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. Some of the dialog is from the Buffy episode Who Are You. A snippet.

Good Girl
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Well, you guys will be safe now," the detective said as the medics lifted Buffy in Faith's body into the ambulance. "We may have a couple of questions in the morning."

"Oh, uh, of course," Joyce said.

"Thank you. Both. I'm glad we finally got the kid."

"She's not a kid!" Faith in Buffy's body snapped. "I just mean that she's very strong," she quickly added.

"Yeah. This Faith chick, definitely dangerous," the detective said and walked away.

Joyce went toward the front door.

"She truly is," Faith murmured and then followed Joyce in.

"Faith," Joyce said after she closed the door, and Faith turned around, surprised. "Why do you think she's like that?"

Faith shrugged, relieved.

"You know. She's a nut job. Heh."

"I just don't understand what could drive a person to that kind of behavior."

"Well, how do you know she got drove? I mean, maybe she likes being that way."

"I'll never believe that. I think she's horribly unhappy."

"Well, could be things are looking up. I mean, a little stint in the pokey, show her the error of her ways. I'm sure there's some big old Bertha just waiting to shower her ripe little self with affection."

"Buffy!" Joyce chided her.

"I'm sorry, Mom," Faith said and sighed. "It's just, eh, when I think about how she might have hurt you, I just, eh, I can't stand it."

Joyce smiled, touched, and hugged her.

Faith grimaced, not accustomed to such mushy affection. She was about to pull away when she heard a baby cry.

"Imagine that," Joyce said as she let go of Faith. "She slept through the whole commotion and now that it's all quiet, she wakes up."

Faith frowned, surprised.

"Yeah, weird," she said, having no idea who Joyce was talking about.

"Why don't you go check up on her, I'll be right up."

Faith blinked, startled.

"Me?"

"Yes."

Faith gulped.

"Eh, okay," she said and went upstairs.

Upstairs, she listened for a moment and then went to the room from where the crying was coming. It was Buffy's room. She hesitated for a moment and then entered. She saw a crib and she slowly approached it. Inside was a baby girl and Faith stared at her, wondering when Buffy had had a baby. And with whom. With that boy toy she had seen her with at Giles'?

She hesitated for a moment and then picked her up. She felt a bit weird, holding a baby, and she wondered what was wrong with her. She dandled her a bit, trying to calm her down.

"She's probably hungry, right?" Joyce asked as she entered.

Faith sniffed the air.

"She doesn't smell."

Joyce smiled.

"Here," she said and gave Faith the bottle.

Faith took it, startled, and then looked at the baby. She hesitated for a moment and then moved the bottle to the baby's face. The baby immediately started to drink.

Joyce smiled again and caressed her.

"Too bad Faith didn't see her."

"She'd probably just hurt her."

"A baby?"

Faith shrugged.

"She's nuts."

Joyce sighed.

"I'll be in my room," she said and left.

Faith stared after her for a moment and then looked at the baby. She felt strange, holding Buffy's baby. And even though she hated Buffy, she would never hurt a baby, not even Buffy's. She sighed, wishing things were different.

Three years later, Faith was back, this time in her own body.

"Faith," Buffy said, surprised, when Faith and Willow entered.

"Hey, B," Faith said.

Faith frowned when she saw a three year old girl, but then she remembered the baby she'd fed three years ago.

"This is Hope," Buffy introduced the girl.

"Yeah, I know. I've met her."

"Oh, right," Buffy remembered.

"Where do I crash?"

"Aren't you going to say hello to her?" Buffy asked.

Faith frowned and looked at Hope.

"Hi, Hope," she said and looked back at Buffy. "So…"

"Hi, Mommy," Hope said quietly.

Faith looked at her, surprised.

"Huh?" She looked at Buffy. "Why is she calling me Mommy?"

"Because that's what you are."

Faith frowned.

"She's your kid."

Buffy frowned as well, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I never had a baby."

"Yes, you did. You were in coma then. You had her just after New Year. Mom and I decided to take care of her until you woke up."

Faith stared at her, shocked.

"But… You never mentioned it."

Buffy sighed.

"I know. At first, I was too angry with you to even want to tell you, but then there was always something going on and I just didn't get around to it."

"You had three years," Faith said, upset.

Buffy sighed again.

"I know. I'm sorry."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, feeling angry. Then she looked at Hope. She didn't know how she should feel. She felt angry that she had been cheated of Hope's birth and her childhood and also scared because she didn't have a clue as to how to take care of a child nor any means to. And she didn't even know how Hope felt about her.

She finally took a deep breath, turned around, and walked to the door.

"Where are you going?" Buffy asked, surprised.

"Out," Faith said. "I need… I need to think."

Faith left the house and the Potentials, who had been curiously observing the interaction, started chatting.

"Mama?" Hope asked quietly.

Buffy looked at her and smiled.

"Come here," she said.

Hope ran to her and Buffy picked her up.

"Where did Mommy go?"

"Outside," Buffy said and caressed her. "She's just… shocked."

"Is she mad at me?"

"No, no." She thought for a moment. "Though she's probably mad at me because I didn't tell her about you."

"I'll go after her," Willow said.

"No, we'll go," Buffy said.

Willow raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure? She's pretty angry right now."

Buffy sighed.

"I know. But I want Hope to talk to her. Hopefully, it will calm Faith."

"Oh."

Buffy looked at Hope.

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

Hope smiled and nodded, shyly.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay. But don't push her, okay? She's pretty upset."

"Okay."

Buffy smiled and went outside.

After she got out of the house, Faith stood still for a few moments, feeling like screaming. She finally took a deep breath and sat down. She was completely at a loss as to how she should feel and what she should do. She had come back to Sunnydale to help out Buffy and maybe make up for what she'd done and now she was suddenly a mother. Not to mention feeling angry at Buffy again. In a way, she felt like she was back at the beginning.

When the door opened, Faith tensed for a moment and then sighed.

Buffy came closer and put Hope down. Hope looked at her and Buffy smiled encouragingly at her. Hope smiled back and then looked at Faith. She hesitated for a moment and then sat down. Buffy then left.

Faith slowly looked at her daughter and they stared at one another for a while.

"You sure have grown," Faith said and reached out to caress Hope absentmindedly.

Hope smiled at the gesture, but when Faith realized what she was doing, she quickly pulled had hand away, nervous.

"I missed you, Mommy."

Faith frowned.

"You did?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh. Mama told me all about you."

"Oh," Faith said and looked away, suddenly feeling ashamed. She frowned as she realized something. "How did you know who I was?"

Hope's eyes lit up.

"I have a picture of you," she said and pulled a small locket from behind her shirt. "See?" she said as she opened it. "Mama gave it to me."

Faith looked closer and saw it was a mug shot of her. She sighed. Then she noticed the other picture, one of Buffy. She stared at Hope for a few moments, hesitating.

"Are you happy?" she then asked.

Hope's eyes lit up and she hugged her.

"Uh-huh," she said, nodding.

Faith was startled by the hug and she just stared at Hope for a couple of moments before she slowly put her arms around her. She realized that this tiny little girl was her family. It felt strangely good to have a family.

Hope let go of her after a few moments.

"Mommy, are you still a bad person?" she then asked.

Faith gulped, nervous.

"I hope not," she said and Hope smiled a little.

"Mama said you were away and you were getting better."

Faith sighed.

"Yeah."

Hope thought for a moment.

"Why did you hurt Mama?"

Faith tensed for a moment and looked at her hands.

"I was angry with her," she said. "And jealous." She sighed. "I'm still a little angry, because she didn't tell me about you."

"Oh." Hope hesitated for a moment. "Are you gonna hurt her?"

Faith shook her head and looked at her.

"No."

Hope smiled a little, relieved.

"Are you staying home now?"

Faith shrugged.

"For now, I guess."

"You'll leave?" Hope asked, her eyes wide.

Faith took a deep breath.

"I need to talk to Buffy first."

"Okay," Hope said, got up and ran to the door. "Mama! Mommy wants to talk to you!" she called when she opened the door.

Faith tensed for a moment and then forced herself to relax. She looked at her feet and waited.

"Honey?" Buffy said when she came to the door.

"Mommy wants to talk to you," Hope repeated.

"Oh."

Buffy took Hope's hand and they went to sit down beside Faith, Hope between her parents.

"Can she stay?" Hope then asked Buffy.

Buffy smiled.

"Of course she can stay," she said and Hope smiled.

"You can stay, Mommy," Hope then told Faith.

Faith smiled at her for a moment and then looked at Buffy.

"Thanks, B," she said, sarcastically.

Buffy frowned for a moment, confused, but when she saw Faith glance at Hope, she guessed what was bothering Faith.

"I would have invited you to stay with us when you first came here, but you were always so independent that I didn't think you'd accept. But now you have Hope and she needs a home." She smiled. "And so do you."

Faith stared at her for a few moments and then looked away. She sighed.

"What about your Mom? She okay with it?"

Buffy sighed.

"She's dead."

Faith looked at her, surprised.

"What?"

"She had a tumor," Buffy explained. "They took it out, but later she died of aneurysm."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, shocked.

"Sorry," she said. "She was one cool lady."

Buffy smiled.

"Yeah, she was." She thought for a moment. "It was her idea that we should take Hope in until you woke up."

Faith sighed and looked away. She thought for a few moments.

"What else has been going on?" she asked and glanced at Buffy.

Buffy sighed.

"A lot," she said and then told her.

When Buffy was done telling Faith about the events of the past four years, they were all quiet for a while.

"I wish I had been there for you," Faith finally said in a quiet voice.

Buffy smiled at her.

"You're here now."

Faith sighed.

"I know. But so many things might have ended differently if I'd been here."

"I know."

Hope yawned and leaned on Faith, who looked at her, surprised.

Buffy smiled.

"Looks like it's way past someone's bedtime," she said.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then put her arm around her.

"We were just about to tuck her in when you came," Buffy added.

"Oh." Faith hesitated for a moment and then looked at Buffy. "You think, em… You think we can start… over? I mean, I know I have a lot to make up for, but I…"

"Sure," Buffy said with a smile.

Faith breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks."

Buffy nodded.

"Come, let's get Hope ready for bed."

Faith looked at Hope.

"Hope?"

"Just pick her up," Buffy told her.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then got up and picked up Hope.

"I'll get your bag," Buffy said when Faith reached for it.

Faith waited until Buffy picked up her bag and then followed Buffy inside.

"We'll just get Hope to bed," Buffy said as they passed her friends.

Faith glanced around and then followed Buffy upstairs.

They first went to Buffy's room.

"You can crash here, if you want," Buffy said. "Or in another room."

"I don't have a sleeping bag."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"We can make an arrangement, but it won't be comfortable."

Faith thought about it and then sighed.

"I'll sleep in another room."

"Okay. Now let's undress her. You can help me wash her, so you'll know how to do it by yourself."

Faith stared at Buffy for a few moments, surprised, and then nodded.

After they washed and dressed Hope, they put her to bed. Faith was surprised to see that Buffy had given Mr Gordo to Hope.

"Will you stay with me, Mommy?" Hope asked after she was comfortable.

"Eh, okay," Faith agreed, glancing at Buffy.

Hope smiled and took her hand.

"Just sit with her until she falls asleep," Buffy said with a smile. "I'll be downstairs." She looked at Hope and smiled.

"Night, sweetie."

"Night, Mama."

Buffy blew her a kiss and left, turning off the light.

Hope closed her eyes and Faith sat down. Then she quietly stared at the girl, marveling that she could create something so wonderful.

"Where is she?" Dawn asked when Buffy came downstairs.

"She's with Hope. She'll come downstairs after Hope falls asleep."

"Oh."

"You trust her with Hope?" Xander asked.

Buffy glared at him.

"Hope's her daughter."

"So?"

Buffy sighed.

"She won't hurt her."

"Is she still a psycho?" Anya asked.

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"No." She looked at Willow. "Right?"

"She has changed," Willow confirmed.

"See?"

"I'm guessing she still has lots of issues, but she's more in control of herself now," Willow added.

Buffy nodded in agreement.

"Yes."

Fifteen minutes later, Faith came downstairs.

"I thought you'd fallen asleep," Buffy said with a smile.

Faith blushed a bit.

"No, I was just… watching her."

Buffy's smile widened.

"So, the bitch is back," Xander said.

"Xander!" Buffy said and glared at him.

"What?"

"You forgave me and I was a way bigger bitch than she was," Willow pointed out.

"But you're my friend and you've changed."

"And that's the problem, isn't it?" Faith said, and everyone looked at her. "I never really was your friend."

"Eh…"

"And for your information, I have changed." She looked at Buffy. "I'm gonna hit the sack. Can you show me where I'll sleep?"

"Sure," Buffy said. "Come."

Faith followed Buffy upstairs.

"Here," Buffy said when they entered a room.

Faith looked around.

"Okay."

"Sorry about Xander."

Faith sighed and then shrugged.

"It's been easier than I expected."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Thanks, B. For taking care of Hope and for giving me another chance."

Buffy smiled.

"You're welcome."

As she lay down after taking a shower, it finally hit Faith that she was a mother now. It had all been somewhat surreal before, like she was dreaming, but now it finally became real. She realized she was responsible for Hope and it scared her, she had no idea how to raise a child. Not to mention that she was a bad role model. Then again, Hope already knew she had been a bad person. And, she realized, Buffy could help her learn how to be a mother. Still, she would need to change more than she already had, she would need to get a job and education, and she would need to stop partying so much. As she thought about it, the only thing that she really disliked was school, but she was determined to take a GED and then maybe even go to college. She wondered if things might have turned out different if she had discovered she was pregnant sooner. She decided it didn't really matter, the past was in the past and she had to look forward to the future and become the opposite of what she was, a good girl.

She groaned and decided to get some sleep before starting to change her life.

The End