FIC: Back In Boston Part 12 (PG-13 for chapter)

["CDS" <callistosdarkside@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Yay, I got out of my writing slump and finished part 12.

Hope you all enjoy.

As always, you can read the html versions at the link below:
http://www.geocities.com/callistosdarkside/BackInBoston.htm

-CDS

. Title: Back In Boston
. Author: Callisto's Dark Side
. Email: callistosdarkside@xxxxxxxxxx
. Feedback: The more I get, the faster I write.
. Distribution: Can be found at
http://www.geocities.com/callistosdarkside/BackInBoston.htm
. Spoilers: Season 4, but since Dawn's in it, I guess there's also some of
season 5. It's an alternate universe in which Faith never joined up with
the mayor.
. Rating: I'll just set it at R now, cuz I know for sure that's where
chapter 3's gonna be. Possible NC-17 later on, so be warned.
. Pairings: Wait and see. J
. Disclaimer: All characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are copyright
Joss Whedon and 20th Century Fox.
. Summary: Faith convinces Buffy to go back to Boston with her for Christmas
Holidays, but Buffy only agrees if Willow comes along as well. Dawn tags
along, much to Buffy's dismay.

Chapter 12


Faith followed behind Buffy on the moonlit street, several feet back.

The blonde Slayer had no idea where their motel was, but she was too
stubborn to ask, so she just kept walking straight.

Faith remained silent, her thoughts verging on escaping her lips, but always
stopping before she could make a sound.

Buffy reached what seemed like the hundredth intersection that night and
finally stopped. Instead of crossing, she spun around.

Faith froze.

"Faith?" Buffy breathed, her breath visible in the cold air.

"What?" Faith spat, doing her best to make the coming apology as hard as
possible.

Buffy swallowed, "Cross or turn?"

"Huh?"

"Cross here, or turn?" Buffy clarified.

Faith laughed.

"What's so funny?" Buffy asked angrily.

"You."

"How am I funny?"

"Well for one, I could've sworn you were about to apologize, but I guess
that's only what normal people do," Faith replied.

"Apologize for what?"

"Damn, you're even in denial."

"Denial? If anyone should apologize, it should be you," Buffy accused.

"For what? For showing you were I used to live? For trying to get you to
relax?"

"Relax? You call groping me in your old bed, relaxing?"

"It was a massage," Faith argued.

"No. A massage is when you lessen the tension, not increase it!"

"I didn't see you complaining."

"Hello," Buffy waved her hand in a sweeping motion, "why do you think I
left?"

"Cuz you were afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid you might like something you weren't supposed to."

"That's ridiculous," Buffy huffed, turning her back on Faith.

Faith's head dropped, but she picked it back up and walked over to Buffy,
placing a hand on the surprised blonde's shoulder.

"Gotcha," Faith smiled, her eyes watery in the moonlight.

"What?" Buffy asked, extremely confused.

"I was messing with you, B. I just wanted to see how long you'd last before
going off on me," Faith lied.

"Why?"

"Cuz it's fun."

Buffy shook her head and let out a little laugh, "You always do this to me."

"Do what?"

"Get me all worked up," Buffy answered.

"Is that a compliment?" Faith smirked.

"Not if you're me," Buffy smiled back, her comfort level with Faith
returning to pre-hostility levels.

"But I'm not you, B, which means I can call it a compliment."

"Whatever," Buffy rolled her eyes. "So cross or turn, already?" The blonde
asked anxiously.

"Turn," Faith took Buffy by the shoulders and turned her all the way back
around.

"You mean we passed the motel?"

"Way back," Faith answered.

"Why didn't you stop me?"

"Cuz you looked so cute all steamed and power-walking."

"I was not power-walking," Buffy pouted.

"Hey, I got the tape to prove it," Faith patted her chest.

"Where, hidden in your bra?"

"What bra?" Faith grinned before dragging the blonde back down the street.

******

Willow finished her shower, toweled off, slipped into a pink robe, and
stepped out of the bathroom to catch Dawn squinting out the window.

"Dawn?"

The young brunette continued her watchful gaze at the motel room window.

"Dawn?" Willow asked more forcefully, while brushing away her damp hair.

Dawn remained focused on the outside world.

"Dawny?" Willow walked nervously to the young girl and placed her hand on
Dawn's shoulder.

Dawn squealed in shock before she realized it was Willow, "Oh it's you,"
Dawn panted.

"Who else would it be?"

"I dunno. You caught me off guard."

"What were you looking at?"

"Nothing, I was just checking to see if Faith was back."

"Oh," Willow replied before sitting on the edge of her bed.

"When do you think they'll be back?" Dawn asked.

"I dunno, soon, I hope."

"Where do you think they went?" Dawn continued.

"Beats me," Willow shrugged, "but knowing Faith."

Dawn shot Willow a warning look.

"Um, but knowing Faith, I'm sure she took Buffy to some place nice," Willow
corrected.

Dawn frowned, wishing Willow was wrong.

>Knock, knock.

Dawn and Willow jumped at the sudden noise.

Dawn was first at the door, opening it up before Willow could protest about
opening the door to strangers, but upon seeing Buffy outside, she realized
her point was moot.

"Hey Dawny, Wills, what're you two still doing up?" Buffy asked, upbeat as
she stepped past Dawn into the motel room.

"Where's Faith,?" Dawn inquired, as she stuck her head out the door.

"Here I am!" Faith shouted as she stepped from the shadows, grabbed Dawn,
and lifted her into the air.

"Ahhhh," the young brunette squealed, half in shock and half in delight.

"Told you it'd work, B," Faith smiled as she brought a squirming Dawn across
the room and gently placed her down on the far bed.

Buffy rolled her eyes as she sat down next to Willow on the bed closest to
the door.

"So," Buffy laid back lazily on the bed, "How was Dawn-sitting?"

"Hey!" Dawn screamed from across the room, but began squealing again as
Faith decided to tickle her.

Buffy watched as Faith tormented Dawn once again, before rolling her neck
back on the mattress to eye Willow.

"Buffy, you know I don't consider it babysitting when I hang with Dawn."

"I know, I just wanted to apologize for being out all night," Buffy replied.

"Hey, if that was the case, you'd have to apologize to your mom every day of
the year," Willow pointed out.

"True, that's why I'm thinking about moving into one of the dorms," Buffy
smiled.

"Buffy, you know what I mean."

"I know, but I was seriously considering moving out of the house."

"Why?" Willow asked, curious as to Buffy's sudden change in attitude.

"I just figure that since Faith's living at my house, It'd free me up to
move closer to school."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"If you're really thinking about it, you could move in with me."

"I thought you had a roommate?"

"I do, but all she does is party and I think she's flunking out."

"Academic probation?" Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"Uh huh, but I think the probation periods pretty much past."

"Cool," Buffy shook her head, "So I'll tell mom when I get back."

"Great, we can be roomies," Willow smiled, pulling Buffy up into a hug,
unable to contain her joy at finally having a roommate that wouldn't blast
the stereo 24/7.

Faith had finally relented on her tickle-torture of Dawn and had slid off
the young girl, only to catch Buffy and Willow in a intense hug-fest.

"What's with all the love," Faith asked acidly.

"What?" Buffy turned, slowly releasing Willow out of her arms.

"The hugging?" Faith clarified.

"Oh, we just found out we're going to be roomies," Buffy grinned.

"What?" Faith almost screamed.

"Yeah," Willow chimed in, "it turns out my roommate's going to be kicked out
of school, which means Buffy can move in with me."

"How? When?" Faith asked.

"She's on academic probation, which means Buffy can move in as soon as my
roommate's out."

Faith began to panic, the thought of Buffy living with Red was running a
stake through her heart.

Dawn finally composed herself and snuggled up against Faith's side, wrapping
her arm around the dark Slayer's waist.

"That's great, Faith," Dawn smiled, "Now you can move into Buffy's room."

"Woah," Buffy interjected, "Just cuz I'm moving out doesn't mean Faith's
moving into my room."

"Why not?" Dawn pouted.

"Cuz, for one thing I'm not taking everything to the dorm, and secondly, I
like my room the way it is," Buffy explained.

"So," Dawn whined, "Why should Faith still have to sleep on the couch when
no one's sleeping in your bed?"

"Yeah?" Faith added, realizing how much it was affecting Buffy.

"Cuz it'd be weird," Buffy answered.

"That's so not fair," Dawn screamed.

"What she said," Faith added, hugging the younger Summers against her side.

Buffy shook her head, "We'll talk about this later."

"Why?" Dawn asked angrily.

"Cuz I said so," Buffy ground her teeth.

"It's okay, Sunshine," Faith patted Dawn's arm, "We'll let your sis think
about how your mom would react to me roughing it on the couch with Buffy's
bed all unoccupied." Faith smirked.

Buffy grumbled, realizing Faith was probably right. For some odd reason,
her mom really liked Faith. Maybe it was the added safety factor of having
two slayers around instead of one, especially since Joyce had late nights at
the Gallery, and Faith always seemed to be the one left at home with Dawn.

Buffy also had to admit that Faith was extremely protective of Dawn, almost
more so than Buffy herself.

Willow watched as Buffy laid back down onto the bed, and covered her eyes
with her arm.

"Does this mean you're not moving in with me?" Willow pouted.

"I dunno," Buffy murmured, shutting her eyes, as images of Faith
redecorating her room filled her mind.


To be continued.