Title: Come To Play
Author: Starla
Email: starla@buffymail.com
Disclaimer: These Characters belong to Joss Whedon, except Gorlock, Alana, Adrian Townsend, and anyone else you don't recognize.
Distribution: Take it, but let me know. If you have any of my other fics, go ahead.
Author's Notes: It *will* be B/A I promise. I realise this part is a little depressing. Sorry. Season 4 did happen, Fish Boy did date Buffy, Angel went to LA, etc.
Spoilers: I dunno. Anything is possible, be warned.
Summary: 150 years after the Scooby Gang die, they return to Earth to help out the current Slayer and her Slayerettes.

Part 19


Buffy slipped into the bedroom, taking a deep breath when she saw Angel, facing his dresser, wearing only a pair of black sweats. She moved up behind him quietly, placing her hands on his shoulders and standing on her tip toes to kiss him softly behind the ear. She felt his face move into a smile, his ear twitch slightly. She grinned.

"Missed you." She whispered into his ear.

"Missed you." He replied as her arms slipped around his waist, her fingers dancing over his broad chest. She trailed kisses down his neck and over his shoulders.

One of his hands came up and twined through one of hers. "I love you."

"Mmmm....Bet you do." She said, grinning devilishly against his tattoo.

His back rumbled as he laughed. It felt nice. "I love you too." She said after a moment.

He turned in the circle of her arms, keeping their linked hands behind his back. Leaning down, he kissed her gently, moving his free hand over her back, slipping it under her shirt, finding the sensitive spot at the base of her spine. She shivered, twining her arms around his neck, but not letting his hand go.

Never letting go.

"I love you." She repeated, whispering it like a secret between friends.

He pulled back slightly and just gazed at her. He wanted to remember her like this. Wanted to remember her eyes wide with love, her skin flushed with arousal. He smiled when an impatient little frown flickered onto her face.

He removed his hand from her back, sensing her reluctance to let their hands break contact. He lifted his hand and brushed it over her cheek, running his thumb over her lips, then tucking a lock of blonde hair behind her shoulder.

"*My* Goddess." He murmured, smiling, before his lips descended on hers once more.

Faith shivered as she crossed to her closet. It was cold. She didn't remember it being this cold before. She pulled on a leather jacket, but it didn't make her feel any warmer.

The cold was inside.

She took a knife and slid it into the waistband of her pants.

One way or another, this would finish tonight.

Something inside of her despaired at the thought of killing Buffy. It'd be over. No-one to play with when everybody is dead.

Part of her, though, believed that once Buffy was dead, the pain would go away.

It wouldn't though. The pain would never go away. It was a constant companion, it didn't matter if she destroyed every last shred of things that she related to her humanity.

The pain would always anchor her. She hated it.

She sank to the floor, feeling the knife press against her back.

"What am I doing???" She wondered aloud.

The only answer was silence.

Faith slipped through the shadows of the park, trailing Buffy and Angel, who walked, hand in hand, along the deserted path. A strange melancholy accompanied them, the silence of the night air hanging heavy around them.

Faith watched as the came to a stop in front of a familiar grave. They leaned against it, Buffy's arms wrapping instinctively around Angel's waist, resting her head against his chest.

Alana walked toward them, and Faith was surprised to see not even the smallest bit of hostility between Buffy and the younger girl. In fact, they seemed to get on pretty well. Faith felt a stab of jealousy. She shook it off.

< I don't need friends. > She reminded herself. < Look at Buffy. All they do is complicate things. >

Still, though. She'd never really had that many friends. Til she met Buffy, anyway.

< Burned that bridge, Didn't I??? >

Suddenly, Angel looked up, and right at her. She knew he'd seen her. He leaned down and whispered to Buffy, who looked up too.

"Come on out Faith, we know you're there." She called.

Faith stepped from the shadows, and for the first time in a very long time, she was terrified. < Can I do this??? > She wondered. < Can I kill her??? >

She held her breath as Buffy moved out of Angel's arms and towards her.




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