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 very, very little subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read. This story was inspired by the movie Au Pair.

Safe Haven
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"I quit!" Mrs Bartlett told Giles, the driver of her charges. She was wet and dirty. "I quit!"

"Eh, yes, of course," Giles said, ever the cool Englishman.

"And you can tell Mrs Summers that I will warn other nannies about her girls."

"Yes, of course," Giles said as Mrs Bartlett stormed off to her room.

"Again?" Buffy Summers, the mother of Mrs Bartlett's charges, said, exasperated, when Giles told her that Mrs Bartlett had quit.

"Yes."

Buffy sighed.

"I better put an ad out. Where are the girls?"

"In the back yard."

Buffy sighed.

"Is Mrs Bartlett still here?"

"I think she's packing."

Buffy picked up her purse, took out the wallet.

"Give her this," she said and gave Giles some money, "and tell her I'm sorry. Then take her home."

"Yes, Ma'am," Giles said and left.

Buffy took a deep breath and went to the back yard.

"Here she comes," Anne, the younger of the two Summers twins, said.

Molly, her sister, looked.

"I bet she already put out an ad for a new nanny."

"You're on."

Then they quietly waited for their mother to come closer.

"Hi, Mommy," Molly said.

"What did you do to her this time?" Buffy asked.

"Nothing," Anne said innocently.

Buffy sighed.

"Now I'll have to put out an ad for another nanny."

The twins looked at one another meaningfully, even though they were disappointed.

The next day, a hooker named Faith ran down the street and then hid in a gateway to a large estate. She took a couple of deep breaths and then looked around the corner. She saw her pimp's car coming down the street and she quickly pulled back. She knew she couldn't run, because then her pimp would see her. Fortunately, a limo arrived just then. Faith quickly bowed down and pretended to be scratching her ankle. Then the limo stopped and the passenger window went down.

"Are you here about the job?"

Faith looked at the driver, surprised. She wasn't looking for a job, but she needed to get out of sight.

"Eh, yes."

"Come in, I'll take you to Mrs Summers."

Faith quickly got in the limo, just as her pimp's car drove by.

"Em, I'm Faith," she said as the gate opened and the limo drove through.

"Rupert Giles," the driver said. "I must say, we didn't expect a nanny this quickly."

Faith looked at him, surprised, but she didn't say anything. At least now she knew what the job was. She quickly thought of an answer.

"I heard about it from a friend," she lied and looked at herself.

"I see."

They were quiet for the rest of the ride.

"This way," Giles said when they got out of the limo.

Giles took her straight up to Buffy's office. As they walked through the house, Faith was glad that her clothes looked decent.

"Mrs Summers?" Giles said as he walked into Buffy's office.

Buffy looked up.

"Yes?"

"I brought a candidate for the job."

"Already? Thank god. Send her in."

Giles stepped aside and Faith entered, a bit nervous.

Buffy frowned when she saw her.

"Aren't you a bit young?"

"What did you expect?" Faith snapped. "An old lady?"

Buffy smiled.

"Well, someone a little older. But it doesn't matter. Do you have any experience?"

Faith shrugged.

"I've been babysitting, I wasn't really a nanny."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "Can you handle, eh, difficult children?"

Faith frowned.

"Difficult?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Well, I have twin girls and they're a… a bit of a handful."

"Oh." Faith thought for a moment. She wasn't really looking for a job, but now that she was this close to getting one, she wanted it. "Sure. No problem."

"Good. When can you start?"

Faith shrugged again.

"Now?"

"Do you have any other obligations?"

"Like what?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know. Anything."

"No."

"I'm asking, because we're going to England tomorrow. We'll be staying there for five days and then we're going to France for three days."

"Oh. Eh, I don't have a passport."

"Oh." Buffy frowned. "Giles, will you take her to see Jenny Frank? She'll take care of it."

"I will," Giles said.

"Thank you." Buffy thought for a moment. "Okay. Em, when we get back, can you move here?"

"Here?" Faith asked, surprised.

"Yes. You'll be watching the girls all the time, you'll be a nanny, not just a babysitter."

"Oh. Okay, sure."

"Good." Buffy got up. "Come, let me introduce you to my daughters and then Giles will take you to my lawyer and you can also go and get your stuff. Is that okay with you?"

"Sure," Faith said, feeling a bit excited, as well as relieved, that she could get away from her pimp.

They went to the girls' room. Buffy knocked and then entered.

"Girls?" The girls looked up. "Girls, I'd like you to meet your new nanny." Buffy stepped aside and let Faith enter. "Her name is…" She laughed and looked at Faith. "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask you name."

"Faith. Eh, Spencer."

"I'm Buffy, by the way." Buffy then looked at her girls. "Girls, this is Miss Spencer." She looked at Faith. "It is Miss, right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. And these are my daughters, Anne and Molly."

"Hey," Faith said.

"Hi," Molly said.

"Hi," Anne said.

From the way the girls were looking at her, Faith got a bad feeling that Buffy wasn't exaggerating when she said they were a handful.

Buffy looked at Faith.

"Okay, you and Giles go and take care of your papers."

"Okay."

"I have to go to a meeting, but Giles will fill you in on what you need to know."

"Okay."

Buffy looked at the girls.

"I'll see you later, girls."

"Okay," Anne said halfheartedly.

"This way," Giles said as they left the girls' room.

As they went down the stairs, Faith couldn't quite believe that she just got a job with, she supposed, a decent salary, as well as a place to live.

"What do you think?" Anne asked Molly when the grownups were gone.

"She's young," Molly said. "And she looked… I don't know. Not like a nanny."

"I know. And did you see her clothes?"

"Rags."

"Yes."

"What do we do to her?"

Anne smiled.

"Let's put a color powder in her towels."

"No, too easily noticeable."

Anne frowned, thinking.

"Mice?"

"She doesn't look the scary type."

"We mess with her food?"

Molly smiled.

"Okay. We make her really sick."

After they took care of the papers, Giles wanted to take Faith to her place, but Faith told him it wouldn't be safe for the car, so he drove home after he dropped her off near her part of the town. After sneaking into her apartment, Faith quickly packed what little stuff she had and then got out, hoping no one had seen her.

When she got back to Buffy's place, Giles showed her to her room. Faith was impressed, it was more like an apartment than a room. With her own bathroom. After that, Giles showed her around the house and told her the rules and what her duties were.

"Can I spank them?" Faith asked at the end.

"Excuse me?" Giles asked, genuinely surprised.

"Spank them. Buffy said they were a handful. Can I spank them if they misbehave? I mean, not for every little thing, but if they really piss me off?"

"Eh," Giles said, still a bit shocked.

"I guess not," Faith said with a smile when she saw his face. She thought for a moment. "Just how much of a handful are they?" she then asked. "I mean, I was hired practically off the street and Buffy seemed pretty desperate."

"Well, eh, they can be pretty tough on their, em, nannies."

"Mhm," Faith said, figuring she would have to watch her back. "Oh yeah, when are we leaving tomorrow?"

"At nine."

"Okay. I won't need to unpack then. Anything I need to know about where we're going?"

"No, not really. But I will get you a map, so you won't get lost. And a brochure, so you can make some plans for the girls."

"Okay. Cool. I'll check out the room then."

"Very well."

Giles left, and Faith went to her room. She checked it out and then emptied her bag on the bed. Some of her stuff needed washing, so she decided to use the chance and have it washed. Then she noticed the little plastic bag. She picked it up and stared at it for a few moments. She was never really fond of drugs, but they helped her get through. But now she had a decent job and a responsibility, so she decided to try and not mess it up. She went to the bathroom and emptied the bag in the toilet. Then she threw in the bag as well and flushed the toilet.

She returned to her room, packed the clean bags and then took the dirty clothes to the washroom. Then she went to the girls.

"Hey," she said when she entered their room.

"Hi, Miss Spencer," the girls said in unison.

Faith immediately guessed that they were up to something.

"Just call me Faith," she said. She sat down next to them. "Have you been to England before?"

"Yes," Anne said.

"Anything special you want to do? Any place you want to go to?"

The girls looked at one another, a bit surprised that she was asking them that.

"No," Molly said.

"Well, if you think of anything, let me know." She looked at what they were drawing. "You like to draw?"

"Yes."

"Not bad." She looked back at them. "If you need me, I'll be checking out the house."

"Okay."

Faith got up and left.

"She's different," Anne said when she was gone.

"Yes," Molly agreed. "But she's not Mommy."

"I know."

During dinner, Faith was allowed to eat with Buffy and the girls. Buffy asked her a couple of questions about her life, but the girls saved her from a more detailed questioning.

When she went to bed, Faith felt sick. She had a feeling that the girls had put something in her food, but she wasn't sure, because she knew it could simply be withdrawal from the drugs. Still, she decided to throw up, just in case.

The next day, they flew to England. Faith's papers had been delivered by a courier, so they didn't have to wait for them. On the plane, Faith was a bit nervous, because it was her first time. So she concentrated on the girls.

The girls had tried to play with their mother, but Buffy was working on some papers, so the girls played by themselves. Faith quietly observed them, but she didn't offer to play along, she had a feeling they would say no. So she just watched and tried to figure them out.

When they arrived to London, Buffy immediately left, and Giles took Faith and the girls to their house. The girls immediately went to the backyard, so Faith and Giles took in the luggage. Then Faith went to check up on the girls, who were in the back yard, watching the fish in the small pond.

"Hey," she said when she came to them.

The girls glanced at her.

"Hi," Molly said.

"Nice place you got here."

The girls looked at her.

"It's Daddy's," Anne said.

"Oh. Where is he?"

"He's dead."

"Oh. I'm sorry," Faith said and looked at the pond thoughtfully, wondering what her own parents had been like.

The girls stared at her for a few moments and then glanced at one another.

Faith finally sighed and looked at the girls.

"So, do you have any plans?" she asked.

"You didn't make a plan?" Molly asked.

Faith smiled.

"I don't suppose you want me to drag you around some museums and other tourist attractions."

Molly shook her head.

"No."

Faith thought for a moment.

"You've been here before, right?"

"Yes."

"Are there any places you like to go to?"

The girls glanced at one another.

"Hyde Park," Anne said.

"We can go there, if you want. Or anywhere else. If you decide you want to go somewhere, I'll be checking out the house."

"Okay."

Faith smiled briefly and then left.

The girls stared after her for a few moments and then looked at one another.

"She doesn't seem bossy," Anne said.

"For now," Molly said.

"What do we do to her today?"

Molly thought about it.

"Let's go out and then run away."

Anne smiled.

"Okay. But not right away, she might suspect something."

"Okay."

In the afternoon, the girls decided to go out. Faith agreed and she waited for them at the car.

"No in-line skates," she said when she saw the girls carrying their in-line skates.

"What?" Molly said, surprised. "But…"

"I don't have them and you are going to run away. I'm not going to run after you."

"No we're not," Anne lied.

Faith smiled.

"Right. We're walking."

"But…"

"No buts. We're walking, or we're staying home. Your choice."

The girls pouted and looked at Giles.

"She has a point, girls," Giles supported Faith.

The girls huffed. They went back into the house and returned without in-line skates.

When they got to Hyde Park, Faith and the girls went for a walk. The girls moved further and further away, but Faith wasn't in a hurry. When they disappeared behind some trees and didn't come back, Faith stopped. She waited for a few moments and then walked to the trees. When she didn't see the girls anywhere, she went back to the car.

"Where are the girls?" Giles asked, worried.

"They ran away," Faith said calmly.

"What? Did you look for them?"

"No."

Giles frowned, surprised.

"Why not?"

"Because they're coming back here."

"How do you know?"

Faith smiled.

"Where else would they go? They just wanted to get rid of me and make me look foolish. And besides, I told them I'm not going to run after them."

"Oh."

Faith thought for a moment.

"Why don't you take a short ride and come back in a couple of minutes."

Giles frowned.

"Why?"

Faith smiled.

"So they'll be worried."

"But…"

"I want to teach them a lesson."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, I'll wait here."

Giles hesitated for a few moments and then nodded.

"Very well. I just hope you're right."

"I am," Faith said, even though she was a bit worried.

Giles got in the car and drove off, and Faith hid behind a tree.

Not long after Giles drove away, the girls came running.

"Where's Giles?" Molly asked, worried.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Anne asked, worried as well.

"Yes. He was parked right there. See? The place is empty."

"But where would he go?"

Molly shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe Mommy called him."

"But he would've told us."

"Maybe he didn't expect us to come back so soon."

"But I did," Faith said.

The girls turned, surprised.

"Faith," Molly said.

"Yes."

Molly looked around.

"Where've you been?"

"Right behind you, until you decided to dump me."

"Where's Giles?" Anne asked.

"I told him to take a short ride," Faith said. She leaned closer. "Next time, I'm leaving with him and you can come home any way you want. I told you, I'm not running after you." She looked at the road. "There's Giles. Let's go."

"Where are we going?"

"Home."

"Already?" Molly said, surprised.

"Yes."

"But we just got here."

"Yes."

"But… Why?"

"You ran away."

"We won't do it again," Anne said.

"That's fine, but we're still going home. We can go out again tomorrow."

"What about today?"

"No."

"But we wanted to go to…"

"No. Today, we're going home and we're staying there." She thought for a moment. "Unless your mother has to take you somewhere." She opened the door to the car. "Now get in the car."

"No," Molly said and crossed her arms.

"Then you can stay here," Faith said.

She went around the car and got in.

"She's really gonna leave us here," Anne said, worried.

Molly stared at the car for a few moments, uncertain, but when the car started to move, she ran to the car.

"Wait!"

The girls quickly got in, and Giles drove off.

"That was mean," Anne said as she fastened her seatbelt.

"No meaner than you running away," Faith said.

When they got home, the girls went to their room.

"You certainly have… unorthodox methods of raising children," Giles said when they were gone.

Faith sighed.

"I won't have them bossing me around." She hesitated for a moment. "I kinda like them, but if I act like an ordinary nanny, they'll eat me up alive."

Giles smiled.

"No doubt about it."

"How many nannies did they have before be?"

"Eh… Well…" Giles started, not really wanting to tell.

"Twenty?" Faith guessed.

Giles blushed a bit.

"Well, you're close."

Faith grinned.

"Thought so." She thought for a moment. "How come you're not their nanny?"

"Me?" Giles said, surprised.

"Yes. They seem to respect you."

"Oh. Well… I've been with them for a long time."

"So why are you not their nanny?"

"I'm not really good around children."

"I doubt that."

Giles smiled a bit, flattered.

"Well, they may respect me, but that doesn't mean that they would listen to me."

"Oh." She hesitated for a moment. "I'm glad you supported me. Thanks."

Giles smiled.

"You're welcome."

Faith thought for a moment.

"How did their father die?"

"Car accident."

"Oh. When?"

"Six years ago."

"So they barely remember him," Faith said thoughtfully.

"They have pictures."

"But it's not the same."

"No, it's not," Giles agreed.

Faith frowned, thinking.

"Is Buffy seeing someone? I heard her talking on the phone."

"Riley Finn."

"What's he like?"

Giles hesitated for a moment.

"He is… okay."

Faith grinned.

"That bad, ha?"

Giles blushed a bit.

"Well…"

"Do the girls like him?"

"Eh, not too much, I'm afraid."

"Does he like them?"

Giles thought for a moment.

"Not too much, I believe."

"Does Buffy love him?"

"I believe so. They are engaged."

"Oh. Where is he?"

"I believe he is at the same meeting as Buffy. They work together."

"Oh." Faith took a deep breath. "Thanks. I'll go the library and see if there's anything readable."

"What do we do now?" Molly asked when they got to their room.

"I don't know. She's smart."

"Uh-huh."

"We could booby trap her."

"She'll find the traps."

"But not all of them."

Molly smiled.

"Okay." She thought for a moment. "But not here, at home."

"We could make some small booby traps here," Anne suggested.

"Okay," Molly agreed.

In the afternoon, Riley came. Faith had a strange feeling about him when she saw him. He looked okay, but there was something about him that made her dislike him. And apparently everyone else, except Buffy. He seemed fake.

"Faith, this is Riley, my fiancé," Buffy introduced him to Faith.

"Hey," Faith said.

"This is Faith, the new nanny," Buffy told Riley.

"You look young," Riley said.

"I am young," Faith said, a bit annoyed that everyone always commented on her age.

"Oh. Right." He stared at her for a moment and then looked at Buffy. "I got some great news," he said and took her away.

Faith looked at the girls, who were staring daggers at him. She guessed they didn't like him.

"Is he always like that?" she asked them.

The girls looked at her, startled.

"Uh-huh," Anne said.

"What a prick," Faith said and left.

The girls giggled.

The next day, the twins wanted to go shopping. Faith obliged them. Since they had their own credit cards, Faith let them go on their own, especially since they'd promised not to run away. Faith didn't quite believe them, so she kept an eye on them from afar while she checked out the shoe shop to see if she could find a new pair of shoes that she could afford.

It took the girls two hours to finish shopping. By that time Faith was thoroughly bored. She'd wanted to check out a couple of other stores, but she didn't trust the girls, so she'd gone to a café and gotten herself a coffee. When she saw the girls leaving, she finished the coffee and went to them.

"Just how many people did you buy all this for?" she asked when she saw the bags.

"Us," Molly said.

"Here, carry this," Anne said and wanted to give Faith her bags.

Faith blinked, surprised, and then burst into laughter.

"Dream on," she said and headed out.

The girls looked at one another, surprised.

"Let's make her carry this," Anne said.

"Okay," Molly agreed.

They ran after Faith, but they were slow because of the weight of the bags. By the time they got out, Faith was sitting on the edge of a fountain in front of the mall.

"Carry this for us," Molly said when they reached her.

"No," Faith said.

"Carry this!" Molly said and stomped her foot.

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"No."

"You're our nanny," Anne said and dropped her bags.

Molly did the same.

"Yes," Faith said. "But I don't carry bags." She nodded at the bags. "Just how much did they cost?"

"About a thousand dollars," Anne said.

"What?" Faith said, surprised. "Each?"

Anne nodded.

"Yes."

"Shit."

"Carry the bags," Molly said.

"No."

"We'll scream," Anne threatened.

"Be my guest."

The girls looked at one another and then threw a tantrum.

Faith quietly watched them, not really impressed, but when the girls started to kick the bags, she had enough.

"That's enough!" she said, and the girls stopped, surprised. "Give me your credit cards."

The girls glanced at one another.

"Why?" Molly asked.

Faith leaned closer.

"Because I'm your nanny and I said so. Now!"

The girls jerked, startled.

Faith sat straight and extended her hand, giving the girls a hard look.

The girls looked at one another and then hesitantly took out their credit cards. Molly handed over hers first and then Anne.

Faith tore them up.

"What are you doing?!" Anne said, surprised.

"Those were our credit cards," Molly added.

Faith leaned closer.

"They were." She looked around and saw a nun. She picked up the bags. "Wait here," she said and went to the nun. "Excuse me."

The nun looked at her.

"Yes?"

"Hi. Em, do you know anyone who works for a charity organization? Like Red Cross or Caritas or something?"

"Yes, I do."

"Do they take clothes?"

"Clothes?"

"Yeah. You know, people give the clothes they don't need to charity."

"Oh! Yes, of course."

"Can you deliver these?"

The nun looked at the bags.

"But these are new, are they not?"

"Yes. But the girls act like spoiled brats and they don't deserve them. And they don't need them either. Can you take them to someone? They're for ten-year-olds."

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely."

The nun hesitated for a moment.

"Well, if you insist."

"I do." Faith handed the bags to the nun. "Can you handle it?"

"Yes."

"Good. Bye."

"Goodbye, and God bless you."

Faith nodded and left.

When the girls saw what she had done, they ran to her.

"What did you do?" Anne asked, upset.

"I gave away your clothes," Faith said.

"Why?"

"Because you don't deserve them. Or need them."

"We'll tell Mommy."

Faith smiled calmly.

"Go ahead. And then you can also tell her how you behaved. I'm sure she'll be very happy about it."

The girls looked at one another, feeling a bit ashamed.

"You're mean."

"Right. Now call Giles, we're going home."

"What?"

"Already?" Molly asked.

"Yes. If you can't behave in public, then you can't walk in public. Now call Giles."

"No," Molly said and crossed her arms, pouting.

"Fine, then we're walking," Faith said.

"No."

"And you can't make us," Anne supported her sister.

Faith sighed.

"Fine. You can stay here then."

"Where are you going?" Molly asked when Faith started to walk away.

"Home."

"What about us?"

"You can come with me or stay here. Your choice."

The girls stared after her for a few moments and then looked at one another.

"You think she'll really leave us here?" Molly then asked.

"Looks like it," Anne said.

Molly smiled.

"Cool. We'll be all by ourselves."

"But what will she tell mom?"

Molly frowned.

"Oh."

Anne looked around.

"I don't like being all alone," she said, a bit nervous.

Molly looked around as well.

"Me neither," she agreed. "Call Mr. Giles."

"Okay."

"Faith, wait!" Molly called and ran after Faith.

Anne followed her, reaching for her cell phone.

Faith stopped and turned.

"You decided to call Giles?" she asked when the girls came closer.

"Yes," Molly said and looked at Anne, who was on the phone with Giles.

"Okay," Anne said and hung up. "He's coming."

"Good," Faith said. "Let's go back to the fountain and wait for him."

She headed to the fountain and the girls followed her, admitting their defeat.

When they got home, the girls went off to their room.

"What happened?" Giles asked when he was alone with Faith.

Faith sighed.

"They tried to control me. They wanted me to carry their bags and when I wouldn't, they threw a tantrum and threw the bags down. It really pissed me off."

"What did you do? I didn't see any bags."

Faith smiled a bit.

"I gave them away."

Giles frowned.

"To who?"

"Some nun. I'm sure some charity could use two thousand bucks worth of kids' clothes."

"You just gave them away?" Giles asked, startled.

"Yes. And I tore…"

"Are you okay?" Giles asked when Faith trailed off and shuddered.

Faith took a deep breath.

"Yeah. Just feeling a bit sick."

"Did the girls do something?"

Faith shook her head.

"No." She took another deep breath. "I'm fine. Anyway, I tore up their credit cards."

"You did?"

"Yeah. They're not responsible enough to have them."

"I see."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Then they refused to call you so we could go home. I told them we'd walk, but they didn't want to, so I left. That changed their mind."

"You would've left them all by themselves?" Giles asked, surprised.

"No, of course not. I would've followed them around. But they don't need to know that."

"I see."

Faith thought for a moment.

"Their dad was English?"

"Yes."

"So their grandparents live here?"

"Yes."

"What are they like?"

"They're wonderful people. Why?"

"I was thinking maybe we should go visit them."

"That's a splendid idea."

"I'll ask Buffy about it. If I see her."

The next day, the girls' grandparents came to visit.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" the girls screamed as they ran to them.

"Hello, girls," Mrs Martin said with a smile and grabbed her husband for support when the girls hugged them.

"Hello, Mr Martin," Giles said as he came. "Mrs Martin."

"Hello, Mr Giles," Mr Martin said.

"Where is Buffy?" Mrs Martin asked.

"Some meeting."

"I see."

Then Faith came.

"Ah, Faith," Giles said. "Meet the girls' grandparents, Mr and Mrs Martin." He looked at the Martins. "This is Faith, the new nanny."

"Hi," Faith said, a bit nervous.

"Pleased to meet you," Mrs Martin said.

"Grandma, come," Molly said and dragged Mrs Martin away.

"Has Buffy called?" Faith asked Giles.

"No."

"Oh. I'll be in the library."

"Okay."

Faith left.

"She's a bit young," Mr Martin commented when she was gone. "Is she any good?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. She doesn't let the girls bully her."

"I see." Mr Martin considered that fact for a few moments. "I'll go see what the girls are so excited about. Could you please get the girls' presents from the car?"

"Yes, Sir," Giles said and took the keys.

While the Martins were visiting, Faith stayed out of sight, but she did check up on the girls from time to time to see how they were getting along with their grandparents. When Buffy arrived, she went to meet her.

"Your, em, parents-in-law are here," she said.

"I know," Buffy said. "Where are they?"

"In the back yard, with the girls."

"Oh. Okay. Oh! I'll get you the phone when we get back to the States."

Faith frowned.

"What phone?"

"A cell phone. You know, so you can call Giles."

"Oh," Faith said and looked at Giles questioningly.

"I told her you needed to use the girls' phone to call me," Giles explained.

"Oh."

Buffy went to the back yard and Faith followed her.

"Hi, girls!" Buffy called as she approached the girls.

"Mommy!" the girls called, excited, and ran to her.

Buffy smiled as she ruffled their hair after they hugged her.

"Hi," she said to the Martins.

"Buffy," Mrs Martin said with a smile.

"I'm glad you came."

"So are we," Mr Martin said.

Buffy looked at the girls.

"Have you two been behaving?"

"Yes, Mommy," Anne said and then immediately looked at Faith, worried that Faith might have told Buffy about what had happened in the morning.

"Good," Buffy said, and Anne realized, relieved, that Faith didn't tell her.

"And where is your new, eh, boyfriend?" Mrs Martin asked, curious.

"Riley?" Buffy said. "He had some things to take care of. Business, you know."

"I see."

"How long are you staying?"

"Just for today. We're leaving in a couple of hours."

"Already?"

"Yes. We're on our way to France."

"Really? We're going there too."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Oh. Then I'm afraid we won't be able to see you again."

"We could meet in France."

"I'm afraid we have to return home by then. But we did bring the girls some presents."

"Oh."

"Are you staying home now, Mommy?" Molly asked.

Buffy smiled at her.

"Yes, I'm done for today."

"Cool," Anne said, excited.

Buffy ruffled her hair.

"Just le me change into something more comfortable."

"Okay."

Half way back to the States, Faith had decided to take the twins to the orphanage where she grew up, she wanted to show them that not everyone was as lucky as they were, even if Buffy was neglecting them a bit. She told Giles about it and he agreed. But the closer to it they were, the more nervous she was. Giles noticed that, so he sat next to her.

"Everything okay?"

Faith sighed.

"I'm nervous."

"About what?"

Faith looked at her hands, hesitating.

"I grew up there."

"At the orphanage?" Giles said, surprised.

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a few moments.

"I kinda just left when I was fifteen."

"I see." Giles thought for a moment. "And you're worried about how the, em, the people there will react?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

"We can go to another orphanage."

Faith thought about it and then shook her head.

"No." She hesitated for a moment. "I'd kinda like to meet them again."

"I see."

Faith sighed.

"I was a real pain in the ass and I'd never really appreciated what they were doing."

"But now you do?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah. Especially since I've started looking after the girls." She hesitated for a moment. "And besides, I really liked one of the nuns and I know she cared about me."

"Nuns?" Giles asked, surprised.

"Yeah, it was run by nuns."

"I see."

Faith took a deep breath and looked out the window, thinking.

"Where are we?" Molly asked when they stopped in front of the orphanage.

"Orphanage," Faith said. She looked at Giles. "You better wait here or someone might steal the car."

Giles nodded.

"I will."

"Why are we here?" Molly asked.

Faith looked at her.

"You'll see. Come."

They got out and then Faith led the way to the main door. When they reached it, she took a deep breath and rang the bell.

A few moments later, a young nun opened.

"Yes?"

"Eh, hi," Faith said. "Em, I bought the girls here so they could see how… orphans live. Can they watch them play for a few minutes?"

The nun glanced at the girls.

"Sure. Come in."

They entered and the nun led the way.

Faith looked around, curious and nervous.

"Is… Is Sister Caroline still here?"

The nun looked at her.

"You know her?"

"Yeah."

"Yes, she is."

"Do you think I could see her?"

"Sure."

"Thanks."

They came across an older nun.

"Sister Patricia, do you know where Sister Caroline is?"

"Yes. She's down in the kitchen. Why?"

"This woman here would like to see her."

Sister Patricia looked at Faith and frowned.

"I know you."

"Yeah," Faith said, nervous. "I'm Faith."

"Faith… Faith…" Then her eyes went wide. "Faith! Oh my god, it's been ages."

"Yeah."

"Sister Caroline was very worried when you left."

"I know," Faith said and looked at the floor, nervous. She gulped and looked back up. "How is she?"

Sister Patricia smiled.

"She's getting old, like most of us here."

"Oh."

Sister Patricia glanced at the girls.

"Are they yours?"

"No, I'm just their nanny."

"I see."

"I brought them here to see how the kids here live."

"I see. Tell you what, you take the girls to the children and then come to Mother Superior's office."

Faith gulped.

"Is she still the same?" she asked, nervous.

Sister Patricia smiled.

"Yes. I'll get Sister Caroline."

"Don't tell her it's me." She hesitated for a moment. "I want to surprise her."

Sister's Patricia smiled again.

"Okay."

Sister Patricia left and Faith and the girls followed the young nun to the children.

When they got to the main room, where most of the children played, Faith stopped and looked at the girls.

"See them? They don't have a mom or a dad, they don't have anyone but the nuns and each other. And they have very little of their own. They can't afford to waste a thousand bucks on clothes they don't need. They have to wear used clothes. You have a loving family, a wealthy one, don't take it for granted, because if something happens to your mom or your grandma, you'll be on your own."

"We have Aunt Dawn," Anne said.

"That's beside the point." She sighed. "Wait here, I have to go to Mother Superior's office."

"What do we do?" Molly asked, not really feeling very comfortable.

"Watch the kids or go play with them, if you want. I'll be back in a few minutes." She looked at the young nun. "I know my way around here."

"I guessed," the nun said with a smile.

When Faith and the nun left, the girls looked at one another and then at the children.

"I don't wanna stay here," Molly then said.

"Me neither," Anne agreed. "Let's go after Faith."

"Okay."

When she got to Mother Superior's officer, Faith took a deep breath and knocked. She waited for a moment and then entered. There were three nuns inside, Sister Patricia, Mother Superior and Sister Caroline.

"Hey," Faith said nervously.

Sister Patricia smiled, while Mother Superior and Sister Caroline just stared at her for a few moments.

"Faith?" Sister Caroline finally said.

"Yeah."

"Oh my god!"

Sister Caroline went to Faith and hugged her tightly.

Faith was surprised for a moment, but then she hugged her back. She felt tears coming to her eyes, but she forced them back.

After Sister Caroline finally let go of Faith, she cupped her face.

"My, look at you. You've grown so much."

"Yeah," Faith said. She hesitated for a moment. "I'm sorry I just left."

Sister Caroline smiled and let go of her face.

"I'm just glad you came back. How have you been?"

Faith hesitated for a few moments.

"Not so good." She hesitated again. "I've been a… a junkie and a, um, a hooker," she admitted and looked at her feet, feeling ashamed.

"Oh." Sister Caroline thought for a few moments. "You have been?"

Faith looked at her.

"Yeah."

"And now?"

"I'm a nanny."

The nuns smiled.

"Really?" Sister Caroline said.

"Yeah."

"I'm glad."

"She brought the girls here," Sister Patricia said.

Sister Caroline glanced at her.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Faith said. She hesitated for a moment. "They were acting like spoiled brats and they were a real pain in the ass, so I brought them here."

Sister Caroline smiled.

"A pain in the ass, hmm? Like you?" she said with a twinkle in her eyes.

Faith blushed.

"Yeah." She thought for a few moments and then looked at all three nuns, nervous. "I want to thank you. For what you've done for me, or tried to. I didn't really appreciate it back then, but now I do. Especially since I became a nanny." She looked at Sister Caroline, holding back her tears. "I'm not giving up on them, just like you never gave up on me."

Sister Caroline smiled, moved.

"I'm proud of you, Faith."

Faith blinked, surprised, and a couple of tears ran down her cheek. She quickly wiped them.

"You are? Why? I've wasted fifteen years of my life."

"But you picked yourself up, not many people can do that. And look at you now, you're a nanny, you're taking care of children, that's one of the most important and difficult jobs in the world, because there are no handbooks." She smiled. "You just have to have faith."

Faith smiled a bit and quickly wiped the few tears that escaped down her cheeks again. She hesitated for a moment and then hugged Sister Caroline. "Thank you," she said quietly.

"You're welcome," Sister Caroline, said, hugging her back.

When they stopped hugging, Faith took a deep breath to calm down.

"Welcome back, Faith," Mother Superior said.

Faith looked at her, nervous.

"Thank you, Ma'am," she said in a raspy voice.

"I expect you'll be visiting us more often from now on?"

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yeah, Ma'am."

"Good.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Em, I gotta go now, the girls are waiting for me."

"I'll walk you," Sister Caroline said.

"Okay."

When the girls heard that Faith was leaving, they quickly ran back to the main room and waited there for Faith.

"Girls, I'd like you to meet someone," Faith said when she and Sister Caroline arrived. "This is Sister Caroline," she introduced the nun when the girls turned. "Sister Caroline, these are Anne and Molly."

"Hello," Sister Caroline said with a smile.

"Hi," Molly said, staring curiously at Sister Caroline.

"Come, let's go home," Faith said.

The girls looked at her and then headed back the way they came.

Faith and Sister Caroline followed them.

"Twins, ha?" Sister Caroline said.

"Yeah."

"Have they tried to switch identities?"

Faith smiled.

"No. But I can tell them apart now, even if they wear identical clothes."

"Oh. Whose are they?"

"Buffy Summers'."

Sister Caroline frowned.

"I think I've heard of her. Rich."

"Yeah."

"What is she like?"

Faith shrugged.

"Okay, I guess. I've only been a nanny for a week, I don't know her that well yet."

"Oh."

"She's very busy."

"I see."

Faith looked around.

"Not much has changed around here."

"No, not much."

"I noticed you got some young nuns."

"Yes."

"And the children?"

"Oh, you know, not much different from when you were young."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yeah, I guess."

They reached the front door. The girls opened it and they ran to the car. Faith stopped and looked at Sister Caroline.

"Thank you."

Sister Caroline smiled.

"You're welcome, Faith."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then hugged her briefly.

"I'll, eh, I'll try to come by every week," she said when she let go of Sister Caroline.

Sister Caroline nodded.

"Whenever you have the time."

"I'll see you around then."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Okay," she said and went to the car.

Sister Caroline stared after the car until it was gone, and then went back inside, feeling glad that Faith had come back.

When they came home, the girls went to their room.

"Everything okay?" Giles asked Faith when they were gone.

Faith sighed and nodded.

"Yeah." She smiled a bit. "She said she was proud of me."

"Who?"

Faith blushed a bit.

"Sister Caroline. She was my favorite when I was little."

"I see."

Faith sighed.

"I'm gonna visit her every week, if I can." She thought for a moment. "When is Buffy coming back?"

"Tomorrow, I think."

"I'll have a word with her then." She thought for a moment. "I'd like to get the girls a gift. Any idea what they'd like?"

Giles thought for a moment.

"I don't know. They have practically everything they want."

"Oh." Faith sighed. "Well, if you think of anything, let me know."

"I will."

"What do you think?" Anne asked Molly when the girls came to their room.

"About what?" Molly asked.

"Faith."

Molly thought for a moment.

"I don't know. She's not like the other nannies."

"Did she grow up there?"

"I think so. She knew the nuns."

Anne thought for a moment.

"I kinda like her."

"Me too. But as long as she's here, Mommy won't care."

"I know. We have to get rid of her."

"Just not like the other nannies."

"Okay."

A couple of hours later, Buffy's mom Joyce arrived.

"Mrs Summers," Giles greeted her.

"Hello, Mr Giles," Joyce said with a smile. "Where are the girls?"

"In their room."

"How was England? And France? Buffy said she'd found a new nanny."

"Yes."

"Did the girls cause her trouble?"

Giles hesitated for a moment.

"They… tried."

"Tried?"

"Well, Faith is a very… no nonsense kind of woman."

"I see."

"Ah, there she is," Giles said as Faith came in from the back yard. "Faith."

Faith came closer.

"Yeah?"

"Faith, this is Buffy's mother."

"Oh. Hi."

Joyce raised an eyebrow.

"Hello."

"Is something wrong?" Faith asked when she saw how Joyce looked at her.

Joyce smiled.

"No, no. It's that somehow I expected you to be older."

"Oh."

"Are the girls giving you trouble?"

"Not really. I'll go get them."

"No, no, I'll go to them. I want to surprise them."

"Oh. Okay. They're in their room."

Joyce went upstairs and Faith followed her.

When Joyce got to the girls' room, she knocked and then opened the door.

"Hi, girls," she said with a smile.

"Grandma!" the girls said, excited.

They got up, ran to her and hugged her.

When Faith saw that the girls obviously adored their grandmother, she went to her room.

When Buffy came home the next day, Faith intercepted her.

"Hi," Buffy said with a smile.

"Hey."

"Where are the girls?"

"In their room."

"Oh."

"They're upset."

"Why?" Buffy asked, startled.

"Because you weren't there for their birthday."

"Oh." Buffy sighed. "I'll make it up to them."

Faith crossed her arms.

"By buying them expensive gifts?"

"Well…"

"They have everything they need. It was their birthday and you weren't there. No gift is gonna make up for that."

Buffy stared at Faith for a few moments, surprised, and then sighed again.

"I know."

"Take them somewhere, anywhere. Maybe just to the park or to the movies. They want to spend time with you."

"I'll try."

Faith rolled her eyes.

"Your mom's also here."

"Yes, I know."

"I'll be in the back yard," Faith said and left.

Buffy stared after her for a few moments. Then she sighed and went upstairs to greet the girls.

"Hi, girls," she said as she walked into their room.

"Mommy!" the girls said, excited.

They got up, ran to her and hugged her.

"Hey," Buffy said with a smile and ruffled their hair. She hesitated for a moment. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for your birthday."

The girls let go of her and looked at her.

"Are you gonna stay home?" Molly asked.

"Yes."

"Can you play with us?" Anne asked.

Buffy smiled.

"Just let me change and freshen up."

"Cool!"

"Everything okay?" Giles asked when he found Faith sitting on a bench on a balcony overlooking the back yard.

Faith looked at him.

"Yeah, just thinking."

"Happy thoughts?"

Faith shrugged.

"I'm not sure."

Giles hesitated for a moment and then sat beside her.

"It's rare, seeing Mrs Summers play with the twins," he said, staring at them.

"Yeah, I know." Faith thought for a moment. "Is she always so busy?"

"Mostly, yes."

"What was their dad like?"

Giles thought for a moment.

"He was a good man and the girls adored him." He paused for a moment. "He always had time for them."

"And Buffy?"

Giles thought about it.

"She too."

"When did she change?"

"After her husband died."

"Oh." She thought for a few moments. "You think I'm doing the right thing?" she then asked.

Giles glanced at her.

"About what?"

"The girls. I mean, I'm not exactly a role model for them, plus, I've never taken care of rich kids before. Or full-time."

"Well, your methods are certainly… unconventional, but they work. The girls seem to respect you and Mrs Summers seems to listen to you."

Faith thought about it.

"I guess." She thought for a few moments. "Giles?"

"Yes?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"You think I could get another job working for Buffy when the girls grow up?"

Giles glanced at her.

"That's still years away."

"I know."

Giles thought for a moment.

"You like working for Mrs Summers?"

Faith shrugged.

"It's not that I like working for her, which I do, it's just, I don't wanna go back to where I came from."

Faith shuddered, and Giles noticed it.

"I don't see why not."

"But I'd have to have the education, right?"

"Yes."

Faith sighed. She thought for a few moments and then looked at Giles.

"Thanks."

Giles nodded.

"You're welcome."

When Buffy stopped playing with the girls, she went to Giles, who was fixing something on one of the cars.

"Giles."

Giles looked up.

"Mrs Summers?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"What do you think of Faith?"

"In what way?" Giles asked, worried a bit.

Buffy shrugged.

"In every way. I mean, you're probably the closest to her."

Giles thought for a moment.

"I think she's a remarkable woman. Her methods may be a bit unconventional, but they work. And she cares about the girls."

"She does?"

"Yes, but she's a bit reluctant to show it."

"Oh."

Giles hesitated for a moment.

"She needs you as much as you need her."

Buffy frowned for a moment, startled.

"Oh!" she said, when she realized what Giles meant. "I wasn't thinking about firing her, I was just wondering what she's like, I don't talk to her all that much."

Giles hesitated for a moment.

"Perhaps you should."

"About what?"

"The girls?"

Buffy thought about it.

"I suppose." She sighed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

A month later, Buffy nearly feel pray to one of the twins' booby traps. She stared at the mess for a few moments, shocked, before she realized that it was a booby trap and that it was probably meant for Faith.

"Girls!"

The girls, who were already on their way after they heard the noise, came running.

"Oops," Molly said quietly, but Buffy still heard her.

"You did this."

The girls gulped.

"Eh…" Anne started.

"And it wasn't the first time, am I right?"

The girls glanced at one another, nervous.

"We…"

"You're grounded for a week," Buffy interrupted her. "And if I so much as suspect that you've set up another booby trap for Faith, I'll send you back to your grandmother."

The girls' eyes went wide.

"But…"

"No buts. Now clean up this mess."

Buffy stormed away.

"What do we do now?" Molly said when Buffy was gone.

"We need to remove the other booby traps," Anne said.

"Uh-huh," Molly agreed. "You start cleaning up, I'll take care of the booby traps."

"Okay."

When Faith came back from her visit to Sister Caroline, she went to check up on the girls.

"Hey," she said when she found them in the back yard. "I'm back."

The girls looked at her quietly and then continued to play.

Faith frowned.

"Is something wrong?"

"No," Molly said without looking at her.

"Then why are you pouting?"

"We're grounded," Anne said.

"Anne!" Molly chided her.

"She'll find out anyway," Anne said.

"What did you do?" Faith asked.

The girls didn't respond. Faith sighed and went to find Buffy.

"Come!" Buffy called when Faith knocked on the door of her office.

Faith entered.

"Hey."

Buffy smiled.

"Hey."

"I heard you grounded the girls."

Buffy sighed.

"Yes."

"What did they do?"

"I nearly fell victim to one of their pranks. And I'm pretty sure it was meant for you."

"Oh."

"I grounded them for a week and I told them they'll go back to my mom if they don't behave."

"You're their mom," Faith said. "They just want your attention."

Buffy sighed.

"I know. But someone could get hurt."

"Not if you spend more time with them. I mean, you're at home right now, but it would be the same as if you weren't. It's already as if they were living with your mom."

"I'm very busy, Faith. We have a couple of very important deals going on at the moment."

"You need to decide what's more important, the girls or the business. If you don't spend more time with them, I'm afraid they'll start hating you."

"They won't," Buffy said confidently, but she started worrying a bit.

Faith sighed.

"I hope not," she said and left.

When Faith got back to the back yard, the girls were still playing. She went to them and sat on her heels beside them. She quietly watched them for a few moments, thinking.

"I'll make you a deal," she finally said, and the girls looked at her. "You behave and stop causing problems, and I'll help you get your mom to spend more time with you."

The girls glanced at one another, surprised.

"Why?" Molly then asked.

"Because I know you miss her and I know that that's why you're mean to me and the other nannies." She hesitated for a moment. "I know what it's like to grow up without a mom. You still have yours, but she's never there. I'll try to change that."

The girls glanced at one another.

"But won't you lose your job if Mommy spends more time with us?" Molly asked.

Faith smiled.

"Perhaps. But I want you to be happy."

The girls thought about it.

"What will you do?"

Faith smiled.

"I'm not sure yet. If you have any ideas, let me know."

"Oh. Okay."

"So, we have a deal?"

The girls looked at one another.

"Okay," Anne said.

"Good." She thought for a moment. "I hope you removed any other booby traps you had set up, you don't want your mom to send you back to your grandma, do you?"

"We have."

"Okay."

"Faith," Molly said when Faith got up.

"Yes?"

"How come you never told Mommy about the booby traps?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"When I first came here, I was hiding from someone and I really needed the job. I thought that if I told your mom about the booby traps, she'd think that I can't control you."

"Oh."

Faith smiled a little.

"But then I realized that you wanted to get rid of me so your mom could spend more time with you."

"Uh-huh."

"I want to help you with that."

"Oh."

"I'll be in my room, if you need me."

"Okay."

Faith left.

"I wish Mommy was more like her," Anne said after a few moments.

"Uh-huh," Molly agreed.

A couple of days later, Faith got an idea. She asked the girls if they wanted to watch Ice Age, and the girls agreed. While the girls got the DVD ready, Faith went to talk to Buffy.

"Do you have some time?"

"Sure," Buffy said.

"An hour and a half?"

Buffy frowned.

"What for?"

"The girls are about to watch Ice Age. I thought you could join them."

"Why?"

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"Because they're your daughters and you're not spending enough time with them. It will mean a lot to them."

Buffy sighed.

"I suppose this can wait that long." She got up. "Okay."

They left the office and Buffy locked the door. Then they went downstairs.

"We're gonna watch Ice Age, Mommy," Molly said when she saw Buffy. "Are you gonna watch it with us?"

"Sure, sweetie," Buffy said with a smile.

"Really?" Molly said, surprised and excited.

"Yes."

The girls looked at Faith, who winked at them. The girls smiled and looked back at Buffy.

"Come, we got the DVD ready," Anne said, excited.

Buffy joined them and the girls sat on either side of her. Anne started the movie, and Faith started to leave.

"You're not going to watch it?" Buffy asked.

"I'll let this be a mother/daughters event," Faith said with a smile and left.

A couple of weeks later, while she and the girls were at the mall, Faith saw a familiar woman, but she couldn't quite place her. The woman apparently also found her familiar, but Faith looked away.

"Can we have an ice cream?" Molly asked.

"Sure," Faith said.

"Excuse me."

Faith turned and saw it was the familiar woman.

"Yes?"

"Have we met? You look so familiar."

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"I don't know. You look familiar too."

"What's your name?"

"Faith."

The woman hesitated for a moment.

"Did you grow up in an orphanage?"

"Yeah."

The woman smiled.

"It is you," she said, excited. "I'm Jessica."

Faith thought for a few moments.

"Jessica."

"Yes."

Faith cocked her head, thinking.

"Pigtails?"

Jessica smiled again.

"Yes."

"That boy… Robert, he cut them off."

"Yes. You beat him up because of it."

"Yeah. I remember."

"Listen, I'm in a hurry right now, but can we meet in the afternoon? I'd really like to talk to you."

Faith thought for a moment and then decided that she would like to meet with Jessica. She looked at the girls.

"Do you have any plans for this afternoon?"

"No," Anne said.

"Okay." Faith looked back at Jessica. "No problem. Where?"

"The cafeteria downstairs?"

"Okay. When?"

"Five?"

"Okay."

Jessica smiled, excited.

"Great. I'll see you then."

"Okay."

Jessica hurried away.

"Did you grow up together?" Molly asked.

Faith looked at her.

"Yes." She sighed. "Come, let's go get the ice cream."

When Faith came to the cafeteria in the afternoon, Jessica was already there. Faith glanced at the clock in the cafeteria and realized that Jessica was early.

"Hi," Jessica said, obviously excited.

"Hey."

"I'm early, I know."

"Yeah," Faith said as she sat down.

"Wow. I thought I'd never see you again. Where did you go?"

Faith shrugged.

"Nowhere really."

"Sister Caroline was so sad when you left."

Faith sighed.

"I know. I visit her every weekend now."

"Really?" Jessica smiled. "I'm glad."

"What can I get you?" the waitress asked as she arrived.

Faith looked at her.

"A cup of coffee."

"Okay," the waitress said and left.

Jessica thought for a moment.

"Are you married?"

"No."

"Were those your daughters?"

"No." Faith hesitated for a moment. "I'm their nanny."

Jessica smiled.

"Really? I never pictured you as a nanny. Maybe a cop or a businesswoman." She thought for a moment. "Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."

"Why?" Faith asked, confused.

Jessica smiled again.

"I saw how they looked at you, like you're their idol or something."

"Oh," Faith said, blushing a bit.

Jessica hesitated for a moment.

"I think I looked at you the same way."

"Really?" Faith said, surprised.

Jessica nodded.

"You were my hero when I was little," she admitted, blushing. "You were the first person who stood up for me. I wanted to be as tough as you."

Faith stared at her, surprised. She had no idea that she had been someone's hero. She sighed.

"I wasn't really that tough. I was scared most of the time, but I could take the… the punches and move on. I just didn't let others know I was hurt." She thought for a moment. "Sister Caroline was the only one who saw through my façade."

"Oh."

"Here you go," the waitress said as she returned.

"Thanks." Faith took a deep breath. "And what happened to you? Robert gave you any trouble?"

"A bit, but I learned to stand up for myself, thanks to you."

"Oh."

"Ooh! I'm getting married. This Saturday."

"Congratulations."

Jessica smiled.

"Thanks." She hesitated for a few moments. "Em, will you be my bride's maid?"

Faith blinked, surprised.

"What?"

"Bride's maid. You know…"

"I know what a bride's maid is."

"Oh. So, will you be my bride's maid?"

"Eh…"

Faith didn't know what to say.

"You don't need to decide right away."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I became a doctor."

"Really? Cool."

Jessica smiled.

"What about you? What did you do?"

Faith tensed. She shrugged.

"Not much."

"What do you mean? You were on your own, you could do whatever you wanted."

Faith sighed.

"I wasn't really on my own."

"But you were free."

"I was stupid."

Jessica frowned.

"Why?"

Faith sighed. She wasn't sure whether she should tell Jessica about her past and destroy the illusion she had of her as a hero. But this looked like it could maybe turn into a friendship of some sort and she didn't want to lie to her.

"Running away was the dumbest thing I've done," she admitted. She hesitated for a moment. "I became a hooker and a junkie."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Faith shrugged.

"Yeah."

"So how did you became a nanny?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"I was running from my pimp, and I hid in the doorway. Then a limo came by and the driver asked if I was there about the job. Since Jack was approaching, I said yes. He took me to his boss and she gave me the job."

"Just like that?" Jessica asked, surprised.

"She was desperate," Faith said with a smile.

"Really? The girls seemed nice. I mean, the way they were looking at you…"

"They were a real pain in the ass and they drove their nannies crazy."

Jessica smiled.

"But not you?"

"They tried. And besides, I figured them out. They just miss their mom."

Jessica frowned.

"Really?"

"Yeah, but she's always busy and they want her to spend more time with her."

"Oh." Jessica thought for a moment. "They have a driver?"

"Yes."

"What's her name? Your boss', I mean. Maybe I know her."

"Buffy Summers."

"Really?" Jessica said, surprised.

"You know her?"

"I've heard of her. I think my husband… I mean, my future husband, I think he does business with her."

"Oh."

"Does she know about your past?"

"No."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"The girls and the driver know I grew up in an orphanage."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I took the girls there to show them that not everyone was as lucky as they were."

Jessica smiled.

"Did it work?"

"For about a day."

Jessica laughed. Then she thought for a moment.

"So, how long have you been their nanny?"

"About a year."

"Oh."

"Do you like it?"

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yeah."

Jessica smiled.

"I'm glad."

"Yeah, me too."

Jessica hesitated for a moment.

"Have you thought about school?"

"Yeah. I was thinking about the GED."

"Good. You have to think ahead."

Faith sighed.

"I know." She thought for a moment. "And who is the lucky guy?"

Jessica smiled.

"Trevor Malone."

Faith frowned.

"I think I've heard of him."

"He's pretty well known."

"How did you meet him?"

"I treated him in the ER."

"Oh. Does he know?"

"That I grew up in an orphanage?"

"Yes."

"Yes."

"And his family?"

"As well."

"They don't mind?"

"His parents gave me weird looks for a while, but they've accepted me."

"Oh."

They were quiet for a while and Faith thought about the wedding. She didn't really want to go, but she felt like she and Jessica were getting close and she realized she could use a friend.

"Will there be many people at the wedding?" she asked.

"Fortunately, no. Mostly Trevor's family and friends. And some of mine. Sister Caroline will be at the wedding."

"Oh." Faith hesitated for a moment. "What will the bride's maids have to wear? A dress?"

"Yes. Nothing too fancy. I think you'd like the style."

Faith thought about it. She didn't really like wearing dresses, but a part of her wanted to go to the wedding and get to know Jessica better.

"I'm supposed to bring a present, right?" she asked.

Jessica smiled.

"No, you don't need to bring a present, that's not why I want you there. I want you there because of who you are and what you meant to me."

"Oh."

Jessica hesitated for a moment.

"I'd like us to be friends, Faith."

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"Never had a friend before."

Jessica smiled.

"You do now."

Faith smiled back a little.

"Yeah," she said quietly.

"So, you're coming to the wedding?"

Faith shrugged.

"I guess."

"Great! Come, let's go to the dressmaker so she can take your measurements."

"Measurements?"

"For the dress."

"Oh. Okay."

When they were done at the dressmakers, Jessica took Faith to her home. Faith wasn't looking forward to it, but it obviously meant a lot to Jessica, so she went. She'd never had someone she could call a friend and she didn't want to lose their newfound friendship.

"Hello, Mrs Malone," Jessica said when the entered the house and came across her future mother-in-law.

"Jessica."

"This is my friend Faith, she'll be one of my bride's maids."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Faith, this is Trevor's mom."

"Nice to meet you, Ma'am," Faith said.

"Yes," Mrs Malone said. "What do you do?"

"I'm a nanny."

"Really," Mrs Malone said, and Faith could hear it in her voice that she didn't think much of nannies.

"Yes."

"Ah, Jessica," Mr Malone said.

"Hi," Jessica said. "Faith, this is Trevor's dad. Mr Malone, this is my friend Faith."

"Hello."

"Hi," Faith said.

"She'll be my bride's maid," Jessica said.

"I see."

"She's a nanny," Mrs Malone said.

"Really?

"Where's Trevor?" Jessica asked.

"In the back yard," Mrs Malone said.

"Come, Faith," Jessica said and dragged Faith away from the future in-laws. "Sorry about that," she said when they were out of their hearing range. "They're a bit snobbish."

"Yeah, I noticed."

"Trevor's completely different from them."

"I hope so, for your sake."

Jessica smiled.

"Ah, there he is. Trevor!"

Trevor turned his head.

"Hi, Jessica," he said and got up when he saw she had company.

When Jessica got to him, they kissed.

"Honey, this is my friend Faith. Faith, this is Trevor."

"Hi," Faith said.

"Nice to meet you, Faith," Trevor said, and they shook hands.

"She'll be my bride's maid," Jessica said.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"That was on short notice."

"I just met her today, after a long time."

"Oh. Well, I got no problem with that."

Jessica smiled.

"Good. Oh, and before your parents tell you, she's a nanny."

Trevor grinned at her.

"I imagine they were less than thrilled."

"You could say that."

"I think it's an important job, I mean, they have to raise children. That's a lot of responsibility."

Jessica smiled at Faith.

"See?"

Faith smiled a little.

"Yeah."

"See what?" Trevor asked, confused.

"That you're not like your parents," Jessica explained.

"Oh," Trevor said with a smile. "Oh! Your mom called. She and your dad are coming over in half an hour."

"Okay." Jessica looked at Faith. "Can you wait that long? I want to introduce you to them."

"Okay."

"Great!" Jessica said, excited.

"They're here," Trevor said half an hour later when he saw Jessica's adoptive parents come to the back yard.

Jessica looked and then got up.

"Hi, Mom, hi, Dad," she said with a smile.

"Hi, honey," Mr Bentley said.

Trevor and Faith also got up.

"Hi," Trevor said.

"Mom, Dad, this is my friend Faith," Jessica introduced Faith to her parents. "Faith, these are my parents."

"Hi," Faith said.

"Hello," Mr Bentley said, and they shook hands.

"Hi," Mrs Bentley said. Then she looked at Jessica. "How come you never mentioned her?"

"Well, we grew up together, but we were never really that close then. We're friends now."

"I see."

They sat down.

"And she's gonna be my bride's maid."

"Really?"

"Yes. We already got her measurements for the dress, and I told her what the ceremony's going to look like."

"I see."

"So, Faith, what do you do?" Mr Bentley asked.

"I'm a nanny," Faith said.

"Really?"

"A full-time nanny?" Mrs Bentley asked.

"Yeah, I live with them."

"How many children do you take care of?"

"Two girls, twins."

Mrs Bentley smiled.

"Really? How old are they?"

"Ten."

"And? Do you like it?"

Faith shrugged.

"It's okay. I wasn't too fond of it at the beginning, but now I like it."

"And the girls? Are they giving you any trouble?"

"They used to, but now they're okay."

"They adore her," Jessica said with a smile.

Faith blushed a bit, not used to being praised.

"Hi, Giles," Faith said when she came home.

"Hello, Faith. How was your reunion?"

Faith shrugged.

"Okay. She invited me to her wedding."

"Really?"

"Yeah. As a bride's maid."

"I see. Are you going?"

"Yeah."

"As a bride's maid?"

"Yeah."

"And when is the wedding?"

"This Saturday. Will you drive me?"

"I suppose."

"Thanks. You can meet Sister Caroline."

"She is coming?"

"Yeah."

"I'm looking forward to it."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Jessica said I was her hero when we were little."

"Really?"

Faith blushed a bit.

"Yeah."

Giles smiled.

"That's always nice to hear."

Faith's blush deepened.

"Yeah. She also introduced me to her parents, her fiancé and his parents."

"I see."

"Where's Buffy?"

"In the back yard with the girls."

"Okay."

Faith went to the back yard.

"Faith!" Molly said when she saw her.

"Hi, Faith," Anne said.

"Hey," Faith said with a smile.

"Did you talk to Jessica?"

"Yeah."

"Jessica?" Buffy asked.

"A friend of mine."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"She's getting married this Saturday and she wants me to be her bride's maid."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yeah."

"Are you going?"

"Yeah." She looked at the girls. "Just so you know."

"Okay," Molly said.

"Can we come too?" Anne asked.

Faith smiled.

"I'm afraid not." She looked at Buffy. "Giles is taking me."

"Okay," Buffy said. "Do you know who the bridegroom is?"

"Trevor Malone."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

"You know him?"

"We do business together."

"Oh."

"Where does your friend work?"

"In the hospital. She's a doctor."

"I see. And the dress?"

"Dress?"

"That you'll wear to the wedding."

"Oh. It'll be delivered."

"Okay."

The dress was delivered the next day and Faith tried it on. She didn't want anyone to see her in it, but the girls insisted, and so she couldn't say not to Buffy when she wanted to see it as well.

"You look gorgeous," Buffy said when Faith came out of her room.

Faith blushed.

"Thanks," she said, not feeling very comfortable wearing a dress.

"Turn around."

"You look like you're the one getting married," Anne said as Faith did a spin.

Faith smiled at her.

"Thanks." She looked at Buffy. "Well, you've seen it," she said and went back to her room to change back into more comfortable clothes.

The girls looked at Buffy.

"Did you have a dress like that when you and Daddy got married?" Molly asked.

Buffy smiled.

"Similar, yes."

"Can we have dresses like that when we get married?" Anne asked.

"You can have any dress you like when you get married," Buffy said.

"Cool," Molly said, excited.

On Saturday, Giles took Faith to Jessica's house, where the wedding ceremony would be performed.

"Hello, Faith," Mr Bentley greeted her.

"Hi," Faith said. "Eh, this is Mr Giles. Giles, Mr Bentley, Jessica's dad," she introduced them.

"Hello," Giles said.

"Welcome," Mr Bentley said and they shook hands.

"Is Sister Caroline here yet?" Faith asked Mr Bentley.

"Yes. She's helping Jessica's mother."

"And Jessica?"

"She's getting ready."

"In her room?"

"Can you take me to Sister Caroline first?"

"Sure. This way."

Mr Bentley took them through the house, to the back yard, where Sister Caroline was assisting Mrs Bentley.

"Faith!" Sister Caroline said with a smile when she saw Faith.

"Hey," Faith said.

"You look beautiful."

Faith blushed.

"Thanks," she said and glanced at Mr Bentley, who left.

"You should wear dresses more often."

Faith shrugged.

"I don't like dresses."

"That's okay," Sister Caroline said with a smile and looked at Giles.

"Eh, that's Giles. Giles, this is Sister Caroline," Faith introduced them.

"My pleasure, Ma'am," Giles said.

"Oh, the pleasure is mine," Sister Caroline said as they shook hands.

"Eh, I'm gonna go to Jessica," Faith said.

"I'll keep Mr Giles company," Sister Caroline said.

"Okay," Faith said and left.

Sister Caroline looked at Giles.

"Faith talks a lot about you," she said.

Giles looked at her.

"Eh, really?"

"Yes. You mean a lot to her."

Giles stared at her for a few moments.

"So do you," he said.

Sister Caroline smiled.

"I know."

When Faith got to Jessica's room, she knocked and looked in.

"Hey," she said.

"Faith!" Jessica said with a smile. "Come in."

Faith entered, feeling a bit nervous.

"Guys, this is Faith," Jessica introduced her. "Faith, these are my friends, Maria and Annabelle."

"Hi," Faith said.

"Hey," Annabelle said.

Maria just waved.

"You look great in the dress," Jessica said.

"Thanks," Faith said, blushing a bit.

As Jessica and Trevor exchanged vows, Faith quietly watched, wishing she could get married to someone special someday. She'd already found that someone, they just didn't know it and they never would. She sighed and pushed the thoughts away.

After the wedding, Jessica and Trevor left on their honeymoon. Faith offered to help clean up, but Mrs Bentley told her that she'd called the cleaning service, so Giles took her home.

"That was a lovely wedding," Giles said as they drove home.

"Yeah," Faith agreed.

Giles glanced at her.

"Is everything okay?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

"I talked to Sister Caroline."

Faith looked at him.

"About me?"

"Yes."

"Oh," Faith said, suddenly nervous.

Giles glanced at her again.

"She loves you very much."

Faith sighed and looked out the window.

"I know."

When they got home, the girls came running.

"How was the wedding?" Anne asked, excited.

"Okay," Faith said.

"We want details," Molly said.

Faith smiled.

"Let me change first."

"Okay."

"Wait for me in the back yard."

"Okay."

The girls hurried off to the back yard and Faith went upstairs to change.

A month later, Faith secretly arranged a vacation for Buffy. Of course, Buffy had no idea about it and neither did the girls. They did know their destination, they just didn't know that they would be stuck there all by themselves for the whole weekend. Faith also made sure that the girls left their cell phones at home and she made sure Buffy's phone had an empty battery.

When they got back, Faith could see by the look on the girls' faces that the vacation was not a happy one.

"Hi," she said. "Everyone okay?"

"We're fine," Molly said.

She and Anne went to their room, so Faith looked at Buffy.

"What happened?"

"What happened?" Buffy said, upset. "We were stuck on that godforsaken island, that's what happened. The girls left their phones at home and mine had an empty battery."

"At least there were no distractions."

"Distractions?" Buffy said, confused.

"Yeah. You could focus on the girls."

"Focus! I have a merger going on! I need to make some calls."

Buffy hurried upstairs, and Faith stared after her, feeling angry. She thought for a moment and then went to the see the girls.

"Hey," she said as se entered.

The girls looked at her, and Faith could see that they were depressed.

"Hi," Anne said.

"What happened?"

"She was upset because she couldn't call anyone."

"So what did you do?"

Anne shrugged.

"Nothing."

"She kept working," Molly said.

"Working?" Faith said, confused. "With what?"

"Some paper."

"She said she was writing notes," Anne said.

"Oh." Faith sighed. "I'm sorry."

She thought for a moment, and then left. She went straight to Buffy's room. She didn't bother knocking, she just entered. When she saw that Buffy was on the phone, she went to her, and took the phone away from her.

"She'll call you back," she told whoever was on the other side, and put the phone away.

"What are you doing?" Buffy said, surprised, and upset. "That was a very important…"

"You had the whole weekend just for you and the girls and all you did was write notes?" Faith interrupted her, upset.

"I have a merger…"

"Screw the merger!" Faith interrupted her again. "It's more important to you than the girls. What kind of mother are you? Instead of spending the time with the girls, who were no doubt scared, you were working! What good is all this money you're making if you miss the girls grow up?"

Buffy stared at her, shocked.

"How dare you criticize me!" she said, upset.

"Somebody has to," Faith said. "You're a lousy mother. I'm no mom material and I'm doing a better job raising the girls than you."

Buffy felt like she'd been punched in the stomach.

"You're fired."

Faith tensed, realizing that she'd crossed the line. She'd grown to care about the girls and she didn't want to lose the job. She sighed, knowing that Buffy would not accept an apology right now. Not to mention that she herself was too angry to apologize. She quietly turned and left.

When she was gone, Buffy took a deep breath and sat down. She felt like crying, what Faith had said had hurt her badly. And the worst thing was that Faith was right. A tear ran down her cheek and she wiped it. She didn't know what to do.

Faith went straight to her room, ignoring the looks from two maids. In her room, she sat on the bed.

"Fuck," she said and lay back.

Giles, who was coming upstairs, saw that Faith was upset. He also noticed the looks the two maids were giving Faith.

"Excuse me. Do you know why Faith is so upset?" he asked the maids.

"She and Mrs Summers had an argument," one of the maids said.

"A loud one," the other one added.

"I see."

Giles went to Faith's room and knocked.

"What?" he heard Faith say.

He opened the door and looked in.

"Faith?"

Faith sat up.

"Hey," she said and smiled a bit.

Giles entered and closed the door.

"Is everything alright?"

Faith took a deep breath.

"No. Buffy fired me."

Giles raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"She did?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah. We had an argument and I… I said some things I shouldn't have." She sighed. "Damn."

Giles hesitated for a moment and then sat beside her.

Faith leaned on him.

"I think I should apologize. Do you think she'll give me my job back if I do?"

"I don't know," Giles said, feeling a bit strange. "Depends on what you said to her and how upset she is."

Faith sighed.

"She's very upset."

There was a knock on the door.

"Yeah?"

The door opened and the girls entered.

"Faith, can we…" Anne started, but trailed off when she realized something was wrong. "What's wrong?"

Faith sighed.

"I got fired," Faith said.

"Why?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I was… mean to your mom."

The girls looked at one another.

"Because of us?" Molly asked.

Faith smiled a bit.

"You were the reason, yes, but it's not your fault. And besides, I said some things that I shouldn't have."

"Oh."

"But she can't fire you," Anne protested. "You're our nanny."

Faith smiled.

"But I work for her." Her smile disappeared. "I'm sorry. I'll…"

Molly ran off, and Anne quickly followed her.

"Girls!" Faith looked at Giles. "Go make sure they don't hurt Buffy more."

Giles nodded and left.

"Fuck," Faith said when he was gone, and buried her face in her hands.

"Buffy?" Joyce said when she came to Buffy's office.

"Mom?"

"Is everything okay?" Joyce asked, noticing that Buffy was really upset. "I heard you had an argument with Faith."

"Yes. I fired her."

Joyce raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Really? Why?"

Buffy bit her teeth.

"She said I was a lousy mother."

"She did?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"What was the argument about? The girls?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. She said I work too…"

"You can't fire Faith," Molly said as she and Anne burst through the door.

"Honey?" Buffy said, surprised.

"You can't fire Faith, she's our nanny."

"Yeah," Anne added. "We want her back."

"Girls…" Buffy started.

"Hire her back," Molly demanded.

"Yeah," Anne agreed.

The girls crossed their arms and went into full pout mode.

Buffy sighed.

"Did she send you here?"

"No," Giles said as he came in.

Buffy looked at him.

"What did she tell them?"

"She said she was really, eh, mean to you and that you fired her. The girls then came here."

"Oh."

"Hire her back," Molly repeated their demand.

Buffy looked at her mother for help.

"That's the first time the girls want a nanny back," Joyce pointed out.

"She crossed the line," Buffy said, still upset.

"Then punish her some other way. She's the only nanny the girls ever listened to."

Buffy sighed and looked at the girls, who were giving her begging looks.

"I need to talk to her first," she said and left.

When she came to Faith's room, she hesitated for a moment and then knocked.

"Yeah?"

Buffy took a deep breath to calm herself, and then entered.

When Faith saw it was Buffy, she quickly got up.

"Buffy," she said, surprised.

"Faith."

They stared at one another for a few moments.

Faith sighed.

"I'm really sorry. I crossed the line, I know, I shouldn't have said what I said. I didn't mean to hurt you." She hesitated for a moment. "But my point still stands, you work too much and don't spend enough time with the girls, they miss you."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments. What Faith had said hurt, but she had to admit that she didn't spend enough time with the girls.

"It hurt," she said.

Faith looked at her feet for a moment.

"I know. I'm sorry." She hesitated for a moment. "Is there any way I could have my job back?"

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

"You're the only nanny that actually liked spending time with the girls."

"That's because I figured them out and we made a deal."

"A deal?" Buffy asked, curious.

Faith smiled a little.

"They stop causing problems and I help them to get you to spend more time with them."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "They caused problems?"

"Yes."

"You never said anything."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Well, back then I sort of needed to lay low for a while and this house was a sort of sanctuary. Plus, the pay was good and I needed the money, so I really didn't want to lose the job."

"And now?"

Faith hesitated again.

"I… Em… I care about the girls."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I'm really sorry, Buffy, it's just that it pisses me off when it looks like you care more about your work than about the girls."

Buffy sighed.

"I know. But I just want them to be well off."

"What's the point in them being well off if they don't have you. You already have enough money to last them several lifetimes."

Buffy tensed and looked away.

"There's never too much money," she said quietly.

Faith suddenly realized what Buffy was afraid of.

"You're afraid they won't have enough money if you die."

Buffy looked at her, surprised.

"What?"

Faith smiled a little.

"You want to provide for them, in case you die. Like their dad."

Buffy looked at her feet.

"Yes," she said quietly.

Faith sighed.

"I'm sorry I haven't figured that out sooner."

Buffy looked at her.

"You're the only one who did. Not even Mom figured it out."

"They'll be well off, Buffy. You already earned plenty of money and there's a whole bunch of people who would love to take care of them if something happened to you."

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

"I'll try to spend more time with them."

Faith nodded.

"Good. They're way more important that any business deal."

Buffy smiled a little.

"I know."

Faith hesitated again.

"And my job?" she asked, nervous.

Buffy took a deep breath.

"You have it."

"Thanks," Faith said, relieved.

Buffy nodded and left.

"Man," Faith said quietly when Buffy was gone.

"Did you hire her back?" Molly asked anxiously when Buffy returned.

"Yes."

Molly smiled and ran off, with Anne right on her tail.

Giles followed them.

"You hired her back?" Joyce asked when she and Buffy were alone.

"Yes. She apologized."

"I see."

Buffy sighed.

"The problem is that she was right, you know."

"About what?"

"About me not spending enough time with the girls."

"Still, she shouldn't have said you're a lousy mother."

"She knows." Buffy hesitated for a moment. "Do you have a few minutes?"

"Sure."

Buffy sighed.

"I need to talk to you."

Joyce smiled.

"I have all the time in the world, honey."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments and then smiled a little.

"Sit down, I'll just close the door."

When the girls came to Faith's room, they knocked. As soon as they heard Faith's voice, they entered.

"You got the job back," Molly said.

Faith smiled.

"Yeah."

"What did you say to Mommy?" Anne asked as they sat beside her.

Faith sighed.

"I apologized and explained why I said what I said."

"Oh."

Faith put her arms around them and pressed them to herself.

"Thanks," she said and kissed them on the tops of their heads.

The girls smiled.

"Were you scared?" Molly asked.

"Yeah," Faith said. "I thought I really messed up." She sighed. "She's a good mom, she's just worried that…"

"What?" Molly prompted her when Faith trailed off.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then sighed.

"She's worried that if something happened to her, you won't be well off."

"You mean, if she'll die," Anne said quietly. "Like Daddy."

"Yeah. She wants to make sure that you'll be okay even if she's not here."

"Will she die?" Molly asked, wide-eyed.

Faith smiled a little.

"Someday, like everybody does."

"Oh."

"She's just afraid."

"What can we do?" Anne asked.

Faith thought for a moment.

"Well, when she's watching news or something, you could sit beside her and hug her. You know, so she can keep watching the TV and still have you near her."

Anne smiled.

"Okay."

Faith smiled and ruffled their hair.

"So, what did you want to ask me before?"

"Oh! Can you come play tennis with us?"

"Sure. Just let me change. Get everything ready, okay?"

"Okay."

The girls got up and ran out of the room.

Faith took a deep breath. She thought for a few moments and then got up to change.

A few weeks later, Buffy took a couple of days off and she wanted to take the girls to a mountain cabin. But then one of her managers died of a heard attack, and she was forced to replace him. The girls thought that that was the end of their vacation with their mother, but Buffy was determined not to waste it. She told Faith to take the girls and stay with them until she got there.

"Is this trip really necessary, Buffy?" Riley asked her when she got off the phone.

"Yes, Riley. The girls are important to me. Faith is right, I've neglected them too much. I want to catch up."

"Faith," Riley said with disdain.

"Yes."

"But you need to find a replacement for Norton."

"I know, but the company won't fall apart if I don't find someone this instant. From now on, unless it's an emergency like now, the company takes the backseat to the girls."

"But we might lose the deal."

Buffy sighed.

"I know. But my people are good, they'll manage."

"And if they don't?"

Buffy shrugged.

"There'll be other deals."

"That's a bad idea, Buffy."

"Perhaps. But this is my company, Riley."

Riley shook his head and left, deciding to do something about it.

Buffy sighed and went to the girls.

"Hey."

The girls looked at her, smiling.

"We're almost done," Faith said.

"Good."

"When will you come after us?" Molly asked.

"Well, I still have a couple of phone calls to make and a few things to take care of. I'll try to make it tonight, but if I can't, I'll definitely be there tomorrow, even if I have to stay up all night."

Molly smiled.

"Cool."

"Is the luggage in yet?" Riley asked the helicopter pilot.

"No, Sir."

"Then go and get it."

"Yes, Sir," the pilot said and left.

Riley waited for a few moments. Then he looked around to make sure no one was watching. Then he went into the helicopter. He didn't know much about helicopters, so he just pulled a couple of random wires. Then he quickly left.

When they were all seated, Faith checked the girls' seatbelts.

"Okay," she then told the pilot.

The pilot nodded and started the engine.

The girls looked out the window and waved at Buffy.

Twenty minutes later, they were already above a forest and the girls looked out the window, slightly bored. Suddenly the engine made a loud sound. Faith and the girls looked at the pilot.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," the pilot said. "I'm going…"

An explosion interrupted him.

"We're going down!" he called as smoke started coming from the engine. "Hold on!"

The girls leaned on Faith, who put her arms around them protectively.

The pilot directed the helicopter towards a river.

"I don't have much control," he told Faith. He hesitated for a moment. "I'll try to land, but if I can't, you'll have to jump out."

"What?" Faith said, surprised.

"I'm heading for the river. Hang on."

"Faith?" Molly asked quietly, scared.

Faith looked at her and smiled.

"We'll be okay," she said and pressed her closer to herself.

The engine gave a out a loud whine.

"You'll have to jump out!" the pilot called. "Get ready!"

"Fuck," Faith said under her breath. "Girls, unfasten your seatbelts. Quickly," she said and unfastened her own.

The girls quickly did as they were told. They were both terrified.

"Okay, I want you to hold on to me, okay?" Faith then said. "Don't let go, not matter what. Got it?"

The girls nodded.

"Are we gonna die?" Anne asked.

"Not if I can help it," Faith said and smiled. "Come, hug me and don't let go."

The girls hugged her tightly, and then she opened the door.

"Not yet!" the pilot called as he struggled to keep the helicopter under control.

Faith took a deep breath. She was scared as well.

"Now!" the pilot finally called.

"Here we go girls," Faith said. "Fuck Geronimo," she murmured and jumped.

The girls screamed.

When they hit the water, Faith felt a pain in her right leg. She opened her mouth to scream, but the water nearly drowned her. She quickly shut her mouth and spit the water out. Then she quickly tried to get to the surface to get some air. The added weight of the girls and the strong current didn't help her any.

When she resurfaced, she thought she heard the explosion up river, but the current was quickly taking them the other way.

The girls cried when they resurfaced, but they didn't let go of Faith.

"Help me get to the bank!" Faith called.

"How?" Molly asked.

"Use you legs. Like you're swimming."

Faith started swimming backwards so that the girls were half lying on top of her. Her leg was hurting a lot, but she didn't have the time to think about it.

They swam for several minutes, but they only came a few meters closer to the bank.

"Rapids!" Anne suddenly screamed.

"Fuck," Faith murmured.

She turned them around so that she could see where they were going.

"Don't let go of me!" she called just before they hit the rapids.

The girls didn't respond, they just hugged Faith more tightly.

When they were past the rapids, they were much closer to the bank and the water was calmer. But suddenly Faith noticed that Molly wasn't breathing.

"Anne, get on my back," she said.

"Why?"

"Molly's not breathing."

Anne's eyes went wide.

"Is she dead?"

"Not yet. Move."

Anne quickly moved behind Faith's back, and Faith floated Molly on her back.

"Put your left leg around me and use your right leg to support Molly's legs," Faith instructed Anne as she tried to keep them all above water with just one leg.

Anne did as she was told and then Faith started giving Molly mouth to mouth.

After several long seconds, Molly finally coughed. When she realized she was in the water, she grabbed on to the closest firm thing, Faith, and coughed out the water.

"Shh, it's okay," Faith said as she hugged her back, relieved.

"Faith?" Molly said.

"Yeah. You okay?"

"My lungs hurt," Molly said and coughed again.

"We're almost out. Anne, get back in front of me."

Anne did so and then Faith started swimming back wards toward the bank again.

"Don't swim, if it hurts," she told Molly.

"I'm okay," Molly said and helped push them along.

Faith could see that Molly was in pain, but she said nothing. She knew they needed to get out of the water fast.

After several minutes, they finally reached the bank. Faith helped the girls climb out and then she got out herself. Molly cuddled up like a fetus and started coughing. Faith crawled to her and took her head in her lap.

"You're very brave," she said softly as she caressed her. She looked at Anne. "You okay?"

Anne nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Come here."

Anne came closer, and Faith hugged her.

"You're brave too," Faith told her.

Anne looked at Molly.

"Is she gonna be okay?" she asked, worried.

"I think so. She just needs to get the rest of the water out of her lungs."

"Oh."

"Why don't you lie back and rest, okay?"

Anne nodded and then lay back.

Faith looked at Molly, who wasn't coughing so hard anymore.

"Getting better, Molly?"

Molly nodded.

"Uh-huh," she said between coughs.

"Good."

Faith then looked at her leg. She reached over and ran her fingers across it. It didn't feel broken, but it hurt, so she wasn't sure. She realized she needed some sort of support for it, but first she decided to rest a bit.

After half an hour, Faith was finally rested enough.

"Anne? Molly?"

"Huh?" Anne said and looked at her.

Faith smiled at her and then looked at Molly, who was apparently sleeping.

"Molly," she said and gently shook her.

"Mmm what?"

"Time to move on."

Molly sat up and looked at her.

"Do we have to?"

"Yes." Faith checked her pockets and found her cell phone, but it was dead. "Does either of you still have a cell phone?"

The girls checked their pockets.

"I lost mine," Molly said.

"I still have mine," Anne said. She looked at it. "It's dead."

Faith sighed.

"Shit," she murmured.

"What do we do now?" Molly asked.

Faith thought for a few moments.

"Can you both walk?"

The girls got up.

"How are your lungs, Molly? Can you breathe normally?"

Molly took a deep breath and nodded.

"Good. Can you please find me two or three pieces of wood?"

"Why?" Anne asked.

"I think I broke my leg."

"Oh."

"Make sure it's straight and not too thick."

"Okay."

The girls quickly left.

Faith then rolled up her pants and checked her leg. The skin wasn't pierced and the bone appeared fine, but it still hurt and she didn't want to take any chances. She sighed and looked around. She had no idea where they were, but she knew they needed to go up river.

The girls soon returned with several pieces of wood. Faith inspected it and then chose three most suitable pieces.

"Okay, girls, I need your hair ribbons."

"Why?" Molly asked.

"So I can tie these to my leg."

"Oh."

The girls quickly undid their pigtails and gave Faith the ribbons.

"Thank you. Molly, you help me tie these. Anne, you go and get me a staff of some sort. My height."

"Okay," Anne said and hurried away.

"What do I do?" Molly asked.

"Just hold these still so I can tie them up."

"Okay."

Molly held the pieces of wood and Faith tied them tightly to her leg.

"Okay, that should do it," Faith said when she was satisfied that the wood wouldn't fall off.

She rolled down her pants a bit and slowly got up.

Molly steadied her.

"What do we do now?" Molly asked.

Faith checked her clothes and was relieved that they were almost dry, thanks to the hot weather. She looked at Molly.

"How are your clothes. Still wet?"

Molly looked at her clothes.

"No, they're almost dry."

"Good." Faith looked around. "Then we go up river."

"Why?"

"Because that's where they'll be looking for us."

"They will?" Molly asked hopefully.

"Yes. The pilot called for help."

"Is this okay?" Anne asked as she returned with a staff.

"Let's see," Faith said and tested it by hanging her entire weight on it. "Yep, it'll do," she said and Anne smiled. "Let's go then."

"Where are we going?" Anne asked.

"Up river. They'll be looking for us there."

"Oh."

"You can go ahead, if you want, but stay in my sight. And don't go too close to the river."

"What about you?"

"I'll be a bit slower because of my leg."

"Oh."

"We'll stay with you," Molly said.

Faith smiled.

"Fine with me."

She took off her jacket and hanged it on the top of the staff. Then they started walking.

In the evening, they still hadn't been found and they were all tired. When it got dark, Faith decided to stop.

"Girls, looks like we'll have to camp out for the night. See if you can find us some sort of shelter."

"How come they still hadn't found us?" Anne asked.

"It's a big territory and we're in a forest. Plus, the current was fast and we traveled a great distance."

"Oh."

"How about there?" Molly asked and pointed at a rock outcropping.

"Looks good," Faith said. "Get us some leaves or soft branches or something so it'll be softer."

The girls did so.

When Faith was satisfied with their shelter, she lay down. The girls quickly joined her and Faith covered them all with her jacket.

"I'm hungry," Molly said.

"Me too," Anne said.

"I know," Faith said. "I don't suppose either of you has any candy stashed away somewhere?"

The girls shook their heads.

"Uh-uh."

Faith sighed.

"Looks like we'll be hungry for a while. Try to sleep now, we have a long way to go."

The next day, they moved on. The girls were hungry, tired and cold, but they were quiet. They rested often and the girls cuddled up to Faith.

Early in the afternoon, they came across a bear. The girls shrieked and hid behind Faith when they saw him. Faith held the staff in front of her, ready to fight. She quickly looked around.

"Girls, go to that rock and then climb on the tree," she said.

"No," Molly said.

"We don't wanna leave you," Anne said.

"You'll be safe on the tree."

"What about you?"

"I'll be okay. Go."

The bear came closer and growled.

"Back!" Faith said and swung her staff at him. "Back!"

The bear swiped at her with his paw and the girls shrieked.

"Back!" Faith said and hit his paw.

The bear growled and stood on his back paws.

"Girls, run! Now!"

"But…"

"Go! I'll follow you! Go! Now!"

The girls hesitated for a moment and then ran.

Faith waited for a few moments and then slowly started backing off.

"Back!" she called and hit the bear's paw.

The bear growled for a few moments, but then apparently decided that the weird female was protecting her cubs and that probably made her more dangerous than she looked. He got down on all four, growled at Faith again to show her that he wasn't afraid, and then slowly left.

Faith kept retreating until she reached the rock. Then she stopped and watched the bear for a few moments before she climbed up on the rock as well.

"Can you still see it?" she asked when she got to the top.

"Uh-huh," Molly said.

"Then let's wait until it's gone," Faith said and sat down.

Anne hugged her and Molly followed suit.

Faith let go of the staff and hugged them back.

"Hey, it's okay, the bear's gone."

The girls quietly hugged her for a few moments.

"Weren't you afraid?" Anne then asked as she let go of Faith.

Faith smiled.

"I was scared out of my mind."

"You were?" Anne said, surprised.

"But you stood there like you were going to fight it," Molly said.

Faith nodded.

"I was."

"But you were afraid."

"Yes. But if I'd ran, the bear would've gotten you. And me."

"Oh."

Faith hugged her for a moment.

"Let's rest for a few minutes, okay?"

"Okay."

After several minutes, they moved on. The girls kept close to Faith and they all kept an eye out for the bear.

"I'm hungry," Molly said around noon.

"Me too," Anne said.

"Come, let's rest a bit," Faith said, hungry herself.

She sat down.

The girls quickly joined her and they both leaned on her.

"Shh, it's okay," Faith said when Anne sobbed.

"But we're lost," Anne said. "And I miss Mommy," she added quietly.

"I know," Faith said and kissed her on the top of the head. "But we're still alive. I mean, we could've died when the helicopter went down. As long as we're alive, there's still hope." She thought for a moment. "Pretend you're girl scouts, out on survival training."

"But we're not," Molly said.

"You could join them when you get home. Then you can brag how you swam down the rapids, met a bear and survived for days without food."

Molly looked up at her and Faith smiled. Molly smiled back.

"That was so cool how you stood up to that bear."

Faith ruffled her hair.

"Feeling better?"

Molly nodded.

"I still wanna go home," Anne said.

Faith looked at her.

"I know, honey, me too." She sighed. "Come, let's move on. The closer to the crash site we get, the sooner they'll find us."

"Okay."

Three hours later, they came across two hunters.

"Help! Over here!" Faith called when she spotted them.

The hunters looked, surprised. They looked at one another for a moment and then approached them.

"We're saved!" Molly said, excited, and hugged Faith.

Anne hugged her as well.

Faith looked at them with a smile and didn't see the grin the hunters exchanged.

"You lost?" the hunter with the glasses asked. "You look like hell."

"We had an accident," Faith said. "Our helicopter went down and we had to jump into the river."

"Shit."

"When?" the other hunter asked.

"Yesterday."

The hunters glanced at one another.

"Let's go to our hut," the one with the glasses said. "We'll call for help and we'll get you something to eat."

"Yes!" Anne said, excited.

"How far is it?" Faith asked.

"Half an hour's walk."

"Good."

"Can you walk? Do you need help?"

"I'll manage."

"Then let's go."

The hunter with the glasses led the way while his friend brought up the rear. The girls suddenly weren't tired anymore and they bounced around, excited that they were finally going home.

When they reached the hunters' hut, the hunters got them something to eat. While the girls were eating, the hunters went outside.

"What do you think, Todd?" the one with the glasses asked.

"She's one sexy bitch, Rob."

"Do we take her?"

"We take all of them."

"Cool."

"Let's wait till they eat. Then I'll clobber her on the head and we'll take them downstairs."

"Okay."

When the girls were done eating, the hunters returned.

"Feeling better?" Todd asked.

"Yeah, thanks," Faith said. "Can you call for help now?"

"Sure," Rob said and went to the cupboard while Todd went behind Faith.

When Todd hit Faith on the head, the girls screamed.

"Shut up!" Todd yelled. "Do as we say or she gets it. Got it?"

The girls nodded, terrified.

"Good. Now get up."

The girls got up.

"Come here," Rob said as he opened up a hatch.

The girls went to him, sticking close together.

"Go downstairs."

"What about…" Molly started, but Rob slapped her.

"Shut up! Get down there."

The girls quickly obeyed.

Todd then dragged Faith to the hatch. They slowly lowered her down and then dropped her. The girls shrieked, worried, and the hunters laughed.

"That was easy," Rob said.

"Yeah. Feeling horny?"

"Hell yeah. Let's do the bitch."

"Let's wait till she wakes up."

"It might take a while."

"But it's more fun."

Rob thought for a moment.

"I guess. Okay."

When the hatch closed, Molly and Anne quickly went to Faith.

"Faith?" Molly asked and shook her.

"Is she dead?" Anne asked, scared.

Molly checked Faith's pulse.

"No."

"Let's make her more comfortable."

"How?"

"Let's straighten her out. Then I can put her head in my lap."

"Okay."

When Faith woke up ten minutes later, her head hurt.

"Faith?" Molly said when Faith moaned.

Faith tensed for a moment and then opened her eyes.

"Molly?" She looked around and realized her head was in Anne's lap. She looked up at her. "Anne? You okay?"

"Yes," Anne said.

Faith sat up and rubbed the back of her head. The girls hugged her and she hugged them back.

"What happened? Where are we?"

"They hit you on the head," Molly said as she and Anne let go of Faith.

"And then they threw you down here," Anne added.

"Down?" Faith looked around. "We're in their basement?"

"Yes."

Faith looked up and saw the hatch.

"Did you try to open the hatch?"

The girls shook their heads.

"No," Anne said.

Faith looked around for her staff, but it wasn't there. She sighed and slowly got up. She stretched and then hopped up the stairs until she reached the hatch. She listened for a few moments and then tried to open it, but it was closed. She took a deep breath, scared, and hopped back downstairs.

"Is it locked?" Molly asked.

"Yes."

"What do we do now?"

"What do they want from us?" Anne asked, scared.

"I don't know," Faith said. "Come, let's sit down and try to think of a way to get out of here."

Faith sat down and the girls joined her. The girls leaned on Faith and Faith put her arms around them protectively.

In the afternoon, Todd and Rob finally came downstairs. The girls immediately hugged Faith, scared. Faith was worried as well, especially because of the looks in their eyes.

"What do you want?" she asked them.

They grinned.

"You," Todd said.

Faith was confused for a moment, but then she realized what they meant and her eyes went wide.

"No," Faith said and put herself between the men and the girls.

"Faith?" Molly asked, scared.

"Leave them alone," Faith said.

The men grinned.

"It's not them you should be worried about," Rob said.

Faith gulped and got ready for a fight.

Todd grinned.

"Looks like we got us a fighter."

Rob grinned as well.

"Yeah. Let's get her."

They attacked Faith, who tried to fight them off, but they were stronger. When Faith was on the ground, and they got ready, the girls attacked them, but they easily swatted them aside.

"No!" Faith screamed, worried, when she saw the girls hit the wall.

She tried to free herself, but the men quickly reasserted their grip.

The girls huddled in the corner, scared. They were in pain and they were afraid to attack the men again. Then, as the men started raping Faith, they just stared, wide-eyed, not comprehending what was going on, but knowing that the men were hurting Faith, who fought them at first, but then just froze.

When they finally left, Faith just lay still for a while, and the girls stared at her, scared, worried that she was dead.

"Faith?" Anne finally asked in a quiet voice.

Faith jerked. Her breathing became short and she just stared at the ceiling as tears slowly started to run down her cheeks.

When the girls saw that Faith was crying, they looked at one another and then crawled to her.

"Faith?" Molly asked when they got to her.

Anne slowly reached out and removed some hair from Faith's face.

Faith curled into the fetal position and started sobbing.

The girls looked at one another, and then Anne sat down and Molly helped her put Faith's head in her lap. Tears started to run down their cheeks as well as they quietly watched Faith cry, not knowing what to do to help her.

When Faith finally pulled herself together, she sat up and wiped her face. Her mouth felt dirty, but there was nothing she could do about it. Then she looked between her legs and shuddered. She quickly looked away.

She took a deep breath to calm down, and then looked around.

"Cloth," she said and pointed at a bunch of cloths.

Molly quickly got up and fetched one.

Faith took it without looking at her, and wiped herself. Then she threw the cloth away and pulled her pants up. She shuddered again and took another deep breath to calm down. Then she crawled to the wall, moaning as her leg reminded her that it was hurt. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes.

The girls looked at one another.

"We're sorry," Molly then said quietly.

Faith opened her eyes, surprised.

"Huh?"

"We're sorry," Molly repeated.

Faith frowned, confused.

"What for?"

"For not helping you."

Faith stared at her for a few moments and saw that she felt guilty. She let out a long breath.

"It's not your fault."

"But…"

"It's not." Faith hesitated for a moment. "Come here," she said and spread her arms.

The girls didn't need to be told twice. They immediately crawled to Faith and leaned on her. Faith hugged them.

"You were very brave, but there was nothing you could've done. If you'd attacked again, they would've hurt you," she told them.

"Why did they hurt you?" Anne asked.

Faith sighed.

"I don't know."

While Buffy was worried sick about the girls, and Faith, Riley made sure that Faith would be blamed. After doing his homework and coming up with surprising and exciting results, he planted some evidence and then went to see Buffy.

"Buffy?"

Buffy looked up and sighed.

"Riley."

"I got news."

Buffy sat up straighter.

"You do?" she asked anxiously.

"Not about the girls."

"Oh," Buffy said and slumped.

"I did some research on Faith."

Buffy frowned.

"Why?"

Riley shrugged.

"She always seemed suspicious. Here," he said and gave Buffy the folder he was carrying.

"What is this?" Buffy asked, confused.

"Open it."

Buffy opened the folder and started to read the files. The more she read, the more shocked she was.

"Where did you get this?" she asked as she skimmed through.

"Research."

"Oh."

"We should search her room."

Buffy looked at him.

"Why?"

"She just kidnapped your daughters. Who knows what else she might have stolen."

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then got up, deciding to finish reading the file later.

"Okay," she said.

She headed to Faith's room, and Riley followed her, grinning smugly.

When they got to Faith's room, Buffy looked around. Nothing seemed suspicious and she wasn't sure where to start looking, she did feel a bit uncomfortable about searching the room.

Riley had no such objections and he headed straight for the chest of drawers. He opened the top drawer and searched, not caring about making a mess. When he was done, he moved to the next drawer.

"I got something," he said a few moments later.

Buffy, who was searching the bed, came to him.

"What?"

"The missing files."

Buffy sighed. She'd hoped that Faith hadn't taken the files.

"Let's call the police," she said, taking the files.

"There's something else," Riley said, reaching deep into the drawer.

"What?"

Riley hesitated for a moment and then pulled his find out.

"This."

"What is it?" Buffy asked, having a bad feeling.

Riley opened the bag and sniffed.

"I'm no expert, but this looks like drugs." He wet his pinky, put it in the bag and then licked it. "Definitely drugs," he declared. "She probably stole the files so she could sell them and get the money for drugs."

Buffy bit her teeth and left the room.

When she was gone, Riley grinned and slowly followed her.

In the evening, when Todd and Rob came again, Faith could see it in their eyes that they wanted to rape her again.

"Go to the corner and stay there," she told the girls.

"Why?" Molly asked.

"Are they going to hurt you again?" Anne asked.

Faith tensed.

"Yes."

"But can't we help?" Molly asked.

"No," Faith said, keeping an eye on the men. "Just get out of the way, so you won't get hurt too."

"But…" Molly started with tears in her eyes.

Faith looked at her.

"Go." She faked a smile. "I'll be okay."

Molly gulped and looked at the men, who were grinning in anticipation. Then she quickly crawled away, and Anne followed them.

"She's a fast learner," Rob said.

"Oh yeah," Todd agreed.

The second day, Todd and Rob raped Faith three more times, and Faith fought them less and less, especially since they didn't feed them and she was losing her strength.

On the third day, they raped her again sometime mid-morning and then Todd apparently left.

Around noon, Rob came downstairs alone. Faith didn't like the look on his face and she put her arms around the girls protectively. When she saw how he was looking at the girls, she knew what he wanted.

"No, don't even think about it," she said.

"Shut up, bitch. You know how hard it is to get them this young? And twins?"

"No. You have me. Please…"

Rob kicked her in the head and she barely had the time to get the head out of the way, so she didn't get kicked straight in the nose.

The girls screamed.

"Shut up, sluts!" Rob yelled at them.

Rob grabbed Molly, who started to resist. Anne quickly went to help her, but he pushed them both against wall.

"Sluts," he snarled.

He went towards them, but Faith, who had recovered from the kick, got in the way.

"Get out of the way, bitch, you'll get laid later," Rob said and kicked her in the side.

Faith moaned and rolled away. Then she got up as quickly as she could.

"Leave them alone," she said.

"Get out of the way, bitch," Rob said and slapped her.

Faith growled when Rob continued. She gathered all her strength and pushed him.

Rob stumbled back, surprised, but he didn't fall.

"You bitch," he said and took his knife.

Faith swallowed hard, scared.

"Faith!" Anne said, scared as well.

"Stay out of the way," Faith said, going into protective mode.

Rob started swinging his knife at her and Faith had to concentrate to keep out of the way. She started backing off toward the girls, who quickly got out of the way.

Because of Faith's backing off, Rob only managed to cut Faith's jacket a bit and cause a few cuts. It pissed him off, so he changed the strategy and went straight to Faith. He grabbed her shoulder and tried to stab her, but Faith got out of the way and grabbed his hand. Then she gave him a head-butt and Rob let go of her shoulder.

"Bitch," she snarled as he rubbed his nose.

He slapped her and then tried to free his knife so he could stab her. They struggled and he managed to cut her deeply in her left side.

The girls saw that Faith was in trouble.

"We gotta help her," Anne said quietly.

Molly looked at her, wide-eyed.

"What do we do?"

Anne thought for a moment.

"Let's push him."

Molly nodded.

"Okay."

They carefully approached Rob from behind. They looked at one another for a moment and then pushed Rob as hard as they could. Then they quickly backed off as Rob and Faith went down.

Rob lost his knife and he quickly rolled off Faith to get it back.

Faith quickly looked around. She crawled to the bench, quickly got up and grabbed the wooden bench. She looked at Rob, who was just getting up, and swung the bench at him as hard as she could.

Rob saw the movement from the corner of his eyes. He turned his head to look and got the bench straight in his face. He dropped his knife again, screaming, and grabbed his bleeding nose.

Faith quickly swung the bench again and she hit him in the side. When she tried to hit him again, he backed off and then kicked the bench, causing Faith to drop it. Faith quickly dove for the knife. Rob realized the danger and he quickly went after her, but Faith was faster. She grabbed the knife and turned and held the knife in front of her, hoping Rob would impale himself on it.

But Rob saw the knife and pushed it out of the way. Then he grabbed her hand and they struggled for a while, until Rob gasped and froze.

"Bitch…" he said and went limp.

Faith lay still, shocked, trembling a bit.

"Faith?" Molly said after a few moments.

She approached Faith and Anne followed her.

"Is she okay?" Anne asked.

"I don't know."

"Faith!" Anne called.

Faith jerked and turned her head.

"Are you okay?" Molly asked.

Faith blinked a couple of times and then looked at Rob.

"Help me get him off of me," she said and pushed Rob off.

The girls came closer and helped her. Then they all stared at the knife in Rob's stomach.

"Is he dead?" Anne asked.

Faith jerked and looked at her.

"I… I think so," she said.

She looked at her hands and froze when she saw the blood there.

"You're bleeding," Anne said.

Faith looked at her.

"No, it's not mine," she said and looked at her hands.

"No, from your side."

Faith looked at her left side and saw that her clothes were red from blood.

"Oh," she said and covered the cut.

"Does it hurt?" Molly asked.

"No," Faith lied. It hadn't hurt before, but now that she'd noticed it, it did. She looked around. "We gotta get out of here. Quickly, go."

"What about you?"

"I'll be right behind you. Go."

The girls went up the stairs and tried to open the hatch.

"It's too heavy," Anne said.

"Hold on," Faith said as she followed them.

She hopped up the stairs and pushed the hatch.

"Go," she said when the hatch was open.

The girls quickly got out and Faith carefully followed them, making sure the hatch didn't fall on her.

When they were out, Faith sat on the nearby chair and rested.

"Faith?" Molly asked, worried.

Faith looked at her and forced herself to smile.

"I'll be okay." She looked around. "Molly, grab those four shirts," she said and pointed at the shirts. "Anne, grab that backpack and bring it here."

The girls quickly did as they were told.

Faith then put the shirts on the table and emptied the backpack. She found a flashlight and a box of matches.

"Good. Go to the fridge and see if there's anything edible in it."

The girls went to the fridge and opened it.

"There's not much in it," Anne said.

"Step aside," Faith said.

The girls stepped aside and Faith looked.

"Take the salami and the cheese. Is that bread?"

"I don't think so," Molly said.

"Forget it then. Just take the salami and the cheese."

The girls took the salami and the cheese and brought it to Faith, who put it in the backpack. On top, she put the shirts. Then she got up and put the backpack on.

"Let's go," she said.

They went to the front door and Faith slowly opened it. She listened for a few moments and then went out, the girls right behind her.

"Faith," Anne said quietly and tugged at Faith's jacket.

"What?" Faith asked and looked at her.

"Your staff," Anne said and pointed at the staff.

"Can you get it for me, please?"

Anne got the staff and Faith looked around.

"Here," Anne said and gave Faith the staff.

"Thank you. Now run for the forest."

"What about you?" Molly asked.

"I'll be right behind you, but I'm not as fast. Hide in the bushes and look around. If you see the other guy, run."

"But what if he catches you?"

"Then you can get help."

"Oh."

"The road should be straight in that direction," Faith said and pointed ahead.

"I'm scared," Anne said.

Faith smiled at her encouragingly.

"I know. Let's go now," she said and started to walk toward the forest. "Go, run."

The girls hesitated for a moment and then ran.

Faith followed them as fast as she could. The wound in her side hurt like hell and it bled as well. She knew she needed to take care of it as fast as she could.

When the girls reached the forest, they hid and looked around.

"Let's move on," Faith said when she reached them. "Find me a rock or something to sit on."

"Why?" Molly asked.

"So I can sit down and take care of the wound."

"Oh. Okay."

The girls went ahead.

"Over here!" Anne called a minute later.

Faith and Molly went to her. Faith then took off the backpack and sat down. She was exhausted.

"Anne, take a shirt out of the backpack. Molly, help me get the jacket off."

The girls did as they were told and then Faith checked the cut. It look nasty, it bled and it hurt. She sighed.

"Does it hurt?" Anne asked.

"It stings," Faith said. "Help me bandage it."

"How?"

"Take out one of the shirts and help me tear it into strips. Then we'll bandage the wound."

"Okay."

Anne took out one of the shirts and helped Faith tear it up. Then she and Molly helped Faith bandage the wound.

When they were done, Faith closed her eyes and rested for a few moments.

"Faith?" Molly asked, worried.

Faith opened her eyes.

"I'm okay." She thought for a moment. "Take out the food and eat it."

Anne took out the food, and Faith got up.

"Let's go, you can eat while we walk," she said and put the backpack on her back.

"What about you?" Molly asked.

"I'm not hungry."

"Oh."

They moved on, and the girls started eating the food, exchanging the salami and the cheese between them.

After an hour's walk, Faith collapsed.

"Faith?" Molly asked, scared.

They kneeled beside her and Anne checked her pulse.

"Is she still alive?" Molly asked.

"Yes."

Molly breathed a sigh of relief.

"What do we do now?" Anne asked.

"We can't leave her here."

"Let's try dragging her."

"Okay."

They turned Faith on her back and tried dragging her along, but they could hardly move her.

"She's too heavy," Molly finally said.

They were both quiet for a few moments, thinking. Finally Anne looked around, having an idea.

"I got it. Let's roll her over there, behind those bushes. Then you go ahead to the road and I'll stay with her and cover her with leaves and stuff so he won't find us."

Molly thought about it.

"Okay."

They rolled Faith behind the bushes Anne had spotted. Then Molly hurried away and Anne started camouflaging them.

It took Molly half an hour to reach the road. Since she could do nothing else but wait, she sat down and did just that.

Ten minutes later, she finally saw a car. She got up, stepped on the road and started waving her hands. The car slowed down and she got out of the way. The car drove past her and for a moment she thought it would leave, but it finally stopped. She ran to it.

"You lost?" the driver asked after he lowered the passenger-side window. "Where's your mom?"

"She's in the forest. She's hurt and she passed out," Molly said, on the verge of tears. "Can you please help us?"

"Sure. Hold on."

The driver raised the window and turned off the car. Then he got out and locked it.

"So, where is she?"

"That way," Molly said and led the way.

The driver followed her.

"Are you sure you know where you're going?" the driver asked ten minutes later.

Molly looked at him and nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Just how far is she?"

Molly frowned.

"I don't know. A long way."

The driver thought for a moment and then decided to follow her.

Twenty minutes later, the driver just started having second thoughts when Molly finally called Anne.

"Anne!" she called and looked around. "Anne!"

"Who's Anne?" the driver asked.

Molly looked at him.

"My sister."

"Oh."

"Anne!"

"Over here!" Anne called.

Molly and the driver looked and they could just barely see Anne, waving in the distance. Molly ran to her, and the driver followed her.

"How is she?" Molly asked when she reached them.

"She woke up for a few moments."

"Did she say anything?"

"No."

Anne glanced at the driver.

"Who is he?"

"I don't know. He has a car."

"Oh. You were gone long."

"It's a long way to the road and then I had to wait."

"Oh."

"Did you see the other man?"

"No."

"Good."

"Oh shit, what happened to her?" the driver asked when he arrived.

"She broke her leg and she was stabbed," Anne said.

The driver kneeled beside Faith and examined her.

"Stabbed? By who?"

Anne looked at Molly, hesitating.

"We were kidnapped by some men and one of them stabbed her before we escaped," Molly said.

"Oh."

"Can you help us?"

The driver took a deep breath.

"Sure. Let's take off her backpack first. Then I'll carry her to the car."

An hour later, they finally reached the car.

"Honey, reach into my pocket and take out the car key," the driver told Anne.

Anne did so.

"Now unlock the car, on the driver's side, and then open the back door."

Anne did so and then the driver carefully put Faith inside.

"Whew," he then said, tired. He looked at the girls. "I suggest one of you goes in on the other side, so she won't fall or something."

Molly ran to the other side and got in while Anne got in on the passenger side.

The driver closed the door and went around the car.

"You comfortable?" he asked after he fastened his seatbelt.

The girls nodded.

"Uh-huh," Anne said.

"Good. Let's go."

The driver started the car and drove off, and the girls cuddled up to Faith.

Five minutes later, another car came up from behind, but instead of overtaking them, the driver, Todd, slowed down and looked over. When he saw Faith and the girls, he rammed their car.

The girls shrieked.

"What the hell?" the driver said and looked out.

The girls looked out as well.

"It's him!" Molly said, terrified. "Don't let him get us!"

The driver didn't respond as he tried to evade the crazed Todd.

The chase went on for five minutes. Then a police cruiser came by from the opposite direction. It barely evaded Todd's car. Then it turned around, sirens blaring, and sped after Todd, who ignored it because of Rob's death. When Todd didn't respond, the cruiser sped up and tried to push Todd away from the other car. Todd lost control and went off the road. He tried to regain control, but he crashed into a tree, dying instantly.

When the danger was over, the driver slowed down.

"You two okay?" he asked the girls.

"Uh-huh," Anne said, looking through the back window.

"Good."

The driver got out of the car and waited for the cops, who first went to Todd's burning car.

When they saw that Todd was beyond help, the cops went to the other car.

"Is he dead?" the driver asked.

"Yes," one of the cops said.

"Why was he chasing you?" the other one asked.

The driver shrugged.

"I don't know. But the girls know."

The cops looked into the car.

"They yours?"

"No. They got lost and one of them came to the road to get help. Their mother's been wounded. She's unconscious."

"Oh."

"They look familiar," the first cop said. He opened the back door. "Hello," he said.

"Hi," Molly said.

"I'm officer Petersen and this is my partner, officer Jackson. And you are?"

"I'm Molly."

"I'm Anne."

"Summers?" officer Petersen asked.

"Yes," Molly said.

"And she is Faith… something?"

"Yes."

"How do you know?" Anne asked.

"We've been searching for you."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Then two more police cruisers arrived.

"Hold on a moment," Petersen said and went to talk to the other officers.

"Can we go home now?" Molly asked Jackson.

Jackson looked at her.

"Sure. We'll take you to the hospital first and your mother can pick you up there."

"Their mother?" the driver said, surprised. He looked at the girls. "She's not your mother?"

Molly shook her head.

"She's our nanny."

"Oh."

Peterson and the other officers returned.

"Come, girls, we'll take you to the hospital now," he said.

"What about Faith?" Anne asked.

"She'll be taken in another car."

"Why?"

"Because she's under arrest."

"What?" Anne said, surprised.

"Why?" Molly asked.

"I don't know. All I know is that she's wanted."

"Can't we go with her?"

Jackson looked at Peterson.

"Let them go together."

"Okay," Petersen agreed.

"Come, get out."

Molly and Anne got out and then Jackson got in to get Faith out.

"Careful," the driver said. "She has a broken leg and a wound in the left side."

"Got it," Jackson said.

Anne came around the car and joined Molly. They quietly watched as Jackson got Faith out of the car. Then they followed him to a cruiser and got in on either side of Faith.

At the hospital, Faith was taken to the ER while the girls were examined by a doctor. Buffy arrived just as the doctor finished examining them.

"Mommy!" Molly said, excited and relieved at the same time.

She and Anne jumped off the bed and ran to Buffy.

"Oh girls," Buffy said as they hugged.

The girls sobbed for a few moments and Buffy had tears in her eyes as well.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked when they stopped hugging.

"Uh-huh," Anne said, nodding.

"Can we go see Faith now?" Molly asked. "She's been hurt."

"And arrested. Do you know why she's been arrested?"

"Eh," Buffy said, hesitating, "she did some bad things."

"Like what?" Molly asked.

Buffy shook her head.

"It doesn't matter."

"Does that mean we can't see her?"

"Yes," Buffy said.

"But she's coming back, right?" Anne asked.

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"I don't know. We'll see."

"Ma'am," one of the police officer said.

Buffy looked at him.

"Yes?"

"We need their statements."

"Now?"

"Preferably down at the station."

Buffy sighed.

"Very well." She looked at the girls. "Girls, we'll have to go to the police station now, they need to know what happened."

The girls nodded.

"Okay," Anne said.

Buffy got up and looked at the doctor.

"Are they okay?"

"Yes," the doctor said. "A couple of cuts and bruises. Nothing a good meal and a hot bath won't take care of."

"Good," Buffy said, relieved.

"So, what happened?" the detective working on Faith's case asked after he was done with the paperwork.

The girls looked at one another and then Molly started.

"Our helicopter broke down," she said. "There was smoke and the pilot couldn't fly anymore. Then he told us to jump out."

"Out of the helicopter?" Buffy asked.

Molly glanced at her, nodding.

"Uh-huh. Faith told us to hang on to her and then we jumped into the river."

"Oh. And then?"

"I nearly died," Molly said.

"What?"

"There were rapids and we went under the water."

"But then Faith kissed her and she started breathing again," Anne said.

"Kissed?" Buffy asked.

Anne nodded.

"On the mouth."

"Oh, mouth to mouth," Buffy realized.

"Go on," the detective said.

"When we got out of the water, Faith had a broken leg and we helped her bandage it," Molly said. "Then we went up river, so you could find us sooner."

"We met a bear the next day," Anne said.

"A bear?" Buffy said.

Anne nodded.

"Uh-huh. But Faith chased it away."

"It was really cool," Molly said, a bit excited.

"And then?" the detective prompted her.

The girls' excitement died down.

"We got captured by two men," Anne said.

"Uh-huh," Molly said. "They said they would call for help, but then they hit Faith on the head and they locked us in the basement."

The girls looked at one another, hesitating.

"But we escaped," Anne continued quietly.

"Is that why that man was chasing you in the car?" the detective asked.

"Yes."

"What man?" Buffy asked.

"A man was trying to push their car off the road."

"What car?"

"We'll get to there," the detective said and looked at Molly. "And then?"

"We walked for a while, but then Faith fell down. Anne stayed with her and I went to the road to get help. A man came by and he went with me and he carried Faith to his car. But then one of the men caught up with us and tried to push us off the road."

"Then the police came," Anne finished.

"Is that all?" the detective asked.

The girls glanced at one another.

"Yes," Molly said.

The detective raised an eyebrow.

"Well, thank you."

"Can we see Faith?" Anne asked.

"You know you can't," Buffy quickly said. "Come, let's go home now."

The girls sighed and got up.

In the evening, after Buffy tucked them in, Molly went to Anne's bed.

"I'm scared," she said.

Anne moved aside and let Molly in.

"Me too," she said. "And I miss Faith."

"Me too."

They hugged and went to sleep.

When Faith woke up the next morning, she felt tired. When she finally registered that she was lying on something soft, she looked around, startled. She was relieved when she saw that she was in a hospital, but she was worried about the girls. She pressed a button and called a nurse.

"Ah, you're awake," the nurse said when she came in.

"How are the girls?"

"The girls?" the nurse said, startled.

"Yes. They should've been brought here with me."

"I don't know, I work the morning shift."

"Can you find out? Please?"

"Sure."

"Thanks."

The nurse left and Faith looked out the window, hoping that the girls were okay.

A doctor came a few minutes later and started examining her.

The nurse came in a few minutes later.

"They're okay," she told Faith. "Their mother picked them up."

"Thanks," Faith said, relieved.

"Well," the doctor said when he was done, "as long as you don't overexert yourself, you should be fine. They stitched up your wound."

"Yeah. When can I get out of here?"

"Probably tomorrow. We'll see."

"Thanks."

An hour later, the detective working on her case came.

"Hello, Miss Spencer, I'm Detective Danson."

"Hey," Faith said, wondering why he was here.

"I'm not sure you've been told yet, but you're under arrest."

"What?" Faith said, astonished. "Why?"

"Possession of drugs, theft of confidential documents and kidnapping. Although the kidnapping charge will probably be dropped."

Faith stared at him, confused.

"What the fuck are you talking about? I'm clean and I didn't steal any documents. And who the fuck am I supposed to have kidnapped?"

"Well, according to your records, you're a junkie."

"I was a junkie. I'm not anymore."

"Then why did you have drugs in your room?"

Faith frowned.

"What drugs?"

"There was a bag of coke in one of the drawers."

"That's impossible." Faith hesitated for a moment. "I had some coke left when I became the nanny, but I flushed it down the toilet. I've been clean ever since."

"We'll see about that."

"And the documents?"

"A folder containing the documents about a merger was found in another drawer."

"What merger?" Faith thought for a moment. "Buffy's merger? I mean, Mrs Summers'?"

"Yes."

"First off all, she keeps all her documents in her office, which is locked if she's not in, and second, I don't have the slightest idea which documents to take or who to sell them to. Or for how much. Nor do I have any reason to."

"Hmm," Danson said, thinking.

"And what's with the kidnapping?"

"We thought you'd kidnapped the girls."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"What? Why the fuck would I do that?"

"Well, we thought money might be the issue."

"What? Why? I'm getting paid enough."

"The drugs."

"Oh."

"So, what happened?"

Faith sighed.

"Didn't the girls tell you?"

"They did, but I'd like to hear your version."

"Oh." Faith thought for a moment. "Something went wrong with the helicopter and the pilot lost control. He tried to land, but then there was smoke. He flew us above the river and told us to jump out. So we did. I broke my leg then." She thought for a moment. "We tried to get out, but the current was too strong. It took us a long way." She sighed. "When we got out, we rested for a while and then the girls helped me bandage my leg."

"I heard one of the girls, Molly, nearly drowned," Danson interrupted her.

"Yeah. I gave her mouth to mouth."

"And then?"

"We went up river. I was hoping the rescuers would find us sooner that way." Faith paused, thinking. "Two days later, we came across two hunters."

"You met a bear too, right?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I scared it away."

"Yes, so the girls said. Go on."

Faith sighed.

"We came across two hunters and they took us to their cabin."

"Yes, we found it."

Faith tensed.

"Oh."

"Go on."

Faith took a deep breath.

"They… They took us to their cabin and they gave us food. Then one of them hit me on the head. When I woke up, we were in the basement."

Faith stopped, not really wanting to think about what had happened.

"And?" Danson prompted after a few moments.

Faith sighed and looked at her hands.

"They… They raped me," she said quietly. "In front of the girls. Several times a day."

She looked out the window, shivering.

They were quiet for a while, Danson not wanting to push her.

"How did you get out?" Danson finally asked.

Faith tense and looked at her hands.

"Two days later, one of them left and the guy with the glasses came down to rape the girls. I tried to protect them, but he pulled a knife. We fought and he got stabbed." She was quiet for a few moments, trying to calm down. "Then we escaped. Since I got wounded, the girls helped me bandage the wound." She took a deep breath. "We moved on, but I soon passed out. I woke up here."

"Okay," Danson said, "that pretty much matches up with what the girls said."

Faith gulped and looked at him.

"Do I have to go jail?" she asked, nervous.

"We'll see. Though not for killing that guy and probably not for kidnapping the girls. We'll investigate the drugs and the theft. You'll stay in custody for a while. I won't cuff you to the bed, but there's an officer outside, so don't try anything."

Faith nodded.

"I won't."

"Good. I'll be back if I have any more questions."

"Wait, what happened after I passed out?"

Danson thought for a moment.

"One of the girls, Anne, stayed with you and the other one went to the road to get help. A man came by and he went with her. Then he carried you to his car. On the way, the other… hunter caught up with you and tried to push you off the road, but a police patrol came by and stopped him. He's dead."

Faith breathed a sigh of relief.

"So the girls are home now?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"We'll take you down to the precinct once you're released."

"Yeah, okay."

Danson nodded and left.

Faith leaned back and closed her eyes. A couple of tears ran down her cheeks and she let them.

The next day, Buffy visited Faith.

"Hey," Faith said with a smile when Buffy entered.

"Hey," Buffy said as she approached the bed. "How are you?"

Faith shrugged.

"Been better. How are the girls?"

"They're fine."

"Good," Faith said, relieved.

"What were you thinking?"

Faith frowned.

"About what?"

"Drugs."

"What?" Faith said, surprised.

"We found drugs in your room. What were you thinking? The girls could've found them."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"You called the cops."

"Yes."

"You thought I kidnapped the girls?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Yes."

Faith felt like someone had punched her in the stomach.

"You thought I kept drugs in the house? You thought I stole your files and kidnapped the girls so I could get more drugs?"

"You're a junkie and a…"

"Get out," Faith interrupted her.

"What?" Buffy said, startled.

"Get out! Now!

"We're not through yet."

"Officer! Officer!"

The police officer looked in.

"Everything okay?"

"Tell her to leave," Faith said.

The officer looked at Buffy.

"Ma'am."

Buffy looked at Faith again and then left.

When Buffy was gone, Faith leaned back and sobbed for a few moments. She couldn't believe that after all she had done for the girls, Buffy could think that she would hurt them.

"Molly," Anne said the next morning as they sat in the back garden.

"Yes?"

"Let's go see Faith."

"But we can't."

"I know, but maybe we can sneak in."

Anne thought about it for a moment.

"Okay," she agreed.

"But we can't let anyone know."

"Then what do we do?"

"Let's go to our room to change. Then we'll pack some food."

"Food?"

"We'll have to walk to the hospital and I don't know how long it will take us."

"Oh. Okay. Let's go."

Joyce and Giles were returning from the mall. Joyce didn't like being driven around, except when she went shopping. Then Giles came in handy. Plus, she liked him.

"Eh, Ma'am," Giles suddenly said.

"Yes?" Joyce said and looked at him.

"Aren't those Molly and Anne?" Giles asked and nodded at the sidewalk.

Joyce looked.

"Where? Oh! Yes. Pull over."

Giles pulled over next to the girls.

Joyce opened the door.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

The girls looked at her, startled, and then glanced at one another.

"We're going to see Faith," Anne said, nervous.

"Faith? Alone?"

The girls nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Why isn't your mother taking you?"

"She said we can't see her."

"She says she's bad," Molly added.

Joyce stared at them for a few moments and then sighed.

"Get in, we'll go together."

The girls smiled, relieved, and got in the car.

In the hospital, they found out that Faith had been released and taken to the precinct. So they went there.

When they got there, they all went in, the girls sticking close to Joyce.

"Faith!"

Faith, who was lying on the bench, opened her eyes, surprised. She turned her head and her eyes went wide when she saw the girls. She quickly got up and hopped on one leg to the bars. She lowered herself until she was resting on one knee and then hugged the girls tightly through the bars.

The girls hugged her back, relieved that she was okay.

When they finally stopped hugging, they all had tears in their eyes.

Faith touched their cheeks.

"You were so brave," she said.

The girls beamed, and Joyce realized that Faith really did care about them.

"Are you okay?" Molly asked.

Faith smiled and wiped her eyes.

"Yeah."

"Are you in pain?" Anne asked.

"A bit. But it'll pass. And you two? Everything okay?"

The girls nodded.

Molly leaned closer.

"We didn't tell them what happened in that house," she whispered.

Faith smiled, realizing they were trying to protect her.

"That’s okay, they already know."

Molly's eyes went wide.

"Are you in trouble?"

"No, not because of that."

"What did you tell her?" Anne asked Molly.

Molly looked at her.

"That we didn't tell them about what happened in that house."

"Oh."

"But she said they already know."

Anne's eyes went wide.

"Really?" She looked at Faith. "Are you in trouble?"

Faith smiled again.

"No, not because of that."

"Oh."

"When are you coming home?" Molly asked.

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know," deciding not to tell them yet that she would probably never come back.

She gulped and a few tears escaped her.

"Are you okay?" Anne asked, worried.

Faith nodded, wiping her eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Ooh! The other man is dead too," Molly said.

"Yes, I know."

"Oh."

"Ma'am," a police officer said. "Time is up."

"Thank you," Joyce said. She looked at the girls. "Girls, go with Mr Giles, I need to talk to Faith for a moment."

"Can't we stay longer?" Molly asked.

"I'm afraid not."

The girls made a face. They turned to Faith.

"We have to go," Anne said.

"I know," Faith said.

They hugged again.

"I love you, Faith," Molly said.

"Me too," Anne said.

Faith gulped, struggling to contain her tears.

"I love you too," she whispered.

"Come, girls," Giles said.

The girls let go of Faith.

"Bye, Faith," Molly said.

"Bye, Faith," Anne said.

"Bye, girls," Faith said.

"Goodbye, Faith," Giles said.

Faith looked up at him, feeling a bit ashamed.

"Bye, Giles," she said and got up.

Giles and the girls left, and Joyce stepped closer to the bars.

"You love them," she said.

"Like they were my own," Faith said without hesitation, and immediately blushed. "Eh, I mean, yeah, I do," she said nervously, and Joyce smiled. "Thanks for bringing them here."

Joyce nodded.

"They insisted."

"Yeah."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"Tell me something." She hesitated for a moment. "I've, eh… I've been told about your past."

"Oh," Faith said and looked at her feet.

"Are you still taking drugs?"

Faith looked at her.

"No. I stopped when I started working for Buffy."

Joyce decided she was telling the truth.

"And the documents?"

"I already told the cops, I couldn't have gotten them. Not that I know which documents to take or who to sell them to."

Joyce stared at her for a few moments.

"Okay. But if you didn't do it, who did?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. Someone obviously tried to kill me and the girls, and when that didn't work, they tried to frame me, but I don't know why."

Joyce thought about it for a few moments.

"I'll see what I can find out."

"Thanks."

"I'll let you know if I find out anything."

"Okay. Thanks."

Joyce nodded and left.

Faith stared after her for a few moments and then hopped back to the bench. She sat down and leaned back, thinking. She was glad that the girls still loved her and that Joyce believed her, but it hurt her that Buffy didn't.

After finding out who was in charge of Faith's case, Joyce took Giles and the girls to detective Danson's desk.

"Excuse me, Detective Danson?"

Danson looked up.

"Yes?" Then he saw the girls. "Oh, hello. What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if there's anything new regarding Faith's case?" Joyce asked.

"Well, she's off the hook regarding kidnapping and manslaughter, and we're…"

"Manslaughter?" Joyce interrupted him, surprised.

"Yes. You're aware that one of the men who had held them captive tried to push them off the road?"

"Yes, Buffy mentioned it."

"Well, he and a friend had a cottage a couple of miles off the road. We found his friend's corpse there."

"What?"

Danson smiled and looked at the girls.

"Seems the girls were trying to protect Faith? Weren't you?"

The girls nodded, nervous.

"What are you talking about?" Joyce asked.

Danson sighed and looked at her.

"Well, there's no nice way of telling this." He thought for a moment and then looked at the girls again. "Girls, can you tell us what happened in the house?"

The girls stepped closer together, nervous.

"Is Faith in trouble?" Molly asked.

Danson smiled.

"No, not because of what happened there. If anything, she's a hero."

The girls smiled a bit.

"Okay," Anne said after a few moments. She hesitated for a moment, thinking, not really wanting to remember. "After we ate, the man without glasses hit Faith on the head. Then they told us to go to the basement and they threw Faith down the stairs." She hesitated for moment, not really wanting to relieve the whole ordeal. "When she woke up, the men came downstairs and they… eh…"

Anne trailed off, not sure what happened.

Molly took her hand and gently squeezed it in support.

"They took out their, em, their…" Molly continued.

"Penises!" Anne remembered the word.

"Yes. And then they made Faith suck them and they put it in Faith's, eh, vagina and in her bottom. Faith fought them, but they were stronger and they beat her up."

"And then some white stuff squirted out from their penises and they made Faith eat it."

"My god," Giles said quietly.

"And then?" Danson asked.

"They left," Molly said.

"And Faith cried," Anne added.

"Uh-huh," Molly said, nodding.

"And then they did it a few more times, every day."

"And what happened on the last day?" Danson asked.

The girls looked at one another, neither wanting to relieve the events.

"The man without glasses left," Anne said quietly, "and the man with glasses came downstairs and he wanted to do that do us."

"And then?" Danson prompted when Anne trailed off.

"Faith fought him," Molly said.

"He almost killed her, but then we pushed him," Anne added. "Faith got hurt, but then he was dead. Then we escaped."

"Thank you," Danson said. "That was very brave of you."

"Faith isn't in trouble?" Molly asked.

Danson smiled, shaking his head.

"No, of course not."

"Okay."

Giles and Joyce were both speechless.

"Jesus," Joyce finally murmured.

The girls stepped closer and hugged her.

Joyce gently ruffled their hair. She thought for a few moments.

"Eh, I talked to Faith," she then said. "She thinks someone had tried to kill her and the girls, and when that didn't work, they tried to frame her."

Danson nodded.

"The thought had crossed my mind, though it's a bit hard to believe that someone would want to kill a nanny and the girls." He shook his head. "Still, my gut's telling me something's not quite right. I'm missing something and I'm not quite sure what."

"I'll talk to Buffy, maybe she can think of something," Joyce said.

Danson nodded.

"That would be helpful, yes."

"Good." She looked at the girls. "Come, let's go home."

The girls let go of her and looked at Danson.

"Can we come see Faith again?" Molly asked.

Danson smiled.

"Sure."

"Come," Joyce said.

The girls took her hands and they left.

"Where've you been?" Buffy asked, worried, when they came home.

"Why don't you go to the back yard," Joyce told the girls.

The girls left and Giles followed them.

"Mom?" Buffy asked.

"They went to see Faith," Joyce said.

"What?" Buffy said, upset. "I told you, I don't want them to see her."

"They went on their own. Mr Giles and I came across them as we drove from the mall."

"What?"

"They care about her, Buffy."

"She's a threat to them, Mom."

Joyce shook her head.

"She loves them, Buffy, she would never hurt them."

"She's a junkie and a whore."

"She was a junkie." Joyce thought for a moment. "Have you ever seen her stoned?"

Buffy frowned, thinking.

"I saw her shaking a few times."

"But not stoned?"

Buffy shook her head.

"No."

"Shaking was probably just withdrawal."

"Still…"

"Buffy, she killed a man to protect the girls," Joyce interrupted her.

"What?" Buffy said, surprised.

Joyce sighed.

"The girls left out what happened at the house, they wanted to protect Faith."

"From being arrested for murder?"

"Yes. But Faith had already told the police what happened and the girls confirmed it."

"What happened?"

"The two men, they raped her."

"What?" Buffy said, shocked.

"Repeatedly. In front of the girls."

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"What?"

"When one of the men left, the other one wanted to rape the girls, but Faith fought him and killed him."

Buffy stared at her mother, shocked.

"Oh," she finally said.

Joyce smiled.

"I've seen how she looks at the girls, Buffy, they mean the world to her. She would never hurt them."

Buffy sighed.

"I feel like such an idiot."

Joyce's smile widened.

"You were just worried about the girls."

"Still." Buffy sighed. "I need to apologize." She thought for a few moments. "What about the file theft and the drugs?"

Joyce thought about it.

"Well, Faith thinks someone has tried to kill her."

Buffy frowned.

"Why would anyone want to kill her?"

"I don't know, but if it's true, it wasn't someone from her old life." She thought for a moment. "Let's say it's the truth. Someone sabotages the helicopter. When and how?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Well, the pilot came to get the bags."

"Was he told to?"

Buffy shrugged.

"Not that I know."

"Okay, so someone had probably sent him away and then sabotaged the helicopter."

"But how? I mean, no one knows much about helicopters."

"You don't need to know much, you just have to pull the right wire."

"Oh. I guess." She frowned. "But that would also mean killing the girls."

"I know. I guess someone wanted Faith out of the way badly enough that they didn't care about the girls."

"But who?"

"I don't know, we'll get there. So, the helicopter is down, but Faith and the girls are missing, probably alive." Joyce thought for a moment. "When did you find the drugs?"

"When we were searching Faith's room."

"Why were you searching it?"

"We were searching for clues."

"We?"

"Riley and me."

"Who found them?"

"Riley."

"And the report?"

"He found it."

"When did it go missing?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Two days after the helicopter went down."

"Are you sure?"

"Well, Riley couldn't find it anywhere."

"Why was he looking for it?"

Buffy opened her mouth and then closed it again.

"Eh, I don't know."

"Were you talking about something related?"

"No."

"Okay. And when did you last read the report?"

Buffy thought about it and then her eyes went wide.

"I was reading it just before I found out that the helicopter went down."

"Which means that Faith couldn't have taken it."

Buffy frowned.

"You mean Riley took it?" Her eyes went wide again. "You mean he tried to kill Faith?"

Joyce shrugged.

"Looks like it."

"But why?"

"I don't know. Let's find out first if anyone has seen who had sent the pilot away. Then you can go to the police and tell them about our suspicions."

Buffy sighed.

"And apologize."

"Apologize?"

"To Faith. I practically accused her that she's a threat to the girls."

"Oh."

After finding out that Riley had indeed sent the pilot away, Buffy went to the police and told detective Danson about her suspicions. Then she visited Faith.

"Hey."

Faith looked at her.

"Hey," she said, trying to sound cold and angry.

Buffy sighed.

"I'm sorry, Faith. I know you care about the girls and I shouldn't have said what I did, I know you've changed."

Faith sighed, her anger leaving her.

"No, I understand, you were just worried about the girls."

"Still, I should've had more… faith in you. No pun intended."

Faith smiled a little.

"Thanks for letting them come."

Buffy blushed a little.

"I didn't. Mom brought them."

"Oh." Faith hesitated for a moment. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect them," she then said quietly, and looked at her feet, nervous.

Buffy looked at her, surprised.

"But you did. I mean, sure, they had to witness… Anyway, you made sure it didn't happen to them. I couldn't have done it better. Hell, I wish I could do it at least as well as you did, if necessary."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, feeling good about being praised.

"Thanks."

Buffy smiled.

"Anyway, we got a suspect."

"Suspect?"

"Yes. We think we know who tried to kill you and frame you."

"Who?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"I'd rather not tell, at least until we're certain."

"Do you know why?"

Buffy shrugged.

"That's the million dollar question."

"Oh."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"How do you feel?"

Faith sighed.

"Been better. The cut's itching like crazy."

Buffy smiled a little.

"I hope we can get you out of here today. The detective said you're off the hook as far as the theft is concerned, but he wants to check the drugs before he lets you go."

"Oh."

"I hope you can come home today."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Do I still have the job?"

"Are you kidding? Of course you do. You'll always have a job."

Faith breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks."

Buffy smiled. She hesitated for a moment.

"You're practically family, Faith."

Faith swallowed a lump that formed in the throat. What Buffy had said meant the world to her.

"Thanks," she said in a coarse voice.

"I'll see you later. Hopefully."

"Yeah."

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then left.

Faith took a deep breath, fighting back the tears.

Late in the afternoon, Riley was arrested. Detective Danson called Buffy and she had Giles drive her to the station.

"Where is he?" she asked Danson when she arrived.

"In a cell."

"So Faith is innocent?"

"Yes. We found out that he had bought the drugs. We even found the dealer."

"Did you question him yet?"

"Yes. He was jealous."

Buffy blinked, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"He was jealous of Faith."

"Of Faith?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yes. And it annoyed him that the girls were more important to you than business. Plus, it seems he's a bit paranoid. Apparently he's been selling information to the competition and he thought that you were on to him."

"What?"

"And Faith?" Giles asked.

"She's being processed," Danson said. "She'll be here in a... Ah, there she is."

"Faith," Giles said.

"Hey," Faith said.

"You're free to go, Faith," Danson said.

"Thanks." Faith looked at Buffy. "Riley?"

Buffy sighed.

"Yes."

"Why?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"He's been selling information to the competition and he thought I was on to him. So he framed you."

"Oh."

"Come, let's go to the car," Giles said and offered Faith his arm.

Faith leaned on him and they left.

Buffy followed them.

When they got to car, Giles helped Faith get in.

"Aren't you going to see Riley?" Faith asked Buffy when Buffy got in as well.

Buffy thought for a few moments.

"No."

"Oh."

"Let's go home, Giles."

"Molly! Anne!" Buffy called when they came home.

The girls came to the stairs.

"Faith!" they said, excited, when they saw Faith.

"Careful!" Faith called when the girls hurried down the stairs.

When the girls came downstairs, they hugged Faith, who had gotten down on one knee.

"Are you gonna stay home now?" Anne asked when they stopped hugging.

"Yeah," Faith said.

"You stink," Molly said.

Faith laughed.

"Yeah, I do."

"We'll get everything ready," Anne said and ran upstairs.

Molly followed her.

Faith got up with Giles' help.

"Thanks."

"I'll go see what they're doing," Buffy said and went upstairs.

"Help me upstairs," Faith told Giles.

When they got upstairs, Buffy and the girls had everything ready, only the water was still running.

"Thanks," Faith said.

"Do you need any help?" Buffy asked.

"No, I'll manage." She frowned when she saw the broom across the bathtub. "What's the broom for?"

"So you can keep your leg above the water."

"Oh."

Buffy smiled and looked a the girls.

"Come on, girls, let's go."

The girls left, and Giles followed them.

"You have everything?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah. Thanks."

Buffy smiled.

"No problem. And don't bother cleaning up, I'll do it."

"Okay."

Buffy left.

Faith looked around and then went to the medicine cabinet and took out her shaving kit. Then she undressed.

When she was done bathing, Faith wrapped herself in a towel, dried her hair a bit and then went to her room. She thought about dressing up, but she just wanted to rest, so she lay on the bed, not bothering to dress into pajamas, and almost immediately fell asleep.

When Buffy came upstairs to see if Faith was done yet, she saw that the door to Faith's room was open. She went there and saw the girls, who were obviously trying to cover the sleeping Faith.

"Wait," Buffy said and fetched another blanket from the closet. "Here."

The girls helped her cover Faith.

"Let's go now," Buffy then said.

The girls left, but Buffy stared at Faith for a few moments before leaving.

In the evening, Buffy tucked the girls in. When she left, Anne got up.

"Where are you going?" Molly asked her.

"To Faith."

"Wait for me," Molly said and quickly followed her.

They left their room and went to Faith's room.

"Watch her leg," Molly said as they got under the blanket.

"You watch her side," Anne said.

They carefully cuddled up to Faith and went to sleep, feeling safe.

When Faith woke up the next morning, she couldn't move. She panicked for a few moments, until she saw that it was just the girls. She smiled when the girls looked at her, sleepy-eyed.

"Morning," she said.

The girls smiled back.

"Morning."

Faith looked at the clock.

"Time to get up."

The girls groaned and sat up.

There was a knock on the door and then Buffy looked in.

"Here you are," she said when she saw the girls. "Morning."

"Morning, Mommy," Molly said.

"Morning," Anne said.

"Hey," Faith said.

Buffy smiled.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

"Okay," Faith said. "Hungry."

Buffy smiled.

"I'll see about the breakfast. Come on, girls, get dressed."

"Okay," Molly said.

The girls got up and went to their room.

When she was alone, Faith lay on her back and took a deep breath. She stared at the ceiling for a few moments and then got up.

After eating a hefty breakfast, Faith went to the back yard to rest a bit. The girls soon came to her. They sat on either side of her and leaned on her. Faith put her arms around their shoulders and kissed them both on the top of their heads. Then they were quiet for a while.

"I'm scared," Molly finally said.

"Me too," Anne agreed.

"Anything in particular?" Faith asked.

The girls shrugged.

"No," Anne said.

Faith sighed.

"Well, you're home now with your mom, and Riley's gone. You're safe." She pressed them closer to herself. "And you can always come to me, or your mom, or your grandma. Or Giles."

"I'm still scared," Anne said.

"Me too," Molly added.

"I know," Faith said. "I know." She sighed, thinking. "Anyway, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

The girls looked up.

"What?" Molly asked.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"About… About what happened at the… the house."

The girls squirmed.

"Do you have to?" Anne asked quietly.

Faith smiled softly.

"Yes." She took a deep breath. "It's… It's about what… they did to me." She paused, thinking about how to say it. "Eh, what they did was, eh, have sex with me."

The girls frowned.

"Sex?"

"Yes. You've heard of it, right?"

The girls nodded.

"Well," Faith continued, "sex is something people enjoy, but usually they want to have sex."

"You didn't?" Anne asked.

"No."

"Why not?"

Faith thought about it.

"Sex is something… intimate. I guess. It has to be your decision."

"Oh."

"And besides, I didn't like them. That kind of sex is called rape. Anyway, I just wanted to clear it up for you, you know? So that when you're old enough, you won't be afraid of sex."

"But it hurt you," Molly said.

"Only because they were rough."

"Oh."

"Why did they do it?" Anne asked.

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe no one wanted to have sex with them. Or maybe they just like hurting people. I don't know."

The girls thought about it.

"Did the man with the glasses wanted to have sex with us?" Molly then asked quietly.

"Yes," Faith said. She hesitated for a moment. "And it would've hurt you much more than it hurt me, because you're so little."

The girls hugged Faith, scared.

Faith hugged them back and kissed them on the top of their heads.

"Mom, have you seen the girls?" Buffy asked.

"They're in the back with Faith," Joyce said.

"Oh."

"Wait!" Joyce called after Buffy when Buffy went to the back door.

"What?"

"I think they're having a serious conversation."

"About what?" Buffy asked and looked out the window.

"Probably about what happened."

"Oh," Buffy said and sighed when she saw Faith kiss the girls on the top of their heads.

"Give them some time."

Buffy looked at Joyce and nodded.

"I will. Let me know when they're done."

"Okay."

A while later, Giles came with crutches.

"Faith?" he said when he saw the girls hugging Faith.

Faith looked at him.

"Yes?"

"Eh, I got you these crutches."

Faith smiled.

"Thanks."

Giles nodded and then looked at the girls.

"Girls, your grandmother would like to see you."

"Okay," Anne said.

The girls got up and went inside.

"Is there anything you need?" Giles asked Faith.

Faith shook her head.

"No, I'm fine. I just need to rest."

"Very well."

Giles left, and Faith closed her eyes.

"Faith?"

Faith opened her eyes, startled, and looked at Buffy.

"Yes?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then sat beside Faith.

"Can you tell me more about yourself?" she asked. "I mean, I don't want to pry, but I'm curious."

"Because you saw my record?"

"Well, I didn't see it, but I did hear about it. I saw Riley's report."

Faith sighed, thinking.

"I'm an orphan and I grew up in an orphanage. When I was twelve, I met my… pimp and at fifteen, I left the orphanage to be with him. I've been with him until the day I started working for you." She hesitated for a moment. "And I'm bi."

"Bi?" Buffy said, startled.

"Bisexual. Though I prefer women."

"Oh," Buffy said and blushed a bit. "Thank you."

Faith nodded.

"Sorry about Riley."

Buffy sighed.

"Me too. He was nice and… I thought I knew him." She thought for a few moments. "But I am kinda relieved."

Faith looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean?"

Buffy sighed.

"I realized that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life with him. I mean, I did care about him, but I didn't want to marry him. Plus, he never really made an effort to become close with the girls."

"Oh."

Buffy's phone rang.

"Excuse me," Buffy said and left.

Faith stared after her until she was gone. Then she looked at her hands, thinking.

In the evening, Faith went to bed at the same time as the girls, because she felt a bit tired. Five minutes later, the girls came.

"Faith?" Molly asked quietly.

"Yes?" Faith said.

The girls came in.

"Can we sleep with you?"

Faith smiled.

"Sure."

The girls closed the door and then went to bed.

Faith raised the covers and the girls cuddled up to her. Then she kissed them on the top of their heads.

"Good night, girls."

"Night, Faith," Anne said.

"Night, Faith," Molly said.

Five minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

"Faith?"

Faith looked up.

"Yeah?" she said quietly so as to not wake the girls, who had already fallen asleep.

Buffy looked in.

"Have you s…Oh," Buffy trailed off when she saw the girls. She felt hurt that the girls went to Faith for safety, not to her. "I was just looking for the girls," she said quietly.

"Oh."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Good night."

"Night."

Buffy left and Faith stared at the door for a few moments, realizing she needed to talk to Buffy about the girls.

"Buffy?" Joyce asked when she saw Buffy's thoughtful expression.

"Huh?" Buffy said and looked up.

"Is everything okay?"

Buffy sighed.

"I just feel like I'm losing the girls," she admitted.

Joyce frowned.

"Why?"

Buffy shrugged.

"It's just a feeling. I mean, they used to come to me when they were afraid, now they go to Faith."

"They've been through hell together, it's only natural that she makes them feel safer. Plus, you have been neglecting them."

Buffy sighed again.

"I know. I'll have to do something about it." She took a deep breath. "Night, Mom."

"Good night, Buffy."

The next day, after lunch, Faith went to Buffy, who was in her office.

"Do you have a moment?"

"Sure," Buffy said.

Faith got in and closed the door. She went to the table, thinking.

"I just want you to know that I'm not trying to take the girls away from you or anything."

Buffy sighed.

"I know."

"It's just… They're scared."

"Of what?"

Faith shrugged.

"Of everything. They're afraid someone might take them away from you."

"Oh."

"I think you should take a week off and go with them somewhere. Just the three of you. Some place that holds happy memories for them, where they feel safe."

Buffy nodded.

"I was thinking about the same thing. We'll go as soon as the takeover is over."

"The hell with the takeover!" Faith said, upset. She sighed. "I'm sorry." She thought for a moment. "You were planning to go on vacation with them anyway, but it looks like work is more important to you than the girls."

"That's not true," Buffy objected.

"Isn't it? Remember when you were stuck on that island? You could've spent some quality time with them, but you kept ranting about not being able to go to work. How do you think that made them feel? They need you now, not when the takeover's over or when it's convenient for you. You need to show them that they come first. And besides, you got plenty of capable people working for you. If they can't manage without you for a week, you should fire them."

Buffy stared at Faith for a few moments, thinking, and then sighed.

"You're right," she admitted. She got up. "I'll go talk to them right away. But I still need to leave instructions."

"I know," Faith said and followed her out.

"Girls?" Buffy said when they got to the living room. The girls looked at her. "I was thinking. How about we take that vacation? Just the three of us."

"What about Faith?" Molly asked.

"No, just the three of us."

Faith went to the sofa and sat down.

"Come here," she said. The girls came closer, and Faith took their hands. "Here's your chance, girls, you'll have your mom all to yourself for a whole week."

"What about you?" Anne asked.

"I'll be here, resting. And besides, you can call me every evening and tell me what you've been doing." She smiled. "I'll go with you some other time. Right now, you and your mom need some time alone. You can pick any place you want."

"Really?" Molly asked.

"Yes," Buffy said and came closer.

"When are we going?" Anne asked.

"That depends on where you want to go."

The girls looked at one another.

"Can we go to Grandma's beach house?"

Buffy smiled.

"Sure. I'll go ask her and then I'll leave instructions for the takeover. You two can go pack."

"Okay," the girls said and ran upstairs, excited.

Faith got up.

"Buffy," she said, and Buffy looked at her. "Pay attention, okay? They're afraid, but I don't know whether they'll admit it to you."

Buffy nodded.

"I will."

Faith thought for a moment.

"If it's possible, leave your cell phone at home."

Buffy frowned.

"Why?"

"It would show the girls that you're serious about it. And besides, the girls will have their phones and there's probably a landline."

Buffy thought about it for a moment.

"I need to think about it."

Faith nodded.

"I'll go supervise the girls."

"Okay."

When she got to the girls' room, Faith sat on the bed and watched them for a few moments.

"Girls," she then said. The girls stopped packing and looked at her. "Your mom's scared too."

"Really?" Anne said.

"Yes," Faith said as the girls came closer. "She wasn't there to protect you and she's afraid she's losing you."

"Why?"

"Because you spend so much time with me."

"Oh."

"Look, I know she's been neglecting you a bit, but she does love you. You need to show her that you love her too, that she's still important to you."

"She is," Molly said.

"I know that, but you need to show her. She needs to be reassured."

"Oh."

Faith smiled.

"Just give her a chance, okay?"

The girls nodded.

"Okay," Anne said.

"Good. Now, while you're packing, why don't you tell me about that beach house and what's so special about it."

The girls smiled.

"Okay."

The next day, Buffy and the girls left. Since it was only a couple of hours' drive, Buffy decided to drive herself. Giles and Joyce helped her stuff the luggage in the trunk while the girls made sure that they had enough entertainment for the ride.

"Okay, girls, we're ready to go," Buffy said when everything was packed.

The girls looked at her and then went to Faith, who smiled at them.

"Now, now, what's with the sad faces? You should be excited."

"We'll miss you," Anne said and hugged her.

Molly did the same.

Faith sighed.

"You'll be okay, you'll be with your mom."

The girls let go of her.

"Still, we wish you'd come with us."

Faith smiled.

"Another time. Now go, have fun. And don't forget to call. Okay?"

"Okay."

The girls went into the car and Buffy closed the door.

"Bye," Buffy said.

"Goodbye, Buffy," Joyce said.

Buffy got into the car and drove away.

Faith, Joyce and Giles stared after the car until it was gone.

"I'll be in the back yard," Faith then said.

"Okay," Joyce said. "Do you need anything?"

Faith shook her head.

"No."

"Okay."

After a while, Giles came to the back yard.

"Do you need anything?" he asked Faith.

Faith looked at him.

"No, thanks."

"Are you reading anything interesting?" Giles asked and nodded at Faith's book.

"Oh, not really," Faith said and glanced at the book, which lay closed beside her. She hesitated for a moment. "I don't really feel like reading."

Giles sat beside her.

"Why not?"

Faith looked at her hands, nervous. She hesitated for a few moments and then leaned on Giles.

Giles looked at her, startled, and after a moment of hesitation, put his arm around her, feeling a bit awkward and excited at the same time. Awkward because he wasn't used to comforting people, except Buffy's girls, and excited because he liked Faith in a sort of fatherly way and it meant a lot to him that Faith trusted him enough to come to him for comfort.

"I'm scared," Faith quietly admitted after a few moments.

"Of?"

Faith shrugged.

"Everything and nothing," she said. "I just don't feel safe." She thought for a moment. "I've often had sex with men, and I didn't always want it, but I've never felt this… violated." She sobbed for a few moments. "And the girls had to watch it. They were so scared." She sobbed again. "And then… And then he wanted to… to rape them." She shuddered and started to cry. "I had to kill him," she whispered.

She cried for a while and Giles quietly held her, feeling uncomfortable and sad at the same time.

Joyce was just on her way to Faith when she saw her leaning on Giles. She stared at them for a few moments, wondering about the nature of their relationship, and then decided to leave them alone.

When Faith calmed down, she let go of Giles and wiped her tears. Then she looked at Giles, nervous.

"Thanks."

Giles nodded.

"You're welcome. Feeling better?"

Faith took a deep breath.

"Yeah."

"Good. Do you need anything?"

Faith shook her head.

"No, thanks."

"Very well."

They sat quietly for a while, until Giles left. Faith sat for a while longer and then went inside to get herself a drink.

"Faith," Joyce said when Faith was returning to the back yard.

Faith stopped.

"Yes?"

Joyce hesitated for a moment.

"I know it's not any of my business, but I am curious. Are you and Giles lovers?"

Faith blinked, surprised.

"Excuse me?" she asked and chuckled. She quickly stopped chuckling because her side started to hurt. "What makes you think that?"

Joyce hesitated for a moment.

"Well, I saw you and Giles, you were hugging."

Faith frowned, confused, but then she realized what Joyce was talking about.

"Oh!" She blushed. "No, we're not lovers." She hesitated for a moment. "He… He's like a… a dad to me. Sort of," she admitted, nervous.

"Oh." Joyce smiled. "That's nice."

"Yeah." Faith hesitated for a moment. "And besides, I prefer women."

"Really?" Joyce said, surprised. "You're gay?"

"Bi, but I prefer women."

"Oh." Joyce frowned. "But you did sleep with men when you, eh…"

"Yeah, but I was usually stoned or desperate for drugs. Or I needed the money."

"I see."

"Anything else?"

Joyce shook her head.

"No, no."

"I'll be in the back yard then."

"Okay."

Faith left, and Joyce stared after her thoughtfully.

In the evening, after the girls called Faith, Buffy tucked them in and then cleaned up a bit. After that she took a shower. When she dressed in her pajamas, she planned on watching TV, but she decided to check up on the girls first. When she found both girls in Molly's room, she remembered that they had slept with Faith. She quickly turned off all the lights and then went to Molly's room.

"Girls?" she said quietly.

"Mommy?" Anne said sleepily.

"Yes. Come, move over so I can join you."

"Really?" Anne said, surprised.

"Yes."

Anne gently shook Molly.

"Molly, wake up."

"What?" Molly asked sleepily.

"Mommy wants to sleep with us."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Molly quickly moved over.

"Will you sleep between us?" Anne asked.

"Sure," Buffy said.

She climbed over Anne and lay between the girls. The girls immediately cuddled up to her.

"Night, girls," Buffy said and kissed them on the top of their heads.

"Night, Mommy," Molly said.

"Night, Mommy," Anne said.

The next evening, the girls called Faith again.

"Hey," Faith said. "Everything okay?"

"Yes," Molly said. "Mommy slept with us."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"But you make us feel safer," Anne said.

Faith sighed.

"She's your mom, give her a chance," she said.

"We will," Molly said.

"Did you have a nice day?"

"Yes. We went to the beach and then we took a walk around the town."

"Mommy spent the whole day with us and we talked and played," Anne added.

"That's nice. I spent the whole day resting."

"Does it still hurt?"

"It itches and stings."

"Oh."

"Are you going to bed now?"

"Yes," Molly said.

"Then sweet dreams."

"You too."

"Night, girls."

"Night, Faith."

"Night, Faith."

Two days later, Faith realized her period was late. She got a bad feeling, so she got Giles to drive her to a drug store and she bought herself a pregnancy test. When they got home, she used the test and to her horror she found out she was pregnant. She stared at the test for a few moments, shocked, and then threw it at the wall. She screamed, angry, frustrated and scared, and hit the mirror, which cracked. Then she kicked the shards around, as well as anything else that was in her reach. She finally leaned against a wall and slid down. She hugged her knees and cried.

Joyce heard Faith's scream and she quickly went upstairs to check up on her. When she heard crashing noises, she started running.

"Faith?" she said, worried, when she entered Faith's bathroom. She stopped, surprised, when she saw the mess and the crying Faith. "Faith?" she asked softly as she approached her.

Faith looked at her, but didn't say anything.

Joyce hesitated for a moment and then sat down next to Faith and hugged her. She then held her until she calmed down.

"What happened?" Joyce asked when Faith finally wiped her tears.

"I'm pregnant," Faith said quietly.

"What?" Joyce said, surprised.

"I'm pregnant."

"With… Oh."

"I don't want their baby," Faith said and shuddered.

Joyce sighed.

"It's your baby, Faith," she said. "They're dead. One of them may be the sperm donor, but that's all. They won't be here to raise the baby, you will. You're the mother, you'll raise the baby and the baby will look up to you."

Faith thought about it.

"But what if the baby wants to know who the father is?"

Joyce thought for a moment.

"You'll tell the truth, if you think it's the right thing. You can always says it's some dead guy."

Faith smiled a little, but the smile disappeared when another worry hit her.

"But I don't know how to raise a baby. And I'm not a good role model. And…"

"Faith," Joyce interrupted her with a smile. "You're a good role model. Sure, you've had a bad past, but you changed. And besides, just look at Molly and Anne, they adore you. I'm pretty sure your baby will adore you as well."

Faith thought about it.

"But I still don't know how to raise a baby. I mean, I've looked after the girls, but they're almost teens, not babies."

Joyce smiled.

"Don't worry, Buffy and I will help you."

Faith sighed, a bit calmer.

"Thanks."

Joyce quietly held her for a while longer.

"Feeling better?" she then asked.

Faith nodded.

"Yeah. Thanks."

"How about we get up now and take care of your hands."

Faith looked at her hands.

"Oh."

They got up and Faith carefully washed her hands.

"Do you need a plaster?" Joyce asked when Faith was done.

Faith shook her head.

"No, it'll heal." She looked around. "Man.

"Don't worry about it," Joyce said. "Come, let's go downstairs."

"But…"

"I'll clean it up. You rest. I know you haven't been pregnant for long, but you have been injured. Come."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then got her crutches. Then they left the bathroom.

As they came downstairs, Giles came.

"Is everything alright?" he asked. "I was told there were some crushing noises."

"Everything's fine," Joyce said and looked at Faith.

Faith looked at her feet for a moment, nervous, and then back at Giles.

"I'm pregnant."

"What?" Giles said, startled.

"With… one of… them," Faith explained.

"Oh."

"I told her it's her baby," Joyce said. "She should be proud of her baby."

Giles nodded.

"Yes," he agreed, "absolutely."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then hugged him, crutches and all. She sobbed for a while and Giles held her.

Joyce observed them for a few moments and then went back upstairs to clean up.

"Thanks," Faith said when she let go of Giles.

Giles nodded.

"You're welcome." He hesitated for a moment. "How do you feel?"

Faith sighed.

"Better."

"Come, let's go outside."

Faith nodded and they went to the back yard. They sat on the bench and Faith leaned on Giles, who put his arm around her.

"I don't wanna hate my baby," Faith then said quietly.

"You won't," Giles said.

"But…"

"It's your baby, Faith, regardless of who the father is. And you know it's not the baby's fault."

Faith sighed and nodded.

"I know."

"Trust me, once you hold your baby, you won't be able to hate it."

Faith smiled a bit at the thought of holding her baby.

"I guess."

"Have you thought about what you're going to name it?"

Faith frowned.

"No."

"Then think about it."

Faith nodded.

"I will." She thought for a moment. "I'll have to talk to Buffy about a room."

"Room?"

"For the baby."

"Oh."

When Joyce cleaned up Faith's bathroom, she went to the back yard. She saw Faith leaning on Giles, but it didn't look as if they were talking. She cleared her throat.

Faith immediately stopped leaning on Giles.

"Am I interrupting?" Joyce asked when Faith and Giles looked at her.

"No," Faith said.

"Well, I cleaned up your bathroom."

"Thanks." Faith hesitated for a moment. "Em, I need your help."

"With what?" Joyce asked and sat down.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Well, em, I've been doing some research on GED and I've been studying a little, but I'm not quite sure what exactly I need to know and where to apply and stuff."

Joyce smiled.

"No problem. You'll show me later what you got and then I'll see about what I can find out."

"Thanks."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"Have you thought about hiring a tutor?"

Faith frowned.

"A tutor?"

"Yes. To help you study."

"I can't afford a tutor. Especially not now that I'm pregnant."

Joyce smiled.

"What about classes?"

"Classes?"

"Yes. I think they offer classes for GED."

"Oh. But what about the girls?"

"If your classes are in the morning, you could all go to school."

Faith thought about it.

"That would be okay." She frowned. "But what about when I'm about to give birth?"

"We'll see. I think you would probably only lose a week."

"But who's gonna babysit the baby?"

Joyce smiled.

"I could."

"You? But you're usually not here."

"I know. But I can move here for a while."

"Really? Thanks."

"No problem." Joyce thought for a moment. "And if you want, we can already start making a list of the things the baby will need."

Faith frowned.

"Just how big is this list?"

Joyce chuckled.

"Longer than you can imagine."

"Oh."

Joyce smiled.

"Come to me when you have the time."

"Okay. Thanks."

Joyce got up and left.

When Buffy and the girls finally came back, Faith, Joyce and Giles greeted them. As soon as the car stopped, the girls got out and ran to Faith.

"Faith!"

Faith smiled widely.

"Hey."

The girls hugged her and Faith staggered a bit.

"Easy, girls," Joyce said.

Faith ruffled their hair.

"Did you have fun?"

The girls let go of her.

"Uh-huh," Molly said, nodding.

"But we missed you," Anne added.

Faith smiled affectionately.

"I missed you to." She took a deep breath. "Now why don't you help your mom unload the car and unpack, and then come to the back yard, I have something to tell you."

"What?" Anne asked.

Faith winked at her.

"The sooner you unpack, the sooner you'll find out."

"Okay."

The girls ran to the car.

"Open up, Mommy!" Molly called.

"I'll be in the back yard," Faith told Joyce and Giles.

"Do you need company?" Giles asked.

Faith smiled and shook her head.

"No, thanks."

Faith left, and Joyce and Giles helped Buffy and the girls unpack.

"Tell us!" Anne said, excited, when she and Molly came to the back yard after they unpacked.

"Where's your mom?"

"She's coming," Molly said as they sat down.

"Then let's wait."

They waited for a few moments and then Buffy came.

"Is everything okay?" she asked Faith. "Mom was so mysterious."

Faith sighed.

"Yeah, I guess. Sit down."

Buffy sat down, and Faith took a deep breath.

"I'm pregnant."

Buffy blinked, surprised.

"Pregnant?" Molly said.

"With a baby?" Anne asked.

"Yeah," Faith said.

The girls squealed, excited.

"We're getting a baby sister!" Molly said, excited.

"Eh…" Faith said, surprised.

"Or a brother," Anne said, equally excited.

"Cool!" Molly said. "Can we babysit?"

Faith smiled.

"When you're older."

"Okay."

"And the father is…" Buffy trailed off.

"Yes," Faith said.

"Who's the daddy?" Molly asked, curious.

Faith tensed and looked at her. She thought for a few moments.

"It's one of those two men."

Molly frowned.

"Why did you have his baby?"

Faith sighed.

"Remember when I told you about sex and rape?"

Molly nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Well, sex is how children are conceived."

Molly's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

Faith smiled.

"Yes. Remember that white stuff that, eh, that they squirted?"

Molly nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"That's called sperm. And when men squirt their sperm into a woman's vagina, they can have a baby, if they're not, eh, protected."

"Oh."

"Did Mommy and Daddy also have sex?" Anne asked.

Faith smiled again, blushing again.

"Why don't you ask your mom?"

Anne looked at Buffy.

"Mommy?"

Buffy, who had quietly been listening to their conversation, blushed a bit.

"Yes."

"But there's two of us," Molly said.

"That happens sometimes."

"Oh."

"And guess what, I'm going back to school," Faith said.

"Really?" Anne said.

"You are?" Buffy asked.

"Yes. I'm getting my GED," Faith said.

"What's that?" Molly asked.

"A degree. It's equal to the one you'll get when you graduate from high school."

"Oh."

"Are you going to college too?" Anne asked.

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know yet."

"Oh."

"But what about us?" Molly asked.

"I'll go to school at the same time as you," Faith said.

"Oh."

"And the baby?" Anne asked.

"Your grandma volunteered to watch it while I'm at school."

"She's staying?"

"For a while."

"Cool!"

Faith smiled.

"Yeah." She looked at Buffy. "Your mom already helped me start a list of things the baby will need. Could you look at it and see if anything's missing?"

"Sure," Buffy said.

"Thanks. Oh! The room. The baby will need a room."

Buffy smiled.

"Pick any room you want."

"Thanks."

"Can we help?" Anne asked.

Faith smiled.

"Sure. Why don't you go upstairs, check out all the empty rooms and make a list of pros and cons."

"Okay."

The girls got up and ran inside.

Faith looked at Buffy.

"I hope you don't mind that I talked to them about the birds and the bees."

Buffy smiled.

"It's okay. You probably explained it better than I could."

Faith shrugged.

"They'll still have questions."

"I know. I don't mind if they ask you."

"Okay." Faith took a deep breath. "How was the vacation?"

Buffy smiled again.

"Wonderful. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For caring. For insisting that I spend more time with them."

Faith blushed.

"Oh."

"I'll spend more time with them from now on."

"Good." Faith thought for a moment. "Oh! Eh, I've been thinking about the names for the baby."

Buffy smiled.

"And?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Well, if it's a girl, I'll name her Hope."

Buffy nodded.

"A nice name. And if it's a boy?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. Do you have any ideas?"

Buffy thought about it for a few moments.

"Angel?" she then suggested.

Faith frowned.

"After your, eh, husband?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. Plus, you know, Hope and Angel, they kind of have the same positive connotation."

Faith thought about it and then nodded.

"Okay," she agreed.

Buffy smiled.

"Thank you."

In the afternoon, after the they helped chose the room for Faith's baby, the twins were busy drawing a plan for its redecoration.

"Is something wrong?" Anne asked Molly when she noticed that Molly was busy thinking about something.

"I'm confused," Molly said.

"About what?"

"What is Faith's baby going to call her?"

"Faith?"

"Yes."

Anne frowned.

"Mommy?"

"But what is it going to call our mommy?"

Anne's frown deepened.

"I don't know."

"Won't it be confusing if we call our mommy Mommy and Faith's baby calls Faith the same?"

"I guess. Ooh! Maybe the baby could call Faith Mama and our mommy Mommy."

Molly smiled.

"Okay." Then she frowned. "But then we can't call Faith by her name."

"What do we call her then?"

"Mama?"

Anne thought about it.

"Let's go ask Mommy."

"Okay."

They got up and went to Buffy's office.

"Mommy?" Anne said as they entered.

Buffy looked up and smiled.

"Come in."

"Do you have a moment?" Molly asked.

"Of course," Buffy said. "Come." The girls came closer. "So, what's the problem?"

"We're confused about something," Anne said.

"About what?"

"What will Faith's baby call Faith?"

Buffy frowned.

"Mommy?"

"But what will it call you?"

"Me?" Buffy said, startled.

The girls nodded.

"Can it call you Mommy and Faith Mama?" Molly asked.

"Why would it call me Mommy?" Buffy asked, confused.

"Because it will be our brother," Anne said.

"Or sister," Molly added.

"Oh," Buffy said.

Molly frowned.

"If Faith's baby is our brother, or sister, does that make Faith our mama?"

Buffy blinked, surprised.

"Eh…"

Anne smiled.

"That way we can all call you Mommy and we can call Faith Mama." She frowned. "Can we call Faith Mama?"

Buffy thought about it. Faith certainly did consider the girls her family, she had no doubt about it, and she knew the girls loved Faith the way they loved her. Which, in a way, did make Faith their second mother. And if she would be a second mother to Faith's baby… She smiled.

"Sure. But ask Faith first, okay?"

"Okay," Anne said, excited.

The girls ran out.

Buffy sat for a few more moments and then got up and followed them, guessing she would probably have to explain things to Faith.

Faith was half way down the stairs when the girls caught up with her.

"Faith! Faith!" Molly called, excited.

Faith stopped and turned.

"Yes?"

"Can we call you Mama?"

Faith blinked, surprised.

"What?"

"Can we call you Mama?"

"Wh-Why?" Faith asked, moved.

"Because your baby will be our brother…"

"Or sister," Anne added.

"Yes, and that makes you our mama."

"And it makes Mommy your baby's mommy," Anne added.

Faith's knees grew weak on her and she quickly sat down.

"Can we?" Molly asked, a bit worried about Faith's serious look.

"Mommy said we could," Anne added.

"Yes," Faith said in a coarse voice, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Cool!"

The girls smiled and hugged her.

Faith hugged them back, tears running down her cheeks.

On the top of the stairs, Buffy quietly watched them, feeling happy for Faith.

"Why are you crying?" Anne asked, worried, when they stopped hugging.

Faith smiled and wiped her tears.

"From happiness," she explained.

"Oh."

Faith took a deep breath.

"Where's your mother?"

"There," Molly said and pointed up the stairs.

Faith turned, surprised, and blushed.

"Eh…" she said, a bit nervous.

Buffy smiled.

"Seems they've decided to adopt you," she said with a smile.

Faith smiled back.

"Yeah."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Um, they think your baby should call me Mommy and you Mama. Is that okay with you?"

Faith thought about it.

"Is it okay with you?" She blushed. "I mean, to be the second parent to my baby."

Buffy smiled.

"Yes, I'd like that."

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

"We'll be in our room," Molly said when she saw that everything was okay.

"Okay," Faith said. She smiled. "And thank you."

The girls smiled back and ran upstairs.

Faith took a deep breath and got up. She thought for a moment and then looked at Buffy.

"I think I'll need another job," she said.

Buffy frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Faith shrugged.

"You can't exactly pay me for watching my own children."

Buffy blinked, startled, and then smiled.

"I suppose. But someone has to watch them."

"I know. Still, it doesn't feel right."

Buffy nodded.

"I'll see what I can do about it. But until then, you're still getting paid. Okay?"

Faith nodded.

"Okay. Thanks."

Buffy smiled.

"No problem."

"I'll be downstairs then."

"Okay."

Faith continued downstairs.

Buffy stared after her for a few moments, wondering about her own feelings toward Faith, and then returned to her office. As she sat down, she started to work, but thoughts of Faith kept coming back. She sighed and leaned back. She still felt ashamed about how she had treated Faith because of her record. She was glad that things had cleared out and that Faith had forgiven her. And she was glad that Faith had shown her just how much the girls had missed her. And now Faith was having a baby and she would be the child's second mother. She smiled at the thought, looking forward to it. She was also glad that Faith was such a wonderful person, despite her shady past. And there was something about Faith that made her heart beat faster. She didn't consider herself gay, or even bi, but Faith was simply special to her, not just because she was the second mother to her girls and had protected them, but also… She wasn't sure why, but she accepted the fact, wondering how their relationship would change in the future.

When she got to the back yard, Faith sat on the bench and looked around. A smile slowly spread across her face and she realized she was happy. Sure, she was nervous, because she still had to tell Sister Caroline and Jessica, both of whom she'd been avoiding since the ordeal, and she had a baby to give birth to, but other than that, things were great and she wasn't worried about her future anymore. She had a family now and she didn't have to worry about her past getting in the way. The only other thing that worried her a bit was her relationship with Buffy. She was definitely in love with her, but she wasn't sure how Buffy felt about her. She decided not to worry about it and let things develop at their own pace. And who knew, perhaps one day they would be more than friends.

The End