The Key

"Hurry up guys. Get this place cleaned up. Layla will be here any minute," Buffy Summers shouted to her friends. Willow and Xander had been helping her clean up all morning. They too were excited about Layla's return. Layla and Buffy used to be inseparable when they were younger. Layla Bloom is Buffy's cousin. After Layla's parents moved out of Sunnydale Buffy had lost contact with Layla. But has never forgotten her. Buffy's cousin is different from everyone else. She had powers nobody knew about. Nobody but Buffy, Willow, and Xander.

Xander sat down on the couch. Buffy came running in the room. "Get up. Get up. GET UP," she yelled. Xander nearly jumped through the front window. "Buffy calm down. With all of the evil out there I think you have more important things to worry about than a crushed cushion," Xander said. Buffy put down the cushion. "I guess you are right but it has been so long since I have seen her. I don't want her to think that I am a slob," Buffy said. Willow came in the room. "She won't think that. After you tell her you are the Slayer then she will understand," Willow said. Buffy looked at Willow. She hasn't even thought about telling Layla she is the Slayer. How will Layla react. Buffy scolded herself. Layla would understand.

"Do you think she can still..." he said wiggling his fingers. "If by that you mean have use of her hands I think she can," Willow said. "You know what I mean," he said. "I don't know. Giles said that Sunnydale makes things happen. Maybe Sunnydale was giving her those powers," Buffy said. There was a knock at the door. Buffy ran to it and flung open the door. Buffy almost didn't recognize the girl standing in front of her. "Cuz," Layla yelled as she embraced Buffy. Buffy threw her arms around the girl. "Layla?" she said. "Yes its me silly. I know I have changed a lot since I was 10," Layla said. Buffy remembered a frail looking, stringy haired, little girl that wore braces. In front of her stood a beautiful woman with long brown hair. "It really has been a long time," Buffy said leading the girl into the house.

"You remember Xander and Willow," Buffy said. "Willow. You look great," Layla said as the two girls hugged. Layla looked over at Xander. His jaw was practically on the floor. Willow looked at him also. She punched him in the arm. "Stop staring pinhead," Willow said. Xander shook his head as if clearing the cobwebs from his mind. "My you have .... grown," he said. They hugged. "The place looks great. Where is Aunt Joyce?" Layla asked. "Mom is...Well mom passed a few months ago," Buffy said. "Oh Buffy I am so sorry. If I'd have known I would have came back sooner," Layla said. Looking to change the subject Xander spoke up. "Layla I bet your hungry. Come on we cooked a huge dinner for you," he said. "Great," she said as they all went into the kitchen.

After they ate it was daylight still out so Buffy decided to take Layla for a walk around town. "Sunnydale looks so different," Layla said. They neared the high school. "I know. Some things have happened around here," Buffy said. Buffy finally decided to tell Layla. They went into the park and sat down on the bench. "This place used to be busy. I remember our moms bringing us here to play when we were younger. Now it feels so cold," Layla said. Buffy agreed. "Layla there is something I have to tell you. This place is empty because Sunnydale is sitting on a Hell mouth," Buffy said. Layla gave her a confused look. "What is a hellmouth?" Layla asked. "It's a door between our world and the underworld. It let's creatures walk through it to create havoc here. And that is why this place looks deserted. Everyone has up and left," Buffy said. "Why haven't you guys left? Why do you all stay here?" she asked. "Because I am the slayer. I am the protector. I kill the things that come from the other side and without me here those things would be unleashed all across the world," Buffy said. "I wish I would have known all of this. I could help you out," Layla said. "Help me? How?" Buffy asked. "Well, you remember when we were younger I could do strange things," she said. Buffy shook her head yes. "I can still do them. Only my powers have grown more powerful. You see that is why my parents moved me out of Sunnydale and never would let me contact you. They found out that I could use my mind to move things so they yanked me out of this town. They blamed the town for my abilities. Little did they know it was me not the town," Layla said. Buffy was amazed. Not only was Layla taking this easily she was even ready to help.

"Your powers have grown? How?" Buffy asked. Layla looked around to see if anyone was around. When she saw no one she raised her hand and created tiny sparks in her palm. "You see. I can somewhat create electricity. I just can't control it that well," she said as she closed her palm. "Wow," Buffy said clearly impressed. "I can also create a force field," she said creating a green shield between her and Buffy. Buffy touched it. "How?" she said. "I don't know. I just kept playing with moving things around the room and I guess as I did that my mind got stronger," Layla said. "You know those abilities of yours would really come in handy here," Buffy said. "How would you like to join our team in protecting humankind," she added. Layla thought about it for a minute. This is why her gut told her to come back now. So she can make a difference. "I would love to help you," she said. Buffy hugged her cousin. "Great. We need to be heading back home. It's starting to get dark and that's when all of the demons come out," Buffy said. "Demons? What kind of demons?" Layla asked. "You remember the horror stories from our childhood," Buffy said. Layla shook her head yes. "Now imagine things 10 times worse," Buffy said. They spoke about the kinds of things Buffy has fought throughout the years all the way back to Buffy's place.