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.

The Witch of the Woods
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Stars Hollow was a rich little neighborhood, an exclusive neighborhood surrounded by a tall fence. It was located next to a small lake, a short distance away from the closest town. Across the lake was a forest in which there was a small estate on which a woman lived whom the Stars Hollow children called the Witch of the Woods. The estate lay beside the lake, but a fence ran along the shore, so they couldn't see onto the estate. On the side where the main gate was there was a small clearing and a nice beach, which was popular with the Stars Hollow children, in spite of its closeness to the mysterious estate. The estate was the source of many scary stories the children made up to scare one another. Only a few of them had ever seen the owner and even then only briefly and from afar.

During the summer vacations, the children came to the clearing quite often and they swam in the lake or played on the beach or in the clearing.

"Missed me!" Timmy called when Mark threw a ball at him and missed.

They were playing tag with a ball and it was mandatory that you threw the ball, you couldn't just touch someone with it. Plus, you had to be at least two meters away from the target. Of course, if you missed, you had to go get the ball first.

Fortunately for Mark, the ball bounced off a tree and he quickly picked it up and threw it at Dawn. Dawn tried to duck, but the ball hit her in the side.

"Tag, you're it!" Mark called, excited.

Dawn pouted for a moment and then ran after the ball. She ran after Jessica and Billy, who had ran around the corner of the estate. Billy then turned away from the estate into the forest and Jessica ran along the hedge. When she saw that Dawn was going after Billy, she stopped. But that was exactly Dawn's plan. She turned and threw the ball at Jessica. Jessica shrieked and put up her arms, bouncing the ball up and over the hedge fence.

The children all stopped and stared up at the hedge fence with wide eyes.

"You're in trouble now," Faith said quietly.

"Yeah, I bet the Witch is angry," Mark said.

Dawn gulped.

"Why? I didn't break anything," she said, nervous.

"You threw a ball on her estate," Timmy said.

"But Jessica bounced it up," Dawn objected.

"I didn't know you were gonna throw it at me," Jessica said.

"You should go get the ball," Donna said.

Dawn gulped.

"We can get a new one."

"It's my brother's favorite ball."

"Oh." Dawn hesitated for a moment. "Okay."

She headed toward the gate and her friends quickly told the others and then hid. When she reached the gate, she looked around, took a deep breath and rang.

The next minute seemed very long. She looked around and saw that her friends were peeking out from behind the trees. She gulped and looked back at the gate.

When the gate finally opened, Dawn jerked, startled.

"Can I help you?"

Dawn blinked and looked up at the pretty woman.

"Uh-huh," she said and nodded. "We… Em… We were playing and our ball went over your hedge," she said, nervous.

"I see. I'll go get it."

The woman closed the door and Dawn stared at it for a few moments, surprised. She had heard a lot about the Witch of the Woods, but the woman didn't strike her as a witch. She jerked when she heard her friends call her name quietly. She turned and saw that they were all staring, curious.

"She's getting the ball!" she called.

Her friends immediately started chatting. Dawn sighed and faced the gate again, still nervous.

A few minutes later the gate opened again and Dawn jerked.

"I'm afraid you'll have to help me get it," the woman said. "It slid down the hedge and I'm too heavy to get it."

"You want me to come in?" Dawn asked, her eyes wide.

The woman smiled.

"Yes, if you want to get the ball."

Dawn gulped, nervous.

"You're not gonna hurt me, are you?"

The woman raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Is there a reason I should?"

Dawn quickly shook her head.

"No."

"Then I'm not. Are you coming?"

Dawn hesitated for a few moments and then nodded.

"Yes," she said and entered.

The woman closed the gate and Dawn looked at it, feeling like she had just walked into a trap.

"This way."

Dawn looked at the woman again and quickly followed her, looking around, curious. She had to admit that for a witch, the woman had a very nice front lawn. And as they walked through the house, Dawn couldn't see anything that would betray the woman as a witch. In fact, the house was pretty simple and Dawn found she liked it.

When they finally got to the backyard, Dawn's eyes went wide.

"Wow," she said, looking around. "This is so pretty."

The woman looked at her, smiling.

"Thank you."

"Why are those trees so small?"

The woman looked.

"Those are bonsai trees, they're meant to be so small."

"How come? I mean, aren't trees usually big? And why do some have funny shapes?"

The woman smiled.

"Because I shaped them."

Dawn looked at her, surprised.

"You?"

"Yes."

"Wow." She looked around. "And the garden?"

"I shaped it too."

"Are you a gardener?"

"You could say that, I suppose."

Dawn thought for a moment.

"Do you think I could learn to make our garden as pretty?"

The woman smiled.

"Yes, but first you would have to learn a lot."

"From you?"

The woman pursed her lips, considering.

"Only if you're very determined to learn."

"I am," Dawn said, nodding. "And I could make the, em, the small trees?"

"Yes, but it takes patience. See that tree that looks like a fat dancer?"

Dawn looked.

"Uh-huh."

"I've been shaping it for fifteen years."

Dawn's eyes went wide as she looked at the woman.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

The woman thought for a moment.

"If you're prepared to learn a whole lot about plants and if you're prepared to sit in the garden for hours and carefully remove the weeds, then I'm willing to teach you."

"Really?" Dawn said, excited.

"Yes. But it takes a lot of discipline and patience. And you have to care for the plants." She smiled. "I suggest you think really hard about it and then, if you decide that you still want to learn, come see me."

"Okay."

"Good. My name is Faith, by the way."

"My friend is also Faith," Dawn said with a smile. "I'm Dawn."

"Okay, Dawn, shall we get your ball now?"

"Okay." Dawn looked around. "Where is it?"

"Up there," the woman said and pointed.

Dawn looked.

"I can't see it."

"I know. You'll have to climb up that ladder. I'll take that board up and put it across the hedge. Then you'll crawl along the board and get the ball."

Dawn gulped.

"It's pretty high."

"I know, but you can make it. Just don't look down."

Dawn took a deep breath.

"Okay."

They went to the ladder and Dawn slowly started climbing. Faith grabbed the board which she had prepared, and then climbed up the other leg of the ladder.

When they got to the top, Faith put the board across the hedge while Dawn hugged the ladder tightly, scared.

"Okay, climb on the board," Faith said when the board was ready.

"I'm scared," Dawn said.

"I know. Don't worry, I'll hold the board. Just don't look down."

Dawn gulped and looked toward the ball. She hesitated for a few moments and then climbed up on the board.

"That's it," Faith said encouragingly. "Just stare at the board."

Dawn did so as she very slowly crawled toward the ball. When she reached the position, she lay down and reached into the hedge.

"Got it!" she said, excited, when she got the ball.

"Very good. Just throw it down and then slowly crawl backwards."

"Okay."

Dawn threw the ball down and then slowly crawled backwards toward Faith, who then helped her get back on the ladder.

"There you go. See? It wasn't that hard," Faith said when Dawn was back on the ladder.

Dawn smiled at her and then they slowly started to descend.

When they reached the ground, Dawn ran to the ball and picked it up.

"Thank you."

Faith smiled at her.

"You're welcome. Now go, I'm sure your friends must be worried by now."

Dawn nodded and then followed Faith through the house.

When they reached the gate, Dawn stopped and looked at Faith.

"So I can just come when I decide?" she asked.

"Yes. I'll probably be home. And if I'm not, come some other time, until I am home."

"Okay."

Faith smiled and opened the gate. Dawn exited.

"Bye."

"Bye," Faith said and closed the gate, smiling.

Dawn ran to her friends, who immediately surrounded her and started bombarding her with questions.

"Why did you go in?" Timmy asked.

"Did she hurt you?" Daniel asked.

"What's it like inside?" Jessica asked.

"Was she mad at us?" Faith asked.

"The ball got stuck in the hedge and she couldn't get it herself," Dawn explained. "She wasn't mad and she didn't hurt me."

"What's it like inside?" Jessica asked.

"Beautiful! You should see her backyard, it's like a paradise. And she has these little trees, em, bon… bon… bonsai! They're so cute. Ooh! Her name is Faith too," she said and looked at little Faith, who blushed a bit.

The children looked at their friend and laughed.

"Maybe you're a witch too," Daniel said.

"Am not!" Faith protested.

"I don't think Faith is a witch," Dawn said. "I mean, the woman, not, eh, Faith. Well, neither Faith. She was very nice."

Her friends kept bombarding her with questions and Dawn tried to answer them.

The next few days, Dawn spent a lot of her time in her garden, trying to imagine how she could redecorate it and how it would be to remove the weeds one by one. She was a bit reluctant to sit in the grass for hours removing the weeds, but she was curious and she wanted to learn how to shape the bonsai trees. After much thinking, she decided that she wanted to learn.

"Hello," Faith said with a smile when she opened the gate.

"Hi," Dawn said, a bit nervous.

"How can I help you?"

Dawn gulped.

"Em, I'd like to learn how to make the bonsai trees."

"Are you sure?"

Dawn nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith stared at her for a moment.

"Come in then."

Dawn entered and Faith closed the gate.

"How much time do you have?" Faith asked as they walked toward the house.

Dawn shrugged.

"A couple of hours. I got a cell phone, so Mommy can call me."

"Okay."

Faith took her straight to the garden and briefly outlined her teaching plan. Dawn quickly scribbled in her notebook, so Faith talked slowly. Then Faith started telling her about the flowers. They briefly stopped at each kind and Faith told her something about it and what it had in common with other kinds and what made it different from them. She made it simple, so Dawn could understand.

Dawn was so captivated by Faith's narrative that she only rarely wrote something down. When she realized that, she was worried, but Faith told her not to be, that she would remember it eventually.

When the class was over, Dawn realized that Faith hadn't told her anything about the bonsai trees. She asked Faith about it.

"Maybe next year," Faith said.

"Next year?" Dawn said, surprised.

"Yes. You have to learn the basics of botany. You have to understand what the plants are and how they function. Only then will you understand how to shape a bonsai tree without harming it."

"Oh."

Faith smiled.

"Are you sure you still want to learn?"

Dawn thought for a few moments and then nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay then. Come when you have the time."

"Okay. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

During the next few months, Dawn spent more or less every afternoon at Faith's. When she was certain that she knew enough, she decided to try to replant some of the plants in her own backyard. She decided to start small, to see if she could do it on her own.

"What are you doing?" Buffy, her mother, asked when she saw her digging up the plants.

Dawn looked at her.

"I'm replanting these roses."

Buffy frowned.

"Why?"

"To see if I can."

Buffy stared at her, confused.

"You'll get all dirty."

Dawn looked at herself.

"I'm being careful."

Buffy looked closer and saw that Dawn's clothes were indeed clean, only her hands were dirty.

"Don't you think you should let the gardener do the replanting?" she asked.

"No, I want to do it," Dawn said. "Faith showed me how."

Buffy just stared at her for a few moments and then shook her head.

"Okay," she said. "Anyway, Riley and I are going to a reception in the afternoon, so you'll be sleeping over at Grandma and Grandpa's."

"Okay."

During the following months, Dawn spent more or less every free afternoon at Faith's. There were a few days when she had to study or had some other duties, and, of course, there was her birthday. They day after her birthday, Dawn came to Faith again.

"Hi," Faith said with a smile.

"Hi," Dawn said, smiling back.

"How was your birthday party?"

"It was great! I got many presents and we had a huge cake. Then we played and Mommy let us stay up late and watch TV. Ooh! I brought you some cake. Here."

Faith raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Thank you," she said as she took the box. "I'll put it in the fridge."

Faith went to the fridge, and Dawn went to the backyard. After she put the cake away, Faith followed Dawn.

"Here, I got you a present," she said and went to a paper covered bonsai tree.

"You did?" Dawn said, excited.

"Yes. Happy birthday."

Faith removed the paper and Dawn's eyes went wide.

"My own bonsai tree?"

Faith smiled.

"Yes. You know enough to take care of it on your own, but don't shape it yet, at least not without consulting with me first."

"Cool! And my own tools!"

"They're kinda necessary."

"Cool!" Dawn said and immediately started to study the tree.

"Why don't you get familiar with it," Faith said. "And if you have a problem with it, bring it to me."

"Okay," Dawn said, taking a closer look at the little tree, gently tracing its branches with her fingers.

Since Dawn was studying her bonsai tree, Faith decided to practice some tai ji.

When Dawn looked up fifteen minutes later and saw Faith moving very slowly, she watched her curiously. She found the whole thing very interesting and it captivated her.

"What was that?" she asked fifteen minutes later when Faith finally finished.

"Tai ji," Faith said.

Dawn frowned.

"What's that?" she asked.

"A sort of martial art, thought its focus is on movement and breathing, not so much on fighting," Faith explained.

"Can you teach me?"

"If you're willing to practice for the rest of your life."

Dawn frowned again.

"You'd have to teach me my whole life?"

Faith smiled.

"No. I can only teach you what I know, the rest is up to you. I've been practicing since I was six and I'm still learning new things."

"Oh." Dawn thought for a few moments. "Why do you move so slowly?"

"Because it's not about speed. I can do it fast, but that's easy and not really the purpose. You're supposed to do it slowly so you can pay attention to your body. At least in this style."

"Oh." Dawn thought about it. "Will you teach me?"

Faith smiled again.

"What about your gardening skills?"

"I wanna learn that as well."

"Okay then." She nodded at the bonsai tree. "Did you get familiar with it?"

Dawn nodded.

"Uh-huh. I want to make a cut."

"Where?"

"Here," Dawn pointed.

Faith nodded.

"Go ahead."

Dawn opened her tool box, took out a pair of gardening scissors and carefully snipped off a tiny branch. Then she looked at Faith expectantly.

"Good," Faith said and Dawn smiled.

"Are we gonna start with tai ji today?" Dawn asked as she put the scissors away.

"No, tomorrow. And bring a sweater with you, because you'll be sweaty when we're done. I don't want you to get sick."

"Okay."

"Come, let's continue with the bushes."

A couple of weeks later, Dawn was studying her bonsai tree in her room, when Riley, her mother's boyfriend, came in, obviously a bit drunk.

"Where's your mother?" he asked.

Dawn looked at him, startled.

"I don't know," she said and looked back at the tree.

"Look at me when I talk to you," Riley snarled and walk toward her.

Dawn looked at him, confused.

"I don't know where she is."

Riley looked at the bonsai tree.

"What you got there?"

Dawn pulled the tree away, worried that Riley might hurt it.

"It's a bonsai tree."

"Let me see."

Riley grabbed the tree by the trunk and pulled.

"No!" Dawn screamed and tried to pry his fingers away from it.

"Knock it off," Riley said and slapped her, making her scream.

Then the pot in which the tree was fell off, pulled by the gravity.

"Damn," Riley said when the soil dirtied his shoes. "Stupid tree," he said and threw the tree at the far wall.

Dawn quickly crawled to the tree and picked it up.

"You broke it," she said when she saw the wound.

She crawled to the pot and put the tree back in. Then she scooped up the soil and put it back in the pot.

"What's going on?" Buffy asked as she came to Dawn's room.

"Hi honey," Riley said and leered at her.

He moved closer, but Buffy backed off when she smelled the alcohol.

"He broke my bonsai tree," Dawn said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Buffy looked at the tree and saw that it was broken. Then she noticed the palm print on Dawn's cheek.

"You hit her?" she asked Riley angrily.

"She was being a pest."

"I need to take it to Faith," Dawn said and ran past Buffy.

"Dawn?" Buffy said, startled, but Dawn ran off. She looked at Riley, furious. "Get out."

"What?" Riley said startled.

"Get the hell out of my house!" Buffy bellowed at him, making him back off, nervous. "Pack your stuff and get out. It's over."

"But honey…"

Buffy slapped him.

"You're an asshole, Riley. I have tolerated you your inanities so far, but you're not hitting my daughter. You have twenty minutes, after that I'm calling security."

Buffy left, and Riley stared after her, dumbfounded.

"What happened?" Faith asked as she took the broken bonsai tree from Dawn.

"Riley grabbed it and then the pot fell off and then he threw it at the wall and it broke," Dawn said in one breath, wiping her tears. "Can you save it?"

"I think so," Faith said as she took a closer look. "Come, I'll teach you what to do."

Dawn followed Faith, worried about the tree and at the same time excited that Faith would teach her how to save it.

An hour later, the tree was finally taken care of.

"Is it gonna be okay?" Dawn asked.

"I think so. Why don't you leave it here for a couple of days so I can watch it."

"Okay."

Faith looked at Dawn.

"Remember this when you're in a position to ruin someone's else's dreams."

Dawn looked at her, startled. Then she thought about what Faith had said, and nodded.

"I will."

Faith smiled.

"Good."

"I better go home now," Dawn said.

Faith nodded.

"Yes. You've had your lesson in botany for today and you can practice tai ji at home. Remember to move your hips and keep your back straight."

"Okay. I'll come back tomorrow."

"Good."

After Dawn left, Faith went to her table and turned on her laptop. Then she checked out what was available on Riley.

"Dawn!" Buffy said, relieved, when Dawn returned. "Where've you been?"

"I took my bonsai tree to Faith and we saved it."

"Oh."

Dawn listened for a moment.

"Where's Riley?" she then asked quietly.

"I threw him out," Buffy said and Dawn smiled. "I'm so sorry, honey."

"It's okay," Dawn said as they hugged. "I'll go clean my room now," she said when Buffy let go of her.

"I already cleaned it," Buffy said.

"Oh."

"You just have to put your stuff back where you want it."

"Okay."

Dawn went upstairs, and Buffy stared after her for a few moments. Then she sighed and went to the living room.

After a while, Buffy went to Dawn, but Dawn was not in her room.

"Dawn?!" she called, but there was no answer.

She frowned and went to the window. She relaxed when she saw that Dawn was in the garden. Then she frowned when she saw that Dawn was doing some kind of very slow dance. She stared at her for a few moments and then went downstairs to the garden to get a better look.

When Dawn was finally done, Buffy glanced at her watch.

"What was that?" she then asked Dawn.

"Tai ji."

Buffy frowned.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh," Dawn said with a nod. "Faith taught me."

"I've never seen you… do it before."

"I do it when I get up and before I go to bed."

"You do?" Buffy said, surprised.

Dawn nodded.

"Uh-huh. But I usually do it up in the hall. I mean, at home. Otherwise I do it at Faith's."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "And it has to be that slow?"

Dawn nodded.

"Yes. I mean, you can do it faster, but you have to be an expert to do it right. And there's deep breathing involved when you do it slowly."

"Oh."

"But this is just the first routine. Faith says the next is much longer and takes half an hour."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Uh-huh. I'm gonna practice a bit now."

"How come you're not practicing at Faith's?"

"I thought you might be worried."

Buffy smiled.

"I was. I'm glad you came back."

Dawn smiled back.

"Me too."

"Want a drink?"

Dawn shook her head.

"No."

"Okay. I'll be inside."

"Okay."

Buffy went inside, and Dawn continued her practice.

Inside, Buffy observed her for a while, marveling at her discipline.

A couple of months later, Hank, Buffy's dad, had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. Joyce, Buffy's mom, went with him and Buffy went to pick up Dawn, who was at Faith's.

"Hello, Buffy," Mrs Dalton, Faith's mother, said when she opened the door.

"Hello, Mrs Dalton. I've come to pick up Dawn."

Mrs Dalton frowned.

"Dawn's not here."

Now it was Buffy's turn to frown.

"But she said she was going to Faith. She hangs out with her all the time."

Mrs Dalton shook her head.

"I haven't seen her lately. I mean, she comes occasionally, but that's it."

"Oh," Buffy said, confused.

"Hold on, let me ask Faith." Mrs Dalton turned around. "Faith!"

"Yes?" little Faith asked as she came from the garden.

"Mrs Summers is looking for Dawn. She thought she was with you."

Faith shook her head.

"No."

"You don't hang out with her?" Buffy asked her.

Faith shrugged.

"We do, but… Ooh!" she suddenly realized. "She's probably with the Witch of the Woods."

"The Witch?" Buffy said, confused.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh. Her name's Faith too."

Buffy looked at Mrs Dalton.

"You know that cabin in the woods across the lake?" Mrs Dalton asked.

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Yes."

"The children call the woman who lives there the Witch of the Woods. Though apparently she's quite nice."

"Dawn said so," Faith said.

"Oh." Buffy sighed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Mrs Dalton said.

When she got to her car, Buffy thought for a few moments and then decided to go see the other Faith.

She searched for a road which led to Faith's house, but she couldn't find one. She finally realized that the small clearing beside a path which lead in the direction of Faith's house was actually a parking place. She parked her car and went to Faith's house on foot.

"Dawn! It's your mom!" Faith called when she saw Buffy on the security monitor.

She opened the door and went to the gate.

"Eh, hi," Buffy said, startled, when Faith opened the gate. "Eh, I'm Buffy Summers. Is Dawn here?"

"Yes. Hold…"

"Mommy?" Dawn said, surprised, when she came to the gate.

"Dawn," Buffy said, relieved.

"What are you doing here?"

"Grandpa Hank had a heart attack and they took him to the hospital."

"Is he okay?" Dawn asked, worried.

"I don't know, I was looking for you."

"Oh." Dawn looked at Faith. "I'm going to the hospital now."

"Yes, of course," Faith said.

Dawn looked at Buffy.

"I'll just get my stuff," she said and ran off.

Buffy and Faith stared at one another for a while.

"So, you're Faith," Buffy finally said.

"Yes," Faith said.

Buffy smiled a bit.

"I always thought she was talking about one of her friends. Her name is also Faith."

Faith smiled a bit but said nothing.

"So, em, you're teaching her gardening and, em, tai ji?" Buffy asked.

"Yes," Faith said.

Buffy thought for a moment.

"She seems much more… disciplined since she's started hanging out with you." She smiled. "And our garden is turning into a work of art."

Faith smiled back.

"She has talent and she's determined."

"That, she is. And patient and disciplined. I've been watching her lately, and she spends hours carefully removing the weeds from the grass. It's amazing."

"Just patience and determination. And love for what she does."

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

Then Dawn came back with her duffel bag.

"I'll see you, eh… I'll call you," Dawn said.

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

"Good bye," Buffy said.

"Good bye," Faith said.

Dawn took Buffy's hand and they left.

"So, this is Faith," Buffy said as they walked toward the car.

Dawn nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"I always thought you were talking about the Dalton girl."

"Oh." Dawn smiled. "No."

"How did you meet her?"

"We always play on the beach over there or in the clearing in front of her estate. When we were playing tag with a ball and I threw it at Jennifer, it bounced off and went over the hedge. Since I threw the ball, I had to go get it. But the ball was stuck at the top of the hedge and I had to help Faith get it down."

"Oh."

"You should see her garden, it's so beautiful," Dawn said, excited. "And her house is beautiful too. I mean, it's not large like ours, but it's… cozy." She frowned at her choice of the word. "I think." She shook her head. "Anyway, I asked her if she could teach me. She told me I would have to spend hours slowly taking the weeds out and that I should think about it. I did and she taught me."

"I see." Buffy thought for a moment. "And tai ji?"

"That was after my birthday. I was studying my bonsai tree and she started practicing. I watched her and I asked her if she could teach me. And she did."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Is she demanding any money for it?"

Dawn frowned.

"No. Why?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Is she doing anything you don't, eh, like?"

"Like what?" Dawn said, puzzled.

"Anything."

Dawn thought for a moment and then shook her head.

"No. She's teaching me about the plants and she's teaching me tai ji. And she sometimes helps me with school."

"Oh," Buffy said, feeling bad that she wasn't there for Dawn. She sighed. "You've grown so much, honey, I hardly know you anymore." She smiled at her. "I'll try to be home more often, okay? So we can catch up."

Dawn smiled.

"Cool."

"Grandma!" Dawn called and ran to her when she saw her.

Joyce smiled at her.

"Dawnie."

Dawn hugged her briefly and Joyce ruffled her hair.

"How is Grandpa?" Dawn then asked, worried.

"He's okay now."

"Will he be okay?"

"Yes. He'll have to stay here for a few days though."

"Oh. Can I see him?"

"Sure, he's in that room."

Dawn ran off Hank's room, and Joyce looked at Buffy.

"Do they know the reason?" Buffy asked.

"Bad diet, too much sitting and not enough moving."

"Oh."

"I hope that will teach him a lesson. I've been trying to get him to eat healthy stuff, but so far he has refused."

"He's so stubborn."

Joyce smiled a little.

"Yes. You should take up something as well. And Dawn too."

"Dawn's already practicing tai ji."

"She is?" Joyce said, surprised.

"Yes."

"I didn't know."

"Me neither. I only found out about it a couple of months ago, when I broke up with Riley."

"You didn't know?"

"No, I've never seen her practice before and she never mentioned it."

"Oh. Who's teaching her?"

"You know that woman who lives in the house across the lake?"

Joyce frowned.

"The Witch of the Woods?"

"You know what she's called?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yes. The children call her that."

"I know."

"She's been teaching Dawn tai ji?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"I've… Oh, since her birthday."

"How do you know?"

"Dawn told me. She's also the one who's been teaching Dawn gardening."

Joyce frowned.

"I thought her friend Faith was teaching her. I mean, her mother."

"So did I. It turns out that the woman's name is also Faith."

"Oh."

"What do you know about her?"

"Her? The Witch of the Woods?"

"Yes."

"Not much. Your father tried to find out more about her, because we knew that the children played near her house, but the manager of the Stars Hollow estate said she was okay. He didn't say anything else."

"Oh."

"Have you met her?"

"Yes. Dawn was at her place when I picked her up."

"Oh. What is she like?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know. She seemed nice though."

"Maybe you should invite her over for coffee."

"Yes, I've been thinking the same thing. I'll tell Dawn to invite her over for Saturday."

"Do you want us there?"

Buffy shook her head.

"No, I don't want her to feel like she's being interrogated."

"Okay. Let me know how it goes."

"I will." Buffy thought for a moment. "Is Dad awake?"

"Yes."

"Can he talk and move?"

"Yes, he's alright. He's still a bit weak, but he's recovering."

"So I can be mad at him?"

Joyce smiled.

"Yes."

"Okay."

"Hi," Dawn said when she came to Faith the next day.

"Hi," Faith said with a smile. "How is your grandfather?" she asked as they walked toward the house.

"He's okay. He has to stay in the hospital for a few days, so I'll be coming an hour later than usual."

"Okay." Faith thought for a moment. "Is your mother okay with you being here?"

Dawn nodded.

"Uh-huh. Ooh! She's inviting you over for coffee this Saturday. If you can come."

Faith nodded, guessing that Buffy wanted to find out more about her.

"When?"

Dawn frowned.

"I don't know. After lunch, I guess. At four?"

"Okay."

Dawn smiled.

"Cool."

"Oh, hi," Buffy said when Faith came over on Saturday. "Come in," she said and Faith entered. Buffy then closed the door. "This way."

"Hi, Faith," Dawn said, excited, as she came running downstairs.

"Hi," Faith said with a smile.

"Will we practice today?"

"You can practice on your own."

"Okay. Ooh! Come, let me show you the garden."

Dawn took Faith's hand and almost dragged her after her.

Buffy followed them, curious to see what Faith would say.

"What do you think?" Dawn asked anxiously when they reached the garden.

Faith slowly looked around.

"Good," she finally declared. She looked at Dawn. "But you still have a lot of work ahead of you."

Dawn smiled, excited.

"I know."

"I'll give you some tips later, but first, I think your mother would like to learn more about me."

She looked at Buffy, who blushed at being seen through.

"Eh, yes. Coffee?"

"Milk with coffee."

Buffy frowned.

"Milk with coffee?"

"Same as coffee with milk, just the other way around. I like a lot of milk."

"Oh. Okay." She pointed at the garden table. "Why don't you take a seat." She looked at Dawn. "Dawn, help me out, please."

"Okay."

Buffy and Dawn left and Faith slowly walked around the garden, taking a closer look at what Dawn had done.

Buffy and Dawn soon returned with drinks and some cookies.

"I'll go practice now," Dawn said, realizing that her mother probably wanted to talk to Faith alone.

"Okay, honey," Buffy said with a smile and Dawn left. She looked at Faith, who had taken a sip of her milk with coffee. "Is it okay?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes," she said as she put the cup away. "So, what do you want to know?"

"Eh," Buffy said, startled. She thought for a moment. "Why did you decide to teach Dawn gardening?"

Faith thought for a few moments.

"I… liked her," she then said.

Buffy's eyes narrowed.

"Liked her?"

Faith immediately realized what Buffy was thinking.

"I know my word doesn't mean much to you right now, but I promise you that I will never hurt Dawn."

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

"I'm sorry. It's just that I just found out that Dawn had been spending most of her free time at your place, not at her friend Faith's house. And I don't know anything about you, except that your name is Faith, you live on the other side of the lake and you're good at gardening and tai ji."

Faith thought for a moment.

"Would knowing more about me help you learn whether I'm a good person?"

Buffy frowned, startled.

"Eh, I don't know."

Faith thought for a few moments.

"I live alone in that house because I like peace." She smiled. "Don't get me wrong, I like going out and party, but I like peace and quiet as well. And living there gives me some privacy."

"But the children play near your house."

Faith smiled.

"Yes. But I don't mind them." She hesitated for a moment. "Their laughter brightens up the place."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments. She had realized that Faith was a very private person and that sharing with her that last bit information was a token of trust.

When the conversation was over and Dawn came downstairs so Faith could give her tips on how to improve the garden, Buffy realized that while she had learned some things about Faith, she could use none of them to find out more about Faith. Faith had told her a lot, yet at the same time nothing. She sighed, amazed. She decided to invite Faith over for the next Saturday as well.

"What do you think?" Dawn asked when Faith was gone.

"She seems nice," Buffy said with a smile.

"You like her?"

Buffy blushed a bit.

"Yes, I guess."

Dawn smiled.

"So I can still go over to her place?"

"Yes, I suppose."

"Cool," Dawn said and ran off to the garden.

"Was she here?" Joyce asked when she came over in the evening.

"Yes, Mom."

"And?"

"She's okay."

"What did you find out?"

Buffy chuckled.

"Not much, I'm afraid, she's very private. We talked for, like, an hour, but I didn't get much out of her. She knows how to answer a question without really telling you what you want to know. And she's very… direct, she doesn't beat around the bush."

"I see."

"And I think she's very fond of Dawn."

"She is?" Joyce asked, frowning.

"Yes. But don't worry, I don't think she'd ever hurt her. At least that's what she promised."

"She did?"

"Yes. I think Dawn is very important to her. And besides, she's good influence on Dawn and Dawn adores her."

"I see."

"Anyway, I invited her over for next Saturday." She smiled. "You can just happen to be there then."

Joyce smiled back.

"I will."

"Hi," Buffy said with a smile when Faith came over next Saturday.

"Hey," Faith said, smiling a bit.

"Come in."

Faith entered and Buffy closed the door after her.

"Hi, Faith!" Dawn said with a smile as she came in from the backyard.

"Hey," Faith said and smiled.

Then she noticed Joyce and raised an eyebrow, guessing what was going on.

"Eh, Faith, this is my mother, Joyce," Buffy introduced her. "Mom, this is Faith."

"Pleased to meet you," Joyce said with a smile.

"Ma'am," Faith said and shook her hand.

"I'll be upstairs practicing," Dawn said.

"Okay, honey," Buffy said and Dawn left. "Why don't you two go to the backyard while I make some coffee. Milk with coffee for you, right?" she asked, Faith.

"Yes."

"Okay."

Buffy left and Faith looked at Joyce.

"This way," Joyce said.

They went to the backyard and sat down.

"You have questions?" Faith got straight to the point.

"Eh," Joyce said, startled. She took a deep breath. "Yes, I do. But are you going to answer them?"

"Yes."

"And will you tell me what I want to know?"

Faith grinned.

"Perhaps."

Joyce smiled. She thought for a moment.

"How come you live all alone in the middle of nowhere, so to speak?" she then asked.

Faith sighed.

"I like it there. It's close to town and yet far enough so no one bothers me."

"And you don't mind the children playing there?"

Faith smiled a bit.

"No." She hesitated for a moment. "They bring me… joy," she added quietly and looked around.

Joyce stared at her for a few moments, realizing that was something very personal.

"I'm sorry if this sounds like an interrogation, but we hardly know you and we just want to make sure you're a good person," she said after a few moments.

Faith looked at her and nodded.

"I understand."

Joyce hesitated for a moment.

"Just out of curiosity, if you had to choose between revealing something, eh, more private and continuing to teach Dawn, what would you choose?"

Faith opened her mouth and then closed it again. After a moment, she opened and closed it again. It was a tough choice for her.

"What would you do with the information?" she asked.

"Nothing. It would stay within the family."

Faith thought about it for a few moments.

"I would choose Dawn," she then said, hoping that Joyce wouldn't ask anything personal.

Joyce stared at her for a few moments and then smiled.

"You must really like her."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yes.

Joyce thought for a moment.

"I noticed you have great influence on her. Buffy says she once caught her practicing, eh, tai ji at five in the morning. I mean, the first time I got up at five in the morning was when I was nineteen."

Faith shrugged.

"She saw what tai ji does for me and she wants to achieve the same level of skill as I have. I don't force her to do anything."

"Yes, I know. She's almost fanatical about it. I saw her do exercises while she was watching TV." Joyce shook her head. "It's amazing how disciplined she is. And gardening. Sometimes she sits in the grass for an hour and carefully removes the weeds. When she started messing around my garden, I thought she would ruin it, but then I saw what she did to Buffy's and I realized that she actually knew what she was doing." She smiled. "I sometimes help her and she teaches me about plants. It's amazing."

"Here you go," Buffy said as she came from the kitchen.

"Thank you," Faith said when she got her milk with coffee.

"Thank you, Buffy," Joyce said.

"You're welcome," Buffy said and sat down. "So, what have you two been talking about?"

"Dawn," Joyce said, and Buffy smiled. "I was just telling Faith how impressed I was with Dawn's discipline and patience."

"Oh. For a while I thought she would neglect her friends, but she didn't. You have good influence on her."

"Does that bother you?" Faith asked.

Buffy thought about it.

"It did at first. Especially when I found out you were helping her with school, but now I guess I'm okay with it. And besides, I spend more time with Dawn now because of it."

"Really?" Joyce said.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. When I found out Faith was helping her with school, I realized I was neglecting her a bit."

"Oh."

Buffy smiled a bit.

"At least she looked for help when she needed it."

"I'm sorry, I should've sent her to you," Faith said.

Buffy shook her head.

"No, you did the right thing. I guess. The important thing is she was helped, even if it wasn't by me."

Faith nodded, relieved that Buffy didn't hold it against her. She took a deep breath and tried to relax.

During the next few months, Faith's Saturday visits to Buffy's house became a habit and both women looked forward to them. Then one day, Faith decided to invite Buffy over. Buffy was very excited about the invitation, especially since she knew that Faith wasn't the type of person to invite people over.

"Hi," she said when Faith opened the gate.

"Hi. Come in."

Buffy entered and Faith closed the gate.

"Wow, nice," Buffy observed as she looked around.

"Thank you. This way."

Buffy followed Faith to the house. As she walked through it, she noticed that even though the house appeared to be simple, it had a top security system and must've cost a lot.

"Oh my god," she said, impressed, when she saw the garden. "Dawn was not exaggerating." She looked at Faith. "You made it?"

"Yes."

"It's beautiful."

"Thank you," Faith said, finding it hard not to feel pleased by Buffy's praise. "Coffee?"

"Yes, please."

Faith went back inside and Buffy followed her.

"Let me guess," Buffy said as Faith put on the water for coffee, "you're rich."

Faith looked at her.

"What makes you say that?"

"Your house. I mean, at first glance, it looks like a simple cabin surrounded by a beautiful garden, but I saw some pretty sophisticated security and heating systems. And this house if very… environmental."

"Oh," Faith said and made herself busy preparing the mugs, not liking to talk about money.

"Just how rich are you?"

Faith glanced at her, suddenly very distant.

"Does it matter?"

Buffy realized that she was getting too personal.

"Sorry, just curious. I mean, usually you see rich people leaving in mansions and showing off their wealth, but you live in a small house and hide your wealth."

"Oh."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"If I asked you, would you tell me how much money you have?"

Faith stared at her for a few moments, thinking.

"What would you do with that knowledge?" she asked.

Buffy blinked, surprised.

"Nothing. I'm guessing you don't like to talk about money, so I'd keep this information to myself." She hesitated for a moment. "Well, except maybe if Mom or Dad asked, I'd tell them you're rich, but that's it."

Faith stared at her for a few moments, trying to decide if she trusted Buffy enough.

"Yes," she finally said, nervous, hoping Buffy wouldn't ask.

"Oh," Buffy said, startled. She smiled. "Thank you." She nodded at the boiling water. "I think I'll try your milk with coffee this time."

Faith stared at her for a moment, relieved, and then looked at the boiling water.

"Okay." She hesitated for a moment. "Thank you," she then said quietly.

Buffy frowned, confused, but then she realized that Faith was thanking her for not asking. She smiled.

"You're welcome."

"Why don't you go to the garden and sit down, I'll be right there."

"Okay."

Buffy left and Faith took a deep breath.

"This garden is truly beautiful," Buffy said when Faith came with a tray, "especially when you take a closer look."

"Thank you," Faith said as she set the tray down.

"Where did you learn all that?"

"My parents traveled a lot."

"Oh. Where are they?"

Faith tensed for a moment.

"They're dead."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Faith sighed.

"Me too," she said and took a sip.

Buffy did the same.

"Mmm, not bad," she declared. "Not as strong as coffee, more like… like cocoa, or something."

"Yes."

Buffy thought for a few moments.

"I'd like to ask you something, but I think it's kinda personal."

Faith sighed.

"You can ask anything you like, but I may not answer it," she said.

"I know, I just don't want, em, I don't want to be rude. I mean, I know you're a very private person and I want you to be ready for my questions."

Faith nodded.

"I understand."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"How come you live all by yourself? I mean, don't you have any friends?"

Faith took a sip, thinking about what to say.

"I don't have any real friends."

Buffy frowned.

"Not even at work?"

"I do my work at home and over the Internet."

"Oh."

"I know a lot of people, my senior executives, but we're not friends. They don't invite me over and I don't invite them over."

"How come?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"When people find out I'm rich, the only thing that matter to them is my money."

"Oh."

"I know some people who don't know I'm rich, they're the closest thing I have to a friend." She hesitated for a moment. "Beside Dawn and you." She thought for a moment. "And there are a couple who know I'm rich but don't really care."

"Why did you befriend Dawn in the first place?" Buffy asked, curious.

Faith shrugged.

"I guess I felt a bit lonely. And I liked her. I tried to discourage her from coming back, but she did, so I gave her a try." She smiled a bit. "I haven't regretted it yet."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"You expect to regret it?"

Faith frowned and thought about it.

"Honestly? I'm not sure."

Buffy thought for a few moments.

"Look, I know you care about her and I know she cares about you. You might have an argument some day or she might accidentally betray your confidence or something, but that doesn't mean that your friendship has to end. You can work it out, if you're real friends."

Faith stared at her for a while and then looked away with a sigh.

"I know. I'm not really good with close personal relationships."

Buffy smiled.

"We all make mistakes, trust me." She thought for a moment. "Why just Dawn?"

Faith looked at her, confused.

"What?"

"Why just Dawn? Why not other kids as well?

Faith thought about it for a moment.

"Kids talk. And if they all kept hanging out at my house, their parents would get suspicious and probably call the police." She hesitated for a moment. "I was worried how you would react."

Buffy smiled.

"I didn't know she was talking about you, I thought she was talking about her friend."

"I know." Faith hesitated for a moment. "Thank you."

"For what?" Buffy asked with a frown.

"For letting her visit me."

"Oh." Buffy smiled. "You're a friend of the family and I know you wouldn't hurt her."

Faith nodded.

They sat quietly for a few minutes. Buffy was enjoying the view of the garden, and Faith was thinking about whether to invite Buffy to a club, which would involve telling her something else that was personal. She decided to give it a chance.

"Buffy," she spoke, and Buffy looked at her.

"Yes?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Would you… Would you go to a, eh, a club with me?"

Buffy frowned.

"A club?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes. You know, to dance and have fun."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"You go to clubs?" she said, surprised.

Faith smiled a little.

"Just because I like solitude doesn't mean that I don't go out at all."

"Oh." Buffy smiled a little. "Sorry, it just surprised me," she said and Faith nodded. Buffy thought about it. "I don't know, I don't really go out much, at least not clubbing." She hesitated for a moment. "And I'm worried someone might recognize me. I mean, I don't care, but my bosses might."

"It's a members-only club and if someone recognizes you there, they won't tell."

"But I'm not a member."

"Members can bring guests."

"Oh." Buffy thought about it. "I don't know. When?"

"Next Saturday."

Buffy thought about it.

"Okay. I suppose I could use some fun," she said and smiled.

Faith smiled back for a moment, hesitating.

"Eh, there's just one… important detail," she said.

"What?"

Faith hesitated again.

"It's a… a lesbian club."

Buffy blinked.

"Oh." She frowned. "You're… gay?"

Faith took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yes."

"Oh."

"Does that bother you?" Faith asked a few moments later when Buffy didn't continue.

Buffy looked at her, startled.

"No, no, just surprised me."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Are you still coming?"

Buffy thought about it.

"Eh… What's it like there?"

"Private, just women." She hesitated for a moment. "You might get a lot of offers though."

"Offers?" Buffy said, startled.

Faith smiled.

"Sexual offers," she explained.

Buffy's eyes went wide and she blushed.

"Oh."

Faith chuckled.

"Tell you what, you think about it and let me know till next Saturday."

Buffy nodded.

"Okay," she said and quickly took a sip, trying to calm down.

Next Saturday, Buffy picked Faith up. She had decided to go with Faith, but she was still nervous about going to a lesbian club. Faith had told her that she usually walked to the club, but Buffy preferred to drive, so Faith gave her directions.

When they arrived, they parked in an underground garage to which Faith had an access card. The two bouncers, both very athletic women, apparently knew Faith, because they smiled at her as they passed.

"This sure is private," Buffy observed as they went through the first door.

"Some of the women here have pretty important positions and they prefer to keep their sexual preferences private," Faith explained.

"Oh."

"Hello, Faith," a woman in a booth said.

"Hi, Betty," Faith said.

Betty glances at Buffy.

"A guest?"

"Yes."

"You vouch for her?"

"Yes."

Betty looked at Buffy.

"Your ID, please."

Buffy reached into her purse and took out her wallet. She took out her ID and gave it to Betty, who entered her data in the computer.

"Just so we know who you are," Betty said as she returned the ID.

"Okay," Buffy said and put her ID away.

"Come," Faith said.

They passed through the second door and the music blasted at them at full power.

"Nice interior!" Buffy commented.

"Yeah! Let's find a table!"

They cruised through the club until they found an empty table. They sat down and Buffy observed the dancing women. Only some were dressed very scantily, but they were all hot.

"What'll you have?"

Buffy jerked and looked at the waitress, startled.

"Mineral water," Faith said.

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Strawberry daiquiri."

"Anything else?"

"No," Faith said.

"No," Buffy said.

"Okay," the waitress said and left.

"Daiquiri?" Faith asked, raising and eyebrow.

Buffy smiled.

"Haven't had one in a while."

"Oh."

"Faith! Long time no see."

Buffy and Faith looked at the woman.

"Hey, Jessie," Faith said with a smile. She glanced at her companion. "Going stable?"

Jessie smiled.

"I hope so." She glanced at Buffy. "You?"

"She's just a friend," Faith explained. "She's not gay."

"Right," Jessie drawled, making Buffy blush. "I'll see you around."

"Leaving?"

"Yeah. I have a flight tomorrow morning."

"Oh. I'll see you around then."

"Yes. Bye."

Jessie and her girlfriend left.

"Isn't that…" Buffy started.

"Jessie," Faith interrupted her. "She may be a CEO outside, but in here, she's just Jessie."

"Oh. Sorry."

Then the waitress returned with their drinks.

"Thanks," Faith said.

"Thank you," Buffy said.

The waitress smiled.

"Enjoy," she said and left.

Buffy and Faith each took a sip, observing the dancers.

"Wanna dance?" Faith finally asked.

Buffy looked at her, startled.

"With you?"

Faith shrugged.

"Or by yourself."

"Oh." Buffy looked at the dance floor. She liked the music and since she was here to have fun, she decided to dance. "Okay."

They got up and went to the dance floor.

After a while, Buffy had to go to the ladies room.

"Are you Faith's girlfriend?" a woman asked her as she was washing her hands.

"Huh?" Buffy said, startled, and looked at her.

"I saw you were with Faith. Are you her girlfriend?"

"Eh, no, we're just friends."

The woman's eyes went wide.

"You mean she's available?"

Buffy blushed.

"Eh, yes."

The woman smiled and quickly left.

Another woman chuckled and Buffy looked at her.

"Just friends, ha?" the woman said.

Buffy's blush deepened.

"Yes. I'm straight."

"Oh. Too bad for you. I hear Faith's is great in bed." She looked at one of the stalls. "Right Marcie?"

"She's a fucking goddess," Marcie said. She flushed the toilet and came out. "No offense, Molly, but Faith is the best fuck I've ever had."

Molly crossed her arms.

"Really?"

"Yes," Marcie said with a nod. "Of course, she does have one big flaw."

Molly frowned.

"She does?"

Marcie nodded.

"Yep. She's not you," she said and gave Molly a quick peck on the lips.

Molly smiled.

"I'm sure she doesn't think that," Molly said and nodded at Buffy, who blushed.

"I told you, I'm straight," Buffy said.

"Trust me, girl, once you sleep with Faith, you won't want to be with another man. Ever," Marcie said, making Buffy's blush deepen. She looked back at her girlfriend. "Damn, all this talk about sex has made me horny."

Molly laughed.

"When are you not horny?"

Marcie smiled.

"Want to take care of my itch?" she asked and licked her lips seductively.

Molly smiled.

"I wouldn't be much of a girlfriend if I didn't, now would I?"

Marcie took her hand.

"Let's go home."

"Have fun!" Molly called to Buffy as she was dragged out by Marcie.

Buffy looked herself in the mirror and saw her face was red.

"Damn," she murmured.

She took a few deep breaths to calm down and then returned to the club, hoping Faith wouldn't notice.

As she lay in bed that night, Buffy kept thinking about Faith. She had enjoyed their time together. They had danced a lot, more than she had in a long while. And even though they were dancing each for herself, it had been obvious that they were together. Buffy blushed at the thought. Faith had not made a move, had not even touched her, yet people had still thought that they were together. But while she liked Faith and wanted to be her friend, she wasn't sure about a sexual relationship. She considered herself straight, but thinking back on those scantily clad women got her blood going, especially when she thought about Faith, who, even though she was dressed in leather pants and a tight tube top, had still been the hottest woman around in Buffy's opinion. She wondered if that meant she actually found her sexually attractive.

She sighed, realizing it was gonna be a long night.

"How was it?" Dawn asked when Joyce brought her home in the morning.

Buffy smiled.

"Wonderful, I had a great time."

"Are you going out with her again?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know yet." She hesitated for a moment. "Maybe."

Dawn smiled.

"Ooh! Can we invite her over for Christmas?"

Buffy nodded.

"I'll invite her next Saturday."

"Cool!" Dawn said, excited.

When Christmas day arrived, Faith headed over to the Summers house. She had given Dawn's present to Buffy a couple of days earlier, so she didn't have to worry about that. But what she did have to worry was meeting Buffy's dad, Hank.

"Hello, Faith," Joyce said when she opened the door.

"Hello," Faith said.

"Come in."

Faith entered and Joyce closed the doors.

"Hi, Faith," Dawn said with a smile.

"Hi," Faith said, smiling back.

"Come, let me introduce you to Grandpa," Dawn said, took Faith's hand and dragged her off to the living room.

"Oh, hi," Buffy said with a smile when Faith and Dawn came to the living room.

"Hi," Faith said.

"Grandpa, this is Faith. Faith, this is my grandpa," Dawn introduced them. "His name is Hank."

"Hello," Hank said.

"Hello, Sir," Faith said, and they shook hands.

"So, you're Faith. I've heard a lot about you."

"I thought so," Faith said with a smile, glancing at Dawn.

"Well, I'm glad I finally get to meet you."

"Likewise, Sir."

"Oh please, call me Hank."

Faith nodded.

"Okay, Hank."

"Dinner will be in ten minutes," Buffy said.

"Okay."

"Why don't you three sit down and Buffy and I will see about the dinner," Joyce said.

"Come, Faith," Dawn said and led the way to the kitchen.

During the dinner, Faith quietly observed the Summers family banter. She remembered Christmas dinners with her own parents and she missed them dearly. Still, in a way, she had a new family now, the Summers family. Even if they didn't know it.

"Faith?" Buffy snapped her out of her reverie.

Faith looked at her, startled.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

Faith smiled a little and nodded.

"Yes."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments and then smiled, not quite believing her.

The next morning, Faith came to Buffy's house for breakfast. Joyce and Hank were not there, so she was more relaxed.

"Can I open my presents now?" Dawn asked when Faith finally arrived.

Buffy smiled.

"Okay."

Dawn smiled and ran to the Christmas tree, Buffy and Faith following her. She took the first gift and unwrapped it.

"Wow! You got it!" she said, excited, when she saw the Harry Potter book.

"Yes," Buffy said with a smile.

"Thank you." Dawn took another box and unwrapped it. "Is this a kimono?" she asked.

"Yes," Faith said.

"Wow. Thank you."

"You can wear it when you're doing a routine."

Dawn smiled.

"Thanks." She took another box and unwrapped it. She frowned. "A keyboard?"

She looked at Buffy, who smiled.

"Go on."

Dawn took another box and unwrapped it.

"A mouse." She took another. "A monitor." She looked at Buffy, her eyes wide. "They got me a computer?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes."

"Cool!" Dawn said and started unwrapping the biggest box.

"They thought you might need it," Buffy explained. "You know, school and all."

"Who's going to put it together?"

"I can do it," Faith said.

"Really?"

"Yes. It's simple."

"Can we do it now?"

Faith looked at Buffy questioningly.

"Sure," Buffy said with a smile.

"Cool!"

"Pick up the smaller things and Faith and I will take up the rest."

"Okay."

Dawn quickly picked up the kimono, the book, the keyboard and the mouse. Then she hurried upstairs.

"You sure you can put it together?" Buffy asked Faith.

"Sure," Faith said and picked up the computer.

Buffy picked up the monitor and followed Faith upstairs.

For New Year's Eve, Faith was invited to Buffy's for dinner again. In turn, she invited Buffy and Dawn to lunch the next day.

"This was delicious, Faith," Buffy declared after she was done eating.

Dawn nodded, her mouth full.

"Mhm."

"Thank you," Faith said.

Dawn swallowed and looked at Buffy.

"We should let her cook more often," she said.

"Yes," Buffy agreed with a smile. She looked at Faith. "Do you need help cleaning up?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"You can dry."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay."

"What about me?" Dawn asked.

Faith thought for a moment.

"You can put the dishes back on the table."

"Okay," Dawn agreed with a smile.

After the dishes were taken care off, they went to the winter garden.

"This is neat," Buffy said as she looked at the glassed walls. "I had no idea that you could turn the veranda into a winter garden."

"I only do that when it gets a bit chilly," Faith said.

"Oh. It's nice. Cozy." She looked at Dawn, who had giggled. "Dawn?"

Dawn smiled, blushing a bit.

"I was just thinking."

"Happy thoughts?" Faith asked.

Dawn nodded.

"Uh-huh." She hesitated for a moment. "I was just thinking how we're like a family." She looked at Buffy, who was observing Faith's reaction. "I mean, Faith is almost like another mommy." She giggled. "You should date her instead of guys like Riley."

Buffy looked at her and blushed. Then she looked back at Faith, who was staring at her hands. She had seen the look in Faith's eyes when Dawn said she was like another mom to her. She realized that she and Dawn were the closest thing Faith had to a family. And, she realized, shocked, she felt more than just friendship toward Faith. She looked back at Dawn and smiled.

"I probably should, yes," she said, and Dawn smiled.

Faith looked at her, surprised.

Buffy smiled at her. She reached over and took Faith's hand.

Faith stared at her for a few moments and then looked at Dawn.

"Dawn, do you want to play Tekken?"

Dawn's eye lit up.

"Can I?"

"Sure."

"Cool!"

Dawn got up and ran into the house, excited.

Buffy and Faith smiled at her reaction, but once Dawn was gone, their minds returned to the matter at hand.

"Buffy…" Faith started.

"Please, let me explain this before I lose my nerve," Buffy interrupted her.

Faith took a deep breath, nervous, and nodded.

"Okay."

Buffy smiled and licked her lips, nervous.

"I've never considered myself gay, and I still don't, but after Dawn said we were like a family, that you were like another mom to her, I realized that deep down that was what I wanted. I just wasn't ready to admit it to myself. Maybe not from the moment I saw you, but definitely for a while now. And when I saw the look in your eyes, I realized that you'd wanted it as well. And, of course, there were our so-called dates. I mean, you never tried to seduce me or anything, but I'm guessing you taking me to that lesbian club was a sort of innuendo." She thought for a moment. "I've always looked forward to our Saturday afternoon chats. Okay, I even looked forward to our clubbing, but I guess I was a bit nervous because of the whole lesbian deal. Not that I care anymore." She thought for a moment. "I love you, Faith." She smiled. "Yes," she said, more to herself than to Faith. "I do."

Faith stared at her for a few moments. Buffy's speech had definitely surprised her and she had to gather her thoughts, and emotions, before replying.

"I… I've had feelings for you ever since I'd met you, but I never did anything, because I thought you were straight. Well, except when I took you to the club." She thought for a moment. "I guess I was secretly hoping to convert you," she admitted, smiling briefly. She took a deep breath, thinking. "I've slept with women before, but I've never had a steady relationship before." She hesitated for a moment. "I have a problem with relationships, that's why I have so little friends." She stared at Buffy for a few moments. "I love you too, Buffy."

Buffy smiled and gently squeezed her hand. Then she blushed a bit.

"I've never had a girlfriend before."

Faith smiled.

"Me neither," she said, and Buffy chuckled. "We'll take this slow, okay?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

"Shall we tell Dawn?"

Buffy smiled and shook her head.

"Later. I just want to sit here with you."

Faith smiled back.

"Okay." She thought for a moment. "How do you think she'll react?"

"Oh, she'll be excited."

"And your parents?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Mom will be happy for me. She likes you and she knows you're a good person. I mean, she'll be surprised that I'm dating you, but she'll be happy for me. As for Dad… Well, he'll be as surprised as Mom and he might bring up some silly arguments, but we've got a secret weapon."

Faith frowned.

"What?"

Buffy smiled.

"Dawn," she said, and Faith chuckled. "She's on our side, and if anyone can convince Dad to lay off, it's her."

They were quiet for a few moments.

"Buffy?" Faith then spoke.

"Yes?"

"If anything happens to you and your parents, I'll take care of Dawn."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, surprised, and then nodded.

"Thank you."

Then Dawn came out.

"Faith, are you gonna play with me?" she asked.

Faith smiled at her.

"Maybe later."

"Okay."

"Dawn!" Buffy called when Dawn turned to leave.

"Yes?"

Buffy glanced at Faith questioningly, and Faith nodded.

"Well, we just wanted you to know that we're together."

Dawn's eyes went wide.

"You and Faith?"

"Yes."

Dawn squealed. She ran to Buffy and hugged her tightly.

"This is so cool!" she said, excited.

Buffy smiled, glad that Dawn was okay with them being together.

"Yes."

Dawn let go of her and went to Faith.

"Eh…" she said, uncertain of whether she should hug Faith or not.

Faith smiled and spread her arms.

Dawn smiled as well and then hugged Faith.

"So what do I call you?" she asked when she let go of Faith.

Faith glanced at Buffy.

"Well, Faith will do for now," she said. "And later, when Buffy and I, eh, are more, em, intimate, I guess, then you can call me, I don't know, Mama?" She looked at Buffy. "Buffy?"

Buffy smiled and nodded.

"Yes. But only if you feel comfortable with it."

Dawn smiled.

"Cool!" She went to her chair and sat down. "When did you two get together?" she asked, curious, Tekken forgotten.

Buffy blushed and glanced at Faith.

"Just now."

"Really?" Dawn said, surprised.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

"How come?"

Buffy smiled.

"Well, it was your comment about how we're like a family and how Faith is like another mom to you."

"Really?" Dawn said, excited that she was the reason they got together.

"Yes."

"Cool." She looked at Faith. "Are you moving in with us?"

Faith blushed a bit.

"Not right away. Maybe in a couple of months."

"Oh," Dawn said, a bit disappointed. "But you are coming over more often, right?"

Faith smiled.

"You're here every day."

"I know, but Mommy only sees you on Saturdays. Ooh! We could practice at our house instead of here."

Faith nodded.

"Yes."

Dawn smiled and looked around.

"You won't sell this house, will you? After you move in with us, I mean."

Faith shook her head.

"No."

"Good."

Buffy smiled.

"Why don't you go play Tekken now. Faith and I will join you later."

"You'll play too?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I might try."

Dawn smiled.

"I can teach you."

"I know. Go."

Dawn got up and went into the house.

Buffy looked at Faith.

"See?"

Faith smiled.

"Yes." She thought for a moment. "And you're okay with her calling me Mama?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

Faith took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled. She hesitated for a moment and then reached over and took Buffy's hand.

Buffy smiled and gently squeezed Faith's hand. She thought for a moment.

"Let's go out tonight."

"Where?"

"To the club."

Faith smiled.

"Feeling horny?"

Buffy blushed.

"No, just overly excited. I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs."

"What's stopping you?"

Buffy chuckled.

"I don't want to scare Dawn."

"Oh." Faith grinned. "Will you dress provocatively?"

Buffy blushed.

"Why not?"

"Just not red."

Buffy frowned.

"Why not?"

"Because there will already be too much of it."

"What do you mean?"

"The women will all be red from anger when they see me dancing with you."

Buffy blushed again.

"Okay, no red. White?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"Too bride-like."

Buffy's blush deepened.

"Black?"

"Hot, but not so fuck-me-on-the-spot as red."

Buffy's blush deepened again.

"Now you're a fashion expert?"

Faith winked at her.

"I'm an expert at many things."

Buffy's eyes widened a bit.

"Faith," she hissed.

Faith grinned.

"Don't worry, you'll look hot no matter what you wear."

Buffy took a deep breath, and picked up her glass from the table. She took a sip and then put it back down. She thought for a moment.

"Will it be okay with you to show yourself in public with me?" she then asked. "I mean, I know how much you value your privacy."

Faith thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Yes. To those who don't know me I'll just be your girlfriend."

"And to those who know you?"

Faith shrugged.

"They'll mind their own business. I mean, they might congratulate us, but that's it, it won't affect business. And they won't go to the press or anything."

"Oh. Good, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

Faith nodded.

"Thank you."

They were quiet for a few moments. Then Buffy moved her chair closer to Faith's.

"That's better," she said, and Faith smiled at her. "I never thought just sitting quietly with someone could be… fun."

Faith's smile widened.

"Yes."

Then they watched the garden, quietly holding hands, and thought about the future.

The End