Fic: Another Chance: Friend (1/1)

[inell@xxxxxxx]

Title: Friend
Author: Inell
Email: Inell@xxxxxxx
Disclaimer: Joss owns them all
Distribution: Kiss or Kill. Permission-take. Otherwise, just ask
Rating: R
Pairing: Willow/Faith and Willow/Buffy
Follows Talk in Another Chance Series


FRIEND (1/1)

Faith looked at Willow then at Buffy. This was not something she wanted to 
discuss in front of the blonde slayer, but she knew she had no choice. She 
sighed, knowing that she owed Willow some answers. She crossed her arms in 
front of her chest, glaring at the other girls. She didn't know what to say. 
She wasn't good at expressing her emotions with words. She usually just acted 
out her feelings with her actions. But, she somehow didn't think Willow would 
appreciate her going over there and kissing her senseless. So, she remained 
silent.

"Willow, I don't really know what to say," Buffy said, running a hand through 
her thick blonde hair. "I wasn't ever there."

"But you went and found her. You brought her here. Why?" Willow had to know. 
It just didn't make sense.

"Because you're in pain," Buffy said softly. "I can't stand to see you 
hurting and not be able to help. I thought that maybe facing her, dealing 
with it all, it would help."

"You're such a good friend," Willow said quietly, knowing she had been such a 
bitch the past week or so. She couldn't believe Buffy wanted to help her.

"Good friend?" Buffy snorted, looking away. "Not even close. I've done 
nothing but bring you pain and change your life. If it wasn't for me, you'd 
be going to some Ivy League school. You'd have a wonderful future to look 
forward to. All I've brought is death and heartache."

"Future?" Willow asked. "What future would I have had without you in my life? 
You've saved my life so many times, Buffy. How could you ever doubt that 
you're the best friend I could ever have?"

"I've almost gotten you killed so many times. You should hate me," Buffy 
said, smiling softly.

"I could never hate you, Buffy. I love you. You're my best friend," Willow 
said, watching the slayer's face.

"Friend," Buffy said while grimacing.

"Best friend," Willow said, not sure what was wrong with Buffy.

"Don't you get it, Red?" Faith asked, seeing the confused look on the 
redhead's pretty face. "She wants you."

"What?" Willow looked at Faith then back at Buffy's reddening face. "Buffy?"

"Fuck, this is stupid," Buffy said, glaring at Faith. "Wills, don't believe 
her."

"Is she lying?" Willow asked, closing her eyes as she counted to ten. "Buffy, 
please. Be honest."

"I love being your friend, Willow. I would never risk losing that," Buffy 
said, looking at the floor as she spoke. "These last couple of weeks have 
been hell. Not talking to you, not being with you, having you ignore me. I 
cannot go through that again. I won't lose you."

"Why do you think you're going to lose me?" Willow asked softly. "What would 
be so bad that I would turn my back on our friendship?"

"I love you," Buffy said, looking up. "I mean, I'm in love with you."

"What?"

"Told Ya," Faith said softly, feeling pity for her fellow slayer. The girl 
looked completely hopeless and desperate. That was going to be her in mere 
moments. She closed her eyes and looked down, not wanting to see Buffy's 
face. She felt a flash of guilt for having egged on this situation but Buffy 
had forced her there.

"Faith, shut up," Buffy said, not meeting Willow's eyes. She couldn't see the 
disgust and horror in those beautiful green eyes.

"Actually," Willow found her voice as she tried to deal with the surprise of 
hearing those words come from Buffy's mouth. In her best friend's voice. She 
turned her attention to the dark haired slayer. "You seem to be very vocal 
suddenly. I want to hear why you did this?"

"I need some air," Buffy said, feeling even worse that Willow had ignored her 
admission.

"Sit and stay," Willow said, looking at the blonde slayer. Her face softened 
as she said, "Buffy, I won't pretend that I expected what you told me. I 
didn't know you thought of me in that way. It's a bit of a shock. Please, 
just wait. I don't want to lose our friendship. I'm just so confused right 
now."

Buffy smiled softly, "You think you're confused now? Honey, you're in for a 
bumpy ride."

"Isn't this touching? Should I leave?" Faith asked.

"Jealous?" Buffy couldn't resist asking.

"Of you, friend?" Faith taunted.

"Enough," Willow said. "Faith, I want some answers. Of all the things you 
could have done when you took over Buffy, why did you come back here? Why did 
you..." She paused, not wanting the other girl to know how deeply that night 
had affected her. She was still reeling from Buffy's words, but she couldn't 
deal with that development until she knew what had caused Faith's actions. 
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She caught Faith's eyes and 
asked, "Why did you pick me?"