After an eventless sweep through the “bad part of town” , Buffy headed home. Before going in to her house she patroled carefully around the outside of the house. She was reeaching for the knob on the back door when a shadow grabbed her from behind.

“Angel!” she spun around and grabbed him about the shoulders, throwing him into the side of the house. The impact shook the house. Angel recovered quickly and defended the punch she threw easily.

“C’mon, Buffy, aren’t you glad to see me?” He laughed.

In response, she kicked out but missed and he grabbed her ankle, knocking her off balance. She fell. Using the few seconds she had before he made another move she pulled a stake from one of sleeves. He was going to rush her but noticing the stake he backed off and was about to make another move when...

“Buffy! What is going on?” It was Joyce Summers. She tied her bathrobe tighter when she saw Angel. “I thought I told you to leave my daughter alone.” When Angel turned around Joyce was taken aback. “You, you’re...” she was confused and suddenly very scared.

“A vampire. Maybe Buffy here wants to tell you all about it.” He snickered and disappeard before Buffy could do anything.

“Buffy! What’s he talking about? Vampire? And what are you doing with that?” She indicated towards the stake.

“Mom get in the house. Now! “ Buffy pushed her mother through the door and closed the door behind them.

Once inside her mother started the inquisition. “I want answers young lady.” She demanded.

“Mom, I’m not sure you’re ready to hear it.”

“Why don’t you let me decide if I’m ready or not.” Her mother was calmer now but no less insistent.

“Okay. I’ll tell you. All of it. I just have to make a phone call first.”

“Who do you need to call? I don’t think you’re taking this very seriously, Buffy.”

“Someone to help. You’re not going to believe me so I need a credible witness.

After Buffy’s phone call, Giles had frantically selected a few of his books and driven over to her house. This wasn’t going to be easy and it could have drastic consequences. But he trusted Buffy’s judgement. If she said she had to tell her mother, well then she had to tell her mother.

He kocked quietly and waited for Buffy to open the door. When she did he followed her to were her mother was seated in the living room.

“Mr Giles? What do you have to do with all this?”

“Quite a lot, I’m afraid.”

“Would someone please just tell me?” She was frustrated, confused and tired. She wanted answers.

“Mom, do you remember when all the trouble started? Back in LA?”

“How could I forget. It got you thrown out.”

“ Mom, it was vampires.”

“Buffy please. I am not going to sit here and listen to you lie like this. How stupid do you think I am.?”

“It’s not a lie. A man named Merrick came to me and said that I was the chosen one. With the strength and skill to hunt the vampires. I didn’t believe it myself at first. Since then I have killed hundreds. I’m the Slayer.”

“You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”

“Ms. Summers, she’s telling the truth.” Giles defended.

“What do you have to do with all this?”

“I’m her Watcher. I possess the knowledge to assist the slayer in doing her duties. You see for every generation there is a slayer who attempts to stop the vampires.”

“You’re insane. Why are you covering for her like this? “

“I didn’t think you’d believe it at first but here--” he pulls out one of his books and he shows her a paticular passage.

She reads aloud, “ Since the beginnig of time there have been vampires and for centuries there has been a girl, the slayer with the power to destroy them.”

“You’re daughter is that girl. The mark! The mark of the chosen one. Do you remember a birthmark on her shoulder?”

“We had it removed, why?”

“Each slayer is born bearing that mark.”

“I don’t know what’s going on here but I am calling the school and I’m going to speak to them about you Mr. Giles.” She got up and reached for the phone.

“No you don’t .” Buffy followed her and in one swift motion she pulled the phone from the wall.

“Buffy! What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m not letting you go anywhere until you listen. We are telling you the truth!”

“I’m sorry Buffy but I don’t think so.”

“What Angel said was true. He is a vampire. You saw his face! You know what he is!”

Joyce remembered. He had looked like a monster. The eyes. The fangs.

“Oh my God...” Joyce slumped down onto the chair.

“But you...Angel...I thought you...”

“We did. I told you he wasn’t always like this. When we met he was cursed. He had a soul. He wasn’t like other vampires.”

“This is all so...”

“I know this is difficult and strange for you Ms. Summers. But I have to say, you’re daughter is a remarkable girl. The way she has juggled her double life... it has been, to say the least, trying. But she is probably one of the best slayers in history.”

“She can put that on a resume.” Her mother grumble.

“Mom? I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you because I thought you wouldn’t understand--”

“You’re damn right I don’t understand. You listen to me Buffy, this ends now. No more slaying or whatever. It’s over. They will just have to replace you.”

“It doesn’t work like that. I am the slayer until I die. There is no replacement. Well except Kendra, but that’s only ‘cuz I died that time...” She sees the stunned look on her mom’s face and decides this isn’t going to be the winning argument. “The point is, I can’t quit. It’s my sacred duty”

“So I’m just supposed to deal with it?”

“You wanted to know!”

“Yeah well now I’m not so sure. I can’t believe that all this was going on...and I never knew it.” she smiled, a little smile, but a smile nonetheless.

“Do you understand, now?”

“Sort of. I still can’t believe it. It will take some getting used to.”

“We will help you Ms. Summers.”

“Joyce. Call me Joyce.”

“Joyce, well then, Buffy? I’ll be leaving now.”

“I’ll walk you out.” In the hall by the front door she whispered a “Thank you.”

“Anytime, Buffy.”

She opened the door and watched him begin he descent down the stairs. She was closing the door when she saw Angel grab Giles. “Giles!” She ran down th steps and flew at his assailant.”You bastard!”

Her scream had attracted the attention of her mother.”Buffy? Oh my God!” She started down the steps toward the spot where her daughter was fighting the demon. Her boyfriend. Joyce was still so confused.

“Mom! Stay in the house! He can’t come in unless he’s invited.” She turned to Angel who she was still fighting. “Didn’t we do this once already?” She said as she flipped him upside down.

“I was just trying to teach your old man a new trick--how to die gracefully. Of course, you ruined that.” He punched her. The impact sent her staggering.

Her mother was watching it all from the doorway. She saw a young woman come out of the shadows towards an unconscious Giles. Joyce knew that Buffy hadn’t seen her and when she saw the girls face, she yelled “Buffy! Giles!” That girl was definately a vampire.

Buffy recognized Druscilla and ran to protect her watcher. Angel freed by her distraction walked closer to the house.And Joyce. “So she told you? About vampires and her being the slayer and all?”

Joyce, safe inside the doorway nodded shakily.

“ You gotta wonder about her judgement. Sleeping with a vampire?” He snarled.

Meanwhile Buffy was trying to get Druscilla away from Giles. Druscilla growled, “Miss Edith says you’re a ba girl. You tried to hurt my Angel.” she whined

“You’re out of your league Druscilla get the hell out of here.” Buffy challenged.

Suddenly they were distracted by a scream from the porch. It was Angel. Joyce had obviously had enough of his mouth and thrown a large glass vase at Angel’s head.

“That really sucks, lady.” He said rubbing his head. Dru had run to his side and the two vamps stalked off into the night. Buffy helped Giles up and into his car. “Just a bump,” he said, “nothing to be concerned about.” Buffy debated going after the vamps but figured she should stay and help her mom.

“Good shot” She said coming on to the porch, looking at her mother.

“Where do you think you got it from?”

Joyce put an arm around her daughter and they went into the house and closed the door. Joyce felt like she had finally come out of the dark where her daughter was concerned. She realized, suddenly, that she wanted to get to know this girl better. Maybe this was a sign of a brighter future for mother and daughter. She hoped so.

SEND FEEDBACK!! Flames and other crticism accepted.