FIC: Coming Home 6/?

["jend1205 <jend1205@xxxxxxxxx>" <jend1205@xxxxxxxxx>]

I know this doesn't look good but hang in there, it will all be 
explained in the next part. I promise. Merry Christmas and happy 
holidays all. Jen


Author: Jen D
Disclaimer: I don't own just like it. 
Rating: G-R and all points between mostly language and violence
Spoilers: I guess all of the shows this is A/U but some of it might 
come up



Willow poked at the wood in the fireplace not because it needed it 
but because she needed something to do. After kicking Buffy and Tara 
out she had settled down with a book but her thoughts kept replaying 
the words that Tara had said. Willow sighed and looked at the TV. She 
opened the cabinet and found the tape that she was looking for. She 
put it and pushed play. She watched as the screen filled with the 
images from her last birthday party. Cheryl and the kids had worked 
hard to surprise her. For the first time since Cheryl had died Willow 
allowed herself to cry. The doorbell cut through the quiet that had 
settled on the house and Willow opened it to see Faith standing on 
her porch.
"Hey Red, long time no see. How are you?"
"How the hell do you think I feel? I'm alone in this house, my 
girlfriend is died. I'm never going to see her again. I'm never going 
to hear her say she loves me. I'm never?", Willow knees gave out and 
only Faith's slayer speed stopped her from hitting the floor. Faith 
scooped her up and carried her to the couch. The damn broke inside of 
Willow and she lost the control she had fought so hard to maintain. 
Faith wrapped her arms around her, rocking her and rubbing small 
circles on her back trying to offer some comfort.
"Why are you here, Faith."
"I ran into Buffy and Tara on patrol, they told me that you were 
going to be alone tonight. I just wanted to stop by and make sure you 
were okay and I see that it was probably a good thing. Red, I know I 
did some bad things in the past, I hurt you but I changed. I paid for 
what I did. I can't take it back but please don't judge who I am from 
the past."
"I told Buffy the first night I came back that I couldn't be the same 
Willow that I was when I left. How could I expect you to be the same 
person you were when you left?"
"Thanks Red, it means a lot that you won't hold the past against me."
"Only if you promise not to hold mine against me", Willow said.
"Deal, is that her", Faith asked pointing to the TV.
"Yeah, we took this at my birthday party. She died two weeks later." 
Faith watched as the red head and the blonde danced on screen, " She 
was very pretty."
"Yes she was. We didn't even know that Angie was taking this part." 
Faith could see the love that two women shared, "Tell me about her."
"Really", Willow asked amazed.
"Yeah"
"Ok but let me get some drinks first", Willow said and headed for the 
kitchen but turned, "You really have changed." Faith laughed and 
turned her attention back to the TV. Willow returned with a tray with 
four beers, shot glass, salt, and a bottle of tequila.
"Hey you pretty good with that tray."
"I worked part time as a server when I first moved to Washington. I 
got good at balancing things", Willow said and sat the tray on the 
table.
"You weren't kidding about the drinks were you", Faith asked as she 
looked at the tray.
"Nope I want to get completely knock down drunk. Care to join me on 
my trip", Willow asked giving her a smile.
"Would love too."


Willow tried to see the clock on the wall but couldn't make out 
the numbers in her present state. She looked at the empty bottles on 
the table beside her and groaned, "Yup it's official, I am going to 
have one hell of a hangover tomorrow."
"You know you have changed too. You went from a geek to a mature 
woman who I might add is very hot." Willow blushed, stood up, and 
turned the radio on to a classic R&B station, "If I didn't know any 
better I would think you were flirting with me."
"Would that be all bad", Faith asked.
"Not all bad just a little." Faith looked so serious that Willow 
jumped in her lap and started to tickle her.
"Hey no fair sneak attacking me", Faith said and flipped her on her 
back causing the coffee table to tip over, "Payback is a bitch." 
"God Faith stop, I can't take it", Willow yelled between laughs. 
Faith stopped and realized that her face was inches from the red 
heads. Willow could feel her body responding the sensation. Faith 
jumped up before she could act on her desire to kiss Willow, "Dance 
with me. I love this song." She pulled Willow into her arms. They 
danced in silence just enjoying the feeling of being in someone arms.
"Do you feel better", Faith asked tucking a stray lock of red hair 
behind Willow ear.
"I do, thank you", Willow said and thought about how they had just 
talked for hours about her life. Willow snuggled closer to Faith.
"Red from everything you have said she wouldn't want you to close 
yourself off from your feelings. I think she would want you to feel 
again."
"I know she would hate the thought of me being this way. She would 
probably yell real loud." 
"How do you think their date is going?"
"They belong together. They deserve to be happy."
"What about you", Faith asked? Willow thought for a minute and looked 
into the brunette eyes, she saw nothing but concern and caring, "I 
think that I'm pretty happy right now." They danced in silence 
neither sure what was happening.
"I want to show you how to feel again", Faith whispered in her ear 
causing her to shudder.
"Faith"
"I know you love them and I know that they love you. I'm not asking 
for love or tomorrows. I'm more of a here and now kind of girl", 
Faith said and leaned in and kissed her. Willow was just beginning to 
return the kiss when the doorbell interrupted the moment. They jumped 
apart liking that their parents were catching them and Willow giggled 
at the guilty look on Faiths face. She opened the door to find Buffy 
and Tara on the front porch. When Buffy saw Willow's tear stained 
cheeks and the overturned table, then Faith standing in the middle of 
the room, she went into slayer mode. She started after Faith but 
Willow blocked her path.
"Faith what the hell did you do to her", Buffy yelled.
"B, damnit Faith now you got me calling her that", Willow said giving 
the dark slayer a glare but when Faith shrugged her shoulders she 
giggled, "Buffy she didn't do anything. She came over to see how I 
was doing. I guess I wasn't doing very well cause I kind of broke 
down."
Faith laughed, "Honey you didn't breakdown, you went into total 
meltdown. I really expected the EPA to show up to clean up the mess."
Faith saw the glare she was getting from Buffy, "Well Red I think I 
will head out of here."
"Faith sit. Buffy it's ok. She didn't hurt me; she was actually a big 
help. We talked a lot, drank cried, drank and cried?"
"And drank seeing a pattern here, B"
"Oh hush not helping your case here."
"How did the table get flipped over, Will", Tara asked with concern.
"Well we were just playing around and I kicked it over. Guys I'm ok 
really. For the first time since Cheryl died I can breath again and 
it doesn't hurt. I needed tonight. Now go home. Buffy make love to 
your girlfriend. Tell her how much she means to you. Show her hold 
her. I will be here tomorrow being it hung over but I will be here. 
Call me we will go out them."
"Are you sure", Tara asked.
"Yeah", Willow said and glanced at Faith, "I think I'll be fine 
tonight."
"We love you Will", Buffy told her.
"I know I love you too. It will be ok", Willow told her and kissed 
her on the cheek and then did the same to Tara, "No go have fun."  
Willow watched them go down the sidewalk holding hands and smiled. 
She closed the door, walked over to Faith and pulled her up, "I think 
you said something about showing me how to feel." Willow led her to 
the stairs but Faith stopped her, "Red are you sure." Willow smiled 
and started up the steps, "Come on."