Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and make no money for any of this.

Authors note: This story will be pretty much AU and will lead where ever my crazy mind takes it. This is my first story I've ever decided to put down.

Oct 30th

Sunnydale CA

Buffy and Dawn arrived home a little while after walking Tara back to her hotel to rest up. Both sisters were deep in thought quietly walking through the door. Luckily neither of them had to worry about getting in trouble for missing school, mainly for the amount of disappearances each month with the student body. "Dawn, do you want me to make you something to eat? You did end up missing lunch." Dawn looked over at her sister and came to a decision to at least ease up on all the tormenting. "We're gonna be relying on each other for a while and even with the awesome super upgrades I'll still need her" she thought silently to herself. "Yeah if you don't mind, I could go for something small." Dawn said while smiling a little.

Buffy nodded her head and started fixing two sandwiches all the while thinking about how tough it must be for her Dawn right now. She silently vowed to protect Dawn from everything possible and to make her life just that much easier. Smiling Buffy took the sandwiches to the table and sat down with Dawn. "How you doing with everything Dawnie?" Buffy asked. Dawn thought about the question "I guess I'm alright, not to mention I'm pretty stoked about the super upgrades!" she said smiling. Buffy nodded while laughing "oh yeah, I can't wait." Suddenly sobering "we have to remember to try and keep our secret as long as we can. Even though they won't have anything that can even scratch us they'll still try to kidnap either you or me." Dawn nodded agreeing completely "Our Kryptonian DNA will merge when the spell is complete so we should have our powers right after. Neither one trying to think about when they would be leaving their mother.

Joyce walked in the front door pleasantly surprised by the laughing coming from the dining room. So used to yelling and arguing between her two daughters she was just for a moment speechless. But her shock came and went and replaced with a large smile walking into the kitchen. "Hey Mom" both said at the same time. She greeted them both with a kiss on the forehead. "Well this is a surprise." Joyce said. They both just rolled their eyes, smiling at her as she put some groceries away.

They continued chatting about their day and each asking their mother how her day was. Now she hasn't raised two daughters without noticing the signs of something going on, and the way it looked it involved both her daughters. Joyce quietly observed them in a very subtle way, answering their questions about how her day went. If she had anybody new she met at the gallery and even asked how the gallery was doing and if she had any new pieces to show. Now it had been a very long time since her daughters asked her about these things and never all in the same night. She was now convinced something was going on and she would get to the bottom of it.

Dawn and Buffy were sitting on the couch watching TV while their mother changed out of her work clothes. Dawn turned to Buffy "did you let Xander and Willow know where you'd be today so they'd know not to freak out?" Buffy nodded "yeah I stopped by the school before I came and got you." "Cool" Dawn replied. At that moment Joyce came downstairs seeing both her daughters sitting quietly on the couch which only further proved her theory that something was going on.

Joyce walked into the living room and stood in front of the TV and stared at both of them. "Ok, so either of you want to tell me what's going on?" Hands on her hips waiting for a reply while both Dawn and Buffy looked at each other. "W-What makes you think anything is g-going on?" asked Dawn with a hint of fear in her voice. Buffy nodded "there's nothing going on Mom" she said. Joyce scowled "I'm not stupid girls, I can read the signs. I might be blind to other things going on but not to what's going on right now."

Both girls looked at her and stayed silent, but the longer this silent staring went on the more the sisters grew nervous. After a few minutes Dawn looked at Buffy with a single tear cascading down her cheek. Seeing this Buffy almost broke down herself, feeling the same pain Dawn's feeling. The pain of leaving their mother behind. Joyce watched the interaction and became very concerned at this point. She could practically feel both her daughters pain and went over to them where they set on the couch. She gripped both their hands and forced them to look at her.

She didn't have to say anything, they just pulled her forward and they both sobbed, each laying a head on a shoulder. They sat like that for at least ten minutes before they could calm down. Finally when it was over Dawn looked to Buffy knowing what she was thinking nodded telling her silently to call Giles and have him come over. After that she would run and grab Tara that way they could all sit down and talk about was is going to happen. Joyce went to ask why Buffy what she was doing but Dawn cut her off "Mom, it's all gonna be explained soon but we need help with explaining a big part. Then she's going to pick up Tara, I just met her today." Joyce went to ask another question but Dawn cut her off again "please trust us, these people can help explain." Joyce nodded trusting her daughters for now, then looked over to where Buffy was getting off the phone and getting ready to head to get Tara. Buffy looked over too "I'll be right back Mom" and walked out the door.

While Joyce was trying to busy herself with anything that came to her, trying and failing to push back all her thoughts on what could be so bad to involve both her daughters and need them to bring in extra help just to talk to her. Buffy was is a similar state working herself up for the upcoming conversation.

Buffy was just about in sight of Tara's hotel when she felt the familiar tingle indicating a vampire nearby. She slipped a stake from her leather jacket and waited for it to come into sight. She didn't have to wait long but her tension was replaced by another type and not any of the good kind. Her conversation with her sister just a little while ago sprung to mind but she pushed that in the back of her mind. She didn't have time to deal with this right now.

Sighing she put on a small smile and waited. She thought of an idea almost as soon as he reached her and prepared to say hello. She cut him off "Angel, I'm really glad I found you" He smiled but it quickly dimmed when she finished. "I need a favor. I need you to come by my house in about an hour. Just knock and I'll answer. But I need to do something right now. I'll see you there in an hour." Practically running off after she finished. He blinked and turned back with a frown on his face, to continue his patrol till it was time to stop by.

Dawn hated seeing her mother so agitated and worked up. She knew she would be working herself up but if she kept this up a heart attack would soon be happening. "Mom!" Joyce whirled around to face her youngest, a surprised expression on her face. "If you keep this up you're gonna give yourself a heart attack" Dawn said with worry and concern showing in her eyes. Joyce tried to relax herself knowing she was only worrying Dawn. Joyce nodded knowing she was right but feeling like this talk was going to change her life.

Buffy knocked on Tara's hotel door shifting foot to foot trying to appear calm but not exactly succeeding. Opening the door Tara took in the nervous energy coming from the slayer and already having an idea about what it was about. After the sisters walked her back to her hotel room gave her some time to think. Having talked to both Buffy and Dawn earlier, from the way they talked about their mother. It was clear she is a very important part of their lives. Losing her even though they knew there was nothing they could do about it would cause a hole in them that would never heal, and Joyce would probably do no better. Losing both daughters in one night would be if they died all of a sudden but with no bodies to bury to start healing.

This thought is what has spurred her into trying to find a way to add Joyce to the sisters plan when their sent through the portal. She knew the pain of losing her mother to soon. When she was sixteen her mother was beginning to get sick but nothing to serious. She had also been teaching her how to wield her magic without abusing it. In secret of course due to her abusive father and brother, preaching to her that her magic comes from the demon inside. Her mother always telling her the truth even if she was beat harder for it. The day Tara turned sixteen her mother surprised her with papers upon walking in the house from school.

Tara's father and brother had went hunting that day so it was just her and her mother in the house alone. She showed Tara the papers with tears in her eyes of both happiness and sadness. Tara looked the papers over skimming over the first bit then with eyes opening wide she started slower and read carefully. After finishing she looked up, tears flowing freely down her cheeks as well. "Your free baby girl" her mother said. "I've been working on this for the past couple months, all to be ready for this day." She smiled and touched her daughter's cheek. While looking into Tara's eyes she made sure she understood her words and take them to heart. "I love you with all my heart but I fear I won't be with you much longer sweetie. I don't know how much time I have left but I can not and will not leave you here by yourself. You have a personality that needs to keep shining and I'm afraid with you by yourself it would become dulled and muted." She paused letting Tara digest her words.

"You're the most important person in the world to me sweetie and I need to know you're alright. I have your things packed and money saved up for you. There's also an apartment rented in your name." She smiled at the surprised expression on her daughters face. Then sobering quickly "Tara, I'm sorry but emancipation was the only way." Tara opened her mouth to argue but her mother quickly cut her off "please trust me on this sweetie." Tara looked into her eyes witnessing pain and sadness shining through but also the love she has for her.

With tears falling Tara nods her head slowly "ok mother, I've always trusted you and this will be no different". Her mother smiles and grabs her in a loving hug, each know it might be a while till they see each other again. Slowly they let go when they hear a honk out front. Before Tara can question it her mother lets her know it's the cab to take her to the airport. Hurrying around they both gathered up the luggage that was packed today in preparation for the cabs arrival. Saying one tearful goodbye with one last hug Tara hops into the cab with tickets, money and directions to her new apartment. Speeding off Tara waves till she can't see her mother anymore, turning around in the seat facing forward she silently prays to the Goddess for strength.

Snapping out of the painful memory Tara refocused and realized the Slayer had asked her a question and was now staring at her with concern. Tara waved off the concern and wiped the tear out of her eye. She smile to show she was alright "sorry about that, what did you need?" Buffy hesitated but from Tara's look she went ahead "I think I need to tell Mom what's happening. We tried to hide it from her but she caught on pretty quick and it's pretty much killing Dawn and I". Tara smiled trying to ease Buffy. "It's alright Buffy, let me grab some things and we'll walk back to your house". Tara turned around after motioning for Buffy to come in and grab the things she needed.

A couple minutes later they were on their way with a large duffle bag and Tara's purse. Each lost in thought, one on the upcoming conversation and the other one thinking of what she needed to do before tomorrow night.

When the two blondes arrived at Buffy's house she noticed and older vehicle just pulling into her driveway. Knowing the sight of her watchers car she gave Tara a nod confirming to her who it was. They watched him get and Buffy went to greet him.

"Hi Giles" Buffy said and then turned her head to Tara. "Giles, this is Tara. She someone who's here to help and what she's gonna be helping with will be explained soon but first we have a talk with my mother to get through and hope she doesn't kill any of us." Buffy rushed out in a babble.

Giles eyes widening after he understood what she said. Taking off his glasses to wipe them while Tara stands by chuckling. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you dear" shaking Tara's hand. He turns back to Buffy giving her a glare only softening his gaze when he see his Slayers eyes pointed to the ground.

"It quite all right Buffy, and I'm sure she will only maim some of us" He adds with a chuckle. Buffy smiles hearing that and then turns to head inside. The other two following behind her and preparing for the upcoming conversation.

"Mom their here" Dawn says softly trying not to startle her mother. Seeing that she was deep in thought she didn't want to be the one responsible for inducing a heart attack by scaring her to death. Joyce looks over to her youngest with a small smile and gets up to greet these people Buffy had brought.

The three walked in the front door and was met by Joyce with Dawn standing just off to the side. Joyce greeted both guests with a hand shake while keeping her eye on Mr. Giles. She doesn't know why her daughter is so close to the librarian but she can't think of any good reason. She remembers all the good things her daughter has said about the man but her motherly instinct comes into play seeing the kind of relationship the two have.

Buffy turns to her mother and places her hand on her forearm. "We should take this into the kitchen" gesturing to the table in the other room. Joyce nods and they all head to the kitchen to set around the table.

Joyce getting more and more anxious as the silence continues turns to look at Buffy. "Ok Buffy were all, please tell me what is going on." She nods wondering exactly where she was going to start.

"Ok first I'm not crazy, this has to do with what happened at Hemery High and Dad having me institutionalized". She held up her hand to stop her mother from interrupting. "There's a traditional speech that goes to the introduction of who I am and that's where Giles comes in". She looked over to Giles giving him a small nod.

"Yes well thank you Buffy" he said while cleaning his glasses looking anywhere but at the woman across from him. He cleared his throat "the world is older than you know. Contrary to popular belief, it did not begin as a paradise. For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their…Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for man. All that remains of the old ones are certain vestiges, certain magics, certain creatures"

Everybody was quite waiting for him to go on, even Dawn who was enthralled in the tale. "The books tell us that the last demon to leave this reality fed off a human, mixed their blood. He was a human form possessed or infected by the demons soul. He bit another and another, and so they walk the Earth. Feeding, killing some, mixing their blood with others to make more of their kind. Waiting for the animals to die out and the old ones to return".

Joyce looked to Giles then to Buffy and then back "where does my daughter come in to this?" Giles looked down wishing he didn't have to tell her this. He took a deep breath in "as long as there have been vampires there has been the Slayer, the Chosen One. Into each generation a Slayer is born, one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons and the forces of darkness. To stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers. She is the Slayer".

After that it was dead silent around the kitchen table. Everybody waiting for how Joyce was going to react. Joyce just sat there going over that speech in her head. If this was true then her baby was out battling these monsters night after night and she was had been blind to it all. She started shaking her head no to deny it all "no, vampires don't exist. Their just a myth, none of this is true!"

She had been yelling by the end. But in the back of her mind she wasn't so sure, it would go towards explaining a lot. But she wouldn't let herself see the truth. Just as she was about to go into why none of this could be true and yell about a teacher enabling his student to accept such a fantasy there was a knock at the door.

Buffy was about to interrupt her mothers rant when the knock came. She got up praying it was who she thought it was and went to the door. Everybody at the table was quiet listening to hushed tones, trying to make out the words but getting nothing. Anticipation building in everybody that was at the table but different reasons for everybody.

Buffy walked into sight first but was quickly followed by a tall figure in dark clothing. When they reached the kitchen table she introduced Angel to everybody there. Dawn even gave a tiny wave which got a small smile out of the dark vampire. Angel shook Joyce's hand when he greeted her. For her part was trying to study the man her daughter let in, only briefly noticing his cold hand.

Dawn took a moment to look over Angel while he was introduced to everyone else. She had read about him in Buffy's diary with her comments "he's so dreamy" or "his eyes are beautiful". Trying to see what made him so attractive. She guessed she could see why he would be considered handsome but that was purely in innocent fashion. She thought the girl Tara was more attractive then tall dark vampire that was standing in her kitchen, with the way her curves fit her just right and long blonde hair she could run her fingers through.

She stopped in her imaginary tracks right there, her eyes going wide when she realized who and what she was thinking about. Her face went red but luckily nobody was paying attention to her. "Maybe I'm more like Buffy then I thought" She thought to herself. She shrugged and put the thought out of her mind, she'll find out in a couple years but until then no need worrying about it. Deciding to pay attention now that everybody was done being introduced.

Buffy looked at her mother and took her hand "Mom, I know you don't believe me or Giles but this is important. Now Angel is somebody I met while out on patrol" she ignored her mothers hardened glare and continued "he's helped me fight the good fight and has become one of the people I count on. But he's not like other people, he won't you or anyone in this room. Remember he's a good guy but he's also a vampire and the only one we know of with a soul".

Joyce was staring at Buffy like she was crazy until her daughter pointed a finger towards where Angel was standing. Taking hers eyes off her daughter she looked at her daughters friend. Yellow eyes met hers along with ridges on his forehead. Her eyes went wide and her hand tightened around Buffy's. Three gasps could be heard from Joyce, Dawn and Tara.

Angel spoke softly while looking around at the three "I won't hurt you, I make it a point to help people whenever I get the chance". Dawn raised her hand, both Buffy and Angel smiling at that. "Do you drink human blood?"

Angel shook his head "no, I haven't in a very long time".

Joyce just stared, she couldn't help it. Here in her kitchen was a real vampire. One that was answering a question her youngest asked but for the life of her had no idea what was asked. If this is true then that means everything they were telling her was to. Her daughter went out every night to patrol like some vampire cop. She had to know everything. Everything that went with this slayer thing that her daughter had to do.

Buffy was silently watching her mother and the emotions that have been playing across her face. When she saw the very determined look that hadn't changed like all the others she knew it could be either very bad or very good. Only time would tell.

It was silent for what seemed forever, every gaze seemed trained on Joyce waiting for whatever reaction to happen.

Joyce looked around at everybody stopping her wondering when she locked eyes with her youngest. She realized for the first time her youngest wasn't just her baby anymore, she was growing up into a young woman. She wondered when that happened, when she missed her daughter grow into the woman that was sitting at this table listening to the horrors that haunt the night.

She looked to her oldest and felt shame for an instant, knowing she missed her oldest growing up as well. Into somebody that apparently saves people every night and on occasion saves the world. "Please Buffy, tell me everything. I need to know" she said with a pleading look.

Buffy nodded and proceeded to tell her mother all about her slaying, about why she goes out every night. She told her everything she knew and when it came to the subject of her watcher everybody turned to look at Giles.

When he began to explain the existence and nature of a watcher everybody listened with rapt attention.

By the time he stopped Joyce was furious at this faceless organization. But she kept her fury in check, she'll take her anger out on her walls of her bedroom by screaming till she couldn't speak, only then will she be able to take care of this fire in her chest.

Tara listened until the watcher was done speaking, letting Joyce and Dawn absorb everything they were told. When she felt it was her turn to speak about why she was here and her part in all this when Buffy gave her a subtle gesture not to saying anything yet. She nodded and waited for what was about to happen.

Buffy turned to Angel and asked him to follow her. She walked him to the door the door "thank you for doing this for me Angel. You don't know what this means to me". He smiled down at her "anything for you Buffy". He bent down to kiss her but she put her hand on his chest to stop him. Her conversation with Dawn came rushing to the front of her mind. She had to be true to her feelings.

She was tired of trying to be something she wasn't. Her life was about to change drastically and she wanted to stop hiding. No longer afraid of what other people thought of her, not wanting to care if people will judge her. She decided to make a choice right now, it was either keep hiding or own up to who she was.

"Angel, I can't do this anymore" Buffy said softly. He looked puzzled wondering why she stopped him. "I'm sorry, I really am but I've been going through some changes and I know I'm gonna go through more. The thing is I still care for you but not in that way anymore". She lowered her head a tear ran down her cheek, not wanting to look in his eyes.

She felt a finger under her chin, looking up she found him with a small sad smile on his face. "It's ok, it hurts but we can't change the way we feel. It would hurt a lot more trying to pretend to force yourself to feel something you don't".

She smiled at his words feeling better then she had in a long time. She gave him one last lingering kiss on the cheek and thanked him. He nodded and smiled a little bigger, stepping around her and walked out the door continuing his patrol with a heavy heart.

Buffy walked back into the dining room to three concerned faces looking back at her. She waved off their concern "The less he knows about this next part the safer he'll be and it's better for us". She looked to Dawn for a second "You ready to do this?"

Dawn gave a slow nod and tried to smile hoping her mother took this next part as well as she did her sister's slaying. The two adults were looking to her with puzzled expressions but she was only looking to Tara to start the conversation about her true origins.

Tara looked around and started telling the same story to the two adults that she told Dawn yesterday. Everything that included the Key and what it is to what it does. Like yesterday there was a lot of denial, and tears but through it all Joyce held one of Buffy's hands and one of Dawns. She only let go when she felt she needed to gather her youngest in her arms to reassure herself that she's real and not going anywhere.

As for Giles, he was astounded by what he learned here tonight. He for once couldn't think of anything to say. The only thing he could come up with were questions and more questions to which he was surely not going to get any answers just for the simple fact that they didn't have them to give.

Joyce was so overloaded with everything "and I thought one of them was pregnant". She gave a mental snort "that would have been so much easier".