DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers and all Bring It On stuff belongs to someone else. 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. Oh yeah, I usually use the name Hope for Faith's daughter, but this time she's not. I just figured the name was suitable.

Loyalties
By Kristjan Brezovnik

A couple of days before graduation, a knock on the door woke up Faith. She opened her eyes, groggy, and noticed it was still dark outside. She groaned, got up and went to the door.

"What?" she asked when she opened the door and saw a vampire there.

"Boss wants to see you."

"Now?"

"Yeah."

Faith sighed.

"Okay. Go."

The vampire left and Faith closed the door and dressed up.

"Boss?" she asked when she got to the City Hall.

"Good morning, Faith."

"Shouldn't you still be having your beauty sleep or something?" Faith asked and rubbed her eyes.

The Mayor smiled.

"The city never sleeps, Faith, you should know that."

"Yeah. So, what's up?"

"I want you to meet someone."

Faith blinked.

"Now?"

"She's still asleep, but I thought you should be here when she wakes up."

Faith frowned.

"Who?"

The Mayor smiled.

"Come," he said and led her to an office. "She locked herself in, but I had the door opened."

Faith frowned again.

"Why would she lock herself in?"

The Mayor hesitated for a moment.

"She's a street kid, much like you, only she had a harder life than you."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

"Yes." He quietly opened the door. "We should be very quiet," he said and entered.

Faith quietly followed him, curious.

The Mayor stopped for a moment and looked around when he couldn't see anyone. Then he headed toward the desk and around it.

Faith followed him. When they got around the table, all Faith could see was a dirty girl in even dirtier rags, sleeping cuddled up under the desk. Then she saw her face and her eyes went wide.

"Who is she?" she asked, shocked.

"Your twin sister," the Mayor said.

"What?" Faith said and looked at him. "I don't h…" She trailed off with a frown as she remembered something. "Hope."

"Yes," the Mayor said.

Then Hope suddenly woke up, feeling she was not alone. She wanted to get up, scared, but she bumped into the desk above.

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

"Yeah," Faith said absentmindedly, still staring at Hope.

Hope finally looked at Faith and her eyes went wide. She cocked her head and frowned, thinking.

"I know you," she finally said. Then her eyes went wide as she remembered. "Faith! You're Faith." She frowned again. "Are you real?"

Faith kneeled and Hope slowly reached out to touch her. Faith's first instinct was to back off, but she allowed Hope to touch her cheek. Then she covered Hope's hand with her own, making Hope jerk, startled.

"Hope," she said.

The sisters stared at one another for a while, both confused. Then Hope slowly crawled from under the desk. They stared into each other's eyes for a few moments, their faces only a few centimeters apart, before Hope finally hugged Faith. Faith tensed for a moment and then slowly hugged Hope back. A tear slid down her cheek, but she didn't even notice it.

When Hope finally let go of Faith, they stared at one another again.

"How did you get past the monsters?" Hope finally broke the silence.

"Monsters?" Faith said, startled.

"Uh-huh," Hope said with a nod. "They have all bumpy faces. And yellow eyes."

"Oh." She hesitated for a moment. "I work with them."

Hope frowned.

"Why?"

Faith sighed, suddenly ashamed.

"It's a long story." She thought for a moment. "Come, let's go to my place."

"Your place?" Hope asked, curious.

"Yeah," Faith said and got up.

She offered Hope her hand and Hope accepted it.

"What about the monsters?" Hope asked as they walked toward the door, Hope still holding Faith's hand.

"Don't worry about them."

"Promise?" Hope asked with wide eyes.

Faith looked at her.

"I promise," she said, feeling strange, and Hope smiled.

They left the room and they both looked around.

"I see things went well," the Mayor said with a smile.

"Yeah," Faith said and glanced at Hope, who was hiding behind her. She hesitated for a moment. "Thanks," she then said.

The Mayor's smile widened.

"Anything for my favorite Slayer."

Faith smiled a bit.

"We're going to my place now."

"Will she be staying with you?"

"Yeah."

"I'll have another bed sent over and some clothes."

Faith stared at him for a few moments.

"Thanks."

The Mayor smiled again.

"You're welcome, Faith. Now go. And make sure you give her a thorough bath, there's nothing like good hygiene."

Faith almost rolled her eyes, but she knew he had a point.

"I will." She thought for a moment. "Will you need me?"

"Maybe in the evening."

"Okay. I'll see you around then." She looked at Hope. "Come."

As they walked through Sunnydale, Hope looked around, curious.

"Where are we, Faith?" she asked after a while.

"Sunnydale?"

"Where's that?"

"California."

Hope frowned.

"That's in America, right?"

Faith frowned, slowly getting the idea that Hope maybe wasn't the brightest crayon in the box. She sighed.

"Yeah, west coast."

"And Boston is on the east coast. Right?"

Faith smiled.

"Yeah," she confirmed and Hope smiled as well.

"Do you live here?" Hope asked.

"Yeah."

Hope hesitated for a moment.

"Can I live with you?"

"Of course," Faith said and Hope smiled again.

Hope then thought again.

"Do… Do Mommy and Daddy… eh…"

"I have no idea where Dad is and Mom is dead."

"Oh." She thought for a moment. "I was the one given away, right?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"Yeah."

Hope hesitated for a moment.

"Do you know why?"

Faith sighed.

"No."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you," she said, gently squeezing Hope's hand, and Hope smiled.

When they got to Faith's apartment, Hope looked around, curious.

"Wow," she finally said. "Is this yours?"

"Yeah."

"Wow."

Faith smiled.

"Come, let's get you cleaned up."

Hope looked at her.

"Cleaned up?"

"You're dirty, you need a bath."

Hope looked at herself.

"Oh."

"Come." She led Hope to the bathroom. "Okay, undress," she said as she started to prepare the bath.

Hope hesitated for a moment and then slowly started to undress.

"Just dump the clothes," Faith said when she saw that Hope was carefully folding them.

Hope looked at her, confused.

"But what will I wear?"

Faith smiled.

"My clothes. And the Mayor said he'll send some new clothes just for you."

"For me?" Hope asked, surprised.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because you're my sister."

"Oh."

Faith smiled again and then left the bathroom to fetch a trash bag.

"Just put the clothes in here," she said, picked up the folded clothes and put them into the bag, which she then held out for Hope.

Hope quickly undressed and then looked at Faith questioningly.

"Hmm, you'll have to shave," Faith declared as she looked at her.

Hope looked at herself.

"Why?"

"Because girls shave their legs and armpits. And you should trim your pussy hair."

Hope frowned and looked at Faith.

"How?"

Faith sighed.

"Don't worry, I'll show you. Now get in the tub."

Hope got in.

"It's hot," she said.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it quickly. Sit down slowly and I'll add some more cold water."

Hope slowly lowered herself and Faith added some more cold water.

"Better?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay. Just soak now and relax."

"Where are you going?" Hope asked, worried, when Faith turned to leave the bathroom.

"To get you some fresh clothes."

"Oh."

"I'll be back quickly."

"Okay."

Faith went to her closet and picked up some simple clothes for Hope, nothing too provoking. She put them on the bed and then she returned to the bathroom.

"Okay, start rubbing the dirt off your skin and I'll wash your hair," she said.

"Okay."

Hope started scrubbing herself and Faiths started to wash her hair.

"So, em, where've you been?" Faith asked after a few moments.

"Boston."

"Who did you live with?"

Hope shrugged.

"Some people."

"What happened to them?"

Hope shrugged again.

"Don't know."

Faith sighed, trying to think of a way to get Hope to tell her more about herself.

An hour later, Hope was finally clean and shaven.

"Now that's much better," Faith declared after Hope rinsed off.

Hope looked at herself.

"Wow."

Faith smiled.

"Come, let's get you dried up."

Hope stepped out of the tub and Faith handed her a big towel. Hope dried herself and Faith gave her another towel to wrap herself in. Then Faith took a smaller towel and wrapped Hope's hair in it.

"Come," Faith said as she took a skin creme from the small cabinet.

They went to the bed and Hope sat on it.

"Faith?" she said.

"Yeah?"

Hope hesitated for a moment.

"Can I watch TV?"

Faith stared at her for a moment.

"Of course. This is your apartment too, Hope, you can do whatever you want."

Hope looked at her.

"Really?"

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yeah," she said and Hope smiled.

"Are there any cartoons on TV now?"

Faith's smile widened.

"You bet," she said, went to the TV and turned it on. She found a cartoon channel and then returned to the bed. "That okay?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith smiled a bit and then gave Hope the skin creme.

"Here."

Hope took the jar and frowned.

"What's this?"

"Skin creme. You've been dirty for a long time and this will help your skin recover."

"Oh." Hope unscrewed the jar and looked in. "Do I spread it all over my body?"

"Yes."

Hope unwrapped the towel and then dipped her fingers into the jar.

"Not so much," Faith warned her, "or you won't be able to spread it all."

"Oh."

Hope wiped her fingers on the jar's edge.

"That's enough. Now spread it over your skin. Here, let me hold the jar for you."

Hope gave Faith the jar and then started to spread the creme all over her body, part of her attention on cartoons. While she was busy with her arms and legs, Faith did her back.

When they were done, Hope dressed up.

"Suits you nicely," Faith said.

Hope looked at herself.

"Really?"

"You bet," Faith said and went to her closet. "Here, look in the mirror," she said and opened the door.

Hope came close and looked at herself.

"Wow," she said after a few moments, clearly surprised.

Faith smiled.

"You bet." She closed the door. "Now your hair. Take off the towel."

Hope took off the towel and gave it to Faith, who then dried Hope's hair a bit.

"Go watch cartoons, I'll be right back."

Hope went to the bed and Faith went to the bathroom to clean up and get a hairbrush.

"Faith," Hope said when Faith got back.

"Yeah?"

"I'm hungry."

Faith frowned, realizing that grocery shopping was not very high on her list of things to do as she was not much of a cook.

"I'll order us something."

"Order?"

"Yeah, you can order food by phone."

"Oh."

Faith went to the phone and quickly ordered two pizzas. Then she went back to the bed.

"Okay, turn your head a bit so I can brush your hair," she instructed Hope.

Hope did so and Faith started brushing her hair.

As she brushed her sister's hair, Faith suddenly got a very bad feeling. Hope was her sister, her family, and she wanted all the best for her. The Mayor, on the other hand, was not family, but he had been there for her when she needed him and he had found her sister. Still, she knew he was evil and had to be stopped. She really didn't want to do it, not after everything that he had done for her, but the thought of having to explain to Hope why she helped a monster eat up the entire Sunnydale made her sick. She took a deep breath, hating difficult decisions.

When the pizzas came, Hope stared at her own.

"That's all for me?" she asked, surprised.

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I have my own."

Hope looked at Faith's pizza and then back at her own, not used to so much food.

"Go on, eat it," Faith encouraged her.

Hope needed no further encouraging and she wolfed down her pizza.

When they were done, Hope leaned back, stuffed. She burped and Faith smiled. Then there was a knock at the door and Hope tensed.

"Relax," Faith said and went to the door.

"Spencer?" one of the men asked.

"Yeah?"

"We got delivery for you. One bed, bedding and some clothes."

"Eh, yeah. Come in."

The men took the stuff in.

"Want us to put it together?"

"Yeah."

The men started putting the bed together and Faith went to Hope, who was a bit nervous because of the men. She took her hand and gently squeezed it. Hope looked at her and she smiled at her. Hope smiled back, relaxing a bit.

When the men were done, they left.

"Okay, our turn," Faith then said. "Where do you want the bed?"

Hope looked around the room.

"Can it be next to yours?"

Faith looked at her bed and thought for a moment.

"Sure, but we'll have to move my bed a bit so I can get out of it without having to crawl over you."

"Can I sleep on the other side?"

Faith looked at her.

"Sure," she said and Hope smiled. "Okay, let's move the bed."

After moving and making the bed, they went through the clothes the Mayor had sent. Hope was all excited, she had never seen so many pretty clothes.

"Good thing they're not for me," Faith said as she browsed through them.

"Why?" Hope asked her, puzzled.

"Because they're too… girly. I prefer leather."

"Oh. Can I wear them?"

"Of course, they're for you."

Hope's eyes went wide.

"All of them?"

Faith smiled.

"You bet. Let's sort them out and then we'll make some space in the closet."

"Okay."

When they were done, they sat in front of TV and watched cartoons for a while.

"Hope," Faith finally spoke.

"Yes?" Hope said and looked at her.

"How about we go out and get you your own key."

Hope's eyes went wide.

"My own key?"

"Sure. I mean, you live here."

Hope smiled.

"Okay."

"And we can go shopping."

"Shopping?"

"For food." She sighed. "Looks like I'm gonna have to learn how to cook." She smiled. "Come, let's go."

As they walked around Sunnydale, Hope looked around curiously and excitedly.

"What's that?" she asked when they passed the park and she saw the carrousel.

"That's a carrousel."

"Can we go?"

Faith hesitated for a moment, riding on carrousels not really being her thing, but she wanted to make Hope happy.

"Okay," she said.

"Can we go again?" Hope asked excitedly after the first ride.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then sighed.

"Yeah, okay. But just one more time, then we have to go on."

"Okay," Hope agreed, nodding.

Faith took a deep breath and went to buy two more tickets.

"That was fun," Hope declared when they finally moved on.

Faith smiled a bit, still getting used to being the big sister. Sure, they were twins, but Hope still had her innocence, in spite of living on the streets.

"Can we go again sometime?"

"Sure," Faith said and Hope smiled.

"Cool." She looked around. "I like this town, it's not so busy as Boston."

"Yeah," Faith agreed. "But it's more dangerous."

Hope looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember those monsters?"

Hope tensed a bit.

"Yeah?"

"They're very common here and it's not very safe to go out at night."

"Really?" Hope said and looked around, nervous.

"Don't worry, they don't come out during the day."

"Oh," Hope said, calming down a bit.

As they walked around the store, Faith realized that grocery shopping was a much more difficult task than she had imagined, especially if you had to watch your expenses. She quickly made a plan for the next few days and then made sure the dates on the things she bought were far enough so that the things wouldn't go bad. She also had to make sure that she bought the cheapest things. She knew that they weren't necessarily the best choice, but she didn't have much of a choice. She realized that she would have to make a list of things they might need and compile a price list.

As they passed Sunnydale High on their way back, Faith got a bit nervous, because the students were having a break. Hope went to the fence and looked at the students curiously and longingly.

"Did you ever go to school, Faith?" she asked, staring at the students.

"Yeah," Faith said.

"Do you still go?"

"No."

Hope looked at her.

"Why not?"

Faith shrugged.

"I dropped out."

Hope frowned.

"Why?"

Faith sighed.

"I had other things to worry about."

"Oh."

"Come, we should go," Faith said when she noticed Willow and Xander come out.

"Is something wrong?" Hope asked, noticing Faith's sudden nervousness.

Faith hesitated for a moment. Then she took a deep breath, deciding to be honest with Hope.

"Yeah. Come."

Hope quickly followed Faith.

"What's wrong?" She thought for a moment and then glanced at the students. "Are you afraid of the students?"

Faith sighed.

"Sort of."

"Why?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"There are a few that used to be my friends." She frowned. "I think."

"They're not anymore?"

"No."

"Why not?"

Faith smiled at Hope's child-like insistence. Then she took a deep breath as she decided to get out with it.

"Because I killed a man."

Hope's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Faith said, staring at the side walk in front of her.

"Why?"

"It was an accident."

"Really?"

Faith sighed.

"Yeah. Me and Buffy, she was one of my friends, we were fighting some monsters when this guy came. We thought he was one of the monsters and I stabbed him. By the time we realized he was not, it was already too late." She hesitated for a moment. "Things went downhill between us from then on."

"Downhill?"

"From good to bad."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a few moments and then took a deep breath.

"Let me tell you the whole story."

When Faith was done, they walked quietly for a while, Hope thinking, Faith waiting for her reaction. Suddenly Hope put down her grocery bags and hugged Faith, who almost dropped her own bags from surprise. She hesitated for a moment and then hugged her back, bags and all.

When Hope finally released Faith, she looked into her eyes and smiled.

Faith stared at her for a few moments, surprised, and then smiled back, realizing Hope wasn't judging her.

"Thanks," she said quietly and Hope's smile widened.

"You're my sister," Hope said, and Faith's smile widened as well.

"Yeah," she said and took a deep breath, relieved.

Hope picked up her bags and resumed walking.

Faith quickly followed her.

"So, you like Buffy?" Hope asked after a few moments.

"Huh?" Faith said, surprised.

"You miss her."

Faith sighed.

"Yeah."

Hope thought for a moment.

"Are you, em… What's the word?"

"Gay?" Faith guessed.

"Yes! I think. I mean, do you like girls?"

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"I like boys and girls."

"Oh." Hope thought for a moment. "How can two girls have sex?"

Faith grinned.

"Trust me, they can."

"Can they have children?"

"No."

"Oh."

They walked quietly, Hope thinking, Faith trying not to.

"Faith?" Hope spoke after a few minutes.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think I could go to school?"

Faith smiled.

"Sure. I think. I'll see what I can do."

Hope looked at her with a smile.

"Thanks."

Faith grinned.

"You're my sister," she said and Hope's smile widened.

"Yeah."

"Come, let's go see if we can survive on our own cooking."

After two hours of cooking, they finally managed to cook their lunch.

"Let's see if this is edible," Faith said after they sat down. She tried the food and chewed it for a few moments. "I suppose it's not that bad," she then declared.

Hope, who had been watching her expectantly, tried the food as well.

"You like?" Faith asked her after a few moments.

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith smiled.

"Looks like we'll live then," she said and Hope smiled as well.

After lunch, Faith set up the PlayStation and played some games. Faith let Hope win a couple of games and Hope won a couple of times on her own because Faith kept watching at her, glad to see that she was happy.

In the evening, Faith decided to visit the Mayor.

"Hope, I need to go see Boss. Will you be okay by yourself?"

"How long will you be gone?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. Depends on if I'm needed."

"Oh."

"I'll try to come as soon as I can."

"Okay."

"You'll be okay?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Just don't open to anyone, okay?"

"Okay. Can I play with the PlayStation?"

"Sure. I'll see you later."

"Okay."

"Faith," the Mayor said with a smile when Faith came to his office.

"Hey, Boss."

"How's your sister?"

Faith smiled a bit.

"She's okay." She hesitated for a moment. "Thanks. And thanks for the bed and the clothes and stuff."

"Anything for my favorite Slayer."

Faith thought for a moment.

"Em, I've been thinking. Hope wants to go to school and I'd also like to get my GED."

"No problem, Faith, I'm glad you know the value of education. I'll get you what you need for the GED and I'll see where Hope can get her education."

"Thanks." She took a deep breath. "So, you need me tonight?"

"No, no, you go home and have fun with your sister."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Thanks."

"I'll send for you if I'll need you."

"Okay. Oh, em, just make sure that if it's a vamp, he wears a normal face, I don't want him to scare Hope."

"Okay."

"Thanks."

"Hi," Faith said when she returned home.

Hope smiled.

"Hi."

Faith then noticed that the TV was off and the PlayStation put away. She frowned.

"You unhooked the PlayStation?" she asked.

"Yes," Hope said. "Is it okay?" she asked, worried.

Faith smiled.

"Sure," she said, realizing that Hope wasn't stupid, just uneducated and innocent.

Hope hesitated for a moment.

"Can we eat dinner now?"

"Sure. You didn't have to wait for me."

"I need to learn how to make it," Hope said, slightly nervous.

"Oh." Faith smiled. "Come."

Hope put away the comic she was reading and followed Faith to the kitchen.

"Do you eat dinner every day?" Hope asked after dinner.

"More or less. Sometimes I didn't, but now I do."

"Oh."

"How about we take a shower and then watch some TV? I think there's a good movie on."

"I already took a bath," Hope reminded her.

Faith frowned.

"In the morning?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Oh. You're supposed to take a shower before going to bed."

"Really?" Hope said, surprised.

"Yeah. And change your underwear. And in the morning, you put on new socks and a new shirt every two days."

"Really?" Hope said, her eyes wide.

"If you can afford it. We can."

"So I can take a shower?"

"Yeah."

Hope hesitated for a moment.

"I've never taken a shower before."

"Come, I'll show you."

When they sat down to watch the movie, Hope cuddled up to Faith. Faith looked at her, surprised, and then smiled.

"Why are you smiling?" Hope asked when she noticed it.

"I was just thinking." She looked around the apartment and then back at Hope. "This place is finally starting to feel like home."

Hope smiled.

"Our home."

"Yeah."

When Faith woke up the next morning and felt that someone was lying close the her, her first instinct was to push that person away. But then she remember that the person was Hope and she relaxed. She opened her eyes and looked at Hope, who was cuddled up to her. But then she remembered the Mayor and started feeling sick, knowing that she would have to betray him if she wanted to be able to look Hope in the eyes. She sighed and closed her eyes, trying not to think about it.

When Faith was done in the bathroom, she went to the kitchen to make them breakfast. She was almost done when Hope came.

"Faith?"

"Yeah?" Faith said, glancing at her.

"I need some paper."

Faith looked at her.

"Sure. What for?"

"I'm bleeding."

"Where?" Faith asked, worried.

"Between my legs. I need the paper so I can put it into my panties. It happens every month."

"Oh," Faith said, realizing what the problem was. "You have menstruation."

"What?"

"Menstruation. All women have it."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I have something better than paper," Faith said and went to the closet. She took out a box of pantyliners and gave one to Hope. "Here."

"What is this?" Hope asked, curious.

"Pantyliners, a kind of tampons. You put this in your panties." She took a pair of panties from a drawer. "Here hold them like this," she instructed.

Hope took the panties and held them like Faith had shown her.

"Okay. You put this like this and turn these like this," Faith then demonstrated.

Hope took a closer look.

"And it soaks up the blood?" she asked.

"Yes," Faith said, took the pantyliner out and gave it to Hope. "Here."

Hope took and looked at it.

"It's soft."

Faith smiled as she put the panties away.

"Yeah. Go, put it in."

Hope went to the bathroom and Faith back to the kitchen, where she finished preparing breakfast.

"It feels nice," Hope said as she entered the kitchen a minute later. "Much nicer than paper."

Faith smiled at her.

"You bet."

Hope smiled back.

"Are we gonna go shopping today?"

"Yes."

"Can we go on the carrousel?"

"No, not today. We have to be careful with our expenses."

"Oh," Hope said, slightly disappointed but understanding.

"We'll go for our birthday."

Hope smiled.

"Okay," she agreed.

Two days later, a vamp came to tell Faith that the Mayor wanted to see her.

"What's up, Boss?" Faith asked as she entered his office.

The Mayor smiled.

"I have some good news for you. Come."

Faith approached the desk and looked at the stuff on it.

"What's this?"

"The information you'll need for the GED and some books. You'll have to borrow the rest. Here's your library card."

"Wow," Faith said. "Thanks."

"And this is for Hope. They have evening courses and I've enrolled her for the fall semester."

"Really?" Faith said, surprised.

"Yes, it's already paid."

"Thanks," Faith said, impressed, as she looked at the information.

"Anything to keep my favorite Slayer happy," the Mayor said and Faith smiled a bit. "Oh, there is also something I want you to do for me."

"Sure," Faith said.

"There is a Professor Wirth, he's a geologist at UC Sunnydale. Well, he's become a sort of liability. I want you to get rid of him."

Faith tensed for a moment, but then she forced herself to relax.

"Sure," she said. "I'll just drop this at home. Where can I find him?"

"Here's the address."

Faith looked at the piece of paper.

"Consider it done."

The Mayor smiled.

On her way home, Faith thought about the assassination. She didn't want to kill Wirth or anyone else. She also realized that if the Mayor went through with his plan, there wouldn't be a school for Hope to go to. She knew she had to stop the Mayor, not matter how good he was to her. She didn't want to betray him, but she didn't have much of a choice. She sighed and decided to think of a plan.

"Hi," Faith said when she came home.

Hope smiled at her.

"Hi." She frowned when she saw that Faith was worried. "What's wrong?"

Faith took a deep breath and forced a smile.

"Nothing. I got some good news."

"What?" Hope asked, curious.

"Well, the Mayor got me the information I'll need for the GED and he enrolled you in some evening courses in fall."

"Courses?"

"Yeah. It's like school only shorter."

Hope's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Yeah. And there'll be mostly grownups, I think."

"Oh," Hope said, slightly disappointed.

"Don't worry, you'll soon be able to hang out with other kids."

"When?"

"In less than a week."

"Really?" Hope said, excited.

Faith smiled.

"Yeah. Here, you can look at this, if you want. I have something to take care of, I'll be back in the morning."

"In the morning?"

"Yeah. I'll try to come back before you wake up."

"Okay."

On her way to Professor Wirth, Faith picked up a vamp.

"Professor Wirth?" she asked when Wirth opened the door.

"Yes?"

"Professor Lester Wirth?"

"Yes."

"Hi, the Mayor sent us."

"Ah yes. Come in, come in," Wirth said and Faith and the vamp entered. "What can I do for you?"

"Die," the vamp said and morphed.

But before he could attack, Faith staked him.

"What… What was that?" the professor said, surprised.

"That was a vampire," Faith said as she stepped closer.

Wirth backed off.

"What do you want from me?"

"Well, I've been sent to kill you, but I really don't want to."

"Kill me?" Wirth said, shocked. "Why?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. Apparently you've discovered something."

"I'm a geologist," Wirth said. "The only thing I've discovered is the skeleton of a previously unknown dinosaur."

"Dinosaur?" Faith said, realizing something. "Do you have any photos?"

"Ah, yes."

"Let me see."

Wirth hesitated for a moment and then fetched his notes.

"Here," he said when he located the photos.

Faith took a good look at them.

"That's no dinosaur," she said.

"What do you mean?" Wirth said, puzzled.

Faith sighed.

"Never mind. Look, the Mayor wants you dead, but I don't want to kill you."

"The Mayor?" Wirth said, surprised. "Why would the Mayor want me dead?"

"Because of this skeleton. He doesn't want people to know about it."

"Why?"

Faith sighed.

"It's a long story. Anyway, you have to disappear for a couple of days."

"Why?"

Faith rolled her eyes.

"Because if you don't, we're both dead. You have any friends in this building?"

"Eh, yes."

"Good. Pack for a couple of days."

"Now?"

"Yeah. And hurry up."

Wirth quickly obeyed and Faith kept an eye on him, making sure he wouldn't do anything dumb.

"I'm done," Wirth said a few minutes later.

"Okay. I need your notes."

"Why?"

"So I can figure out exactly what the Mayor is worried about. You'll get them back after the graduation."

"Oh." Wirth quickly compiled his notes. "Here," he said and gave them to Faith.

"Let's go."

They left the apartment and Wirth locked up.

"Give me the key," Faith then said.

"Why?"

"Because I'll come back here after I deliver these notes."

"Why?"

Faith rolled her eyes.

"Because I can't go home yet and I can't report that you're dead yet. I'll spend the night here."

"Oh," Wirth said and gave her the key.

"Which apartment?"

"This way," Wirth said and led the way.

When they got to his friend's apartment, Wirth rang the bell.

"Lester. Hello," his friend said.

"Hello, Ernest," Wirth said. "Eh, I need a favor."

"Sure."

"I need to, eh, disappear for a few days."

"Disappear?"

"Yes. Can I stay here?"

"Of course. Come in."

"Thank you."

"Eh, Ernest," Faith said and Ernest looked at her. "If you go out shopping, don't tell anyone that he's here." She looked at Wirth. "Watch the news. You'll know when you can go back to your apartment."

"Yes. Thank you."

"Yeah. Night."

Faith's next task was locating Buffy. She couldn't go straight to her, because the Mayor might have someone watching her, so she decided to scout out Buffy's usual patrol routes. It took her two hours to locate her.

She followed her around for a while and then entered a tomb and started screaming for help. A minute later, Buffy entered.

"Hey, B," Faith said.

"Faith."

"Close the door."

"You wish."

Faith sighed.

"Okay, don't close it, just get out of sight."

"Why?"

"So we won't be seen together."

Buffy hesitated and then left the door slightly ajar.

"Now what?" she then asked.

Faith took Professor Wirth's notes from her jacket and handed them to Buffy.

"Here."

"What's this?" Buffy asked.

"Some professor found the skeleton of a huge demon and the Mayor wanted him dead. These are his notes."

Buffy glanced at the notes.

"And the professor?"

"He's still alive."

"How do you know?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Because I was sent to kill him," she then admitted quietly.

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"What?" she asked, shocked.

"He's still alive, okay?" Faith said, annoyed. "I told him he'll get his notes back after graduation, so don't lose them."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments.

"So now you're on our side. Why?"

"I'm not on your side, B, I'm on my side."

"Of course. Always looking out for Number One."

"You bet," Faith said, but she didn't tell Buffy that Number One was now Hope.

"Why should I believe you?"

"Fine, don't," Faith said, getting tired of the conversation. "You can use the notes or not, your choice. Now go, I have places to be."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments. Then she tucked the notes on her jacket and left. Faith waited for a few minutes and then left as well.

"Giles?" Buffy said when she entered the library.

"Buffy. Is something wrong?"

"I don't know. I ran into Faith and she gave me this," Buffy said and showed him the notes.

Giles looked through them.

"Interesting," he said after a while.

"What?"

"It appears that Professor Wirth found the skeleton of a very large demon." He looked at her. "You say Faith gave this to you?"

"Yeah. She said the Mayor wanted her to kill this professor, but she claims she didn't."

"I see." Giles looked at the notes and thought for a moment. "I think I know why the Mayor would want this information kept secret."

"Why?" Buffy asked, having a bad feeling.

"Because he is planning to become a demon like this," Giles said and pointed at a photo of the skeleton.

"Oh."

"Hey, Boss," Faith said as she entered the Mayor's office the next day.

"Faith," the Mayor said. "I was a bit worried when you didn't come back last night."

Faith felt guilty for a moment.

"Sorry."

"Did you take care of Professor Wirth?"

"Yeah, nobody's gonna know he's dead."

The Mayor raised an eyebrow.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I got a vamp to turn him. I staked the vamp and in the morning I staked the professor as well. That way no one will suspect that he was murdered and Buffy won't investigate."

The Mayor smiled.

"Very good."

"So, em, will you need me today?"

"In the evening."

"Oh. Okay then."

When Faith came home, Hope was still asleep, but she woke up as soon as Faith entered.

"Morning," Faith said with a smile.

"Morning," Hope smiled back. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. You can sleep some more, if you want."

Hope yawned.

"No, I'll get up."

"Okay, I'll make us some breakfast then."

"Okay. Will we go shopping today?"

"Yes."

Hope smiled.

"Cool."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"You like shopping?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Faith shook her head, amused, and went to the kitchen.

"Hope?" Faith said after dinner.

"Yes?"

"You remember the Mayor?"

Hope frowned as she thought about it.

"Yes." She shuddered. "He's scary."

Faith smiled a bit.

"He is." She hesitated for a moment. "He's a monster."

Hope's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Hope frowned.

"Why do you work for him?"

Faith sighed.

"Remember when I told you about killing Finch?"

"Uh-huh," Hope said, nodding.

"Well, I was scared and some people were after me. I went to the Mayor because he was evil, like me, and he could protect me."

"You're not evil."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yeah, well, you're just about the only one who thinks that." She sighed. "Anyway, something bad is going to happen tomorrow and you may have to hide."

"Will you be okay?" Hope asked, worried.

Faith hesitated for a few moments.

"I don't know," she said and looked at her hands.

Hope stared at her for a few moments.

"Are you scared?"

Faith looked at her.

"Yeah," she said quietly.

Hope hugged her, and Faith hugged her back, glad that she had her for a sister.

"Thanks," she said.

Hope smiled and let go of her.

"Can I cook lunch today?" she asked, changing the topic.

Faith chuckled.

"Sure, why not?"

Hope hesitated for a moment.

"Will you help me?"

"Of course."

Hope smiled.

"Cool," she said and Faith smiled. "Can we go shopping now?"

"Sure."

After receiving her assignment, Faith was a bit nervous. She was supposed to shoot Angel with a poison arrow. The only problem was that a vampire was supposed to escort her. She had a little time, so she snatched a pen and went to the toilet. There, she scribbled a note on a piece of toilet paper. Then she returned to the Mayor's office, where she received a crossbow and the poisoned arrow.

She looked at the arrow.

"Does it work?" she asked the Mayor.

"Of course."

Faith looked at the vampire that was supposed to go with her, and scratched him with the arrowhead.

"Hey!" the vampire said, startled.

"He looks pretty undead to me," Faith commented.

The Mayor smiled.

"It's a slow-working poison," he explained.

"Oh."

"Kill him."

Faith quickly dusted the vamp by stabbing the arrow in his heart. Then she sat down.

"Aren't you going?" the Mayor asked her.

Faith frowned.

"Aren't you gonna call a new vamp to escort me?"

The Mayor smiled.

"No, I don't think there's any need for that."

Faith shrugged.

"Okay," she said and got up.

When she finally found Buffy and Angel, she broke off the arrowhead and attached the note to the arrow. Then she shot Angel in the chest.

"Angel!" Buffy screamed, worried, when an arrow hit him.

"I'm okay," Angel said, clutching at his chest.

"There's no head," Buffy noticed.

"And there's a note," Angel noticed and pulled the arrow out.

"Faith," Buffy said and looked around. "There," she said when she spotted Faith on a roof.

Faith waved at her and then disappeared.

"Let's go," Angel said, noticing the crowd.

"Mission accomplished," Faith said when she returned to the Mayor's office.

The Mayor smiled.

"Excellent."

"Can I go home now?"

"Yes, of course."

"When will you need me tomorrow?"

"I'll send someone."

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Angel," Giles said, worried, when he and Buffy arrived to the library. "What happened?"

"Faith shot him," Buffy said.

"She missed?" Xander asked.

"Faith never misses," Buffy said.

"The arrowhead was missing and there was a note," Angel said and gave Buffy the note.

Buffy unwrapped it and read it.

"What does it say?" Giles asked.

"She was sent to poison Angel with a poison called Killer of the Dead. She says it's slow-working and very painful and that Angel should stay out of sight until the graduation." She paused for a moment. "She also wrote down her address. She wants me to come to her in an hour. Alone."

"You're not going, are you?" Willow asked.

Buffy looked at her.

"She could've poisoned Angel," Buffy said. "And she gave me those notes. I don't know what game she's playing, but I think she's not working for the Mayor anymore."

"You're going?" Xander asked.

"Yes."

"You're taking backup, right?"

"No, just weapons."

"Hey," Faith said when she returned home.

"Is everything okay?" Hope asked.

"Not yet. Why don't you pack for a day or two."

"Why?"

Faith sighed.

"Because I have a plan. I think Buffy's on her way over and I'm gonna end up in the hospital."

Hope's eyes went wide.

"Why?"

"I have to give the Mayor a reason to hate Buffy." She smiled. "Don't worry, I'll be okay."

"Okay," Hope said, still worried.

When Buffy reached Faith's apartment, she listened at the door. She could hear loud music and she knew that the apartment really was Faith's. She tried the door and found it was unlocked. She entered and frowned when she saw that there was another girl apparently living there. She closed the door, went to the stereo and turned it off. Faith and the girl turned and Buffy frowned.

"What's going on here?" she asked, puzzled.

"Hey, B," Faith said and put away her comic.

"Who is she?" Buffy asked, staring at Hope.

Faith glanced at Hope, who had also put away her comic.

"I thought it's obvious. This is Hope, my sister."

"Hi," Hope said and waved at Buffy.

Buffy looked at Faith.

"Your sister? You never mentioned a sister."

"That's because I forgot I had one."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"You forgot you had a twin sister?"

"We were separated when we were little." She hesitated for a moment. "The Mayor found her."

"And now you're betraying him."

Faith's face became serious.

"Believe me, if there was any way to change him, I'd take it. But there isn't." She thought for a moment. "Remember when you had to send Angel to hell to save the world?"

"Yes?"

"This is just as hard for me."

The Slayers stared at one another for a few moments.

"You wanted me to come here," Buffy then said.

"Yeah. You have a plan how to kill the Mayor yet?"

"You don't expect me to answer that, do you?"

Faith sighed.

"No. Anyway, I got a plan."

"You do?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yeah. You need to blow him up."

"No kidding."

Faith bit her teeth, annoyed.

"I'm not talking about bazookas, he's too smart for that."

"We don't exactly have a volcano to drop on him."

"You have the school."

Buffy blinked.

"What?"

"The school. You pack it with explosions, lure him in and boom!"

"And just how do you expect us to lure him in?"

"By hurting the only thing her cares about."

Buffy frowned.

"What?"

"Me."

Buffy stared at Faith for a few moments, surprised.

"What do you mean?"

Faith sighed.

"He may be a psycho, but for some reason he cares about me. If you hurt me, he's gonna follow you in. So here's the plan. We fight, trash this place a bit, then go out and I jump off the building."

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"What?"

"I need to end up in the hospital, preferably unconscious. That'll piss him off." She frowned. "Of course, he mustn't see Angel or he'll know that I betrayed him."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments.

"There is a cure of that poison."

Faith raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"There is?"

"Yes."

"What?"

"The blood of a Slayer."

Faith stared at her for a moment, shocked.

"Oh," she said, wondering why the Mayor didn't tell her that. Then she got an idea. "Even better. You can tell the Mayor that you found out about the cure and healed Angel yourself."

Buffy thought about it.

"And after the Mayor is dead?"

Faith shrugged.

"Nothing. I'll mind my business, you'll mind yours."

"And the police?"

"What about it? If I go to jail, so do you. You were there, remember? You're an accessory to murder."

Buffy stared at Faith for a few moments, upset because Faith was right.

"Fine."

Faith then took a deep breath.

"I need a favor."

Buffy's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"I need you to take care of Hope until graduation."

Buffy glanced at Hope, who was quietly listening to their conversation. She sighed.

"Okay."

Faith looked at Hope.

"Hope, Buffy and I are gonna fight now and then I'll jump off the roof."

Hope's eyes went wide.

"Why?"

"Don't worry, it's all part of the plan. Then you'll go with Buffy and stay with her until I get out of the hospital."

"Okay," Hope said, worried.

Faith looked at Buffy.

"Don't tell anyone about her until after graduation, I don't want the Mayor to find out and then send someone after her."

Buffy nodded.

"Okay."

Faith took a deep breath.

"Then let's do it," she said and wanted to hit Buffy.

Buffy barely evaded the punch and immediately went on the offensive.

The fight was pretty intense and Hope became worried about Faith. When Faith fell down and Buffy wanted to go after her, she got up and jumped on Buffy's back.

Buffy shook her off, surprised, and Hope crashed into the closet door.

"Hope!" Faith said, worried. She looked at Buffy, angry. "Watch it, will you? She's not a Slayer."

"She attacked me," Buffy protested.

Faith ignored her and went to Hope.

"Hope? Are you okay?" she asked, worried.

"My head hurts," Hope said.

"You sit tight, okay? And don't worry about me, I'll be okay."

Hope nodded, massaging her head.

Faith got up and looked at Buffy, who was curiously observing the interaction between the sisters.

"Okay, let's get this over with," Faith said and resumed the fight

They crashed through the window and went outside. After a minute or so, they got to the edge and Faith looked down.

"Shit," she said when she saw how high it is. Then she noticed a truck approaching. She looked at Buffy. "I'll see you tomorrow," she said and then jumped.

"Faith!" Buffy said, surprised.

She ran to the edge and saw that Faith had fallen on a truck.

"Faith!" Hope screamed when she saw that Faith had jumped off the building. She ran to the edge and looked down. "Faith?" she said, confused, when she couldn't see Faith.

"She fell on a truck," Buffy said.

Hope looked at her with anime eyes.

"Is she okay?"

"I think so. Come, let's get out of here."

"Is she in the hospital?" Hope asked as she followed Buffy.

"Not yet."

"Can we go see her?"

"Not until tomorrow."

"Why?"

"Because we don't want the Mayor to find you."

"Oh."

"Is there anything you want to take with you?"

"Yes," Hope said and went to the bag she and Faith had prepared earlier. "Faith and I already packed," she said as she picked up the bag.

"Oh. Come."

"Mom?" Buffy said when she and Hope came to her house.

"Over here," Joyce said from the living room.

Buffy and Hope went there.

"Faith?" Joyce said, surprised.

"No, this is Hope, her sister," Buffy said.

Joyce looked at her with a frown.

"I didn't know she had a sister."

"Neither did she. Apparently they were separated when they were little."

"Oh."

"Listen, Hope has to stay here until tomorrow."

"And where is Faith?"

"In the hospital."

"What? Why?"

Buffy sighed.

"It's all part of the plan. I'll tell you all about it later, now I have to go talk to the guys. Make sure no one finds out about Hope, I don't want the Mayor to find her."

"Okay," Joyce said.

Buffy looked at Hope.

"Hope?" she said and Hope looked at her. "My mom's gonna take care of you. I'll come back later."

"Okay," Hope said and looked at Joyce, slightly nervous.

"I'll see you later, Mom," Buffy said.

"Okay, honey."

Buffy left and Joyce looked at Hope with a smile.

"Come, let me show you where you'll sleep."

Hope hesitantly followed Joyce upstairs, curiously looking around.

"Here," Joyce said when they got to the spare room.

Hope looked around.

"This is all my room?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Wow."

"You don't have your own room?" Joyce asked.

Hope shook her head.

"Uh-uh. Faith and I sleep in the main room."

"Oh. You like Faith?"

Hope smiled and nodded.

"Uh-huh. She's nice. She takes care of me."

Joyce smiled.

"Have you eaten yet?"

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Then make yourself comfortable. I'll be downstairs in the kitchen."

"Okay."

After eating her own dinner, Joyce was on her way upstairs when she noticed Hope sitting on the sofa, hugging her knees, apparently thinking. She approached her.

"Everything okay, Hope?"

Hope looked at her.

"I'm scared," Hope said.

Joyce went to the sofa and sat down beside her.

"Why?" she asked.

"I'm worried about Faith. Will she be okay?" Hope asked in a small voice.

"I don't know," Joyce said and put her arm around Hope's shoulder.

Hope leaned on her.

"I don't wanna lose her," she said.

"I think she'll be okay," Joyce said and caressed her.

Hope was quiet for a few moments.

"Can I take a shower before I go to bed?"

"Of course."

Hope sighed and didn't move.

The next day, after the Mayor was dead, the Scoobs stared at the burning school, glad that they were alive.

"Guys," Buffy said when she came to them after Angel had left.

"Where's Angel?" Xander asked.

"He left."

"Oh."

Buffy took a deep breath.

"I gotta go now."

"What's the hurry?" Willow asked.

Buffy sighed.

"Faith has a sister."

"What?"

"A twin sister. Her name's Hope. She's staying at our house until Faith wakes up."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Xander asked.

"I didn't want the Mayor to accidentally find out. I'm taking her to the hospital to see Faith."

"I didn't know Faith has a sister," Giles said.

"Neither did she. She said they were separated when they were little. The Mayor found her."

"Oh."

"I'll see you guys later."

"Buffy," Joyce said, relieved, when Buffy came home.

"Hi, Mom."

"Is everything okay? I heard the school exploded."

"Yes, we had to blow it up so we could kill the Mayor."

"Oh."

"Is it over?" Hope asked.

"Yes, we can go see Faith now."

Hope smiled a bit.

"Okay."

When they found Faith's room, Hope slowly approached Faith's bed, her eyes wide.

"Is she asleep?" she asked quietly.

Buffy went to the foot of the bed and looked at the chart.

"Sort of," she said when she saw that Faith was in coma.

"When will she wake up?" Hope asked as she took Faith's hand.

"I don't know."

"But she said she was gonna be okay."

"She probably will be, just not so soon as she thought."

"Oh."

Hope was quiet for a few moments.

"She misses you," she then said.

"What?" Buffy said, startled.

"She misses you," Hope repeated.

"How do you know?"

"She told me."

"Oh."

They stayed there for an hour.

"Come, Hope, let's go home," Buffy then said.

"Can't we stay longer?"

"No. We'll come tomorrow, okay?"

Hope sighed.

"Okay."

The next day, when they came home for lunch, Hope went to the kitchen.

"Can I help you?" she asked Joyce.

Joyce looked at her.

"You can cook?"

Hope shrugged.

"A bit. Faith let me cook lunch once, and she helped me."

Joyce smiled.

"Sure, you can help."

When Buffy came to the kitchen and saw Hope help her mother cook, she just stared at them for a few moments.

"Everything okay?" Joyce asked her when she noticed Buffy staring.

"Eh, yes," Buffy said. "Just came to get a drink."

After lunch, the Scoobs came to Buffy's house.

"Wow," Xander said when he saw Hope. "She looks just like Faith."

Cordelia rolled her eyes.

"Of course she does, she's her twin."

"Hope, these are my friends," Buffy said. "Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia and these are Giles and Wes."

"Hi," Hope said, nervous because of so many strangers.

"How is Faith?" Giles asked.

"Still in coma."

"Oh."

"Any news from Angel?" Willow asked.

Buffy shook her head.

"No." She sighed. "Hope and I are going back to the hospital later to see Faith and then we're going to their place to get some more clothes for her."

"She's staying here?"

"Until Faith wakes up."

"Oh."

Six days later, Faith finally woke up. She was a bit disorientated at first, but then she remembered. Her first instinct was to get up and find Hope, but then she saw the flower bouquet and she realized that Hope was okay. She took a deep breath and relaxed.

She was about to get up when a nurse came to check up on her.

After the doctors examined her and the cops questioned her, Faith was finally able to relax a bit. She insisted on being released at once and a doctor promised her that he'd take care of it. In the meantime, Faith relaxed and waited.

Finally, after what seemed like eternity, Faith was released. She put on the clothes that Hope and Buffy had left there for her, and left the hospital.

"Faith," Joyce said, surprised, when she opened the door and found Faith there.

"Hi," Faith said. "Is Hope here?"

"Yes. We're just having dinner. Come."

Faith entered and Joyce closed the door. Then they went to the kitchen.

"Faith!" Hope said, excited, when she saw her. She got up, ran to her and hugged her tightly. "I missed you."

Faith hugged her back.

"I missed you to."

Hope let go of her.

"Are you okay?" she asked, worried.

"Yeah," Faith said and smiled a bit.

"Are you hungry, Faith?" Joyce asked.

Faith looked at her.

"Eh, yeah," she said, nervous because Buffy was there.

"Come, sit down."

Faith sat down and looked at Buffy.

"So, you won," she said.

"Yes. You were right, he was angry."

Faith sighed.

"Yeah."

"By the way, he had your apartment fixed."

"Yeah?" Faith said, surprised that he found the time.

"Yes."

Faith took a deep breath.

"Thanks for taking care of her."

Joyce looked at her with a smile.

"No problem, Faith."

Faith looked at Buffy.

"By the way, the cops questioned me."

"And?" Buffy asked.

"I lied. Same story as we told them the last time."

"Oh. Oh!" Buffy then remembered. "We took the notes back to Professor Wirth."

"Good."

"Here you go," Joyce said as she served dinner to Faith.

"Thanks," Faith said and started wolfing down the food.

After dinner, Faith relaxed a bit.

"Okay, Hope, time to go home."

"Okay," Hope said. "I'll go pack."

"I'll wait here."

Hope rushed out of the kitchen, and Joyce followed her.

"You okay?" Buffy asked when they were alone.

Faith looked at her and sighed.

"Not really," she said and looked at her hands. She thought for a moment. "Was everything okay with Hope?" she then asked and looked back at Buffy.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. She's very sweet. We visited you every day." She hesitated for a moment. "At first I thought she's… retarded, but then I figured out that she's just uneducated."

"Yeah, I know," Faith said and sighed.

"Have you thought about sending her to some sort of school?"

"Yeah, she's already enrolled in some evening courses in the fall semester."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yeah."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"The Mayor?"

"Yeah," Faith said and looked at her hands. She thought for a moment. "How'd it go?" she then asked and looked at Buffy again. "At the graduation, I mean."

Buffy took a deep breath.

"It was messy. The Mayor had vamps backing him up."

"Vamps?" Faith said, surprised. "In the middle of the day?"

"There was an eclipse."

"Oh."

"I lured him into the school and then Giles blew it up."

"And the vamps?"

"We killed many, but some students died."

"Oh," Faith said and looked at her hands again, feeling guilty.

"There's nothing you could've done," Buffy said.

Faith looked at her.

"I could've saved a few."

"You couldn't know that you'd end up in coma."

Faith sighed.

"Yeah."

"I'm ready, Faith," Hope said as she bounced back into the kitchen.

Faith smiled at her and got up.

"Okay."

"Why don't you two come over tomorrow," Buffy said.

"Why?" Faith asked.

"I'm sure Giles would like to talk to you."

"Oh." She sighed. "Okay." She looked at Hope. "Come on, Hope, let's go home."

When they got home, Faith first took a shower. Then she went to bed and waited for Hope.

"Are we gonna watch TV?" Hope asked as she came from the bathroom.

"No, I'm going to sleep. You can watch it, if you want."

"No, I'll go to sleep as well."

"Okay."

Hope turned off the lights and went to bed. She hesitated for a moment and then cuddled up to Faith.

"I was so scared," she said.

Faith sighed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know I'd end up in coma."

"I know, Buffy told me. We visited you every day."

"I know." Faith thought for a few moments. "Hope?"

"Yeah?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I'd like you to tell me more about yourself," she said. "When you're ready," she quickly added when she felt that Hope tensed. She took a deep breath. "Let me tell you the rest of my story."

"There's more?" Hope asked.

"A bit."

"Oh."

The next morning, an hour after breakfast, they headed over to Buffy's house. They were walking down the street, chatting, when a van suddenly pulled over ahead of them and the back doors opened. Faith immediately felt danger and she rammed Hope aside. Hope suddenly yelped.

"Hope?" Faith asked, worried.

"Something hit me," Hope said.

Faith looked and saw that a tranquilizer dart hit Hope. She looked toward the van and saw that the shooter was reloading his gun and that two other men were running toward them. She got up and attacked them, angry. She knocked the first two men aside and then ran to the shooter and ripped the gun from his hands. She hit the shooter with it and then hit the ground with it, breaking it. The shooter wanted to get out of the van, so Faith slammed the doors at him, knocking him out. The remaining attackers came at her and engaged her, but then one of them went toward Hope and Faith knew she had a problem.

"Knock it off or she's dead," the other attacker said, holding a knife at Hope's throat.

Faith froze.

The first attacker wanted to hit her, but then a police car turned its siren on and off and both attackers looked at it. Faith used the distraction and kicked the first attacker in the back, sending him tumbling to the ground. Then she ran toward Faith and rammed the second attacker, grabbing his wrist and moving the knife away from Hope's throat as she went.

"Let's get out of here," the first attacker said and ran to the van.

The second attacker got up and ran after him.

"Hope?" Faith said, worried, as she cradled Hope's head.

Hope didn't respond, so she checked her pulse. She was relieved that it was steady.

"Everything okay, Miss?" the co-driver asked as the car pulled over.

Faith looked at him, nervous.

"She's been shot with a tranquilizer dart," she said.

"But otherwise she's okay?"

"Yeah. Go get the bastards."

"We will," the officer said and the car moved on.

Faith looked back at Hope and sighed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered and then caressed her.

She took a deep breath and got to her knees. Then she picked up Hope.

"Fa… Hope!" Joyce said, worried, when she saw Faith was carrying Hope. "What happened?" she asked as she stepped aside to let Faith enter.

"The Council," Faith said as she entered.

"Hope!" Buffy said when Faith entered the living room. "What happened?"

"The Council," Faith said and headed for the sofa.

Willow and Oz quickly got up and Faith laid Hope on the sofa.

"The Council?"

"They wanted to shoot me with a tranquilizer dart, but they hit her instead," Faith said and stretched.

"Why would they…" Wesley started, but Faith interrupted him.

"What do you think?" she asked, glaring at him. "They're trying to finish what you started."

"Oh."

"Hey, no need to get all snappy," Cordelia said.

Faith glared at her.

"Cordelia, shut up."

Cordelia gasped, but she didn't respond.

"Is she okay?" Joyce asked.

Faith looked at her.

"Just sleeping," she said.

"Good," Joyce said, relieved.

"Giles, let's go call the Council," Buffy said, "I need to have a word with them."

"Eh, yes, me too," Giles said followed her.

Faith gently lifted Hope's head, sat down and cradled Hope's head. Then she stared at her, worried.

Joyce and the Scoobs stared at Faith and they could see that she was worried about Hope.

When Buffy and Giles returned a few minutes later, Faith was still staring at Hope. Buffy could see it in her face that she was scared.

"Faith?" she said softly.

"Huh?" Faith said, startled, and looked at her. "What?"

"The Council promised to call off their team."

Faith blinked.

"You already talked to them?" she said, surprised.

"Yes."

"Oh," Faith said with a frown, wondering if she had zoned out. She looked at Giles. "Next time you talk to them, tell them that if they hurt Hope again, they'll be sorry."

"I already told them that," Buffy said.

"Oh," Faith said, surprised.

"They said they'll be watching you for a while, so I guess you're on a sort of parole."

"They're not sending another Watcher, are they?"

"No. I convinced them to let Giles be your Watcher, even though he's technically not a Watcher anymore."

Faith looked at Giles.

"Okay," she said after a few moments and then looked back at Hope.

"Em, Faith," Giles spoke and Faith looked at him.

"Yeah?"

"What are your plans?"

Faith sighed and thought for a moment.

"I need to get myself a job."

"And ideas?" Buffy asked.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"There's this security company I was planning to check out." She shrugged. "And if they won't take me, there's always waitressing."

"Have you thought about sending Hope to some sort of school?" Giles asked.

"She's already enrolled in some evening courses in the fall semester."

"Really?" Giles said, surprised.

"Yeah."

"Do you have any papers? I'd like to take a look at them," Joyce said.

"Yeah, I'll bring them over," Faith said, feeling strange how everyone was interested in her wellbeing.

"Where will you two be staying?"

"At the apartment."

"Can you afford it?"

"It's supposed to be mine." She frowned. "I think."

Buffy looked at Willow.

"Can you check it out?"

Willow hesitated for a moment.

"Okay," she then agreed.

Faith looked at Giles.

"So, what's the plan?"

"Plan?" Giles said, startled.

"For training and stuff."

"Oh. Eh, I'll let you know as soon as I have one."

"Oh."

Faith took a deep breath and looked at Hope again.

"How long do the tranquilizer darts work?" she then asked and looked at Giles.

"Depends. Since they wanted to hit you, I'd says they used a stronger tranquilizer, so it might take a couple of hours."

Faith sighed and looked at Hope.

"Eh, guys, why don't you come back after lunch," Buffy said after a few moments.

"Okay," Willow said.

Everybody left, but Faith didn't even notice their departure.

When Buffy returned a minute later, Faith was staring at Hope again.

"Faith?" Buffy said softly and Faith looked at her, startled.

"Huh?"

Buffy smiled.

"You've changed."

Faith frowned.

"No, I haven't."

"Sure you have, you're more open now."

Faith snorted.

"The hell I am."

"I see the way you care about Hope."

Faith tensed a bit.

"So now you're suddenly an expert on me?"

"Well, no," Buffy said, puzzled by Faith's hostility. "But I see…"

"You see shit, B. The only reason you're all nice to me is Hope. Right now she's out, so you can stop pretending."

Buffy stared at her, surprised.

"I'm not pretending."

"Right. If it hadn't been for Hope, you wouldn't give a rat's ass about me."

"That's not true." She sighed. "I tried to help you, we all did. And if Wes hadn't screwed up by calling the Council, I think we could've succeeded. Angel said you started to listen to him," she said and Faith looked away for a moment.

"See, that's part of the problem, B."

"What?" Buffy asked with a frown.

"You all tried to help me, like I was the only one there. You were there too, B, remember? You threw him at me. And when it was all over, it was all my fault," Faith said and looked at Hope again, upset.

Buffy stared at her for a while, realizing that Faith had a point. She also realized that Faith resented her that and that it was probably one of the reasons why she went to the Mayor. She sighed.

"You're right. I'm sorry," she said and Faith looked at her, surprised. "But that doesn't mean that I don't care. I do and I hope we can be friends again."

Faith stared at her for a few moments and then sighed, getting tired of the confrontation.

"We'll see," she said and looked back at Hope.

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, wondering what to do. She finally sighed and left.

A couple of hours later, Hope finally woke up.

"Hope?" Faith said when Hope moaned. "Hope?"

Hope opened her eyes and blinked.

"Faith?" she suddenly remembered.

"I'm here," Faith said and caressed her.

Hope's head finally cleared up.

"Faith!" she said and hugged her tightly.

"Shh, it's okay," Faith said and caressed her.

Hope let go of her and looked at her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I kicked their asses," Faith said and smiled.

"Who were they?"

"The Council."

Hope frowned.

"The Council? Why did they want to shoot you?"

"They wanted to take me to England."

"Why?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Because of Finch."

"Oh."

"She knows about that?" Buffy asked as she came into the living room.

Faith looked at her.

"She knows about everything."

"Oh."

"Are they gonna try to shoot you again?" Hope asked, worried.

Faith looked at her and smiled softly.

"I don't think so."

"I hope not."

Faith took a deep breath.

"How do you feel?"

"My head's a bit dizzy," Hope said.

"It'll pass," Faith said. "Come, sit up."

She helped Hope turn so that she was sitting.

"Hope," Joyce said as she came in. "How do you feel?"

"My head's a bit dizzy," Hope said.

Joyce touched her forehead.

"It'll pass," she said.

"And I'm thirsty."

"I'll get you something," Joyce said and left.

"Faith," Buffy said.

"Yeah?"

"Make sure Hope has escort for a while, just in case the Council lied."

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"I suggest you take her to Giles while you work."

"I'll try to get a night job," Faith said. "So I can go on patrol at the same time."

"Oh. Well, in case you have to work in the morning, or in the afternoon, you can take her to Giles, I'm sure he won't mind."

"Yeah."

"Here you go," Joyce said as she returned with a drink for Hope.

"Thank you," Hope said, took the glass and drank.

Joyce looked at Faith.

"Lunch will be in a few minutes."

"Eh, okay," Faith said, startled. "Thanks."

Joyce smiled, took Hope's glass and left.

"Feeling better?" Buffy asked Hope.

Hope nodded.

"Uh-huh. I'm not dizzy anymore."

Buffy smiled.

"Good."

Hope looked at Faith.

"When are we going shopping?"

"After lunch," Faith said.

"Okay."

"Are you coming back then?" Buffy asked.

"When?" Faith said.

"After you go shopping."

"Can we?" Hope asked Faith, excited.

Faith hesitated for a moment. She didn't really want to come back, but since Hope wanted to, she decided that they would.

"Yeah," she said, reluctantly, and Hope smiled.

"Em, I need to pee," Hope said after a moment.

"Go right ahead," Buffy said, "you know where the bathroom is."

Hope nodded and left.

Buffy looked at Faith.

"You don't want to come back?"

Faith looked at her.

"What for? I don't exactly fit in."

"Sure you do."

"So that's why you so often invited me to hang out with you," Faith said sarcastically. "Admit it, B, I'm just a spare Slayer to call on when the going gets tough."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, hesitating. She understood now that Faith had felt left out. She sighed.

"There's a reason why I didn't invite you over so often," she said and looked at her hands, nervous.

Faith raised an eyebrow, curious.

"Your… Your constant… flirting made me… nervous," Buffy finally admitted.

Faith blinked, surprised.

"That's it?"

Buffy blushed a bit.

"Well, em, I… I was nervous because, em, because of how… how it made me feel."

Faith frowned.

"Nervous?" she asked, confused.

Buffy took a deep breath and looked at her.

"Yeah." She hesitated for a moment. "Em, I've often been wondering how things might have turned out if… if Angel hadn't come back and if you… if we hadn't killed Finch."

Faith stared at her, surprised and confused. She was surprised that Buffy had accepted her share of the blame and confused about Buffy wondering about how things might have turned out. Then her eyes went wide as she suddenly guessed what exactly Buffy was wondering about. She frowned.

"I thought you were straight," she said, puzzled.

"I am," Buffy quickly said, blushing. She gulped. "I mean, I am. It's just… Well, em, I'm not attracted to girls, but with you…" She hesitated for a moment and then took a deep breath. "I don't know, it's different. Like with Angel, only different." She sighed. "What I'm trying to say is that I was afraid of what I was thought I might be feeling for you." She hesitated for a moment. "I thought that I might be gay and it scared me. I'm sorry." She took a deep breath. "I… Right now my first priority is for us to be friends." She hesitated for a moment. "But I'm ready and willing to see if there could be something more between us. That is, if you are too. You don't have to answer right away, just… think about it." She hesitated for a moment. "Please."

Faith stared at her, shocked. Not even in her wildest dreams did she expect that. She wondered what was wrong with her gaydar.

"What… What about… Angel?" she asked.

Buffy sighed.

"We're just friends. He left after we killed the Mayor."

"Oh," Faith said, surprised.

"Buffy!" Joyce called from the kitchen.

"Yes?!" Buffy called back.

"Can you give me a hand, please?!"

"Coming!" Buffy looked at Faith and smiled, nervous. "I hope you'll give me a second chance."

Buffy left and Faith stared after her.

"Are you okay?"

Faith jerked, startled, and looked at Hope, who had come back.

"Huh?" she said, surprised that she didn't notice Hope.

"Are you okay? You look scared."

Faith blinked and then took a deep breath.

"No, I'm just… confused."

Hope sat beside her.

"Why?"

Faith sighed.

"She just told me something I never… expected her to."

"What?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"That she loved me," she then said quietly.

Hope smiled.

"Really? That's good." She frowned. "Right?"

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yeah, I guess." She sighed. "It's just… I never thought that she might love me."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"It kinda scares me."

"Why?" Hope asked, puzzled.

Faith sighed.

"I… I don't trust people easily. I trusted Buffy once, but then we both messed up. I'm afraid that if it happens again, we'll both end up even more hurt."

Hope thought for a moment.

"Do you trust me?"

Faith blinked, startled.

"Of course I do, you're my sister." She sighed. "You're the only family I've got," she said, reached over and took Hope's hand into her own. "You're the only one of our family that turned out more or less okay," she said and smiled a bit.

Hope smiled back.

Then Buffy returned from the kitchen.

"Lunch is ready," she said.

Faith and Hope looked at her.

"Yeah," Faith said and got up.

Hope got up as well and they went to the kitchen.

After lunch, Faith and Hope went grocery shopping. Since Faith was still thinking about what Buffy had said, Hope picked up most of the food.

"Faith," Hope said as the approached the register.

"Yeah?" Faith said and looked at her.

"Is this okay?" Hope asked and nodded at the shopping cart.

Faith looked.

"Yeah," she said and smiled. "You're learning fast," she said and Hope smiled back, pleased. "Here, why don't you pay," Faith said and gave her her wallet.

Hope's eyes went wide.

"Me?"

"Sure."

Hope took the wallet, slightly nervous, but when there was no problem at the register, she relaxed.

After going home and putting away the food, they returned to the Summers house, where the Scoobs had gathered again. Faith sat as far away from Buffy as possible and when Buffy tried to start a conversation with her, she only gave short answers.

When Faith finally went upstairs to the bathroom, Buffy followed her a minute later and waited outside.

"Jeez!" Faith said, startled, when Buffy blocked her path after she got out of the bathroom.

"Why are you afraid of me?" Buffy got straight to the point.

Faith tensed for a moment.

"What makes you think I'm afraid of you?"

"You've been avoiding me, pushing me away." She hesitated for a moment. "Just like after we killed Finch."

Faith gulped, nervous, and looked away.

Buffy sighed, suddenly realizing what was wrong.

"Look," she said, "we both made mistakes, but we've learned from them." She hesitated for a moment. "I won't hurt you and I don't think you'll hurt me either. At least not on purpose," she said and Faith looked at her. "And if we do hurt one another, we can always talk about it and get over it. But we can't get over it, if you start pushing me away instead."

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

"I know," she said. "I just need to get used to everything first." She hesitated for a moment. "To you loving me," she then said quietly.

Buffy smiled softly. She hesitated for a moment and then touched Faith's cheek gently for a moment.

"I'll wait," she said.

Faith nodded.

"I'll try not to avoid you."

"Okay."

They went back to the living room and when they entered, Hope looked at Faith. Faith smiled at her and Hope smiled back, knowing that everything was okay.

The End