My thanks to all of you have stuck it out to the end. This has been very cathartic for me. I will probably never like the path the original show took, but I can at least learn to live with it. Whedon's method of tearing down Buffy in order to build up Spikes "champion" status may have been important for the grand finale, but I will always believe that he could have and should have done it differently. May your soul be resting in heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you're dead. (Old Irish farewell.)

Need

by justagrump

Chapter 4

Faith POV

Flickering flames from candles spread throughout the room reflect soft light off pastel walls. The sweet floral aroma of jasmine floats on the warm air currents. A low moan emanates from the sheet covered supine body nestled between my legs. Two fingers circle gently and smoothly over the temple area on each side of the blonde head. The back of Buffy's head keeps rubbing against my sweet spot and I'm not entirely sure it's by accident. It's my own damn fault. Wearing thin black nylon running shorts and a sports bra for this was not one of my better decisions. I swear I'm gonna have permanent teeth marks in my lower lip from having to constantly bite back the moans that want to escape my throat. As good as this feels though, it's not the reason we're tucked away in her room tonight.

Our breathing and the occasional normal creaks and groans of the house are the only sounds to be heard. We have the place to ourselves for a few hours 'cause I bribed T into taking Red and D into town for a girls night out. Not that it took a lot of effort. Everybody's been walking on eggshells around B for so long and they're all pretty frazzled. G's been paying me a little to help out around the Magic Box mostly doing heavy lifting and moving things around so I have a little walking around money. Well, had that is.

I trace my fingertips down along her cheekbones and jawline as I lean over. "B? Come on girlfriend, time to roll over now, baby." I keep whispering to her as she slowly comes back from wherever she's been. Eyelids flutter open and we share a smile. "Welcome back, Sweetie."

"Nnnn! Just a few more minutes? Please? You really do have magic fingers, you know."

Twinkling chocolate browns gaze deeply into hazel as fingers seek out and find ticklish spots on ribs. A burst of shrill laughter fills the room as we twist and turn on the bed. "Magic, huh? Girl, we're just gettin' started! And if you don't turn over the others will be back from the movies before we get done." Dilated eyes wander down the length of her covered form, the hills and valleys calling out to me. Cigarette and whiskey voice lowers to a near growl as fingertips graze soft under-swells. "'Course, if you stay where you are, we might get to the good parts a whole lot quicker."

Loud "Oh my God!" squealing and the following giggles that vibrate against bare legs nearly pushes me over the edge. Only super human strength and speed allows me to move off the pillow positioned at the headboard in time as the petite blonde to flips onto her stomach. The scent of my arousal wafting up only gets stronger as B buries her face into the space I just left and there's just no fucking way she can mistake that small wet spot for anything than what it is. Well toned and tanned legs suddenly lose all strength as warm spasms radiate up and out from my core when the little pixie grins towards me and inhales deeply through her nose, eyelids drooped seductively.

I barely manage to force out an "Oh fuck that's hot!" before regaining my senses enough to pull down the sheet. The nude body displayed before me is still way too skinny but I choose to concentrate instead on the smooth lines of back muscles outlined under pale skin, the well rounded globes sloping gently downwards to merge with well defined thighs. Pouring more scented oil into my still quivering hands I take a much needed deep breath of the double edged sword I've chosen. Yeah, I said double edged. Jasmine calms the nerves, helps to relieve headaches and can be used to treat depression which, I figured, is exactly what Buffy has been needing since she was brought back. But it's also used an aphrodisiac and damn if this shit ain't workin' overtime tonight!

Buffy POV

I reposition myself with my hands crossed under my head on the pillow so that I'm more comfortable. Yeah, that pillow. Seriously, I thought Faith was gonna have a heart attack when I flipped over and looked at her! I mean, come on! It's not like I'm a naive virgin with absolutely no experience. Okay, so I've never been with another woman before, and I've only had three ... well, two boyfriends. But I know what's the what when it comes to sex and being horny. Hello! Slayer senses here people! It's one of the reasons I make myself scarce when Will and Tara start getting busy with each other. Have you ever noticed that most people don't usually take a shower after? And for the record, certain smells linger a lot longer than most people think no matter how much air freshener, deodorant and perfume they use.

I've seen the way Faith looks at me sometimes, the way she caresses my arm to get my attention, always touching me somewhere just to let me know that I'm not alone in the world. An arm across my shoulders or around my waist whenever we're close together, or in the same zip code. And, of course, the constant flirting and sweet little nicknames. She has more nicknames for me than the rest my ... our? ... friends combined! I know she wants me, wants to be with me, wants to help me get through this ... thing I'm going through. When she first came to Sunnydale she was all ... I don't know ... primal, animalistic I guess. All about satisfying every urge, scratching every itch, never thinking about consequences or the future. She scared the crap outta me back then. Still does a little. I've gotta say, she's shown a lot more restraint than I ever thought her capable of and I'm impressed. I've seen sides of Faith that I never imagined existed, and maybe a few years ago they didn't. Everything's different now. For both of us.

Mmm! Like getting free massages, for example. Damn, she's got great hands. And fingers. And other ... parts. Girly parts. Parts that are like mine only ... different. Like the part that's brushing against my butt right now, barely covered yet making it's presence known through the building heat and moisture, adding it's distinctive musky aroma to the jasmine scented air of the room. Strong, calloused hands kneading tense muscles to the consistency of silly putty. Neck, shoulders, back, I could really get used to this! A pause as the bed shifts and heat disappears to be replaced with firm oiled strokes. Thumbs now, pressing, circling just where curving roundness merges into straightness. Fingers spread, caressing, alternating firm outward strokes with soft inward sweeps that tease open and release the crease. I bury my head deeper into the fragrant pillow at the unspoken question as my own heat begins to build.

Faith POV

My heart is beating faster than a dogs leg when you scratch that one certain spot just right! I've fought vampires and demons, been outnumbered and outgunned more times than I can count. Went to prison and fought off every skank who tried to make me her bitch or slide a shiv into me. Hell, I even came over to B's house for Christmas Eve that one year! But I ain't never been so damn nervous as I am right now, right this second. I honestly didn't plan this for tonight. I know she still doesn't really trust me. She can't. I don't even trust myself all that much yet. That kinda shit takes time and I've only been back in her life less than a week. Sure, we've had a few moments here and there, but except for my meltdown in the cemetery nothing that I would call ground breaking, earth shattering change the world kinda stuff.

All I can see is the mass of blonde hair as B buries her face deeper into the pillow. Her rapid breathing is evident in the way her upper body moves and I swear I could bounce a quarter off her back she's so tense now. I hadn't noticed I was holding my own breath until the spots start swimming in my eyes. It takes a massive effort, but I force my lungs to work again and move my hands down so I can continue working on her lean legs one at a time. I straddle her hips after I finish so I can smooth out the tension in her back again, resisting the natural urge to settle my weight on her body. It takes nearly as long for B to relax and start breathing normal again as it did for me to do her whole body the first time.

Getting up, I pull the sheet over her before blowing out all but the candle sitting on the nightstand. I lay down again, on top of the sheet and pull the covers over us both. As she turns her head to face me, I can't resist smoothing the hair back from her face. I can see the question forming in her eyes and I lean in to leave a chaste kiss her creased forehead.

The backs of my fingers caress the exposed cheek as I whisper "When you're ready B".

Buffy POV

I catch her hand in mine and kiss the backs of the still oily fingers. "What about you?" I whisper back as I reach my free hand over to return the caress on her cheek. "Don't you, umm, need to ... you know ...?" Yeah, yeah. Just 'cause I'm not innocent and naive doesn't mean that I'm all comfy with the talking about it part.

"I'm good B. Ain't nothing a cold shower or two can't cure." Her low chuckle sends sweet shivers down my spine. "Or maybe a twenty mile run through the desert at high noon."

I want to pinch myself to make sure this isn't another annoyingly frustrating dream but I really don't want to break this moment. I can't remember a time when Faith has allowed herself to relax like this around me. Usually she's constantly on the go or talking non-stop and I want to enjoy this quiet time we're having together. So, we just lay there holding hands on the bed between our bodies and gaze into each others eyes. Gradually, our synchronized breathing slows and two sets of eyelids that have struggled so valiantly to remain open droop one last time into peaceful slumber.

Dawn POV

Willow and Tara bring the drinks and popcorn in from the kitchen and set everything down on the coffee table before snuggling up together in the recliner. I claim one end of the couch while Xander and Anya get comfortable on the floor in front of the television. Buffy, all ready having staked out her territory on the other end of the couch is wrapped in a blanket. Rhythmic thumps coming down the stairs announces Faith's arrival and my sister lifts herself up enough for her girlfriend to settle in behind her, re-adjusting the blanket as Faith's legs and arms wrap around her.

Faith takes the beer Buffy hands her and grabs a handful of popcorn from the bowl sitting in my sisters lap. "Okay Red. Let's get this party started. What're we watching anyway?"

Willow uses the remote to start the VCR. "Coyote Ugly. You guys didn't get a chance to see it when it came out."

The groan coming from the brassy brunette can probably be heard all the way down the street. "You mean I gave up a night of spilling demon guts and dancing at the Bronze to watch a chick flick?"

The loud smack of Buffy's hand slapping Faith's arm under the blanket nearly drowns out the opening dialogue. Everybody in the room knows what that raised eyebrow look Buffy's giving her means and we all cover our smirks and grins with drinks or handfuls of popcorn. "No, you gave up one night of demon guts and dancing to watch a movie with me and our friends. Now keep quiet and behave or I'll sic Dawn on you."

"Alright, alright. I'll be quiet," I try to block out Faith's husky whisper as she continues, "can't promise about the behaving part though." She reaches behind her and turns off the table lamp. "Hey, Dawnie? Hope ya brought enough boxes of Kleenex. You know what kinda waterworks little Niagara Falls over here can turn on during one of these things."

I reach down to the side of the couch and grab a spare box, dropping it on the cushion between us with a smile. "Gotcha covered. And two more in reserve."

We all manage to settle down and watch the movie with only the occasional giggle and murmured "Behave" coming from the entwined bodies beside me. As expected, Buffy's going through one tissue after another wiping at her tears at all the right places until there's more at her feet than are left in the box. I risk a glance during Violet's striptease among the celebrity cutouts and make fake gagging noises as I get an eyeful of the two newest lust bunnies swapping spit and tongues in the near dark. Evil glares followed by Faith's flashing smile and my sister's embarrassed grin are reward enough to last me until the therapy bills start coming due.

Faith actually seems to be enjoying the movie, especially the scenes where the blonde chick is dancing on the bar, but I guess that's no big surprise. Buffy gets all breathless and gooey when the biker girl, Rachel acts all tough and macho and it doesn't take Willow's big brain to get the attraction there either. A couple of months ago, if anyone had even hinted that my sister might be gay I'd have laughed them right out of town. But you know what? Seeing the two of them together, and the changes in both of them since Faith got out of prison and came back to Sunnydale, it's really pretty amazing how one person can change your whole outlook on life and the people you live with everyday. Buffy's happier now than she ever was with Angel, the so called big love, big loss of her life or even Riley. True, it hasn't all been peaches and puppies. There's a lot of bad stuff still we all have deal with, especially Buffy. Like the time she nearly made herself sick worrying about how to come out of the closet to us. It was Anya, of course, who finally let the cat out of the bag that we all ready knew, had known for weeks and were okay with it. The most important thing to us was that she and Faith were happy.

That, and that I was finally getting my big sister back. That was something we all needed.

The End