DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers and all Xena and Hercules stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. 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. This story was inspired by JT Langdon's story Babysitting Buffy.

Love Bliss
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Yes," the fifteen-year-old Buffy Summers said, excited, when she got inside Hardcore.

She was a minor and she knew they didn't let minors in, but she'd managed to get a fake ID. She had just recently admitted to herself that she was gay, but she hadn't come out yet. So she went to Hardcore, the only lesbian club in Sunnydale she knew about, hoping it would help her get more comfortable with herself. She went to the bar and got herself a drink. Then she ogled the women on the dance floor.

When she was done with her drink, she turned back to the bartender to get another. As she did so, she noticed that one of the women was checking her out. She blushed, and the woman winked at her. Buffy hesitated for a moment. Then she got up and went to the woman.

"Like what you see?" she asked, blushing, as she sat down next to her.

The woman grinned.

"Hell yeah."

"Do you want to have sex?" Buffy blurted, her blush deepening.

The woman laughed.

"Straight to the point," she said. "I like that in a girl."

Buffy looked at her hands, nervous.

"So, is that a yes?" she asked and glanced at her.

The woman grinned.

"Oh yeah. The name's Faith, by the way."

"Buffy." Faith raised an eyebrow. "Don't even ask," Buffy quickly added.

Faith smirked.

"I think it suits you," she said, and Buffy blushed. Faith downed her drink. "So, your place or mine?"

Buffy's eyes went wide and her blush deepened.

"Eh, yours."

"Then let's go."

"Wow," Buffy said, breathless, after she had cum for the umpteenth time.

Faith grinned.

"You weren't that bad yourself," she said. "For a virgin," she added, making Buffy blush. "Sorry, ex-virgin," she corrected herself.

Buffy's blush deepened.

"Not funny," she said and cuddled herself to Faith, hiding her face in Faith's hair.

"Eh," Faith said, startled, not used to people cuddling up to her after sex.

Buffy yawned.

"I'm beat," she said, making herself comfortable.

"Eh," Faith said again, not sure what to do, reluctant to just throw her out.

"Good night, Faith."

"Eh, night."

Buffy drifted off to sleep, but Faith stayed awake for a while, wondering, confused why it felt so nice to hold Buffy in her arms.

Faith was the first to wake up in the morning. She was a bit confused at first when she felt that there was someone cuddling against her, but then she remembered the previous night. She opened her eyes and looked at Buffy. It felt strange to hold her. She liked Buffy, but she knew that there was no chance that they would ever have a relationship. She sighed and decided to wake her up so that Buffy leave and she could stop thinking about unrealizable possibilities.

"Buffy," she said, gently shaking her.

"Mmm," Buffy said and made herself more comfortable.

Faith sighed.

"Buffy," she said louder and shook her harder.

"Huh?" Buffy said and opened her eyes. "What?" she asked, blinking sleepily.

Faith smiled a bit, thinking how cute Buffy was.

"Time to get up."

"Huh?" Buffy said and blinked a couple of times. "What? Oh! What time is it?"

Faith glanced at the clock.

"Past eight."

Buffy groaned.

"That's practically still night," she said, rubbing her eyes.

Faith grinned.

"Still tired from last night?"

Buffy blushed.

"A bit." She smiled. "It was wonderful. Thank you."

Faith blushed a bit, not used to being thanked for sex.

"You're welcome," she said.

Buffy yawned.

"Well, if I'm awake, I might as well go home."

"Yeah."

Buffy got up and quickly dressed. Then she looked at Faith, who was quietly watching her.

"Thanks," she said. "I'll see you around."

"Yeah, sure."

"Bye," Buffy said and left.

Faith rolled on her back and sighed.

When Buffy got to Hardcore in the evening, she looked around for Faith. She quickly spotted her, but her heart fell when she saw her talking to another woman. She hesitated for a moment and then went to the bar to get herself a drink.

She slowly sipped the drink and when she was done, she went dancing. She tried to forget about Faith, but she kept stealing glances at her. When she noticed that Faith went to the bar, she waited for a while and then went there as well.

"Hey," she said.

Faith turned.

"Hey," she said and smiled. "Didn't see you."

"I was dancing."

"Oh." She looked at the bartender. "Thanks," she said and paid for her drink.

"Just some water please," Buffy said. "Flat."

The bartender quickly got her drink.

"Thanks." She looked at Faith. "So, are you here every day?"

"Mostly, yeah," Faith said.

"Lucky you."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"How so?"

Buffy shrugged, blushing.

"It's a good club."

Faith smiled.

"Yeah. What about you?"

"Me?" Buffy said, suddenly nervous.

"Yeah. Where do you hang out?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"LA."

"LA?"

"Yeah. I go to UCLA. I only come home for the weekend," Buffy lied.

"Oh."

"What about you? You go to UC Sunnydale?"

"Eh, no," Faith said. "I do various jobs through a temp agency."

"Oh."

Faith grinned when Buffy licked her lips.

"Still horny?"

Buffy blushed.

"Yeah," she admitted. She hesitated for a moment. "So, want to do it again?"

Faith laughed, and Buffy's blush deepened. Faith thought about it. She usually only slept with a woman once, but she liked Buffy.

"Okay," she agreed.

Buffy smiled, excited.

"Cool."

When Buffy came to Hardcore again next Friday, Faith felt a bit strange. She felt like Buffy was stalking her, but she liked her, so she suggested they go out the next afternoon. Buffy was all excited about it and forgot all about sex, so they spent the rest of the evening chatting. When Faith went home, alone, she realized she liked hanging out with Buffy and she looked forward to spending time with her.

When they went out the next day, Faith realized it was a date, her first date. Sort of. She was suddenly nervous, but when she saw that Buffy was obviously enjoying herself, she decided to stop worrying and continue to enjoy herself.

"We should go out more often," Buffy said in the evening before she had to go home.

Faith smiled.

"No reason why we can't."

"Well, I have to go back to LA tomorrow," Buffy lied. "College."

"Oh."

"But I'm coming home next Friday. We can go out then."

Faith smiled again.

"Okay."

Buffy licked her lips.

"Or we can go in."

Faith blinked.

"In?"

"To bed."

Faith laughed.

"Sure, we can do that too."

Buffy leaned closer and they kissed.

"I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Want me to walk you home?"

Buffy smiled.

"No, it's okay. Go have fun."

Faith smiled back.

"I've had plenty of fun today."

"Then go have more fun."

"It won't be the same without you."

"Try."

"If you insist."

"I do." Buffy gave her a peck on the cheek. "Now go."

During the next few months, they spent all weekends together. Since they were both constantly horny around one another, they had lots of sex, but they also often just talked or went out. When Faith realized she'd only had sex with Buffy lately, she got a bit worried. Sure, she liked the girl, but she wasn't sure she wanted a relationship and she had a feeling that they were more than friends.

"What's wrong?" Buffy asked her when she noticed Faith's distress.

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

"Something's bothering you."

"Oh. It's nothing."

"If it were nothing, you wouldn't have been thinking about it for weeks."

"What?"

"Something's been bothering you for weeks."

"Oh." Faith took a deep breath. "Yeah, I was just thinking about something. I need to sort it out in my head."

"Can I help you?"

Faith smiled.

"Don't know. Maybe. I'll let you know."

"Okay."

Faith looked at the dance floor.

"Wanna dance?" she asked, wanting to take her mind off the thoughts she was having.

Buffy smiled.

"Sure."

A couple of weeks later, after sex, when Buffy cuddled up to her, Faith tensed. Buffy looked up.

"Everything okay?" Buffy asked.

Faith glanced at her and sighed.

"No," she said quietly and looked up at the ceiling.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Faith was quiet for a few moments, thinking about what to say.

"I'm just… I… I… I don't know where this is… going."

Buffy frowned.

"What?"

"This… Us."

Buffy propped herself on her elbow.

"Us?" she asked, having a sinking feeling.

Faith looked at her, a bit nervous.

"What are we? Friends? Sex buddies?" She hesitated for a moment. "Something more?"

Buffy smiled a bit.

"More?" she asked, uncertain.

Faith sighed and looked back at the ceiling.

"What's wrong?" Buffy asked. "You don't want us to be… more?"

Faith smiled a bit. She hesitated for a moment and then looked at Buffy.

"I… do," she said and quickly looked away, blushing a bit. "It's just… I'm… I'm not good at… relationships."

Buffy smiled again.

"I beg to differ," she said, and Faith looked at her. "Just be yourself, Faith, that's all I want. You don't need you to… to serenade me or buy me flowers and take me to dinners and stuff. Just be you, the way you are every day."

Faith sighed.

"You make it sound so simple."

"That's because it is, Faith, I love you just the way you are."

Faith blinked, surprised.

"What?"

"What?" Buffy asked, confused.

"You said you, em, you… love… me," Faith said, a bit nervous.

Buffy smiled, blushing.

"Yeah, I do."

"Oh," Faith said and looked away.

Buffy caressed her, realizing Faith was nervous.

"You don't have to say anything, Faith," she said when Faith looked at her. "I don't expect you to say you love me. Especially if you don't." She blushed a bit. "I just want you to know that I love you. No strings attached." She hesitated for a moment, suddenly nervous. "But regardless, I'd like us to be friends. Okay?"

Faith just nodded, not quite knowing what to say.

Buffy smiled and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Good night, Faith," she said and cuddled up to her, still nervous.

"Night," Faith said absentmindedly.

As Buffy drifted off to sleep, Faith thought about what Buffy had said and tried to decide how she felt about it.

A month later, after much thought, Faith finally admitted to herself that she loved Buffy. It took her another few days to gather the courage to tell it to Buffy.

"Really?" Buffy said, her eyes wide.

"Yeah," Faith said, nervous.

Buffy smiled.

"Oh, Faith," she said and hugged her.

Faith hugged her back, feeling strange.

When they stopped hugging, Buffy looked at her.

"You're sure?" she asked, nervous. "I mean, you're not just saying that to make me happy, are you?"

Faith realized that Buffy was also nervous. She smiled.

"Yeah, I'm serious."

Buffy smiled as well, relieved, and they kissed.

"Ooh!" Buffy suddenly remembered. "You think we could exchange rings?"

Faith's eyes went wide.

"Rings?"

Buffy noticed that Faith was obviously worried about the rings. She smiled.

"Don't worry, I don't want an expensive ring, I want one that symbolizes our love, even if you buy it at a flea market. It's the thought that matters, not the price."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"You sure?"

"Absolutely. I mean, I don't love your money, I love you."

Faith thought for a moment.

"Okay, but that goes for you too."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay."

"When do you want to do it?"

Buffy thought about it.

"On our anniversary."

"Anniversary?"

"Of the day we met. But not this month, next month, I need the time to find the right ring."

"Okay."

Buffy cuddled up to her and Faith gave her a kiss on the top of the head, feeling excited to finally have someone.

One day, while Buffy was in the shower, Joyce, her mom, came to her room, wanting to talk to her. When she heard the blow dryer, she went to the bathroom door and knocked.

"Buffy?"

"Yes?"

"Will you be soon?"

"Just a minute."

"Okay."

Joyce went to Buffy's bed and sat down. She looked around and noticed a photo album on Buffy's nightstand. She smiled and picked it up. But as she leafed through it, her smile turned into a frown, especially when she saw Buffy kissing a girl who was in quite a few photos. She'd had no idea that Buffy was gay. Plus, she'd never seen the girl before, so she was curious as to who she was.

"Mom?" Buffy asked as she came out of the bathroom.

Joyce looked at her.

"Honey."

Buffy noticed that Joyce was looking through the photo album and she blushed, realizing there were photos of her and Faith in it.

"Eh…"

"Are you gay?" Joyce got straight to the point.

Buffy's blush deepened. She took a deep breath and sat next to Joyce.

"Yes," she admitted, nervous.

"Oh." Joyce thought for a moment. "You never said anything."

Buffy shrugged.

"I wasn't sure how you'd react."

"Oh." Joyce nodded at a photo of Buffy and Faith. "And this is your girlfriend?"

Buffy looked at it and smiled.

"Yes. Her name's Faith."

"Is she your classmate?"

"No." Buffy hesitated for a moment. "She's not going to high school."

Joyce raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

"She dropped out."

"Oh. Why?"

"She had some trouble back home in Boston, so she had to leave. She gets various jobs through a temp agency."

"Oh. What is she like?"

Buffy's face lit up.

"Oh, she's the best. She's nice and she listens to my problems. She likes to pretend she's really tough, but she's not, she's… sweet."

Joyce smiled.

"Where did you two meet?"

"In a bar."

"When?"

"We had our seven month anniversary last week."

"Really?" Joyce said, impressed that Buffy could go out with one person for so long.

"Yes. She's really cool."

"Why don't you invite her over? Say, this Saturday? For lunch?"

"Eh," Buffy said, suddenly nervous. "Oh, she's in LA this week. And the next one," she lied.

"Oh. Well, when she gets back then."

"Eh, okay." Buffy took a deep breath. "Eh, what did you want to talk about?"

"Oh! I'm going to LA tomorrow and I'll be gone the whole day."

"Oh. Okay."

Joyce smiled.

"Do you want me to tell your father?"

Buffy tensed for a moment, thinking.

"Okay."

Joyce reached over and gently squeezed Buffy's hand. Then she put the photo album back on the night stand, got up and left.

Buffy lay back and took a deep breath, worried.

"Honey," Joyce said when she came downstairs.

Hank looked up from his paper.

"Yes?"

"I just found out Buffy is gay," Joyce said and sat beside him.

Hank blinked, surprised.

"What?"

Joyce smiled.

"She's gay."

Hank stared at her for a few moments.

"How do you know?"

"I was looking at her photo album and saw pictures of her and a girl I've never seen before. They were kissing in a couple of them. On the lips."

"Oh."

"I asked her about it and she said it was her girlfriend."

"I see."

"Anyway, I want Buffy to invite Faith over for lunch."

"Faith?"

"Her girlfriend."

"Oh." Hank nodded. "Okay. When?"

"In two weeks. She's in LA."

Hank raised an eyebrow.

"LA?"

"Yes. Apparently she works through a temp agency."

Hank frowned.

"How old is she?"

Joyce thought for a moment.

"I don't know. But apparently she had to drop out of high school."

"Buffy's dating a dropout?"

Joyce smiled.

"They've been together for seven months."

"You're kidding."

"No."

"Wow. Seven months." He sighed. "Okay, we'll see what she's like when we meet her."

Joyce nodded.

"Yes. And in the meantime, I'm going to find out which agency she's working for and see what I can find out."

Hank nodded.

"Okay."

"Where is Buffy?" Joyce asked two days later when she came to the living room.

"Out with Willow and Xander," Hank said.

"Good."

She sat beside him, hesitating.

"Is something wrong?" Hank asked.

"Well, I'm not sure," Joyce said. "I hired Faith."

Hank raised an eyebrow.

"You did?" he said, surprised.

Joyce nodded.

"Yes." She hesitated for a moment. "She's nineteen."

"What?" Hank said.

"I know," Joyce said. "My reaction was the same. But Buffy knows about it." She thought for a moment. "I think that's why she doesn't want us to meet her."

"What do you mean?"

"When I suggested she should invite Faith over for lunch, she said Faith was working in LA for two weeks."

"Oh."

Joyce took a deep breath.

"Anyway, I'll try get to know Faith better and see what she thinks about their relationship."

"How are you going to do that?"

Joyce shrugged.

"I don't know yet. I'll talk to her. I won't tell her I'm Buffy's mother, of course."

"Good."

Two days later, Joyce approached Faith when she was taking a break.

"Hello, Faith."

Faith quickly got up.

"Eh, hi," she said, slightly nervous.

"Having a break?"

"Eh, yeah."

"Me too," Joyce said with a smile.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then sat down.

Joyce sat beside her.

"Nice ring," she said and nodded at Faith's ring. "Are you married?"

Faith looked at the ring and ran her thumb across it.

"No. It's more like an engagement ring or something. Or a friendship ring."

"Really? And who's the lucky g… guy?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"It's a girl."

"Oh."

"Does that bother you?"

Joyce smiled.

"No, no."

"Oh."

"What's her name?"

"Buffy."

"A nice name. Do you have a picture of her?"

Faith smiled.

"Sure," she said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her wallet. "Here," she said as she pulled out a photo of Buffy.

Joyce took it.

"She's very pretty," she said.

Faith's smile widened.

"Yeah, she is."

Joyce returned the photo.

"How old is she?"

"Nineteen."

Joyce frowned.

"She doesn't look nineteen."

"Yeah, she looks younger. But I've seen her ID, she had to show it to the bouncer at the club."

"Club?"

"Hardcore. It's a lesbian bar and they don't let minors in."

"Oh." Joyce thought for a moment. "How did you meet?"

"At Hardcore," Faith said. "She saw I was checking her out, so she asked me if I wanted to sleep with her."

Joyce blushed.

"Just like that?" she asked, surprised.

Faith grinned, blushing a bit.

"Yeah."

"And did you?"

"Yeah. I thought it would just be a one night stand, but she came the next night and she wanted to hang out with me. So this went on a for a couple of weekends."

"Weekends?" Joyce said, confused.

"Yeah. She goes to UCLA and she only comes home for the weekends."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I finally asked her out on a date."

"And?"

Faith smiled.

"It was okay, considering it was my first date ever."

Joyce raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"You've never been on a date before?"

Faith blushed and looked at her hands, nervous.

"No. I mean, I've slept with girls before, but I've never been on a date." She hesitated for a moment. "Buffy's my first love," she admitted quietly.

Joyce smiled.

"What is she like?"

Faith's eyes lit up.

"Oh, she's the best! I mean, she was a bit bratty at first, but I changed that. She's so sweet and caring. Sometimes I wake up and I think it's just a dream, you know. I mean, I never expected her to fall in love with me."

Joyce raised an eyebrow.

"Why not?"

Faith shrugged and looked at her hands.

"Why would she? I mean, I'm a high school dropout and I live in a motel."

"Oh."

Faith smiled a little.

"She got me to study for the GED. She thinks I should go to college."

"That's a good idea," Joyce agreed.

Faith made a face.

"I hate school."

Joyce smiled.

"But you'd be able to get a better job."

Faith sighed.

"That's what Buffy said."

"Maybe you should listen to her."

Faith smiled a little.

"I do. But it's gonna be a bitch getting enough money to afford college. I mean, even with Buffy's help… It's gonna be though."

Joyce stared at her for a few moments.

"I'm sure everything's going to be okay."

Faith took a deep breath.

"I hope so."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"Do her parents know?"

Faith shook her head.

"No."

"No?"

"No. Buffy's reluctant to tell them."

"Why?"

Faith shrugged.

"She thinks they'll be angry with her."

"Because she's gay or because of you?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"Both, I think. I mean, I am a dropout."

"Oh."

"But I hope she tells them by the time we get married."

"Married?" Joyce said, surprised.

"Yeah. I mean, if we'll be together that long."

"I didn't know gay marriages were allowed."

"They're not, yet, but we were thinking of having a ceremony."

"Oh."

Faith looked around.

"I think I should get back to work now," she said and got up. She put Buffy's photo away and then looked at Joyce again. "Thanks."

Joyce looked at her, startled, and smiled.

"You're welcome."

Faith left and Joyce stared after her for a few moments, thinking. Then she returned to her office.

"I talked to Faith today," Joyce told Hank when she got home.

"About Buffy?"

Joyce nodded.

"Yes."

"And?"

"Well, she thinks Buffy's nineteen."

Hank frowned.

"How come?"

"Apparently Buffy has a fake ID."

"Oh."

"Anyway, she loves Buffy, there's no doubt about it." She hesitated for a moment. "They've had sex."

"What?" Hank said, surprised.

"Calm down."

"Calm down? Buffy's a minor."

"I know, but Faith doesn't know that. And beside, she loves her, she would never hurt her, I'm sure of it."

Hank stared at her for a few moments and then sighed.

"What are we going to do?"

Joyce thought for a moment.

"I was thinking of inviting Faith over and confront them."

"But won't Buffy already know?"

"No. They only meet on weekends, because Faith thinks Buffy's going to UCLA."

"Oh."

The next day, Joyce invited Faith over. When Faith arrived to her house, she just stared at it for a few moments, impressed. Since the front gate was open, she went to the door and rang the bell.

"Hello, Faith," Joyce said with a smile when she opened the door.

"Hey," Faith said. "Nice crib."

"Huh?" Joyce said, startled.

"House. Nice house."

"Oh. Thank you. Come in."

Faith entered and Joyce closed the door.

"Wow," Faith said as she looked around.

Joyce smiled.

"This way."

Faith followed to the living room.

"Buffy?" Faith said, surprised, when she saw her girlfriend.

Buffy looked at her.

"Faith?" she said, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Buffy glanced at Joyce and blushed a bit, guessing that Joyce had invited Faith over on purpose.

"I, eh, live here."

"Really?" Faith said, surprised. She frowned. "She's your daughter?" she asked and looked at Joyce.

"Yes," Joyce said.

"You knew? Why didn't you say something?"

"I wanted to see what you were like and what you thought of Buffy."

"Oh," Faith said, blushing a bit. She looked at Buffy, thinking. "What are you doing home? Is everything okay?"

Buffy nodded, suddenly nervous.

"Yes." She nodded at Hank. "Em, this is my dad, Hank."

Faith looked at him, a bit nervous.

"Hi."

"Hello," Hank said.

"Buffy," Joyce said, raising an eyebrow at Buffy, and Buffy blushed.

Faith looked at them.

"What's going on?" she asked, clueless.

"I, eh… I don't go to UCLA," Buffy said, suddenly worried.

Faith frowned.

"You don't?"

Buffy shook her head.

"No."

"Where do you go?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Sunnydale High."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"You're a minor?"

"I'm fifteen."

Faith paled. She looked at Joyce.

"I didn't know," she said and took a step back. "I swear, I didn't know," she said, afraid that they would have her arrested.

"I know," Joyce said.

Faith swallowed hard.

"Faith…" Buffy said and approached her, but Faith took a step back, not wanting to provoke Buffy's parents. Buffy stopped, confused. "Faith…"

Faith looked at Joyce.

"I'm guessing you don't need my help."

"No," Joyce said.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Can I, em… Can I go?"

"Yes, of course," Joyce said, surprised.

"Eh, bye," Faith said and quickly left.

"Faith!" Buffy called, confused, and ran after her.

Faith speeded up and ran away.

"Faith!" Buffy called when she stopped at the door, but Faith didn't listen to her.

Buffy stared after her for a few moments, tears slowly running down her cheeks. She thought for a few moments and then decided to change and go after her.

"Was she crying?" Hank asked when Buffy ran upstairs.

"I think so," Joyce said.

Hank thought for a few moments.

"What do you think is going to happen now?"

Joyce shrugged.

"I don't know. I know they love each other, but I think right now Faith is just afraid that we might send her to jail because she'd slept with Buffy."

"Oh."

After searching for Faith for hours, Buffy finally returned home.

"Honey?" Joyce asked when she saw her going into her room.

Buffy stopped and looked at her with a sad face.

"I didn't find her," she said quietly.

"Maybe she just needs to think," Joyce said as she approached her.

Buffy sighed.

"What if she doesn't love me anymore?"

Joyce put her arm around Buffy.

"She still loves you, I'm sure of it, but I think that right now she's afraid."

Buffy frowned.

"Of what?"

"Of going to jail."

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"Jail?"

"You are a minor and she had sex with you," Joyce explained, blushing a little.

"Oh," Buffy said. Her shoulder slumped. "I didn't mean to cause her trouble."

Joyce smiled softly.

"I know, honey, I know. I'll talk to her tomorrow, okay?"

Buffy hugged her.

"Thank you."

After having left Buffy's house, Faith wandered around for a while. Buffy's parents hadn't called the cops, so she felt safe for the moment, but she knew that could change any moment. And besides, she needed to think, without being interrupted by Buffy.

As if the fact that Buffy was rich wasn't enough of a surprise, Buffy was also a minor, a fifteen-year-old minor, one with whom she'd had sex. Not to mention that Buffy's parents knew about it. She was still surprised that they hadn't called the police the moment they found out.

Pushing the thoughts of her momentary luck aside, she thought about the fact that Buffy was only fifteen years old. The fact that Buffy had lied to her about her age didn't bother her, but she had a bit of a problem with Buffy being only fifteen. She knew Buffy was no child, but it worried her, she'd had sex with her and she could easily end up in jail for it.

Still, how did that change her feelings toward Buffy? Did she still love her? In spite of her being a minor? She realized that the answer was yes. Unfortunately, that didn't help her much, because she knew they couldn't be together. At least not for three more years. She wondered if Buffy would wait that long.

When Faith didn't come to work the next day, Joyce became worried. She found out Faith's address and decided to pay her a visit after work.

When she got to the apartment house where Faith lived, she saw it was a pretty rundown building, probably rat-infested. She carefully walked down the corridor until she reached Faith's apartment. There was no bell, so she knocked.

Inside, Faith was lying on the bed, reading a book for the GED, trying to forget about Buffy. When she heard the knocking, she tensed, figuring it was Buffy. She considered ignoring her, but then she decided to talk to her. She got up and went to the door. She took a deep breath and then opened it.

"Hello," Joyce said and smiled.

Faith blinked, surprised.

"Eh, Mrs Summers," she said, surprised.

"May I come in?"

"Eh, sure," Faith said and stepped aside.

Joyce entered and Faith quickly looked around, feeling ashamed that she was living in such dump.

"Buffy helped you decorate?" Joyce asked as Faith closed the door.

Faith blinked again, startled, and looked around.

"Yeah."

Joyce smiled.

"Thought so." She went to the bed, glanced at the book, and sat down. "Are you alright?" she then asked.

"Eh, yeah," Faith said, nervous.

"Come, sit down," Joyce said and patted the spot beside her.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then sat down.

"Why are you here?" she asked.

"Well, you didn't come to work and you don't have a phone. And besides, Buffy was worried sick about you. She went after you, but she couldn't find you."

Faith gulped and looked at her hands.

"I went for a walk," she said. "I needed to think."

Joyce nodded. She thought for a moment.

"Do you still love her?"

Faith looked at her, surprised.

"Yes."

Joyce smiled.

"Would you still like to be with her?"

Faith stared at her for a few moments, wondering where the conversation was going to.

"Eh, yeah," she said. She sighed and looked at her hands. "But we can't be."

"Because she's a minor?"

Faith tensed for a moment and nodded.

"Yeah."

Joyce put her hand on Faith's shoulder.

"Don't worry, you're not in trouble because you had sex with her," she said, blushing a bit.

Faith looked at her.

"I'm not?"

Joyce smiled softly and shook her head.

"No. We know you didn't know she was a minor, so we won't cause you trouble."

Faith breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," Joyce said and removed her hand. "Anyway, I've talked to my husband and we've decided that we don't mind you two being together, as long as you two don't have sex."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"Are you serious?" she asked, afraid that it was just some sick joke.

Joyce nodded.

"Yes."

Faith hugged her.

"Thank you," she said. Then she realized what she was doing and she quickly let go of Joyce. "Sorry," she said and looked at her hands, nervous.

Joyce smiled and put her hand on Faith's shoulder again.

"You're welcome, honey." She thought for a moment. "Why don't we go tell Buffy the good news?"

Faith looked at her.

"Now?"

"Yes. She's been depressed all day, we hardly managed to get her to go to school. I think she could use some good news."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Okay." She quickly put on her boots. "Let's go."

When they got to the Summers house, Joyce took Faith upstairs to Buffy's room.

"This is her room," she said and left.

Faith took a deep breath and then knocked.

"What?"

Faith hesitated for a moment and then opened the door.

"Hey," she said, nervous, and took a step in.

Buffy, who was lying on the bed, looked at her, surprised.

"Faith!" She quickly got up. She considered running to her and hugging her, but she remembered how Faith had backed off the previous afternoon, and she stopped. "Eh, what are you doing here?"

"Your mom came to talk to me."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yeah."

"Oh."

"She said we can be together as long as we don't have sex."

Buffy's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Buffy started to approach Faith, but she stopped.

"Em, do you… Do you still love me?" she then asked, anxious.

Faith smiled.

"You bet."

Buffy's eyes lit up and she ran to Faith and hugged her.

"I love you too," she said as Faith hugged her.

They hugged for a few moments and then Buffy let go of Faith.

"So…" Faith said.

"Close the door."

Faith closed the door and then followed Buffy to the bed.

"I'm sorry I lied to you, Faith," Buffy then said, looking at her hands, nervous.

Faith reached over and took hold of Buffy's left hand.

"I understand. I'm not holding it against you."

Buffy looked at her and smiled.

"Thanks." She thought for a moment. "It doesn't bother you that I'm fifteen?"

Faith smiled.

"Well, technically, you're still a kid, but I think you're quite mature for your age," she said, and Buffy smiled again.

"Thanks." She thought for a moment and then sighed, her face serious. "I went looking for you after you left. I was so worried when I couldn't find you," she admitted.

Faith sighed.

"I went for a walk, I needed to think."

"Oh. But you're okay now?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

Buffy sighed.

"I didn't know you could be in trouble because we had sex. I'm sorry."

Faith gently squeezed her hand.

"Hey, it's okay."

Buffy smiled a little.

"At least we can see each other every day."

Faith smiled as well.

"Yeah."

"And you finally got to meet my parents."

"And they didn't freak out."

"Much."

Faith chuckled.

"Yeah. They're pretty cool."

"Yes. So, em, want me to show you around?"

Faith shrugged.

"Okay."

Buffy smiled and got up.

"Come on."

The End