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.

Memories of Faith
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Joyce and Tina observed the lair of the worm-like demons they'd come to destroy. They'd been there before, but they'd failed to destroy them. Now, they had a different plan. They knew that the big ones weren't dangerous, mostly, but the little ones were, because they could fly. They would come out at night, fly around and cause serious burns on people as they fed. So now they decided to take out the little ones. They knew that too much heat killed them, so they made a couple of Molotov cocktails. They weren't worried about the survivors going after them, because they knew the heat from the fire would hide them from the demons' thermal vision.

"I'm going to the other side," Tina said.

"Be careful," Joyce said.

"I will. Don't forget to keep one cocktail for your retreat."

"I won't."

Tina took a deep breath and then started to move across the narrow ledge to the other side of the cavern.

Joyce prepared her cocktails and waited for Tina.

When Tina got to the other side, she prepared her cocktails and then looked at Joyce. She gave her a thumbs-up and Joyce returned it. Tina then lit her cocktails and started throwing them down at the nest.

The demons immediately reacted. The big ones started thrashing around and the little ones gathered in swarms. Tina targeted those swarms.

"I'm out!" she called when she ran out of the cocktails.

Then Joyce started to throw her cocktails, covering Tina's retreat.

The fastest way out was down and though the lower opening. She'd thrown a couple of the cocktails there, so it was clear of demons. She quickly climbed down.

"Shit!" Joyce screamed.

Tina looked up and saw a swarm head for her sister.

"Joyce!" she called, worried.

"Go!" Joyce called.

Tina quickly ran out.

Outside the cave, Buffy wondered if she was at the correct location. She'd just decided to go in to investigate when smoke started to come out of the cave. She figured that it probably was the right location, so she went in. After a few moments, she nearly ran into a girl. They stared at one another for a couple of moments, surprised.

"Auntie Buffy!" Tina then recognized her, surprised.

"Huh?" Buffy said, startled.

Tina looked back.

"We gotta get out. Now!"

Tina ran out, and Buffy followed her, confused.

"What's going on?" Buffy asked when they stopped outside.

"That," Tina said and pointed at the approaching swarm.

"What is that?" Buffy said, startled, and got ready for a fight.

"The little ones. Don't worry, they get killed by the sunlight. Damn, I wish I had a flame-thrower." The flying worm demons started coming into the sunlight and immediately burst into flames. "Come, we gotta go help Joyce."

Buffy looked at her.

"Joyce? Who's Joyce?"

"My sister. Come!"

"Where are we going?"

"There's another opening. It leads to the top of the nest. That's where we went in, but I couldn't get back because of the smoke. A swarm of the little ones went right at her."

"Oh."

They quickly got to the opening and went in, hoping they wouldn't run into a swarm.

"Joyce?" Tina called when they heard coughing.

"I'm here!" Joyce said.

Tina rushed to her and supported her. Buffy did the same and they quickly got out.

"You okay?" Tina asked outside.

Joyce nodded.

"Yes, thanks," she said and coughed. "Damn smoke."

"What happened?" Tina asked.

"I threw a couple of cocktails after you, so they didn't follow you. I threw the rest around myself and one at the opening." She scratched herself. "A couple got through, but I smashed them. Damn, it itches." Then she looked at Buffy. "Auntie Buffy," she said, surprised.

"Eh…" Buffy said, confused. "You two know me?"

Tina nodded.

"Yeah. Mom told us about you."

"But we've never met."

"Mom had a photo of you."

"Your mom?"

"Yeah, Faith."

"Faith?"

"Yes. Your sister Slayer."

"Faith is your mom?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yes."

"But… I didn't know she had children."

"I'm Tina and this is Joyce."

"How old are you?"

"Thirteen."

"Almost fourteen," Joyce said.

"Yeah."

"Which month?" Buffy asked.

"End of August," Joyce said.

"Oh."

"Why?"

Buffy shook her head.

"You know who your dad is?"

The twins shook their head.

"No," Tina said. "Why?"

Buffy sighed.

"I thought I knew who it might have been, but the time doesn't match. Your mom was in coma then."

The twins looked at one another.

"She was raped?" Joyce asked, guessing.

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"I think so."

"Oh."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Where do you live now?"

"In a motel."

"Motel? Didn't the social services take care of you?"

"They did, but we didn't like it there."

"Oh." Buffy sighed. She hesitated for a moment. "How did she die?"

"We're not sure. It was something big."

"Can you show me where she's buried?"

"Sure."

They started walking.

"What are you doing here?" Tina asked.

"I was looking for these demons you just exterminated."

"Really?"

"We probably didn't get them all," Joyce said.

"They only go out in large swarms, not individually," Buffy said.

"Oh."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"You go out killing demons?" she then asked.

"No, not really," Tina said. "Sometimes, when they cause trouble. These were hurting people in our neighborhood, so we decided to take them out."

"Oh."

"It's gonna take them a century to respawn."

They were quiet for a while.

"What was she like?" Buffy then asked.

"Mom?" Tina asked.

"Yes."

The twins looked at one another.

"She was wonderful. We weren't rich or anything, but we weren't starving either."

"And she taught us a lot," Joyce asked.

"Do you still hate her?" Tina asked.

Buffy looked at her.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I've had time to think about it. We both messed up. I just wish I'd seen through her façade and be there for her when she needed me."

"She regretted it," Joyce said. "She said that when we were off to college, she would go to you and apologize."

"Really?" Buffy said.

"Yeah." Joyce paused for a moment. "She was a wonderful mom."

"Tell us about her," Tina said.

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"How much did she tell you about her life before you were born?"

"Pretty much everything. She told us about the murders and what she did to you."

Buffy sighed. She thought for a few moments.

"She was very… lively. Sometimes too much. But I think I understand that now." She sighed. "She was afraid to open up, because she got hurt a lot. So she pretended that she didn't care." She thought for a moment. "There weren't many people that she trusted."

"Three," Tina said.

"Three?" Buffy said, startled.

"Your mother, her first Watcher and Angel."

"How do you know?"

"She told us."

"She named me after your mom," Joyce said.

"And me after her first Watcher," Tina said.

"Oh," Buffy said, surprised. She thought for a moment. "My sister named her daughter after your mom."

"Really?" Tina said, and smiled.

"Yes."

"How old is she?" Joyce asked.

"Faith? Five."

"Do you have any children?" Tina asked.

"No."

"Are you married?"

"No."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Buffy smiled.

"No."

"Mom said that Sunnydale was destroyed," Joyce said.

"Yes."

"Where do you live?"

"In LA."

"Oh."

Buffy thought for a few moments.

"What do you do all day long?" she then asked.

"We go to school in the morning and work in the afternoon."

"You go to school?" Buffy said, surprised.

Joyce nodded.

"Yes."

"Do the social services know?"

"No. When we ran away from our last foster family, we paid a woman to pretend she was our mom so we could enroll."

"Oh."

"Mom insisted that we finish school," Tina said.

"Where do you work?" Buffy asked.

"We waitress and stuff."

"Aren't you a little young for that?"

"They don't serve alcohol where we work."

"Oh."

"What do you do?" Joyce asked.

"I'm a school counselor."

"Oh."

"This is it," Tina said when they got to Faith's grave.

Buffy slowly approached the grave. She noticed two piles of pebbles and she frowned, but then she remembered Willow telling her it was s Jewish custom to bring pebbles instead of flowers.

"The pebbles are yours?" she asked the twins, who had remained behind.

The girls nodded.

"Yes," Joyce said.

"That's a Jewish custom."

"We know."

"Flowers die, but pebbles remain," Tina said.

"Oh," Buffy said and turned back to the grave.

She stared at the grave for a while, not sure how to feel. She'd felt angry at Faith for so long, but when she finally had the time to think about it, she realized that she missed Faith. It had taken her a while to figure out why she missed Faith in spite of everything that Faith had done to her, and even longer to accept it, but it wasn't until now that she stood on Faith's grave that she was absolutely certain that, strange as it may be, she loved Faith. And Faith wasn't coming back.

She felt like she had a hole in her stomach. She wished that she could've seen Faith as a mother, to see what she was like when she wasn't running away from something or hiding behind her walls. She wondered if her mother had seen past Faith's walls. She wished she had taken the time to ask. But now Faith was gone, leaving behind two daughters who might be on their way to become like Faith had been. She didn't want the girls to turn out like Faith, and she had a feeling that Faith didn't either. She felt responsible for the girls. She wasn't sure how the girls would feel about it, but she wanted to help them, take them in and take care of them.

She blinked, and realized she was crying. She wiped her tears and took a deep breath. Then she faced the girls, who glanced at one another when they noticed that Buffy had been crying. She hesitated for a moment.

"Eh, do you want to move in with me?" she asked.

The girls looked at one another, surprised.

"With you?" Joyce said.

"Yes."

"Why?"

Buffy sighed.

"I feel I owe it to your mom. I don't want you to turn out like her. Before she had you, I mean. She had so many issues and she kept running. I don't want you to have to run or worry how you're going to pay rent or food. You should be going to school, hang out with friends and have fun." She hesitated for a moment, glancing at the grave. "I don't want to remember her by the bad things she's done."

The girls looked at one another.

"We'd have to move to LA?" Tina asked.

"Eh, yeah, I guess," Buffy said.

"We'll think about it."

Buffy smiled a little.

"Okay. I can stay till Sunday, but I can extend my leave, if necessary." She thought for a moment. "Can you show me where you live?"

"Sure," Tina said, but Buffy could see that Joyce wasn't very happy about it.

"Nice," Buffy said when she took a look around the girls' apartment. "This feels more like a home than your mom's. She wasn't really into decorating."

"She made the decorations," Tina said.

Buffy looked at her, surprised.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Buffy smiled a little.

"Do you have any photos of her?"

"Yes." Tina fetched a small album. "Here."

"Thanks."

"Wanna sit down?"

Buffy smiled at her.

"Sure." She sat on a chair and opened the album. "You have a camera?" she asked when she saw that the photos weren't from a photo machine.

"Yes."

Buffy slowly leafed through the album. There were mostly photos of the girls and sometimes of Faith and the girls, but there was no photo of Faith by herself and Buffy found that sad. The good thing, however, was the light in Faith's eyes as she was hugging her daughters, which grew with every photo she was in.

"You said you had a photo of me?" she asked when she was done.

"Yes," Tina said and fetched it.

Buffy looked at it and smiled.

"I wondered where it was."

She stared at it and then gave it back to Tina.

"You're not gonna keep it?" Tina asked, surprised.

"No, you keep it."

Joyce went to a bag and fetched a letter.

"She left this for you," she said and gave it to Buffy.

"For me?" Buffy said, startled.

"Yeah."

Buffy opened the letter.

Buffy,

PS: Thank your mom for believing in me.

Buffy quietly stared at the letter for a few moments, feeling a lump in her throat. She took a deep breath.

"Thanks," she said. She hesitated for a moment and then gave the letter to Tina. "Here."

"You want us to read it?" Tina asked, surprised.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. You can give it to me tomorrow."

"Okay."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"When can I drop by?"

Tina thought for a moment.

"In the evening. After 8."

"Okay." Buffy got up. She smiled at the girls. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Okay."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Buffy left.

"You're not actually thinking of moving in with her?" Joyce then said.

Tina looked at her.

"Yes."

"You're not serious."

"I am. And she has a point."

"What point?"

"I don't want to keep worrying how we're gonna pay our rent. I wanna have fun."

"We have fun."

"I know, but we always have to worry."

"I don't want her to pity us. We can survive on our own."

"I know we can. She knows that too. And I don't think she's pitying us."

"She's only taking us in because of Mom."

"I know. And Mom wanted us to find her, remember?"

"So?"

"She wanted her to take care of us."

"Why would she? They hated one another."

"Not always. Remember, Mom told us they also had a couple of good moments together."

"A couple. We don't even know her."

"She doesn't know us either, but she still offered to take us in. She didn't have to do this. And she wouldn't have done this if she still hated Mom."

"And what if she dies? She's a Slayer, Slayers die."

"But she's not the only one. Plus, she's the longest living Slayer. And she has friends, they'll take care of us."

"That's not the point," Joyce said and bit her lip. She hesitated for a moment. "What… What if we start caring about her and then she dies."

Tina smiled softly.

"Then we mourn her like we mourned Mom."

Joyce sighed.

"I don't want to go through that again."

Tina hugged her.

"I know, me neither." She paused for a moment. "But I don't want to live in a motel for the rest of my life either."

Joyce sighed.

"Thanks."

Tina let go of her.

"Let's read Mom's letter."

"Okay."

They quickly read the letter.

"She didn't say it," Joyce said when they were done.

"Yeah," Tina agreed. She looked at Joyce. "Should we tell her?"

Joyce shrugged.

"I don't know."

"She seemed to care about Mom, you saw she was crying."

"Yeah." Joyce thought for a moment. "Okay."

Tina hesitated for a moment.

"Do we move in with her?"

"I don't know. Let's both think about it first."

"Okay."

Back in her hotel room, Buffy thought about Faith and the girls. She was glad that in spite of everything she had done and everything she had been through Faith had managed to get back on her feet again. And not only that but raise two little girls as well. She missed Faith, in spite of everything that went on between them and in spite the fact that there were lots of other Slayers now. There was only one Faith and she regretted not having gotten to know her better. She hoped that she could remedy that, that Faith's daughters could tell her more about Faith. She wanted good memories of Faith, not just bad ones.

In the evening, she went out on patrol. There weren't many demons out, so she went to the graveyard, to visit Faith's grave. This time she had a pebble with her, as well as an extra pebble for the first time she had been to Faith's grave. She quietly stared at the grave for a while, remembering the good moments she had with Faith. Finally, she made a silent vow to take care of Faith's girls, if they would let her. Then she slowly returned to her hotel.

"Hi," Buffy said when she came around the next evening.

"Hi," Joyce said. "Come in."

Buffy entered.

"Hi," Tina said with a smile.

"Hi," Buffy said and smiled back.

"Your letter."

Buffy took the letter.

"Thanks." She glanced at Joyce. "You two okay?"

"Yeah," Joyce said.

"Are you gonna let us go out on patrol with you?" Tina asked.

Buffy looked at her, startled.

"No. And I don't think your mom let you either."

"We were younger then. And we've fought demons."

"I know, but I don't think your mom would approve."

"What do you know," Joyce said.

Buffy looked at her.

"Look, I know Faith and I didn't get along very well, but if there's one thing I know is that she would do anything to protect those she loved. Or at least cared about. I'm betting you two were the two most important people in her life and I know she would want you to be safe." She smiled softly. "My sister also wanted to help, but I didn't let her. At least not until she was older and knew how to fight."

"So that means you will let us go on patrol?"

"When you're older. Maybe. And I'll make damn sure you can fight before I do. And not on a school night."

Tina smiled.

"Okay."

Buffy smiled back.

"Maybe you should talk to my sister."

"Why?"

"Because she knows what it's like to be in your position."

"Oh."

Buffy looked at Joyce.

"Look, I know I can't replace your mom, I won't even try. You're right, I didn't know her very well, but I wish I had taken the time. And I wish I had been there for her when she needed me. I've been through a lot, but her turning against me hurt the most. I know, that was partially my fault, because I wasn't there for her. Anyway, I'm over that now and it looks like she was as well. I want to take care of you, it's the least I can do for her, and you. I'm not saying you have to think of me as your mom, but we could be friends. And we could remember her together. There's so much I'd like to know about her and I think there are a couple of things I could tell you about her as well. Of course, it's your choice. And if you don't want me to take care of you, I'd at least like to find you someone else, I don't want you to live on your own."

Joyce looked at her feet.

"We've thought about it," Tina said. "We've decided to go with you."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay." She hesitated for a moment. "Do you want to stay with me or do you want me to find you someone else?"

"We want to stay with you."

"Okay." Buffy thought for a moment. "Do you want me to be just your legal guardian or do you want me to adopt you?"

"What's the difference?"

Buffy frowned.

"I think I have more rights if I adopt you. I think. I'd have to check."

"Oh."

"If I become your legal guardian, I can always adopt you later, so don't worry."

"Okay." Tina hesitated for a moment. "Will you tell us about your mom and about Mrs Hutchinson?"

Buffy smiled again.

"Sure." She frowned. "Though I'll have to ask Giles about Mrs Hutchinson."

"Your Watcher?"

"Yes." Buffy thought for a moment. "When do you want to leave?"

The twins looked at one another.

"Tomorrow," Joyce said. "We still have to take care of our school papers."

"A friend of mine can take care of that."

"But don't they need you to be there?"

"No, they can send the papers to your new school."

"And if you adopt us, or become or legal guardian, you can sign stuff."

"Yes."

"Okay."

"Good." Buffy thought for a moment. "What about your job?"

"We already quit."

"Oh."

"How will we go? We can't go by plane."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Did your mom tell you about the ghost roads?"

"Yes. We're taking the ghost roads?"

"Yes."

"Cool," Tina said, excited.

Buffy smiled.

"When do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?"

"In the morning, at, I don't know, eleven."

"Okay." Buffy thought for a moment. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No."

"Wanna go to a restaurant with me?"

The girls looked at one another.

"Okay."

"What do we have to wear?" Joyce asked.

Buffy gave them a once over.

"You look okay, unless you want to wear a skirt."

The girls made face.

"We don't like skirts."

Buffy smiled.

"Your mom didn't either."

"We know."

"Though she did wear it once, to the prom."

"She went to a prom?" Tina asked, wide-eyed.

"With who?" Joyce asked.

"Well, she sort of asked me," Buffy said, blushing a bit. "But then me and Cordelia got kidnapped and stuff. Come, I'll tell you on the way."

When Buffy dropped the girls off at their motel, she went back to her hotel and called Willow.

"Buffy, hi!" Willow said as she answered.

"Hey, Willow."

"I was about to call you. How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"Good. Kennedy and me can come over for Christmas."

"Great. Dawn too."

"I know, I talked to her."

"Oh. Anyway, can you come to Boston tomorrow?"

"Boston?" Willow said, surprised.

"Yes. There were some demons I came to exterminate."

"Couldn't Jennifer or Dana do it? Or someone closer?"

"Jennifer and Dana are busy with other stuff. And besides, I wanted to come here."

"Really? Why?"

"I wanted to find out what happened to Faith."

"Faith?"

"Yes. I thought she might have come here."

"Oh. Did she?"

"Yes."

"What happened to her?"

"Something killed her, but I don't know what. You'll have to find out."

"Okay. But I can do that from here."

"I know, but that's not why I want you to come here."

"Oh."

"Faith had two daughters."

"What?"

"Yeah, I know, I was just as surprised. They're twins."

"How old are they?"

"Almost fourteen."

Willow did some calculation.

"Who's the father?"

"I don't know. It's not Xander though."

"Oh."

"I think some orderly raped her while she was in coma."

"Really?"

"Yeas, judging from their date of birth."

"I see. What are they like?"

Buffy smiled a little.

"They remind me of Faith. When she wasn't bad. She named them Joyce and Tina, after my mom and her first Watcher."

"Really?"

"Yes. Oh, can you find some more information about Mrs Hutchinson, Faith's first Watcher? The girls want to know more about her."

"Sure."

"Thanks. Anyway, I asked them to move in with me and they agreed."

"Really?"

"Yes. They're moving tomorrow, but they can't fly because they don't have passports, so I thought you could take us through the ghost roads."

"Oh. Sure."

"Thanks. And bring your laptop, I need you to take care of their papers."

"Are you gonna adopt them?"

"No, I just want to be their legal guardian. For now."

"Okay. Where do you want me to come?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"The Gatekeeper's mansion."

"When?"

Buffy did a quick calculation.

"At noon."

"Okay, I'll be there."

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

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

When Buffy came to the twins' motel the next day, the girls were ready.

"Wow, that's a lot of bags," Buffy said.

"It's mom's stuff and our books," Joyce said.

"Okay, let's put it in the car."

"Okay."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"I thought we could go visit your mom's grave one last time before we leave Boston."

"Okay," Tina said.

"Will we ever come back?" Joyce asked.

Buffy smiled.

"I thought we could come here once a year to visit her gave."

Joyce smiled.

"Okay."

"Come."

Buffy grabbed a couple of bags and the girls grabbed the rest. Then they went out to the car.

"We're going to pick up Willow, a friend of mine."

"The witch?" Tina asked.

"Yes. She's gonna take us to LA after we drop off the car."

"Okay."

After they loaded up the car, the girls did one final check to make sure they didn't forget anything.

On Faith's grave, they just stood quietly, staring at the tombstone. When Buffy put down her own pebble, the twins noticed that there were three pebbles on Buffy's pile. They quietly said their goodbyes and then they left.

When they got to the Gatekeeper's mansion, Willow was already waiting. Buffy pulled over and let her in.

"Hey," Willow said with a smile.

Buffy smiled back.

"Hey. Been waiting long?"

"About five minutes."

Buffy glanced at the girls.

"Girls, this is Willow. Willow, these are Tina and Joyce, Faith's daughters."

"Hi," Willow said with a smile.

"Hi," the girls said in unison.

Willow looked at Buffy.

"Where to now?"

"I need to drop off this car and then we go to LA."

"Okay."

Willow fastened her seatbelt and they drove off.

After Buffy dropped off the car, Buffy, Willow and the girls picked up the bags. They went to a nearby alley and Willow opened up a portal to the ghost roads. Willow led the way, followed by the girls, Buffy bringing up the rear. The girls looked around, curious and nervous at the same time.

But they were quickly through and they came out in Buffy's house.

"Thanks," Buffy said.

"No problem," Willow said.

"Let's take the bags upstairs."

"Okay."

They went upstairs.

"Well, this is my room," Buffy said when they got to her room. She looked at the girls. "One of you can have it, the other one can have Dawn's room, she said it's okay. Or you can have one of the guest rooms. Whatever you want."

"What about you?" Joyce asked.

"I'm moving to the master bedroom."

"What about your parents?"

"Mom's dead and Dad doesn't live here anymore. He rarely visits."

"And your sister?"

"She lives in England with her family."

"Oh."

"Well, take a look around the rooms. I'll start moving my stuff to the master bedroom and then we can help Willow take care of the records."

"Okay," Tina said.

"I'll go set up my laptop," Willow said.

"Okay."

Buffy went to the closet and started planning.

"Let's go check out the rooms," Tina said.

"Okay," Joyce agreed and they left.

They first went to Dawn's room.

"This is Auntie Dawn's room, right?" Tina said as they entered.

"Yeah."

"I like it."

"Yeah, it's nice," Joyce agreed.

Tina looked around.

"I think I'll stay here."

"I'll take Auntie Buffy's room then."

"Okay." Tina looked at her sister. "What do you think?"

Joyce looked at her.

"About what?"

"This place."

"The house? It's nice."

"Yeah."

"I hope we get along with Auntie Buffy."

"Me too. I'd like to know more about Mom's… darker days."

"Me too. And maybe we can help Auntie Buffy understand why Mom acted that way."

Tina nodded.

"Yeah."

"Let's go check out the rest of the house."

"Auntie Buffy," Joyce said when they got to the master bedroom after they checked out the rest of the house.

Buffy looked at them and smiled.

"Yes?"

"I'll stay in your room and Tina will stay in Auntie Dawn's room."

"Okay. I'm almost done for now. Why don't you two go see if Dawn's closets are all empty. I think there's still some stuff there."

"What do we do with it?"

"Nothing yet, I'll have to see what it is and then ask Dawn about it."

"Okay."

"I'll meet you downstairs."

"Well, that's it," Willow said when she got all the information. "It'll take me a while to forge all the records, and then you'll have to wait a week or so for the papers."

"Cool," Tina said.

"Let's go see what's in Dawn's closets," Buffy said. "And then, while I'm talking with Dawn, you can choose a couple of photos, so we can have them blown up and hanged around. And put on your nightstands."

"Okay," Joyce said.

Buffy looked at Willow.

"Call, if you need anything."

"Okay," Willow said, already engrossed in hacking.

When Buffy was done talking to Dawn, she went to her old room, where the girls were checking out the photos.

"Find anything?"

"Yeah, a couple," Tina said.

"You got the negatives?"

"Yes."

"Good. Can I see?"

"Sure."

Tina gave Buffy the photos and Buffy quickly looked them over.

"Nice," Buffy said with a smile, "I like them." She returned the photos. "Bring me the negatives when you find them and mark which you want for your nightstands."

"Okay."

"Do you want one for your nightstand?" Joyce asked.

"Yes," Buffy said. "I'll take the third one."

The girls looked at the photo.

"Okay."

"Do you have any photos of Mom?" Tina asked.

Buffy sighed.

"No, I'm afraid not."

"Oh."

"She loved you," Joyce blurted.

"What?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Joyce," Tina chided her.

Joyce looked at Tina.

"What? We said we'd tell her."

"How do you know?" Buffy asked.

The girls looked at her.

"She often stared at your photo," Joyce said.

"She never said it directly, but we knew," Tina said. "We asked her about it, but she avoided the question. She said she didn't deserve you."

"Oh," Buffy said, feeling sad again. She took a deep breath to calm down. "Thank you for telling me."

Tina shrugged.

"We thought you should know."

Buffy smiled for a moment.

"Thank you." She hesitated for a moment. "I loved her as well," she then admitted.

"Really?" Joyce said.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. But it took me a long time to figure it out." She sighed. "I wish I had found the courage to go find her and tell her." She hesitated for a moment. "Maybe she'd still be alive."

The girls looked at one another.

"It wasn't your fault," Tina said.

"I know. But that doesn't make me feel any better." She took another deep breath. "Are you gonna look for the negatives or help me move Dawn's stuff?"

"Move."

"Okay."

When Willow was done hacking, she went upstairs to Buffy and the twins.

"Hey, Wills," Buffy said. "Need help?"

"No, I'm done."

"Already?"

"Yes. I also found out more about Faith and her first Watcher. I copied the files to your computer."

"Really? That's great. Thanks."

Willow smiled.

"No problem."

"Let's go tell the girls."

"Okay."

They went to Dawn's old room, where the girls were redecorating.

"Hey," Buffy said as they entered.

The twins looked at them.

"Hey," Joyce said.

"Willow is done hacking," Buffy told them. "She also found out more about your mom and her first Watcher. She copied it to my computer."

"Really?" Joyce said, excited.

"Faith & Tina folder," Willow said.

"Thanks."

Willow smiled.

"No problem. I'm going back to England now. I think there are some written records as well, I'll see if I can find them."

"Okay. Thanks."

Willow looked at Buffy.

"I'll see you for Christmas then."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay."

They hugged briefly, and then Willow opened a portal to the ghost roads and left.

"This is so cool," Tina said, staring at the portal.

"Yeah," Joyce agreed.

"Can we go look at the files now?" Tina then asked Buffy.

"Now?"

"Yeah."

"I thought you were redecorating."

"It can wait."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay. Come."

They went downstairs.

"Do you want to go through this alone?" Buffy asked as she accessed the folder.

The twins looked at one another.

"No, it's okay," Joyce said.

Buffy smiled.

"Thanks." She looked at the files. "So, who do you want to start with?"

"Mom," the twins said in unison.

"Okay."

For Christmas, Willow and Kennedy were the first to arrive. The twins immediately grew to like Kennedy, who reminded them of their mother a little. When it was time to go pick Dawn and her family from the airport, Kennedy stayed behind to watch the twins, who had convinced her to teach them a couple of tricks.

When Buffy and Willow returned with Dawn and her family, the twins waited at the front door, a little nervous.

“Need help with the bags?” Kennedy asked.

“Yes, please,” Dawn said.

Kennedy looked at the twins.

“Come on, guys.”

The girls came closer.

“So, you’re Faith’s daughters,” Dawn said with a smile.

“Yeah,” Joyce said.

“Which is which?”

“I’m Joyce.”

“I’m Tina.”

“I’m Dawn. And these little munchkins are Faith, Tom and Tony,” she introduced the children, who were hiding behind her. She smiled. “I named Faith after your mom.”

“We know, Auntie Buffy told us.”

“Oh.”

“Mom named me after your mom,” Joyce said.

“I know. Anyway, that’s my husband George.”

“Hi,” George said with a smile.

“How old are they?” Tina asked.

Dawn glanced at her children.

“Tony is six and the twins are five.”

“They’re twins?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“Come on, guys, let’s get this stuff in,” Kennedy said.

“Come, children, let’s go inside,” Dawn said and shepherded the children into the house.

“Who are those girls, Mommy?” Faith asked.

Dawn smiled at her.

“They’re the daughters of a friend of Aunt Buffy. Aunt Buffy is taking care of them now that their mommy is gone.”

“Oh.”

“I named you after their mommy.”

Faith’s eyes went wide.

“Really?”

“Yes. And one of the girls is named after my mommy.”

“How old are they?” Tony asked.

“Almost fourteen.” Dawn thought for a moment. “You know, now that Aunt Buffy is taking care of them, I guess you could say that they’re your big cousins.”

“Like Betty and Daniel?” Tom asked.

“Yes.”

“Cool.”

Dawn smiled.

“Anyone thirsty?”

“Me!” Tom said.

“I need to pee,” Faith said.

“Okay, boys, wait here. Tell Aunt Buffy you’re thirsty.”

“Okay,” Tony said.

“Come, sweetie,” Dawn said and went upstairs with Faith.

Then Buffy and the rest came in, loaded with luggage.

“Aunt Buffy, we’re thirsty,” Tony said.

Buffy looked around.

"George?" she said, since she, Willow, Kennedy and even the twins were fully loaded and he was not.

"Sure," George said and put the bags down. "Come, boys," he said and led the way to the kitchen.

"Let's take this upstairs," Buffy said.

They went upstairs, to Tina’s room.

“The kids will be staying in your room,” she told Tina. “Just put the bags down, Dawn will sort them out later.”

“Okay,” Tina said.

“They have a lot of baggage,” Joyce commented as she watched the pile of bags.

“You should’ve seen how much they had when the kids were just babies, it was at least twice as much.”

“Wow."

“Ah, you’re here,” Dawn said as she and Faith came from the bathroom. She looked around the room. “It reminds me of when I was little,” she said and smiled at the twins. She thought for a moment, trying to remember which was which. “You’re Tina, right?”

“Yes,” Tina said.

“Okay. I hope you don’t mind the kids staying here.”

“No it’s okay.”

“Good.” Dawn looked at Buffy. "Where are the boys?"

“Drinking.”

Faith noticed the photo on the nightstand.

"Is that your mommy?" she asked and pointed at the photo.

The twins glanced at the photo and smiled.

"Yes," Joyce said.

"She's pretty. Where is she?"

The twins glanced at one another.

"She's, eh, dead," Joyce said.

"Why?"

Joyce glanced at Buffy.

"Eh, I guess it was her time."

"Why?"

Joyce shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Oh." Faith thought for a moment. "Was her name really Faith, like me?"

Joyce smiled.

"Yes."

"Cool," Faith said with a smile.

Joyce smiled back.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, everyone out, so I can unpack,” Dawn then said. “Children, why don’t you go with your cousins and watch TV or something.”

“Can we watch cartoons?” Tom asked.

“Sure,” Tina said with a smile. "Come."

Tom took her hand. Faith followed his example and took Joyce’s. Tony looked from Joyce to Tina and back and then took Joyce’s hand.

“Careful down the stairs,” Buffy said as they left.

When Dawn was done unpacking, she went to the bathroom. When she came out, she ran into Kennedy.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey," Kennedy said.

"The kids downstairs?"

"Yeah."

"How are they?"

Kennedy smiled.

"They're getting along great. Your kids seem to adore the twins."

Dawn smiled.

"That's nice. And the twins?"

"They were a bit awkward at first, but then they opened up. They're still a bit reserved when the grownups are around."

Dawn grinned.

"Just like their mother."

"You seem to have fond memories of Faith."

"Yes. I thought she was so cool. Even when the bad stuff happened, she was never mean to me. And before, I think I was actually the only person beside Buffy that she liked to hang out with. And when we talked, she never looked down on me, she treated me as her equal."

Kennedy smiled.

"Sounds like a nice girl."

Dawn sighed.

"She was. I'm glad she got back on her feet though. I just wish she'd come back."

"Yeah, we could've used her help against the First."

"That too. Is Buffy downstairs?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

In the evening, Dawn allowed her children to stay up a little longer, but when they started drifting off, she and George took them upstairs and tucked them in.

Buffy also allowed the twins to stay up. Until Dawn's children went to bed, the twins played with them, but after they were put to bed, the twins were stuck with the grownups. They felt a little awkward at first, but then Dawn started to talk fondly about Faith, and the girls relaxed and listened, curious, glad that their mother wasn't remembered only by the bad things she had done.

When the twins decided to go to bed, Buffy decided to turn in as well.

"You don't have to go to bed because of us," Tina said.

Buffy smiled.

"I know. But I don't want to wake you up either. Come."

"Okay."

"Night, guys," Buffy told her friends.

"Night, Buffy," Dawn said. "Night, girls."

"Night," the twins said in unison.

"You know, I actually don't feel mad at Faith anymore," Willow said when Buffy and the twins went upstairs.

Dawn smiled.

"That's nice."

"Yes," Willow said and leaned on Kennedy.

"So, how do you want to do this?" Buffy asked when they came to the master bedroom.

"Do what?" Tina asked.

"How do you want to sleep? On either side of me? On my left? On my right?"

"Oh."

The twins studied the bed for a couple of moments, thinking, and then looked at one another.

"On either side?" Joyce asked.

Buffy smiled a little.

"Okay."

She got in and the girls joined her on either side.

"Feeling comfortable?" Buffy asked when they were covered.

"Yes," Joyce said.

"Yeah," Tina said.

"Okay," Buffy said. She hesitated for a moment. "Feel free to cuddle up to me."

"We're not little kids anymore," Tina snorted.

Buffy chuckled.

"I know. But that doesn't mean that you can't do that anymore."

"Right."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay, turn off the lights."

When Buffy suddenly found herself in her own room that wasn't quite her own, she was confused at first, but then she saw Faith staring out the window, and she understood.

"Faith," she said, her heart beating faster.

"They're so little," Faith said, still staring out the window.

Buffy went closer and looked out the window. Outside, she saw Faith's daughters playing when they were younger.

"Not so little anymore."

Faith looked at her, and Buffy could see the sadness in her eyes.

"I know," she said and looked out again.

Buffy looked again and was startled to see the twins their current age.

The twins looked up and waved at them, smiling.

Faith smiled back. Then she looked at Buffy.

"Thanks for taking care of them."

"I was kinda surprised when I read your letter."

"But you'd decided to take care of them before reading the letter."

"You know?" Buffy said, surprised.

"I see lots of things from here. Not as much as I'd like though." She took a deep breath, hesitating. "I'm sorry, Buffy, for everything."

"I know. I'm sorry too, for not seeing that you needed me."

"What I did wasn't your fault."

"I know, but if I'd paid attention, things might have turned out differently."

Faith sighed.

"I guess. I'm not blaming you though."

Buffy smiled a little.

"Thanks." She thought for a moment. "I wish I'd found the courage to look you up."

"Me too," Faith agreed.

They looked out the window.

"You know what's funny?" Faith said after a while.

Buffy looked at her.

"What?"

"That of all the things I've done or never gotten to do, the one thing I regret the most is not being there for them."

Buffy looked out.

"They're wonderful girls, you can be proud of them."

Faith smiled a little.

"Thanks."

"They're getting used to living with me, but they miss you very much."

"I know," Faith said, sad.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of them as if they were my own, I promise."

Faith glanced at her.

"I know. Thanks."

They stared out the window again.

"Dawn named her daughter after you," Buffy then said.

"Really?" Faith said, surprised, and looked at her.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. She misses you too."

Faith smiled a little.

"I miss her too. How is she?"

"Married, has three children. She lives in England."

"Nice."

"Yes. And her children adore your daughters."

Faith’s smile widened.

“They always wanted a little sister or brother.”

They stared at the girls again. Faith just quietly enjoyed her last minutes, and Buffy thought about finally admitting to Faith that she loved her. She finally took a deep breath.

"Faith," she said.

Faith looked at her.

"Yeah?"

"I… I love you," Buffy admitted, nervous.

Faith's eyes went wide.

"B…"

"I do," Buffy said. She smiled sadly. "I just wish I'd taken the courage to tell you that while you were alive." She sighed. "You know when it hit me? When I was at your grave and I realized that you weren't coming back."

They stared at one another for a couple of moments. Finally Faith sighed.

"I love you too, Buffy," she admitted, just as nervous as Buffy.

Buffy smiled.

"I know."

Faith raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"You do?"

"The girls told me."

Faith smiled a little and looked out.

"They're very smart."

Buffy smiled as well.

"Yes," she said and looked at the girls. She hesitated for a moment. "Faith?"

Faith looked at her.

"Yeah?"

Buffy blushed.

"I, eh, I've never kissed a girl."

Faith blinked and then a smile slowly spread across her face.

"All you had to do was ask, B," she said and wiggled her eyebrows.

Buffy smiled.

"I know, but I wasn't ready."

Faith's smile softened.

"I know." She hesitated for a moment. "So, want me to be your first?"

Buffy blushed.

"Yes."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then touched Buffy's cheek. Then she slowly leaned closer, until their lips were almost touching. Then she waited for Buffy.

Buffy guessed that Faith was waiting for her, so she leaned a little closer, and they kissed. It was a slow kiss at first, only lips to lips, but it slowly became more passionate. They moved closer and hugged. There was no ass grabbing, just a simple firm hug.

"Wow," Buffy said when she recovered from the kiss.

Faith grinned.

"I'm glad I haven't lost my touch."

Buffy blushed.

"Me too."

"I just wish we had more time so I could show you more."

Buffy frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"My time is coming."

"How do you know?"

"I can feel it."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I only remained to make sure the girls were okay, but I'm glad I got to talk to you."

Buffy smiled a little.

"Me too." She thought for a moment. "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

Faith shrugged.

"Don't know. You're the expert on being dead."

Buffy smiled.

"I know, but I forgot what it was like and if I was to be reincarnated or what."

"I sure hope there is, I'd hate to spend the rest of eternity in hell."

"Who said you were going to hell?" Buffy asked, startled.

"Nobody said I'm not. And besides, I'll find out soon enough."

Buffy sighed and leaned her head on Faith's shoulder.

"I hope there is reincarnation," she said.

"Me too," Faith said, leaning her head on Buffy's, and looked out at the girls. She felt that her time was almost up and she was scared, because she didn't know what awaited her. And the feeling that she deserved the worst didn't help either. "Buffy," she said as she finally remembered something.

Buffy looked at her.

"Yes?"

Faith hesitated for a moment, not quite sure how to put it.

"I hope you find someone to spend the rest of your life with."

"What?" Buffy said, startled.

Faith smiled a little.

"I know you love me, but I don't want you to be alone all your life. I guess what I'm saying is that it's okay for you to fall in love with someone else, I know I'll always be in your heart."

Buffy blinked and then smiled a little.

"When did you get so… so…"

Faith grinned.

"Death does wonders for a girl."

Buffy sighed.

"You're very special," she said and touched Faith's cheek.

"You too, Buffy," Faith said and kissed Buffy's palm.

Suddenly a portal opened where the door was. Faith felt it without looking.

"Faith," Buffy said, suddenly scared.

"It's time," Faith said.

Buffy hugged her tightly.

"I don't want you to go."

"I don't want to go either, but I have to."

Buffy slowly let go of Faith, and then wiped her tears.

"I love you."

Faith smiled.

"I love you too," she said and slowly let go of Buffy. "Don't forget to find someone, a man or a woman."

Buffy smiled a little.

"I'll try. I can't promise."

"I know." Faith moved backwards and looked out the window. "Tell them I love them."

"I will."

"Bye, Buffy."

"Bye, Faith."

Faith slowly walked toward the portal, scared.

"Oh, Faith, wait!" Buffy suddenly called when Faith reached the portal. Faith turned. "I forgive you."

Faith blinked and then smiled, glad.

"Thank you."

She blew Buffy a kiss and then stepped into the portal.

The portal closed, and Buffy suddenly woke up.

"Faith," she whispered.

"Mom!" the twins said in unison.

Buffy looked at them.

"Did you…" Tina started, looking across Buffy at Joyce.

"Yes," Joyce said.

Buffy smiled.

"You dreamed of your mom?" she asked.

The girls looked at her.

"How do you know?"

"I dreamed of her too." She frowned. "Or should I say with her."

"It was so real," Tina said. "You were there too."

Buffy nodded.

"I know. It was a Slayer dream, a shared dream. Your mom stayed around and watched over you, but now that I've found you, it was time for her to move on."

"Really?" Tina asked, wide-eyed.

"Yes." Buffy smiled softly. "She said she loves you."

"You talked to her?" Joyce asked, also wide-eyed.

"Yes."

"About what?" Tina asked.

"About the past. Us. She apologized, I forgave her, and vice versa. And we told each other that we loved one another."

"Really?"

"Yes." Buffy hesitated for a moment. "And we kissed."

"We saw that," Joyce said.

Buffy blushed a little.

"Oh."

"She actually said it?" Tina asked.

"After I said it first, but yes, she said it."

Tina smiled.

"Cool."

"Was she happy?" Joyce asked.

"Yes, but she was also scared."

"Why?"

"Because she didn't know what awaited her."

"Oh."

"You think she'll go to hell?" Tina asked, worried.

Buffy thought for a moment and then shook her head.

"No, I don't think so."

"But she killed people."

"I know, but she also regretted it. Honest regret has to be worth something."

"Oh."

"I miss her," Joyce said and lay her head on Buffy's shoulder.

"Me too," Tina said and did the same.

Buffy pressed them closer to herself and kissed them on the tops of their heads.

"I miss her too."

They quietly lay in bed, thinking about Faith.

Outside, a new day slowly dawned.

The End