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. A snippet.

As Time Passes By
By Kristjan Brezovnik

When the train finally approached Sunnydale, Faith tensed. She knew the Council probably had their operatives stationed all over Sunnydale, which meant she had to get off before the train reached the station. She sighed and looked at the little bundle in her arms.

After killing Kakistos, things had started to look up, in spite of Angel coming back and in spite of Gwen Post using her. But then she'd killed Finch and things went downhill. Buffy had tried to help her, but then Wesley contacted the Council, who had sent men to capture her. She had escaped, but the Council pursued her. And as if that wasn't enough, she had later found out that she was pregnant. The very thought of being responsible for a baby had terrified her and she had thought about having an abortion, but that would mean killing the baby and she didn't want to be responsible for taking another life. So she had delivered, all alone in a sleazy motel in the middle of nowhere. And then she had to run again, taking her newborn baby with her. But the Council kept on coming. She knew she didn't stand a chance as long as she had the baby, but she didn't want to dump her, she didn't want her to end up in some orphanage or with some strangers. In fact, there was only one person she trusted enough to take care of the baby and she was on her way to see her now.

When the train slowed town. She grabbed her bag and put in behind the baby, who was strapped to her chest. Then, when the train passed a group of trees, she jumped and just barely managed to grab onto a branch. She screamed as her arm her to support her entire weight as well as her baby's. When her body stopped swinging around wildly, she dropped to the ground. She groaned and slowly got up.

"Shh, it's okay," she said softly when the baby cried.

She rolled her shoulder and looked around to make sure nobody saw her. There was no one, so she decided to hide until nightfall and spend her final hours with her daughter.

When the night fell, se finally moved on. When she got to the destination, she first made a scan of the perimeter to see if the house was being watched. It was, but only from the front. Still, she knew that once she entered, the Council would be on her within minutes. She watched the house for a while to make sure the person she was looking for was inside. Then she sneaked to the house and broke in the back door. She ran upstairs where the light was.

"What…" Joyce Summers started, surprised, when she saw someone run up the stairs. "Faith?" she said, surprised.

Faith swallowed hard.

"Mrs S."

Then Joyce noticed the bundle in Faith's arms.

"Is that…"

"My daughter," Faith said, her voice coarse. She swallowed hard, suddenly not wanting to give up her daughter anymore. "I… I want you to take care of her for me," she said, fighting back the tears, and stepped closer.

"What?"

"I… The Council's after me. They're watching the house and they'll be here any minute now. I don't want them to hurt her and I don't want her to end up in an orphanage if they kill me." She blinked away the tears that were welling up in her eyes. "Please," she said in a small voice.

Joyce stared at her for a few moments and then slowly took the baby. The baby immediately cried in protest.

"Shh, it's okay, honey, this is your mommy now," Faith said and caressed her. A couple of tears escaped from her eyes and she furiously wiped them. She looked at Joyce. "Please take good care of her."

"I will," Joyce promised, feeling like crying herself.

Faith caressed the baby one last time.

"If she ever finds out about me, please tell her I loved her."

Joyce frowned, startled.

"I will," she said. She glanced at the baby. "What's her name?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Hope."

She stared at her daughter for a few moments and then quickly left.

Joyce looked at the crying baby.

"Shh, it's okay, honey, it's okay."

She thought for a few moments and then decided to call Giles.

When she left the house, Faith saw a couple of men run toward her and she knew they were Council operatives. She quickly ran away.

After running for a while, Faith managed to lose her pursuit. She stopped and considered what to do. She knew she could keep on running, but the Council would always find her. She finally realized that the only relatively safe place for her was in jail. After considering the pros and the cons, she decided to do the right thing and turn herself in.

Seven years later, after being released from prison, Faith was sitting at the LA bus station, waiting for her bus to arrive. Suddenly her Slayer senses went off and she got up and looked around, ready to fight.

"Angel," she said, surprised, when she saw the vampire.

"Hello, Faith."

"What…" She frowned. "Are you good or bad?"

"Good."

Faith squinted.

"And just why should I believe you?"

Angel shrugged.

"I didn't say you should."

Faith looked around, worried about who else might have found her.

"There's no one else looking for you here."

Faith looked back at him.

"How did you find me?"

"Buffy asked me to look for you when she didn't catch you at the prison when you were released. She's also looking for you."

Faith sighed and sat back down.

"Okay, so you found me. Now what?"

"Where are you going?" Angel asked as he sat next to her.

Faith shrugged.

"Don't know. I was thinking about Boston."

Angel raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Boston?"

"Yeah."

"Why not LA?"

Faith frowned.

"What would I be doing in LA?"

"Oh, you haven't heard yet," Angel realized.

"Heard what?"

"That Sunnydale was destroyed."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"What? When?"

"A couple of years ago."

Faith swallowed hard.

"Did… Did everyone make it out?"

"Yes. Except Anya. Xander's girlfriend," Angel explained when Faith frowned, confused.

"Oh."

"You didn't plan to go back to Sunnydale?"

Faith sighed.

"What for?"

"You have a family there."

Faith sighed and looked at her hands.

"No, I don't."

Angel frowned.

"But Hope…"

"Is not mine anymore," Faith interrupted him. She sighed. "She never was," she added quietly and gulped.

"Sure she is."

"No, she's not, I gave her to Mrs S." She sighed. "She's hers now, I don't want to confuse her."

"You wouldn't be confusing her," Angel said, "she knows about you."

Faith looked at Angel, surprised.

"What?"

"Buffy told her all about you. In fact, she brought her to prison, but you were gone. She misses you," he added when Faith looked away, troubled.

"She does?" Faith said, surprised, and looked at him.

"Yes," Angel said with a nod. "You're her mother."

Faith snorted.

"Some mother. She's never even seen me."

"She has a picture of you."

Faith frowned.

"What picture?"

"Willow blew up your mug shot."

"Oh." Faith sighed and looked away again. "And what am I supposed to tell her when she asks where I've been? Or why?"

"She already knows," Angel said.

Faith's eyes went wide as she looked at him.

"She does?"

"Yes. And she still loves you."

Faith sighed and looked at her hands again.

"Is she happy?"

"Yes."

Faith took a deep breath, thinking.

"What is she like?"

"She's wonderful. In fact, she's starting school next month."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Faith sighed.

"I don't know. I mean, I don't know how to be a mother."

"Don't worry about that, just be there for her," Buffy said as she and Hope approached from behind. "You'll learn the rest later."

Faith got up, surprised.

"B," she said, nervous. Then she noticed Hope. "Hope?" she said, uncertain, and glanced at Buffy.

"Yes," Buffy said. She looked at Hope, who was staring at Faith, nervous. "Say hi to Mommy."

"Hi, Mommy," Hope said.

Faith had to blink her eyes so the tears wouldn't run down her cheeks. She gulped.

"Hi, baby," she whispered, wide-eyed.

Angel looked at Buffy, who nodded at him, and then he left.

Hope let go of Buffy's hand and slowly approached Faith, who gulped, nervous. When Hope reached Faith, she stopped and they stared at one another for a while, neither sure of what to do.

"Are you gonna come home with us?" Hope finally asked.

"Eh," Faith said, nervous. "Do you want me to?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Why?"

Hope frowned.

"Because you're my mommy."

"But you don't even know me."

Hope's face brightened.

"Yes I do, Mama told me all about you."

Faith sighed and looked around.

"Where is she?"

"Right there," Hope said and pointed at Buffy.

Faith frowned.

"Buffy?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"What about…" She looked at Buffy. "What about your mom?"

Buffy sighed.

"She's dead," she said, and Faith's eyes went wide.

"What? H-How?"

"Tumor."

"Oh." She sighed. "I-I'm sorry."

Buffy smiled a little.

"Thank you."

"Are you coming home, Mommy?" Hope asked and Faith looked at her.

"Eh…" Faith started and looked back at Buffy.

"It's your home too," Buffy said.

Faith stared at her for a few moments and then looked back at Hope. She hesitated for a few moments and then sighed.

"Yeah, I guess," she said.

Hope's eyes lit up. She squealed in delight and hugged Faith's legs.

Faith tensed for a moment and then hesitantly reached out and gently caressed Hope, a part of her still afraid that it was only a dream. A sob escaped her, but she quickly forced herself to calm down.

Hope let go of her and looked up.

Faith stared at her for a few moments and then kneeled. She hesitantly reached out and cupped Hope's face.

"You've grown so much," she said and a tear slid down her cheek.

Hope smiled at her.

"You too, Mommy," she said and Faith smiled for a moment.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then hugged Hope tightly.

Hope hugged her back, happy that her mother had accepted her.

Faith held Hope for several minutes, tears sliding down her cheeks in spite of her closed eyes. She didn't want to let go of her, afraid that if she did, she would lose Hope.

Buffy quietly observed them, glad that they got along so well. When Faith didn't let go of Hope for a few minutes, she slowly approached them.

"Faith," she said softly, gently putting her hand on Faith's shoulder.

Faith jerked, startled, and looked at Buffy. Then she noticed that she was crying and she furiously started wiping her face.

Buffy quickly stopped her and Faith looked at her, surprised.

"It's okay, Faith," Buffy said and slowly let go of her.

Faith stared at her for a few moments and then took a deep breath. She wiped her face more slowly and then looked at Hope, who smiled.

"Can we go home now, Mommy?" Hope asked.

Faith smiled a little.

"Yeah," she said.

"Come!"

Faith got up, grabbed her bag and followed Hope, who had grabbed her hand and was dragging her toward the exit.

Buffy followed them, smiling.

"Will you sit with me, Mommy?" Hope asked when they got to Buffy's car.

"Eh, sure," Faith said, glancing at Buffy.

"Hop in," Buffy said as she unlocked the doors.

Hope opened the back door and go in. Faith followed her and then closed the door. When Faith put her bag aside, Hope immediately leaned on her. Faith looked at her, startled, and, after a moment of hesitation, put her arm around Hope's shoulder. She hesitated again and then kissed Hope on the top of her head and leaned her head on Hope's.

"Nice house," Faith said when they got out of the car.

Buffy smiled at her.

"Thanks."

"Come, Mommy," Hope said, excited, when Buffy opened the door.

"Slow down, honey!" Buffy called after her when Hope dragged Faith inside.

Hope slowed down, but not by much.

"Look, Mommy, this is your room," she said when they entered a room.

"My room?" Faith said, startled.

"Uh-huh," Hope said.

"Oh," Faith said and looked around. "Nice." She looked back at Hope. "And where's your room?"

Hope smiled.

"This way."

Faith followed Hope to Hope's room.

"Is that…" she started when she saw Mr Gordo, but she trailed off when she saw a blown up mug shot of herself.

"Auntie Willow made it," Hope said when she saw where Faith was looking.

"Oh," Faith said and sighed. She looked back at Mr Gordo. "Is that Mr Gordo?"

Hope smiled.

"Uh-huh," she said and fetched it. "Mama gave him to me."

Faith smiled a bit. She hesitated for a moment and then ruffled her hair.

"Hey," Buffy said as she entered.

Faith and Hope looked at her.

"Hey," Faith said.

"Have you been to your room yet?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah." She hesitated for a moment. "Thanks for taking care of Hope."

"My pleasure."

Hope yawned.

"Mama, I'm sleepy," she said.

"Then go get washed. Call us when you're ready to go to be."

"Okay."

"Come, Faith."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then followed Buffy. They went to Faith's room.

"You like your room?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah." She hesitated for a moment. "Will… Will you, em, teach me how to, eh, how to be a… a mom?" she then asked, nervous.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes, of course."

Faith nodded.

"Thanks."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"How about we go downstairs, get a couple of drinks and I tell you what's been going on while you were away."

"Okay."

"Mommy! Mama!" Hope called ten minutes later.

"Looks like she's ready for bed," Buffy said. "Come."

She went upstairs and Faith followed her. When Hope saw them coming, she ran to her room.

"Hi, honey," Buffy said as she and Faith entered Hope's room.

Hope, sitting in the bed, smiled at them.

"Hi, Mama. Hi, Mommy."

"Hey," Faith said.

"Did you brush your teeth?" Buffy asked.

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh. See?" she said and showed them her teeth.

"Good."

Hope lay down and Buffy covered her.

"Sweet dreams, honey," Buffy said and kissed her on the forehead.

"Night, Mama," Hope said.

Buffy caressed her and then stepped aside.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then slowly approached the bed. She smiled a bit and caressed Hope, who smiled back at her.

"Good night, baby," she whispered.

"Night, Mommy," Hope said.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then kissed her on the forehead.

"Sweet dreams," she said and caressed her.

Hope smiled again and made herself comfortable.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then got up.

"Come," Buffy said softly when Faith just stared at Hope for a few moments.

Faith jerked and looked at her. She sighed, gave Hope one last glanced, and then followed Buffy out.

"You okay?" Buffy asked after she closed the door to Hope's room.

Faith took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yeah." She thought for a moment. "I think I'm gonna take a shower and hit the sac."

Buffy nodded.

"Okay."

"Mama?" Hope said a few minutes later when she came downstairs.

"Honey? What's wrong?" Buffy asked.

"Where's Mommy?"

"She's taking a shower."

"Oh."

Buffy picked her up.

"Is everything okay?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh." She hesitated for a moment. "Do you think she'll let me sleep with her?"

Buffy smiled.

"Sure she will. Why don't you wait with me until she comes out."

"Okay," Hope said and leaned her head on Buffy's shoulder.

Buffy caressed her, smiling, and then sat down.

When Buffy heard that Faith was out of the shower, she waited for a few minutes and then went upstairs.

"You decent?" she asked after she knocked on the door.

"Yeah," Faith answered.

Buffy entered.

"She wanted to sleep with you," she said when Faith looked at her confused.

"Oh."

"Can I, Mommy?" Hope asked.

Faith smiled, touched.

"Yes, of course."

She lay down and held the cover open for Buffy to lay Hope down. Hope then immediately cuddled up to Faith, who hugged her tightly and kissed her on the top of the head.

Buffy caressed Hope and, after a moment's hesitation, caressed Faith as well. Faith looked at her, startled, and Buffy smiled at her.

"Good night," Buffy said.

"Night," Faith said.

Buffy left, turning off the lights.

Faith looked at Hope and hugged her even more tightly.

"I love you, baby," she whispered, and kissed her on the top of the head again.

"I love you too, Mommy," Hope mumbled, already half asleep.

Faith swallowed hard as a couple of tears ran down her cheeks. She sighed and let them run.

"Night, baby."

There was no response as Hope was already asleep.

Faith smiled and decided to go to sleep as well.

The End