Chapter Five

Alex woke up in a strange room and for a second forgot where he was. Then he remembered the events of the night before. The social service had sent him home with Joyce. They had told him that she was his Grandmother. But he had to wonder if she was his Grandmother why had he never met her. He got off the bed he was on and left the room to search for Spike or Xander. He found Xander sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in his hand. He was the only one in the kitchen.

"Morning Xander," Alex told him.

Xander looked up from his paper.

"Morning Alex. Are you hungry?"

Alex nodded. He hadn't eaten since the movie last night. Xander set his coffee down and opened the fridge.

"What would you like to eat?" Xander asked.

Alex thought for a moment. His mom had never really asked what he wanted to eat because she knew what his favorites where. So did Auntie Sophia and Auntie Sandra.

"Do you have an coco pebbles?" Alex asked.

Xander prepared a bowl of coco pebbles for Alex and himself. He placed the bowl in front of Alex and sat down to eat his own.

"You like coco pebbles?" Alex asked.

"Who doesn't?" Xander asked.

Alex shrugged. He had never met anyone that didn't like coco pebbles. Even the most famous of famous people ate coco pebbles. Alex should know he had met most of them. Dawn was the next person to come into the kitchen.

"Morning Xander, Morning Alex."

"Morning," Alex and Xander said before eating another spoonful of their coco pebbles.

She saw the coco pebbles and made herself a bowl. She sat next to Xander. She was still too nervous around Alex. She had to get the idea of him being her nephew around her head first. Which was hard because she couldn't imagine Buffy being a mom. Willow and Tara came down next. Another chorus of Good mornings was issued. Willow and Tara too made themselves some coco pebbles. Cordy and Faith were the last two to come into the kitchen. Another round of Good mornings was issued and they too made themselves a bowl of coco pebbles. Faith was the last one to use the coco pebbles.

"We're out of coco pebbles," Faith announced.

"Then you have to go buy more," Alex told her.

"Why's that little man?" Faith asked.

"My mommy always says that if you finish the coco pebbles you have to buy more. Auntie Sophia is usually the one that has to buy them," Alex informed Faith.

"Ok. I'll pick some up later."

Alex gave her a small smile before he returned to his own cereal. Everyone was shocked. He hadn't said much since they got to the hospital. They were all worried about him. The phone rang and Alex looked at it hopefully. Xander was the one to answer it. He spoke in a quiet voice so no one would hear him. When he hung up and turned to look at the others he had a grim look about him.

"Who was that?" Willow asked.

Everyone else was afraid to find out who it was. It could be about Buffy and from what Xander's expression it didn't look good.

"That was Sophia. B…" Xander couldn't go on.

"Is mommy okay?" Alex asked in a small voice.

"She's in a coma."

Everyone's faces fell. They heard Joyce gasp and run out of the room. They heard her cry. Tara was the one to leave the room to comfort her.

"What does that mean?" Alex demanded.

Xander sighed. He went over and kneeled in front of him.

"Mommy's taking a long nap. We don't know if she's going to wake up."

Tears sprang from Alex's eyes as he realized what had happened. He buried his head in Xander's shoulder and cried. Everyone looked on helplessly. Everyone sulking in their own pity and regret.

A/N: Review Please.