Kate Bolin wrote (on UCSL):

>I know it's crack-addled for me to ask, because I doubt anyone has *time*
>to be writing, but can we have some nice terribly romantic soppy fic on
>this list? I mean, I'm getting angsted out...

<sigh>

Kate, I want you to know I tried. I *really* tried. But it came out angsty. It's soppy towards the end, though. Kind of.

As one of those annoying final-free people (aka one who has to actually *work* for a living <G>), here's my contribution to the mental well being of all the students on UCSL.

I hope you guys all do well.

TITLE: This Kiss
AUTHOR: Lex
EMAIL: lex@bitchenvy.com
RATING: R
SYNOPSIS: Faith pops the question. But to who?
DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Borrowing. Promise.

=====

"I...I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything. Just know that....I love you. And I want to be with you for the rest of my life." She pulled out the small box. "Will you marry me?"

Buffy was dumbfounded. There she was, standing in the middle of one of Sunnydale's twelve cemeteries, with Faith before her on bended knee. They had been on patrol when Faith had stopped her in front of a crypt, pulled out a velvet box, and knelt on the ground.

"Faith, I..." She hesitated.

Faith surged to her feet, enveloping the older woman in a tight embrace. Her lips claimed Buffy's unprotesting mouth. They kissed wildly, Faith's hands entangled in Buffy's blonde hair, Buffy's hands cupping Faith's ass.

Suddenly, Faith pulled back. "Don't you love me?"

"Of course I love you. Don't be silly."

"Then why won't you marry me? Is it *him*?" Faith spat out the last word as though it left a bad taste in her mouth.

Buffy shook her head. "We've been through this before, Faith. Angel and I are over."

"You still love him!" the brunette shouted, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "No matter what I do, no matter how I feel, no matter how I make you scream when I'm making love to you, you still want HIM!"

Eyes wide, Buffy stretched out a beseeching hand to touch her. Faith flinched away, pain written across her features. "You don't love me, Buffy. I'm just a convenient tongue."

"Faith!" Buffy cried out in horror, "Don't ever say such a thing!"

"Why not? It's the truth. I don't know why I ever thought that you could love me back. I'm not him. I can't ever be him." The tears streamed down Faith's cheeks as she turned and fled.

She only made it a couple of feet away when Buffy tackled her from behind. Both women hit the ground, instinctively clutching each other. Rolling until she was on top, Buffy clutched Faith's tightly clenched fists in her hands, pinioning her lover to the ground. "Listen to me!"

Sullenly, Faith turned her head aside.

"I loved Angel. With every bit of my heart and soul."

Faith's eyes welled up with bitter tears. "Do you have to rub my nose in it too?"

"Will you EVER let me finish?"

Faith nodded abruptly. "Finish, then get the hell away from me."

"The only reason I made it, the only reason I was able to let him go, was you! You loved me when no one else did, when everyone else acted like I was a pariah, some crazy bitch who couldn't be trusted. You believed in me, you told me I could make it, and I did. I made it. I survived. Because of you. I *love* you. I love *you*. You, Faith. *You*." With that, Buffy leaned down and licked the trail of tears winding their way down Faith's face.

Faith's lips pressed together in a thin line. "You're not just saying that?"

Slowly, gently, Buffy teased the brunette's mouth with the tip of her tongue, laving her lips delicately. "You're all I want. Please forgive me. I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you."

Trembling, vulnerable, Faith whispered, "I forgive you. I just wanted to make you mine in front of everyone. I've never had anyone want, really want, to be with me..."

Buffy's heart overflowed and she turned on her side, fitting herself up against Faith's body. Wrapping her arms around the other woman, she pulled Faith tightly to her. They stared deeply into each other's eyes.

"I'm so proud of you," Buffy whispered, "And I love you so much. And I want everyone to know that we belong together."

Faith's grin was blinding. "So I guess this means you'll marry me?"

Buffy's fierce kiss was the only answer Faith needed.

THE END

I told you I am officially incapable of doing anthing but angst.

<sigh>