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Change of Season	By : wright99 Category: BtVS AU/AR > FemmeSlash - Female/Female Views: 8857 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
A Change of Seasons, Chapter 22- NC-17

1

"Did you see that dress?"
Cordelia has an expression on her face that portrays an outrage at the effrontery of the fashioned challenged with the world weariness of one who has seen too much fashion horror to recover.
"I know what you mean! God, what was she thinking? With her figure? My god, it was a travesty�" Harmony Kendall shakes her head in disbelief.
"And stripes! With dots�"Cordelia has a shudder moment. "Who would mix stripes with dots?"
"It's obvious the girl has absolutely no taste!" Harmony exits Cordelia's car, waiting for Cordelia. "I so bet she believes that cr�me brul�e tastes the same as � mousse!" Harmony laughs at her own joke.
"Good one, Harm!"
Cordelia exits her Mazda MX-5 Miata, walking towards the front door. She casually waves at Harmony to follow.
"Thing is, didn't she even know she looked like a walking�?"
"Rorschach test!" Harmony finishes for her.
Cordelia throws her a look.
"I was going to say, optical illusion� anyway, something just had to be said!"
"Of course," Harmony nods in agreement, "There's no way that violation of fashion taste could be tolerated." She gets an almost carnivorous look on her face. "And the way you totally destroyed her? Masterful!"
"Harmony, Harmony, Harmony," Cordelia pauses to slip her car keys in her purse. Finished,, she looks up at her friend. "I use my powers to educate and correct those who are by circumstances fashion challenged. My purpose is for their own good. Can I help it they take it so personally?" She turns the knob on the front door, and enters her father's house. Harmony follows.
"They're so ungrateful," Harmony sympathizes, closing the door behind her. "You're the Mother Teresa of fashion sense, Cor. It's just too bad they're too narrow and selfish to see your sacrifice!"
"I know, I know," Cordelia shakes her head, resignedly. "They simply can't conceive the heavy burden of responsibility one carries when one is head cheerleader and the most popular person at Sunnydale high."
"They're so blind, Cor! They can't see how unselfish you are!" Harmony declares. "They simply don't appreciate you as I do." Her tone softens, and there's an almost hungry look in her eyes.
"You know what, Harm? You were right. Going shopping really did make me feel better. Thanks," Cordelia flings her arm around Harmony's shoulder, giving her a friendly hug. Harmony lights up like a Christmas tree.
"Miss Cordelia. Welcome home! Ah, Miss Harmony, good to see you again."
Cordelia and Harmony look up to see Charles, the Chase's butler, fast approaching. Cordelia quickly drops her arm.
"Good afternoon, Charles," Cordelia acknowledges him. "Harm and I were just going up to my room�"
"Actually, Miss Cordelia, Mr. Chase wishes to see you in his study," Charles informs her.
"Really?" Cordelia frowns a little. "did he say what for? Me and Harm were just going to study�"
Harmony let's slip a nervous giggle. Cordelia gives her a withering look.
"� and you know how my dad feels about my grades�" Cordelia continues.
"Ah, yes. Well, he did say it was important, and that he wanted to see you immediately when you arrived home�" Charles is immovable.
"I see�" Cordelia's frown deepens. She turns to Harmony. "Why don't you go up and wait for me? Make yourself comfy� you know where everything is. I'll be up in a jiff and a half." She smiles at Harmony.
"Sure, Cor," Harmony smiles back, but seems a little puzzled. "But didn't you want �"
"Just go on, Harm. I won't be long. Promise," Cordelia's tone gets a little firmer, more commanding.
"Ok," Harmony answers compliantly. She senses the change in Cordelia's mood, and doesn't want to anger her. "I'll get everything ready for studying, 'k?"
"Thanks, Harm," Cordelia turns and moves to Charles, who's been waiting to the side. "Let's go." Her tone has taken on a flat quality.
They walk silently as they make their way down the hallway to Avery Chase's study. As they reach the door, Charles makes to continue on, but Cordelia stops him by placing a hand on his arm.
"Did dad mention what he wanted?" Her tone betrays her nervousness. A summons like this usually wasn't for good things.
"No, miss. Only that he wanted to see you, and that it was important." Charles' expression is perfectly neutral, as befits a butler, but his eyes express an empathy. "Is there anything else, Miss?"
I don't suppose you'd go in there for me? She thinks, looking at him. No, of course not!
"No thank you, Charles," Cordelia turns, and knocks on her father's study door.
"Come in!"
Cordelia sighs, and turns the knob, letting herself into Avery's study.
Even at 45, Avery Chase cuts a fine figure of the aristocratic man: Tall, naturally lean and athletic, his face serene but his eyes dark and slightly restless, he stands in front of his large oak desk, leaning on the edge. He's wearing a silk Armani suit, dark and conservatively cut. His arms are crossed over his chest.
Cordelia knows from the instant she walks in, that she's in trouble. He's standing, not sitting. That's never a good sign. She can feel the disapproval rolling off her father like waves, and she's quite familiar with the feeling. Oh, god, what've I done now? Still, she decides the best defense is offense, and decides to take the bull by the horns, so to speak.
"Hi, Dad," She greets him breezily, smiling winningly. She walks over to him at the desk, "You look handsome as always." Standing next to him, she touches the sleeve of his suit. "I just love you in that suit. It makes you looks so powerful!"
"You're late," Avery replies tersely. He looks at his watch. "You were supposed to be home an hour ago�"
"Yes, sir, I'm sorry about that," Cordelia explains. "Harm and I were shopping. And I came up with some routines for cheerleading, and we got to talking about them, seeing if we could get them work. I mean, some of those girls? I won't say they're 'tards, but they're really slow learners."
"Yes, Shopping�I certainly can't fault your dedication to fashion. Am I going to have to take out a second mortgage on the house to finance this little spending spree? I didn't think it possible, but I think you spend it faster than I make it�" He pushes off his desk, and circles around to sit behind it. He looks up, noting Cordelia still standing. "Are you going to sit down?" He waves at one of chairs in front of the desk.
Cordelia quickly sits, placing her hands primly in her lap. Damn, he's in serious mode. This can't be good at all. She really hates sitting in these chairs; they're set lower than Avery's, allowing him to look down on the occupant. She always feels like a ten year old in trouble sitting here.
"As I was saying," Avery continues, picking up some papers on his desk, "I certainly can't fault your dedication to retail..." He glances down at the papers in his hands, and sighs, "However, I'm not at all impressed by what I see of your grades�". His expression becomes grimmer. "Is there some explanation for the paucity of A's? And your calculus grade�" His lips tighten, and Cordelia feels the butterflies starting up in her tummy,"� well, you're teacher sent along a note. She feels you could be doing much better, but you're not applying yourself. You seem to be distracted." He looks at her with his penetrating gaze, as if expecting an answer.
That old hag! Maybe if she were more interesting than peeling paint, I might pay attention more�
"I'm really trying, daddy," Cordelia can't quite keep the whine out of her voice. "But calculus is very hard�"
"I'm well aware of that, Cordelia," Avery nods. "Still, according to your teacher, you could apply yourself more."
"I'm trying the best I can, daddy," Cordelia whimpers, her lip trembling. "I really am!"
"Are you? Yes, I suppose you are. Though, you were doing so much better when you were still being tutored by� what was her name again?"
"Willow� Willow Rosenberg�"
"Yes. Willow Rosenberg. When she was here, you were doing a lot better�" He sets down the papers in disgust. "Why did she leave again?"
"Uh� uh�" Cordelia stalls. Shit, I so don't need this now! "She quit. She got tired of trying to teach me I guess�I dunno." Cordelia shrugs.
"That's too bad� because obviously she had an effect on you� you're grades shot up. You did learn things from her, right?"
"YES! She's� she's very smart. She taught me a lot�" A lot I don't want you to know!
"Too bad it didn't stick," Avery shakes his head. "Maybe I call her up� see if she's available �"
"NO!" Cordelia almost shouts. "I mean, we � she and I � uh� she's really busy these days� tutoring other students and stuff�"
"Is that so?" Avery looks at her intently, causing Cordelia to feel he's seeing through her clothes. "Busy." He mulls that over a little. "Well, perhaps if I sweetened the deal, offered more money, she could find the time�"
"No, daddy, please. I.. can do this myself. I need to do it myself, ok?"
He looks doubtful.
"Please, daddy?" Cordelia begs. "I'll do better, I promise."
"You'd better, young lady. You're a Chase. We have an image to uphold!"
"I know, daddy," Cordelia looks down. "I've let you down."
"I won't say I'm not disappointed," Avery gets up from his desk, and crosses around it, sitting on the edge and looking down on his daughter. "But I know you try, honey. You try hard�" he chucks her under the chin, raising her face. "You just have to try harder, that's all."
"I� I'm just stupid�" Cordelia's lip trembles.
"NO!" Avery demurs firmly. "You're not stupid. Sometimes I worry about you� wonder if you take things seriously enough�"He looks her straight in the eye. "� but you're certainly not stupid. You're a Chase; that means something."
"I'm not what you want, I know that�" Cordelia's voice is soft. "I know you wish I were a boy."
"Don't be ridiculous, girl!" Avery frowns. He cups her cheek with his hand. "Don't ever think that. I'm very happy you're my daughter."
"No, you aren't," Cordelia whimpers. She rubs her soft cheek against his hand. "I embarrass you. I disappoint you!"
"That couldn't be any further from the truth, sugarpop," Avery uses her nickname. "No parent could be prouder of his child than I am of you." He rubs his thumb on her cheek. "Sometimes, though, you have to admit. You're a little lazy, and really spoiled�"
"I know�"She says softly, "I really want you to be proud of me, daddy�" She turns her face in his palm, capturing his thumb between her lips and kissing it. She looks up at him, her eyes warm and inviting.
Avery feels a rush of pleasure rush down his spine, and suffuse throughout his body.
"You are a good girl, Cordelia, mostly�"His voice has taken on a throaty quality. "I'm partially to blame for this, I know. I'm so busy, that I don't have enough time to give you� maybe I spoil you too much� give you too much. I just want the best for you�
"I know," Cordelia crosses her leg, her skirt hiking up a bit to reveal a shapely thigh. "You're the best daddy a girl could have." She arches her back, thrusting her chest forward, revealing a bit of cleavage to his interested eyes. "Sometimes, I just miss you sooo much�" She rubs her lips over his thumb, from tip to base.
Avery feels a familiar discomfort in his loins, and adjusts a little to relieve it. His breathing becomes shallower, more ragged.
"I miss you too, sugarpop. Sometimes I wonder where the time goes. It seems like only yesterday you were a little girl of ten, sitting in that chair, all pigtails and short skirts and freckles. Now look at you�" his eyes wander to her chest, and a lusty gleam appears. "You're all grown up. A smart, sexy and pretty young woman."
"Really?" She looks up at him, her eyes sparkling. She blushes prettily. "You think I'm pretty?"
"You're really the little charmer, aren't you?" Avery chuckles. "You know you're the prettiest girl in Sunnydale."
"But it means everything, coming from you�" She reaches up, capturing Avery's hands in hers. She rubs her lips against the palm."� cuz, you're the most handsome, sexiest dad a girl could have�" She sucks his finger into her mouth, caressing it with her tongue. She releases it slowly, her mouth making a little popping sound when it's out. "A sexy dad who I'd do anything to make happy." She surrounds the next finger with her lips, sucking on it softly. "Anything at all�"she murmurs.
"Oh, no you don't, you little vixen," Avery says with a hoarse voice. "You're trying to seduce me, aren't you?"
"Maybe�" Cordelia says softly, her voice girlish and sultry at the same time. "If you have to ask, I'm not doing it right�" She looks down and notices the large bulge in his slacks. "What do you think?"
"I think my spoiled, lazy little girl needs to have some discipline!"
He reaches down, and grabbing her by her shoulders, pulls her roughly to him.
Cordelia, in a calculated move, 'trips', and leans heavily against him.
"I'm sorry daddy," She says in her best little girl voice. "I didn't mean to be bad�"
"Don't lie to me, Cordelia. Of course you meant to be bad. You're spoiled, and you think you can get away with anything. Don't you?" He shakes he roughly, a couple of buttons on her tight blouse popping.
"N-no, daddy," Cordelia's voice trembles. She feels an icicle of fear in her stomach, seeing his hard expression.
"You're not too old to take over my knee, young lady!"
"No, daddy, please�" Her lip trembles, her eyes wide. "Don't spank me, please! It hurts so much when you spank me!"
"Maybe you should've thought of that sooner, young lady," Avery grabs her, and forces over his desk. "Too late now!" He pulls up her skirt, revealing her shapely, firm bottom, encased in a pair of panties a size too small. There is a small dark telltale stain in the crotch.
He shrugs off his jacket, and rolls up his sleeves, preparing to do what he must. He presses a hand on her back to hold her down.
"Please, daddy! I'm sorry�"Cordelia tries to break free, but he holds her fast. "Don't, please!"
"I'm doing this for your own good, Cordelia," Avery pulls down the panties roughly, revealing the soft tear drop shape globes. "You need to learn to be responsible."
For a moment, he stands there, taking in the shape of her pretty buttocks; the way they seem to flow from her hips into her thighs. Almost against his will, he reaches out, lightly caressing the soft skin. He feels a small shudder rush through his daughter. He smiles.
Rearing back, he brings his palm down hard on her quivering ass.
WHACK!
"Please, stop," Cordelia whimpers, her tone colored by her conflicting desires. Fear, humiliation, anger, need, excitement and lust all twist her stomach into knots, fire her core with a white hot flame.
"You want me to stop?" Avery almost tears her blouse as he pulls her violently to himself. He twists her around as he hauls her up, facing her. "Will you be good?"
"I'll be good, I promise. Just stop�" She cries, writhing against him, her nipples pressed painfully against the lace of her bra. The knots in her stomach twist tighter as the pressure in her core builds. She can feel his rigid cock pressing between her thighs, the rough silk of his suit rubbing almost painfully against her swollen lips. She feels weak and dizzy, her heart pumping furiously in her chest. She leans against him, despite the pain, to keep from falling.
"I don't believe you," He says hoarsely, consumed in his own lust, his hips pumping against hers. "Prove it!" His hands come up, grabbing her breasts and mauling them.
Cordelia groans, and closes her thighs around his throbbing cock, rolling her hips to rub the silken material of his suit against it. Avery lets out a moan, and pulls her even tighter against him, thrusting against her, the pressure building in him. Cordelia snakes her arm up, grasping him behind his head, and pulls him into a scorching, lust fueled kiss. Her mouth opens, accepting his rough tongue. She sucks on it like candy, all the while rubbing herself obscenely against him.
He pushes her down on the desk, and almost rips her skirt off her. He swiftly unbuckles his belts, and in one motion pulls his pants and underwear down. His cock, freed from confinement, springs out, thick and erect, the head purplish and swollen. He grabs her thighs, and pulls her against him, sinking his cock deep in her in one savage thrust.
Cordelia lets out a gurgling cry as his cock penetrates her. Despite her slickness, the thickness and length of his cock stretches her painfully, and the sharp pain cuts through her like a knife. She throws her legs over his shoulders as he begins to pound his cock in her pussy.
He ravishes her; there's no other way to describe it. His cock thrusts savagely in and out of her, coated in her honey. He enjoys the feel of her tight velvety wetness, and grabbing her thighs, he lifts her, so he can sink his cock even deeper into her pussy. He grunts deeply, enjoying even more the power this gives over her.
Her cries and whimpers become deep moans as her channel stretches to accommodate his rough thrusting. She finds herself thrusting back, her clit being savagely sawed by his thick cock, pressed hard as each time his pelvis thumps against hers. The skin on her back feels raw as his thrusts rub her against the hard surface of the desk, but that only adds to the pleasure building within her. The white hot fire in her core spreads, consuming her belly and breasts and her legs and arms and toes as she is driven closer and closer to the edge.
There are no words, no endearments exchanged as both give into their lust. Only grunts and groans, moans and panting are heard as each savagely fuck the other. Their bodies hump and push, sweating and slick, as they seek the final release.
Avery's groans become deeper as he feels the pressure increase in his scrotum. He shuts his eyes against the sweat pouring down his face. His humping becomes frantic as he grabs her ass brutally, sinking his fingers into the soft flesh.
Cordelia cries out in pain, feeling her muscles clamp down on his shaft as she feels the first tremors of his ultimate release. Her nerves are jumbled and frazzled, her skin feels on fire, and her whole body feels like one giant ball of lightning, ready to explode.
Avery bellows as his cum bursts forth inside her. He feels as if everything, his guts, his heart, his body is being released into her waiting receptacle, pumped out of him by her vaginal muscles, and absorbed into her. Again and again, he spurts inside of her, filling her with his seed.
Cordelia screams, her body feeling his hot cum within her core, her nerves breaking apart and frying, her mind destroyed with pure pleasure. Each gush brings a fresh tide of bliss, a spike of intense emotional release, followed by a sweet calm. She was sore and raw, her body sweaty, her eyes gummy, her mouth parched. But she didn't even notice, her mind fogged by pure gratification.
She feels him withdrawing, leaving her, and she whimpers. She tries to hold him, keep him inside her, but she feels him go, hears the plopping noise as his cock withdraws from her pussy. She sighs deeply, feeling suddenly alone.
Avery pulls her limp, sore body off the desk, and holds her, pressing her tight against him. She leans against him for support, and she feels soft and warm in his arms. He looks down into her hooded eyes, and gently kisses her. A sweet kiss filled with love and affection.
"I love you, daddy," Cordelia murmurs when the kiss breaks. She nuzzles her face into his neck, caressing him with her lips.
"I love you too, precious," Avery says, caressing her back. There's a slightly wistful note in his tone.
She breaks off her nuzzling, and looks up into his face.
"What is it, daddy?" She recognizes his expression. "What do you want?"
He looks at her for a moment, then smiles. He shakes his head.
"Don't worry about it, sugarpop. We'll talk about it another time."
She knows what that means. She better insist, or he'll get upset.
"Tell me, daddy," She insists. Her hand slips down, and she gently wraps her fingers around his semi soft cock. She begins to stroke him gently. "You know I want to make you happy." She feels him start to grow hard in her hand. "C'mon, tell me�"
"You know you make me happy, but�"
"But?"
"Sometimes, I want something a little different," He pants a little as her hand works it's magic. "I like a little variety�"
Cordelia smiles knowingly. This isn't the first time her father has asked this favor. She rather enjoys playing pimp for him. She enjoys the feeling of power she gets when she gives up one of her friends to her father. And she knows she'll get something special for delivering the goods.
"Who is it, daddy? One of my cheerleaders?" She pumps him faster, feeling his shaft rapidly growing hard. "Harmony? Maybe Cindy? Aurora's sweet, too�"
"No, not one of your cheerleaders," Avery pants, thinking about the girl as Cordelia strokes him. "One of your other classmates�"
"Oh? That might be a little harder�" Cordelia works to improve her bargaining position.
"Oh, I don't think it'll be that hard�"Avery looks at her, face flushed. "After all, she's already worked for you� well, me�"
Cordelia feels a chill go down her spine. Her hand stops abruptly, and she looks up into his face.
"Who?" She asks, letting go of him.
"I want your tutor, Willow."

* * *

Cordelia stands there for a moment, Daddy's dick in her hand, stunned. Then she snorts, waving her free hand as if to dismiss the idea.
"God, daddy, you had me going there for a minute," She laughs, sinking down on her knees in front of Avery. " That's just too funny!"
She leans over, and gives Avery's hardened cock a lick, causing it to jerk in her hand. Gotta get him distracted before he gets too fixed on that idea�
Avery reaches down, and grabbing her hair, jerks her head up. His expression gives her another chill.
"I'm perfectly serious, Cordelia. I want Willow Rosenberg. Is that clear enough for you?" He frowns at her, face set.
"C'mon, daddy, get real," Cordelia still treats it like a joke. She frees her hair, and turns her attention to the business in hand. Holding up his swollen cock, she gives it a long, slow lick from the base to tip, her tongue leaving a trail of saliva. She looks up at him, licking her lips seductively.
"I'm not joking, Cordelia!" He grabs her head, holding her still. "I want to fuck her."
"God, dad! She's a fucking stick girl. She makes Olive Oyl look like a centerfold! Why would you want her?" She turns her face, kissing his palm. "You'd break her in half with your cock, daddy. Let me get Harmony for you. She's nice and soft and curvy�" She starts to pump his throbbing cock with her hand. "She has a nice, plump ass� you know how you like to plunge it up my ass�"
"Ms. Rosenberg's ass seemed good enough for you when she was here." Avery smiles at her evilly.
"What?!" The color drains from Cordelia's face, "What're you talking about?" Again, her hand stops moving.
"Do you really think I'm stupid, Cordelia?"
"N-No, daddy�" Cordelia stutters, throat dry.
"I know perfectly well that more than studying was going on up in your room when Ms. Rosenberg was here�" He grabs her shoulders, and roughly brings her to her feet. "More than once I passed by your room, and hear moans and groans coming from there. You should be more discreet, Cordelia� no matter how good it feels." He arches a brow. "You should always remember to close your door, Cordelia�"
Oh�God�

"Daddy, I can explain�"
"What? That you like to eat pussy?" He chuckles, "No need, sugarpop, that was pretty obvious�" He pushes her roughly, forcing her into a chair. He leans over her. "You were so wrapped up in it, you didn't even see me standing there. Didn't see me, either of you, jack off while you went at each other� I really enjoyed the show, baby�" His cock twitches, thinking about it. "It was very educational."
Cordelia feels as if her whole world is collapsing around her. She sinks into the chair, wishing she could hide under the cushion.
"Daddy, I'm so sorry�"
"I'm not," He says, looking at her. "Think I haven't played on the other team a few times? An ass is an ass, Cordelia. And a boy's ass can be charmingly tight�"
Cordelia groans softly.
"But it's not a boy's ass I want. It's your little lover's ass, and I want it bad. Get me?" He grabs her chin, forcing her to look at him. "And you're going to bring her to me. Is that clear?"
"I can't" She mumbles. "We� had another fight. A big one� she walked out on me! It's over�"
SLAP!!!
Her head rings as Avery's hand slaps her hard across the face. She looks at him, frightened.
"Then you get her back, do you hear? You get her back. Do whatever you've got to do to win her back. No one walks out on a Chase�" He slaps her again. "You get her back, and get her here for me. Understand?"
Tears stream down her face from the pain of the blows. Her face is red from them, and from the anger and humiliation she feels. She looks at him, wide eyed in fear. But she looks at him.
"No," She says softly, voice trembling.
He grabs her by the hair, pulling her to her feet. He leans into her, eye to eye. His mouth is turned down in a scowl.
"I'm sorry," He says sarcastically, "I thought I heard you say no. I must've heard you wrong!"
She looks at him, eye to eye, and suddenly the fear is replaced by anger. Hot, sweet anger.
"No!" She says, louder, more firmly. "I won't do it!"
"You little slut�" He backhands her, knocking her back into the chair. He leans over her, menacingly. "Who do you think you are, telling me no?" He grabs her breasts, mauling them painfully. "You never, EVER, tell me no, bitch! Is that clear?" He twists her breasts, causing her to cry out in pain. "Is it?"
"FUCK OFF!" She screams at him, bringing her knee up, hitting him where it hurts the most. He groans, grabbing himself and doubling over. She quickly scrambles out of the chair. Enraged, she starts beating on his back. "You can't have her, you sick bastard! You can't! I won't let you touch her!" Her fists rain down on his back.
"SHUT UP!" He roars, bringing his well muscled arm around, knocking her flat on her ass.
Groaning, he walks over to her, keeping himself protected. Grabbing an arm, he twists it painfully behind her back, forcing her to her feet. He pushes her along, throwing her down, face first, on the chair. Holding her there, he reaches over and grabs a steel ruler he keeps on his desk.
"You little cunt!" He brings the ruler across her back, causing her to howl in pain. "You've forgotten who's in charge here. Who pays the bills, who keeps a roof over your head, who makes sure you only have the best of everything." He brings the ruler across her buttocks, eliciting another scream. "You think you can defy me, do you?" He hits her again. "Do you?"
She doesn't say anything. She only groans from the pain.
WHACK!!
"You're gonna get me your slutty little girlfriend, understand?"
"NO!"
WHACK!
"What?"
NO!"
WHACK! WHACK! WHACK!
Cordelia sobs and cries out, yelping in pain and humiliation.
"SHUT UP! TAKE IT LIKE A CHASE!" He hits her again. "You're going to get me that slut, got it?"
"NO! I WON'T! FUCK YOU!" Cordelia screams at him.
"Why're you protecting her?" WHACK! "She's white trash!" WHACK! WHACK! "She's nothing, a little slutty whore!"
"SHE'S NOT!" Cordelia yells. "YOU'RE THE WHORE, YOU BASTARD!"
"HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!" Avery grabs her hair, pulling her back. He raises the steel ruler high. "You have some respect, bitch!"
Her eyes go wide as he swings the ruler. At the last moment, he changes course, hitting her shoulder instead of her face. She yelps in agony.
"I won't have any more of your defiance," He says in a soft, menacing tone. "Do you understand me, Cordelia?"
Her heart feels encased in ice. The soft tone scares her more than the yelling. For once, she's mortally afraid.
But she won't give. Not on this. Ever.
"No! I won't do it. You can't have her!"
"Very well�" His voice is like ice.
Without another word, he begins to brutally savage her with the ruler. He beats her across the back, buttocks, and upper thighs, making sure no bruising, not cuts will show under clothing. Again and again, his arm comes down, laying welts and cuts all over her. The anger, the blood arouses him, and as a last humiliation, he drops the ruler, and grabbing her thighs, he pulls her towards him. Without any preparation, he forces his large, swollen cock up her anus, raping her. He brutally, savagely humps her, until he comes. Blood and semen leak out of her ass.
Cordelia doesn't make a sound. She holds onto the edge of the chair, her knuckles white. The pain is beyond unendurable, but she almost bites through her lip to keep from crying out. She can't, won't give him the satisfaction to see she's hurt. Ever. When his cock painfully rips into her anus, she almost loses it, almost screams. As is, dark spots appear at the edges of her sight, and she almost passes out from the agony. But she holds on, determined to take whatever he gives out.
Finally, spent, Avery grabs her, and throws her on the floor. He shoves her with his foot, causing her to thrust forward, jamming her jaw painfully into the carpet. She pushes up, panting.
"Get out, get out of my sight," He growls at her, kicking her again.
Cordelia, weak, hurting in places she didn't know she had, starts to crawl away. It takes everything she has not to pass out.
"Don't even think this is over," He threatens her as she retreats.
"I always get what I want!"

* * *

"Where is she?"
Harmony Kendall lies on Cordelia's bed, barely covered by a borrowed blue silk wrapper. She flops over on her belly, staring out the window. Getting bored with it, she reaches over, and turns on the radio. Playing with the dial, she finally finds something she wants to listen to.
"God, I've been here, for like forever!" Harmony complains to herself, even though it's only been an hour or so. "Is she ever going to come upstairs? Or did she forget all about me? Like that would be new," Harmony lays back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
After counting the ceiling tiles for a few minutes, she gets bored and flips back over on her tummy.
"Why does she always do this to me?" Harmony moans, kicking her legs on the bed. "It's always. 'Wait for me, Harm'. 'I'll be there in awhile, Harm.' 'I've got important stuff to do, Harm'. Well, geeze, aren't I important, too? Don't I count at all?" She pounds her small fist on the bed. "God, she treats me like dirt, and I keep coming back for more. I'm sooo stupid!" She pushes off the bed, sitting on her knees. "Well, I should teach her a lesson. She can't keep treating me this way. I should go. I should just get dressed and leave�"
"Harmony!"
Harmony almost jumps out of her skin as the sharp voice of her mistress snaps at her. She whirls around, getting entangled in the loose garment, and tries to get up. She trips over herself, and falls on her face.
"Cordelia! Where've you been?" Harmony untangles herself, standing up. She pulls the wrapper around her, cinching the belt. "I bought this. Like it?" She looks at her hopefully.
Cordelia is standing in the doorway, dressed in a robe she borrowed from her father's room. She leans heavily on the doorjamb.
"You're right, Harmony. You should get dressed and go. I � we can't study today�"
Harmony senses something amiss. First of all, Cor should be reaming me out for being impatient. Oh, and she almost never breaks a 'study' date. Ever. What's going on? What happened?
Cordelia moves into the room, walking a little shakily towards the bed. She sits down, and winces.
"Cor? What's wrong? What happened?" She walks over, sitting next to her. "Why're you dressed like that? Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, ok?" Cordelia snaps at her impatiently. "Since when do I have to explain myself to you, anyway?" She sees Harmony's wounded expression, and softens her tone. "I'm sorry, I'm just feeling a little out of sorts � and dad was in a bad mood. It'd be best if you went home now, baby. We'll do this another time, ok?" She smiles weakly at the blonde girl.
Cordelia leans over to give Harmony a kiss on the cheek, and the robe, already loose on her, slips a little. The welt on her shoulder is plainly visible.
"What's that, Cor?" Harmony reaches out to touch her shoulder. She feels her stomach start to churn.
"What?" Cordelia sees the slip, and moves to cover it. "Nothing, it's nothing. You should go now."
"That's not nothing," Harmony says, pulling the robe back. She sees the welt again. "How did this happen?" Suspicious, she pulls harder on the robe, to get a better look, and suddenly Cordelia's back is revealed. "OH my GOD! Cordelia! What happened to you?" Harmony stares at her back in shock. What happened? Oh, I know what happened. THAT BASTARD!!! "Your dad? He did this, didn't he?"
Cordelia doesn't speak, she just shakes her head dismissively.
"Nothing! Nothing happened�" Cordelia suddenly sounds lost and defeated. " What's with the 20 questions, anyway? Just go, please, Harmony. Just go!"
"I'm so not going!" Harmony declares. "Not until you tell me what happened to you!" She reaches out, lightly touching Cordelia's back.
Cordelia shudders in pain, and pulls quickly away.
"God, can't you do the simplest thing, Harmony Kendall? Were you born stupid, or was it an acquired thing? Why do you always gotta snoop on me? God, just get out! Do I have to throw you out? Get OUT!"
"Ok, OK, I'm going!" Harmony gets up, wounded. "Gosh, Cordelia, why do you always have to be so mean to me!? I'm just worried about you! You always treat me like a dog!"
She can't help herself. As she rushes around the room to collect her clothes, she starts to cry.
"I'm only your best friend you know. I wasn't trying to snoop. I just wanted to know if you were ok! God, you're such a cruel�"
"Bitch? I'm a cruel bitch? Is that what you were gonna say?"
"No.. I mean� oh I don't know what I mean!"
Cordelia is suddenly on her feet, energized by anger. She goes over and grabs Harmony, tearing the clothes out of her hands and throwing them away.
"Why'd you do that?" Harmony whines. "How am I supposed to leave without my clothes?"
"So, you think I'm a cruel bitch, do you?" Cordelia sneers at her. She shoves Harmony, driving her back to the bed. She pushes her hard, and Harmony falls back on the bed. "What do you want from me, Harmony? You want me to fuck your brains out? Is that what you want?" She shucks off the borrowed robe, jumps on Harmony, straddling her stomach and pinning her to the bed. She starts to rub her mound against Harmony's stomach. "C'mon, Harmony! This is what you want, isn't it? Go ahead, Harmony. Fuck me! You wanna fuck me, don't you!" She grinds herself into Harmony's belly.
"What's wrong with you! Why're you doing this to me? I'm just trying to help!" Harmony yells at her. She tries to buck Cordelia off, but she only manages to free her arms. Upset, forgetting for a moment what she saw, she reaches up, and starts hitting Cordelia on the shoulders and back. "Let me alone! Let me GO!"
Cordelia screams in pain, and hunching into a ball, she rolls off Harmony. As she rocks and moans in pain, Harmony quickly scrambles off the bed, to get away from her.
"God, Cordelia! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry�" Harmony tries to approach her, but Cordelia kicks and punches out at her, driving her back. Harmony retreats out of reach.
"Just go away!" Cordelia moans, sobbing. "Just go away and leave me ALONE!"
"No, I won't!" Harmony declares in a rare act of pure defiance. "I won't just leave you alone. Not like this!"
"Harmony, please?" Cordelia begs. "I'll be ok. I just� I need you to go now. Please?"
"I can't, don't you see?" Harmony says softly, "I can't leave you. Not with you like this."
Cordelia looks up at her, her expression a mixture of gratitude, worry and hurt. The look is like twin daggers in Harmony's soft heart. She comes over to Cordelia, gently stroking her arm.
"Baby, Cor, please let me help you?"
"Lock the door, Harm. Please? If you're going to stay?"
Harmony crosses to the door, shutting it and locking it. She turns back to Cordelia.
"Ok, it's locked."
Cordelia stares at her, and the tears start to flood out of her eyes. She sobs deeply, gut wrenching sobs torn from her soul.
"Oh, Cor, baby, don't. Don't cry�" Harmony starts to cry too, seeing Cordelia so torn up. "Don't, baby�" She comes over, and insinuates herself on the bed, holding Cordelia as closely and as gently as possible. "It's ok, it'll be ok�"
"No� no, it won't�" Cordelia sobs, clinging to her best friend. "It'll never be ok. He hurt me. He hurt me so bad. But I didn't cry, I was strong, Harm. I didn't let him see me cry�" She lays her head on Harmony's shoulder, sobbing miserably.

This isn't the first time Harmony has held Cordelia like this. Not the first time she's comforted her when she was broken by Avery. She knows she can't do anything to him. Cordelia forbids it. She wants to gut the bastard, make him pay for hurting her Cor. Then turn him over to the police, like he deserve. She tried, the first few times, but Cordelia almost went crazy. She babbled and yelled, saying Harmony would ruin everything if she did that. Make everything worse. So she held her peace, though she hates the way she feels. Like a coward.
If I ever get the chance, I'm gonna cut that bastard's balls off, and feed it to his ugly face, Harmony thinks. No one hurts my sweet Cor like this. Not and live�
But she'll never tell Cordelia how much she hates Avery Chase. She'll never tell how much she wants to make him suffer for all the suffering he's given her and Cordelia. She knows, for some strange twisted reason, Cordelia adores him, and she'd never, ever do anything to hurt Cordelia. Not even kill her abuser.
"It's ok, Cor, baby," Harmony gathers her in her arms, holding the suffering girl close. "I'm here now. I won't let him hurt you now�"
"He�he didn't mean to," Cordelia says, her tone beyond hurt, "He� he's just so stressed�he� he's not evil, Harmony. I know you think he is, but he's not� " She sobs quietly. "It just hurt so much�"
"I know, I know�"
She knows it's going to be a long night. She'll have to get up, and get the stuff to tend to Cordelia's wounds. Then she'll listen as Cordelia sobs out her broken heart. Then she'll just hold her all night, keeping the bad things away.
But that's what you do, isn't it?

When you really love someone?

2

"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to the Jerry Springer show�"
Loud applause and hoots from the audience. "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!"
"On tonight's show, we have a family that even surprises me in its dysfunction."
More hoots and hollers. "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!"
"Let's get right to it. Let me introduce my first guest, Buffy Summers!"
More wild applause, followed by "Oooo's" and catcalls as a very pregnant Buffy walks , or more accurately, waddles onto stage. She's obviously 8 � months along, and is holding her belly as she makes her way to the guest chair. She stands for a moment, next to Jerry, trying to determine if she'll actually fit in the chair. Then, with a relieved sigh, she plops down next to him. She smiles, and waves at the audience, which sets off another chorus of catcalls.
"Ok, ok, that's enough," Jerry waves his hands to calm the audience down. He turns to Buffy. "Normally, I give some background into the family that appears onstage. But yours is so�unique� that I wanted the audience to hear it in your own words."
"Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" "Buffy! Buffy! Buffy!"
"Unique? Does that mean different?" Buffy asks, looking confused.
"Well, yes."
"Oh, gosh, Jerry, not so sure that our family is all that different from the other families back in the trailer park�"
The audience acts up. Jerry gets up and waves them down. "Please, we need some quiet if we're going to continue�"
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, not at all, Buffy. Please continue."
"Well, Jerry, as I was saying, I don't think our family's all that different. We have a mom, and a dad� though he's not around a lot these days, and there's my little sis, Dawn, and we live in a doublewide. Not one of those trashy trailers!"
More catcalls.
"You'd need it Blondie, with that load you're carrying!" Someone shouts out.
General laughter from the audience. Jerry makes an annoyed face, and Buffy blushes.
"Please, go on Ms. Summers."
"Well, I guess there is a difference, kinda� we recently took in a boarder�"
"Really? In a trailer? Where does she sleep?"
"Well, with my mom, of course! She's my mom's lesbian lover!"
A large OOOOOO from the audience, followed by hoots.
"You're mom's lesbian lover? Really? How does your dad feel about that?"
"Well, gosh, Jerry, he doesn't know about it, of course!"
Laughter from the audience.
"Well, I think he'll know about it now�" Jerry grins at the audience.
"Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!"
"Gee, I guess he will, won't he?" Buffy spaces a little.
"However, that isn't all. You mentioned something else about your mom's lesbian lover?"
"Er� yeah�" Buffy feels a little embarrassed.
"Go ahead, Buffy. We're all friends here�"
"Well� thing is, Faith� that's my mom's lesbian lover� well, she's like half my mom's age. Shoot, she's only a couple years older than me!"
The audience gasps, then back to the hollers and catcalls.
"Really. Wasn't there something else about this� Faith, was it? � you wanted to mention?"
"Well, gee, Jerry, it's not really about Faith so much, though it involves her�" Buffy trails off.
"Come on, Buffy. Don't be shy." Jerry turns to the audience. "We're all here for you, Buffy!"
More cheering from the audience.
"Well, it's really more about my sister, Dawn"
Ooooo's from the audience.
"You see, she's totally in love with my mom's lesbian lover, and wants her for herself!" Buffy beams.
Cheers, hoots and catcalls.
"Well, this is getting interesting!" Jerry adjusts a little in his chair, and Buffy can't help noticing that something else has gotten a little larger since she sat down. "Maybe it's time we meet the rest of the family!"
The Audience explodes, clapping and cheering and hollering. To this background, Jerry signals the rest of the Summers' family to come out.
First out are Faith and Joyce, walking with their arms around each other's waist, playing grab-ass. Faith is dressed in a leather micro mini, bustier and black leather jacket, left open. She's wearing black stockings, and ankle boots with 2" heels. Her hair is done up "big" style, looking more like a mane than hair.
Joyce, on the other hand, is tottering along on 4" heels, which go perfectly with the rest of her outfit. Skin tight hot pants, a red satin blouse tied just under her breasts, and fishnet stockings. Her hair is done up in a high beehive hairdo.
Both women are wearing enough makeup to keep Revlon in business for quite awhile. Their lipstick is just a taste smeared; it's obvious they've been making out backstage. Both give a wave to the audience with their free hands, which brings on a round of wolf whistles. Both smile seductively.
Behind them follows Dawn. She has a slightly surly, pouty look on her face, which goes perfectly with her outfit: the classic Lolita look. White blouse, plaid skirt, Maryjanes on her feet. Knee length stockings complete the look. However, her blouse is tight, and like her mom, tied under her breasts, revealing her belly ring. Her skirt is so short and tight, it barely covers her hips. Her red bra and panties are not all that hidden from view. She is sucking on a cherry lollipop.
Bringing up the rear, and watching Dawn's as he comes, is Hank. He's dressed in a loud Hawaiian shirt, slightly wrinkled slacks, and brown loafers. His hair is none too neat, and it looks he might've skipped shaving this morning. He doesn't look all that happy to be here.
"This is a big waste of time," Hank confirms his feelings as he sits down next to his daughter. "Why're we here again?"
"Buffy thinks we can like, be a family again. Like, I'm sure," Dawn says, mumbling around her lollipop. "You're such a dope, if you think that's gonna happen, walrus butt."
"Dawn, don't talk to your sister like that� Oooo" Joyce giggles as Faith gives her breast a squeeze.
"Oh, right, let's hear your side of it, old, wrinkled and skanky," Dawn says, muttering something to herself.
"Shut up, squirt. Don't you talk to mom like that!"
"Why shouldn't she, Buffy?" Hank puts in, his hand creeping over to Dawn's thigh. She slaps it away. "I mean, you're mom's nothing but a big old slutty lesbo whore. She's a pervert!"
"Look who's talking, Porky," Faith says, glaring at him. "Go around boinking your own daughter, getting her pregnant and all. God, just like a man. Can't ever keep it in his pants!"
"Well, at least I got something to keep in my pants!" Hank shoots back. "I mean, I'm at least doing what the Bible says� man cleaves to woman� It's supposed to be Adam and Eve, not Madam and Eve!"
There are Wooooo's from the audience.
"Is that right, Hankie?" Joyce sneers, reaching around and giving Faith's ass a pat. "I wouldn't be bragging with the eeny weeny teenie tiny little thing you call a dick, prick!"
"Hey, hey!" Jerry Springer interjects. "You're here today to try to find a way to all get along!"
"Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" The crowd chants.
"Oh pipe down, curly," Faith says, turning to Hank. "So, ya think you got a biggun, huh, Porky?" Faith pulls up her tight skirt to reveal a very large strap on, maybe 10" long and 2" wide. "Wanna compare bud?" She starts to stroke it obscenely. "I know how to keep my woman happy!"
Hoots and catcall, along with some cheers, come from the audience.
"Goodness!" Jerry acts shocked. "You mean you wore that � thing� here? Why?"
"Well, Jerry, I need to keep my woman happy, you know? She's always horny, and you never know when she's gonna need some real loving!" She sneers at Hank.
"Shut up, you rug muncher!" Hank yells, "I know how to keep my women happy." He pats Buffy's belly.
"Oh yeah� barefoot and pregnant, right Porky?"
Buffy suddenly realizes she forgot her shoes, making her� barefoot and pregnant! Oh my god, I'm a stereotype!
"Don't you call my daddy Porky!" Buffy yells at her.
"Aw, baby, just ignore them!" Joyce says. She grabs Faith and starts to maul her a little. "C'mon, give Mama some sugar, sugar!"
Joyce and Faith start to make out right there on stage, to the obvious approval of the crowd.
"Hey, hey!" Jerry protests, "This is getting out of hand. Stop that!"
"Aw, don't listen to the choirboy, Joyce," Faith starts squeezing Joyce's breasts. "C'mere and sit on my lap. I got somethin' for ya!"
Joyce hurriedly gets off her chair, and facing Faith, sits on her lap.
"Oh, baby, you know what to do to me, oh yeah!" She says, starting to bounce on her lap.
"God, that's so disgusting�" Hank starts to rub Buffy's thigh. "And so � hot!"
" Not it's not, daddy!" Dawn protests, getting up. "It's sick, that's what it is!"
Faith and Joyce ignore them. Joyce pulls Faith to her breasts, burying her in them.
"God, look at them. They can't even control themselves!" Dawn sneers. "God, how can you suck on those old, flabby dried up cow bags when you could�" Dawn rips open her shirt, and thrusts out her chest. "� have these!" She shimmies her chest, causing her boobs to bounce a little.
"Dawnie, stop it!" Buffy protests, "You're making a fool out of yourself!"
Hank leans in, and starts kissing Buffy's neck.
"Ooohhh� Daddy!" Buffy sighs, arching her neck.
"Look who's talking, perv! Making out with daddy on national TV!"
"Dawn, stop embarrassing yourself at once!" Joyce says, still bouncing on Faith's lap and mashing Faith's head into her boobs. "I mean, why would Faith want a � child� when she can have a real woman!" She throws her head back, and moans. "OH baby, yeah. You know what to do� suck 'em good baby!"
"Shut UP you withered, dried up old PRUNE!"
Dawn, losing it, mad with jealousy, leaps at Joyce, knocking her off Faith's lap, and onto the floor. They start to struggle and wrestle.
"Cat fight! Cat Fight! Cat fight!" The crowd chants.
"Hey guys!" Jerry waves at the security guards posted on stage. They ignore him, fascinated by the fight. "C'mon, you guys, break it up!"
"You skanky old whore!" Dawns screams, tugging at Joyce's hair. "Why don't you pick on someone your own age� you know, like maybe down at the senior center!"
"Shut up, stick-figure Barbie! You're just jealous because Faith wants a woman, not some little baby ready for her blanky! God, you don�t even have hips yet. How could you please a woman?" Joyce tears at Dawn's bra. "I bet you're wearing a wonder bra. I didn't know they made them in training bra size, pimple tits!"
"That's it, that's it, honey!" Hank hoots, as he squeezes and mauls Buffy's boobs. "Show that old hag a thing or two!"
"Hey, shut up, Porky Pig!" Faith turns on hank, red faced. "God, you're disgusting. Mauling your own daughter on national TV. I should�"
"What, plastic dick? Have a tizzy? You think you scare me?" Hank laughs at her. "Get real, butch!"
"You son of a BITCH!" Faith leaps on him, starting to hit him around the head. "You shut you big fat porky pig mouth, here me? And stop pulling on her tits!"
The crowd goes wild, cheering them on. I mean, it's not every day you get two fights for the price of one!
Stop it! Dammit, all of you stop it!" Buffy yells. She tries to push herself out of her chair, but doesn't quite make it, falling back hard. "OooFFF!" She cries. " God, what's wrong with you! You're making fools of yourself on national TV! I said, STOP IT!"
But they go on fighting. No one is paying attention to her, and that really makes her mad!
"I SAID � OH� Oh no� OH NO!" Buffy screams, falling back in her chair and her legs splaying out.
"Buffy. Ms. Summers, what's wrong?" Jerry asks, in that false concerned voice of his.
"I� I think my water broke. Dammit, I'm gonna have my baby. Right here!"
The crowd cheers, whooping and hollering.
"Go Buffy, Go Buffy, Go Buffy!"
"You heard it hear, folks," Jerry turns to the camera. "A Jerry Springer first! Live birth� right here on stage. We'll be back after these commercials!"
"No� NOOOO!!! I can't have my baby now! Not here! OooooooHhhhhhhh!!!!"

Buffy eyes fly open, and she's covered in sweat. It takes a few moments to realize that she's in her bedroom, safe and sound� and not having a baby!
Oh god!
"YES� OH� OH� Oh GOD YES!" Someone screams from Joyce's bedroom.
Aw, God! She mutters.
She lays there, feeling foggy and damp, trying to block out the sounds of lovemaking being broadcast from her mother's bedroom. She wraps her head in the pillow, holding it tight to her head with her hands. Still, it doesn't diminish the moans, groans and shouts very much at all.
"Oh, brother," Buffy sits up, letting the pillow drop back to the bed. "Aren't they ever going to give it a rest?" She gives up and gets out of bed, padding over and grabbing a sweater to throw over her shoulders. She proceeds to her window, where she sits quietly, looking out into the fading night.
After sitting in the window, allowing the night air to cool her face, things quiet down.
"Finally!" She mutters, shaking her head. "I thought they'd never stop. Geeze, it's not even dawn yet, and it seems like they've been doing it forever!"
It's very early Sunday morning; pre-dawn. Even before the sun has begun shed it's light on the horizon; yet, the sky is no longer an inky black, but a deep indigo blue. It's chilly, possibly the coldest part of the night. The air has a strange, almost electric smell to it.
She pulls the sweater she threw over her shoulders a bit tighter. A small shiver goes through her. The fading starlight casts a very dim light; yet even now the confusion is clear on her face.
God, what a dream! Crazy, crazy dream� She feels a coldness in the pit of her stomach. I can't believe it! My life is a Jerry Springer episode! She looks out her window, shuddering.
Sleep has been nearly impossible. Fitful, full of conflicting emotions and vague dreams, she's finally given it up and decided to wait here for morning. The cold on her skin echoes the chill she feels inside.
Who's right? Who's telling me the truth? I want, god I really want to believe them both, but I can't. They're so different, how things happened, what happened, just doesn't match up. Is mom lying, and dad telling the truth? Or the other way around? Both stories can't be right� can they? No! But which one?
I wanna believe daddy. I really do. I know he loves me� he's shown how much he loves me, needs me. I really want to believe he wanted their marriage to work. I want that so much I can taste it.
But why would mom lie? It doesn't make sense. She loves Faith, I can see that. She wouldn't just dump her, not without some explanation. But that dad did those things, those awful things�
God, this is sooo hard! I love them both so much� and I gotta choose. But, if I choose mom, then what? What I did with dad is wrong� so wrong� and I can't take that it could be � ugly. It wasn't ugly. It was sweet and beautiful. He really loves me; loves all of us. I know it� I just know it.
Mom's always been there, though. Always when I needed her� even when I treated her so badly. God, I'm so damned sorry I treated her so badly� and I know she loves me too! She loves me, she shows me that every day in just what she does�
Why does this have to be so hard? Why can't I figure this out? I'm so damned dumb, sometimes. Sometimes I wish I were smart like Dawn. She's probably got it all figured out, and I sitting here, more confused and lost than ever. I tease her a bunch, but man I gotta admit, I really like that she's so smart. I wish I could talk to her, tell her� but she'd freak, and tell mom� I hate this! I hate feeling like this. Not knowing�
Her tummy rumbles, and she looks down at it, smiling softly. Hey you! Did I wake you up? No, wait, I didn't wake you! She gives a look in the direction of her mother's bedroom. They're kinda noisy, aren't they? Well, hi, kid. What's up? Beside your old dumb mom, huh? I bet you're kinda cold, too. Buffy draws her sweater closer, buttoning it up. There, better? Feeling cozy now? Hope you're not planning on making mommy sick again today. Really getting used to not hugging the toilet�
Buffy settles back on the window ledge, So, what do you think, huh? Who's doing the lying here?� not talking, huh? Maybe just as well� you're probably biased anyway.
There's another loud groan from the direction of her mother's bedroom, and Buffy makes a face. "God, I so hoped they were done. Well, that's not gonna happen, is it?" She looks down at her tummy. "Can you believe those two?"
More moans, and a more incoherent words, and then more groans. Buffy makes yet another face.
"God, keep it down, why don't you?!" She yells out, but not too loud. Then she lowers her voice, " Can you believe your Grammy doing that kinda stuff? I sure can't" Buffy shakes her head. Another loud groan is heard. "I just hope you're quieter about it when you start having sex, you know?"
She smiles, and pats her tummy. So what're you gonna look like, anyway, huh? I'm kinda hopin' you get Dawnie's eyes. God, they're so blue� and hope you're tall, like my mom, you know? Not a shrimp like your mom� I just know you're going to be beautiful, you know? A real heartbreaker�
Buffy feels more than sees the light on her face, and turns to see the sun just breaking over the horizon, painting the fading indigo sky with a palette of gold and red and orange. She smiles softly, and feels a warmth suffuse her. She feels a weight lift off her chest, as if she can breathe again.
You know, maybe I don't gotta figure this all out. Maybe I can just accept it as it is� and try to just get on with it. Maybe there's no real need to be on anyone's side� just love them both. What do you say, kiddo?
She feels a sudden urge pressing on her bladder, and sighs. God, talk about a mood killer. Ok, ok� she slips off the sill, and starts to walk across the room. I'm going, ok? Then maybe we can do something nice for once� like make breakfast for the fam? Not like I'm gonna sleep any more tonight�
She suddenly stops, a confused look on her face. A wave of dizziness hits her, and she stops still, trying to balance. She takes a breath, and takes another step� and suddenly another, huge wave of dizziness hits her. She feels herself starting to fall.
Windmilling her arms, she tries to grab onto something, but only manages to hit a lamp on the desk, knocking it off and smashing it.
"Aw, crap, mom's gonna have a fit�"
That's the last thing she remembers as the floor rushes up to meet her face.

* * *

"What the�?"
Dawn sits up suddenly in her bed, looking around. She has a puzzled expression on her face, and is blinking the sleep out of her eyes.
Ok, that was weird!
Dawn's been dreaming. A very nice dream, to start out with. It was her and Xander, and they were at an isolated spot on the beach, watching the sun set. Xander had his arm around her shoulder, and they were head to head, just enjoying the view.
They snuggled a little closer together, and looked at each other, giving each other that look. The look that says " Kiss me now, ok?". So they did, Dawn closing her eyes and accepting Xander's eager lips.
Things started to heat up, and she felt herself rolled onto her side. She giggled as she felt Xander start to let his hands wander over her. She snuggled closer, never opening her eyes or breaking the kiss, just accepting what was happening.
And it was nice, real nice. Except, suddenly, something was wrong. Well, different, anyway. The kiss was still nice, but the lips felt different. And Xander tasted different. And his hand, running up her side to squeeze her boob, felt wrong. Too soft�
She opened her eyes, and they went wide when she realized she wasn't kissing Xander anymore, but rather Faith. And Faith was wearing � well, actually, nothing at all� except for this thing on her hips� like a thong, with something attached� a boy thing� that looked all too real and way too big�
And that's when she woke up. Confused and suffused with a naughty warmth and feeling very strange.
Ok, aren't things mixed up and weird enough around here without me making them even weirder in my dreams? What was that all about anyway? I like Faith, but not THAT way! Geeze�
Dawn shudders, unable to shake the feeling of strangeness. Her throat feels parched. Swinging her legs off her bed, she's just making her way to get some water when

CRASH!!!!!

"What the�?"
Dawn bolts for the door. That came from Buffy's room. What the heck is she up to now?
She runs out into the hallway, and almost into Faith, who is emerging from her mom's bedroom, pulling a robe around herself. Her mom follows, looking flushed and confused.
She smells that smell she smelled the other day again, only stronger this time. It hits her what it is/was, and she almost gags.
Oh, gross!
"Did you hear that?" Her mom says, her voice a little breathless.
"Yeah, sounded like Buffy was throwing something," Dawn remarks, looking at the two of them with a slightly jaded eye. "like that's new."
"Yeah, well, it's quiet now," Faith replies, reaching Buffy's door. A little too quiet�
She opens the door, and looks in.
"Aw, geeze�"
Joyce and Dawn come up to her, and all three look in to see Buffy lying on the floor, unconscious.

"Buffy!" Joyce cries, her mom instincts kicking in full force. She pushes through the others and goes and kneels by her daughter. She touches her hand to Buffy's pulse point, and sighs, relieved. "Her pulse feels ok� strong." Still, she looks up at Faith, worried.
"Let's get her into her bed," Faith says, coming over and flanking Buffy on her other side.
Joyce and Dawn taking her shoulders, and Faith on her legs, lift the languid girl, gently turning her over and laying her on her bed. Joyce sits by her, feeling her forehead.
"She doesn't feel feverish, still�" Joyce sounds concerned. "She's been kind of sick lately�"
"I'm sure she'll be fine, Joyce," Faith says, coming up to her and laying a hand on her shoulder.
Dawn feels a little uncomfortable in their presence, what with them being barely dressed, and knowing what they were doing, and with her own weird dream and herself not exactly street ready.
"Yeah," Dawn cracks, "Knowing grace here, she probably slipped on something�"
"Dawn! That's enough!" Joyce says, a little over sternly. Maybe feeling a little guilty. She softens her tone. "Sorry. Maybe you should go back to bed, honey."
"No way," Dawn comes over, flanking Buffy on her other side. Her note of jocularity rings false, because she's been worried about her too. "Miss this opportunity to give her grief about being a spaz? You're kidding, right?"
Joyce picks up the worried note in Dawn's voice, and can't help smiling. "Well, don't ride her too hard� she's been sick."
Faith looks at the both of them, feeling more than a little guilty. She knows exactly what's wrong with Buffy. She wishes she could tell them, relieve their anxiety a little, but she promised she wouldn't. She can't help feeling a little resentful.
Damn her! Why'd she do this to me, anyway? They have a right to know! God, who knows what's going through Joyce's mind right now? She shouldn't have to worry this way. She looks at Buffy, frowning. Well, kiddo, you can't hide it forever. Sooner or later, the truth is gonna be pretty damned plain�
Joyce sees her expression, and mistaking it for worry, squeezes her hand.
"Don't worry, Faith. She's going to be ok." She can't quite conceal her own anxiety, however.
Faith just does a slow burn.
"Hey�"
* * *

Buffy wakes up in her bed, to see three worried faces confront her.
"Hey�" She says weakly, her throat dry. "What's going on?"
"That's what we'd like to know, honey," Joyce says, "We found you passed out on the floor."
Aw, crap, that wasn't a dream!
"Uh�."
"I'm going for Buffy tripped over her big feet and fell over herself. Nice move, Buffy. You took out your desk lamp with," Dawn cracks.
"Dawn, please!"
"Yeah, Dawn, please!" Buffy says, but blushes. Thanks, Dawnie! "But she's right. I tripped over something and Boom. I joined the dust bunnies on the floor�" She pushes up a little, and winces, still a little woozy. " Guess I had a case of the Dawns, or something�" She cracks back.
"Shut up, Buffy!"
"Are you sure?" Joyce's maternal instincts are on overdrive. "I mean, you've been feeling sick all week�"
"Aw, mom, for god's sake, it was nothing�" Buffy catches Faith's cool, appraising look and suddenly feels embarrassed. "I just was a klutz, ok�" She trails off, blushing.
"Leave it to Buffy to make a 3 act play out of being a dork�"
"Dawn, that's enough," Faith interjects. She gives Dawn a look.
"Hey! I was only agreeing with her�" Dawn withers under Faith's gaze. Geeze, what did I do? It's so unfair. She always gets babied!
"Well, I think you're going to see the doctor on Monday," Joyce says, firmly. "This cold or flu or whatever is hanging on too long, and I want you to be checked over. Just to be sure."
"Mom, I'm fine!" Buffy protests. She starts to panic a little.
"No, you're not, young lady. We're going to the doctor Monday morning. No arguments!"
Oh, god no! That'd be just great. He checks me, sees I'm pregnant, tells mom, and watch out for the flying poop as it hits the fan! I gotta get out of this.
"Mom, I can't. I mean, I got stuff to do Monday! I can't go sit around in some waiting room waiting for the doctor to feel me up�!"
"No arguments, you're going�" Then Joyce sighs, and slumps. "Darn it! I've got an important appointment Monday morning. Big new client, could mean a lot to the gallery." She shrugs. "Oh well, I'll just have to try to�"
"Joyce, wait. Why don't you let me take Buffy to the doctor?" Faith pipes up.
Buffy looks at Faith, gratefully.
"Thank you, Faith. But you've got classes�"
"Actually, no. Not Monday morning, anyway. And hey� part of the family now, right? That's what we do� help each other out?" She gives Joyce a little shrug and a flirty little smile.
"Really, Faith?" Joyce is relieved. This client could really be good for the business. "You wouldn't mind?"
"Heck, no!" Faith grins. "I mean, give me and Buffy a chance to bond, right, Buff? We can do all the gossipy talking stuff, ya know?"
Buffy suddenly feels a chill in her tummy. Somehow, she figures gossip isn't going to be on the menu Monday. She smiles wanly at Faith.
"Sure, Faith. It'd be a hoot�" She sounds very unconvinced.
"There you go, problems solved!"
"Thanks, Faith. I really appreciate it."
"Aw, geeze�"
Everyone turns to Dawn, who's been temporarily forgotten.
"So typical. Buffy bumps her head, and it becomes a major ER moment in here. The drama queen strikes again," Dawn sighs, staring at Buffy.
"Dawn, your sister fell and hit her head, she might be hurt�" Joyce's voice carries a warning note.
"Oh yeah, well, with her head, I'd check the floor for damage�"
Faith has to really bite her lip to keep from laughing. Gotta give it to her, that was pretty good.
"Dawn, that's enough!" Joyce says, impatiently.
Dawn looks at her mother, and grows sad instead of mad. "Yeah, mom, I guess it is." Her voice is soft, defeated. "The world revolves around her, and I just gotta get used to it." She turns and walks to the door. "One thing, though," She says, pausing in the doorway. "You might wanna stop letting her buffalo you and figure out what she's hiding. Cuz, I know she's up to something." Dawn disappears out of the doorway.
Joyce sits there, conflicted. She knows Dawn often gets the short shrift, with everything going on. But she loves her youngest daughter very much; even more since she seems so stable and self contained. It's with some guilt she realizes she hasn't given her due attention.
On the other hand, her oldest once again seems to need her full attention, ill and now falling for no good reason. She worries a lot about Buffy; not because she loves her more, but she seems to need more. God, sometimes I wish there were two of me. I really need it�
"Mom?" Buffy says quietly. "Go on, go after her. She needs you right now. I'm fine, really�"
"Don�t be silly, Buffy. She's ok, she's just being�"
"No, she's not. She's being fair," Buffy cuts her off. "She's right. I've been a total drama queen, and like I said, I just tripped and fell down. Hardly anything to have a major Angus over. Neither of us have been really fair to her; me, most of all. Lots of stuff been happening around here, and she hasn�t gotten hardly any mom time. Please, mom? I feel guilty enough about how I've been acting �" She rubs the bump on her head. "Don't think I'm gonna die from a bump, you know?" She smiles.
Just when I think I've got her figured out, she does something like this.
"You're sure, honey?"
"I'll stay with Buff, Joyce. Go on, go talk to Dawn." She bounces down on the bed next to Buffy, patting her leg. "Me and Buff will have a good old chat, won't we girl?" She grins at Buffy.
Buffy has to wonder if she hasn't jumped out of the frying pan, into the fire.
"Yeah, we will. Go on, mom." Buffy puts on a smile.
Joyce, her mom antennae vibrating wildly, knows something's wrong with this scene. But she has Dawn to worry about right now. She gets up from the bed.
"Ok, but if you need me, just call�"
"Just go Joyce, me and the Buff got it covered."
Joyce, still confused, walks out of the room.
The two girls sit there in silence, until both are sure Joyce is out of earshot. Then Faith breaks the tension.
"So, what really happened, Buff?"
Buffy shrugs, looking reluctant to speak. "I dunno. I got dizzy, I fell down." She makes it sound like it happens all the time.
"Do that a lot, do you? Must've been a hell of a cheerleader�" Faith's lips are pursed. "Waving the pom-poms around, falling over and knocking yourself out�"
"Look, I don't know what happened. I was just sitting in the window, thinking about stuff, and I got up to pee, and I got dizzy and fainted, I guess." Buffy frowns. "Not like I planned it or nothing."
"No, I suppose not. I guess it's just something else for the doctor to check out�" Faith arches a brow. "That and being pregnant and all�"
"Geeze, could you hold it down?" Buffy looks nervously towards the door. "What if mom walked in?"
"Buffy, you're going to have to tell her�"
Buffy doesn't speak, she just stares at her.
"� you're not gonna be able to hide this, Buffy. Not on that bony frame of yours. You're going to blow up like a balloon. And I don't think Joyce is gonna buy you just pigging out on Twinkies and Ho-Ho's ."
"I'll tell her�" Buffy says evasively," just not now�"
"When Buffy? How long do you think you can keep this hidden? It's not like a bruise. It won't go away if you don't deal with it. And I'm not gonna stand by forever while you make your mother crazy with worry�"
"I'm going to tell her!" Buffy almost screams at her. She covers her face and sinks back down in the bed. "Why're you picking on me? Just leave me alone!"
"Buffy�" Faith softens her tone. She kneels by the bed, putting a hand on her leg. "Buffy, look at me, c'mon girl. I can't talk to you through your hands�"
"Don't wanna talk," Buffy sulks childishly, still hiding her face, "talk doesn't help. Just go away, please. I just wanna be alone�"
"I know you're scared," Faith gently pries her hands away from her face, revealing her face. "I� we both just want to help you, baby. So let us, ok? Don't shut us out here� your mom loves you�"
"She won't after this. She'll hate me. Think I'm a slutty whore�"
"Buffy, you know that's not true. She'll know you made a mistake�"
"� and she'll be right, cuz I am. I'm nothing but a �."
Faith grabs her shoulders, shaking her. "Stop that!" She stares directly into her eyes. "You're just feeling sorry for yourself now. You know that's not true� I know that's not true, and you doing that to yourself isn't going to help anything!"
"You don't know me, Faith. You don't know anything about me, not really," Buffy's voice is eerily calm. "You think you do, but you don't have a clue�" Her voice cracks just a little, "� what I've done� I'm not some innocent little schoolgirl, Faith. Not by a long shot�"
"Buffy, what're you talking about?" Something in Buffy's words give Faith a chill.
"Nothing. Just don't think you know me, cuz you don't. I know what I am� and I know what I've done� and I can't � " Buffy starts to breath hard, as if she's going to start crying. "Can't we have one weekend without all this crap? Just this one, ok? Please? Just give me a little more time�"
"All right, Buffy," Faith agrees reluctantly. "But we can't keep doing this dance, you know�" She sighs, and gets up. "Maybe I should let you rest�"
"No, I've gotta get up," Buffy pushes up, and swings her legs over the edge of the bed.
"Whoa up, girl. You took a nasty crack to the head� "
"I'm ok, really," Buffy stands up, holding for a moment for the dizziness to pass. "I'm not a baby, I can deal�" She looks at Faith's frowning face. "Faith, c'mon. I just wanna make breakfast, ok? Do something nice for mom� I've made her life so bad lately� just let me do this, ok?"
"Buffy, you're hardly in any shape to be playing with sharp utensils, never mind fire�"
"I'm fine, Faith," Buffy straightens herself up, walking over to retrieve her robe. She pulls it on, then looks at Faith. "I've got to do this. I've really gotta do something nice for mom�"
"All right, but I'm coming with, "Faith pulls her robe tighter. She sees Buffy's expression. "Just to help. Keep you from burning the place down, ok? It's all yours� ever do any cooking?"
"A little�" Buffy shrugs. "How hard can it be to make eggs and bacon?"
Faith doesn't even want to go there. She shakes her head, and looks around. "Go clean up your face. I'm gonna get dressed. Then we'll do this, ok? Wait for me!"
"Well, yeah, wasn't planning on doing it like this�" She indicates her own less than clothed body. "I'll meet you downstairs. And I promise, I won't start til you get there."
"Cool beans," Faith says, not all that enthusiastically. She starts towards the door when Buffy grabs her hand.
"What?"
"Another thing. Think you guys could hold it down a little? Hard to sleep through all the noise." Buffy gives her an arch look.
It's a rare thing, but Faith has a full head to toe blush.
"Sorry�" Faith mutters, walking to the door and exiting.
Heading down the hall, she hears voices coming from Dawn's room. She pauses for a moment, wanting to look in, the decides against it. Naw, they need a moment without someone butting in.
Reaching her room, she starts picking her clothes off the floor, feeling a little foolish. She can't help feeling manipulated, again. But something in Buffy's words and tone made her uneasy. Why the sudden need to please Joyce? What's going on in that blond brain of hers?
Faith resolves then and there to keep a closer eye on Buffy. God, it'd be just like her to do something totally stupid�
Shaking her head, she enters Joyce's room to dress.
* * *

"Dawn?"
Joyce looks in through Dawn's open door, seeing her sitting on the bed, staring at the sheet, picking at it.
Dawn looks up, and frowns. She doesn't answer.
"Can I come in, honey?"
Dawn shrugs, and silently goes back to fussing with the sheet on her bed.
Joyce, taking that as a yes, walks in and crosses over to her daughter. She stands there, looking down on her. Uncomfortable doesn't begin to explain how she feels. She searches for the right thing to say to open a conversation, but Dawn breaks the silence.
"Look, mom, I'm sorry, ok?" Dawn looks up at her, lips still turned down. "I didn't mean to make a fuss. I know Buffy hurt herself. Maybe you should go back and take care of her."
Dawn turns back to her sheet picking.
"I'm sorry too, Dawn," Joyce lowers herself to the floor, kneeling by her daughter. "I take you for granted, and that's just wrong. You're just so calm and well� you seem to take things so much better than Buffy, that sometimes I forget that you need attention too." She reaches out, brushing her hand through Dawn's long, chestnut colored locks. "I forget sometimes your still 16, and not 36�"
Despite herself, a small little smile tugs at the corner of Dawn's lips. She glances at her mom out of the corner of her eye.
"� but it isn't fair, it really isn't. I know you must be confused and hurting over everything that's happened, honey. I really do. It's not easy for me, even, and I�m supposed to be the mom here�" She smiles winningly at her daughter. "Though, sometimes, I wonder who really is the adult around here�"
Dawn reaches out and covers Joyce's free hand with her own.
"It certainly wasn't me," She admits, "I acted like a brat. I know Buffy hurt herself, and you were worried, like you should be. It's just�" she hesitates for a moment, "� sometimes, I need someone to reassure me, too. I was scared when I saw Buffy lying like that on the floor. And then, everyone was all over Buffy, attending to her, and I felt like nothing, standing out there alone, and I know it wasn't about me, and shouldn't be, but I was still feeling scared, even though I know she was ok. I mean, I love her too, even if I give her a hard time, and seeing her like that� really shook me up. And � god, I'm so selfish�" She shakes her head, impatient with herself. "Really, I'm fine, mom, I am. Go take care of Buffy�"
"Buffy's fine; Faith's with her," Joyce says, standing up and sitting on the bed next to Dawn. "That's better. Old knees, sometimes get fussy if I kneel too long� anyway, Dawn� thing is, you're right. Right then wasn't the time to demand attention. It wasn't about you�" She puts her hand on Dawn's,"� but maybe if I gave you more time otherwise, you wouldn't need to react like that�" She looks in Dawn's sky blue eyes. "See, thing is, you take thing so calmly, I sometimes forget that you need me just as much as your sister does�"
"Maybe I should act out more�" Dawn's only half joking.
"Please, do you want to send your dear old mom to the funny farm?"
Dawn looks at her strangely.
"You know, where they put the crazy people?"
"I know what a funny farm is mom," Dawn says, a little impatiently. "It's just hard to think of anything driving to the padded cell set. You're so strong, doing what you're doing." She squeezes Joyce's hand. "I think you're the strongest person I know."
Joyce almost turns into a puddle of goo right there.
"Sweetie, believe your senile old mom. I'm hardly strong. I'm a total wreck� and that's exactly what you're saying to me, isn't it? Clever child, you're a very clever child� and sneaky. Did I mention sneaky?" Joyce is smiling.
"I mean it, mom," Dawn says seriously, "I really try to be like you. But sometimes it's just too much � I get all crazy�and I lose my cool. Sorry."
Ok, Joyce does turn into a puddle of goo now. She couldn't stand at this moment, even if the house were on fire.
"How did I get so lucky with you?" Joyce pulls her youngest into a hug. One that's returned as fiercely as it's given. "Listen to me, you. I'll try harder, really harder, to see when things are too much for you. But if you got something bothering you, don't keep it bottled up, ok? Talk to me. Anytime, about anything, ok?" She hugs Dawn again, then stands up.
"Ok, mom," Dawn says. "I promise."
Joyce starts to leave, but Dawn stops her.
"Mom?"
that was fast!
"Yes, honey?"
"About you and Faith�?"
Oh, boy. She never asks the easy questions, does she?
"What about me and Faith?"
"Do you ever feel weird about you and Faith? I mean, being together and everything."
"Do you feel weird about me and Faith being together and � everything?"
"NO!," Dawn protests. "I mean� ok, well� I mean, you were with Dad all those years, and I mean before that, I imagine you had boyfriends�"
"Oh, no, dear. Back in my day, it was all pre-arranged. We met our husbands on the day we were married," Joyce say, tongue firmly planted in cheek. "You know, before we had computers or TV or the wheel or anything�"
"Mom! I'm serious here�" But Dawn giggles, anyway. "I mean, you were with boys and stuff and then with dad, and then Faith comes along and boom, you fall in love with her. And well, doesn't it seem strange to you sometimes?"
Joyce stands there for a moment, digesting that. She really thinks about it, then answers.
"The idea that I might love, or be in love with, I should say, another woman? Ok, yes, that aspect was quite a surprise to me, I admit that. But loving Faith? Strange? No, honey, it seems as natural to me as breathing. Do you see?"
"I guess so�" Dawn doesn't sound all that sure. "Does that mean you're like, gay now?"
Joyce has to laugh. She comes and sits down beside Dawn.
"Honey, I don't know what I am. I mean, all I know is I love Faith. I don't try to categorize it, it just is. Faith has taught me a lot about what it means to be gay�"
"Mom, please, I don't want to hear this!" Dawn clasps her hands over her ears.
"I know, mom and sex. Really icky, huh?" She nudges Dawn. "What, you think you invented that one?"
"Nooo, but I mean, really, mom, do we have to talk about it?" Dawn looks stricken.

"If you'll let me finish, Dawn?"
Dawn looks at her, questioningly.
"I wasn't going to talk about that, honestly. I meant, she taught me about what she has to face every day, being 'out' about who she is. To be proud of who I love, not ashamed. Honey, I don't have a clue if I'm gay, like Faith. But I know I know a lot more about people and relationships than I knew before I knew her. And I'm proud I'm with her, even if it's taken me much too long to figure that out." She looks at her daughter. "If I weren't worried that Hank might try to pull something, I'd have her living here in a shot. If that makes you uncomfortable, well, I'm sorry honey. But I love her."
"Ok, mom," Dawn puts up her hands. "I'm onboard here, ok? But that really wasn't what I was looking for. I mean, how did you know that � how did you know� about Faith. How did you know that you � geeze, mom, jump in any time here, and help me out, ok?"
"How did I know Faith made my heart flutter? That she made me crazy and happy at the same time? Is that what your getting at, honey?"
"Yeah," Dawn blushes a little.
"Ok, honey, now what is this really about?" Joyce cups Dawn chin. "I mean, you're smart enough to know I can't explain why I love someone. People a lot smarter than I have been trying to do that for thousands of years, and still don't have it right. So�?"
"Ok, ok, ok!" Dawn again puts up her hands. "I had this dream� I was kissing Xander, and of course I closed my eyes� and boom, I opened them and I was kissing Faith. I mean, really kissing her� and well�" Dawn goes beet red. "What do you think it means?"
"I'm sorry, Dawn. She's mine. You can't have her." Joyce deadpans.
"MOM! No! My god, I�" Dawn is confused and embarrassed.
Joyce bursts out laughing.
"Hey, it's NOT FUNNY!" Dawn says, miffed.
Joyce calms her laughter, and puts her hand on her daughter's shoulder, squeezing it.
"No, honey, you're right, it's not funny," Joyce says, "But it's not weird, either. You have a crush on Faith. It's not a big deal."
"I so don't!" Dawn denies. Then another blush creeps into her cheek. "Well, maybe a little�"
"Of course you do. She's older, more worldly, she listens to you, treats you like an equal�" She smiles, "and you two took to each other like a duck and well� water. It's natural enough you should have a crush on her."
"But� well, the dream�"
"Oh, honey, that's normal enough too. Just your unconscious mind processing your feelings. Ok, when did I swallow the child psychology book, huh? All I'm saying, it's normal enough, and don't worry about it."
"But�well, sometimes, I dream about Will� Willow� too, and I'm� kissing her too�"
"Oh. Oh dear," Joyce frowns. "This is serious. Should I call the local GLBT chapter, or do you want to?" She can't keep a straight face, and chuckles again.
"MOM!"
"Honey! You're very fond of Willow. It's natural to have these thoughts, these little fantasies�"
"But, but I love Xander!" Dawn protests. "I really do!"
"I'm sure you do, honey," Joyce smiles, "but we all have fantasies. Especially about people close to us. It just happens, ok? " She gets a slightly nostalgic look on her face. "I remember this girl I crushed, seriously crushed on in high school. Cynthia Tanner. She was � well, she was everything I wanted to be. Pretty, outgoing, funny, god, she was funny!� and smart, and � well, I seriously had a thing for her. I mean, I used to dream about kissing her all the time. Of course, it stopped at kissing. We hadn't invented sex just yet�"
Dawn rolls her eyes.
"Honey, all I'm telling you," Joyce gets serious," don't make yourself crazy about these feelings. It's normal enough at your age. Just enjoy being you, ok? Don't worry about what you might be. Plenty of time for that later, ok?" She leans over to Dawn. "You're normal, ok?"
Yeah, like I'll ever believe that one!
"Thanks, mom, I feel better� I guess�"
"I've confused you, and made you a little crazy?"
"A little?"
"Good, then my work is done here." Joyce grins. "Honey, don't worry so much about every little thing, ok?"
"Ok, mom�"
Joyce looks out the window, and sees the sun rising. She makes a face.
"Well, I guess it's too late to go back to bed� so, you feeling hungry?"
"Starved!"
"How did I know that?" Joyce gets up. "So, I guess I better rustle up some food. What do you say� wanna help out your old mom? Feed the troops and all?"
"Sure!" Dawn pops up beside Joyce. She loves to experiment with food. Unfortunately, not too many love her experiments�
"The regular way, Dawn. No experimenting with the eggs and sauerkraut again, ok?"
"God, no!" Dawn crosses her fingers behind her back. "I'll never do that one again. Even I didn't like that�"
"I mean it, Dawn. Plain old boring eggs and bacon and waffles�"
"Waffles? Home made?"
"Are there any other kind?"
"Well, yeah, I mean they have those frozen�"
"Kidding Dawn. Come on, we better get this done before you start getting any weird ideas again."
"Ok," Dawn follows along after her, pouting a little. Spoilsport!
"I heard that, Dawn," Joyce teases her as they leave the room. She knows her daughter all too well.
"What? What?"

3

"She's not coming."
Buffy looks at her watch, then twirls her spoon in the remainder of her bowl of cereal. Despite this, she's in no hurry to finish. She's definitely dawdling over her breakfast.
"Don't be silly, honey," Joyce says, sipping her coffee. "She's coming. She said she'd be here."
"No, I don't think so," Buffy says, not looking at her mom. "I think she forgot she had a class, and now can't make it." Buffy shrugs. "Oh well, no big. I'll just go to school�"
"Buffy. We discussed this. You're going to the doctor this morning, and Faith was nice enough to take time out of her schedule to take you. No more trying to wiggle out of it." Joyce shakes her head. "I don't understand why you're being like this."
"Well, I don't want to miss any school�"
Dawn snorts, almost choking on her orange juice. As is, she barely keeps it from coming back out her nose.
"Since when?" Dawn looks at her sister, incredulously.
"Hey! I'm all about school�" Buffy starts to do a little dance in her chair, "Get the A's, yeah, get the diploma, get to college, it's my birthday�" She sees her mom and Dawn staring at her. She blushes and stops. "What? Can't I like school?"
"Ok, young lady, I've had my suspicions all weekend�"
"I told you mom�" Dawn says, shaking her head.
Buffy starts to panic. God, what? Oh no� if she found out�
"Who are you? And what did you do with my daughter, hmmm?" Joyce grins. "You've been acting strangely all weekend�"
"Yeah, you've hardly been a total spoiled brat at all. She's a pod person�"
"Shut up, Bratticus!" Buffy growls. "This is so typical. I try to do better, get better grades and act better, and everyone gives me grief�" Buffy grabs her bowl and heads for the kitchen. "I can't win, you know?" She disappears through the kitchen door.
"Buffy, don't be�"Joyce starts.
"Don't buy that crap, mom. She's just trying to impress someone�"
"Oh?"
"Oh yeah, I mean, she's hanging around with Willow, they're like that�" She holds up her hand, fingers crossed,"� all of a sudden, like Siamese twins and junk. She's just trying to impress Willow�"
Buffy stares daggers at her as she emerges from the kitchen.
"You're so full of it, squirt. And I'd thank you not to go around spreading rumors� in my own house!"
"� because," Dawn continues, blithely, "Willow is buds with a boy she has the hots for." Dawn stares at her sister, grinning.
Buffy blushes a sweet rose pink.
"You're so full of crap you should be a toilet," Buffy mutters, sitting down.
"Buffy, that's enough," Joyce says, then turns to Dawn. "A boy, huh?" Joyce smiles. She likes the idea of Buffy showing some interest in a boy. That's a good sign, in her opinion. "So, does this boy have a name?"
"There's no boy!" Buffy protests.
"Oz�" Dawn puts in. She catches Buffy's look, and smirks. "Oh yeah, she definitely has a thing for Oz�"
"Oz?" Joyce furrows her brows. "Like the wizard? Is he like, magic?"
"Oh, I think Buffy thinks he's magic�"
"Shut up, stupid! You don't know what you're talking about�" Buffy grumbles, looking fierce.
"Anyway, Oz is his nickname� his name is Daniel Osborne. Oz for short� like him�" Dawn giggles.
"Oh, thank goodness. I was wondering if all your friends had such colorful names. Xander, and Willow� now Oz�" Joyce teases gently.
"Xander is not colorful� I mean, he is, but � his name isn't weird! It's short for Alexander! He just doesn't like Alex�" Dawn feels defensive.
"I'm only teasing, Dawnie," Joyce smiles. "I think Xander's a very nice boy�" She turns to her eldest daughter. "So, tell me about this Oz�"
"Look, I don't have time to indulge Dawn's delusions." She looks at her watch again. "Faith's a no show, and I'm outta here." She starts to get up.
"Sit down, Buffy. She's probably just stuck in traffic. She'll be here�" Joyce shakes her head. "I can't believe the traffic in this town. I figured it would be light� but I swear, it's almost worse than L.A. Every person over 10 must own a car, and be on the road in the mornings�" Joyce sighs.
"Yeah, Buffy, face it. You're not going to get your 'drool over Oz' session in today�"
"Talk about drooling over someone�" Buffy smirks at her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Dawn looks warily at her sister.
"C'mon, squirt, who do you think you're kidding?" Buffy grins, starting to feel her oats.
"I don't know what you mean," Dawn protests, though she might have a suspicion. A big one.
"Get real, Dawn" Buffy turns on her. "You're like all googly over Faith�"
"You're nuts!" It's Dawn's time for the blooming roses to the cheeks.
"Who do you think you're kidding? All weekend you were following her around, laughing at her stupid jokes� "That's so funny, Faith!" Buffy mimics her," you were like a puppy with her beloved mistress. I swear you even wagged your tail a couple of times�" Buffy turns to Joyce. "Better watch out mom, I think Dawn wants to steal your girlfriend�"
Joyce just smiles, knowing better than to get into the middle of this.
"I've got a boyfriend, Buffy. A real one, not a fantasy guy like you, Mrs. Osborne � so get real yourself!"
"Sure, Dawnie, uh-huh�" Buffy mocks her. "Just keep telling yourself that. Me, I think it's a cover�"
"That's so not true!"
"Isn't it? I wonder�" Buffy is almost chortling in delight. "Maybe this whole dating thing with Xander is just a beard, you know? Maybe you're just doing it to be closer to a certain brunette �"
"I so am NOT!" Dawn protests. "Mom, make her shut up! She's so lying! She doesn't know what she's talking about!"
"Seems to me, Dawn, you opened this can of worms�" Joyce can't believe she's almost enjoying the verbal sparring her daughters are caught in. At least I know they must be feeling ok, if they can snip at each other. "Maybe you'll think about what you're going to stir up when you repeat rumors and innuendo, dear."
"Yeah, squirt, so can the innuendo and rumors�" Buffy smiles at her own cleverness.
"You're such a butthead, Buffy!"
"I'm rubber and you're glue�"
"Oh, and did I mention, totally immature?"
Joyce just smiles, and shakes her head. She stands up, grabbing her cup. "Well, you two can fight all you want I suppose. But I've got to get to work."
As she heads for the kitchen, a familiar roaring pulls up into the driveway. "And, it looks like your ride is here, Buffy."
Oh, gee, just swell, Buffy groans internally.
"And I gotta get to school. Some of us don't have the morning to lounge around�" She gives Buffy a smirk. "Have a good visit at the doctor, Buff. Ask for the cherry lollipop� they're the best�" She hums to herself as she walks towards the kitchen.
Buffy sticks her tongue out at her retreating back.
"That showed her, Buffy," A voice behind her causes her to almost bite her tongue. "I'm sure you mortally wounded her with that one."
"Faith," Buffy murmurs, turning around.
Faith is standing there, in her motorcycle leathers, holding her helmet to the side. She winks at Buffy.
"So, how're ya feeling, girl? You look good," She comes over and musses Buffy's hair.
"Don't! Geeze, I spent a half hour getting that right�" Buffy protests, but secretly loves it. "You're looking � leathery."
"You like?" Faith does a little twirl. "A lotta cows gave their lives so I can look this good�" She walks over and plops down in the chair next to Buffy. "So, who's a girl gotta kill to get a cup of coffee around here?"
As if on cue, Joyce walks out of the kitchen at the very moment, holding a steaming mug of coffee, which she places in front of Faith. Her eyes linger on Faith's leather clad body, maybe with just a touch of hunger.
"I really would appreciate if you didn't kill anyone this morning, Faith. I'm kind of in a hurry, and don't have time to clean the blood out of the carpeting�" And she gives Faith a little shove, causing her to almost spill her coffee.
"Hey, what's that for?" Faith protests, looking up at her.
"For flirting with my daughter, thank you very much. Right in front of me, practically!"
"Oh, c'mon, baby, you know I only got the hots for you!" She grabs Joyce's arm, and pulls her down into a warm kiss.
"Oh, god, can't you guys EVER restrain yourselves? That is so �" Buffy makes a face.
"Oh, they're always like that!" Dawn says, coming out of the kitchen. "They really need to learn not traumatize us so early in the morning." She glances briefly at Faith's outfit. "Nice use of a cow, Faith."
"I thought so," Faith says, breaking the kiss with Joyce. " Finest angus available, ya know."
Buffy sniggers, and Dawn throws her an angry look. She turns to Faith, smiling brightly.
"So I see," Dawn turns back to Buffy. "don't forget, only accept the cherry." She moves to the front door. "Gotta fly. Gotta real boyfriend to meet."
Without further ceremony, Dawn slips out the front door.
Faith gives Buffy a very peculiar look.
"Cherry?" She smirks, arm draped over Joyce's hips. "What's that about?"
Buffy feels the blood in her cheeks.
"It's just her. She's got a thing for cherry lollipops. Go figure."
Faith gives her a half amused, half salacious look, which quickly fades under Joyce's look. She smiles, slightly embarrassed.
Joyce bends over giving Faith a quick peck on the lips.
"I'll thank you to get your mind out the gutter, especially when it concerns my daughters," She mock scolds her. Then she comes over, and gives Buffy a peck on the cheek. "And you, young lady, don't forget to call me. I want to know how you are, ok?"
"I told you, mom, I'm fine," Buffy can't help making a last ditch effort. "This is just a total waste of time."
"Humor me, ok?"
Buffy just gives her a 'God, the things I gotta suffer through' look.
"Ok, gotta run. So� " She turns to Faith. "See you tonight?"
"Can't, Joy. Gotta work�" Faith shrugs helplessly.
"I was hoping maybe after�?"
"Joyce, I've got to study sometime� or I'll flunk out and then what?"
"I know, I just miss you when you're not here�" Joyce pouts, just a little.
Buffy sits there, listening to this, feeling very uncomfortable. God, do they have to discuss their love life in front of me?
"I know, I do too, baby," Faith stands up, and grabbing Joyce, pulls her into a very warm kiss.
"Oh god, c'mon guys! Digesting here!"
The kiss breaks, and both look at Buffy, amused.
"I'm sorry, dear, you're just going to have to get used to it!" Joyce says. She gives Faith another quick kiss. "I'll see you tonight, Buffy!"
She quickly hurries out the door, knowing if she lingers, nothing will get done.
"So, Buff, ready to motor?"
"Yeah, I guess, now that you're done mauling my mom," Buffy picks up her bowl, heading for the kitchen.
"Oh, c'mon, Buffy. It wasn't that bad," Faith smirks, watching her go. "I mean, haven't you ever heard of being in love before?"
"Haven't you heard of decorum?" Buffy re-enters, crosses and sits down. "Bad enough I have to listen to that all night� but at the breakfast table, too? Geeze. You guys are like a bunch of horny teenagers�"
"You being the expert, of course�" Faith says dryly. She chuckles. "Cherry lollipops�"
"Would you let that go?" Buffy blushes, "I told you, that's a Dawn thing."
"Uh-huh," Faith sounds unconvinced. She looks at her watch. "We better get going�"
"How come you weren't here last night?" Buffy stalls, "I mean, I'm not complaining� I was able to actually sleep� but�?"
"Thought you didn't want to hear about our love life, Buffy."
"I don't!" Buffy affirms, "just, mom missed you I know, and I kinda expected you to be here every night now that �" She shrugs,"� now that we're all in the know now�"
"Look, about that Buffy. We just thought that it best we don't make it worse for you�"
"You told Dawn� well, mom told Dawn� what, did you think I didn't want to know?"
"Frankly, yes�" Faith smirks at her expression. "� you made pretty clear you didn't want to know anything about anybody with your mom that wasn't your dad�"
Buffy blushes. "Can we not talk about my father?"
Faith cocks her head, frowning.
"What's wrong, Buffy. Did you and your dad have a fight or something?"

"No! But anything between my mom and dad is obviously over� and I really don't want you talking about him, ok?"
"Ok, ok!" Faith holds up her hands in surrender. "Sorry."
"Let's just go. Get this over with," Buffy gets up, and walks to the door. "I just want this over!"
She exits, without looking back.
Faith scrambles out of her chair to follow. Grabbing Buffy's purse, and coat, which she forgot, she heads for the front door.
Ok, what was THAT all about?
Still puzzled, she leaves.

4

Hank sits quietly in the lobby, waiting.
He feels nervous, and excited. Finally, he's getting his chance to see Avery Chase. He's been waiting for a long time to get an appointment with the man, and he's anxious to finalize the deal between Chase Holdings and his company.
When he got the call on Sunday afternoon, he'd been somewhat surprised. He covered well, however, and worked through the evening, polishing his presentation. He knew this had to be perfect.
If he could get Avery onboard, if he could get the business from Chase Holdings, it would mean everything. He knew that the potential growth for his company was staggering, but they had the people in place to handle it. He new revenues would surge almost 39 % in the first year, and continue at a more modest, but still dizzying rate for years to come. All in all, this was the deal of a lifetime, and it could make Hank and his partners rich.
Hank wouldn't mind being rich. He might even entertain the offer by his partners, Stan Weiss and Robert 'Bob' Morehouse to sell his piece of the firm. IF this deal goes through, it would be quite a tidy sum he'd realize. More than enough to live quite well, with the right investments and the right location, for many, many years to come. He certainly wouldn't stick around in this one horse, backwater town. There certainly wasn't anything to hold him here. Not any longer.
He'd been served, just last week, with the final divorce papers. He'd put off signing them, turning them over to his attorney to review. What he learned infuriated him.
What do they think I am? Made of money? 2500 dollars a month each for Buffy's and Dawn's child support? Never mind the half of everything we own, the house in Sunnydale, the money invested in the Gallery, etc. etc. If she thinks I'm gonna bankrupt myself paying that kind of money, she's got another think coming. No way that's happening!
So, just another reason to look forward to this deal happening. He'd take his share, and get out of Dodge as soon as he could. He knew of plenty of countries that would shield him from any legal action Joyce could bring against him. He was done playing Santa Claus to a family that didn't want him. They want him gone? Fine! But don't expect him to pay for the privilege!
"Mr. Summers?"
Hank looks up, expectantly.
"Mr. Chase will see you now."
Hank stands, and grabbing his briefcase, follows the assistant into Avery Chase's office.
The first thing that goes through his mind is Rich. The second? Extremely rich. He stands in the doorway, taking in the environment.
Avery is seated at an antique oak desk, quite large, that would easily appraise for a small fortune.
The office itself is sparsely furnished, but every piece is carefully placed, and it's easy to tell a lot of money and care went into designing the space. Objects d'art were placed to show off to their best advantage, and one wall was devoted to floor to ceiling bookshelves, stocked with a formidable library.
There were all the latest tech toys: A large flat paneled TV mounted to the wall opposite Avery's desk, a high power computer wired to a broadband internet connection, a stereo system worth more than a year of Hank's normal salary. A small panel on the wall controlled everything, including the lighting, air conditioning and a well hidden, state of the art security system including monitoring cameras.

What really caught his attention, however, was the man himself. Despite the cavernous office, surrounded by his toys and favorite objects d' art, Avery Chase seemed to fill the space. His personality and presence seemed to permeate the room, making Hank feel as if he were surrounded. It puts him a little off his game.
Avery looks up from his desk, and smiles. "Henry! Hello," He greets Hank like and old friend, even though this is their first face to face, " Please come in," He stands, waving to the chair in front of his desk. "Have a seat, make yourself comfortable."
As Hank approaches the desk, he can't help feeling there's something predatory in Avery's smile, despite the warm greeting. He also notes the youthful trimness, and athletic build on his potential client, and again feels a slight sense of disadvantage.
"Sorry it took so long to get back to you," Avery says, as both men sit, facing each other. "Business. It never let's up. I'm sure you understand�"
"Of course," Hank says, settling into the chair. He notices that it leaves him slightly below eye level with Avery. He sits up, trying to equalize things. "I'm just glad you could make time in your busy schedule to see me. What, with the foundation, and the various companies, I'm sure you barely find time to sleep."
Avery chuckles softly, appreciating Hank has done some homework.
"Can I get you anything before we begin? Coffee, tea� a drink, perhaps?"
"No, I'm fine, thank you."
"Very well. To business then." Avery picks up a file off his desk, pulling out a sheath of papers from it. "I must say, my management staff was quite intrigued by your initial proposal, and after negotiating with your company, passed the final revisions on to me. I've read it over, and I must say, I'm impressed with your work."
"Thank you," Hank says, smiling and relaxing a little.
"I understand you assembled a presentation, outlining the advantages of using�" He glances quickly at the pages. "� Summerland Systems for our information management needs?"
"Absolutely. As it states in my proposal, we've gone over your current Information Management systems, and after careful analysis, we've devised a system that will not only exceed your current provider, but also has the built in flexibility to grow and change as you do. And, we can save you a considerable amount in operational costs. Down the line, we project at least a 26% savings, bringing your overall cost Vs return ratio in line with industry standards."
Hank opens his briefcase, and pulling out his laptop, brings it out of standby mode.
"Is there someplace I can set this up?" He asks, while typing in some commands.
"There is a hook up by the large screen TV, at least that's what the installer said when he put the thing is. Might as well use the overpriced toy for something besides catching the news and sport scores, eh?"
They share a laugh as Hank walks over and sets up the laptop.
After testing, and satisfied the hookup works, he turns back to Avery, "If we could dim the lights a little�?"
Avery slides his hand over the top of the desk, revealing a small control panel. He touches a button, dimming the lights.
"Perfect," Hank says, and begins his demonstration.
He spends the next 90 minutes running his presentation, outlining what Summerland Systems could do for Chase holdings, pausing and answering all of Avery Chase's sometimes penetrating questions. He is on top of it; he knows the material, done the research, and knows his customer. He has Avery intrigued and in hand, and he knows it.
Despite that, he can't help feeling that Avery is, in some way, sizing him up, taking his measure. His dark, penetrating gaze is very disconcerting, and at times, Hank can't help feeling as if he were naked, as if Avery could see inside him to his very soul. If he weren't so well versed in the product, so used to giving demonstrations, he might actually be thrown off his presentation. As is, he gets through it, but not without some sense of disquiet. What's he up to? What's he looking for?
"� so, as you can see," Hank wraps up the presentation, " by using our system of information management, you can increase productivity down the line, from top to bottom. You'll have a better information flow; stronger security, including redundancy and offsite storage, as needed, in secure vaults; you'll decrease costs by 10% at startup, and incrementally from there until you reach an ultimate savings of 25% overall. And finally, you'll be able to cut your support staff by at least 15%, as our systems are more efficient and have designed in lower maintenance." He looks at Avery with a smile. "Any questions?"
Avery touches a button on his desk, bringing up the lights. He smiles, and waves at Hank to sit down.
"No, no questions, Hank. You've made a very clear, very convincing presentation. I can clearly see the advantages of going with Summerland Systems, and I'm this close�" He holds up his index finger and thumb, nearly pressed together.
Like a dog drooling over a bone, Hank can almost smell the steak. He comes over to Avery, sitting across from him.
"Tell me, Avery, what can I do to allay any doubts you might have?"
Again, Avery sweeps over Hank with his eyes, and then turns away from him, presenting only his profile. He leans back in his chair.
"As I'm sure you realize, Henry, being in business yourself, that there are aspects of my corporations that work in strict confidentiality. Beside the government contracts we hold, there are aspects of my company that if, somehow, information were leaked about them, could be very detrimental to the corporation as a whole�" He turns slightly towards Hank,"� after all, discretion is everything, you understand."
"Absolutely, Avery," Hank nods empathetically, "I assure you, our staff is thoroughly screened and bonded before they're hired. We place a premium on our client's trust, and our confidentiality." He smiles winningly "We also have government contracts, and they seem satisfied with our arrangement."
"I'm sure," Avery nods, "but you must see�" he turns even more towards Hank,"�that there is no control like what you yourself wield. I know for certain currently that all business of Chase Holdings stays within Chase� period. Bringing in an outside company, opening oneself up to possible leaks� it's just something I can't afford to do. Sorry."
Hank feels as if his guts are being twisted by malicious and particularly vengeful hands.
"Avery, certainly there is something we can do to assure you that your information is 100% secure and safe�"
"As things stand now, Hank? I'm afraid not. Sorry." His tone is slightly dismissive.
Hank sits there, stunned. He sees the deal of a lifetime slipping through his fingers, and can't help feeling some resentment towards the self satisfied son of a bitch in front of him. He frowns, and turns to collect his case.
"Very well, Avery. I have to admit, I think you're making a mistake, but �" he shrugs, rising to collect his laptop.
"Henry, Henry, Henry," Avery turns full around, facing Hank. "Please, don't be so hasty." He smiles and cocks his head. "Surely you know that negotiations are never easy � and you never quit in the middle�" He cocks his head, smiling.
Hank feels as if he's been dressed down by a stern professor.
"You seem set on not working with us, Avery. What do you expect?"
"If you'd been paying attention, Henry," Avery's tone reflects a slight irritation, "You would remember I said we were this close to dealing." He again puts up his thumb and forefinger. "I really hope I don't have to teach you negotiations 101 here� this is the part where you ask what it'll take to do the deal, Henry."
Hank feels his own irritation rising, but pushes it down, way down. Think of the potential here Hank. Just humor him.
"I'm sorry, Avery, " Hank smiles. "What's it going to take to make this happen?"
"Very good, Henry. Perfect," Avery opens a drawer, pulling out a folder. "Inside you'll find my counter proposal. Please, take your time looking it over."
Henry takes the folder, and opening it, begins to read the document within. As he continues, some surprise shows on his face; surprise he can't quite hide from Avery. He finishes, sets down the folder, and looks up at Avery.
"So, that's what this is all about. You want to buy Summerland�"
"Yes, I do. As I said, I was very impressed by both your demonstration this morning, and what research I had done on your company. I feel, with the proper capitalization behind it, and with the right management team, it could become a very profitable arm of the Chase company. And, finally, it satisfies my need for absolute security, bringing the company under my direct control. So, you see, buying Summerland Systems is a win-win situation."
"I do see," Hank nods. "And I have to admit," he indicates the folder, "you've made a very generous offer. But I have partners�"
"Oh, I'm sure you could persuade your partners to go along with the deal�" Avery says dismissively. "You are the managing partner, after all."
"I'm afraid you misunderstand, Avery. You're deal is very generous� for me. Splitting it three ways, not so generous at all. Not after working building this business for so long�"
Avery sits back in his chair, and smiles a tight little smile. He gazes at Hank, appreciating the boldness. Appreciating, but not enjoying.
"I see. So you feel the offer is inadequate?" His forced smile flattens into a line. "I fear you misunderstand, Henry. I've done extensive homework on your company. While I'm impressed by your systems, I'm not impressed with its management. It could've come a lot farther along in it's time, if things had been run more efficiently." He reaches in for another folder. "I have your company's financials right here, and while I see potential, frankly?" He shakes his head. "I don't think its current worth even matches my overly generous offer. As is, It's going to take time to recover from the costs of merging, never mind showing a profit."
"Well, it doesn't all have to be in cash, Avery," Hank says, quietly. "I'm sure you could sweeten the deal a bit. Perhaps I retain oh� 10% of my share of Summerland after the deal, and maybe kick in some Chase stock?"
Avery's eyes narrow, and he leans forward on his desk. He taps the folder containing his proposal.
"Henry, I admire your bravado, but I've made a very generous deal. Take it."
"I'm sorry. I can't. Not for all the time and work I've put into the company."
"I see," Avery says, sitting back in his chair, and sighing. "I'd hoped you'd take the smart course in this Henry, but I overestimated you I suppose."
"I'm sorry we couldn't do business," Hank says stiffly, again rising to leave.
"Sit down, Henry. You look like a jack in the box, popping up and down." Avery waves him to sit. "We're not finished here."
Henry hesitates, feeling a slight chill in his guts. He stares at Avery, and frowns.
"What's the point, Avery? It's clear you won't do business with us, I'm not interested in your counter offer. I can't see wasting anymore time here�"
"Sit down, Hank," Avery commands.
Hank sits, puzzled as to why he did.
"I'm going to give you another chance to do the right thing here, Henry. The smart thing. I can understand your reaction; after all, you've put a lot of time and energy into making Summerland Systems a go. I commend your effort. But let's deal in reality here for a moment. I've made a very generous offer for your company, more than it's worth. Perhaps if you spent more time with the accountants and number crunchers, you'd realize that. I'm not a fool, and I don't waste money. But I figured there might be some resistance to my offer, and I wanted this to go smoothly." Avery smiles unpleasantly. "Evidently I didn't count on your stupidity or greed."

"Now, wait a second, Avery. Never mind insulting me with that lowball offer for the company, if you think I'm going to sit here and let you insult me personally�"
Avery merely stares him into silence.
"Fine, have your say. I'm not changing my mind," Hank says petulantly.
"That would be too bad. It's a good offer, Henry. A better offer than you'll receive otherwise. If you're smart, you'll take it and stop being stubborn. It's more than enough to start over, or even to live quite well in certain foreign countries for the remainder of your life." Avery smiles, pouring on the charm. " C'mon now, Hank, you've impressed me as an intelligent man. Don't make me rethink that position."
"Think whatever you want, Avery," Hank stands again. "I've told you my position, and I'm not changing it." He collects his briefcase, and turns towards the flat panel plasma TV. "If you don't mind, I'll collect my equipment and be on my way." He walks over to the laptop.
"That's really too bad, Henry. I wish we could've worked something out. " Avery reaches into another drawer, lower down. He pulls out a thick file folder. "Perhaps you should see this before you leave, however."
Hank glances over, and sees the file on Avery's desk. He scowls.
"I don't think there's anything more I wish to see from you, Avery."
"Oh, I think you'll want to see this one, Henry�" Avery's expression becomes grim. "I'm sure your partners would be very interested in it."
Hank slips the laptop in his case. "More games, Avery? Haven't you learned, no means no?" Hank purses his lips.
"No games, Henry. Strictly facts. Actually," He flips through the file, smiling that unpleasant smile of his, " it's quite some reading. You've been a very naughty boy, Henry Summers."
Hank freezes, staring at Avery Chase.
"I don't know what you're talking about�"
"Oh please, Henry. Don't pretend innocence. It's so distasteful for a man like yourself�" Avery stops at a page, and looks up at Hank. " How old was this girl? I'm rather impressed, Hank, considering�" He smiles salaciously.
"Let me see that�" Hank crosses quickly to the desk. Avery hands him the sheet. He looks it over, going pale. "This is a lie. This never happened�"
"Well, she claims it happened, and you know how those things are. There doesn't need to be a scandal if the scent of one exists." Avery chuckles, amused. "Seems you enjoy your girls young, Hank�"
Hank grabs the file from Avery, and starts flipping through it. His face becomes paler, and a bead of sweat stands out on his forehead. He looks up at Avery, visibly upset.
"Where did you get this?"
"It wasn't all that hard, Henry. You're rather sloppy about taking care of your discards, old fellow. It helps to own a very thorough private investigative agency, I admit. But I need it, in my line of work. After all, someone who does business without knowing all he can about his potential associates is a fool. Wouldn't you agree?" He nods at Henry, and the file. "I have to admit, I learned a lot more than I thought I would. As I said, I'm impressed � with your stamina, if not your discretion."
"All right. I guess you've got me. I accept your offer�" Hank says, through clenched teeth.

"Yes, well, the offer� I'm sorry, but that was a one time thing, and you turned it down. Sorry, I'll just have to use other means to acquire what I want�"
"What? What do you mean�?"
"Henry, please. This stupid act is no longer amusing, "Avery stands. "You and your partners went public, don't you recall? To raise capital. That means, you company is held publicly. Anyone can buy a controlling interest in it�"
"I'm the majority stockholder�"
"That doesn't matter. You don't own a controlling interest. I've been buying up stock in Summerland, Henry. Quietly, without fanfare, ever since you first approached me months ago. I own a good piece, but not enough. I have to file various forms to buy more than I've already acquired. Some silly FTC rule." Avery shrugs. "I wanted to avoid this, I really did. But since you're so stubborn� you leave me no choice."
"That won't do it for you, Avery. I know between myself and my partners, we own a controlling interest."
"True, very true. However, once you partners see this, and also see the offer I plan on giving them for the company, I'm sure they'll be amenable to selling. Don�t you?" Avery shakes his head. "You should've been much more careful with your little crimes. I'm sure your partners will be quite upset when they learn you've been stealing them blind. Shame, Henry. Shame, shame, shame, "He waggles his finger at Hank. "I'd start consulting a lawyer. I'll do my best to protect you, but your partners may decide to prosecute."
"What proof do you have?" Hank holds up the file. "I've got the evidence�"
"A copy. Please, keep it. Consider it a gift. I have plenty of copies."
Hank stands frozen, stunned. He can hear the walls of his world cracking, beginning to collapse in on him. And he's aware there's nothing he can do about it. He stands slumped, defeated.
"Now, Henry, I'm not a monster, despite what you think of me right now. I don't want to see you in jail. It serves no purpose, and frankly, I admire your range of peccadilloes. No, I don't want you in jail� and there's a way to avoid it." He pulls a sheet out of the original proposal, and slips it across the desk. "this is a legal document, signing over your shares in Summerland to me. Of course, I'll still have to file those pesky FTC forms before I can use them, but �" Avery shrugs. "Let's just say I have a soft spot in my heart for you."
Heart? You mean that lump of iron in your chest?
Hank, trapped, walks over and picks up the paper. He looks it over and notices a dollar figure for the sale of the shares.
"This isn't close to what they're worth," his tone is flat, not defiant.
"Well, of course not. Did you expect to get market? Anyway, if this information gets out, I'm not all that sure that they'll be worth the paper they're printed on�" He hands Hank a pen. "Sign the paper, Henry."
Hank takes the pen, and pausing for a moment, signs the document. He throws the pen down on the desk in a last show of defiance.
"Temper, Henry, temper." Avery quickly retrieves the paper, filing it away. "Now, let's see� where did I put that�" He opens the pencil drawer on his desk, and withdraws a certified check. "Ah, here we go�"
"You had that� already made out?"
"Of course, Henry. I prepare for all contingencies, "Avery smiles, handing Hank the check. "Now, don't you wish you'd been a little less stubborn?"
Hank says nothing. He looks at the check, slips it in his suit coat pocket, and turns to go.
"Oh, Henry, wait." Avery comes around the desk, "if you don't mind, leave the laptop. The hard drive contains valuable and confidential Summerland information. I really don't want you trying to sell it elsewhere." Avery holds out his hand.
Hank looks at him, frowning. Rather than handing the case over to him, he opens it, extracting the laptop. He throws it on the ground, where it sparks on contact. Not satisfied, he goes over and stomps on it a few times, flattening it.
"Nothing to worry about now, I suppose, Avery."
Before Avery can comment, Hank turns and leaves.
Avery watches him go, a look of disgust fighting with a grin on his face. The grin wins, and sighing, he looks down at the wreckage of the laptop.
He shakes his head.
"Henry."
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