Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow

Note: Hehe...sorry for the little cliffhanger there. What can I say? I'm evil. Anyway, muchas gracias for the feedback and, always, keep it coming.

Previously:

Folding her hands on the table, she took a deep breath. "You and Faith, you're a forever kinda deal, you know? And in the future, you wanted to have kids, but given that, you're both female, that wasn't real possible. So you asked Xander to donate his sperm to help you out. Buffy, you were the one who actually got pregnant, but that doesn't really matter. The three of you raised me, and for all of my life, I knew both of you as mom," Kara said, her voice shaking slightly with nerves. "So I guess what I'm trying to say...is that I'm your daughter."

Chapter Thirty-One:

"You know, you really shouldn't take this the wrong way. I mean, she could've just passed out from joy," Faith reasoned lamely as Giles and Joyce crowded around the unconscious Buffy lying on the kitchen floor. Kara stood beside Faith, a few feet away, both trying not to hover.

"Uh huh. I believe that for a second. She hates me," Kara said somewhat dejectedly.

"No, she doesn't. She's just surprised," Faith said, laying a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"See, here's the difference, right here!" Kara said, referring to Faith's actions. "You hugged me when you found out...she collapsed. What does that say about the future of our relationship?"

"B doesn't take surprises very well?" Faith responded weakly. "Okay, so I get how you would be a bit upset over all this. But trust me; once she wakes up, she'll be happy about it."

Kara frowned. "I'm not sure I want to be here when she wakes up," she grumbled, folding her arms across her chest.

Faith smirked. "Don't pout," she said, imitating her best motherly tone, which wasn't all that good considering her example. Kara glared over at her.

"Are you seriously even trying to parent me? We're like the same age," she said, groaning in frustration.

"Just trying to make up for lost time," Faith responded innocently.

"Girls?" Giles asked wearily, turning to face them. "Could you perhaps stop bickering for a moment and help me carry Buffy into the living room. She'll be more comfortable on the couch when she wakes up."

"Sure thing, G-man," Faith said, stepping forward and looping an arm around Buffy as Giles did the same. Together, they walked her out to the living room.

"Kara?" Joyce said, calling after her as she started to follow them.

"Yeah?" She asked, looking back at the grandmother she had never gotten the chance to know in her world.

"Faith is right you know. I think Buffy was just a bit shocked. I mean, when Faith found out, she was put into a situation where she had to act or you would die. She wasn't given the luxury of a moment's contemplation," Joyce said, coming up to Kara and squeezing her arm. "You'll see," she said, smiling warmly. Kara could see her eyes shining from unshed tears.

"You know, I never got a chance to know you," Kara said softly. Joyce motioned for them to sit. Taking a seat at the kitchen table again, Kara sighed and ran a hand through her long, dark hair.

"What happened?" Joyce asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

"You died from complications of the brain tumor," Kara responded. "Mom...well, Buffy, would always tell me stories about you though. You were her rock, you and Giles," Kara said, then smiled a little. "And Faith, she totally adored you. You and Angel, she always said, were the only two people who really got her. I didn't quite understand what that meant back then, but I do now. When Faith lost control, you and Angel were the only ones who didn't see her as some evil creature that needed to be put down, you saw her as someone who needed help."

"Faith has come a long way," Joyce said. "I'm proud to have her in my family. And I'm proud to have you in my family too, Kara. We may not have gotten a chance to know each other in your time, but we can now," she said, reaching over and taking Kara's hand in hers.

"Thanks," Kara mumbled, a bit awed by Joyce's immediate acceptance of the situation. Though, she supposed having a daughter as a vampire slayer and another as a mystical key, there wasn't much Joyce couldn't deal with and move on from.

..........................

"Ow," Buffy groaned as she sat up, her hand flying to her head. "What happened?" She asked, noting that she had somehow been moved from the kitchen to the living room.

"You fainted," Faith said, sitting down next to her.

"Really?" Buffy asked, looking over at her. "I never faint," she pouted.

"You know, it might be a good idea if you would say something to Kara," Faith said slowly. "She's a little freaked."

"Right...Kara...what do I say?" Buffy asked in panic, looking from Faith to Giles and then back again.

"Well," Giles said, clearing his throat. "You could start by explaining that you were a bit shocked by her news, but that you're overjoyed at having her as a part of your family?" Giles suggested, cleaning off his glasses.

"Are you overjoyed?" Faith asked softly, trying to figure out what her girlfriend was thinking. So far, she was failing miserably in that endeavor.

Buffy thought for a moment. Finally, she responded, "Yeah. I am. It's just a lot to get used to."

"Yeah, it is," Faith said, taking Buffy's hand in hers. "She didn't have us around very long, in her world, you know. So, just keep in mind, this is pretty weird for her too."

Buffy smiled gratefully at Faith. "I know," she said and then rose to her feet, pulling Faith with her. "Maybe we should go back in there and talk again."

"Good idea," Giles said, urging them on.

"Should we tell Xander?" Buffy asked, whirling around to face him.

"I imagine so," Giles answered after a moment's thought. "Only, that can wait. Go talk to her now."

Faith led Buffy back into the kitchen. "Look who's awake," she said, holding the door open for the blonde slayer. Joyce smiled and got up, walking out of the kitchen again.

"Okay, so the fainting thing, really not your fault," Buffy said, smiling sheepishly at Kara. "I guess I was just a little freaked. I mean, this is a strange situation and all. But, I'm glad you're my daughter, you know? You're the only one I would want," Buffy finished, looking down at her shoes, then back up at Kara.

Kara smiled. "Thanks. And you know, I don't expect you guys to do anything. I mean, I didn't tell you because I wanted something from you. You just deserve to know. Besides, the First spilled my little secret," she grumbled.

"I like knowing a whole lot better than not knowing. Besides," Buffy said, regaining her confidence in the situation, "We're a family right? The three of us. It doesn't matter if we're all practically the same age, or one of us is from the future, or whatever the circumstances may be. We're family."

"That being said, I'm not gonna have to tell Xander am I?" Kara asked, dreading having the conversation again.

"Tell Xander what?" Xander asked as he knocked on the kitchen door and opened it, walking into the room. Kara groaned and dropped her head onto the kitchen table.

"Sit down, Xand," Buffy instructed.

Several minutes later, Giles heard Faith's voice call out from the kitchen, "Giles! Smelling salts?"