Faith
When Spike, Gunn or anyone who know them think about Jenny and her life, Faith is always the one who makes them think twice. Only a few understand why Jenny clings to the last 'Chosen One' was strongly as she does.
Those few that see it, however, understand the relationship perfectly.
Faith makes Jenny believe.
While most children grow up believing that their parents are a force of nature, able to handle anything life threw at them, Jenny never had that illusion. She never knew her father, never wanted to, and her mother struggled with the weight of the world on the good days, and there were oh so few of those.
When Jenny was taken from her mother, she wanted to cry out, to beg her mother to save her, but she said nothing. Jenny saw her mother reach for her, saw the other slaves tackle her and said nothing. Because even at such a tender age, Jenny knew that there was nothing her mother could do for her. And Jenny knew that all she could do was to remain silent, because otherwise she'd scream and beg and then would be just one more thing that tore her mother's heart apart.
And when her second master brings her low, Jenny slowly loses her belief in everything.
She lost the ability to believe she deserved freedom when she gave into the Bach-nal ritual.
She lost the ability to believe in family when she sang, shared the gift her mother gave her and they still looked at her like trash, still spit on her rations and tell the Overseers she's always the one making trouble.
She lost the ability to believe she's anything but property when she's sold again.
When her group was marched to the market, Jenny barely reacted to the portal that opened up beneath them. She had long since resigned herself to whatever terrible fate was in store for her. Jenny didn't want to die, but that didn't mean she cared much about living.
Arriving in Silver Lake, being found and sheltered by Lorne, none of it makes Jenny believe in the possibility of a better life. Because no matter how much Lorne smiled, no matter how much he dotes on her, all Jenny is able to see all the others just like him, like her, green and full of authority and all their smiles mean is a prelude to creative cruelty.
That never happened with Lorne, in Hell or afterwards, but survival instincts die hard.
Angel brought out a small flicker of hope when they first meet, with his compassion and understanding as he looks at her and sees everything, but Jenny forces it all from her mind when she ends up in Pylea again.
It's only when Faith reaches out to her, when Faith assures that she can be redeemed, that Jenny starts truly to believe in something better.
But that hope, was itself terrifying. Because Jenny can only see herself as a survivor. She quickly comes to understand that these people might love her, but only because they loved her mother.
And with her dead, how long would it take their affection to fade?
Jenny had cynicism down to an art form, after all.
A few days after they return to earth, Faith unknowingly endears herself to Jenny when she overhears that Faith barely knew Fred, her mother.
"Shame I never really got to meet Fred," Faith said in an offhand manner, when she thought Jenny wasn't listening.
There was more to the conversation, but that was all Jenny remembered
It was like a spark inside of Jenny's heart. Because Faith loved her for her.
It made Jenny believe that there would be others, it made Jenny believe that Spike, Lorne and the rest really did love her, separate of her mother. And that spark eventually became a warm fire that Jenny carried with her for the rest of her life, and she would always remember where it started.
More than just that, Faith made Jenny believe that she was would always be safe.
Angel and Spike were flammable during half of the day. Lorne wasn't a fighter, and Gunn and Kate were only human, despite their combat prowess.
But Faith? She was stronger than Angel and Spike, doesn't burn at the touch of sunlight, doesn't give a damn about crosses and doesn't need an invitation anywhere. And when Faith fights, she fights with a passion and strength had seemed unbreakable. Faith gave everything in battle, and when Jenny sees that fire being used to protect her, it gives Jenny a source of strength and confidence that holds her fears at bay.
There are times when Faith's strength is tested, but to Jenny, she never breaks. Like when she returns from Pylea, bloody but standing tall. Like when Faith rescued Jenny and her classmates from a rogue slayer and a pack of vampires.
Jenny knows there is no battle Faith won't wage for her, and it's a comfort even in times when violence can solve a damn thing.
Like when Jenny had to leave LA, and spend a year at the Watcher's Academy.
Like when Jenny meets her grand-parents for the first time.
Like when Jenny had to attend High School for four terrible and awesome years.
On occasion, people wonder why Jenny only ever calls Faith 'mom' to annoy her. It's because to her, to Jenny, Faith is so much more than that.
Because Faith's love, her protection, uplifted the little girl who'd been born a slave, treated as a thing by all but one and enabled her to just believe in something more. Faith took the weight of the world off Jenny's shoulders without batting an eye.
Because to Jenny, Faith isn't her mom. No matter how much she loves her mother, to Jenny 'mom' is a weak word. She never blames Fred for being unable to protect her, but she can't ignore it either. Unfortunately, Jenny is too smart for that. She's too smart, and too cynical, to see 'Dad' as a strong word either. Not when sunlight and holy water can do so much.
To Jenny Burkle, Faith is simply in a league all her own. To her, Faith really is faith.