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.

I'll Stand By You
By Kristjan Brezovnik

When Faith woke up, she was confused for a few moments, but then she remembered. She took a deep breath and looked around. She noticed flowers and it surprised her, because the rest of the room looked like it had been abandoned after the second World War. She decided that it didn't matter, and got up. She started for the door when the IV tubes stopped her. She looked at her arm and ripped them out. Then she continued on her way.

Outside the room, she saw that she was in the part of the hospital that was rarely used. She was half way to the exit when a woman came in.

"Faith!" she said with a smile.

Faith frowned, ready to fight, but she quickly realized that the woman was no threat.

"Graduation," she said to herself.

"What?" the woman said, startled.

"I gotta get to the graduation."

"What graduation?" the woman asked, startled.

Faith looked at her.

"Sunnydale High."

"Sunnydale High?" the woman said, surprised. "But it's been destroyed."

"What?" Faith said, surprised.

"It's been destroyed. I heard it happened during the graduation ceremony."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, shocked.

"What date is today?"

"Eh, February 25th."

Faith tensed.

"What year?"

"2001," the woman said and Faith bit her teeth. "Faith, I…"

Faith growled and then punched her, knocking her out. She felt like beating the shit out of the woman, but she stopped herself and hit the wall instead, making a hole in it.

She looked at her hand and rubbed the knuckles in her gown. Then she started to undress the woman.

After kicking Buffy's ass and stealing her body, Faith and Joyce watched as the cops took Buffy away.

Just then another police car arrived and a woman came out.

"Oh my god, Faith," she said and ran to the stretcher.

Faith frowned, surprised. She recognized the woman from the hospital and she wondered why she was worried about her, especially since she had hit her.

"Well, you guys will be safe now," Detective Stein said as the medics lifted Buffy in Faith's body into the ambulance. Faith looked at him. "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, forgetting about the woman.

"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.

"I'm gonna take a bath," she said and broke the hug.

"Okay, honey."

An hour later, the woman was back.

"Oh, hello," Joyce said, surprised, when she saw her.

"Eh, hello," the woman said, nervous. "I'm, eh, I'm Janine Spencer. Em, I'm guessing that you know Faith."

"Yes."

Janine took a deep breath.

"I'm her mother."

Joyce frowned.

"You are?"

"Yes."

"I thought her mother was dead."

"No, the woman who… raised her is dead and she wasn't her mother."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I was hoping you could help me."

"How?"

"Some people kidnapped her."

"What?" Joyce said, surprised. "When?"

"Not long ago. I was wondering if you had any idea who they might be and where they might have taken her."

"I'm afraid not," Joyce said.

Janine's face fell.

"Oh."

Joyce hesitated for a moment.

"Why don't you come in?"

"Eh…"

"There's not much you can do right now and I'm sure you have questions about Faith."

"Well, yes, but I don't want to intrude. I mean, I heard she attacked you."

"Yes. Come in."

Janine hesitated for a moment and then entered.

"Thank you," she said as Joyce closed the door.

"Mom, I'm going…" Faith started as she came down the stairs. "What is she doing here?" she asked when she saw Janine.

"Buffy, this is Faith's mother."

Faith frowned.

"Faith's mom is dead."

"Apparently not," Joyce said.

Faith stared at Janine for a few moments.

"Got an ID?"

"Yes, of course," Janine said and rummaged through her purse. "Here."

Faith took the ID and looked at it.

"I'm gonna call R… eh, Willow," she said and went to the phone.

Janine frowned, but she didn't protest when Faith didn't return the ID.

"Would you like some coffee?" she asked.

"Yes, please," Janine said. "It's been a… a wild day."

Joyce smiled.

"Yes, it has. Come."

When Faith came to the kitchen, Joyce was just serving coffee.

"Here," she said and gave Janine the ID. She sat down. "So, if you're Faith's mom, where have you been and why does she thinks you're dead?"

Janine sighed.

"Three months after I gave birth, I had a car accident. I was in a coma ever since."

"For eighteen years?" Faith said, surprised.

Janine smiled sadly.

"I'm afraid so." She took a deep breath. "Anyway, after I woke up, I went to our home, but strange people lived there. So I hired a detective to find Faith and her father." She sighed. "Unfortunately, Mark, that's my husband, died when Faith was three and the woman he lived with took Faith in." She paused. "I found out she was a real… bitch." She sighed. "The detective found out Faith ran away from home and came to Sunnydale and was in the hospital. I came here and I visited her. I met her after she woke up, but she didn't know who I was and I didn't get a chance to tell her."

"Why not?" Joyce asked.

"She knocked me out."

"Oh."

Janine hesitated for a moment.

"She's wanted for questioning by the police, but that's all I know." She sighed. "I was with her in the police car when she was kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" Faith said.

"Yes. An armored van blocked our path and then two armed men dragged Faith out."

"The Council."

"You know who took her?" Janine asked, hopeful.

Faith thought for a moment.

"The ex-Mayor's business buddies."

Janine frowned.

"The Mayor?"

"She worked for the ex-Mayor of Sunnydale."

"Really?" Janine said, surprised.

"Yeah."

"Do you know where they could've taken her?"

"No."

"Oh." Janine sighed, disappointed. She thought for a moment. "Why did she come here? Why did she attack you?"

Joyce looked at Faith.

"Buffy?"

Faith tensed.

"Because she's a nutcase," she said.

"Buffy!" Joyce chided her, surprised.

"What? She is. She killed three people and she helped the Mayor. And then she came here and held you hostage. That's my definition of a psycho."

There was a tense pause.

"Are you sure she killed those people?" Janine finally asked quietly.

"Yeah."

Janine sighed.

"Do you know why?"

"Because she's a murderous psycho whore."

"Buffy!" Joyce said, upset.

Faith looked at her.

"What? She is."

She got up and stormed out of the kitchen.

Joyce sighed and looked at Janine.

"I'm sorry."

Janine shook her head.

"It's okay." She thought for a moment. "She seemed more upset than you. Why?"

"They used to be friends, but after Faith accidentally killed Mr Finch, things sort of went downhill. And when she started to work for the Mayor, they became enemies."

"Oh." Janine thought for a moment. "Who were the other two people?"

"One of them was a professor at UC Sunnydale and I was told Faith was sent to kill him."

Janine's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"By who?"

"By the ex-Mayor."

Janine frowned.

"The Mayor?"

"Yes. He was a… a criminal. He tried to destroy Sunnydale. Fortunately, he was killed during the graduation."

"Oh," Janine said, shocked. "And the third?"

Joyce frowned.

"I don't know. I thought it was only two."

"Oh."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"I'll go talk to Buffy. Maybe she can find Faith."

Janine only nodded, thinking about what she had learned.

Joyce smiled sympathetically and left.

When she got to Buffy's room, Joyce knocked. There was no response, so she entered. Faith was sitting on her bed, hugging a pillow. Joyce smiled and went to the bed.

"Honey?" she said and sat on the bed.

Faith looked at her.

"What?"

"Why are you so angry? I thought you wanted to help Faith."

Faith snorted.

"She's beyond help."

"No one is beyond help."

Faith frowned.

"Why do you still care? She held you hostage, she threatened to kill you."

Joyce put her hand on Faith's knee for a moment.

"She was angry. She spent eight months in a coma and no one ever visited her. Well, except her mother, but she didn't know that. She felt like everyone had abandoned her."

"Well, you sure convinced me you wanted her dead when she held you hostage."

Joyce frowned.

"How do you know?"

Faith tensed.

"I was listening before I barged in," she lied.

"Oh." Joyce sighed. "I was just bluffing. I was scared out of my mind and she was so angry. I was afraid she would really hurt me."

"Oh."

"But I'm not mad at her anymore. I want to help her."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, surprised. Then she sighed and looked away.

"Why does her mom still care about her?" she asked after a few moments.

"Because she's her mother," Joyce said with a smile, and Faith looked at her again. "If you were in Faith's place, I would still care about you."

Faith frowned.

"Wouldn't you be ashamed?"

"Perhaps. But I would still love you and I would still want to help you." She thought for a moment. "Have you any idea where the Council might have taken Faith?"

Faith shook her head.

"No."

"Can you find out?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"I can ask Giles."

"Please do. I'll keep Mrs Spencer company."

Faith sighed.

"Okay."

On the way to Giles, Faith thought about what Joyce had told her, as well as about her mother. She was surprised that after everything that she had done, Joyce still cared about her. Sure, the Mayor cared about her, but he was a psycho, like her, and he wanted her to kill people for him. Joyce, on the other hand, simply wanted her to get a grip on her life and make something of herself, without wanting anything in return. It confused her, she wasn't used to people caring about her.

And then there was her mother. Her real mother, not the bitch she had thought of as her mother. Did she really care about her? After everything she had done? Simply because she was her daughter? It would be incomprehensible to her, if it weren't for Joyce, who, to Faith, was a role model for what a mother should be like. She found herself hoping that it might be true, that her mother really loved her. At the same time, however, she also felt ashamed and scared. She was ashamed of what she had done, and she was scared that she would start to care about her mother and then her mother, once she had gotten to know Faith, would realize she was not worth loving and would leave her.

In the middle of her confusing thoughts she reached Giles' house.

"Giles," she said as she entered.

"Buffy."

"Do you know if the Council has any houses around here?"

Giles frowned.

"Not that I know. I mean, I assume they do, but I don't know where."

"Oh. Thanks."

"Why?"

Faith shrugged.

"Just curious. I'm going to the dorm now."

"Eh, okay," Giles said, confused.

"Hey, R… Eh, Willow," Faith said as she entered Buffy's dorm room.

Willow looked up from her laptop.

"Hi, Buffy."

Faith noticed a blonde girl sitting next to Willow and she frowned, not recognizing her.

"So, em…"

"Buffy, this is my friend Tara. She's a powerful witch."

Tara blushed.

"N-Not really."

"Tara, this is Buffy."

"Hi."

"Hey," Faith said, looking from one witch to the other.

"Oh! I looked up the name you gave me and she really is Faith's mother," Willow said.

"She is?" Faith said.

"Yes. She was in coma for eighteen years."

Faith suddenly realized that a part of her had still been doubting her mother's story. She sighed and sat on Buffy's bed.

"You okay?" Willow asked. "Buffy?"

Faith jerked.

"Huh?"

"Are you okay?"

Faith took a deep breath.

"Not really." She hesitated for a moment. "Em, I'm not really Buffy."

Willow frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Faith hesitated again.

"I'm Faith."

Willow's eyes went wide.

"What? How's that possible?"

Faith shrugged.

"The Mayor left me some magic gizmo and I switched bodies with B."

"Oh."

"Anyway, B's been kidnapped by the Council and I need you to locate her."

"Why?"

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"She's your friend, shouldn't you be jumping to help me?"

"Eh, yes," Willow said, startled. "But why do you want to help her?"

"Who says it's her I want to help?"

Willow frowned.

"Then who?"

Faith sighed and looked at her hands.

"Mrs S," she said quietly.

Willow blinked, surprised.

"Buffy's Mom? Why?"

Faith shook her head.

"Doesn't matter. Can you locate her?"

Willow glanced at Tara.

"Eh, we'll need something of hers. But since her body is here…" She trailed off, confused. She looked at Tara. "Tara…"

"I-I think it c-could w-work," Tara said. "Only we w-would get two l-locations, one for her b-body and one f-for her… s-soul."

"Oh."

Willow looked back at Faith.

"We'll need some of your hair."

Faith looked up.

"Yeah, okay."

"I'll get the scissors."

Willow got the scissors and then cut of some of Faith's hair. In the meantime, Tara prepared the stuff they would need for the spell.

While they were doing the spell, Faith quietly sat on the bed and thought about what the future might bring. On one hand, she wanted to stop running, which meant going to jail, but on the other, she didn't want to lose her mom. She wasn't sure what to do and it scared her.

"Got it!" Willow announced a few minutes later. "Here," she said and pointed at the map of Sunnydale she and Tara had used.

Faith came closer.

"Okay." She hesitated for a moment. "Can you reverse the spell?" she then asked.

"Spell?"

"You know, get us back in our own bodies."

"Oh."

"Yes, we c-can," Tara said.

"Okay. We'll come here."

Faith left and Willow looked at Tara.

"I'm confused," she said. "She stole Buffy's body and now she wants to give it back."

"Perhaps it's b-because of her mother," Tara said.

"You think?"

Tara nodded.

"You said she n-never had a real f-family before."

"Oh." Willow sighed. "I guess."

When Faith arrived to the warehouse where the Council men were holding Buffy, she first scouted the place out. She counted three men. She didn't see Buffy anywhere, but she guessed that she was in the van. She quickly made a plan. She went to the back of the warehouse and made some noise. Then she went to the corner and waited for one of the Council men to come and investigate.

One of the men soon came and Faith waited for him. As soon as he came around the corner, she knocked him out. Then she ran to the main entrance. She peeked in and saw the remaining two men. They were talking, so she quickly ran in and hid behind the van. She thought for a moment and then banged on the side of the van a couple of times.

"Now what?" one of the men said.

Faith went to her knees and looked underneath the van. She saw that both men were coming to investigate. She half hid under the van and waited for the men to open the van. Then she got up and pushed one half of the door, hitting the two men. Then she quickly disarmed them and knocked them out.

"Faith!" Buffy said, surprised, when she saw her.

"Hey," Faith said and searched the men. She quickly found the keys to Buffy's handcuffs and she threw them to her. "Here."

"What's going on?" Buffy asked as she freed herself.

"I thought it was obvious," Faith said. "I'm rescuing you."

"Why?"

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"You have a problem with that?"

"No. It's just… A couple of hours ago you were stealing my body and now you're saving me."

Faith shrugged and backed away from the van so that Buffy could get out.

"Had a change of heart."

"Just like that?"

Faith sighed.

"No."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Who was that woman who drove with me?" she then asked. "She was trying to protect me from the Council men, but I don't think she was a cop."

Faith hesitated for a moment, thinking about the fact that her mother had tried to protect Buffy, thinking it was her.

"My mom," she then said quietly and headed for the exit.

"What?" Buffy said, surprised. She hurried after Faith. "I thought your mom was dead."

"So did I. It turns out the woman I thought was my mom wasn't my mom."

"Where was your mom?"

"In coma."

"In coma? For how long?"

"Eighteen years."

"What?" Buffy said, surprised. "Man." She thought for a moment. "Where is she now? I mean, they didn't hurt her, did they?"

Faith glanced at Buffy, surprised that Buffy cared.

"No, she's okay. She's at your house."

"So you've met her?"

"Yeah. But she doesn't know she was talking to me."

"Oh. Wait! I want my body back."

"You're gonna get it."

"How?"

"Red and her girlfriend are working on it."

"Oh." Buffy frowned. "What girlfriend?"

Faith grinned at her.

"You'll find out soon enough."

Buffy quietly followed Faith for a few moments, thinking.

"Okay, so now you found your mom and you've saved me. Do you expect me to just forgive and forget everything you've done?"

Faith glanced at her.

"I'm not doing this for you."

Buffy frowned.

"For your mom?"

"No."

Buffy's frown deepened.

"Then for who?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"For your mom."

Buffy blinked, surprised.

"My mom? Why?"

Faith sighed.

"Because she believes in me, even though I held her hostage and threatened to kill her."

"Oh," Buffy said, surprised.

She quietly followed Faith, wondering just what her mother must have said to impress Faith so much.

"Faith!" Willow said when Faith and Buffy returned. "Oh, eh, Buffy." She frowned. "Right?"

"Yes, I'm Buffy," Buffy said.

"Oh."

"Can you undo the spell?" Faith asked.

Willow nodded.

"Tara and I conjured a katra. It's probably different than the one the Mayor left you, but it should do the job."

"Okay."

"Oh!" Willow suddenly realized. "Buffy, this is my friend Tara. She's a witch too. Tara, this is Buffy. Only, you know, in Faith's body."

"Hi," Buffy said with a smile.

"Hi," Tara said and smiled back.

"Eh, Red?" Faith said.

"Oh, right. Here," she said and gave the katra to Buffy.

Buffy looked at it and then at Faith.

"We better sit down."

Faith nodded and they went to Buffy's bed. They sat down and then Buffy raised her hand, holding the katra. Faith hesitated for a moment and then touched it. They both jerked as they returned to their own bodies.

"Buffy? Faith?" Willow asked, worried.

The two Slayers looked at her.

"I'm me again," Buffy said and smiled.

"Good," Willow said, relieved.

Faith sighed and looked at her hands, thinking about what to do next.

"What are you gonna do now?" Buffy asked her.

Faith looked at her and took a deep breath.

"I guess I'm gonna talk to… Mom."

Buffy nodded.

"Then let's go," she said and got up. She looked at Willow. "We'll talk later, okay?" she said, glancing at Tara.

Willow blushed a bit.

"Okay."

"Mom!" Buffy called when she and Faith came to the Summers house.

Joyce came from the kitchen.

"Buffy. Did you… Faith."

"Hey," Faith said.

Buffy hugged Joyce, who hugged her back, surprised.

"Buffy?"

Buffy let go of her and smiled.

"Just felt like it."

"Oh." Joyce then noticed that Faith was staring past her and she turned. "Oh, Faith, this is your mother," she introduced her.

"Yeah, I know," Faith said.

"You do?" Joyce said, surprised.

Faith glanced at her.

"B told me."

"Oh." Joyce looked at Janine and then back at Faith. "Come, Buffy, let's give them some space."

Buffy looked at Janine and then at Faith.

"Okay," she said and followed her mother to the stairs.

"Mrs S," Faith called.

"Yes?" Joyce said and looked at her.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Thanks."

Joyce frowned.

"What for?"

Faith hesitated again.

"For believing in me."

Joyce blinked, surprised, and then smiled.

"You're welcome," she said.

She and Buffy then left, and Faith looked at her mother.

"How are you, honey?" Janine asked. "Did they hurt you?"

Faith blinked and then sighed.

"No."

"Oh." Janine thought for a moment. "Who were they? What did they want?"

Faith sighed and shook her head.

"Doesn't matter."

"But…"

"Doesn't matter," Faith interrupted her.

Janine sighed. She thought for a moment.

"Why don't we sit down in the living room."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then headed to the sofa. Janine followed her and sat beside her, but not too close.

They were quiet for a few moments.

"Em, I suppose you want to know more about me," Janine then said.

"I already know," Faith said. "Buffy told me," she added when Janine frowned, surprised.

"Oh." Janine thought for a few moments. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

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

"It's not your fault."

Janine smiled a bit.

"Still, I wish I could've been there instead of that bitch." She sighed, thinking. "What are you gonna do now?"

Faith shrugged.

"I'm not sure yet."

Janine hesitated for a moment.

"The police are still looking for you."

Faith nodded.

"I know."

Janine thought for a moment.

"Faith," she then said, and Faith looked at her. "I just want you to know that I'll stand by you, no matter what you decide. And I will let you decide."

Faith stared at her, feeling strange.

"Why do you care?" she asked.

Janine smiled softly.

"Because you're my daughter."

Faith frowned.

"So?" She looked at her hands. "I mean, I'm a murderer," she said quietly.

Janine sighed. She hesitated for a moment and then gently put her hand on Faith's thigh. Faith looked at her, surprised.

"You're my daughter, Faith, and I'll love you no matter what," Janine said and then removed her hand.

Faith frowned.

"What… What do you want from me?" she then asked, nervous.

Janine frowned.

"From you? Nothing. For you? To be happy."

Faith she sighed and looked away.

"I… I've…" She sighed. "I wanna stop running." She hesitated for a moment. "But I don't wanna lose you," she finished quietly.

Janine smiled softly.

"You're not gonna lose me, Faith. I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere." She thought for a moment. "If you decide to go to jail, I'll come visit you. I'll even move here." She smiled again when Faith looked at her. "You're not gonna lose me. And after you come from jail, you'll have a home."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, slowly starting to believe that Janine was sincere.

"It may be, like, ten years."

"It doesn't matter."

Faith thought for a moment.

"And if I decide not to turn myself in?"

Janine sighed.

"It's your choice, Faith. But no matter how you choose, I will stand by you."

Faith took a deep breath and looked away. She'd had no intention of turning herself in after she had switched bodies with Buffy, but that was before she had met her mother. She didn't trust people easily, because she usually got hurt, but her mother had earned some major points and Faith was starting to trust her. Even more, she wanted her mother to be proud of her. Unfortunately, that meant doing the right thing, namely, going to jail. She hated jail, but at least it would mean an end to running. And, perhaps, she could finally think in peace about herself. And if her mother would come to visit, then she could finally learn more about her family. And perhaps plan for the future.

"Do you have any pictures?" she asked, looking back at Janine.

"Pictures?" Janine said, startled.

"Yeah. You know, of us. You, me… Dad."

Janine smiled.

"I have a few."

Faith nodded and took a deep breath.

"I'm gonna turn myself in," she said quietly and looked away.

Janine smiled again.

"Do you want me to go with you?"

Faith looked at her, startled.

"To the cops?"

Janine nodded.

"Yes."

Faith thought for a moment. She didn't want her mother to hear all the gory details, but then again she remembered that her mother already knew what she had done, though not in detail. Still, she decided that she wanted her to know everything.

"Okay," she said, and Janine smiled.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"But there's something I have to show you first."

"What?"

Faith sighed.

"You'll have to see it to believe it."

"Oh."

Faith took a deep breath.

"B!" she called, and got up.

Janine got up as well and then they waited for Buffy.

Buffy quickly came downstairs, followed by Joyce.

"Yes?" Buffy said, relieved to notice that everything seemed to be in order.

"I wanna take Mom on patrol."

Buffy glanced at Janine.

"Oh. Okay."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Could you come with us? In case the Council guys come back."

Buffy nodded.

"Sure. You have a stake?"

"No."

"I'll go get them," Buffy said and ran upstairs.

"Stake?" Janine asked, puzzled.

Faith looked at her.

"You'll see."

"You're welcome to come visit tomorrow and we'll talk about what you see," Joyce said with a smile.

"You know what Faith wants to show me?" Janine asked her.

"Yes." She hesitated for a moment. "I hope your reaction will be better than mine," she said and sighed.

Janine frowned, wondering what it was that Faith wanted to show her.

"Here," Buffy said as she came downstairs.

"Thanks," Faith said as she took the stake and put it in her jacket pocket. She looked at her mom. "Let's go."

"We're going to a cemetery?" Janine asked, surprised, when they approached Restfield Cemetery.

"Yeah," Faith said.

"What do you want to show me at a cemetery in the middle of the night?"

Faith sighed, hoping they would run across a vampire soon.

"You'll see."

"Do you hear it?" Buffy asked five minutes later.

"Yeah," Faith said.

Janine listened, but she couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary.

"Hear what?" she asked.

"You'll…" Faith started but trailed off when she sensed vampires. "B."

"I know," Buffy said.

"What…" Janine frowned but trailed off when she saw three vampires approach. "What the hell?"

"Stay back, Mom," Faith said as she and Buffy rushed to slay the vampires.

Janine stared, open-mouthed, as Faith and Buffy dusted the vampires.

"What…" she stared when they were done, but Faith interrupted her.

"Come, Mom, quickly."

Faith ran after Buffy and Janine quickly followed them, not wanting to be left alone at a cemetery.

They quickly reached a grave from which a newborn vamp was just crawling.

Buffy quickly staked her and she turned to dust.

"Eh, Faith?" Janine then said.

Faith and Buffy looked at her.

"Oh, right," Faith said. "Eh, these… creatures which turned to dust, they're vampires."

Janine frowned.

"You mean like Dracula?"

"Sort of, yes. They're demons and we, Buffy and I, are Slayers."

"Slayers?"

"Yeah. We were… chosen by some higher power to kill demons. Don't ask me why or how, because I don't know."

"It basically means we're stronger, faster, we heal faster and we can sense demons," Buffy added.

"Yeah."

Buffy looked at Faith.

"How about we take her to Willy's and show her more demons."

"Okay," Faith agreed.

"More demons?" Janine asked.

Faith looked at her.

"Yeah. There are a lot of different kinds of demons."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"And I can tell you what really happened."

"Are you sure?"

Faith sighed.

"Yeah, I want you to know."

Janine smiled.

"Okay."

As they walked to Willy's Place, Faith told her mother about her first Watcher, how she had come to Sunnydale, about Gwen Post, Finch, the Mayor, the courier and Professor Wirth. After hesitating for a while, she also admitted she had stolen Buffy's body.

"So that was you I was talking to?" Janine asked, confused.

"Yes."

Janine frowned.

"But now you're you, right?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah. One of B's friends reversed the spell."

"Oh." Janine shook her head. "This is so confusing."

"I know," Buffy said. "My mom was just as confused."

Janine looked at her.

"She knows?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

"Oh."

"You can go talk to her tomorrow. And I'll tell Giles to come over as well."

"Your Watcher?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Janine thought for a moment and then looked at Faith. She hesitated for a moment. "How did you end up in coma?"

Faith tensed for a moment.

"That was my fault," Buffy said, and both Faith and Janine looked at her, surprised. "Well, partially," she quickly added. She sighed. "Faith had poisoned Angel and I…"

"Angel?" Janine asked.

"He's a vampire with a soul. He was my boyfriend then."

"A vampire?" Janine said, surprised.

"With a soul."

Janine frowned.

"Vampires don't have a soul?"

"Not normally. Angel's an exception."

"Oh."

"Anyway, the only antidote to the poison was the blood of a Slayer." She sighed. "That was just the last straw. I went to her, I wanted her to provide the blood. We got into a fight and I ended up stabbing her. Then she threw herself off the roof and ended on the back of a van."

Janine looked at Faith, who looked at her feet, nervous.

"I wanted it to end and I didn't want to provide the blood for Angel," she quietly explained.

"Oh." Janine looked at Buffy, hesitating. "Did Angel, em…"

"I let him drink my blood," Buffy said.

"Oh."

"There's Willy's Place," Faith said, relieved, as they reached the bar.

"Do you want to go inside?" Buffy asked.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then shook her head.

"No. We can wait until… There's a couple," she said when she saw a couple of demons come out.

Buffy and Janine looked.

"What are they?" Janine asked.

Faith shrugged.

"Hell if I know."

Janine stared at the demons for a few moments.

"Are you going to kill them?" she then asked Faith.

"No."

"Not all demons are evil," Buffy said. "And Willy's Place is a sort of neutral place, so we don't kill the demons in his bar."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"That's it with the crash course," she then said.

Janine looked at her and smiled.

"Well, there sure is a lot to think about." She took a deep breath. "Wow, my daughter, a superhero."

Faith blushed, surprised.

"I'm no hero."

"You made mistakes, but we all make mistake."

"Yeah, but people don't usually lose their lives."

"I know."

Faith took a deep breath and looked at Buffy.

"Can you escort us to the police station?"

"You're gonna turn yourself in?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yeah."

"Oh."

"Wait!" Janine said. "Do you have a picture of you?"

"Eh, no," Faith said, startled.

"Then how about we drop by the mall and see if they have one of those photo booths where you can take pictures of yourself."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Okay."

Janine smiled.

"Let's go."

At the mall, they quickly found the photo booth. Janine went in and Faith followed.

"Wait," Janine said. "How about one photo of me, two of both of us and then one of you."

"Eh, okay," Faith said and went outside.

"You like her?" Buffy asked while they waited for Janine's photo to be taken.

Faith looked at her and blushed a bit, nervous.

"Yeah."

Buffy smiled.

"Good."

"Come, Faith!" Janine then called and Faith entered. "Come, between my legs."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then sat between Janine's legs.

Janine considered putting her arms around Faith, but she decided against it, not quite sure whether Faith was comfortable enough yet.

"Okay, let me out," Janine said two photos later.

Faith got up and Janine went out of the booth. Faith then sat down and waited for the last photo to be taken. Then she went outside.

"Okay, let's see how we look," Janine said with a smile.

They waited for a while and then the photos came out.

"Not bad," Janine said. She folded the photo paper and then tore it in half. "Here," she said as she gave the upper half to Faith.

"Thanks," Faith said.

Janine hesitated for a moment.

"Shall we go to the police now?"

Faith sighed and nodded.

"Yeah."

"Thanks, B," Faith said when they got to the police station.

"Want me to wait and escort your mom home?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"I'll wait inside."

Faith nodded.

"Okay." She thought for a moment. "I won't mention your name out, except, maybe, that you saved me from the Council."

Buffy nodded.

"Okay."

"You'll probably have to make a statement."

"I'll think about what to say."

"Okay."

Faith took a deep breath and went inside, her mother following her closely.

"Em, hi," Faith said when they got to the front desk. "I'd like to turn myself in."

The clerk looked at her.

"Your name?"

"Faith Spencer."

"Oh." The clerk got up and looked around. "Detective Stein!" he called. When he saw Stein heading his way, he sat down again. "Detective Stein will take care of you," he said.

Faith and Janine turned and waited for Stein to come closer.

"Faith," Stein said. "That's a surprise. I didn't really expect to see you again, especially not so soon."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Buffy rescued me," she said and nodded at Buffy, who was waiting near by.

Stein looked at her.

"You Buffy?"

"Yes," Buffy said and came closer.

"I'm gonna need your statement. Wait here, I'll send someone over."

"Okay."

Stein looked at Faith.

"You come with me."

"Can I come with her?" Janine asked. "For moral support."

Stein thought for a moment.

"Okay, but you'll have to sit behind her, I don't want any eye contact."

Janine nodded.

"Okay."

"This way."

After the interrogation was over, Faith was cuffed.

Janine then stepped up to her and hugged her.

"I love you, honey," she said. She noticed that Faith had tensed, so she let her go. She gently touched Faith cheek and smiled. "I'll come visit you and I'll bring the photo album."

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

"Come, Faith," Stein said.

They went toward the holding cells and Janine followed them as far as she was allowed to. When she was told to stop, Faith stopped as well. She hesitated for a moment and then turned.

"Mom?"

"Yes, honey?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I… I love you too."

Janine smiled widely and took a deep breath to calm herself.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then continued toward the cells.

"Everything okay?" Buffy asked when Janine came back, looking distracted.

Janine smiled at her.

"Yes."

"Faith?"

"She was taken to a cell."

"Oh."

Janine took a deep breath.

"Will you escort me home now?"

"Sure."

In her cell, Faith took out the two photos from the mall and looked at them. She ran her thumb across the photo of her mother and then looked at the second picture, the first photo of her family. She smiled a little, finally feeling that everything will turn out alright in the end.

The End