Sun streamed into the bedroom, highlighting the sleeping couple wrapped around each other in the double bed. The dark tousled hair of both of them was spread across crisp white pillows; toned limbs peeked out from under the crumpled white sheet.
The ringing of the telephone, placed on the table next to the bed, cut into the silence of the room. Grumpily Faith extracted herself from Cordelia and, muttering under her breath about correct times to ring on a Sunday, reaching over to the table she picked up the receiver rather violently.
"Hello?"
"Faith?"
The voice on the other end of the line shocked Faith into full awareness, her hand squeezed the receiver tightly, a faint sound of cracking plastic resounding in her ears.
"Faith? Are you still there?"
Taking a deep breath, she sat up fully in bed and brushed her hair out of her eyes.
"Yeah B...uffy, I'm here, what's with this?"
The petite blonde let out the breath she'd been holding in through the weird silence and thanked the lord that Faith hadn't just put the phone down on her.
"I know this is... weird but I don't, didn't have anyone else I could ask, since Angel turned human there's not much musc-"
"Yeah, Buffy, sorry to interrupt? But I'm in bed with my girlfriend here and haven't got the time to waste; so spill"
"Ok... I've had a child, and I need your help to protect it seems as everyone else I know couldn't even take me on never mind 400 pound Leola Demons, y'know? I'm stuck in this seedy motel room just hoping that nothing supernatural is on the look out for me or... Nat. I'm desperate Faith. Please help me"
Faith heard Buffy's voice crack on the last word and her heart squeezed in pain for her sister slayer, sure she didn't like her and they had done a hell of a lot of shit to each other but there had been a time when Buffy had meant the world to Faith, so she couldn't just turn her away.
"What motel are you at? I'll come and pick you up."
Quiet sobbing started on the end of the line and Buffy practically collapsed inside the small phone box she was standing in.
"Thank you Faith. I'm in the White Motel, just off..."
"I know where it is. Don't move, but be ready, I'll be there in 15."
Not waiting for a reply Faith hung up gently and sighed, she didn't know what she had gotten herself into but she knew she had to help, Buffy had given her so many chances, she owed her a few.
"Cordy, sweetie, I'm going out, I'll be back in a while, see you later sweet pea."
Gently she kissed the brow of her sleeping girlfriend, and then slipping from the bed she dressed, washed and was tearing down the road just 5 minutes later.
Buffy paced around the small room she had booked herself and her son into for the night sometimes stopping to check that Nat was still sleeping but she couldn't seem to stay still. All that slayer strength was being cooped up in a $20 a night room that smelt vaguely familiar and if Buffy had thought about it she would have recognised that it smelt of... despair.
Sometimes she didn't recognise her own life, she had changed so much from the slightly selfish girl who had an affinity for pastels and a souled vampire as her 'mate', she now dressed all most exclusively in black, and Angel was gone, no longer a vampire, he'd decided that their love wasn't eternal and had skipped town/state/country, but not before leaving her a parting gift.
Nat.
Her beloved son, he was going to be three this year and was starting to become so curious about the world, and Buffy had enjoyed showing it all to him, butterfly's in summer, snowmen in the winter, until she had received a phone call from Giles two weeks previous telling her that a group of Leola demons were after her sons blood.
Apparently he was a 'special' child and not in the needing extra after school help way neither. His blood would open a portal to let millions of other Leola demons into this dimension where the human pickings were rich.
Well over her dead body, but that was what she was worried about. If she died fighting these things who would look after Nat? Protect him from them? She had only come up with one answer and it had taken her a week to track Faith down.
The phone call to ask for help had been one of the hardest she had ever had to do, asking for help had never really came easily to her and asking for help off Faith? That was a thing she would have thought she would have never done. Never.
But situations change, grudges grow old, people grow up, and Buffy knew that this was the right thing to do, if not for her then for Nat.
The sound of a car squealing into the practically empty car park had Buffy rushing to the curtained window which had yet to be opened, glancing through she saw a smart black car pull up abruptly, the door was swung open and then Faith stepped into the morning light.
Still as beautiful as ever.
The sunlight accentuated the brunette locks, which were tied up haphazardly, and glinted off the dark shades she wore. She was wearing a pair of black jeans, with a white wife beater and Buffy almost laughed; she guessed something's just didn't change.
Taking in Faiths full figure Buffy felt a wave of attraction that she hadn't felt in a long time, not since she was 18 and Faith had taken her against an alleyway after patrol when the horny part of slaying had become too much for both of them.
Shaking her head she pushed those memories to the far part of her mind, it wouldn't be good to dwell on those especially since it was so important that she be clear headed for her son, and Faith had mentioned a girlfriend, she so didn't need to be going there at the moment.
Stepping out of the crummy motel room she sent a hesitant smile Faiths way, the younger slayer just continued to stare at her, and after a few minutes Buffy became fidgety with the intensity of the gaze.
"Faith?"
Seeming to snap out of it, whatever it was, she offered a smile back to Buffy.
"Hey, Buffy, you ready to go?"
"Yeah, I'm packed, never really unpacked, I'll just get my cases and we'll be ready for you."
Faith seemed to grow serious for a moment, staring at the blonde slayer as if she had a hundred questions she wanted to ask her right there, but Buffy wouldn't let her start now. There'd be plenty of time for a game of 'Whose Life Is Better?' later; all she wanted to do is get her son to relative safety.
"Not now, huh, Faith? Later when I'm sure Nat's safe, safer, than he is now. Please?"
An internal struggle seemed to rage inside the dark slayer, curiosity against respect for Buffy's wishes, respect won out and Faith gave another smile.
"Sure Buffy, why don't I get the cases and you get you're son?"
Her son, it sure seemed strange to Faith hearing that out loud, but she guessed a lot of things had changed.
"Oh and Buffy?"
Stopping the blonde turned away from the door back to Faith.
"Yeah?"
"I like your outfit."
Buffy took in her black leather pants and black t-shirt and gave a rueful smile.
"Thanks Faith."
Letting herself and Buffy, carrying Nat, into her home, Faith couldn't detect any movement inside the house, which meant that Cordelia was most proberly still in bed, which meant that it bought Faith a little more time before she had to reintroduce Cordy and Buffy.
She was really not looking forward to Cordelia's reaction, or Buffy's.
Slinging off her boots she lead Buffy into the lounge and placed the cases at the end of the couch. Watching Buffy look round her home Faith felt like she was at the first day of high school again, being inspected and rated. The only thing that she could relax about was that she knew the house was impeccably designed and decorated; Cordelia hadn't been the most popular girl in school for nothing.
She had amazing taste and it showed in the little things around their home.
"So..."
Buffy looked at Faith.
"So?"
"So, do you want to put him in a room? We've got 3 spare so sleeping arrangements are easy, plus it'll give me and you time to talk. Which we need to do, I need to know the deal on this, I can't help if I don't know jack."
"Ok"
Turning Buffy walked to the bottom of the staircase, cradling her small son in her strong arms, looking back at Faith she raised her eyebrow.
"I do take it that your bedrooms are upstairs?"
Faith gave her a small smile, nothing knocked Buffy down for long, and walking past her she started up the stairs without a word.
The hall landing was decorated in the same tasteful fashion as down stairs, Buffy looked around in amazement, this didn't look like anything Faith could do, when Buffy had been close to her, as close as two people could get without being one a small voice kept telling her, Faith hadn't the first clue about decorating.
"Faith when did you take decorating classes? This place looks like it was decorated by Cordelia"
Giving a small laugh Buffy was confused when Faith didn't join in with her, and turned a confused face her way, until she heard the voice from behind her.
"That's because it was."
Buffy took in the rumpled figure of Cordelia Chase as she stood in front of her, it seemed like some sort of dream, Faith lived with Cordelia? Slept with Cordelia? Loved... Cordelia?
"Well here's one person I didn't expect to wake up to on a Sunday morning, or any morning to be exact. Just what are you doing here Buffy?"
Cordelia was in some sort of shock, waking up and Faith not being next to her had been bad enough but to actually get up and find her girlfriend had invited the one person who had caused her more hell in her life into their home? This was not going down well.
"Faith? Are you actually going to say anything? Or are you suddenly mute now?"
Cringing inside at the look of hurt that was quickly wiped off her girlfriends face, Cordelia didn't like it anymore than Faith did that she was being a bitch, but that was what she did. When she felt threatened she reacted badly, and seeing Buffy with a child when she wasn't looking her best was guaranteed to bring out the bitch.
And when she got no response from either of the slayers, the bitch came out roaring.
"Fine, well why don't I just go pack and then you can raise Buffy's... son? In peace."
Turning on her heel she walked into the master bedroom and softly closed the door behind her.
"I'm sorry Buffy, but I'm gonna have too..."
Making a gesture towards the closed door Faith looked at Buffy, searching for silent understanding, Buffy just nodded and watched the dark slayer follow the other brunette into the bedroom and close the door again.
Looking down at her sleeping son she sighed.
"Guess it's just you and me for a while, hmmm, hotshot?"
"Ok Cordy, you want to tell me what just happened out there?"
Watching Cordelia move round the room packing her belongings into a small carry bag, Faith was stunned with disbelief. She knew Cordelia wasn't going to be happy about the Buffy arrangement but she hadn't realised she would take it this bad.
"Or to use one of your favourite phrases; overreaction much?"
Suddenly stopping the frenzied packing Cordelia looked at Faithy in disbelief.
"That is a joke right? I mean, Faith, THAT'S BUFFY! In my fabulously decorated hallway, with a child, and you call that an overreaction?"
Slumping on the bed she pulled her dressing gown tighter around her, why couldn't Faith see what she was talking about? Buffy always spelt out trouble, or impalement, or snakebites. Something bad.
"I guess... I was shocked seeing her there, I mean, no one warned me, I look like I've just woken up while she's got the whole 'Leather = Luscious' look working for her. Plus did you forget the last time we met up with her you cheated on me?"
"Cheated on you? THAT was a spell, one of Willow's wonky ones, you cheated on me with Giles!"
Faith knelt down in front of her and cupped her cheek gently.
"Baby, Buffy means nothing to me anymore, I've got you, you're all I want, for the rest of my life. Its just now I have to help Buffy and her son. I owe her that much Cor. Please baby?"
Leaning down Cordelia captured Faiths lips in a searing kiss.
"Something to remember me by, I'll be at Gunn's. Ring me if the blonde ever leaves."
"What?"
Calmly Cordelia stood up and start to pack again, ignoring the look of bewilderment on Faiths face.
"I'm not staying here with Buffy. Come get me when the business between you two is finished. If it ever is."
Finally dressed, Cordelia paused, after closing the bag containing most of her clothes and slinging it on her shoulder, at the bedroom door. Looking at Faith she gave her a slow smile, but it was filled with sadness.
"I'll wait for you forever Faith."
And with that she opened the door and went.
Faith had collapsed on the floor in a sort of shock, vaguely registering Cordelia saying goodbye to Buffy, and then walking down the steps. The car was started before she managed to glance at the open bedroom door.
Buffy stood just inside, having put Nat to sleep in a vacant room a few minutes before.
"I'm sorry Faith, she'll come back. As soon as this business is finished I'll be gone. She'll come back"
Gently she pulled the younger girl into a hug.
"...Thanks Gunn, she's ok then? Sleeping? Ok, thanks, give my love to Wesley. See you later man, bye."
Sighing she replaced the phone and glanced at Buffy who sat opposite Faith on another couch.
"She got there this morning, must have gone there straight from here. Gunn says she's sleeping, but I don't know whether to believe him or not, he'd do anything for that girl, even lie to me."
"Faith, I'm so sorry, I had no idea I'd cause this much trouble."
"It's ok Buffy, this is something Cordy and me have to work through, nothing really to do with you as a person. More just you're memory."
Slouching down into the soft couch, she flicked off her shoes and reached for her glass of wine Faith had passed to her, sipping she considered her next question.
"Faith? Ok, this isn't really any of my business but I have to ask."
Faith looked at her quizzically and stretched slightly, showing an expanse of toned, brown, stomach, working out the kinks that today's stress had caused.
"Ask away."
Looking at Faiths body Buffy felt the rush of lust again but pushed it away now wasn't the time, if there ever would be one.
"Just before Cordelia left she mentioned something about you cheating on her with me? When? How long have you both been together?"
Reaching, Faith picked up her own glass of wine and looked at Buffy thoughtfully for a moment.
"Remember your first year in collage? When Red split with Oz? Well she did that wonky spell to have her will done didn't she?"
"It was that time? You were seeing Cordelia when we... slept together?"
Faith had the good grace to blush.
"Yeah, even though Cordelia got it together with Giles..."
"She slept with Giles?
"No, they just made out and stuff, but even though she played tonsil tennis with him she says it's different than me being with you. Really different."
The wine had started to go to both of their heads, and both slayers were now lying almost parallel on the opposite couches.
"Well, I suppose it is a bit different, she didn't sleep with Giles while you and I..."
"Had mind blowing sex?"
"FAITH!"
Laughing the brunette refilled their glasses from their third bottle of wine; slayer constitution was such a godsend.
"Sorry B, I always tell it like it is, or y'know, was."
"You just called me..."
Faith sat up slowly on the couch, keeping eye contact with the blonde all the time, Buffy wasn't scared by the intensity of the gaze this time, and remained perfectly still.
"B?"
The silence seemed to echo through the large house as neither slayer moved, their senses were on full alert and both were just drinking in the sight of the other, for Buffy it was like coming out of the desert and finding an ocean.
Faith didn't want to think about what was happening, if she had let herself think she would have felt the bucket loads of guilt that were waiting for her, but she pushed them aside.
They could wait till morning.
"Take me to bed Faith...please?"
Moving faster than Buffy could realise, she suddenly found herself scooped up in the arms of the other strongest person on earth, and for some reason it felt like home.
The slayers were kissing uncontrollably as they made their way up the stairs, placing Buffy down at the top Faith removed the blonde slayers t-shirt and continued places kisses all along her exposed flesh.
"Faith...please..."
Taking Faiths hand Buffy tried to lead her into the master bedroom.
"No, B, not in there... I couldn't."
"I understand, but hurry, I need you inside me Faith, it's been too long, so, so, long."
"I know B, too long. I'm so wet, god B, you drive me wild."
The continued to kiss and caress each other as they moved along the landing to another bedroom, shutting the door behind them Faith was surprised when Buffy shoved her back onto the bed.
"You're all mine tonight. Just for tonight. I love you Faith."
"I love...arughhhh, right there..."
There was a gentle drip, drip, of a tap somewhere along the landing in Gunn and Wesley's house, and it was driving Cordelia Chase mad. The drips seemed to go in rhythm with the passing minutes, making her more aware, as she lay in this unfamiliar room, of all the time she was spending away from Faith.
And how long Faith had been alone with Buffy.
Goddamn Buffy Summers. Why couldn't that girl just leave Faith alone? It was bad enough when they had been in Sunnydale, all the slayer sexual tension had made everyone, with the exception of Xander the fantasy nympho, uncomfortable.
But then Faith had made that mistake, a great big whopping mistake, which had sent her off the rails until that night Faith had saved Buffy from the vampire Mr Trick, who had once mistaken Cordy for Faith, as she been going to join forces with the mayor, a fact she only mentioned much later on in there relationship, she had come across Cordelia about to be chowed down on by four vampires.
10 minutes later as the ash was settling around them, Cordy had helped Faith home to see to her injuries feeling partially responsible, as she had been the primary cause of most of them.
The two girls, up to that point, had seen no reason to try to be friends, they seemed on the surface to have nothing in common, but underneath Faith's bad girl act, and Cordy's bitch act there was a couple of slightly scared teenage girls just trying to muddle through life.
Faith had kissed Cordelia that night.
>From that night onwards, both girls had discovered hidden depths in each other, which made them want to spend all their time together, Cordelia even use to accompany Faith on patrol.
Faith had been on their side when the mayor tried his 'I'm a big snake, fear me' gig.
Sometimes it scared Cordelia to try and imagine where her life would be now if Faith had actually gone through with her planning to join the mayor.
She knew that Buffy and Faith shared a special connection, and when she was at her most logical, she knew that Buffy and Faith had past history, with emphasis on the past. But at this moment, she wasn't anywhere near her most logical. Her logic had left town the moment she had seen Buffy, and it took rational and calm with it.
Screaming inside with frustration, Cordelia was just about to throw back the cover and find that goddamn tap, when a strange feeling came over her making her go dizzy for a moment.
When the vision hit it wasn't exactly unforseen, but what Cordelia saw in this vision made it stand out from the hundreds of others she'd seen; Faith and Buffy kissing, Faith and Buffy upstairs in HER house, going through to the guest bedroom, more kissing, both being to busy to notice a large, ugly, green skinned demon creeping up the stairs.
And she knew it was after Buffy's son.
Letting out a scream she collapsed sobbing on top of the bed, holding her head and murmuring the word 'Faith'.
"Cordelia! Wesley, man, get your butt in here now!"
Gunn had been reading in the downstairs library when he had heard Cordelia scream, rushing up to her room he had found her sobbing, curled into a ball, and repeating Faiths name.
"Cordelia...?"
Saying her name he got no response, so gathering the sobbing woman into his arms he gently started to rock her.
"Gunn? What's the matter? Cordelia..."
The concerned watcher, who had come as soon as his boyfriend had called his name, knelt down by Gunn's feet and repeated his question.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't know Wes, I heard her scream and then I found her like this... she just keeps saying Faiths name, I think the vision must have had something to do with her girl."
The two talking men gently brought Cordelia out of the semi-catatonic state she had been in since the vision hit. Oh god, her brain just didn't want to register that Faith had cheated on her with Buffy, again, but another part of her mind was shouting at her to tell Wes and Gunn about the demon she had seen.
She couldn't let that little boy die.
"Demon, green, ugly, fat, amazingly fat, in my house. Have to warn Faith and Buffy, its after Buffy's little boy. Wes, ring and warn them please. I just need to sleep, can't deal with this now, oh god, oh god..."
"Cordelia?"
Wes was really concerned now, he'd never seen Cordy like this after a vision, it was scaring him, and looking at Gunn for a clue for how to proceed, he saw his boyfriend felt the same way.
"Cordy, girl, what's up with this? What else happened in your vision? Cordy?"
Gunn was practically pleading with the girl now, she had seen something so bad that she didn't even seem concerned with anything, she'd just gone back to repeating 'Faith' littered with 'Oh god' sometimes.
"Don't want to talk. Ring them Gunn, or go out there, I don't think the demons going to be there for another 45 minutes, but please hurry, it means business. I... I don't want anyone hurt."
Crawling out of Gunn's safe arms, she settled back into the bed, pulling the covers around her head, wondering when she was ever going to erase the image of the two slayers together.
"Gunn, go get the weapons, I'll go to the library and see if I can find out anything about this demon."
Gently pushing Gunn out of Cordelia's room he waited until his lover had disappeared down the stairs before turning back to the young girl huddled in the bed.
"Cordelia...we'll talk when we get back...is there anything else about this vision we need to know?"
Silence for a few seconds then -
"I think it was a Leola demon, didn't seem that bright but determined. I'm sorry I can't be more help... Just go Wes."
So with a sigh, the weary watcher did just that.
There was a gentle drip, drip, of a tap somewhere along the landing in Gunn and Wesley's house, and it was driving Cordelia Chase mad. The drips seemed to go in rhythm with the passing minutes, making her more aware, as she lay in this unfamiliar room, of all the time she was spending away from Faith.
And how long Faith had been alone with Buffy.
Goddamn Buffy Summers. Why couldn't that girl just leave Faith alone? It was bad enough when they had been in Sunnydale, all the slayer sexual tension had made everyone, with the exception of Xander the fantasy nympho, uncomfortable.
But then Faith had made that mistake, a great big whopping mistake, which had sent her off the rails until that night Faith had saved Buffy from the vampire Mr Trick, who had once mistaken Cordy for Faith, as she been going to join forces with the mayor, a fact she only mentioned much later on in there relationship, she had come across Cordelia about to be chowed down on by four vampires.
10 minutes later as the ash was settling around them, Cordy had helped Faith home to see to her injuries feeling partially responsible, as she had been the primary cause of most of them.
The two girls, up to that point, had seen no reason to try to be friends, they seemed on the surface to have nothing in common, but underneath Faith's bad girl act, and Cordy's bitch act there was a couple of slightly scared teenage girls just trying to muddle through life.
Faith had kissed Cordelia that night.
>From that night onwards, both girls had discovered hidden depths in each other, which made them want to spend all their time together, Cordelia even use to accompany Faith on patrol.
Faith had been on their side when the mayor tried his 'I'm a big snake, fear me' gig.
Sometimes it scared Cordelia to try and imagine where her life would be now if Faith had actually gone through with her planning to join the mayor.
She knew that Buffy and Faith shared a special connection, and when she was at her most logical, she knew that Buffy and Faith had past history, with emphasis on the past. But at this moment, she wasn't anywhere near her most logical. Her logic had left town the moment she had seen Buffy, and it took rational and calm with it.
Screaming inside with frustration, Cordelia was just about to throw back the cover and find that goddamn tap, when a strange feeling came over her making her go dizzy for a moment.
When the vision hit it wasn't exactly unforseen, but what Cordelia saw in this vision made it stand out from the hundreds of others she'd seen; Faith and Buffy kissing, Faith and Buffy upstairs in HER house, going through to the guest bedroom, more kissing, both being to busy to notice a large, ugly, green skinned demon creeping up the stairs.
And she knew it was after Buffy's son.
Letting out a scream she collapsed sobbing on top of the bed, holding her head and murmuring the word 'Faith'.
"Cordelia! Wesley, man, get your butt in here now!"
Gunn had been reading in the downstairs library when he had heard Cordelia scream, rushing up to her room he had found her sobbing, curled into a ball, and repeating Faiths name.
"Cordelia...?"
Saying her name he got no response, so gathering the sobbing woman into his arms he gently started to rock her.
"Gunn? What's the matter? Cordelia..."
The concerned watcher, who had come as soon as his boyfriend had called his name, knelt down by Gunn's feet and repeated his question.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't know Wes, I heard her scream and then I found her like this... she just keeps saying Faiths name, I think the vision must have had something to do with her girl."
The two talking men gently brought Cordelia out of the semi-catatonic state she had been in since the vision hit. Oh god, her brain just didn't want to register that Faith had cheated on her with Buffy, again, but another part of her mind was shouting at her to tell Wes and Gunn about the demon she had seen.
She couldn't let that little boy die.
"Demon, green, ugly, fat, amazingly fat, in my house. Have to warn Faith and Buffy, its after Buffy's little boy. Wes, ring and warn them please. I just need to sleep, can't deal with this now, oh god, oh god..."
"Cordelia?"
Wes was really concerned now, he'd never seen Cordy like this after a vision, it was scaring him, and looking at Gunn for a clue for how to proceed, he saw his boyfriend felt the same way.
"Cordy, girl, what's up with this? What else happened in your vision? Cordy?"
Gunn was practically pleading with the girl now, she had seen something so bad that she didn't even seem concerned with anything, she'd just gone back to repeating 'Faith' littered with 'Oh god' sometimes.
"Don't want to talk. Ring them Gunn, or go out there, I don't think the demons going to be there for another 45 minutes, but please hurry, it means business. I... I don't want anyone hurt."
Crawling out of Gunn's safe arms, she settled back into the bed, pulling the covers around her head, wondering when she was ever going to erase the image of the two slayers together.
"Gunn, go get the weapons, I'll go to the library and see if I can find out anything about this demon."
Gently pushing Gunn out of Cordelia's room he waited until his lover had disappeared down the stairs before turning back to the young girl huddled in the bed.
"Cordelia...we'll talk when we get back...is there anything else about this vision we need to know?"
Silence for a few seconds then -
"I think it was a Leola demon, didn't seem that bright but determined. I'm sorry I can't be more help... Just go Wes."
So with a sigh, the weary watcher did just that.
The ride over to Faith and Cordelia's house was tense for both men, neither liked leaving Cordelia alone in the state that she was, but neither had any clue what had started it.
They relaxed slightly when they neared the house, there was no sign of any break-ins, and Gunn was certain that Cordy had been right when she said that the demon was gonna take 45 minutes, it had only taken 15 to ride over here. Gunn figured they'd go in, explain the deal to Buffy and Faith, wait around for the demon to show, kill it quickly and then tell Faith about Cordelia.
Neither man was prepared for what they saw upon entering the house.
The empty bottles of wine in the living room should have been enough warning for the observant watcher, but he didn't see anything amiss, as both men walked up the stairs, Wes slightly behind Gunn, they were surprised with the noises they could hear...
That wasn't moaning... was it?
"Gunn? That's not...?"
"That goddamn bitch! That whore! That's what Cordelia saw in her vision, those two getting it on, getting it on so loudly that there were never gonna notice no freaking Leola demon, 400 pounds or not!"
Pure fury was racing around Gunn at that moment, never would he have thought that Faith would cheat on Cordelia; she just hadn't seemed the type.
Racing up the last few stairs he paused at the top, gathered that the sounds were coming from the far guest bedroom then burst in.
The two slayers were caught quite unaware, neither had heard anyone come into the house, never mind up the stairs and Buffy felt a flash of guilt; anything could have gotten to Nat.
The brunette slayer seemed to be frozen, in not the most appealing position for Gunn or Wes, right between Buffy' s legs.
"You fucking Bitch."
"Gunn...? Wes...?"
"What? What the fuck are you doing? Cheating on Cordelia with a 10 a dime blonde piece of ass. When we came here to help you as well..."
"Gunn..."
Wesley's voice told him to calm down, he needed to calm down, he needed to get out of this room before he picked up one of those girls and threw them through a wall.
"I'll be downstairs."
Turning Gunn left the room as quickly as he had entered.
"Faith, Buffy, I suggest you get dressed and come downstairs, we don't have much time to explain why we are here so I also suggest you hurry."
Neither girl had moved throughout both men's speeches, both too shocked to properly register what was happening. Buffy snapped out of it first.
"Wesley, why are you here?"
"I'll, we'll, explain downstairs, hurry."
And with that he was gone.
Neither girl could look at each other in the eye while they were dressing, Faith couldn't believe what had happened, how she had gone from a loving relationship with Cordy, to adulterer in less than 24 hours.
Entering the downstairs room, with Wesley and Gunn taking up a kind of judge, jury and executioner on one of the couches, was even worse though. These people were Faith's friends and they had just caught her cheating on Cordelia.
Gunn looked like he might be tempted to fuck the judge and jury and move right onto the execution.
Buffy settled on the couch opposite the men, while Faith, unwilling to look more like a couple with Buffy than she already did, settled on a plump chair by the window.
Gunn surveyed the two girls and was pleased to see a look of shame mirrored on their faces, but it didn't make him want to go any less easy on them.
Wesley knew they didn't have much time before the reason for all this pain turned up here, and he also knew there was an innocent child at stake here, he didn't want to chance anything with a small boy's life on the line.
"Buffy, Faith the reason we are here to see this, shameful, diabolical deed is because Cordelia had a vision. A vision, which left her in a slight catatonic state-"
"-Fuck, is she ok?"
"We don't know Faith, we had to leave her at the house while we delivered the news to you that in approximately 13 minutes a Leola demon is going to be creeping up the bedroom stairs seeking out Buffy's son. We came, and left our dear friend in a great deal of pain why she wouldn't say most proberly out of some weird need to protect you, but we found out anyway. I suggest you go and find a heavy weapon each."
"Times-a-ticking people."
Standing Buffy turned towards Faith.
"Where are your weapons? I'll get them while you... talk with your friends."
"The cabinet under the stairs."
Unable to meet either Wes's or Gunn's eye, a subdued Buffy left the three people alone.
"Were not going to talk Faith. I don't want to know why you cheated on Cordelia, and to be honest I don't really care, what I do care about is beating this demon to death then going home to make sure my friend is ok."
Gunn's knuckles had turned white with the force he was applying onto his heavy broadsword.
"And don't turn all punk ass bitch and tell me it meant nothing, when you cheat Faith it means something every time, I just hope Cordelia is strong enough to kick your ass to the curb and move on."
"Gunn, watch what your saying, this WAS a mistake, I don't love Buffy, I LOVE CORDELIA. Fuck this shit, I don't have to explain anything to you at the moment, you'd think you were two were blood relatives rather than friends. I mean more to Cordy than you two ever will, put together. I'm sorry guys, but I'm not going nowhere"
Faith had stood up throughout the speech and had made her way over to stand in front of Gunn, every word said directly into his eyes.
"Well see Faith, we'll see."
Buffy picked her moment well, just as an all out war was about to begin between Faith and Gunn she rushed in and practically saved the day.
"Guys, I heard something from outside."
Both of the men stood at that, Gunn still eyeballing with Faith.
"Lets do this then..."
19 minutes later a dead Leola demon was being buried in the nearby woods by three warriors, it hadn't been that hard to kill, but like Cordelia had said, it had been determined to get to Buffy's son.
Gunn had stayed behind to watch over Nat, but Buffy had only been convinced to leave the house, and her son with Gunn, when she had realised that Gunn was nearly an equal fighter to her and Faith when he had swiftly decapitated the demon as it had been about to punch Wesley through a wall.
Nothing hurt his boyfriend.
Sitting in the now peaceful house with the small boy asleep again in his arms, Gunn pondered on the injustice that no matter how much in love he was with Wesley they wouldn't be able to have a child naturally, it wouldn't be both of them together.
The sound of his truck pulling up outside the house brought him out of his depressing thoughts, and as the two slayers and Wesley walked back in to the house he passed the innocent boy back to his mother.
"Thank you Gunn, I want to-"
"Leave it, I don't wanna know, but one thing I want you too know is that I only stuck around because of the kid, not you, not Faith, him. Where not good Buffy, don't think we ever will be, but I'll protect him again if he needs it, hopefully that time Cordy wont need to get a vision in surround sound of you two doing it. Wesley, we good?"
The watcher had stayed silent throughout his boyfriend's speech, but at that question stood from the couch and regarded the two slayers.
"Faith, I'll still need to see you in a few days, we need to work on the spiritual side of your training more, but, not for a few days though. I'll need to see what Cordelia is in need of first."
Turning he spoke brusquely to the older slayer.
"Buffy, I wish I could say it's been a pleasure, I take it this Leola demon was only one of many?"
"I think so, Giles said something about them gathering. I... I think he knows more now though."
"Ok, I will ring Giles as soon as it is possible. Gunn we're good."
The two men picked up there discarded weapons and went to walk out of the house, but Faith stopped them.
"What? That's it? No way, I'm coming with you I need to see Cordy... She's in pain-"
"BECAUSE of you!"
"Fuck you Gunn."
"Guys!"
Buffy's voice rang out in the living room; she had been able to place her son back upstairs and come back down all without the three people noticing.
"Its late, Gunn, you can't keep Faith away from Cordy forever-"
Looking like he was going to butt in she cut him off.
"-No matter how hard you may try. Wesley, thank you for agreeing to help me with the research, I promise to leave as soon as it's all finished. Faith... I love you and you love Cordelia. Our timing always sucked didn't it?"
Looking close to tears Buffy held up her hand, silently telling Faith not too object to the last statement, not too... lie.
"I'm going to bed, I need to be alert for my son's sake so... goodnight."
Turning the petite blonde went up the stairs with a heavy heart.
The room had started to lighten when Cordelia was aware of Gunn and Wesley coming into the kitchen she had moved too when they had left the house. She hadn't turned on the powerfully bright kitchen light, she'd preferred to sit in the dark, feel it swirl around her, as she was lost in her vision again.
No matter how many rooms she had gone into she couldn't stop the replaying of her vision, she knew it now like she was there, knew each individual moan, how Faith sounded so much dirtier when she had Buffy pinned to the bed, the way they veered for dominance, Cordelia would have happily scratched out her own eyes if she thought it would make it stop.
But it was inside her head, like she was infected, and she didn't think she was ever going to be able to forget the images.
"Cordy?"
Gunn's gentle voice broke into another replay halfway through; Wesley came round the large wooden table to slip into the seat next to Cordelia while Gunn squatted next to her chair.
"Cordelia, I'm so, so, so, sorry..."
Staring into the deep brown chocolate eyes, so much like Faith's, tears started to slip down her cheeks, but her eyes remained dead.
"The demon is dead?"
Her voice chilled the two men to the bone; it had lost its perky quality, seeming toneless, something that just wasn't Cordy.
"Its dead Cordelia, you were right we got there with enough time-"
"Enough time to see that bitch cheat on you with freaking B-"
"STOP!-"
Shoving back the kitchen chair so hard it toppled to the floor Cordelia practically ran to the opposite side of the kitchen, leaning against the wall she started to shake.
"-I don't want to hear her name EVER again"
"Cordelia-"
Moving as if he was going to comfort her, Wesley started to say something but Cordelia wasn't in the mood to listen to anyone at the moment, maybe when she'd found a charm that removed all her memory then she'd want to talk, but now all she wanted to do was sleep or die.
"Wesley, please, I can't... I just... can't... I uh...I need to sleep... sleep..."
Throwing his boyfriend a concerned look Wesley took hold of Cordelia gently as if she might break with too much force and guided her gently out of the kitchen whispering words of comfort.
Sitting in the dark kitchen, neither man had thought it important to turn on the lights, Gunn decided that if Cordy wanted Faith back, he was going to help anyway he could. He couldn't watch his friend be in this much pain, and the only thing that could take it away was the thing that started it.
With a bitter bark he rose from his crouched position and followed the people out of the kitchen.
To Be Continued...