A wisp of smoke spiralled into the warm night air, dissipating into the soft breeze that blew across the LA rooftops as the world continued below, unaware of how close it had come to total devastation. People slept peacefully in their beds, in others people’s beds, or wherever they could lay their heads and their troubles for the night, and Faith. . .she watched as the city laid out before her sparkled in its seductive overcoat of promise.

Sat alone, smoking the last of her cigarettes, she ran a hand through her hair, wincing slightly as her muscles reminded her of the struggles they’d gone through earlier that day. Faith was tired, but it had been chaos trying to help get the new slayers settled and everybody calm enough to relax and take stock of what had happened. Things were a bit calmer now inside, in the Hyperion, but Faith had needed some time out. Even though she’d just recently been in prison where alone-time was a thing to be cherished, she was used to her own space when she needed it.

People knew when to back off and leave her to her own thoughts. Thankfully Buffy had said nothing as she’d watched Faith climb the stairs towards the roof terrace. In the almost unnatural quiet up above the apartments and buildings that surrounded the hotel, Faith could reflect. She could arrange what had happened in her head in a way that Angel had taught her, in order to find some semblance of sanity and tranquillity inside.

The day had been long, and hard. They’d fought the First, and won. They’d beaten the odds, though they’d lost people along the way. People that mattered.

She may not have known them very well, but the few new slayers that had fallen – she felt those losses the most – and Robin, Spike, and Anya, well. . .they’d be missed. They’d given their lives so others could fight another day. So the rest of the world could carry on, oblivious of their sacrifice.

Buffy had tried to put things in some perspective whilst talking with the girls once they’d reached the safety of Angel’s hotel, telling them that those that had died had done so for better reasons than most. Had done so because of their courage and their strength. Had done so in order for everybody else to continue on, to fight another day. To beat another evil. To live.

Faith had done her best to protect as many of the new slayers as she could, but the battle had been tougher than any of them could probably have imagined. She remembered when Buffy had fallen, crashing to the ground and offering Faith the scythe as she bled into the dirt; it had hurt Faith in places deep within her to see Buffy like that. Her heart had stopped beating as she’d watched her fall, only beginning again when she saw her scrabble to her feet with renewed strength.

They’d pushed harder then, and every one of them counted. Every slayer, every Scooby, every person that was there that day for the greater good.

Their victory – though it had come at a price – had been glorious.

With a soft smile, Faith put out her cigarette and wiped her hands on her thighs. She still needed to shower and change and there was blood in the cracks of her palms. There was dust in places she hadn’t even known she had places, and her clothes were just about ready to be pulled off and thrown in the garbage.

She felt good, though. Sad that they’d lost people, but good all the same.

More of them were alive than dead; Giles and Joyce were there, practically parenting them. Dawn still annoying them, the Scoobs – minus Anya – staying strong at Buffy’s side. There was more to be grateful for than sad about for losing. They’d all done well. All done their part.

Footsteps coming softly up the iron stairs behind her made Faith tense up for a moment, but she realised it was Buffy before Buffy even spoke so she relaxed and let the fatigue of battle soothe her edges.

“Can I join you?” Buffy asked, her voice a little rough from shouting and speeches. “I can go if you. . .”

“Stay,” Faith said, recalling the night before when she’d asked that very same thing. “Think I’m done being alone now.”

Her own voice was hoarse and weary, but she was happy to see Buffy and it must have sounded obvious as Buffy smiled and sat on an old wooden chair beside her.

“It got a little manic in there huh,” Buffy said, scratching at the bandage under her tee shirt where her wound from earlier was quickly healing.

It still hurt Buffy a bit, but not half as much as losing some of her friends and some of the slayers did. She’d feel that forever.

“It’s so quiet up here,” she continued when Faith didn’t respond. “You always expect LA to be noisy, hectic. But this is kind of peaceful.”

“Yeah,” Faith said, unsure of her own voice as she felt Buffy’s presence warm her through.

Though things had definitely changed between them, certainly after what had happened that morning, Faith still didn’t know for sure where they stood. She didn’t know how she should be with Buffy. How they should talk, or act with each other. She didn’t know what came next for them now. Now that she’d done her duty and helped them out.

“Are you ok?” Buffy asked after a minute or two, placing her hand gently on Faith’s forearm.

She didn’t want to push her or presume to know how Faith was feeling, but the day had been a rollercoaster – for them as just people as well as slayers.

That morning, the day had begun in a way that Buffy would never have imagined it would just a few days before. Before Faith had come back from the past, bringing new memories with her, feelings, her mom. Everything had changed, yet. . .they had always been that way. Buffy was still getting used to this thing between them. Was still letting it seep into her mind, and her body.

She’d woken up alone that morning, a sense of dread and foreboding about the fight ahead washing over her, and a sense of loss biting at her when she realised Faith was no longer in bed with her.

They’d spent the night close together, holding each other in some form or another, though not yet in a way that lovers would. It had been nice. No, it had been more than nice and Buffy had felt her heart drop when she’d woken up alone. Her hand had searched the bed beside her before she’d opened her eyes to find it empty. She’d been sure Faith wanted them to be together – closer at least – but she doubted it then, right up until Faith strolled back into the room clad only in a towel.

Faith’s hair was damp, her footfalls quiet on the carpet. She looked up to see Buffy watching her and Faith couldn’t help but smile, though she quickly hid it and looked away. She didn’t exactly feel comfortable wearing her heart on her sleeve, especially with Buffy.

“Took a quick shower,” she said by way of explanation for her state of undress.

Glancing at the clock by her bed, Buffy furrowed her brow and sighed. She didn’t want to get up yet. It was early, way early, and the longer she could put off the inevitable – fighting, stabbing, slaying – the better.

“Sorry, I got used to stupid-o’clock starts in prison,” Faith said, running her fingers through her damp hair.

“It’s ok,” Buffy responded. “I just don’t wanna get up.”

Faith chuckled, enjoying the calm before the storm, enjoying being able to see Buffy with her guard down, her hair mussed and her body relaxed beneath the sheets. She’d been tempted to stay in bed right next to her when she’d woken up half an hour earlier, but Faith’s thoughts had been straying and she doubted she’d be able to just lay there without letting her hands wander. She doubted Buffy would have taken too kindly to being fondled in her sleep.

“Sleep some more,” Faith offered. “I just felt kinda grimy after the whole magical mystery tour deal.”

“Do you feel better today? Less headachey?” Buffy asked, only realising the connotations of her question when Faith smirked.

“Headache’s gone, B,” Faith confirmed, her smirk still in tact. “All systems go.”

Buffy gave Faith a little smirk of her own, watching every movement as Faith crossed the room and bent to pick her jeans off the floor.

“That’s good to know,” she responded, allowing a hint of flirtation to sneak out.

Faith looked over her shoulder, smiling more genuinely now as she folded her jeans and placed them on a chair. She wondered if Buffy had meant that in the way it seemed; she hoped she’d meant it that way. It seemed a little redundant now for them to skirt around their attraction to one another. They both knew they were attracted, and they both knew that things wouldn’t stay the way they had. Things were changing for them, for the better. Faith was still a bit wary, however.

“Yunno, I never figured you for a snuggler,” Buffy commented when Faith failed to respond.

With a chuckle, Faith walked closer to the bed, holding her towel in place as she shook her head at Buffy.

“Gotta blame the time travelling for that,” she said. “It got me all out of whack; and you took advantage.”

Buffy acted shocked that Faith could think such a thing, but then she shrugged her shoulders.

“Can’t really blame me,” Buffy intoned, loving the way Faith’s lips raised just a little at the edges whenever she was trying not to smile.

Something about the way Faith seemed so relaxed, so open, made Buffy feel confident. Not just confident about herself, but also about them. About what they could be.

“Come back to bed,” Buffy suggested before Faith could get dressed and disappear from her bedroom.

Raising her eyebrow slightly, the corners of her mouth quirking up just enough for Buffy to notice, Faith looked down at her towel and then back at Buffy.

“I’m kinda naked now, B,” she pointed out unnecessarily.

“To be honest,” Buffy began. “That doesn’t actually seem like a bad thing.”

Faith laughed and Buffy felt her heart swelling.

“So you want me to get back in there. . .naked,” Faith stated, unable to keep the grin from her face.

Buffy gave it a momentary thought, but her body was in no doubt. She wanted Faith back in her arms, back in her bed, and though the fact Faith was naked made her nervous as hell it also gave her a thrill of expectation she didn’t think she’d ever felt before.

“I do,” Buffy replied.

She turned back the covers so Faith could crawl in, watching as the towel wrapped around Faith slowly dropped to the floor and pooled at her feet. She was most definitely completely naked, and completely drop-dead gorgeous.

It took Buffy’s breath away and she had to clear her throat, feeling almost inadequate compared to Faith as she watched her lightly bronzed body crawl up onto the bed. Faith’s legs slipped under the covers and Buffy wondered if she might be drooling as a strong thigh brushed against her own, and a flat stomach tightened as Faith arranged the blanket loosely back over her.

“So,” Faith began, “you wanna sleep more?”

Her eyes seemed darker than normal, pulling Buffy into them as she tried to kick start her mind – it had been rendered incapable of thinking after finally seeing Faith in the nude.

Slipping closer to Buffy, Faith slid her hand over Buffy’s hip as she faced her, trying to see what Buffy was thinking and feeling. She could definitely see desire in Buffy’s eyes, but there was also a hint of fear. It didn’t deter Faith – she knew Buffy wanted more from them, from her. She didn’t doubt Buffy’s attraction, or her need to act on it. But she didn’t exactly want to rush Buffy or get this wrong. Faith was still treading lightly, placing every footfall as safely as she could, hoping she wasn’t about to tread on a mine.

“Or do ya wanna. . .do something else?” she asked, letting her voice drop lower so it rasped sensually.

They were much closer now, almost touching along the length of them – almost. Buffy could feel Faith’s breath, soft across her lips. She wanted to taste Faith again, more than before. She wanted to dip her tongue into the little valley in Faith’s lower lip. She wanted to take that lip between her own and suck, nibble, make Faith moan in need for her. Hoping she was capable, Buffy nodded slowly.

“Something else,” she replied, her voice just above that of a whisper.

Leaning forward, Buffy brushed her lips against Faith’s, barely kissing her at all at first. She felt the hand on her hip squeeze gently and moved languidly across Faith’s mouth with her own; finding comfort in the soft, plump, distinctly feminine sensation of kissing another girl. In all her imaginings about Faith, she’d never quite gotten this feeling right. This feeling – on the brink of something more, on the brink of letting passion break the surface – this feeling was perfect.

“You sure?” Faith asked, speaking against Buffy’s lips.

Buffy had never been more sure of anything in her whole life. This was what she wanted.

“Yes,” she replied, hearing her own voice tremble.

Surging forward after a moment’s hesitation, Faith pressed her lips more fully to Buffy’s, kissing her with more passion and hunger. Showing Buffy what she felt with her mouth as Buffy parted her lips and allowed her entry. Their tongues slid together, slowly at first; tentative strokes and flicks that made Faith burn from the inside. She heard Buffy moan and pulled her against her, bringing them completely together.

Another moan escaped Buffy and she wrapped her arm around Faith, holding tight and letting the kiss deepen; their hearts pounding as the fire between them glowed hot and engulfed them. She sucked on Faith’s lower lip and smiled as Faith groaned, feeling bold in that moment; her nerves falling away with the sheet as she pushed it down to reveal Faith’s bare chest to her once more.

Buffy wanted Faith to know how real this was, how much it was something that Buffy wanted, needed. She couldn’t leave Faith in any doubt as to her intentions or her desire for them to be more than just friends. There was only one way to show her that in this moment, and Buffy knew if she held back her nerves she’d be able to do just that.

“I want you,” Buffy said, the raw need in her voice clearly evident; she hoped to God Faith didn’t say no. “I want to show you how much.”

Faith’s heart was thumping in her chest, her body desperately needing Buffy. She’d dreamed of this moment before – even in times when she had hated that dream – and now it was happening. It was almost surreal, but Faith kept focused, letting Buffy lead them where she wanted for now. Letting Buffy show her the truth of her words.

Without asking permission, Faith tugged at Buffy’s tee shirt, pulling it off over her head and throwing it out of the way. Buffy wasn’t wearing a bra and Faith pushed the sheet away from her, letting her eyes devour what her hands and mouth wanted to posses. She kissed Buffy, hard and hungry before encouraging Buffy further onto her back and moving lower, lips working over Buffy’s jaw and throat, heading downwards. She slid the hand at Buffy’s hip upwards, fingers brushing against the swell of Buffy’s breast, ready to take that step. Take the step that would forever change what they were to each other.

But Buffy didn’t want to be distracted just yet; though she was quite enjoying the direction Faith’s mouth was headed she pushed at Faith’s shoulders.

“Want me to stop?” Faith asked, pulling away with the pressure on her shoulders, looking into Buffy’s slightly unfocused eyes as her hand stilled.

“No, just. . .” Buffy’s gaze took in the sight of Faith hovering just above her and she licked her lips.

There really was no mistaking how attracted she was to Faith now. No brushing it aside or pretending that it was something else. Faith was beautiful, and Buffy wanted to explore her, show her, do to her the things she didn’t even really know how to do. She really did want Faith, and now was the time to take her. Somehow, after this first time, Buffy doubted Faith would be quite so willing to let Buffy be on top. And though the prospect of Faith being sexually aggressive with her was incredibly appealing, for this time, this moment, Buffy had to be the one to take them down this path. She wanted to be the one.

Without warning, Buffy flipped them over until she was resting over Faith, holding herself up on her hands, letting her gaze roam and her body fall into Faith until they fit perfectly together. Faith opened her legs so that Buffy was against her, and though Buffy still had her panties on they both sighed at the contact.

“We’re really doing this huh?” Faith asked, her eyes almost black and her hands trailing over Buffy’s back and sides in a way that was making Buffy dizzy.

“We are,” Buffy assured, dropping down so she could kiss Faith again, missing her lips already.

As their breasts pressed together and Faith pushed up against Buffy they both moaned, gasped, tightened against each other as their need became more and more evident.

They continued to kiss, tongues delving, teeth nibbling and mouths devouring as their bodies began to move with the need for friction. Buffy was incredibly wet already and she swooned when she realised she could also feel just how wet Faith was too. Rolling her hips, Buffy encouraged a sound that was almost a growl from Faith as she sought to feel more of Faith’s wetness against her panties. The heat between them was incredible, and the feel of soft, slick flesh against her own had Buffy forgetting that she’d never done this before. It didn’t matter that this was new, different, it felt wonderful and she had to show Faith that she was more than ready for this to be what they were from now on.

Travelling down Faith’s neck with her lips, Buffy sucked when Faith moaned and flicked her tongue when Faith gasped. She reached wonderfully full breasts and pushed away the little worries and fears in her mind that she’d be bad at this, or do something wrong. It really didn’t sound like she was doing anything wrong as Faith made small noises that only served to encourage Buffy as well as make her even wetter.

Buffy’s centre twitched and her stomach flipped about as she took a nipple between her lips and sucked gently. She kissed around it and used her tongue, but Faith clearly enjoyed the sucking most of all so she alternated between both breasts, enjoying herself just as much as Faith seemed to be.

“Jesus, B,” Faith gasped as Buffy scraped her teeth over a now swollen nipple.

She couldn’t help but smile and do it again, grinning wider as Faith frantically tried to push Buffy’s panties down so they could. . .

“I wanna fuck you so bad,” Faith rasped, breathless and sexy, her strength almost knocking Buffy onto her back. But Buffy wasn’t done with Faith yet.

“And I wanna fuck you,” Buffy responded, lightly holding Faith down. “I wanna touch you. Make you come.”

Their gazes were locked and Buffy could see just how much Faith wanted that, and she could also see just how much Faith seemed to like the things she was saying and the way she was saying them.

Buffy’s hand worked its way between them before Faith reacted; fingers tripping over hard muscles and soft skin, enjoying the journey. Though she felt her nerves lingering now, trying to press back into her as she felt the first brush of dark hair against her fingertips.

“Don’t stop,” Faith breathed, her eyes almost closed as Buffy paused just for a moment.

With a smile that came right from her heart, Buffy leaned down and captured Faith’s lips with her own as she pushed lower. Her fingers found Faith hot and wet and they both moaned into each other’s mouths, years of desire escaping them.

“God, you feel good,” Buffy said, bringing their foreheads together as she slowly explored between Faith’s legs.

Faith arched up into the touch but she didn’t want to push Buffy into going too fast; in fact, she was quite enjoying the slowness, the tantalising sensuality of Buffy’s fingers gently spreading her open and discovering her.

“You’re so wet for me,” Buffy continued, marvelling at the fact, slicking her fingers in Faith’s juices and finding the place that made Faith tremble beneath her.

She stroked over Faith’s clit, rubbing it gently and slipping over and around it as Faith moved to her touch.

“Oh yeah, that’s good,” Faith sighed, finding Buffy’s almost delicate touch more of a turn on than she’d imagine such gentleness could cause.

They kissed again; open mouthed, slow, heated kisses that threatened to overwhelm Faith as Buffy’s fingers undid her little by little. As Buffy stroked and rubbed, Faith found herself trembling, ready to come much quicker than was probably impressive. She bucked up against Buffy, feeling her muscles tighten and the fingers of climax pulling her to her limit.

Though Faith normally preferred hard and fast to soft and tender, and liked drawing out her climax as long as she could, fucking in every way possible until she finally gave in, this was perfect. This was what she needed right now from Buffy.

“Fuck,” Faith gasped, ready to fall. “I’m gonna come.”

She kissed Buffy hard, taking her face between her hands as Buffy continued her sensual assault on her swollen clit. She was almost there. Almost. Just a little more and. . .

“Buffy?” came Willow’s voice from the other side of the room as she knocked on the door. “We’re all nearly ready, waiting downstairs for. . .”

Buffy ignored Willow, concentrating on Faith’s mouth and on Faith’s increasingly wet pussy as she rubbed quickly over her hard clit, pressing firmly against it as Faith shuddered all over.

“Come,” Buffy instructed, pulling away from Faith’s mouth to whisper in her ear.

Willow knocked again, but Faith was too far gone to stop now, and thankfully Buffy wasn’t going anywhere. She pushed up against Buffy, a loud moan escaping her as Buffy rubbed her perfectly, just quick enough, just hard enough to send her tumbling over the edge.

“Oh, fuck,” Faith panted, coming harder than she’d expected to and clinging tight to Buffy’s back. She had no doubt that Buffy would have a few scratches there now.

“That’s so hot,” Buffy said breathlessly as Faith’s body quivered until it finally relaxed.

Faith was breathing hard, her limbs relaxing as Buffy moved slightly to her side. She held Buffy close, however, unwilling to let her go just yet. Thankfully, Willow was no longer banging on the door, and Faith tried not to care what she might have thought of the noises coming from Buffy’s room.

Her fingers still between Faith’s legs, Buffy couldn’t stop smiling. It really had been pretty damn hot to see Faith unravel in that way. To see her with her eyes closed and her lips slightly parted, body trembling in its orgasm as she came. She wanted to remember forever what that looked like, what it felt like, and how the scent of Faith’s come made her mouth water and her hands want to continue in their pursuit of pleasure.

She wished they had all day, to explore, to fuck, to make love. She never wanted to move from this spot. . .but they had to. Duty came first. Well, duty came after Faith did obviously, Buffy thought with a grin, but now that she had it was time to move.

“I guess we should get up before Willow comes back,” Buffy sighed, slipping her fingers from Faith, though she would have quite happily kept them there all day.

It was her new favourite place. Ever.

Faith groaned, desperately wanting to touch Buffy, to make her come too. She thought they could maybe do it again before Willow came back up, but Buffy was already moving.

“What about you?” Faith drawled, running her hand up Buffy’s back as she sat up beside Faith.

“We don’t have time,” Buffy replied regretfully, looking down at Faith apologetically.

“But. . .” Faith began to whine. She seriously needed to get her hands on Buffy.

“Later, I promise,” Buffy interrupted, giving Faith a gentle smile, then leaning down to kiss her lightly on the lips. “And then we’ll have all night.”

Faith wasn’t sure she liked that idea. What if later never came? She didn’t want to infer that they’d have trouble beating the First, however, so she just nodded, a slight furrow to her brow as she watched Buffy get up from the bed and get dressed.

It was later now, and as they sat on the roof of Angel’s hotel, nursing their battle scars, Faith tried not to hope too hard that they’d spend the night together in the way that she wanted. A lot had happened that day. A lot had been lost and she could see how weary Buffy was. She certainly wasn’t going to press Buffy on the matter, but her heart longed to be close to her just as much as her body did.

Hopefully, they were at least going to share the same bed, or even the same room.