A/N: The idea of writing a f/f couple is quite daunting. I'm going to try not to offend people. Remember, this is all in the name of B/A. They'll end up together at some point; no promises about the ending. :)
Buffy tucked her jacket and handbag into a shelf by her desk, as she did every morning. She toed off her shoes, placing the uncomfortably tall heels further under the desk, before adjusting the height of her chair and position of the footrest. The damn temp receptionist from the day before had changed everything. She even had to swap the mouse of her computer back to the right side. Couldn't one-day-a-week employees bit a little more considerate to those who worked the other four?
She quickly set out the sign-in books for visitors, then reset the security system for employees so they'd be able to enter from the front of the building. Most entered from the parking garage below the first level, but some, especially the newbies who didn't have a passkey yet, had to come in past her desk. That was how she was introduced to everyone, making her the first person Cordelia consulted every Tuesday morning. Cordy, office gossip and trophy wife of vice-president Mr Williams, liked to think she knew everything and everyone in the building. Cordy pretty much only worked for the chance to gossip and screw her husband in his office, but she was a good friend.
As her last task of the morning, Buffy placed her "Ms Buffy Summers, Receptionist" nameplate on the front corner of her desk, before sitting back and waiting for any extra assignments to land in her inbox.
~~
Liam arrived at his new job on time, easily finding a parking space... in a garage two blocks down. After a brisk walk, he entered the large building, briefcase in hand, and headed for the reception desk.
"Hello there," he greeted the blonde receptionist.
"Hello," she replied. "Can I help you?"
"I hope so. I'm Liam Angelus, a new lawyer. Mr Holtz told me I should ask for a pass of some kind."
"Of course," Buffy said, flipping through a pile of papers on her desk. "Mr Angelus, this is your passkey," she told him, indicating a card. "You can use it to park in the building. The entrance is out back. If you wish to enter without parking there, though, you will need to swipe the passkey over there," she pointed to a sliding door just past her desk, "before you can enter."
"Thank you, Ms Summers," he said, taking the card and the other papers she passed him. "Or can I call you Buffy?"
"It's Ms Summers," she replied, rolling her eyes once he'd gone.
Liam decided that perhaps his year at the company was already looking up. Buffy would soon warm to him, and he'd be dating a woman he was sure was the most attractive in the building.
~~
Cordelia Willams entered at that moment, followed closed by her husband. While Mr Williams was quickly on his way, Cordy, lingered for some gossip.
"Liam Angelus," Buffy said.
"Hot?" Cordy asked.
"I suppose. But he knows it."
"I'll never understand you, Buffy," she said. "How can you go for girls and not guys? They're so perfect. Nice to look at, great for sleeping with, and if you choose the right one, lots of money to spend!"
"Can we drop this?" Buffy asked, not annoyed at her friend but unimpressed at how she always tried to talk her into guys.
"Fine," Cordy sighed, walking off. "See you later!"
~~
Faith, a waitress who worked mostly weekday lunches and weekend nights, lay sprawled out on her sofa, waiting for her girlfriend to get home.
Their apartment wasn't much, but the two were barely out of high school when they'd moved in and it was slowly improving. They'd bought the new fridge on Buffy's birthday that year, then celebrated with ice-cream cake and later in a naughtier way with chocolate syrup.
The TV was purchased just a few weeks ago by Faith, who'd set it up in the afternoon ready to impress Buffy when she got home. It turned out that they were also celebrating Faith's new job, located in a much nicer part of town, as well. Neither woman had to work the next day so they spent the entire night and next day in bed, before Faith reluctantly had to go to work the night after. So it was clear that the two were very much in love.
It was 7pm before Buffy arrived, already yawning, from her job. "Lots of new people today," she explained. "I actually had to show a few around. Can you believe that? They called in a temp to fill in for me while I wandered around the building. I actually got lost a few times. I've never been past the second floor, you know."
Faith laughed, but stopped at Buffy's glare.
"A guy flirted with me, too, so there," Buffy said, crossing her arms but smiling.
"Oh, a guy," Faith mocked. "Was he cute? Did he say, 'oh, Buffy, you're gay but I love you so much, please be straight'?"
"Faith!" she giggled. "He was kinda cute. But you know I only love you."
"Yeah, I know," she replied, pulling Buffy down to straddle her on the sofa. They kissed softly until Buffy stood up, insisting on changing out of her office clothes before dinner. She said this with a smile, though, knowing Faith would just microwave a meal from the freezer while she was changing.
Chapter Two
A/N: Please review! I'll keep writing if someone wants more.
Liam returned to his empty apartment late that night. Checking his phone, he found that he had a message.
"Liam," his mother's voice began. "Call me, please. Your sister told me you have a new job. Congratulations! Please call."
He erased it, as he always did. He'd always had to answer to her, even starting a business degree in college before changing to what he really wanted to study: law. His mother had tried to manipulate him every step of his life, going so far as to give him his great-grandmother's engagement ring and order him to propose to his girlfriend after he graduated from college. So he'd taken the ring, to give to a beautiful woman he hoped to meet in the future, and moved from New York to Illinois briefly before continuing on to California, where he currently lived in Los Angeles.
The big city was nice. It reminded him of New York, because there were so many people, but thankfully he no longer had to deal with his mother if he didn't want to.
He couldn't get his mind off the receptionist from that morning. The woman with the office next to his, Lilah, had informed him of Buffy's "very gay" status. Of course, Lilah had also asked him to dinner, so he wasn't sure until Charles, who he'd met in the cafeteria at lunch, had confirmed it. Apparently it was a smaller building that he'd thought.
Oh well. Maybe he'd be so charming that she'd leave her long-term girlfriend, their apartment and their cat, if he'd heard correctly, for him? Liam shook his head at how pathetic he was. She probably wasn't even nice. And if she was smart, why was she working as a receptionist? He'd probably enjoy Lilah's educated presence more, anyway.
~~
The invitation to the company cocktail party did not arrive unexpectedly in Buffy's mailbox the next day. In order to introduce many new employees, a huge party was being held at a nearby hotel. The invite was, of course, for Buffy "and partner," so she'd have to beg Faith to go with her. Her girlfriend, while loving and usually reliable, did not like going to office "shindigs."
Buffy herself didn't enjoy the inevitable offer of a threesome, however she did like spending time with Faith, and therefore the two would more than likely attend together.
~~
"Hi," Liam greeted Buffy as he entered the building.
"Hi," she replied, not looking up from her computer.
"Will I see you at the party this Saturday?"
"With my girlfriend," she told him, still not looking up.
"So it's true; the most beautiful woman in the building has found another beautiful woman, taking both of you out of the gene pool. That's a little unfair."
"It's fair."
"Well, see you then," he said.
"Bye."
Buffy watched Liam continue on to the sliding doors before turning to the elevators, out of sight.
~~
"Don't forget tomorrow night," Buffy told Faith as they sipped coffee in front of the TV on Friday night.
"The party? Of course. I picked up my dress yesterday."
"Not another short, strapless, backless number, I hope."
"It's got straps," Faith defended her choice. At Buffy's rolled eyes, she continued, "it's red, knee-length, and... well, I'm sure you'll love it."
"I was going to wear green-"
"Green?"
"I know. But I'll wear the black one, now, I think," Buffy said.
"Which black one?"
"It's long, maybe calf-length, but most of it's sheer. Remember? Lots of ruffles."
"It'll make the guys crazy," Faith warned, then smiled. "Well, not just the guys. Nice choice."
~~
Liam arrived at the hotel, following the sign to function room two. On his arm was Lilah, of course, who required a date. She'd assured him it was just as friends, although he had other ideas. If he couldn't have a certain blonde, he may as well tempt his brunette co-worker into his bed.
He saw Buffy, looking especially sexy, talking to an extraodinary brunette. Lilah walked off to talk to some friends while he continued towards the two women. "Buffy!" he greeted her, smiling as she rolled her eyes.
"Liam! Hi. This is my girlfriend, Faith. Faith, this is Liam."
"Nice to meet you," Faith said. "B here told me you want her."
"Faith!" Buffy exclaimed.
"And does she want me?" he asked in reply.
"Not a chance," Buffy said.
"She's thinking about it," Faith told him. "She's kinda gay, though, which might be a slight problem."
"I'm getting a drink. I may or may not be back," Buffy told them, walking towards the bar. She couldn't believe Faith had told him that! Now he'd never stop trying to flirt with her.
Chapter Three
A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I hadn't intended on making this a threesome fic, and then I tried to, but sadly that didn't quite work out. Mostly because I once wrote a B/F fic which will never, ever be anywhere near this site. Ever. So, yeah. Expect much B/A in the rest.
Faith sat at the bar, letting some guy named Charles think he was chatting her up. They were facing the crowd, her eyes on Buffy as she all but let Liam, or Angel as he'd said to call him, take her home.
The guy was all over her, touching her arm and leaning close enough that he might have been whispering into her ear at one point. Buffy was laughing at everything he said; she was probably drunk, too.
Faith said goodnight to Charles and went over to claim her girlfriend.
"Bye Angel," Buffy said, waving a little as Faith led her out.
"Bye," he called to her, watching her go, before turning to the bar to talk to Charles.
"That Faith was so hot," Charles said.
"And Buffy. Damn. Why do they have to be gay? I mean, I could go for both of them," Angel smirked, "but I don't think they'd be into that."
"Probably not. Faith was almost seething you two the whole time you were talking."
"Damn."
~~
"You're hot for Angel!" Faith accused her girlfriend as soon as the apartment door shut behind them. "You're so into him. 'Oh, Angel,'" she mocked, "'this is my girlfriend, Faith. But I'll forget her if you want me.'"
"It wasn't like that," Buffy insisted, sitting on the sofa so she could pull off her shoes. "I love you, Faith. Not some guy."
"Whatever." Faith stormed off to their bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
"Faith?" she asked, knocking on the door. "Can I come to bed now?"
"No!"
"What?"
"No!" Faith yelled. "I'm mad at you. You ignored me tonight, after inviting me."
"You seemed to have plenty of fun with Charles!" Buffy exclaimed, knocking harder on the door.
"Get out, you unfaithful bitch!" Faith screamed.
Buffy wiped at the tears on her face. What was wrong with her? Why did she have to flirt with Angel all night when she should have been with her girlfriend? Her girlfriend who knew no one else in the room.
Maybe Faith did have a reason to be mad.
It was after midnight and her girlfriend didn't want her in their bedroom. Buffy didn't even want to stay in their apartment. God, why did she have to mess everything up?
Buffy dug around in her handbag for Angel's phone number. He'd given it to her the second time they'd seen each other; as he'd passed her desk on his second day. Maybe he'd be home.
She found the number and left the apartment, calling on her cell phone as she took the elevator to the lobby.
"Hello?" he answered, clearly having been asleep.
"Angel? It's Buffy."
"Buffy? Why are you calling so late?"
"Faith and I, we, um, we had a fight."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yeah. Um, I didn't really have anyone else to call. We're kinda alone in the city."
"I see."
"Can you come get me? Please? I know it's a lot to ask-"
"I'll come get you. Where do you live?"
Buffy gave him her address and sat down on a sofa in the lobby to wait. A few minutes later he arrived, coming up to the building's door to get her. Still clad in her cocktail dress, Buffy followed him and got into his car.
"Thank you," she told him tearfully. "I didn't want to go back there. We've never really had a fight before."
"It's fine," he assured her.
"Oh god, you don't have a girlfriend, do you? I'm not keeping you from someone-"
"No. Just my sleep."
"I'm so sorry-"
"It's okay, though. I'm happy to help."
They arrived at his apartment and he took her into his room. "You can sleep here," he told her, turning off the alarm so she wouldn't be woken up too early.
"It's your room, though. I'll take the couch."
"No, I will. I insist."
Buffy paused. "Then at least sleep in here, too. There's plenty of room in the bed."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm gay. Of course I'm sure."
"Okay," he said, handing her a t-shirt and shorts to change into. He quickly traded his jeans for sweatpants, keeping on the same t-shirt, before getting into the bed.
Buffy turned out the light and joined him a minute later, leaving her dress and shoes on the chair in the corner. "Angel?" she asked, lying a little too close to him.
"Yes?" he replied, completely aware of her close proximity.
"Would you do something for me? I need you."
"Anything. What do you need?"
"You," she repeated, moving to straddle him. She leaned down to kiss him but Angel pushed her off.
"Buffy!" he exclaimed. "You're gay. You've told me several times. You're tired and upset, so why don't you get some sleep?"
"But Angel-"
"No. Sleep."
Buffy curled up away from him, crying over her second rejection of the night. Why did she have to mess everything up? She only hoped he wouldn't tell everyone about this. She went out to his living room, covering herself with the throw rug on the sofa.
~~
When Angel woke up the next morning, Buffy wasn't next to him on the bed and her clothes were gone. She wasn't in his apartment, so he concluded that she'd gone back to her girlfriend.
Chapter Four
Buffy entered her apartment around 8am Sunday morning, moving to her own sofa to get some more sleep.
Hours later, Faith woke her up. "Buffy! Oh, I'm so glad you're okay. I'm so, so sorry about last night. I was jealous. I heard you leave-"
"Yeah. I left for a while. I'm back, though. And I'm sorry for flirting with Angel."
"No, it's my fault. I know you're with me. Please forgive me?" Faith asked.
"You're forgiven," Buffy replied, and both women smiled. "I'll make coffee."
~~
Buffy dreaded Monday morning. What would Angel say to her? What would he say to anyone else? She wasn't ashamed of what she'd done, but his rejection still stung. He'd flirted with her even after he found out she was gay, but she wasn't good enough to sleep with? Men were so confusing. That was one of the reasons why she didn't date them.
She busied herself organizing papers. She didn't even usually work Mondays, but the other woman had asked to be swapped to Wednesday that week, and she'd foolishly agreed. So now she was tired and stuck working for 8 hours.
Angel walked in at that moment, stopping her self-pitying train of thought.
"Buffy," he greeted her, walking past.
"Angel," she said. "You're not going to say anything about... you know. Are you?"
"Not a word," he promised.
"And maybe," she told him, "when someone's hurting, and they ask to be comforted, maybe it's better to just do what they ask."
"What?"
"You know what I mean."
"You, uh, don't want me to tell anyone how you begged me to sleep with you? Fine. But now you tell me you wish I'd just done it?" he asked.
"Yes."
"You're a mystery, Buffy. And maybe next time I will. You watch your back next time we're alone, okay? I might just try something."
"Whatever," Buffy said, dismissing him. Angel swiped his passkey and was soon out of sight.
~~
Buffy fell asleep quickly that night, dreams of Angel clouding her mind.
Faith watched her girlfriend lying beside her, content to listen to her breathing. She'd missed her the other night. Buffy was perfect as she slept; her chest rising and falling slowly, how she snored, occasionally moving a little and displacing her shiny blonde hair.
Of course, nothing like that could last. The two women were doing really well together. They co-existed peacefully, each with her own career. Their apartment suited them and they were adding to it all the time; they'd been wanting a new sofa for a while and would soon be able to afford a set with reclining armchairs, something their guy friends would appreciate when it was football season.
And then time seemed to stop. The streetlights outside their window flickered and their alarm clock display ticked over to midnight. "Angel," Buffy whimpered, "yes," rolling over and away from her girlfriend.
"Oh god," Faith whispered. So that was where she'd gone! The little slut went straight to the guy who'd been drooling over her! She couldn't sleep here tonight. Taking her pillow, she settled on the sofa in their living room.
A week ago they'd been fine. One thing had changed since then - Angel. She knew guys couldn't be trusted, especially when a beautiful woman like Buffy was involved. Even so, she was only a little mad at him. Buffy had clearly gone to him on purpose that night and now Faith was ready to move out over her indiscretion. Something like this was practically unforgivable.
~~
Buffy woke to an empty bed, which was not uncommon with Faith's odd hours, but was confused as to why her girlfriend had been sleeping on the sofa. Coupled with her guilt over the dream she'd had - with Angel in the starring role - she was a little crazy. She quickly got ready for work and left, going down to a cafe for coffee before work rather than risking that Faith would wake up because of the coffeemaker's noise.
~~
Angel was still kicking himself on Tuesday. "Why didn't you just give her what she wanted?" he berated himself. "She probably wasn't even drunk. Why do you have to be so noble all the time?"
He continued in this manner until he arrived at the building, giving her a nod as he passed her desk. She hated him now, he was sure. Charles maintained that she was fine, and after laughing almost non-stop for five minutes at how Angel turned down a beautiful lesbian he agreed not to tell anyone, mostly for Buffy's sake. Charles had seen Faith again at the supermarket and wanted to get to know her better, so he had no choice but to stay on Angel's good side. If Angel was going to break up a relationship, Charles was going to be there to console the brunette half of the couple.
Angel preferred Buffy, the blonde, of course, but wasn't going to tear her from her lover. He believed that people could make their own choices, and therefore he accepted her lesbian relationship, hoping they could be friends. But fate works in mysterious ways and someone was really going to need him this time.
Chapter Five
A/N: I�m going to tell you what happens in the end right now: they live happily ever after. :) Having said that, please inform me if I inadvertently offend you with my characterizations. I�m just trying to write everyone in a way that will work out nicely at the end. Feedback is appreciated!
"She hates me," Buffy sobbed, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue. Angel was beside her as they sat on stools in his kitchen, several half-eaten boxes of chocolate in front of them. She'd bought the comfort food in her lunch break after a call from Faith, tearfully finding him as the day ended and asking him to take her back to his place. Charles had winked and he'd glared back, and then he'd agreed and led her outside to his car.
He�d served a brief dinner of re-heated Chinese and red wine before she�d pulled out her purchases.
"She doesn't," he reassured her, handing her another chocolate Lindt ball and watching as it disappeared into her mouth.
She paused to chew before continuing. "She just told me not to come home. No warning or anything. We made up after our last fight so I don't know why she'd start another."
"Is it the same as last time? Did you fight over a guy?" What Angel didn't say was 'did you fight over me?' Clearly, the thought of cheating was something both women felt strongly about.
"I-I'm flirty," Buffy blurted out. "I'm bad. I flirt with people sometimes when she's around."
"There's no reason to be sorry unless you intend to leave her, which I doubt you are. And you, flirting in public? I doubt that, too. You barely even look at me when I'm talking to you."
She'd lowered her eyes and was watching her fingernails intently. "I'm nervous around guys," she confided in him. "It's weird. This never used to happen. I'm usually worse around people I like." Then she realized what she'd said. "I mean� Just, talking to a guy like this. It's odd. I mean, I know guys, but they watch football, drink beer and... Well, that's all, really."
"Oh."
"Why are you so different?" Buffy asked, gazing up at him.
He wanted to tell her it was because he liked her. Because he wanted to take her into his bedroom and have his way with her. But he was supposed to be a friend to her now that she was upset.
When he didn�t answer, she reached for a chocolate square with a caramel filling. Taking a drink of wine and biting it in half, she told him, �Caramel is my favourite.�
�Mine too,� he agreed, watching her chew. As she was about to put the other half in her mouth, he grabbed it and held it away from her.
�Hey! Give that back!� she said, laughing. He marvelled at her change of moods but then she leaned across him, arm outstretched but still unable to recapture her candy.
Angel saw his chance and put his other arm around her waist, pulling her against him. He leaned in to meet her lips with his, breaking apart after a moment.
Buffy didn�t notice him put the candy down on the bench as she pulled him in for a longer kiss, slow and sensual and making her hot. She whimpered as they parted. �Angel,� she whined.
�In about two seconds I�m going to do something I may regret later,� he told her.
�In five seconds I�m going to do something I won�t regret if you�re still wearing that shirt,� she whispered in reply, starting to unbutton it. She ended up just tugging at the front, and he removed it himself while she fiddled with the straps on her sandals.
She was only wearing a dress and some brief underthings, so she was soon lying back on his sofa while he struggled with his pants. Buffy just watched as he undressed and came over to lie on top of her.
Their lips met once more, his hands roving over her breasts and stomach before they froze at her words. �I�ve never been with a man before,� she whispered, almost ashamed. This only turned him on more; this was like doing a virgin.
Angel delighted in her mewls as he stroked her clit while kissing her. He figured that if they kissed her eyes were closed, and if her eyes were closed then she wouldn�t be looking at him and deciding that she was better off with a girl before they got to the good stuff. He was ready to stop if she asked that of him, but he tried to keep her distracted so she wouldn�t.
Buffy was thoroughly enjoying herself. She wriggled her hips and moved against his hand, trying to increase the friction, while running her own hands up his chest and around his neck. When he stopped, she pulled back and gazed up at him. He directed his cock to her slick opening, pushing slowly inside.
�Oh,� she gasped, feeling him inside her, and then, �ow. Ow!�
�You okay?� he asked her, buried to the hilt. With great difficulty he managed not to just pound her into the sofa.
She was still for a minute, then smiled as he wiped away the few tears that escaped her eyes. �I�m okay.�
He pulled her legs up further, moving slowly in and out. Leaning down to her neck he licked and sucked, and she came quickly and hard with a scream. Rubbing her clit to prolong her orgasm, he shot his seed inside of her, sucking a little too hard and leaving a mark that would surely bruise.
�Wow,� Buffy said, Angel collapsed on top of her. �Wow.�
�That was amazing,� he told her with a smile, pleased to have made her first time pleasurable. Hopefully it wouldn�t be the last. He picked her up and deposited her in his room, joining her under the covers after closing the curtains to the darkened city.