DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. 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 explicit 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 read no further. This story is a sequel to Gifts.

Mother
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Hello, Mrs Moore," Dennis greeted Heidi's grandmother when she opened the door.

"Hello, Dennis," Mrs Moore said. "Come in. She's already in the basement."

"Okay. I'll go to her then."

Mrs Moore nodded, closing the door, and Dennis went downstairs.

"Hey," he greeted Heidi.

Heidi looked at him with a smile.

"Hey," she said and they kissed.

"So," he said and looked around, "you need to get all this out?"

"No, not everything. We need to sort things and than Grandma's gonna decide what goes and what stays."

"Oh." He looked around again. "And when was the last time anyone cleaned up down here?"

Heidi looked away as bad memories resurfaced again.

"Before my family was… killed," she said quietly.

"Oh," Dennis said. "I'm sorry."

Heidi smiled sadly at him.

"It's okay." She took a deep breath. "Now, how about we clean this up, hmm?"

"Okay. Found anything interesting yet?"

"Just a couple of old clothes and carpets. I was just about to check out that closet, but it's locked."

"Did you check the back of it? Maybe there's a key there."

"You think?" Heidi asked skeptically.

Dennis shrugged.

"It's worth a try. We can still ask your grandmother."

"Okay," Heidi said and went to the closet. She reached behind it and searched for a few moments. "I got something," she said and pulled her hand from behind the closet. She looked at Dennis, smiling. "It's a key."

"Let's see if it fits," Dennis said.

Heidi inserted the key into the closet lock, turned and the door clicked open.

"I guess it worked," she said and opened the door. "Books," she said, slightly disappointed. She looked closer. "Novels."

"What's that?" Dennis asked and pointed at the lowest shelf.

Heidi looked.

"Looks like Aladdin's lamp," she said and picked it up. "You think it has a genie inside?" she asked with a smirk.

Dennis laughed.

"This is Sunnydale," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised."

Heidi chuckled.

"Yeah, I guess so. Let's find out."

She rubbed her palm against the lamp and shrieked when smoke started to come out.

"Shit," Dennis said, grinning when Heidi almost dropped the lamp.

"That's not funny," Heidi said. "It's just…"

"Mmm, yes."

Heidi and Dennis looked at the owner of the voice and nearly dropped their jaws.

"Shit," Dennis said.

The woman, dressed in late sixties clothes looked at him.

"The name's Zara actually," she said with a smile. Then she looked at Heidi thoughtfully. "Hmm, seems I need some fashion tips," she said. She snapped her fingers and was dressed in clothes identical to Heidi's. "That's better."

"That's not cool," Heidi said.

"Cool?" Zara asked.

"We're dressed like twins and that is a definite no as far as fashion is concerned."

Zara quirked her mouth, thinking.

"Yes, I guess you're right. But I'm afraid this will have to do until I see some more of the current fashion."

"Are you a genie?" Dennis asked.

"Yes, M…" She trailed off and looked at Heidi. "Wait, you called me, right?"

"Em, yes?" Heidi said uncertainly.

"Well then, thank you, Mistress." She frowned. "Okay, that sounded wrong. What's your name?"

"Heidi. And this is Dennis."

"Okay, Heidi. Do you mind if I call you Heidi?"

"No."

"Okay, here's the deal. You called me and now you have three wishes. I suspect you already knew that."

"Yes."

"Thought so. So, what will it be, hmm? Money? Power?"

"I don't know," Heidi said.

"Then why did you call me?"

Heidi shrugged.

"I thought it was just an old lamp."

"Hey, this is my home you're talking about. It may be old and, well, pathetic, but it's still my home."

"Sorry."

"You're forgiven. So, any ideas?"

Heidi thought about asking for her family, but she had a bad feeling about the whole thing.

"I'm not sure you should wish for anything until we talk to Mr Giles," Dennis cautioned her.

Heidi looked at him and nodded.

"Yes."

"Who's Mr Giles?" Zara asked.

"A friend. He knows a lot about the supernatural."

"Oh," Zara said, not very excited.

"And no granting wishes unless I say "Zara, I wish" and so on. Got it? Or I'll wish you become a worm."

Zara pouted.

"I'm hurt. You don't trust me."

"No."

"Fine. You have twenty-four hours to make up your mind. After that, I'll grant you the first three wishes that you say. Got it?"

Heidi smirked.

"Got it."

"Good."

"Why is it that they always say twenty-four hours and not simply a day?" Dennis asked.

Heidi shrugged.

"Beats me." She looked at the genie expectantly. "Aren't you going back to the lamp?"

Zara looked at her like she had two heads.

"I don't think so. I've spend the last…" She frowned. "When was JFK killed?"

Heidi and Dennis glanced at one another.

"In 1963."

"I know the year," Zara said, annoyed. "I meant, how many years ago."

"Thirty-seven."

Zara sighed.

"I thought it was longer. Oh well. I'm not going back in until you make those three wishes. You're stuck with me."

"Damn." Heidi sighed. "Well, come on then."

"We're going to Giles?" Dennis asked.

"Yes."

They went upstairs.

"Who is…" Mrs Moore trailed off. "You look familiar? Have we met?"

Zara looked at her and frowned.

"I think so. My name is Zara."

Mrs Moore thought for a moment.

"Zara. I know that name." Then her eyes went wide. "You were here, thirty… no, forty years ago."

"Ah yes, I remember you now. You're Kim."

"Yes."

"You know her, Grandma?" Heidi asked, surprised.

"No, not really. But I've seen her around back then. Your grandfather said she was… a business associate."

"Yes, well, I was. Of sorts. We weren't lovers though. I never sleep with my employers." She sighed longingly. "Though I sure wish I could."

"Who are you?" Mrs Moore asked. "And how did you get into the house?"

"She's a genie, Grandma," Heidi said.

"A what?" Mrs Moore said, surprised.

"A genie. You know, from the lamp?" She showed her the lamp. "Like Aladdin's lamp. We found it in the closet downstairs."

"Oh."

"We're taking her to… a friend. We're hoping he could help us."

"I see." She took a long look at Zara and noticed she was dressed in the same clothes as Heidi. "Be careful," she then said.

Heidi nodded.

"I will." She looked at Zara and Dennis. "Come on."

The two followed her out while Mrs Moore stared after them, thinking about the past.

As they walked down the street, Zara looked around curiously.

"Now this is definitely an improvement," she said as she observed the people. She snapped her fingers and was wearing a new dress. "Much better." She ran her hands down her body. "Mmm, feels good." She looked after a man they passed. "Wow, what a cutie."

Heidi and Dennis looked at one another, puzzled and amused.

"You like men?" Dennis asked.

Zara looked at him.

"Oh yeah," she said and smiled. "So, where does this Giles live?"

"Not far."

"Oh, hello," Giles said when he opened the door.

"We have a problem," Heidi said and entered.

Dennis and Zara followed her.

"What kind of a problem?" Giles asked as he took off his glasses to clean them.

"Her," Heidi said and pointed at Zara.

Giles looked at her curiously.

"I see," he said and put the glasses back on. "And what specifically is problematic about her?"

"She's a genie."

Giles looked at her.

"A genie?"

"Yes. You know, from the lamp? Like Aladdin's lamp? This one, as a matter of fact."

Heidi showed him the lamp and Giles took a closer look.

"Interesting." He looked at Heidi. "And you just rubbed it and the genie came out?"

"Yes."

"Hey, I'm here, you know," Zara said. "The name's Zara, by the way."

Giles looked at her, startled.

"Em, hello. My name is Rupert Giles."

"They say you know a lot about the supernatural."

"Well, yes, I do."

"Then could you please tell them that they get three wishes and then I'm gone?"

"Well, that's true, but I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Zara rolled her eyes.

"Mortals." She glared at Giles. "Of course it's that simple. You make a wish, I grant it."

"Yes, but if they wish for money, some relative of theirs may die and they inherit the money. And I'm sure they wouldn't want anyone to die."

Zara groaned.

"Not all genies are like that, you know."

"Well, it's better to be certain," Giles said.

"She said she won't grant us any wishes for one day," Heidi said.

"Really? And you're sure she'll keep her word?"

Heidi glanced at Zara.

"Unless she wants to spend the rest of her existence as a worm."

"I see. I'll have to do some research."

"Need any help?"

"Eh, no, not really."

"So what do we do with her?" Dennis asked and pointed at Zara.

Giles glanced at the genie.

"Why doesn't she go back into her lamp?"

"She said she's not going back until she's done granting the wishes."

"I see." Giles thought for a moment. "Then I suggest you show her around."

"That would be nice," Zara agreed. "I'm thirty years behind on fashion."

"This is gonna be a long evening," Dennis murmured.

"I heard that," Zara said and glared at him.

Dennis grinned sheepishly.

"We'll be back at nine," Heidi said.

Dawn the vampire was slowly walking to the Bronze. She stared at the people passing her and she realized that she didn't think of them as Happy Meals on legs anymore. It was disturbing. What kind of vampire was she, anyway? Not only did she not feed on Humans anymore, she was helping out the Slayer. Well, two Slayers. Though, of course, when some stupid demon wanted the world to end, she was more than ready to help the Slayers, she had no intention of being anywhere near Hell. And, of course, helping the Slayers meant that she didn't have to worry about getting staked. Unfortunately, it also meant no more Happy Meals on legs. And it was disturbing how she didn't crave Human blood so often anymore. She still did, but her survival came first.

"Hello, Dawn."

Dawn froze, recognizing the voice. She slowly turned and her eyes went wide when she saw the speaker.

"Mother," she said.

"Fancy seeing you, daughter. It's been what, over three hundred years?"

Dawn gulped, scared.

"Yes, Mother."

"It was not nice of you to leave, Dawn," Dawn's mother said and moved closer.

Dawn started to back off, but her mother's hand gripped her neck.

"You're coming with me, daughter dearest," the woman said and morphed into game face, "it's time this town disappears from the map."

Talk about stupid demons, Dawn thought. She decided she finally needed to get rid of her mother. Though not by herself, she knew she was no match for her.

"Ooh, this is nice," Zara said as she observed the dancers at the Bronze. She moved to the rhythm. "Mmm, nice beat. At least you can really dance to it," she said and slowly moved to the dance floor.

Heidi and Dennis looked at one another, amused.

"She's weird," Heidi said.

"Yes," Dennis agreed.

Heidi looked around.

"I wonder where everyone is tonight."

"They probably went to Giles and then they found out about her and decided to wait."

"I'll go call."

"Godfrey!" Mrs Ashcroft yelled when she and Dawn came to her lair.

"Yes, Madam?" the vampire lackey immediately appeared, bowing.

"Lock this daughter of mine into the basement. And make sure she doesn't escape."

"Right away, Madam," Godfrey said and bowed.

"This way, Miss Ashcroft," Godfrey said and grabbed Dawn's arm.

Dawn followed him. She considered escaping, but not only was she afraid of her mother, she was also worried because of Godfrey. He may be acting like a true English butler, but he was a gorilla. The only thing that was missing was the fur. As for his intelligence, well, that was still to be discovered. She sighed. At least she could spy on her mother while was being kept here.

When Heidi, Dennis and Zara got to Giles' house, most of the gang was there. The Slayers were on patrol.

"Hi, guys," Dennis said when they entered.

"Hi," Renee said.

"That's the genie?" Xander asked.

"Yes."

"Great, witches," Zara groaned when she saw the three wiccans.

"You can tell?" Giles asked her, interested.

Zara looked at him.

"Of course. So, did you find anything useful?"

"Well, other than what we already knew, no, not really."

Zara looked at Heidi.

"Well?"

"What? The twenty-four hours are not up yet," Heidi said.

"What do you want?" Lara asked.

"What? Who? Me?" Zara asked.

Lara nodded.

"Yes."

"Nothing you can get me, trust me."

"You didn't answer her question," Raelee said.

Zara gave her a blank look and then sighed.

"Okay," she said and thought. "Now let's see. I finally want to get laid. Do you know how long it's been? Ages! And I really want to taste food. Any food! Hell, I wanna be mortal."

"You wanna be mortal?" Xander asked, surprised.

"Oh yes."

"Why?"

"Why? You mortals have sex, food, fashion and JFK. Me, I have a rusty old lamp."

"JFK is dead," Xander pointed out.

"That's beside the point."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I want to experience all that." She looked at Lara. "Does that answer your question?"

"Yes," Lara said and looked at Heidi. "Wish for her to be mortal."

"What?" Heidi said, surprised. "Are you sure?"

Lara shrugged.

"It worked in Charmed."

Xander laughed.

"You watch Charmed?"

Lara looked at him and nodded.

"You never know when we might encounter something they did."

Xander thought about it.

"Good point."

Zara looked at Heidi questioningly.

"If I wish for you to become a mortal, then you won't be able to grant any more wishes, right?" Heidi asked.

Zara snorted.

"Like I give a rat's ass about wishes. All everybody wants is money, power or somebody else. In the end, they end up destroying themselves."

Heidi looked at the gang.

"Any objections?" she asked.

"I think that would be the safest wish," Giles said when nobody objected.

Heidi took a deep breath and looked at Zara.

"Okay. Zara, I wish for you to become a mortal."

Zara flashed a big smile.

"Your wish is my command," she said and snapped her fingers. She frowned. "Or should I say that it's my wish as well?" She shook her head. "Whatever." She took a deep breath and stretched. "Mmm, that feels wonderful." She looked around. "Well, people, I gotta go eat and get laid. Though not necessarily in that order. I believe my limo's already waiting."

"What limo?" Heidi asked, puzzled.

Zara smiled.

"That one outside."

Heidi went to the door and opened them.

"Wow."

"There's a limo?" Willow asked as everyone went to the door.

"Oh yes."

Zara smiled.

"You didn't specify what kind of mortal, so I made sure I was rich. And I also retained some of my magical powers," she said and twirled her fingers.

"You did?" Giles asked, worried.

"Oh don't worry, Rupert, I'm a good girl. I'll see you around," she said and went to the limo.

"Should I be worried?" Xander asked when Zara's limo drove away.

Giles scratched his head.

"I don't know," he said and closed the door.

"I'm going back to studying," Willow said.

"Any luck?" Xander asked.

"No. I'm pretty sure the warlock used many spells on Kara, but finding one that would undo every single one of them is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I'm still hoping one of those books is a diary."

"You got them all?"

"Yes. We sealed the house afterwards. Just in case."

"Good."

"Tell me, Dawn," Mrs Ashcroft said when she came to see her daughter, "just how many Slayers are there? I've heard rumors there were at least two."

"Yes, Mother," Dawn said.

"Are there more?"

"No, Mother" Dawn said.

"You wouldn't be lying to me, would you?" Mrs Ashcroft asked as she grabbed Dawn's neck.

Dawn shook her head.

"No, Mother."

"You better not," Mrs Ashcroft said and let go of Dawn's neck. "Now, I hear that the Slayers have friends. Is that true?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Excellent," Mrs Ashcroft said, grinning evilly. Then she stared at her daughter for a few moments. "You know, I never expected that you would survive on your own. I guess I was wrong. Maybe you could be of use after all."

"What do you want me to do? Mother."

Mrs Ashcroft thought for a moment.

"We'll see. I need to think first," she said and left.

Dawn waited until her mother and Godfrey were gone. Then she took a pin from her hair and picked the lock. She quietly went upstairs and listened to her mother planning.

"We have a problem," Dawn said when she came to Giles. "Can I come in?"

Giles hesitated for a moment.

"Come in," he then said and Dawn entered. "What seems to be the problem?"

"My mother."

Giles frowned.

"Your mother?"

"Yes." She sighed. "I suppose you want to know more about her."

Giles nodded.

"Yes."

Dawn thought for a moment.

"Her name is Victoria Ashcroft and she used to be a baroness. She was also a real bitch. She was turned in 1658 and my father was killed. Then she turned me. I ran away a couple of decades later and I haven't seen her since. Now she's back."

"I see. Do you know what she wants?"

"First, she wants to kill the Slayers' friends and then the Slayers. And then she plans to burn some school."

Giles frowned.

"Why?"

"I think there are some witches there that would then come to Sunnydale, where they would discover one of the power points. She wants to kill them by blowing them up."

"Blowing them up?"

"She told her butler, Godfrey, to bury the explosives around the power point." Dawn hesitated for a moment. "Can I stay here until she's dead?" she then asked.

Giles raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Why?"

Dawn hesitated again.

"Because I'm afraid of her," she then admitted. "I've been afraid of her when we were both still alive and I'm still afraid of her now. She's strong and she's ruthless."

"I see." Giles thought for a moment. "You said Ashcroft?"

"Yes."

"I'll see what I can find out. Maybe a picture."

Dawn hesitated for a moment.

"Need help?"

Giles looked at her, surprised.

"Yes, I could use it."

"What seems to be the problem, Giles?" Faith asked as she came to Giles the next day after school. "Hey, Dawn," she said, surprised, when she saw the vampire.

"My mother's the problem," Dawn said and Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Your mom?"

"Yes," Giles said. "She is also Dawn's Sire."

"Shit. And?"

"Dawn overheard her planning. She wants to kill you, Buffy and your friends and then burn down some school so that, em, witches from that school would come to Sunnydale."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

"Yes. Then she plans to kill them as well."

Faith thought about it for a moment.

"So we kill her first?" she suggested.

"Yes."

"Okay." She looked at Dawn. "Where is she?"

"You should wait for the other… for Buffy. My mother may be a bitch, but she's dangerous and she knows how to fight."

"Oh." Fait thought for a moment. "How many… servants does she have?"

"I've only seen Godfrey."

"Godfrey?" Faith asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Her butler."

"Oh." Faith scratched her head. "So we wait." She looked at Giles. "When does Buffy come in?"

"In one hour."

"Okay." She looked at Dawn. "Draw the map of her place so we can make a…"

There was a knock on the door and then Zara entered.

"Hello, people!" she said with a huge smile and a dreamy look in her eyes.

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Someone had a busy night," she observed.

Zara grinned.

"You can say that again, baby," she said and stretched. "Mmm, okay, cramps are definitely the downside of being a mortal," she observed.

"That's the genie?" Faith asked Giles.

"Yes."

"A vampire! What's she doing here?" Zara said, surprised, when she noticed Dawn.

"Helping us out," Faith said.

Zara gave her a blank look.

"You're kidding, right? I mean, as far as I know, there's only one vampire with a soul and that's not her."

"I know. And what are you doing here?"

Zara's face brightened.

"I just dropped by to thank you for making me a mortal."

"And what will you do now?" Giles asked.

Zara thought for a moment.

"I think I'm gonna go home first. Yep, definitely home. And then we'll see."

"I see."

"Well, people, it's been nice knowing you. I'll drop by if I'm in town again. Bye!"

She waved her hand and left.

"She's strange," Faith sad after Zara closed the door. She looked at Dawn. "Now, the map."

"You think this plan is gonna work?" Buffy asked as she and Faith approached the house just past sunset.

Faith shrugged.

"If it doesn't, we break down the door."

Buffy looked around.

"Dawn's ready."

Faith glanced at the vampire, who was sneaking closer to the house.

"Then let's do it."

They approached the house and Buffy knocked.

"Try to look cute and innocent," Faith said.

Buffy glanced at her.

"I always look cute and innocent. Unlike some brunette I know, who always looks like she wants to get laid."

Faith grinned.

"That's because she does, by her girlfriend."

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"I'll have to talk to Cordelia."

Faith chuckled.

"Good luck."

The door opened and the Slayers dropped their jaws.

"What?" Mrs Ashcroft snarled. Then she saw two girls and she grinned. "How can I help you, girls? Do you want to come in?"

Buffy and Faith glanced at one another, surprised.

"Em, yes, sure," Buffy then said and batted her eyelashes, giving her best I'm-a-dumb-blonde look.

Faith rolled her eyes and they entered. They heard Mrs Ashcroft lock the door and then follow them.

"You two look like nice little morsels," Mrs Ashcroft said when they got to the main room, and licked her lips.

"And you look like a Pilgrim reject," Buffy said and Faith laughed.

Mrs Ashcroft snarled and changed into her game face.

"You need to be taught a lesson, young lady," she said.

"And you need to be dusted," Faith said and took her stake. "Allow me to introduce you to my close personal friend, the stake."

"And this is Mr Pointy," Buffy said, taking her stake.

"Slayers," Mrs Ashcroft realized.

"Stupid," Faith retorted, causing Mrs Ashcroft to attack.

The Slayers avoided the attack and launched one themselves. Mrs Ashcroft defended herself and the Slayers realized that in spite of her outdated look, Mrs Ashcroft could kick some serious ass.

After alternating between attacking the vampire and defending themselves, the Slayers were slowly becoming tired, especially since Mrs Ashcroft's punches and kicks most often than not hit their intended targets.

"Lady, this is the twentieth century, in case you haven't noticed," Faith said, noticing Dawn sneak in.

"Can't you see the poor woman is retarded?" Buffy played along. "I mean, look at her face, it's a classic."

"Classic usually means beautiful, she's just plain ugly."

"You insolent bitches," Mrs Ashcroft snarled.

She was about to launch another attack when she suddenly felt a stake through her heart. She turned around and saw her daughter.

"You little…" she started, but then turned to dust.

"Bitch," Dawn said and kicked the pile of dust that used to be her mother.

"Good work," Faith said. Then she frowned. "I mean…"

"It's okay," Dawn said. "She was a bitch and her death was long overdue. And believe me, I'm glad I was the one who killed her."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"If you say so."

"Has anyone seen the butler?" Buffy asked.

Faith looked around.

"No. Dawn?"

"No."

"Damn," Buffy said. She looked at Dawn. "Do you think he's going to go through with your mother's plan?"

Dawn shrugged.

"I don't know. He was loyal to her, but I don't what he would do now that she's dead."

"Let's check the place, see if we can find any plans or something," Faith said.

"Okay," Buffy said.

"Nothing," Faith declared half an hour later.

"Me neither," Buffy said. "Except some dusty books."

"Dawn?"

"Nothing."

"Then let's go to the Bronze. I feel like dancing," Buffy said.

Faith raised an eyebrow and looked at her, amused.

"You feel like dancing?"

"Is there a problem?" Buffy asked, puzzled.

"No, no, it's just that you never feel like dancing."

Buffy blushed.

"Well, tonight I do," she said and left.

Faith chuckled.

"Let's go then," she said and followed her. "Oh," she remembered and turned to Dawn. "I guess you own all her stuff now. Let us know if you find anything useful. You know, like those books Buffy saw."

Dawn looked around and then back at Faith.

"I will," she said.

"And stay out of sight, in case Godfrey decides he wants to avenge your mom."

Dawn nodded.

"I will."

"Okay. We'll see you around," she said and left.

Dawn then slowly turned around. This was now her place. She decided to make a list of her mother's belongings and get rid of the things that were useless. But first, she needed to stay out of sight, in case Godfrey came back.

The End