Author's Note: What do you think is going on with Faith's mother? Theories? Is she just a mother trying to get to know her daughter?

Buffy's POV

I hate this.

I look left at the movies on the other rack down the romantic comedy aisle.

These movies are so horrible. They're all about great love conquering all and happily ever after. It's so unrealistic. I hate it. But I want to get something happy and fun after all that's happened lately. I think I've had enough drama to last me till the day I die... again. I can't believe the way Faith just condemned her mother like that. Suggesting she might be evil. We don't know enough about what's going on to think that way.

For all we know, she was saved by the powers on high to help us somehow. I know that Faith's mother wasn't the best person. I know she should've been a better mom and not invited strange men into her house with Faith around. But I don't think she's evil.

We reach the end of the first aisle and turn down the next.

She doesn't seem evil. She doesn't look evil. She doesn't feel evil either, and I can usually feel evil when it's around. What's that old saying? If it looks like a duck and sounds like a duck? Well she doesn't look or sound like a duck, so I don't think she is. She's a good person, I'm sure of it. She just made some bad choices. I can understand that. I've made some bad decisions in my life, so has Faith. I would think that Faith would understand that. But I guess that what happened cut pretty deep, and why shouldn't it? I'm not sure if I could deal with it if it happened to me. I think she's a really strong person for having dealt with it as long as she has.

But she can't spend the rest of her life hating her mother, anymore then I could spend the rest of my life hating Faith for what she's done. Maybe now that her mother's in town, she can deal with it. All I have to do is find a way to get them talking.

I look at the movies on the right. I pick up some movie called Serendipity. I read the back of it.

'In the course of one magical evening, Jonathan and Sara meet unexpectedly...'

Okay, I'm already pretty sure I'll hate this movie.

I put the movie back, turn to Faith and stop.

"These movies all suck."

She chuckles at me.

"You don't have to tell me that B. But you were all about the happy fun movies all the way over here, and there's no way I'm watching one of those stupid slapstick comedies. What else is there to watch?"

I turn towards the rack of movies and pout at the crappy selection.

"I know. I just wish this town had a better video store."

"Funny thing to say in Sunnydale's best video store..."

I start walking down the video aisle again.

"I'm not so sure it is. The selection is 75 percent romance movies. What kind of selection is that?"

"A happy one..."

I look back at Faith and roll my eyes.

"I hate romantic movies."

"You and me both B... you and me both..."

"Well that certainly has changed."

That voice sounds familiar.

I turn around to see Faith has turned around to look at her mother, standing behind her.

"Hello again..."

Her mother smiles and waves at both of us, I smile back.

What's she doing here?

Faith glares at her mom and folds her arms across her chest.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

That was a little harsher than it needed to be.

"I was looking to rent a movie and I didn't really like the ones on the hotel TV. One of the bellhops said this was the best place in town, and gave me the hotel's membership to this place. So here I am."

I knew there was a simple explanation. She just wanted to see a movie.

"I saw you were here too and thought I'd say hello."

Faith leans on her back leg slightly, into a more defensive posture.

"Hello, now you can leave."

Her mom gets this slightly hurt look on her face and I can't help but feel bad for her.

I should do something.

I move up beside Faith and put my arm around her shoulders.

"Come on Faith, your mom was just trying to be nice. What did you mean that things had changed?"

"Well, I can remember a time when Faith was actually a big fan of romantic movies, weren't you firecracker?"

Nothing but silence greets that question.

Fine, I'll just try a little harder.

"Faith? I find that hard to believe."

Her mom smiles at me.

"If I remember correctly... Lady and the Tramp was your all-time favourite."

Lady and the Tramp?

"Really? Is that true Faith?"

Faith looks at me with a rolling eyed glare.

"I was young. Since then I've managed to grow up."

Hmm, you know that might be an idea.

"She used to watch that movie so many times when we'd rent it that I finally went and bought it for her birthday."

Faith pushes my arm off her shoulders and steps back.

"Yeah, my 10th birthday..."

Mrs. Lehane looks down in shame for a second.

"B, if you wanna stand here and stroll down memory lane then you go ahead. I'm gonna go and look for a happy movie in the horror section."

She heads off to the horror section.

"I'll let you know if I find any."

I watch as she leaves for a second and then turn to her mother.

"I'm sorry about that. She's still angry."

Faith's mom smiles sweetly at me.

"It's all right. I'm sure that remembering those times isn't a fun experience for my little firecracker. There are a lot of bad moments from those days, no doubt they're more prominent then the happy ones I try to focus on."

I sigh.

"Yeah... she told me about some of those bad moments."

She gets this sad look on her face.

"They're all true. I'm not proud of a lot of the things I did in the past. There's so much I should've done. So much I shouldn't have done too. But that's why I'm here, to at least try and make up for some of it. All of it if I can."

There are a few moments of silence.

"I understand. I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of."

She puts her hand gently on my shoulder.

"You must be really close friends for her to confide in you that much."

Close enough that we had a daughter together once.

"Yeah, you could say that. We've helped each other through some tough times. She means a lot to me."

Mrs. Lehane smiles as she takes her hand off my shoulder.

"I can see that. I'm glad that she has someone like you looking out for her in her life."

I can't help but feel really good at hearing her say that. After a few moments, her sad look returns.

"What's wrong?"

She sighs heavily.

"Well, knowing she has someone as great as you looking out for her just makes me wonder about all the things I've missed in my daughter's life. I may have been there for her first steps and her first words. I was there to see her off for her first day of school. Her teachers used to tell me she was a good student you know... before I stopped listening to them that is. But there's this whole part of her life that I've missed. I just can't help but wonder... who was her first kiss? Who was her first boyfriend? Has she even had one? Did he love her and treat her properly? Did she love him? Has she ever even felt love?"

"Yes..."

Mrs. Lehane looks at me with a wondering look.

"I'm sorry?"

Geez, why did I have to say that?

"It's nothing..."

"No, what were you going to say?"

"Nothing I just... Faith umm... I knew Faith's first um, boyfriend. He was a very good person. He loved her very much and she loved him just as much. They were good to each other."

Except that he was a she and she was me. I can't tell her that though. I have no idea how she'd react. It's not really my place to out Faith anyway to her mother.

"Oh..."

"I shouldn't have said anything. It's not my place."

"No, I appreciate it. Can I ask what happened?"

I look at her for a second and she's trying to hold back the expectant look in her eyes.

"You know, it was... just life stuff got in the way. It was a long time ago, I'm sure she'd hate that I'm talking about it with you."

"Ah... I understand. Well, I'm sorry for her. I guess things don't always work out the way we want."

I take a deep breath.

"No... they don't."

Mrs. Lehane looks over in the direction of her daughter for a second.

"Thank you..."

Thank you?

"For what?"

"For giving me a glimpse into the part of my daughter's life that I missed..."

I smile at Faith's mom.

"No problem... I just hope that she'll do it herself at some point."

"I hope so too. Will you let her know again that I'm free to talk any time she is?"

"I will..."

Something catches her eye.

"Oh, there's what I was looking for."

She picks up a movie.

"I should go before Faith comes back."

"Okay..."

She puts out her free hand in friendship.

"It was good to speak to you again umm, Buffy?"

I take her hand and shake it.

She has really soft hands. They remind me of Faith's. Then again, I guess it's the other way around.

"Yes it's Buffy, and it was nice to see you too. I hope to run into you again Mrs. Lehane."

"I told you before, feel free to call me Fray."

"Right, sorry..."

Fray just smiles as she heads towards the counter.

"I'll see you soon."

I wave in response. After a second I look around the store.

Faith's still over in the horror section, but I catch her eyeing her mom as she reaches the counter.

Okay, that'll give me a chance to get the movie I want.

I walk over to the right section, which is actually on the other side of the store from where Faith is.

I know it's here somewhere. It's a classic. I'm sure it's here. Ah, got it.

I pick up a copy and I spy Fray leaving out of the corner of my eye. I smile as she does while she opens the door and goes out into the sunlight. I make my way to the customer service desk as Faith comes at me.

"Hey B, what was going on in the kids' section?"

I wave the movie in front of her face but don't let her take it from me.

"The same thing going on in the rest of the store Faith, I'm renting a movie."

We make it up to the counter and I hand the movie directly to the clerk.

"What movie?"

I smile at the clerk and I think he gets the message. I turn to Faith as the clerk searches through the movies to get the one I'm renting.

"You'll just have to wait and see."

I reach into my purse and pull out my wallet. I take my membership card out and hand it to the clerk just before he asks for it. He scans it into the computer and after a second of staring at the screen he speaks.

"That'll be 4 dollars please."

I take 4 bucks out of my wallet and hand it to him.

"Fine, so what did my mother want?"

She says that with a little bit of venom and I don't really like it but I understand where it's coming from.

"She didn't want anything Faith. She just asked how you were and stuff. There was no evil plotting behind your back or anything."

Faith kinda glares at me a little but it goes away.

"All right..."

"Enjoy your movie. It's due back on Friday before midnight."

I take the movie from the clerk and put it in my purse with my wallet.

"Come on Faith, let's go get some pizza and then we can watch this."

She smiles at me and then we leave the video store.