Faith & Family
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—F—
In the motel room of the Motor Inn, the rising sun spilled its golden light into the small and cramped space. Despite the peeling wallpaper and the musty smell that permeated everything, the morning sun seemed to transform the room into a warm and comforting cocoon. Faith lay awake between Buffy and Xander, the soft sheets and warm bodies enveloping her in a sense of safety and belonging. Buffy and Xander were holding her close, their arms wrapped around her in such a way she felt protected against all the pain and darkness that had plagued her for years.
‘Ever since Mr. Bronson,’ she mused. At the thought of her drunk parents, she amended her thought, adding, ‘No. Bronson wouldn’t have gotten his hooks in me if my parents hadn’t fucked up first.’
Before she could feel the typical shame and anger over a long stretch of her entire life, she felt her friends’ warmth, shielding her from the negative thoughts. In their company, she could trust that they wouldn’t betray her as Bronson had—and, once again, hot tears fell at such a monumental revelation. Faith never believed she could fully trust another person again, let alone love and trust two. She tried to wipe her tears away as quickly as she could, but Buffy and Xander held her tighter, signaling to her that they had woken up.
As they held her through another session of tears, the emotion in the room was palpable. However, Faith kicked off the sheets, saying, “We oughta get back.” Though she wanted to maintain her aloof demeanor, her puffy eyes and runny nose didn’t help.
In the parking lot, Faith swung her leg over her motorcycle, the leather of her jacket creaking as she settled into place. While Buffy climbed on behind her, Xander revved the engine of his own bike—the sound rumbling through the air—and soon, they made their way through the streets of Sunnydale, enjoying the morning light. Soon, they pulled up outside Buffy’s house, and Mrs. Summers appeared at the door, a concerned look on her face. Faith felt a pang of guilt at the worry she must have caused the caring mother, and she hung her head as they approached.
“Buffy, Faith, are you okay?” Mrs. Summers asked, concern etched on her face.
With her voice low, Faith replied, “Sorry, Mrs. S. I stayed out.”
With her motherly intuition, Mrs. Summers could easily see that Faith had a hard night, and she shook off her concerns. “It’s okay, dear,” she said, wrapping her arms around Faith’s shoulders. “Come inside and I’ll make you pancakes. Xander, stay for breakfast, please.”
“Sure thing Mrs. S,” Xander called, staying back with Buffy.
—X—
As Joyce led Faith inside, Xander took Buffy’s hand and pulled her into a grateful embrace. “Thanks for being there,” he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
“Of course,” Buffy replied, hugging him back just as tightly as the side of her face pressed comfortably against his chest.
“It felt like anything I said would’ve only pushed her away,” he confessed, enjoying the warmth and feel of her small, firm body.
Xander’s heart was racing as he held the blonde beauty close, feeling the warmth of her fit so snugly against him. There was electricity between them that felt like a magnetic pull he was powerless to resist. Xander couldn’t shake the desire to feel her supple lips on his, but he also knew it wasn’t right. With all their history, he knew well enough not to push needlessly, thus he let go of her, and they joined the others for breakfast.
They all sat down to eat, the scent of fresh pancakes, maple syrup, and strawberries filling the air. Over breakfast, Buffy tried to convince Joyce that she needed her own mode of transportation to travel around town faster, whether on a motorcycle or in a car.
“Or else I’m going to be walking everywhere!” Buffy argued with a slight pout.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but you have supernaturally strong legs,” the protective mother pointed out with a smile. “I have no doubt you can run for long periods of time.”
“Come on, Mom!” Buffy bemoaned cutely. “How many jeans will I have to throw away because I developed thunder thighs running everywhere? Are you really prepared to buy me a new wardrobe? Because a car would be cheaper.”
Faith snickered softly, and Xander felt like adding some levity. “From what I’ve been hearing, the thick-thigh-life is seeing a resurgence with the male population.”
“See!” Buffy exclaimed, pointing at Xander as he backed up her point. “Is that what you want? Perverts everywhere ogling at my body because I’m forced to run all over town?”
Nodding evenly, Xander exaggerated, “A car would keep her legs skinny and unappealing to all.”
Making a face like she chewed on a lemon, Buffy turned to Xander at the unexpected possibility and asked with trepidation, “Really? Like, how unappealing?”
“Buff,” Xander said with raised brows, trying to steer her back to the topic.
“Right,” Buffy replied, returning her attention to her mother.
Setting down her fork, Joyce eyed Buffy with understanding as she gently said, “Sweetie, you’re my daughter. I’m sure they’ll ogle you no matter what shape you have.”
“She has a point,” Xander relayed, nodding to the blonde Slayer, and also making Faith snort a bit.
Feigning irritation, Buffy hotly told him, “You’re not helping.”
“I’ll keep my help strictly mechanical then,” Xander offered before turning to Joyce and suggesting, “how about we buy a cheap car? Like a thousand-dollar junker at an auction. My uncle Rory knows a few dealers, so we can get a good deal. Then I can fix it up for Buffy.”
At the sight of her eighteen-year-old daughter pleading with large puppy dog eyes, Joyce sighed before suggesting, “How about a minivan?”
“A van?” Buffy groaned in disbelief. “Do you really want me thinking about filling it with kids at such a young age?”
“Though I’d love the idea of recreating the Mystery Van, I was thinking more like a truck,” Xander proposed.
Buffy looked aghast as she rebuffed, “Oh, yeah, because me and my stuffed animals are totally truck country. Why aren’t either of you asking what kind of car I want? I’m the one who’s going to be driving it.”
“Because you’re not paying for it,” Joyce easily answered.
“Or spending weeks of labor fixing it up,” he added.
Buffy whined in her ultra-cute way before trudging over to her sister Slayer. “Uoooh, Faith, make them stop,” she weakly said as she hugged the brunette from behind.
Xander’s heart swelled with joy at the sight of Faith’s small but genuine smile. The brunette Slayer’s tough attitude had always acted as a shield, protecting her from the vulnerability that came with connecting with others. However, the warmth of the kitchen—filled with good food and people who truly cared about her—must’ve struck her with a sense of belonging, as if she was finally finding a place she could call home.
With a quick inhale, Faith held onto Buffy tightly, and Xander sensed that the sudden feeling of family may have been too much for her. The beautiful Bostonian began to cry silently, the tears streaming down her face like crystal raindrops on a delicate rose. Buffy held her close, her arms a sanctuary of comfort as they rocked back and forth. Xander felt a lump form in his throat, his eyes beginning to heat up at the beautiful, raw moment between Slayers. After several silent minutes, Faith settled down enough to apologize.
“You have nothing to apologize for, Faith,” Joyce reassured her, handing her a box of tissues.
“God, I’m turning into such a blubbering basket-case,” Faith bemoaned, her red eyes welling up with tears. She angrily pointed a stern finger at Xander as she asserted, “What did you do to me, Harris?!”
Smiling in the face of her hostility, he merrily answered, “It’s called love.”
“Well, keep it away from me, you hear?!” she hotly warned, sniffing and wiping her eyes. “Ugh, I’ve never cried so much in my life!”
Joyce patted Faith’s hand comfortingly and assured her, “We’ll keep your secret, dear.”
—
Later that day, Xander and the Slayers met the Watchers in the school library. At the center table, with the afternoon sun illuminating the newly repaired space, Xander recounted to Faith, Buffy, Giles, and Wesley what he and Angel had been doing. He explained that he had been surveilling the mayor, because his Old Man memories a huge fight between the graduating class and a demon possibly summoned by the mayor on graduation day. Wesley looked as though he swallowed something unpleasant and Giles furrowed his brow, deep in thought. Faith’s face twisted in melancholy when he mentioned the Mayor’s aid, while Buffy focused on the vampire.
“You and Angel? Working together?” Buffy asked in disbelief.
Faith gasped in realization, “That’s why you were there…”
“Yeah,” Xander gently answered his girlfriend before adding, “following the Mayor’s aide. He had vampire security guards and everything.” To Buffy, he replied, “And yeah. After that Lernaean thing, Angel wanted to make it up to me, so he was helping me investigate this.”
With a sobering thought, Faith exhaled before asking her boyfriend, “So… so he was a bad guy?”
Growing curious at Faith’s shocked behavior, Giles asked, “Excuse me, but who is he?”
Xander and Buffy turned to Faith and nodded to show their support. Nervously, and with a deep breath, Faith admitted, “I… uh, nearly k-killed a guy—like, of the regular human variety. The Mayor’s aide, apparently. We were in the middle of a fight and he got in the way… no, no. It was… I wasn’t paying attention. I was just reacting. And if Xander wasn’t there, he’d definitely be dead right now. I would’ve killed someone.”
“But you didn’t,” Buffy pointed out, her tone comforting.
“And that guy is fine… ish,” Xander added with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.
Rather callously, Wesley advised, “If this aide to the Mayor was truly an agent of evil, he’s nothing to concern yourself with.”
Giles turned to Wesley, his disbelief written all over his face. He then turned to Faith, his voice softening as he spoke. “The accidental killing of normal humans has happened before, Faith; especially in the heat of battle,” he explained. “While I’m certain we can work on things to make better decisions in the future, I want you to know that we, as Watchers, will do everything in our power to help guide you through your life as a Slayer. And as a friend—if I may count myself among them—it is my desire for you to know that even if at times you may feel alone, the truth is: you never are.”
Exhaling deeply, like a balloon with a leak, Faith looked pained for a moment before she shook her head. “Ah, crap,” she bemoaned, her voice choked with emotion. Her eyes began welling up with tears and her nose reddened as she abruptly turned to dash out of the library.
To help lighten the mood, Xander called out to the fleeing Slayer, “Distance means so little when someone means so much!”
“Shuuuuut uuup!” Faith yelled back, nearing another bout of crying.
Buffy restrained a smile, shaking her head at him before the amused blonde followed the tearful Slayer. After a few minutes, the girls returned to the library, accompanied by Willow, Cordelia, and Oz. Faith gave Xander a death glare, but with her red nose and puffy eyes, she only looked adorable to him. She playfully jabbed his shoulder before standing next to him, ready to continue the investigation.
Xander explained to the gang what had happened before then telling everyone, “We should probably get on investigating the mayor. I bet you my mansion he’s the big bad.”
Curious, Wesley asked, “Do you live in a mansion?”
“No,” Xander casually answered.
Giles asked, “How did we stop him before?”
Tilting his head, Xander hummed a moment before replying, “I’m almost positive we blew the snake up.”
“I am so in favor of this,” Faith declared, ready for more butch activities.
Giles leaned forward, his hands clasped together in front of him as he suggested, “Before any talk of explosives, we should learn more of the Mayor’s plans, then proceed cautiously from there.”
“Rupert, please recall yourself,” Wesley ordered the man. “Your presence here is merely a formality. You are no longer in any position of authority. Only I command them.”
Buffy’s eyes narrowed, and Faith’s lips curled in a snarl at the arrogant Watcher’s words. But being the respectful man that he was, Giles didn’t argue with Wesley’s position, especially in front of the children.
Xander, however, drew Wesley’s attention when he asserted, “No, you don’t. In fact, I’d go so far as to say you’re an utter failure as a commander.”
“I beg your pardon,” the offended Wesley returned, disbelief in his eyes.
Giles tried to stop Xander, but he continued, “As much knowledge as you have, the most important part of getting anything done with any measure of success is relationships. You could very well be in command, but whatever you have in mind will be next to impossible to get done without the cooperation of the people standing in front of you. So, the second you understand that Giles here is our guy, and you putting him in a box like an abandoned puppy is kinda pissing us off, the smoother this’ll go for everyone. Got it?”
Wesley nearly sneered as he asked in mocking, “And you would know this from your vast eighteen years of experience?”
“Eighteen plus eighty, but yeah,” Xander confidently answered.
“I’m in charge here, Mr. Harris,” Wesley retorted. “And you are a civilian. You shouldn’t be involved in the first place.”
Balling her fists in frustration, Faith called out, “Nope. Screw this.”
“Faith,” Buffy tried.
“No,” Faith told her. “I ain’t working for this pompous asshole!”
Xander grabbed Faith’s hand before she left and continued telling Wesley, “Do you know why the Watchers Council doesn’t pay Slayers, even though you guys make stupid amounts of money?”
“The fuck?!” Faith yelled. “They’re raking it in and we don’t get a dime? How’s that fair!”
Wesley replied to both Xander and Faith, “Material wealth has always been linked to depression, immoral values, and a disregard for the sanctity of human life. The Slayer’s calling to such a noble position would only be tainted by such base desires.”
“I’m not talking about spinning rims, gold chains, or the latest Gucci bag,” Xander clarified. “You guys don’t even give them pocket money, let alone make sure they have a place to sleep. The reason you don’t pay them is because a Slayer and a Watcher need to be a symbiotic relationship—You’re the knowledge, and she’s the muscle. One without the other, and people die. But if a Slayer ever needed to separate or fight the council, it would be easier to do since they’re not your employees. Simply put, you don’t command them without their willingness to follow.”
“Fine, if you’re so intent on debating this, I’ll humor you,” Wesley lamely said, seemingly dismissive of the teenager. “Why would a Slayer in her right mind ever need to rise against a respectable governing institution like the Watchers Council? We fight evil. The Slayer is the instrument with which we fight. The Council remains. The Slayers... change. It’s been that way since the beginning.”
“For those inevitable times when you guys aren’t so respectable—like Gwendolyn Post, for example. Or when you let the power of your positions and titles get to your heads. Or when you guys are so full of yourselves and say dumb things like, ‘I’m in charge, so do what I say,’ without even earning it. Or when the Council murder Slayers on their eighteenth birthday because they took their strength away and forced them to fight a vampire. Yeah, I ain’t ever letting that happen to Faith.”
“Oh, I fucking dare you,” Faith growled, glaring at Wesley, who swallowed nervously under the intensity.
Xander continued, “We’re all here to stop the evil, so we work together because that’s how we save the most lives. Whether Giles has authority given to him by the Council or not, it would help you to get us to cooperate more when you get it through your thick skull: He. Is. Our. Guy.”
Xander stood tall, his eyes blazing with conviction as he stared down Wesley. The young Watcher noted the rest of the Scooby Gang standing behind him, united in their fierce agreement. Faith’s fists were clenched at her sides, and her jaw was set in a determined line. Buffy had a look of quiet determination on her face, her greenish-blue eyes shining with conviction. Willow stood with her arms crossed, a fierce scowl etched on her face, while Cordelia looked at Wesley rather sadly.
Wesley’s face was a mask of confusion as he looked at each of the Scoobies in turn. He seemed to have expected support for his point of view, not this display of fierce loyalty for Giles. He cleared his throat nervously, but didn’t speak.
“Why don’t we all take some time a-and allow cooler heads to prevail?” Giles suggested, his tone light and appreciative.
—B—
While Xander left to immerse himself in his crafting at Wild Dink’s, the Slayers returned home. The afternoon air was crisp and hot as they entered the two-story house, talking about simple things like the car Buffy might get, or teasing Faith over all the Valentine’s Day requests she had been getting despite her devil-may-care attitude. Faith rolled her eyes at all the boys that seemed to have a thing for her, but seemed to secretly enjoy the attention.
Sitting down at the dinner table, they both pulled out their homework as Faith remarked, “I’m guessing they thought me and Xander were a joke or that I monkey-branch from guy to guy, which, yeah, I sorta did back in Boston, but they don’t know that. I’ve been on a strict Xander diet since I got here.”
“That’s half sweet and half eww,” Buffy admitted, her face screwed up in a weird mixture of a grimace with soft eyes.
Faith continued, “Turns out that a few saw me crying in the hallway and thought he cheated on me! Couple of ‘em even offered to beat him up.” Faith laughed uproariously before adding, “Ah man, can you believe that? I almost wanted to let them just to see Sweet Spot kick their asses.”
“It wasn’t that long ago I was the one saving Xander from bullies,” Buffy reminisced fondly. “Now, it’s impossible to picture him getting pummeled by regular people after seeing him slay vampires, demons, and actual dragons.”
“Looking good doing it, too,” Faith boasted with an amorous grin. As they settled in for some studying, the sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the kitchen, creating a cozy atmosphere. Faith felt comfortable enough to open up with her sister Slayer. She tentatively said, “Hey, B?”
“Yeah,” the blonde replied, looking up from her math textbook.
Nervously, Faith said, “What I said before… about you dating Xander-”
“Forget about it,” Buffy easily cut in, dismissing the worry with a gentle wave of her hand. “Trust me, I know how overwhelming being in love can be sometimes—figured it was just new to you. I know you didn’t mean it.”
“Uh, yeah, I did,” Faith flatly replied. “I still do.”
Buffy’s eyes widened in surprise before exclaiming, “Faith, you can’t be serious! You and Xander are perfect together.”
“No. You, me, and Xander are perfect together,” she returned. “There are things he’s great at, especially in the bedroom—my God in the bedroom-”
“Okay!” a blushing Buffy quickly interjected.
Undeterred, Faith continued. “And there are some things he’s not. Same with me. Same with you.”
“Yeah, that’s like all of human experience,” Buffy asserted, still embarrassed by the direction of the conversation. “It doesn’t mean one guy gets two girlfriends.”
“Buffy, you took charge last night,” Faith reminded the beautiful blonde, her tone growing more heartfelt. “In my head, I was already putting Sunnydale and Xander in my rear view. I was gone and didn’t think I was coming back. I’m sure he knew there was nothing he could’ve done or said that would’ve changed my mind. But you did. You dragged him into that room and forced me to see what’s what. You both helped me.”
Buffy could feel how sincere Faith was being, and answered just as sincerely, “Yeah, because we care about you, Faith.”
“And I care about you both just as much, if not more,” Faith interjected, eyeing her with a caring expression.
Buffy felt warm feelings spread throughout her body as Faith’s words sank in. Ever since Xander had first mentioned Faith months back, Buffy had always hoped that the two of them would become closer, but hearing the brunette express her feelings in such an honest way was a moment she hadn’t expected to treasure so much. Buffy couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in the small but tightly-knit group of friends she had managed to create since coming to Sunnydale. It wasn’t always easy being a Slayer, but having friends who understood the challenges she faced made it all bearable.
An errant thought popped into her mind, ‘Xander was the first to find out, too. He was the spark for all of this.’
Her mind had been consumed with thoughts of Xander—especially after breaking up with Angel—but adding Faith to their little family had brought her a higher sense of peace and belonging. Faith had always been so fiercely independent, but in that moment, Buffy saw a vulnerability in her that she had never noticed before. The sudden surge of affection made the blonde realize that they were more alike than they were different.
“I don’t want to break up with him,” Faith continued. “But I also don’t want to be the one to get between you two. You think I’m perfect for Xander, but I can say the same thing about you.”
As Faith’s words rang in her ears, Buffy was pensive. Xander, the cause of all her emotional anxiety lately. ‘No,’ a voice inside her that sounded like Willow argued. The voice said, ‘You only need to be honest, the same way you were honest with Angel.’
For the millionth time since that night, Buffy couldn’t believe she had answered Angel’s question with a soft yes. Angel asked her if she loved Xander, and regardless of how crazy it was or how much she would lose, in her heart of hearts, Buffy recalled feeling incapable of lying, and said yes. Angel, the love of her life, learned that night that she truly loved another man. Buffy’s chaotic emotions made her stomach sink as her admission snapped the last thread connecting her with Angel. She said yes.
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Buffy couldn’t believe it, not until she returned to the library and saw Xander laying on the floor, broken and half-dead. The only thing that mattered to her then was doing everything in her power to keep him in her life forever, even if that meant begging some higher power. Xander had given Buffy so much, she couldn’t go on without him. She couldn’t be Buffy… because he truly was her heart.
It was surprising when Faith continued, saying, “It’s painfully obvious that you guys are that Happily-Ever-After nonsense. You’d have to be a bonehead to miss out on that just because you let other people’s rules get in the way… unless you want to be a ninety-year-old spinster.”
Buffy scrunched her nose as if smelling something bad and shook her head, defending herself. “I’m not going to be a ninety-year-old spinster.”
Faith’s eyes glinted with mischief as she reminded her, “There’s an easy cheat-sheet we could always check.”
“No,” Buffy quickly protested, her eyes widening with apprehension. “…I don’t think I’m ready to hear that answer.”
“Come on, Buffy. Be real with me,” Faith pressed. “Tell me you didn’t want to drag him into an aisle and swap spit when he told that ponce off!”
At the memory of Xander defending Giles just like she wanted to, Buffy’s cheeks grew warm as she slowly admitted, “…It was pretty hot to see him stand up for Giles like that.”
“So fucking hot,” Faith agreed, a sly grin spreading across her face.
“But that doesn’t mean-”
“Yes, it does mean that,” Faith interrupted, her expression serious. “I get what you’re saying, but seriously, we’re Slayers. Nothing about our lives will ever be normal. Even school is a waste of time. Maybe that’s why you never really looked Xander’s way until he became a total badass.”
“I… Maybe,” Buffy voiced with uncertainty in her higher-pitched voice. “What about you? Do you still think you’d get together if he wasn’t Sir Xander, the Dragon Slayer?” she couldn’t help but ask with a small smile.
“Nah! Not with a guy that goody-goody,” Faith honestly replied. Though, with a thoughtful nod, she added, “We would’ve hooked up a few times, for sure.”
“Ugh, jeez,” Buffy gasped, shaking her head.
“What? He’s cute,” Faith defended. “And there were bound to be nights where I’m raring to go after a good fight. But I doubt we’d be anything more than that.”
“He really has changed,” Buffy lamented, recalling his growth for the past year.
The blonde Slayer couldn’t help but recall all the times she’d witnessed Xander fight. She’d never seen anyone fight like him. He was like an effortlessly graceful dancer when he took down demons, and she was always drawn to the fluidity of his movements. His style of combat was so unlike anything she’d ever seen. She couldn’t help feeling mesmerized by him—the way his muscles rippled under his shirt as he fought with precision and force; the glistening of sweat on his forehead; the panting breaths after a hard-fought victory. Buffy couldn’t deny that there was something undeniably attractive about his combat ability, something that stirred a longing deep within her.
Absent-mindedly, Buffy mumbled, “The way he fights…”
“Utter beauty,” Faith wholeheartedly agreed.
“Hypnotic,” Buffy added with a smile, happy to see Faith agree.
Nodding with a grin, she asserted, “That’s a lap dance for Slayers right there.”
“And his attitude too,” Buffy comfortably began to gush. “I mean, he’s the same Xander I met two years ago, but more, you know?”
“Can’t say,” Faith admitted with a shrug.
Buffy took a moment to gather her thoughts before saying, “Underneath that stuff is what I hadn’t expected.”
“Like?”
“He changed the people around him,” Buffy explained with a measure of disbelief. “Me, for sure. I mean, when I tell you I never imagined loving anyone more than Angel, you’d think it was the eleventh commandment. Giles has a way better opinion of him—he relies on Xander. Willow is tons more confident in herself. Even Cordelia. I mean, I had no idea she could care so much about someone other than herself.”
Under Faith’s watchful gaze, Buffy fidgeted with her fingers, feeling her heart race as she contemplated her feelings for Xander. The weight of her emotions felt unrelenting, threatening to spill out of her at any moment. Buffy glanced up at Faith, whose piercing eyes seemed to see right through her, and Buffy felt she was on the verge of voicing what was in her heart because it was Faith—and it was Xander—and somehow, Buffy felt brave enough to speak her feelings. She’d learned that from Xander this past year and had already done so with Angel.
“Ugh, how is this even happening right now?” Buffy bemoaned, feeling hot and nervous. “What I f-feel for Xander now… it’s scary how amazing it could be if… if I just… if I just let myself…”
Faith’s reaction caught Buffy off guard. The brunette Slayer rolled her eyes and slapped the counter before yelling, “Jesus Christ, girl! Just let yourself!”
Dumbfounded by Faith’s ability to accept something so atypical, Buffy replied, “Faith, this could go so horribly wrong, so I need you to stop saying stuff like we’re perfect together and you want me to date him, because I don’t have it in me to say no forever.”
Undeterred, Faith leaned over the table and eyed the blonde with a serious stare as she stated, “Buffy, go get that boy.”
“What did I just say?!” the flabbergasted blonde returned in disbelief.
“Go get him, B,” Faith maintained, just as seriously. “You love him, and I… I l-love you both. It’s that simple.”
Buffy blinked in surprise, not quite sure how to react, but thoroughly taken aback by Faith’s heartfelt admission. It wasn’t often that the other slayer showed her soft side, and the sincerity in her voice touched Buffy deeply. It reminded her of a conversation she had with Angel, just before their relationship had ended.
For a moment, Buffy sat in silence, mulling over Faith’s words. The weight of her emotions was almost suffocating, but she knew she couldn’t ignore them any longer. It was time to take a leap of faith and see where her heart would take her.
“While we’re young, please,” Faith groaned impatiently, bringing Buffy out of her thoughts.
Wide-eyed in surprise, Buffy asked incredulously, “Now?”
“Go!” Faith heatedly urged, pointing to the door.
Frazzled, Buffy felt her cheeks heat up and her pounding heart as she tried to come up with more reasons to stall. “But- but he’s working,” she protested.
Rolling her eyes, Faith reminded her, “He technically doesn’t have to work, so he won’t care.”
“My hair’s a mess!” Buffy exclaimed, combing her hair with her fingers.
“A sexy mess,” Faith corrected with a suggestive grin.
“I don’t have anything to wear!”
“You can wear a trash bag and he’d still dig it,” Faith quickly claimed.
“Faith!”
“Buffy!”
After a moment of silence, Buffy, moments from capitulating, weakly pointed out, “…He’s your boyfriend.”
Faith smiled genuinely before confidently stating, “And he’s yours, too.”
Fearful of every way this could go wrong, Buffy softly asked, “But what if this all just blows up in our faces? …And we end up hating each other?”
“Xander’s kind of love won’t let that happen,” Faith assured her, doing wonders to calm Buffy’s fears. “The second he sees—or we feel—it isn’t working out, he’ll pump the brakes. I know him. He’s sappy like that.”
Though Buffy still had serious reservations, she knew one thing was for certain: their three-way relationship wouldn’t lack love and honesty. Buffy felt a deep affection for Faith, who reciprocated her feelings, and she knew that Xander loved them both. All that was left was to take a chance on them and follow through with a leap of faith.
“Now, get your pretty little ass over there and jump that sexy meatstick- shit, I mean go do love stuff,” Faith happily ordered.
Buffy snorted in amusement, shaking her head at the brunette’s antics. “You’re crazy, Faith! You’re so crazy!”
“Crazy for both of you,” she cheerfully replied. “Now go. And tell him I said we’re five-by-five.”
——
After calling Xander, Faith told Buffy where to find him. Buffy took a long bus ride to the bus stop nearest Xander’s house and then walked the rest of the way. She felt so incredibly nervous throughout the journey. Her mind was racing with thoughts of the monumental, life-altering thing she was about to do. Buffy considered getting off the bus at every stop, but each time she took a deep breath and reminded herself that fear was the only thing holding her back.
As she walked through Xander’s neighborhood, she couldn’t help noticing the run-down homes around her—the 70s style houses all being two stories, skinny, with faded paint. There wasn’t a flower in sight and only a handful of trees. Despite the bright sun on a cloudless blue sky, Xander’s neighborhood was drab, faded, and dreary. Oddly enough, the slum-like area Xander lived in brought a sense of solace to her turbulent emotions.
“Has his neighborhood always been like this?” she asked herself, wondering why she never noticed.
Suddenly, a loud honk made Buffy jump, pulling her out of her thoughts. Cordelia had pulled up beside her in a red Mazda Miata, confusing Buffy, who was accustomed to seeing the cheerleader in her expensive BMW. The car even looked pre-owned, and its conservative style contrasted with Cordelia’s usual flamboyance. Cordelia leaned over and asked if Buffy was heading to Xander’s place. At Buffy’s nod, she offered her a ride the rest of the way.
During the drive, Cordelia was curious about Buffy’s thoughts on Wesley, but the blonde could barely respond. Not only did Buffy wonder what happened to Cordelia’s BMW, but the realization that the beautiful cheerleader was going to Xander’s house made her stomach twist horribly. She was kicking herself for suddenly recalling that Cordelia and Xander had occasionally hooked up, and she didn’t want to be anywhere near that again; especially when she was there to confess her feelings for him.
‘They’re not going to have sex, are they?!’ she asked herself. Buffy’s heart was pounding wildly in her chest as she asked herself, ‘What am I doing?!’
Despite Buffy’s inability to engage in small talk, Cordelia didn’t seem to mind and talked enough for the both of them. When the pair reached Xander’s house, Buffy’s nerves skyrocketed. Recalling Xander and Cordelia’s sex together made Buffy’s heart hammer in her ribcage and her stomach turn. Buffy wanted to walk away, but Xander came out of his house and greeted them.
Awkwardly, Buffy raised the jacket of his unnecessarily high, and said, “I- I just came to return your jacket, so, I’ll- I’ll just… go.”
Xander nodded easily, taking his jacket back as if he didn’t know how much she was panicking about her newly-formed love for him.
He kindly offered, “Well, if you’re not in a rush, I can give you a ride back.” He then turned to Cordelia and asked, “How many did you bring?” Buffy’s curiosity grew as she observed Cordelia casually take out a small plastic bag filled with gold rings. Xander hummed introspectively before stating, “Shouldn’t take me long.” He told them both, “Come on in.”
Curiosity got the better of the nervous blonde, so she followed them. It was then that Buffy noticed how much Xander’s house stood out from every other one in the neighborhood. He must’ve painted it at some point because it was the best-looking house on the block, by far. The bright blue color made it impossible to miss.
Walking inside, Buffy heard Xander telling Cordelia over his shoulder, “You should really learn how to do this on your own. I’m not always going to be able to, you know.”
Grumbling in her laziness, Cordelia cutely bemoaned, “But you make them into those cute little bars and even stamp the weight on each.”
Buffy’s heart sank at the thought of Xander and Cordelia going upstairs to his bed. She dreaded it until Xander unexpectedly continued to his garage while Cordelia sat in the charming living room. She picked up the magazine on the coffee table and flipped through her magazine as if she were waiting her turn at a hair salon. Unsure of what was happening between them, Buffy couldn’t help but feel like a stranger in a familiar place and kept silent.
The living room was decorated with warm, earthy colors and had comfortable furniture that looked well-worn but maintained. Buffy’s eyes drifted to the bookshelf that lined one wall, noting the eclectic mix of fantasy novels, comic books, and sci-fi memorabilia. Buffy then spotted a framed photo of Xander as an infant on the mantle, and couldn’t help cooing at the plump baby. Cordelia looked up at the noise and Buffy apologized.
“Sorry,” she said. She pointed at the framed photo and explained, “I was just looking at baby Xander with his plump little cheeks.”
“Oh, yeah,” Cordelia said with a small grin. “Shame it’s like the only good photo.”
Frowning her brows in curiosity, Buffy asked, “What do you mean?”
Without even looking up from her magazine, she answered, “The donors he calls mom and dad weren’t exactly model parents and didn’t bother taking a lot of pictures of him. There are a few other pictures in an album somewhere, but that’s the best one.”
“Oh,” was all Buffy could think to say.
She never realized how little she knew about Xander’s home life before she arrived. And what was more surprising was that Cordelia knew details about him that she didn’t. It was odd for Buffy to ask Cordelia about her best friend, but she did anyway, because she had a growing need to know everything about him.
“Does he miss his parents since they left?” she asked.
“Ha! I’m sure he misses the plague more than those drunks.”
‘Just like Faith,’ Buffy thought before deciding to go upstairs.
Along the way, she noted there wasn’t a single family photo on the walls, a stark contrast to her own home, where family photos were displayed proudly. It only continued to highlight the differences between her life as a popular valley girl with a caring mother, and Xander, Faith, and even Cordelia’s lives with their decidedly more broken families.
Upon entering Xander’s room, Buffy was taken aback by how pristine and well-organized the living space was. It was still very much Xander, with posters of his favorite movies and comics adorning the walls, but it was cleaner and more put-together than she had ever seen. His bed was made, everything was neat, and there was no clutter. She breathed in the pleasant smell of freshly laundered sheets and his own unique scent, and felt relieved.
As she surveyed the room, her eyes noted the absence of any family photos once again. It made her heart sink, realizing that Xander’s parents were not people he cherished or even talked about. Instead, framed photos of himself with his closest friends were displayed prominently on his desk and shelves. Buffy saw Willow, Oz, Cordelia, Giles, Jenny, Faith, and herself in the photos, all smiling and happy. It was clear that Xander saw them as his family more than his own blood, and it made her feel both grateful and sad at the same time.
Feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion, Buffy sat on Xander’s bed to ponder how much she really knew about her supposed best friend. The warmth of the room had her close her eyes for just a moment as she plopped back and inhaled the scent of him in his sheets, letting herself relax. It was a surprise when Xander shook her awake, and Buffy jumped up and off the bed, embarrassed. She had only meant to rest for a few minutes, but looking at the clock, she had slept for nearly thirty.
“Sorry,” she quickly said. “I must’ve dozed off.”
Xander shook his head, unbothered, before asking, “Did you want to sleep a little longer?”
“No, no. It’s fine,” she assured him with a smile. Eager to move on, she asked, “What were you doing for Cordelia?”
Sitting more relaxed on his bed, he began explaining, “Uh, when we were going out, I made her a special ring for Valentine’s.”
“What’s special about it?”
“It duplicates,” he casually answered. “Every nine days, it drips three gold rings. When she fills a bag, she comes by and I melt them into little gold bars for her to sell.”
Shocked by the lucrative enterprise, Buffy’s eyes widened as she asked, “Uh, where the hell is my gold ring?”
Xander snorted before answering, “I didn’t think you needed one.”
“I like gold bars too! You’d be hard-pressed to find a girl out there who doesn’t like gold bars,” Buffy assured him with a humorously stern expression. “And Cordelia’s already rich.”
Xander winced, and after seesawing his head from side to side, explained, “Well, to tell you the truth, I made that ring for her because I knew her family was going to have money problems—as in, the mega-rich Chase household was going to lose it all.”
That took Buffy by surprise. With wide eyes, she realized, “Wait… Is that why she’s not driving her BMW?”
“Yeah,” he answered with slow nodding. “The mother of all Hellmouths, also known as the IRS, repossessed a lot. She won’t show it, but she’s been having a tough time lately.”
“Oh,” was all Buffy could think to reply, a surge of sympathy welling up for the other girl. “I didn’t know.”
“That’s kinda how she likes it,” he said.
“Show no weakness kinda thing?”
As Xander flashed a heartwarming smile, he spoke in a soft, affectionate tone, “I can make you a ring, if you want.”
Buffy’s heart skipped a beat at his words, and her mind began to race with images of Xander slipping a ring on her finger and sweeping her off her feet.
“…Okay,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes locking onto his gaze, brimming with anticipation and excitement.
Standing up, he asked, “Let me see your hand.”
Eyeing him with growing anticipation, Buffy slowly extended her left hand. When Xander took her hand in his, Buffy could feel the electric current running up her arm as he traced the contours of her delicate fingers with a gentle touch. She could sense the love and admiration he held for her.
As their eyes met, they felt a magnetic force drawing them closer together. Feeling Xander’s warm hands on her waist, Buffy couldn’t help but lean into him, their bodies pressing together, creating an intimate connection. She could feel his breath on her neck, sending shivers down her spine, and she knew it was only the beginning of the powerful sensations he would make her feel.
“…Buffy?” he softly called, his hand slowly tracing up her arms, causing a wave of heat to wash over her.
“…Yeah?” she asked, her eyes locked on his, feeling the powerful attraction drawing them closer.
Relishing the warmth of her sexy body, he muzzily responded, “I think we’re supposed to say stuff.”
“Uh-huh,” she murmured as their heads—their lips—drew closer together.
They quickly kissed once. It was a peck on the lips, but upon pulling away, the teenagers only realized they didn’t want to do anything else but kiss. Their lips snapped together like magnets, but maintained fluidity as they breathed in each other’s scent. No matter how they tilted their head for maximum access, their open mouths were coupled together hungrily.
Pulling him in close—impatient for more of him—Buffy didn’t know why she thought he’d be a weak kisser. A good and funny guy shouldn’t be so good at this, but Xander’s lips, his tongue, and his arm’s strong embrace showed her a side of him she hadn’t expected. Xander was confidently dominating her, and she was quickly losing any restraint to stop.
As they heavily made out, the air around them was electric, and their desire for this was rowing at a frightening rate. Xander’s hands roamed over Buffy’s lithe body, and due to his experience, she melted into his touch. He knew how to massage her in just the right way to make her moan in unexpected pleasure, which would drive him wild. Buffy couldn’t believe how skilled he was at turning her on more than she’s ever felt in her life, but she barely had the thought process to question it. It was as if he had a Master’s degree in turning her on and graduated with honors.
Despite the fog of pleasure clouding her buzzed brain, Buffy quickly understood what the hardness pressing against her stomach was and was happy about it. Xander was hard as a rock, and to be able to excite a man to primal passion made Buffy feel sexy. The throbbing evidence in his strained pants made her feel powerful. It became inconceivable for her to stop this amazing wave of desire. As they kissed passionately—hands caressing each other—they moved together in a sensual dance, lost in the heat of the moment. Buffy had never felt so alive, and she knew that this was just the beginning of something special.
They pulled apart when they both absolutely needed air, and a gasping Xander asked, “Buffy… what are we doing?”
Her answer was to kiss him again.
Soon, Xander descended her elegant jaw, sucking on her neck. He knew her spot there and the blonde beauty moaned to feel her sensitive skin sucked on with just the perfect amount of pressure. Xander forgot his question and only desired to hear her moan and whimper. Pressed against each other, gyrating their pelvises together, they quickly became annoyed by their clothes, and article by article, they pulled them off until they were only in their underwear.
Back-stepping toward the bed as they made out, their heavy session ended when Buffy’s calves abruptly met the bed frame and she plopped her bum on the bed. It gave the horny teenagers a chance to admire the other’s flustered body. There was also another chance to stop and think about what they were doing. However, Xander didn’t feel words were enough. He braved the next step by removing his boxer-briefs and standing with his thick, throbbing erection in front of her face.
Buffy’s greenish-blue eyes widened at the sight. She had only ever seen one other penis in her life, and it couldn’t compare. Xander’s length could cover her face—from chin to forehead—and the girth didn’t seem like she could close her hand around. Pointing straight up and throbbing, she could feel the warmth from his cock on her face, making her swallow audibly as saliva built up in her mouth. With half-lidded and glazed eyes, Buffy leaned forward, licking her lips before suddenly recalling herself and leaning back, her face growing bright red.
The way she covered her face with her hands made Xander smile, as he assumed she was quite nervous. After all, despite how eager he was to bury himself fully inside her hot, tight pussy, this was still only her second experience with a man. Thus, Xander lowered to his knees and reached for the waistband of her pink panties. Xander’s blood was boiling, and he was nearly mindless with desire, but he controlled himself enough to slowly—teasingly—remove her panties.
Buffy lifted herself when she realized what he was doing and watched him as he removed the thin barrier to her leaking womanhood. Her chest rose and dropped quickly, and her legs trembled in anticipation. Once her underwear was tossed aside, Xander eyed the blushing blonde as he opened her strong legs to the exquisiteness of her pristine womanhood. Alabaster skin, with a thin red line from which her sweet nectar leaked out of her pussy, was a thing of beauty.
The gorgeous way her legs spread open for him, Xander massaged her inner thighs as he leaned in—tongue out—and devoured her soaking sex. Buffy’s head shot back as she grunted in surprise and her hands gripped the bed sheets. Using his knowledge from previous loops, Xander knew exactly how to devour her hot mound and massage her flexing muscles. He read her tremors and moans, and reacted masterfully as he tongued her soapy innards.
“AAHhh!” Buffy moaned, eyes shut. “Wai- MMnnnn… Mnnn… Xand-” she gasped.
Her cute mewls of pleasure only served to excite Xander into a frenzy. His mouth latched onto her clitoris as he plunged two fingers into her soaking snatch. All throughout her moans and squirming, Xander’s powerful tongue lapped up her pleasure pearl. His other hand traced her taut stomach and pert breasts. Accurately attacking so many of her erogenous zones simultaneously, he could feel her shiver against him as her climax neared.
“Xander! Xan- I’m almost… Hah, mmmnnnn. I’m almost-” Buffy cried out, shaking her head from side to side as the pleasure he was stimulating within her boiled to a fevered pitch.
Xander knew perfectly well what he was doing, and just as she reached the edge of a pleasure high, he began vibrating his fingers right over her G-spot. Her eyes snapped open and she screamed in her throat as her spine arched.
“MMMMMMMMMMMNNNNNNGGGGGGGG!”
Buffy’s entire body snapped up in an arch as her pussy exploded in ecstasy. Rivers of her sweet honey drenched Xander’s face as his tongue lapped up her delicious juices. After dozens of seconds, Buffy plopped down onto the bed, panting heavily as her body recovered from such an intense orgasm. She barely even noticed that Xander positioned her on the bed so they were comfortable across the length.
Focus slowly returned to her dilated eyes as Xander said, “Buff… if we go any further… I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
With a smile, the flustered Buffy gasped, “Join the club.”
She then leaned up and kissed him passionately, gratefully, happily. Her lips were warm and inviting, and as he pressed his weight on her naked form, the feel of her hard nipples against his chest made his cock twitch. The superior feeling of skin-on-skin contact made Xander hook the length of his stiff erection between her legs. As he rocked her body rhythmically, his hands massaged her sensitive regions; her scalp, neck, back, waist, breasts, and bubble-butt. The hot wetness coating his cock as he rocked against her trembling pussy had him nearly mindless with the urge to bury his cock in her to the hilt.
Their bodies were feverish and sweaty. Buffy had her arms wrapped around his neck as they made out feverishly—entwining their hot tongues—but when it became too much, she pulled away and begged, “Xander… Do it… Please.”
Without delay, Xander rested his bulbous head against her red labia. Already coated in her juices, Xander slid his cock into Buffy’s tight cunt, spreading the velvety walls. Buffy groaned loudly, her body trembling as she held Xander dearly, focusing on the massive insertion just below her belly.
“Are you okay?” he asked, a hint of worry in his tone.
“Yeah… hah… It’s just… y-you’re… big,” she gasped, then blushed furiously, making him smile.
“We’ll wait a bit,” he reassured her before licking and nipping at her neck as she slowly adjusted to his large girth.
When she nodded her head, Xander pulled out slowly before burying himself deeper than before. Incessant tingling ran up and down Xander’s cock at how tremendously amazing her hot wet sex clung to him as he fully buried his meat stick to the root. Pulling out and pumping in, once Xander had his rhythm, he fucked her at a faster rate and the bed bucked underneath them, shifting from the force of Xander’s thrusts.
As Buffy held onto him, she moaned consistently every time he stuffed her to the brim, lathering his pole with copious amounts of her juices. Buffy held onto him dearly as his chiseled head rubbed her G-Spot repeatedly. Buffy couldn’t think. The way he fucked her was so perfect, pangs of pure pleasure exploded within her with his every stroke. Rocking under him, Buffy didn’t know sex could feel so exhilarating. Her mind was mush and her hot body demanded more. She needed him to fuck her; to get her off harder than she’s ever felt before—and Xander knew that.
Beads of sweat on her flush forehead, Buffy moaned, “I’m gonna cum! MMN! You’re! MMhhn! You’re going to! I’m gonna! Xander!”
Smiling, the time looper couldn’t stop his hips from pumping into her, but his technique was precise and ravenous. When Xander began vibrating the entire length of his thick cock in her sensitive sex, Buffy’s eyes rolled back as she lost her mind to the endless bliss of a raging orgasm. She clamped on his dick as she climaxed harder than she’s ever felt. Her back arched and her entire body erupted into a quivering mess, not unlike a giant bell that was hit with the biggest hammer.
Gripping her hips, Xander buried himself to the hilt and unloaded his spunk into her quivering sex. He closed his eyes as he relished the unending waves of pleasure ripping through him. After nearly a minute, the sweaty teens were coherent enough to gaze into each other’s eyes, but they were no less horny, and Xander knew why.
Of all three Slayers he had slept with, Buffy was the wildest in bed—she wanted it. With Faith, she had the potential to start and end a session with wild sex, but more often than not, the badass girl reacted more through slow lovemaking than hard dick-riding. The Buffy of previous loops always began meekly, but when her switch was flipped, Buffy loved it rough. Thus, Xander wasn’t surprised to see the hunger in her eyes, even when he grabbed her throat tightly, so she would know he could give her everything she could want.
She only wanted him more.
Xander hadn’t softened after one shot, and he pulled out—causing a long moan from the beauty under him. He then rolled her onto her stomach before lifting her ass to his pelvis. He kneaded her sweet cheeks before spreading them and immediately burying his entire length in her sweet snatch.
“OOOHHHHHHHH!” Buffy moaned loudly, her head swinging as her body trembled.
Xander leaned forward to grip her breasts before pulling out and stuffing her once again. Activating his vibrating dick, he humped the beautiful girl—her moans and their crotch slapping echoing in his room with a growing tempo. A trail of saliva streaming down her chin, the sweaty blonde she moaned unyieldingly. Buffy’s hips shivered helplessly, and her pussy overflowing with her sweet juices.
CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP, CLAP!
Xander’s cock jabbed into her tight, slick vagina as his hands massaged her breasts, back, waist, and ass. Buffy moaned louder with every passing minute as the pleasure built within her. When he lowered a hand down her stomach and to her clitoris, she knew she would last another minute. Her core tightened like a thick coil of pleasure. When Xander grasped her neck and turned her head so his mouth met hers—his tongue slithering between her submissive lips—the tight coil at her core finally snapped.
Xander packed all eight inches of his thick cock into Buffy’s belly one last time as her dripping sex clamped down on him like a vise. She moaned loudly, her entire body began quaking violently as she was wracked with wave after wave of electric bliss. A long, heart-stopping explosion of ecstasy detonated in her cunt and spread throughout her body. Her toes curled as she squeezed his cock. But Xander wasn’t done.
The experienced boy vibrated his dick harder in her fluttering sex while his hands massaged all of her erogenous zones, sending her reeling into multiple orgasms. Soon enough, Xander couldn’t take it, and with a grunt, he shot streams of his hot seed inside her. It was a joy to linger inside of her until they finally collapsed in a sweaty heap, panting as the waves of delicious ecstasy cascaded up and down her body.
Xander held her close, massaging her back as they regained their strength, and soon enough, they had to fuck again. Buffy became that wild girl from previous loops—the one that needed to be dominated—and she seemed thrilled to realize that Xander wouldn’t disappoint. In various positions on the bed or against the wall, in various rooms or the hallway, the horny teenagers fucked like mindless animals. Xander had Buffy cumming repeatedly, making her quiver sporadically until they were both spent and went straight to sleep.