Buffy tried to hold in her anger at Faith. But after having heard Spike's confession of love for Faith, she felt as though she would strangle Faith.

And as much as she wanted to do just that, her mother had told her a version of Faith's life that made her heart hurt just as badly.

Swallowing down the lump of anger, Buffy closed her eyes for a second to ground herself.

Opening them up she looked over to see Faith looking at the table and fiddling with the cards there.

Sighing Buffy slowly sat down where Spike must have been sitting.

"So…mom tells me you've been living here a while." Buffy stated calmly. She really didn't want to fight Faith at the moment. And knowing her it would get physical pretty fast.

"Not that long." Faith said not looking up at Buffy.

Seconds of silence followed, letting Buffy know that Faith wasn't going to start talking on her own.

"Mom also told me that your past…" Buffy paused, not really knowing the right word to use, "your past is different then what you had told me."

Faith winced, "Yeah."

Again seconds of silence followed.

Buffy felt suddenly uncomfortable broaching the subject her mother had discussed with her, especially after Faith had switched bodies with her and violated her. Then again, if Faith had truly been…used…the way her mother had told her, what she had done would seem normal to her. Like what she had done wasn't a huge thing.

"You gonna kick me out?"

It shocked Buffy that the scared voice asking the question came from Faith. It was even more shocking to realize that Faith was trying to hide her fear at the possibility that she would get kicked out of the house.

"No."

Buffy watched as Faith seemed to sink further in her chair after the word, almost as if she had been ready to spring up at any moment.

"But after what happened…I need to know you won't hurt my mom…even if you want to hurt me."

Faith finally looked at Buffy after the statement.

"What does that mean?"

Buffy braced herself.

"It means if you want to kill me…you go after me! Leave my mom, my friends, out of it."

"What you think I'd hurt Joyce after taking me and making feel like I belonged because of YOU betraying me?!"

Buffy anger immediately ignited. "ME? I betrayed YOU?!"

Faith huffed out a disgusted laugh, "You shaking up with Angel and trying to kill me for him doesn't classify as betrayal to you does it?!"

Buffy was on her feet in a blink of an eye. "And YOU teaming up with the mayor AFTER telling Giles that I killed someone isn't two knives in my back?!"

Faith stood up so quickly the chair went flying back.

"YOU WERE GOING TO RAT ME OUT! YOU KNEW IT WAS A MISTAKE! " Faith yelled straight in Buffy's face.

"NOT BEFOR YOU LIED! YOU TOLD GILES IT WAS ME! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA…"

"ENOUGH!" Came a yell that had both of them jumping up and staring at one pissed off mom.

"Mom!" Buffy squealed in shock. She had never heard her mother yell like that.

Both girls stared wide eyed as Joyce made her way down the last few steps and glared at both of them.

"Did I not say 'Buffy…don't upset her. Don't focus on the past.' Did I not tell you to keep your head?" Joyce said with a very motherly pissed off look.

Buffy felt like melting into a puddle as her mother scolded her.

Faith felt a sort of vindictive satisfaction at having Joyce yell at Buffy. At least she did until Joyce turned and glared at her.

"And did we not talk about trying to make a fresh start. Is yelling at Buffy about the past help accomplish that?" Joyce asked with two wide eyes. Awaiting a response from Faith.

"No." Faith finally answered quietly as she folded her arms, not being able to help feel like a child.

"No." Joyce repeated.

Joyce looked between the two and finally shook her head closing her eyes.

"After what happened today I would think the both of you would have understood that life is not fair. It's extremely unfair…and unforgiving."

Joyce opened her eyes and looked at her daughter.

"When you first brought Faith to meet me…I was soo happy that you had someone that could help take the burden from your shoulders. I never stopped to think that you would do the same for her. Because you two…." Joyce looked over and Faith and back at Buffy, " You two are incredibly strong, incredibly smart, and incredibly stubborn. You are both cut from the same cloth. Together…together I don't think any evil thing stands a chance against you."

Faith and Buffy shared a brief look and then looked back at a still very angry Joyce.

"Now after everything that has happened tonight I would think that both of you would realize that time is not guaranteed. I want to make sure that before anything happens to me…"

"Nothing is gonna happen!" Faith with steel in her voice. As if saying it strongly would assure that nothing would happen to the woman she had grown to love like a mother.

"IF something happens…I want you both to promise me that you will both put your differences aside, all of the things you've both done to one another, and I want you to be there for each other." Joyce said as she switched gazes between the girls.

Both Faith and Buffy stole a look at each other.

Truce.

Faith nodded her head and looked over at Joyce.

Joyce gave a raised eyebrow. "I didn't hear the words out of your mouth Faith. You know how I feel about you expressing yourself."

Buffy's brow furrowed. Was her mom actually having heart to hearts with Faith?

The exasperated sigh and roll of Faith's eyes showed that she was annoyed at the words. Obviously her mother had said it many times before.

"I promise. But that don't mean I'm not gonna punch her in the face when she deserves it!" Faith said in her usually sassy way with a wicked smile.

"Ditto." Buffy said with a huge smile on her face.

Joyce would have rolled her eyes at the two, but from what William had told her so far, keeping Buffy and Faith close would help change the future when Buffy would need someone else most.

"I would expect nothing less. Have it out with each other…just make sure by the end you're both hugging." Joyce said with a smile as both girl's brows furrowed in confusion and shock.

Joyce outright smiled and leaving them both confused she climbed the stairs.

"And you thought I was the craziest person you knew?!" Faith asked mockingly, making Buffy share a look with her.

"I was obviously mistaken." Buffy said as they both turned back to look up the stairs where Joyce had gone.

"I heard that!" Joyce yelled from upstairs.

Both stood there, completely and deeply disturbed.

Johanthan had returned home and was in his room trying to hide from everyone when his mother yelled and told him that someone was there for him.

Bracing himself Johnathan knew his mother hadn't heard a word he had said when he told her not to let anyone know he was there.

Opening his bedroom door he never expected the hand that grabbed his neck and the yellow eyes of one pissed off vamp to greet him.

"Johnathan. I'm going to let go of you. If you scream…I'll tell everyone exactly where you are. I'm sure there are quite a few women who would love to strangle you for touching them. So…"

With that Spike let go of Johnathan who immediately started to cough and gasp in.

Spike strolled past Johnathan, dropping his demonic face, and sat down on the boy's bed as blasé as he could. His eyes immediately scanned the boys room. It was just as Andrew always described it.

Nerd central.

"Wait…you're not suppose to be able to hurt humans…" Johnathan said as he pointed an accusing finger at Spike as panic set in.

"Relax. I wasn't trying to hurt you. I wasn't even using any strength to grab you." Spike said with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh." Johnathan said sounding a little saddened at the information.

"Look. Came here cause you know about the Slayer and her friends. Know you don't really have anyone but two acquaintances. Can't really call them friends can you?" Spike lifted an eyebrow.

Johnathan winced and rubbed his throat, looking away from the very dangerous vampire.

"The Slayer is a ridiculously forgiving person…she know's you would have never done what you did if you knew someone was going to get hurt." Spike watched the lad's shoulder's drop and the worry in his eyes as he looked up at Spike.

"Is Buffy's mom ok?"

Spike slowly let a small smile come to his face. Andrew hadn't lied. Johnathan was a descent person. "Yeah mate…she's going to be fine now. Gonna make sure of it personally."

Johnathan let out a huge sigh of relief then relaxed as he realized the vampire wasn't about to pounce and kill him.

"Why are you here?" Johnathan asked as the oddness of Spike's visit.

"Told you. You know about the Slayer. Thought you should grow a pair and ask her for forgiveness. Know she'll give it to you. Plus…now that you know what she is…what she does…I think you could help her and her friends keep this town from running a muck with the Hellmouth attracting all kinds of nasties." Spike explained as he laid back on the Superman sheets that covered the lads bed, but one glance at the lotion bottle on the boys nightstand and Spike closed his sense of smell off as he jumped off the bed with a disgusted look.

"Me? Help Buffy? How?" Johnathan said with a furrowed brow.

"Well…you're good with computers, technology, and even security from what I saw. You're smart, and from this room a complete an utter geek – Harris and you will be like pigs in a blanket." Spike said with a laughing smile.

Johnathan stared blankly at Spike in confusion.

"Now…about one of these acquaintances of yours…" Spike smirked as he thought of the pain in the arse boy that became part of their family.

Spike had definitely missed him.

Funny how distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Author's Note: I know it's a short chapter but I think you see WHY Johnathan is being included now! Review and tell me how much you don't like it! lol! REVIEW!