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.

Joy
By Kristjan Brezovnik

When Faith and Willow arrived to Sunnydale, they came across a wounded girl lying in the middle of the road. Willow ran to help her and Faith looked around, having mixed feelings about coming back. She noticed movement in the distance and weak screams.

"I'll be right back," she said and ran to help.

"What?" Willow said, startled.

Faith ran as fast as she could and she could soon make out the attackers. She'd never seen them before, but she knew who they were, the Bringers. The screams became louder and she realized they were carrying a child, probably a girl. Since there were too many of them, she decided to just free the girl and run away with her.

As she got closer, the Bringers finally noticed her and got ready to fight. Faith pretended like she wanted to fight as well, but then she simply plowed through their ranks and knocked out the Bringer who was carrying the girl. Then she grabbed the girl and ran away.

"It's okay," she told the girl, who struggled, terrified.

The girl calmed a bit.

"I want my mommy," she said quietly.

"I know," Faith said. "I'll take you home as soon as we lose those guys."

"Promise?"

Faith looked at her.

"I promise."

The girl wiped her tears.

"Okay."

They kept running. When they reached some alleys, Faith stopped and looked back. The Bringers were still behind them, so she started running again.

They ran through a couple of alleys, but suddenly they were in the middle of a meadow.

"The fuck?" Faith said, confused, and stopped.

She looked around and then turned, but there was no sign of a portal. She hesitated for a moment and then headed back the way she came. But when she reached the edge of the meadow, she still hadn't found the portal.

"Crap," she muttered.

"Where are we?" the girl asked, curious and frightened.

"I don't know," Faith said.

She hesitated for a moment and then started to walk up and down the meadow, hoping she would find the portal.

After she had walked up and down the whole meadow, she still hadn't found the portal. She realized they were stuck… wherever they were.

"Can we go home?" the girl asked.

Faith looked at her.

"No."

The girl's eyes stared to water up.

"Why not?"

"Because the portal's gone."

The girl's lower lip started to tremble.

"I want my mommy."

Faith sighed.

"I know. We'll try to find another way back."

The girl leaned her head on Faith's shoulder and started to sob.

Faith quietly held her, not sure what to do. She looked around. It was day here, but in Sunnydale it was evening, so she figured the girl would soon become sleepy.

Then she tensed as she heard noises. She listened for a few moments. She realized the noises were coming closer and that they belong to something dangerous. She looked around and saw a tree with low branches. She ran to it.

"Okay, climb up," she then told the girl.

"Why?" the girl asked her, wide-eyed.

"Because something dangerous is approaching and I can't fight it and protect you at the same time. Go on. Just climb up and hug the branch."

The girl looked up and then back at Faith.

"I'm scared."

Faith sighed.

"I know. Don't worry, everything will be okay, but you need to get on that branch."

Then the girl saw something behind Faith and she gasped.

Faith looked and saw several four-legged demons approaching.

"Quickly! Go," she told the girl.

The girl didn't hesitate. She quickly grabbed the branch and climbed on it. Then she hugged it and watched as Faith faced the demons.

When the girl was safely on the branch, Faith looked around. She didn't have a weapon and she needed one fast. She saw a branch several meters away. She ran to it and picked it up. It wasn't much, but it would have to do. She glanced at the girl to make sure she was okay, and then ran to the demons. She did a quick count and saw there were six of them. They basically looked like dogs, like very ugly dogs. And much more vicious. She wondered if that's what hellhounds looked like.

Her wondering was interrupted when the first one reached her. She whacked it with the branch and then quickly the second one. The second hit was better and the demon staggered, obviously wounded. The other five demons immediately tore it to pieces. Faith realized that she didn't have to kill all of the demons, she merely needed to wound them. She ran to the feasting demons and attacked them. She heard a couple of bones break and she grinned, satisfied. Thanks to the cannibalistic nature of the demons, she quickly disposed of four of them. When she wounded the fifth and the sixth attacked it, the sixth got wounded badly and Faith easily killed it.

Then she looked around to make sure there were no more. There weren't, so she went back to the girl.

"You can come down now," she told her, and raised her arms.

"What are they?" the girls asked, frightened.

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. Some demons. Don't worry, they're dead. Come."

The girl stared at the dead demons for a few moments, hesitating. Then she looked at Faith and slowly started to descend.

Faith caught her and slowly lowered her to the ground. The girl immediately hid behind her and looked at the demons. She yawned.

"Sleepy?" Faith asked her.

The girl looked up at her and nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Let's get out of here then."

"Okay."

The girl took her hand and they slowly walked away.

"What's your name?" Faith then asked her.

The girl looked at her.

"Joy."

"I'm Faith."

"I want Mommy."

Faith sighed.

"I know." She looked around. "Let's get some safe place to sleep."

After walking around for a while, Joy fell asleep. Faith quietly carried her until she spotted a suitable tree. On their journey, she'd seen plenty of various four-legged demons, so she decided to sleep on a tree. She gently shook Joy.

"Joy, wake up. Joy."

"Mommy?" Joy said, opening her eyes.

"No, it's me."

"Oh," Joy said, disappointed.

"We're going to sleep on a tree."

"Why?"

"There are too many demons around. We'll be safer there."

"Oh."

Faith looked up.

"I'll lift you. Climb on that branch and wait for me."

Joy looked up.

"Okay."

Faith lifted her and Joy carefully climbed up. Faith quickly joined her.

"Okay, we'll sleep over there, see? Where it's a bit flat."

Joy looked.

"Uh-huh."

"Good. Come." Faith picked up Joy and carried her to the flat spot in the branches. "Okay, you can go back to sleep now," she said when they reached their destination.

Joy yawned and leaned on Faith.

Faith stared at her for a few moments, feeling strange. Then she carefully took off her jacket and covered them both with it.

About two years later, when Faith and Joy were just about to eating, Joy noticed something in the distance.

"Mama, look," she said and pointed.

Faith turned her head and looked. She frowned when she saw strange lightning. She didn't know what was causing it, but it seemed like magical activity. And magic meant there might be a way back to Earth.

"Come on, let's go," she said and got up.

"What is it?" Joy asked.

"I don't know, but it might be a way back home."

"Really?" Joy said, excited.

"Maybe. Come."

Faith picked her up and started running toward the lightning.

When they reached the lightning ten minutes later, Faith slowed down.

"Is this the way home?" Joy asked.

"I don't know," Faith said.

She carefully approached the portal. She could see something through it, but she wasn't sure what it was. When she reached it, she stopped. She hesitated for a moment and then slowly reached and touched it. It didn't hurt, so she pushed her arm through it. She hesitated again and then pushed her head through it. On the other side, she saw a street and when she concentrated, she could see the number on the house. She quickly stepped through.

"Are we home?" Joy asked, looking around.

"I think so," Faith said. "Now we have to figure out just where exactly we are."

"Oh."

Suddenly the ground started to shake.

Faith looked around.

"Oh shit," she said when she saw the ground disappear in the distance. "Hold on!" she told Joy and then started to run away from the collapsing ground.

When the bus finally stopped outside of Sunnydale, Buffy got off. She looked at the crater that was once Sunnydale and was glad that people got out in time. The others joined her.

"Look!" Dawn suddenly interrupted the silence. "There's someone on the other side."

"Where?" Xander asked.

"In the crater," Dawn said and pointed. "Over there. About ten or twenty meters below the edge."

"I see it," Buffy said.

"How did they get there?" Xander wondered.

Buffy cocked her head, frowning. Then her eyes went wide.

"It's Faith," she said, surprised.

"What?"

"It's Faith."

"How did she get there?"

"I don't know."

Hanging onto the rocks on the wall of the crater, Faith looked at Joy.

"You okay, sweetie?"

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh," she said with a nod, scared.

"Okay, hang on while I get a better grip."

"Okay."

Faith looked up and got a better grip.

"Okay. Get on…" She trailed off when some rocks started to fall. "Shit," she said and covered her head with one arm.

Joy screamed as a stone hit her.

"Sweetie?" Faith asked, worried, and pressed them closer to the wall so Joy wouldn't fall if she let go. She waited for the stones to stop falling. "You okay, sweetie?" she then asked.

"My head hurts," Joy said, crying.

"Let me see." Faith looked and saw a gash on Joy's forehead. She carefully wiped the blood. "You'll be okay," she said and kissed her on the top of the head. "I'll take care of it when we get up."

"Okay," Joy said and slowly stopped sobbing.

Faith smiled at her.

"You're very brave," she said, and Joy smiled as well. "Okay, now get on my back…"

"Faith?"

"What?" Faith said, startled, and looked around.

"Faith, is that you?"

Faith frowned. It sounded like the voice was in her head.

"Willow?"

"Yes."

"Where are you?"

"On the other side of the crater."

Faith tried to look, but she couldn't turn enough.

"Can you help me out here?"

"Who are you talking to, Mama?" Joy asked, curious.

"Hold on."

"Sure," Willow said. "Hang on, I'll pick you up and carry you over here."

"Okay." Faith looked at Joy. "Hold on, sweetie."

She felt a tug and then she was slowly lifted. She let go of the cliff and hugged Joy.

"Are we flying, Mama?" Joy asked, her eyes wide.

"Not really," Faith said, looking down.

"But we're moving through the air."

"I know. There's a witch carrying us."

"Really? How?"

"With magic."

"Cool!" Joy said, excited.

Faith smiled.

"Yes." She wiped the blood from Joy's forehead. "Does it still hurt?"

"A little. It itches."

Faith smiled.

"Yes." She kissed her on the top of the head. "It'll be okay. We're back on Earth, which mean we're almost home."

Joy smiled, excited.

When Faith came closer, they could see that she was carrying something. When she came even closer, they could see that it was a someone.

"Who is she carrying?" Dawn asked.

"I don't know," Buffy said.

She looked at Willow to make sure she was okay, and then back at Faith, who had her back to them.

When Willow finally put Faith down, and Faith turned, they could see that she was carrying a girl.

"Thanks, Willow," Faith said, relieved.

Willow smiled.

"No problem."

Faith looked around. She saw, surprised, that the whole Scooby Gang was there.

"Hi," she said, and put Joy down. "Does anyone have a handkerchief or something? I need to bandage her forehead."

"I'll get it," Dawn said and ran to the bus.

Faith wiped Joy's forehead again, and then put her down. Joy immediately took her hand. Faith looked at the gang.

"Where are we?"

"Sunnydale," Buffy said, Buffy said, staring at Joy.

Faith looked at the crater and then back at Buffy.

"That was Sunnydale?"

"Yes," Willow said when Buffy didn't answer.

"What happened?"

"We fought the First and it got swallowed up."

Faith glanced at the crater again.

"So, did you win or did you lose?"

Willow smiled a little.

"We won."

"Oh. Good."

"Where've you…"

"Joy?" Buffy asked.

Joy hid behind Faith and looked at Buffy shyly.

"How do you know her name?" Faith asked, surprised.

Buffy looked at her.

"She's Joy?"

Faith frowned.

"Yes."

Buffy looked back at Joy.

"But…"

"B?" Faith said, confused.

"She had a daughter named Joy as well," Willow explained.

"What?" Faith said, surprised. "Since when?"

"College. She got pregnant a little before you woke up from coma."

"Oh."

"She, Joy, was kidnapped by the Bringers just before we got to Sunnydale."

Faith thought for a moment and then looked at Joy.

"Sweetie, do you remember your mommy's name?"

Joy frowned.

"It was pretty."

"Buffy?"

Joy's eyes lit up.

"Uh-huh," she said and nodded.

"But… that's impossible," Buffy said.

Faith looked at her.

"Why?"

"Joy was only three."

"Yeah, and now she's five."

"But you were only gone a week."

Faith frowned.

"What do you mean? We were gone for more than two years."

Buffy looked at her, surprised.

"What?"

"We were gone for two years."

"Where've you been?" Xander asked.

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. Some other dimension, I think."

"Oh."

Dawn returned with some cloths.

"Here," she said. "We don't really have any bandages."

"Thanks," Faith said and took them. She kneeled in front of Joy. "Here, sweetie, hold this," she said and gave Joy the cloths.

"Who is she?" Dawn asked, curious.

Faith glanced at her.

"Buffy's daughter."

"What?" Dawn said, surprised.

Faith looked at Joy.

"Well, sweetie, it looks like you're home already."

"I am?" Joy asked.

Faith nodded.

"Yes. See her?" she asked, pointing at Buffy. "This is your mommy."

Joy's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Oh honey," Buffy said and came closer, but Joy hid behind Faith, a bit confused.

"It's okay, sweetie," Faith said. "She's your mommy, she'd never hurt you." She looked at Buffy. "She needs to get used to you."

Buffy nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Buffy?" Dawn asked.

Faith looked at Joy.

"Okay, sweetie, let's take care of you," she said and started wiping the blood.

"How did you get to the other dimension?" Giles asked.

Faith glanced at him.

"I'm not sure. After I saved Joy from the Bringers, I ran away. They went after us. I was running through some alley when I was suddenly on some meadow. I tried to find the portal, but it was gone. About fifteen minutes ago, Joy saw some lightning. We went investigate and saw a portal. I looked through, saw it was Earth and we went through. Then the ground started disappearing."

"I see."

"There," Faith told Joy with a smile. "That should do it for now."

Joy smiled back.

"It doesn't hurt so much anymore."

Faith caressed her.

"I know." She got up, and Joy took her hand. "So, you guys are all homeless now?"

"Sort of," Willow said. "We're going to LA to Buffy's mom."

"Oh."

Faith looked at the girls she didn't know and frowned.

"B…"

"They're Slayers," Buffy said.

Faith looked at her.

"Just how many times did you die this time?"

Buffy smiled a little.

"None. The First had some vicious vamps, so we decided to make all Potentials Slayers."

"Oh. So the First is history?"

"We probably didn't destroy it, but it won't be bothering us again any time soon."

"Good." She looked at the scythe Buffy was holding. "Where did you get that?"

"In some basement. It was made for us."

"Us?"

"Slayers."

"Oh." Faith stared at the weapon for a few moments and then looked at the crater that was Sunnydale for a few moments. "Let's get out of here."

"Yeah."

They slowly walked toward the bus.

"What's that?" Joy asked and pointed at the bus.

"That's a bus. A school bus. It's a vehicle."

"What's it for?"

"For driving people around."

"How?"

"You'll see." They entered the bus and Faith could see more wounded people. "Man," she said quietly. When they got to a free seat, Faith picked up Joy and helped her sit. Then she sat next to her.

"Look, Mama, I can see through this wall," Joy said, touching the window.

Faith smiled.

"That's a window and it's made out of glass. It's meant to be seen through."

"Oh."

Joy raised her head and looked around the bus.

"Want to get to know your mommy?" Faith asked her when she saw where she was looking.

Joy looked at her and nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith caressed her.

"I'll call her when she's done taking care of the wounded."

"Okay." Joy hesitated for a moment. "What is she like?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"Remember that girl I told you about? B?"

Joy thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Well, that's her. B was my nickname for Buffy."

"Really?"

"Yes. And I'm sure she's a wonderful mommy."

Joy smiled a little.

When everyone was seated, Giles drove off.

Joy looked through the window.

"We're moving, Mama," she said, excited.

Faith smiled.

"Yes," she said.

Joy looked at her.

"Where are we going?"

"To your grandmother."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Joy thought for a moment.

"What is she like?"

Faith smiled.

"She's wonderful. After all, she did raise your mommy."

Joy smiled.

"Where is she?"

"In another town. We'll drive for a while."

"Oh."

A few minutes later, after everybody had been taken care of, Faith waved to Buffy to come to her, when Buffy looked at her.

"Sweetie, your mommy's coming," she told Joy, who was looking out the window, curious. Joy looked. "Come, you can sit in my lap."

Faith picked up Joy and moved to her seat. Then she sat Joy in her lap.

"Hey," Buffy said.

Faith looked at her.

"Hey. Sit down."

Buffy sat.

"Hi, sweetie," she said to Joy, who leaned on Faith shyly.

"Hi," Joy said.

They stared at one another for a few moments.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

Joy frowned.

"When?"

"When those men took you."

"Oh." Joy thought for a few moments and then smiled. "Mama saved me."

"Mama?" Buffy said, startled, and looked at Faith.

"She missed you and she wanted to call me Mommy, so I told her she could call me Mama, since I wasn't her mommy," Faith explained.

"Oh."

"I didn't know she was yours."

Buffy thought for a few moments and then looked at Joy. She smiled.

"You're so big now," she said, and Joy smiled. "I remember when you were just a baby." She sighed. "How was it? In the other dimension, I mean?"

Joy started to tell her the story.

Buffy quietly listened and occasionally asked a question. She couldn't help but notice how gentle Faith was with Joy.

When they reached LA, Joy looked out, amazed by all the strange things. She asked lots of questions, and Faith let Buffy answer them, hoping Joy would get used to Buffy soon. At the same time, though, she was worried. She didn't know how Buffy would react later. She hoped she would let her take care of Joy.

When they arrived at their destination, everyone got out. Joyce was already on her way, having seen the bus. She was relieved that both her daughters were okay. They hugged.

"Joy's also back," Dawn said when they stopped hugging.

"Really?" Joy said, surprised. "But I thought…"

"She was with Faith in another dimension."

"What?"

"For two years."

Then Faith came closer with Joy.

"Hi, Mrs Summers," she said.

"Eh, hello, Faith," Joyce said, and then looked at Joy.

"Joy, this is your grandma," Faith told Joy.

"Hi," Joy said shyly.

Joyce smiled.

"Hello, honey.

"Mom, let's get everyone inside first," Buffy said.

Joyce looked at her, startled, and then at the others.

"Oh dear. Yes, come in, come in," she said and led the way.

Everyone went inside.

"Okay, you can line up for the shower," Joyce said after she closed the door.

"I'll just get the first aid kit," Buffy said and ran upstairs.

Joy tugged at Faith's hand.

"Mama."

Faith looked at her, and Joy raised her arms, so she picked her up.

"You okay?" she asked, caressing her.

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh." She looked at the wounded. "Will they be okay?"

"Yes. They're Slayers, like Mommy and me."

"They fight monsters too?"

"Yes. That’s why they're wounded, they were fighting monsters."

"Oh."

Joyce came closer.

"Hello, Joy," she said with a smile.

"Hi," Joy said.

"Are you okay?"

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"What happened to your head?"

"A stone fell on me. But Mama took care of it."

"Mama?" Joyce said, surprised, and looked at Faith.

"Yeah," Faith said, a bit nervous.

"Where've you been? Dawn said you were in another dimension."

"Yeah. I saved her from the Bringers, but when we were running from them, we ended up in another dimension and couldn't get back."

"How come Joy is so old? You were only gone less than a week."

"Actually, more than two years passed for us."

"What?"

Faith shrugged.

"I guess time went faster there."

"Oh."

"We got back just when Sunnydale was disappearing."

"Disappearing?"

"Yeah. It got swallowed up by the Hellmouth."

"Oh."

"I barely made it to the edge of the crater. Then some stones started falling down and one of them hit Joy."

"I see."

"Mom, can you go show them what's where?" Buffy said as she came back.

Joyce looked at her.

"In the bathroom?"

"Yes."

"Okay," Joyce said and went upstairs.

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Will you take care of Joy's wound?"

"Later, when I… when we wash her," Faith corrected herself.

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, not sure how to feel.

"Okay," she said and went to help the others.

Faith looked at Joy.

"Come, let's go sit out of the way," she said.

She went to a chair and sat down.

Joy observed the wounded for a few moments and then looked around.

"Mama, what's that?" she asked.

After a few minutes, Joy needed to pee, so Faith took her to the extra toilet downstairs.

"Is that Mommy?" Joy asked when they passed a family photo after she was done.

Faith picked her up.

"Yes. That's Mommy, Aunt Dawn, Grandma and Grandpa."

"Grandpa?"

"Mommy's Daddy. I don't know where he is."

"Oh."

Faith smiled.

"You're as pretty as your mommy."

Joy smiled as well.

"Really?"

"You bet. Seems it runs in the family."

Joy looked at the photo again.

"Where am I?"

"It was taken before you were born."

"Oh." Joy thought for a moment. "Do I have a daddy too?"

"Yes, though I don't know who he is. You'll have to ask Mommy."

"Oh."

"You really have changed since the last time I saw you," Joyce said, watching her from behind.

Faith turned, startled. She blushed.

"Yeah."

Joyce smiled at Joy.

"You really do like her."

Faith shrugged.

"She's my daughter," she said, and her blush deepened. "I mean, eh…"

Joyce's smile widened.

"I understand."

Faith sighed.

"We'll go sit," she said and went back to her chair.

After another ten minutes of explaining stuff to Joy, Joy fell asleep. Faith quietly held her, thinking about the future. She was scared. She was a wanted person and she knew the cops were still looking for her. Plus, there was Buffy. She knew Buffy was upset and she wondered what she would say once they were alone. She desperately wanted to take care of Joy. They weren't blood related, but Joy was her only family and she loved her very much. She had changed already, thanks to Joy, but she knew that she needed to change more.

Buffy occasionally glanced at Faith and Joy. She felt angry and jealous at Faith. She knew it wasn't Faith's fault that they had spent two years in another dimension, but she couldn't help feeling angry. When Joy fell asleep, she wanted to hold her instead of Faith, and she felt angry at Faith for it. Then she saw how Faith was holding her gently, obviously deep in though. She could see it on Faith's face that something was troubling her. She wondered what it was.

By the time the bathroom cleared, Joy woke up.

"Hey, sweetie," Faith said with a smile as she removed the hair from Joy's face. "Sleep well?"

Joy nodded, rubbing her eyes.

"Uh-huh," she said and yawned.

"How about Mommy and I clean you up now."

"Okay."

Faith got up.

"Buffy," she said.

Buffy looked at her.

"Yeah?"

"The bathroom's empty, right?"

"Yes, Dawn just finished."

"Let's go clean up Joy then."

"Okay."

They went upstairs to the bathroom.

"Okay, sweetie, undress now," Faith said after Buffy closed the door.

Joy started to undress and Faith as well.

"Why are you undressing?" Buffy asked her.

"I'm gonna get wet washing her. Plus, I'll be taking a shower later."

"Oh." Buffy hesitated for a moment and then started to undress as well. "I thought she could take a bath."

Faith thought about it.

"Okay."

Buffy went to the tap and started the water.

"Wow," Joy said. "Where is the water coming from?"

"The pipes," Buffy said with a smile. "They're connected to a big tank, which is filled with water from the rivers."

"Oh."

"Okay, let's see how your head is doing," Faith said when Joy was naked. She kneeled in front of her and took off the makeshift bandage. "Hmm. Looks okay." She looked at Buffy. "What do you think?"

Buffy looked closer.

"We'll have to clean up the blood and put a plaster on it," she said.

"Yeah." She gently touched the wound. "Does it hurt?"

"A bit," Joy said.

"Okay."

Buffy checked the water and then looked at Joy.

"Check if the water's okay, honey," she told her.

Joy went to the bathtub and checked the water.

"It's warm," she said, amazed.

"Yes."

Joy looked at her.

"We only had cold water."

"I know."

"How do you make it warm?"

"There's a boiler in the basement and it heats it up."

"Oh."

"It's not too hot?"

Joy shook her head.

"Uh-uh."

"Good. I'll get some bubbles."

"Bubbles?" Joy asked.

"You'll see," Faith said with a smile.

Buffy returned with the bubbles and put them in the water.

"Wow," Joy said, wide-eyed, when the bubbles started to foam.

"You can play with them, but don't put them in your mouth," Buffy said.

Faith picked Joy up and sat her in the water.

Joy started playing with the bubbles and she giggled.

"Is the water okay?" Faith asked.

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Good."

When Joy was clean, Buffy and Faith dried her. Then Buffy picked her up and carried her to Joy's room.

"This is your room, sweetie," Buffy said.

"Really?" Joy said, her eyes wide.

"Yes," Buffy said and sat her on the bed.

"I know him!" Joy said, excited, and crawled up the bed and fetched Mr Gordo.

"That's Mr Gordo," Buffy said with a smile.

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh." She looked at Faith. "Look, Mama, Mr Gordo."

Faith smiled.

"We've met."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Joy thought for a moment.

"Mommy gave it to me," she remembered. She looked at Buffy. "You gave it to me."

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

Joy smiled.

"Okay, put it aside so Mommy can dress you," Faith said.

Joy put Mr Gordo aside.

"Now we have to dry your hair," Buffy said when Joy was done. She thought for a moment. "How would you like Aunt Dawn to do it?"

"Why?" Joy asked.

"So… So Mama can take a shower and I can get the clothes."

"Oh." Joy hesitated for a moment. "Okay."

"Come."

Joy slid off the bed.

"Can I take Mr Gordo with me?"

Buffy smiled.

"Of course," she said and took it off the bed. "Here."

"Thank you," Joy said and hugged Mr Gordo.

"Come."

Joy hesitated for a moment and then took Buffy's hand.

Buffy led her to Dawn's room, and Faith quietly followed her, trying not to worry.

"Dawn?" Buffy said as she entered.

"Hi," Dawn said and turned off the blow-dryer.

"Can you dry Joy's hair?"

Dawn smiled.

"Sure."

Buffy picked Joy up and sat her on the bed.

"You'll be okay here," she told Joy.

Joy looked at Faith.

"I'll just take a shower," Faith said.

"Okay."

Buffy and Faith left.

"Hi," Dawn then said.

"You're Mommy's sister."

"Yes. You remember me?"

Joy shook her head.

"Uh-uh. Mama told me."

"Oh."

"I'll dry your hair as soon as I'm done drying mine."

"Okay."

Dawn turned on the blow-dryer and resumed drying her hair.

"What's that?" Joy asked, curious.

"This? It's a blow-dryer," Dawn said. "It's for drying hair."

She turned the blow-dryer toward Joy for a few moments, and Joy giggled.

"It's warm," Joy said.

"Yes," Dawn said.

After Faith was done in the shower, she went to Buffy's room to get her clothes.

"Hey," she said when she saw Buffy was also there.

"Hey," Buffy said. She nodded at the clothes. "You can pick something else, if you want."

"Thanks." Faith hesitated for a moment. "Can I stay over for a couple of days?" She then asked. "I think Joy would be afraid if I just left."

Buffy stared at her for a moment.

"Okay."

"Thanks." Faith hesitated for a moment. "I'd also like to be a part of her life."

Buffy suddenly realized that Faith was afraid of losing Joy. She stared at her for a few moments and then sighed. She thought for a moment.

"I was so angry when I heard her call you Mama," she said.

"B…"

"Let me finish." Buffy thought for a moment. "I was angry, because I thought you were still the old, irresponsible Faith. But you've changed and you love her." She paused for a moment. "And you're even helping me get closer to her." She sighed. "Sure, you can be a part of her life."

"Thanks," Faith said, fighting back the tears.

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then left.

When Faith was done dressing, she went to Dawn's room.

"Hey," she said with a smile when she saw that Dawn was drying Joy's hair.

"Hi, Mama," Joy said. "Aunt Dawn says I got pretty hair."

"You do, just like your mommy."

Joy smiled.

"Can I dry your hair?"

"Sure, when Dawn's done drying yours."

"Cool," Joy said, excited.

When Buffy came in, after having taken a shower, she was surprised to find Joy drying Faith's hair, with a little help from Dawn.

"Can I dry your hair too, Mommy?" Joy asked.

"Eh, sure," Buffy said. She smiled. "Why not?"

She went to the bed and sat down.

"How come you have a house here?" Faith asked after a few moments.

"We lived here before we moved to Sunnydale. Dad lived here afterwards, but he's elsewhere now. We had a feeling there might be a disaster in Sunnydale, so we took all the valuables and personal stuff and moved them here."

"Oh." Faith thought for a moment. "So your photo albums are also here?"

"Yes."

"You got pictures of Joy when she was a baby?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes! Good you reminded me. I'll show them to her later." She hesitated for a moment. "And you."

"Okay."

"Come, honey, there's something I want to show you," Buffy said when they were done drying her hair.

"What?" Joy asked, curious.

"Some pictures of you."

"Really?"

"Yes. Come."

She helped her off the bed and then they went to Buffy's room, Faith following them.

"Okay, sit on the bed," Buffy said when they came to her bed.

Faith helped Joy sit on the bed, and Buffy fetched the photo album.

"What's that?" Joy asked when Buffy sat beside her.

"A photo album," Buffy said, and opened it.

"That's you," Joy recognized her.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. I was still in high school then," she said and leafed forward.

"Is that Mama?"

Buffy looked at the photo Joy was pointing at.

"Yes."

"She's pretty."

"Yes."

"That's you. You're pretty too."

Buffy smiled again.

"Yes."

Joy looked at her.

"Mama said I was as pretty as you."

Buffy looked at Faith, surprised, and Faith blushed.

"Yes, you are," she told Joy with a smile, and leafed on. "Ah, here we are. See? This is you when you were born."

Joy looked.

"That's me?"

"Yes."

"I looked funny."

Buffy smiled.

"Yes."

"You were cute," Faith said, and Joy smiled at her.

"Who's that?" Joy asked, and pointed at Riley, who was holding her.

"That's your daddy," Buffy said.

Joy looked at her, curious.

"Really?"

"Yes. His name is Riley Finn."

"Where is he?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"He… He doesn't live with us."

"Why not?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Well, we… Things didn't work out between us. But he comes to visit you." She hesitated for a moment. "With his wife."

"Wife?"

Buffy thought again.

"Well, my mom and dad used to be married and they were husband and wife."

"Oh." Joy thought for a moment. "You have a daddy too?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. He… He also comes to visit sometimes. And he also has a new… well, not wife, a girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?"

"Someone he's getting closer to, and whom he might marry some day."

"Oh."

Faith smiled at her.

"Don't worry, you'll understand when you grow older."

"Okay."

"See, this is when we brought you home," Buffy continued.

Joy watched curiously, asking questions all the time.

Faith watched as well, feeling strange.

"Now we need some new pictures of you," Buffy said as she finished.

"And Mama," Joy said. "There was just one picture of her."

Buffy smiled and glanced at Faith.

"Yes, her too."

Joy hesitated for a moment.

"I'm hungry," she said and looked at Faith.

"Why don't you take Mr Gordo to your room and I'll tell Mom to get some food ready," Buffy said.

"Okay," Joy said.

Buffy looked at Faith.

"You too?"

"Yeah. We were just about to have lunch when we saw the portal."

"Okay."

They helped Joy off the bed. Buffy put away the photo album, and Faith took Joy to her room.

"Hello, honey," Joyce said with a smile when Faith and Joy came to the kitchen. "Are you very hungry?"

Joy thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Then take a seat." She looked at Faith. "You, Faith?"

"Yeah, I could use some food."

"Okay."

"Did you like it?" Faith asked Joy when she was done eating.

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh. It was better than what we ate."

"You bet it was," Faith said with a smile. "Feeling sleepy?"

Joy thought for a moment and then shook her head.

"Uh-uh."

"Okay. Wipe your mouth." Faith got up and waited for Joy to wipe her mouth. Then she helped her off the chair. She looked at Joyce. "Thanks."

Joy looked at her as well.

"Thank you."

Joyce smiled.

"You're welcome."

Joy then took Faith's hand and they left the kitchen.

"What's that?" Joy asked, wide-eyed, when they entered the living room and she saw the TV, which was on this time.

"That's a TV. It's a machine. Some people record shows and movies and cartoons and stuff and then they broadcast it and we can watch it on TV," Faith explained. "See? They're watching the news."

Joy looked at her.

"Can I watch too?"

Faith smiled.

"Sure."

Joy let go of her and ran to the sofa, where Dawn and a couple of new Slayers were watching the news. She stopped, a bit nervous.

"Hey," Dawn said with a smile. "Come here."

Joy smiled and ran to her.

Dawn picked her up and sat her between her legs.

"Any news on Sunnydale?" Faith asked.

"Earthquake," Dawn said.

Faith rolled her eyes.

"What else." She thought for a moment. "Have you seen any newspapers?"

Dawn looked around.

"Over there," she said and pointed.

Faith went to the chair, beside which some newspapers and magazines were on a small stool. She checked the newspapers and picked the most recent one. Then she looked at Joy.

"Honey, I'll be in the back yard."

"Okay," Joy said.

"You're looking for a job?"

"Huh?" Faith said, startled, and looked at Joyce. "Oh. Yeah," she said, slightly nervous.

"Well, it looks like my gallery will be relocating. Which means there'll be lots of work for Buffy and you. If you want."

"Yeah?" Faith said, interested.

"Yes."

"Cool. Thanks." She hesitated for a moment. "You don't happen to know a cheap motel near by, do you?"

"A motel?" Joyce said, confused. "Why?"

Faith frowned.

"I'm gonna need a place to stay and I want to be close to Joy."

"You're not staying here?"

"Eh, I am, for a few days. Buffy said I could."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"You could stay here permanently."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, surprised.

"Eh, thanks, but I don't want to piss off Buffy."

"Piss me off?" Buffy asked as she came out.

Faith and Joyce looked at her.

"I told Faith she could stay with us permanently."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a few moments. "Okay."

Faith raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"You sure?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes." She hesitated for a moment. "I know we had a… an interesting past, but I also know that you've changed. Plus, Joy needs you."

"Thanks." She hesitated for a moment. "But there is one problem. Where will I sleep? I mean, you got four bedrooms, and they're all taken. And I'm not talking about the Slayers."

"Oh."

"I don't think Dawn would be too happy to have me, and I don't think me sleeping in Joy's room permanently would make you feel all happy. Which kinda leaves you and your mom," Faith said, and glanced at Joyce.

"You do have a point," Joyce said.

"She can sleep in my room," Buffy said.

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"You sure? With our past, I'm not so sure it's a good idea."

"I'm sure. You've changed."

Faith sighed.

"Okay." She thought for a moment. "Where's Willow?"

"Upstairs, changing Wood's bandages. Why?"

"I need her to clear my record."

"Record?"

"I'm a wanted person, remember?"

"Oh. It's gonna take her a while."

"Okay." She hesitated for a moment. "Thanks." She got up. "I'll take this back then."

After having spoken to Willow about her record, Faith went back outside. Since everyone was either resting or watching TV, she was undisturbed, and she used the time to think. So far, things were looking good. Her record was about to be cleared, she had a place to stay, a job, and she was allowed to take care of Joy. On the other hand, though, she knew she needed to go back to school, she wanted to be a good example to Joy. Not to mention that her job at Joyce's gallery was only temporary.

"Mind if I join you?" Buffy interrupted her reverie.

"Huh?" Faith said, startled, and looked at her. "Oh. Sure."

Buffy sat beside her. She thought for a moment.

"You okay?"

Faith sighed.

"Yeah. Just thinking."

"Happy thoughts?"

"Depends. Is school a good thing for you?"

Buffy smiled.

"Not really."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

Faith shrugged.

"Everything." She hesitated for a moment. "I was too selfish and too obsessed with you and I ended up hurting you."

Buffy sighed.

"And I was too obsessed with Angel."

"I know."

"I'm sorry I wasn't a better friend."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Were we ever friends at all?"

Buffy looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean?"

Faith hesitated again.

"When I first got to Sunnydale, you were jealous of me and we definitely weren't friends. And later, when you hung out with your friends, you never invited me along. You never told me when you had your emergency meetings. And you only invited me over when your mom told you to."

Buffy wanted to protest, but she realized Faith was right.

"But we did have some great time together."

Faith thought about it.

"Only when we were slaying."

"And when we partied."

Faith snorted.

"That was only two wild days in a row for you."

"I really liked hanging out with you. Though I guess you were too wild for me."

Faith thought for a moment.

"I know. I shouldn't have tried to drag you down." She hesitated for a moment. "And I shouldn't have involved your family when I woke up from coma."

They were quiet for a while, both thinking.

"When you chained me in the mansion… You said… You were jealous."

Faith bit her teeth.

"Yeah," she admitted. She hesitated for a moment. "You had everything I didn't. I felt like a spare wheel, like you only called me when you needed me."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"I know." She hesitated for a moment. "It's just… You made me nervous."

Faith smiled a little.

"I know." She hesitated for a moment. "You made me nervous too."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"I made you nervous?"

"Yeah," Faith said, a bit nervous.

"How come?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I had a crush on you," she then admitted quietly, bracing herself for Buffy's reaction.

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yeah."

"You're gay?"

"Bi."

"Oh." Buffy hesitated for a moment. "And now?" she asked, surprised that she felt anxious.

Faith sighed.

"I really don't want to think about how I feel for you right now. I'm still trying to get used to the fact that I really love Joy."

"Oh," Buffy said, feeling a bit disappointed. She thought for a moment. "How come she's calling you Mama?"

Faith smiled a little.

"She started calling me Mommy, but I told her I wasn't her mommy. She looked really sad, so I told her she could call me Mama."

"Oh, right, you told me."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Does it bother you?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"No, not really. I got used to it."

"Okay." She hesitated for a moment. "And you're sure you're okay with me staying here?"

"Yes."

"In your bed?"

Buffy blushed.

"Yes."

"Okay."

"Mama?"

Both Slayers looked toward the door.

"Over here, sweetie," Faith said.

Joy went around Buffy, and Faith helped her sit between them.

"You done watching cartoons?" Buffy asked.

Joy looked at her.

"Uh-uh. There are com… comme…"

"Commercials?"

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"You like cartoons?" Faith asked.

Joy looked at her and nodded, smiling.

"Uh-huh. They're funny."

Faith ruffled her hair.

"Yeah." She thought for a moment. "So, you like it here?"

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh. Everyone's nice. And it's not so hot."

"Yeah."

Joy looked at Buffy.

"How long do the com… commercials last?"

"A couple of minutes."

"The cartoons are back now?"

"They might be."

Joy quickly slid off the bench and ran inside.

Faith chuckled.

"Cartoon junkie."

Buffy smiled.

"Yes."

They were quiet for a while, and then Faith got up. She hesitated for a moment and then went inside.

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then went inside as well.

When she couldn't find Joyce downstairs, Faith went upstairs in the bathroom. Since the door was open, she looked in and saw that Joyce was taking care of the laundry. She hesitated for a moment and then entered.

"Mrs Summers?"

Joyce looked at her.

"Faith."

Faith hesitated for a moment, nervous.

"Um, I just wanna apologize," she then said. "For terrorizing you and stuff. And for, eh, hitting you."

Joyce stopped filling the washing machine and stared at Faith for a few moments.

"Why did you? Hit me, I mean."

Faith looked at her shoes, nervous, and thought about it.

"After… After I woke up from coma, I found out that I've been out for eight months. I went over to Giles' place and saw Buffy had a new honey. It just pissed me off so much." She hesitated for a moment. "I didn't mean to hit you, I just… When I saw you, I just needed to vent. I guess."

"Oh."

"I'm sorry."

Joyce stared at her for a few moments and then smiled a bit.

"You've come a long way, Faith. I'm glad."

"Thanks. And thanks for letting me stay."

Joyce's smile widened.

"You're part of the family now," she said, and Faith's eyes went wide. "After all, you are Joy's mama."

Faith swallowed hard.

"Thanks."

Joyce smiled and returned to the laundry.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then turned. When she reached the door, she stopped and turned.

"I almost forgot," she said. "Thanks for believing in me."

Joyce smiled at her.

"You're welcome, honey."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then left.

In the evening, Buffy and Faith washed Joy and then they tucked her in together.

"Are you gonna sleep with me, Mama?" Joy asked, hugging Mr Gordo.

"I'll join you in a minute, sweetie," Faith said.

"Me too," Buffy said.

Faith looked at her.

"You're gonna sleep here?"

"My bed's occupied."

"Oh. Right." She hesitated for a moment. "The bed's too small for all three of us. You wanna sleep with her?"

Buffy considered the offer.

"No," she said, deciding to let Faith sleep with Joy, even though she wanted to sleep with her herself. "It's okay. I'll sleep on the floor. It's just for one night, the others will be gone by tomorrow."

"Okay." Faith looked at Joy. "I'm just gonna take a shower."

"I'll stay with you until Mama returns," Buffy said and sat on the bed.

"Okay," Joy said and smiled.

When Faith returned from the bathroom, Buffy left. Faith lay next to Joy, who immediately cuddled up to her. Faith gave her a kiss on the top of the head and then went to sleep.

When Buffy came in ten minutes later and found Joy cuddled up to Faith, she just stared at them for a few moments, feeling jealous. She knew she didn't have to worry, but she'd missed Joy terribly and she just wanted to hold her, but she didn't want to frighten her. She sighed and started to prepare the makeshift bed.

"Okay, honey, now we're going shopping," Buffy told joy the next morning, after breakfast.

"Shopping?" Joy asked.

"We're going to get you some new clothes, since you've outgrown the old ones," Buffy explained.

"Oh."

"Come, let's get you ready."

Joy took her hand and they went upstairs.

Faith followed them.

"Is that a ve… eh… ve…" Joy started when they got to the car.

"Vehicle?" Faith helped her out.

"Uh-huh."

"Yes, it's a car." She looked at Buffy. "How are your driving skills?"

Buffy smiled.

"Better."

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"I think I'll ride in the back with Joy," she then decided.

Buffy blushed.

"I'm not that bad a driver."

"No, of course not," Faith said with a smirk. She opened the back door and looked at Joy. "Okay, honey, get in. In that seat."

Joy got in, and Faith followed her. Faith then closed the door and helped her get in the baby seat. She bucked her up and then herself.

"Why do I have this seat?" Joy asked.

"Because you're little. You're safer in that seat."

"And what's this?" Joy asked and pointed at the seatbelt.

"It's a seatbelt," Faith said. "In case we have an accident, it'll keep us a bit safer."

"Oh."

When they got to the mall, Buffy parked, and then they went inside. Joy was looking at everything with wide eyes and kept asking questions. Buffy and Faith answered them. They went from store to store, buying things for Joy. At first, they let Joy ride in the shopping cart, but when the cart got too full, they let her ride outside the cart. Joy enjoyed herself immensely.

"Okay, honey, why don't you go with Mama and help her pick some clothes for herself," Buffy said when then they were done in the last shop.

"Me?" Faith said.

"Yes. As far as I know, you don't have any clothes."

"Oh."

Buffy realized that Faith didn't like accepting charity. She smiled.

"After what you did for Joy, it's the least I can do," she said.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Okay," she then agreed.

"I'll just pay and take this to the car, and then I'll come after you."

Faith looked at Joy.

"Come, sweetie."

Joy took Faith's hand and they left the shop.

"Are you gonna buy a dress too?" Joy asked after Faith only checked out some pants.

Faith smiled.

"I don't really like dresses."

"But you looked very pretty in that dress at the… eh…"

"The prom?"

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"I only wore that dress for Buffy, because it was a special occasion."

"Oh."

"I look pretty in other clothes too," Faith said and ruffled Joy's hair.

Joy smiled and nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay, let's see what else they got."

When Faith got what she needed, Buffy paid for it and they left the mall.

"Stay near the car, honey," Buffy said when they got to their car.

"Okay," Joy said, looking around curiously.

Buffy opened the back and then she and Faith started to put the bags in.

Suddenly Joy shrieked.

"Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama!" she called and ran toward Faith.

"What's wrong, honey?" Buffy asked and quickly picked her up.

"A monster," Joy said and pointed.

Buffy looked.

"Monster?" she asked, confused, when all she could see was a puppy.

"Sweetie?" Faith asked when she got closer.

"A monster, Mama," Joy said and pointed at the puppy again.

Faith looked at the puppy and smiled.

"That's no monster, sweetie, it's just a greyhound dog."

"But it looks like a monster."

"No, no, dogs are much prettier than monsters, and they like Humans." She thought for a moment. "Let me show you." She slowly approached the puppy and kneeled. "Come here, doggie, come," she beckoned it.

The puppy cocked its head and then warily approached her.

"That's a good boy," Faith said. She looked closer. "Err, girl," she corrected herself. "Come. Come."

The puppy slowly came closer and Faith caressed her.

"There you go." She frowned when she saw the welts across her back. "Man, what happened to you, ha? Somebody beat you?"

The puppy squealed.

"Yeah. Don't worry, I won't beat you. Come." She picked her up, and the puppy became scared. "It's okay, it's okay," she tried to calm it. She carried to Joy, who was staring at it, wide-eyed. "See, sweetie? It's just a harmless puppy that someone's been beating."

"Beating?" Joy asked, worried. "Why?"

Faith shrugged, caressing the puppy.

"I don't know." She looked at Buffy. "In the other dimension, most demons looked a lot like vicious dogs," she explained.

"Oh," Buffy said.

"You can touch her, if you want," Faith told Joy.

"Really?" Joy said, nervous.

"Sure. See? She likes being caressed."

"It's okay, honey," Buffy said.

Joy hesitated for a moment and then slowly reached out. She touched the puppy and then quickly retreated her hand. When nothing happened, she reached out and touched the puppy again. The puppy barked, and Joy quickly retreated her hand, frightened.

"It's okay, sweetie, dogs bark. She sounded pretty content," Faith said.

Joy hesitated for a moment and then touched the puppy again. The puppy squealed, and Joy started caressing her.

"That's it," Buffy said with a smile.

Then the puppy licked Joy's face, and Joy shrieked, scared, and covered her face.

"It's okay, sweetie," Faith calmed her. "It means she likes you."

Joy removed her hands a bit.

"Really?"

"You bet." She looked at the puppy. "You like Joy, don't you," she said, caressing her, and the puppy barked. "See?"

Joy hesitated for a moment and then caressed the puppy again.

"Do you want to keep her?" Buffy asked.

Joy looked at her.

"How?"

"We could take her home and you could take care of her, make sure she has food and water, take her out for a walk, and train her."

"Really?" Joy said, wide-eyed.

Buffy smiled.

"Sure."

Joy looked at Faith.

"Can I, Mama?"

Faith smiled.

"Sure."

Joy smiled widely.

"Okay," she said, excited.

"Now you have to name her," Buffy said.

"Name her?"

"She's gotta have a name so you can call her."

Joy frowned, thinking. A few moments later, her face lit up.

"Ashes!" she said. "Because she's so gray."

"Then Ashes she is."

"Why don't you go in the car and hold her," Faith said.

"Okay," Joy agreed.

Buffy carried Joy to the back door and put her in the baby-seat. She buckled her up and then stepped aside.

"Hold her carefully," Faith said as she gave Ashes to Joy. "She's been hurt."

"Okay," Joy said and caressed Ashes.

Faith closed the door and then went to the back to help finish loading the car.

"That was a wonderful idea," she said.

"Yes," Buffy said. "We'll have to take Ashes to a vet."

"I know," Faith said and put the last bag in the car. "I'll take this back," she said and took the shopping cart away.

When they got home, Faith took Ashes and Buffy unbuckled Joy and helped her out of the car.

"Why don't you take Ashes inside," Faith said as she gave Ashes to Joy.

"Okay," Joy said, excited.

Then Joyce came outside. When she saw Joy carrying a puppy, she frowned, surprised.

"Look, Grandma," Joy said, excited. "I got a puppy. Her name is Ashes, because she's so gray."

Joyce smiled.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh," Joy said, nodding. "Mama told me to take her inside."

"Come, let's get her something to eat and drink."

"Okay."

Joy followed Joyce inside.

"A puppy!" Dawn said, excited, when she saw Joy carrying Ashes.

"Her name is Ashes," Joy said. "Because she's so gray."

"She's so cute," Dawn gushed. She caressed Ashes. "What happened to her? Did somebody beat her?"

"Uh-huh," Joy said.

"Who?"

Joy shrugged.

"I don't know. Mama said so."

"Oh."

"Grandma's going to give her something to eat and drink."

"Honey, why don't you help Buffy and Faith unload the car," Joyce told Dawn.

"Okay," Dawn said and went outside. "Wow," she said when she got to the car. "Did you rob the mall?"

Buffy smiled.

"No."

"Where did you find Ashes?"

"In the parking lot. Joy thought she was a monster."

"Monster?" Dawn said, confused.

"In the other dimension, demons looked like ugly dogs," Buffy explained.

"Oh."

"Help us out."

After she gave Ashes something to eat and drink, Joyce went to help Buffy and Faith take everything inside. Then they started unpacking. They decided to take care of Faith's stuff first, since there was less of it. While Faith, Joyce and Dawn were unpacking, Buffy made room in the closet.

As they were putting Faith's clothes in the closet, Joy came in with Ashes trailing behind her.

"Hey, honey," Buffy said with a smile.

Joy smiled.

"She ate everything," she said.

"Good. We'll take her to a vet later."

"Vet?"

"Doctor for animals. He'll examine her and take care of her."

"Oh."

Joy squatted beside Ashes and caressed her.

"You like her?" Joyce asked with a smile.

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh." She thought for a moment. "Where will she sleep?"

"In your room?" Dawn suggested.

Joy smiled.

"Okay."

"We'll make her her own sleeping spot," Buffy said.

"She might prefer to sleep on Joy's bed," Faith said.

Buffy thought about it.

"We'll see."

"Why don't you step aside, honey, so we can finish here," Joyce said. "Then we'll go to your room."

Joy got up and got out of the way.

"Come, Ashes," she called, and the puppy went to her.

"Looks like she has everything under control," Dawn said with a smile.

After they were done unpacking, it was time for lunch. Afterwards, Joy got sleepy, so Faith took her upstairs. When Buffy came after them and saw Faith tickle Joy, who was laughing, she was surprised. But in that moment, she knew beyond doubt that Faith loved Joy.

"Mommy, help!" Joy called when she saw her.

Faith stopped tickling her and turned. When she saw Buffy, she blushed, suddenly nervous.

Buffy came closer.

"Having fun?" she asked Joy with a smile.

Joy nodded, beaming.

"Uh-huh. Mama was being silly and then she tickled me."

"I know." She sat on the bed. "Honey, if you want, Mama and I can take Ashes to the vet while you're napping. We'll be back before you wake up."

Joy thought about it.

"Grandma and Aunt Dawn will take care of you while we're gone," Faith said.

Joy hesitated for a moment.

"Okay," she then agreed.

Buffy smiled.

"You're very brave," she said and caressed her.

Joy smiled, but Faith could see that she was still nervous.

"Don't worry, sweetie, we'll be back soon."

"Okay."

Buffy gave Joy a kiss and got up.

Faith leaned closer and gave Joy a kiss on the forehead.

"Sweet dreams."

Downstairs, Buffy went to the kitchen.

"You okay, honey?" Joyce asked her when she saw that she was thinking about something.

Buffy looked at her.

"Yes." She hesitated for a moment. "I just saw Faith play with Joy."

"And?"

Buffy sighed.

"She loves her," she said. She hesitated again. "Looks like she's a good mom to Joy."

Joy sensed that this obviously upset Buffy. She went to her and put her arm around her shoulder.

"Joy loves you too," she said.

Buffy sighed.

Then Faith came in.

"Oh," she said, nervous. "Eh… I'll come back later," she said and turned to leave.

"Faith," Buffy called after her.

Faith turned.

"Yeah?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"I'm glad it was you who took care of Joy."

They stared at one another for a few moments.

"Me too," Faith said.

She hesitated for a moment and then left.

"You two need to talk," Joyce said.

Buffy looked at her.

"We have. And we'll probably do it again." She smiled a little. "She's more open now."

"That's good."

"Yes." Buffy took a deep breath. "We'll take Ashes to the vet now."

"Okay."

When Buffy and Faith came back from the vet, they took Ashes to Joy's room. Faith put Ashes on Joy's bed, and the puppy immediately went to her head and started licking her. Joy woke up with a gasp.

"Ashes!" she said when she realized it was the puppy, and hugged her. Then she noticed Buffy and Faith. "You're back?"

"Yes," Faith said. "The doctor took care of her."

"Is she okay now?"

"Not yet, but she will be."

"Okay."

"Come, get up. We bought two special bowls for Ashes."

"Bowls?"

"Like plates. So she has her own to eat and drink from."

"Oh."

"And we also bought food for her," Buffy said.

"Can I give it to her?" Joy asked.

Buffy smiled.

"Of course. Come."

Joy let go of Ashes and slid off the bed. She rubbed her eyes and looked at Ashes.

"Come, Ashes."

Ashes barked and jumped off the bed.

After she gave Ashes something to eat, Joy took her to the back yard and played with her. Dawn found a tennis ball and she gave it to Joy, so she and Ashes could play fetch.

In the meantime, Willow and Kennedy got ready to leave.

"I'll miss you," Buffy told Willow as they hugged.

"I'll miss you too, Buffy," Willow said.

"Where are you going?"

"First to my parents."

"Are you gonna tell them?"

Willow smiled.

"Yes. Though they won't be happy."

Buffy smiled.

"I bet. And then?"

"We'll go see Angel, and then we'll go see Kennedy's parents. After that, we'll go to England. I'm going to see the coven, and Kennedy will help Giles."

"Okay."

While Buffy and Willow talked, Faith stepped closer to Kennedy.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," Kennedy replied.

"Take care of her."

Kennedy raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"You like her?"

Faith grinned.

"Yes." Her face became serious. "But that's not what I mean. She's been to the dark side and she needs support."

Kennedy nodded.

"I know."

They looked at Buffy and Willow, who were done talking.

"Bye, Willow," Faith said.

"Bye, Faith," Willow said.

"Good bye, Kennedy," Buffy said.

"Bye, Buffy," Kennedy said.

Buffy then walked Willow and Kennedy to the door, and Faith went to check up on Joy.

"Mama, catch!" Joy called when Faith came to the backyard, and threw the tennis ball at her.

Ashes immediately ran after the ball.

Faith caught it, and Ashes barked at her, jumping excitedly. She threw it back at Joy, but made sure it fell short.

Joy and Ashes both ran after the ball, Ashes being faster. Joy giggled, and ran after Ashes, who ran away with the ball.

"Willow and Kennedy are leaving," Faith told Dawn.

"I know," Dawn said and went inside.

Joy quickly tired of running after Ashes, and she came to Faith.

"Tired?" Faith asked her as she ruffled her hair.

Joy shook her head.

"Uh-uh." She looked at Ashes. "Come here, Ashes!"

Ashes came to her and dropped the ball. Then she barked.

Joy smiled and picked up the ball.

Ashes jumped to pluck it from Joy's hand, but her jump was too short.

Joy squatted and gave the ball to Ashes. Then she caressed her.

"Looks like you two get along just fine," Faith said with a smile.

Joy looked at her and smiled as well.

"Uh-huh." She got up. "I'm thirsty."

"Come, let's go to the kitchen."

Joy took her hand and they went inside.

Ashes slowly followed them.

When Willow and Kennedy were gone, Buffy went to the kitchen, where she'd seen Faith and Joy go. When she saw the together, she felt a pang in her chest. She envied Faith the closeness she shared with Joy. She just wanted to hug Joy and never let go, but she was afraid to scare her.

"Are they gone?" Faith asked.

"Yes."

Ashes came to Buffy, still holding the ball with her teeth, and Buffy bowed down and caressed her. Ashes let go of the ball, and went to her bowl to drink the water. Buffy sighed and left.

"Mama," Joy said when Buffy was gone.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Why is Mommy sad?"

"Sad?" Faith said, startled.

"Uh-huh."

Faith thought about it.

"She's scared and confused."

"Why?" Joy asked, confused.

Faith kneeled beside her.

"Well, from her perspective, you'd only been kidnapped a couple of days ago, but you're actually two years older. Plus, now I'm also your mommy and she doesn't know how to deal with it, especially since we weren't really friends when we last saw each other."

"Oh."

"She loves you very much, just like me, but she's afraid to show it, because she doesn't want to frighten you."

"Really?"

"Of course, she's your mommy."

Joy thought for a moment.

"What do I do?"

"Do you love her?"

Joy thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith smiled.

"Then let her know."

"How?"

Faith shrugged.

"Any way you want."

Joy thought for a few moments, and then looked at Ashes, who was sniffing her food.

"Come, Ashes," she called.

Ashes looked at her. Then she ran to the ball and picked it up, and then followed Joy.

Faith stood up and slowly went after her.

"Aunt Dawn, where's Mommy?" Joy asked when she came to the living room.

"Upstairs, I think."

Joy went upstairs, and Ashes followed her.

When they got upstairs, they went to Buffy's room.

"Hi, honey," Buffy said with a smile when she saw Joy.

Joy hesitated for a moment. Then she went to her and hugged her.

Buffy looked at her, surprised, and a lump formed in her throat.

"I love you, Mommy," Joy said.

A tear slid down Buffy's cheek.

"Oh, baby," she said. She picked her up and hugged her tightly. "I love you so much," she said and sobbed for a moment.

"Why are you crying?" Joy asked, puzzled, when Buffy kissed her on the forehead and she saw the tears on Buffy's face.

Buffy smiled and wiped the tears.

"Because I'm so happy that you're okay," she said and caressed Joy. She took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

"When?"

"When those men came and took you away."

"Oh."

Buffy caressed joy again.

"I love you, honey."

Joy smiled.

"I love you too, Mommy."

"Okay," Buffy said and put her down.

"Are you still sad?"

"Sad?" Buffy asked, startled.

"Uh-huh. You were sad before."

Buffy smiled.

"No, I'm not sad anymore."

Joy smiled.

"Okay." She thought for a moment. "Are you and Mama friends?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Yes, I think so."

Joy smiled again.

"Okay." She looked at Ashes. "Come, Ashes," she said and left, Ashes following her.

Buffy stared after her, confused.

"Faith!" Buffy called when she saw Faith going to the bathroom a minute later.

"Yeah?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Joy just came to see me."

"I know. How did it go?"

"She hugged me and told me she loved me."

Faith smiled.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"She's one hell of a girl," Faith said proudly.

"Yes," Buffy agreed. She hesitated for a moment. "Did you tell her to come see me?"

"Not directly. She noticed you were sad and she wanted to know why."

"Really? What did you tell her?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I told her you're confused because she considers me her mom. And also that you were worried about her while she was gone, and don't know how to deal with the fact that she's now two years older."

"Oh," Buffy said, surprised that Faith had guessed.

"She wanted to know what to do," Faith continued. "I asked her if she loved you and she said yes. I told her she needed to let you know. Coming to you and hug you was her idea."

"Oh." Buffy sighed. "Thank you."

Faith smiled.

"You're welcome."

She hesitated for a moment and then entered the bathroom.

Buffy took a deep breath and went downstairs.

When Faith came from the bathroom, she went to see Joyce.

"Mrs Summers?"

Joyce looked at her.

"Yes, Faith?"

Faith hesitated for a moment, nervous.

"Can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?"

"Let's go to the kitchen."

Joyce headed to the kitchen, and Faith followed her.

"So, what's troubling you?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Um, I was thinking about going back to school."

Joyce smiled.

"That's a wonderful idea?"

"What is?" Buffy asked as she entered the kitchen.

Joyce and Faith looked at her.

"Faith wants to go back to school," Joyce said.

"Oh," Buffy said and looked at Faith. "I thought you hated school."

"I do," Faith said.

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I'm gonna need a job and I don't want to be waitressing my whole life."

Joyce smiled, understanding that Faith actually wanted to be a good role model for Joy.

"You could take the GED," Buffy suggested.

"GED?"

"Yes. That way you wouldn't have to actually go to school. Unless that's what you want."

Faith frowned, thinking about it.

"I need to know more about it before I make up my mind."

"I'll see what I can find about it," Joyce said.

"Thanks."

Then the door bell rang, and Buffy went to see who it was.

"I'll try to find out about the GED and about getting you back to school as quickly as possible," Joyce told Faith.

"Okay," Faith said. "Thanks."

"Riley," Dawn said, surprised, when she saw it was Riley and Sam. "Hi, Sam."

"Hi, Dawn," Sam said with a smile.

"Hi, Dawn," Riley said. "Is everyone okay? We heard Sunnydale is a crater now."

"Come in," Dawn said.

"Riley," Buffy said as she came from the kitchen.

"Buffy," Riley said.

"Hi, Buffy," Sam said.

"Hi, Sam," Buffy said.

"Is everyone okay?" Riley asked. "We just got your message yesterday."

"Oh."

"We wanted to go straight to Sunnydale, but they told us that all there was left of it was a crater."

"I know."

"What…" He trailed off when he saw Faith and Joyce come from the kitchen. "Faith," he said, surprised.

"Hey," Faith said.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be in jail."

"Yeah."

"She broke out to help us," Buffy intervened.

"I'll go get Joy," Faith said and left.

"How is Joy?" Sam asked, changing the subject.

Buffy smiled.

"She's fine." She hesitated for a moment. "Two days after I sent you the message, she was kidnapped."

"What?" Riley said, worried. "Is she okay? Was she hurt?"

"No, Faith saved her."

"Faith?"

"Yes. She and Willow just came to Sunnydale when Joy was taken. Faith rescued her from the Bringers, but they got stuck in another dimension." She paused. "For two years."

Riley frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"It seems time passed faster there."

"How do you know?"

"Because Joy is two years older."

"Really?"

"Yes." Buffy hesitated for a moment. "Joy is calling Faith Mama."

"What?" Riley said, upset. "You're kidding, right?"

"No. But don't worry, Faith has changed and she loves Joy. And Joy loves her too."

Riley stared at her for a few moments.

"You're sure about this?"

"Yes. Trust me, Faith has changed."

Riley sighed.

When Faith got to the backyard, she saw that Joy was playing with Ashes. She smiled.

"Joy!" she called.

Joy looked at her and then came running, Ashes following her.

"Mama, when can we practice again?" she asked.

Faith smiled.

"Later. Right now, there's someone I want you to meet."

"Who?" Joy asked, curious.

"Come and you'll see."

Joy took Faith's hand and they went inside, Ashes following.

In the meantime, everyone had moved to the living room.

Joy immediately noticed the newcomers and she moved closer to Faith. Then she recognized Riley.

"I know you."

Riley, who had been staring at her, surprised, smiled.

"Really?"

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh. I saw you on the pictures. Mommy says you're my daddy."

Riley glanced at Buffy.

"Eh, yes."

Joy smiled a little. Then she looked at Sam.

"Are you Daddy's… eh…" She frowned and looked at Buffy. "What did you call her, Mommy?"

"Wife," Buffy said.

Joy nodded and looked back at Sam.

"Are you Daddy's wife?"

Sam smiled.

"Yes." She nodded at Ashes. "And who's your friend?"

Joy smiled. She let go of Faith and kneeled beside Ashes.

"This is Ashes," she said and caressed Ashes, who barked, excited that she was playing with her.

"Where did you get her?"

"At the… eh…"

"The mall," Buffy helped her.

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh. I thought it was a monster, because she looked…"

She trailed off and looked at Faith, uncertain.

"It's okay, they know about monsters," Faith said with a smile.

"Oh." Joy looked back at Sam. "She looked like a monster, but Mama said she wasn't and she picked her up and then Mommy said I could take care of her, because someone hurt her."

"I see," Sam said with a smile. "She's cute. Just like you."

Joy smiled widely.

"I named her Ashes, because she's so gray," she explained.

"It's a nice name," Sam agreed. "And it suits her well."

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"What made you think she was monster?" Riley asked.

Joy looked at him.

"Because in the other world, monsters were like her, only uglier," she explained.

"The demons looked like butt ugly dogs," Faith clarified.

"Oh," Riley said.

"Come, honey," Buffy said.

Joy got up and ran to her.

Ashes barked in protest, and followed her.

Faith went after Ashes, and when Joy was sitting in Buffy's lap, she picked up Ashes and gave her to Joy, who smiled.

"You sure have grown," Riley said when Joy looked at him.

Joy looked at herself.

"I have?"

"Yes. Last I saw you, you were practically still a baby and now you're almost ready to go to school."

Joy smiled.

"Why don't you tell Daddy what it was like in the other dimension?" Buffy said.

"Okay." Joy thought for a moment. "It was very warm, much warmer than here. And there were no people, just monsters. They were really scary and there was lots of them. And they ate one another. Ooh! We slept in the trees."

"Trees?" Riley asked.

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh. They were tall, so the monsters couldn't get to us."

"What did you eat?"

"The monsters," Joy said and made a face. "They tasted yucky."

"How did you get there?" Sam asked.

Joy looked at her.

"Some bad men with weird eyes attacked our house and took me, but Mama saved me. We ran away, but the bad men followed us. Then we were suddenly in the other world. Mama tried to go back, but she couldn't find the way. And then the monsters came. Mama fought them and then they ate one another."

"And where were you?" Riley asked, glancing at Faith.

"Mama put me in a tree and when the monsters started eating one another, she killed them."

"Oh."

Joy thought for a moment.

"Daddy, are you gonna stay here?"

Riley glanced at Buffy.

"No, I can't. But I'll come visit as often as I can, and I'll call you, I promise."

"Okay."

Ashes barked and started moving, so Joy put her down. Ashes then ran off to the kitchen.

"What did you do there?" Sam asked.

Joy looked at her.

"We walked a lot. And we practiced!"

"Practiced?"

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh. Mama taught me how to move."

"Move?"

"Uh-huh. She said I was too little to fight, so she taught me how to move, so that when I'm big enough, she could teach me how to fight."

"Oh."

"And we played games."

"Games?"

Joy nodded again.

"Uh-huh. Like Parcheesi."

"Parcheesi?"

"Uh-huh. Mama drew the board in the sand and we played with stones."

"Oh."

"And she told me about Earth and taught me letters."

Sam smiled.

"That's nice."

"Ooh! And she told me stories too."

"Stories?"

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh. Like Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White and The Sleeping Beauty."

Riley looked at Faith, surprised.

"You know those stories?" she asked.

Faith blushed a bit, slightly nervous.

"No, but I know what they're about, so I sort of… improvised."

"Did you know that Auntie Sam and your daddy are soldiers?" Buffy asked, saving Faith. "And they fight monsters like me and… Mama."

Joy looked at her, wide-eyed.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Joy looked at Riley and Sam.

"Will you teach me how to fight monsters too?"

Riley smiled.

"Sure, but I think your mommy can do it better."

"Is she better than you?"

"Much."

"Really?" Joy said and looked at Buffy.

Buffy smiled at her.

"Really."

"What about Mama?"

Buffy looked at Faith.

"I think she's as good as I am."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Joy smiled.

The bell rang.

"I'll get it," Joyce said and went to the door.

"What do the monsters look like here?" Joy asked.

"They have lots of different forms," Riley said. "Some can even look like humans."

Joy's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Yes. But don't worry, your mommy will protect you from them."

Joy smiled a bit.

"Dad!" Dawn said, surprised, when Joyce came in with Hank.

"Hi, honey," Hank said with a smile.

"Dad?" Buffy said. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard on the news that Sunnydale was destroyed, so I came to see how you girls were."

"We're fine."

"Yes, I see," Hank said, realizing that he wasn't very welcome.

Then Ashes came back from the kitchen and started sniffing at Hank. Hank looked at her, startled, and Ashes barked, wagging her tail.

"You have a dog?" Hank asked, surprised.

"Her name is Ashes," Joy said.

"Oh," Hank said and looked at her.

"Ashes!" Joy called.

Ashes barked and ran to the sofa. She put her forward paws on the sofa and barked again, wagging her tail.

Joy bent and caressed her.

"And you are?" Hank asked her.

Joy looked at him.

"I'm Joy."

Hank looked around for some explanation as to whose she was.

"She's mine," Buffy said.

"Yours?" Hank said, surprised.

"Yes, Dad."

"But… Why didn't you tell me?"

"You're kinda hard to reach. And I did leave you a message."

"Oh. And who's the father?" Hank asked and looked at Riley, who was the only man around.

"I am," Riley said and got up. "Riley Finn," he said, and they shook hands.

"Hank Summers."

"This is my wife, Sam," Riley introduced Sam.

"Hello," Sam said with a smile.

"Your wife?" Hank said, surprised.

"Yes."

"And that's Faith, Joy's… other mom," Buffy introduced Faith.

"Other mom?" Hank said, confused, and looked at Faith.

"Yes. She helped me take care of Joy and Joy considers her her mom too."

"Oh."

"Hi," Faith said, a bit nervous, when Hank looked at her.

"Honey, this is my daddy, your grandpa," Buffy told Joy.

Joy's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Yes." Buffy leaned closer. "He doesn't know about monsters, so don't tell him, okay?" she whispered.

"Okay," Joy said. "Is he gonna stay?"

Buffy looked at her dad.

"I don't know."

"Come, Hank," Joyce said and took Hank to the kitchen.

Riley sat down again.

"How come Grandpa doesn't know about monsters?" Joy asked Buffy.

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Well, soon after I first became involved with monsters, he and Grandma separated and Aunt Dawn and I went to live with Grandma. Grandma and Aunt Dawn didn't know about monsters either at first, but they found out later. And because Grandpa didn't live with us, he didn't find out about the monsters," she explained.

"Oh."

"Buffy has a daughter?" Hank asked once he and Joyce were alone in the kitchen.

"Yes," Joyce said.

"I thought we raised her better."

Joyce sighed.

"I think having Joy was the best thing that happened to her."

"But she's still going to school. How can she take care of a baby?"

Joyce smiled.

"She manages. And she has me and Dawn and Faith and plenty of her friends to help her out."

"Who is this Faith?"

"She's a friend of Buffy's."

"Does she live here?"

"Yes."

"Oh." Hank took a deep breath, thinking. "What happened in Sunnydale? I mean, they said it was an earthquake, but considering the lack of casualties, I have the feeling that the people knew it would happen." Then an idea struck him. "It wasn't Buffy's fault, was it?"

Joyce laughed.

"No, but she was there when it happened."

"Really?"

"Yes. It's a long story."

"Oh."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"You know, we were wrong about Buffy."

"When?"

"After she burned down the gym at Hemery High."

"Oh. We were?"

"Yes. She had a good reason to do it and I understand now why she was acting the way she was."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Want to tell me why?"

Joyce hesitated for a moment.

"No, it's not really my story to tell."

"I see."

"But we can be proud of her." They were quiet for a few moments. "Where is your… eh…" Joyce then started.

"Stacy? We're not together anymore."

"Oh."

"I'm kind of single at the moment."

"I see."

Hank thought for a moment.

"I was thinking of coming back here."

"Here?"

"Not the house, LA."

"Oh."

"I miss you and the girls."

"The girls miss you too, they were really upset when you stopped coming around."

Hank sighed.

"I know." He thought for a moment. "You think I could come over for lunch once in a while?"

Joyce smiled.

"Sure."

Hank nodded.

"Thanks." She hesitated. "I think I better go now, I don't think the girls are all that happy about my presence."

Joyce nodded.

"Yes."

"But I'd like to talk to you sometimes about them, seems there's a lot I don't know about them."

"Okay."

They left the kitchen and went to the living room, where the conversation stopped.

"Eh, girls, I'm going now. But I'm coming back to LA, so, hopefully, we can see each other more often."

"Really?" Dawn said.

Hank smiled a little.

"Yes."

"And your… eh…"

"History."

"Oh."

"Well, eh, goodbye, everyone."

"Bye, Grandpa," Joy said.

Hank looked at her, startled, and then smiled.

"Bye, Joy."

Then Joyce escorted him out, Ashes following them.

Dawn looked at Buffy.

"You think he'll really come?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know."

Joy noticed that something was wrong and she looked at Buffy.

"Mommy, are you mad at Grandpa?"

Buffy looked at her and smiled.

"No, I just… I just miss him."

"Oh," Joy said and smiled.

Buffy ruffled her hair. Then she looked at Riley.

"How long are you two staying?"

"Well, we did take a week off, because we weren't sure what was going on. Since everything is okay now, I guess we'll stay in LA and come visit every day," Riley said and looked at Sam.

Sam nodded.

"Yes."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay."

Ashes came back, followed by Joyce. She went to Buffy and lay down beside her feet.

"Looks like someone is sleepy," Joyce said with a smile, when Joy yawned in the evening.

Joy smiled at her.

Faith hesitated for a moment, and then looked at Buffy, who was sitting on the other side of Joy.

"Why don't you go wash her," she then told Buffy.

"Me?" Buffy said.

"Yes."

"What about you, Mama?" Joy asked.

Faith smiled at her.

"I'll be right here. I'll come upstairs when you're done in the bathroom."

"Okay," Joy agreed and looked at Buffy.

Buffy smiled.

"Come," she said and got up.

Joy slid off the bed and took her hand. Then they went upstairs.

"Mom!" Dawn called from the kitchen.

Joyce got up and left.

Faith looked at the TV, but her mind drifted off.

"Are you okay?"

Faith jerked, and looked at Joyce.

"Huh?" she said.

Joyce smiled.

"You were deep in thought."

"Oh," Faith said and quickly wiped the wetness she felt on her cheek. "Yeah," she said, glancing at Dawn, who was going upstairs.

Joyce sat beside her.

"Happy thoughts?"

Faith shrugged.

"So-so," she said and looked away.

"Want to talk about it?"

Faith sighed.

"I'm just… I'm just… a bit overwhelmed, I guess."

"How so?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I'm still getting used to not having Joy in my sight all the time."

"She's safe here."

"I know. It's just… weird." She thought for a moment. "There's a lot to get used to." She hesitated for a moment. "Has Buffy talked to you about me?"

"Not really. Why?"

Faith hesitated again.

"I know she said I can stay, but I hope she's really okay with it. I mean, we were anything but friends when we last saw one another, and then it was me who took care of Joy for two years. She said she got over it, but…"

"But you're not sure."

Faith nodded.

"Yeah." She hesitated for a moment. "I'm not sure we can ever be friends, but I hope we can at least get along, for Joy's sake."

Joyce smiled.

"You sure have changed."

Faith glanced at her, blushing.

"Yeah. Three years in prison and two years in a wasteland with a baby work miracles," she said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"

"I know," Faith interrupted her and sighed. "Just a bit touchy, I guess."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"What?"

"Whatever you want."

Faith thought about it.

"I… I'm not really good at, eh, having a heart to heart."

"You're doing fine so far," Joyce said with a smile.

Faith glanced at her. She thought for a few moments. She didn't really feel like baring her thoughts to anyone, except Joy, but she respected Joyce and she'd often found herself wondering what it would be like to have a mother like her. She sighed.

"I'm… I'm scared," she finally admitted.

"Of what?" Joyce softly prodded when Faith didn't immediately continue.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then shrugged.

"I don't know."

Joyce smiled.

"You're much more mature that you were the last time I saw you, so you won't make the same mistakes. And judging from the way Joy adores you, you're a wonderful mother. You have a decent place to stay, you're getting a job and continuing your education. And even Buffy seems to be less nervous around you."

Faith sighed.

"Faith!" Buffy called from upstairs.

Faith looked at the stairs.

"Gotta go," she said and got up. She hesitated for a moment, and then glanced at Joyce. "Thanks."

Joyce smiled.

"You're welcome."

"Mama!" Joy said and ran to Faith, when Faith came to her room.

Faith smiled and picked her up.

"Hey." Joy hugged her and Faith felt that she was tense. "You okay, sweetie?"

Joy stopped hugging her and nodded.

"Uh-huh," she said, but Faith could see it in her eyes that she was frightened. "Are you scared?"

Joy hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

Faith smiled and caressed her.

"Don't worry, sweetie, you're safe now. Those bad men won't come back."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Joy smiled, relieved a little.

"Okay. Will you tell me a story?"

Faith chuckled.

"Why don't we let Mommy pick a story and read it to us?"

"Read?"

"Yes, from a book. With pictures."

Joy's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Sure." Faith looked at Buffy. "Buffy?"

"I'll get a book," Buffy said and left, still finding it strange to see Faith so gentle.

"Come, let's get you settled in," Faith said and took Joy to bed.

"Ashes," Joy remembered.

"I'll call her," Faith said and put her down. "Get yourself comfortable."

"Okay."

Joy made herself comfortable, and Faith went out, to the top of the stairs.

"Ashes!" she called. "Ashes!"

Ashes came running from the kitchen and looked up the stairs.

"Come, Ashes," Faith called and waved at her.

Ashes barked and ran upstairs.

Faith smiled, when Ashes came to her, wagging her tail.

"Come."

They went to Joy's room, and Ashes barked, excited, when she saw Joy. Faith helped her on the bed and Ashes ran to Joy and licked her, making Joy giggle.

"Ashes, behave," Faith chided her.

Ashes looked at her and barked again.

"Sit, Ashes," Joy said.

Ashes looked at her and then, as if she understood Joy, lay down and made herself comfortable.

"Found it," Buffy said as she came in.

"What's it about?" Joy asked, curious.

Buffy smiled.

"There are lots of stories in it, so I guess you can choose."

"Okay," Joy said, excited.

Faith sat next to Joy, so Buffy went on the other side and sat on the other side of Joy.

"Comfortable?" Buffy asked Joy.

Joy nodded.

"Uh-huh," she said, excited.

"Okay." Buffy opened the book. "Now, let's see what we have here."

Ten minutes later, Joy was slowly drifting off to sleep. Buffy closed the book and got up. Faith got up as well and they gently lay Joy down and covered her.

"Mama?" Joy asked sleepily.

"Right here," Faith said and caressed her. "We'll leave the door open, okay?"

"Okay."

Faith kissed her on the forehead.

"Sweet dreams, sweetie."

Buffy leaned closer and kissed Joy as well.

"Sweet dreams, honey."

Joy just mumbled something.

Buffy smiled and caressed her. Then she turned off the bed lamp and followed Faith out.

"I'm gonna take a shower," Faith said outside.

"You're going to bed?" Buffy asked, surprised.

Faith shrugged.

"Don't know yet. Maybe."

"Oh."

After the shower, Faith watched TV. Buffy joined her after she too took a shower. They watched TV for a while and then Faith decided to go to bed. Buffy went after her, because she didn't want to disturb her later and she really didn't have anything better to do anyway.

"You're going to bed too?" Faith asked, when she saw Buffy come into the room.

"Yes."

"Oh." Faith looked at the bed. "Which side do you want?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"The other one," she said and went to the other side of the bed.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then uncovered the bed and got in.

Buffy quickly joined her, and Faith then turned off the light.

"We need another bed stand," Faith said after a few moments.

"Yes," Buffy agreed.

They were quiet for a while.

"Buffy?" Faith then said.

"Yes?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Are you really okay with me being Joy's second mom?"

Buffy turned her head. She realized that Faith was still afraid. It was strange to see Faith afraid. She sighed.

"Yes. You've changed, Faith, and from the way Joy adores you, I can see that you're a great mom to her." She thought for a moment. "I know we haven't been friends in the past, but I hope we can leave that behind and focus on the future."

Faith glanced at her.

"Yeah," she agreed. She hesitated for a moment. "Thanks."

Buffy smiled.

"You're welcome."

Faith took a deep breath.

"Good night, Buffy."

"Good night, Faith."

The End