordelia as she sung
into the phones antenna, slowly moving closer to the taller girl.

<As much as I definitely enjoy solitude
I wouldn't mind perhaps
Spending a little time with you
Sometimes, sometimes>

Faith tossed the phone back to the girl she took it from, still not
taking her eyes off of Cordelia's and she reached her hand up, to let
her fingers gently trace along Cordelia's jawline. <Possibly maybe,
probably love>

"Dance with me?" Faith asked as she pulled away from Cordelia.

"Like she'd ever want to dance with a gay loser like you," Harmony
spat, looking disgustedly at Faith, and then smiling at Cordelia.

"Just one dance and I'll leave you alone for the rest of the night,"
Faith said through clenched teeth, trying her best to ignore everyone
but Cordelia.

"One dance," Cordelia repeated, wondering why it seemed that all day
Faith had done nothing but put her in a stupor. Faith took Cordelia's
hand into her own while sticking her tongue out at the others
triumphantly. "Why are you doing this?" Cordelia asked as Faith
settled in behind her on the dance floor.

"Doing what?" Faith questioned in confusion as she wrapped her arms
around Cordelia's waist loosely.

"All of this," Cordelia replied as she placed her hands on top of
Faith's and leaned back into the younger girl. "We're supposed to
hate each other, yet all day you've done nothing but try to be nice
to me. I don't get it."

"What's to get C?" Faith asked, moving herself closer to Cordelia as
they danced. "I like you."

"You like me or you want in my pants?" Cordelia asked as she turned
around to face Faith and wrapped her arms around the younger girls
neck.

Faith pressed the length of her body against Cordelia's as they moved
in time to the music. "I like you." Cordelia was looking into Faith's
eyes and for once, unlike with anyone else she saw truth, and genuine
affection.

But Cordelia wasn't about to give in that easily. There were factors
to consider after all. Such as Faith being her childhood enemy. And
the fact that Faith was practically a homeless nobody. For the first
time ever Cordelia was grateful that Buffy moved to Sunnydale when
she did, providing Faith with the family and home she had been
missing since her parents abandoned her as a young teen. Sure Faith
had never told anyone this, but when you live in a small town and
you're Cordelia Chase, you know all the gossip.

Cordelia knew that still wasn't the real problem. After all, she was
her and she had the power to make or break anyone she so chose. If
she wanted, she could easily make Faith popular. However, if she were
going to do that, she'd have to change Faith, and that wouldn't work
well. Along with the fact that in the end, Faith was another girl and
there would be no way Cordelia could hold onto her reign of Sunnydale
High and date another girl. This was definitely going to have to go
into careful consideration.

"You still with me C?" Faith asked as she brushed a few strands of
hair from the brunette's face, taking the cheerleader out of her
thoughts.

"Prove it to me," Cordelia replied, leaning a little into Faith's
soft touch. "Prove to me you really like me, and you might find that
you get your chance after all." Cordelia tilted her head slightly and
placed the softest of kisses on the tips of Faith's fingers and
smiled at the younger girl. "Thanks for the dance," she added before
walking away, putting on her best annoyed look, going back to playing
the part she had gotten so good at over the years. Getting Harmony
and the others to not suspect anything probably wasn't going to be
the easiest thing in the world.

'Score one for the bad ass,' Faith thought to herself as she made her
way over to her friends, running the tips of her fingers over her
lips and grinning madly.

**********

Buffy sat up on her bed, gently trying to nudge her best friend
awake. "Come on already, I don't have all day to wake you're sorry
ass up," Buffy chided as she let out an exasperated sigh.

"I un wan go," Faith replied grumpily, half asleep, as she moved onto
her stomach and buried her face in the pillow.

"Fine," Buffy said in defeat as she stood up from her bed. "But you
better not drool on my pillow too much or I'm gonna kick your ass
when I get home," Buffy said half seriously as she began going about
her morning routine of getting ready for school.

"Uhh," Faith grunted out eventually, which Buffy decided to translate
as an 'okay' to her saying not to drool. Pulling her shirt on Buffy
briefly wondered how nice it must be to be Faith and not have to go
to school, to not have people ordering her around all the time. Then
suddenly it hit her how lonely Faith must have been the last few
years, and she realized for the first time how lucky she was to have
a family and school.

Leaning down, Buffy gently kissed the top of Faith's head and smiled
at her. "Whassat for?" Faith asked groggily, as she tried to get back
to sleep.

"Just because I love you I suppose," Buffy answered as she shrugged.

"Love you too," Faith replied. "Now leave me alone so I can sleep,"
she added as she shifted around in the bed.

"Hey, who's bed are you in?" Buffy asked playfully as she pulled her
pants on.

"Ours?" Faith asked hopefully, almost ready to give up on being able
to go back to sleep. At Buffy's small chuckle Faith moved so she way
lying on her back and she looked at her best friend.

"Do I-" Buffy started as she turned around to face Faith.

"Yes you look fine. Now go. I need my beauty sleep so I can impress
Queen C after all. I'll be up there by lunch time," Faith told Buffy,
answering all of the blondes unspoken questions. Buffy just gave
Faith one last smile before disappearing from her bedroom, leaving
Faith to get back to one of her favorite activities in the world.
Sleeping.

****

A few hours later Faith woke up once more due to the grumbling in her
stomach. Stretching her muscles out briefly before heading
downstairs, Faith smiled as she thought about all that she had come
to gain. Now she had friends, a best friend, a place that felt like
home, and best of all, she had a chance to win Cordelia's
heart. 'Could life get any better?' Faith thought to herself as she
headed into the kitchen to get some cereal.

"How come you're still here Miss S?" Faith asked as she noticed Joyce
sitting at the kitchen table. Faith moved around the kitchen to make
her cereal, not feeling the least bit uncomfortable around Buffy's
mother.

"Actually I was waiting for you to wake up. I had a few things that I
wanted to discuss with you before I left," Joyce replied, causing
Faith's brain to register nothing but the thought 'uh oh' as she sat
down at the table across from Joyce.

"Something wrong Miss S?" Faith asked as she spooned some cereal into
her mouth, trying to act as laid back as possible.

"Oh no, it's nothing like that," Joyce said trying to reassure
Faith. "I wanted to offer you a temporary job at the gallery. We'll
be getting some new pieces in soon and I really am getting too old to
be moving the heavier ones around and setting them up. I thought
maybe you'd like to help me out for a few weeks. I could use the
help, and I figured you might be able to use the extra cash."

Faith visibly relaxed as the beginnings of a smile played on her
lips. "You'd actually trust me around all that old ancient stuff Miss
S?" Faith asked playfully.

"Of course. I trust you Faith," Joyce replied. When she saw the wide
smile Faith was giving her Joyce knew she had made the right
decision. "So, think you might be interested?"

"Count me in," Faith said quickly just before going back to shoveling
more cereal into her mouth.

"There was just one more thing I wanted to talk to you about too,"
Joyce added while she watched Faith eat. "Buffy and I were talking
this morning before she left for school and I just wanted to remind
you that we both consider you to be a part of the family now. Well, I
just wanted to tell you that you don't have to call me Miss S anymore
if you don't want. You could always call me Joyce, or even mom if you
wanted," Joyce said softly, unsure of how Faith would react to the
invitation. "I know I'm not your mother, but I love you just as I
love my own daughter and I just thought it was time you knew that you
were a part of the family."

Faith dropped her spoon into her cereal and bowed her head. Joyce was
hesitant, not sure if she had struck a bad nerve in the young
girl. "Faith?" she asked gently a few moments after the brunette
hadn't said anything to her.

When Faith looked up with unshed tears in her eyes Joyce's concern
only grew. She thought for sure she had hurt Faith somehow. "Do you
really mean that?" Faith finally managed to choke out. Joyce only
nodded and smiled softly at her, and was relieved when a small smile
crossed Faith's features. "Mom?" Faith questioned in disbelief. Could
she really be lucky enough to have a family again, one that wouldn't
abandon her?

"Mom," Joyce confirmed.

Faith put some of her walls back up at the thought of being abandoned
again, but she continued to smile widely at Joyce. "Am I like
supposed to hug you now or something?" Faith asked awkwardly.

"When you're ready," Joyce replied. "As for now though, I should be
getting to work. Come by sometime today and I'll go through what I'll
be having you do with you."

"Okay, I'll come by after school," Faith told her as she stood up to
put her cereal bowl in the sink.

"Faith, you know you really should-"

"Go back to school," Faith finished for her. "We'll see okay?" she
said sincerely, pondering if everyone could read the Summers women so
well of if she'd just developed a knack for it over time.

"Good Enough… For now," Joyce teased just before she left Faith alone
in the kitchen to process her own thoughts. Faith let out a small
laugh as she cleaned her dishes, letting herself realize that life
really can get better. And it just had.

****

Cordelia made her way to her locker just before lunch, glad to
finally get away from Harmony and the others. She never did
understand their need to all go to the bathroom together. She'd
figure a person would want to pee in private, but apparently not.

Shaking her head to rid herself of thoughts of them, Cordelia opened
her locker but just before she could shove her books in as usual she
found a nice surprise waiting for her. Her face lit up instantly as
she looked at the single long stemmed red rose occupying the free
space in her locker, knowing that Faith was the only one she had ever
given her combination to. 'Score extra points for good memory,'
Cordelia thought as she went to look at the note attached to the
rose. "How's this for a start?" she read aloud, smiling at the simple
question.

"So do I get an answer?" Faith asked, causing Cordelia to jump.

"Don't ever scare me like that again!" Cordelia scolded as she spun
around to glare at Faith. "You're going to give me wrinkles." When
Faith started laughing Cordelia smacked her on the arm. "It's not
funny. If you give me wrinkles I'm definitely not ever giving you a
chance."

"Okay, I'm sorry," Faith said as she managed to stop laughing. "But
do I get an answer?"

"To what?" Cordelia asked, already forgetting the question due to her
slight scare.

"The note," Faith said as she rolled her eyes at the cheerleader.

"Dinner. Pick you up at 8. How's that for a start?" Cordelia said
just before walking away, leaving no room for argument on Faith's
part.

"Sounds good to me," Faith answered to no one in particular as she
made her way to the library to meet the gang for their usual lunch.

TBC...