While Buffy was basking in kissing Faith - open mouthed, slow kisses with tongues twisting and lips pressing and grasping – she forgot about all that could be wrong with the situation. It didn’t feel wrong. Far from it. The way Satsu was touching her, and Faith kissing her felt like the most kind of right she’d ever felt. They shared a link nobody could understand – especially the one between her and Faith. Even with Satsu it had always felt stronger, more alive. They were bonded on a level that transcended normal codes of conduct, and only now was Buffy realizing it and relinquishing to it.

“Is it just me,” Buffy began, reluctantly pulling away from Faith’s lips, “or does this seem totally ok and not weird at all?” she asked.

A slight grin eased across Faith’s lips as she glanced between Satsu and Buffy.

“Kinda weird,” Faith responded, leaning forward past Buffy until her lips were now on Satsu’s, “but definitely ok.”

Satsu nodded into the kiss, completely agreeing. She didn’t care how it appeared to the rational side of her, this wasn’t about rationality. This was about the deep need in them all. The desire. The understanding that they all wanted the same things, even if they didn’t fully understand how much they wanted, or how much they loved. It was clear to her that there was no going back.

Her lips toyed with Faith’s as Buffy lay beneath them watching, her eyes dark and hands sliding over them both. Satsu felt complete, happy, at ease with how much was happening that seemed implausible only hours before. She couldn’t help but smile, causing Faith to smile with her before she left Faith’s lips with a wet smack and lowered her head to kiss Buffy.

The kissing wasn’t quite the same, Faith being more of a take-charge kind of girl than Buffy, but they were both just as good in their own way even though Satsu had more emotion invested in Buffy. The difference was good; tough then delicate, confidence then modesty. Two people more alike than they knew, but more different than was easily quantifiable. So Buffy and Faith. So good being close to them both as they let down their walls and defenses.

Satsu flicked her tongue over Buffy’s top lip, her hand trailing over her smooth skin in search of the small sighs she loved. It wasn’t long before she got exactly what she wanted as Buffy reacted with quicker breaths and moans into her mouth. Fingers teasing circles over Buffy’s breasts and nipples, Satsu felt Buffy melt and crumble not only to her touch but also to Faith’s lips as they traveled over Buffy in her wake.

She was happy to let Faith take the lead. She knew Buffy needed it, and Faith wanted it. There was no standing in front of the speeding train as it juddered down the tracks; Satsu would hold on and enjoy contributing to the ride, but she didn’t want to be stood in the way. Her kisses moved down to Buffy’s neck, hands leaving room for Faith to take over.

Buffy made the unmistakable sound of a girl being assaulted by pleasure as she lifted her chin to allow Satsu to suck lightly on her neck, and shifted her legs apart for Faith’s hand as it swept up the inside of her thigh. Her mind was barraged with flashes of doubt, but she ignored it and concentrated on how she felt and not what she thought. Thinking had never proved all that successful when it came to Faith. Thinking had also pushed Satsu pretty much out of her life – until she’d found a way back in. It was time to stop thinking.

Moving her arm to snake it around Faith’s back, Buffy subtly pulled her closer, giving herself to the kisses Faith placed over her breasts. She wanted to reach out and touch her again, make her come again, but it was a little difficult moving with Faith’s mouth and tongue turning her to jello, and Satsu’s roaming fingers keeping her on her back. It was clear she was expected to let them do what they wanted to her. Buffy couldn’t find a convincing argument against that.

She licked her lips in anticipation of feeling Faith’s fingers where she wanted them most, but Faith was taking her time. Both Satsu and Faith were now at her breasts, sucking and licking and driving her wild with need. Her pussy was leaking onto the insides of her thighs as it pleaded for attention. The cool air cutting through the heat in the bedroom that was now blowing gently through the window wasn’t helping as it whispered over Buffy’s exposed state. She felt it fluttering over her pussy like delicate fingertips. She wanted to clamp her legs together in order to relieve some of the tension, but Faith’s strong hand on her thigh kept her still, open, waiting.

Groaning in both contentment and frustration, Buffy arched into the mouths now sucking hard on her painfully erect nipples. She almost felt like moving her own hand between her legs, but that would be silly given the fact she had the choice of two gorgeous girls who would be willing to help her out – once they were done teasing the life out of her.

“Ok,” Buffy gasped, trying to speak though her body was on fire and already trembling in places she never knew she even had, “somebody really needs to touch me now.”

Faith raised her head, her deep dimples making the already stunning girl even more attractive as she grinned at Buffy. Licking her lips, she looked into Buffy’s eyes before the hand on her inner thigh began a slow and torturous journey.

“Where do ya wanna be touched, B?” Faith asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

As if she didn’t know? It was obvious. Buffy’s legs were spread, the air full of her scent as she moved her hips in a subtle motion to indicate her need. She knew what Faith wanted. She could see the need to hear it in her deep, dark eyes. And as embarrassing as it was to say the words, Buffy knew she had to. Faith needed to hear it. She needed to be sure despite her outward confidence.

“I want. . .” Buffy faltered, her chest suddenly feeling full of air, heart tightening in her chest.

Like Faith, she knew exactly what she wanted. She knew asking for it would exclude Satsu just a little, but she was sure she could make it up to her, and somehow she was sure that Satsu would understand. Glancing towards her lover, she saw that understanding as plain as day on her face.

“Don’t hold back,” Satsu whispered before lowering her head again to brush soft kisses over Buffy’s neck.

Buffy smiled and felt the assurance well inside her, filling out her confidence. She tangled her fingers into the lush hair draping down Faith’s back, and gazed up into her eyes.

“I want you, Faith,” she said, every word full of a deeper meaning. “I want you to touch me. Make love to me.”

She held her breath and Faith gave her a slightly puzzled look at her last words. She seemed suddenly apprehensive and Buffy definitely didn’t want that.

Chuckling at the adorable look on Faith’s face she corrected herself to put her at ease. “Fuck me,” Buffy instructed; eyes all big and full of longing. She slid her tongue over her upper lip to lick away the sudden dryness and asked again to make sure she got what she wanted. “I want you to fuck me, Faith.”

Her tone was hushed and huskier than normal, and Faith’s eyes grew even darker as her fingernails dug into Buffy a little at her thigh. She didn’t answer with words right away, choosing to take action instead in the way Buffy was used to. In the way Buffy secretly loved.

Faith ran her hand higher and kissed Buffy with an intensity that almost made her straight blonde hair curl into ringlets. She was breathing hard by the time Faith pulled away and slid her fingers that little bit higher.

“Always wanted to fuck you,” Faith said; a quiet whisper over Buffy’s skin as she lowered her head to kiss over her chest.

Buffy could only sigh and cling to Faith as her fingers slipped between her folds. She took a sharp breath and quivered to the touch; watching as Faith began to toy and play with her pussy. It felt like she’d never been touched before, her need so strong and the build up so divine. Every swipe over her clit made her moan in appreciation. Every flick of Faith’s tongue over her nipple making her stomach twist and tense. Buffy doubted it would take much more to send her over the edge, even if she wanted to hold it off for as long as she could just to enjoy what was being done to her.

“Oh, that’s good,” Buffy moaned as Satsu nibbled on her nipple and Faith rubbed over her clit just a bit harder.

Her hand stayed entwined in Faith’s hair as Faith began to kiss downwards. Buffy didn’t know if her butterflies could stand the pace if Faith kept going, but down she went until her mouth was placing hot trails over the small crop of blonde between her legs.

“Fuck,” she gasped with a shudder when Faith’s tongue deftly replaced her fingers on her swollen clit.

Buffy closed her eyes and tipped her head back, trying to breathe without passing out as Faith’s tongue licked and circled and explored. She was definitely talented – not that Satsu wasn’t talented too, but Faith. . .well she was obviously born to do this. Her fingers dug into Faith’s scalp, other hand finding Satsu beside her and connecting them as she gave herself fully to the bond they were sharing. Breathy moans and sighs fluttered into the air from Buffy and her hips moved in time to the probing tongue that seemed to know exactly where it was needed.

She couldn’t think of a better place to be, and let out a particularly wanton moan as Faith slipped her tongue lower between her folds, pushing it deep into her tight hole. She felt Faith lifting her slightly as she moved her arms under her thighs, opening Buffy up to her as she filled the room with sticky wet noises; plunging in and out of her pussy.

“Oh. . .Faith,” Buffy spluttered before biting on her lip, her body tensing in readiness to spill her orgasm into Faith’s mouth.

Her stomach muscles tightened and she let out a small squeal as she felt Satsu’s hand travel over her towards her pussy to join Faith. She dipped into the sticky heat just far enough to rub over her clit as Faith’s hands held Buffy firmly around the waist.

“Oh, God,” Buffy blurted. “I’m gonna come so hard.”

She licked her lips and rocked her hips towards Faith’s tongue as it filled her pussy. Faith sped up her movements, flicking her tongue inside Buffy and then pushing it as deep as she could; spilling her juices out with every thrust. It felt amazing, and coupled with Satsu’s finger now rubbing vigorously over her hard and sensitive clit, Buffy couldn’t hold on any longer. She was unraveling at breakneck speed; her body trembling and mind fraying at the edges. She felt like the world was shaking beneath her, but it was just her own body shuddering and jerking as it peaked for release.

“Oh fu. . .oh fu. . .oh fuck!” Buffy cried as she pushed up into Faith one last time, flooding her mouth with her come.

Faith’s appreciative moan rumbled inside her, and she felt wave after wave crash over her as she held firm to the orgasm that had her breathing loud cries into the air. She felt herself rocked from the edge once more as Satsu pressed firmly against her clit and Faith lapped at her sodden entrance.

All she could do was hang on and moan out the names that were engraved into her heart as salty tears ran down her cheeks to the pillow.

“Oh fuck,” Buffy gasped again; trembles slowly subsiding though her pussy clung to Faith’s tongue as it wriggled inside. “Oh fuck, I love you,” she let slip, nuzzling her nose into Satsu’s hair as Satsu held herself close.

The tears she didn’t mean to shed fell faster, her hands gripping tight to both girls as her heart swelled and ached for acceptance. She wasn’t sure who she’d said the words to, and she wasn’t dazed enough not to realize she’d better make it clear. She didn’t want this to turn bad – this was too good to turn bad.

Letting out a shaky sigh as Faith pulled her tongue from her pussy and licked over her, she looked into Satsu’s eyes; there was a slight hint of worry in the beautiful brown eyes of her lover, but she knew she had to be honest. She knew she had to be honest to them both.

Buffy rubbed her nose against Satsu’s before placing a soft kiss on her lips and pulling back. She smiled gently and stroked her hand down Faith’s back as Faith began to move up beside her. This could get awkward, and Buffy definitely didn’t want awkwardness after that. Not after what she’d just felt, because not only had she just come hard and loud, but she’d also fallen completely in love with Satsu, and her heart had also finally fully accepted that it was crazy in love with Faith. Yeah, it was complicated, but it just was. She couldn’t help the way she felt.

“I love you, Satsu,” Buffy whispered, kissing over Satsu’s face as she laid her head beside Buffy.

She watched a lone tear travel across Satsu’s cheek as she leaned back, but she wasn’t done yet.

“I love you both,” Buffy admitted hurriedly, her voice trembling with emotion, her own tears spilling freely as she fought back a sob.

There was so much emotion inside her it almost felt like she couldn’t breathe, and the tender smile that Satsu gave her roared right though her like a wildfire. No matter how Faith reacted now, at least she still had Satsu. She could see that much. She could feel that much in the touch of a caring hand as Satsu wiped away Buffy’s tears and then held it over her heart.

Tugging her eyes away from Satsu, she glanced over at Faith who was now looking at her intently, confusion and apprehension etched into her face. Buffy smiled and almost laughed a little at Faith’s uneasiness, but she held it in as she reached out and stroked Faith’s cheek with her hand as Faith leant over her slightly.

“It’s ok, Faith,” she lulled. “I’m not expecting anything, I just. . .I feel it. I always feel it.”

Faith furrowed her brow briefly, a war raging inside her. Buffy didn’t want a war, didn’t want anything back other than a peace between them.

She gently rubbed her thumb over Faith’s temple and encouraged Faith down to her lips as she lifted her head to meet her. They kissed soft, slow, accepting what wasn’t said and what probably never would be. Buffy could taste herself on Faith’s lips, and she melted inside – the memory of Faith’s tongue making her twitch for more.

They didn’t kiss long, though Buffy would have been happy enough to keep it going, and anything else that might arise. She could feel Satsu growing heavy with sleep as she rested slightly on Buffy at her side, so ignoring the desire to ravish Faith and then Satsu in turn for the rest of the night she bent down and pulled the blanket up over them. She wiped at her face to rid the stain of tears before lying back down between Satsu and Faith - curling an arm around Faith and pulling Satsu’s leg up over her own just a bit before there could be any protest.

Her body was buzzing – slayer induced on more than one level. She felt alive yet relaxed. She wasn’t going to worry about tomorrow, nor about what she’d said. They were in this together, even if they never ended up in quite the same situation again. They all shared something deep. A love that spread itself over them, sticking to them like treacle and not letting them go. There was no use struggling out of it. She’d struggled enough – with both Satsu and Faith – and it was time to lay back and accept defeat.

Satsu snuggled into Buffy’s side as she lay back down beside her. She was tired, but happy. Buffy had told her she loved her and her heart was singing. So there was the small matter of Buffy also loving Faith – it didn’t matter, she had what she wanted. She had Buffy no matter what. She was in Buffy’s heart.

“Thank you,” Satsu said quietly into Buffy’s ear as she already felt the depths of sleep begin to pull her down.

Buffy nodded and placed a sweet kiss on her forehead, clutching Satsu’s hand in her own over her stomach as she kept her position on her back. Buffy’s other arm remained wrapped around Faith, and Faith didn’t seem to be minding, though she still looked somewhat puzzled as she gazed at Buffy.

Smiling, unable to hold back what she felt anymore, Buffy eased her hand over Faith’s back, just enjoying the warmth of her skin. She loved Faith, and she was happy that Faith now knew it.

“It’s ok,” Buffy said, almost a whisper.

Faith looked down between them, her frown disappearing just a bit before she glanced back up. Her dark eyes still held an aura of anxiety, but they were warmer than usual, speaking right to Buffy’s heart. She looked like she wanted to say something but the words were stuck, or too afraid to come out. Maybe Faith didn’t trust in what Buffy had said, considering she’d said it just after coming in her mouth. That was ok; Buffy could wait for it to sink in.

“Sleep, Faith,” she said, pulling Faith closer and encouraging her to relax and lay down properly next to her.

Faith raised an eyebrow but said nothing, unusually quiet as she rested down; slowly, subtly moving her head on to Buffy’s shoulder. Buffy took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as Satsu warmed one side of her and Faith made her stomach flutter and tighten as she laid down her walls for just a while. Faith’s head now snuggled on Buffy’s shoulder, eyes closing – it was almost too perfect.

She hoped it all wouldn’t come crashing down on her by the morning.

* * *

The light coming through the window snuck between Buffy’s eyelids as the day taunted her awake, but it wasn’t the light that had woken her. . .it was the fact she could no longer feel Faith beside her.

Faith had stayed next to Buffy all night. Buffy had watched her fall asleep; watched both Faith and Satsu. Faith had barely moved, her body keeping pressed into Buffy, head resting on her as her thick, dark hair spread over Buffy like a blanket. It had been so nice, more than nice. Buffy’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much to herself, but she should have known that Faith wouldn’t stick around for any kind of emotional heart to heart the next day. She couldn’t blame her, it’s just who she was.

Buffy had hoped things would be ok when – sometime earlier - she had turned to face Satsu and Faith had wrapped around her from behind. The sensation of having Faith’s naked body pressed behind her, and Satsu’s at her front had made the sticky heat bearable. It had made her feel loved, and safe.

Slowly she opened her eyes, blinking as the day washed over her. There was a sound close to the door and she lifted her head to look. It was Faith, zipping up her jeans and fastening her belt. She was dressed, though her hair still looked mussed – which was kind of cute.

“Hey,” Buffy spoke softly, catching Faith’s eyes.

Faith nodded and smiled. Not a big smile. Not a smile that made Buffy think she would bound back over to the bed and cover her in girly kisses as she giggled and declared her undying love. But at least it was a smile.

Making a gesture that appeared to mean she was leaving, Faith gave Buffy another nod. Obviously Buffy wasn’t quite used to the subtle nod-speak Faith was choosing to communicate with, but she got the idea. Faith was indeed leaving.

“Wait,” Buffy requested quietly, not wishing to wake the slumbering slayer next to her.

Thankfully Faith didn’t rush off and ignore Buffy. She dug her hands into her pockets as Buffy pushed off the covers, holding in the urge to blush as Faith watched her – she was naked after all.

Faith gave her an appreciative wiggle of her eyebrows; a smug grin tickling at her lips as Buffy reached for her robe. Buffy wrapped it around herself as she got out of bed, noticing how Faith licked her lips and ogled her like she wanted to eat her – again.

“Perv,” Buffy joked, closing the robe slower than what she normally would as she enjoyed Faith’s attention.

“Pot, kettle,” Faith countered, pointing at them both in turn.

They both smiled, Buffy more shyly as the nights events played in slow motion in her mind. But she couldn’t allow those thoughts to distract her from what could be a tricky situation. She took a glance at Satsu as she slept tangled in the sheets; looking so sweet and calm and making Buffy feel protective of her. She didn’t want to wake her or have her witness what could be a deeply personal conversation – if Faith didn’t just turn and run.

“Can we talk outside?” Buffy asked, moving towards the door. “I won’t keep you long.”

Faith nodded once again and Buffy pulled open the door, standing out in the rather drafty corridor as Faith joined her. There was an awkward silence, but Buffy tried not to let it taint what she wanted to say. She was under no illusions. She didn’t think Faith would suddenly change. She didn’t even know what she wanted or expected, but they couldn’t just leave it without saying anything, she knew that much.

“So,” Buffy began, stalling before going any further as Faith stepped close to her.

She almost trembled as Faith raised her hand and slid her fingers down the opening to her robe, causing it to fall open just a little further. Faith didn’t pull her hand back right away, brushing the side of Buffy’s breast with the back of her knuckles. Their eyes gazed deep into each other and Buffy wasn’t sure what she should do or say. She’d never seen Faith looking so open.

“You know I’m not cut out to be any kinda girlfriend, right?” Faith finally asked, lowering her hand and leaving Buffy’s skin crying out for her touch.

“I know,” Buffy answered.

She did know, and that’s not what she was expecting. They hadn’t exactly entered into things with a plan. She hadn’t told Faith she loved her with any kind of hope for the future.

“Like I said last night, I’m not expecting anything,” Buffy continued, taking a chance and finding Faith’s hand with her own; holding it loosely between them. She had to say more. She wanted to say more. “But I’m here. . .for you,” she added.

Faith’s eyebrows knitted together but it seemed like she was happy with that.

“You’ve got a great girl there,” Faith said, jerking her head towards the door to the bedroom that was slightly ajar. “She’ll give you everything you need. She obviously loves you a whole lot.”

“So do you,” Buffy said, a sly grin on her lips as she looked up at Faith through her eyelashes.

Though Faith hadn’t said it, she felt it. It was just there. Just out of reach but burning strong; entwined in the connection they’d always shared.

Faith chuckled and raised her free hand to Buffy’s face; surprisingly soft fingertips caressing her cheek. “It’s crazy. . .but I do love you,” she admitted, only the slight hint of a tremble to her voice.

Her brown eyes turned serious as Buffy tried not to leap forward and hug her, heart pounding in her chest. It obviously wasn’t simple; that much was a given. Buffy had Satsu, and with Faith she had a whole lot of history that lurked around every dark corner.

Buffy held her breath as Faith leaned forward slowly, lips touching lips in a slow kiss that was more sensual than Buffy thought she could deal with. Her legs were quickly turning to jelly, and she leaned into Faith to steady herself, cheek tingling at her touch until Faith pulled back.

“I can’t stay,” Faith continued, gazing into Buffy’s eyes. “Got too many things to do. On the trail of a slayer I can’t. . .”

“I understand,” Buffy interrupted.

She did understand. Faith couldn’t just drop everything because of a few words. They couldn’t do a complete turn around; that was unrealistic.

“Then we’re cool?” Faith asked, sounding a little unsure.

“We’re cool if now and again. . .you come back,” Buffy stated. There was no way she wanted Faith out of her life now. She needed to be able to see her as often as she could. “I don’t want that to be the last time,” she clarified, glancing towards her bedroom as she rested her hands on Faith’s hips.

Though she felt shy and unsure asking, Buffy had to. If it meant she got to have Faith again, her pride had to take a step down.

Faith grinned, her eyes growing darker. Her eyes drifting down the front of Buffy’s robe, openly leering, hands pulling her even closer.

“Sounds good to me,” Faith responded. “So. . .Satsu gets to do the girlfriend thing and I just get the perks?”

Buffy felt her cheeks redden at the very idea. It was terribly brazen and presumptuous. It was decadent and selfish. . .but she wanted them both.

“If that’s what you want,” Buffy replied, hoping it was what Faith wanted. She would have preferred more, but she’d take what she could get.

Taking a breath and blowing it out of her nostrils, Faith lifted a hand to the back of her neck, rubbing at it as her brow creased in concentration.

“How would your girl Satsu take to that?” Faith questioned.

Buffy couldn’t put words into Satsu’s mouth but after the night they’d shared she seriously doubted it would be a problem. She recalled the way Satsu had looked at Faith, had kissed her and touched her, and most importantly. . .involved her. Satsu would be happy that she had Buffy’s love as well as most of her attention for the majority of the time. Even if it seemed like a ridiculous idea, Buffy thought it would work. They had something special – all three of them.

“She was the one who asked you to stay,” Buffy reminded.

“Sounds too good to be true, B,” Faith said with a slight sigh. “But I’m willing to try. . .as long as I get you to myself now and then.”

Her eyes pierced Buffy’s as she spoke, hands holding onto her and gentle smile speaking volumes. Buffy had to agree that she’d like some time with Faith alone – though she was also happily entertaining thoughts of more nights spent the way they just had.

“I’d like that,” Buffy acknowledged, giving Faith a small squeeze.

Faith leaned down and brought them together once again; luxurious lips placing passionate promises on Buffy’s mouth. Buffy opened to Faith, accepting her tongue as her own joined in the dance. The steady kiss became a little more frantic and needy, bodies pushing against each other in the small corridor as Faith’s hands grabbed onto Buffy’s backside. Buffy moaned into Faith’s mouth, feeling her nipples tighten under the thin material of her robe.

She wanted to shirk it off; drop it to the floor so Faith’s hands could explore. Her own hands were itching to do just that over Faith, not having had enough time to do so the night before. There was so much she wanted to do with Faith, to Faith. It made her skin ache and her clit tingle.

“I want you so much,” Buffy breathed out as she skimmed her lips over Faith’s in order to breathe.

Faith pressed harder against her with a husky groan. “I want you too,” she drawled. “I wanna fuck you.” She kissed Buffy forcibly, pushing her up against the wall behind her. “Want my fingers inside you.”

Buffy let out a trembling moan and clung to Faith’s shoulders as she rested her head back against the cooling stone of the wall. Her exposed neck gave Faith a new place to kiss and suck, and Buffy had no hope stopping the hand traveling up under her robe over her thigh. Her mind was a quivering mess of arousal, much like the rest of her, as Faith flicked her tongue over her skin and found the warm wetness of Buffy’s pussy with her fingers.

“Here?” Buffy gasped, her voice pitching higher as Faith’s fingers slipped over her.

“Shh,” Faith soothed, kissing Buffy once again, open mouthed and breathless as she found the source of Buffy’s now incredibly wet state. “You’re so fuckin’ wet, B,” she purred, encouraging Buffy to raise her leg around her with her other hand.

All Buffy could do was grunt in approval as her leg hooked around Faith, allowing Faith’s finger to slip into her. They both moaned, sighed, breathed hard and fast at the contact. Faith wasted no more time, sliding in and out of Buffy with succulent and sticky noises, adding another finger when Buffy pushed into her hand, hips rocking.

“Fuck,” Buffy gasped, attempting to stay as quiet as she could. The last thing they needed was nosy slayers coming out of their rooms.

She threw her head back once again, moving against Faith as Faith’s fingers plunged deep inside her. Her robe fell open to reveal the sight and Faith let out her own appreciative expletives. Buffy was already close. Already so turned on to Faith it would only take one more. . .

“Oh, Faith!” she panted into Faith’s shoulder, dropping forward as a strong palm rubbed up against her clit, and fingers fucked her hard and fast. “Oh fuck, Faith!”

A fierce heat ripped through her stomach, down through her groin and out through her pussy, spilling into Faith’s hand as she came. Head spinning and body shuddering as she gripped onto Faith, Buffy slumped against her in complete relief. She felt her walls clamp down on Faith’s fingers, holding them inside. Holding them to ransom as she held onto Faith.

“You’d better come back to me,” she said in a whisper into Faith’s hair as she tried to catch her breath.

“That’s the plan,” Faith responded, kissing the side of Buffy’s face. “We’ll never be done with each other.”

“Never,” Buffy muttered in agreement.

As she pulled her face back to look at Faith, Faith slowly slid her fingers from inside her, causing both of them to smile – Faith’s a triumphant grin, and Buffy’s a coy and guilty smile of pleasure. They stood and looked into one another’s eyes for a few long minutes, but Buffy knew Faith couldn’t stay. Wouldn’t stay.

“Until next time, lover,” Faith said confidently.

She gave Buffy a long, deep kiss full of promise and then turned to depart, leaving Buffy in a somewhat disheveled state, robe haphazardly wrapped around her, hair mussed and body buzzing.

“Until then,” Buffy said quietly to herself as she watched Faith disappear out of view.

Next time, she would remember that it’s polite to give as well as take. Next time, it was Faith’s turn to find herself dribbling down the inside of her own legs with a well fucked grin on her face.

“Definitely next time,” Buffy mumbled as she walked back into her bedroom, practically stumbling towards the bed as she slid the robe from her body.

She got back in with a little less poise and grace than she’d left and Satsu yawned a sleepy mumble that Buffy didn’t understand. It made her smile at her regardless, and she pulled the covers back over them both and tucked in close to Satsu.

“Morning,” Buffy whispered into silky, dark hair, kissing Satsu at her temple.

Satsu hummed in approval and wrapped an arm over Buffy, holding her close.

“Did she go?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Buffy replied, looking wistfully towards the door before shaking her head and burying her nose back into the alluring locks of brown.

“She’ll be back?” Satsu questioned further.

She didn’t want to sound like she was interrogating Buffy, she was just curious, and a little hopeful. She didn’t want Faith to stay away, knowing that Buffy needed her in her life. A small – and somewhat growing – part of herself wanted Faith to be part of their life too. Somehow, it had just felt. . .right. They felt balanced; a steady equilibrium, a symmetry between them all.

“She’ll be back,” Buffy confirmed. “On and off.”

Satsu didn’t miss the slight sadness in her tone, but they both knew Faith wouldn’t be the type to stay put for long. She’d come and go as she pleased. At least now Buffy had more than before from her. Now, the door was open, the walls down, the future less desolate.

Satsu would stay by Buffy’s side and give her everything Faith couldn’t, and Faith would give Buffy the thing that only Faith could. That something that Satsu didn’t yet fully understand – that untouchable, unquenchable thirst both Buffy and Faith had for one another that had toyed with their emotions and played with their hearts.

Things would work out just fine. They’d all win in the end this time.

“Yunno, we’re gonna need a bigger bed,” Satsu commented, feeling Buffy chuckle beside her. “Unless. . .when she’s here you want me to. . .”

Buffy stroked her fingers through Satsu’s hair, pushing stray strands behind her ear.

“I want you here,” Buffy assured, emphasizing the word you. “I want you back with me full time, and sure. . .sometimes when she’s here I might want a little alone time with her,” she explained with a slight blush. “But last night was. . .it was. . .hot, sexy, special, perfect, and I’m more than willing to take that trip again. Unless you’d rather not, in which case. . .”

It was Satsu’s turn to chuckle, her smile wide as she placed a kiss on the end of Buffy’s nose.

“I’m happy with that,” was Satsu’s answer.

Buffy felt her heart melt for the girl in her arms. Satsu was everything she could ask for in a lover, a girlfriend, and she thanked her turn of luck for making her so stubborn. If she hadn’t have been, Buffy might have lost her as well as Faith. Now she had them both.

Remembering something she’d looked up on the off chance one day whilst brushing up on Japanese battle commands, Buffy gazed into Satsu’s pretty eyes and told her, “Aishiteru.”

Satsu gave her a beaming smile and a look of surprise.

“I love you too, Buffy” she replied.

She leaned into Buffy and claimed her lips, feeling the smile passing between them as their bodies searched one another out under the light covers. It wasn’t long, however, before a thunderous grumble interrupted them.

“Hungry?” Satsu asked Buffy, glancing down at the offending stomach as it rumbled for attention.

“Hell yes,” Buffy answered with an enthusiastic nod.

They both laughed and fell under the spell of each other’s love as they gazed into sparkling eyes.

“How about a. . .sandwich?” Satsu queried, her laugh turning into a giggle as Buffy gave her a look of fake shock.

She ducked out of the way of the pillow that swung towards her head, and fell onto her back with Buffy above her looking happier than she’d ever seen her. There was no room here for doubt or apprehension, or guilt. They loved. They loved as slayers - deep, strong, unconventionally and fully.

They were three, but they were one.