DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read. This is set after the Buffy episode Revelations. A snippet. Some of the dialog is from the episode. Okay, I got an inspiration for the ending at, like, 4.45 in the morning. I went through it three times and each time it was worse. Unfortunately, I just couldn't bring myself to get up and write the whole thing down. I went over it again as I was going home from college and what's actually written is the fifth version. Sorry if it sucks, but the first three versions were way better, but, unfortunately, I forgot them.

The Greatest Love of All
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Faith was sitting on the bed in her motel appartment, reading a magazine and watching Dragnet. She was hurt by Buffy's and Gwendolyn Post's betrayal, but she tried to forget about it.

"Come in," she said when there was a knock on her door.

The door opened and Buffy peeked in and then entered.

"Hey," she said. "The place looks nice."

"Yeah, it's real Spartan," Faith said sarcastically.

"How are you?" Buffy asked, worried.

"Five-by-five."

"I'll interpret that as good."

Faith didn't respond, she just continued leafing through her magazine.

"Look, Gwendolyn Post, or whoever she may be, had us all fooled. Even Giles," Buffy said, hoping to help Faith feel less guilty.

"Yeah, well, you can't trust people," Faith said without looking up. "I should've learned that by now."

Buffy felt like she had been slapped.

"I realize this is gonna sound funny coming from someone that just spent a lot of time kicking your face… but you can trust me," she said.

Faith looked up, amused.

"Is that right?" she said and tossed the magazine aside.

"I know I kept secrets," Buffy said, "but I didn't have a choice. I'm on your side."

"I'm on my side," Faith said, nodding, "and that's enough."

Buffy shook her head.

"Not always."

Faith shrugged.

"Is that it?" she asked coldly.

"Yeah, I guess," Buffy said, not knowing quite what else to say.

"Alright. Well, then, I'll see you," Faith said and looked back at TV, not really looking.

Buffy took the hint and turned to go.

Faith shook her head, having a second thought.

"Uh, Buffy?"

Buffy looked at her expectantly.

"Yeah?"

Faith reconsidered again for a long moment and changed her mind again.

"Nothing."

Buffy lowered her eyes, disappointed. Slowly she turned back to the door and felt.

Faith looked around her room and took a deep breath.

Outside, Buffy went over to the stairs and paused for a moment, staring sadly at nothing, and then started down the steps. She stopped a moment later. What the hell am I doing? she asked herself. She came here to clear things up with Faith, but nothing got cleared, except that Faith didn't trust her anymore. She knew that if she left things unsaid, it would be a bad thing. She wanted to help Faith. She turned around and went back in.

Inside, Faith sat on her bed, staring out of the window for a moment, then back at the TV. She felt sad. She wanted to trust Buffy, but after everything that had happened, she didn't trust anyone. She wished things were different, she wished Angel had never came back, she wished that Post woman was rotting in Hell and most of all, she wished things were better between her and Buffy. She sighed. Wishing didn't help, so she might as well stop wishing. The door suddenly opened again and Buffy walked in. Faith looked at her, curious.

"Forgot something, B?"

Buffy stared at her for a moment and then closed the door.

"Yes. I forgot to clear things up between us." She hesitated for a moment and then went to Faith's bed and sat down beside her, causing Faith to move a bit. She folded her left leg under her right leg and leaned back. Then she sighed. "What happened to us, Faith?"

Faith looked at her, puzzled.

"Us? I wasn't aware there was any us."

Buffy looked at her.

"You know what I mean." She sighed. "Okay, so I didn't like you when you first came, but that was only because I was jealous because everyone was so interested in you. But then I started to really like you. I mean, when we were together, it was like, I don't know, we were complementing one another. You were the wild one, I was the one in control." She thought for a moment. "I think I know where things went wrong. When Angel came back." She sighed. "I still love him, in a way, but I know we can never be together. And I still feel guilty over killing him, even though I know it was the only way, and I want to help him."

"Why are you telling me this?" Faith asked after a few moments of silence.

"Because I care about you, Faith. I know you were hurt when Gwendolyn turned out to be a fake, but I don't want you to turn your back on people you can trust."

"And who might that be?" Faith said, looking away.

"Me, the gang." Buffy sighed. "We all have our secrets, Faith. Angel was mine, Kakistos was yours. You're not alone, Faith. I know what it's like to be alone. After Kendra was killed and Mom threw me out of the house, I ran away, I just wanted to forget about Slaying. And I almost did. Almost. But then I realized that I couldn't run, I was a Slayer and I had a job to do. But I also realized that I can't do it alone. I mean, I can, but only for so long. So I came back. And believe me, it wasn't easy for me, and probably not for them either. Nobody talked to me and they all kept looking over their shoulders if I would run away again. And I almost did. Mom and I had a serious fight, but then things got better." She paused for a moment. "Do you know a song by Whitney Houston called The Greatest Love of All?"

Faith snorted.

"I don't listen to that kind of music."

"It doesn't matter. My point, or rather, her point, is that the greatest love of all is to love yourself. And I have a feeling you don't. I know I didn't love myself after I ran away, I just didn't care about anything or anyone."

"I'm not you, B," Faith said.

"I know, but I was like you for a few months. Well, maybe not quite as shut down as you are, but I was close. I didn't like it and I doubt you like it either. Look, I'm not saying you should just tell me every little thing that happened to you, Faith, I know it will take time before you're ready to do that, but I want you to trust me, Faith, I want to be there for you, but I can't do that unless you let me in."

Faith thought for a moment, seriously considering the offer, but then her old habits kicked in.

"And what would your friends say?"

Buffy sighed.

"This isn't about them, Faith, it's about you. And me. I'm not saying you have to be their friend if you want to be mine, I just want you to accept that they are my friends, even if they like you. Which I'm not saying they don't. They're just, I don't know, worried. It's so easy to judge you just by your appearance and I've noticed you want to look tough and strong, but I know you're not. Hell, I'm not. But I have my mom, my friends, Giles, and I can go to them when I'm down, you have no one. I know it's hard not to have someone. But on the other hand, it's easier, in a way, you don't have to worry that they'll let you down and you don't have to worry about letting them down. And believe me, I'd rather worry about that than have no one at all. Sure, they may let me down and I may let them down, but things will work out eventually and we'll be friends again. And believe me, they stood by my side more often than they let me down. Or vice versa." She thought for a moment. "Look, I know that bitch Gwendolyn betrayed your trust, but she never wanted to be your friend, she just wanted to use you. I don't. I…" She trailed off for a moment, not quite sure if she should continue. She sighed and decided to get it all out. "I… have… feelings for you," she said and blushed. "I'm not quite sure what kind yet, because everything is so complicated right now, especially since Angel's back and I'm not quite sure how I feel about him. I mean, beside guilt." She sighed. "I'm not saying you should love me or anything, I just want us to be friends. For now."

Faith stared at Buffy, surprised.

"Are you saying you're in love with me?"

Buffy blushed.

"I don't know. I mean, when we're together, it's… I don't know, like… like… like I'm whole, you know?" she explained and Faith nodded. "But right now, I need time to think about it."

Faith thought about it and she realized she was scared. She found it ironic. Buffy was telling her she maybe loved her and she was feeling scared? Screwed up much? On one hand, it was a dream come true, but on the other, she was afraid she would wake up and find out it wasn't real. She jerked when she felt a tear slide down her cheek. She quickly wiped it, crying was for weaklings.

"Nice speech, B," she said.

Buffy sighed.

"Damn it, Faith, what did they do to you?"

Faith frowned, puzzled.

"Who."

"I don't know, you tell me. What did they do to you that you're so afraid to open up? That you're afraid to trust anyone but yourself?"

Faith gulped and opened her mouth, but she quickly closed it again.

"Nothing," she lied. She was surprised when she saw that Buffy was crying. "Why are you crying?" she asked, feeling bad about it.

"Because of you, Faith. Whoever it was that hurt you still has power over you. Don't let them win, Faith, fight it. You're not little anymore, Faith, they can't hurt you unless you let them. And as long as you're afraid that everyone is like them, they can hurt you. I'm not saying I won't hurt you and I'm not saying you won't hurt me, but we can work things out, together. And besides, my Mom's on your side too and I know she'll help you." She paused for a moment when she saw more tears slide down Faith's cheeks. "We can't help you unless you let us, Faith. Please, let us help you. Let me help you."

Faith finally noticed she was crying and she quickly started to wipe the tears. Buffy took her hands into her own, stopping her.

"It's okay to cry, Faith," she said. "I know you're not weak. Believe me, I cry too, but my mom and my friends make it easier for me. I want to make it easier for you, Faith. If you can let yourself cry, it will mean that whoever hurt you is losing their power. You're strong, Faith, not just on the outside. You've survived alone for a long time and nobody is gonna say you're weak if you cry. And believe me, it will feel better afterwards. It won't all go away, but you'll feel better, if only a little."

Faith stared at her, letting the tears roll. Buffy hesitated for a moment and then hugged her. Faith stiffened for a moment and then slowly hugged her back.

When they stopped hugging, they stared at one another for a while. Faith was nervous and afraid, but when Buffy smiled softly, she relaxed. She flinched when Buffy reached to wipe her tears, but when she realized that Buffy wasn't attacking her, she let Buffy wipe her tears.

"Fell better?" Buffy then asked.

Faith slowly nodded. She hesitated for a moment and then slowly reached to wipe Buffy's tears. Buffy let her.

"Thanks," Faith then said.

Buffy smiled again.

"That's what friends are for," she said. She thought for a moment. "Look, I'm not trying to force you or anything, but I was wondering if you'd like to move in with Mom and me? We have a spare room, so you'd have privacy. I mean, if you're always alone, you start brooding. Believe me, I know. And that's not good. And if you move in with us, well, you could get used to being more open, you know? I mean, Mom likes you and I know she wouldn't mind. If you want. And you can stay as long as you want."

Faith stared at Buffy, surprised.

"I… I don't know," she finally said, uncertain.

"Look at it this way. It's for free, except you have to do the dishes sometimes, take out the trash and help me clean up. And hey, maybe Mom can get you a job at the gallery."

Faith thought for a while. Buffy was offering her so much, but if there was anything she had learned, it was the fact that nothing was free.

"And what do you want?" she asked.

Buffy frowned puzzled.

"Nothing. Just your friendship."

"Why?"

Buffy frowned again.

"Why what?"

"Why do you want my friendship?"

Buffy sighed.

"I don't know. I mean, I think I already told you, every time we're together, it's like, okay this is gonna sound corny, but it feels like I'm at home. You know? And of course, there's the butterflies."

"Butterflies?" Faith asked, puzzled.

Buffy smiled, blushing.

"Yeah, you know, in my stomach. It feels like they're having Olympics in there."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, thinking.

"What about your friends?" she asked.

"What about them?" Buffy countered.

"Won't they freak out?"

Buffy sighed.

"Perhaps, I don't know. I mean, right now they're still angry with me for not telling them about Angel. But Angel's one thing and you're another. It's none of their business who I invite into my home. They have to accept that you're my friend and you have to accept that they're mine. And besides, they don't hate you, they just find you… strange, I guess. Though if you open up, they will probably get more comfortable around you. And besides, the only opinions that count are your own and those you decide that matter. If you decide that their opinions don't matter, then you have nothing to worry about."

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"You make it sound so simple."

Buffy shrugged.

"Life is complicated enough, I try not to make it more."

Faith thought for a moment.

"I need to think about this."

Buffy nodded.

"Do you want me to leave?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"Do you want to stay?"

Buffy smiled.

"If I won't be bothering you."

Faith thought for a moment and then sighed.

"No."

"Okay, just let me call Mom."

Faith nodded and Buffy went to the phone. Faith quietly observed her as she called her mom and let her know she was staying at Faith's overnight. She wondered if this was finally it, her chance to be happy. Buffy had said some things that she definitely needed to think about. And she was glad Buffy decided to stay, she was afraid she'd start brooding again if Buffy left. At least now she would have Buffy here to remind her of what she might have. And even if Buffy decided she didn't love her, they would still be friends.

The End