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. It was inspired by the movie The Return to the Blue Lagoon and encouraged by Jason Jackson.

Growing Up
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Mr Summers ran down the hall. He was bleeding badly from a gunshot wound he got while trying to protect his little daughter, Buffy, who was running beside him, scared. He felt that he wouldn't make it and he hoped that he would find someone to take care of Buffy. Suddenly he tripped and fell.

"Daddy!" Buffy screamed, terrified.

Mr Summers moaned. He tried to get up, but he was too weak.

"Hide, Buffy," he said.

"Daddy!"

"Buffy, hide."

A minute later, a woman came running by with a child.

"Ma'am!" Mr Summers called as loud as he could. "Ma'am!"

The woman, Mrs Spencer, turned and automatically put herself between the source of the call and her daughter, Faith. She relaxed a bit when she only saw a man lying on the floor and a little girl crying next to him.

"Ma'am," Mr Summers said, his voice barely a whisper.

Mrs Spencer then noticed that he was wounded.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly, afraid that someone might overhear her.

"I'm… dying," Mr Summers said. "Please, take Buffy."

Mrs Spencer looked at Buffy. She hesitated for a moment and then decided to take the girl with her, like she would want someone to take Faith with them if she had been shot.

"Okay," she said and went to Buffy.

"Buffy, go… with her," Mr Summers said.

"I don't wanna," Buffy protested, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You have to," Mrs Spencer said and Buffy looked at her. "Bad people have hurt your daddy and he can't protect you anymore. He wants you to come with me so you'll be safe."

"But I don't wanna leave," Buffy said.

Mrs Spencer smiled softly. She reached out and caressed Buffy.

"I know, honey, and I wish you didn't have to, but if you don't, bad people will hurt you too and your daddy doesn't want this to happen."

Buffy looked at her father and thought about it.

"What about Daddy?"

"He has to stay here."

"I don't wanna leave him," Buffy said and fresh tears spilled from her eyes.

"I know, but he's dying, he can't be with you anymore. At least not here," she quickly added. "When he's dead, all you have to do is look up into the sky and think of him and he'll be there. You won't be able to see him and he won't be able to talk to you, but you'll be able to talk to him."

Buffy stared at Mrs Spencer for a few moments.

"Go, honey," Mr Summers said.

"Mommy," Faith said quietly when she heard voices.

Mrs Spencer listened for a moment.

"Buffy, we have to go," she then said.

"But Daddy…"

"Daddy will be watching over you, honey."

"I love you, Daddy," Buffy said and hugged Mr Summers.

"I love you too," Mr Summers whispered.

Mrs Spencer gently took Buffy's hand.

"Come, honey, let's go. Quickly."

Buffy reluctantly let go of her father. She got up and Mrs Spencer led her away. A couple of corridors away, they heard shots and Buffy cried, startled.

"Shh, honey, you must be quiet so the bad men won't hear us and find us."

Buffy covered her mouth with her free hand and nodded. Mrs Spencer smiled at her encouragingly.

"Good girl."

They went down, as far away from the pirates as possible. They had to hide in cabins and other rooms a couple of times and Mrs Spencer grabbed a couple of sheets and curtains, knowing that if they managed to get into the water, she could use them as camouflage.

She finally managed to find a service hatch at water level. She looked around and saw a single lifebelt. She took it and then opened the hatch.

"Okay, girls, come…"

She trailed off with a gasp when a lifeboat came crashing down. She waited for a few moments and then risked a look outside to see if the pirate ship was on that side. She was relieved to find that it wasn't. However, there were several lifeboats in the water.

"Okay…"

She trailed off as another lifeboat came crashing down. The lifeboat sank half way and then came back up again and its bow crashed on the other lifeboat. It slid back, but the bow caught into the oar post and stopped, making a suitable hiding place underneath.

She waited for a few more minutes, but nothing else came crashing down. She decided it was safe and she sat on the edge of the opening. Then she put the lifebelt into the water and held it still with her feet.

"Faith, come."

Faith came closer and Mrs Spencer slowly lowered her into the lifebelt.

"Hang tight," she told her. "Buffy."

Buffy came closer and Mrs Spencer lowered her into the lifebelt as well, so she was back to back with Faith.

"Hang tight," she told her.

She quickly grabbed the sheets and the curtains and threw them over the girls.

"Mommy?" Faith said, scared.

"I'm right here," Mrs Spencer said and slid in the water. "Hold tight and be very quiet," she told the girls and pushed the lifebelt under the overturned lifeboat.

Then she slowly started pushing the lifeboat away from the cruise ship and waited, hoping that the pirates wouldn't find them.

Ten minutes later, an explosion rocked the lifeboats and the girls screamed, scared.

"Shh, it's okay," Mrs Spencer said. She peeked out form under the lifeboat and saw that the cruise ship was on fire and sinking. "Damn," she said and started to swim harder.

Half an hour later, Mrs Spencer risked another look. She couldn't see the ship anymore, only the lifeboats. She removed the sheets and curtains and threw them in the lifeboat that was not turned upside down.

"Are you okay, girls?" she asked.

Buffy and Faith nodded.

"Are the bad men gone, Mommy?" Faith asked, scared.

"I don't know. I'll swim around the boat and see if they are, okay?"

"Okay."

Mrs Spencer smiled and caressed her.

"Hold on to the boat, you too Buffy."

Faith and Buffy both grabbed the edge of the boat.

"I'll be right back."

"Okay."

Mrs Spencer quickly swam around the lifeboat and was relieved that there was no sign of the pirates.

"Okay, we're alone, girls," she said when she came back. "Let's get you into the boat, okay?" She pulled them from under the upturned boat. "Hang on to the boat again," she then told them. Then she climbed into the boat and took another look around. "Okay, let's get you out of the water."

She first pulled Faith out and then Buffy. Then she took the lifebelt as well.

"Are you okay?" she asked and took a closer look at the girls. "Either of you hurt?"

The girls shook their heads.

"No," Faith said.

"Good." She caressed her and then Buffy. "Let's rest for a while now. Lay down, one on each side."

The girls lay down and Mrs Spencer lay between them. The girls cuddled up to her and Mrs Spencer covered them all with the sheets to protect them from the sun. The girls soon fell asleep from exhaustion.

After a few hours, the girls woke up. Mrs Spencer had them sit up and then she looked around the boat to see what they had. She was relieved to see that there was water in the emergency kit as well as some rations. There was also an engine and Mrs Spencer saw that there was plenty of gasoline. She looked around the vast ocean and realized that there wasn't enough gasoline. She decided to get it from the remaining lifeboats.

She slid in the water and took the gasoline can from the upturned boat. After thinking for a moment, she took the emergency kit as well and oars. Then she got back into the boat and pushed the upturned boat off.

After fiddling with the engine for a while, she finally managed to turn it on.

"Where are we going, Mommy?" Faith asked.

"To the other boats."

"Oh."

Mrs Spencer steered to the other boats and managed to get nine emergency kits and six gasoline cans, as well as four pairs of oars. Having gotten all the supplies they were bound to get, Mrs Spencer looked around again, wondering where to go. She took a compass out of one of the emergency kits and looked at it. She thought for a moment and then determined the approximate direction from which the cruise ship had come. Not knowing if they were closer to their destination than their origin, she decided to head back the way they came.

After two days of slow and hard ride across the ocean, Mrs Spencer finally spotted an island. She had no idea what island it was, but she didn't care, it was dry land and she was running out of gasoline. She steered them toward it.

It took her three hours to reach it.

"Okay, girls, get out," she told them when the boat finally stopped.

The girls quickly scrambled out of the boat, taking the sheets and the curtains with them. Mrs Spencer then got out as well and pushed the boat as far ashore as she could. Then she sat down for a moment, exhausted. The girls joined her. Mrs Spencer smiled and caressed them both. Then she checked their foreheads and was relieved that they didn't have a fever.

"How do you feel?" she asked them.

"Tired," Buffy said.

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"You'll rest soon. First, we have to get everything from the boat. I'll throw the oars out and you two drag them to the trees."

"Okay," Faith said.

They got up and Mrs Spencer first threw the oars out of the boat. Then she started carrying the emergency kits and the gasoline cans.

"Here, Buffy, you take the lifebelt, and you, Faith, take the sheets," Mrs Spencer instructed when everything else was safely ashore.

The girls took the stuff and carried it away and Mrs Spencer tried to drag the lifeboat further ashore. The girls quickly came back and helped her. Since she didn't know how high the tide was, Mrs Spencer tied the lifeboat to a fallen tree.

"Now let's rest," she said as they headed to the trees. "Are you hungry?"

The girls nodded.

"Uh-huh," Buffy said.

"Okay, I'll make you some rations."

The girls made a face.

"I don't like rations," Faith protested.

"Me neither," Buffy said.

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"I know, but they're nutritional. And while you're eating, I'll look around and see if there's any place we can make a shelter. We'll go look around the island tomorrow and we'll see if we can find some fruit."

"Okay," the girls reluctantly agreed.

After looking around, Mrs Spencer could find no suitable place to make a shelter, so she used the oars, the rope from the emergency kits and the curtains to make a makeshift tent. Then she lay down and the girls cuddled up to her. Because they were exhausted and because it was already late afternoon, they quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, Mrs Spencer made them all some rations and then they went on a tour of the island. It took them several hours to get around and they were all tired. They rested and Mrs Spencer made them some rations again for lunch. Then they loaded up the boat and Mrs Spencer took them to the part of the island where she had found a suitable place for a shelter. There, they unloaded the boat and Mrs Spencer made them a makeshift tent near a small hole in a rock outcrop. They put their food and emergency kits in the hole and the gasoline away from the tent.

After resting a bit, they went into the forest and searched for edible fruit. Since none of them had any idea which fruits were edible, they had to rely on watching what the birds ate. They were lucky, however, and found a cocoa tree with several coconuts lying underneath. It took Mrs Spencer a while, but she finally managed to open one of the coconuts. The girls were delighted to finally taste something else beside rations.

Then Mrs Spencer told the girls to rest a bit and went looking for material with which to build a hut. She had no idea when they would be saved, so she decided to act as though they were staying for good.

After a month of trial and error, Mrs Spencer finally built a decent hut over the tent. It was nothing much, but it was much more comfortable than the tent. She had also learned how to fish. She didn't have the patience to stand in the water and hold the line, so she built traps. The girls, however, loved to stand in the water and fish. It wasn't so much the fishing that excited them as all the colorful fish that swam around.

Mrs Spencer made them wear clothes every time they went out into the sun, she didn't want them to get burned. Since the girls' clothes were not very suitable for a life on an island, she made them a sort of oversized poncho-like dresses with a hood, which they could easily get on and off quickly. And since the dresses were larger than the girls, they would easily fit them when they grew up. If, of course, they remained on the island for that long.

Mrs Spencer also decided to teach the girls to read and to write, as well as any other useful thing she knew. For reading, she used the instructions from the emergency kits and for writing, she used the sand.

A month later, on another expedition around the island, they came across a family of some pig-like mammals.

"Mommy, Mommy, look," Buffy said, excited, and pointed at them.

"They have babies!" Faith said, also excited.

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"Yes, they do."

"I wanna have a baby," Buffy said.

"You can't," Mrs Spencer said and ruffled Buffy's hair.

Buffy's face fell.

"Why not?"

"Well, two reasons. You're not old enough and there are no men around."

Buffy frowned.

"Men?"

"Yes." She pointed at the parent mammals. "See those two? They're mommy and daddy."

"Which is which?" Faith asked, curious.

"The right one is the mommy and the left one is the daddy."

"How do you know?"

"Well, see those little things under the mommy's belly?"

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

"Well, those are her breasts."

"Why does she have so many?" Buffy asked.

"Because she can have more babies at once and she needs more. Us, humans, we only have one or two babies at a time, that's why we only need two breasts."

"Oh."

"What's that between the daddy's legs?" Faith asked and pointed at the daddy.

Mrs Spencer blushed a bit.

"That's his penis."

Faith frowned.

"What's that?"

Mrs Spencer scratched her head.

"Well, you see, girls have vaginas… or pussies, as they're also called."

"Like kitties?" Faith asked.

Mrs Spencer chuckled.

"I think that's where the name comes from, yes, but it has nothing to do with kitties."

"Oh."

"This is your pussy," Mrs Spencer said and pointed at Faith's pussy.

The girls, both naked as usually, looked at Faith's pussy and then at Buffy's.

"My pee hole?" Faith asked.

"It's inside, yes."

"Oh."

Mrs Spencer took a deep breath.

"Anyway, boys have penises."

"For peeing?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, also for peeing."

"Did my daddy have a penis too?"

Mrs Spencer blushed again.

"Yes."

"Oh."

"Anyway, in order to have a baby, you first need to be old enough."

"How old?" Faith asked.

"Depends. You're old enough when you start having your period."

"What's that?"

Mrs Spencer thought for a moment.

"Well, when a girl's body is developed enough, it starts producing eggs."

"Like birds and turtles?" Buffy asked.

"No, nothing like that. Birds and turtles lay eggs and from them their babies hatch. Humans give birth to live babies."

"Oh."

"What's called an egg is actually just a little bundle of cells, and in order for a girl to have a baby, it needs to be fertilized."

"What's that?"

"Well, it's not complete, it needs sperm."

"What's sperm?"

Mrs Spencer sighed.

"That's what boys produce."

"Oh."

Mrs Spencer thought for a moment.

"Where were… Oh. If the egg is not fertilized, then the body washes it out. That's what's called a period. You remember when I put those soft leaves in my panties every month?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"That's when I have my period."

"Oh."

"Some blood and some fluids come out of my pussy and the leaves absorb them. It's nothing terrifying."

"Okay."

Mrs Spencer thought for a few moments.

"Let's see now. Okay, babies. Well, when girls are old enough, they start producing eggs and boys start producing sperm. Only they don't have periods like we do."

"Why not?" Faith asked.

"Well, they only produce sperm when they're excited." She frowned. "I mean, not just excited, sexually excited."

"What's that?" Buffy asked.

Mrs Spencer blushed again.

"Trust me, you'll find out when you're old enough."

"Oh."

"Anyway, in order to make a baby, a boy has to put his penis into the girl's pussy. And when he gets sexually excited, he ejects his sperm into the girl's womb. The sperm… mixes with the girl's egg and a baby is made. It then grows in the girl's womb for nine months and then it comes out."

"Where?" Faith asked.

"From your pussy."

The girls looked at their pussies.

"Are you sure?" Buffy asked. "Aren't they too small?"

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"When you get older, your pussy gets bigger. And besides, it stretches when the baby comes out."

"Oh."

Mrs Spencer thought for a moment.

"Oh, when the boy ejects his sperm, that's called an orgasm. Girls also have orgasms, but they don't necessarily eject fluid."

"Oh."

"You'll know what an orgasm is when you have one."

The girls thought for a few moments.

"So I can't have Faith's baby?" Buffy asked.

Mrs Spencer chuckled.

"I'm afraid not."

"Oh," Buffy said, somewhat disappointed.

Mrs Spencer ruffled her hair.

"Come, girls, let's move on."

The girls took her hands again and they continued their expedition.

Six years later, Mrs Spencer stepped on a poisonous fish and was unconscious for three days. The girls spent most of their time by the bed. They were scared and they cried a lot. When she finally woke up, Faith was alone with her.

"Mommy?" she said when Mrs Spencer moaned. "Mommy?"

Mrs Spencer blinked a couple of times and then opened her eyes.

"Mommy!" Faith quickly ran out of the cabin. "Buffy!" she called Buffy, who was fishing. "Come! Mommy woke up!" When she saw that Buffy was running toward the cabin, she returned inside. "Mommy?"

Mrs Spencer smiled weakly.

"Hey, honey," she said and caressed her.

"Are you okay?" Faith asked, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

"I don't know, honey." She coughed. "How long was I out?"

"Out?" Faith said, confused.

"Unconscious. Asleep."

"Oh. Three days."

"Oh."

"Mommy?" Buffy said as she burst into the cabin. "Mommy!" she said, excited, when she saw that Mrs Spencer was awake.

"Hey, honey," Mrs Spencer said and caressed Buffy, who had kneeled next to Faith.

"Are you okay?"

Mrs Spencer sighed.

"I don't know." She hesitated for a moment. "I stepped on a poisonous fish, I… I might be… dying."

"Dying?"

"Yes."

Buffy thought for a moment and then her eyes went wide.

"Like Daddy?"

Mrs Spencer sighed.

"Yes."

"I don't want you to die," Buffy said and hugged her, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Me neither," Faith said and hugged her as well.

"Shh," Mrs Spencer said and caressed them. "It's okay, girls, everyone dies someday."

The girls let go of her.

"Do you have to die now?" Faith asked, teary-eyed.

Mrs Spencer caressed her.

"I don't know, honey. I hope I'll live, but if I don't, you'll be on your own."

"Will you be with Daddy?" Buffy asked.

Mrs Spencer smiled and nodded.

"Yes. All you have to do is think of me and I'll be there."

"Will you tell Daddy I love him?"

Mrs Spencer caressed her.

"He already knows. You told him, right?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"See?" She coughed. "If I die, you'll have to bury me."

"Bury?" Faith said, her eyes wide.

"Yes."

"But how will you breathe?"

"I'll be dead, honey, I won't need to breathe."

"Oh."

Mrs Spencer thought for a moment.

"You know that little hole at the clearing where we bury the remains of our food?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes."

"You'll have to make it deeper. When I die, you'll have to undress my body and drag it to that hole. There, you'll have to cover it with the earth and with rocks."

"Why?"

"So the animals won't dig the body out."

"Oh."

"That will be my grave. You can put a sign there."

"What sign?"

"That says I'm buried there."

"Oh." Faith thought for a moment and then hugged Mrs Spencer. "I don't want you to die."

"Me neither," Buffy said and hugged her as well.

Mrs Spencer hugged them back.

Six days later, Mrs Spencer died. The girls cried beside the bed for hours.

"Faith? I'm scared," Buffy said when they calmed down.

"Me too," Faith said.

Buffy sniffed.

"What do we do now?" she asked as she wiped her tears.

Faith wiped her tears.

"We bury her?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Okay."

The girls undressed Mrs Spencer's corpse and then half dragged, half carried it to the spot where they had already dug a shallow hole. They carefully put the corpse into the hole and covered it with earth and rocks. At the head, they stuck in the remains of an oar. At the business end of the oar, they wrote a single word: Mommy.

They held hands for a while, staring at the grave, thinking about the fact that they were alone now.

"Who's gonna write the diary now?" Faith finally spoke.

Buffy looked at her.

"We?"

"We've never written a diary before."

"We can see what Mommy wrote."

Faith thought about it.

"Okay."

She hesitated for a moment and then lead Buffy away.

Three years later.

"Are you okay?" Faith asked Buffy when she returned from fishing and found Buffy all red in the face and breathing hard.

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith sat beside her and touched her forehead.

"You have a fever."

Buffy shook her head.

"No." She gulped. "I… I think I just had an orgasm."

"A what?" Faith said, startled.

"Orgasm. You know, Mommy told us about it."

"Oh!" Faith remembered. "How did you… get it?" she asked, curious.

Buffy smiled.

"I rubbed my pussy."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"Really? I rub my pussy sometimes, but I've never had an orgasm."

"I know, I've never had it before either."

"What did you do?" Faith asked and took off her hood.

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know." She thought for a moment. "I rubbed myself longer than usual. Ooh! I rubbed this little button," she said and showed Faith her clit.

"Really?" Faith said and located hers.

"Uh-huh. It felt much more… intense."

"Ooh! I think I see your pee hole!" Faith said, excited.

"Really?" Buffy said and looked down.

"Open your pussy a bit wider," Faith said and Buffy obliged. "Yes, there it is," she said and touched it.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Show me yours."

Faith spread her pussy and Buffy looked closer.

"See?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh. It's right here," she said and touched it. "And the babies come from the big hole."

"Yes."

"Okay, try rubbing your button now."

"Okay," Faith said and started rubbing her clit. "Mmm," she moaned. "You're right, it feels much better."

"Try it like this."

Buffy moved closer and touched Faith's clit, making Faith squirm.

"Ohhh."

Buffy immediately pulled her hand back.

"Did I hurt you?" she asked, her eyes wide.

Faith shook her head.

"Uh-uh. It… It felt even better. Do it again."

Buffy obliged and started rubbing Faith's clit.

"Oh, oh, this feels so good."

"See? Just keep rubbing it like this."

Faith took over, but she shook her head after a few moments.

"No, it wasn't that, it was you."

Buffy frowned.

"Me?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes. It's different when you touch me." She reached over and rubbed Buffy's clit, making Buffy squirm. "See?"

"Ooh. You're right."

She reached over and started rubbing Faith's clit.

"Wow," Faith said after she calmed down after her first orgasm.

Buffy smiled.

"This one was even better than the first one," she said and started licking her fingers.

Faith observed her for a few moments.

"Do you like my taste?" she then asked.

"Huh?" Buffy said, startled.

"Do you like my taste?"

Buffy frowned and looked at her fingers.

"Oh! I didn't notice. Yes. It's a bit salty. But good." She hesitated for a moment. "Do you like mine?"

Faith licked her fingers and then nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Good," Buffy said with a smile.

Then they licked their fingers off.

"That was good," Faith said. She looked at Buffy's pussy for a few moments, thinking. "You know, next time, I might lick you."

Buffy looked at her pussy.

"Down there?" she asked and looked back at Faith.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh. Mommy said that girls don't necessarily eject fluid, but some of it does come out."

"Oh." Buffy thought about it for a few moments and then smiled. "Okay," she said and blushed.

Faith lay down and Buffy joined her. Faith stared at Buffy for a few moments and then put her hand on Buffy's belly.

"I wish I could have your baby," she said.

Buffy smiled.

"Me too. But I'd have to have a penis."

The girls giggled at the thought.

"I can't imagine letting a boy put his penis inside me, but I'd let you put yours."

Buffy smiled widely.

"Me too."

They giggled again and then Faith cuddled up to Buffy.

"Buffy?" Faith said after a few moments.

"Yes?"

Faith hesitated for a few moment.

"Do you, em, do you ever get this, eh, feeling in your stomach? You know, like it's trembling or something."

Buffy looked at her.

"You mean, like, em, like there were birds fluttering in your stomach?"

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Buffy blushed.

"I do."

"Really?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh." She hesitated for a moment. "When… When I'm with you," she admitted quietly.

"Really?" Faith said, surprised.

"Yes."

Faith smiled.

"Me too," she admitted quietly.

"Really?" Buffy said, excited.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Buffy smiled.

"This is so great," she said and pressed Faith closer to herself.

"Yes," Faith agreed.

They were quiet for a few moments.

"I miss Mommy," Buffy then said.

"Me too," Faith said. "Let's go talk to her."

"Okay."

They got up and put their hoods on. Then they went to Mrs Spencer's grave, hand in hand.

Three years later.

"Hey, Frank, I thought this island was uninhabited," Joe Bauer, a marine biologist, said as he looked through the binoculars.

Frank Raimi looked at his fellow scientist.

"It is."

"Well, I see two naked girls."

"Yeah, right."

"I'm serious. Look."

"Let me see." Frank looked through the binoculars. "Holly shit."

"Guys, behave," Danielle Jenkins, their colleague, said. "It's not nice to spy on tourists."

"I don't see any boat," Frank said. "And they're kind of young to be alone."

"Maybe they left it on the other side," Joe said.

"Maybe. They noticed us."

"Faith! Look! A ship!" Buffy said, excited, when she spotted the boat.

Faith looked.

"Visitors!" She looked back at Buffy. "Let's get our pretty clothes on."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay," she agreed and they ran toward the cabin.

"They're running some… Hey! They got a cabin there," Frank said. "Looks like they live there."

"That's unlikely," Danielle said.

"They have a cabin."

"Let's check it out," Joe said.

"Marie! Takes us to the island!" Danielle called to their colleague who was steering the boat.

"Got it!" Marie Bentley called back and changed course.

"They're back," Frank reported. "They're wearing clothes this time."

"I'll take a camcorder," Joe said.

"I'll take it," Danielle said.

"I'm nervous," Faith said as the boat came closer.

"Me too," Buffy said. "Look, they're coming in a boat."

"It's different than ours," Faith observed.

"And faster," Buffy said.

"Uh-huh."

"Do you think there are men on it?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know."

"What do you think they want?"

"I don't know."

"Let me handle this," Danielle said when they landed.

"You're the boss," Frank said.

Danielle got out of the boat, her camcorder ready.

"Hello," she said with a smile.

"Hi," Buffy said with a smile.

"I'm Danielle and these are my friends, Frank and Joe."

"They're men!" Buffy said. Then she frowned. "Why does he have that funny hair all over his face?" she asked and pointed at Frank.

Danielle glanced at Frank, smiling.

"That's his beard and moustache."

"What are they for?" Faith asked.

"Nothing really, just to show off."

"Show off?"

Danielle thought for a moment.

"For decoration, I guess. Joe shaves his."

"Oh."

"And you are?"

"I'm Faith."

"I'm Buffy."

"Do you live here?" Danielle asked.

The girls nodded.

"Uh-huh," Buffy said.

"And your parents?"

"Mommy's dead," Faith said.

"Daddy too," Buffy said.

"Oh. And how long have you lived here?"

The girls glanced at one another.

"Twelve years," Faith said.

"Alone?"

Faith shook her head.

"No, Mommy died six years ago."

"Daddy died before we came here," Buffy said.

"Do you know why you came here?" Danielle asked.

"Some bad men attacked our ship and killed my daddy. The ship went boom and Mommy took us here."

"I see. Well, now you can leave."

The girls looked at one another, confused.

"Why?" Faith asked.

Danielle blinked, startled.

"Don't you want to leave?"

"Why?"

"This is our home," Buffy said.

"Oh. I see."

"What's that?" Faith asked and pointed at the camcorder, curious.

"It's a camcorder."

"What does it do?"

"It records what it sees."

"How?"

Danielle smiled.

"It's a bit complicated to explain. Come, let me show you."

The girls came closer and Danielle replayed the last minute.

"Wow," Buffy said, wide-eyed, as they watched the replay, complete with sound.

"Girls," Frank then spoke, and the girls looked at him. "Do you mind if we look around?"

Faith shrugged.

"Go ahead."

"Thank you," Frank said and then he and Joe left to look around.

"How did you find us?" Faith then asked Danielle.

"By accident. We came here to study the fish and Frank spotted you."

"Oh."

Danielle hesitated for a moment.

"How did your mommy die?"

"She stepped on a poisonous fish."

"Oh." Danielle looked at the cabin. "Did she build the cabin?"

"Yes."

"We helped her," Buffy said proudly.

Danielle smiled.

"I bet. Can I see it?"

"Sure."

The girls led Danielle to their cabin.

"Nice," Danielle said as she looked around. She noticed the emergency kits. "Are those emergency kits?"

"Yes," Faith said.

Danielle noticed the name of the ship and then looked at the girls.

"Can you tell me more about what happened?"

"No," Faith said, shaking her head.

"But Mommy kept a diary," Buffy remembered and quickly fetched it.

Danielle raised an eyebrow when she saw the strange diary made of palm leafs.

"Can I see it?"

"Sure. But be careful."

Danielle nodded and Buffy gave her the diary. Danielle put it on the ground and then slowly started leafing through it, reading some, recording everything with her camcorder. When she got to the part where the girls discovered sex, she blushed.

"You can write?" she asked.

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh. And read. Mommy taught us."

"We're gonna put you in the diary too," Faith said.

"You are?" Danielle said.

Faith nodded.

"Yes. You're the first visitors we got."

"I see."

Then Frank and Joe came.

"Nice place you got," Joe said.

The girls beamed.

"Thank you," Buffy said.

"Was that your mother's grave over there?"

The girls' faces got serious.

"Yes," Buffy said, nodding.

"You made a nice grave."

"Thank you."

"So, you run around naked all the time?" Frank asked.

"Frank!" Danielle chided him.

"No," Faith said. "We usually wear our dresses. Except when we go for a swim or in the forest."

"Oh."

Danielle rolled her eyes and looked at the girls.

"What's with the hoods?" Joe asked.

"Mommy made them so we wouldn't get burned," Buffy explained.

"Burned?"

"By the sun."

"Oh. Smart."

The girls smiled.

"Girls, we have to go now," Danielle said. "We have work to do. But if you want, we can come back later."

"Okay," Faith said.

"They can come with us," Joe suggested.

"Why?" Faith asked warily.

"So you can see our boat," Danielle said.

"Oh." Faith glanced at Buffy. "Okay."

"But you'll bring us back, right?" Buffy asked.

"Sure."

"Promise?"

Danielle smiled.

"I promise."

"Okay."

"Come."

"Wow," Faith said as they approached the boat. "It's beautiful."

"What's that spinning thing?" Buffy asked and pointed at the radar dish.

"That's a radar."

"What does it do?"

Danielle thought for a moment.

"It sends out… invisible rays and helps us see any objects or obstacles on the sea surface."

"Really?"

Danielle smiled.

"Yes. Marie can explain it while the rest of us are in the water."

"Okay."

"Hi," Marie said as they reached the boat.

"Girls, this is Marie," Danielle introduced her. "Marie, these are Faith and Buffy."

"Hi," Faith said.

"Hello," Marie said.

"What's that on your arm?" Buffy asked and pointed at Marie's tattoo.

Marie glanced at her tattoo and smiled.

"That's my tattoo."

"What's it for?"

"For?" Marie said, startled. "I don't know, decoration."

"Oh. And what's that across your eyes?"

"My sunglasses."

"What are they for?"

"See for yourself," Marie said and gave her the sunglasses.

Buffy put them on.

"Wow!" she said, surprised.

"What is it?" Faith asked.

"They make everything darker. Look."

Faith took the sunglasses and put them on.

"Wow."

"Marie, why don't you show them around while we're in the water?" Danielle said.

"Sure."

Faith took the sunglasses off and gave them back to Marie.

"Girls, why don't you step aside while we get dressed," Danielle said.

"Okay," Buffy said.

Buffy and Faith watched as the scientists got dressed.

"Why are you wearing those funny clothes?" Buffy finally asked.

"They're diving clothes. They keep us warm," Joe said.

"Warm?"

"Yes. The deeper we dive, the colder the sea gets."

"Oh."

"How will you breathe?" Faith asked.

"With these," Danielle said and pointed at the oxygen bombs. "These are oxygen bombs."

"Oxygen?"

"Air."

"Oh."

"How long can you stay under water?" Buffy asked.

"About two hours, but we usually stay less."

"Oh."

The scientists got in the water and Buffy and Faith ran to the edge of the boat and looked for a while, but they quickly lost sight of them.

"Come, girls, let me show you around," Marie said.

While her colleagues were in the water, Marie showed Buffy and Faith around the boat while also keeping her eye on things. When she was done showing them around, she told them about the rest of the world and the girls eagerly listened.

About an hour later, Danielle, Frank and Joe came back and Marie took the girls back to the island.

"What are we gonna do about them?" Frank asked once they were gone.

"What should we do?" Danielle asked.

"I don't know. Take them with us?"

"This is their home."

"But they're alone."

"So? This is their home, they know how to survive here. They'd be lost in a city. And miserable."

"Oh."

"I'll try to find out more about them. Can you take care of things without me?"

"Sure."

"Bye!" Faith called as she and Buffy waved at Marie.

"Bye!" Marie waved back, smiling.

They watched Marie for a few moments and then Buffy looked at Faith.

"That was so amazing," she said, her eyes wide.

"Yes," Faith agreed, equally excited. "Did you see that, em, computer?"

"Yes! Those pictures were so pretty."

"Yes. And…"

"What is it?" Buffy asked when Faith trailed off and reached between her legs.

"My period started."

"Oh. You better put the panties on."

Faith nodded and they went to the cabin.

"Hi, girls," Danielle said.

"Hi," Buffy said, staring curiously at the man and the woman that came with Danielle.

"Why is he black?" Faith asked and pointed at the man. "And she's… brown," she said and pointed at the woman.

Danielle smiled.

"Yes." She thought for a moment. "How much do you know about geography? About the continents."

Faith's eyes lit up.

"There are eight continents, North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Arctic and Antarctica, although Australia is only an island and Arctic just ice," she listed proudly. "And… Ooh! I know! Mommy said that people in Africa have black skin." She looked at the man. "Are you from Africa?"

The man smiled.

"No, I'm from America. My ancestors are from Africa."

"Oh." Faith looked at the woman. "And where are yours from?"

"Hawaii," the woman said. "I live there as well."

"Where's that?"

"Not far from here."

"Oh."

"Girls, this is, eh, David and this is Kianna," Danielle introduced them. "They are from the government."

"What's a…" Buffy started, but then she trailed off as she remembered. "Oh."

"They're here to see how you live."

"Oh."

"Why don't you show them around and we'll come pick them up after we're done."

"Okay."

Danielle looked at David and Kianna.

"We'll come pick you up in a couple of hours."

"Okay," Kianna said.

Danielle left and the girls looked at the government officials.

"What's that?" Faith asked when she saw Kianna take her digital camera.

"It's a camera."

"What does it do?"

"Takes pictures."

Faith frowned.

"Like a camcorder?"

"You know what a camcorder is?" Kianna said, surprised.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh. Danielle showed it to us."

"Oh. Well, yes, it's like a camcorder, only there is no sound and the pictures don't move."

"Oh."

Kianna quickly took a few pictures of Buffy and Faith.

"What's that in your ear?" Buffy asked.

"This?" Kianna asked and touched her earring.

"Yes."

"It's an earring."

"What's it for?"

"Decoration."

"Oh. It's pretty."

"Thank you," Kianna said with a smile.

"Want us to show you around?" Faith asked.

"Yes, please," Kianna said.

"Come."

The girls led the way and the officials followed them.

"You live all by yourselves?" David asked as the walked toward the cabin.

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"And your mother?"

"She died."

"She stepped on a poisonous fish," Faith added.

"I see. Well, you can leave now."

"Why?"

Kianna frowned.

"Don't you want to return to civilization?"

"Why?"

"Well…"

"Don't be a bureaucrat, Kianna," David chided his colleague. "If they wish to stay here, I see no reason why they can't."

"But…"

"They've lived here alone for years and they know how to survive here. I doubt very much that they can survive on their own in America." He looked at Buffy. "Danielle said you have your mother's diary."

"Yes," Buffy confirmed.

"Can we see it?"

"Sure."

They got to the cabin and the officials looked around, curious, while Buffy fetched the diary.

"Nice cabin," Kianna said.

"Thank you," Faith said with a smile.

"Here," Buffy said and gave David the diary.

"That's a diary?" David said, startled.

"Yes. We don't have any paper. Except the instructions from the emergency kits."

"Oh."

"Do you mind if we take pictures?" Kianna asked.

"No," Buffy said.

David put the diary on the bed and then slowly leafed through it while Kianna took pictures.

"Can you tell us more about the government?" Buffy asked, curious. "What do you do?"

"Sure."

"Had a good time?" Danielle asked when she finally came to pick up David and Kianna.

"Yes," David said. "It's been… interesting."

"They told us about the government," Faith said, excited.

"Really?" Danielle said with a smile.

"Yes."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye," Kianna said.

The next day, Danielle came to take the girls to their boat so Marie could tell them more about the rest of the world. The girls eagerly listened.

The day after that, Danielle and Marie came to the island, having news.

"Hi, girls," Danielle said with a smile as they landed.

"Hi," Buffy and Faith said in unison, and waved at them.

The two scientists came closer.

"We have good news," Danielle said, excited. "We found out that your mother is still alive, Buffy."

Buffy frowned, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Your mother, she's still alive." She sighed when she realized that Buffy probably considered Mrs Spencer her mother. "Look, your father gave you to Faith's mother before he died, but Faith's mother wasn't your mother. I mean, yes, she raised you, but she didn't give birth to you. The woman who did give birth to you, your biological mother, she's still alive."

"Oh."

"Does that mean we have to leave?" Faith asked.

Danielle looked at her and suddenly realized that the news might not be a good one for Faith.

"Well, yes."

"But this is our home," Buffy protested.

"I know. But your mother misses you."

"Why doesn't she come here then?"

Danielle smiled.

"Because she has a job there and a house. And somehow I don't think that she would get used to living here."

"Why not? We did," Faith said.

"I know, but you've lived here since you were little."

"But Mommy didn't," Buffy said.

"I know, but Faith's mommy wasn't that old then."

"How could we get used to living there?" Faith asked. "Marie told us a bit the cities and we have no idea how to survive there."

"Buffy's mother could teach you."

"We could teach her to survive here," Faith pointed out.

"She's old, you're still young."

"Oh."

"And she said she would take Faith as well," Marie said, trying to help.

Buffy looked at her with a frown.

"Why wouldn't she?" she asked, baffled.

"Eh… Never mind," she said, realizing that they wouldn't want to be separated.

"Why don't you think about it, okay?" Danielle said. "I'll come back… tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay." Buffy looked at Faith. "Let's go talk to Mommy."

"Okay," Faith agreed. She looked at Danielle and Marie. "Bye," she said and ran off with Buffy.

"Bye!" Danielle called after them.

"That didn't go like I thought it would," Marie then said.

"I know. Let's go back. While we're in the water, you try to see if you can get in contact with Mrs Summers. Try to get her picture."

"Okay."

When the girls got to Mrs Spencer's grave, they sat down.

"Hi, Mommy," Buffy said. "We're… scared. We just found out that… eh… that my… mommy is still alive. My birth mommy. Danielle said we should go to her, but we don't want to leave."

"We miss you, Mommy," Faith said.

"And Daddy too," Buffy added.

They were quiet for a while and then Faith looked at Buffy.

"I wonder what she's like."

Buffy looked at her.

"Who?"

"Your birth mommy. Do you think she's like Mommy?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know."

Faith thought for a moment.

"Danielle said she misses you."

"Like we miss Mommy."

"Yes."

Buffy sighed.

"I don't want to leave, this is our home."

"I know. But I'm curious."

"About what?"

"About what's out there. I mean, did you see all those pretty clothes? And machines?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes, that was pretty good." Then her face became serious again. "But what about Mommy and Daddy?"

"They'll always be with us. I mean, Mommy's buried here, but your daddy isn't, and we can still talk to both."

"Oh. I guess. So we could still talk to them, no matter where we were."

"Yes."

Buffy thought about it and then sighed.

"Still, this is our home."

"I know," Faith agreed. "But we could make a new one. I mean, we've lived elsewhere before we came here."

"Yes, but I'd still miss this place."

"Me too." She hesitated for a moment. "Do you want to leave?"

Buffy thought about it.

"I don't know. I mean, this is our home, but I'm curious about our new mommy. I mean, I kinda like the idea of having a mommy again."

"Me too."

Faith sighed and leaned her head on Buffy's shoulder. Buffy put her arm around Faith's shoulder and leaned her own head on Faith's.

The next day, Danielle and Marie returned.

"Hey," Danielle said with a smile.

"Hi," Faith said.

"I have a picture of your mother."

"Really?"

"Yes. Look."

She showed the girls the photo she had brought.

"Who's that?" Buffy asked and pointed at the girl next to the woman.

"That's your sister, Dawn. And this is your mother, Joyce Summers."

"They're pretty," Faith said.

"Uh-huh," Buffy agreed. She looked at Danielle. "Is she nice?"

"I don't know. I talked to her on the phone and she was excited and also worried about you. And curious. She hopes to see you soon."

Buffy and Faith looked at one another.

"Could we return here if we don't like it there?" Faith asked.

Danielle raised an eyebrow.

"I suppose."

Buffy and Faith looked at one another again.

"Okay," Buffy then said, "we'll go."

Danielle smiled.

"Good. Why don't you pack what you want to take with you and say goodbye to your, em, mommy. We'll come pick you up when we're done."

"Okay."

"But where will we put everything?" Faith asked.

Danielle smiled again.

"You don't need to take everything, just things like your diary, for example."

"But what about our clothes and the emergency kits?"

"You won't need that there. Your mother will buy you new clothes. And you won't need the things from the emergency kits, your mother will provide everything you will need. And besides, if someone else gets stranded here, they could use all that stuff that you will leave behind."

"Oh."

Danielle looked at their feet.

"Do you have any shoes?"

"Yes, but we only use them when we go fishing."

"Oh. Well, I suggest you take them with you."

"Okay."

"We'll see you later then."

Danielle and Marie left and the girls ran to their cabin.

"What shall we pack?" Buffy then asked as she looked around the room.

"I don't know. The diary and Mommy's stuff. And birthday presents."

"Anything else?"

Faith frowned, thinking.

"I don't know."

"Oh! Panties. My period is coming in a few days."

"Okay. Better take some leaves too, I don't know how long we'll travel."

"Okay."

Faith looked around.

"What about the rest of the stuff?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"We put it with the emergency kits?"

Faith thought about it.

"Okay. And we make sure that the weather won't blow everything apart."

"Yes." Buffy frowned. "What will we put everything in?"

Faith looked around.

"Mommy's dress."

Buffy looked at it.

"Okay."

When the scientists were done with their work, Marie came to pick up the girls.

"Hi. Everything packed?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh. We packed everything and we left a note so that if anyone gets stranded here, they will know that they can use our stuff."

Marie smiled.

"Okay." She looked at the bundle in front of them. "Is that all you have?"

"Uh-huh."

Marie thought for a moment.

"I'll get you a proper bag when we get to Hawaii."

"Hawaii?" Faith asked. "Where Kianna's from?"

"Yes. It's not far from here."

"Will Mommy be there?"

Marie smiled.

"No, she'll be waiting for you in LA."

"LA?"

"Los Angeles. It's a city in America. Your mother already booked you tickets."

"What's a ticket?" Buffy asked.

Marie thought for a moment.

"Well, tickets are used to gain entry somewhere. You buy them and…"

"Buy?"

Marie thought for a moment.

"Do you know what trade is?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"When I give someone something?"

"Yes, but not for free. It's when you give someone something in exchange for something else."

"Oh. Okay."

"Well, here, you didn't need to trade because you did everything yourselves. But everywhere else, some people grow food, for example, some build houses, some make clothes, and so on. And since these things are so diverse, we use money. For example, the people who grow food, sell it and they get the money. And with that money they can buy clothes that other people make. They give money in exchange for clothes."

"Instead of food," Faith said.

"Exactly. And everything has its price."

"Oh."

"In your case, you will need tickets for the plane."

"What's that?"

Marie thought for a moment and then looked up.

"See that long white cloud? The one that looks like a snake?"

The girls looked.

"Yes," Buffy said.

"Well, that's not actually a cloud. It was left behind by a plane." She thought for a moment. "It's a machine that flies."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"But we never saw one."

"That's because they fly so high."

"Oh."

"And we'll fly in one of them?" Faith asked.

"Yes."

Faith thought for a moment.

"So our new mommy, eh… What does she do?"

"Do?"

"Yes. Is she growing food or making clothes or what?"

"Oh. I don't know. But yes, she does earn money by something."

"And she used it to buy us a ticket?"

"Yes. Come."

Faith picked up the bundle and they followed Marie to the boat.

"Wow, so many ships," Faith said when the scientists' boat approached Hawaii.

"Are those buildings?" Buffy asked and pointed at the hotels.

"Yes," Danielle said.

"They're big."

"Yes. Those are hotels."

Buffy looked at Danielle.

"Hotels?"

"Yes. People from all over the world can come and stay there, but they have to pay."

"Oh."

"Look, there's a plane."

The girls looked.

"It's not flapping its wings," Faith said.

Danielle smiled.

"No. It uses engines. Like this boat."

"Oh."

When they docked, both girls looked around curiously, finding everything interesting. Marie gave them a bag and they put their bundle inside. Then they were told to wait by a car while the scientists took care of their business. They were a bit nervous about being alone, but everyone left them alone. They looked around, curious, and at the car.

When Danielle was finally free, she took them to the airport after having made sure that Mrs Summers was waiting. On the way, both girls looked out the window, wide-eyed. They kept asking Danielle questions and she did her best to answer them.

At the airport, Danielle picked up the tickets and then they sat down and waited.

"It's cold here," Buffy said, shivering.

"It's not cold, just colder than outside," Danielle said with a smile.

"Why?"

"Because of air conditioning."

"What's that?"

Danielle thought for a moment.

"A set of devices that make the air cooler."

"Oh."

"How long do we have wait?" Faith asked.

Danielle glanced at the board.

"About half an hour."

"How long is that?"

Danielle thought for a moment and then looked around.

"See that round thingy with numbers?" she said when she saw an analog clock.

"Yes."

"That's a clock, it shows what time it is."

"Really?"

"Yes. See those three… sticks? The thinnest is moving, see?"

"Yes."

"Those are called hands. The shortest shows hours, the middle shows minutes and the longest, that's the thinnest, it shows seconds. When the thinnest hand comes around once, a minute passes. When sixty minutes pass, the middle hand comes around once and the thinnest hand sixty times. The shortest hand moves from one number to the next in an hour."

"But day has twenty-four hours," Buffy pointed out. "There are only twelve numbers."

Danielle smiled.

"I know. That's why the shortest hand comes around twice in one day."

"Oh."

"So now is… two… thirty… one," Faith said, staring at the clock.

Danielle glanced at the clock.

"Exactly," she said, and Faith beamed.

"What's that?" Buffy asked and pointed at a dog.

"It's a dog," Danielle said.

"Is it dangerous?"

"No. At least not usually. They're quite friendly."

"Buffy, look, a baby," Faith said, wide-eyed, and pointed at a carriage.

"Where?"

"There."

"Wow."

"Can we go look?" Faith asked Danielle.

Danielle smiled.

"Sure. But ask the mother if it's okay."

"Okay."

"You can leave the bag here."

"Okay."

The girls ran to the baby.

"Hi," Buffy said, nervous.

"Hello," the mother said.

"Can we look at your baby?"

The mother smiled.

"Sure."

Buffy and Faith stepped closer.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Faith asked.

"A boy. His name is Stanley."

"He's so cute," Buffy gushed. "How old is he?"

"Six months."

Half an hour later, it was time to board the plane and Danielle went to the girls, who were busy questioning the mother about the baby.

"Okay, girls, time to go," she said.

"Already?" Buffy said, disappointed.

"Yes, it's time for you to board the plane."

"Oh. Bye, Stanley."

"Bye, Stanley," Faith said and waved at the baby.

The mother smiled.

"Bye, girls," she said.

"Bye."

"Bye."

"Bye, Ma'am," Danielle said with a smile and led Buffy and Faith away. "So, had fun?" she asked them.

"Yes! She told us all about babies," Faith said, excited.

"Okay."

"Tickets please," a flight attendant said when they reached the boarding gate.

"Hi," Danielle said. "Can you please call the chief flight attendant?"

"Is something wrong?"

"No, no. It's just that my… friends here are new to civilization and I'd like the chief flight attendant to keep an eye on them."

"Oh." The flight attendant looked toward the plane. "Jessie, can you call Marla, please?"

"Sure," Jessie said and summoned the chief flight attendant over the intercom.

"One moment."

"Sure," Danielle said and stepped aside so that other passengers could board.

"Is there a problem?" Marla, the chief flight attendant, asked when she arrived.

"No, I don't think so. She has a request," the flight attendant said and pointed at Danielle.

"Yes?" Marla said and looked at Danielle.

"Hi," Danielle said. "These are Buffy and Faith and they've been stranded on an island for most of their lives. Right now they're on their way back home and I was wondering if you could keep an eye on them as they've never been on a plane before and don't know what to do."

Marla looked at the girls, raising her eyebrows.

"You're serious?" she asked when she saw their clothes.

"Yes. Me and my colleagues discovered them by chance."

"I see."

"Their mother is waiting for them in LA, her name is Joyce Summers. Can you make sure that they find her?"

"Yes, of course." Marla smiled at the girls. "Come."

"Thank you," Danielle said and gave the flight attendant the girls' tickets.

"Bye, Danielle," Faith said and waved at her.

"Bye," Buffy said, waving as well.

"Bye, girls," Danielle said with a smile.

The girls then followed Marla to their seats, looking around curiously.

"Here," Marla said when they reached the girls' seats. "Sit."

The girls sat.

"Wow, this is so soft," Buffy said.

Marla smiled.

"Is that all your luggage?"

"Our what?" Faith said, startled.

"Luggage. What you have with you," Marla explained.

"Oh. Yes."

"Will you need anything from it during the flight?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"No."

"Then give it to me and I'll put it away so you won't have to hold it all the time."

"Okay," Faith said and gave Marla the bag.

"Is anything breakable inside?" Marla asked, just in case.

"Our diary."

Marla frowned, confused, but she treated the bag as if there was anything breakable inside.

"I'll take it out when we land, okay?"

"Okay," Faith said.

"Good. Now, see this button?"

The girls both looked.

"Uh-huh."

"I have the same," Buffy noticed.

"Yes. If you need anything, just press it and I, or one of the other flight attendants, will come as soon as possible."

"Okay."

Marla smiled.

"Good. Now sit here and wait. I'll come by later to buckle you up."

"What?" Faith said, confused.

"You'll see."

"Oh."

"I'll see you later," Marla said and left.

"Okay."

"It looks big," Buffy said, looking around.

"What?" Faith asked.

"The plane. It looks big from the inside. Much bigger than a bird."

"Yes. I wonder how many people are aboard." Faith looked around. "Looks a lot."

"Look at all these buttons," Buffy said, looking at the seats.

Faith looked.

"Better not touch anything," she said.

"Uh-huh. We'll ask Marla."

"Yes."

When the plane was ready for take off, Marla came and fastened their seatbelts, and after they were airborne, she unfastened them.

"Comfortable?" she asked them.

"Yes," Faith said. "Can you tell us what all these buttons are for?"

Marla smiled.

"Sure," she said and quickly explained.

"Wow."

"Faith, look, we're flying," Buffy said excitedly as she stared out the window.

Faith moved closer.

"Wow. Look there's an island. It's so small."

"That's because we're so high," Marla said, smiling.

"Uh-huh."

"Do you need anything?"

The girls looked at her.

"No, thank you."

"Okay. If you need anything, just press that button and someone will come."

"Okay."

Marla smiled and left.

The girls looked around, curious to see what the other passengers were doing.

"Buffy, look," Faith said when she saw a woman in the center aisle reading a magazine.

"It has pictures," Buffy said, excited.

The woman noticed their curiosity and she smiled at them.

"What's that?" Faith asked.

"This?" the woman said and lifted the magazine.

Faith nodded.

"Yes."

"It's a magazine. The Time magazine."

"What's it about?"

"All sorts of things. Mostly about what's going on around the world."

"Really?"

"Yes. You never heard of the Time magazine?"

"No."

"We never saw a magazine before," Buffy added.

"Really?" the woman said, surprised.

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Do you want to read it?"

The girls' eyes went wide.

"Can we?" Faith asked.

The woman smiled.

"Sure," she said and gave her the magazine. "I have a few others."

"Thank you," Faith said, excited.

"You're welcome."

Faith leaned closer to Buffy and carefully opened the magazine. They stared at the pictures, curious, and started reading. The woman observed them for a few moments and then got another magazine out.

When the plane finally landed, Marla told Buffy and Faith to wait in their seats until she was done.

"Is this the right plane?" Dawn Summers asked her mother when no more passengers came out of the plane.

"Yes, Danielle said they were on it," Joyce said.

"But where are they?"

"I don't kn… Look! There they are."

"This airport is even bigger than in Hawaii," Faith observed as she looked around curiously.

"Uh-huh," Buffy agreed.

"Do you see your mother anywhere?" Marla asked.

The girls looked around.

"There," Faith said and pointed.

"And Dawn," Buffy said.

"Good," Marla said.

Joyce and Dawn came closer.

"Buffy?" Joyce said.

"Uh-huh," Buffy said, nervous.

Joyce came closer and kneeled. She slowly reached out and touched Buffy's cheek, making Buffy smile a bit.

"Oh baby," Joyce said and hugged Buffy.

Buffy tensed for a moment, but then she hugged her back tightly.

Faith watched them, wide-eyed. When Joyce finally let go of Buffy, Faith stepped closer.

Joyce noticed the movement and looked at Faith. She realized that Faith probably also wanted to be hugged. She smiled.

"Come here, Faith."

Faith stepped closer, nervous, and Joyce slowly hugged her. Faith tensed for a moment, but then hugged Joyce back. She knew Joyce wasn't her mother, but she hoped that she was just as nice.

"I take it they're safe," Marla said when Joyce let go of Faith.

Joyce looked at her.

"Yes, thank you."

Marla smiled.

"Bye, girls."

"Bye, Marla," Faith said.

"Bye," Buffy said.

Marla waved at them and left.

"Why are they wearing such weird clothes?" Dawn then asked.

"Dawn," Joyce chided her.

Buffy and Faith looked at their clothes.

"What's wrong with them?" Faith asked.

"Nothing, honey," Joyce said and Faith smiled at her.

"Mommy made them so we wouldn't get burned," Buffy said.

"Who?" Joyce said, startled.

"Mommy." She turned a little. "See, it has a hood."

"I see, yes." Joyce smiled. "So, how about we go home now?"

Buffy smiled.

"Okay."

Joyce glanced at the bag.

"Is that all you have?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay." Joyce looked at Dawn. "Dawn, why don't you lead the way, I need to call Danielle and tell her that Buffy and Faith are safe."

"Okay," Dawn said and looked at her sisters. "Come."

Buffy and Faith followed her and Joyce slowly went after them, getting ready to call Danielle.

"How old are you?" Faith asked Dawn.

"Twelve," Dawn said. "How old are you?"

"I'm seventeen and Buffy's eighteen."

Buffy glanced back at Joyce.

"What is Mommy like?" she asked quietly.

Dawn and Faith glanced at Joyce.

"Mom?" Dawn said. "She's okay. She's nice."

"You're calling her Mom?" Faith asked.

"Yes."

Faith looked at Buffy.

"Maybe we should call her Mom too, so we won't confuse her with Mommy."

"Okay," Buffy agreed. She looked at Dawn. "How far is home?"

"Two hours," Dawn said.

"Two hours?" Buffy frowned as she thought about it. "That's a lot, isn't it?"

"Yes. But we got air conditioning."

"Where?"

"In our car."

"Oh."

"Like at the airport?" Faith asked.

"Sort of."

"Oh."

"Wow," Buffy said as the exited the building. "Look, Faith, so many cars."

Faith looked.

"Wow. Look, they're also driving on the right side," she observed.

"Like in Hawaii," Buffy said.

"Yes." She frowned. "It's colder here."

"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.

"It's colder than in Hawaii."

"Oh. Of course, this is California."

"Girls, Danielle says hi," Joyce said when she put away her cell phone.

"Okay," Faith said.

During the drive home, Buffy and Faith stared through the window, curious, while telling Joyce excitedly about what it was like on the island.

"Okay, girls, we're home," Joyce said as she stopped in front of the house.

"Wow, it's big," Buffy said.

"How many people live here?" Faith asked.

"Just us."

"Really?" Faith said, surprised.

"Yes," Joyce said with a smile.

"Wow."

They got up and went to the house.

"Is that… Daddy?" Buffy asked when she saw a photo on the wall.

Joyce looked.

"Yes. That was taken before your birth."

"Oh."

Joyce sighed.

"Come, let's go to your room."

On the way upstairs, she gave them a quick tour of the house.

"This is it," she said when they reached the room.

"Wow," Buffy said. "It's as big as our cabin."

"Yes," Faith agreed. "Is that the bed?"

"Yes," Joyce said.

Faith went to it and sat on it.

"It's so soft," she said, bouncing.

Buffy joined her.

"Yes," she agreed.

"I presume you'll be sleeping together," Joyce said.

"Uh-huh," Buffy said, nodding.

"Okay," Joyce said with a smile. She thought for a moment. "Dawn and I have done some shopping and we bought some clothes for you. We weren't sure what size you were, so I hope they will fit. We'll buy more later."

"More?" Faith asked.

"Yes."

"How many do we need?"

Joyce smiled.

"Definitely more than just the clothes you have on."

"Oh."

"How about you change into something more suitable for here."

"Okay."

Buffy and Faith got up and took off their hoods.

"You're not wearing panties?" Dawn asked Buffy, surprised.

Buffy looked at herself.

"No. Why?"

"Everybody wears panties."

"Why?"

Dawn frowned and then shrugged.

"I don't know, they just do." She looked at Faith. "What's that in your panties?"

Faith looked down.

"Leaves. They absorb the blood."

"What blood?" Dawn said, confused.

"From my period."

"You have your period?" Joyce asked.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"I have something more comfortable than leaves. Dawn, why don't you get them their clothes while I get a pantyliner."

"Okay."

Joyce left and Dawn went to the closet and took out two pairs of panties.

"Are those clothes?" Buffy asked, looking past Dawn.

"Yes."

"They're pretty."

Dawn looked at her.

"Which do you want to wear?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know. What do you think?"

Dawn looked back and after a moment of thinking chose two dresses.

"These."

She gave one to Buffy and the other to Faith.

"Wow, it's so pretty," Faith said.

"Mine too," Buffy said and put it on.

"Aren't you gonna put on the panties?" Dawn asked.

Buffy frowned.

"Why? I don't have my period."

"So?" Dawn said, confused. "Everybody wears panties."

"Oh. Okay," Buffy said and put on her panties.

"Here you go," Joyce said as she returned. "Faith, take off your panties and put the new ones on."

"Okay," Faith said and did as she was told.

"Okay, wait," Joyce said before Faith could pull her panties up. She quickly laid in the pantyliner and then pulled the panties up. "Okay."

Faith touched her crotch.

"Wow, this is much better."

Buffy touched her crotch as well.

"Yes, much softer."

"Gross," Dawn said.

"What?" Buffy said, confused.

"You're touching her," Dawn said and pointed.

Buffy looked at her hand.

"So?" she said and removed her hand.

"You're not supposed to touch her there."

Buffy glanced at Faith's crotch.

"Why not? I've touched her before."

Dawn frowned, surprised.

"You have?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"They're, eh, girlfriends," Joyce explained, blushing a bit.

"They're lesbians?" Dawn said, surprised.

"What's a lesbian?" Faith asked.

Joyce smiled.

"Just a term describing girls who prefer other girls to boys. Sexually, I mean."

"Oh." Faith looked at Buffy and smiled. "I guess we're lesbians."

Buffy smiled back.

"Okay."

Joyce blushed a bit at their innocence.

"Faith, why don't you put your dress on now. Dawn, get them some slippers, will you?"

"Okay," Dawn said and went to the closet.

"Do we have to wear clothes all the time?" Buffy asked.

"Yes."

"Even in bed?"

Joyce smiled.

"No, not in bed. You can sleep naked, but when you walk around the house or go out, you do wear clothes."

"Oh. Okay."

"Mom, I need to go pee," Buffy said.

"Come, this way."

"Shoes," Dawn said.

"Oh, right."

Dawn gave Buffy and Faith a pair of slippers. They took off their shoes and put on the slippers.

"They're soft," Buffy said and wiggled her toes.

"Yes," Faith agreed.

"Come," Joyce said.

They all went to the bathroom.

"Buffy, look!" Faith said, excited, when she saw a mirror.

"That's a mirror," Joyce said.

"I look so pretty," Faith admired herself.

"Me too," Buffy said, excited.

Joyce smiled.

"Girls, this is the bathroom," she said and Buffy and Faith looked at her. "We bathe and shower here."

"Shower?" Buffy asked.

"That's the shower," Joyce said and pointed. "It's like a bath, only you stand."

"Oh."

"That's the sink. You wash your hands there," Joyce said and demonstrated.

"Wow, water," Faith said, amazed. "Where does it come from?"

"From a river or a lake through the water mains."

"Oh." Faith put her hand under the stream. "Wow, it's warm," she said, surprised. "How do you make it warm?"

"With a boiler. See? If you turn this tap this way, it's cold, and if you turn it the other way, it's hot."

"Wow," Faith said, wide-eyed.

"And where do you pee?" Buffy asked.

Joyce smiled and turned off the water.

"There," she said and pointed at the toilet. "That's the toilet."

Buffy went closer and looked at it.

"In there?"

"Yes. You sit on it like you sit on a chair. And when you're done, you use that paper to wipe yourself. You drop the paper into the toilet. Then you get up and flush it by pressing there. You… poop here too."

"Where does the poop go?" Faith asked.

"To the sewer."

"What's that?"

"Waste system."

"Oh."

Joyce smiled and looked at Buffy.

"Will you be okay?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"And don't forget to wash your hands. You know how?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

"Okay. Use that towel to wipe your hands."

"Okay."

Joyce looked at Dawn and Faith.

"Okay, girls, out. Let's give Buffy some privacy."

They left and Buffy looked at the toilet. She lifted her skirt and pulled down her panties. Then she carefully sat on the toilet and let go.

"Why don't you unpack," Joyce said when they got to Buffy's and Faith's room.

"Okay," Faith said and opened the bag.

She took out the bundle and carefully put it on the bed.

"Is that a dress?" Joyce asked when Faith unwrapped it.

Faith nodded.

"Yes, one of Mommy's. We took it because it was a bit bigger than ours."

"Oh."

"What's that?" Dawn asked and pointed at the diary.

"That's our diary," Faith said.

"A diary?" Dawn frowned. "It doesn't look like a diary."

"We didn't have any paper, so Mommy had to… improvise."

"Oh."

Faith looked at Joyce.

"We continued it when Mommy died."

"What's that?" Dawn asked and pointed at various knickknacks and leaves.

"Our birthday presents."

"Oh."

"And these leaves are for Buffy's period."

"She won't need them," Joyce said. "I'll get you two some pantyliners instead."

"Oh. Okay."

"You can put your presents over there," Joyce suggested and pointed at an empty shelf.

Faith looked.

"Okay," she said and put the knickknacks on the shelf.

"Is that a wallet?" Dawn asked and pointed at the wallet.

"Yes," Faith said. "It was Mommy's. Ooh! It has a picture of her." Faith quickly opened it. "See?" She showed them the picture. "And this one is me when I was a baby."

Joyce smiled.

"You were cute," she said and Faith smiled widely.

"Is there any money inside?" Dawn asked.

Faith frowned and looked.

"Yes," she said, surprised. She took it out and counted it. "Thirty-seven," she said. She looked at Joyce. "Is that a lot?"

Joyce smiled.

"Depends. It's quite a bit."

"Oh."

"Does that mean we can buy stuff with it?"

Joyce nodded.

"Yes."

Faith frowned, thinking.

"But how do you know how much something costs?"

"There are prices everywhere. Don't worry, you'll get used to it."

Then Buffy returned.

"Buffy look! We have money," Faith said, excited.

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh. It was in Mommy's wallet."

"How much is it?"

"Thirty-seven."

"Is that a lot?"

"Mom says it's quite a bit."

"Oh."

"They're called dollars," Joyce said.

"What?" Faith asked.

"The currency. It's called dollar."

"What's a currency?"

"Well, all countries have money, but each country has its own currency. American currency is called dollar. You have thirty-seven dollars."

"Oh."

"And wallets are used for carrying money around. You can take the pictures and the documents out and put them on the shelf."

"Okay," Faith said and did as Joyce suggested.

Joyce smiled and looked at Buffy.

"Was everything okay in the bathroom?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. The paper just vanished when I… flushed the toilet."

Joyce nodded.

"Yes. So, you hungry?"

"A bit."

"Faith?"

"Me too," Faith said.

"Okay, I'll make you something to eat."

"Are you going to cook?"

"Yes."

"Can we watch?" Buffy asked, excited.

Joyce smiled.

"Sure."

"I'll watch TV," Dawn said.

"Okay."

In the kitchen, Buffy and Faith marveled over the choice of foods and the gas cooker. Since they didn't know what was what and how something tasted, Joyce chose for them. She let them help her cook, and Buffy and Faith eagerly helped.

When they were fed, Buffy and Faith became sleepy. They went upstairs and Joyce showed them how the shower worked. She got them a couple of oversized t-shirts for bed. When the girls were done in the bathroom, they came to their room and undressed. Faith kept her panties on. Joyce lowered the blinds and the girls lay down. Faith immediately cuddled up to Buffy.

"Night, girls," Joyce said and kissed Faith on the temple and Buffy on the forehead.

"Night, Mom," Buffy said.

"Night, Mom," Faith said.

Joyce smiled and went to the door.

"Oh, em, if you'll, eh, make love, try not to be too loud."

"Make love?" Faith asked and looked at her.

Joyce blushed a bit.

"Eh, yes. Have sex."

"What is sex?"

Joyce blushed. She thought for a moment.

"Well, I read your diary and you, eh, mention that you, eh, touch and, eh, lick one another between your legs."

"You mean our pussies?"

Joyce blushed.

"Yes. Anyway, that's called sex. It's a bit different between a man and a woman, but the principle is the same."

"Mommy said men eject, eh, sperm when they have an orgasm."

"Yes," Joyce said, feeling a bit hot.

"And it is also called making love?" Buffy asked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Well, it's basically the same thing as sex, only when people who love one another have sex, it's usually more gentle and loving, that's why it's called making love. Usually."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "So me and Faith love one another?"

Joyce smiled.

"I guess so. And I mean in a sexual way, not just the way you love me or your, eh, mommy."

"Oh."

"Oh, and that little button at the top of your, eh, pussies, it's called clitoris, clit for short."

"Oh."

"Good night."

"Night, Mom."

"Night, Mom," Faith said and rested her head on Buffy's shoulder. "Buffy?" she said after Joyce was gone.

"Yes?"

"I'm scared."

"Of all the new things?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes."

"Me too. But I'm also curious."

Faith smiled.

"Me too." She thought for a moment. "And I like Mom, she's nice."

"Yes. And Dawn too."

"Uh-huh."

Buffy sighed.

"Night, Faith."

"Night, Buffy."

The End