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 the sequel to The Date.

Moving In
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"That's it," Faith declared five minutes after she and Buffy got to the apartment.

Buffy raised an eyebrow as she looked around.

"You sure?"

"Yep."

"One bag?"

"Yep."

Buffy considered the fact for a few moments.

"Okay," she then said, feeling guilty but not quite sure why.

"Are you sure your mom suggested that?" Faith asked, nervous.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes," she said and took Faith's hand. "Come on."

They left the motel, both excited, Faith also nervous.

"Are you sure you have room? I mean, I don't want…"

"We have room," Buffy stopped her, smiling, amused.

Faith thought for a few moments.

"Does that mean I'll have to ask your mom if I can go out?"

Buffy grinned.

"Yes."

"Do I have to tell her where I'm going?"

"It would be nice."

Faith groaned.

"Somehow I don't think she'd appreciate me hanging around bars all day long."

Buffy smiled.

"Your choice."

Faith sighed.

"I guess I'll have to find something else to do." She thought for a moment. "You think she could use help at the gallery?"

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know. You'll have to ask her."

Faith sighed again.

"Yeah."

Buffy squeezed her hand reassuringly and smiled.

"Don't worry, everything will be okay."

"Yeah," Faith said, not reassured.

Buffy chuckled.

"You're so cute when you're nervous."

Faith blushed.

"I'm not nervous, I'm just…"

"Nervous."

"Okay, so I'm nervous. Are you sure your mom's okay with us being together?"

Buffy chuckled again.

"Positive."

"And she suggested I move in with you two?"

"Yes."

"Why? I mean, I'm not complaining, I just… I mean, people don't usually invite their daughter's girlfriend to move in with them, especially not right after the first date. Not to mention that I'm basically a bum. I have no job, at least none that pays, and no education. Hell, I have to rob vamps before I stake them. And let's face it, I probably won't live…"

Buffy shut her up with a kiss. Faith stopped, surprised, and then kissed her back.

"Feeling better?" Buffy asked, smirking, when they stopped kissing.

Faith flashed a big grin.

"Much. You sure know how to boost a girl's ego." She smirked. "Is that how you helped Red?" she teased.

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"Faith!" she said and gently slapped Faith on the arm.

"Just kidding."

Buffy smiled.

"I know. And no, you're the first girl I kissed."

"I know."

"Good. Come."

When they got to the door, Faith was nervous again.

"Need another ego boost?" Buffy asked, smirking, when she noticed Faith's nervousness.

"Yes," Faith shot.

Buffy laughed and then obliged Faith.

"Whoa," Faith said when they stopped, putting her hand over her heart. "Watch the power levels or I'm gonna have a warp core breach."

Buffy laughed.

"Come on," she then said and opened the door.

Faith followed her. She wasn't as nervous as she was before, but she was still nervous. She closed the door and followed Buffy upstairs.

"This is it," Buffy declared as she entered a room.

Faith raised an eyebrow as she looked around the cluttered room.

"You sure?" she asked.

"Yep. We'll just quickly check this junk and then take it to the basement and let Mom decide what to trash."

"Okay."

They quickly looked through the boxes and then took them down to the basement. When they got back, Faith sat on the bed and then quickly got up with a yelp, clutching her butt.

"Faith?" Buffy said, puzzled.

"The mattress is broken," Faith said, massaging the sore spot on her butt, and nodded at the coil that was viciously peeking out of the mattress.

Buffy burst into laughter.

"It's not funny," Faith said and pouted.

"Sorry," Buffy said and tried to stop laughing. She took a deep breath. "Okay, we have a problem," she said and chuckled. Then she scratched her head. "We need a new mattress. Unfortunately, Mom's gonna be late today, which means you'll have to sleep somewhere else tonight."

"No problem," Faith said." I can sleep on the sofa."

"No! I mean, em, you can sleep in… my bed."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"No! I mean…"

"You don't want to sleep with me?" Buffy asked, puzzled.

"No. I mean, yes. I mean… Shit." She took a deep breath. "Yeah, I'd love to sleep with you, it's just, you know, I've never been in love before and, em, every time I slept with someone, it was just sex."

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"No, that's not what I meant. I mean, I'd love to sleep with you, it's just…"

Faith grinned.

"I know, B, relax. I'd love to sleep with you, like just sleep, but I'm a very horny girl and I'd like our first time to be special, when we're both ready, not when our hormones start raging."

Buffy smiled, blushing a bit.

"Yeah," she agreed.

"Hey, we can turn the mattress over," Faith suggested.

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"Let's try."

They turned the mattress over and Faith then carefully sat down.

"It's holding," she said. "Though, I think I'd be better off on the sofa."

Buffy sighed.

"Why don't we wait for Mom to come home. Maybe she'll have a better idea."

"Okay."

"Let's clean the dust first and then you can put your clothes in the closet." She frowned. "Or the washing machine."

Faith grinned.

"Yeah, I think the washing machine's a better idea. "She frowned. "Though you might wanna do the sorting."

Buffy smiled.

"I'll teach you."

Faith smiled back.

"Cool." Then she frowned. "But there's another problem."

"What?"

"If we put all my clothes in the washing machine, I won't have anything to wear. Which is not a problem if I'm alone, but I don't think your mom would appreciate me walking around the house butt naked.

Buffy chuckled.

"Probably not. You can choose some of my clothes."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not exactly a skirt girl."

Buffy chuckled.

"I have pants."

"Oh. Good."

"Hi, Mom," Buffy said when Joyce came home.

"Hello, Mrs S," Faith said and followed Buffy.

Joyce smiled.

"Hello, girls. Are you finished moving in?"

"Yes," Buffy said. "Well, except the mattress, it's got a broken coil."

"Oh."

"I suggested we share the bed tonight, but she said she'll crash on the sofa."

Joyce thought about it for a moment and then looked at Faith.

"It's your choice," she said.

Faith was surprised.

"You wouldn't mind if I slept with Buffy? I mean, share the bed with her?" she quickly corrected herself.

Joyce smiled.

"No."

Faith hesitated for a moment, nervous.

"And you… you're okay with us… being together?"

"Yes."

Faith was relieved.

"I told you," Buffy said with a smile.

"We'll go buy a new mattress tomorrow," Joyce said.

"Okay."

"And where will you sleep tonight?"

Faith hesitated for a moment, glancing at Buffy.

"On the sofa."

"Okay. Bring down the sheets then."

"We will," Buffy said and took Faith's hand. "Come on."

Joyce smiled as the two Slayers ran upstairs.

"Your mom's the greatest," Faith said when they got upstairs.

Buffy smiled.

"Yeah. Come on, let's get those sheets and then go to Giles."

"Okay."

"About time you two showed up," Xander said when they got to Giles. "How long does it take to settle in?"

"I showed her around the house," Buffy said.

"For four hours?"

"And we were talking."

Xander grinned.

"I'm sure your tongues were moving, but I doubt they were producing anything but sucking sounds."

Willow slapped him on the arm.

"Xander."

Xander smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, my hormones had a wild party and some are still rocking."

Faith grinned.

"So, any new baddies?" she asked Giles.

"No, fortunately not."

"Then it's okay if we go on a date?" Buffy asked.

"Ah, yes, of course."

"Another date?" Xander asked, curious. "Where are you going?"

"It's a secret," Faith said. "I've been trying to get her to tell me, but she won't."

"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough," Buffy said with a smirk.

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of."

Everybody chuckled, except Giles.

"So it's okay if we go back home and start getting ready?" Buffy asked.

Giles checked the time.

"Already?"

"It's a girl thing," Xander said. "It takes them a while to get ready." He raised his hands when he received four glares. "Hey, it's true."

Buffy looked at Faith.

"Come on, let's go get ready," she said and took her hand.

"See you tomorrow, guys," Faith said as they left.

"See you," Buffy said and closed the door.

"You know, Xander did have a point."

"About what?"

"Taking girls a while to get ready. Most of them, anyway."

"Yeah, well, we want to look pretty."

"Hey, you're already the most gorgeous girl alive."

Buffy smiled at her.

"You sure know how to flatter a girl."

"What, it's true."

Buffy chuckled.

"Thanks," she said, blushing.

Faith smiled, blushing herself.

"So, where are we going?" she asked.

"Nice try."

Faith shrugged.

"Hey, you never know."

Faith nervously paced around the living room, waiting for Buffy to get ready.

"Everything okay?" Joyce asked her, amused, after she observed her for a minute or so and Faith didn't even notice her.

Faith stopped, surprised.

"What?"

"Everything okay?"

"Oh. Yeah. Just waiting for Buffy to get ready. I mean, I knew some girls need time to get ready, but this is ridiculous. What's she doing? Peeling her skin off and waiting for new one to grow?"

Joyce chuckled.

"She wants to look pretty for you."

"She already is. I mean, how much prettier can she get?"

"As much as possible?"

"Did she take this much time for Angel?"

Joyce thought for a moment..

"I don't know. I don't know if she ever went on a date with him."

"They didn't date?" Faith asked, surprised.

Joyce shrugged.

"I don't know, you'll have to ask her."

"I don't know if…"

She trailed off when Buffy came downstairs.

"I guess that answers your question," Joyce said.

Faith let out a nondescript voice and Buffy blushed.

"Was it worth the wait?" she asked.

"Aha," Faith said, still staring.

Buffy chuckled and slowly approached Faith, looking her straight in the eyes. Faith stared back, speechless. Buffy stopped in front of her and then kissed her. Faith jerked, surprised and then kissed back.

"Shit, B, are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Faith asked when they stopped kissing.

Buffy and Joyce chuckled.

"No," Buffy said.

Faith gave her a once over.

"Damn, B, you look hot." She gave herself a once over. "I feel like Ugly Duckling."

"But Ugly Duckling turned into a beautiful swan."

Faith blushed.

"I… Eh… Em… Huh." She stopped and shook her head. Then she took a deep breath. "I sound like a broken truck."

Buffy chuckled.

"Come on, let's go."

"Where are we going?"

Buffy smiled.

"You'll see."

Faith looked at Joyce.

"Mrs S?" she said pleadingly.

Joyce smiled.

"You'll see."

"Oh no, we're not going in there, are we?" Faith said when she saw that they were approaching a fancy restaurant.

"Yes."

"Em, B, that's not a good idea. I mean, I know my table manners are not up to this standard."

Buffy smiled affectionately.

"Don't worry, you'll do fine. And besides, I got us a table in the back, so you won't have to worry about embarrassing yourself."

Faith took a deep breath.

"I don't know, B."

Buffy gently squeezed her hand.

"Don't worry, you'll do fine. Just watch me."

Faith took another deep breath and then gulped.

"I'll do that," she said, staring at the restaurant.

They entered and were immediately taken to their table. A waiter gave them their menus and then left. Faith looked around nervously for a while, but when she saw that no one was looking at them, she relaxed a bit. When the waiter returned, she ordered the same food as Buffy, just to be on the safe side.

"So, em, B, can I ask you a personal question?" Faith then said.

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"Sure."

"Em, it's about Angel."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, the memories coming back.

"Okay."

"Did you two ever, like, em, go on a date?"

Buffy blinked and then chuckled.

"That's it?"

"Well, yeah."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Well, not like this. I mean, he went out on patrol with me, I guess you could call that our dates."

"Oh."

"Why?"

"Well, your mom and I talked while you were getting ready and I wondered what the hell you were doing and I asked your mom if it took you that long to get ready for Angel."

"Oh."

Faith smiled.

"Damn, it was definitely worth the wait. I didn't think it was possible, but you definitely look prettier."

Buffy blushed.

"Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."

"Well, they're your clothes."

"So? I'm not admiring the clothes."

Faith blushed.

"Well, this is the first time I wanted to be pretty for anyone. Thank god your mom was there."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Well, she gave me these little tips and all."

"Oh."

"So, we going on patrol later?"

"You feel like it?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know."

"I thought we'd just take the long way home."

"Okay."

"Good."

When the waiter brought their food, Faith got nervous again. She looked around, but nobody was looking at them. She relaxed and concentrated on the food. Fortunately, it was nothing fancy, but Faith still watched what Buffy would do before she did it herself. She also noticed that Buffy was obviously thinking about something, but she decided not to ask her, since Buffy didn't look disturbed or anything.

The dinner passed pleasantly and Faith was relieved that she didn't embarrass herself and Buffy. But she did notice that Buffy was apparently still thinking about something. She decided to wait until they left the restaurant.

"So, what's on your mind?" Faith asked as they walked down the street, hand in hand.

"What?" Buffy asked, surprised, and looked at Faith.

"You've been thinking about something the whole evening."

Buffy bit her teeth and looked away. Faith got a bad feeling.

"What is it?" she asked.

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then sighed.

"It's Angel."

Faith gulped.

"Oh."

Buffy hesitated again.

"He's alive."

Faith stopped, surprised.

"What?" she said, paling. She took a deep breath to calm. "But I though you… killed him."

Buffy sighed.

"I sent him to Hell to stop Acathla. After he got his soul back."

Faith shuddered, suddenly feeling scared.

"Oh," she said.

Buffy noticed Faith's fear and she gently squeezed her hand to get her attention.

"Hey, I love you, not Angel." She sighed. "I mean, I still care about him and I want to help him, but I love you." She thought for a moment. "Remember when you asked me out?" she asked and Faith nodded. "I wasn't sure for a while, especially since Angel returned, but I came to you."

Faith bit her teeth.

"And he… he… has a soul?" she asked.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

Faith thought for a moment.

"Do they know?"

"The guys?" Buffy shook her head. "No."

"Then why did you tell me?"

Buffy sighed.

"I needed to tell someone. And you… you weren't here when he lost his soul and you're not angry with him."

"Oh."

They resumed walking, but thinking about Angel.

"I'm sorry," Buffy finally said.

Faith frowned, confused.

"About what?"

"Spoiling the evening."

"Oh." She sighed. "Actually, I was the one that spoiled it by asking about Angel, remember."

Buffy smiled and sighed.

"At least we got this over with."

Faith smiled.

"How is he?"

"Angel? Not good. He just spend a hundred years in Hell and he's still recovering from shock. So am I."

Faith gently squeezed her hand.

"A hundred years?" she then asked, curious.

"Yeah. Giles said time is running differently there."

"Oh." She thought for a moment. "Where is he now?"

Buffy looked at her.

"You're not gonna hurt him, are you?"

"Not unless he tries to hurt somebody else."

Buffy nodded.

"He's at the mansion." She thought for a moment. "And please don't visit him, I need to take care of this on my own."

"But you're not alone."

Buffy smiled.

"I know. And we'll talk, but I need to talk to him alone and I need him to be ready when I tell him about us."

"Oh. Okay. And I guess you don't want me telling the gang either."

"Yes."

"You're gonna have to tell them sometime."

Buffy sighed.

"I know. I'm just worried how they'll take it."

"Hey, for what it's worth, you have my support."

Buffy smiled.

"It's worth a lot."

Faith smiled back.

"Feeling better?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

"Good." She smiled. "And thanks for the dinner, it was great."

"You sure?"

Faith chuckled.

"Yeah, I enjoyed myself. In spite of the fact that I was nervous for a while."

Buffy smiled.

"Good. Feel like doing it again?"

"Eh… Well…Em, you'll have to teach me those fancy table manners first."

"That's no problem."

"I sure hope not," Faith said, smiling affectionately, "I'd love to do a repeat. Hey, maybe next time I get to take you to a fancy restaurant."

Buffy smiled.

"That'd be nice. Not that the Espresso Pump was bad," she quickly added. "I loved it."

"Thanks."

"So, how about we go home and cuddle for a while before going to bed?"

Faith raised an eyebrow, smirking.

"Are you trying to get me into your bed?"

"What? Oh! No!" Buffy said, blushing. "I mean, well, em…" She stopped and took a deep breath. "Like you said, when we're ready. But that doesn't mean we can't cuddle."

"You think I'm a cuddly person?"

Buffy smirked.

"How about we find out?"

Faith chuckled.

"I thought you wanted to take the long way home."

"I did. Now I don't. Now I want to cuddle. With you."

Faith laughed.

"Then by all means, let's go home and see if I'm a cuddly person." She frowned. "What about your mom?"

"Well, as long as we don't try to suck each other's faces off, I think we'll be safe."

Faith laughed.

"Okay," she then said and shook her head. "I'll have to take a very cold shower before I go to bed."

Buffy chuckled.

"Fine with me."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"You're being sadistic, you know?"

Buffy smiled.

"I'm just teasing you. And besides, think of cuddling as a reward for taking a cold shower." She thought for a moment. "Or something."

Faith chuckled.

"It better be a good reward, 'cause the shower's gonna be extra cold."

Buffy smiled.

"It's a deal," she agreed.

"Then let's go cuddle."

The End