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. And just so you know, I have very little knowledge of slavery, the Caribbean in general and the Cayman Islands in particular or of the 18th century. Just ignore any and all discrepancies from the real world.

Love Knows No Bounds
By Kristjan Brezovnik

6 years old.

Little Buffy Summers accompanied her mother on a shopping trip. Two ships had arrived to George Town the previous evening and her mother wanted to see what they'd brought. Her father had left hours ago to place orders and do business.

George Town was a busy port. It was the largest town in the Cayman Islands and a haven for all sorts of scumbags, that's why Buffy and her mother were accompanied by a group of slaves and two servants.

Buffy curiously looked around. She didn't get many chances to go to the port as her family's estate was several kilometers away and basically everything was delivered there. She relished the experience and her mother more or less bought her anything she wanted.

When they passed a slave auction, Buffy suddenly stopped.

"Buffy?" Mrs Summers said and looked at her. When she saw that Buffy was staring at something, she looked. "It's a slave auction," she then explained. "Come, let's move on," she urged her, not really liking the idea of slavery.

But Buffy didn't move. She had noticed a black haired girl her age among the slaves and she was captivated.

"Buffy?" Mrs Summers asked when Buffy didn't move. She looked at the slaves. "What is it?"

"I want her, Mommy," Buffy said and pointed at the girl.

"Which one?" Mrs Summers asked.

"The girl."

There was only one girl, so Mrs Summers quickly spotted her.

"Buffy…"

"I want her," Buffy insisted. She looked at her mother. "Please?"

Mrs Summers stared at her for a few moments. She could see that for some reason the girl meant something to Buffy. She sighed.

"Very well."

They approached the auctioning stage and Mrs Summers sent one of the servants to the slave merchant. The merchant didn't make a fuss about the girl, he was glad to get rid of her. He took the money and then grabbed the girl, who immediately started screaming and kicking. Another slave, a woman, desperately tried to stop the merchant, but one of his men simply hit her with a whip and she collapsed in pain.

Buffy gasped at the display of violence.

The merchant slapped the girl a couple of times until she was more or less limp in his hands, and then gave her to the servant.

"What happened?" Mrs Summers asked when the servant returned. "Who is that woman?"

"The girl's mother, Ma'am," the servant explained as Buffy stared at the girl curiously.

"What?" Buffy said and looked at him. Then she looked at her mother. "Can we buy her too, Mommy? Please?"

"Buffy?"

"I don't want to separate her from her mommy," Buffy pleaded as she nodded at the girl, who stood still, a glazed look in her eyes.

Mrs Summers hesitated for a moment and then sighed, as reluctant to separate mother and daughter as Buffy.

"Very well," she said and gave the servant some more money.

The servant let go of the girl and returned to the stage.

Buffy looked at the girl curiously.

"Hi," she said and smiled, but the girl didn't respond.

"I don't think she understands you," Mrs Summers said.

"Oh," Buffy said, disappointed.

Then the girl suddenly collapsed and Buffy shrieked.

"Dear God," Mrs Summers said, shocked, when she saw that the girl's back was full of whip marks.

She kneeled beside the girl and first checked the pulse.

"Is she dead?" Buffy asked, scared.

"No," Mrs Summers said, relieved, and checked the girl's forehead. "She has a fever. We'll have to get her a doctor."

The servant returned with the girl's mother, who immediately kneeled beside her daughter and picked her up, worried.

"Excuse me," Joyce said and the woman looked at her with teary eyes. "Can you understand me?" Joyce asked and the woman nodded. "We're going back to our house now and we'll get her a doctor."

The woman stared at her, surprised.

Mrs Summers looked at the slaves.

"Help her up." When the slaves moved, Mrs Summers looked at the servant who had purchased the slaves. "Find a doctor. I'll send the carriage back."

"Yes, Ma'am," the servant said and left.

Mrs Summers looked at the other servant.

"Let's go back to the carriage."

"Yes, Ma'am."

When they arrived to the Summers estate, Buffy insisted that the girl be taken to her room. There, Buffy changed into a dress she wore when she played and then helped the girl's mother bathe the girl and clean her up. By the time the doctor arrived, the girl was clean and was lying on Buffy's bed, wrapped in a large towel. Her mother sat beside her, holding her hand.

The doctor quickly checked the girl and then took care of her wounds and prescribed some medicine for her.

"Is she going to be okay?" Buffy asked, wide eyed, when the doctor was done.

The doctor smiled at her.

"She'll be fine. She should wake up in a day or two. I'll come back then and change her bandages."

"Okay."

The doctor looked at the girl's mother.

"I noticed your back needs some attention. You don't need bandages, but I suggest you use the salve I prescribed for the girl."

"Yes, Sir."

The doctor nodded and left and Buffy quickly fetched one of her sleeping gowns and helped the woman dress the girl.

"Lift her up," she then said and the girl's mother lifted the girl.

Buffy quickly uncovered the bed.

"Put her down," she then said and the girl's mother did so.

Buffy then covered her and made sure she was warm.

"Thank you," the woman then said, and Buffy smiled at her.

"You're welcome." She thought for a moment. "I'm Buffy."

"Buffy?" the woman said, startled.

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh. And who are you?"

"Maria. And this is…" she thought for a few moments, "I believe it would translate as Faith."

Buffy smiled.

"Faith."

When Mrs Summers returned and saw that Faith was lying in Buffy's bed, she raised an eyebrow, but she didn't comment.

"Come, eh…"

"Maria, Ma'am," Maria said and got up.

"Maria."

"This is Faith, Mommy," Buffy said and Mrs Summers smiled at her.

"Come, Maria, let me show you around the house," Mrs Summers said. Then she frowned. "On the other hand, you might want to take a bath first and take care of your back. Come."

Maria quickly followed Mrs Summers.

"Thank you, Ma'am," she said.

Mrs Summers smiled at her.

"You should thank Buffy," she said as they left the room.

"I did."

After they were gone, Buffy stared at Faith for a while. Then she got herself a picture book and started to look at the pictures.

When Mr Summers returned home, he was surprised to find out that he owned two more slaves. Mrs Summers quickly told him what happened and introduced him to Maria. Mr Summers then went to Buffy's room.

"Hi, honey," he said as he entered.

"Shh," Buffy said as she went to him. "Faith is sleeping," she said quietly.

Mr Summers looked at the bed and saw Faith. Then he picked up Buffy.

"Why on earth did you want her?"

Buffy looked at Faith.

"I don't know. I like her." She looked back at her father. "And Mommy got me some good books."

Mr Summers smiled and kissed her on the forehead.

"So you had a fun time?"

Buffy nodded, wide eyed.

"Uh-huh. It was great."

"Good." He put her down. "I have some work to do now. You have fun."

"Okay, Daddy," Buffy said with a smile.

Mr Summers caressed her and then left.

In the evening, Buffy lay next to Faith. She stared at her for a while and then cuddled up to her.

When Faith woke up two days later, she moaned.

Buffy, who was drawing, looked at her.

"Faith?" she asked and went to the bed. "Faith?"

Faith opened her eyes and looked at her, scared. She quickly sat up and moaned from pain.

"Easy," Buffy said. "You've been hurt."

Faith looked at her and then around the room, surprised.

"Mama?" she then asked in a small voice.

Buffy smiled.

"I'll get her," she said and ran off.

It took Buffy a minute to locate Maria.

"Auntie Maria! Auntie Maria! Faith woke up," Buffy said when she found her.

"Really?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh. Come."

"Mama!" Faith said, relieved, when Buffy and Maria returned.

Maria rushed to the bed and hugged Faith, who started crying. Then they talked and Maria told Faith what had happened.

Buffy listened to them curiously, but she didn't understand a word, because she didn't speak Spanish.

"Is she hungry?" Buffy asked when they stopped talking for a few moments.

Maria and Faith both looked at her and Maria translated the question.

Faith nodded and Buffy smiled.

"I'll get you something," she said and rushed off.

"Buffy," Mrs Summers said, startled, when Buffy nearly crashed into her. "What's the rush?"

"Faith woke up," Buffy said, excitedly.

"Really?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh. I'm going to the kitchen to get her something to eat."

Mrs Summers smiled.

"Okay. I'll send someone to get the doctor."

"Okay," Buffy said and rushed away.

Buffy quickly returned form the kitchen with a slave carrying a small tray. The slave put the tray on the bed and then left.

Faith looked at her mother, puzzled, and asked her something.

"Is this all for her?" Maria asked.

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh. She hasn't eaten in two days, she must be hungry."

Maria smiled.

"Thank you," she said and then told Faith that the food was for her.

Faith immediately started wolfing down the food, afraid that Buffy might change her mind.

When Faith was done, Maria wiped her mouth and removed the tray. Faith looked at Buffy and then at her mother and asked something.

"She wants to know what you expect from her," Maria translated.

"Expect?" Buffy said, startled.

"What her duties are."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "I just want her to keep me company."

"But she doesn't speak English."

"Oh," Buffy said and frowned, thinking. Then her eyes brightened. "I can teach her," she said, excited. "And she can teach me Spanish."

Maria frowned.

"How?"

"I can show her things and tell them what they're called in English and she can tell me what they're called in Spanish."

Maria thought about it.

"I could work," she said and Buffy smiled.

"Tell her."

Maria told Faith what Buffy had said and Faith looked at Buffy, surprised. Then she said something.

"She says she's okay with your idea," Maria translated and Buffy smiled.

"Oh," Buffy remembered, "Mommy sent someone to get a doctor."

"A doctor?" Maria asked.

"Uh-huh, for Faith."

"Oh," Maria said and then translated for Faith.

Faith asked her something and Maria answered.

"What did she say?" Buffy asked.

"She wanted to know why your mother sent for the doctor."

"Oh. So he will change her bandages."

"I know, I told her."

"Oh."

Maria smiled.

"I need to return to my work," she said.

"Okay."

Maria turned to Faith and spoke with her for a few moments. It was obvious to Buffy that Faith didn't want her mother to leave.

"Tell her it will be okay," Buffy told Maria.

Maria smiled again and translated for Faith, who looked at Buffy, not sure what to make of her. Maria then kissed Faith on the forehead, took the tray and left.

Buffy and Faith stared at one another for a few moments.

"Oh! I know," Buffy said and ran to her desk. She fetched the picture book she had been reading and then climbed on the bed and sat beside Faith. "I know you don't understand me, but there are pictures in here," she said.

She opened the book and started to look at the pictures.

After a few moments of hesitation, Faith leaned closer, curious.

7 years old.

Because Buffy was old enough to go to school, Mrs Summers took her shopping for the things she would need. Faith, as always, went with them and she and Buffy held hands as they walked down the busy streets of George Town.

When they got to the shop, Mrs Summers quickly picked the things Buffy would need and Buffy quickly added more.

"Why do you need two of everything?" Mrs Summers asked, puzzled.

"For Faith," Buffy said.

"Faith?"

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Mrs Summers stared at the girls for a few moments and then sighed.

"Okay," she agreed and Buffy smiled, excited.

"I will study with you?" Faith asked quietly when Mrs Summers went to the shop owner.

Buffy looked at her.

"Uh-huh."

Faith frowned.

"Why?"

Now Buffy frowned.

"Why not?"

"I am a slave," Faith pointed out, and Buffy's eyes went wide.

"You're not a slave," Buffy protested. Then she frowned. "I mean… You're my best friend," she said, not sure how to explain.

"Oh," Faith said, still trying to understand how she could be Buffy's best friend when she was actually her slave.

Buffy smiled.

"It'll be fun!"

When they got home, Buffy and Faith examined the things Mrs Summers bought them.

"How's my girl?" Mr Summers said as he walked in.

Buffy smiled at him.

"I'm fine, Daddy. Faith and I were just examining our things."

"What things?"

"For studying."

"Faith is studying too?" Mr Summer asked, surprised.

Buffy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"But she's a slave."

"No she's not," Buffy protested and took Faith's hand. "She's my best friend," she said and pouted.

Mr Summers stared at them for a few moments and then smiled.

"Very well," he then allowed and Buffy smiled.

"Thank you, Daddy," she said.

She let go of Faith's hand, ran to him and hugged his legs.

Mr Summers ruffled her hair.

"I've spoken with the port master," he said and Buffy let go of him. "Mrs Burton's ship should arrive this afternoon and if she is ready, you can start your classes tomorrow."

"Really?" Buffy said, excited.

"Yes."

"Great."

Mr Summers smiled.

"And in the afternoon, the Chases have invited us for a sail with their ship."

"Really?" Buffy thought for a moment. "What do we have to wear?"

Mr Summers glanced at Faith.

"Something warm. It gets windy on a ship."

"Does it have to be a good dress?" Buffy asked, making a face.

Mr Summers smiled.

"No, no, just what you wear to town."

"Okay."

"Have fun," he said and left.

Buffy looked at Faith.

"I can't wait till Mrs Burton comes."

Faith smiled, a bit nervous.

"Me neither."

"Come, let's go see what we're going to wear tomorrow."

When Mrs Burton arrived, Buffy and Faith stared at her curiously.

"Buffy, this is Mrs Burton," Mr Summers said.

"Hello," Buffy said.

Mrs Burton smiled at her.

"Hello, Buffy. Looking forward to learning?"

Buffy smiled back and nodded.

"Uh-huh. And Faith too."

Mrs Burton looked at Faith, surprised.

"Faith?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Faith said, nervous.

Mrs Burton looked at Mr Summers.

"I thought you only had one daughter."

"I do," he said and looked at Mrs Summers' bloated belly, "though I may soon get another." He smiled. "Faith is a… Eh, Buffy's best friend," he said, remembering how Buffy had objected to his calling Faith a slave.

"I see."

"I will adapt your payment, of course," Mr Summers quickly assured her.

"Very well." She took a deep breath. "I need to stretch a bit. Travelling by ship does not agree with me."

"Of course. James will show you to your room and then he will show you around. And if you would like something to eat, do not hesitate to let the staff know."

"Thank you, Mr Summers."

"This way, Ma'am," James said and led the way, while the slaves followed with Mrs Burton's luggage.

"She looks strict," Buffy said when Mrs Burton was gone.

Mr and Mrs Summers smiled.

"She is a governess," Mrs Summers said, "she is supposed to be strict."

"Oh."

The next day, after classes, Buffy and Faith were both excited and awed. They were excited because Mrs Burton taught them so many things and awed because she knew so many things.

"Isn't Mrs Burton great?" Buffy asked Faith as they were eating a banana each.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh," she said, her mouth full. She swallowed. "And she is not as strict as you thought."

Buffy smiled.

"Uh-huh. And did you see how impressed she was that we both spoke Spanish?"

"Yes. And she called us ladies," Faith said and they both giggled.

"Come, let's go play," Buffy said and dropped the banana skin in the bin.

In the afternoon, the Summers family went to the port. Mrs Burton, Faith, Maria, James and a couple of slaves went with them.

"Hello, Hank," Mr Chase greeted Mr Summers.

"Harry. Janice. You remember my wife."

"Yes, of course," Mr Chase said and kissed the tips of Mrs Summers' fingers. "Pregnancy agrees with you."

Mrs Summers smiled.

"I wish. The baby's due any day now and I can feel it is eager to get out."

Mr Chase smiled.

"I'll make sure we are near the port then."

"Thank you."

Mr Chase looked at Buffy.

"And you must be Buffy."

Buffy nodded.

"Yes, Sir," she said, remembering her manners.

"You remember Cordelia, don't you?" he said and pointed at the girl hiding behind his wife.

Buffy looked at her and thought for a moment.

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

Mr Chase looked at Faith, who was nervously clutching Buffy's hand.

"And who are you, little miss?"

"Faith, Sir," Faith said.

"She is Buffy's best friend," Mrs Summers said with a smile.

"I see."

"And this is Mrs Burton, the girls' governess."

"Welcome, Ma'am," Mr Chase said and kissed the tips of her fingers as well. Then he looked at Mr Summers. "This way please."

Mr Chase led the way to the ship.

After the ship left port, the grown-ups sat down and started chatting and the girls went to the back of the ship and played picnic with their dolls.

About an hour later, they got bored and decided to watch the waves. Suddenly, the wind changed and the ship hit some high waves. Cordelia went sprawling to the ground, tripping Buffy, while Faith managed to jump over her. Then the ship hit another wave and Buffy slipped under the rail and fell overboard.

"Buffy!" Faith screamed, worried.

She ran to the rail and saw Buffy flailing wildly, drowning. She quickly stepped through the rail and jumped after her.

"Faith!" Maria screamed, shocked.

The grown-ups all ran to the rail.

"Stop the ship! Lower a boat!" Mr Chase ordered.

When she hit the surface, Faith was a bit dizzy from the impact, but she quickly pulled herself together and swam to Buffy. Her clothes made it a bit difficult for her to swim, but she pulled the dress to herself and swam with only one arm, worried that Buffy might drown.

When she got to her, Buffy had almost passed out.

"Buffy?" she asked in a small voice when she finally reached her. "Buffy?" She hugged her from behind, making sure that Buffy's head was above the water. "Buffy, talk to me," she pleaded, her eyes watering up.

Buffy coughed violently and Faith held her tightly, making sure she wouldn't drown.

A boat was finally lowered from the ship and the sailors rowed quickly toward them. By the time they reached them, Faith was exhausted. Buffy kept coughing and the weight of the dresses was pulling her down. The sailors quickly lifted Buffy up and then Faith.

As soon as she was on board, Faith moved to Buffy, who was still coughing. She caressed her gently and then held Buffy' hair aside when Buffy vomited.

When Buffy was done, she hugged Faith tightly and sobbed.

Faith quietly held her, tears running down her cheeks.

When they reached the ship, the sailors carried the girls aboard, where Mr Summers picked up Buffy and hugged her tightly, and Maria hugged Faith.

"Could you get some blankets, please," Mrs Summers said.

"Yes, of course," Mrs Chase said and left to give orders.

"I'll turn the ship," Mr Chase said and left to give the orders.

"Yes, thank you," Mr Summers said and then took Buffy to Mrs Summers, who hugged her.

Maria followed him with Faith.

A slave quickly returned with a couple of blankets and Mrs Chase gave them to Mrs Summers and to Maria, and the mothers wrapped their girls in them.

"Thank you, Faith," Mrs Summers said when she caught Faith's look.

"Is she okay?" Faith asked, her eyes wide.

Mrs Summer smiled.

"I think so, yes," she said and looked at Buffy, who had let go of her to look at Faith.

"Thank you, Faith," Buffy said, and Faith smiled a bit, relieved.

When they got back to the Summers estate, Buffy and Faith were both rushed to their room, where Mrs Burton and Maria quickly helped them take off their wet dresses and dried them with towels. Then they dressed them in fresh clothes.

"Get them some hot tea with honey, please," Mrs Burton then told Maria.

"Yes, Ma'am," Maria said and hurried away.

"You two rest a bit now," Mrs Burton then told the girls, who climbed on the bed. "And if you start feeling sick, let us know immediately."

"Yes, Ma'am," Buffy said as they got under the sheets.

Mrs Summers, who had been sitting on the bed, smiled at them.

"You are very brave, Faith," she said, and Faith blushed, nervous.

"Thank you, Ma'am," Faith said quietly.

Mrs Summers moaned.

"Looks like your sibling wants to get out," she said.

"You should rest as well, Ma'am," Mrs Burton said. "All this excitement is not good for the baby."

Mrs Summers nodded.

"Help me, please."

Mrs Burton helped Mrs Summers get up. Then she looked at the girls.

"Make sure you drink all your tea, girls."

"Yes, Ma'am," the girls said in unison.

Mrs Burton then escorted Mrs Summers to her room.

As soon as the door closed, Buffy cuddled up to Faith, who hugged her back, startled.

"Faith," Buffy said after a few moments.

"Yes?"

"You can swim?"

"Yes."

Buffy thought for a few moments.

"Can… Can you teach me?"

"Okay," Faith agreed. Then she frowned. "Where?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"There is a pond on our estate, remember?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes."

"You can teach me there."

"Okay."

Buffy smiled and wanted to make herself more comfortable when Maria returned with the tea.

"Here you go," she said as she set the tray down.

"Thank you, Auntie," Buffy said and took a cup.

Faith took the other cup and they slowly started sipping the tea.

Maria observed them for a few moments and then smiled.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

The girls looked at her.

"Like I drank the whole ocean," Buffy said, and Maria chuckled. "Faith is going to teach me how to swim."

"Really?" Maria said, surprised, and looked at Faith, who nodded.

"Uh-huh. We'll start tomorrow."

"I see."

Maria sat with them until they finished their tea, then she took the cups and the tray and left.

When they were alone, Buffy cuddled up to Faith again.

"I was so scared," she admitted.

"Me too," Faith said.

Buffy looked up at her.

"You?" she asked, puzzled.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh. I though you were going to die."

"Oh."

Buffy sighed and made herself comfortable.

The next day, after lunch, Buffy took Faith to the pond.

"Do you think this pond is big enough?" she asked as she put the bag with the towels on the ground.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh," she said and started undressing.

"What are you doing?" Buffy asked her, startled.

"Undressing," Faith said. "We can't swim in our dresses."

"Oh."

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then undressed as well.

Faith was naked first and she checked the water with her toes. She shuddered.

"It's cold," she said.

Buffy joined her and checked the water as well.

"Yes."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then ran into the pond and submerged for a moment. When she resurfaced, she shuddered for a moment.

"Come on," she said.

"But it's cold."

"Not when you're wet. Come!" Faith called and sprinkled Buffy, who ran away, shrieking and laughing. "Come!" Faith called.

"Promise you won't sprinkle me again," Buffy said from a safe distance.

"I promise."

Buffy slowly approached the pond and then checked the water again.

"Are you sure it's not cold?" she asked.

"A bit. Just run in and… and… go under the water."

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then took a deep breath.

"I'm coming!" she called and then ran into the pond, shrieking. She submerged for a moment. "It's cold," she said, shuddering.

Faith smiled.

"It gets better after a while."

Buffy rubbed her arms, shivering.

"Come," Faith said.

Faith first demonstrated to Buffy how to swim. Then she had Buffy lay on her arms and swim by herself. Buffy was a bit nervous at first and she had to stop often to reassure herself that the bottom of the pond was there and that she wouldn't drown. But eventually, she got more bold and she swam until she got tired. Faith slowly lowered her arms, but she made sure that her fingers were touching Buffy's belly so that Buffy wouldn't get scared.

After an hour or so of swimming and playing, Buffy finally managed to swim a short distance without Faith's help.

"I can swim! I can swim!" she said, excited.

Faith smiled.

"Swim some more," she said.

"Okay," Buffy said and started swimming again.

Faith joined her.

"We can come here every day and practice," Buffy said as she tried to keep her head above water.

"Okay," Faith said.

Buffy then headed for the shore and Faith followed her.

"Let's go out," Buffy said, "I'm cold."

"Me too," Faith said.

They went out and toweled themselves dry. Then they wrapped themselves in the towels and sat down.

"This was fun," Buffy said with a smile, excited.

"Uh-huh," Faith agreed with a smile.

"Let's rest a bit now. I want to go swimming again later."

"Okay," Faith said.

Several hours later, a slave came running.

"Miss Buffy! Miss Buffy!"

Buffy and Faith looked.

"Oh no," Buffy suddenly realized. "Mrs Burton is going to be very mad."

"Oh," Faith said, realizing as well that they were late for their afternoon classes.

They quickly got out of the water.

"Miss Buffy!" the slave said when he finally reached them.

"I know," Buffy said, "we're late."

The slave shook his head.

"No, Miss. Your mother just had a baby."

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

The slave nodded.

"Yes."

"We'll be right there. You can go."

The slave nodded and ran away and Buffy and Faith quickly started drying themselves.

"Mommy?" Buffy asked when she and Faith came to her parents' bedroom.

Mrs Summers looked at them with a smile.

"Come," she said, holding the baby. "Look, you have a sister."

Buffy and Faith came closer and they stared at the baby, wide eyed.

"Wow," Faith said. "She looks so… tiny."

"Uh-huh," Buffy agreed. She glanced at her mother. "What's her name?"

"Dawn."

Buffy smiled.

"I like it."

Mrs Summers smiled.

"Good."

"Where's Daddy?"

"He's talking with Mrs Burton and the doctor."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Can I… touch her?"

Mrs Summers smiled.

"Of course."

Faith extended her arm and gently touched Dawn.

"She's so soft," she marveled.

Buffy touched her as well.

"Uh-huh," she agreed.

"And she's so pretty," Faith said and looked at Buffy, "like you."

Buffy smiled, blushing.

"You're pretty too," she said and Faith blushed as well.

Mrs Summers smiled.

"Girls, why don't you go get Mrs Burton. I feel tired."

"Okay, Mommy," Buffy said.

She took Faith's hand and they left.

18 years old.

The day before Faith's eighteenth's birthday, Buffy went to her father.

"Dad?"

Mr Summers looked at her and smile.

"Hello, Buffy."

Buffy approached his desk.

"Tomorrow is Faith's birthday," she said.

"Yes, I know. Do you have all the gifts?"

"All except the most important."

"And what is that?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Her and her mother's freedom."

Mr Summers raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"You don't want her anymore?"

"I do, but I want her to stay because she wants to stay, not because she has to."

"I see."

"You can get her a job, can't you? I mean, she has as much education as I do. And instead of giving her allowance, you could pay her."

Mr Summers frowned.

"Allowance?"

"Yes."

"I never gave her any allowance."

Buffy frowned, confused.

"What do you mean? You always gave her allowance."

"No I didn't."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"You mean that was all my allowance?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

"You gave it to Faith?"

"Half of it, yes."

"I see," Mr Summers said, surprised. He thought for a moment. "And you really want this?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

Mr Summers sighed.

"Very well. I'll take care of the paperwork and see if I can find her a job."

Buffy smiled.

"Thank you, Dad." She ran around the desk and hugged him. "I love you."

"I love you too, honey," Mr Summers said with a smile.

The next day after lunch, Buffy's little sister Dawn and Mrs Summers helped Buffy prepare everything while Maria kept Faith occupied.

"Okay, Dawnie, get Faith and Auntie Maria."

Dawn smiled and hurried away.

Buffy took a deep breath, nervous.

"Everything okay, honey?" Mrs Summers asked.

Buffy smiled a bit and nodded.

"I'm just nervous."

"About what?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"What if she won't want to stay?"

Mrs Summers smiled a bit.

"You want her to be happy, right?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

"But you're afraid that her happiness doesn't include you."

Buffy nodded again.

"Yes."

Mrs Summers' smile widened.

"Don't worry, I'm sure she wants nothing more than to stay."

Buffy gave her a skeptical look.

"Are you sure?"

Mrs Summers nodded.

"Yes. You've been best friends for twelve years, I'm sure she cares as much about you as you do about her."

Buffy sighed.

"I hope so."

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come!" Mr Summers called.

A servant entered.

"Excuse me, Sir, Mr Harris is here to see you."

"Tell him I'll be there in a few minutes."

The servant nodded.

"Yes, Sir," he said and left.

"Auntie Maria!" Dawn said when she found Maria. "Where's Faith?"

"Here," Faith said as she entered from another room.

Dawn looked at her.

"Dad wants to see you two in her office," she said, her face serious.

Faith glanced at her mother, a bit nervous.

"Okay," she said.

She led the way, and Dawn and Maria looked at one another and smiled.

When Faith arrived to Mr Summers' office and saw Buffy and Mrs Summers there, she became even more nervous.

"Eh, you wanted to see us, Sir?"

"Yes," Mr Summers said and looked at Buffy. "Buffy?"

Buffy went to Faith, stared at her for a few moments and then flashed a wide smile.

"Happy birthday, Faith!" she said and hugged her.

Faith was startled for a few moments, but then she realized that she wasn't in trouble and she hugged Buffy back.

Buffy let go of Faith after a few moments and smirked at her.

"Had you worried, didn't I?"

Faith smiled.

"Yes."

"Happy birthday, Faith," Dawn said and hugged her as well.

"Thank you, Dawnie."

"Happy birthday, honey," Maria said and hugged her.

"Thank you, Mama."

"Well, Faith, I have to go now," Mr Summers said as he approached. Dawn and Maria let go of her. "Happy birthday," he said and offered her his hand.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then took it.

Mr Summers squeezed it.

"I hope you like your presents," he said with a smile, and Faith let go of his hand.

"Thank you," Faith said, a bit nervous.

Mr Summers then went to his wife and kissed her.

"I'll see you later."

"Okay," Mrs Summers said with a smile.

Mr Summers left, and Dawn looked at Buffy, excited.

"The presents."

Buffy smiled.

"Right."

She ran to the sofa and Dawn followed her. They picked up the presents from behind it and returned. Buffy gave one present to Mrs Summers and Dawn gave one to Maria.

"Here," Buffy then said and gave Faith her present.

Faith took it and weighed it. She quickly guessed it was a dress. She unwrapped it and looked at it, her eyes wide.

"Wow."

Buffy smiled.

"I know you've been eyeing that dress for a while now."

"Yes," Faith said and looked at her. "Thank you."

Buffy's smile widened.

"You're welcome."

"My turn," Dawn then said and offered Faith her gift.

Faith gave her dress to Maria, who put it on the sofa. Then she took Dawn's gift and unwrapped it. Her eyes went wide.

"Wow," she said when she saw it was her portrait. She looked at Dawn. "You made this yourself?"

Dawn nodded, a bit nervous.

"Yes."

"What is it?" Buffy asked.

"You haven't seen it?" Faith asked, looking at her.

"No."

Faith showed them the portrait.

"Oh, wow," Mrs Summers said and looked at Dawn. "I didn't know you could draw so well."

Dawn blushed a bit and shrugged.

"Daddy had it framed for me," she changed the topic.

"It's really beautiful," Buffy said.

"Yes," Faith agreed and looked at her. "Can we hang it opposite the bed?"

Buffy smiled.

"Sure."

Faith smiled and took the portrait to the sofa.

Maria looked at Mrs Summers questioningly.

"Go ahead," Mrs Summers said with a smile.

"Here, honey," Maria said and gave Faith her present.

Faith unwrapped it.

"An adventure story!" Faith said, excited, and everyone smiled. "Thank you, Mama."

"You're welcome, honey."

Faith put the book away and looked at Mrs Summers.

"Here," Mrs Summers said and gave her the present.

Faith took it and unwrapped it.

"Nice," she said when she saw the shoes.

"They go along with the dress Buffy bought you."

Faith glanced at the dress.

"Yes. Wow."

"You have to put it on," Dawn said.

"Right," Faith agreed and went to the sofa.

"Wait, there's one more present," Buffy called after her, suddenly nervous.

"There is?" Faith said, surprised.

"Yes," Buffy said and gave her two envelopes she had been hiding behind her back. "This is from Dad and me."

Faith looked at the envelopes and saw her name written on one of them and her mother's on the other.

"This is for Mama?" she asked.

"Sort of, yes."

Faith gave one envelope to her mother and then opened hers. When she read what it was, her eyes went wide and her face became serious. She looked at Buffy sadly.

"You don't want me anymore?"

Buffy blinked at Faith's reaction.

"No! Whatever made you think that? Of course I want you to stay."

"But you gave me my freedom."

"And me," Maria said, surprised, and showed Faith the paper from her envelope.

"Yes. But not because I would want you to leave. I want you to stay, but I want it to be your decision. I want you to stay because you want to stay, not because you have to stay. And I knew you would stay if your mother was still a slave, so I had Dad give her her freedom as well." She hesitated for a moment. "Are you staying?" she then asked, nervous.

Faith stared at her for a few moments, realizing that Buffy was actually afraid that she would leave.

"Of course I'm staying," she said and hugged her.

Buffy hugged her back, relieved.

"Good."

Dawn stared at them, confused.

"Faith and Auntie Maria were slaves?" she asked her mother, surprised.

Mrs Summers nodded.

"Yes."

Dawn frowned.

"Why?"

"I don't know," Mrs Summers said and looked at Maria.

"We were captured after our town was destroyed," Maria explained. "We were sold into slavery and Buffy bought us."

"Oh."

Buffy and Faith stopped hugging and they looked at Dawn, holding their hands.

"It doesn't matter anymore, Dawnie," Faith said with a smile.

Dawn smiled back.

"Okay."

"Come, try your new dress," Buffy said.

At night, they lay in bed, facing one another.

"Thank you, Buffy," Faith said.

Buffy smiled.

"You're welcome," she said and reached over to move a curl of hair off of Faith's face.

They stared at one another for a few moments.

"Why did you free me?"

Buffy sighed.

"Well, you know I've never thought of you as a slave," she said, and Faith nodded, "but sometimes I've had this feeling that you thought about it and it made you sad," she continued, and Faith looked away, which Buffy considered to be an acknowledgement. "I don't want you to be sad. I've been thinking about freeing you for a while, but I decided to wait until your eighteenth birthday."

Faith looked at her.

"Why?"

Buffy blushed.

"Well, it's an important birthday," she said. "You can get married now."

Faith frowned.

"To whom?"

Buffy shrugged.

"To whomever you want."

"I don't want to get married."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

Faith nodded.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," she blurted, blushing furiously, and looked away, hoping she hadn't just ruined her friendship with Buffy.

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"Really?" she asked and smiled widely.

Faith nodded, still looking away.

"Yes," she said quietly.

Buffy reached over and caressed her, making Faith look at her.

"Me too," she said and Faith's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

Faith smiled.

"Wow."

Buffy smiled back and sighed.

"You know, when I first saw you, there on the auctioning stage, I knew that you were special and I desperately wanted you."

"But why did you buy Mama?"

"Because I didn't want to separate you from her."

"Oh."

Buffy smiled a bit.

"I think I loved you even back then," she said thoughtfully and immediately blushed when she realized what she'd said.

Faith's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

Buffy nodded, nervous.

"Yes."

Faith smiled and caressed her.

"Me too," she said and Buffy smiled.

"Really?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes," she said and Buffy's smile widened.

"I wish I could marry you," Buffy blurted and blushed again.

Faith smiled.

"Me too."

She hesitated for a moment and then leaned closer. Buffy's eyes went wide when she realized what Faith wanted, but she didn't pull back, so Faith leaned even closer, until their lips touched. She hesitated for a moment, so Buffy took over the initiative and kissed her.

Their lips explored one another for a few moments and then Faith pulled back.

"Wow," she said and Buffy smiled.

"Yes. We should do this more often," she said and Faith smiled.

"Yes. But we should make sure no one sees us, because I don't think they would understand."

Buffy nodded.

"Yes." She sighed. "I wish we could tell."

"Me too." Faith took a deep breath and cuddled up to Buffy. "I love you, Buffy."

Buffy smiled and hugged her back.

"I love you too, Faith."

25 years old.

As Buffy and Faith went to the pond for a swim, Faith was nervous. She had bought a ring for Buffy and she wanted to propose to her. She knew they couldn't get married legally, but she wanted Buffy to have something more than just words.

When they reached the pond, they stripped naked. They had always swam naked, ever since Faith had taught Buffy how to swim. As they'd grown up, things had gotten a little tense because their bodies developed and they realized that they loved one another, but they had gotten used to it.

When she was naked, Faith took a small box she had been hiding. She waited for Buffy to undress and then took her hand. She hesitated for a moment, nervous.

"Em, I know this is not legal, but I want you to have more than just words," she started. She got on her knees and presented Buffy the little box. "Would you marry me, Buffy Summers?"

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"Oh Faith!" she said and hugged her. "You know I would." She let go of Faith and looked at the ring inside the box. "Wow, it's beautiful," she said. She took it out and put it on. Then she looked at Faith. "Thank you, Faith," she said and kissed her.

Faith smiled, glad that her plan worked.

"You're welcome."

"Ooh! I know. We could have our own ceremony," Buffy suggested.

Faith frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we can't get married legally, but we could make up a ceremony. I'm going to buy a ring for you tomorrow and we can get married on Sunday."

Faith smiled.

"That's a good idea," she said and hugged Buffy. "I just wish we could share it with our parents."

Buffy nodded.

"Me too."

Faith let go of Buffy.

"Come, let's go swimming."

"Just let me put away the ring."

The next day, Buffy and Mrs Summers went shopping and Faith remained at home on purpose, she wanted Buffy to surprise her.

When Buffy returned home, she and Faith immediately ran to their room and Buffy gave Faith her ring.

"Wow," Faith said as she took it. "It's a lot like yours, only not."

Buffy nodded, smiling.

"I know."

Faith smiled and put it on. She extended her hand and looked at it and Buffy did the same.

"I can't wait for Sunday," Faith said.

"Me neither," Buffy said.

"Have you any idea what the ceremony will look like?"

"Yes," Buffy said and smiled. "You'll like it."

Faith smiled.

"I'm sure I will," she said and kissed Buffy.

When Sunday finally came, Buffy and Faith were both nervous. They had to wait until after lunch before they could go to the pond.

"So, how is this supposed to go?" Faith asked when they got to the pond.

Buffy smiled and blushed.

"First, we undress."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"We are getting married naked?"

Buffy's blush deepened.

"You proposed to me naked," she pointed out, and Faith blushed as well.

"Okay," Faith said and started to undress.

Buffy smiled and started to undress as well.

"Now what?" Faith asked when they were both naked.

Buffy smiled and took her hand.

"Come," she said and led them to the pond. She stopped when they were knee deep, and faced Faith. "Give me your ring," she said and took off her own. "Here," she said when Faith took off her ring, and they exchanged the rings. Buffy then took a deep breath, nervous. "Faith Carrera, do you take me to be your wife?" she asked.

Faith smiled.

"I do."

Buffy smiled back.

"Ask me the same," she whispered.

"Buffy Summers, do you take me to be your wife?"

"I do." She took another deep breath. "With this ring, I take you, Faith Carrera, to be my wife," she said and put the ring on Faith's finger.

Faith smiled again.

"With this ring, I take you, Buffy Summers, to be my wife," she said and put the ring on Buffy's finger.

Buffy smiled back.

"I love you, Faith Carrera."

"I love you too, Buffy Summers."

Buffy leaned closer and they kissed.

"Did you like it?" Buffy asked when they stopped kissing.

Faith smiled widely.

"Yes, it was wonderful."

Buffy smiled as well.

"Good," she said and caressed her. "Let's go swim now."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"We just got married and you want to go swimming?"

Buffy blushed.

"We're in the open now, Faith. Our honeymoon will have to wait until we go to bed."

Faith blushed as well.

"Okay," she said. "Now I really need to get cold."

Buffy's blush deepened. She took Faith's hand.

"Come," she said and led them deeper into the pond.

"Oh, wait! The rings!"

"They'll have to get wet sometime," Buffy said. "I'm not taking mine off ever again."

Faith smiled.

"Me neither."

70 years old.

Buffy and Faith sat on a bench under a tree, holding hands, and watched Dawn's grandchildren play.

"I wish we had children of our own," Faith said with a sigh.

Buffy smiled and glanced at her.

"Me too," she said and gently squeezed her hand.

"Beth, don't do that," Dawn scolded one of her granddaughters, who was pulling at her cousin's dress.

Buffy and Faith smiled.

"At least she has plenty of them," Faith said.

"Yes," Buffy agreed.

Dawn shook her head as she approached them, carrying a tray.

"I almost forgot what it was like," she said with a smile and Buffy and Faith chuckled. "Here, I thought you'd like some refreshments," she said and put the tray down.

"Thank you," Buffy said.

Dawn poured them each a glass and then sat on a chair.

"Having fun with the children?" Faith asked, smirking.

Dawn sighed.

"I don't know what I'd do without you two."

"Get their parents to take care of them?" Faith suggested.

Dawn smiled.

"I guess," she said and took a sip. She thought for a moment. "Can I ask you something personal?"

"Sure."

Dawn hesitated again.

"How come you two never married? I mean, Lord knows you've had plenty of suitors."

Buffy and Faith looked at one another and Faith shrugged.

"We're old enough to not care anymore."

Buffy smiled and they looked back at Dawn.

"Who said we didn't?" she said and showed Dawn her ring.

Faith did the same.

Dawn frowned as she looked at the rings.

"These are wedding rings?" she asked.

"Yes."

"But you've had them for, I don't know, a long time."

"Yes."

"And who are the lucky men?"

Buffy and Faith glanced at one another, smiling.

"There are no lucky men," Faith said.

Dawn's frown deepened.

"There aren't?"

Faith shook her head.

"No, just two lucky women."

Dawn's eyes went wide.

"You married a woman?" she asked and looked from Faith to Buffy and back.

Buffy and Faith chuckled.

"No, silly, we married one another," Buffy explained.

Dawn blinked, surprised, and looked from one to the other again.

"You mean you're wife and… wife?"

Buffy and Faith smiled.

"Yes."

Dawn stared at them for a few moments, and they started to get worried that she would freak out. But Dawn finally smiled.

"Did you have a ceremony? Who married you? When? Where?"

Buffy and Faith chuckled.

"We did have a ceremony," Buffy said. "We married one another over by the pond. We were twenty-five."

"Really? And the rings?"

"Faith bought mine first and she proposed to me. The next day, I bought her ring and on Sunday, we got married."

"And when did you, eh, you know, find out you were in love?"

Buffy and Faith looked at one another lovingly.

"On my eighteenth's birthday," Faith said. "We talked at night and we ended up confessing that we love one another."

"Oh." Dawn smiled. "Wow."

Buffy and Faith smiled.

"You're not… mad?" Buffy then asked.

Dawn raised an eyebrow.

"Do I look mad?"

"No."

"Well. And besides, I'm excited. I mean, my sisters got married." She frowned. "Okay, that didn't sound the way it was supposed to," she said, and Buffy and Faith chuckled.

"Thank you, Dawnie."

Dawn raised an eyebrow.

"Don't you think I'm old enough to be called Dawn?" she asked, and Buffy and Faith laughed.

"I'm sorry," Buffy said. "It's just that this is a special occasion. I mean, you're the only one of our family that knows."

"You didn't tell Mom, Dad and Auntie Maria?"

"No."

"Oh."

"But we're glad that we could tell you," Faith said.

"Yes," Buffy agreed.

Dawn smiled.

"Thank you." She looked from one to the other. "I take it it's a happy marriage?"

Buffy and Faith smiled.

"Very."

Dawn nodded.

"Good."

The children started making noise again and Dawn looked at them.

"Great," she muttered, rolling her eyes. She looked back at Buffy and Faith. "I have to go make some order."

Her sisters smiled.

"Okay," Buffy said.

Dawn left and Buffy leaned her head on Faith's shoulder.

"I'm glad she accepted us," she said.

Faith nodded and put her arm around Buffy's shoulder.

"Me too," she said and leaned her head on Buffy's.

They quietly watched as Dawn tried to calm down the children and restore some order, both wishing that they could've had children of their own.

The End