Title: After The Lights Go Out

Author: Alan Hitchen

Email: darkmere2000@yahoo.co.uk

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Joss Whedon and others.

Information: Lyrics by John Stewart.

Faith returned to her motel room in utter despair. She threw herself onto the bed and looked blankly at the ceiling before closing her eyes in an effort to blank out reality. Today she had finally screwed up enough courage to tell Buffy what she felt about her. What she'd felt from the first moment she saw her. She poured it all out, spared no detail, and what had Buffy done in return? She just stood and stared at Faith as if she'd grown another head. Stared and said nothing. Stared and stared and stared, until Faith could take no more and ran for cover.

#As the sun goes down, my silent little room is growing dim. And the man next door is saying what a lousy day it's been. And the clock on the wall, I'd like to put its ticking to an end. In the room below, the girl is crying for her guy again.

After the lights go out. What will I do? After the lights go out. Facing the night without you.#

Faith got up, grabbed the fifth of Scotch standing on the table, and poured the burning fluid straight down her throat. Not enough. Not nearly enough to get drunk, she thought, as she slam-dunked the empty bottle into the waste basket. She reached for the cigarettes next, only to crush the empty packet of Luckies in frustration and lob it after the bottle. Well, I always meant to give up, she laughed bitterly to herself. She never liked my drinking or smoking. Now she doesn't like me. It just gets better and better. Great, Faith, what a total stuff-up you are! She turned to look out of the window, into the gathering dark.

#I don't look for her, I find her in the shadow of my mind. For she's just a girl whose memory will be washed away with time. Any second now the lamp down on the street will show its light. And I just can't see to tear away the kisses from the night.

After the lights go out. What will I do? After the lights go out. Facing the night without you.#

There was a tap at the door. Who the hell could this be? She yanked open the door.

"Yeah, waddaya wa.." Faith froze, open mouthed. It was Buffy.

They both stood there for what seemed like an age. "Do I get to come in?" Buffy said at last.

"Oh, sure, B, come right in," Faith said eagerly.

Buffy sat down on the bed and gestured for Faith to sit next to her.

"I'm sorry," she began, and for the second time that day Faith's world shattered into pieces.

"I'm sorry I reacted like that," Buffy went on, "but I didn't say anything because I didn't know what to say. I... I like you, Faith. I feel a connection with you I've never felt with anyone else before, and... I don't know. Perhaps I love you too."

Faith's goofy smile said it all. "You do?" she asked.

Buffy nodded. "I do," she confirmed. "Now, are we going slaying tonight, or what?"

"Well," Faith said, "I'd prefer 'or what' but I guess slaying will do for now."

Buffy leaned over and kissed Faith softly. "Forget the slaying, let's do 'or what' instead."

Faith grinned. After the lights go out, all her dreams will come true.

The End