AN: I haven't put a general disclaimer recently, so here it is: Don't own it, never will. Oh, and sorry for the confusion in the last chapter, I accidently replaced chapter 8 with chapter 7… Now everything is in its respective place. Also a huge thanks to my reviewers! You guys rock! Oh, and be forewarned: Shits about to get real. Real version now :)

While Willow and Buffy were still in the progress of picking out what Buffy should wear to the Bronze that night, when a very solemn Joyce entered her room, and gave some grave news, "Hi girls," Joyce began," Buffy, I just got off the phone with the hospital."

Buffy couldn't help but feel as if her heart dropped to her knees, "Mom, that's never a good way to start off a sentence."

"Buffy, your father's in the hospital. He had a massive heart attack. That's all they told me, but they need me to go over there, and fill out some forms… Apparently, I'm still listed as his medical proxy."

"I'm going with you," Buffy stated adamantly.

"Buffy, no one is here to watch Dawn."

"What about Aunt Darlene?"

"She had to leave really early this morning, and took a red eye to New York."

"I can stay with Dawn," Willow interrupted, "I don't mind, really. Besides, how hard can a six year old be?"

"Thanks Will," Buffy said rushing over to hug her friend, "You're the best."

The car ride over to the hospital, was eerily silent. Both Joyce and Buffy were stuck in their own thoughts. Buffy couldn't stop her mind from thinking, and the anticipation of not knowing how her dad was doing, was killing her. Joyce, had her hands gripped to the steering wheel with white knuckles. She wasn't even aware how she got to the hospital, because she was so stuck in her own reverie. Somehow, both Buffy and Joyce, made it to the ER, and asked for Hank Summers.

The receptionist at the desk told them to take a seat, that a doctor would be there to brief them shortly. Both Buffy and Joyce took a seat, with a zombie like stare on their face.

"I'm Dr. Sutherland, You must be Joyce Summers," the balding man said while offering his hand.

"Hi," Joyce said standing up and giving the Doctor her hand.

"Your Hank Summer's family?" Both Buffy and Joyce simultaneously nodded their heads.

"Hank is still in surgery, he appeared to have suffered a massive heart attack, and his left ventricle was damaged so we are having to put a shunt in. He's not out of the woods yet, but if we can repair the damage there is a solid chance that he will be okay. We will know more, after the surgery. I will keep in touch," Dr. Sutherland said, with a rather cold and detached voice. After saying his peace he went through the double doors, leaving Buffy and Joyce stunned in the waiting room.

After an hour of sitting in silence, Buffy's phone vibrated in her pocket, alerting her to a new text message. "Mom," Buffy said breaking the silence, "My cell just vibrated, I need to go check and see if it's Will."

"Okay, Honey," Joyce said completely detached.

After exciting the double doors, which lead to the entrance, Buffy let out the breath she was subconsciously holding in. She walked over to a bench, and let herself breathe. Buffy had a fear of hospitals. When she was little, her cousin and best friend Celia, died of the influenza. Since then, Buffy was terrified of death, and she associated the hospital with dying. She didn't even deliver Dawn in a hospital, she refused and opted for a home birth.

There was a nagging suspicion seeping into her conscious, that her father was not going to make it, and Buffy didn't know how to feel about that possibility. Honestly, at the moment life just seemed really cruel.

Buffy took her phone out of her pocket, and opened the mail icon, the screen read:

2 New Messages From Parker

1 New Message From Willow

Deciding that the message from Willow could be of more importance, she opened Willow's first:

Hey Buff, Dawn and I are having a blast. Don't worry, we got everything under control. How's your dad?

Buffy quickly texted her response:

Well, now I have a new built in babysitter. Dad is in surgery. He had a massive heart attack and we don't know what's going on. They haven't told us much. I will keep you posted. Give Dawn a hug from me.

She clicked on the Parker's messages:

Hey Buffy, We're still on for 7 at the Bronze…

Just making sure, we are still on…

Oh, shit. Parker sent those messages two hours ago, and it was now five o'clock. Hitting the send button, she called Parker who answered on the first ring.

"Hey, What's up?"

"Hi Parker, I'm at the hospital right now…"

"Is it Dawn?" Parker interrupted, "Is she okay?"

"Yeah, Dawn's fine. It's my dad. He had a massive heart attack, and he's currently in surgery."

"Do you need anything?"

"No," Buffy cried out holding back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Buffy, you're at Sunnydale Memorial?"

"Yeah."

"I will be there in five minutes."

"Okay," She said softly into the phone.

True to his word, Parker came walking up the sidewalk to where Buffy was sitting. Once he reached the bench, he sat down right next to her, and softly grabbed her hand and laced his fingers between hers. Letting go of all of the emotion, Buffy was trying to hold in, the tears freely cascaded down her face and she buried her head on Parker's chest.

Parker rubbed her back in soothing circles, kissed the top of her head, and just let her cry.

"Ugh," Buffy said between sobs, "I'm a mess."

"A very cute mess, though."

"How are you feeling?"

"Weak," came Buffy's response, "I'm use to being the strong and resilient one, this whole crying thing is very out of character for me."

"Well, it's okay to let people in Buffy," Parker said, "It actually makes people stronger."

"I don't feel very strong. I feel totally powerless. I have no control over this situation. I can only hope, that whatever higher power there is will give me another chance with my dad."

"Buffy, you are the strongest person I know. Even in our extremely unhealthy relationship, you were the strong one. You raised a great little girl and overcame every obstacle that was placed in your way."

"Parker," Buffy sobbed, "My dad, came back into my life the same night you did. There won't be enough time… There never is enough time."

"Buff, be positive. Your thinking about the worse case scenario, there are many positive outcomes. Your dad could be fine and you guys will eventually rebuild your relationship…" Parker's next sentence was caught up by Buffy placing a very gentle kiss on his lips.

"What was that for?"

"Why was is bad?"

"No, it was the best kiss of my life."

"Oh," Buffy said visibly relieved, and smiling through her tears, "That's good cause as far as kisses go, it was pretty high on my list too."

Parker decided to test Buffy's theory, and kissed her again more passionately.

"What about that one?"

"It was well above average."

"No, it was incredible," Parker began, "But what the hell are we doing?"

"Kissing," Buffy said, "It's relatively harmless."

"I think maybe we'd be asking for trouble rushing back into things. Not that I don't want to rush. I do. Believe me."

"Who said anything about rushing?"

"Buffy, your vulnerable. I don't want to take any advantage of you."

"Parker, I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I just want to kiss you, and you to hold me. That's it, nothing more."

"Are you sure?" Parker said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Buffy laughed, "Down, mister. I'm a reformed bad girl," Buffy said while placing her head on Parker's chest.

Parker held Buffy closer, and placed his arms around her, "You know," Buffy said, "I could stay like this forever. Being a normal girl, in the arms of her normal boyfriend."

Catching her blunder, "Too soon?"

"No," Parker said, "Just the right time."