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. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read.

Five Years
By Kristjan Brezovnik

After five years in coma, Faith finally woke up. When she found out that five years had passed, she was shocked. She wandered around Sunnydale aimlessly for a while, dazed. When she nearly got run over by a bus, she finally pulled herself together, anger overwhelmed her and she decided to find Buffy and kill her.

She first went to the Summers house, but no one was at home. She went to Giles' place and to every other place she could think off, but she couldn't find Buffy anywhere. So she wandered around for a while, deciding to go to Buffy's house in the evening.

By the time she spotted Willow and some girl she didn't know, her rage lessened a bit. She followed the two girls to a magic shop and then waited. When they didn't come out for half an hour, Faith decided to look through the window. She carefully approached the shop, ready to hide at a moment's notice if Willow came out. Then she peaked in through the window and saw that the entire Scooby Gang, except Buffy, was inside, including a few people she didn't know. She noticed that they were all focused on something and she wondered what. Then Buffy came out of a room in the back and a little girl ran to her, and Faith realized that she was the object of the Scoobs' attention. She frowned when Buffy picked up the girl and kissed her on the cheek before putting her down again. She realized that the girl was probably Buffy's daughter. An evil grin spread across her face as she made a plan. She quickly left to prepare.

When Buffy, Dawn and the girl came home in the afternoon, Faith peeked through the window. She waited until Dawn and Buffy went upstairs and left the girl alone in the living room. Then she went to the door and quietly entered. She listened for a moment and then went to the living room.

"Hi," she said with a fake smile as she approached the girl.

The girl looked at her and her eyes went wide.

"Mommy!" she said, excited, and got up.

Faith blinked, surprised.

"Huh?"

The girl hesitated for a moment and then slowly approached her.

Faith frowned, puzzled.

The girl finally reached her and, after a moment of hesitation, hugged her legs.

"I missed you, Mommy," she said.

Faith stared at her, shocked.

"What…"

"Faith," Buffy said, surprised, when she came downstairs after having a strange feeling.

Faith looked at her, startled. She wanted to back off, but the girl's arms stopped her.

Buffy smiled.

"I see you've met Hope," she said as she came down the stairs. She paused for a moment. "Your daughter."

Faith blinked.

"What?"

"Hope is your daughter."

Faith blinked again.

"Mommy?" Hope asked as she let go of Faith's legs, and looked at her.

Faith glanced at her.

"No, she's not," she said.

"You were one month pregnant when… when you went into coma. I taped Hope's birth."

Faith stared at her, shocked.

"Mommy?" Hope said in a small voice, staring up at her.

Faith looked at her, startled.

"Why don't you talk to her, get to know her," Buffy said and Faith looked at her. "I'll leave you two alone."

Buffy went back upstairs and Faith stared at her for a few moments before looking back at Hope, who was staring at her with wide eyes. It took Faith a few moments to pull herself together. A part of her wanted to believe Buffy, but a part of her didn't and that part won.

"Come here," she said.

Hope smiled and she stepped closer.

Faith hesitated and then picked her up. She stared at her for a few moments and then left.

"Buffy!" Dawn said as she came running into her room. "Where's Faith going?"

"What do you mean?"

"Look," Dawn said and went to the window. "She's taking Hope with her."

Buffy hurried to the window and saw Faith carrying Hope. She opened it.

"Faith!" she called.

Faith heard her and turned around.

"Nice try, B!" she called with an evil grin and resumed running.

"Didn't she believe you?" Dawn asked, worried.

"I don't know," Buffy said and hurried downstairs.

"Did you find her?" Willow asked when Buffy came home an hour later.

Buffy sighed.

"No."

"You think she's gonna hurt her?" Xander asked.

"I don't know. If she didn't believe me, if she thinks Hope is my daughter and if she wants to get back at me, I think she might."

"Do we call the cops?"

Buffy thought for a moment and then shook her head.

"No, let's keep it in the family." She took a deep breath. "I suggest we spread out and try to find her."

After aimlessly walking around for a while, Faith got tired. She needed to rest and to be able to do that, she needed money. She took Hope to a side alley and put her down.

"Be quiet," she said. "Understand?"

Hope nodded, scared, feeling that something wasn't right.

Faith went to the mouth of the alley and waited for the first person to come by. She suddenly punched out, knocking the man out before he even knew what happened. Then she caught him and dragged him into the alley. She quickly searched him and when she found his wallet, she took out the money. Then she went to Hope, who was staring at her, wide-eyed. She felt a bit guilty, but she quickly got over it. She picked up Hope and left.

After hiring a room at a seedy motel and locking the door, she put Hope down and lay on the bed to rest.

"Mommy?" Hope asked in a small voice.

"I'm not your mommy," Faith snapped at her, and Hope flinched. Faith felt a bit guilty for a moment, but she got over it. "Just be quiet."

Hope stared at her for a few moments, teary-eyed. Then she sat down, hugged her knees and rested her chin on her knees, frightened.

After searching for Hope for hours, the Scoobs reconvened at the Magic Box. Everyone was worried about Faith hurting Hope. Willow knew she could find them if she used magic, but she was reluctant.

"What is it?" Kennedy asked when Willow stepped outside.

Willow sighed.

"I don't want to use magic," she said quietly.

"Nobody's asking you to."

"I know. But Goddess knows what Faith will do to Hope if we don't find them soon."

"You really think she'll hurt her?"

Willow thought for a moment.

"I don't know. She might not hurt her directly, like hit her or something, but she might be nasty to her."

"Oh."

Kennedy took Willow's hand into her own and gently squeezed it. Willow smiled a bit.

"Thanks."

Kennedy smiled back.

"That's what girlfriends are for."

Willow took a deep breath and concentrated. A moment later a small light appeared in mid air and started moving.

"Come," Willow said.

"You did that?" Kennedy asked as she followed her.

"Yeah."

"Aren't you gonna tell the others?"

Willow thought for a moment.

"We'll be enough."

"Oh."

When they got to the door of the motel apartment where Faith and Hope were, Willow tried the door. It was locked, so she used magic to unlock it. When they entered, Faith was already on her feet, ready to fight.

"Red," Faith said and glanced at Kennedy, not knowing who she was. "That's all the backup?" she asked when she noticed that they were alone.

"I don't need backup," Willow said and her eyes went black for a moment.

Faith suddenly realized that Willow was a force to be reckoned with.

"Come here, Hope," Willow said.

Hope got up and ran to her.

Faith tried to stop her, but she suddenly found herself trapped in an invisible force bubble.

"I knew she wasn't mine," she said when Kennedy picked up Hope.

"She is," Willow said and released Faith.

Faith's first instinct was to attack, but she stopped herself, knowing that Willow could easily detain her again.

"Bullshit."

"Buffy recorded her birth, you can come see it when you're ready. We're taking Hope home now. You can come with us."

"I don't think so," Faith said.

"Your choice," Willow said, turned around and left.

Kennedy quickly followed her.

Faith stared after them for a few moments and then relaxed a bit. She wondered if Hope really was her daughter. And if she wasn't, why was everyone trying to convince her that she was. It was confusing.

"Hope!" Buffy said, relieved, when Willow and Kennedy returned.

"Mama!" Hope called and reached for her.

Buffy rushed over and took Hope from Kennedy.

"Hey, honey. Everything okay?"

"Why is Mommy so mean to me?" Hope asked in a small voice.

Buffy caressed her.

"She's upset and she doesn't believe that you are her daughter."

"Why not?"

"Because she was in coma and she doesn't remember being pregnant."

Hope thought for a moment.

"Will she come back?"

Buffy smiled sadly.

"I hope so."

Hope hugged her tightly and Buffy hugged her back.

"Where did you find her?" Buffy asked Willow.

"A motel," Willow said.

"Thank you," Buffy said, knowing that Willow had used magic.

Willow smiled a bit.

After tucking Hope in, Buffy went to the motel where Willow said she'd found Faith, but Faith was long gone. She sighed, wondering what Faith was up to.

Two days later, Faith decided to pay Buffy a visit. When she entered the house, Buffy was alone.

Faith," she said when she saw her.

Faith went straight to her and attacked her. Buffy noticed just in time that something was wrong, and she barely dodged the first hit.

"Faith…" she started, but Faith kept up her attack.

Buffy was on the defensive first, but then she went on the offensive and after a few minutes of intense fight knocked Faith out. Then she stared at her for a few moments, breathing deeply to catch her breath. She considered what to do and she decided to tie her up and show her Hope's birth.

She went to the basement to get some rope, and tied up Faith. Then she went upstairs to Hope's room to get the tape.

When Faith came to a few moments later, she immediately noticed that she was tied up. She looked around.

"No cops?" she asked when she saw that she and Buffy were alone.

"No."

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"Now what?"

"I was kinda hoping we could talk."

"Talk? You took five years of my life, B, and now you want to talk?" Faith said bitterly.

Buffy sighed.

"I'm sorry, Faith."

Before Faith could say anything, Buffy turned on the video.

Faith stared at the screen as the doctors did a C section and Hope was born. When the scene was over, Buffy stopped the video, but Faith kept staring at the empty screen for a few moments before looking at Buffy.

"Great. You took five years of my life and my daughter," she said.

"I didn't take Hope. I mean, I did take her, but not from you. She's your daughter and she knows that. I took her in because I knew that if the social services got their hands on her, you'd probably never see her." She paused for a moment. "I'm sorry, Faith, that it took five years." She sighed. "I wish things had gone differently."

Faith stared at her. Just when she wanted to say something, Dawn, Willow and Kennedy brought Hope home.

When Hope saw Faith, she immediately hid behind Buffy, frightened and confused.

"What happened?" Dawn asked when she the broken things.

"Nothing," Buffy said. "You three go to the kitchen."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Dawn, Willow and Kennedy left, and Buffy kneeled beside Hope.

"Hope, do you want to talk to Mommy?"

Hope pressed herself to Buffy and shook her head, frightened.

"She won't hurt you, she's tied up, see?"

Hope looked.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. And I'll be in the kitchen, okay?"

Hope hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

Buffy smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

"Everything will be okay," she whispered.

When Buffy was gone, Hope and Faith stared at one another for a while.

Faith had finally accepted that Hope was her daughter and the fact scared her. On one hand, she felt responsible for Hope, but on the other, she felt ashamed of what she had done and she also had no idea how to take care of her.

Hope loved Faith because she was her mother, but she was scared because Faith had been mean to her. Since Faith wasn't a threat at the moment, she decided to ask Faith about it.

"Are you mad at me?"

Faith blinked, startled.

"Huh?"

"Are you mad at me?"

Faith stared at her for a few moments. Then she sighed.

"No," she said and looked down.

"Then why were you mean to me?"

Faith looked at her, thinking for a moment.

"I was angry."

"At me?"

Faith sighed.

"No."

"Why were you angry?"

Faith thought for a few moments about what to tell her. Then she took a deep breath.

"I was angry at myself and at Buffy."

"Why?"

Faith stared at her for a few moments, wondering about the twenty questions. She sighed again.

"Because I spent five years of my life in coma."

"Are you going to coma again?" Hope asked, worried.

"Not if I can help it," Faith said and Hope smiled a bit.

They stared at one another again for a while. Finally Faith took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry for being mean to you."

Hope smiled again.

"Are you gonna stay home now?"

Faith frowned.

"Here?"

"Uh-huh," Hope said, nodding.

Faith sighed.

"I don't know."

"Mama said you can."

Faith frowned.

"Buffy?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith thought for a moment.

"So she's Mama and I'm Mommy?"

Hope nodded again.

"Uh-huh," she said with a smile. "Want me to call her?"

Faith took a deep breath, hesitating. She didn't really feel like talking to Buffy, but she knew she had to.

"Okay," she said.

"Mama!" Hope called.

Buffy, Dawn, Willow and Kennedy immediately came.

"Yes?" Buffy asked.

"Mommy wants to talk to you."

"Oh," Buffy said and looked at Faith. "You okay?"

"I'm tied up," Faith said.

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Dawn, take Hope to her room, please, I'd like to talk to Faith."

"Okay," Dawn said and went to Hope. "Come, Hope."

Hope glanced at her and then slowly went to Faith, whose eyes became bigger and bigger the closer Hope came. When she reached Faith, Hope hesitated for a moment and then hugged her.

"I love you, Mommy," she said.

Faith swallowed hard, fighting back the tears.

Hope let go of Faith after a couple of moments, smiled at her and then went to Dawn, who took her hand and took her upstairs.

Willow and Kennedy also went upstairs, leaving Buffy and Faith alone.

When they were alone, Faith took a deep breath to calm down.

"Am I your prisoner?" she then asked.

"No," Buffy said.

"Then untie me."

"Will you behave?"

Faith sighed.

"Yeah."

Buffy went to Faith and untied her.

Faith then rubbed her wrists and sat on the sofa.

"Now what?" she asked.

Buffy smiled a bit and sat down in a lounge chair.

"I was hoping you would stay."

Faith blinked.

"Here."

"Yes."

"Why? I thought you hated my guts."

Buffy sighed.

"Not anymore. It's been five years, Faith, I think not being able to be with Hope is more of a punishment than you deserved."

"Gee, thanks," Faith said sarcastically.

"Look, I know things were bad between us, but I hope we can be friends again, and not just for Hope's sake. I really want to be your friend again."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, not sure what to say. Then she took a deep breath.

"I'll have to think about it."

Buffy nodded.

"Okay."

Faith thought for a moment.

"You named her Hope?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. She kinda gave me hope that you'll be okay someday and I thought she would also give you hope, so… Hope."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yeah," she agreed. "And your mom agrees?"

Buffy sighed.

"She's dead."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"What?"

"She died of tumor a few years ago. There was nothing we could've done."

Faith sighed.

"I'm sorry."

Buffy smiled softly.

"Me too. But before she died, she insisted on you staying here with us, she wanted you and Hope to have a good place to live." She hesitated for a few moments. "There's another reason why I want you to stay."

"What?"

"I don't want to lose Hope."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, surprised.

"And your friends?" she finally asked.

"What about them?"

"How do they feel about me?"

"They're a bit nervous because you took Hope, but I think they're all willing to give you a second chance." She hesitated for a moment. "And I hope you'll give us a second chance."

Faith thought about it.

"And the Council?"

"There is no Council anymore. A long story," she added when Faith looked at her, surprised. "We took care of the cops. They still want to question you, but they don't have any evidence, so you don't need to worry."

Faith took a deep breath, relaxing a bit. She thought for a few moments.

"Where do I sleep?"

"Well," Buffy said hesitatingly, "we have an extra bed in the basement. If you want, we can set it up in Hope's room or in the basement." She paused for a moment. "Or you can sleep in my bed tonight and we can set up your bed in my room tomorrow."

Faith blinked.

"Why not tonight?"

"Because we'd also have to take my bed apart and then set up a new bed for me as well."

"Oh."

"Your choice."

Faith thought about her options for a few moments. Sleeping with Hope would be acceptable, but only for a short period of time. She didn't really feel like sleeping in the basement and sleeping in Buffy's bed made her nervous. She really didn't want to piss off Buffy by groping her in her sleep.

"What about your mom's room?"

"Willow and Kennedy sleep there."

Faith frowned.

"Red's gay?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes."

"Go, Red," Faith said and Buffy's smile widened. She thought for a moment. "There's the couch."

"Not after you spent five years in coma."

Faith sighed, realizing Buffy had a point.

"And I'll get my own bed tomorrow?"

"Yes." She hesitated for a moment. "You'll sleep in my bed tonight?"

Faith grinned.

"Man, if I'd known it was that easy to get in your bed," she said and wiggled her eyebrows, making Buffy blush. Then she realized that her words could have another meaning. "Sorry, didn’t mean to say you were a whore or something."

"I know," Buffy said with a smile.

Faith thought for a moment.

"So, what do you want me to do, if I'm gonna be staying here?"

"Well, tomorrow, we'll go talk to the police. Then you need to get a job and start on your GED."

"Seems you got my life all worked out for me," Faith said sarcastically.

"Sorry, didn't mean it to sound that way."

Faith sighed, realizing she needed to calm down.

"I know," she said. She thought for a moment. "So, you killed the Mayor."

"Yes. Thanks to you."

Faith snorted.

"I'm sure you would've thought of a way to lure him into the school without my help."

"Maybe."

Faith took a deep breath, thinking for a moment.

"I see that Red is a kick ass witch now," she then said.

"Yes. But she tries not to use magic."

Faith frowned.

"Why not? I mean, it would help you a lot. Wouldn't it?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"After Oz left, she met a girl, Tara. A couple of years ago some nerd shot me and he accidentally shot Tara as well. I survived, Tara didn't. Willow completely freaked out. She killed Warren, the nerd who killed Tara, and when we wanted to protect Warren's friends, she was willing to kill us as well. She finally wanted to end the world, but Xander stopped her."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, surprised. She quickly realized how hard it must've been for Willow to use magic to find her. Then she frowned.

"Xander stopped her?" she said, puzzled.

Buffy smiled a bit.

"He told her that he loved her and she finally broke down."

"Oh," Faith said, impressed. She thought for a moment. "And now she's with this Kennedy girl?"

"Yes," Buffy confirmed. "Kennedy is also a Slayer"

Faith blinked.

"She is?"

Buffy nodded.

"There are hundreds, thousands, of Slayers now. I'll tell you about it."

"Oh." Faith thought for a moment and then took a deep breath. "So if I stay here, I have to pay the rent, right?"

"Yes, we have to pay the bills."

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

Buffy smiled when Faith's stomach rumbled.

"Hungry?"

"Yeah," Faith said.

"Why don't you go upstairs to Hope and play with her while I make dinner."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"You're gonna cook?"

Buffy smiled.

"I learned."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Okay." She got up. "Where is Hope's room?"

"You know which room is mine?"

"Yeah."

"Hers is the next."

"Okay."

Faith took a deep breath and went upstairs. Upstairs, she looked around and then headed for Hope's room.

"Red," she said, startled, when Willow came from the master bedroom.

"Faith."

They stared at one another for a few moments.

"Thanks," Faith finally said.

Willow frowned.

"What for?"

"For finding me after I took Hope."

"Oh."

They stared at one another for a few moments and then Faith nodded at Hope's door.

"That Hope's room?"

"Yeah."

Faith took a deep breath and headed for the door.

"Are you staying?" Willow asked.

Faith looked at her.

"Yeah."

"Okay," Willow said and went past her.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then opened the door to Hope's room.

When Hope saw her, she smiled.

Faith smiled back. She entered and closed the door behind her. Then she looked around the room. She noticed that there were quite a few photos of Hope with various people, some of whom she didn't know. There were also a couple of photos of her and Hope and it surprised Faith. Then she noticed Mr Gordo.

"Is that Mr Gordo?" she asked.

Hope smiled.

"Uh-huh," she said, nodding. "Mama gave it to me."

Faith smiled a bit and then sat down on the floor.

"Are you staying?" Hope asked anxiously.

Faith nodded.

"Yeah," she said and Hope smiled.

They stared at one another for a few moments and Faith felt a bit awed that the little girl in front of her was her daughter. She swore to herself that she would protect her no matter what. She sighed.

"I'm sorry I was mean to you," she then apologized again.

Hope beamed. She got up, ran to her and hugged her.

"I love you, Mommy."

Faith instinctively hugged her, a large lump in her throat making it hard for her to breathe.

"I love you too," she whispered, and a few tears escaped down her cheeks.

It had been a long time since she'd loved anyone so unconditionally, when she was just a little girl herself, before the abuse began. It had also been an equally long time since anyone had loved her so unconditionally.

When Hope let go of her after a minute or so, Faith let go of Faith.

"Why are you crying, Mommy?" Hope asked, worried, when she saw the tears on Faith's cheeks.

Faith quickly wiped them.

"Because I'm happy," she said and, after a moment of hesitation, caressed Hope, who smiled.

"Me too, Mommy."

Faith smiled a bit and took a deep breath to calm down. Then she looked around again and nodded at the photos of her and Hope.

"You came to visit?" she asked.

Hope glanced at the photos.

"Uh-huh," she said with a nod. "We came every day."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

Hope nodded again.

"Uh-huh. I drew some pictures for you. Did you see them?"

"Eh, no," Faith said. "It was dark when I woke up."

"Oh. Wanna see them?"

"Eh, sure."

Hope smiled and ran to her desk. She picked up a folder and brought it to Faith. She sat down between Faith's legs and opened the folder.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then hugged Hope from behind. She looked over her shoulder and listened as Hope started explaining the pictures.

When Buffy came to Hope's room half an hour later, Hope was showing Faith the photos in her album.

"Hey," she said with a smile.

Hope smiled at her, while Faith looked a bit nervous.

"Dinner's ready," Buffy said as she kneeled beside them and looked at the album.

"Come on, Hope, you'll show me the rest after dinner."

"Okay," Hope said, closed the album and got up.

Buffy and Faith got up as well.

"I see you get along fine," she said with a smile as Hope put the album on her desk.

"Yeah," Faith said and looked at Hope.

When Hope came to her and took her hand, Faith smiled a bit.

"Let's go," Buffy said and led the way.

When they got to the kitchen, Faith looked nervously at Dawn, Willow and Kennedy.

"Hey," she said.

"This is Kennedy," Willow introduced her girlfriend.

"Yeah, I guessed," Faith said. "Hey."

"Hey," Kennedy said.

Faith looked at the table.

"Em, where do I sit?"

"Right here," Buffy said and pointed at a seat.

Faith sat down and Hope sat on a chair right of her. On Faith's left was Dawn and across from her were Willow and Kennedy. On Hope's right, across from Dawn, was Buffy. Since Dawn, Willow and Kennedy had already served the food, Faith tasted hers.

"Not bad, B," she said.

Buffy smiled.

"Told you I learned."

"Yeah."

After dinner, Faith and Hope went back to Hope's room, where Hope finished showing Faith her photo album. By the time they were done, it was time for Hope to go to bed.

"Night, honey," Buffy said after she tucked her in, and kissed her on the forehead.

"Night, Mama."

Buffy then stepped aside and looked at Faith expectantly.

Faith felt a bit nervous about showing her affection openly, but she forced herself to do it. She approached Hope's bed and kissed the girl on the cheek.

"Night, Hope."

"Night, Mommy."

Faith smiled a bit, feeling proud. Then she and Buffy left the room.

"Dawn and I are going on patrol now."

"You're taking her on patrol?" Faith asked, surprised.

Buffy smiled a bit.

"When it's not too dangerous."

"Can she fight?"

"Oh yes."

"Oh."

"Willow and Kennedy have already left, so you'll be alone. Come, let me show you where your clothes are," Buffy said and led the way to her room.

"My clothes?" Faith said, surprised.

"Yes. You might have been in coma, but we celebrated your birthday anyway. We mostly bought you clothes and stuff."

"Oh. Em, thanks."

Buffy smiled and opened one of the closets.

"Here, this is all yours."

Faith looked at the clothes.

"All of this?"

Buffy smiled.

"Four birthdays."

"Oh." She gulped. "Thanks."

She looked around the room and noticed the photo. Some were of Buffy's family and friends, but there were also a few of Buffy and Hope, Faith and Hope and Buffy, Faith and Hope. Faith stared at them for a while, feeling like she was a part of Buffy's family now.

Buffy noticed what Faith was staring at and she smiled, but she didn't comment.

"Come, let me show you around the bathroom."

After watching TV for a while, Faith decided to go to bed. She was almost asleep, when the door opened and Hope came in.

"Mommy?" she asked quietly.

"Huh?" Faith said, startled, and looked up. "Hope?"

"Uh-huh. Can I sleep with you?"

Faith stared at her for a moment.

"Uh, sure."

Hope smiled and ran to the bed. Faith removed the cover and Hope climbed in and cuddled up to her. Faith looked at her for a moment, startled, and then covered them. After a moment of hesitation, she hugged Hope and pressed her to herself. She finally felt like things might work out for her.

When Buffy and Dawn came home, Buffy went to her room. When she saw Hope cuddled against Faith, she smiled.

Faith felt that someone had entered the room and she opened her eyes. When she saw Buffy smiling at her, she blushed, nervous.

"I'll just go take a shower," Buffy said quietly and left.

Faith stared after her for a few moments and then sighed.

When Buffy got up in the morning, Faith woke up.

"You can sleep some more," Buffy said quietly.

Faith glanced at Hope, who was still cuddled against her, sleeping peacefully. She smiled a bit and then closed her eyes and let Buffy change.

After preparing breakfast, Buffy came upstairs.

"Faith," she called quietly and Faith opened her eyes. "Wake her up."

Faith looked at Hope.

"Hope," she called and gently shook her, "wake up."

Hope opened her eyes.

"Mommy!" she said, excited, and hugged her.

Faith hugged her back, startled.

"Time to get up, honey," Buffy said.

Hope let go of Faith and looked at Buffy.

"Mama, can I stay home today?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes, I already called kindergarten. Now get dressed."

Hope smiled, scrambled off the bed and ran to her room.

"Kindergarten?" Faith asked.

"Yes. Everybody else is either working or at school."

"Oh."

"She's staying home with you until you recover and get a job."

"Oh."

"I took the day off so we can go to the police later on."

Faith tensed for a moment.

"And you're sure they don't have any evidence?"

"Yes, Willow took care of it."

Faith took a deep breath, relaxing.

"Why don't you get dressed up, breakfast is ready."

When she got dressed, Faith went to Hope's room.

"Ready?" she asked when she saw that Hope had just finished pulling on her shirt.

"Uh-huh," Hope said and went to her. "What are we gonna do?" she asked as she took her hand. "Can we watch cartoons?"

Faith smiled.

"Sure. Come, breakfast is ready."

When they came to the kitchen, Buffy and Willow were just done setting up the table. Faith helped Hope sit and then sat herself. She looked across the table at Willow, who had also just sat down.

"Red," she said after a moment of hesitation.

"Yes?" Willow said and looked at her.

Faith hesitated for a moment again.

"I'm sorry." She glanced at Hope, who was concentrating on her food. "You know, for everything."

Willow stared at her for a few moments, thinking.

"Would you have…" She glanced at Hope. "You know, when you were holding a knife at my throat?"

Faith tensed for a moment and thought about it.

"Yes," she then admitted. "I would've done anything the Mayor told me to," she explained.

"Oh," Willow said, obviously having been hoping for a negative answer.

Faith sighed and concentrated on her food.

After breakfast, Faith and Hope went to the living room and Hope turned on the TV.

"X-Men!" she said, excited, when she saw which cartoon was on.

Faith smiled.

"You like X-Men?" she asked as she sat down.

Hope looked at her and nodded.

"Uh-huh. It's my favorite."

Faith's smile widened.

"Mine too."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Faith said and helped Hope sit between her legs.

"Which one is your favorite?"

"Rogue."

"I like Storm. She's so cool."

Faith chuckled.

"Yeah, she is," she said and hugged her from behind.

Hope leaned back and they watched the X-Men.

When Willow and Kennedy left the kitchen, Willow stared at Faith and Hope for a few moments, watching how they both raptly watched a cartoon, Hope asking questions, Faith answering them. Kennedy, knowing that Faith would feel uncomfortable if she caught them staring, quickly pulled Willow after her.

"Does it surprise you?" she asked as they went upstairs.

Willow looked at her.

"A bit. I've never imagined Faith in a motherly role."

Kennedy smiled.

"And?"

Willow sighed.

"I don’t know. I mean, it surprised me that she would really have killed me if the Mayor said so, I was hoping that she wouldn't have." She thought for a moment. "She was always so… so…"

"Like me?"

Willow smiled.

"Sort of, yes. Only she was more of a loner than you and we never really accepted her, I think. I think she resented us that." She thought for a moment. "And after she killed Finch, well, we all blamed her, we didn't really help. And Wesley really messed up when he called the Council, I think that's what drove Faith away from us, she felt betrayed."

"Can you forgive her?"

Willow frowned, thinking.

"I don't know."

When Buffy left the kitchen, she saw Faith hugging Hope, still answering her questions about a cartoon. She smiled at the sight, glad that they got along so well. She observed them for a couple of moments and then went upstairs.

As Willow and Kennedy went past the living room on their way out, Willow stopped. She stared at Faith for a moment, hesitating.

"Faith," she then said.

Faith looked at her, startled.

"Yeah?"

Willow hesitated for a moment.

"I forgive you."

Faith stared at her, surprised.

"Thank you," she then said.

They stared at one another for a couple more moments and then Willow left.

Faith stared at the empty spot for a few moments and then looked back at the TV, hugging Hope tightly.

"Mommy?" Hope asked, feeling that something was wrong.

"Everything's okay, honey," Faith said and kissed her on the temple. She took a deep breath. "Everything's okay."

Before going out, Buffy stopped by in the living room.

"Having fun?" she asked with a smile as she entered.

Faith and Hope looked at her, Faith nervous, Hope smiling.

"Uh-huh," Hope said with a nod.

"Good." Buffy sat down beside them. "I'm going out now, I have some errands to run. When I come back, we'll go to the police."

Faith tensed for a moment and then nodded.

"Okay." She thought for a moment. "And Hope?"

"We'll drop her off at the Magic Box."

"Oh. Okay."

Buffy smiled and caressed Hope, who was already engrossed in the cartoons.

"I'll see you later," she said and got up.

"B!" Faith called after her.

"Yes?" Buffy asked as she turned back.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"You're not gonna lose her."

Buffy frowned for a moment, puzzled, but then she remembered what she had told Faith the previous day and she smiled.

"Thanks."

She hesitated for a moment and then left.

Faith stared after her for a few moments and then looked at the TV again.

"Honey," Faith said when the cartoon was over.

Hope looked at her.

"Yes, Mommy?"

"Did… Mama talk about me?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"What did she say?"

"She said you hurt her and she hurt you and she said she hoped that you would be friends again." She thought for a moment. "Are you friends again?"

Faith sighed.

"Yeah, I guess," she said, and Hope smiled.

Faith kissed her on the temple again and returned to watching TV.

After Buffy returned home, she and Faith took Hope to the Magic Box and then went straight to the police. When they returned, Giles had already ordered a pizza for Hope, so they ordered a couple for themselves as well.

"Faith, how do you feel?" Giles asked while they waited.

Faith shrugged.

"Okay," she said and looked at Hope, who was stuffing herself with pizza. "Not so fast, honey," she chided her and Hope slowed down a bit. She looked back at Giles. "Thanks for giving me a second chance."

Giles nodded.

"Do you feel fit enough to train?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"Yeah."

"Good, we'll start with some easy exercises."

"Now?"

"After you eat."

"Oh." She looked at Buffy. "Where do you leave Hope while you train?"

"Depends. If there's someone at home, I leave her at home, otherwise I bring her here."

"Here? You train here?"

"In the back. Xander built a gym."

"Oh." She thought for a moment. "Do you let her watch?"

"She watches sometimes, but she quickly gets bored. I'm trying to teach her t'ai chi, but she gets bored if I get too technical on her."

Faith smiled.

"I bet."

"But I'm making progress. I've figured out a couple of ways to make it interesting for her and still teach her stuff."

"Cool," Faith said.

"Hey, we could teach her together now."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yeah."

"Come, let me show you the gym."

After they ate their pizzas, Buffy and Faith rested a bit. When they were about to go to the gym to train, Xander came. Faith blinked when she saw him wearing a suit.

"Wow," she said, impressed.

Xander glanced at himself, startled.

"Hi, Uncle Xander," Hope called and waved at him.

"Hi, Hope," Xander said with a smile and waved at her. Then he looked back at Faith. "Faith," he said.

"X," Faith said, slightly nervous.

They stared at one another for a few moments.

"So, you back to normal?" Xander then asked.

Faith shrugged.

"As normal as I can get."

"How does it feel to be a mom?"

Faith smiled.

"Awesome," she said, and Xander smiled.

"Good."

"Nice gym, by the way."

"Thanks."

She gave him a once over.

"So what are you? A businessman?"

Xander smiled again.

"Sort of. I'm still in construction business."

"Oh. I bet chicks are falling all over you."

Xander grinned.

"Yeah."

Faith then took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, you know…"

Xander nodded.

"Yeah." He thought for a moment. "As long as you don't try… you know, we're okay."

Faith breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks."

"Xander, we'll need your help with the beds later," Buffy said.

"Okay," Xander said.

"Faith," Buffy said and Faith looked at her.

"Yeah?"

"Want to train?"

Faith grinned.

"Sure." She looked at Hope. "Honey, Mama and I will be back in the gym. We'll be training."

"Okay," Hope said.

Faith smiled at her and then followed Buffy to the gym.

They stretched a bit and then started practicing. Buffy was easy on Faith, knowing she needed to get in shape first. Faith noticed that and a part of her was pissed at it, but she knew that Buffy was doing the right thing, so she calmed down and concentrated on what she was doing.

In the afternoon, Xander helped Buffy and Faith take apart Buffy's bed and put together two narrow beds for Buffy and Faith.

When they were done, Faith stared at the beds for a while.

"Man, this is gonna be a bitch," she then murmured.

Everyone looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean?" Kennedy asked.

Faith looked at her.

"Ever been on patrol?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know how you feel after slaying, but I get hungry and horny. And it's not the first part that's bothering me."

"Oh," Kennedy said and grinned while Buffy blushed.

Faith shuddered.

"I hate cold showers," she said and Kennedy laughed.

"You're a riot, Faith," Kennedy said and Faith grinned at her.

"I'm so out of here," Xander said and quickly left.

Faith chuckled.

"Glad to see you can still make people blush," Buffy said with a smile and Faith looked at her.

"It's gonna be a bitch for you too, B. Unless those low fat yogurts work as cold showers, in which case I'd prefer them to actual cold showers," Faith said and Buffy blushed. "Or, if you have a spare vibrator, we can have a jam session," she added, making Buffy blush even deeper while Kennedy laughed.

"I'll go check on Hope," Buffy said and quickly left.

"Some things never change," Willow said, shaking her head.

Faith looked at her and was relieved to see that she was smiling. Her face became thoughtful as she looked after Buffy.

"No, they don't," she agreed quietly.

Willow and Kennedy stared at her for a few moments and then Kennedy took Faith by the arm.

"Come on, you gotta give me some tips for making Willow blush."

"Kennedy!" Willow protested, blushing.

Kennedy winked at her.

"See you later," she said and dragged Faith downstairs.

"Man, I never thought that Red could be gay," Faiths said when she and Kennedy came to the back yard.

"Really?" Kennedy asked, curious.

"Yeah. I mean, she was this cute, nerdy, shy girl. She'd had a major crush on Xander, but then she met Oz. He was a cool guy. Not my type, but cool." She shook her head. "She definitely grew up."

Kennedy smiled.

"Yeah." She hesitated for a moment. "So, how come you never told Buffy?"

Faith looked at her, puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"That you have a crush on her the size of Nebraska."

Faith blushed a bit, suddenly nervous.

"No, I don't," she denied.

Kennedy raised an eyebrow, amused by how shy Faith suddenly became.

"Faith, you're practically drooling all over her. I'm surprised no one else has noticed."

Faith sighed.

"I thought I stood a chance for a while, but then Angel came back and I killed Finch. Things kinda went straight to hell from there."

"They're not together. I mean, they're friends, good friends, but not lovers."

Faith sighed.

"Yeah, well, way too much shit happened between us."

"It's not too late."

Faith smiled sadly.

"Maybe someday. I have to earn it first."

"You don't earn love. You earn trust, you earn respect, you earn forgiveness, but you don't earn love. Love is given out of free will." She smiled. "And besides, she has a crush on you too, you know?"

Faith blushed a bit.

"Right."

Kennedy rolled her eyes.

"Is everyone blind or what?" she said, shaking her head.

Faith's smile brightened a bit.

"You're one cool chick, Ken."

Kennedy laughed.

"And Willow's my Barbie?"

Faith grinned.

"Well, she's not blonde, but I bet she's as hot as Barbie."

"Oh, she is, and way smarter."

"A Fyarl demon is smart compared to Barbie," Faith pointed out, and Kennedy chuckled.

"Yeah." She thought for a moment. "You going on patrol tonight?"

"No, not yet. Maybe next week."

"Oh. Okay." Kennedy thought for a moment. "Come, let's go back inside."

They entered the house and Faith went to the living room to play with Hope. Willow was also there and Xander had left. Kennedy decided to find Buffy.

"Hey," she said when she entered the kitchen and found Buffy there.

Buffy glanced at her.

"Hey."

Kennedy thought for a moment and then decided to get straight to the point.

"Faith loves you," she said and Buffy looked at her, surprised.

"What?"

Kennedy shrugged, smirking.

"Just thought I'd let you know," she said and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Buffy said and rushed to her. "What do you mean, she loves me?"

Kennedy rolled her eyes.

"You're beating around the bush like me and Willow. You love her, don't you?"

Buffy blushed.

"Yes," she said, nervous.

"And she loves you."

"How do you know?"

Kennedy sighed.

"Beside the fact that it's probably obvious to anyone except you and your friends, she told me."

Buffy blinked, surprised.

"Just like that?"

"No, of course not. I asked her when she is going to tell you. She denied it at first, but then she admitted it."

"Oh."

"She says she has to earn your love first."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Kennedy thought for a moment. "Willow didn't want to admit that she loved me because of Tara and I was afraid of competing against a ghost. Don't do the same mistake. I know you still care about Angel and Spike, but we both know that they're history. And Faith is beating herself over what she had done. The way things are going between you two, you'll both be great grandmothers before you confess your love to one another." She smiled a bit. "Think about it."

After Kennedy left, Buffy stared at the door, shocked. She was quite simply stunned. Faith loved her. After she got over her affair with Spike, Buffy had thought over her relationships with Angel, Riley and Spike. She cared for them, for each in a different way. She understood that Spike was just a means to make her feel again and Riley was her attempt to have a normal relationship. Angel was the toughest. Of the three boyfriends, she had loved him the deepest. She had gotten over him, but she still cared a lot about him.

Of course, just when it looked that she had gotten her feelings straightened out, she had remembered Faith. In a way, Faith understood her like no one else, but that still didn't make Buffy understand Faith. Sure, there was the Slayer connection, but Faith brought out her wild side. She could make feel so many different things that it was confusing. But, unfortunately, she had never bothered to try and understand Faith. Sure, she cared about her, but she had always been ignorant.

She decided to thoroughly think about what she knew about Faith and she realized that it wasn't much. She recalled every single encounter and realized that Faith must have felt left out. She had also had the feeling that Faith's flirting was perhaps more than just flirting, that she was trying to tell her something. She had then decided to be there for Faith when she finally woke up.

And then Hope had been born and she had spent a lot of time in Faith's hospital room and her own feelings had slowly became more and more clear. She had realized that she loved Faith and that she had been reluctant to admit it to herself because of the guilt she had felt over Angel and also because Faith was a girl.

And now, when she knew that Faith loved her, she was nervous. She didn't know what to do. Tell her she loved her? That was a sure way to freak Faith out. She sighed, confused. She shook her head and went to the living room.

There, she saw Faith playing with Hope. She heard that Willow and Kennedy were upstairs and she guessed that Kennedy had taken Willow away so that she would have some privacy with Faith. She took a deep breath and the approached Faith and Hope.

Faith looked at her and smiled.

"Come, B, join us."

Buffy smiled back and joined them.

"We're having a tea party," Hope explained.

"I know," Buffy said.

Hope served Buffy tea.

As the game progressed, Buffy quietly observed Faith and how she looked at Hope like she was the eighth wonder of the world. Buffy frowned at the thought and realized that she probably was.

"You okay, B?" Faith asked after a while, noticing how Buffy's mind seemed to be absent.

Buffy looked at her, startled.

"I'm fine, just… thinking."

"Heavy thoughts?"

Buffy smiled.

"Not really." She hesitated for a moment. "Just about how I feel about you."

Faith tensed for a moment.

"What do you mean?" she asked, suddenly nervous.

Buffy sighed.

"I love you," she then said, deciding to get straight to the point.

Faith's eyes went wide.

"What?"

"I love you. I'm not joking."

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"I… I…"

"It's okay, you don't have to say anything." She thought for a moment. "I've had five years to think about my feelings, Faith."

Faith stared at her for a few moments and then looked at Hope.

She didn't say anything for the rest of the game and when Hope got bored, Faith got up and left.

"Is Mommy okay?" Hope asked after she was gone, feeling that something wasn't right.

Buffy smiled at her.

"She's okay, she just needs to think."

"Oh."

Buffy smiled.

"So, what do you want to play now?"

"Can I watch TV?"

"Of course. But first put this stuff away."

"Okay."

After a while, Buffy took the washed clothes to her room. Since she knew that Faith was inside, she first knocked. She waited for a moment and then entered.

Faith was lying on the bed, looking at her. Buffy smiled at her and went to the closet to put away the clothes.

Faith stared at her quietly, trying to sort out her emotions.

"Buffy," she said when Buffy was about to leave.

Buffy turned.

"Yes?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Why do you love me?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know, I just do."

"Even after… after what I've done?"

"I loved Angel, I still do, and you know what he's done."

"Yeah, but he had no soul."

"Still. And besides, Hope loves you."

"But she doesn't know what I've done."

"You think she'd love you any less if she did?"

"She's a kid, she…"

"When she grows up. Do you think she would love you any less?"

Faith frowned.

"I'm her mother."

"Yes." Buffy frowned. "Okay, maybe she's not the best example." She sighed. "I can't explain it, okay? I love you, and that's that." She thought for a moment. "That doesn't mean you have to love me back or anything. I don't want you to say you love me unless you're absolutely certain you mean it."

"Yeah."

"Promise," Buffy insisted.

Faith stared at her for a couple of moments and then sighed.

"I promise."

Buffy smiled a bit.

"Good."

Buffy left and Faith stared at the door for a few moments before looking back at the ceiling and returning to her thoughts. She found it surprising that Buffy still loved her. Hell, she found it surprising that Buffy loved her at all. She had felt the vibes back when they'd first met, but when Buffy remained unresponsive to her flirting and when Angel came back and later when Riley showed up, she thought that she had imagined things. Well, apparently she had not.

She felt sick over what she had done and she believed she didn't deserve Buffy. But Buffy loved her, and so did Hope, and she had been forgiven by the Scoobs. Buffy loved her and there was nothing she could do about it. And she loved Buffy, but she was reluctant to tell her that, because it would mean that they would become a couple and she felt she didn't deserve that. But, she realized, by keeping them apart, she wasn't only punishing herself, she was also punishing Buffy. She sighed, wondering if she should tell Buffy how she felt. She knew that she would do anything to redeem herself, of course, she had not expected that she could do it as Buffy's girlfriend. Or a mother. She took a deep breath, confused.

When Buffy came home from the grocery store fifteen minutes later, Faith was in the living room, watching cartoons with Hope. Buffy smiled at them and went to the kitchen.

Faith stared after her for a couple of moments and then looked at Hope, who was leaning on her, staring at the TV. She hesitated for a few moments, nervous. She finally kissed her on the top of the head and got up. Then she took a deep breath and went to the kitchen.

Buffy smiled at her when she entered and Faith gulped, getting more nervous by the minute. When she stood still for a few moments without saying a word, Buffy looked at her.

"You okay?"

Faith swallowed.

"I love you too," she then blurted, wanting to say it out loud before she changed her mind.

"Faith…"

"I always have," Faith interrupted her. She took a deep breath to calm down. "I tried to tell you with the flirting and all." She frowned. "I mean, I wanted you to know, but I was afraid at the same time."

She sighed and shook her head, nervous.

"And you're not anymore?" Buffy asked. "Afraid, I mean."

Faith took a deep breath and gulped.

"I am," she said quietly and looked down.

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then slowly approached Faith, who looked at her, tense. Buffy smiled a bit. She reached up and touched Faith's cheek with her palm for a moment.

"I'm nervous too," she said and lowered her palm. She hesitated for a moment. "Do you want us to be together?"

Faith swallowed hard, her eyes wide. She had assumed that once she told Buffy she loved her, they would automatically become a couple, she had not expected that Buffy would let her decide whether she wanted them to be together or not. She sighed, remembering her previous thoughts.

"Yes," she said quietly.

Buffy smiled.

"Me too." She hesitated, suddenly nervous. "We'll take it slow, okay?" she asked, blushing.

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

"Okay." She gulped. "Can I… kiss you?" she asked, her blush deepening.

Faith almost started to hyperventilate. She gulped, nervous, and nodded.

Buffy smiled a bit and then leaned closer.

Faith's eyes went wide for a moment, but then she leaned in as well and they kissed.

It was a brief kiss, but they both got the butterflies. When they stopped, they stared at one another for a few moments. Buffy finally touched Faith's cheek with her palm again and smiled.

"I love you, Faith."

Faith took a deep breath to calm down.

"I love you too," she said, still not used to saying it or hearing it.

Buffy lowered her hand.

"Looks like we'll be a real family after all, you, me and Hope."

Faith smiled at the thought.

"Yeah."

Buffy smiled as well.

"Why don't you go to the living room and be with our daughter, I'll be with you in a minute."

"Okay."

Buffy stepped back and Faith left. When she was gone, Buffy took a deep breath and then did the victory dance, excited.

"Mommy?" Hope asked when Faith returned.

Faith smiled widely.

"Everything's okay, honey," she said and kissed her on the top of the head. "Everything's okay."

Hope smiled, glad.

Buffy came a few moments later and she joined them. She sat on the other side of Hope, and Hope smiled again, glad that both her parents were happy.

The End