Author: emptyfirefly

Summary: With her father's abandonment leaving fresh tears in her eyes, Buffy sets out to find the family that she never knew. But what she'll find in this journey goes far past blood kin, but to respect for life, pain, and understanding when the triumph is complete. Perhaps while defeating a baddy along the way!

Rating: PG13

Timeline wise: Just after "Dead Man's Party" in Season 3 of Buffy, and after book 4, the book 5 stuff is yet to happen!

Spoilers: Season 2, some for future seasons, on Harry Potter anything before book 5, however I am ripping the book to shreds; don't rely on anything!

Warnings: Violence, bit of language

Pairings: Buffy/Weasly(but which one. Which one.) Xander/Cordy, Willow/Oz, Ron/Hermione, Harry/wouldn't you like to know?

Disclaimer: Don't own anything but the plot (which rocks, by the way)

Reviews:

Bobbyoky: good, so sad

Moony'sMate: Very interesting... Can't wait to see how it plays out...

Allen Pitt: Neat. A Snape AND a Potter. there's a prescription for trouble & conflict... If this will start after Dead Man's Party, I sure hope it happens because Snape arrives, not because Buffy runs off again... maybe at end of ep, after they're somewhat semi-reconciled?
It is an ep where one ends up not liking a lot of the characters...

Emptyli'lfirefly: Well, I won't give too much away, but Buff ain't running away. The group is together again, but not exactly as comfortable as a leather chair. Yes, can't wait until Harry finds out! Unless he doesn't… hmm… interesting story ideas are forming!

A major thanks for being my first ever reviewers! You three rock!

Chapter One. Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Technically 1999, but we'll pretend it's current time

"Hello?"

"Hi! It's been a while!"

"Hello?"

"Dad, it's me, Buffy!"

"Oh! Darling, sorry, I was expecting a call from a work colleague!"

"Right…."

"… So, how's school?"

"Okay! Giles convinced Snyder to let me back in!"

"When were you were expelled?"

"Duh! Last year!"

"Oh right, sorry, I'm a bit tired today."

"Right…"

"And how's that boy you were so excited about?"

"What boy?"

"Can't remember his name, but you were very perky on the phone, I assumed it was a boy."

"Well, umm… he's gone away."

"To where?"

Hell? "Umm… I'm not really sure."

"Look, honey, is there a specific reason why you called?"

"Yeah, you were meant to be down here a few hours ago, taking me for our weekend together?"

"Hmm? Oh, I'm sorry I can't make it. I have… work to do. Maybe another time?"

"Sure, great another time!"

"Bye sweetheart."

"Bye Dad, I lo-"

Beep, beep, beep.

Buffy Anne Summers slammed the phone into its cradle, making her mother, Joyce Summers, jump slightly.

"What did he say?" Joyce asked, staring at her daughters stony face.

"He has work." Buffy replied, her voice flat and empty. Joyce bit her lip to stop herself from saying nasty things about Hank.

"Perhaps he'll be less busy another weekend." Joyce suggested, turning away from her daughter to continue washing the dishes; she didn't want Buffy seeing her anger.

"Yeah, whatever." Buffy sighed and sat down at the kitchen counter. "Mom, why doesn't he love me?"

Joyce paused in her washing, surely this wasn't going to come out. Not now of all times. "What do you mean Buffy?"

"When he looks at me it's like I'm not even his. Like I'm a responsibility. I've come to realise that he doesn't." Buffy swallowed and looked down, why did she have to have a stupid lump in her throat now?

"Sweetheart-" Joyce cut herself off, she couldn't keep Buffy in the dark forever. She had to be told the truth, then perhaps Hank's abandonment would not mean as much. Joyce started again, "There's something I have to tell you, something that I should've many years ago."

Buffy looked up at her mother, confusion marring her features. What in the world was her mother leading towards?

Joyce gave up on washing up, and walked over to her dear daughter. The difference in their facial features had always shocked friends and family, it was sometimes wondered if they were even related.

"Buffy, when Hank and I were first married we tried to have a child, but we couldn't. We tried for years, until it finally became clear that there was no hope. So we began looking at adoption agencies." Joyce blinked back tears and took a few deep breaths while her daughter leapt out of her seat and began pacing.

Buffy waited for her mother to go on, praying that this story would not end in the way it was leading.

Joyce sighed and kept going. "You were at the first place we looked, and I was so happy. You were so sweet and beautiful, and I just wanted to take you home and love you." Joyce paused once more, the unfamiliar tale wearying her for lack of use.

Buffy's mind was working in over drive, but one word kept jumping at her through her… mother's, tale; 'I' instead of 'we', why wasn't Hank happy? "What about Hank? You said you wanted to take me home and love me, what about Hank? Was he just hanging around saying; 'yeah, whatever'?"

Joyce's eyes finally overflowed as she stood up and pulled Buffy close to her. "Buffy, Hank loves you, you must know that, but he did want a boy. But he's past that, he loves you with all his heart."

Buffy pushed Joyce carefully away from her, a shaking hand coming up to her hair. "Then why isn't he here? If I'm your… your miracle child, why isn't he here."

Joyce wiped away a few of her tears. "I don't know. Buffy, please, don't close me out of this. I love you with all my heart, I am your mother."

Buffy nodded and walked to the door. "But you're not my blood kin."

Joyce crumpled into one of the chairs, but Buffy remained wooden, her eyes blank. "Which adoption agency was it?"

Joyce's wobbly voice answered, "Magic for Muggle Adoption Agency."

Buffy nodded and closed the back door softly behind her as she walked away. She had to go somewhere and think.

Next Chapter: Buffy and gang chat.