Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I am only borrowing them.

NOT JOYCE FRIENDLY. This the last one where Joyce shows she's an unfit mother.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE Takes place after season two Buffy and during Season one Power Rangers.

Buffy Summers walked slowly into the Angel Grove Youth Center hoping to find her cousin. She knew that it was his favorite place to hang out after school. She was an emotional mess and was barely keeping her emotions in check.

"Miss, are you, all right? Do you need help?" A stout looking man dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and an apron asked her.

"I'm just loo…" Her voice trailed off as she spotted him sitting with his friends laughing and having a good time. She didn't want to spoil his day with her drama. "Never mind."

Buffy said turning to leave. She walked out and was headed toward the park when she felt a hand grab her arm. It was a testament to how off she was. Usually she would have flipped anyone who would have grabbed her, her slayer instinct kicking in, but not today. She let herself be turned around only to see her cousin standing before her. His face a picture of concerned and Buffy couldn't keep it in any longer. She moved into her cousin's embrace and let it all out. She sobbed drenching her cousin's red tank top. His brawny arms wrapped around her and he just held her tightly trying to soothe her. He heard the footsteps behind him, and he didn't have to turn to know that it was his friends.

"Jase? Is everything ok?" Tommy Oliver asked.

"I'm not sure yet. Why don't you guys go back inside and once I've gotten her calmed down and we've talked we'll join you."

"Ok Jase." Zack said as he herded the others back toward the Youth Center and Ernie's.

"It's all right. Shh. What happened? Is Aunt Joyce okay?"

Jason knew about Buffy being the Slayer and Buffy had figured out that he was the red ranger. Buffy took several deep breaths and proceeded to tell her cousin about Angel turning evil, messing with her friends, and killing their computer teacher.

"Jase, I staked a vamp right in front of her and she still refused to believe. I told her that I had to go save Giles and stopped the world from ending. She forbade me from going and when I started to leave, she hit me. She hit me hard enough that I fell to the ground."

Flashback

"You know what Buffy I'm tired of your lies. Just get out of my house. Having you was the worst thing that ever happened to me. I should have gotten that abortion, but Hank was so happy when he found out I was pregnant, which is really funny because I'm not even sure if Hank is your father. You have been a nuisance ever since you were conceived. Nobody wants you. Now get out and don't come back!"

End of Flashback

Buffy couldn't finish her story she was crying too hard. Remembering her mother's word had hit her heart hard.

"It's going to be okay Buffy. I don't know why Aunt Joyce said those things, but she was wrong. I will always want you. You are my little Cuz and the closest thing I ever had to having a sister. You can stay with us. I know mom and dad will want you to stay once you tell them what you just told me." Buffy looked up at him with hopeful eyes.

"What am I going to do Jase? Sunnydale PD thinks I killed Kendra. They want me for murder."

"First of all, we're going to get you cleaned up and get you something to eat. We can talk to dad when he gets off work. Maybe he has some contacts that can investigate it. Come on my truck is parked at the Youth Center. I'm going in to let my friends know that we're going to the house, so they don't worry."

"Okay." They began to walk back Jason's arm still around her. When they reached the parking lot Jason opened the door for her. "Jase…maybe I can meet your friends tomorrow?"

"If you're sure?" Buffy nodded. "I'll tell them to meet us here about noon."

Buffy nodded and watched her cousin go back in only to return a few minutes later.

Buffy already felt tons better after her shower. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail before going in search of her cousin. She could hear Jason downstairs and realized he was in the kitchen.

"Hey, you're looking better. I figured you might be hungry. It isn't much but Mom called while you were in the shower and she's planning a special dinner just for you."

"This is fine. Did Aunt Judy ask why I was here?" Jason nodded. Buffy always thought it was funny that Jason and his parents all had the same initials JLS.

"I told her that you wanted to surprise us and just came to visit."

Buffy nodded and reached for the sandwich that Jason offered. Her hand was shaking terribly. Jason moved out of the kitchen and took his cousin hand pulling her to the couch.

"I'm scared Jason. I could be getting your family in trouble for harboring a fugitive. Uncle Jim is a cop and could lose his job if anyone found out. I've got to leave." She tried to get up, but Jason wouldn't let her.

"Buffy! Stop! Everything's going to be okay. I promise you. Mom and Dad will find a way to get you out of this and if they can't you and I will go on the lam together. I know a couple of great hiding spots."

That was enough to get Buffy to laugh and break the tension she was feeling. She and Jason used to play hide and seek a lot when they were little to the point that their parents had trouble finding them and were often worried.

"Did you mean it? Would you really go into hiding with me?"

"I would. We made a pact when we were eight that we would always be there for each other. That if one of us was in trouble we would go to the other for help. Don't you remember? I was getting into karate and you into gymnastics. I had come to visit, and we were at the park when a group of boys started picking on you."

"I remember. You took them on and when they saw you do your moves they took off in a scared run. We made the pact that night in my room."

"I'm here for you just like you have been there for me." Jason told her.

He continued to hold her until she started to fall asleep snuggled up against him. He settled back wanting Buffy to get some rest knowing she hadn't slept well the previous nights. Buffy had been asleep for a little over thirty minutes when Jason's communicator beeped. He looked down at Buffy to see if it had woken her and it hadn't. Carefully he got up without waking her and hit the button on his communicator.

"Go ahead Zordon."

"Jason. I need you teleport to the park immediately. Rita has sent down another one of her monsters and the rangers need you."

"I'm on my way Zordon." He grabbed his morpher from it hiding spot. "It's morphing time! Tyrannosaurus!"

Jason looked up to see that Buffy was still asleep and teleported to the park.

Buffy woke to someone shaking her and calling her name. She shot up looking around not really remembering where she was.

"Buffy…you sounded like you were having a bad dream."

"Aunt Judy? When did you get home?" Buffy said looking up into her aunt's face. Unlike her mother her aunt had brown straight hair.

"About twenty minutes ago. You were sleeping so I didn't want to wake you, but then you started screaming. It must have been some nightmare. You were calling out for your mom. Is there something you want to tell me?"

"There is but I want to wait until Uncle Jim gets home and tell you both at once."

"All right I can wait. Do you know where Jason is? I thought he would have been here keeping you company."

"He was. Kim and Billy came over. They needed his help for something. They asked me if I wanted to come but as you can see, I was really tired. Jason said he'd be back by dinner."

Her aunt nodded and Buffy was glad her aunt believed her. She figured Jason must have gotten called away on Ranger business. Buffy just hoped Jason didn't make a liar out of her.

"Would you like to help me with dinner?"

"Sure. What would you like me to do?" Buffy said getting up and following her aunt into the kitchen.

"Start chopping the lettuce for the salads."

Buffy nodded and got a knife, lettuce, and a big bowl. She just began chopping when Jason came in.

"Hi mom. Hi Cuz."

"So, were you able to help Billy and Kimberly with what they needed for their science project?" Buffy asked before her aunt could. Jason got the picture.

"Yeah, it seems they just needed another pair of eyes. So, is there anything I can help with?"

"You can help Buffy with the vegetables for the salad and then you both can set the table."

"Sure mom. Let me wash up first."

Jason headed to the bathroom to wash his hands before helping with dinner. He and Buffy got the salads done and started on the table. They each took a part. Buffy had silverware and glasses. Jason had plates and bowls. The two got into a bit of a playful mood and started sabotaging the other settings. Buffy would take a bowl. Jason would take a knife or fork.

Dinner had been wonderful. Her aunt always did make a mean spaghetti. They had all finished and Buffy and Jason were clearing the table.

"Buffy, why don't you and Jason leave that for a moment and come in here and tell us what you wanted to talk about?"

"Yes, Aunt Judy."

Jason put his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze to let her know he's there for her. They went into the family room and took a seat on the couch.

"I've got a really big problem and I'm not sure if you can help." Buffy started.

"You won't know until you tell us." Her uncle said.

"I think I might be wanted for a murder I didn't commit, and mom kicked me out of the house and told me not to come back." Buffy told them really fast.

"Wait a minute! Did you say murder? I think you better start at the beginning Buffy." Her uncle told her.

Buffy nodded and then proceeded to tell them a slightly altered tale than the one she told Jason. She made sure to leave out any parts with demons and vampires and saying that they were a gang. She told them about needing to help a friend.

"I found Kendra dead in the library. The principal and police found me standing over her body, but I didn't do it. My principal hates me, so he accused me right away. I still needed to find my friend, so I ran. I went home to check to see if he might have called. Mom got mad that I was going back out. She yelled at me and then she hit me…"

Buffy's eyes started to well up again and Buffy wasn't sure she was going to be able to tell the rest of the story. Her aunt Judy came and sat on the other side of her.

"Aunt Joyce said a lot of mean things to Buffy like she was a nuisance and that she should have gotten an abortion. She told Buffy that she was a mistake that happened when she was drunk and that's she's not even sure that Uncle Hank is her father." Jason told them.

"Buffy, honey, has Joyce been drinking again?" Buffy nodded yes.

"After dad left and we moved to Sunnydale she would have a drink after dinner every night. She told me she was celebrating her freedom from dad. Recently she's been celebrating a lot more. Last night was the first time she's ever hit me."

"Was she drunk last night?" Jim asked. Buffy nodded again.

"How could anybody say that to their own child? I never meant to cause her problems and I tried to be the daughter she wanted."

"Oh honey, it's not you." Her aunt hugged her tightly while Jason got up and handed her some tissues. "Your mother has a problem and I thought she had it under control, but I can see she doesn't. I'm guessing she stopped going to her AA meetings?"

"I don't ever remember her going to one."

"What happened after that Buffy?" Her uncle prompted.

"She told me to get out and not to come back. I left because I didn't want to take the chance that she would hit me again. I thought maybe she would calm down in a couple of hours. I went looking for my friend who I eventually found. He had been really roughed up, so I got him to a hospital. Once he was admitted I went back to the house hoping that I could sneak back to my room or mom would be passed out, but she meant what she said. She had all the locks changed and left me a bag of clothes on the step. I didn't know where else to go so I used what little money I had on me and caught the bus here."

Buffy finished and the room was quiet, and Buffy just let them digest what she had told them. It was her Uncle who broke the silence.

"Jason, why don't you and Buffy go up to your room? Your mother and I need to discuss this."

Both Buffy and Jason nodded and went upstairs. Half an hour later they called for Jason to come downstairs. It was another two minutes before Buffy was called down.

"Buffy, we've all discussed it and we don't want you going back to Sunnydale. We want you to come live here with us."

"Do you really mean that? I could really stay here?" Buffy eyes lit up and everyone could see a flicker of hope in them.

"Yes honey, we do. Joyce has had a problem with alcohol ever since she was sixteen. Mom and dad tried to get her help and at first it worked but your mother has always been a rebellious sort wanting to do things her own way. She would have never hit or said those things to you if she hadn't been drinking. That was the alcohol talking, but I don't want you staying there and giving her the chance to hit you again or abuse you with her words. Would you like to live here?"

"Yes! I do want to live here. Thank you!" Buffy said excitedly but then her face fell. "But what about the murder charge?"

"In the morning I'm going to call in a few favors to see if you are being charged with anything. Since I didn't see anything at the station about it maybe they have dropped the charges on you. Now why don't you two finish clearing the table and do the dishes. Judy and I are going into the study to talk to our lawyer about getting custody of Buffy."

Jason and Buffy watched them leave the family room and head to the study and then started back clearing the table.