Warm sunrays poked their way through the badly shut curtains and made patterns on Buffy's bedspread. Buffy woke gradually enjoying the cosy safe feeling you get when lying in bed in the morning. She pulled herself up from bed and pulled on a short dressing gown over her summer pyjamas. The sounds of someone moving around downstairs reached her ears, and she left the room, padding down the stairs. The closer Buffy got to the kitchen the greater the smell of cooking became. Buffy walked into the kitchen and froze.

The counter had been set with plates and cutlery, surrounded by various sweet sauces like maple and chocolate. There was a bowl of fruit on the counter. Buffy had forgotten to buy fruit last time she went grocery shopping. A large vase full of brightly coloured flowers sat on the windowsill. On the stovetop was a frying pan full of cooking pancakes. Their smell was the one wafting through the house.

And there standing by the stovetop. There holding a spatula in her hand. There smiling at her. There in the kitchen... was her mother.

"Mommy?" Buffy's voice sounded small and insecure.

"Good morning Buffy" Joyce replied taking the frying pan off the stove and over to the counter. She started piling the pancakes on to a plate. "I hope you're hungry. I think I've made too much batter."

Buffy just looked at the pancakes briefly and then back up at her mother.

"Are you alright dear?"

Instead of replying Buffy rushed towards her mother enveloping her in a hug. She clung to her not wanting to let go.

Joyce managed to pry her daughter from her arms and look her in the face. "Buffy what's wrong?"

"I missed you mom and I love you so much and..." Buffy then realised how strange she must sound. "I uh, had a bad dream that you were gone. Really bad dream."

"Oh Buffy. I'm right here." With that Joyce gave Buffy another hug.

Dawn arrived in the doorway. "What's with all the hugging?"

"No reason" Joyce answered letting go of Buffy. "Isn't it nice to show your mom you love her every now and then?"

"Ooo I love you too mom" Dawn said jumping into her mom's arms.

"Well I wish every morning would start like this" Joyce commented. "Now you two better start on the pancakes before they go cold."

Buffy had breakfast in the kitchen with her family. Then went back to her bedroom to finally get dressed and make a phone call. Something was up and she needed to talk about it.

"Hello Giles speaking."

"Hey Giles, it's me Buffy."

"Buffy?"

"Um, something weird happened. I know I'm not dreaming and I'm starting to think I've gone delusional or something. Anyway I thought I should call you, cause you normally can make sense of stuff and..."

"Buffy slow down and tell me what happened."

"I walked into the kitchen this morning and my mom was standing there making pancakes."

"Does she not normally make pancakes?"

"Huh? But it was my Mom Giles. And she's still here. Packing a lunch for Dawn."

"Yes, well isn't your mom usually at home looking after you two, except when she's working of course?"

"But, but..."

"Are you feeling alright Buffy?"

"Yeah fine." Buffy answered quickly and hung up the phone. She didn't want Giles to think she was going crazy.

***

Giles hung up the phone and shook his head. Sometimes Buffy could be rather odd but he loved her like a father and would patiently listen to her explain her life problems if she wanted him to. A high whistling noise came from the kitchen and then stopped. "Don't worry I've got it."
Giles turned to the kitchen to see Jenny Calender holding the freshly boiled kettle of water. She made a pot of tea and arranged it on a tray with the cups, sausers, sugar, milk and biscuits.

"Ah, thank you." Giles replied taking a seat on his couch as Jenny brought the tray in and placed it on the coffee table in front of them. Giles poured out the tea and Jenny took a seat right next to him.

"So what did Buffy want?" Jenny asked looking concerned.

Giles smiled. "Strangely enough I have no idea. She was being slightly cyptic."

Jenny smiled back and took a cup of tea from the tray. "Don't worry Rupert. I'm sure she'll tell you if something was really wrong."

***

"Xander wake up!"

Xander half opened his eyes mumbled something indecipherable and closed them again.

"Xander! I'm leaving to go to the Magic Box. You're going to be late for work. Are you listening to me?"

Xander opened his eyes again and pulled himself up. "I'm up" he said groggily.

"Good" Anya replied. Then her tone changed to cheerful as she lent forward and kissed Xander goodbye. "I love you and I'll see you after work." With that last comment she left.

Xander stumbled into the shower. The cold spray of water woke him up properly. Feeling better he strolled into the kitchen to get himself some breakfast. He noticed that there was a message on the answer phone. So he pushed the button and went to make some toast while the message played.

A fake cheerful electronic voice started playing. "You have... One message on you phone. Message received at Seven, forty two P M... 'Hey Xander It's me. I guess you're not there cause hey the answer phones on but if you are, hey man pick up the phone. Anyhow I'm just calling about tomorrow night. We're still meeting at the bronze, you, Wills and me right? Buffy said she had to patrol and Willow said Tara was busy. But you can still bring Anya if you want. If not, hey it will be just like old times... the only thing missing...' *beep*"

The message ended having reached its maximum length and the little red light turned off.

Xander just stood there holding a piece of bread.

That voice. It sounded just like... but no it couldn't be. It was like getting phone messages from beyond the grave. Is that even possible? And hey he wasn't even in a grave. Phone messages from piles of dust. He couldn't mistake it. It was his voice. It was him. Xander was seriously wigged.

He had received a phone call from Jesse.

***

A/N- So what do you think? How am I doing so far?
reviews- Yeah I had those people on my list already. I'm trying to think of minor people as well. And demons. Demons is important too.