Okay, I took a strange turn in this chapter. It wasn't really planned, but it just happened. I still like where I'm going with this story and I hope others will also like it. Thanks for the reviews!


Chapter 14

"I'm not one to hit girls, but I think I would make an exception for Harmony." Spike said to Buffy as he continued to run his fingers through her hair. She decided to go to his house instead of hers once she returned from school. She was just grateful that he didn't have classes until later. They were both sitting on his bed.

"It's tempting, but I don't think it's a good idea. I wouldn't want you to get in trouble." Spike sighed and really wished he could do something to make her feel better.

"I'm sorry, Buffy. If any of those blokes give you anymore trouble, you just let me know and I'll deal with them." Buffy pulled away from him, so she could see him better.

"I don't need you to fight my battles for me, Spike. I can handle a few jerks; it's my sister that I'm not handling so well. I bet if I told mom about this, she wouldn't even care. Harmony has always been her favorite. I just don't understand that. It's not like she does anything important. I just can't compete with her." She said in a sad tone and Spike wanted to do anything he could to comfort her.

"There's no competition, love. You are a far better woman." He stated as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. Buffy smiled at the fact that he called her a woman again. They just sat there in silence after that, until Buffy needed to go home.

Buffy walked into her house and realized that no one was home yet. She just went upstairs to her room and decided to lie down on her bed for a little while. She was lost in her thoughts that she never noticed that someone came home, until she heard the familiar voice in her doorway. "When did things get so complicated?" Buffy sat up with a start when she noticed Harmony standing there. She was also confused by the look she saw on her older sister's face.

"What are you talking about?" Buffy wondered and Harmony shrugged as she went to sit on Buffy's bed.

"Things weren't always like this. We used to be closer, you know?" Harmony said and Buffy nodded.

"Yeah, that was before you went to junior high and became a bitch." Buffy noticed the look of guilt on Harmony's face and was shocked by it, but she didn't say anything.

"Okay, I deserve that. I know I haven't been the best sister, but you don't know what it's like. There's so much pressure." Buffy raised her eyebrows.

"You think you're under pressure? How do you think it feels to be me? I have been living in your shadow for so long. For once, I want others to notice me for me. Not because I'm Harmony's sister. Not because I'm the smart girl that everyone can go to for tutoring, but just because I'm me. You don't know what that's like." Buffy explained and Harmony let out a sigh.

"I've always envied you." She stated in a soft tone and Buffy was beyond shocked at this point.

"Huh?" Buffy replied and Harmony took a deep breath before she spoke again.

"I've always wished that I could be more like you. You're really smart and sometimes I would give anything to be that brainy. To actually get good grades in school and know that mom was proud of me for something that I really deserve. Not some stupid cheerleading trophy that doesn't even mean that much. I would even wish to be more like Dawn and have the nerve to pull a stunt like that. She takes risks and I would give anything to be able to do that. I've never done anything exciting in my whole life. I never told anyone this, but Ryan dumped me for someone that was smarter. He said I was too shallow and self-centered. I didn't really listen at the time, but I know that he was right." Harmony finished and Buffy was staring at her, with her jaw dropped. She couldn't believe this was her sister. She has never opened up that much to anyone before.

"Look, you don't have to try so hard. You should stop worrying about impressing everyone else and just be yourself. Be the person that was there for me when we were kids. The person that used to always check for monsters in my closet, so I would be able to sleep better. I miss that person." Harmony realized how much everything has changed as she looked at her sister. She felt tears in her eyes and quickly wiped them away. She then did something that really took Buffy by surprise. She hugged her. Buffy didn't know what else to do, so she returned the hug. Dawn then chose that moment to walk into the room and she gasped at the sight of both of her sisters hugging.

"Whoa, did I somehow end up in an alternate universe?" Buffy laughed as she pulled out of the hug and was about to say something, when Joyce suddenly showed up in the doorway. She was also confused to see all three of her daughter's together, without any blood being spilled.

"What's going on in here?" Joyce wondered and no one knew what to say, until Harmony spoke up.

"Nothing, we were just talking. I realized that I don't really know my sisters that well. We have a lot to talk about." She explained and Joyce seemed to accept it. She was about to walk out of the room, when Harmony's voice called her back. "Mom, I wanted to tell you that Buffy wasn't the one that posted my diary entries around school." Harmony looked at Dawn and the younger girl figured that it was her turn to get in trouble, but Harmony took her by surprise as she turned her gaze back on their mother. "It was this girl in one of my classes. She has always had something against me. I made the stupid mistake of bringing my diary to school and I guess I left it in class. She must have found it." Dawn sighed in relief as they all waited for Joyce to say something.

"Oh, well I suppose you don't have to be punished anymore then." Joyce said to Buffy, who only nodded and gave a small smile. "Why did you tell me that you were the one that did it?" Joyce asked and Buffy thought about what to tell her.

"I just figured you wouldn't believe me." Joyce sighed as she looked at her middle child.

"Buffy, you know you could have told me. I know you may not believe it, but I love you very much. I love all three of you the same, I could never choose one over the other. I'm sorry if I made you feel like I was." Buffy felt tears in her eyes now as she stood up to embrace her mother. Joyce smiled as she wrapped her arms around her daughter in return. Harmony and Dawn then did the same thing and joined in on the hug. It was probably the weirdest moment of Dawn's life, but it also felt really good. They all pulled out of the hug after a few seconds. Joyce gave her daughters one more smile before she left the room. Dawn then turned to look at her two older sisters, with raised eyebrows.

"Okay, I think I missed a very important conversation here." Buffy smiled as she ran her fingers through her younger sister's hair.

"We'll tell you about it later." She said and Dawn nodded in acceptance. She then remembered what she was going to say when she walked into the room.

"You don't have to worry about that rumor anymore, Buffy." She said and Buffy wondered what she was getting at.

"Why not?" She wondered and Dawn then had a huge smile on her face.

"You guys missed out today. That's already old gossip; they're not even talking about the diary thing anymore." Harmony was interested now as she waited for Dawn to continue. "You know that guy, James Stanley?" She asked them and they both nodded. "Well, he was caught making out with Ms. Newman in her classroom. I mean, how stupid can you get? He totally got busted by Snyder. It's all anyone can talk about now. And I'm sure Ms. Newman can kiss her job goodbye. That kinda sucks, I liked her." Dawn commented and they were both shocked by the news. Harmony was the one that spoke first.

"Ugh, I always knew that guy was a perv." She said and Buffy had to agree, which was something she never thought would happen. She was just relieved that no one would be spreading lies about her anymore. She hoped this gossip would last for a while. She then smiled as she looked at both of her sisters, who were still talking about it. Things were finally starting to look better.