Giles, Nicky, and Alex's house

8:20 AM

"Come on Dad! We're going to be late for school!" Alex cried tugging on Giles coat.

"Hold on Alex. Cordelia isn't here yet," Giles said. Everyone had stayed over the night. Buffy and Willow had taken the baby shopping and Xander and Anya were standing by, ready to head off with Giles to the Magic Box. Dawn was at school and Oz was at some muscians festival meeting thing. Xander, Anya, and Giles talked about the days work as Nicky and Alex paced around impatiently. So when Cordelia slumped through the back door no one noticed. All they heard was the crash as she colapsed to the floor.

"Cordelia! What's the matter!" Xander asked panically as they ran over to Cordelia.

"I feel yucky," Cordelia answered simply.

"Boy spending six hours with 14 kids under the age of 7 really rubs off on ya," Anya said shaking her head.

"Well lets see if you feel any less yucky if we move you the the sofa," Giles said as Xander got Cordelia's lower half.

"Nope," she said as they lowered her on the sofa, "I still feel yucky."

"She's burning up," Giles said, feeling Cordelia's forehead.

"Yeah and these stupid bumps are starting to itch," she said scratching aggresively at her arm. Anya lifted Cordelia's arm and inspected it.

"Cordelia, those stupid bumps are chicken pox," she said. Giles nodded, agreeing.

"No that's impossible," Cordelia said dissmissevly, "I'm immune to chicken pox."

Anya sighed and said "You can't be immune to chicken pox huh?"

"Aunt Cordy, does this mean you can't come to preschool?" Nicky asked.

"Oh no! I need to find a sitter!" she said panically scrathing her head hard enough to make it start bleeding.

"Cordelia! Stop scratching!" Giles scolded pinning Cordelia's arms to the sofa.

"I think you mean sub Cordy," Anya corrected.

"Xander! You and Anya could sub for me!" Cordelia said.

"Oh no," Xander said backing away from the sofa. "No way no how am I.....,"

Sunnydale Preschool

9:00 AM

"I can't believe I'm going to spend the day with 14 kids," Xander said.

"Don't worry sweetie," Anya said grabbing his hand ",we'll suffer hell together."

"Thanks An," Xander said sarcastically as he pushed open the door to the preschool. The scene wasn't good. Kids were running all over the place, screaming and crying things. Anya immidiatly noticed a little blonde haired, blue eyed girl that was sitting alone and quiet in the corner.

"Hey there," Anya said to the little girl.

"Hi," she said shyly. "I'm Anya," she said holding out her hand.

"I'm Emily." Xander tried to whistle like Cordelia but failed. So he finally screamed as loud as he could "QUIET!" Everyone stopped what they were doing and all attention turned to Xander.

"Who are you?" a little boy of about 5 sneered. Xander could already tell he was going to be a little brat.

"My name is Xander and over there is my girlfriend, Anya," Xander said gesturing to Anya.

"Ewww! What weird names," the same kid said.

"Now I'm going to take roll alright?" Xander said. Everyone nodded except the kid that hadn't made a very good first impression. After the roll was taken Xander found out the kid that he needed to worry about was named Aaron.

"Alright, Cordelia, I mean Ms. Chase wanted us to color some pictures and finish up your science project," Xander said, "What science project?"

"This is George," Emily said pointing to an egg in a glass case. Above it was a single lightbulb that was glaring brightly. Emily looked up at Xander and explained "The light is what keeps George alive." Aaron went over to the light and clicked it off and on crying "DEATH. DEATH. DEATH. DEATH!"

"NO! Stop it!" Jesse cried.

"SPIKE not now!" Emily cried. Everyone grew silent and looked at Emily. She quickly covered her mouth and squeaked "Oops."

Sunnydale High

10:37 AM

"Dawn Summers?"

"Here," Dawn sighed. Geometry was such a drag.

"Okay class we have a new student today. This is Priscilla Mailey," the teacher said. There stood an extremely skinny girl. Dawn was surprised her small white, Jansport backpack didn't weigh her down. She had shoulder legnth black hair, her eyes were soft brown. To Dawn she looked very familiar but she couldn't place her face. She wore a thin black jacket over a red shirt. Around her neck was a locket in the shape of a heart on a thin gold chain. She looked rather unhappy. On her neck was a noticeably large bruise. To Dawn it looked like foul play. She was used to seeing these kind of bruises on Buffy.

"Rose," the girl said softly.

"Excuse me dear?" the teacher asked the girl.

"Rose is fine," she said.

"Alright Rose you can sit behind Derek."

"Oh great," Derek mumbled raising his hand. Rose took a seat behind Derek, next to Dawn.

"Hi," Dawn whispered "I'm Dawn. Dawn Summers."

"Rose. Rose Mailey," Rose said shaking Dawn's hand. As the bell rang Rose followed Dawn out of the door.

"Whatcha got next?" Dawn asked.

"English," Rose moaned.

"Hey me too. Don't worry I'll stick with you," Dawn reasurred Rose.

"Thanks," she said.

"Why do you look so sad?" Dawn asked.

"Oh. Nothing. It's just that I didn't imagine my 15 birthday being spent trying to get used to a new school and a new foster family." Dawn felt a terrible pain hit her in the side and a feeling came over her like she wanted to cry.

"What's up with that big bruise on your neck?" was what came out.

"I'm so sorry that was completly rude of me," Dawn said quietly.

"No it's okay. I fell the other day," she smiled.

"I really like you Dawn."

"Happy Birthday," was all Dawn could get out. Rose smiled.

"Thanks."