When Connie heard about the second Willow, she had an opinion in the matter.
"I don't believe Willow was separated into her strong and weak parts. That may have been the intention, but that's not what happened. Willow separated into her ID and Ego. Her ID simply wants. Her Ego is her identity. Willow, you've been suppressing what you want in order to make others happy. Mostly your parents. I know from our sessions that they're rarely home and when they are, the only time you get any attention is when you behave in their idea of proper. It's time for you to begin finding a balance in your life. Make choices that suit you, not others. I'm not advocating you go overboard like your doppelganger did. Just figure out what makes you happy, not others. Explore hobbies that are just yours, outside computers. Spend more time in leisure activities. Get to know yourself, not who your parents want you to be. And when you're ready, the two us can have a conversation with them regarding your feelings. As psychologists themselves, they should be willing to allow you to become who you choose to be. You don't have to do that now, you'll know when you're ready."
######
"Mom's been having alot of headaches lately." Buffy told the gang. "I'm kinda worried about her."
"Maybe she should see a doctor." Amy suggested. "Headaches can be a sign of other problems. It could just be stress or it could be something worse. One or two headaches isn't a big deal, but multiple ones becomes worrisome."
"I tried to talk to her about it, but she doesn't think there's anything to worry about." Buffy answered.
"Well then, let's all go see her. Remind her that we love her and want her to be safe. Asked her to get checked for us." Xander said.
"Sounds like we're trying to guilt trip her, but if there really is something wrong and we didn't try to get her help, I'd never forgive myself." Cordelia said.
The gang convinced Joyce to get checked out. In the meantime, Buffy and Faith, along with Xander and Cordelia went on a patrol. While going thru the warehouses, they ran into a guy tied to a chair. He'd been beaten. Xander used a pocket knife and cut him loose. As they were helping him up, they were attacked. Oddly, by a nicely dressed and super strong woman who backhanded Buffy into a wall.
"Faith, grab Buffy!" Xander yelled and thru one of his homemade baseball size bombs at the woman. Faith grabbed Buffy and threw them both out of the window. Cordelia pulled the guy into the stairwell with her and then she and Xander helped him outside. The roof of the warehouse collapsed just as they got outside.
"My bomb wasn't big enough to do that. Maybe the building was weak or something. Come on, let's get this guy out of here." Leading him towards Buffy and Faith.
"No, my time is done." The man said. "I must warn you. The Abomination, she is looking for the Key."
"The Abomination, is that who that woman up there is?" Xander asked.
"Yes, she seeks the Key. My brothers and I, the Monks of Dagan, were it's protectors. Then she came, I am the last, she killed the rest. We managed to hide the Key. We molded it flesh. We made it from the Slayer and sent her to you, to protect it."
"You made someone from me?!" Buffy asked, incredulous.
"No, we sent her to you for protection. We made her from the Slayer."
"I am the Slayer!" Buffy exclaimed.
"No, she is." Pointing at Faith.
"The child, she is innocent, she knows nothing of what she was. She remembers only being a child."
"A child? Are you talking about Dawn?! She's the only child in our lives." Cordelia said.
"Yes, please, I beg you, protect her. The Abomination will use her to destroy us. She doesn't know anything." And his eyes went dark as his soul left him and moved on.
"Come on, there's nothing else we can do for him, we have to get to Giles and Jenny and tell them about this. Maybe they can find out something on this Key business." Xander said.
"And Dawn? What about her?" Buffy asked.
"We protect her. She's a child, Buffy. Innocent and unknowing. Our responsibility to take of, not just because she's a human in our territory, but because she's someone we love. Regardless of her origins, she's still one of us. Jenny can do diagnostics to confirm or deny what this guy said, but it changes nothing. She's still a child that needs protecting."
"I agree." Cordelia said. "And we should also ask them to investigate this Slayer business. I thought you were both Slayers, but that guy seems to think only Faith is."
"Yeah, that was weird. But not as weird as them somehow using me to make a person. How does that work anyway? Am I like a mom, without you know, getting pregnant and having a kid?" Faith asked.
"Or is she sort of a clone of you? I can understand why they sent her to Buffy. You'd have a hard time on your own, trying to take care of a kid and being a Slayer at the same time. Buffy's got Joyce, that makes a hell of a lot if difference." Xander said.
"Whichever it is, they're right, she's a kid that needs protecting. Let's go see G and Lady J and see about getting some answers." Faith said.
The four headed for Giles and Jenny's place, where they filled them in on the night's adventure. Jenny agreed to do diagnostics the next day and Giles immediately began searching for information on the Monks of Dagan and the Key.