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

Circle of Life
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Hey," Buffy said as she came across Faith in the evening.

"Hey," Faith said and grinned. "I heard you came across a robot?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yeah. She looked so… human. And she could kick ass."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

"Yes. She nearly fought me to a standstill."

"Man. What happened to her?"

"Ran out of batteries," Buffy said and Faith burst into laughter. "What, it's true."

"Oh boy," Faith said, grinning. "What about her creator?"

"Warren?" Buffy frowned. "I don't know. Nothing. I mean, he made her to be his sex toy and then he dumped her."

"Yeah?"

"And I think she's intelligent, you know? And damn determined."

Faith smiled.

"I bet." She thought for a moment. "How's your mom?"

Buffy smiled.

"She went out on a date."

"Yeah?" Faith said, curious.

"Yeah, some guy named Brian."

"Anything brewing between the two?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I don't know."

"But you hope? Or not?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"I don't know. I mean, on one hand, it's nice that Mom's going out again and stuff, but on the other, I don't really want a step dad."

"'Cause you're afraid he'll turn out like, what's his name, Ted?"

Buffy groaned, rolling her eyes.

"Don't mention him. He gives me the creeps."

Faith grinned.

"I bet." She looked around. "You just starting or are you done with your patrol?"

"Done."

"Oh. You going to the Bronze?"

"Yes."

"I'll see you later then."

"Okay."

The Slayers parted and Faith continued with her patrol.

The next day, Faith and Jasmine took Alice to the park as usually. While Alice played with her friends, Faith and Jasmine chatted with their friends.

"Whoa," Jasmine suddenly said.

"What?" Faith asked and looked at her sister.

"See that girl over there? The one with the long hair, 501s and leather jacket?"

Faith looked.

"Yes."

"Well, only a few moments ago, she was wearing a toga-like dress. And then she passed behind a tree and she was wearing…"

"Jasmine?" Faith asked when Jasmine trailed off.

"See that woman on the motorbike?"

"Yes!" Faith looked from the woman to the girl and back. "They wear identical clothes."

"Kinda makes you think, ha?"

"A witch?"

"I don't know. Let's ask Lara."

"Okay."

"Hey, Lara. See that girl over there? The one that looks like she's in The Sound of Music. Lara?"

Lara stared at the girl, feeling that something was not quite right, but not quite sure what.

"I don't know," she said. "She is not Human."

"A demon?"

Lara shook her head.

"No, I don't think so." She looked at Hope. "Hope?"

Renee, who had overheard the conversation, let Hope touch her. Hope babbled something.

"No, she is not a threat," Renee then reported.

"Let's go, Alice!" Faith called, worried.

Jasmine looked and saw that Alice was going straight toward the strange girl.

Alice, who had been playing with other children, occasionally glanced at her sisters. She knew they wouldn't leave her alone, but she checked nevertheless. And when she saw that they were talking about someone, she looked and froze. She knew she had never seen the girl, but she still knew her, she was sure of it. And not only did she know her, she knew her very well, she felt it. The girl was important to her. Somehow. It was confusing and she didn't understand it, but she was certain. She got up and went toward her, feeling the urge to be with her.

The strange girl allowed herself to enjoy the sun for a few minutes before continuing on her search. It had been a long time since she had left her prison and the world had changed a lot. In the first few moments, she had seen more new and unusual things than in her entire life. And it was a long life indeed. And then she heard someone scream. She looked and saw two girls, twins, run vaguely in her direction. For a moment she thought they were going toward her, but then she realized that they weren't. She looked and stopped when she saw who they were running toward. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw her, the love of her life, her soulmate. Or rather her soulmate’s reincarnation.

Alice felt her heart start beating faster when the girl looked at her and she knew the girl had recognized her too. And then she remembered something else. She had seen the girl, in her dreams. It wasn't often, but those dreams were always pretty intense and they didn't always have a good end. The girl then came closer, dropped on her knees and spread her arms. Alice heard her sisters calling her name, but she ignored them. She hugged the girl, knowing the girl wouldn’t hurt her.

Faith and Jasmine nearly freaked out when they saw Alice hug the strange girl. They wanted to separate them, but when they saw that they were both crying, apparently from happiness, they decided to let them be, since there was no immediate danger to Alice. The strange girl said something, but they didn’t understand it.

"Mmm, Alice?" Jasmine said about a minute or so later.

Alice blinked and the girls slowly broke the hug and stared into one another's eyes.

"Alice?" Faith said, tapping her foot.

Alice looked at her and Faith could see that she was very happy.

"I hate to break the reunion, but, em, who is she?"

Alice looked back at the girl. Who was she? She had no idea. She had thought that the girl was merely a product of her imagination, but she obviously wasn't. She didn't know the girl's name or who she was, she only knew how she made her feel and she couldn't even name all of the emotions. It was strange. She had a family, a home, and she was happy, but now that she was with this girl, all those feelings became much stronger. The girl was family too, she was…

"Home," she and looked back at the girl.

"That was deep," Jasmine commented sarcastically.

"Mhm," Faith agreed.

Jasmine the frowned and looked from one girl to the other and back.

"Mmm, Faith?"

"Yeah?"

"Recognize the look?"

Faith glanced at Jasmine and then looked at Alice, at the strange girl and back at Alice again.

"Oh, brother."

Jasmine grinned.

"How about a sister?"

Faith laughed briefly.

"Em, Alice?" she then said and Alice looked at her. "I hate to break up this Kodak moment, but I really want to know who she is."

Alice glanced at the girl and then shrugged.

"I don't know."

Faith's face went blank.

"Aha. Okay."

"Take her to Hope?" Jasmine asked.

"Mmm, okay," Faith agreed. "Alice, let's take her to Hope."

Alice nodded and looked at the girl again. She gave her a big smile to let her know that everything was okay.

"Come," she said and pulled her.

The girl hesitated, but then she followed her beloved. She stopped for a moment when she saw Lara, but when Alice looked at her, confused, she smiled at her and continued. Then she saw Hope and she stopped, feeling the girl's power. She looked at Alice, who smiled at her.

"Who is she?" Raelee asked.

Jasmine shrugged.

"I've no idea."

"What do you mean?" Raelee asked, puzzled.

"She doesn't know," Jasmine said and nodded at Alice. "She said she was home. That's it."

"Oh."

"They love each other," Eddie said. "They're happy."

Rochelle nodded.

"Yes."

"We noticed," Jasmine said with a smile.

"She doesn’t speak English and we thought Hope might help us out," Faith said.

Renee looked at her daughter.

"Baby."

Hope touched her mother's face.

"She said she'll do it."

"Okay, but we better go to Giles, we don't want anyone see that."

Renee nodded and got up.

"S-See wh-what?" Amir asked.

Jasmine, Faith, Lara, Raelee and Monique looked at Renee.

"You'll see," Renee said.

On the way to Giles' house, everyone observed the strange girl, especially Faith and Jasmine. But the girl had other things on her mind. She observed the world around her, wide-eyed. She was a bit frightened by the strange things she saw, they looked wondrous, even magical to her, but when she looked at her beloved and saw her smiling back at her, her fears vanished and she knew she was safe.

"Ah, hello, girls," Giles said when he opened the door and saw them standing there.

"Hi, Giles," Faith said and marched in.

The others followed her.

"Come in," Giles said sarcastically when everyone was already inside, and closed the door. "Faith?" he then said, puzzled, when he saw the new girl take a seat on the sofa and Alice cuddled up to her in her lap.

"We're trying to find out who she is," Faith said and nodded at the new girl.

"Any particular reason? Beside the fact that Alice seems to be very fond of her, I mean."

"Lara thinks she's not quite Human. Hope doesn't think she's a threat."

"I see."

"We thought Hope could help us out," Jasmine added.

In the meantime, Renee sat near the strange girl. Hope touched her mother's face and then slowly reached toward the strange girl. The girl saw that and backed off, but when she looked at Alice, Alice smiled and nodded at Hope. The girl hesitated and then let Hope touch her. She jerked, surprised, when she realized that she could talk to the baby's mother, but she didn't move away.

"What is she doing?" Rochelle asked.

"They're talking," Renee said.

Rochelle frowned.

"How?"

"Hope is telepathic," Eddie said. "That's how she helped me."

"She helped you?" Rochelle asked, surprised.

Eddie nodded.

"Yes. And she also helped Ana."

"Sh-She did?" Amir asked.

"Yes."

Amir looked at Renee.

"W-Will you th-thank her?"

Renee smiled, concentrating.

"Sure."

Then they quietly waited, more or less patiently, for the girl and Renee to finish the conversation. Faith and Jasmine observed their sister, confused. They were glad that Alice was happy, they could see it in her eyes, but they were also a bit worried because they didn't know who the girl was. Finally the conversation was over and everyone looked at Renee expectantly.

Renee was about to start, when Hope touched her face.

"You sure, baby?" Renee asked and Hope nodded. "Okay."

Renee gave Hope to the surprised girl, who carefully took her. Hope touched her and told her something and the girl nodded. Hope then touched Alice and Alice and the girl began to talk. Renee turned back to the gang.

“And?” Jasmine asked.

“Well, it’s a strange story,” Renee said. “I’m not even sure I got everything right. That girl, em... Yes. Well, she’s from ancient Egypt. She was... is a witch. Back then, she was in love with another girl and Alice is that other girl’s reincarnation.”

“Yeah?” Jasmine asked, her eyebrow raised.

“Yes. Anyway, Alice’s parents, I’m gonna call her Alice, em, they didn’t approve of their relationship and they wanted to separate them, but they ran away together. Alice’s parents sent a small army after them. The soldiers caught up with them and they tried to kill the witch, but Alice sacrificed her life to save the witch. The witch then wanted to wipe out the soldiers, but she stopped herself, because she wasn’t a murderer. Alice’s parents then hired some priests, who gave the witch immortality and then entombed her for all eternity. At least that’s what Alice’s parents thought. But the priests respected the witch's decision to not kill the soldiers and they told her that she can only be freed by her soulmate. Alice. So now she... projects herself into the real world every hundred years or so and searches for Alice.”

“Wow,” Faith said.

“So she’s a projection?” Raelee asked.

“An astral projection,” Giles said thoughtfully. “Fascinating.”

“Don’t go Spock on us, Giles,” Faith said with a smirk.

“What can we do?” Raelee asked.

“I’m not sure,” Giles said, thinking. “It is pretty much up to Alice.”

“Alice?” Faith and Jasmine asked in unison.

“Well, yes. She’s the only one who can free her.” He looked at Renee. “I presume they used a spell.”

“Yes,” Renee said, nodding.

“Then I’m afraid we can’t do anything at the moment.”

“Perhaps Willow could do some research?” Faith asked.

“I’m not sure on what.”

“Well, perhaps the witch can give us an approximate position so we’d know where to look when Alice grows up.”

Giles thought about it.

“Yes, that would be worth a try, but, em,” he looked at Renee, “would Hope be up to it?”

Renee glanced at her daughter, smiling.

“Apparently,” she said.

“So what do we do with her?” Jasmine asked, nodding at the witch. “How long will she, em, you know, stay projected?”

“I don’t know,” Giles said.

“She could stay at our house,” Faith suggested.

Jasmine looked at her, surprised.

“You think?”

Faith shrugged.

“They haven’t seen each other in millennia, they deserve some time together.”

Jasmine raised an eyebrow.

“Millennia? What did they do to you in school?” she said, shaking her head.

Faith grinned.

“Same thing they’re gonna do to you.”

“Oh yeah, forgot about that,” she said and scratched her head. “But, em, do you think Mrs Chase would agree?”

“Probably. She’s one cool lady.”

Jasmine smiled.

“Yeah, I noticed.”

“Alice?” Renee asked when she saw that Alice and the witch had stopped talking and that Alice was thinking.

Alice jerked and looked at her and then at her sisters.

“I... remember,” she then said. “I was... Sha’uri. And she is... Rosha.”

“You remember your previous life?” Giles asked, curious.

Alice nodded and looked back at Rosha, smiling. She caressed her and Rosha caressed her back, smiling.

“Alice, ask her how long she can stay here.”

Alice looked at her, nodded and then looked at Hope, who was still in Rosha’s arms, talking with Rosha.

“Hope.”

Hope looked at her and then touched her face.

“About two days,” Alice reported a few moments later, staring at Rosha sadly.

Rosha smiled and gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“Okay. Tell her to give you all the names of the places closest to where you lived and the possible location of her tomb,” Giles said.

Alice nodded and turned back to Rosha. Hope knew what to do.

“Paper,” Alice said a few minutes later.

Giles quickly scrambled to get some paper and a pen. Then he gave them to Alice, who started to draw and write.

"I didn't know she could write," Jasmine said, surprised.

"She can't," Faith said. "She's probably just drawing what she had seen, she doesn't know what it means."

"Oh."

It took Alice a while, but she finally made a couple of maps and a list of names and gave them to Giles.

Giles studied them.

“I will have to go to the library,” he said thoughtfully.

“What, you don’t have all the books at home?” Faith asked in mock surprise.

Giles looked at her.

“No. Eh, I will need historical and geographical books.”

“And Willow’s help.”

“Yes. I will call her. You can go now.”

“Okay.” Faith looked at Alice. “Alice, we’re going home. Tell Rosha she can come too. Oh, ask her if she needs to eat and stuff.”

Alice nodded, excited, and Hope helped her again.

“She doesn’t need to eat,” she then reported.

“Okay. Good. Then let’s go.”

Alice nodded and looked at Hope.

“Thank you, Hope,” she said and Hope giggled.

Renee took her daughter and Alice and Rosha got up.

“Baby,” Renee said and Hope touched her face. “Are you sure... You can say no, you know.”

Hope babbled something and Renee smiled.

“I’m so proud of you,” she said and kissed her on the forehead.

"Okay, we're going home now," Faith said. "Monique, Renee, why don't you fill Rochelle, Eddie and Amir in about what's going on around here."

"You want us to tell them everything?" Monique asked.

"Yes."

"Including, you know…"

"Slayers and stuff? Yes. Everything I told you, including what I was like before."

Jasmine looked at her sister.

"Are you sure about that?" Jasmine asked.

Faith shrugged.

"They've been around long enough and I think they deserve to know."

"Okay."

"Hi, Mom," Jasmine said when they got home. "Em, Mrs Chase," She quickly corrected herself, frowning.

Mrs Chase smiled.

"Hello, girls."

"Em, this is gonna sound strange."

"And embarrassing," Faith added.

"Yeah, that too," Jasmine agreed with a nod. "So, um, anyway, this is Rosha," she said and pointed at the girl. "Well, this is actually only her astral projection. She was born in ancient Egypt, which makes her several thousand years old. Back then, she was in love with a girl named Sha'uri and Sha'uri's parents didn't approve. And when Sha'uri was killed, Sha'uri's family had her cursed. So now she projects herself out of her prison every hundred years or so and she searches for Sha'uri's reincarnation." She hesitated for a moment. "Em, Alice is Sha'uri's reincarnation. That's why they're holding hands."

Mrs Chase stared at the four girls, her brain trying to process all the strange information. It finally decided to accept it at face value and move on.

"Okay," she said.

Faith and Jasmine glanced at each other, surprised.

"Okay, the embarrassing part," Faith said. "Em, Rosha can keep her projection up for a day or two and Alice wants her to stay with her until Rosha disappears again."

"She can sleep with Alice," Jasmine said.

"Just sleep," Faith quickly added. "And she doesn't have any needs."

Mrs Chase glanced at the twins and then looked at Rosha and Alice. They did seem very close. And very happy, judging by the look in their eyes. And Rosha was obviously a bit nervous. She sighed and shook her head.

"Okay," she said with a smile.

"Thanks."

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

Mrs Chase smiled and caressed the girl.

"Why don't you show her around? I'll be with you in a moment."

Alice nodded, took Rosha's hand and nearly dragged her upstairs. Mrs Chase and the twins stared after them, smiling.

"So, Mom, you're cool with this?" Faith then asked.

Mrs Chase looked at her.

"I think we can take her in for a day or two."

"No, I mean the story we told you."

"Oh. Well, it's a strange story. I just accept it at face value and try not to think about how it's supposed to be impossible."

The twins laughed.

"Makes it easier to deal with, ha?"

"Yes," Mrs Chase said, smiling. “And besides, I know you girls are special, all of you, and I know that you save people on a daily basis and the world probably a couple of times a year, so I try not to make things more difficult for you, even though I don’t understand everything. But I trust you will do the right thing.”

The twins stared at their mother, speechless.

“Her coolness quotient just went off the scale,” Jasmine told Faith, still staring at Mrs Chase.

“Definitely,” Faith agreed, nodding.

Mrs Chase smiled again.

"I'll go check up on them."

"Okay," Faith said.

"Oh, Jasmine, you can call me Mom, if you want. I think I already told you that."

Jasmine nodded, blushing slightly.

"Yeah. Mom."

Mrs Chase smiled and left. Faith then turned to Jasmine.

"Em, I guess it's up to you then."

Jasmine looked at her quizzically.

"What?"

"To get a boyfriend and reproduce, so this family won't die out."

Jasmine laughed.

"And what if I get a girlfriend?" she then teased.

"Then we're screwed."

Jasmine laughed again.

"Four daughters and all of them dykes."

"Ain't life great?" Faith said with a smile.

"Yeah."

Faith smirked.

"Remember the joke about Dad? The longer he's in jail, the more kids he has?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, looks like he just got another one."

"Rosha?"

"Yep."

Jasmine raised her eyebrow.

"Okay, I stand corrected. Five daughters and all of them dykes."

Faith laughed.

"Well, that depends."

"On what?" Jasmine asked, confused.

"On whether you get a boyfriend or a girlfriend. If you get a boyfriend, that will be four dykes, if you get a girlfriend, it will be six dykes."

Jasmine grinned.

"I didn't know you were that good with math."

Faith grinned back.

"I actually learned something in school."

"I'm so proud," Jasmine said and put her arm around Faith's shoulder.

In Alice's room, Alice was busy showing Rosha around. Rosha paid only partial attention and used the rest of it on Alice. Mrs Chase quietly observed them from the hall and she couldn't help but smile. She noticed the way Rosha was looking at Alice and she also noticed how Alice was looking at Rosha. Yes, love was in the air. She didn't quite understand the stuff about astral projections and reincarnations, but she knew love. She had seen the looks between Faith and Cordelia and she remembered how she and her husband used to look at one another when they were young. And now she saw the same looks between Alice and Rosha.

When Rosha noticed her, Mrs Chase saw fear in her eyes. She didn't know why at first, but then she remembered what Jasmine had told her about Rosha and Alice and she understood that Rosha was afraid that she didn't approve. She smiled and walked in.

"Mommy," Alice said when she noticed her. "I was just showing Rosha my toys."

Mrs Chase smiled and caressed her. Then she looked at Rosha. She approached her and took her hand. Then she took Alice's hand and joined them. She smiled at Rosha and nodded.

Rosha was surprised, but then she understood what Mrs Chase was trying to tell her and she smiled and nodded back, glad that Mrs Chase approved.

Mrs Chase saw that Rosha wasn't afraid anymore and she looked at Alice, who was a bit confused.

"I just wanted Rosha to know that I'm okay with you two being together," she explained.

Alice smiled.

"Okay."

Mrs Chase smiled and caressed her.

"I'll leave you two alone," she said and left.

"Mom," Faith said when Mrs Chase came down again.

Mrs Chase looked at her and smiled.

"Faith."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Em, does it bother you, you know, that, em, well, that all your daughters are gay?"

Mrs Chase stared at Faith, surprised and confused, and then smiled.

"No."

"Really? I mean, Cordelia and I are a couple, Jasmine isn't exactly straight and now Alice has a girlfriend from ancient Egypt."

"Come here," Mrs Chase said and put her arm around her shoulder. "Look, I know my reaction when I found out that you and Cordelia were a couple was less than stellar, but I have learned since then, you know. The only thing that matters is your happiness. If you're happy, I won't trouble you about it."

Faith smiled.

"Thanks."

Mrs Chase gently ruffled her head.

"You're welcome, honey."

When it was time for Alice to go to bed, Rosha retired with her. Alice cuddled up to her and quickly fell asleep. Rosha felt a bit awkward at first, especially when Mrs Chase tucked Alice in. But Mrs Chase only smiled and left. And then there was also the fact that a long time had passed since she and Sha'uri had slept together, though they had never made love before. And now she and Sha'uri were together again, even if it was just for a day or so. But soon, when the girl that was her beloved grew up, they would be together again until one of them died. Or perhaps longer. Sha'uri had been reborn many times while she was trapped in her prison, yet she had found her again.

She thought about the world outside. It hadn't changed much in millennia, but two centuries or so ago, she had seen the first major changes. And now, the world was full of miraculous things, most of which she had no idea what they were for. It had scared her a bit at first, but when she had seen that Sha'uri wasn't afraid, she knew that they weren't dangerous. At least not more than any thing that you don't use correctly.

"Hey," Faith said when she and Cordelia met in their dreams.

"Hey," Cordelia said and they kissed.

"Man, that was an interesting day today."

"It was?" Cordelia asked as they walked to the bed.

"Yes," Faith said and they sat down. "Alice's girlfriend came to town."

Cordelia gave her a puzzled look and Faith grinned.

"Em, I don't think I heard you correctly," Cordelia said. "You said Alice's girlfriend came to town?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes."

"Our Alice's?"

"Yes."

"And girlfriend as in… us?"

Faith nodded, her grin widening.

"Yes."

Cordelia's eyes narrowed.

"Okay, what's the catch? You know Alice is way too young to have a girlfriend."

Faith chuckled.

"I know."

"So?"

"Well, they were girlfriends in another life."

Cordelia blinked.

"Okay, start at the beginning," she said.

Faith smiled.

"Okay. Well, several thousand years ago, Alice was a girl named Sha'uri and she had a girlfriend named Rosha, who was a witch. Sha'uri's parents didn't approve of their relationship, so they eloped. Sha'uri's parents sent soldiers after them and when they tried to kill Rosha, Sha'uri was killed instead. Rosha was made immortal and she was entombed. So every couple of centuries, she gathered enough power to send out an astral projection of herself and search for Sha'uri's reincarnation. Well, she found her in Alice."

Cordelia stared at her for a few moments.

"Mhm," she said skeptically.

"I'm serious," Faith said, smirking. "I mean, Alice knew who she was the moment she saw her. And so did Rosha."

"Really?" Cordelia said, her eyerbows up.

"Yeah." She smiled. "And they're so in love."

"What does Mom think about it?"

Faith's smile widened.

"She's cool with it."

Cordelia raised her eyebrows.

"She is?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah. Oh, Buffy fought a robot."

"A what?" Cordelia said, startled by the sudden change of theme as well as by its bizarreness.

Faith smiled.

"A robot. Some guy made it as a sex toy. Buffy said she could kick some serious ass."

"What happened?"

"Ran out of batteries."

Cordelia laughed.

"You're kidding, right?"

Faith grinned.

"Nope, I'm quite serious," she said and licked Cordelia's neck.

Cordelia moaned.

"Luckily I have a sex toy whose batteries are better than that of the Energizer Bunny," she said and Faith looked at her, startled.

"Huh?"

"You, silly," Cordelia said with a grin and kissed her.

Faith chuckled and quickly responded to Cordelia's kiss.

"So, how are things in LA?" Faith asked when they stopped kissing.

"Interesting as usually. Wesley got shot by a zombie cop."

"Yeah?" Faith said, worried. "How is he?"

"He'll live. Angel also showed up."

"And?"

Cordelia shrugged.

"He donated all my clothes to the shelter. Can you believe it?"

Faith grinned.

"I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now."

Cordelia glared at her for a moment and then smirked.

Rosha observed Alice throughout the night, thinking about the past that they had together and the future that they would soon have. For the first time in millennia, she was hopeful again.

When Alice woke up, she was a bit confused at finding someone else in her bed, but when she saw Rosha smiling at her, she smiled back and cuddled even closer. Rosha said something in Egyptian, caressing her, and then kissed her on the temple.

That was how Mrs Chase found them when she quietly came in to wake up Alice. Rosha felt a bit awkward at first, but when Mrs Chase smiled, she relaxed.

"Sha'uri," she said.

Alice looked at her and Rosha nodded at Mrs Chase. Alice turned and smiled.

"Morning, sweetie," Mrs Chase said. "Sleep well?"

Alice nodded.

"Can I stay in bed for a while?" she asked.

"Sure," Mrs Chase allowed. "But not too long."

"Okay," Alice said and cuddled back to Rosha.

Mrs Chase smiled and left.

After breakfast, Rosha and Alice watched TV. Mrs Chase smiled when she saw Rosha stare at the images on TV, wide-eyed. Alice too found the program fascinating. Mrs Chase let them be and she tried to explain Rosha to Maria. But Maria simply asked if Rosha was family and when Mrs Chase said that she was, Maria said that was all she needed to know. Mrs Chase couldn't help but chuckle to herself at her reaction.

After lunch, Alice and Rosha continued watching TV, but Alice soon fell asleep in Rosha's lap. After that, Rosha often glanced at her beloved and gently caressed her. Mrs Chase noticed that and decided to take a photo. Rosha looked at her, confused, when she heard the camera click, but when Mrs Chase smiled at her, Rosha knew that there was nothing to worry about and she concentrated on Alice again.

"Oh my god," Jasmine said after she got a call from Tara and Tara told her the bad news. "When?"

"Not long, maybe an hour or two," Tara said over the phone.

"How?"

"Aneurysm or something."

"Oh. How's Buffy?"

"Shocked. She told Dawn."

"And Dawn?"

"In denial."

Jasmine gulped and thought for a moment.

"Do you, em, want me to come over?"

"No, it's okay, we're here. I mean, Giles, Willow, Xander, Anya and me."

"I'll tell Faith and the others."

"Okay."

"Does Angel know?"

"Yes, I called him."

"Good. Keep me posted and let me know when the funeral is."

"I will."

"Thanks. Bye."

"Bye."

Jasmine hung up and took a deep breath.

"What is it?" Mrs Chase asked, worried, having heard Jasmine mention a funeral.

Jasmine looked at her.

"Buffy's mom died."

"What?" Mrs Chase said, surprised. "When?"

"A couple of hours ago. Aneurysm or something." She sighed. "I'll be in my room. Call me when Faith gets home."

Mrs Chase nodded and Jasmine left.

"Jasmine!" Mrs Chase called when Faith came home.

Faith noticed the serious look on Mrs Chase's face and she wondered what was wrong. Mrs Chase gave her a sympathetic smile and went back to the kitchen, deciding to give the sisters some privacy.

Jasmine quickly came downstairs.

"What's up?" Faith asked anxiously.

Jasmine took a deep breath as she walked up to her.

"Buffy's mom is dead."

Faith froze.

"What?"

"Tara called a while ago. She said it was aneurysm or something."

"What?"

"She'll call us."

Faith just stared at her sister and a few tears slid down her cheek.

"What's wrong?" Alice asked, worried, as she came by with Rosha in tow.

Jasmine looked at her and thought about what to tell her. She decided for the truth.

"You know Buffy's and Dawnie's mommy?"

Alice nodded.

"Yes."

"Well, she, em, she died."

Alice frowned.

"What does that mean?"

"Well, she, em, it means she left."

"Where?"

"Well, I hope she went to Heaven."

"When is she coming back?"

"She's not."

Alice frowned again.

"Why not?"

"Because she can't." Jasmine thought for a moment. "Remember when that doll of yours broke?" she asked and Alice nodded. "Well, something similar happened to her."

"Can't she be fixed?" Alice asked innocently.

Jasmine smiled in spite of the fact that there was nothing funny about the whole situation.

"No."

Rosha, feeling that something bad had happened, kneeled behind Alice and hugged her.

"What's going on?" Mrs Chase asked as she returned from the kitchen and Jasmine looked at her at.

Alice broke from Rosha's hug, ran to Mrs Chase and hugged her tightly.

"Are you gonna die too, Mommy?" she asked, her eyes watering up.

"What?" Mrs Chase said, startled.

"I was trying to explain death to her," Jasmine explained.

"Buffy's mom?"

Jasmine nodded.

"Yes."

Mrs Chase nodded and looked at her youngest. She caressed her.

"Come, honey, I'll explain," she said.

Alice let go of her and Mrs Chase picked her up and carried her away. Rosha looked at Jasmine, worried, and Jasmine nodded after Alice.

"Go."

Rosha hesitated for a moment and then hurried away as well.

Jasmine then turned back to Faith. She was about to say something when the phone rang, snapping Faith out of her shock. Faith ran to the table and picked up the receiver.

"Cordelia?"

"Yes, Faith. I heard."

"I can't believe she's gone," Faith said as she slid down the wall.

Jasmine quietly slipped away.

"I know."

"I mean, it's so unfair. She didn't deserve to die like that."

"I know, Faith. It sucks."

Faith chuckled for a moment before sniffing, sad.

"She was a great woman."

"Yes, she was," Cordelia agreed. "Do you want me to come home today?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"Nah, it's okay."

"Then I'll come tomorrow."

"Cordelia…"

"Faith, I know how much she meant to you. I'm coming."

Faith sighed.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Faith. I'll see you tonight."

Faith nodded.

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

Faith hung up and then remained sitting for a while, thinking about Joyce.

"Hey, guys," Jasmine said when she, Rosha and Alice came to the park.

"What's wrong?" Lara asked.

"Where's Faith?" Raelee asked.

Jasmine smiled sadly.

"Faith's home," she said. "As for what's wrong, Buffy's mother died."

"What?" Monique said, surprised. "When?"

"Today."

"Was it, you know…" Rochelle started.

Jasmine shook her head.

"No, it was aneurysm or something."

"Oh."

"How is Faith?" Renee asked.

"Depressed," Jasmine said. "She really liked Mrs Summers."

"When's the funeral?" Monique asked.

"I don't know yet. I'll tell you."

"Okay."

Jasmine sighed and looked at Rosha and Alice, who were playing with other children, and smiled, glad that at least Mrs Chase managed to calm Alice.

"Come here," Cordelia said and hugged Faith tightly when they met in their dreams.

Faith hugged her back tightly.

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

Faith sighed.

"I'm better." She let go of Cordelia and looked at her. "You?"

Cordelia smiled.

"Oh, you know, the usual crap. Wesley had to go to the hospital again."

"Why?"

"He was bleeding."

"Oh. Is he okay?" Faith asked, worried.

Cordelia nodded.

"He's fine. We also got rid of that third eye."

"Good."

"Not so good. It turned out it was a baby demon and its family wanted revenge. And like the clients refusing to pay wasn't enough, I got impregnated with one of the demons."

Faith started to chuckle and finally burst into laughter.

"What?! It's not funny," Cordelia pouted, but the pout quickly turned into a smile when she saw Faith laughing.

"You sure are a magnet for demon spawn," Faith finally said.

"Well, of course, what with my great body and all."

Faith grinned.

"Well, demons aren't the only ones attracted to it," she said and hugged Cordelia.

"Mmm, who else could be attracted to it?" Cordelia pretended to wonder.

"Oh, only most of the male and quite a few of the female population," Faith said and Cordelia grinned. "So that's why I've been scratching my head all day," she then said and scratched her head again.

"Probably, yes," Cordelia said with a smile.

Then Faith frowned.

"Oh, wait. Jasmine told me Tara said she called Angel. Does that mean he's back?"

Cordelia nodded.

"Yes. He apologized and now he works for us."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

"So you're, like, his boss or something?"

Cordelia smiled.

"Yes."

Faith smiled back.

"So does he call you Boss?"

Cordelia snorted.

"Please."

"Mistress?" Faith continued with a smirk.

Cordelia's eyes went wide.

"Faith!" she said and gently slapped Faith on the arm.

Faith grinned.

"Yes?"

"The only person who's allowed to call me that is you."

Faith frowned.

"Boss?"

Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"No, silly, Mistress."

Faith grinned.

"I thought I was more than that."

"Oh, you're definitely more," Cordelia said and kissed her. "Much more."

Faith smiled.

"I know," she said and her face slowly became serious again. "Thanks."

Cordelia smiled.

"You're welcome. Feel like cuddling?"

Faith nodded.

"Oh yeah, I'm in the need of some serious cuddling session."

"I'm happy to oblige."

The next morning, it was finally time and Alice knew it. She hugged Rosha tightly, not wanting to let her go. But Rosha knew that she couldn't stay. She gently eased herself away from Alice and kneeled before her. She smiled and caressed her. She told Alice in Egyptian that she loved her, kissed her on the forehead and then disappeared, deciding to end it rather than prolong the anxiety.

"Rosha!" Alice cried and hugged the empty air.

Mrs Chase kneeled in front of her and hugged her. Alice started to cry.

"Shh," Mrs Chase consoled her as she picked up, caressing her.

"I hope you never have to experience that," Faith quietly told Jasmine.

Jasmine nodded, wishing she could do something to help her little sister.

When Alice finally calmed down a bit, she looked at Mrs Chase.

"I'll find her, Mommy," she said determinedly, tears still running down her cheeks.

Mrs Chase smiled.

"I know you will, sweetie. And we'll help you."

Alice nodded and buried her head in Mrs Chase's shoulder again.

"Hey," Faith said, smiling, when she saw that Alice had calmed down. "Feeling better?"

Alice shook her head.

"I miss Rosha," she said quietly.

Faith smiled encouragingly.

"Don't worry, you'll find her. And besides, Rosha is happy now."

Alice gave her a puzzled look.

"Why?"

"Because she knows that you two will be together again soon. She knows that you will find her."

Alice thought about that and then smiled briefly.

"I will," she said.

"That's the spirit."

Alice thought for few moments.

"Does love always hurt like that?"

Faith looked at her, surprised by the depth of Alice's thoughts.

"No. There are good times and there are bad times. But whenever there are bad times, just remember the good times. It won't make the pain go away, but it will make you feel a bit better."

Alice thought for a moment and then nodded. She left and Faith stared after her thoughtfully.

At Joyce's funeral, only the original Scooby Gang was standing beside the grave, plus Tara and Anya. Faith and the rest of the gang was in the background. Cordelia was hugging Faith around the shoulders, occasionally caressing her. Jasmine and Mrs Chase stood off to the left of them and the rest of the guys were behind them.

When it was all over, everyone slowly walked away, some sooner, some later. At the end, only Buffy, Faith and Cordelia remained. Buffy stood by the grave waiting for Angel and Faith and Cordelia watched over her until he came. Then they slowly slipped away.

The End