AN: A huge thank you to my followers and reviewers! Sometimes, action speaks louder then words and the number of followers I have shows that I must be doing something right. Thank you again!

Disclaimer: Still don't own them... Wish I did.

Buffy spent the rest of her classes in a daze. She could not concentrate on anything other than her mixed up love life. Granted she hadn't spoken to Angel since the funeral, their conversation had ended positively, and both had put it all out on the table. He knew that she still loved him, but he never actually said those words back to her. She also knew that tonight Parker and her were finally having the "Where they stood" conversation and that made Buffy anxious. She knew Parker loved Dawn, but how would he react when he found out Buffy didn't reciprocate those feelings? Would he take it out on Dawn and leave?

Part of her wished she could just be in love with Parker. But the thing she was realizing was that she couldn't help her feelings for Angel. Sleeping with Parker again, was a huge mistake. She was needy, and emotionless. She just wanted to feel something other then completely numb. But her actions made more of a mess of things. This was the truth, and these were the consequences she was going to have to live with.

Buffy picked up Dawn from school after her classes finally ended.

"Mom!" Dawn said rushing out of the building and thrusting her art project into her mother's hands, "Look! Isn't this awesome?" Buffy took a good look at the art project. It was a picture of her, Dawn and Parker. Underneath were the words: Family Portrait. Buffy's heart sank. She couldn't hurt Dawn. She couldn't be selfish. She swallowed the lump in her throat and croaked out, "It's beautiful Dawn."

Dawn beamed with pride, "Mrs. Maclay said that she really liked my picture."

Buffy looked at her with curiosity, "The art teacher mom," Dawn clarified. "Oh, right. Hey, we should get back home your dad invited us to dinner tonight. You my friend are dirty and totally need to wash up." Dawn looked down at her hands which were all colored with paint, "Yeah, I look like a rainbow." Buffy smiled and said, "You know, you're definitely the pot of gold."

"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.

"You know the myth about rainbows having a pot of gold at the end right?" Dawn shook her head. "Didn't Aunt Darlene teach you anything? Buffy asked jokingly. "She told me that rainbows are things to wish on. Hey mom?" Dawn asked changing the subject, "Do you think Dad's going to stay here and not go back to Los Angeles? You know, so we can be a real family?" Buffy's heart was breaking for her daughter as she took in Dawn's questions. She didn't have it in her to answer, but she took Dawn and pulled her into a hug. "You know, kiddo, we should probably be going."

"But mom," Dawn whined, "You didn't answer my question," she pouted.

"Yeah, I think things are going to work out for us," Buffy said smiling. But behind, the smile she knew she was lying. But she now didn't know what to do. She had been so sure this morning that telling Parker she didn't want a relationship. But seeing her daughter, she couldn't bring herself to tell the truth. She was a liar. She cared more about Dawn's happiness, then her own. She was beginning to realize how complicated and messy this would be. She didn't take into account Dawn, and how this would affect her. Dawn deserved two loving parents, a big house, white picket fence, golden retriever, and a brood of brothers and sisters. She wanted to give Dawn everything she never had, and her own feelings be damned, she was totally going to give it to her.

Driving back home, Buffy had made up her mind. She had made her decision and she was going to stick with it.

"Mom!" Dawn said interrupting Buffy's train of thoughts, "When we get home do you think grandma would want to see my picture?"

"Of course," Buffy said lackadaisically but then realized she sounded like a robot, "I bet, she'll even let you hang it on the fridge. It's definitely fridge worthy," she said with a little more enthusiasm.

"Oh yay!" Dawn said happily as Buffy pulled into the driveway.

Shutting the car off, she looked back at Dawn who was happily staring at her picture. It was then she was completely sure of her decision.

She had Dawn on her hip, her backpack on her shoulders, and gingerly opened the door when she stumbled into an awkward situation. Her mother was on top of a strange man (fully clothed) in a sort of compromising position completely unaware that her daughter and granddaughter had arrived.

"OH MY GOSH! MOM!" Buffy cried while trying to shield Dawn's eyes and rushing upstairs without waiting for an explanation.

The duo completely unaware before was now very aware that this was a very uncomfortable situation.

"Well that didn't go how I expected. I should go talk to her Rupert," Joyce said fixing her clothes and setting her sights on Buffy.

"I'll be down here love," Rupert Giles said letting go of his girlfriend's hand.

Buffy was going to freak. She just saw her mother on top of a strange man in the middle of the day really going at it. She seriously hoped seeing her grandmother making out with some stranger did not traumatize her six year old. Buffy was seriously creeped out by the entire situation, herself and didn't exactly know how to respond.

"Buffy," her mom's voice came through the door, "Can I come in?"

Buffy didn't really want to hear the few choice words she was going to say to her mother, so she put the television on for Dawn and opened the door.

"Mom, I seriously could have lived the rest of my life without seeing what I just saw and unfortunately I can't un-see it," Buffy said angrily, "Plus, you knew Dawn and I would be home, and I seriously hope you did not scar her for life like you did to me."

Joyce was fed up, "Buffy, I seem to recall a few times I caught you and Parker in some pretty compromising positions. I wasn't exactly thrilled about seeing that either."

"God, here we go again let's add this fight to the tally that keeps growing," Buffy said rolling her eyes.

"I don't want to fight with you," Joyce began, "This was not at all how I anticipated you meeting Mr. Giles," she said blushing.

"Well yeah, a "Hi, nice to meet you I'm here to violate your mother" probably would not have won me over," Buffy said sarcastically.

"Well, I'm sorry you found out how you did but Rupert Giles is actually a very nice man," Joyce said apologetically, "It would be nice, if you came down and met him."

"Fine," Buffy said begrudgingly, "I guess so. Let's go get this over with."