A few weeks after that whole ordeal with Spike, Buffy was walking home happily with Angel from watching Xander fix a broken window at the college campus. The window had been broken because a robot had thrown Spike through it. Buffy sighed and opened the door to her house. Angel kissed her and headed upstairs to get changed.

"Mom? Hey.." Buffy looked over and found a bouquet of flowers. "Still a couple of nice guys out there." Buffy put the card back and walked to the stairs. "Hey, flower-gettin' lady! You want me to pick up Dawn at school? Mom?" Buffy called. She turned and saw her mother laying on the couch. "Oh! Mom. What are you doing?" Buffy moved a little further and then stopped. "Mom?" Joyce's eyes were wide open. Her skin was pale, almost bluish. She didn't move. Buffy stood, rooted, as realization began to creep in. "Mom? Mommy?"

Angel came down the stairs. "What are you looking at sweetie?"

Buffy rushed to her mother's side and started to shake her. "MOM! MOM! Mommommommommommommommommom."

"Oh God Buffy!"

Buffy felt for a pulse in the neck, not really sure what she was doing, panic rising, finally she shrieked, "MOM!" Buffy stood, panic rising. "Mommy, WAKE UP!" Angel grabbed Buffy and held her for a moment. She pushed away and ran to get the phone.

Angel walked over to Joyce and looked at her. "Joyce?" He didn't hear her heart. Didn't hear the blood that should be rushing in her veins. He kneeled before her and felt her wrist. "Joyce? Please don't be dead! For Buffy. Please?" Tears started to fall down his cheeks.

"Hello?" Buffy asked into the phone. "It's my mom. She's not.. she's not breathing! No, I can't.. she's not breathing. What? 1630 Revello. It's a-a house. Revello near Hadley. No, not alone. No, we came home.. what do I do? I-I don't remember. Yeah, yeah, I know this, God.." Buffy shoved Angel aside as she dropped the phone and rushed to Joyce. She tilted her mother's head back and she put her mouth to hers and blew, twice. Then pressing her palms to the middle of Joyce's chest she pumped, rapidly 15 times. She breathed again, then pumped, more powerfully. There was a crack. "Oh God!" Buffy grabbed the phone again. "Something cracked! I did it too hard.. are you there? Something broke! No! She's cold. No, mom! Should I make her warm? Well, when are they coming? I have to make a call." Buffy pushed the off button on the phone. She walked over to Angel who was sitting in the steps, his head in his hands, and rocking back and forth. She stared at him as she dialed Giles' number. He picked up. "Giles. You have to come. She's at the house." With that, Buffy hung up and walked to the door. She opened it and looked out, incredibly lost. Angel stood and held onto Buffy. Buffy got mad at him. "No! She's-she's going to be fine."

"Buffy.."

"NO! My mother can't be dead." Buffy tried to hold her tears in. "I need her." Buffy walked to the living room. She noticed Joyce's skirt was hiked up in a slightly unseemly way. Quickly she rushed over and straightened it out, starting back up almost guiltily as two paramedics entered.

Angel led them to the living room. "She's in here."

They rushed over to the body. The first one felt for a pulse in the neck and wrist while the second moved the coffee table out of the way. Angel held her as she watched the two men work.

"I'm getting no pulse." One of them said.

"Let's lay her out.." The other one said. They grabbed Joyce at her shoulders and legs laid her on the floor. Buffy made a motion to help, but it was clear there was nothing she could do. The first paramedic started CPR. "How long has she been like this?"

"I-I found her..a few minutes.." Buffy mumbled.

"Was she conscious?"

"No, she.. no."

"I'm bagging her." The white paramedic said.

"What!?"

"We're gonna intubate, just trying to get her to breathe. Is this your mother?" the one talking to Buffy and Angel asked.

"Yes."

"Does she have any serious physical health problems, any history.."

"No, I mean, she, there was a tumor. Brain tumor. She had an operation and now she's fine. She's been fine."

The man nodded and went to help the other one. They worked silently on Joyce, Buffy and Angel looking on helplessly. The man that had talked to them looked at the other guy. "She's cold, man. Call it." He stood and came back to Buffy and Angel. "I'm sorry."

"What else? What now? What do we.." Buffy asked.

"I'm sorry, but I have to tell you that your mother is dead. It looks like she did die a good while before you found her, there's nothing you could have done."

"What did I.."

"I'm guessing it may have been an aneurysm, or some clotting, some complication from surgery, she probably felt very little pain. I'm gonna call it in, the coroner's office will come by to take her in and they'll determine the cause of death conclusively." A radio went off.

The first paramedic talked into the radio and then said, "We gotta fly."

"I'm gonna call right away, but the coroner's office could take a little while. The police may come too, for a report. In the meanwhile, you should sit, have a glass of water.. Try not to disturb the body. Do you need anything?"

"No." Angel said as Buffy stared at her mother.

"I'm very sorry for your loss."

"Thank you."

They paramedics rushed out the door. Buffy walked them almost all the way out, in a bit of a daze now. "Good luck." She called feebly. She put her hand to the door but didn't close it. Slowly she turned and reentered the living room. Her mother was laid out on the floor now. Buffy looked at her a moment, then turned blankly toward the kitchen. She walked slowly toward it. She made it to the hall outside the kitchen before she dropped to her knees and vomited.

"Oh, sweetie." Angel said. He helped her up and led her to the kitchen. He opened the door and took her to get some fresh air. He moved the stray hairs off her face, wiping away his own tears. Buffy was sweaty and pale.

Not wanting to see any more beauty coming from outside, Buffy moved away and shut the door. She pulled a couple of sheets of paper towel off a roll on the center island and went back to where she was sick. Kneeling down, she folded the towel over and laid it on top of the mess.

Giles burst through the door. "Buffy! What is it? Is it Glory?" He stopped, puzzled by the stillness, by the fact that she was calmly on her knees.

Buffy stood up and looked at him. "I'm waiting.. the coroner's coming."

"What?"

"I have to tell Dawn.. she's at school. I'll go there."

"Buffy, I'm not.." Giles looked around and then saw Joyce. "God!" He instinctively moved toward her, Buffy moved as well.

"No don't, it's too late, don't!"

Angel moved into the living room and tried to grab for Buffy as she ran to the living room. "Buffy.. please."

"Joyce! Joyce!" Giles called as he tried to get a pulse.

"We're not, they're coming for her, don't.." Buffy said. "We're not supposed to move the body!" Her hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide, now filled with tears. She had called her mother a body.

Buffy made a sound, a wheezing sound, her mouth wide open and tears began to spill down her face. She didn't sob, just stood uncomprehendingly, mouth wide open, as if the whole truth of her mother's death was trying to cram itself in there. Angel grabbed her as she collapsed. They both stood there crying.

"Shh. God, please." Angel said, trying to comfort both Buffy and himself.

"Oh God! No. Mommy, please." Buffy sobbed now.

Giles came over, tears falling, and he gently stoked Buffy's hair as if he were her father. They stood there for a while before Buffy broke away and looked at Giles.

"I need to.. Dawn. She has to know. They all have to know." Buffy said.

"I understand. I'll stay. Angel go with her. I'll call everyone else."

Angel nodded and led Buffy out to the convertible. She was in such a daze that Angel had to fasten her seatbelt for her. His Buffy was trying so hard not to cry. She was holding up so no one around her would see how badly she could be hurt. It was a Slayer reflex and Angel had seen it countless times. A Slayer had to close her heart to the world and Buffy was no exception. Because she had chosen to have friends and have Angel and a family, her heart was more prone to heartbreak than other Slayers before her. When Buffy was hurt, she had always closed herself off from everyone. Sometimes even Angel.

As they arrived at the school building, Buffy snapped out enough to get out and walk the halls to find Dawn. She walked down a large hall and found her younger sister in art class. Angel hung back as Buffy went and got her sister.

"Dawn.." Buffy said. "I have to talk to you."

"Well, what.. can't it wait? I'm in the middle of class.." Dawn said.

"I know. Please come with me."

Dawn looked back at her friends, then put down her charcoal. Buffy started out of the class and Dawn followed. She saw Angel standing there with tear streaks. And for the first time, she noticed Buffy had them too. "I thought Mom was gonna pick me up. What's going on? Something's going on."

"Let's go outside."

"No. Tell me what's going on."

"It's.. bad. News."

"What is it? What happened?"

"Dawn, it's bad, I think we should.."

"Where's Mom?"

"Mom had an accident, or a, something went wrong from the tumor.."

"Is she okay? Is she.. but she's okay.. but it's serious but.."

"Dawn, Mom died this morning. While we were both at school, she.."

"No.."

"I don't know exactly what happened, but she's dead."

"No. NO! NO! No! No, you're lying, you're lying! She's fine she's FINE and you're lying oh no, no please, please no you're lying she's fine, she's fine.." Dawn was sobbing uncontrollably, none of her screams or pleading or anything making a dent in the wave of grief crushing her, she half fell, half sat right there on the ground, Buffy came down after her but Dawn was not ready to be held, not able to do anything but deny.

"Dawine.." Buffy said, tears starting to fall.

"It's not true! It's not real. It's not real! Ohhhhh noooooo.. no.."

"Please Dawn."

"NO!"

Buffy stared helplessly at her sister. Angel came over and hugged Buffy tightly. He noticed Dawn trying to stand, but failing because her sobs had taken over her body. Letting go of Buffy, Angel moved to help Dawn. She resisted at first, but when Angel wouldn't give up, she let him help her and then she fell into his arms sobbing. Buffy came over and wrapped her arms around both of them.

"Shh." Angel said, trying not to cry. "Come on. Let's check you out and meet Giles at the morgue."

"Morgue?" Dawn asked.

"The hospital." Angel corrected. "That's where they're going to take your mother's body."

Dawn nodded and grasped Angel's hand as they walked out of school. Buffy held tightly to Angel's other hand. She held it so tight that Angel thought she was going to shatter it. He didn't say anything about it. If it made his Buffy feel better, even the tiniest bit, he would let her. Besides, he needed to keep his mind off the grim thoughts that swam in his head.



Hugging and words of compassion were going on in the morgue. Buffy, Angel, Dawn, and Giles had been there for a while. Xander, Anya, Tara, and Willow had just come in. Buffy tried hard not to cry. She wasn't going to. She had too many things to take care of.

"Doctor." Giles said.

Buffy looked up sharply. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear what he had to say. But she moved to him, stiffly, Angel, Dawn, and Giles following. The others looked at each other, and decided to hang back.

"Okay, I've examined your mother's body." The doctor said.

"Can we see her?" Dawn asked.

"Dawn, not now." Buffy said.

"The on-site report seems to be more or less accurate. Your mother did have what looks like an aneurysm, a sudden hemorrhaging from a ruptured arterial vessel near the, where the tumor was removed." The doctor said.

"Shouldn't we have know about that, that was a danger?" Angel asked.

"Sometimes these things are detectable and sometimes they're not. Joyce was aware of the possibility of a rupture, and the effects. She didn't even get on the phone so clearly this was very sudden. She may have felt a little nausea and probably passed out as it happened. I doubt there was much pain, and even if someone had been by her side it's doubtful this could have been dealt with in time."

"Well, thank you, Doctor." Giles said.

"You're sure there wasn't a lot of pain?" Buffy asked.

"Absolutely. I think we can be almost positive about that." The Doctor said. What Buffy heard come out of his mouth was, "Absolutely. I have to lie to make you feel better."

"What, ah, what needs to happen now?" Angel asked.

"Well, there will be some forms, and some decisions you'll need to make."

"Buffy, why don't you let me handle those as much as I can.." Giles said.

"Please?" Buffy asked.

"We will need you to sign a couple of release forms." The doctor said to Giles.

"Yes, thank you, Doctor." Giles looked at Buffy. "I'll figure out which ones you need to see."

"We'll be here." Angel said. Buffy grasped his hand tightly as they headed back over to their friends.

"What'd the doctor say?" Xander asked.

"Nothing. I mean, it was what they thought. From the.. tumor.." Buffy said.

"Why don't we sit down." Willow asked. She put her hand on Angel and Buffy's arms and lead them to a seat. Tara and Willow sat as well, flanking Buffy and Angel. Everyone else, including Dawn, stood.

"Giles is gonna go over the paperwork." Buffy said.

"Man, if there's one day they should not give you homework." Xander said angrily.

"Dawnie, do you wanna sit?" Willow asked.

"I don't think we'll have to stay here very long." Angel said.

"But what about.." Dawn stopped.

"What about what?" Buffy asked.

"Nothing. I have to pee."

"Do you want someone to go with you?"

"No. I still remember how to pee."

"Well, okay, do you know where.."

"Yeah." Dawn walked away.

"I think maybe she's mad at me or something."

"Cause you're the one that told her?" Willow asked.

"How'd she take it?" Xander asked.

"Meltdown. She just, wouldn't believe it. I don't know if she does now." Buffy said.

"She's been through so much this year." Tara said.

"You all have." Willow said.

There was along pause and then Anya blurted out, "I wish that Joyce didn't die." Everyone shifted uncomfortably. "Because she was nice and now we all hurt."

"Anya, ever the wordsmith." Xander said.

"Thank you." Buffy said to Anya sincerely.

"Angel, how are you? You haven't talked much." Willow asked.

"I'm still in shock." Angel said softly. Willow moved away and Buffy scooted closer to Angel and held his hand tightly.

"I think we all are." Willow offered. "Do you guys want anything? Something to eat, or a soda? Not that Angel would.."

"It's ok. I don't really want much of anything right now."

"Buffy?"

"Maybe.. I honestly can't tell." Buffy said.

"I think you should try to eat something."

"Well, maybe Dawn could use a snack."

"I'll see if there's something. Xander, do you have any money?"

"We'll come with." Xander said.

"We'll be real quick." Willow said as she, Xander, and Anya walked away.

Buffy, Tara, and Angel were left on the couch. Buffy laid her head against Angel's broad shoulder and closed her eyes. Angel turned his head and kissed her lightly on her forehead. Then, as if she was just realizing that Tara was there, Buffy sat up and turned to look at Tara.

"I'm sorry you have to go through all this."

"You don't have to worry about me." Tara said.

"Everyone wants to help. I don't even know.. if I'm here.. I don't know what's going on. I've never done this.. Well that's just an amazingly dumb thing to say, obviously. I've never done this before."

"I have." Tara said after a beat. Buffy looked over at her a little thrown. "My mother died when I was seventeen."

"I didn't know that. I'm sorry."

"No, no, I didn't mean to.. I'm only telling you because, it's not m-my place, but.. there's things, thoughts and reactions that I had, that I couldn't understand, or even try to explain to anyone else. Thoughts that made me feel like I was losing it, or like I was just a h-horrible person. I know it's different for you, because it's always different, but.. if you ever need.. Both of you."

Buffy nodded gratefully. There was another long pause and then Buffy said, "Was it sudden?"

"What?"

"You mother.."

"No. And yes. It's always sudden."

Buffy laid her head back on Angel's shoulder. They both just sort of retreated into each other. Xander, Willow, and Anya came back where Buffy and Tara were sitting. Willow and Anya were loaded with sodas, vending machine sandwiches, Twinkies and candy bars. Xander had two cups of vending machine coffee. Buffy looked at the cornucopia, nonplussed.

"We panicked." Willow said.

"Uh huh." Buffy and Angel murmured.

"Take anything you want."

"The sandwiches are meat." Anya said.

"I'm just not hungry." Buffy said.

"What about Dawnie?"

"She still in the bathroom?" Xander asked.

"I guess." Buffy looked over at the door to the bathroom, sensing something was wrong. "You guys wait here?"

"Sure."

Buffy walked towards the hall and down it, slowly, brow furrowed. She walked through the swinging door. Down further. She heard a small crash and moved faster. Buffy came to a door and looked in. Dawn struggled in the grip of a vampire. Buffy tried the door and when she found it locked she slammed her shoulder into it. It didn't quite give. With mounting panic she slammed it again and it flew open, the lock splintering out as Buffy raced forward. The vampire had Dawn from behind and was nearly at her neck. Suddenly Buffy's arm wrapped around his neck. She tried pulling him off Dawn but he was strong. She grabbed at his face with her other hand. It was close in and ugly, nothing smooth or martial arty about it. Buffy was just in a panic to get him off Dawn. He finally let go, elbowing Buffy hard in the stomach. She doubled over.

The vampire grabbed Buffy by the throat. She grabbed his hands but she was just not at full strength. As Buffy rose and kneed the vamp hard in the crotch. He screamed and threw her, but she held on. They both went flying, tumbling into the tray of instruments, that clattered on the floor beside them. He landed on top. Buffy got him up enough to land a solid punch, knocking him to one side, rolling them over. She held him down as she grabbed the bone saw. Now his fingers were on her face, trying to push her off as she brought the saw to his neck. She shoved down once and the saw went in just a little. The hands still clawed at her, so she shoved the saw down again all the way to the floor. The vamp dusted.

"Dawn? Are you okay? Are you okay?" Buffy asked. She brought herself up to a sitting position, resting on one hand as she looked at her sister and realized she wasn't paying any attention to Buffy at all. Dawn was staring at their mother. "Dawn.."

"Is she cold?" Dawn asked.

"It's not her. It's not her. She's gone."

"Where'd she go?"

Buffy didn't have answer. She watched as her sister reached over to touch Joyce's face. Just as she was about to touch her, Angel came running in. Dawn jerked her hand back and stared at Angel as he helped Buffy off the floor and pulled her tightly to him. Buffy pulled away enough to beckon Dawn over. She came reluctantly and then allowed herself to be enveloped by their arms. They stood there for what seemed like eternity, but in fact was only a few minutes. This was all that was left of the Summers family.