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 read no further. This story is a sequel to The Baby. This is a Buffy/Angel crossover story.

Personal Demons
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Faith!"

Faith turned.

"Hi, Monique."

"We got a new student."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

"He says he knows you."

Faith raised the other eyebrow as well.

"He does?"

"Yes. He saw you earlier, but he didn't have the time to talk to you."

"What's his name?"

"Dennis."

Faith thought.

"I don't know any Dennis," she said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Although," she added after a thought crossed her mind, "he might have had a nickname before."

"Oh. Could be."

"What does he have right now?"

"I think it's Chemistry. Or Biology, I'm not certain."

"Okay, thanks."

Faith went to the Chemistry classroom and waited there. Fortunately, the Biology classroom was adjacent to the Chemistry classroom, so she could monitor both doors. The bell finally rang and the students came out. Faith waited and observed and finally she spotted a familiar figure.

"Hey, Bony!" she called and the boy turned.

"Quickie!" he said and approached her.

"What are you doing here, in a school of all places?" Faith asked when they stopped hugging. "And what's with the clean clothes and all?"

Dennis grinned.

"I cleaned up my act. I mean, I was so screwed up I even thought about killing myself."

"That bad?" Faith said, her face serious.

"Yeah."

"So how come you're here?"

"My dad got a job here."

"My condolences."

Dennis looked at her, puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"Hasn't anyone told you yet?"

"What?"

"Weird things happen in this town."

"What kind of weird things?"

Faith grinned.

"You'll find out all too soon. Anyway, be careful, don't talk to strangers and don't go out alone at night."

"You sound like my mom," Dennis said with a grin.

"Well, in this case, I have to agree with her. If you think Boston was dangerous, wait till you find out what's going on here."

"What?" Dennis asked, curious.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. I'll show you. Tonight."

"Okay. Are there any good places to hang out?"

"The Bronze. Most of us hang out there."

"Okay. So, how about you? How did you end up here? Last I heard that woman you hanged out with was killed."

Faith winced at the memory.

"Yes. She… She had connections here, so I came."

"So where do you live? I mean, your mom's still in Boston, right?"

"Yes. I live with my girlfriend."

That peaked Dennis' interest.

"Girlfriend? As in lovers?"

Faith smiled.

"Yes," she said and showed him her ring.

"So, what's she like?" Dennis inquired and smiled when Faith got all moony-eyed.

"Don't worry, you'll meet her soon. She comes home every weekend."

"Where is she?" Dennis asked, confused.

"She's in LA. She has a job there."

"So you live in her house?"

"Yes."

"With her parents?"

Faith smiled.

"With her mom. Her dad's in jail. Tax evasion."

"Oh. And how do you get along?"

"With Cordelia or her mom?"

"Her mom."

"Absolutely great. She's like a mom to me and I call her that."

Dennis smiled.

"Glad you're happy."

Faith smiled back.

"Me too." She thought for a moment and her face got serious. "Do you still have contact with the gang?"

"Yes."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Do you think you could… ask someone to check up on my mom?"

"Sure. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything."

Faith smiled, grateful.

"Thanks."

The bell rang.

"Damn, gotta go," Dennis said.

"Yeah, me to. See you in the evening."

"Okay."

"Hey, Quickie!" Dennis greeted Faith when she entered the Bronze in the evening.

"Hey."

"I have news about your mom."

"Just let me get a drink," Faith said.

Faith got herself a drink and then she and Dennis found themselves an empty table.

"It's not good," Dennis started with a warning.

Faith sighed.

"Go ahead," she said.

"Pajamas said she's on drugs. He says she's got some pimp for a boyfriend or something. Oh yeah, she moved. He gave me her address." Dennis rummaged trough his pockets and produced a piece of paper. "Here," he said and gave it to Faith, who took it and put it away without looking at it.

"Thanks," she said and took a sip. "So, how's the gang?"

"Mostly gone," Dennis said and also took a sip. "Powder died of overdose, Girl Twin got shot and Boy Twin is in a nut house, Psycho's in jail, Red was a hooker for a while, but she killed her pimp and is hiding. Eyes is trying to get a better life and Pajamas is still enjoying life. Oh yeah, Ballet is dead too."

"Ballet is dead?" Faith asked, remembering the older girl.

"Yeah. She helped Red and got shot by the pimp's friend."

Faith was quiet for a while, thinking about the girl who had been her best friend, even a big sister, for a long time. Even though Ballet was a lesbian, she had never touched her. It was because of Ballet that she was still alive and she was the one she went to when she needed help or emotional support back then. She sighed.

"Thanks," she said.

Dennis nodded.

"Sorry about Ballet," he said.

"Yeah."

"Anyway, your name is Faith, right?"

Faith looked at him.

"Yeah. Why?"

"I almost forgot. Ballet was the only one who called you that."

Faith smiled.

"Yeah." She frowned. "And what's yours?"

"Dennis."

"Oh. So, you want me to call you Dennis or Bony?"

"Dennis."

"Okay. You call me Faith."

"Got it."

Faith took a deep breath, feeling the need to release the stress.

"I gotta go," she said and finished her drink.

"Already?"

"Yeah, duty calls."

"Duty?" Dennis asked, puzzled.

Faith considered for a moment and then decided to show him. After all, Dennis was a friend.

"Come, I'll show you."

Dennis downed his drink and followed Faith.

"Hey," Cordelia greeted Faith when they met in their dreams. "What's wrong?"

Faith smiled, having known that she couldn't hide it from Cordelia. She sighed.

"A friend of mine, Bony, Dennis," she corrected herself, "he told me that my mom's on drugs now." She paused. "And he told me about my friends."

Cordelia understood how painful the subject of Mrs Spencer was for Faith and she hugged her. Faith hugged her back, grateful.

"Why don't you visit her?" Cordelia suggested when they stopped hugging and Faith looked at her with a mix of surprise and confusion. "I know a part of you sill cares about her. And besides, it would give you the chance to tell her how you feel about what she has done to you." She paused. "I'll go with you," she offered.

Faith reluctantly considered the idea and then slowly nodded.

"Okay."

"I'll come home on Friday and we'll go to Boston on Saturday."

Faith nodded and Cordelia gave her another hug.

"Everything will be okay," Cordelia said and caressed her girlfriend. Then she frowned. "You mentioned your friends?"

Faith nodded.

"Most of them are dead or in jail." She paused. "Ballet is dead."

"Ballet," Cordelia said, digging through Faith's memories. "Ah, the dancer, the one who took care of you and who taught you how to dance."

Faith nodded again.

"Yeah, that's her."

"I'm sorry," Cordelia said and hugged her even tighter.

They had no problems locating the flat, Faith knowing the neighborhood. Faith hesitated for a few moments, not knowing what to say when her mother opened the door. She rang the bell, but nothing happened, it was broken. She knocked instead and waited. She knocked again, but again there was no response. She tried the door and it opened. She glanced at Cordelia and then entered. Cordelia followed her. She quietly walked through the apartment, checking out the rooms as she passed. She finally found her mother in her bedroom, passed out from some drug or alcohol.

Cordelia noticed the disgusted look on Faith's face and she took her hand.

"How about we clean up this mess?" she asked.

Faith looked at her, surprised. Then she looked around and back at Cordelia.

"It was you who suggested that we clean up this mess?" she asked.

Cordelia grinned.

"Yes. It will be hours before she wakes up and I don't want to die of boredom."

Faith grinned back.

"Okay."

Several hours later, another several hours after they had cleaned up the apartment and yet another few hours of watching television, they finally heard Faith's mother wake up. They got up and Cordelia turned off the set.

Mrs Spencer walked out of the bedroom with a headache, which both girls suspected was actually a hangover. She was on her way to the bathroom, when she noticed movement. She turned and saw two girls. It took her mind a couple of seconds to register that the smaller was actually her daughter.

"So, you came back," she said derisively. "I knew you couldn't…"

She broke off and hurried into the bathroom.

Faith bit her teeth and took Cordelia's hand. Cordelia glanced at her and gently squeezed the hand. Then they waited for Mrs Spencer to emerge from the bathroom.

When Mrs Spencer came back from the bathroom, she was holding her head. Then she noticed the two girls again.

"You still here?" she said coldly. "If you came crawling back so I have to take care of your lousy butt, you can forget it. And where the hell have you been?"

"Does it matter?" Faith asked equally coldly.

"Don't talk back, you little bitch."

Faith felt like punching her, but Cordelia beat her to it as she grabbed Mrs Spencer and pulled her close to her face.

"Don't ever call her that again," she said menacingly, giving her a death-ray look.

Mrs Spencer looked at her, surprised.

"Who the hell are you?" she asked and looked at Faith. "Another slut friend of yours?" she asked.

This time Faith didn't hesitate and she hit her mother. Mrs Spencer staggered back, holding her jaw. She looked at Faith, surprised.

"You little…"

"This is my girlfriend," Faith explained.

"What?" Mrs Spencer said, surprised. "You're a dyke now?"

"No, I just love Cordelia, that's all."

Mrs Spencer glanced at Cordelia again.

"So why did you come back?" she then asked.

"Because I was hoping you had changed."

"Changed? Why the hell should I change?"

"Because you were a lousy mother. Now I know why Dad left. I'm glad you two didn't have any other kids."

"You little…" Mrs Spencer started and wanted to hit Faith, but Faith caught her hand.

"I'm not afraid of you anymore," she said and squeezed her mother's hand with such force that the woman screamed and was forced to kneel. "I've grown up and if it wasn't for Cordelia I would dead or in jail right now." She let go of her mother's hand and looked at her girlfriend. "Come on, Cordelia, let's go home."

She took Cordelia's hand and almost dragged her out of the apartment. Cordelia's hand hurt because Faith's grip was too strong, but she said nothing. But she did feel that Faith was trembling slightly and she stopped her. Faith looked at her, surprised, and Cordelia hugged her. Faith felt her arms wrap themselves around Cordelia and before she knew it she was crying. Cordelia quietly held her and occasionally caressed her.

When Faith felt better, she broke the hug. She looked at Cordelia.

"Thanks," she said slightly embarrassed and wiped her tears.

Cordelia smiled and caressed her.

"Anything to make you happy," she said softly and Faith smiled.

Suddenly a scream and a crash were heard.

"That sounded like coming from your mom's apartment," Cordelia said.

Faith didn't move. A part of her wanted to go and help, but another part wanted to leave and forget about the woman who was her mother.

"She may be a bitch, but she's still your mother," Cordelia said.

Faith looked at her and then nodded.

They went back to the apartment. The door was closed but unlocked. Faith opened it and entered, Cordelia right behind her. The racket and the screaming was still going on and this time they could hear a man yell at Mrs Spencer over some money she owed him. Faith wasn't interested in a fight, but when she saw the man toss her mother around like a rag doll, she became angry. It wasn't because she cared about her mother, but because she herself had been tossed that way and she knew how it felt. It didn't matter that the person who tossed her around was her mother.

She grabbed the man by his jacked and pulled him away from her mother. The man turned around, surprised.

"I don't know the hell you are, but no bitch messes with Frankie," he said angrily.

"I think people who talk about themselves in the third person should have their head examined," Faith said.

"You little bitch," Frankie said and moved to hit her.

Faith, however, had no intention of getting beaten. She sidestepped and pulled Frankie forward, using his own inertia. Frankie crashed into the wall. He quickly recovered and turned around, furious. Faith calmly stared at him. Frankie attacked again, but this time he was more cautious. Faith let him get closer, but when he prepared to strike her, she kicked him in the groin and then up in the face. Frankie staggered back, holding his crotch and his nose. When he recovered, he took a knife from his pocket.

"I'm gonna kill you, bitch," he said furiously and attacked her.

Faith had enough. She let the man get closer. Then she grabbed his wrist, squeezed it so hard that he screamed and took away the knife. Then she kicked the crap out of him, venting her anger and frustration. For the finishing touch, she slammed Frankie at the door frame and nailed his palm to it with the knife. Frankie roared in pain and tried to free his hand, but Faith stopped him. She grabbed his hair and pulled his head closer to her.

"Now listen good," she said menacingly. "You will leave and if I find out she's been harassed again, I will find you and I will introduce you to some acquaintances of mine who will introduce a new meaning of food preservation to you. And you will be the food. Do you understand?" Frankie nodded. "Are you sure? I can repeat it if you like, but that will be the last time." Frankie shook his head. "Good," Faith said and removed the knife. "Now get lost," she said and stuck the knife into his jacket.

Frankie didn't have to be told twice and he left as quickly as he could. Faith then looked at Cordelia and suddenly felt very ashamed when she saw the surprised look in her eyes. She bit her teeth and looked away.

"Why the hell did you have to beat him up?" Mrs Spencer as and got up.

Faith gave her a disgusted look.

"Because she told me to help you," Faith said, pointing at Cordelia. Mrs Spencer glanced at Cordelia. "You're pathetic," Faith said, disgusted. "Don't worry, you won't see me ever again."

Faith stormed out of the apartment and Cordelia started to ran after her. But then she heard something in the only room that was locked.

"Faith!" she called. "Come back!"

It took Faith a couple of moments to calm down enough to return and see what her girlfriend wanted.

"What?" she asked, hoping Cordelia wouldn't take her tone as if she was angry with her.

"There's someone in that room," Cordelia said and looked at Mrs Spencer. "Who's in there?" she asked, but Mrs Spencer didn't respond. "Who's in there!" Cordelia then demanded threateningly. "Answer or Faith will tear down the door."

"No one," Mrs Spencer said defiantly.

Cordelia didn't believe her and she looked at Faith. Faith looked at the door and kicked. The door gave way and Faith entered. She looked around. It was a small room, barely big enough for a child. She noticed toys. Toys? She stopped and listened. She quickly heard breathing and she traced the source. She stared at it, surprised.

"Faith?" Cordelia asked, curious, when Faith stopped and just stared at something she couldn't see.

Faith looked at her.

"There's a girl here," she said.

"A girl?" Cordelia asked. She looked at Mrs Spencer. "Who is she?" she asked.

"None of your business," Mrs Spencer said angrily.

Cordelia grabbed her by the shirt.

"I'm making it my business," she said, giving the woman her death-ray look. "Who is she?"

"My daughter," Mrs Spencer said, not wanting to get beaten up again.

"Your what?! You mean she's Faith's sister?"

"Half sister."

Faith heard her and she stared at the child, surprised. Then she smiled and kneeled.

"Hello," she said softly, trying to calm the girl, who was sitting in the corner, scared. "Hi. My name is Faith. I'm your sister." The girl continued to stare at her, scared. "What's your name?"

The girl said something barely audible.

"What?"

"Alice," the girl repeated.

Faith smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Alice," she said and looked her over. She noticed the bruises and she took a closer look. "Did Mom do that?" she asked.

Alice nodded, scared.

"Did she tell you you were a bad girl and that you deserved it?"

Alice nodded again and Faith glanced at her mother angrily.

"You're not and you didn't deserve it. But don't worry, she won't hurt you ever again." She looked at Cordelia. "Get the documents, mine and Alice's. And a traveling bag."

Cordelia nodded and looked at Mrs Spencer.

"You heard her. Move."

"What…"

"Move!"

Mrs Spencer quickly got up, scared.

Faith looked back at her sister and smiled.

"How would you like a new family, hmm? A mommy who wouldn't beat you and two sisters? And even a daddy?"

Alice stared at her, a little less scared, but surprised.

"If you come with me," Faith continued, "you will never be beaten again and you won't be hungry either." She saw that the girl was considering the idea, but that she was still scared. "Don't worry, if you come with me, Mom won't hurt you," she added and caressed her.

Alice nodded and Faith smiled.

"Come, help me pack your clothes and your toys."

She offered her her hand and Alice accepted it.

They were in the middle of packing, Alice didn't have much, when Cordelia returned.

"Got it," she said.

"Put it in the bag and then hold it open so I can put this stuff in."

Cordelia nodded and did as Faith told her.

"Is that it?" she asked when Faith was done.

"Yes," she said and turned to Alice. "Come," she said and took her in her arms, smiling at her.

"Where do you think you're taking her?" Mrs Spencer demanded.

Faith gave her a cold look.

"Home."

"This is her home."

"This is no home, this is Hell, with a capital H. Do me a favor and stop screwing around, I don't want to have to come back and save another sibling from you. And if you can't do that, get a vasectomy done or something, because you don't deserve to have children." She looked at Cordelia. "Let's go."

"But…" Mrs Spencer started.

"Shut up," Cordelia interrupted her. "I don't see why you're complaining, at least you won't have to listen to her cry, you won't have to take care of her and you'll have money for your fix."

Mrs Spencer stared at her, surprised, but Cordelia left, quietly following Faith, carrying the bags. She wasn't quite sure how her mother would react to another child in the family, but she knew that they couldn't leave the girl behind.

Mrs Spencer stared after them. For some reason she felt hurt and it wasn't just her body.

"Hi, girls," Maria said, exiting the house. "I was… Who is that?" she asked, surprised, when she saw Alice.

"My sister," Faith said proudly.

Maria looked at her, confused. Then she looked at Alice and smiled.

"Hi, girl," she said and wanted to caress her, but Alice squeezed even closer to Faith, scared, so she didn't. "What's her name?" she asked instead.

"Alice."

Maria smiled.

"Maria, do we have any baby food?" Cordelia asked.

Maria thought.

"No, but I could prepare something that would be good for her."

"Could you?"

"Sure."

"Thanks."

Maria and the girls entered the house and Maria went to the kitchen. Cordelia noticed that Faith was obviously worried. She put her hand on her shoulder and smiled when Faith looked at her.

"Everything will be all right," she said comfortingly. "I promise."

Faith smiled back, glad that Cordelia was on her side.

"Thanks."

"Come, let's go to Mom."

Faith nodded and they went upstairs. When they got to Mrs Chase's room, Cordelia knocked.

"Mom! We're back!"

"Just a moment!" Mrs Chase called. "Hi, girls," Mrs Chase greeted them with a smile when she opened the door a few moments later. "How…" She noticed Alice. "Who is that?" she asked, surprised.

"My sister," Faith said and gulped. "I couldn't leave her behind, I don't want the same thing happen to her as it did to me," she quickly added.

Mrs Chase looked at Cordelia.

"She did the right thing," Cordelia supported Faith.

Mrs Chase looked at Faith and then at the girl, who was squeezing close to Faith, scared. She also noticed a bruise and she knew what that meant. She sighed and smiled.

"Hi," she said and wanted to caress Alice, but Alice hugged Faith even tighter.

Faith caressed her.

"It's okay," she said, "she won't hurt you. She's your new mommy."

Mrs Chase looked at Faith, surprised, and then at Alice.

"What's her name?"

"Alice."

Mrs Chase took a closer look at the girl.

"She's dirty," she observed.

"Mom didn't exactly bother to clean up her place," Faith said.

"I'll wash her."

Faith nodded and wanted to give Alice to Mrs Chase, but Alice didn't let go of her.

"Don't worry, Alice, you're safe here. Mommy only wants to bathe you." Alice still didn't let go of her and Faith sighed. "Okay, I'll stay with you, but Mommy will wash you. Okay?"

Alice nodded hesitatingly and Faith smiled.

"Good girl," she said and caressed her.

"I'll go see if Maria needs help," Cordelia said and left.

Mrs Chase went to the bathroom and Faith followed her. While Mrs Chase prepared the bath, Faith undressed Alice. Mrs Chase saw that Alice's body was full of bruises and she noticed that Faith winced when she saw them.

"I'll get the camera," she said.

"Why?" Faith asked, confused.

"To take pictures of her bruises. If your mother tries anything, we can use that in court."

"Oh. Okay."

Cordelia saw that Faith was disturbed over something when she, Alice and Mrs Chase came to the kitchen, but she decided to wait with the questions.

"Here, that should do it," Maria said.

"Thank you, Maria," Mrs Chase said.

"Do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you. You can go."

"Then I will see you tomorrow. Good night."

"Good night."

"Night, Maria!"

"Night!"

Maria left and Faith looked at Mrs Chase, uncertain.

"Mom?"

Mrs Chase immediately understood her distress.

"I'll take care of it," she said and took Alice, who wasn't afraid of her anymore.

Faith looked at Alice.

"Cordelia and I will take a shower now and we will be right back. You're safe with Mommy, okay?"

Alice nodded and Faith smiled.

"I'll see you later."

"What's wrong?" Cordelia asked as they undressed in her room.

"Huh?" Faith asked, surprised.

"Something is bothering you."

"Oh. Yes. Mom beat her up, she's full of bruises."

"I see." She lifted Faith's chin and smiled when their eyes met. "She's safe here. You saved her."

Faith smiled for a moment.

"But not soon enough."

"Better than never. And now she has a chance to have a happy childhood."

Faith smiled.

"Thanks."

By the time they came back to the kitchen, Alice was already fed and she was sleepily leaning on Mrs Chase. Faith and Cordelia smiled at the sight.

"She can sleep in my room," Faith said. "I usually sleep in Cordelia's."

Mrs Chase nodded and she got up.

"Alice, this is your room," Faith said when they got to Faith's room. "Mommy's is there and me and Cordelia will be in this one," she pointed at the respective doors. "If you need anything or if you're scared, you can come to us or you can go to Mommy. Okay?"

Alice nodded and they entered the room.

"We'll move your stuff tomorrow," Cordelia said.

Faith nodded and watched as Mrs Chase put Alice to bed.

"Do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?" Mrs Chase asked Alice.

Alice looked at her, surprised, and then nodded. Mrs Chase smiled and caressed her. She looked at Faith and Cordelia, who came closer.

"Good night, Alice," Faith with a smile and made room for Cordelia.

"Good night, Alice," Cordelia also said with a smile.

Then they left and Mrs Chase turned off the lights.

"Everything will be all right," Cordelia said when they were lying in bed.

Faith took a deep breath.

"I hope so."

Next day after the breakfast, while Faith was showing Alice around the house, Cordelia came to her mother and told her what had happened in Boston.

"Could you talk to her?" she then asked. "Like her mother, I mean."

Mrs Chase nodded.

"I will."

"Thanks."

Faith noticed with a smile that the more time Alice spent in the house the less afraid she was becoming. She was glad. When there was nothing more to show her, she took her downstairs.

"Mom?" she asked when she saw that Mrs Chase was studying some documents, which she recognized as the ones she and Cordelia had gotten in Boston.

Mrs Chase looked up and smiled.

"Have you shown her everything?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes."

"Good." She looked back at the papers. "I've just been reading the documents you brought. I hope I can get this straightened out in a week. At least the majority."

"So she can stay?" Faith asked, excited.

Mrs Chase looked at her and smiled.

"Of course."

"Thanks," Faith said and hugged her.

"You're welcome," Mrs Chase said and hugged her back.

"Can I join you?" Cordelia asked when she came into the living room and saw them hugging.

Faith and Mrs Chase smiled at her.

"Of course you can."

Cordelia smiled back. She nodded at the papers.

"Will they do?" she asked.

"Yes," Mrs Chase said.

"Good." She looked at Faith. "Shall we move your stuff?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Ah, girls, I put most of Alice's clothes in the washer yesterday. They're in the dryer now. Could you take them out?"

"Sure, Mom," Cordelia said.

Upstairs, Faith put Alice on the bed and started to take her stuff out of the closet. Cordelia frowned when she saw how many clothes Faith had.

"That's all? I thought you had more."

Faith shrugged.

"I'm moderate."

Cordelia smiled.

"Too moderate, if you ask me. I told you, you can wear my clothes."

Faith rolled her eyes.

"And I told you that I don't wear dresses."

"You should try."

Faith's face got serious.

"I did. Once. The Mayor bought me a dress. I felt stupid. Not to mention I looked ridiculous."

"I'll be the judge of that," Cordelia chided her.

"Yes, Ma'am," Faith said with a smile and they kissed.

"Now, let's move your stuff."

They did and after that, they got Alice's stuff out of the tumble dryer and put it in the closet.

After she had put Alice to bed for an afternoon nap, Mrs Chase went downstairs and found Faith sitting on the sofa, staring at TV, not really paying attention to the show. She remembered what Cordelia had told her and she knew why Faith was in a bad mood. She hesitated for a moment and then joined her. She wasn't quite sure how to begin. She decided to start by hugging Faith. She put her arm around Faith's shoulder and pulled her closer, caressing her. Faith's response was immediate, she cuddled up to her and burst into tears. Mrs Chase felt strange, it had been a long time since anyone had cried on her shoulder and she wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation.

She quietly held Faith for a while, occasionally caressing her.

"Do you love your mother?" she asked when Faith stopped crying.

Faith nodded.

"Yes." She hesitated. "And I hate her."

Mrs Chase caressed her, wiping her tears.

"Did you tell her how you feel?"

Faith nodded again.

"Yes. She doesn't care."

"Perhaps not now, but maybe she will think about what you have said and…"

Faith snorted.

"Yeah, right."

"You never know, Faith. And if she does, she will want to be with you."

Faith snorted again.

"It's too late for her to play Mom."

"And what if she does change? Before, you didn't want to be with her because of what she was and if she changes, you won't want to be with her because of the way she used to be. If she changes and you won't forgive her, you will never be with her."

Faith didn't respond and Mrs Chase kept holding her.

"And if she doesn't change," Mrs Chase continued after a while, "you will always have me."

Faith looked at her with a thankful smile.

"Thanks, Mom," Faith said.

Mrs Chase smiled and caressed her.

"You're welcome. Now go to Cordelia, she's worried."

Faith nodded, wiping her tears, and left.

Cordelia was in the kitchen, helping Maria, who wasn't there right now.

"Hey," she said with a smile when she saw Faith.

"Hey," Faith responded, smiling back.

"How do you feel?" Cordelia asked as she approached her.

"Better."

Cordelia smiled.

"I'm glad."

Faith smiled back and then frowned when she noticed that Cordelia had been crying.

"You were crying," she observed, worried, and Cordelia confirmed it with a nod. "Why?"

"Because you were hurt."

Faith was moved. She caressed her.

"I love you," she said and hugged her.

Cordelia smiled, hugging her back.

"I love you too."

"Talk about a cure that immediately makes you feel better," Faith said when they stopped hugging.

"Yeah," Cordelia agreed with a smile. Then she remembered something. "Hey, looks like we got our wish."

Faith looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember when you were thinking how it would be if we had a baby? I was dreaming about the same thing."

"Oh yeah," Faith remembered. "I remember."

"Well, looks like we get to take care of Alice. She can be our sister and our daughter."

Faith smiled, liking the idea.

"Yeah, you're right."

"But let's not share that with anyone else, okay?"

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

In the afternoon, Cordelia got ready to return to LA.

"I'll miss you," Faith said.

"You miss me when I go to the toilet," Cordelia said with a smirk and Faith blushed. "So do I," she added. "I'll try to come home every weekend."

"Great!" Faith said, excited.

They kissed.

"Take good care of our daughter," Cordelia then whispered into her ear.

"I will," Faith promised.

"See you in a week." She went to her mother and Alice. "Bye, Alice," she said and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll come back soon." She looked at her mother. "Bye, Mom."

"Goodbye, Cordelia," Mrs Chase said with a smile.

Cordelia sat in the car and Faith, Mrs Chase and Alice watched her leave. A distant thunder was heard and Faith looked at the sky.

"I hate patrolling in bad weather," she said.

"You're going on patrol tonight?" Mrs Chase asked.

"Yeah, I have to. I've been away two nights, I don't want the vamps to think that I'm on vacation or something," Faith said and Mrs Chase smiled. "Oh yeah," Faith suddenly remembered, "how about babysitting? Or is Maria going to do it?"

Mrs Chase thought about it.

"I haven't asked her yet. Come."

They went to the kitchen.

"Maria."

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Could you take care of Alice or should I hire a babysitter?"

Maria looked at Alice and smiled.

"I can do it."

"Thank you." Mrs Chase looked at Faith. "We'll go shopping tomorrow afternoon, buy some things for Alice and some toys."

Faith smiled.

"Thanks, Mom."

Mrs Chase smiled back.

"Here," she said and handed Alice back to Faith, "I have to go check something in those documents."

Faith took Alice and Mrs Chase left.

The patrol that night was boring, apparently the vamps knew it was going to rain and they decided to stay indoors. Faith did a round anyway and just when she had decided to go home, rain started to fall. She cursed and started to run.

In her room, Alice woke up with a start when lightning found its mark near by. She was afraid, she didn't like storms and the noise. She pulled the blanket over her head and tried to shut the noise out, but she couldn't. She finally remembered that she wasn't in her old home anymore and that things here were different here. She also remembered what Faith had told her.

She got up and went to Cordelia's room, but Faith was not there. She was really scared for a few moments, but then she remembered that she could go to her new mommy. So far she liked her and she decided to give it a try.

She went to Mrs Chase's room and quietly opened the door. She went to the bed and stared at the sleeping Mrs Chase for a while, hesitating. She finally mustered enough courage to gently shake her. Mrs Chase opened her eyes.

"Mmm? Alice?" She was immediately wide awake. "What's wrong?" Another thunder was heard and when Alice jerked, Mrs Chase knew what was wrong. "You're scared," she said and Alice nodded. "Come."

She lifted her cover and let Alice climb over her. She made sure that Alice was covered and then lay back. Alice cuddled next to her and Mrs Chase caressed her.

"You're safe here," she said and kissed her on the forehead.

When Faith got home, she was soaking wet. She immediately took off all her clothes except her underwear. She carried it upstairs and to the bathroom. She took a quick shower and then went to Alice's room to check up on her before going to bed.

When she saw that the bed was empty, she nearly started to panic. She ran to her room, but Alice was not there either. She ran to Mrs Chase's room and was relieved when she saw that she was there. She smiled when she saw how she was cuddled up against Mrs Chase. She took a deep breath, relieved, and then returned to her bed.

"I'm sorry I'm late," Mrs Chase said when she got home the next day. "I've been trying to take care of these papers."

"And?" Faith asked hopefully.

"So far so good," Mrs Chase said with a smile. "So, how about we go shopping?"

Faith's eyes brightened.

"Yes. We need to buy a baby seat for the car."

Mrs Chase nodded.

"We will. Just give me a few minutes to freshen up."

While Mrs Chase was putting the luggage in the trunk and Faith installed the baby seat, Alice sat on the back seat and watched Faith, who softly talked to her and occasionally smiled. Alice liked it. The life before she had met Faith was like a bad dream and the fears that used to make up her everyday life were now slowly starting to ebb away into oblivion. Everyone was nice to her and in the past couple of days she had experienced more caresses, more hugs and more love that in her entire short life before she had met Faith. The angry woman whom she had known as her mommy was becoming a bad memory from the past and she was starting to accept the loving woman Faith called Mom as her own mommy.

Still, even though the fears were leaving, they still occasionally resurfaced, like last night, when she woke up and Faith wasn't there. Fortunately, she quickly remembered that Faith was outside, fighting monsters as Mommy had said. She felt reassured then, that someone was killing the monsters, and she knew that if she found one in her closet or under her bed, Faith would take care of it. The fear of her old mommy was stopping her from immediately going to her new mommy, but when her new mommy invited her into the safety of her bed, Alice knew that she cared about her and that she had nothing to fear.

Before, she only had her Mommy and whatever man happened to be in control of her life, but now she had a new mommy, one who loved her, she had two sisters, who also loved her, and according to Faith there was a daddy somewhere. She wondered what he would be like and for a moment she feared that he would be like her old mommy's men, but then she remembered that her sisters weren't afraid of him and her mommy neither. And then there was the woman named Maria. Alice knew she wasn't family, but she took care of her like she was. She found it strange that a stranger would be so nice to her when her old mommy wasn't. Nevertheless, life was great and Alice was happy.

On the other side of the continent, Mrs Spencer stared at her image in the mirror. What she saw disgusted her. She turned away and went to her bedroom. On the way, she paused when she passed Alice's empty bedroom. For a moment, she felt alone. She sighed and continued to her bedroom. She lay on the bed, stared at the ceiling and thought.

Frankie hadn't shown up since Faith beat the crap out of him and she discovered that she didn't really miss him, only the drugs that he supplied. She glanced at the chair beside the bed and at the last grams of her drug. She sighed and looked back at the ceiling. She wanted to take the drug, badly, but a small part of her didn't and for the moment that part was winning, even though barely.

She was alone now, her husband and her daughters gone. She didn't know why her husband had left, but she knew why her daughters had. And for the first time in her life she allowed herself to think about that, about why she had treated them they way she had. She was angry at her husband for leaving her alone with Faith, she was angry with Alice's father for leaving her alone with Alice and she was angry with herself for turning her anger on her daughters. She sighed. She missed them, even though she never showed them that she loved them and even though she thought most of the time that they were more trouble than they were worth. But Faith had turned out well and she knew she would take good care of Alice.

She looked at the drugs, her body urging her to take a sniff. For a moment she almost gave in, but when she touched the little package, she shivered, disgusted. She hesitated for a moment, considering what to do.

There was only one thing she could do. She ran to the toilet, threw the package in and flushed it. She almost reached after it, but she forced herself not to move. She stared at the toilet for a while, shivering. No more drugs, she then decided, even if it killed her. It was time she pulled herself together. A thought suddenly struck her. She knew her daughters hated her, at least Faith did, Alice was probably not yet aware of it, but she also felt that Faith still missed her. Perhaps she could be reunited with her daughters some day. It was a small chance, but for the first time in a long time, Mrs Spencer allowed herself to hope, hope to regain something that was her fault she had lost in the first place.

The End