DISCLAIMER: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all the slayerettes belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. No infringement intended.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
Plan B
By CrimsonCat
Faith checked her watch, it was just a little after five. She sighed, signaling the bartender for another drink. Buffy had threatened her with bodily harm if she dared come home one minute before seven. And as much as she loved a good throw down, she was determined to be a good girl today and play it by the blonde's rules. Faith tossed back the shot the bartender placed before her, and checked her watch once more. Three minutes had passed. Faith cursed under her breath, fidgeting a little. The Slayer tossed a ten down on the bar and picked up her coat. She'd never been very good at waiting.
It was 6:38 when Faith unlocked the front door. Her heart seized in her chest at the scene that greeted her. There was a thick cloud of smoke hovering around the ceiling, and the air was thick with the smell of something burning.
"Buffy!" Faith called, coughing as she choked on the smoke.
"It's not seven, Faith!" Buffy's angry voice came from the kitchen, and Faith headed in that direction.
To say the kitchen was a disaster would be putting it mildly. The oven, with its door wide open, was still smoking. Pots and pans were overflowing out of the sink and across the counters. Something that might have been a roast at one point, but was now burnt beyond recognition, was sitting on top of the stove. And Buffy, her sweet Buffy, was standing in the middle of the chaos. Hair mussed, with a smear of God only knew what on her cheek.
Faith opened the back door while Buffy opened some of the windows, in an attempt to air out the house.
"I thought I told you not to come home until at least seven." Buffy sighed at her.
"Are you kidding?" Faith arched an eyebrow at her. "If I'd gotten here sooner, I might have been able to help. It looks like there were no survivors." She poked the burnt mystery item on top of the stove.
"I was trying to cook you a romantic dinner." Buffy pouted.
Faith nodded solemnly.
"I was afraid you'd do that."
"Hey!" Buffy swatted her arm. "It was going perfectly... Until the roast caught on fire."
Faith burst out laughing, she couldn't help it. Buffy did not look impressed.
"Come here." Faith chuckled, pulling the blonde into her arms and kissing the top of her head.
"So much for my romantic dinner," Buffy muttered.
Faith smiled into her hair.
"You get an A for effort."
Buffy snorted.
"Gee, thanks."
Faith took Buffy's hand in her own and led her to the back door. She turned to face her, a slight frown covering the brunette's features.
"Close your eyes." She told Buffy.
Buffy blinked at her.
"What?"
"Eyes. Close 'em, B." Faith repeated.
Buffy looked at her for a few seconds before giving in and squeezing her eyes shut tight. Faith squeezed her hand and led her out the back door and slowly down the porch steps.
"What are we doing?" Buffy asked.
"Just keep your eyes closed. No peeking!" Faith exclaimed as Buffy tried to sneak a glimpse.
"Ok, ok. Eyes closed."
Faith led her into the back yard, and helped her sit down.
"Ok, you can open them." Faith told her.
Buffy opened her eyes slowly, a smile blossoming across her face as she took in the sight before her. She was sitting on a blanket under the trees, which were strung with delicate white lights. There was a large brown paper bag on the blanket in front of her, which was giving off the most delicious aroma. Faith took a seat across from Buffy, her chocolate brown eyes sparkling in the light.
"What is this?" Buffy asked her.
"Plan B." Faith winked at her. "I love you babe, but your cooking skills don't extend very far beyond cereal."
Faith opened the paper bag, and pulled out their dinner. Buffy sat in stunned silence as she realized Faith had gotten them dinner from the Chinese restaurant they'd gone to on their first date, almost 6 years ago. Come to think of it, she had tried to cook a romantic dinner then too. And had almost burnt the house down in the process. Buffy frowned, remembering two years ago when she had tried to cook the brunette a three course meal for their anniversary. They'd actually had to call the fire department that time. And again, Faith had produced Chinese food and saved their evening.
"What's that look for?" Faith asked, pulling Buffy out of her thoughts.
Buffy gave her a dazed look.
"Deja-vu. Every time I ruin dinner, you save the day."
Faith smiled at her.
"Open your fortune cookie." She tossed the cookie at the blonde.
Buffy opened her mouth to protest, they always saved the cookies for last. But the pleading look in her girlfriend's eyes silenced her. She broke open the cookie, figuring it was the least she could do after Faith had gone to so much trouble.
"Will you marry me." Buffy read aloud.
She stared at the strip of paper in confusion for a few moments before realizing it wasn't just a random message. She glanced up to find Faith kneeling before her, her face a mess of nervousness and cautious excitement. Buffy's mouth opened in surprise.
"Marry me, B." Faith said softly.
The brunette reached into her pocket and pulled out a beautiful diamond ring. She held it out to the blonde, and Buffy noticed Faith's hands were trembling. Faith's hands were trembling? This was the woman who would charge into a vampire nest without thinking. Buffy tilted her head to the side, studying Faith. Her ridiculously confident, cocky, amazing girlfriend's hands were actually shaking with nerves.
"I know, it's cheesy." Faith sighed. Buffy hadn't said anything in almost a minute. She had just been sitting there, studying Faith. And Faith was starting to think this had been a horrible, horrible idea.
"We can just.. forget this ever happened." She cringed, moving to put the ring back in her pocket.
Buffy snapped out of her daze as she realized what Faith was afraid of. She was terrified that Buffy was going to reject her! With a happy squeal, Buffy pounced on top of her girlfriend, knocking her to the ground. She kissed her soundly, burying her fingers deep in Faith's auburn locks as she kissed her senseless.
"Is that a yes?" Faith asked when they broke apart for air.
"Of course, you idiot." Buffy smiled at her.
Faith carefully slid the ring onto Buffy's finger, and they spent a few moments admiring the way it looked sitting there.
"It's perfect." Buffy murmured. Faith could only agree. "Hey!" Buffy exclaimed suddenly. "What would you have done if I hadn't ruined dinner?"
"Gather up the scooby gang and start preparing for another apocalypse." Faith responded seriously. "That's got to be one of the signs the world is about to end. I'm sure it's written on some creepy scroll somewhere."
Buffy laughed loudly as she got up, pulling Faith with her. She wrapped her arms around the dark haired Slayer, hugging her tight.
"You're lucky I love you." Buffy said, still laughing.
"Luckiest woman in existence." Faith agreed.
"Happy Valentine's day, Faith."
"Happy Valentine's Day, B."
The End