Change of Season

Fic: Change of Seasons


Disclaimer: See previous chapters


A change of seasons, Chapter 8



1



"This is ridiculous!"

Joyce Summers drives into the driveway of the Revello Drive House in
the Mom Mobile, her daughters' not always affectionate term for the
SUV which transports the family to various destinations. She sits in
the driver's seat, staring out of the windshield, hands tapping on
the steering wheel to a tune only she can hear. She has a smile, a
large smile, plastered on her face.

"Stop grinning like a moron, Joyce. It was just sex… right?" She
starts to giggle, realizing it was so much more than sex. It was as
if the world came alive again; as if her lungs started breathing
again, as if her eyes could see color again. Everything seemed so
alive, so real, and so … just so… so tasty. She feels light and …
Yes, Joyce, you feel happy. Something you haven't felt in an awful
long time. Happy. HAPPY!

She starts having a major giggle attack, sitting back in the seat,
laughing helplessly. It's as if years of emotions are being
uncorked in that minute, and she's helpless do anything but sit
there and laugh crazily.

She laughs so hard and for so long that her sides hurt, and she gets
a stitch in her side. Finally, the laughter starts to subside, and
she sits there, eyes wet, shaking her head.

"Get a grip, girl. Geeze, you're going insane," She scolds
herself, "It's not like the second coming…" The word starts her
laughing again, holding her sides, trying to bring herself under
control. But it's hopeless, and she gives into the pure silliness,
sitting there laughing uncontrollably for a few minutes.

God, Joyce, go inside and go to bed. You're still shell shocked from
tonight. That huge art delivery coming in, being scared to death
that someone was going to rob you… and Faith. Oh, god! Faith just
showing up… and then the everything else. No wonder you're going
crazy. Too much… just too much.

Joyce opens the doors, swinging her legs out and standing… then
leaning against the SUV when she feels dizzy. God, you're so in
trouble Joyce. Your acting like you're drunk! Just straighten up and
go inside, check on the girls and go to bed. God!

Joyce negotiates her way to the front door, feeling a little woozy
and wobbly and definitely out of control. More, it's as if her feet
aren't even touching the ground, she feels so light; almost as if
she's floating along rather than walking. You're drunk, Joyce! Drunk
without even drinking. This girl is so you're favorite drug! She
stops for a moment, feeling a little down. I just wish we could stay
together all the time! I want her , want to be with her. I need her!
Face it Joyce, she makes it all real, all good for you. Joyce
straightens up. Stop being a greedy guts Joyce. There's gonna be
plenty more times. Mmmm… can hardly wait! Yummy. She hugs herself.

Sighing, she walks to the door, fishing in her purse for her house
key. Get it together girl. You're home now. Time to be mom. God, how
could I explain being like a giddy teenager to the kids? They'd so
be suspicious. Ok, hon, take a moment here…

She lets herself in the front door, quietly closing it behind her.
She stands in the foyer for a moment, gather her thoughts. Her mind
is a little wooly; thoughts of Faith, of what happened tonight have
driven pretty much everything else out. Time to come to earth,
Joyce. You've got a life and responsibilities here.

She starts towards the stairs, and actually gets her foot on the
first riser when a voice comes out of the darkness.

"Oh, so you finally decided to come home?"

Joyce freezes, and turns towards the living room.

" Buffy?"

2



A lamp goes on in the living room, and reveals Buffy, sitting there
staring at her. She's frowning.

"Buffy? Why aren't you in bed? It's…" She looks at her watch. "It's
very late, and it's a school night!"

"Where've you been? It's after midnight!"

"I told you, I was at the Gallery, honey. A large art shipment came
in. Had to get it in and check it out."

"Well, isn't that funny? Cuz I called the Gallery and got no answer!"

"Really? Oh my, I haven't gotten the extension put in the warehouse
yet," Joyce says apologetically, "I haven't had time. I must've rung
and I just didn't hear it. Why didn't you try my cell?"

"I called your cell, too. All I got was your voice mail. I mean, I
must've left like a million messages."

"That's strange!" Joyce starts digging through her purse. "My cell
didn't ring at all." Finding her cell, she looks at it and
blushes. "Oh honey, I forgot to turn it on. I'm so sorry…"

"Lotta good that would've done if something had been like in
emergency mode here," Buffy, angry, gets up. "What do you care,
anyway? I mean, you're always at the stupid Gallery…"

"Honey, I'm sorry," Joyce tries her best to keep things level and
calm, "But I'm trying to make the Gallery work here in Sunnydale,
and it's not easy, with everything going on, and your Father not
here but on weekends…"

"Yeah, I wish I was only here on weekends… better, I wish I wasn't
here at all!"

"Honey, I know it's been difficult for you and Dawn, this move, but
we needed to do this. After the incidents at the last school…"

"Oh sure, sure. Blame it on me, right? This is all my fault!" Buffy
throws up her hands. "I lose my friends, I lose my status, we move
to this one Starbucks backwater that doesn't even have a decent mall
in it, and it's all my fault, right?"

"I'm not saying that, Buffy," Joyce tries to hold onto her
temper, "things weren't good in L.A., and your father and I decided
it would be best …"

" To ruin my life, right?" Buffy snaps at her." God, this was my
senior year, mom. I know you're like, old, but you gotta know senior
year is special. I was supposed to rule this year, it was supposed
to be my year. Now I'm here in Sunnyhell, a new kid, and I'm some
kind of geek. My friends now are GEEKS! This totally sucks."

" Willow and Xander…that's their names, right? They seemed nice…"

" Yeah, if you're like Dawn, who's a geek too. Geeze, I was in the
popular crowd, mom. Now I'm nothing, and it's all your fault,"
Buffy comes to her, face flushed. " Got it? It's all your fault!"

"Buffy Anne Summers! That's enough!" Joyce snaps, angry now. "You
made your bed, now you've got to lie in it! You started up with that
bad crowd in L.A., and they expelled you! I couldn't get you in a
decent school in L.A.! Got it, young lady? We moved here so you
start over, all of us could start over, as a family, and you just
have to learn to accept that…"

"Yeah, a family," Buffy sneers. "That's working out real well, too…"
She starts for the stairs.

"What's that supposed to mean, young lady?"

"Nothing…" Buffy mutters. "I'm going to bed."

"No, young lady, you stay right there," Joyce puts a restraining arm
on her daughter's. "What do you mean?"

Buffy whirls around. "Are you blind or what? What kind of 'family'
do we got here? A missing mom who's NEVER home, a Dad who's only
here on weekends…" She makes a disgusted noise. "Dawn and I might as
well be orphans, for all we see of you and dad…"

"We have to work, honey. I have the gallery, and your dad works in
L.A. Getting home every night isn't practical for him. We just have
to…"

"I bet he'd be home if he had good reason to be…" Buffy mutters.

"What? I didn't hear that!"

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Buffy spits out, "I know why dad almost
never comes home, even if you pretend you don't."

"Pretend… what's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, stop acting stupid, would you?" Buffy frowns at her." Stop
treating me like a child! I know the score!"

"Is that so? What do you think you know?"

"Why is dad always taking all those business trips, mom? Sometimes,
he doesn't even make it on weekends… he's gone for weeks. Why is
that, Mom?"

"It's his job, Buffy. He has to do that."

"Yeah, sure he does…"

"Oh, you know everything do you, young lady?" Joyce challenges
her. "C'mon, Ms. Summers, you're so smart. Tell me, what's the
reason?"

" Well, Joyce, maybe if you were a better wife, and not such a cold
bitch, dad wouldn't have to whore around looking for some loving…"

SLAP!

Buffy backs off, wide eyed. She looks at her mother as if she's gone
crazy.

"Oh, Buffy, honey…" Joyce goes to her daughter, who backs away. "I'm
sorry, baby. But that was just … mean! I lost my temper, but I
didn't mean to hurt you…" She tries to take Buffy into a hug.

"Get away from me!" Buffy yells at her. "You've ruined my life!!
You've taken everything that means anything to me, and brought me
to this hellhole. Stay away from me! Do you get that? You make me
SICK!"

"Buffy, you don't mean that!" She reaches out for Buffy.

SLAP!

It's Joyce's turn for wide eyes and silence, after Buffy slaps her.

"You hit me!" Joyce says, voice low and surprised. She rubs her
cheek. "That's it, young lady. I've had enough of this. You're
grounded!"

"I hate you! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!"

Buffy, angry beyond words, shoves Joyce away hard, and runs up the
stairs. Joyce, also angry, follows after her, but she hears Buffy's
door slam.

Joyce starts to go to her room, and stops. She closes her eyes, her
fists clenched at her sides. Calm down, Joyce. Calm DOWN! She's just
upset. She said those things to hurt you. She didn't mean it. I
know, you know, she didn't mean them. Be a mom, and stop being a
child!

Joyce goes to Buffy's door, and knocks quietly.

"Buffy, honey, open up, please? We need to talk, baby."

"Go away. I don't wanna talk to you!" Buffy calls through the door.

"Buffy, please…" Joyce calls through the door.

Buffy doesn't answer. Joyce knocks again, and waits for awhile. When
she gets no response, she sighs, and moves away.

Nice work, Joyce! Good mother you turned out to be. Hitting your
daughter. You should be so proud!

She moves down the hall, towards her room. She stops when she
reaches Dawn's room. Opening the door, she looks in.

Dawn is lying quietly on her bed, back towards her, cover pulled up
to her neck. She appears to be asleep.

"Dawn, honey? Are you asleep?" Joyce calls out softly.

Dawn doesn't stir. Joyce quietly closes her door.

Thank goodness we didn't wake her. Poor baby. It's probably rough on
her too, all this. She looks at her younger daughter, and her heart
swells with love. At least she seems to be taking everything ok.
God, she's such a sweetheart. I wish Buffy were more like her
sometimes.



Joyce walks to her room, upset. Her good mood, all the good
feelings, has evaporated like a morning mist. She enters her room
and softly closes the door behind her. Moving to her bed, she sits
down, head in hands. She starts to cry.

Where'd it all go so wrong? Buffy isn't like this. She's a good
girl. She started acting crazy last year, but she's probably upset
because of what was happening at home. I should've been more
attentive, tried to make it easier for her.

But it was all so horrible. The way Hank was flaunting his
infidelities in front of me. God, I didn't even KNOW Buffy knew
about Hank! God, she thinks I'm to blame! How can she think that? I
tried, I really tried to be a good wife, and a good mom. I tried
really hard! I did!

Is she right? Maybe I was a bad mom. Maybe I did drive Hank away.
Maybe this is all my fault. If only I tried harder…

No! No! I won't take the blame. I really tried, I really worked to
make this marriage work. It was Hank, cheating on me, that caused
all this! Hank, who's starting it up all again. That bastard! That
lying, cheating …

And what about you? And Faith? Oh, that's so different!

He cheated first!

Right, so two wrongs make a right, is that it?

Wrong?? How can it be wrong with Faith and me? It's so … beautiful.
So wonderful. I love her, and she loves me! It's not like Hank!
Nothing like with Hank! I love her… I want her to be part of my life…

Yeah, and Buffy and Dawn? What're they going to think when mom turns
out to be not only a cheating wife, but a big old lesbian to boot?
Think they're going to go " La, la, la We've got two mommies?"
Especially when one of the mommies is nearly their age? How sick is
that?

IT'S NOT SICK! IT' BEAUTIFUL! WE LOVE EACH OTHER!

Uh-huh. That's just how they're going to see it. True love. Sure,
and Hank and his latest skirt? True love, right?

Stop it! I'm not going to let you make it bad! Not again! I'm NOT
giving her up again! She's wonderful, and I love her. It's right,
righter than anything I've had. I'm going to make it happen, and
it's going to be good. It's going to work.

Ok, so it's all good. And you're not ashamed of it. Why not tell
them? I mean, I'm sure they'll understand. Right on sister ! and all
that, right?

I need to get them ready. It's not going to be easy…

It's not going to happen. Face it, Joyce, they're never going to
accept it!

Shut up! Not listening. It's going to happen, and they're going to
be ok with it, and you don't know anything!

Mature, Joyce. Really mature.

Joyce gets up, and pulling back the covers, slips into bed. She
sighs, staring at the ceiling.

I hate this… All of this.



===



Dawn hears the door to her room click close, and she turns over. Her
cheeks are wet with tears.

She's heard the whole fight, and her stomach is churning. She hates
it when her mom and Buffy fight. Or her mom and dad. Or anyone, as a
matter of fact.

Why can't they just try to get along? Isn't bad enough with dad gone
all the time? Does it all have to be fight night around here? Why
can't Buffy just grow up and stop being a brat? And mom? Why can't
she be home more? I almost never see her anymore. And Buffy makes
it pretty plain she doesn't want me around, hanging out with her.

Well, you know what? I'm not letting either of them ruin my life.
Yeah, I'm not loving it here, being the new kid. But I've got Xander
and Willow. I'll make it work. I'm so gonna make it work. Not gonna
be a gloomy Gus like Buffy. I'm not!

She hears her mother crying in the next room, and sighs.

Nice work, Buffy. Now she's crying. Happy?

She hears Buffy start to cry in her room.

Oh man. C'mon, Buffy… don't cry… god…

I HATE this place.

Sighing, Dawn lays back down, pulling the covers over her head. She
hopes just for a little while, it'll all go away.

Just for a little while.



3



"C'mon, girls. Hurry up, you'll be late for school!"

Joyce fusses around the kitchen, making lunches for the girls. She
is just finishing up when Buffy appears in the dining room.

Buffy doesn't say a word, she just sits at the table, staring at it.

"Here's your lunch, honey. I'm sorry I didn't have time to make
breakfast, I'm running a little late. You'll have to eat cereal."
Joyce puts the bag and a bowl down by Buffy.

"Don't care. Not hungry." She knocks the bag away. "Don't want that
crap."

"You're not getting any money for lunch, Buffy," Joyce says, feeling
her shoulder muscles tense up. "That'll have to do."

"Don't want it," Buffy says. She stares ahead, not looking at Joyce.

"Buffy, do we have to do this? Can't we start out on a better note?"

Buffy just stares, not responding.

Dawn comes into the dining room, smiling. She walks over to Joyce.

"Morning mom," She leans in and kisses Joyce on the cheek. "What's
for breakfast?"

"Sorry honey. I'm running a little late. You'll have to make do with
cereal."

"That's cool. Is there any Cocoa Crunchies left?" She wanders into
the kitchen. "They're all gone. Buffy! Did you pig out on the Cocoa
Crunchies again?" She comes back, carrying a box of cereal.

"No, squirt. You finished them last week, remember?" She turns to
Dawn. "Mom probably forgot to get them at the store." She turns to
Joyce. "She's so busy with the gallery these days. I'm surprised she
remembers to go to the store." Her voice is dripping acid.

Joyce doesn't say anything, just frowns at her daughter.

"It's no big," Dawn smiles, feeling the tension and trying to keep
things light. "If you could just get some next time you go, mom?"

"Sure honey," Joyce says, "I'll try to remember. Of course, since
someone is so much of an adult, it wouldn't hurt her to go to the
store once in awhile …"

"Gee, mom, how can I?" Buffy smirks. "I'm grounded, remember?"

"You got grounded?" Dawn asks, "When did that happen?"

"Last night," Buffy says, "guess mom doesn't like me asking where
she as until midnight last night…"

"That's enough, Buffy. I was working, and I told you that. And you
know that wasn't why you were grounded." She smiles and looks at
Buffy. "I was thinking of revoking it, but maybe we'll just let it
stand."

"That's not fair!" Buffy explodes. "I didn't do anything to be
grounded for!"

"You know what you did, Buffy," Joyce says, her voice having grown
chillier. "I want you to come home straight after school,
understand?"

The front doorbell rings. Dawn pops up out of her chair.

"I'll get it. It's probably Xander and Willow."

She rushes out of the room.

"Do you understand me, Buffy?" Joyce crosses over next to
her. "Right after school. No stopping off, no friends. You come
straight home. Do you understand?"

"Gee, Joyce, what're you going to do? Hit me?" Buffy smirks at her.

"Buffy Anne Summers, that's enough out of you…"

"This is bogus!" Buffy stands up, giving her mother a look. "I'm
outta here…"

"Right after school, young lady!"

Buffy turns to go, and almost runs into Dawn, who's returned from
the front room, carrying a large vase of flowers.

"Watch it, spazmatic," Buffy growls, then notices the
flowers. "Whoa, what's up, Dawn? Got a secret admirer?" She laughs
at the idea.

"No," Dawn blushes a little, thinking of Xander. " They're not for
me. They're for mom!"

"Me?" Joyce smiles, looking at the flowers. "Who'd be sending me
flowers?"

"I bet it was dad!" Dawn says, "I bet he's missing you!" She hands
the flowers to Joyce. "There's a card and everything!" She grins.

"You think?" Joyce smiles. Gee, maybe Hank is missing me? Maybe I've
been wrong?

"Oh yeah, sure," Buffy says, sarcastically." They're from dad. Sure."

Joyce sets the flowers down, and taking the card, opens it and reads
it.

Dear Joyce,

I had a hot time last night. So hot, I'm still wet thinking about
it. I hope you're feeling the same way. So, what do you say? Want to
have lunch today?

Love and lots of hot kisses

F.

Joyce blushes, and quickly hides the card. Oh, that would be just
great, if the girls saw that.

"So, are they from dad?" Dawn says, smiling.

"Yes, honey, they are," Joyce recovers quickly. "He sent them."

"Really, mom?" Buffy smirks. "What'd he say in the card?"

"Just… that he misses all his girls, and he'll be home this weekend.
They're for all of us," Joyce ducks that bullet fast. She puts the
flowers in the middle of the table. "Anyway, aren't they lovely?
We'll just put them here."

"He said that? He misses us?" Dawn says, "I miss him too!"

Buffy just looks at the flowers, and then at her mother. She doesn't
say a word.

"C'mon, if you guys want a ride to school…" She heads for the
door. "We've go to go now…"

"Just a minute, mom," Dawn says. She turns to Buffy. "Did Willow and
Xander say they were going to meet us here, or at school?"

Buffy, however, is staring at the flowers.

"Hmmm? I dunno, I think they said at school," She murmurs, not
taking her eyes off the flowers.

"Oh, ok." Dawn calls out to her mom." We're coming!" She grabs
Buffy's arm. "C'mon, we don't wanna be late." She starts pulling on
Buffy.

"Oh, no, we wouldn't want that," Buffy says, sarcastically. "You
might miss Xander."

" Shut UP!" Dawn blushes.

"Dawn loves Xander, Dawn loves Xander…" Buffy teases her.

"You're mean!" Dawn says, disappearing out the front door.

Buffy takes one last look at the flowers on the table.

No way dad sent those. So, dear old mom lied. Someone else sent them.

Wonder who's sending mom flowers, hmmm?

Smiling to herself, she follows Dawn out.



4



"Ok, Buffy, what's the deal?"

Buffy and Dawn are walking towards the school after being dropped
off by Joyce a block away. Dawn blocks Buffy's access by the school
fence.

"What're you talking about, squirt?" Buffy says, trying to move
around her younger, taller sister.

"You know what I'm talking about. The dining room this morning was
as cold as a freezer…and it had nothing to do with the weather.
What's going on between you and mom?" She gives Buffy a sidelong
look. "What'd you do this time?"

"I didn't do jack, squirt," Buffy says, "now move your butt so I can
get into school, ok?"

"Yeah, well mom didn't ground you for nothing. What's that about,
huh?"

"None of your business, so move." She tries to push around Dawn.

Dawn doesn't move, and Buffy is stymied.

"Not moving, Buff, till you tell me why mom grounded you." Dawn
spreads her arms and legs, effectively blocking the gateway. "So, if
you wanna get in, you gotta spill it."

"Fine, don't move, see if I give a crap," Buffy shrugs. She pretends
to move off, then quickly slides down between Dawn's spread legs,
getting past her. "God, you're a moron, squirt." Buffy gets up and
brushes herself off.

"Stop calling me that," Dawn, frustrated, turns on her. "I'm taller
than you are, Buff."

"You know your height isn't why we call you squirt, squirt," Buffy
teases her. She gets a wicked smile on her face. "Boy, just wait til
Xander finds out about it." She laughs.

" You wouldn't tell Xander! … would you?" Dawn blushes, embarrassed.
Lately, she's not exactly what Buffy will say or do. She puts on a
bluff. "Anyway, why should I care what you tell Xander?"

" Tell Xander? Tell Xander what?" Xander, followed by Willow, joins
the sisters. "What should Xander know?" He addresses Buffy. "Hey
Buffy. Whatcha got to tell?"

"Hey, Buffy, Dawnie," Willow adds in. "Wasn't the Bronze like
totally cool last night?"

"Shhh, Will. Buffy's got a secret to tell. About Dawn here," Xander
beams brightly at Dawn. "Heya, Dawn."

"Hi, Xander," Dawn smiles at Xander. She turns to Buffy, and
glares. "Don't you DARE tell them…"

"It was ok," Buffy says, talking to Willow, ignoring her
sister. "Band was a little lame though, don't you think?"

" The Dingoes?" Xander puts in. "The Dingoes are totally cool."

"Hey, what's this secret, anyway, Buffy?" Willow asks. "What's Dawn
hiding, eh?" She looks at Dawn, grinning.

"Yeah, what's the deal, Buffy?"

"If you tell them, Buffy Summers…"

"Well, you know I call Dawn squirt, right?"

"… I'll tell them about the 9th grade beauty pageant…" Dawn gives
her the look.

Buffy's ears turn red. Always a bad sign.

" I told you what I do to you if you EVER told anyone about that,
Dawn," Buffy growls at her sister.

"Whoa! Two secrets… this is mega…" Xander grins. "C'mon, Dawnie,
spill it!"

"Oh, look, it's the Slummer sisters, joined by Dumb and Dumber. Hey
losers, move your asses. Real people are trying to get through
here!"

Cordelia Chase, with the Cordettes, stands by the school gate. She's
smirking at the group of them.


Dawn, Xander and Willow immediately grow sour faces. Buffy, on the
other hand, just smirks.

"Well, Cordelia Chase, how's it hanging? Not as low as that ass of
yours," Dawn says, backing up. "Sorry, don't want to get in the way
of those wide load hips of yours. Surprised you can make it through
the gates without turning sideways." She makes an elaborate gesture
welcoming gesture. "Please, after you and your herd of sheep."

"Ha-Ha, Skipper, " Cordelia curls her lip, "You're just too, too…
you know? Guessing you're looking to be miserable," She gives Dawn
the once over. "Of course, with that stick figure body, I'm betting
you already are."

"Hey, love the hair, cow…" Dawn starts up.

"Knock it off, Squirt," Buffy say, pushing her sister. "Ignore her,
she's got Tourettes. She can't help what she says."

"Buffy!" Dawn glares at her.

"Shut it, Dawn," Buffy growls at her. She turns to Cordelia. "She's
a dork, but she's my sister, too. Look, I get it. This is your
school. Yesterday? I was just feeling my way around. So, not gonna
make trouble for you, and you just leave the dope alone, ok?"

"You couldn't make trouble for me anyway," Cordelia gives her an
appraising glance. What's her game? Maybe she's not as dumb as she
looks. "But, maybe you're not as dumb as you look. Tell ya what,
Blondie. Meet me for lunch, we'll discuss terms for not making your
sister an example."

" Yeah, ok…" Buffy is taking Cordelia's measure at the same
time. "Why not? But, leave the herd at home." She nods at the
Cordettes.

"Hey, I heard that!" Harmony Kendall, Cordelia's 'second', says.

"Great. Whoever said sheep can't hear?" Buffy grins.

Cordelia snorts a laugh, while Harmony burns.

" You gonna let her get away with that?" Harmony fumes.

"She's right, Harm. You are a sheep." Cordelia dismisses her. She
turns to Buffy. "So, lunch then?"

"You got it Cordy" Buffy says, smiling.

"Don't call me that," Cordelia flushes. "Names Cordelia."

"Whatever," Buffy says, "Seeya at lunch." She walks back to the
others.

Cordy watches her walk away, and one word comes to mind. Tasty.
Might not be overly dumb, either. She licks her upper lip. This
might work out ok. Or she dies… heh.

"Are you going to let her get away with insulting us?" Harmony
complains, when she rejoins the group.

"She insulted you, Harm," Cordelia says, "Anyway, doing that's too
easy to make a deal about. C'mon."

She and her group move off towards the school.

"What's the deal, Buff?" Dawn asks, obviously upset. "Why were you
talking with the skank from hell?"

"Yeah, Buffy. You're not gonna really meet her for lunch, are you?"
Willow says, worried. Cordelia, bad. Cordelia and Buffy… oh, crap!

"Yeah, I am. Just to keep her from making life miserable," She lies
to the others. "I only got a year to go, and don't wanna have to
suffer through her crap. It's not big. Not like we're gonna be
friends or nothing…" Unless I work it right. Be nice to be back in
the power group, and away from the geek squad. "Hey, I might even
get her to ease off you guys," She smiles at Xander and Willow.

"Really?" Willow looks happy, "god, no one's been able to do that
yet, That'd be a bonus."

"Still, I'd be careful," Xander sounds dire, "I hear she has a
poison ring. Be careful what you eat."

"Xander!" Willow hits his arm. "Ignore him, he's trying to be funny,
and failing miserably."

"Why're you doing this?" Dawn asks, suspiciously. She knows her
sister all too well. "Why're you trying to protect me? You never did
before…"

"Hey, Squirt, we're in this together. Sister power, you know?"
Seeing she's not buying it, she goes on, "anyway, if you wanna
change the power structure, gotta work from within…" She grins.

"That's more like it," Dawn says. "So, you thinking of knocking the
bitch off her perch?"

"Maybe, Squirt…" Buffy says. Or, get really close to the power
around here. "Anyway, we'll see what happens. Right now, gotta get
to class…" She starts towards the entrance.

"Hey, Buffy! Wait up!" Willow says, following her quickly. " Why do
you call Dawn squirt, anyway? I mean, she's taller than you…"

"Yeah, what's that about?" Xander asks, coming up behind with Dawn.

"Well, you see, Dawnie has this little problem when she gets
excited…"

" Buffy!" Dawn squeals. "Don't you DARE!"

The four disappear into the building.



5

"Ah! Damn! How'm I supposed to judge this stuff, anyway?"

Joyce, sitting in her office, looks at the web page in front of her.
It's an art auction site, and there are photographs of the pieces
for sale, along with a history and a starting bid price.

All well and good, but what moron took the pictures? You can't tell
squat about them. Most of the stuff is too dark, and even if not,
sometimes the stuff is in like a soft focus. Great for portraits,
really lousy for art.

Disgusted, she closes the browser, and leans back in her chair. She
can't really concentrate on art right now, anyway. Her mind keeps
wandering back to last night. To this office, which was the scene of
her rather fantastic and multi-orgasmic tryst with Faith.

Looking around, you couldn't tell anything other than business had
happened here. She'd been very thorough in eliminating the evidence
of their little encounter. Still, her mind was very active, and she
could still hear the squeak of the fold out bed springs, along with
the little sighs, whispers, moans and screams(God, I never even KNEW
I was a screamer before! I'm so embarrassed!) that emanated from
that corner. And, even with the cleaning products, she could still
get an occasional whiff of the odors generated.

And that card with the flowers this morning wasn't helpful in
keeping my cool. God, every time I look at it… She picks it up,
reading it again… I start to get damp. Imagine, pushing 40 and
finding out you're a slut. God, I'm sooo doomed.

"Joyce?"

Joyce looks up to see Taylor standing in the doorway of her office.
She smiles.

"Hi, Taylor. What's up?"

"Nothing really, Joyce. Just wanted to let you know Tom and I got
that shipment inventoried and catalogued. Took awhile, but we're
done now."

"Yes, sorry about that. I planned on getting more done last night…"
Joyce feels a twinge of guilt. Yeah sure, then Faith showed up, and
all that went out the windows…and your clothes went on the floor! "
… but I had an emergency."

"Oh, don't worry about it!" Taylor says brightly, moving into the
office. "I didn't really mean to stick you with it last night," She
moves to Joyce's desk, "I wanted to thank you again for letting me
go to the party."

"Hey, like I said, you're young, shouldn't be cooped up doing some
old inventory we could get to the next day. So, did you have a good
time!"

"Oh yeah, the best. Lots of dancing and stuff…and…"

Joyce notices Taylor's kind of waving around her hand, indicating
something. She smiles.

"Well, look at that!" She takes Taylor's hand, seeing a brand new
ring on it. "What's this? Ooooo, it's pretty!"

"Billy asked me to marry him! Isn't that so cool!" Taylor is smiling
and blushing.

"Really?" Joyce arches a brow, "so I guess it was serious after all."

"It was so unexpected," Taylor beams. "I was floored."

"I'm taking it…" She indicates the ring,"… you said yes?"

"Yes!"

"So… ummm… isn't this kind of rushing things? I mean, last night it
seemed you wanted to wait for awhile, have a career and that kind of
stuff."

"Well, sure, I mean, we're not like getting married right away.
Billy believes in long engagements, and like I said, I have plans
too."

"Ok, not trying to rain on your parade here, Taylor, just being be
sure you know what you're doing. You really should do what you want,
you know. Plenty of time for guys later." She grins ruefully. "They
can take up a lot of time and attention, guys can."

"Oh, Billy's not like that. He's very supportive of what I want to
do. He believes in women working. He thinks I should pursue my
career and all, even after we're married."

"Uh-huh. I'm sure," Joyce is so very not sure, "Still, people
change, you know."

"He won't… I've known Billy… gosh, it seems like forever," Taylor
laughs, "He's always been like this." She smiles brightly.

"Boys are always most charming when they're courting, Taylor. It's
after you have to worry about."

"Look, Joyce, " Taylor leans in, face sympathetic, "I know you've
had some problems with your husband and all, but it won't be like
that with me and Billy. It's different."

Mmmm-hmmm. That's what I thought about me and Hank.

"Ok, I'm sure you know what you're doing, Taylor. Just …" Joyce
smiles, "Want you to be sure this is what you want."

"Oh, it is, Joyce, it really is!" She beams, again. "I guess I
better get back to work. Just wanted you to be the first to know."

"Thanks Taylor."

Taylor, almost seeming to walk on air, walks out of the office.

Joyce watches her go, shaking her head.

Sure he's all nice and sweet now, honey. But just wait a couple of
years. Then he'll be bored with you, and start looking around, and
find some other skirt to check out and… Gee, bitter much, Joyce? Not
all men are Hanks… Yeah, well, so far, I haven't seen the other
model… other model?… yeah, the enlightened, intelligent, sensitive
and caring model… Yeah, bitter much, aren't you? … don't I have a
right?…

The phone on her desk rings, interrupting her thoughts. She picks it
up.

"Hello, Sun Coast Galleries. Joyce speaking, can I help you?"

"Hi, baby," a familiar throaty contralto voice comes over the
phone. "Mmmm… if you help me like you did last night, not sure I'll
be able to walk for a day or two." Faith laughs softly.

"Faith!" Joyce almost squeals into the phone. Then her voice goes
low and soft. " Faith, baby, hi! Got your flowers, they were lovely."

"Yeah, I was passing a florist this morning, and I saw them and they
screamed Joyce. They were pretty, soft and smelled good… like you
do."

"God, flattery will get you everywhere," Joyce giggles. "What's up?
Why're you calling?"

"Well, it's getting close to lunch, and I was getting kinda hungry,"
Faith's double entendre isn't lost on Joyce, who blushes. "So,
thought I'd call up my favorite girl. See if she were feeling
hungry, too? Maybe have lunch with me?"

Joyce gets a low down tickle, and a definite dampness between the
thighs when her mind thinks about the kind of snacking she'd like to
be doing. No, work, business… no time for that right now!

"Gosh, honey, I'd love to, but I'm kinda busy…"

"Really? Gee, you don't look that busy. You look like you're
checking out your assistant's butt. Not that I can blame you… she's
a little hottie…"

What the hell? That's so not…

"Faith, what're you talking about? I'm…"

"You're sitting in your office, staring out the door, looking at
your cute little assistant… and her ass. Now, look a little to your
right…yes…a little more…"

Joyce follows directions, and sees Faith, holding a phone in one
hand, a picnic basket in another staring in at her.

"There you go…"

"Faith! You… you…"

"Sexy thing?"

"Well…yeah…" Joyce's voice goes all soft and gooey. "What're you
doing here?"

"Well, Joyce," The voice comes from her doorway, Faith having
pocketed the cell, "Like I said…" She waggles the basket. "…I
brought lunch. Hungry?"

Joyce rises from the chair, and pulls Faith in through the doorway.
She closes the door, and shuts the blinds.

"Get in here, you," Joyce says.

Before Faith can even think, Joyce has her arms around her, giving
her a hot, toe curling kiss. More, she feels Joyce's hands seek and
find her ass, giving it multiple loving squeezes.

Wow! I think I've created a monster here… mmmm… and loving it!

"Mmmm…" Faith purrs after the kiss breaks, "Iffen I'd known the tips
would be so damned good here, I woulda started delivering lunch a
whole lot sooner…mmmm…" Joyce pulls her into another heated kiss.

"Got your flowers, but I loved the note more," Joyce pants when she
breaks the kiss. "Very nice." She squeezes Faith's ass again.

"Joyce, you dog!" Faith chuckles, loving the grabbiness. "C'mon,
better feed you soon… or this picnic is so gonna be wasted."

"What'd you bring me?" Joyce is like a kid, trying to look in the
basket.

"Now, now patience, Joyce. Good things come to those who wait
patiently."

"Tired of waiting, " Joyce pinches Faith. "Hungry now!"

"God, you're terrible!" Faith laughs, loving the playfulness. "Just
sit down, and I'll take care of it. Stop that!" Faith wriggles away
from yet another pinch. God, horny MUCH, Joy?

Faith takes the checkered cloth she brought, and after moving a few
things, spreads it out over Joyce's desk. Then she starts unpacking
the basket.

Along with cold fried chicken, potato salad, fruit and chips, she
puts out a bottle of wine, and two glasses. She grins at Joyce.

"So, what do you think? Pretty classy huh?" She winks.

"Oh yes, very nice," Joyce isn't looking at the picnic at all.

The two spend then next half hour eating and talking, Faith telling
tall tales about her time at Tina's, and how she's buffaloed the
local University in accepting her.

"Really? You mean UC Sunnydale? You got in there?" Joyce asks, a
little surprised and pleased.

"Well, gee, don't act so surprised, Joyce," Faith says, "Not a
dummy. I mean, yeah sure, I'm gonna have to like take some remedial
class. But I think I'm totally ready for this. Don't you think I'm
like college material?"

"Of course, sweetie. I was just surprised. I wasn't sure you were
even going to apply to the local JC's, and now you're in UC
Sunnydale. I'm very proud of you, Faith."

"I told ya, Joyce. I'm here for the long haul. I'm planning on
making something of myself. I want you to stay proud of me," Faith
says seriously. "It's important to me." She leans in closer. "You're
important to me, baby. Whatever it takes, whatever I gotta do, I
want to be part of your life…"

"Oh … honey…" Joyce is out of her chair. She comes over to Faith,
putting her arms around her. "I'm so proud of you…" She kisses Faith
tenderly. "I love you so much…" She kisses her again, lingering on
her lips. "… so much," She says, her lips moving against Faith's.

Faith snakes her arms around Joyce's neck, and Joyce somehow winds
up in Faith's lap. The kissing becomes seriously passionate, Faith
pushing her tongue into Joyce's mouth, claiming and receiving
control. Her hand slips under Joyce's blouse, and slides up her
tummy and side to Joyce's breast. She squeezes lightly.

Joyce moans appreciatively, and slips her hands around and under
Faith's blouse, loosening her bra.

"Nice maneuver, Joyce. Where'd you learn that one?" Faith teases
her, laughing at Joyce's blush.

There's a knock at the office door.

Both women scramble a bit to straighten up. Joyce goes and opens the
door, revealing Taylor at the door.

" I'm going to lunch, Joyce. Is that ok?"

"Sure honey. Just … I'm going to be busy with a client in here. I
don't want to be disturbed. Could you put up the ' be back soon '
sign on the front door?"

"Sure, Joyce," Taylor tries to get a look in the office, but Joyce
blocks her.

"Also, if the office is locked when you get back, just … take care
of business, ok? And hold my calls."

"Ok, Joyce," Taylor looks a little puzzled. "Is everything ok?"

" Yes, everything's fine," Joyce says. "I'll see you later. Enjoy
lunch."

" Ok," Taylor gives Joyce a look, then retreats. Joyce closes the
door, breathing a sigh of relief.

Faith can't help chuckling a little bit. "So, maybe we should go
back to my place…?"

"No, we'll be ok here, now," Joyce says, "I often deal with
difficult clients and artists in here. I had the office soundproofed
to keep it from carrying into the gallery." She grins a little
lasciviously. "I always knew it'd pay off someday…"

They spent the next hour or so making each other very, very happy.
Faith played teacher, teaching her very willing student some new
techniques in woman/ woman loving. It turned out that Joyce made a
very wise investment in soundproofing, with some of the noises that
came out of them.

Finally, sated, both lay side by side on the hide-a-bed, kissing and
touching, not wanting it to end. Finally, sighing, Joyce sits up.

"I guess we better get dressed," She says, a feeling happy and blue
at the same time. "God, I really don't want to."

Faith sits up next to her, putting an arm around her shoulder.

"Me either, honey," Faith hugs her. "But, seeing how things are, and
all, really don't have any choice."

"Yeah, I wish things were different…" Joyce gets up, starting to
collect her clothing.

"Hey, some good news. I think I have a line on a job…"

"Really?" Joyce smiles. "That's great, Faith"

"Yeah, well, not that great. I mean, it's like a bartender's job at
a little pub by the campus. Good thing, it's close to campus so I
can like work more hours. Bad thing? It's close to campus, and
frequented by college kids. With all that crap thrown in."

"I'd love to have you here, Faith. But I just hired Taylor, and I'm
still struggling to make a go of it…"

"What? You mean you're not firing your cute and competent assistant
to hire me, your girlfriend?" Faith throws up her hands," Well,
that's it, Joyce. We're through. I'm outta here…"

"WHAT?" Joyce feels a surge of panic.

"Joyce, just kidding!" Faith sees the panic in Joyce's face.

"Don't EVEN kid about that!" She moves away, upset.

"Joyce… Joyce!" Faith gets up, following her. She puts her arms
around her waist. "Honey, I'm sorry. Really. I was just kidding.
God, I couldn't leave you if I wanted to…" Faith leans her head on
Joyce's back. "I was a total wreck without you. You leaving me,
dumping me. I … " her voice softens. "…I've been living in hell, not
knowing why you left me. Thinking you didn't care about me…"

Joyce puts her hand over Faiths. She leans into her.

"You're the best thing, the only thing I really got going for me
right now…"

"Joyce," Faith says softly, hugging her a little tighter.

"That's not fair, not really. But things just seem so … I just don't
know what to do…"

"What is it, Joyce? Can I help?"

"No, not really… " Joyce sighs. "I just see you, after all you've
been through, putting your life together. And my daughter, Buffy,
who's had it pretty good, seems to want to throw it all away. I…
god, I'm just not getting it…"

As briefly as possible, Joyce explains what's been going on at home.

"… and for awhile, she seemed better. Things were getting better.
But lately, she's been acting up again, and last night… we had a big
fight… well, pretty big. I hit her…"

"Really?"

"And then, she hit me back!"

"Oh, Joyce," Faith says, taking her hand.

"I just don't know what to do with her…" Joyce shakes her head, "I
love her dearly, but right now, I don't like her very much. It's as
if she's doing this deliberately. I think she blames me for what
happened in the marriage…"

"How can she blame you? It was Hank that was doing the running
around… "

Joyce gives her a pained look.

"Well, he did it first, anyway! I'm sorry, but pretty much when we
were together, I thought you were pretty much getting a divorce…"
Faith feels a little defensive and flustered.

"Oh, god… no, honey… I'm sorry… I…" She reaches out, cupping Faith's
head in her hands. "You… you're the one GOOD thing in my life right
now. I'm doing everything wrong… I didn't mean to say this has
anything to do with us, really, just… well, I did kind of cheat on
Hank back… but it's not your fault. You see?" She leans in
closer. "Please, don't be upset with me…"

Faith looks at her, and then just leans in and kisses her softly,
gently. She pulls Joyce close, and just holds her, caressing her
back. There are maybe a million things she wants to say;
essentially, what they have? Isn't wrong, isn't bad, couldn't BE
bad, ever. She knows, however, that words aren't what Joyce needs.
She just needs to be held.

"I'm so confused, Faith. They're my babies," Joyce pulls away a
little, looking at Faith. "They're the only good thing I've got out
of that marriage… and now Buffy hates me… I'm a rotten mother…"

"That's stupid talk," Faith says, pulling her back in her
arms, "Listen to me. You love your daughters. You're smart, you're
beautiful; trust me, you'll figure this out. I know you will, Joyce."

"You think?" Joyce asks hopefully, "she's just so angry. I don't
know how to make it better for her."

"Any time you need to talk about it, Joyce? Vent, or whatever, I'm
here for ya… don't have a clue how to help you… but I'm here to
listen…"

Joyce looks at Faith. "You don't know how much that means, Faith.
It' means a lot, you know? It's easier, just having someone to
listen," She pulls Faith into a hug, "Did I ever tell you how much I
just love you?"

" Well, I wouldn't mind hearing it again…" Faith smiles.

"I love you," Joyce says with some deep feeling. She kisses her,
then stands up from the bed. "God, I better get going. I've got a
client I've got to meet."

"Yeah," Faith says, "I gotta check out that job. I need something to
pay the rent and stuff," She grins.

"I really wish I could bring you on here, Faith. I do."

"Naw, maybe not. We'd be in the office all day, and your girl would
get pissy and suspicious."

"Don't you think I have any self control at all?" Joyce says. She
laughs. "Well, ok, maybe not enough." She pats Faith on the
back. "So, will I see you later?"

"Dunno, will ya?" Faith grins. "You know where I'll be if ya want
me."

"Well, we'll just see how things go tonight. Having a family dinner.
Hopefully, that'll go well."

"You ok?"

"Yes, I'll be fine, Faith," Joyce smiles." Coming?"

If I had my choice, I would be. Then you'd be… ok, Faith,
concentrate…

"Ok, doke" Faith hurries and catches up.

They leave the office together.

6



Cordelia's bored. Seriously bored!

"Did you see the way Missy was stuffed in that tube top?" Harmony
snickers, " I swear, I was just waiting for the seams to start
giving. God, I've seen sausages that weren't that packed in."

"Right, I know what you mean," Amanda nods. "That hair. Did she like
run comb through it… ever? I swear it was sticking out in every
direction. And what color do you call it? Sea Foam? Puke?"

The others, except Cordelia, titter.

God, is this all they EVER do? Gossip about clothes and boys? Major
yawner, Cordelia thinks. There ARE other things in life. At least,
that's what I'm told!

"And still… somehow she managed to snag Brad Fields away from
Melinda Peters. God, can you believe it?" Cindy, trying to restrain
a laugh, because she sounds like a braying donkey when she laughs,
bites her lip. "So totally against the laws of nature!"

"I dunno about that," Aura chuckles, "I mean, the clothes she wears?
Always make her boobs look bigger. Sometimes, they look like they're
going to fall out. Parade around like that in front of a guy, he's
going to choose it every time. Guys and boobs, it's a natural, you
know?" Aurora makes a face. "Sluts always win!"

"That's so, so true," The others agree, nodding wisely.

"Cordy, you ok? You're kind of quiet," Harmony leans over, speaking
softly.

" Harm? How many times have I told you not to call me Cordy? I'm not
made of strings, and I hate that nickname." Cordelia is all over her.

"Sorry, sorry… no one could hear," Harmony defends herself. "Gee,
don't have a Guernsey."

"Then don't act like one, " Cordelia snaps. She waves Harmony away,
and with a shake of her head, scans the crowd around her.

Anything's got to be better than this.

She spots Buffy making her way around the tables, looking for a
place to sit. She watches with interest as Buffy approaches and
moves away from the geeks, freaks, nerds, band and outsiders. Well,
she's got good instincts, anyway. She then tries the Jocks, who
start with the ' hey baby, yeah baby'. Shaking her head, she turns
to the cheerleaders, who give her a 'please, your kidding, right?'
looks. Finally, she elects to go outside. Ahhh… ok then.

Cordelia rises, and her coterie rises with her. She gives them a
withering look. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Well, you were getting up to… " Harmony starts.

"Stay here. I've got something I've got to do. I'll see you guys
later."

As Cordelia walks off, the other girls look at each other.

"What's that about?" Amanda asks, watch Cordelia leave the
cafeteria. "We like go everywhere together."

"I think it's that new girl. What's her name? Muffy? Daffy? I don't
remember. I think she's going to like, humiliate her, you know?"
Cindy puts in.

"Yeah, well, if that's so, how come she didn't let us come? I mean,
wouldn't she want us there if she were going to humiliate her?"
Harmony looks puzzled.

"Maybe she wants her to like, join us?" Aura puts in.

"No WAY!"

"That's bogus!"

"She wouldn't do that, I mean, really."

"Well, she is from L.A.," Harmony says, "you know how Cordy…er
Cordelia worships everything L.A."

"Still, she was ragging on her," Cindy says. "Naw, I think she just
wants to like… set her up, then she'll tell us and we'll figure a
way to really humiliate her…"

"Yeah, that's it. It's a setup," Harmony agrees.

"This is so gonna be good. Did you see how snarky she was earlier?"

"Cordelia will cut her down to size, then spit her out. So cool."

"Yeah, cool," Harmony says. She's staring at exit. Despite what she
said, she's suspicious. Is Cordelia trying to like, replace us… me?
I know she sometimes thinks I'm stupid, but no way I'm gonna let
that happen. I'll cut that blonde bitches tits off first!



Cordelia saunters outside, and looking around, sees Buffy eating on
a bench by herself. She smiles to herself. All alone. Perfect. She
casually makes her way over to the bench, standing over Buffy as she
eats.

"Hey," Buffy says, looking up at Cordelia.

"Hey," Cordelia looks down on her. "Forget something, Barbie?"

"No, but you were grazing with the herd, so I figured you changed
your mind," Buffy says, taking a bite of her sandwich.

"You know, insulting me isn't going to help you, Blondie," Cordelia
shakes her head, "I thought you really were smarter than that. Oh
well…"

Cordelia shrugs, and makes to move off.

"What can you do to me, Cordelia? I mean, really?" Buffy says, a
bitter edge to her voice, "I was you last year. I ruled Hemery High.
Now, I'm at Mayberry Central, stuck here until I can get the hell
outta this grease spot by the highway. Why should I care what you or
your group thinks?" Buffy shrugs. "I'm just lookin' to get outta
this place fast as I can."

" Like I said, I thought you had smarts. Sadly, I'm wrong," Cordelia
sits down next to her. "I probably shouldn't waste my time, but
you're from L.A., so that already makes you a cut above most of the
losers in this school, so listen up… it's not what I can do to you.
It's what I can do for you."

"Gimme a break," Buffy makes a face, "You wanna do something for me?
What, you're Mother Teresa? Gimme a break. I know you, Cordelia.
Like I said, I was you. There's nothing for nothing, ever."

" Good. Glad to see you're not brainless. Yeah, I want something. I
want someone around that isn't a total suck up or brain dead moron.
In the 'Dale? Not so easy to find," She looks at Buffy with slightly
narrowed eyes. "So, Buffy, when you look at me, what do you see?"

Buffy gives her a slow once over.

"I see, the most popular girl in school. Probably you were Jr.
Homecoming Queen and Jr. Prom Queen. Captain of the cheerleaders?"

"So far, so good. Go on."

"Judging by your Prada purse, you Gucci sandals and the Versace
dress, I'm figuring Daddy's pretty rich. You pretty much got a lock
on the power 'round here, cuz what you can't get on your own?
Daddy'll buy for ya. I'm figuring you're dating the captain of the
football team. Probably figure you're a shoo in for Homecoming Queen
again, and Prom Queen? Yeah, you pretty much got it all." Buffy
nods. "Yeah, pretty much, I'm figuring you're Queen of Sunnydale
High."

"Yeah, pretty much," Cordelia agrees, "not bad. Like I thought,
you're pretty smart, " She leans in, "but there's more to life than
High School, Buffy." She smiles enigmatically. "A lot more."

Buffy shrugs. "Yeah, so? Tell me something like, new."

"I've been doing my homework, Buffy. Got a little look at your
permanent record. Seems like you were quite the little scamp at old
Hemery. Hear you got kicked out."

Buffy blushes red. "How the hell did you…?"

"I got somebody in the principal's office. I like to know what the
what is around here." She pulls a notebook out of her backpack and
opens it. She pulls out a sheet, and starts to read it over.

"Says here," she continues," that you pretty much trashed the gym at
your old school. Why'd you do that?"

"You got my record there. Why don't you just read it?"

"Cuz, I wanna hear it from you."

"Hated the color scheme, What can I say? Institutional gray just
bugs me."

"Let's see… fighting, yeah. Cutting class… gee, Buff, seems you went
from an A student to a D student in one year. Pretty good, dumb ass…"

"Who asked ya, Cordy?" Buffy sneers at her.

"I'll let that pass, seeing how you're all upset," Cordelia mocks
her, " but, don't call me that, moron."

"Ok, butthead, I won't."

" My aren't we touchy?" Cordy grins. "Oh, I see why. Explains
the 'tude too. Seems there's problems at home. Tsk, tsk." Cordy
shakes her head, "Seems your old Guidance Counselor suggested Family
therapy. Guess that didn't work out to good, huh?" She puts down the
paper, and leans in. "So, what's the deal, Buff? Is it Daddy or
Mommy that's screwin' around?"

Buffy flips Cordelia the bird. "Screw you, bitch, I don't have to
sit here and listen to this crap." She starts to stand up.

Cordelia pushes her back down.

"Relax, Buff. Believe me, I know the score. For me, it was mummy
dearest. Seems she got another lover, and left Dad oh… couple of
years back. Haven't seen the hag since." She grins at Buffy. "I
could tell from the 'tude yesterday, you were pissed. Just had to
figure out why."

"Well, whoo hoo for you, Cor…DEELYA…" Buffy claps, "So, what is
this? Your own version of an intervention? So, is this where you
tell me that there's like some support group or something?"

"Oh, please, not even!" Cordelia laughs. "look, Blondie, here's the
deal. SunnyD is like … a joke, if you haven't noticed already. It's
boring, and frankly, I can't wait to get my ass outta here. Soon as
I get that sheepskin, I'm gone. 'Til then? I figure to party and
have a good old time."

"Well, again, goody for you, Cordelia. What's that to me?"

"Well, if you'd shuck the 'tude for a moment, you'd see that the
people around here are about as boring as the town is. My 'group' so
to speak, is the crème of the crop, and that's not sayin' much.
Frankly, you and that snotty little sister of yours is the most
interesting thing to happen in the 'Dale for awhile."

Buffy gives her a look. "Boy, it must suck here then, if Dawn's
interesting."

"Only to torture, Buffy."

"Leave her alone, Cordelia. She might be a pain in the ass, but
she's my pain in the ass."

"Don't worry, don't want her. I want you."

"Well, isn't that gay of you?"

"Not like that, idiot!" Cordelia turns a little red around the
ears. "I'm talking, I want you to be part of my group. Liven things
up a bit."

"Yeah, well, thanks but no thanks." She gives Cordelia the once
over, "I'm not figurin' I want to take orders from you."

"Not figuring on giving them to you, Blondie. Look," she leans in
conspiratorially," my crew's ok, but pretty much lacking in brain
power. I give 'em orders cuz they don't have the capacity to think
for themselves. I'm figuring you're different. I figure, you and me?
Could have some real fun. So, what do you say?"

"I say… bogus," Buffy shakes her head. "This is way not right. What
do you really want, Cor?"

Not as dumb as she looks. Good.

"Yeah, well, I'm not blind, Buffy. You're cute, in a cheerleader-y
way. You could give me competition. Now, if it were last year? Fine,
I'd pull out the stops, come out blazing, all guns, and leave you a
grease spot on the sidewalk. But ya know what? It's my senior year.
I don't wanna have to screw around all year fending you off. So, I'm
giving you chance. Join me, don't fuck around with me, and I'll show
you the real places to have fun around here." She grins
wickedly, "unless, of course, you like hanging with those losers
you've glommed onto."

"They're all right. A little geeky, sure…"

"Buffy, c'mon. You're not dumb. They're losers. Xander Harris and
Willow Rosenberg? Look up loser in the dictionary, and their
pictures are next to it. Why'd you ever take up with them, anyway?
Sure not the kind of friends you had back in Hemery."

"Just trying to fit in, Cor. Not exactly Ms. Popularity here."

"Yeah, well, that's the deal, Buff. I'm handing it to ya. Hang with
me, and you're instantly cool," Cordelia smiles. "Hang with them,
and cool is never gonna happen. Your choice." Cordelia shrugs.

What's her deal? What does she want? Yeah, maybe she's playin' the
old "Keep your friends close, and your competition right under your
arm in a headlock" but I'm thinking, there's more here to it. I know
I can't trust her. Still… be nice not to be totally on the outs this
year. And yeah, she could make it so I'm cool. But what's she gonna
want, really, in return?

Well, shit, Summers. You got anything else better? You really want
to hang out with Dawn and Xander and Willow? Really? Naw, don't
think so. Might as well do this. I mean, really? What choice do I
got?

"Yeah, ok, why not?" Buffy shrugs, casually.

"Smart move, Summers," Cordelia smiles, "there's hope for you yet.
So, uhhh… first thing? Gotta lose the losers."

"Not a prob. They're Dawn's friends, anyway."

"Ok, cool. Now, another thing? The cool kids? Don't really hang at
the Bronze. I mean, please. They let anyone in at that place. Me and
my crew hang at The Ivory Tower over by UC Sunnydale. Lot better
crowd, college kids. Totally cooler scene. We're gonna be there
tonight. You comin'?"

" Can't. I'm grounded." Buffy shrugs.

" Ah, well… too bad," Cordelia says. "I thought you were like cool."

"I am cool. Just cool… and grounded."

"Really? And still doing whatEVER Mommy tells you?" Cordy sneers,
just a little. " That' sweet… lame, but sweet."

"No, it's not like that, Cordelia. Just, right now, I can't screw
around. Things are bad enough, already. Just trying not to get
grounded 'til I'm like, 30."

"Yeah, well, thing is Buffy? If you want to be cool, you can't be
like mommy's little darling. You know? If you wanna make an omelet,
gotta break some eggs…"

"Look, I'll try to get out, but I can't guarantee anything, you
know?"

"Don't sweat it, girlfriend. I get it. If you can't make it, you
can't make it. I'll just figure that being cool wasn't that
important to you," Cordelia gets up. "I mean, not everyone can be
part of the crowd."

"Cordelia, come on, be fair!"

"I am, dope. I'm giving you a chance, when I could just crush you.
But you kind of amuse me…" Cordelia half grins. "But I get bored
really easy… you know? Ta!"

Cordelia walks off, not looking back.

Buffy sits there, wringing her hands. I gotta get outta the house
tonight. Gotta get un-grounded… I can't be part of the geeker squad.
I won't be! Damn it…

Cordelia walks over, snickering to herself. God, she's so… easy.
Gonna be fun, ya know? Been a long time since I had a new toy to
play with.

Hope she doesn't break too easily…

Cordelia, smiling, walks into the cafeteria.



7



"C'mon, mom! It's not fair!"

Buffy, Dawn and Joyce are in the dining room, eating dinner.

To be accurate, Dawn is trying to eat dinner. She's picking at the
food in her plate, anyway.

Buffy and Joyce, on the other hand, seem to be winding up for a
fight.

"Buffy, don't you understand the concept of being grounded? Do I
have to explain it to you?"

"Mom, you told me you wanted me to get involved with school again.
You told me I should go back to cheerleading. Well, here's my
chance. I mean, I had to nearly beg the captain of the squad to let
me try out, and this is the only shot I'm going to have. She agreed
to let me audition at their practice tonight. If I don't go, I'm not
gonna get on the team!"

"I'm sorry, Buffy, but you really should've thought about this
before you started in again. Being snotty this morning didn't help
your case one bit. I'm sorry, but I have to say no."

"You don't have to say no. You want to say no," Buffy grouses. "you
just wanna ruin my life, is all." Buffy stands up from the
table. "Well, not going to just sit here and let you do it." She
heads towards the living room.

"Buffy, sit down. You haven't been excused." Joyce gets up to follow
her. "Where exactly do you think you're going?"

"To call dad. I'm going to ask him."

"Forget it, Buffy. Your dad's busy, and anyway, I'm here, and I'm
setting the rules. Your dad would agree with me."

Buffy lifts the receiver, and starts to dial a number. "Let's ask
him, shall we?"

Joyce comes over, and takes the phone from Buffy. She hangs it up.

"I told you, Buffy. We're not bothering your father with this!"

"No! It's not fair!" Buffy grabs the phone away, and holds it
close. "I don't deserve this. This is my one chance to get my life
back, and I won't let you ruin it. Not again!" Again, she starts to
dial.

Joyce, feeling her temper rise, grabs the phone cord, pulling it
from the wall.

Buffy turns a bright red. "This is just so typical. You'll do
anything to ruin my life, won't you?" She tosses the phone against
the wall.

"I'm not trying to ruin your life, Buffy," Joyce tries to keep her
calm, despite it all. "but you have to suffer the consequences of
your actions. Acting like a spoiled child isn't going to help." She
folds her arms over her chest. "Go to your room."

"No, I haven't finished dinner."

Buffy heads towards the dining room, and is about to sit down, when
Joyce stops her.

"You're not listening to me. I'm tired of every meal around here
being a battle zone because of your temper. Maybe for once, Dawn and
I would like to have a civilized meal without the fireworks. When
you start acting like the adult you so often claim being, you can
come back. Now, go to your room!"

"Mom, please. Can't we just finish dinner…" Dawn puts in.

"Dawn, this isn't your business. Stay out of it."

"Yeah, Dawnie. Shut up, or she might send you to your room too," She
turns on Joyce," I don't wanna eat this crap anyway."

She ducks around Joyce, and storms up the stairs. A few seconds
later, her door is heard to slamming, hard.

Joyce stands there for a moment, her guts doing the familiar
rumbling that happens whenever one of these scenes is played out.
Turning, she goes to sit at the table, across from her daughter.

"Mom…" Dawn begins, but Joyce cuts her off.

"That's enough, Dawn. She's acting like a child, and as long as she
does, she'll be treated like a child. Eat your dinner."

They both sit there in silence for awhile, each moving the food
around their respective plates. Finally, Joyce sighs and pushes her
chair back.

"I better go check on her, be sure she's ok," Joyce says softly. She
rises, and notices her daughter isn't eating. "Eat something Dawn,
ok?"

"I'm eating, I'm eating," Dawn says, a little defensively. She takes
a bite of food, and pushes in her mouth, chewing
mechanically. "See?" she says, when done.

Joyce shakes her head, feelings like she's been beaten up.

"I'm sorry Dawn. It's just she always…"

"Forget it. It's Buffy. What else is new?" Dawn looks down at her
plate.

Joyce walks up the stairs, feeling a little guilty that Dawn has to
pay all the time because of her elder, and most difficult, daughter.

"Buffy?" Joyce knocks on Buffy's door. "Are you ok?"

" GO AWAY!" Buffy yells through the door.

"Open up, Buffy. I want to talk to you! I'm not doing it through
this door."

"I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU!"

Joyce turns the knob, and pushes on the door. It's stuck. She grows
more irritated.

"Buffy Anne Summers, you open this door right now. Do you hear me?"

There's a momentary silence, followed by what sounds like something
being moved. The door opens suddenly, and Buffy is standing there,
red faced.

"Why can't you just leave me alone?" Buffy barks at her. "You've
already ruined my life. What more do you want? Maybe you wanna
chain me to my bed or something, too?"

"Buffy, stop acting like a child."

"You treat me like a child, why shouldn't I act like one?"

"I treat you like a child, because you think everything is about
you. It's not all about you, Buffy Summers. Other's have had to make
sacrifices here!"

"Oh really?" Buffy sneers at her. "What sacrifices have you had to
make, Joyce? You're right, this isn't all about me! It's about YOU.
What YOU want. You and you're stupid gallery and this STUPID TOWN!
No one else wanted this besides YOU!"

"Your father and I thought it would be best…"

" Oh, please. Don't give me that crap again! Daddy didn't want this.
Think he wants to be driving two hundred miles a day to go to work?
No wonder he's only here on week-ends. I'm surprised he even manages
that! All because YOU had to live in Sunnyhell, the edge of
civilization. Just because you came from this Mayberry, why do the
rest of us gotta live here? But now, It's always what Joyce wants,
right? Yeah, great. You ruin everyone's life because you're selfish!"

Joyce feels the gorge rising in her, but shoves it back down, trying
to be calm.

"You're father and I believed, after what happened last year, that
it would be a good idea for you and your sister to get out of the
L.A. environment for awhile. You, if you, remember, were getting
into trouble left and right. We wanted to give you another chance in
a place that didn't have all the negative influences L.A. had. We
did this for you and Dawn…"

"Bullshit!"

"Buffy!" Joyce starts to lose her calm.

"No, Joyce. Let's try some truth here, shall we? You wanted to be
here, with your family, because you wanted your stupid art gallery.
You're too much of a coward to make a go of it in L.A., where you'd
have some competition, so you uproot everyone, and drag us to this
crap hole, all because of what YOU want! I didn't want this! Dawn
didn't want this. Daddy SURELY didn't want this…"

Something snaps in Joyce.

"Poor Henry. Poor, martyred St. Henry," Joyce says in a low
voice. "Ok, Buffy, you want some truth? Lets get to the truth, shall
we?" She pushes her way into Buffy's room, and closes the door. She
points at the bed. "Sit down."

"I'm not gonna sit down…"

"Elizabeth Anne Summers. Sit down, NOW!" Joyce commands.

Buffy, knowing her mom only uses her full name in extreme cases,
sits down on her bed.

"What?" She grouses, looking hostile.

"I've been trying to keep this from you and Dawn, but you're right,
Buffy. You're an adult now. You should know the truth. The whole
truth."

"What? What're you talking about?" Buffy gets a funny feeling. Like
she's not going to like what she's going to hear.

"The truth, Buffy. That's what you wanted, right?" Joyce says,
sitting in the chair Buffy put before the door. " Here's the truth,
Buffy. You're right, this move? Wasn't just about you and Dawn. The
truth is, Buffy, I had to move here. I had to start the Gallery, and
frankly, I couldn't get the financing in L.A. But I had friends
here, Buffy. Friends willing to put up the money. Because, your
father wasn't willing to help. So, I decided we needed to move here…"

"I knew it," Buffy says in a low, slightly edgy tone. "This was all
about you and your stupid gallery. That's why you ruined…"

"Buffy, be quiet for once, and listen, instead of just interrupting
all the time!"

"Fine, whatever." Buffy grumbles." Well, go ahead, Joyce! Explain it
to me!"

"Look, Buffy, I didn't particularly want to start the Gallery. But I
had to have some means of financial support for us, in case. I mean,
I couldn't count on good old St. Hank to be there for us
financially… not the way things were going…" she gets up, starting
to pace. "I was an Art History major in college, and it's what I
know. This was the only way I could see to support us decently. The
other options wouldn't pay enough."

"What? What're you saying? Is daddy's business in trouble? Is that
it?"

"No, Buffy, You're dad's business is fine. He and his partners are
doing just fine. No, you see, Buffy, moving to Sunnydale wasn't just
about you're behavior, or my starting the gallery. Frankly, you're
father and I were getting a divorce …"

Buffy's face goes pale, and her eyes go wide.

"What?"

"I was trying to keep this from you and Dawn, baby," Joyce says,
going to her. "I was divorcing your dad…"

"Why?" Buffy turns hostile again. "Why were you going to break up
the family? Wasn't being a wife and a mother enough for you, Joyce?"
She turns sarcastic. "Did you need… more?"

"You're not listening at all, are you Buffy?" Joyce sighs, feeling
like a big rock is sitting on her shoulders. "I love that you love
your father so much. That you're loyal to him. That's a good thing.
I don't want to spoil that, but you have to know the truth, Buffy…"

"I know Daddy had that affair last year. But, I thought you forgave
him that…" Buffy shakes her head. "Anyway, maybe if you'd been a
better wife to him…"

"Is that what he told you? That it was because I was a lousy wife to
him?"

"No, not really… no…"

"But that's what you assumed, right? That it had something to do
with me?"

"Well, maybe if you weren't so wrapped up in your own thing, and the
Gallery now, maybe he'd…"

"Buffy… that affair was just one of a string your father's had. That
wasn't the first, nor the last… you're father's been cheating on me
for over 5 years… that I know about, Buffy. The only… the ONLY
reason I've tolerated it so long is because of you and Dawn. I
didn't want you to have to go through the turmoil of a divorce, not
at those young ages, and I didn't want you to know what kind of man
your father is. I want you to love and forgive your father, Buffy. I
do." Joyce sighs heavily. "You should love your father…"

Buffy just sits there, shocked. Daddy… he couldn't… he wouldn't…

"I'm sorry, Buffy. I really wanted to shield you from this. But I'm
tired of taking the blame for all of this, when it isn't my fault.
I've covered for your Father, pretended what was happening wasn't
happening… all so you and Dawn could have a normal life. I know what
it's like to live as a divorced child, my own parents having gotten
divorced when I was young. I didn't want that for you, baby…you or
Dawn."

"No…no…" Buffy shakes her head,"… you're lying to me… you want to…"

"Buffy, grow up!" Joyce snaps at her. " God, think, Buffy. Use that
brain I know you have. Think. Remember, I was at EVERY game you were
a cheerleader. I was always there when you had some function or
other. Your dad… well, his attendance was spotty, at best. I made
sure he was at the really important ones… I threatened to tell his
partners about his little 'affairs'. They're rather conservative,
and wouldn't have been too happy with him… he knew I'd do it too,
because I wasn't about to let him hurt you or Dawn…not when it was
important to you…"

Buffy is still shaking her head, as if she could knock the words
from her brain if she shook them out.

"Why now then? Why divorce him now, if you didn't want to break up
the family?"

"The last little affair… not the one you know about, but one after
that? He got the woman pregnant."

"WHAT!!!!"

"Yeah, good old Hank. I guess one of the condoms he wore broke, and
she was too much of a stupid cow to use a contraceptive. I don't
know all of it, I just know she was going to sue him for paternity.
If that had gotten out, with the mindset of his partners, he
would've been ruined. They would've kicked him out, and well…
anyway, he managed to settle it, quietly. But it cost a lot, Honey,
a whole lot. I'd had enough of his affairs, enough of his putting us
at risk because he only thought with his…" She bites back the word,
not wanting to make it even worse." Anyway, after that, I wasn't
going to have him expose you or Dawn to this mess, so I decided to
divorce him. Irreconcilable Differences… that's the only kind of
divorce in California, did you know that? Doesn't matter that he was
playing around… " Joyce is angry, thinking about it. "That's why I
had to move us to Sunnydale, do this gallery… all of it… because
Hank can't control himself." There's a bitter edge to her voice.

"But…but… you're not divorced…" Buffy is trying to make sense of
this. "You… he… we're … I don't understand…"

"That's why I went on the buying trip across country, Buffy. I
couldn't stand being close to Hank, not after what he'd done. I was
waiting for the divorce papers, and planned on signing them. But at
the last minute, things changed…"

"What changed?" Buffy is suspicious. "What're you talking about?"

"Evidently, his partners got wind of the divorce. It's like
infidelity, they just wouldn't accept it. They gave your father an
ultimatum. Make it go away, or he was out. Period. So, Hank, rather
than taking responsibility for his actions, decided to blackmail me.
He threatened that if I went through with the divorce, he would take
you and Dawn away from me!"

Buffy just stares at her.

"He paid someone to make up some stuff about me, make it look like
I was an unfit mother," Joyce lies, "he threatened to make it a long
and ugly divorce. He had everything to lose, what did it matter if
he lied or not? All he wanted was for me to drop the divorce. HE
didn't care what effect this would have on you and Dawn, but I did.
He knew I wouldn't let anything, anything at all, hurt you or Dawn.
He had me over a barrel. Drop the suit, or he fights the divorce and
makes things really ugly." Joyce's lips tighten when she remembers
the scene in Salem. "I couldn't… wouldn't allow him to do that. Bad
enough I knew what was going on. I wasn't going to drag you and Dawn
through it, making your lives miserable. So… I gave in. I dropped
the divorce, but I extracted a price. I made him sign an agreement
to finance the Gallery. I wasn't about to let one of his
peccadilloes ruin this family again. I had to be sure we had some
means of support…"

Buffy sits on her bed, looking shell shocked.

"I'm sorry you had to learn it this way, Buffy. I didn't want you to
know… but you're acting like this, blaming me for it all… "

"Liar."

"What?"

"You're a liar," Buffy says, her face blotching red. "You're lying
about all of it!"

"Buffy!"

"How can you sit there, and expect me to believe that… crap? Daddy
wouldn't do that. He loves me. He loves Dawn. God, you cold hearted,
selfish BITCH!" Buffy gets up off the bed. "You just can't stand it
that he doesn't love you, and with all the lies you're telling, who
could blame him! He can't stand being with you, and neither can I!
You… you're evil, lying about him like that! He wouldn't do that to
me, to us! He loves us. You just… god, you disgust me, you cold,
frigid bitch!"

"Buffy Summers! Don't you talk to me that way!"

"You're nothing but a big, fat liar!" Buffy gets up, advancing on
Joyce. "Get out of here, you . I hate you! I HATE YOU!"

"Buffy…" Joyce, upset, still tries to reason with her. She knows how
hard this has to be for her." Honey…"

" GET OUT!" Buffy screams at her.

Joyce retreats, realizing that for now, there's no reasoning with
her daughter. She's stuck on an idea, and isn't going to give it up
easily. She walks into the hall, turning to try to reason with her
again.

Buffy slams the door in her face.

Joyce stands there for a moment, feeling paralyzed. As long as I
live, I'll never understand her. How can she be so… blind? So
stubborn? If I had pictures, she'd say I made them up. To her, he's
a prince, and nothing I say is going to change that. Will she ever
see the truth? Is it always going to be like this? God, she's so
much like her father, it's scary!

Joyce, realizing she's nearing her breaking point, moves away from
her daughter's door, and stands a ways down the hall, trying to cool
off before going back downstairs. She knows trying to talk to Buffy
anymore tonight is useless.

Feeling calmer, she walks downstairs to find Dawn staring at her
plate. She walks over to her daughter, and sits down next to her.

"Are you ok, baby? I'm so sorry you had to see that."

"What's the difference, mom? See it? Hear it? Same thing," Dawn
says. She gets up, taking her plate with her.

Joyce feels a chill in her stomach. God, I didn't want Dawn to know
about Hank…

"Dawn? Did you hear the argument?"

"Just the loud voices, and Buffy yelling she hates you…" Dawn
sighs. "It's like Thursday, right? Time for her to hate you again."

Joyce breathes a sigh of relief. Thank god she only heard the
noise!

"Dawn, you should eat something…"

"Really, after that, you think I'm can be hungry? God, what's wrong
with you two? Why do you have to fight all the time?" Dawn looks at
her. "Sorry, I just don't feel like taking it anymore. I'm going to
my room." She walks to the kitchen with her plate.

Joyce gets up, following her to the kitchen.

"Dawn, baby, please, I'm really sorry…"

"Yeah, sure, I know mom. Everyone's sorry… but the fights go on and
on…" Dawn puts her plate in the sink. "Sorry if I'm just tired of
listening to it. Just leave me alone for awhile, ok?"

"Dawn, don't be angry with me, please."

She looks at her mom, face sad.

"You don't get it, do you? I'm not angry. Just tired, Really tired."

Dawn exits the kitchen, and trots up the stairs.

===

Joyce, pouring herself a cup of coffee, sits at the dining room
table. From where she sits, she can see the phone on the floor and
the mark it made hitting the wall. She gets up, and puts the phone
back on the table; plugging it in. Testing it, she gets a dial tone.

Nice job, Joyce. Great parenting. You're so up for Mom of the year.
One daughter hates you, ready to bolt. The other, just looks through
you. Yeah, that's Angry Daughters, 2, Mom 0.

I don't get her. I don't get how she can idolize her father so,
knowing what he did. More, she blames ME! I tried to keep this
family together. I gave up something really good, to hold this
family together, and what? She blames me for it falling apart. God,
how can she be so blind?

I thought I'd never think this, but I'm almost glad she's going away
to college next year. That is, IF she doesn't mess this year up too.
I'm just so tired of her attitude, and her anger, and her blaming me
all the time. She just is so much like Hank, it's scary. She doesn't
EVEN see what she's doing is affecting everyone. Even Dawn.

Poor Dawn. She's trying so hard, and she's caught in the middle.
I've really got to try harder with her, try to be there for her.
I've been so worried about Buffy, I haven't been giving her what she
needs. I've got to try to stop fighting with Buffy; find a peaceful
way to deal with her. I don't need to upset Dawn anymore than she
already is.

Joyce feels more alone than ever. She really hates the feeling. She
clears the table, and puts the dishes in the sink. Coming back in,
she spots her purse on the counter. She walks over, and opens the
purse, pulling out a piece of paper with Faith's Hotel, room number
and cell phone number.

She stares at it awhile, debating with herself. Finally, she makes
up her mind, and picking up the phone, calls the cell number.

"Hi, honey… Yeah, I miss you too. Are you busy?… oh, you're working?
You got the job? That's great!… I just… well, I… never mind, it's
not important… no really, it's fine… yes, I'm ok… what? Sound funny?
No… just… tired… yeah… ok, well, I'll let you get back to work… no,
no, I'm sure I'm fine, Faith. Yes, I'll see you tomorrow? Lunch?
Good… ok…goodbye…I love you…yes, goodbye."

Joyce sets down the phone and feels a little unfocused. She feels
defeated; alone and sad, and not knowing what to do. Her skin feels
a little cold. She hugs herself, needing a hug herself.

Walking upstairs, she feels a knot in her stomach. All her nerves
are making a small acid feeling in her stomach. All of this, all
that's happened over the last months, has led to this, and she's
feeling less than happy.

I can't do this. I feel as bad as Hank, fooling around behind
everyone's back. But I can't give her up, either. She's the only
good thing I have right now. She … without her life is so… it's not
life at all. It's existing.

She stops briefly at Buffy's door, contemplating going in and
talking to her. And what do I say? What's to say? Just let it alone
now, Joyce. Neither of you need another confrontation tonight.

She looks down the hall towards her room. I know I did what I had to
do. I had to be here with Buffy and Dawn. I couldn't let Hank do
what he was going to do. Still, sometimes I wonder if it's all worth
it. I mean, Buffy seems to blame me for everything. And Dawn? Does
she blame me too? God, have I made anything better, being here?

Joyce walks to her room, and opens the door. Gotta sleep. Feel so
tired. Gotta end this day. I can't take much more of it.

She quietly closes the door behind her.



8



Buffy walks across the street towards the University Pub. She's
still upset and angry about earlier.

She's lying. I know she is. Daddy wouldn't do that to me… us. He
loves us. No. She just wants to turn us against him. I'm so not
falling for it. It's all a big lie. Damn her, she's not going to
ruin my life anymore. I'm gonna do whatever I want, because if she
thinks she can run my life, she's sooo wrong. Screw her… screw them
both. Parents. What a joke!

God, I hope Cordelia's still here. I'm so late. If she ruined this
for me, I'm so gonna… what? What're you going to do? You can't do
shit about it. But if this is messed up, I'm gonna make her pay. Big
time!

Buffy shakes her head. She's just angry. She pulls open the door to
the bar, and walks in.

She looks around, and at first doesn't spot Cordelia or any of her
crew. She feels her anger rising. Dammit, I'm too late. Great. Blew
it. Thanks Mom, thanks a whole lot. Now I'm stuck with the geeks for
the whole year. Hate this. Hate her. She's ruining my whole life!

She's about to leave when she hears shouts from one of the tables
way in the back. Curious, she wanders over.

A group of guys, looking college age, are with Cordelia, Amanda and
Harmony. Amanda has a mug of beer raised above her head, chugging it
down.

" GO, GO,GO, GO, CHUG, CHUG,CHUG, CHUG!" Everyone else at the table
encourages her to down the beer as fast as possible. She finishes
the mug and bangs it on the table. She looks around, goofy but
triumphant smile on her face. Then she sits back, her eyes somewhat
unfocused. She burps, and giggles hysterically.

"She's so drunk," Cordelia says, looking at Amanda.

"Not drunk, just buzzing…" Amanda grins. Then her grin turns upside
down, and her face turns a little green around the edges. " Ohhh…
not good…"

"Oh, shit…" Harmony says, "Get up, get up, she's gonna blow…"

Quickly, a bunch of guys and girls are out of their seats in the
booth, and Amanda, staggering somewhat, beelines for the bathroom.

"Amanda never could hold her alcohol…" Cordy grins, watching her.
She turns and for the first time notices Buffy. " Oh, you made it."

"Yeah, sorry. Had a hard time getting away…"

"Well, you're here now. That's the important thing, right?" She
turns to Harmony, holding out her hand. "Pay up, Harm."

"What?" Harmony looks surprised; unpleasantly so. "I thought that
was just a joke…"

"Yeah, but you woulda made me pay if she hadn't shown. So, pay up."

Harmony throws Buffy an evil look, then reaches in her purse,
pulling out her wallet. She takes out a bill, and hands it to
Cordelia.

"What's the deal?" Buffy looks confused, and a little offended. "you
bet on me?"

"Well, yeah," Cordelia grins, folding the bill and sticking it in
her pocket. "Harm here said you wouldn't show, and I bet her you
would. So… I won, thanks" She grins.

"Gee, glad I could help you out there," Buffy says sarcastically, a
sour look on her face.

"Oh don't get all huffy, Buffy. Heh. Huffy Buffy." Cordelia smiles.
It's then that Buffy realizes she's more than a little buzzed. "Sit
down baby." She turns to the guy sitting closest to Buffy. "Squeeze
in a lil, let my main girl here sit down." Cordelia says with a
sarcastic edge to her voice.

The guy moves, and Buffy sits. She's still frowning.

"Oh, c'mon, cheer up. We won, didn't we?" Cordelia grins sloppily.
She grabs a mug, and fills it from the pitcher on the table. "Have a
brew. Chill out, girl" She shoves the beer towards Buffy. It slops
over a little, splashing on the table.

"I dunno, I got school in the morning…"

"God, don't be a buzzkill. Geeze, are you gonna be all Miss Goody
shoes two or something?" She laughs a little, "C'mon, we're having a
little party… meet some of the guys. Let's see… the guy next to you…
that's Tad…"

"Ted," The boy sitting next to Buffy says, "I'm Ted."

"Yeah, Ted. And next to him is Brad?" They guy nods. " Brad. And
this hunk o guy." She pats the guy sitting next to her, … is
Charlie. And that guy, next to Harm? Pukey."

"Hurley. My names Hurley." He looks a little pissed.

"Sorry, Hurley." Cordelia grins brightly, if a little
fuzzily. "That's the guys. You know Harm, and Amanda… where'd Amanda
go?"

"She got pukey," Harmony, grinning a little maliciously, says. "
remember? Couldn't hold her beer." She turns to Buffy. "How 'bout
you? You hold your beer?"

Buffy can feel the waves of hostility rolling off Harmony from
across the table. God, what's her deal?

"Yeah, I can hold my beer fine," Buffy says, staring back at her.
Who the hell do you think you are, loser? Buffy thinks, looking at
Harmony.

"I hear a challenge!" Ted, sitting next to Buffy, says. "I think
it's time for another chugfest." He turns to Buffy, grinning.

"I dunno…" Buffy says, staring at her beer.

"Aw, C'mon Huffy Buffy," Cordelia grins at her. "Loosen up a bit.
You're behind everyone. Go ahead, don't let me down, girl. Been
talkin' you up, ya know."

"C'mon, Buffy," Brad says, "It's fun."

"Yeah, Buffy," Harmony says, voice dripping with sugar. "Go ahead.
Unless you're like… scared?" She grins at Buffy. "But, you're not
scared, are you?"

Not of you, dummy. Ah, screw it. Why not?

"Yeah, sure, why not?" Buffy picks up the mug.

The shouts start up.

"CHUG-CHUG-CHUG-CHUG…"

Buffy lifts the mug, and opening her mouth, starts pouring the beer
down her throat.

"GO! GO! GO! GO! GO!" the other encourage her, as she continues to
chug the beer.

Buffy swallows the liquid, almost choking at one point, but she
recovers and continues. Draining the mug, she slams it down on the
table, and looks around, triumphant.

"Way to go!"

"Nice one!"

"Do another!"

Cordelia watches her, smiling to herself. She's no where near as
buzzed as she's putting on. Yeah, looks like Ole Buffy might just
work out fine.

"Way to go, girl!" She winks at Buffy.

Harmony is also watching Buffy, with nowhere near the camaraderie
the others express. Stupid bitch. Who does she think she's fooling?
She's looking to horn her way into the group. What a sleazy little
slut!

Amanda makes it back to the table, looking a little pale. She stands
looking at the others, weaving a little bit.

"Not feelin' so good," She mumbles.

"Yeah, you're not lookin' too good," Harmony says, full of false
sympathy.

" Maybe you should get her home, Harm," Cordelia says, turning to
her blonde companion.

"Me?" Harmony looks at Cordelia, wounded. "Why me?"

"Well…" Cordelia smiles ," For one, you brought your own car. And I
don't want her hurling in mine… no offense, Hurley."

"None taken," Hurley grins.

"And… I told you to do it, so do it."

"That's not fair!" Harmony complains. "I mean, why should I have to
play nursemaid to her?" She points at Buffy. "Make her do it."

"Hey, I would, Harmony," Buffy says, smirking, "Except, I don't have
a car. Sorry". It's obvious Buffy's not at all sorry.

"There you go, Harm. It's up to you…" Cordelia leans in, and says
softly, "Don't make me ask again, Harm." Her tone is less than
friendly.

Harmony knows if she doesn't hop to it now, Cordelia will probably
kick her out of the group. That would be a disaster. Harmony alone?
Less popular than a root canal. She needs the group, and Cordelia.
Especially Cordelia. Still, she's angry. It's her fault, She
grumbles to herself, looking t Buffy. Before she came, Cordelia
wouldn't do this to me.

"Fine, I'll take her home," Harmony grumbles, getting up and putting
an arm around Amanda to steady her. "C'mon, Amanda. God, you better
not puke in my car."

"Won't, promise Harm. Thanks," Amanda smiles blearily at her.

"Thanks Harm," Cordelia smiles at her. "I owe ya, babe."

Harmony gets a little thrill from that. From Cordelia, that's almost
like praise.

"So, you guys be here when I get back?"

"Naw, prolly goin' pretty soon," Cordelia says. "We'll seeya
tomorrow. Night, Harm."

Dammit! This sucks! She gives Buffy another evil look.

"What're you looking at?" Buffy asks, catching the look.

"Nothing," Harmony says, almost sneering. "Believe me, absolutely
nothing. Come on, Amanda." She leads the hung over girl away.

Buffy watches them go, frowning a little. She turns back to the
table.

"What's her trauma?" She asks Cordelia. "I mean, what the hell did I
do to her?"

"Oh, ignore her," Cordelia dismisses Harmony with a wave. "She's
just jealous. It's nothing new."

"Jealous? Of what?"

"You."

"Me?" Buffy looks puzzled. "Why would she be jealous of me?"

"Hey, who knows?" Cordelia shrugs. "Anyway, forget her."

"Not a prob," Buffy says, Harmony already forgotten. "Now what?"

Cordelia smiles.

===



An hour, a number of beers, and a sweet little pill Cordelia gave
her, and Buffy is having a great time.

She's dancing, somehow winding up with Cordelia as a dance partner.
The college guys from earlier have wandered off, and she and
Cordelia have been moving from beefcake to beefcake, dancing and
flirting madly.

Buffy is happy-happy. The heat, the beers, the pill and music have
combined to make everything seem to be brighter, shinier, and
prettier. The lights are all swirly, and moving and dancing have
become very sensual and to a degree, erotic. Buffy is tingling all
over, loving every moment of it.

Cordelia, having maneuvered to wind up dancing with Buffy, watches
her carefully. She smiles as Buffy shakes it down on the dance floor
across from her.

Looks like lil Ms. Priss might have a wild streak in her, after all.
God, can I call it or what? All I gotta do is find the key to unlock
it. I think I'm gonna like shaping her…

Cordelia is pleased. Also a little horny. X has that effect on her.
And Buffy wiggling and shaking isn't making things any less steamy
for her. Wonder how our little blond Barbie is in bed? Wonder if
she's ever been to bed with another girl? Hmmm...

"Hey, Buff," Cordelia grabs Buffy's wrist. "Time for a little
breather, girl." She starts to lead her towards a table.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, ok…" Buffy follows along, floating on her own plane.

They sit at a table closer to the bar. Cordelia pokes Buffy in the
ribs.

"Hey, girl. Did you check out the bartender? A new one I think.
Haven't seen her before."

"Huh?" Buffy looks over at the bar, noticing the brunette bartender
serving up drinks. " So?"

"Kinda hot, don't ya think? I mean, she's kinda tasty looking,"
Cordelia smiles at her.

"I guess," Buffy says, agreeably. "hadn't really noticed." She
shrugs.

"How could you miss her. I mean, she's totally hot…"

"Whatever. Not my thing…" Buffy giggles. "… girls, I mean…"

"Really? How do you know?" Cordelia looks at her, "I mean, ever been
with a girl?"

"Huh?" She sees Cordelia's mocking look, like she's green. So not
green! "Yeah I have… just wasn't my thing, ya know?"

Cordelia gives her the once over. "Naw, I don't think so. I think
you're a virgin."

"So not a virgin!" Buffy protests.

"Yeah you are…"

"So not!"

"Hey, it's not a deal, just don't think you should talk shit about
what you don't know, is all."

"I so do know. I've been there, done that."

"Really?" Cordelia doesn't sound convinced. "Prove it."

"What? I mean, like how? Not like I took pictures…"

"Not asking for pictures, dope," Cordelia leans in. "Just, if you've
been there, done that, then a little flirting shouldn't wig you
should it?"

"Huh?"

"Well, she doesn't look real busy, ya know? Why don't ya go over and
flirt with her a little. Get her phone number? You do that, and then
I'll believe you."

Buffy looks at the bartender, and then back at Cordelia. "Hey, I got
nothing to prove."

"Ok, sure," Cordelia nods. "I understand if you're like, scared."

"Not scared," Buffy protests." But- but what if she's like… well,
what if she's not into that kinda thing."

"Oh c'mon, looking the way she does? Gimme a break," Cordy
smirks. "She's totally into it… but I get it. You're scared."

"Not scared!"

"Then what's the harm?" Cordelia looks at Buffy and smiles. "I mean,
if she's not liking it, what's the hurt? She can't like toss ya for
flirting."

Buffy's trapped. On one hand, she's a little wigged. Flirting with
another girls? Ok, that's radical … Still, she can't like let
Cordelia know it's freaking her. I'm from L.A. I'm supposed to be
like, cool. If I back out, she's gonna think I'm green… shit, I hate
this…

"Fine, whatever," She says casually, as if flirting with a woman is
something she does every day. "I'll be back." She stands up.

"That a girl," Cordelia grins, whacking her on the ass. "Go get her,
girl."

She watches as Buffy walks towards the bar, enjoying the show her
ass gives in her tight jeans.

Tasty, She thinks, as she sits back to watch the show.



===



Faith is tired, and feeling a little cranky.

God, I forgot how much I hate tending bar, She thinks, sticking her
hands in the dishwater to clean some glasses as things finally slow
down. God, and college kids? Got such a "I'm so better than
you" 'tude going. Be glad to get outta here.

"Hey, can I get a drink here?" A voice interrupts her.

Swell, another spoiled rich kid. You can tell by the imperious tone.

"Be with ya in a sec," Faith says, grabbing a towel and wiping her
hands. She turns around to see a cute little blond sitting at the
bar. Well, at least this one is cute.

"So, what can I get ya?" Faith says, giving Buffy the once over.

"Beer," Buffy says, smiling.

Oh man. Another one. If this one is over 18, I'm straight.

"Fine. Need ID," Faith says, leaning on the bar across from Buffy.

"I'm legal."

"Great. So, showing me an ID won't be a problem" Faith grins.

"Yeah, ok," Buffy makes a pretense at looking in her purse. "Shit. I
must've left it in my car. C'mon, be a sport. Just give me a beer,
ok?" She puts on her pleading face.

"Well, baby, you better go to your car and get it. Cuz, I'm not
serving you a beer until I see some ID." Faith starts to turn away.

"Wait…wait…" Buffy stops her. "Look, don't be that way. I mean, I've
had a beer or two already. It's just I forgot to bring my ID…so,
can't you just…"

"No. No ID, no service. And if you've been drinking already…" Faith
leans over, catching her breath. "Whew, yeah you have. I think maybe
you should go home…" Faith turns away, back to her dishes.

"Hey, look… I didn't want a drink, anyway…"

"Oh, really?" Faith chuckles. "Then why did you ask for one?"

"I… just wanted to talk to you… and I thought that was the easiest
way…"

"What? Talk to me?" She turns back to Buffy. "Why'd you want to talk
to me?" She looks at Buffy, expectantly.

"Well, ummm…" Buffy feels her mouth get dry. God, this is so
bogus… " Look, I saw you and you're cute, you know? And I was
wondering when you got off?" She blushes a little.

Faith cocks her head to the side, sizing up the tiny girl sitting at
the bar. She half grins, amused. "You're flirting with me?"

"Uhhh… yeah… cuz well, your like major cute, and I wanted to get to
know you better?"

"You're asking me? You don't know?"

"No, I know… I mean, you're cute… and I wanted…" Buffy so wants to
bolt, "I thought maybe if you weren't busy… we could like… get a
drink…?"

"What? And I'm going to buy it?" Faith almost starts to laugh, until
she sees the girl's expression. "How old are you, really?"

"I'm old enough… I told you, I forgot my ID is all…"

"C'mon, get real. You're like, what? 16?" She gives Buffy a sidelong
glance. "You shouldn't even really be in here…"

"So not 16! " Buffy stands up. "Forget it. Sorry I bothered you…"
She starts to leave.

"Hey… hey…" Faith lays a hand on her shoulder. "Stop, ok?" She
smiles at Buffy. "My name's Faith. What's yours?"

Buffy looks at her. She shrugs. "Buffy."

"No, I mean, really. What's your name?"

"That's my name! Buffy!" She shakes her head. "Bad idea. Really bad
idea. Sorry I bugged ya." Again, she turns to go.

"Buffy, wait!"

Buffy turns around.

"What's the deal, Buffy? Did your friend put you up to it? Go flirt
with the bartender? Get her number, some crap like that? This some
kind of initiation or something?"

"Huh? No…" Buffy sighs, knowing she's busted, and she's going to be
humiliated here. "Yeah, sorta. I mean, she put me up to it… but
really, you're kinda cute. I'm just not…" She blushes deeper. "… I'm
not into …"

"Women?" Faith chuckles softly. "What makes you think I am?"

"I knew it!" Buffy cries out. "God, I'm sorry. Just, the way you're
dressed… I thought… she thought… oh crap, I'm sorry…"

"Hey…" Faith leans over. " Don't sweat it. I am. I mean, I'm a
lesbian… but don't go around assuming cuz someone dresses like me…
they are too… you know?"

"Damn, I pissed you off. I'm sorry. Really," Buffy's
contrite. "shit. I really wanted… she's so gonna razz me now. I
mean, she thinks like I'm a virgin… with girls that is… and of
course…"

"You had to prove you're not, right?" Faith nods. "I get it."

"Look, sorry again, ok?" Buffy , for the third time, starts to leave.

"Whoa up, Buffy" Faith catches her wrist." Tell me something, and
don't lie, cuz I'll know it, ok?"

"Ok," Buffy gulps a little.

"Are you?" Faith looks at her. "I mean, have you ever…"

"Been with a girl… woman?" Buffy blushes, and almost whispers. "No.
I mean, not with , with. I mean, I've done some kissing on sleep
overs and junk… but nothing really…"

"Didn't think so," Faith nods. "So, this is some kind of test?"

"Yeah…"

"She won't let you in the club until you like … come back with some
proof, right?"

"Yeah…"

"Let me give you a tip, Buffy. Next time, really flirt, ok? I mean,
you're kinda cute, and a little flirting probably would've worked…
well, not with me. I've got someone… but someone else…"

"I'm not a kid!" Buffy feels her ears burning. " I know stuff."

Yeah, maybe not. But you gotta lot of growing up to do. But hey, not
your mommy…

"Look gonna do you a favor…" Faith grabs a marker from under the
counter. " Gimme your hand."

"What?" Buffy looks a little scared.

"Oh, c'mon, Buffy. I'm not gonna like bite you… and it's not
catching," Faith holds back a chuckle.

"Ok…" Buffy holds out her hand.

Faith takes her hand firmly in hers, and writes something on it.

"What's this?" Buffy looks at the number on her hand.

"My phone number. It'll like impress them like hell, ya know?"

Buffy looks up and smiles. "Gee, thanks!"

"Yeah, well, don't make me regret it. Show it to her, but don't let
her have it. Not interested in high school girls, got it?"

"I'm not in…"

"Don't lie, Buffy. Ok? You're not even close to 21," Faith
smirks. "Now, go back to your gal pal, and both of your get going.
Don't know how you got the beers, but I'm so not wanting trouble
with the cops. You both best get outta here. Got it? Don't want to
have to kick ya out."

Buffy, a little disconcerted, turns to go. She stops and turns back.

"Thanks, really." She smiles. She turns and walks away.

Faith, watching her go, shakes her head and smiles.

Kids.



9



Dawn picks up her cell phone, and speed dials the number again.

She waits and waits as the phone rings.

"Hello, you've reached the cell phone of Henry Summers. I'm sorry I
can't take your call right now, but if you'll leave your name,
number, and a brief number, I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

Dawn sighs, and waits for the beep.

"Daddy, Hi. It's Dawn again. I really, really need to talk to you.
Please call me on my cell phone when you get this message. It's
important."

Dawn ends the call, and stares at the time on her phone.

11:40! Where is he? Why isn't he answering? God, I really need to
talk to him. C'mon, Daddy, call back!

Dawn tries to study the book open in front of her, but she can't
concentrate.

The fight tonight keeps coming back to her. Tonight's fight, and the
fight from last night, and this morning… it's all starting again.

Buffy's starting her crap again, ruining like, everything. She's
gonna get everything ruined here, just like she did in L.A. Then,
we're gonna have to move again. I don't WANT to move again. God,
sometimes I wish she were like… gone. Why does she have to do this?

And mom? So not helping. She should know Buffy's doing what she's
doing to get to her. And it's so working. I love mom, really. But
sometimes, she's so clueless.

I can't take this fighting, fighting crap, either. I love both of
them, but they're driving me insane! All it seems to be lately is
another night at the fights.

She picks up her phone, and dials Hank's number again. She waits as
the phone rings, and rings.



"Hello, you've reached the cell phone of Henry Summers. I'm sorry I
can't…"

Dawn pushes the end button, not wanting to listen to the voice mail
again. She's tired of leaving messages. She wants her dad home.

Now.

Where are you, daddy? I really need you now!



To be continued.