DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read. Ghost roads are from Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder's The Gatekeeper Trilogy.

Ten Years
By Kristjan Brezovnik

After having been attacked by the Council hitmen, Faith left as soon as she could. She felt a bit guilty for having abandoned Buffy, but she quickly got over it, because she was angry at her. For a few moments, she considered just running away, but she decided not to, she had enough of running. So she headed to the nearest police station to turn herself in, like she and Angel had discussed.

After having defeated the Council hitmen with Angel's help, Buffy followed Faith. She had no idea where Faith might have gone, so she trusted her instincts.

She was relieved when she soon located Faith.

Faith suddenly felt Buffy's presence. She cursed quietly and turned.

"B," she said as Buffy slowed down and then stopped.

"Running away again, ha?" Buffy said.

Faith bit her teeth. She turned around and continued walking.

"Where are you going?" Buffy demanded, and hurried after her.

"None of your business," Faith snapped.

"It's damn well my business," Buffy said, angrily.

Faith stopped and faced her.

"Why? Because it involves Angel?"

"Yes!"

"He's not five years old, B, he can take care of himself."

"That's not the point."

"Really? Oh! That's right, you're still in love with him."

"So?"

"So you were jealous."

"I was not!"

"You looked very jealous to me."

Faith continued walking, and Buffy hurried after her.

"I was not!" Buffy protested.

"Whatever," Faith said.

She suddenly stopped and listened.

"I was not," Buffy protested.

"Shh," Faith said.

"What?"

Faith concentrated.

"I hear screaming."

Buffy listened.

"I don't hear anything. Nice try. You're just…"

"Quiet," Faith said and walked toward the closest alley.

"Hey!" Buffy said and hurried after her, confused and angry.

"Shh," Faith said when she reached the mouth of the alley.

She peaked in and saw two guards in front of a door.

"Guards," Buffy said as she looked.

"Yeah," Faith said.

She hesitated for a moment and then entered the alley.

"Faith!" Buffy said, surprised.

She hesitated for a moment and then followed her.

The guards noticed them, but Faith continued as if she didn't care about them.

"Faith," Buffy said when she reached Faith.

"What?" Faith asked as she stopped, making it look as though they were having an argument, which they were.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Faith rolled her eyes.

"What do you think?" she asked, and continued.

Buffy quickly followed her.

"Do you have a plan?"

Faith glanced at her.

"Knock out the guards and kick the crap of the others."

"Wow, why didn't I think of that," Buffy said sarcastically.

"Because you're a blonde?"

"Hey!" Buffy said and hit Faith in the shoulder. She took a deep breath to calm down. There were people to be saved, so she concentrated on that. "I'm serious, Faith. We need a plan."

"I got a plan."

"Well, it sucks."

"No one told you to follow me."

"Right, like I'm gonna let you loose on the city."

"You're not my keeper, B," Faith said angrily.

"But I am a Slayer."

Faith glanced at her.

"This is Angel's town, and he says I'm okay. You got a problem with that?"

"He doesn't know you."

Faith stopped.

"And you do?" she asked angrily.

"I…"

"You know shit, B," Faith said and continued to approach the guards, who were grinning, apparently thinking they were witnessing a lovers' quarrel.

"I know you better!" Buffy said and hurried after Faith, who had reached the guards.

"No, you don't," Faith said and elbowed one of the guards in the face.

Buffy quickly switched to Slayer mode and knocked out the other guard.

Faith tried the door. It was unlocked, so she carefully entered, Buffy following her. They were in a short corridor, not far from another door, which was wide open. They carefully approached the door, and Faith went to the other side. Then they peeked inside.

"Crap," Faith said when she saw how many people there were.

"Oh no," Buffy said and pointed at a small hole in the air. "Look, a portal or something."

"You get the victim, I'll keep the others busy."

"Are you…" Buffy started, but trailed off when Faith entered the room. "Damn it," she said and followed her.

When Faith reached the crowed, she pushed her way through.

The people merely stared at her, surprised and confused.

Buffy used the confusion and quickly ran after her and then to the altar, where a little girl with a gag in her mouth was tied to an altar.

"Okay, the party's over," Faith said as Buffy moved past her to save the victim.

The crowd stared to murmur, confused, but the priests kept chanting.

"I said, the party's over," Faith said and kicked the first one in the stomach.

Some men from the crowd attacked her, but she quickly dealt with them. Then she moved to the priests and started to knock them out. More men from the crowd joined the fight.

"Hurry up, B!" Faith called when she saw how big the portal had become.

"I don't have a knife!" Buffy called as she kicked back her own attackers while trying to untie the girl.

Faith glanced at Buffy and saw that she was in trouble.

"Fucking morons," she murmured.

She decided to change her tactics. She ran past the priests, simply pushing then out of the way. When she reached Buffy, she threw herself on the attackers, giving Buffy some time.

"Untie your other arm," Buffy told the girl when she was done with one arm.

The girl obeyed, and Buffy moved to the legs.

Faith glanced at them to see how far Buffy was with the rescue.

"Damn," she said and jumped across the altar to help with the other leg.

The girl was quickly done with her other arm and she quickly sat up and pulled the gag out of her mouth.

When Buffy was done, she looked around.

"Hurry up, Faith," she said that the priests were chanting again.

She quickly attacked the priests to disrupt them. And if she was too far away, she simply picked up the nearest person and threw them at a priest. This time the worshippers didn't bother her as they had all backed off, apparently afraid of something. She quickly knocked out most of the priests. But when she got to the last and knocked him out, the portal started to fluctuate and change color. She hurried to the altar and quickly grabbed the girl.

"Faith…" she stared.

"Done!" Faith said just as they were starting to get sucked into the portal.

Faith was lifted first, being the lightest. She quickly grabbed the altar, but the suction increased quickly.

Buffy tried to get away, but the suction pulled her back.

The girl screamed, scared.

Buffy tried to grab the altar, but her grip slipped, and she was sucked into the portal.

Faith tried to grab her, but then her own grip weakened and she was quickly pulled in as well.

The worshippers looked at one another, confused.

"Crap," Faith said as she looked around. She looked at Buffy. "What happened?"

"How should I know," Buffy snapped, and got up.

Faith got up as well. She looked at the girl, who was looking around, wide-eyed.

"You okay?" she asked her.

The girl looked at her.

"Who are you?" she asked, scared.

"I'm Faith and that's Buffy," Faith introduced them, and the girl glanced at Buffy. "And you?"

"Samantha," the girl said, nervous, and got up.

"Hey. Do you know why those guys wanted to kill you?"

Samantha shook her head.

"Uh-uh."

"They wanted to sacrifice her, what else?" Buffy said.

Faith glared at her.

"Are you gonna hurt me?" Samantha asked.

Buffy and Faith looked at her.

"No," Faith said.

"Oh," Samantha said, relieved. She looked up. "Why is the sun green?"

Buffy and Faith looked up.

"Because it's not the sun," Buffy said. She looked around. "We're not on Earth anymore."

"Where are we?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know. Another dimension."

"What's that?"

Buffy frowned.

"Another reality."

"A different world," Faith said.

"Oh," Samantha said. "Can we go home?"

Buffy looked at the spot where the portal used to be.

"I don't think so."

Faith looked around.

"We better find some place to spend the night."

"Yes," Buffy agreed. She looked at Samantha. "Come."

Samantha went to her and took her hand.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

Buffy looked around.

"That way?" she said and looked at Faith.

Faith shrugged.

"Looks as good as any direction," she said.

A couple of hours later, they finally found a suitable place. It was a small cave near a river, about two meters deep with several rocks in front of it. Faith went ahead to investigate it, and when she declared that it was suitable, Buffy and Samantha followed her.

"Where are we gonna sleep?" Samantha asked.

Buffy and Faith looked around.

"On the floor," Faith said.

"We need to get something to sleep on," Buffy said.

"Yeah," Faith agreed. She looked around. "Leaves?"

Buffy looked around as well.

"I guess they'll have to do for now." She looked at Samantha. "Come, let's go gather some leaves."

When they gathered enough leaves, they rested.

"Sleepy?" Faith asked Samantha when Samantha yawned.

Samantha nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Then go to sleep."

Samantha looked at the leaves.

"Here?"

"Yes."

Samantha hesitated for a moment.

"Are you gonna stay?" she asked, scared.

"Yeah, we're not going anywhere."

"Promise?"

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"Yeah, I promise."

Samantha looked at the leaves again. She hesitated for a moment and then crawled to them and lay down.

Faith stared at her for a while, and then crawled after her.

"Where are you going?" Buffy asked.

Faith looked at her.

"To sleep."

"But it's only afternoon."

"It was night on Earth. And besides, it's been a… a weird day."

Faith crawled to the leaves and lay down. She lay on her back for a few moments and then turned on her side, facing the wall.

Faith was the first to wake up in the morning. She was a bit confused at first, but then she remembered. She sighed. She stared in front of herself for a few moments and sat up. She looked around and saw that Buffy and Samantha were still asleep, Samantha cuddled up to Buffy. She stared at them for a few moments and then started to crawl out.

The noise woke up Buffy, who was also confused at first.

"Where are you going?" Buffy asked when she noticed that Faith was crawling out.

Faith turned her head.

"Out."

"Oh."

Buffy looked at Samantha, feeling strange. She tried to get up without waking her, but failed.

When Samantha opened her eyes and saw Buffy, she gasped, surprised, and backed off.

"Good morning," Buffy said with a smile.

Samantha looked around, remembering what had happened.

"Morning."

"Come, let's go freshen ourselves."

"Okay," Samantha said and crawled out.

Buffy followed her.

"Hey," Faith said when Samantha got out.

Samantha smiled at her.

"Hi." She hesitated for a moment. "I need to pee."

Faith looked around.

"Just go over there, behind those bushes."

Samantha looked. She hesitated for a moment and then went there.

Faith went to the river and splashed some water in her face.

Buffy did the same, only a few meters away from her.

Faith then looked around. She noticed another group of bushes and headed there, needing to pee.

"Where are you going?" Buffy asked.

"None of your fucking business," Faith said without looking back.

Buffy wanted to go after her, but then she saw that Faith was heading toward the bushes and she realized that Faith probably needed to pee. When she saw Faith disappear behind the bushes, she sighed and calmed down a little.

She hesitated for a moment and then headed toward the bushes where Samantha had gone.

When she reached them, Samantha showed up, obviously done peeing.

"You done?" she asked her.

Samantha nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay. Wait here till I'm done."

"Okay."

Buffy disappeared behind the bushes to pee.

Samantha looked around, wondering where Faith was. When she saw her appear from behind a bush, she smiled, relieved.

Faith saw her smiling and she smiled back a little.

Samantha came to her.

"Hey," Faith said.

Samantha hesitated for a moment.

"I'm hungry," she then said nervously.

"Yeah," Faith said, "me too."

"When can we go home?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Oh," Samantha said, disappointed.

She hesitated for a moment, and then went to the river and refreshed herself.

Faith went to the closest tree and climbed up. She looked around, but all she could see was a sort of road and no signs of life. She got down.

"What did you see?" Buffy asked her when she got down.

"A road."

"A road?"

"Yeah."

"Anything else?"

"No. I'm gonna go look around."

"Where?"

Faith shrugged.

"Around."

"How do I know your coming back?"

Faith glared at her.

"You don't."

"So you're just gonna go away and leave me alone with the girl?"

"Don't play a martyr, B, it's so cliche."

"I'm not playing a martyr," Buffy protested.

"No, of course, you just think you are one."

"I'm not!"

"Not everything is about you, B."

"I'm not the one who's leaving when things get tough."

Faith bit her teeth as she glared at Buffy.

"Like you know me so well."

"I know you well enough."

"Is that why you automatically assumed I would just leave?"

"It wouldn't be the first time."

Faith felt like slapping Buffy, but she stopped herself.

"I've changed, B," she said quietly.

"Have you? Then why did you run away after the Council attacked?"

"They tried to kill me, remember?" Faith said, upset.

"You could've helped me fight them instead of running away."

"Nobody told you to come to LA and interfere."

"I thought Angel was in trouble."

"He's a big boy, B, he can take care of himself."

"Nobody's safe when you're around."

Suddenly Faith noticed how Samantha was looking at them with saucer eyes, scared. She took a deep breath.

"We're not solving anything, B, so shut up," she said and headed towards Samantha, who was sitting in front of the cave.

"What?" Buffy said, surprised. "You can't just walk out on an argument!"

"Watch me," Faith said without looking at her.

Buffy headed after her.

"Faith!"

Faith stopped and turned.

"Knock it off, B, you're scaring the girl."

"Oh, so now I'm the bad guy," Buffy said, upset, and looked at Samantha just in case.

"Whatever, B. You wanna fight, wait until we're alone."

"Which could pretty much be never."

"I can deal with that," Faith said and went to Samantha.

Buffy stared after her for a few moments and then sighed. She hesitated for a moment and then went to the river.

When Faith reached Samantha, she smiled and sat down next to her.

"Hi," she said.

"Hi," Samantha said, frightened a little.

Faith sighed, remembering how she'd used to feel when her mother and her boyfriends had argued.

"I'm sorry we scared you," she said.

"Why did you argue?" Samantha asked quietly.

Faith took a deep breath.

"Well, Buffy and I pretty much hate one another," she admitted.

"Why?"

Faith smiled sadly.

"We both made some bad choices and we blame one another."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, it's not your fault," Faith said and caressed her.

Samantha smiled a little, and Faith smiled back.

"Will you argue again?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. I hope not." She hesitated for a moment. "I promise I'll try not to piss her off and not to let her piss me off."

Samantha frowned.

"Piss off?"

Faith smiled a little.

"Make angry."

"Oh."

They were quiet for a few moments.

"What did you do?" Samantha then asked.

"Who?"

"You and Buffy."

Faith sighed, thinking about what to tell her. She decided on the truth. She knew Samantha wouldn't be able to understand everything, but she would know it was bad. And she would also know that Faith was honest with her. She gulped.

When Faith was done telling her story, they were quiet for a few moments. Tears were slowly streaming down Faith's cheek and she wiped them, but they kept coming.

Samantha noticed that Faith was crying, and she hugged her.

Faith looked at her, startled, but then she hugged her back and let herself silently cry.

A few minutes, later, Faith finally calmed down. She let go of Samantha and wiped her face. Then she looked at Samantha.

"Thank you," she said and smiled a little.

Samantha smiled back. Then she thought about something.

"Are you a bad person?" she then asked.

Faith opened her mouth to respond, but then she closed it again. She sighed and looked at Buffy, who was apparently fishing. She thought about what she'd done, what Buffy had said and, most importantly, what Angel had told her. She smiled a little when she reached a conclusion.

"No, I don't think so." She thought for a moment. "I don't think I was bad… I mean, I was bad, but not evil, you know? I was just…" She hesitated for a moment. "I was just scared. And the more scared I was, the more wrong choices I made, which scared me even more."

"Oh." Samantha thought about it. "Are you still scared?"

"Not as much as I was." She hesitated for a moment. "Are you afraid of me?"

Samantha smiled and shook her head.

"Uh-uh."

Faith smiled back.

"Good," she said and ruffled her hair.

Samantha thought for a few moments.

"Are we ever gonna get back home?"

Faith sighed.

"I don't know." She hesitated for a moment. "I hope so."

"Oh." Samantha thought for a moment. "Can I help?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"You can give me a hug when you see I feel sad."

Samantha smiled.

"Okay."

"Don't worry, Buffy and I will take good care of you."

Samantha leaned on Faith, relieved.

Faith hesitated for a few moments and then put her arm around her, wondering how she could be so open with the girl.

When Buffy got back from the river and saw Faith and Samantha talk, she frowned. She had no idea what they could be talking about. Not to mention that she hadn't thought that Faith would actually bother to talk to the girl, much less listen carefully. She slowly approached them, and they looked at her.

"I caught these. I've no idea what they are, but they look like fish or something," she said. "I don't suppose you know how to make fire?" she asked Faith.

Faith reached into her pocket.

"With this," she said and showed Buffy her fire-lighter.

"You got a lighter?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yeah."

"Oh. I'll clean these, you make a fire."

Faith looked at Samantha.

"Come, let's go see if we can find something to make a fire with."

"Okay," Samantha said, excited at the prospect of helping, and got up.

After Faith had gone scouting, she had discovered signs of civilization, so the next day, they'd moved on. A week later, they came across a battle. It was between some demons they'd seen before but avoided because they weren't sure whether they were good or bad, and some fierce looking demons, who were obviously the attackers.

"Let's help," Faith said.

Buffy looked at her.

"Who?"

"The villagers."

"Why?"

"Because we need some allies."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Okay. But what about Samantha?"

"She can hide."

Buffy thought about it and then looked at Samantha.

"Faith and I are going to help," she told her. She looked around. "You hide. Over there, behind that rock."

"Are you gonna be okay?" Samantha asked, scared.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. Now go, hide."

Samantha ran to the rock and hid.

Buffy looked at Faith.

"Got a plan?"

Faith shrugged.

"We run, we slay."

"Typical Faith."

Faith glared at her.

"Got a better plan?"

Buffy looked back at the battlefield.

"No."

"Then shut up," Faith snapped. "Let's go."

Faith ran toward the fight, readying her makeshift stake, and Buffy followed her.

They quickly engaged the attackers, who were riding some sort of beasts. They threw away their stakes and took weapons from the attackers they'd killed. Buffy went to help a nearby group of females, who were trying to get to the safety of the village barrier while protecting their young. She saw a mother get killed. The attacker tried to trample the baby, but Faith threw her sword at him, killing him. She ran to the baby and picked it up. Then she picked up the sword from the fallen rider. When she looked around, she saw that the females were out of reach. She thought for a moment and then ran to Samantha.

"Here, hold this," she told her.

Samantha looked at the baby and the eyes went wide.

"It's a monster," she said.

"It's a baby. Take care of it while we fight."

"How?"

"Just hold it."

Samantha looked closer at the baby.

"Will it hurt me?"

"No. It's just a baby."

"Oh."

Samantha hesitated for a moment and then carefully took the baby.

"That's it," Buffy then said. "Just hold it."

Then she rejoined the fight.

When the villagers saw that help had arrived and that the attackers were in disarray, they regained their courage and went on the offensive.

The attackers were surprised, but they quickly regrouped. They'd never seen the creatures that had come to help their prey, and they didn't know what to make of them. They tried to attack anew, but the villagers and the strange creatures quickly convinced them that victory was not an option anymore, so they retreated.

When they were gone, Faith looked around and took a deep breath. She raised her sword to take a good look at it. But when she saw the blood on it and on her hands, she shuddered, the bad memories returning. The blood was blackish purple, not red, but it was close enough. She dropped the sword and quickly walked to the creek. Then she started to rub her hands furiously to wash off the blood.

When Buffy saw that they'd won, she went to Samantha.

"Everything okay?" she asked her.

Samantha nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"We won, you don't have to hide anymore."

Samantha got up and approached her.

"Are you gonna give it back to its mommy?" she asked Buffy.

Buffy sighed.

"Its mommy is dead."

"Oh."

"I'll give it to its daddy."

Samantha smiled a little.

"Okay."

Buffy took the baby and walked to the battlefield.

Samantha followed her closely, afraid of the demons. When she saw Faith by the creek, she looked around, and when she saw that there were no demons near by, she ran to Faith.

"Are you okay?" she asked her as she crouched beside her.

Faith looked at her, startled.

"Huh?"

"Are you okay?"

Faith looked at her hands and saw that they were clean. She sighed.

"Yeah."

Samantha observed her for a few moments.

"Are you sad?"

Faith shuddered.

"Just some bad memories returning."

"Oh."

Samantha hesitated for a moment and then hugged her.

Faith sighed and put her arm around her.

"They have babies," Samantha then said.

"Yeah, I know."

"I held one and it wasn't bad. Its mommy is dead, but Buffy will give it to its daddy."

"Yeah," Faith said quietly. Then she took a deep breath. "Come, let's go to Buffy."

"Okay."

The villagers quickly noticed that Buffy was carrying one of their babies. Several of them approached her warily.

"Hey," Buffy said. "Em, I think this is yours," she said and offered the baby to the villagers.

One of the villagers quickly took the baby and carried it away. The remaining villagers stared at her curiously.

Soon several more villagers approached with what Buffy thought was their leader. He was old and hadn't been fighting. The first group of villagers reported to him. When they were done, the leader took a good look at Buffy. Then he said something what Buffy thought was a thanks.

"No problem," Buffy said.

She looked around to see where Faith and Samantha were, and saw that they were coming her way.

"Where's the baby?" Samantha asked Buffy when she and Faith got closer.

"I gave it to its daddy," Buffy said.

"Oh."

Samantha looked at the villagers curiously, and the villagers stared at her.

"What's going on?" Faith asked.

Buffy shrugged.

"Introductions."

"Oh."

The leader spoke to his aides and then motioned them to come along. He and the villagers left, and the three Humans followed them.

"Where are we going?" Samantha asked.

"I don't know," Buffy said. "Probably to his house."

"Oh."

"Let's hope they have some food," Faith said.

Buffy looked at her.

"Is that all you can think about?"

Faith shrugged.

"I'm hungry."

"Me too," Samantha said.

Buffy sighed. She was hungry too, the fish, or whatever they were, just weren't enough.

When they got to the biggest hut in the village, only the leader and one of his aides entered. Another aide motioned them to follow.

Buffy entered first to make sure it wasn't a trap.

"It's okay," she said when she saw that it was okay.

Faith and Samantha followed her.

The leader motioned them to sit on the ground, so they sat.

A few moments later three more elders arrived.

The elders conferred for a few minutes.

"What are they saying?" Samantha asked.

"I don't know," Faith said. "They're probably wondering who we are and why we helped them."

"Oh."

The aide then went to one of the closets and brought what looked like paper, and some writing utensils.

The lead elder then started to draw something. When he was done, she showed it to Buffy, who was closest to him. It was his kind, the attackers and them. Them he said something and when he was done, he pointed at her.

Buffy was confused for a moment, but then she guessed that he wanted to know what they were.

"Humans," she said. Then she pointed at the pictures. "Roothracks. Sleissiks. Humans."

The elders talked to one another for a few moments, and then the lead elder started to draw another picture, a map. When he was done, he showed it to Buffy.

Buffy understood that he wanted to know where they were from. She thought for a few moments and then pointed at the pen. The elder gave it to her and Buffy made a circle, which represented this world, and inserted a miniaturized map the elder had drawn. Then she made another circle, which represented Earth. She thought for a moment and then drew an interdimensional portal, like she had seen on Star Trek. She pointed at the left world.

"Here, this world," she said and waved around. She pointed at the right world. "Earth."

The lead elder pulled the map closer and then he and his peers discussed it.

"What are they doing?" Samantha asked Faith quietly.

"Discussing what Buffy had drawn. They're probably confused."

"Can they help us get back home?"

"I don't know."

Samantha leaned on Faith, who put her arm around her.

Buffy looked at them, surprised by Faith's behavior toward Samantha. It almost looked as though Faith cared about the girl.

Samantha soon drifted off to sleep, tired from the hours of travel.

When the lead elder noticed that, he called his aide closer and told him something, pointing at Samantha. Another elder said something, and the lead elder agreed. He looked at Faith and pointed at Samantha. He said something, making motions and facial expressions.

"He wants us to go somewhere else so Samantha can sleep?" Faith asked Buffy.

"I think so," Buffy said.

Faith looked at Samantha. She thought for a moment and then picked her up.

"It's okay," Faith said when Samantha opened her eyes briefly. "I'm taking you somewhere more comfortable."

"Okay," Samantha said and leaned her head on Faith's shoulder.

Faith got up.

"I'll stay with her," she told Buffy, and then followed the aide out of the hut.

The aide led the way to another hut. When they reached it, he motioned her to wait. He entered alone and returned a few moments later. He motioned Faith to enter, so Faith did, looking around, just in case it was a trap. It wasn't, so Faith relaxed.

There were two older females inside, apparently mother and daughter, and three children. The younger female pointed at what looked like a bed. Faith carried Samantha over and laid her down. Then she took off her shoes and covered her. When she was done, Faith sat down next to the bed and leaned against the wall.

A couple of minutes later, Buffy came in, carrying some weaponry. She came closer and put the weapons down. Then she joined Faith.

"I took it from the dead," she told Faith quietly so as to not wake Samantha. "We'll need it."

Faith nodded.

"What did they say?"

Buffy took a map from her pocket and unfolded it.

"I think they want us to visit someone. The also gave me some writing and the stuff I've drawn."

"That's pretty far away," Faith observed.

"I know. But at least it's a start."

"Yeah."

Then they were quiet, both thinking about what the future would bring.

Samantha woke up an hour later.

"Hey," Faith said with a smile when Samantha opened her eyes.

Samantha smiled.

"Hi." She sat up. "I'm hungry."

"Yeah, me too."

Buffy looked at the women, who were observing them, curious.

"Em, eat?" she said and pretended to eat.

The women had apparently been expecting that and they started to prepare food.

"Monsters also have babies? Samantha asked curiously, watching the demon children.

Buffy and Faith looked at her.

"Yes," Faith said.

"Why?"

"Everybody has children, even demons."

"Demons?"

"Monsters."

"Although there are some humans that are bigger monsters than demons," Buffy said. "I didn't mean you," she said when Faith glared at her.

Faith bit her teeth and took a deep breath. She looked back at Samantha.

"Being demons doesn't make them monsters. As you could see there are bad demons and good demons. Just like humans. Remember those who tried to sacrifice you?"

"Uh-huh," Samantha said with a nod, wide-eyed.

"They were bigger monsters than these demons."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"And Buffy and I are Slayers."

"What's that?" Samantha asked, curious.

"We were called to kill the bad demons."

"Like those who attacked?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

Faith smiled.

"Anyway, we got some help, so there is hope that we will get home some day."

Samantha's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Yes. But first we have to go somewhere quite far away to find someone."

"Okay." Samantha looked around and saw that the demon children were playing. "What are they doing?"

Buffy and Faith looked.

"Playing," Buffy said.

"Can I go play too?"

"Eh, I don't know."

"You can go watch," Faith said. "Maybe they'll invite you to play with them."

"Okay," Samantha said and slid off the bed.

"Faith…" Buffy said uncertain.

"She'll be okay," Faith said.

Samantha slowly approached the demon children, who immediately started to stare at her, so she stopped, nervous. She watched them from afar, until they started to play again. Then she slowly approached some more, squatted and observed them, curious.

"See?" Faith said.

"I just hope she doesn't do something to upset them."

After they ate, the elder who lived in that hut came and let them know that they could stay for the night. They accepted, even though it was barely past noon. They let Samantha play with the demon children and while Faith watched and inspected the weapons, Buffy took a look around the village and made some suggestions to one of the aides.

The next morning, as they said goodbye, the lead elder gave them each a bag with some clothes, a blanket and some food. The Slayers already had two swords and a dagger each. Then they moved on.

Two weeks later, while Buffy was out hunting, Samantha sat close to Faith.

"You okay?" Faith asked her when she saw that there was something on Samantha's mind.

"Will you be my mommy?" Samantha blurted out.

Faith blinked, surprised.

"Huh?"

Samantha blushed, suddenly very nervous.

"Will you be my mommy?" she repeated quietly.

"Me?"

Samantha nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"I've no idea how to be a mom," she finally said.

"Oh," Samantha said, disappointed.

Faith looked at the fire, still not quite grasping that Samantha wanted her to be her mom. She had no idea how to take care of children, nor did she feel she was mother material. But for some reason, she realized, she made Samantha feel safe and loved. She thought about what she'd been doing so far and realized that she wasn't doing so bad, that perhaps she had what it took to be a mother.

She looked at Samantha.

"You sure you want me to be your mom?" she asked her.

Samantha looked at her and nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"Why?"

Samantha shrugged.

"Because you care about me."

"So does Buffy."

"But not like you. And I like you."

Faith realized this was probably the first time somebody liked her more than Buffy. She also realized that Samantha needed a mother. She sighed.

"Okay," she said, deciding to be Samantha's mom.

Samantha squealed and hugged her.

Faith smiled a little and hugged her back, hoping she wouldn't mess up.

One day, a week or so later, while Faith was out hunting, Buffy and Samantha sat by the fire, Samantha practicing some simple math. Buffy was staring at the fire, having already prepared the herbs given to them by the Roothracks. When Samantha was done with her equations, she looked at Buffy.

"I'm done."

Buffy looked at her and then at the equations.

"Very good," she said when she was done.

Samantha beamed, but then she noticed that Buffy was sad.

"Are you sad?" she asked.

Buffy smiled a little.

"Yes. I miss home."

Samantha moved closer to her and hugged her.

Buffy frowned, surprised, but then she hugged her back.

"Did it help?" Samantha asked her when she let go of her.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes."

Samantha smiled back.

"Mommy told me to hug her when she's sad, it makes her feel better," she said. "I'll tell her it helped you too."

"Who?" Buffy said, confused.

"Mommy."

"Mommy?"

"Uh-huh."

"What Mommy?"

Samantha frowned.

"Faith."

Now Buffy frowned.

"Faith?"

Samantha nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Faith's your mommy?" Buffy said with disbelief.

Samantha smiled and nodded again.

"Uh-huh."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, surprised.

"How did she become your mommy?"

"I asked her."

"You asked her?"

Samantha nodded.

"Uh-huh. And she said yes."

"Oh."

"Can we practice reading now?"

"Eh, sure," Buffy said, still trying to grasp the fact that Samantha considered Faith her mother.

"I'm back," Faith said when she returned an hour later.

"You didn't catch anything?" Buffy asked when she didn't see any prey.

"I caught one of those horny things with spiky tails. I left it down at the water. I'll need help cleaning it."

"Oh." Buffy looked at Samantha. "Come, Samantha."

Samantha got up and ran to Faith.

"Buffy felt sad and I hugged her and she didn't feel sad anymore," she told Faith. "Just like you said."

Faith smiled and ruffled her hair.

"Yeah."

Samantha smiled and took Faith's hand.

"When can I hunt?" she asked.

"When you're older," Faith said.

"Why?"

"Because you're not strong or fast enough yet."

"Oh."

"And it takes skill."

"Can you teach me?"

"Sure."

"Can you teach me how to fight monsters too?"

Faith smiled.

"I can start, but you won't be able to seriously fight them for quite a few years."

"Because I'm not strong enough yet?"

"Exactly."

"I'll become stronger when I get older?"

"Yes."

"When will you start to teach me how to fight?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"After your nap?"

Samantha smiled, excited.

"Okay."

Buffy quietly followed them, observing their interaction.

When Samantha finally fell asleep, Buffy moved closer to Faith.

"She asked you to be your mom?" she asked Faith.

Faith looked at her, a bit nervous.

"Yeah."

"And you said yes?"

"Yeah."

"You have no idea how to be a mom."

"Neither do you."

"Well, I know, but…" Buffy said, slightly confused.

Faith stared at her for a moment.

"You're jealous."

"I'm not," Buffy objected.

Faith smiled sadly.

"Yes, you are. It pisses you off that she chose me, a psycho murderer slut, instead of you, the holier than thou superhero."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?" Faith sighed. "Anyway, it's her choice, not ours. I make her feel safe and loved and I'll take care of her."

Faith suddenly felt that she'd said too much. She got up.

"And when we get back? What are you gonna do then?" Buffy asked.

Faith thought for a moment.

"Whatever's best for her," she said and left, trying not to think about that fact that the best for Samantha might be for her to give her away.

Buffy stared after her, suddenly realizing that there was more to Faith than she'd thought. She looked at the sleeping Samantha, wondering just what she saw in Faith.

When Samantha woke up, she yawned and rubbed her eyes. But then she remembered that Faith would teach her how to fight and she was immediately wide awake.

"Will you teach me how to fight now?" she asked Faith.

Faith smiled.

"Sure."

Samantha beamed and got up.

"Where are we gonna practice?" she asked.

"Over there," Faith said and pointed a clear spot about ten meters away.

"Okay," Samantha said and ran there.

Faith looked at Buffy.

"Wanna go make sure I don't mess up?"

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"No."

Faith sighed and followed Samantha.

"Okay, sweetie, stretch a bit first, you've just woken up."

"How?" Samantha asked.

"I'll show you."

"Okay," Faith said when she thought that Samantha was ready. "Now, in order to fight, you need to stay alive. Right?"

Samantha nodded, excited.

"Uh-huh."

"And how do you stay alive? By not getting into a fight you can't win. Which means that if you see a demon, you hide. Or, if you can't hide, you run. And that doesn't go just for you, it goes for me and Buffy as well."

"But you're Slayers," Samantha said, confused.

Faith smiled.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean that we can take a hundred demons at a time. We need to be careful as well."

"Oh."

"Anyway, if you can't run away right away, there are a few things you can do. Now, I'll first show you what to do and then I'll pretend I'm a big bad demon and you'll have to get past me to get away. And remember, when you're attacked, don't be afraid to hurt your opponent."

Samantha's eyes went wide.

"I have to hurt you?"

Faith smiled.

"No, no, don't worry. These demons are slower than most of those from Earth, but they're strong, which means you can get away. And besides, I'm fast enough to block your punches and kicks, if I think they might hurt me, so don't be afraid to use all your strength. That way I can tell you how you're doing. Okay?"

Samantha nodded, excited.

"Okay. We'll start with some simple stuff and then we'll practice. We'll start slow. Ready?"

Samantha nodded again, smiling.

Buffy watched them from their camp place. She had no idea what Faith was telling Samantha and it worried her a bit. She decided to ask Samantha about it when Faith went hunting. When Faith demonstrated on Samantha what to do, Buffy frowned, but she relaxed when she saw that Samantha obviously wasn't hurt. As the lesson progressed, Buffy realized that Faith was teaching Samantha through play. It was interesting to see Faith play, she looked so innocent and carefree. It made Buffy wonder how Faith might have turned out under different circumstances.

A couple of days later, they finally reached their destination. They'd passed quite a few Roothrack villages on the way and in the last one they got a guide, who led them deep into the nearby forest. It was late in the afternoon, and Samantha was tired from the long trip, so Buffy was carrying her.

When they got to a huge gnarly tree, their told motioned them to stop. She approached the tree and disappeared among the roots.

"Are we there yet?" Samantha asked.

"Yes," Buffy said and put her down.

Faith gave Buffy her bag back.

"Let's hope this shaman dude knows how we can get back," she said.

"He's just the middle man. He'll show us where to find some other demons."

"Great, more demons."

The aide soon returned with a surprisingly young-looking demon. They approached them, and Buffy gave the shaman the writings the lead elder of the first village had given them. The shaman read the first paper. When he was done, he looked at the guide and apparently told her to leave. Then he looked at Buffy and motioned her to follow him in.

Buffy, Faith and Samantha followed him, Samantha sticking close to Faith, holding her hand, a bit nervous because of the dark forest around them.

When they got inside, they saw that the tree was hollow inside. They saw stairs, which meant that the dwelling had at least one more floor. The shaman motioned them to sit, so they did. Then the shaman started to read the rest of the writings, as well as the drawings.

Samantha leaned her head on Faith, who put her arm around her.

When the shaman was done with studying the papers, he went upstairs and was gone a while. When he returned, he carried three heavy books. He sat down again and studied the books for a while, before motioning Buffy to come closer.

Buffy watched carefully what he was showing her and she confirmed that they were from another dimension. Then the shaman showed her where they would have to go to find the demons who could send them home.

"Crap," Buffy said when she saw the distance.

"What is it?" Faith asked.

"We have to go to the other side of this word."

"Why?"

"Because that's where those demons live."

"Oh."

"Is that far?" Samantha asked.

Faith looked at her.

"Very far."

"Oh."

The shaman then let Buffy know that he would copy the map. He also let her know that they can stay for the night. Then he went to prepare some food.

"Sleepy?" Faith asked Samantha when she yawned.

Samantha nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Don't worry, you'll be able to go to sleep soon."

Buffy joined them.

"Looks like we'll be here for a while," she said.

"Yeah."

Because she was now officially Sammy's mom and because Buffy now knew about it, Faith didn't hide her affection for Sammy anymore. She didn't flaunt it around, but she didn't hide it either. It made her feel a bit awkward at first, but then she got used to it. And, much to her surprise, she was proud to be Sammy's mom.

Buffy, on the other hand, felt jealous. She couldn't understand why Sammy picked Faith to be her mom, after all, Faith was anything but mother material. Or so she'd thought. She'd observed Faith and Sammy several times when they thought they were alone, and she could see it in Faith's eyes that Faith really did care about her. She didn't know what kind of mother Faith would make in the long term, but in the short term, she seemed like a great mom and she could see that Sammy adored her. The real reason why she was jealous of Faith, she realized one day, was because she cared about Sammy as well and she wanted to be her mom instead of Faith.

Then one day Faith gave Sammy a doll she'd made herself.

Sammy's eyes went wide.

"Wow," she said as she took it.

"Like it?" Faith asked with a smile.

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh," she said, excited. "It's for me?"

"Yes, I made it just for you."

"Thank you, Mommy," Sammy said and hugged her.

Faith hugged her back.

"You're welcome, sweetie."

Buffy quietly watched them, feeling jealous. But she kept quiet, she didn't want to spoil the moment.

"What's her name?" Sammy asked when she stopped hugging Faith.

"Whatever you want to call her."

Sammy looked at the doll and frowned.

"Miss Blackie!" she then said and looked at Faith. "Can she be Miss Blackie?"

"Sure," Faith said with a smile.

"Because she's so dark."

"Okay."

"What's wrong?" Faith asked Buffy after lunch, while Sammy was taking a nap.

"Nothing," Buffy lied.

"You've been strangely quiet and you look depressed."

"What do you care?" Buffy snapped. "It's not like we're friends."

Faith sighed.

"Sammy might notice."

Buffy glanced at Sammy and sighed as well. She didn't want to tell Faith that she was jealous, but she didn't want to worry Sammy either.

"It's nothing," she said and looked away.

"Okay."

"Fine! Okay. I'm jealous," Buffy snapped and immediately regretted it.

Faith frowned.

"Of what?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Of you."

Faith's frown deepened.

"Me? What for?"

Buffy glanced at Sammy, hesitating.

"Because of her."

Faith glanced at Sammy, surprised.

"Because of Sammy?"

"Yes," Buffy said and looked away.

"Why?" Faith thought for a moment and then guessed the answer. "Because she chose me to be her mom and not you."

"Yes," Buffy said quietly.

"Oh man," Faith said and chuckled.

"Oh sure, laugh," Buffy said, glaring at her angrily.

Faith stopped chuckling.

"Sorry, I just realized how ironic it is."

"Right," Buffy grumbled.

Faith sighed and thought for a few moments. She felt threatened for a moment, but then she realized that she had no reason to, Sammy loved her and Buffy couldn't change that. But apparently Buffy also loved Sammy. She knew that Sammy was fond of Buffy too, but they weren't as close as she and Sammy were. But no matter how much she and Buffy hated one another, or used to, she didn't want to prevent Buffy from becoming Sammy's other mom, because she knew how she'd feel if Buffy had prevented her from becoming Sammy's mom. And she knew it would be good for Sammy if Buffy was also her mom.

"You want to be her mom?" she asked Buffy.

Buffy looked at her, startled.

"What?"

"Do you want to be her mom?"

Buffy frowned.

"You're her mom."

"No reason why she can't have two."

"Oh." Buffy stared at Faith for a moment, wondering what she was up to. "Yes," she admitted.

"There's nothing stopping you."

Buffy frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Faith sighed.

"I know Sammy's very fond of you and she looks up to you as well. But you're always so distant, you never let her know that you care."

Buffy stared at Faith, surprised. The last thing she expected was advice on how to become Sammy's mom.

"You're not worried?"

Faith smiled, trying to hide how nervous she really was.

"Of what? Sammy loves me, nothing's gonna change that. And I think it would be good for her if we were both her moms."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments and then lay back to think about what Faith had said.

During the next couple of months, Buffy followed Faith's advice. She was a bit nervous about it at first, not sure how Faith would react, but when Faith quietly encouraged her and didn't freak out, she relaxed. She also started to see Faith in a whole new light. Before, Faith was an irresponsible girl, a murderer, but becoming Sammy's mom obviously straightened her out. She was glad for both of them that they'd found one another, and she was also glad that she could be a part of their family. She was still unsure of her own feelings for Faith, but she loved Sammy. She helped Faith with Sammy's training and she also suggested they try to teach Sammy other school stuff beside reading, writing and the simple math. Faith, in spite of not being a great fan of school, immediately agreed, so they started telling Sammy about Earth.

One day, while Buffy was fishing and Faith was washing the clothes, Sammy was sitting near Faith, throwing pebbles into the river. When Faith looked at her, she noticed that something was on her mind. She quickly finished washing and then sat beside her.

"Everything okay?" she asked her.

Sammy leaned on her and nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Is there anything you want to talk to me about?"

Sammy hesitated for a few moments.

"Can people have two mommies instead of a mommy and a daddy?"

Faith smiled.

"Sure. They can even have two dads."

Sammy looked up at her.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Sammy hesitated for a moment.

"Can I have two mommies?"

Faith's smile widened.

"Yes."

Samantha hesitated again.

"Can Buffy be my mommy too?"

"Sure," Faith said. "I know she loves you too."

Sammy smiled.

"Really?"

"You bet. Why don't you go ask her."

"Okay."

Sammy got up and ran to Buffy.

"Not too close to the water!" Faith called after her as she got up, ready to help her if she fell into the river.

Buffy, who had heard Faith's call, turned and saw Sammy running toward her.

"Everything okay?" she asked Sammy when the girl came to her.

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh." She hesitated for a moment. "Will you be my mommy too?" she then asked, nervous.

Buffy blinked, surprised.

"Really?"

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Buffy glanced at Faith, who gave her a thumbs-up. She smiled.

"Of course I will."

Sammy squealed, excited, and hugged her.

Buffy hugged her back.

From afar, Faith quietly watched them, smiling. Before she'd become Sammy's mom, she would've been jealous and afraid, but now she was happy, because Sammy now had two moms and if something happened to one, the other would take care of Sammy. Plus, she was happy for Buffy, because she knew how much Buffy cared about Sammy.

"I'll go tell Mommy," Sammy said when she and Buffy stopped hugging.

"Okay," Buffy said with a smile, and Sammy ran off. "Not too close to the water!" she called after her.

"She said she'll be my mommy too," Sammy told Faith, excited.

Faith smiled.

"I know." She thought for a moment. "You should call her Mama."

Sammy frowned.

"Why?"

"It would be a bit confusing if you called us both Mommy."

"Oh. Okay." Sammy ran back to Buffy. "Mommy said I should call you Mama," she told her.

"Okay," Buffy said with a smile.

"She said it would be confusing if I called you both Mommy."

Buffy nodded.

"Yes." She thought for a moment. "Want to help me fish?"

Sammy's eye lit up.

"Can I?" she asked, excited.

"Sure."

Sammy smiled.

"What do I do?"

"Just hold this pole. And if you feel that something is tugging at it, call me."

"Okay."

Sammy sat down, and Buffy gave her the pole.

"Got it?"

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay. I'll just go over to Faith."

"Okay," Sammy said, already concentrated on fishing.

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then caressed her. Then she got up and went to Faith.

"You're letting her fish?" Faith asked when Buffy came to her.

"Yes," Buffy said. "It's no big deal. Plus, if she falls in, she's upstream from you, so you can catch her."

Faith glanced at Sammy.

"I guess."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Thanks."

Faith thought for a moment.

"You don't need to thank me, Sammy made her own choice."

"I know, but you did give me a couple of pointers."

"Oh."

Buffy sat down, thinking.

"I'm kinda glad we got stuck here," she said after a while.

Faith looked at her.

"Why?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Well, I got to know you better and we're not enemies anymore. Plus, there's Sammy."

Faith sighed.

"Yeah. I guess." She hesitated for a moment. "I got to know you better too."

Buffy smiled a little.

"I know."

Faith hesitated again.

"I'm sorry."

Buffy sighed.

"I know." She hesitated for a moment. "And I'm slowly starting to understand why you reacted the way you did. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me."

Faith raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Looks like we're both sorry."

"Yes." Buffy hesitated for a moment. "How about we leave the past behind?"

Faith sighed and nodded.

"Okay."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay." She thought for a moment. "Need…"

"Mama! Mama!" Sammy called, excited. "I caught something! I caught something!"

Buffy got up and quickly went to her. When she got closer, she saw that something was indeed tugging at the pole.

"Well done, sweetie," Buffy said and took the pole. "Okay, move back."

Sammy got out of the way, and Buffy yanked the pole strongly, making the fish fly out of the water. When it hit the ground, she hit it with the pole.

"There," Buffy said. "Want to fish some more?"

Sammy nodded excitedly.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay. Sit." Sammy sat and Buffy gave her the pole again. "And when we have enough fish, you can help me roast them."

Sammy's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

Buffy smiled and ruffled her hair.

"Sure."

"Okay."

During the next couple of months, Buffy often thought about Faith, and she caught herself stealing glances at her. With nothing to distract her and no other serious obligations, plus lots of time with Faith, she could think more deeply about Faith. She'd seen the worst of Faith and now she was seeing the best of her. And she liked it. She didn't consider herself gay, hell the thought had never even occurred to her until now, but there was something about Faith that attracted her to her. But she wasn't sure if it was Slayer related or emotions related. Still, she liked being around Faith. And Sammy, of course. It was almost as if she had a family of her own. Sure, Faith and her weren't together, but the feeling was there nonetheless.

Faith, of course, noticed that Buffy had something on her mind. She didn't say anything at first, but she finally got a bit worried.

"Wanna talk about it?" she asked her one evening, after Sammy had fallen asleep.

Buffy looked at her, startled.

"Huh?"

"You've been thinking a lot lately. Wanna talk about it?"

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, thinking about how much Faith had opened since they got here. She sighed and shrugged.

"It's nothing."

"You sure? It seems like heavy thoughts."

Buffy nodded, blushing a bit.

"Yeah." She hesitated for a moment. "There's just something I need clear up in my head, that's all. I mean, they're kinda heavy thoughts, but not bad thoughts." She shrugged. "Just a bit confusing, I guess."

"Oh. Well, if you change your mind."

Buffy smiled.

"I'll talk to you."

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments.

"You're a wonderful person, Faith," she then said, and immediately blushed.

Faith raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Eh…" she said, not sure what to say, since that was the best compliment, and about the only one worth remembering, that anyone had ever given to her.

"Just thought I'd let you know," Buffy said, nervous, her blush deepening. "I mean, with all the stuff going on back in Sunnydale, and before I got to know you better, I sometimes didn't think you… I mean… Eh…"

"I get it," Faith interrupted her.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to insult you while giving you a compliment."

Faith smiled.

"Don't worry." She hesitated for a moment. "Thanks."

Buffy smiled.

"You're welcome."

They stared at one another for a few moments and then looked at the fire, each deep in her own thoughts.

Two months later, after a fight with Sleissiks, Buffy noticed that Faith was feeling a bit on the edge. She waited until Sammy fell asleep and then asked her about it.

Faith grinned.

"You bet I'm on the edge," she said. "I'm horny as hell and the food's not been that great either lately."

"Oh," Buffy said, blushing a bit. She hesitated for a moment. "Don't you, you know…"

Faith grinned again when Buffy trailed off, her blush deepening.

"You bet I do, but my own hands are not very good replacements for somebody else's body part up my pussy. Man, I wouldn't mind a vibrator right now, or even a dildo."

Buffy's blush deepened yet again.

"Me neither," she admitted. She hesitated for a moment. "Though the real thing is better."

"Real thing?"

"Body part."

"Oh. Right." Faith nodded. "Yeah, I could use a couple of hours of sex. Of course, there's not a man that can handle a couple of hours. At least not with me."

"How would you know?"

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"I've had enough to know." She looked at the fire thoughtfully. "The women are much better," she said, remembering. She shuddered. "Not a good idea," she muttered when she realized she was just getting more horny.

"You've, eh, slept with women?" Buffy asked, blushing again.

Faith looked at her and grinned.

"Yeah."

Buffy's blush deepened. She hesitated for a moment.

"What was it like?"

Faith sighed.

"I kinda don't want to think about it right now, I'm way too horny already," she said and winked at Buffy, whose blush deepened yet again. She grinned. "What, you interested?"

Buffy felt like all the blood in her body suddenly went to her head. She swallowed hard, furiously thinking what to say.

"Maybe," she said and pouted, as though joking.

Faith chuckled.

"Feeling brave, ha? Well, you're lucky that Sammy's here."

Buffy frowned.

"Why?" she asked, confused.

"Because we can't have sex."

"So?" Buffy asked, still confused.

"I would make you scream like you've never screamed before," Faith explained, "but I don't want to scare Sammy." She sighed as Buffy blushed again. "I guess it's just my hands and me."

Buffy looked at the fire, trying to calm down. She was excited, because she now had a question to an important question, Faith liked women as well. Which meant that there was a possibility… She wasn't quite sure what possibility. Of them having a relationship beyond friendship? She smiled as she realized she liked the idea.

Faith quietly observed Buffy, wondering what she was thinking about. She was surprised when Buffy smiled at a thought. She wondered what made her smile. She sighed and looked at the fire, thinking. She'd felt drawn to Buffy from the moment she'd seen her. First, she'd thought that it was just sexual, especially since she'd just killed a vamp. Then, she'd thought it was because Buffy made her feel safe, after she'd killed Kakistos. Then, she'd thought it was a Slayer thing. And then there was hate. Of course, the sex thing was always there. Now, though, when it was just her and Buffy, and Sammy, of course, she still wanted to get into Buffy's panties, but now she wasn't afraid anymore and she finally felt like she mattered. And she was loved. She smiled at the thought, she was a mother. She had thought she wasn't mother material, but the past couple of months had convinced her that she could be a good mom. Plus, her relationship with Buffy was improving. Of course, she didn't have to compete with Buffy's friends anymore. They weren't exactly friends yet, but they were getting there. And what was more, it seemed as though Buffy finally respected her. She'd missed that back on Earth. Here, she wasn't just the other Slayer, she was Buffy's equal. And she was a mom. A smile slowly spread across her face. In spite of all that had happened to her on Earth, and in spite of all the bad things she'd done, she actually felt proud of herself a little.

Ten years later, they finally arrived to their destination.

"This is just an empty cave with a pool," Buffy said, looking around. "There are no writings anywhere or anything."

"But if feels weird," Faith said, glancing at Sammy to make sure she was near and ready.

Buffy concentrated for a moment.

"You're right."

"So what do we do?"

Buffy shrugged.

"Yell?"

"Might as well…"

She trailed off when a strong wind blew through the cave.

"Something's going on," Buffy said, looking around.

"Yeah."

Suddenly a deep voice bellowed something in a strange language, not Roothrack.

"Eh, what?" Buffy said.

The wind slowed for a few moments and chilled.

"You do not belong here," the deep voice said.

"Eh, I know. A Roothrack shaman said we should come here."

There was silence.

"Now what?" Faith said, worried.

"Hello?" Buffy asked.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Sammy asked.

Buffy was about to answer, when the pool started to swirl. Mist came out and formed an oval shape.

"A portal," Faith said.

"Go," the deep voice said.

Faith and Buffy looked at one another.

"What do you think?" Buffy asked.

Faith shrugged.

"We go?"

Buffy looked at Sammy.

"Sammy?"

Sammy hesitated for a few moments, nervous.

"Let's go."

"Okay."

The Slayers took Sammy's hand, and they slowly approached the portal.

"On three," Faith said. "One. Two. Three."

They jumped through the portal, and Sammy screamed, startled as they were pulled through.

"I hate portals," Buffy said when they got through.

They looked at it and saw it slowly closing.

"Are we home?" Sammy asked.

The Slayers looked around.

"Looks familiar enough," Buffy said.

Faith looked at the sun.

"The sun is yellow."

Buffy looked at it.

"Yes."

"What's that?" Sammy asked and pointed at a group of animals in the distance.

"Giraffes!" Buffy said, excited. Then she frowned. "Oh no."

"What?" Faith asked.

"We're in Africa."

"So? At least we're on Earth."

"Yes, but how are we gonna get home?"

"Let's get to someplace civilized, then we'll worry about that."

Buffy sighed.

"Okay."

"Which way?" Sammy asked.

The Slayers looked around.

"That way," they said in unison and each pointed at a direction.

Sammy smiled.

"So we're going that way?" she asked and pointed at a direction in between theirs.

"Looks like it," Faith said. "Let's go."

At around noon, they rested for a several hours before moving on again.

A couple of hours later, Buffy and Faith suddenly tensed.

"We're being hunted," Buffy said.

"Yes," Faith agreed.

"By what?" Sammy asked, not looking around.

"Lions," Buffy said after a few moments. "Lionesses, actually."

"Five of them," Faith said. "No, six. They're surrounding us."

"Are they dangerous?" Sammy asked.

"Well, they're predators, so yes," Buffy said. She glanced at Sammy. "But you shouldn't have a problem taking them down."

Sammy smiled.

"Anything I should watch out for?"

"Claws and jaws," Faith said. "And their weight."

"And speed," Buffy said. "They're faster than the demons we've met."

"Okay," Sammy said and prepared her dagger.

Buffy looked at Faith.

"Let's force their hand."

"Huh?" Faith said and looked at her.

"You know, act before they do."

"Oh. You got a plan?"

"Yes. We run."

"Wow, why didn't I think of that," Faith said sarcastically.

Buffy smiled at her.

"Because I'm the brain and you're the… Oh, wait, I'm the brawn too."

Faith mock glared at her.

"You wish, blondie."

"Eh, Mommy, Mama, we're being hunted, remember," Sammy reminded them with a smile.

Buffy and Faith smiled at her sheepishly.

"You're right."

"I'm serious, Faith," Buffy said. "We run and get rid of the lionesses in front of us. By the time we're done, the others should catch up with us and we take them out. Simple."

"You know what I've learned about simple plans?" Faith said. "They're never that simple."

Sammy rolled her eyes.

"Are you two done bickering?"

Buffy and Faith smiled at her sheepishly again.

"I hope so. Okay, Buffy, it's your plan."

"Okay," Buffy said. "Run!"

Buffy started to run, and Faith and Sammy followed her.

The lionesses immediately attacked.

Buffy and Faith each moved sideways to attack the lionesses in front of them. Two of the lionesses behind them went after them, while the remaining two concentrated on Sammy.

When Faith reached the first lioness, she stepped aside and stabbed it in the heart from the side, then she did a spin kick and kicked the other lioness in the neck, breaking it.

Then she looked at Sammy, and was relieved when she saw Sammy step aside and kill the lioness. But then the second lioness reached Sammy, and Sammy barely avoided her, but she did manage to stab her in the neck.

When Buffy reached the first lioness, she ducked and stabbed it from below. Then she stepped aside, turned, and let herself fall backwards just as the second lioness jumped at her. Buffy grabbed her with her legs and twisted her body, breaking the lioness' neck. Then she quickly rolled aside.

"Show off!" Faith called when Buffy got up.

Buffy looked at her, smiling sheepishly, and stuck out her tongue.

They both headed toward Sammy.

"Great job, sweetie," Faith said when they reached her.

"You're wounded," Buffy noticed.

Sammy and Faith looked at Sammy's arm.

"That one got me," Sammy said and pointed at the lioness she'd stabbed in the neck. "She's still alive."

The Slayers looked at the lioness.

"She's dying," Buffy said. "Go put her out of her misery and then we'll take care of your wound."

Sammy looked at her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. She's gonna die of her wounds or she's gonna get killed. Go, you can do it."

"Okay," Sammy said and carefully approached the wounded lioness.

The Slayers watched their daughter go kill the lioness. They knew she could do it, but they were still a bit worried. They held their daggers, ready to throw them at the lioness.

But Sammy quickly killed the lioness and then returned to her parents, who put their daggers away.

"Good job," Buffy said with a smile.

Sammy smiled back.

"Thanks."

"Let's take care of your wound now," Faith said.

"Look," Sammy said and pointed behind them.

The Slayers turned.

"Shit," Faith said when she saw a jeep with tourists approach them.

"What is it?"

"They got cameras."

"Oh."

Buffy thought for a moment and then waved at them.

"They got first aid kit," she explained.

Faith looked around. She grabbed some grass and put it over Sammy's wound.

"Put the dagger away and hold this," she said. "So you won't look like somebody just tried to slaughter you," she explained.

"Okay," Sammy said and held up the grass.

"You feel like running?" Buffy asked her.

"Sure."

"Then let's go."

"Holy shit! Did you see that, John!" one of the tourists with cameras said, excited, when the two strange women and a girl killed six lionesses. "Did you see what the blonde did? With her legs!"

"Yeah, Reg. Man, that was something."

"Yeah, against six lionesses."

"And the girl too," Reg's wife said.

"I wonder what they're doing here," John's said.

"Hey, look," Reg said.

"Where is she going?" Reg's wife asked when the girl moved away from the women.

"I don't know."

"She's hunting something," John said.

"A lioness!" Reg said. "Looks like one of them survived."

"But why is she hunting it?" his wife asked. "Why not the women?"

"Don't know, honey."

They quietly watched the girl kill the lioness.

"Wow," John said.

"Let's go to them," his wife said.

"Okay. Here, hold the camera."

"Let me talk," Buffy said when they reached the jeep.

"Sure," Faith said.

"And smile."

"Okay."

"Hi!" Buffy said cheerily when the jeep stopped.

"Hello," John's wife said. "I'm Patricia."

"Hi, I'm Angela."

"Patricia, she's wounded," Reg's wife said and pointed at Sammy.

"It's just a scratch," Sammy said.

"Reg, give me the first aid kit."

"Here, honey," Reg said and gave her the kit.

"We saw you kill those lionesses," John said. "Man, that was awesome."

Buffy smiled.

"Thanks."

"What are you three doing here?" Patricia asked.

"Oh, we were with some scientists who were researching elephants," Buffy lied. "We followed them around, set up markers and so on, but we got side tracked by some poachers. We crossed the border, got into some fighting and lost all our equipment. We've been on foot for a week."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"What happened to your clothes?"

"They got burned when the jeep exploded. We had to improvise."

"Oh."

"That's more than just a scratch," Reg's wife said when Sammy dropped the grass.

Sammy looked at the wound and shrugged.

"You could use some stitches," Faith said.

"I don't know how to do that," Reg's wife said.

"I do," Faith said.

"Oh. Here."

Faith took the first aid kit and opened it.

"Hold it," she told Sammy.

"Anyone got a phone?" Buffy asked. "I need to call the university and let them know we're okay."

"Sure," John said. He fished his phone from his pocket. "Here."

"Thanks."

Buffy started dialing, but then she frowned.

"What's the code for the States?"

"Here, let me," John said.

John quickly typed a few numbers and then gave the phone back to Buffy.

"Thanks," Buffy said.

She entered the rest of the number and walked out of the tourists' hearing range.

After what seemed like an eternity, Joyce answered.

"Hello?" Joyce said sleepily.

"Mom!" Buffy said, relieved.

There was a brief pause.

"Buffy?"

"Yes," Buffy said and smiled.

"Where are you?"

"In Africa."

There was another brief pause.

"Africa? What are you doing there?"

"Well, long story short, I went after Faith to LA, we saved a girl and ended up in some weird dimension. But now we finally managed to get back to Earth. Unfortunately, we ended up in Africa."

"Are you alright?"

"We're fine. Can you call Willow? We'll need her help to get back home."

"Sure."

"Thanks. I'll call in a couple of hours, when I find a landline."

"Okay, honey."

"Thanks."

There was a brief pause.

"Buffy?"

"Yes, Mom?"

"I love you."

Buffy smiled again.

"I love you too, Mom. Bye."

"Bye."

Buffy severed the connection and deleted the number from the phone's memory. Then she went back to the jeep.

"Why did you go kill that last lioness?" Patricia asked Sammy after Buffy had left to make a call.

"To put it out of its misery."

Patricia frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"It was gonna die anyway."

"Oh." She looked at Faith. "And you let her?"

Faith glanced at her.

"It was her kill."

"Oh," Patricia said, confused.

"I've never seen anyone take on two lions at a time," John said. "Especially not with their bare hands."

"We had daggers," Faith said.

"Oh."

"Where did you learn how to hunt like that?" Reg asked.

Faith thought for a moment.

"Angela and I spent most our lives in Africa," she lied, "and… Barbie here has been playing with wild animals since she was a baby."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Her parents are scientists and they take her with them wherever they go."

"Oh."

"Doesn't that hurt?" John's wife asked Sammy when Sammy didn't even flinch when Faith started sewing up the wound.

"It does," Sammy said.

"You don't look like you're in pain."

"I can handle it."

"Oh."

Then Buffy returned.

"Thanks," she said and gave the phone back to John.

"And?" John asked.

"They moved, but they're coming back in a couple of weeks."

"Let me guess," Faith said, "they want us to take care of Barbie till then."

Buffy was confused for a moment, but then she realized that Faith was talking about Sammy.

"Yes."

"Then we're in no hurry."

"No." Buffy looked at John. "Can you take us to wherever you're going?"

"Sure, no problem," John said.

"Thanks."

While Buffy, Faith and Sammy were on their way, Willow and Tara arrived, using the ghost roads.

"Okay, where are they?" Willow asked and looked around.

"Over there, I think," Tara said and pointed at the jeep.

Willow looked through her binoculars.

"Yes! It's her." She frowned. "She looks kinda old."

"Really?"

"Yes. And there's Faith and the girl."

She gave the binoculars to Tara.

"The girl is important to them," Tara said after she observed them for a few moments.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"I wonder where they're going."

"There's a big village near here," Tara said and gave the binoculars back to Willow. "I saw it on the map."

"Let's go there and wait for them."

"Okay."

Two hours after they'd met the tourists, they arrived to a village. The tourists took them to the local hotel and got them something to eat and drink.

While they were eating, Willow and Tara found them, but they waited for them to finish. When they did, Willow made herself visible to Buffy. When Buffy noticed her, she waved at her and left.

After Willow had disappeared, Buffy thought she'd been hallucinating.

"I think I saw Willow," she then said.

"Where?"

"Come."

Buffy got up and went after Willow. Faith and Sammy followed her.

They quickly found Willow and Tara, and followed them until they were alone. Then Willow threw some powder on them and chanted something in Latin.

"Okay, we're invisible now," she then told Buffy.

"Willow!" Buffy said, excited, and hugged her best friend.

Willow hugged her back, smiling.

"Buffy!"

"God, I missed you so much."

"Me too." They stopped hugging. "You look kinda old." She glanced at Faith. "You too."

"Well, we have been away for ten years."

Willow frowned.

"What do you mean? You've only been gone for two years."

Now Buffy frowned.

"No, we… Oh."

"What?"

"I think time was running faster in that dimension."

"Oh." Willow looked at Faith again. "Hi."

"Hey, Red," Faith said.

Willow then looked at the girl.

"And who are you?"

"Samantha," Sammy said.

Willow smiled.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Willow and this is Tara, my girlfriend."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Go, Red," Faith said with a smile.

Willow blushed a bit.

"Yes."

"Faith and I are also together," Buffy said and took Faith's hand into her own.

"Really?" Willow said, surprised.

"Yes. We made up."

"Oh." Willow thought for a moment. "Come, let's go home."

"Wait! Some tourists made a recording of us."

"So?"

"So we killed six lionesses with daggers. I really don't want to end up on TV."

"Oh."

"And I used a cell phone. Can you manipulate the phone records?"

"Sure. I'll do that at home. Let's go take care of those cameras."

"Okay." Buffy looked at Faith and Sammy. "We'll be right back."

"Okay," Sammy said.

Buffy and Willow walked away.

"So, you and Faith made up?" Willow asked when they were out of hearing range.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes."

"And the girl?"

"We rescued her. I went after Faith after she ran away when the Council attacked Angel's place, but it turned out that she wanted to turn herself in."

"Really?" Willow said, surprised.

"Yes. Apparently Angel talked some sense into her."

"Oh."

"Anyway, we came across some morons trying to sacrifice Sammy. I think they were trying to open up a portal to some dimension, but then we disrupted their ceremony and the portal opened to the wrong dimension. Luckily for them we were pulled through."

"How did you get back?"

"We tracked down some demons and they opened up a portal for us."

"Just like that?"

"They said we didn't belong in that world."

"Oh."

"How are Mom and Dawn?"

Willow smiled sadly.

"They miss you."

Buffy sighed.

"I miss them too. I can't wait to get home." She frowned. "How did you get here, anyway?"

"Ghost roads."

"Oh, right. Oh! Can you also delete Faith's police record? And forge some papers for Sammy?"

"Sure, no problem."

"Thanks." Buffy thought for a moment. "So, you're gay now?"

Willow blushed a little.

"Yes."

"How did you two meet?"

"In college. She looked me up when the Gentlemen came."

"Oh."

They reached the tourists.

"Which ones?" Willow asked.

"Those two had cameras," Buffy said and pointed at John and Reg.

"Want me to steal the tapes or wipe them?"

"Wipe them. If you steal them, they might suspect us, but if we delete them, they'll be confused."

"Okay."

They went closer to John and Reg and Willow chanted something in Latin.

"There," she said when she was done.

"That was fast."

Willow smiled.

"I've been practicing. Come, let's go home now."

"So, I was right," Faith said when Buffy and Willow were gone, "you and Red are an item."

Tara blushed.

"Y-Yes."

"You're a witch too, right?"

"Yes."

Faith nodded. She hesitated for a moment.

"Sorry I was mean to you."

Tara blinked, confused, but then she remembered.

"Oh." She smiled a little. "It's okay."

Faith smiled back.

"Thanks."

Tara looked at Samantha.

"What happened to your arm?"

"A lioness scratched me."

"You were attacked?" Tara asked and glanced at Faith.

"Yes," Sammy said, nodding.

"She killed two," Faith said proudly.

"Really?" Tara said, surprised.

"But not on the first strike," Sammy said.

"One of mine also didn't die right away," Faith said. "And besides, yours would've died in a couple of minutes tops." She thought for a few moments. "Is Red still all nuts about learning?"

Tara smiled.

"Yes."

"You think she could help Sammy? Buffy and I did our best, but we're not really that good with teaching."

"Sure," Tara said.

"Cool."

"What about you?"

"Me?"

"You need to finish school too, right?"

"Oh. Yeah. But I don't think Red is gonna be thrilled about helping me."

"She might, if you stop calling her Red."

Faith grinned.

"It's annoying her?"

Tara smiled.

"I don't know, but I think you used to call her that when you were…"

"Bad?" Faith asked when Tara trailed off.

Tara blushed.

"Yes."

"Oh." Faith thought about it. "Okay."

"And if she doesn't want to, I could," Tara offered.

"You?" Faith said, surprised.

"Yes."

Faith smiled.

"Thanks."

Tara smiled back.

Sammy yawned.

"Sleepy?" Faith asked.

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Don't worry, you'll be able to go to sleep soon," Faith said and put her arm around her.

Sammy leaned her head on Faith's shoulder.

"Mommy?" she said quietly.

"Yes, sweetie?" Faith said.

"I'm scared."

"Of what?"

Sammy shrugged.

"Everything. I mean, this world is so different from that one."

Faith smiled softly.

"Don't worry, everything will be okay. There'll be lots of people to show you around."

Sammy smiled a little.

"She's your daughter?" Tara asked, surprised.

Faith smiled.

"And Buffy's."

Tara smiled back.

"There's Willow and Buffy."

Faith let go of Sammy and they looked at Willow and Buffy.

"Everything okay?" Faith asked when they got closer.

"Yes," Buffy said. She looked at Willow. "Let's go home now."

"What's the time here?" Buffy asked when they arrived to Sunnydale and she saw it was night.

"About four in the morning," Willow said and looked at her watch. "Yes."

"Oh." Buffy looked around. "That's our house," she said, surprised.

"Yes. Hold on, I'll make us visible." Willow chanted something and threw some powder on them. "There," she said when she was done.

"Let's go in," Buffy said and hurried around the house to the front door.

Faith, Sammy, Willow and Tara followed her.

Since the door was locked, Buffy rang the bell. Then she waited impatiently.

A few moments later, Joyce opened the door.

"Buffy!" she said, relieved.

"Mom!" Buffy said and hugged her.

"Are you okay, honey?" Joyce asked when they stopped hugging.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes, Mom."

Joyce looked toward the stairs.

"Dawn!" she called. "Dawn!" Then she looked past Buffy. "Hello, Faith."

"Hi, Mrs S," Faith said.

Joyce then noticed Sammy.

"Hi," she said with a smile.

"Hi," Sammy said, a bit nervous.

"Come on in." She backed off and let everyone enter. "Dawn!" she called again.

Willow was the last to enter and she closed the door.

Then Dawn showed up at the top of the stairs.

"What is it, Mom?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Dawn!" Buffy said and smiled.

Dawn paused. Then her eyes went wide.

"Buffy!" she called and ran down the stairs.

"Careful, honey!" Joyce warned her.

When Dawn came down the stairs, she ran straight to Buffy and hugged her.

"Buffy! You're back!"

"Yes," Buffy said, hugging her back.

"Where've you been?" Dawn asked when she let go. Then she frowned when she saw how Buffy looked. "You look older." Then she noticed Faith and Sammy. "Oh, eh, hi, Faith."

"Hey, Dawn," Faith said and smiled.

Dawn looked at Sammy.

"Hi."

"Hi," Sammy said.

"You do look older," Joyce said. She looked at Faith. "You too, Faith."

"I know," Buffy said. "Apparently the time in that other dimension ran much faster than here. While only two years passed here, it was ten years for us."

"You were in another dimension?" Dawn asked.

"Yes."

"Oh."

"Anyway, Faith and I are together now."

"Really?" Dawn said, surprised.

"Yes. We made up and discovered that there could be much more between us than just friendship," Buffy said and smiled fondly at Faith.

"Oh."

Buffy put her arm around Sammy's shoulder.

"And this is Sammy, our daughter."

Dawn frowned.

"Your daughter?"

"Yes. We saved her from some people who wanted to sacrifice her and she got stuck in that dimension with us."

"Oh."

"What happened to your arm?" Joyce asked Sammy.

"A lioness scratched me," Sammy said.

Joyce frowned.

"A lioness?"

"Yes."

"Six lionesses attacked us and we killed them," Buffy said. "One of them scratched Sammy."

"Oh."

Sammy yawned again.

"We'll go now," Willow said.

Buffy looked at her.

"Okay. Come over… in the afternoon. We need some sleep, it's been a long day."

"Okay. We'll came at four."

Buffy smiled.

"Thanks, Willow."

Willow smiled back.

"No problem. I'll see you in the afternoon."

"Okay."

"Bye."

"Bye, Willow. Bye, Tara," Dawn said.

"Bye, Dawn," Tara said. "Mrs Summers."

Willow and Tara left.

"Are you girls hungry?" Joyce then asked.

"No, we've eaten," Buffy said. "We just need a shower and some sleep."

"Okay. Dawn, honey, get some clothes for Sammy, will you?"

"Okay," Dawn said and went upstairs.

Buffy looked at Sammy.

"Come, honey, I'll show you how to use the shower."

Buffy and Sammy went upstairs, and Joyce slowly went after them.

"Mrs S," Faith called.

Joyce stopped and turned.

"Yes?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Thanks."

Joyce frowned.

"What for?"

"For believing in me, even though I threatened you and your family." She hesitated for a moment. "I'm sorry about that."

Joyce smiled.

"It's okay, Faith. I'm glad you're okay now."

Faith smiled a little.

"Yeah, me too."

"Come, let's go upstairs."

While Buffy showed Sammy around the bathroom, Faith and Joyce waited by the door. Dawn soon joined them.

"I'll redress your wound when you're done," Buffy said when she was done.

"Okay," Sammy said.

"Call if you need any help."

"I will."

Buffy smiled and left, taking Sammy's bag with her.

"I got her something to wear," Dawn told her.

"I'll take it to her later," Buffy said.

"Okay."

Buffy looked at Faith.

"Come, let's go to our room."

They went to Buffy's room and dropped their bags a the foot of Buffy's bed. Buffy sat on her bed and bounced.

"God I missed my room," she said, looking around. "Aww, Mr Gordo," she said, picked up the stuffed pig and hugged it. "I missed you too."

Joyce smiled.

"I presume you two are going to share the room?" she asked.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes." She thought for a moment and then looked at Dawn. "Would you mind sharing your room with Sammy?" she asked.

Dawn thought about it.

"No. But we'll need another bed. Or a bunk bed."

"We'll get one," Joyce said.

Dawn smiled.

"I've always wanted a sister my age," she said, excited.

"She's your niece," Buffy said.

Dawn smiled.

"Cool! I'm an aunt!" She thought for a moment and then looked at Joyce. "And you're a grandma!"

Joyce smiled.

"Yes."

"Cool!"

"You think Angel still has my stuff?" Faith asked Buffy.

Buffy thought about it.

"Probably. You can wear my stuff."

Faith nodded.

"Sammy has her period in a couple of days."

"We'll show her how to use pantyliners tomorrow."

"So, what happened to you?" Joyce asked.

The Slayers looked at her.

"After I found out that Faith was at Angel's I went there," Buffy said. "I didn't believe her that she wanted to change. When we were attacked by the Council, Faith ran away and I followed her. I thought she wanted to run away, but she wanted to turn herself in. Then we came across some morons who wanted to sacrifice Sammy. We rescued her and got sucked into another dimension."

"Oh."

"How old is she?" Dawn asked.

"Fourteen."

Dawn smiled.

"Cool!"

"So she'd be… six years old?" Joyce asked. "If she'd stayed in this dimension."

"Yes," Buffy said. She looked at Dawn. "We tried to teach her as much as we could about this world, but she's gonna need all the help she can get."

"Don't worry, I'll show her everything," Dawn said, excited by getting to play the older sister.

Buffy smiled.

"Thanks."

"I talked to Tara about Willow tutoring Sammy," Faith said.

Buffy nodded.

"Okay."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Tara said she could tutor me."

Buffy smiled.

"You're going back to school?"

"I don't know. I was thinking about taking the GED."

"That's good."

"Yeah." She thought for a moment. "We'll need to think about whether we could get Sammy to go to high school or have her take the GED."

Buffy nodded.

"We'll see what Willow says."

"Okay."

Joyce smiled.

"Did you have any problems raising her?" she asked.

Buffy smiled back.

"Not really. She's a wonderful child."

"I'll take the rest of the week off."

"Okay." Buffy put away Mr Gordo and got up. "I'll go check up on Sammy," she said and left.

Dawn followed her.

"You sure I can stay here?" Faith asked Joyce when they were alone.

Joyce smiled.

"Yes. I can feel that you've changed."

Faith blushed a bit.

"Thanks."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"And? How does it feel to be a mom?"

Faith smiled widely.

"Great."

When Sammy was done with the shower, she dried herself and then called Buffy, who bandaged her wound. Then they went to Dawn's room.

"Okay, honey, put this on," Buffy said.

Sammy picked up the t-shirt and the panties.

"This is so soft," she said. "How did they get the picture here?" she asked and showed Buffy the t-shirt.

Buffy frowned.

"I'm not sure, honey. But it's nothing special."

"Oh."

She dropped the towel and looked at Buffy.

"The picture comes in front, right?"

"Yes," Buffy said. She looked at Joyce and Dawn, who had looked away when Sammy dropped her towel. "We're used to seeing one another naked," she explained.

"I guessed," Joyce said with a smile.

Then she left.

"How is this right?" Sammy asked Faith.

"See the little label inside? That's the backside," Faith explained.

"Oh." Sammy put the panties on. "This is nice," she said.

"And those are your slippers," Faith said and pointed at the slippers.

Sammy looked at them and put them one.

"They're soft."

"Yeah," Faith said with a smile.

"Come, let's take a shower," Buffy said.

"Come, let me dry your hair," Dawn told Sammy.

"How?" Sammy asked.

"With a blow-dryer."

"What's that?"

"You'll see."

"I cleaned up a bit," Joyce said when Buffy and Faith came to the shower.

"Thanks, Mom," Buffy said.

Joyce smiled and left.

They Slayers quickly stripped and got in the shower.

"God this feels nice," Buffy said as water cascaded down her body.

"Oh yeah," Faith said, staring at Buffy with a hungry look in her eyes.

Buffy noticed the strange tone in Faith's voice and she opened her eyes.

"Faith?"

Faith licked her lips.

"I want to fuck your brains out, Buffy," Faith said, staring at Buffy's body.

"Faith!" Buffy said, blushing.

Faith looked at her.

"I haven't had any sex in over ten years, Buffy. I'm so horny I'm gonna explode if I don't come," she said and started rubbing herself.

Buffy's blush deepened.

"We can't do it here."

"I need to cum, Buffy."

"Me too," Buffy admitted, "but I want our first time to be in a bed."

Faith thought about it.

"Yeah, me too," she agreed. Then she grinned. "But we can still jill one another off," she said and gently ran her fingers along Buffy's slit.

Buffy squirmed, blushing. She didn't take long to make up her mind.

"Okay," she said.

Faith smiled and stepped closer. She took Buffy's hand and guided it to her pussy. Then she started to rub Buffy's pussy.

"I love you, Buffy," she said.

Buffy smiled.

"I love you too, Faith," she said and started to rub Faith's pussy.

They frantically rubbed one another and kissed passionately and it didn't take them long to cum. Faith came first, Buffy a few moments after her.

"God, I needed that," Buffy said.

Faith grinned.

"I knew it."

Buffy blushed.

"Let's get cleaned up, we'll talk about our first time tomorrow."

Faith smiled.

"Okay." She looked at herself. "We definitely need to shave."

Buffy looked at herself.

"Yes," she agreed.

As Dawn dried Sammy's hair with a blow-dryer, Sammy looked curiously around the room.

"Is that a watch?" she asked when she saw the clock on the wall.

"It's a clock," Dawn said. "You wear a watch on your wrist."

"Oh. Mama has a watch."

"Mama?" Dawn asked, confused.

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Which one is Mama?"

"Buffy."

"And what do you call Faith?"

"Mommy."

"Oh."

"Are those books?" Sammy asked and pointed at the books.

"Yes."

"What are they about?"

"Lots of things. You can check them out."

"Really? Cool." Sammy looked up. "That's a light, right?"

"Yes."

"And it's, eh, powered by… by elec… elec… electricity!"

"Yes," Dawn confirmed.

Sammy looked around.

"Is that the switch?" she asked and pointed at the switch.

"Yes."

"Can I try to turn the light on and off?"

"Sure," Dawn said with a smile.

"Cool." Sammy thought for a moment. "Do you go to school?"

"Yes."

"What's it like?"

"Okay. We learn lots of new stuff."

"Do you have any school books?"

"Yes."

"Can I look at them?"

"Sure. I'll help you study, if you want."

Sammy smiled.

"Okay," she said, excited.

Dawn thought for a moment.

"What was it like in the other dimension?"

Sammy thought about it.

"Sort of like in Africa, only not so hot. And there were lots of demons."

"You had to fight demons?"

"Not all of them. Some were okay and we helped them fight other demons."

"Oh. What did you eat?"

"Mommy and Mama hunted animals, and sometimes we got food from the good demons."

"Where did you sleep?"

"Usually outside. Sometimes the good demons let us stay over."

"Oh."

"But I like it better here."

"Sleepy?" Dawn asked when Sammy yawned.

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh. It's been a long day and we only slept for a few hours in Africa."

"Oh."

"Everything okay, girls?" Joyce asked when she came to check up on them.

"Yes, Mom," Dawn said.

"Good. Hurry up, you have school in the morning," Joyce said with a smile and left.

"Dawn?" Sammy said after a few moments.

"Yes?"

"What do I call your, eh, mom?"

Dawn smiled.

"Grandma."

Sammy frowned.

"Grandma?"

"Yes. She's Buffy's mom and you're Buffy's daughter, which makes you Mom's granddaughter. And it makes you my niece."

"Niece?"

"Yes. I'm Buffy's sister, so I'm your aunt."

"Oh."

"But you can call me Dawn."

"Okay."

"Tonight, you'll be sleeping with Buffy and Faith and then you'll sleep with me."

"Why?" Sammy said, confused.

"Why what?" Dawn asked.

"Why do I have to sleep with you?"

Dawn frowned.

"We don't have another free room."

"I slept with Mommy and Mama."

"Oh." Dawn thought for a moment. "Buffy and I only slept with Mom and Dad when we were little. Usually when there was a storm. Otherwise we've always had our own rooms."

"Oh."

"You'll have to ask Buffy and Faith about it."

"Okay."

"Mmm, I feel like I was reborn," Buffy said when they were done.

"Yeah, me too," Faith agreed and put away the blow-dryer. "All that I'm missing is a toothbrush."

"I'll tell Mom."

"Okay."

Buffy yawned.

"Let's go to bed."

Faith grinned.

"Watch your language, Buffy, you're making me horny."

Buffy blushed and hit Faith on the arm.

"Get your mind out of the gutter."

"I like it there."

Buffy rolled her eyes and headed out of the bathroom.

Faith grinned again and quickly followed her.

They went to Dawn's room.

"Hey," Buffy said with a smile when she saw Dawn and Sammy sitting on Dawn's bed, talking.

"Hi," Sammy said.

"We're done. We just need to dress and then you can come to bed."

"Okay."

Buffy and Faith went to Buffy's room and quickly dressed. Then Faith went to get Sammy.

"Come, Sammy," she said when she got to Dawn's room.

Sammy quickly got up.

"Night, Dawn," she said.

"Night, Sammy," Dawn said.

Sammy followed Faith to Buffy's room.

"Come, honey," Buffy said.

Sammy took Miss Blackie from her bed and then joined her in bed. Faith followed her.

"Will I have to sleep with Dawn?" Sammy asked when they were all covered and the lights turned off.

"If you want," Faith said.

"Children usually have their own rooms," Buffy said.

"Why?"

"So they can have some privacy. In the other dimension, we couldn't afford any rooms and we always slept together for safety reasons, but now that we're home, we thought you'd prefer to share room with Dawn, since you're about the same age and she can teach you more about what girls your age do than we can."

"Oh."

"It's your choice, sweetie," Faith said.

"Okay," Sammy said and cuddled up to Faith.

Then Joyce looked in.

"Ah, you're here," she said. "Good night, girls."

"Night, Mom."

"Night, Mrs S."

"Night, Grandma."

Joyce blinked, startled. Then she smiled and closed the door.

"Night, sweetie," Faith said.

"Night, Mommy. Night, Mama."

"Good night, honey," Buffy said.

"What's up, Willow?" Xander asked when Willow and Tara arrived to the Magic Box.

"Buffy's back," Willow said when she saw everyone was there. "And Faith."

"What?"

"They're back."

"How do you know?"

"We brought them home."

"From where?"

"Africa."

"Africa? What were they doing there?"

"Let her tell the whole story," Giles said.

"When Faith went to turn herself in, Buffy followed her," Willow said. "They came across some people who were trying to sacrifice a girl. They saved the girl, but they got sucked into another dimension. They spent ten years there."

"What do you mean?" Xander said, confused. "They were only gone two years."

"Time ran faster there," Anya guessed.

"Yes," Willow said.

"Oh," Xander said.

"Anyway," Willow continued, "they finally managed to get back to Earth, but they ended up in Africa. They came across some tourists, and Buffy called her mom. Mrs Summers then called me, and Tara and I did a location spell. Then we used the ghost roads to go to Africa and bring them back home."

"And you waited till now to tell us?"

"We got back at four in the morning, Xander. They're probably still asleep. I told them we'd come at four. And besides, Angel, Cordy and Wesley are also coming then."

"They are?"

"Yes. I called Angel in the morning."

"Oh."

Willow looked at Giles.

"Can you find out what the Council thinks about Faith?"

"What is she like?"

"She's okay."

"She's changed," Tara said.

"How do you know?" Xander asked.

"I saw her aura."

"So?"

"I'd also seen her aura when she was in Buffy's body. It's different now, calmer."

"Oh."

"Ooh!" Willow suddenly remembered. "I almost forgot. Buffy and Faith are together now."

There was a brief pause.

"Come again?" Xander then said. "I thought you said Buffy and Faith were together."

"Yes."

"As in you and Tara together?"

"Yes."

Xander frowned.

"I thought they hated each other."

"They had ten years to work things out."

"Oh."

"Oh! They also have a daughter."

"What daughter?"

"The girl they saved, Sammy, she got sucked with them to the other dimension. They raised her and she's their daughter."

"Oh."

Willow looked at Giles.

"I've already deleted Faith's criminal record."

"You have?" Giles asked.

"Yes. I think Faith deserves another chance."

"I'll keep their return a secret for now," Giles said.

"Okay."

Faith was the first to wake up in the early afternoon. When she saw that Sammy was still cuddled up to her, she smiled and gave her a kiss on the top of the head.

Sammy jerked and opened her eyes.

"Mommy?"

"Morning, sweetie."

Sammy rubbed her eyes.

"Morning." She yawned. "Where… Oh."

"Morning," Buffy said as she woke up.

"Morning, Mama," Sammy said.

"Morning," Faith said.

"Let's get up," Buffy said.

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

"You're always hungry," Buffy said with a smile.

"Yeah, and it's not always the food I'm hungry for."

"Faith!" Buffy said, blushing. "Behave."

Faith grinned.

"Yes, Ma'am." She looked at Sammy. "Okay, sweetie, let's get up."

After showing Sammy what the toothbrush was for, Buffy and Faith waited outside for Sammy to get ready.

"Hi," Dawn said as she came upstairs.

"Hey, Dawn," Buffy said.

"Is Sammy in there?"

"Yes."

"I'll help her get dressed."

"Thanks."

"I'll go tell Mom you're awake."

"Okay."

Dawn went back downstairs.

"I have a funny taste in my mouth," Sammy said when she came out of the bathroom.

Buffy and Faith smiled.

"I know, honey," Buffy said.

"Go to Dawn's room, she'll help you get dressed," Faith said.

"Okay," Sammy said and went to Dawn's room.

When Buffy and Faith got dressed, they went to Dawn's room.

"Wow, you look very pretty," Faith said.

Sammy beamed.

"Really?"

"You bet. Right, Buffy?"

"Absolutely," Buffy agreed with a smile. "Come, let's go downstairs."

"Morning, Mom," Buffy said when they came to the kitchen.

"Morning, girls," Joyce said with a smile. "Sit down, lunch is ready."

"Okay."

"Lunch?" Sammy said, puzzled. "We just got up."

"Yeah, but it's already lunchtime," Faith said.

"Oh."

"You'll love Mom's food," Buffy said.

"Is it like what we ate in Africa?" Sammy asked.

"It's better."

After lunch, Dawn introduced Sammy to TV, and Sammy was all excited about it. This gave Buffy and Faith some time on their own. They used it to make plans for the future, and when Joyce was done cleaning the dishes, they went to her to find out what had been going on while they were gone.

At four o'clock, the Scoobs and Angel's crew came over.

"Oh, come on in," Joyce said when she opened the door.

Angel quickly entered, covered with his duster, and the rest followed.

"Hi, guys!" Buffy said.

"Buffster!" Xander, excited, and hugged her.

"Xander!" Buffy said, hugging him back.

"Hey, Angel," Faith said.

"Faith," Angel said.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Thanks."

Angel smiled a bit.

"You're welcome."

"What are you two talking about?" Cordelia asked.

"Oh, your stuff."

Faith went to him and took her bag.

"Thanks."

"Hi, Giles," Buffy said when she and Xander stopped hugging.

"Buffy," Giles said.

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then went to him and hugged him.

"Wes," Faith said, suddenly nervous.

"Faith," Wesley said, not sure how to react to seeing her again.

"Hi, Angel," Buffy said.

"Buffy."

Buffy thought for a few moments and then decided not to hug him.

"Xander," Faith said.

"Faith," Xander said.

"Hey, what about me?" Anya complained.

"And me?" Cordelia added.

"Hi, Cordelia, hi, Anya," Buffy said with a smile.

"You look old," Cordelia said.

"Older," Buffy corrected her. "Come, let's go to the living room."

They all went to the living room.

"Hi, guys," Dawn said with a smile. "Hi, Angel."

"Hi, Dawn," Angel said.

Sammy looked at her parents, a bit nervous.

"Guys, there's someone I'd like you to meet," Buffy said with a smile and went to Sammy, who stood up. She put her arm around Sammy's shoulder. "This is our daughter, Sammy."

"Hi," Sammy said.

"Hey, Sammy," Tara said with a smile.

"Oh!" Buffy said. "Eh, Faith and I, we're together, in case Willow hasn't told you yet."

"She has," Anya said.

"Yeah, I still can't believe it," Xander said.

"Let's sit down," Buffy said.

Everyone found themselves a place to sit, and Buffy and Faith sat on either side of Sammy.

Dawn turned off the TV.

"Anyone wants anything to drink?" Joyce asked.

There was a chorus of no's.

"You were really in another dimension?" Xander asked.

"I thought it was obvious," Buffy said with a smile.

"How did you get there?"

"Some guys wanted to sacrifice Sammy, but we interrupted their ceremony. I think they were trying to open a portal to some other dimension, not the one we were sucked into."

"And how did you get back?" Giles asked.

"We tracked down some demons and they practically threw us out of their dimension. Unfortunately, we ended up in Africa. It took us a whole day to come across some tourists."

"Willow said you got attacked by some lions," Xander said.

"Yes, six lionesses. But we killed them." She smiled at Sammy affectionately. "Sammy killed two of them," she said proudly.

"She did?" Xander said, surprised.

"Yes."

"How old is she?"

"Why don't you ask her?" Faith said.

Xander looked at her, startled, and then looked at Sammy.

"How old are you?"

"I'm fourteen."

Xander thought for a moment.

"So you were four?"

"Yes."

Xander looked at Faith.

"So you're a mom now."

"Yeah," Faith said.

"I never thought you were mom material."

"Me neither," Faith agreed.

"She's a great mom," Buffy said with a smile. "Right, honey?" she asked Sammy.

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh," she said with a smile.

Faith smiled briefly at her. Then her face became serious. She looked at the guys and hesitated for a few moments.

"I'm sorry," she then said.

"That's it?" Xander asked.

Faith looked at him.

"Would it make any difference if I gave you a speech?"

Xander opened his mouth, but then closed it again.

After a few long moments of silence, Tara spoke up.

"Have you thought when you'd like me to start tutoring you?" she asked.

Faith thought for a few moments.

"What day is today?"

"Tuesday."

Faith thought for a moment.

"Saturday?"

Tara smiled.

"Okay." She looked at Sammy. "What about you, Sammy?"

"Saturday," Sammy said.

"Okay."

Sammy hesitated for a moment.

"Will you tutor me?"

"No, I will," Willow said. "If that's okay with you."

"Okay," Sammy said and smiled a little.

"Tutor?" Angel asked, glancing at Willow and Tara.

"I've decided to take the GED and we need to know how much Buffy and I have taught Sammy and what she still needs to learn," Faith explained.

"Oh."

"Will I be able to go to school?" Sammy asked Faith.

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. We'll see," she said and smiled a little.

Sammy smiled back, excited.

"Okay."

"So what did you do?" Xander asked Buffy, curious. "In the other dimension, I mean."

As Buffy started to tell their story, Angel came to Faith and squatted beside the sofa.

"Hey."

"Hey," Faith said.

"How are you?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"Much better." She smiled a little. "Thanks."

Angel nodded.

"I'm glad I could help you."

Faith looked at Sammy and put her arm around Sammy's shoulder.

"Sammy helped too," she said, and Sammy smiled. Sammy leaned her head on Faith, and Faith looked back at Angel. "I'm dealing."

"That's good." He thought for a moment. "You're staying here?"

"Yes."

Angel hesitated for a moment.

"And you and Buffy?"

Faith glanced at Buffy.

"We're happy."

"Good," Angel said, even though it hurt a bit, but he was happy for them anyway.

"Wow," Xander said when Buffy was done. "I wouldn't wanna be in your shoes."

"It wasn't that bad," Buffy said and glanced at Faith briefly with a smile.

"Oh, Faith, I deleted your police record," Willow remembered.

"Thanks," Faith said, relieved.

"I'll talk to you three tomorrow about Sammy's papers."

"Okay." Faith thought for a moment and then looked at Giles. "Can you find out what the Council thinks about me?"

Giles nodded.

"I've already asked a friend of mine. She'll call me."

"Oh. Thanks."

"Have you been out yet, Sammy?" Tara asked.

Sammy shook her head.

"No."

"Are you looking forward to?"

Sammy nodded, smiling excitedly.

"Uh-huh."

Tara smiled.

"We'll take her on a tour of Sunnydale tomorrow," Buffy said. "And then we'll take her on patrol in the evening."

"Really?" Xander said, surprised.

"Yes."

"Can I come?" Dawn asked.

"No," Buffy and Joyce said in unison.

Dawn pouted.

"Why not? I'm older than her."

"Yes, but she was fighting demons since she was little," Buffy said.

"I've been practicing," Dawn said. "Giles showed me some moves."

"That's not the same."

"You were my age when you started fighting demons."

"But I was a Slayer."

Dawn crossed her arms and pouted.

"That's not fair."

Buffy smiled.

"Nobody said life was fair."

"We could train her," Faith suggested. "And when we think she's ready, we could take her on patrol. If your mom agrees."

Buffy thought about it.

"We'll see. But yes, we could train her, that'll be good in any case."

"Cool!" Dawn said, excited.

"Nobody said you're going on patrol," Joyce reminded her with a smile.

"You can show her where you and your friends hang out," Faith said.

"Okay," Dawn agreed. She thought for a moment. "What do I say if someone asks who she is?"

"The truth," Faith said. "Sort of. She grew up in Africa, and Buffy and I adopted her."

"So instead of another dimension I say Africa?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

Faith looked at Sammy.

"That goes for you too."

"But what if people want to know details?" Buffy asked.

"Willow and I will find a place where she could've grown up and we'll teach her what she needs to know," Tara said.

"Thanks."

"You'll have to know that as well," Tara said. She looked at Willow. "And you'll have to do something about her papers."

Willow nodded.

"I know."

"Dawn," Sammy said when the guys finally left.

"Yes?"

"Can you show me around the house? I have no idea what all the things are."

Dawn smiled.

"Sure. Come."

"That went well," Faith said as she and Buffy watched Dawn show Sammy around.

"Yes," Buffy agreed.

"You think she'll be okay?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. She's smart and we've taught her a lot."

"Yeah."

"But we'll still have to protect her. There may be less demons here, but there are other dangers."

"I know. Fortunately, we're not alone anymore."

Buffy smiled again.

"Yes."

Before going to bed, Sammy went to Buffy and Faith, who were watching TV.

"Dawn and I are going to bed," she told them.

"You've decided to sleep with her?" Faith asked.

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Sammy sat beside Buffy, and Buffy put her arm around her.

"Everything okay?" Buffy asked.

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"How do you like this world so far?" Faith asked her.

Sammy shrugged.

"It's okay. I mean, it's much nicer than the other one, but there are so many things I don't know."

"I know, honey," Buffy said with a smile. "But there are lots of people who will teach you stuff."

Sammy smiled, looking forward to it.

"I know. I can't wait till we go out tomorrow."

"I bet," Buffy said and ruffled her hair.

"Night, Mama," Sammy said and hugged Buffy.

"Night, honey," Buffy said.

"Night, Mommy," Sammy said when she stopped hugging Buffy.

"Night, sweetie," Faith said.

Sammy got up.

"Night, Grandma," she said when she saw Joyce.

"Good night, Sammy," Joyce said with a smile as Sammy went upstairs.

Buffy and Faith looked at her.

"Grandma, huh?" Buffy said with a smile.

Joyce smiled back.

"Mom, huh?"

Buffy's smile widened.

"Yes."

Joyce came closer.

"You two like it?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. Sammy's a wonderful girl."

"Yes, I noticed. She adores you."

Buffy and Faith both smiled.

"Yes."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"Are you sure about taking her out on patrol?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. We want to show her the demons here, so she'll know what to expect."

"But we won't take her on patrols," Faith said, "except when there's an emergency and we need extra help."

"Yes," Buffy agreed. "At least not at nights," she said and looked at Faith. "She can come along during the day."

"If she wants," Faith said with a nod.

"Yes."

"Looks like you have everything worked out," Joyce said with a smile.

Buffy and Faith looked at her.

"No, we just make things up as we go along," Faith said.

"Actually, we have no idea what we're doing," Buffy said with a smile.

Joyce chuckled.

"Welcome to the club."

"Thanks," Buffy said with a grin.

"If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

"Thanks, Mom, we will."

"Thanks, Mrs Summers."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"How about we get them a new bed tomorrow?"

"What kind?" Buffy asked.

"We'll ask them tomorrow. Then we can go pick one and I can take the girls with me after Dawn comes from school. And if they like it, I'll buy it."

"Okay."

"I'll go check up on them."

When Sammy got upstairs, she first went to her parents' room to get Miss Blackie and then to Dawn's room.

"What are you doing?" she asked when she saw Dawn lying on the bed, writing something in a notebook.

"I'm writing in my diary," Dawn said.

"What's that?"

Dawn sat up.

"It's a notebook. I write in what happened to me."

"Why?"

Dawn shrugged, frowning.

"Don't know. So I can read it again and remember."

"Oh."

Dawn nodded at Miss Blackie.

"What's that?" she asked and put the diary away.

"That's Miss Blackie," Sammy said as she joined Dawn on the bed.

"Where did you get it?"

"Mommy made it for me when I was little."

Dawn frowned.

"Faith?"

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Wow. I never thought Faith could make dolls."

"She can do lots of stuff," Sammy said proudly. "She's very smart."

Dawn smiled.

"I guess. Are you gonna sleep with it?"

"Uh-huh," Sammy said, nodding.

"Why?"

Sammy frowned and then shrugged.

"I've always slept with her."

"Oh. Buffy has a stuffed pig, Mr Gordo. She slept with him too, but now she doesn't."

"Why not?"

Dawn shrugged.

"She doesn't need him to cuddle anymore," she said, and then blushed as she realized what she just said.

"Oh." Sammy stared at Miss Blackie for a few moments and then looked around. "Can I put her on, eh, there?" she asked and pointed at the nightstand.

"The nightstand? Sure."

Sammy sat Miss Blackie on the nightstand, and then looked around.

"This is so weird."

"What?"

"Me not sleeping with Mommy and Mama."

"You always slept with them?"

Sammy nodded.

"Uh-huh. Or at least one of them. Or they were nearby."

"They're nearby."

"But not where I can see them."

"Oh."

"Plus, I've only slept with them, nobody else."

Dawn smiled.

"You're nervous?"

Sammy smiled back.

"A bit."

"I don't bite."

Sammy giggled.

"I know."

There was a knock and then Joyce looked in.

"Ready for bed?" she asked as she entered.

"Yes, Mom," Dawn said and started to get under the cover.

"Yes, Grandma," Sammy said and followed suit.

Joyce smiled and waited until they were ready.

"Night, girls."

"Night, Mom."

"Night, Grandma."

Joyce turned off the light and left.

"Night, Sammy."

"Night, Dawn."

When Buffy and Faith finally went to bed, they lay on their sides, facing one another. They stared at one another for a few moments and then Faith reached over and removed the hair from Buffy's face.

Buffy smiled and gave her a quick kiss.

Faith smiled back.

"This is weird," Buffy then said.

"What?" Faith asked.

"This. No Sammy."

"Oh." Faith then grinned. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this."

Buffy blushed.

"I think I do." She hesitated for a few moments. "Do you, em, do you…"

"Not tonight," Faith said.

"Oh," Buffy said, a bit disappointed.

Faith chuckled.

"You sound so disappointed."

Buffy blushed.

"I thought you were horny."

Faith grinned.

"I am. But I've been waiting for ten years, I can wait a bit longer. And besides, this is the first time we sleep together alone and I kinda don't feel like having sex."

"Oh," Buffy said and smiled. "Okay."

Faith took a deep breath and touched Buffy's forehead with her own.

"You know what I was scared of the most?"

"What?"

"Of having to give up Sammy."

Buffy smiled.

"You don't have to give her up."

"I know." Faith took a deep breath. "Good night, Buffy."

Buffy caressed her.

"Good night, Faith."

The End