Change of Season

"Oh, man."

Willow looks around Fat Tony's and groans. It's packed tonight, meaning it will take forever to get a couple of pizza's out. Well, it's Saturday night. What did you expect?

She makes her way to the end of the line, not really paying attention to the crowd. She just wants to get her pizzas and get out. Get over to Buffy's, and forget about the fight she had with her father less than an hour ago.

I know he doesn't mean to be mean, but sometimes he just… Willow sighs, wishing her thoughts would just go away. I mean, he could try harder, couldn't he? I guess I could try harder, too. Try to see his point of view… but why do I always have to do the bend over backwards stuff, anyway? I mean, he's supposed to be the grown up, see things from all angles… but he's just so stubborn! Everything has to be his way. He's like a little kid….

"Excuse me, Miss. Did you want something? Can I help you?"

Willow looks up, startled. She blushes, realizing she's been standing there lost in her thoughts, holding up the line.

"Sorry, was just trying to decide…" Willow covers, looking at the menu. "Ummm… give me two large pizza's, New York style, the works… except, on one pizza, hold the anchovies, ok?" Sorry, Buff, but I'm not eating pizza without the anchovies. One should be enough for even you…

"Got it. Anything else?"

"Yeah… give a two liter of coke, and … ohhhh… do you have the stuffed bread sticks?"

"Oh yeah. Want some?"

"You bet… and those square thingies… the ones with powdered sugar and …"

"Right. Fat Tony's heavenly squares. You got it…" The server nods. "Anything else?"

"No, I think that'll do it…." She hands him some money for the order.

"Thank god!" A voice says behind her, an all too familiar voice. "Pig out much, Queer-o Rosenberg?"

Willow lets out a sigh. Great, just what I needed right now.

"Don't they feed you at those family functions?" Another voice, also too familiar chimes in. "Your parents counting the crab puffs now?"

Sweet. Two for one. Can this night get any worse?

"Harmony, Cordelia…" Willow turns around, after getting her change. "So, what Cor? Bring your guard dog here for her nightly chow –down?" Willow gives Harmony the once over. "Better cut back on the extra cheese, babe. You look like it's gonna be tough fitting through doors soon…"

"Hey, what's your problem, Willow? Just because we don't all look like starving children in Africa…" She shrugs, tossing her hair. "I got curves, so what? I thought you liked women's curves." She snickered.

"Yeah, I do. But those aren't curves, Harm. Those are detours."

"Are you calling me fat?" Harmony fumes, not exactly sure if she's been insulted, but ready nonetheless. "Just because I don't belong to skin and bones quarterly, doesn't mean I'm fat. You're just jealous because I don't look like a boy from behind…" She smirks, giving Willow the once over. "Or from the front, either…"

"Yeah, got me there, Harm. But at least, I don't have to be milked once a day…"

"You stupid little …"

"Hey, you two… at the front? Take it elsewhere! People are waiting back here!"

Harmony whirls around to face the heckler. "Hey, who asked you, stupid?"

"Hey, look, bimbo. I came here to get a pizza, not watch a catfight. Either order, or get outta line!"

Willow just makes a disgusted noise and walks away.

"Harm, that's enough!" Cordelia says, clearly embarrassed and irritated.

"Hey, don't get angry at me! I can't help that guy's AN IDIOT!" She raises her voice.

"Shut up and order, Cow!"

"You come here and say that!"

"HARMONY!" Cordelia yells at her.

Harmony, realizing she's crossed the line..

"I'm sorry, Cor. I…"

"Just order the pizza's, ok? I'll be right back." Cordelia gets out of line, to the applause of those behind her. "God, I can't take you anywhere!"

"Where are you going?"

"I need to talk to Willow."

"What? Talk to that stick figure Barbie? Why? So she can insult us some more?"

"Look, you two," The counterman, growing impatient, interrupts their tête-à-tête, "… either order something, or get out of line. There are other people waiting, ok?"

"Hey, look you minimum wage flunky, I don't need to take that from …"

"Harmony, shut up or I'm gone. Order the pizzas, and then wait by the car. I'll pick them up when they're ready."

"But…"


"Just do it!" Cordelia, at the end of her patience, growls at her. "Now!"

"Ok, ok, geeze, you don't have to be so mean all the time…"

"I do when you can't follow a simple direction." Cordelia shakes her head, walking away.

"Yeah, well one of these days I'm just going to not take it anymore, Cordelia Chase, and then see where you'll be, huh?"

Yeah, like I'd be so lucky, Cordelia thinks, Then sighs, God Harmony, what am i gonna do with you. she maneuvers her way through the crowded pizzeria.

Harmony, not getting a response, turns to the counter help.

"Ok, I'm ready to order now."

Applause bursts out from the crowd. She blushes furiously.

Willow, for her part, is just sitting at a small table, waiting for her number to be called. She's hoping against hope that her order will be ready before she has another Close Encounter of the Cheerleading kind. I can't even get a pizza in peace anymore, she mourns, looking towards the pick up station. Hurry up, already!

Her hopes are dashed, however, when somebody sits down at the table with her. A somebody named Cordelia Chase.

"Hey," Cordelia says, sitting down.

Willow doesn’t say a word. She just stares at her.

"Look, I’m sorry about that. I didn't tell her to do that…"

"You didn't exactly stop her, either, did you? Oh, and you had to get your own barb in, right?"

"Well, what did you expect?" Cordelia says petulantly. "You've been pretty much brushing me off all day…"

"I told you, I was at a family thing. I couldn't just walk out on it."

"Well, you're not there now, are you?"

"No…" Willow looked annoyed and angry. "What do you want, Cordelia?"

"I told you. I want to talk, ok?"

"What do we have to talk about, Cordelia? Pretty much, nothing, as I can see it. We've talked, and you're not changing, and I'm not going to become your plaything. I don't see why we have to do this dance again."

"Did I say anything about an 'us', Willow?" Cordelia feels irritated. God, try to help someone, and they bite your head off! "This isn't about that. I'm really not stupid, and I get it. There's not going to be a you and me. Does that say we can't talk to each other? Especially now…"

"Why now?"

"I told you, it's important, ok?"

"Yeah, you said that, but so far? Not big on the details…" Willow starts to stand. "Look, I've got somewhere to be. I don't have time for your games…"

"Dammit, Will. Do you have to be this way?" Cordelia grabs her arm. "Listen for once, instead of like you know everything. It's hard enough being this close to you… knowing you hate me. But if you'd just listen to me, you'd get it…"

"I really, really don't want to go there again, understand me? You burned me twice, and dammit, I already feel like an idiot. I nearly lost my best friend over you, Cordelia Chase. I nearly lost everything, and I don’t need another one of your sick attempts to get me back…"

"I DON'T WANT YOU BACK!" Cordelia shouts, and then realizes she's in a public place. She colors pink, and sits there, glaring at Willow. "God, you're full of yourself. Do I have to have a big neon sign, or what? This isn't about that, I just told you that! I get it, ok? Me, you? Not gonna happen. This is something else, something that could be dangerous for you… and I'm trying to help, and you're not listening, and you know what? I think I don't care anymore…" she stands up, "Good luck with your head stuck up your ass, ok?" She turns and starts to walk away.

God, she's crazy! Willow says, not watching her go. Right now, the last thing she wants to think about is crazy rich girl.

And yet… What is her trauma? Why does she do these things, anyway? What did that accomplish, except piss us both off? Is that what she wanted? Well, good work, Cor, cuz you really… She feels more than sees Cordelia back, standing at the table.

"What? Back to insult me some more now?" Willow says, hostility rising.

"No… just, I can't leave it like this. Whatever you think of me, I care enough about you that I don't want to… I couldn't live with myself if you… oh shit… can I sit down, please?"

Willow is tempted, so tempted to tell her to go to hell. Instead, she waves at the chair, not really wanting to look at her.

"So, you're back. What're you babbling about? Something about me? I don't get you…"

"Big surprise there. Listen, ok? Can you do that?"

"I can. But if you start with any of your games again, I'm…"

"This isn't a game!" Cordelia's face is tight, her lips a slash across her face. "You're in trouble, Willow. Big trouble. And I'm doing my best to see it doesn't happen, but I can't just let it happen … I have to warn you, ok?"

Add iceberg to that chill. Willow is really getting nervous.

"What's this about? What do you mean, I'm in trouble? I didn't do anything…"

"It's not about anything you did. Well, except maybe accepting a job from my dad…"

"Stop with the mystery, Cordelia. you're beginning to scare me here."

"You're scared? Good, be scared! Be very scared, Be so scared you're peeing your pants scared…"

"Ok, that's enough. I told you, I won't go for your games, and this is beyond any game you've played before. Just stop it, because I'm tired of listening to your crap…."

"Shut UP! I'm trying to save you, Willow, and you interrupting all the time isn't helping at all!" Cordelia shakes her head. "You're always like this, thinking you know best. Listen to me for once!"

"Then tell me what the hell is going on!"

"I'm trying to… but to tell you, I've got to tell you some stuff. About myself. And my dad. Things I've never told anyone. Stuff you can't tell anyone else, or I'm gonna be… shit, I might get dead real fast. Get it?"

Willow feels like she's wandered into a Beckett play, and she's clueless as to what happens next. Everything seems so unreal and disjointed, and Cordelia isn't helping at all.

"Just calm down and tell me, I promise. No one else… geeze, stop this! Stop making me crazy!"

"I'm sorry, I really don't want to scare you. I don't, but I've got to. If I don't, you won't listen, you won't pay attention, and something bad… awful… might happen to you…and I can't… I won't let that happen…"

"Cordelia, just tell me…"

"I can't. Not until I explain… until you understand. Otherwise, you'll just think I'm crazy, and …"

"Just tell me," Willow softens her tone. "Please." She reaches out, touching Cordelia's hand. "It's ok, you're here with me, safe. Just tell me."

"All right, all right, ok …" Cordelia says impatiently, more to herself than Willow. Then she stares her right in the eye. "You can't tell anyone, ok? I…. I can trust you, right?"

Despite herself, Willow's heart melts a little. She realizes how hard it is for Cordelia to reach out, even this much.

"I won't tell anyone, I promise."

"Ok, ok… " Cordelia looks around, being sure no one's listening. She looks back at Willow, but seems to be talking more to herself than to her. "Just say it, Cor. Just say it. It's not gonna do any good to sit here and stammer… just… I … when I was thirteen, that was the first time I slept with my father…"

Willow feels like someone punched her in the stomach. Then, for good measure, punched her in the face. Hard.

"What?" She whispers, not believing her own ears. "You what?"

"I slept with my father…" Cordelia seems to let out a long held breath. "When I was thirteen. First time. My mom… They divorced, and she'd left a couple of years before, and … I thought she was some kind of evil bitch, because I didn't really know my father then… and, well, I guess I saw him with other women… and I got…I got…I was jealous, because he gave them the attention I wanted… so I… I seduced him… I wanted to be sure that he didn't do to me what he'd done to my mother… I didn't want to be suddenly shipped off to some boarding school, shunted away somewhere…" She sees the look on Willow's face, and continues quickly. " Look, I loved him. And I wanted to be what he wanted me to be. The perfect Chase. He was my dad, after all, and that was important to me. That he was proud of me… and I didn't want him lonely, and I could give him something the others couldn't. Someone to talk to, to be with, with him all the time. Don’t you see? I wanted him to be happy…" She seems to retreat, to convince herself. "I just wanted him happy, that's all. I loved him."

"Cor, my god… why… why didn't you…"

"What? Tell someone? Who'd believe me? And … I knew it was wrong, so wrong, but I wanted him! I wanted HIM! I wanted him to love me all ways… not just like a daughter… I wanted to be his lover." Cordelia looks at her with the doe caught in the headlights look. " And it wasn't just that. I wanted what he could give me. I wanted to … I wanted to be powerful. I didn't want to be a piece of furniture. I'm my father's daughter, and I wanted to be like him…" She sees Willow's expression, and frowns. "You think I'm sick, don't you? Go ahead, say I'm sick. I'm sick!"

"No, no… don't…" Willow takes her hand, squeezing it. "He…you're not at fault, Cor. He did it to you. He manipulated you…"

"No, you're not getting it! I wanted it! I wanted what came with being his lover, his partner." She looks at Willow, her eyes full of sadness and pain. "I was in love with him then … not now, but then I was… and when that faded, at least I still had the other…" Her expression is determined and set. " Don't be a fool, Willow. It wasn't just for love, The power of the Chase name can open a lot of doors.." I totally knew what I was doing.

Willow bites her lip to keep from crying. This is insane! How could anyone do that to someone they loved? What kind of monster is he? Can I even believe what she's telling me?

Almost as if reading her mind, Cordelia continues. "You don't believe me, do you? It sounds insane, doesn't it?"

"I didn't say that!"

"Remember… when we were together… you remember how I never wanted you to see my back? I always wear full blouses … ever wonder why?"

Willow just sits there, shell shocked. She's still trying to wrap her mind around this whole idea of Cordelia and her father.

"C'mon," Cordelia stands up, grabbing her hand.

"Where? Where are we going?" Willow feels herself being pulled along behind.

"Ladies room. I've got to show you something… proof."

"Wait! Stop, no! I don't need to…" But it's too late. They're at the women's restroom, and after peeking inside, Cordelia pulls her in, closing and locking the door behind her.

"What? What're you going to do?" Willow is genuinely scared. More than she's ever been scared before.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you. I just have to show you something…" Cordelia starts to unbutton her blouse.

"What're you doing?"


"Shhh. It's not like that. Keep the hormones in check…" She continues unbuttoning her blouse. "remember, when we made out, when we… made love… I'd never take off my tee-shirt…?" Cordelia looks at her. "Even when you… played with my breasts, and tried to get me to take it off. I wouldn't. Remember?"

"Yes… I thought… well, I thought it was because you were…it was like your first time, and you were shy…"

"God no… nothing like that…" She drops her blouse, and starts to take off her tank top. "I just didn't want you to see… I wasn't ready for you to see this yet…"

Taking off her tee-shirt, she turns around, back to Willow.

Willow gasps.

Dozens and dozens of scars criss cross Cordelia's back, some old, others fresh. Against her will, she reaches out to touch her…and Cordelia shivers.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to… " Willow quickly pulls back her hand.

"It's ok. It doesn't hurt. I don't feel them like I used to… but you can see I didn't want you to see them…"

"Cor… my god… he… he did this? To you? He …" She stares, horrified and fascinated.

"Yes… and more. Other things… things so… vile I can't think about them without getting sick… I…"

"Cor, you've got to go to the police. He… he can't get away with this!"

"Shut UP!" Cordelia snaps, then immediately, her face softens, "He's my dad, Willow. I love him. I know what he did to me, but it wasn't anything I didn't ask for. I couldn't … I couldn't do that."

"Cor, what he did was wrong…" Willow's voice is soft. "You don't deserve … that…" She indicates her back.

"I'm not asking for your approval or your judgment, Will. That isn't why I showed you this," Cordelia slips her tee-shirt over her head. "I showed you so you'd believe me, so you know I wasn't lying to you."

Willow watches her slip back on the shirt, and sees the change. As if the shirt carries some kind of magic. When it's on, she can put it out of her mind, forget about it. She so needs to hide it from herself, make herself believe it isn't real.

"I believe you, Cor. I believed you, even if you hadn't shown me that. You wouldn't make something like this up."

Cordelia turns around, looking at her intently. She looks for the trick, the lie. Not seeing it, only that she's being genuine, she relaxes a little.

"Thanks. That means a lot…" Cordelia slips on her blouse, buttoning it up. "I know you think I'm some kind of freak or monster…"

"No, I really don't, Cor…"

"Don't, please, ok? I know it, and you're right. I am… I know that. I know that since what happened at school the other day…"

"Look, Cor, I didn't mean for it to go like that. I just couldn't stand by and let you…"

"Stop, I know. That's not exactly what I mean…" She hangs her head, shaking it a little, "I did something. To Harmony… something… awful… something snapped in me after our little confrontation on the quad, and I … took it out on her… and it was then… I realized what I've become…"

"Cor, you're not a monster. Stop doing that to yourself. It's not your fault!" Willow walks over, meaning to hug her, but Cordelia backs away, holding up an arm.

"Don't, ok? Again, I'm not looking for your pity, or your understanding or any of that crap," Cordelia's tone is back to normal. Hard edged and mocking. "I'm who I am, and I'm not sorry about it. But…" she closes her eyes for a moment, as if blocking out something terrible, "I did something to you I'm not proud of, Something I am sorry for." She opens her eyes. "And it wasn't exactly what I told you it was…"

"Look, Cordelia. That's ancient history now. Let's just forget it." Willow says, all the time wondering why she said that. "You can't change the past…"

"I wish I could. I wish…" She waves an impatient hand. "Wishing is for wimps. It's done, and can't be undone. But I lied to you then, and I need you to know the truth now. It's important."

"I don't understand…"

"I told you it was an initiation; maybe it was in a way. But why… it wasn't so you could be in the 'inner circle' at school. That's BS. I rule… or ruled… that school with an iron fist. If I wanted you in, your in, no tests, no nothing…"

"Then… why?" For the second time tonight, Willow feels as if she's been punched. "Why did you do it?"

For a moment, Cordelia doesn't answer. She leans on the sink, looking away. She can't look at Willow.

"I wanted…you ready… when I gave you to him…"

Willow stands there, stunned. She looks at Cordelia as if seeing her for the first time.

"You… wanted to give me to him? I don't get it… you were going to give me to him?" She stomps over to Cordelia, grabbing her shoulders. "How could you? I thought you loved me! I thought I… how could you do that to me?"

Cordelia's voice is hollow, almost as if talking from a great distance.

"You don’t understand. I… He always wanted my friends… for his own little games." Cordelia looks pale, "I did that… to soften you up, prepare you…"

"But you didn't… he wasn't part of that… was he…" Willow looks puzzled and suddenly sick. "Please, tell me he didn’t…"

"No, god no! After I saw… how you stayed strong, how you didn't break… I … I knew I couldn't do it. Not to you… I couldn't go through with it. I couldn't let him touch you…."

This time, the blow is at her knees. Willow suddenly feels weak, and a little sick. She leans against the sink, looking in the mirror. She's very pale.

"How could you even think that I'd… after all we talked about, what we meant… what I thought we meant to each other…"

"That’s just it. I couldn't. When you got so upset, when you stood up to me, when you ran away… I realized I couldn't do it. But … it was already too late…"

"That's … bizarre! That… doesn't make any sense. Too late… ?"

"He wants you," Cordelia says it so softly, Willow almost misses it.

"What?"

"He wants you. All I know is he's obsessed with you… he has been for awhile…" Cordelia says the words as if in pain. "He wants to … I don't know. I don't know why he's so adamant about it, why he's so set on it, but he wants you…"

"Wants me?" Willow feels a deep chill down her spine. "Wants me ?"

"Don't you get it?" Cordelia looks at her, her face looking pinched. "God, he must sense how I feel… felt about you… realized that somehow, you touched me like … no one has before…" Cordelia shakes her head, swallowing hard to keep the bile down. "He must realize that you had some influence on me, and it … he must've felt threatened… or something… I don't know. All I know is, he wants you, and he…"

"He's made some kind of plans to 'get' you…"

"Cordelia… you've got to go to police. Tell them about this! You can't just let him do this!"

"No… no, I can't… I can't do that…"

"Then I'll go! I'll tell them…"

"And what? What proof? Who's going to believe you over my father?"

"Dammit, Cor! You've got to back me up!"

"No way! No, I won't… do that…" Cordelia pants, as if she's been running a long marathon. "I can't even catch a breath…" She leans over, breathing hard. "I couldn't… don't you see?"

"Yeah, I see really well," Willow says bitterly. "I'm screwed, that's what I see. You father's going to what? Rape me? And I can't do jack about it? Thanks, thanks for the tip, Cor. Thanks a bunch. I feel so much safer now!"

"STOP!" Cordelia yells, "I didn't tell you this without an ace up my sleeve. Now shut up and listen!"

Willow backs away, shaking. She can't remember feeling like this since that night… when it happened.

"What? What are you going to do. You won't go to the cops…"

"Dammit, Willow. I'm not helpless…" Cordelia colors. "Yeah, I won't go to the police… but I won't let him get you, either…"

"WHAT?" Willow stares at her, more confused and anxious. "How the hell can you stop him?"

"It's not all one way. Yes, he's… done things to me… made me… like this… but … I can influence him right back. I can … keep him from you…"

"And I believe that… why?"

"Has he gotten you in the last two years?"

Willow starts to speak, then stops. It hits her like a ton of bricks.

"He's… that long? He's wanted to … that long?"

"Yes, and I've kept him from hurting you. And I'll keep him from hurting you. Just, I need you to lay low. Don't make waves, don't get crazy, and don’t get yourself noticed, ok?" She approaches Willow, who backs into a corner. "I can distract him, keep you off his radar… but if you start something, something that feeds this… desire, I don't know if I can keep him distracted. So, just do what you did before. Keep low… and don't give him reason to notice you…"

"Distract him?" Willow feels like she wants to hurl. "Distract him, how?"

"How do you think?" Cordelia says coldly.

Willow looks up sharply, understanding exactly what she means.

"No, Cor… you can't… you've got to get away from him. Don't you see what he's doing to you?"

"Oh, god, Will. It's too late. God, it's years too late for that…" Cordelia squeezes her eyes shut, holding back the tears. "That's why I know… you and me? Never going to happen. It can't happen… much as I wish it could…" She loses the fight, and some tears splash on her cheeks. "You… you're the only one… the only one I knew who didn't care who I was, or what I could give them. All you saw was me… the me I thought I'd lost… and goddamn it, I wish I could be her… for you… but I can't." She wipes her eyes, brushing off the tears. "All I can do…" She reaches out, gently touching Willow's face, "… is keep you safe from him. I owe you that… and a lot more…"

Willow feels the tears stream down her own face, and she captures Cordelia's hand in hers, turning her face and kissing the palm. She realizes that she does love Cordelia, but what she said is right. They can't ever be together… not that way. They're too different, things between them are too damaged to ever be really repaired enough for there to be any real trust between them again. But knowing that doesn't make the feeling any easier.

"I don't wanna lose you, Cor. I know… you're right. We can't … be together … not as lovers… but there's a lot of good in you. Something very good about you, despite … what's happened. I know that you can do good things… even with the way things are now."

"Don't fool yourself, Will. I'm not good. That's you trying to see me through rose colored glasses." Take a good look at me."

"You're wrong. You just haven't given yourself a chance to do better."

"Look, just let it go. Whatever we might've had, that's over. Way over."

" So, what? Do we just walk away from each other? What we've been?"

"I dunno. I'm not the smart one in here…"

"Liar! You're a lot smarter than you give yourself credit being."

Cordelia thinks about it for a moment. A small bit of hope seems to appear in her eyes. Her whole face seems to relax, soften and Willow can't help but see something of the girl she fell in love with.

"Will, I know it'll never be easy for us. We're both strong willed, stubborn women. But … I also know that you make me want to be better … a better woman than I can be by myself. I never…felt like that before, and I like … I like the feeling. Maybe I can do some good stuff… but I need help. I need someone who won't let me get away with all my crap. Know anyone who might be able to do that?" Her tears are flowing freely now, and she doesn't even care. She just looks at Willow, the lost vulnerable child replacing the hardened, cynical teenager. "Do you think you can forgive me, and maybe be my friend?"


Willow almost explodes off the wall, grabbing Cordelia and hugging her.

"Do you even have to ask that?" She says softly, her eyes squeezed shut.

And for a brief moment, Cordelia feels strangely safe. As if nothing can get her here, as if somehow, while she's protecting Willow, Willow in turn has her back. She hugs Willow back equally fiercely.

"Harmony loves you, you know?" Willow says, still holding the brunette.

"I know," Cordelia doesn't want to let go.

"You really should treat her better. She's so in love with you… she might be good for you… someone to love who's not your father?" She holds Cordelia away, looking her straight in the eye.

"Starting already, aren't you?" Cordelia smirks. Then her mouth relaxes into a smile. "I'm gonna. She's been there for me, more than I even realized. I know that, and I appreciate it. I'm gonna start treating her better."

"Good… but not too better. The girl still needs a leash."

"Oh yeah," Cordelia chuckles.

They break apart, and just stand there for a moment. The awkwardness is gone between them, and for the first time, each looks at the other with a different, somewhat healthier perspective.

"Speaking of Harm, I better scoot and get those pizzas before she starts foaming at the mouth."

"Yeah, I've gotta…" She looks at her watch, and blanches. "Oh man, I'm so late. I gotta get going."

"Well, you better fix your face first. You look like an insane raccoon!" Cordelia laughs.

"Look who's talking, Rocky," Willow smirks, heading for the mirror.

"Aw shit, look at me!" Cordelia complains, seeing herself in the mirror. "I look like crap!"

Hardly, Willow glances over at the brunette. "Yeah, you do," She says out loud. "Well, I'll seeya later…" She pats Cordelia on the shoulder, then on impulse, leans over and kisses her cheek. "Be good."

Turning, she retrieves her purse and walks out of the bathroom.

Cordelia, repairing her makeup, doesn't turn, but watches her go in the mirror. She can still feel Willow's lips on her cheek.

If only… Then she shakes her head. "Wishing is for wimps," she says out loud, finishing up her makeup.

Collecting her purse, she leaves the restroom.


6


Buffy, freshly showered and dressed, starts down the stairs.

Unlike her fantasy, she's dressed rather plainly. She's wearing a white t-shirt, and loose cargo shorts. On her feet are a pair of flat sandals. Her makeup is bare minimum… just a hint of color at the lips, and a touch of color to bring out her eyes. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail.

The effect is of a young, somewhat naïve girl, which all in all, is exactly what she is. She walks with that elastic grace which seems trademark in some attractive young women.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she's just about to turn into the living room when the doorbell rings.

Well, gotta say. Will's timing is perfect. Smiling happily, determined to enjoy tonight, she almost bounces to the door, throwing it open without looking.

"Geeze, Will, you sure took long enough. I'm starved…" She trails off, startled. "Daddy?"

Standing at the door is Hank Summers, looking a bit disheveled stares at his daughter.

You can almost see a physical change in Buffy's attitude. While her face retains it's sweet expression, a new look in her eye appears. It's a mixture of want and fear and desire. Her body seems to shift, almost leaning out towards Hank. Her chest is subtly thrown forward, along with her hips. Her legs part, just a little. Her breathing is a little heavier, a little shallower.

"Buffy?" Hank smiles, but his eyes look cold. "Is your mom here?"

"No… she's out…" Buffy opens the screen door, letting him in "C'mon in, Dad." She steps back to give him room.

Hank enters the house, and looks around. His face is slightly flushed, and his hair is a little mussed. He's shaven, but a little sloppily, as if it was a last ditch effort. He turns to Buffy.

"Where's your mom? I really need to talk to her," He says, tightly. He's over enunciating the words, indicating he might have been drinking a little. Or a lot.

"Like I said, she's out, dad…" She moves a little closer to him. Her walk has taken on a more sensual character, as if her body is responding to his. "So, did you even miss me? You haven't called me in forever."

"Buffy, I need to see your mother. Some changes need to be made around here, and damn it, I'm tired of waiting on her. When is she gonna be back?" Hank moves into the living room, sitting down on the chair.

"I dunno," Buffy shrugs, a little put off by her dad's attitude. "She went to L.A…." she decides to not tell him with who, "…on some business. She probably won't be back for hours…" She follows him in, sitting down on the arm of his chair. She takes a good look at him. He looks so … tired… she frowns.

"Just like her. All the time gallivanting here and there, never at home with her kids. I'm surprised you guys aren't out running wild, with all the supervision she's not giving you…" He nods towards the stairs. "Is Dawn upstairs?"

"No… she's out with Xander doing who knows what?" Buffy leans over a little. "Just you and me here…" She smiles sweetly. She gently strokes his arm. "I really missed you, daddy."

"Does she do this a lot?" Hank asks, pulling his arm away.

"Dawn? She hangs around with Xander a lot, yeah…"

"Not Dawn. I mean your mom. Does she go away a lot, leaving you guys on your own?"

"What? No, I mean, this is like the first time she's been gone all day. Mostly, she's here…"

"That's strange. Because every time I come over to talk to her about something, she's gone." Hank gets out of the chair, almost upsetting Buffy in his haste. He starts to pace around the living room. "Who's the girl I see coming and going all the time?"

Buffy looks puzzled. "What do you mean? Are you watching us?"

"Well, sometimes I come by and sit in my car. I mean, your mom pretty much made me persona non grata around here, but that doesn't mean I don't keep an eye on things." He turns and faces her. "So, Buffy, who's the girl? Why is she here all the time?"

"She's not. Her name is Faith, and she's… well, she's a friend."

That name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before? "Friend? She's your friend? She's kind of old to be hanging out with you, don't you think?"

"She's all our friend. A friend of the family…" Buffy feels weird. Why the third degree. What's going on here?

"Really? How did this happen?" Hank asks, looking at her.

"Well… she boarded with us for awhile, and she's really nice. She moved, to be closer to school… she goes to the University… but she still keeps in touch, drops by sometimes."

"Goes to the University, huh?" Hank looks unsatisfied. "She doesn't look like a college student. Not what I've seen. She looks like a punk."

"Daddy! Stop! Faith's nice, she's a really nice woman…"

"She rides a motorcycle for goodness sake. What's that about? What normal girl rides a motorcycle?"


"God, Dad. This isn't like 1950 or something. Girls do all sorts of things. We do construction, we fly jets, and oh yeah, we ride bikes. It doesn't mean anything…"

"Don't even tell me you're riding a motorcycle, young lady."


"No, of course not!"

"Good, because I won't have my daughter riding a motorcycle like some… some dyke!"

"Daddy!"

"And another thing. If you're here alone, why is her bike in the driveway? Where is she?"

"Uhhh…" Buffy lets out a breath. "Well…she and mom… they went to a ballgame down in L.A., ok?"

"What? Your mom went out with some girl… some stranger, to a ball game? What's going on here, Buffy?"

"Mom got the tickets from a client at work. And well, I don't like baseball, and Dawn had a date, so she asked Faith, who said yes. What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is why is your mother hanging around with a woman half her age, running off to some ball game down south when she should be home watching over you two. I mean, exactly how long has Dawn been gone today, anyway?"

"What's this all about? Why are you grilling me like this? Why are you acting like this?" Buffy crosses her arms over her chest.

"I'll ask the questions here, young lady. How long has Dawn been out today?"

"I dunno," Buffy shrugs, frowning. "Most of the day, I guess…"

"You guess? You don't know?"

"Well, all day, ok?"

"And she hasn't been back? Or checked in, or anything?"

"No! Why should she? She's sixteen, daddy. Not six. She's with Xander, and he's harmless enough…"

"He's a teenage boy. Teenage boys are anything but harmless."

"Geeze, Dawn isn't stupid. She wouldn't let him do anything to her…" Buffy is beginning to get angry. "Why the concern, all of a sudden, anyway?"

"What do you mean? I'm your father, Buffy. Of course I'm concerned."

"Really? Because, it's hard to tell… you never being here!"

"I told you, that's your mother's doing. She won't let me get near here. She has some court order keeping me away." He turns away, making an angry noise. "She won't even let me see my daughters, but she sure doesn't mind sucking me dry…"

"What're you talking about? What court order? What do you mean, sucking you dry?"

"Never mind, it doesn't concern you…"

"God, I'm going to be 18 in two months. What the heck are you saying?"

"Your mother got a court order, forbidding me from getting closer than 100 yards of her. Or this house. I can't come visit you, she won't let me. And now, she's also gotten custody of you and Dawn, and is asking 5000 a month in child support! God, I can't afford that! What in hell is she thinking?"

"Dad…" Buffy goes to him. She puts her hand on his arm. "I'm sure that if you call her and talk to her, you can work something out. I don't think mom would be unreasonable…" She leans against him. "What's wrong? Is something wrong at work?"

"Yeah, something's wrong! That…" Hank shakes her off, moving away. "… bastard, Avery Chase, stole my business. Literally, he just … came in and bought it out from under me. With the help of my partners. I got nothing, nearly nothing, for 20 years of work…"

"How… I don't understand. How could he do that?"

"That doesn't matter, really Buffy. He did it, and I'm pretty sure that your mom helped him. So excuse me if I don't feel like appealing to her reasonableness!"

"What? Mom wouldn't do that!"

"Oh please, Buffy. Your mom's no saint. I don't know what she's told you, but she would definitely do something like that. She hates me, don't you get it? She hates me, because I made some mistakes…" He turns to Buffy. "I told you I've been unfaithful to her, and I'm sorry, I really am… but she's vindictive, Buffy. She wants blood, and she's going for the jugular. She's trying to ruin me, and doing a pretty damn good job of it!"

"No, I don't believe it. Mom isn't like that. She wouldn't do something like that."

"Oh, god, she's got you brainwashed too. Well, Buffy, listen up. Your mom's not the martyr she's making herself out to be. Yes, when I couldn't get her … when she stopped sleeping with me, I went outside the marriage to take care of my needs. I admitted that to you. Did your mom tell you that she also was fooling around? On me?" He looks at her, face red. "She didn't , did she? And worse, it wasn't with a guy, but another woman! While she was on that 'buying' trip in Boston. She was playing around with some low life dyke…"

"She told me about it. She told both me and Dawn."

"She did?" Hank has the wind knocked out of his sails. However, he puffs up again pretty quickly. "Well, that's pretty hypocritical, don’t you think? I fool around, and I'm persecuted because of it. She does, and everybody's just fine with it."

"There's a difference, Dad, " Buffy says quietly. "Mom was wrong to do it. She admitted it. But she did it while she was divorcing you. You were almost divorced when the affair happened. You, on the other hand, did it while you were still married to mom… during the time when no divorce was even mentioned!"

"That's what she says… but what if it wasn't the first time? How do I know she hasn't been doing it all the time too?"

"Because she said she wasn't, and I believe her!"

"Oh, right. You believe her, because she's a woman, like you. But boy, if I say anything, well good night nurse! I'm automatically guilty."

"I didn't say that, father," Buffy's tone grows cold.

"Don't take that tone with me, young lady. I deserve some respect here."

"I think you better leave now."

"Are you ordering me to leave? Out of my own house?"

"This isn't your house. This is mom's house!"

"We're not divorced yet, Buffy. As long as we're married, I own half this house!"

"Get out. I don't want you here!"

"No child tells me what to do…" Hank sees Buffy heading towards the kitchen, and the phone. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Calling the police. They'll make you leave!"

"You little…"

Hank rushes into the dining room, catching Buffy as she's lifting the receiver. Grabbing it from her, he yanks the phone from the wall. He tosses it down, and breaks it under his foot.

"Who're you going to call now, Buffy?" He glares at her, his face flushed with anger.

Buffy sees something in his face. Something that scares her silly. Shit, now what? He could… he might kill me, the way he's looking at me….cell phone. Upstairs… if I can only…

She feints left, then goes right, running towards the stairs. Hank follows her in hot pursuit.

"You come back here you little bitch! You don't pull this kind of crap on me!"

Buffy disappears around the corner as Hank starts up the stairs. Reaching the top, he stops for a moment, to catch his breath.

"Come out here now, Buffy! Get your ass out here now, or it's going to be a lot worse!" He starts down the hall. "Don't make me find you!"

He tries the first door, Buffy's bedroom, and finds it locked.

"Open this door, Buffy Anne Summers! Open this door RIGHT NOW!"

Buffy, in the meantime, is searching frantically for her cell phone. She hears her father call out to her, but she doesn't respond, hoping she'll be able to call 911 before he can get to her. Where is it? Where did I put it?

Then she remembers. In a fit of anger, she threw it across the room, breaking it. She hasn't gotten her new phone yet. Damn!

She hears Hank beating on the door, then hears him starting to kick on it. Shit, he'll be in here in a second…

She sees the window, and runs towards it. She goes to pull it up, but it's locked. Hearing the door bust open behind her, she fumbles and gets it unlocked, and opens it. She almost makes it out onto the roof.

Almost.

She feels herself being pulled back by her t-shirt, and pulls against it, ripping the shirt. Slipping out of the ruins of her shirt, naked from the waist up, she scrambles for the window, trying to get away. She feels a pair of strong hands grab her arms, and bodily lift her up. Suddenly she's flying through the air. She lands on the bed, face down. She groans softly.

"Where do you think you're going, Buffy? Dressed like that?" Hank comes over, and rolls her over onto her back. "Exactly what do you think you're doing, trying to call the police on me?"

"Get out! Leave me alone!" Buffy tries to cover herself with her arms.

"You're still not getting it, are you Buffy? You don't tell me what to do! You're just like your mother, thinking you can just order me around like some servant. Well, time you girls start learning exactly who's in charge around here!"

"Go away! I hate YOU!" Buffy kicks out at him, hitting his thigh.

"You little bitch, that really hurt!" He growls.

Pinning her legs down, he uses his other hand to start pulling off her shorts.

"Stop it, stop! Don't !" Buffy wriggles around, trying to get free. "I don't wanna …"

"You little fucking tease! You've been throwing yourself at me all night, trying to get me all hot and bothered, and now you don't wanna? Fraid not, missy. It don't work that way!"

"Stop it! GO AWAY! I'LL SCREAM!" Buffy tries to free herself, lashing out and around.

"Scream all you want… no one's home, remember?" He tears at her panties, ripping them off her. "Now hold still and be good, you little slut. Time to pay the piper!"


"NO DON'T ! DON'T ! I'm PREGNANT!"

Hank, surprised, freezes. Buffy uses that moment to free herself, and scrambling off the bed, tries to run out into the hall. Hank turns around, and catches her before she makes the door. He grabs her, and lifts her up, slamming her into the wall. He holds her by her neck.

"What the hell do you mean, you're pregnant? Who's the father? Who … was it that creep I saw you with? That … what did you call him? Oz?"

"No!"

SLAP! Hank slaps her across the face.

"Who was it then? Who have you been sleeping with, you little whore? Who got you pregnant!"

"YOU! YOU! I've only slept with YOU!" Buffy screams at him.

Hank drops her, and she lands hard on her butt. She curls up into a ball, and starts to cry.

"You …LIAR!" Hank roars.

"NO! I'm NOT LYING! You're the father! I've only ever slept with YOU!"

"SHUT UP, YOU LITTLE TROLLOP!" He grabs her by the hair, hauling her up. "You filthy, lying whore!" He slaps her again. "You've been sleeping around with everybody, just like your mother! And now you're pregnant, and trying to trap me, just like she did! You …" he drags her over to the bed, and throws her on it. "Now I'm gonna teach you to lie to me!" He straddles her, and starts to unbuckle his belt. "You filthy little slut!"

"No, daddy, no!" Buffy cries, wriggling under him, trying to get away. "I love you! I love you! Please, don't hurt me! Don't hurt our baby!"

"SHUT UP YOUR FILTHY MOUTH!" Hank punches her, hard in the face. "Shut up and take it like the whore you are!"

He starts to undress, never letting up enough for her to escape. Finally, naked, he moves off her, spreading her legs.

"Nooo. Daddy, please, nooo!"

He reaches up, and slaps her again.

"Shut up. I'm gonna teach you to fuck me, Buffy!"

He grabs her legs, and pulling her to him, he savagely enters her. He starts to pump his hard cock into her mercilessly, not caring if he hurts her or not.

Buffy screams!



* * *


Joyce pulls her SUV, affectionately and sometimes mockingly known as 'the mom mobile' into the driveway, pulling up to the garage and cutting the engine. She sits there for a few moments, leaning against the wheel, staring out at the garage door.

Sitting next to her is Faith, with a slightly bemused expression on her face. She puffs up her cheeks, and slowly blows out some air. She looks over at Joyce, expectantly.

"Well, that was… that was…"

"Embarrassing?" Faith finishes her thought.

"Well, yes… that too. I don't think I've ever been thrown out of a ballgame before…" Joyce opens her door, letting herself out. "Matter of fact, I can't remember being thrown out of anywhere before."

"Well, didn't I promise you new experiences?" Faith grins, trying to laugh it off. Seeing Joyce's frown, and slightly momish look, she pinked a little in the cheeks. "Well, ok, maybe that was a bad joke." She shrugs. "Why the glum? Why're you so upset?"

"We were thrown out of a Major League ballpark and asked not to return," Joyce says, staring at her. "I dunno, I guess maybe I'm overreacting?" Her voice drips a little sarcasm.

"Well, geeze, you don't have to bite my head off, you know!" Faith pouts.

"I'm sorry…" Joyce walks over to her, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Just, it's sort of my reputation on the line here. I mean, if this gets back to Sunnydale, my business could be in some trouble…"

"Right. What others think, right? It always comes down to that, doesn't it Joyce?" Faith bristles, pulling away.

"I don't mean it that way, honey. I'm proud to be with you, that's not the issue. Just, I can't go around acting like a kid. My gallery is all about responsibility for my clients … what're they going to think when they find out I can't even like an adult at a major sporting event?"

"Maybe you're like…human… with a sense of fun? I can't believe all your clients are old stuffy bags of hot air like that guy you went out with…"

"Mr. Giles? He's not… ok, well, he is a little stuffy, but he's nice…"

"Joy, the guy walks around with the Union Jack up his English Channel. Look up pompous, you'll find his picture next to it…"

"Just because he's responsible and caring…"

"HEY! I'm not? Is that what you're saying?"

"Of course not, silly girl!" Joyce leans over and pecks her cheek. "You're very responsible and caring… for your age."

"Well, then I never want to be your age! Geeze! Just because I wanted to add a little fun to a really sucky game…"

"Sucky because your team was losing?"

"They weren't losing! They were being murdered. By a team that sounds like a bunch of wussies. What kind of name is Angels, anyway?" Faith gets an evil grin on her face. "And anyway, I didn't exactly have to twist your arm too much, did I?"

"I was a little bored, I admit it… I don't get baseball. It's a silly game."

"You live in LA-LA land. They don't know what baseball is around here…"

"Those 'wussies' were pretty much beating up your team, Faith."

"It was a fluke. They got lucky."

"A 10 –2 fluke? Pretty darned good luck."

"I thought you weren't interested in baseball, Joyce. I thought it was a silly game…" Faith smirks.

"I was there. I can read. The score wasn't exactly a mystery!"

"Right. Gotcha…" Faith grins, "but that still doesn't explain why you did it!"

"HEY, not MY idea!" Joyce glares at her a little. "Seems like it was your idea!"

"Oh, so if I suggested we jump off a cliff, you'd do that too?"

"Hey, you dared me to do it! Started calling me chicken and making clucking noises. Other people were looking at us. I was sooo embarrassed…"

"Oh, so you're 12 now, and do whatever I dare you to do? Hmmm…" Faith is grinning broadly. "I could use so use that information…"

"FAITH!"

"JOY!"

They stare at each other for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"God, did you see their faces?" Joyce is giggling madly.

"I thought they were gonna have a Guernsey," Faith hoots, doing a little dance. "I thought L.A. was supposed to be a pretty wild town…"

"That wasn't L.A. … that was Anaheim. They're kind of conservative…"

"Still, you'd think they'd never seen a pair before…"

"Well, not on the Diamond Vision screen, no. Kind of makes things larger than life…"

"Yeah, well…"

"You didn't mention you hadn't worn a bra…" Joyce chuckles, "I was almost as surprised as anyone…"

"Hey, the girls like a breather once in awhile from confinement, you know? And it was a ballgame… not formal…"

"Still… when you pulled up your shirt to flash the crowd…"

"Right after you pulled yours up!"

"I was wearing a bra!"

"Yeah…so?"

"So, I see my girlfriends boobs jiggling free on the big screen. Lots of applause, I noticed…"

"Yeah, well, that isn't what got us kicked out…"

Joyce turns a deep shade of red.

"You don't have to remind me…" She almost whispers, mortified. "I can't believe I did that…"

"Oh, but you did, thank you very much… you sure know how to make a girl happy, baby." Faith winks at her discomfort.

"Why I even listened to you…"

"You wanted to, you know you did!"

"I just saw your breasts out there, looking so tasty. So, when you dared me to go for it…" Joyce blushes. "how could I resist? I'm such a slut… and I got us kicked out…"

"Yeah, but judging from the hoots and cheers? I'm thinking you made more than me happy." Faith chuckles.

"But you didn't get to see the end of the game… sorry…"

"Oh who cares? The Angels made mincemeat of the Bosox. It was a sucky game…" Faith smirks evilly. "Some of the sucking not so bad… and I got this groovy bat!" She holds it up, admiring it. "With the Bosox team signatures. How cool is that? How'd you get it?"

"Well, remember when I told you I had to go to the ladies?"

"Yeah, you took forever. I was afraid you'd fallen in or something."

"Well, I took a detour… and managed to sweet talk the coach into letting me get it signed. Told him you were a huge fan and all…"

"That was no lie!" Faith moves off a little, and starts swinging the bat, moving her hips around to adjust. She settles into a stance.

"So, whatcha think?" Faith says, taking a swing at an imaginary pitch. "Think I'm ready for the 'Sox?"

What do I think? Oh, adorable! Cute! Sexy… and I better get inside before I act on my other impulses… !

"I think…" Joyce walks over to Faith, and avoiding her swing, puts her arms around her waist, "we should take this inside…" She leans over, and kisses Faith's neck,"… and discuss this further…"

"Hmmm… I like how you think!" Faith turns around and pushes joyce back against the car and returning the kiss in kind,. "So, you're not mad at me no more then?" Faith asks, when they come up for air. Joyce sighs in faiths arms..

"Never mad, silly… just embarrassed and hmmmm…" Their lips meet again for a brief kiss.

"We better go in before I embarrass you again," Neighbors may be watching. Faith chuckles, and turning, slips her arm around Joyce's waist leading the way.

"We'll have to be a little more quiet than usual, though… Buffy's having a friend over…"

"Oh?"

"Yes, you remember. She mentioned it before we left. God, the way she was pushing us out, you'd think she was having the queen of England over, and had to get ready, remember?" Joyce shakes her head. "It's just Willow…"

Faith stops, frowning.

"What?"

"I dunno… not crazy about that girl…" Faith says.

"What? Willow? She's a nice girl!"

"She's pushy, and full of herself. Thinks she knows everything…" Faith catches Joyce's look. "What?"

"Oh, nothing…" Joyce smiles, as they start up the porch steps.

"Not nothing," Faith insists. "I know that look…"

"Well, just seems to me, the pot calling the kettle black…"

"What! I'm … that's so, so wrong! I'm not like that!"

"Uh-huh…"

"I'm not! Oh, sure I have opinions, but I'm not pushy, and I know there's lots I don't know …and …" Faith trails off when she sees Joyce staring at the front door. "What now?"

"The door… it's open…" Joyce says, a note of concern in her voice.

"Huh?" Faith breaks away, and walks over. She looks at the door. "Maybe Buffy left it open?"

"She knows better than that." Joyce moves up to Faith.


Faith puts her finger to her lips, indicating quiet. She listens, and her frown deepens.

"Stay here…" she starts towards the door.

"But…"

"Joyce… please, don't argue. I just want to …"

"What're you doing? You're not Supergirl! You could get hurt!"

"I'll be careful… just stay here… call 911…"

Faith slips into the house.

Joyce pulls out her phone, and starts to tap in the numbers. God, that girl can be so stubborn!

"9-1-1 Emergency," The voice comes over her phone.

"Hello, yes. This is Joyce Summers… what? Oh, I think someone's broken into my house. Yes, I came home and found the door half open. My address? 1650 Revello Drive. Can you send someone to check it out?"

She hears a scream. BUFFY!

"HURRY!" She screams into the phone.

Without waiting, she runs into the house.


* * *


Faith is already at the top of the stairs when she hears the scream. It's almost next to her, and she feels a chill run down her spine, and her heart begins to beat faster. Son of a bitch!

She rushes to Buffy's room, scoping out that's where it came from. She stops, frozen for a moment when she sees the scene before her.

Buffy is lying on the bed, naked and struggling. On top of her is a man, holding her down, raping her. She can't get a good look at him, since the room is dark.

"YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH!" Faith roars, coming to life. She rushes at the man. "GET OFF OF HER!" She brings the bat up into play.

Hank, startled turns towards her, his face flushed with anger and lust. His eyes go wide when he sees an object swung directly at him.

Somehow, he manages to grab the end of the bat from his attacker before it hits him. Wrenching it away, he tosses it away behind him. Scrambling off the bed, he pushes Faith into the wall, pinning her to the wall, holding her by her neck. turning on the light.

"Who the fuck are you? Why the fuck are you here? This doesn't concern you, bitch!"

Faith struggles to free herself, but his bulk is too much to break. She hawks and spits, right in his face.

"You stupid bitch!" Hank wipes at his face, trying to wipe off the spittle.

Faith wriggles free, but not fast enough. Hank slams her into the wall.

"I want some answers. What're you doing breaking into my house, you little …"

"That's funny, Hank, considering it's Joyce's house. And oh, I'm surprised you don't recognize me, considering how you tried to ruin my life!" She kicks out at him, trying to hit something, anything to get him to back off.

It takes a moment, but then the light goes off in Hank's head.

"YOU! You're that WHORE from Boston! The one fucking my wife…" His expression turns even uglier. "So, you're back, are you? What's wrong? Couldn't find another girl to fuck, you lesbo?" He hits her hard across the face, his fist closed. "C'mon, butch. Fight, why don't ya?" He hits her again. "What's wrong? Not man enough?"

Faith, pinned to the wall, unable to move, is stunned. She sags, the blows making her start to lose consciousness.

"LET.HER.ALONE!"

Buffy has recovered the bat, and swings it at her father.

Hank, startled, turns just in time to see Buffy standing behind him. Then the bat hits him, hard.

She never meant to hit his head. She just wanted to hit him, get him off of Faith. But in turning, his shoulder went down, and his head went right in the line of the swing.

Hank is thrown away from Faith, staggering backwards and hitting the wall. He stands there for a moment, then slides down… a trail of blood following.

"Daddy," Buffy's voice is a whisper.

Realizing what she's done, realizing she might've just killed her father, after everything else that's happened, her mind can't process it. It shuts down, and her legs give out. She falls to the floor.

Faith surveys the scene, and in that instant comes to a decision. Taking up the fallen bat, she wipes the handle as clean as she can, and grabs it herself, leaving her prints. Quickly checking on Buffy, she then goes to Hank, tentatively. She feels his neck.

"Oh god! What's happened here?!"

Faith looks up to see Joyce standing in the doorway, staring into the room. Her face is white with shock.

"Call 9-1-1. He's still alive."

Joyce doesn't move, her expression horrified. She continues to stare at Faith.

"Joyce," Faith, her head pounding as hard as her heart, stands and walks over to Joyce. "Please. I had to do it… just call the police. Now!"

"They… they're on the way…"

"Call for an ambulance…" Faith suddenly feels very dizzy and disoriented. She sits down hard on the floor.

"Faith!" Joyce goes to kneel by her, then suddenly makes out her daughter. "Buffy!" She rushes over to check on her.


* * *


She knows something's wrong as soon as she hears the siren.

Willow has been taking her time getting to Buffy's house. She's still trying to process everything Cordelia told her. It was all too fantastic, too much like a bad thriller. She shudders to think what might've happened if Cordelia hadn't decided to 'protect' her.

It wasn't until the siren broke the stillness of the night that she really looked up. She saw the police cruiser pass by her, and take a hard right onto Adams. Another one followed closely behind, and two others brought up the rear.

A sudden chill took her heart. No, that's just insane. It's just coincidence. She thought to herself, turning on Adams. Then she was the last police cruiser, followed by an ambulance, round the corner to Revello. The chill turned to dread, and suddenly she found herself running. Running towards Buffy's house.

Rounding the corner, she stops. In front of the Summer's house, the police cruisers are parked every which way, with the ambulance in the driveway. A second ambulance sits behind the first, blocking the entrance to the driveway.

She runs faster, not caring that her heart is pounding and her breath hitching in her throat.

Oh, no, oh no, no, no! She thinks, as she finds herself standing behind a police barricade blocking entrance to the house on Revello Drive.

She watches as the grim tableau unfolds before her. First out is a stretcher, with a man hooked up to an IV and with an oxygen mask over his face. She doesn't recognize him.

Another one soon follows, and despite the oxygen mask, she recognizes the occupant of this stretcher.

"Buffy!" She calls out.

Someone inside the barrier turns, and she sees Joyce, flanked by two men. To Willow, she looks confused and a little lost.

"Mrs. Summers! Joyce!" Willow tries to duck under the barrier, but is blocked by a patrolman.

"You can't go in there. This is a crime scene."

"Hendricks. Let her in," One of men by Joyce directs him.

The patrolman backs away, and Willow ducks under the barrier, rushing to Joyce's side. She's startled by Joyce's looks; she looks out of control, shell shocked.

"Joyce? What happened? Is Buffy ok?"

Joyce doesn't say anything, just looks at the front porch.

A pair of officers appear, with Faith between them. She's cuffed behind her back, and her face is half covered in a bandage. They lead her down the steps towards a patrol car.

"They're charging her with assault with intent. I tried to explain it to them…" She nods at the detectives flanking her,"… but she won't say anything in her defense. She won't say anything at all."

"But… who was the man? On the stretcher? I mean, didn't he break in…?"

"Buffy's father. Hank. He's in a coma. Evidently, from what information I can get, Faith hit him with a baseball bat…" Joyce pauses, realizing it's the bat she got for Faith. "… they're saying she went crazy… attacked Hank… I know she wouldn't do that… she wouldn't do that… but Buffy is unconscious… and… no one can verify otherwise on her behalf… and she won't… "

Joyce seems to lose it, and suddenly clings to Willow. Willow holds her, trying to calm her down.

As they stand there, watching the police finish up their business, Willow feels cold. A cold wind out of the north, despite the change of seasons from winter to spring, makes the night feel particularly chilly. But it can't match the coldness she feels inside.

* * *

A couple hours later, it's all but over.

For the most part, the crowd that formed has wandered back to their own houses, seeking shelter from the cold. The police have all but wrapped up, all but the car holding Faith is gone. The ambulances have long since left; Joyce riding in the one carrying Buffy.

Willow, along with Xander and Dawn, are standing in the middle of the yard. Xander is trying to comfort Dawn, but she shrugs him off, not wanting the comfort. Her world has gone to hell since this morning, and right now, she needs to figure it out, figure it all out. She just stares at the patrol car containing Faith.

"I don't believe it," She says for the 5th time , "She wouldn't do it. It's gotta be a mistake."

"Dawn, she admits to doing it. She said she caught him… attacking Buffy, and she… she had to do something to stop him…"

"She's not a killer! She wouldn't… she couldn't…" Dawn trails off. "She wouldn't kill my father…"

"Your dad's not dead, Dawn. He's in a coma, but he's alive…" Willow moves in front of her. "She wasn't going in to kill him…"

"Big difference! He might as well be dead!" Dawn explodes, moving away from the others. "God, none of this makes sense. It's all.. insane! Why would dad attack Buffy? It's crazy!" She turns on Willow and Xander. "Everyone's gone crazy!" Dawn looks around. "Where's my mom? I want to talk to my mom!"

"She went with the ambulance… with Buffy. She's at the hospital. Sunnydale General, I think. We'll take you there…"

"No! I know where it is. I can make it. I need…" She looks at the patrol car holding Faith. The two detectives are around it, talking with her. "I need to be alone. I need to think…" She starts off, striding in the general direction of the hospital.

"Dawn!" Xander calls out, starting to follow her.

"Don't! Stay! I need to be alone right now, Xander…" She ducks under the police tape, and starts up the sidewalk.

Xander turns around, walking back to Willow. His face asks the unspoken question: Now what?

"Don't just stand there, Xander! Go after her!"

"But she just said…"

"Well, she's not thinking real good right now, is she?" Willow's mouth turns down. "Just follow her. Don't catch up, and don't crowd her. Just follow and keep an eye on her. It's not safe out there…" She looks at her friend's house. "God, it's not safe anywhere…"

Xander nods curtly, and starts off in the direction Dawn took. He stops, and turns around, a questioning look on his face.

"What about you?"

Willow stands there a moment, then waves him off. "Just go!"

He turns and like Dawn, starts up the sidewalk. She watches him go, saying a silent prayer for his protection.

For both their protection.

She turns to see one of the detectives coming towards her. The grim look on his face makes her feel a little queasy.

"Miss…?"

"Rosenberg. Willow Rosenberg."

"Yes, Miss. Rosenberg. My name is Detective Matt Frowley," He shows her his badge. "I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave now. This is a crime scene, and my men need to get to work."

"I understand."

"You're a friend of Miss. Summers, is that correct? Buffy Summers?"

"Yes, sir. But I wasn't here when this happened…"

"Yes, I'm aware of that. Even so, I'd like you to be available if we need to talk to you." He hands her a pad, indicating a spot. "Just give me your address and phone number, please."

"Of course…" Willow borrows his pen, and writes down the information.

"Thank you very much," He collects the pad, and starts away.

"Detective? What happens to her now?" Willow nods at the squad car.

"Well, she'll be booked and interrogated," Detective Frowley's face looks grimmer, if that's possible. "I hope she knows a good lawyer. It doesn't look good for her." He holds up the pad, "I'll be in touch."

He turns and walks back towards the squad car.

Willow turns away, and ducking under the yellow tape, starts her long journey home.

She has no idea how she'll explain this to her parents, and right now, she doesn't really care. She feels achy and tired, her eyes hurt, and her head feels heavy.

What the hell happened? Two hours ago, things were fine… at least, they were normal. Then Cordelia turns my world upside down, and then it explodes! This is crazy… am I going nuts, or is it the rest of the world?

She sighs, wishing she could just go home, crawl under the sheets, and hide there til this all goes away.

But she can't, really. She has to go to the hospital, and check on Buffy. And be there for Joyce, because right now, there's really no one else who can do that. Dawn's a wreck, and Buffy… No telling how this is going to do to her. She was already in a shaky place… She shakes her head, not wanting to think about it.

Her stride quickens, and she realizes the night seems darker, somehow, and the shadows deeper. She pulls her coat tighter, and shivers. She pushes herself to move even faster. She suddenly feels very alone, very exposed.

And cold. So very cold.

She wonders if she'll ever feel warm again.


TBC.