"Mommy, Mommy!" Dawn yelled while jumping up and down but suddenly stopped because she noticed Parker, "Who are you?"
"Shhh, Dawn! Inside voice. This is my friend Parker," Buffy gestured towards Parker, "He is from Los Angeles. He slept over because his car broke down… He's actually leaving now."
"Hi, Dawn. Nice to meet you," Parker said while getting up and rushing toward the window. Carefully opening it, he said, "But I got to go now. I will call you later, Buffy." Gracefully, falling out the window, Parker booked it down the street, leaving Buffy to answer Dawns inquisition.
"So mommy, who's Parker and why was he sleeping in your bed?"
"Uh, he's an old friend. We use to go to school together when I lived in LA. He came over after you were sleeping and we stayed up late to talk and catch-up."
"Oh…" satisfied with her answers Dawn changed the subject, "Make me funny face pancakes?
"Sure, but you have to promise me something okay… Don't tell grandma that Parker was here. She was never one of his biggest fans. Auntie Darlene knows, but Grandma doesn't…"
"Ok, fine mom. Won't tell. Got it… so pancakes?"
"Alright munchkin, pancakes it is. Want a piggy back ride down the stairs?"
"Yes! Piggy back, piggy back!" Dawn giggled excitedly.
About a half hour later, Joyce came down stairs and just took in the scene unfolding in front of her. Buffy and Dawn were in the middle of a water fight, one of which Buffy was loosing.
"Dawn! I am totally going to get you back for this," Buffy said while sneakily taking the hose away from Dawn.
"Mom, that's so not fair," Dawn pouted, "You're so much stronger then me."
"Too bad, that's what you get for trying to cover me in cold water…"
"Grandma!" Dawn exclaimed while seeing her grandmother standing in the doorway. She attempted to her give her a hug, "No way Dawn, your wet. Why don't you go upstairs and get a towel. Bring one down for Buffy too."
"Grr," huffed Dawn, "fine."
"Dawn, no grr-ing at your grandmother," Buffy admonished, while Dawn was already halfway up the stairs.
"I see you already have this parenting thing down," Joyce said while rummaging in the cabinets for a mug, "Although, I have to admit, the little scene I just saw unfold made me question if you were both six year olds."
"Good one. You made a funny, mom," Buffy laughed, "Your sort of getting the hang of this whole humor thing."
"So I was wondering, if I should even broach the topic of the surprise visitor we had yesterday…"
"Which visitor?" Buffy said without thinking.
"Your father. Did we have any other visitors?"
"Nope, only dad," Buffy quickly changing the subject, "Yesterday would have been a really good day to buy the lottery, maybe we could have won."
"You know honey, I was thinking the exact same thing."
"See, so should have bought a ticket."
"Next time. So how were you feeling?"
"Other then feeling like I was in an episode of Twilight zone and the du-da-du-da-du-da song was playing in the background, I was okay."
"It's just... I know the situations hard, You just always want to remember your father adores you and Dawn- no more then I do by the way. I was just wondering if this stirred up all those pesky divorce memories…"
"Thanks and Mom, don't worry. I'm over the divorce. I officially release you from all guilt."
"That's not what I was getting at. You feel like putting that in writing?"
"Two funnies, in one day. That must have been a record, and yes you are all free of the teenage guiltage I made you feel."
"Well, thanks honey."
"Anytime."
"So, are you seeing your father today?"
"Maybe, if he calls. You know it depends on how dependable he feels like being."
"Oh, I also wanted to let you know Willow called, she said she would be stopping by after her final. She needs to drop off your text book."
"Wait, she's coming here today?"
"Buffy, she's your best friend. Is this a problem?"
"One word: Dawn."
"Oh. Right, you told me yesterday they had no idea..."
"Well, they never asked, and having the whole, "I was once a slut who got knocked up at fourteen," isn't really a fun convo."
"Buffy, it's been five years. I'm shocked you didn't tell them…"
"Angel knew."
"You were sleeping with Angel, of course he knew."
"Mom!" Buffy exclaimed in shock.
"What? Come on, Buffy, you should be over this by now. I'm pretty sure you were well aware of how babies were made."
"Funny."
"You know if the gallery fails, I could always go into stand-up…"
"No, you should really stick to art."
"Oh speaking of art, did you notice the new Nigerian mask above the cupboards?"
Buffy glances over to where her mom is gesturing and sees the mask, "It's angry at the room, Mom. It wants the room to suffer. Plus it does nothing for the décor."
"You have no appreciation of primitive art."
"I have plenty of appreciation. But I got to go…"
"Where are you going?"
"Change. Duh. I'm still dripping, cause Dawn forgot those pesky towels."
"Oh right, go dry off."
"MOM!" Dawn screamed from upstairs, "See gotta go. Duty calls."
After pacifying Dawn who was having a meltdown because of her indecisiveness in outfit choosing, and drying herself off, Buffy decided that she needed to talk to Parker. She was feeling completely muddled. On one hand, she was pissed that he had the gall to just show up after six years. That fact really pissed her off. But on the other hand, just being around Parker, made her feel complete. Like a piece of her, she didn't know was missing, fell into place. It was a rather strange feeling, because as try as she might, on some basic primal level she still was in love with Parker. She thought she was over him… for one thing there was Angel. Angel was her savior, and made her feel loved again. But truth be told, she wasn't exactly devastated by their break up. The signs were all there, she just didn't see what was in front of her face.
"Ugh, I really need to stop thinking," Buffy said aloud to her empty room.
Suddenly, her cell phone buzzed. She went over to her nightstand and opened up her phone, 1 New Message from UNKNOWN.
Clicking on her text message icon, she opened up her message:
Hey Buffy, it's Parker. I took your phone number from out of her phone while you were changing. Sorry for being a stalker… haha. Anyway, want to get together tonight? Just you and me. At the Bronze, say 7pm?
Typing her quick reply, which consisted of the following:
Hey, you've always been quite a stalker… Remember you didn't leave me alone in High school? But sure, Bronze it is. Be there at 7.
"Ugh, what am I getting myself into?" Buffy said to the empty room, again.
"Note to self: Remind me to stop talking to myself…"
Buffy walked down the stairwell, and went into her kitchen where she saw Joyce and Willow talking over hot chocolate.
"Hey Buff," Willow said, "I got your book. I was just going to leave it in the mailbox but Joyce saw me and told me I had to stay for some hot chocolate. She even had the mini marshmallows, so how could I resist." The power of mini-marshmallows…
"I totally understand the draw to the mini marshmallows, Will."
"So Willow," Joyce said getting up and making her way out of the room, "It's good to see you and catch-up."
"You too, Mrs. Summers."
"Honey, by now it's Joyce."
"Okay Joyce," Willow said, "Well that feels weird."
"Mom, keep Dawn entertained up there for me," Buffy asked her mother with a pleading look in her eyes…
"Sure thing."
"Oh, Sorry," Willow stuttered, "I didn't know you had company."
"Will, Dawn's not exactly company. She's my daughter."
"She's your who-what-when-how?"
"My daughter," Buffy responded feeling guilty.
"I think I'd remember you pregnant," Willow began, "But you were always super skinny…"
"I was fourteen, his name was Parker. We met when I started high school. I feel into the wrong crowd, got pregnant, and had a daughter. Her name is Dawn, she's six years old. She's been living in Chicago with my Aunt Darlene. I raised her until she was a year old, and then my mom relocated to Sunnydale, and I realized I couldn't continue going to school while raising a toddler. Darlene couldn't have kids, so Dawn was like a daughter to her anyway. It was the perfect solution, Dawn could have a semblance of a normal upbringing, and I could finish high school. Now, Aunt Darlene got a job in New York that involves traveling, so Dawns going to be living here full time."
"Whoa this is a lot to process, Buff," Willow said totally shocked.
"I know, I'm sorry. I should have told you."
"Darn tootin' you should have, "Willow said while attempting to leave.
"Will, wait. I'm really sorry," Buffy said trying to stop her.
"Buff, I'm storming off. It doesn't really work if you come with me."
AN: Can anyone guess the episodes I found the quotes from?
Disclaimer: Still don't own them, Joss is boss.
