"So mom...what did you two want to talk to me about?" Willow asked sitting down on the couch. Ira gave Sheila a look saying...it's your turn to be the bad guy...not me...kind of looks. Sheila sighed in frustration.

"Well honey, we wanted to ask you about that boy...Iz...Az...I don't know. Why was he here with you this morning?" Sheila asked. She kept her voice calm but it infuriated her just thinking that Willow went so far as to let another boy into her house. Now Xander...he was a charmer. She always thought, *why can't she go out with Xander*.

"Oh mom it was nothing. He wanted to make me feel better by celebrating my birthday. You two were supposed to be out of town so I thought it was alright." Willow said.

"Your birthday isn't today is it? I always thought it was in the Winter..." Sheila asked furrowing her brow. She really did need to pay more attention to her daughter. Willow's mouth went slack and fell open...her mother of all people forgot her birthday, and her mom was the one who had her. Oz knew Willow's birthday dead set in his heart ever since she told him. But her mother...my god..I'm her daughter.

"How could you not know my birthday?" Willow asked in a low voice. "You of all people forgot. You're the one who had me and you don't even remember when I was born." Willow asked. Her voice getting colder.

"It happens...sometimes...are you sure it isn't in the winter?" Sheila asked.

"No mom, that was Rose's birthday." Willow said cringing when she remembered her long lost sister.

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Flashback.

She and Rose were only a year apart. Rose was 11 when she died and Willow was only 10 when she saw it happen. Her parents, she and Rose, all went on a trip to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. It was a magnificent sight at that. On the second day they were there though, Rose wanted to see what the edges looked like and what it would feel like to look straight down. So Rose gingerly worked her way through the gate and got on all fours. She carefully crawled to the edge and looked down. Than Willow came out and saw what Rose was doing.

"Rose? What are you doing?" Willow asked as she neared the gate and put her tiny fingers through the small holes.

"I wanted to see what the Grand Canyon really looked like up close." Rose responded lifting her head to look at Willow.

"The gates not close enough?" Willow asked. Furrowing her brow. *she's crazy*

"Well yaah its close, but I really can't get the same sensation from there as I do here. Come on in, I promise you it feels a lot different in here." Rose assured Willow.

"I think you should come back in. Mom and dad are going to be here soon and you don't want them to see you in here." Willow said getting scared. What if she got in trouble for Rose being in there in the first place.

"Ok." Rose said reluctantly. She started to stand up, but on her way up a piece of the rock broke off and she slipped. Only able to hold on by her fingers. "Willow!!!!" Rose cried frightened. Willow froze. She did not want to go in there. But Rose was her sister and she was the dearest friend and sister one could ever have. Willow quickly began to climb the fence. "Hurry Willow I'm slipping.!!!!!!" Rose hollered. *Please god. Please don't let me fall.* Rose said. Tears began to stain on her face and her wet perm like hair began to cling to her face until she wasn't able to see any more.

"I'm coming Rose. Hold on. Please just hold on a little more. I'm coming, I'm coming." Willow chanted once she finally got over the gate. Considering Rose was about 30 pounds heavier than Willow it would be pretty hard for Willow to pull her up. Rose's small fingers began to slip some more and more and more...and then Willow grabbed her by the wrist and started to tug hard. She began to pull Rose up inch by inch until Rose's elbow was able to rest on the sandy plat form of rock. Than Willow began to pull some more until Rose was at the ground by her waist.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you." Rose babbled. Her heart was fluttering and her head was spinning. Willow started pulling a little more but Rose resisted. "Its Ok Willow I can make it the rest of the way up." Rose said. She started pushing her self the rest of the way up by her hands. Willow backed off and pushed her back flat up against the gate. Than, as Rose finally got her knees on the sandy paved rock, it broke off in front of her further than arms reach. Willow stood there in shock as Rose screamed to her faitful fall. "NNNoooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!" Rose hollered. Willow started crying and she immediately began to climb the fence in an attempt to go find her parents and cry to them for eternity because of what she just saw with her very eyes. Her heart was racing, her face was pail, her eyes were dilating, and her mind went blank. Finally she came to her senses and began to climb the gate. She knew that there was no way that Rose would survive that fall. The Canyon had to be at least...a gazillion feet down. She could still hear Rose's one cry as it echoed of the walls of the canyon when she finally got over the gate. She looked back one last time and started running. She screamed at the top of her lungs as her fathers van came her way.

"Daddy, Daddy...!!!!" Willow kept screaming over and over again. The tears and the fear in her voice and eyes showed Ira that something was definitely wrong.

"Willow, Willow, baby...what's wrong. Where's Rose?" He asked. Her lower lip started to quiver even more and her body began to shake as if something was taking over her body that she could not control. Willow began to cry even harder and she pointed her finger towards the canyon. Ira looked towards the canyon.

"I don't see her. Are you sure she is there?" Ira asked. What could of happened to make Willow cry so hard. Never in the 10 years that she lived had she ever cried. She started yanking her finger in rash motions in coherently. She was still in so much shock that she could not speak. She would point out and then down to the ground. Ira finally took understanding to what Willow was pointing out to him. Rose was down in the Canyon.

"Did she fall?" Ira asked in disbelief. Willow started yanking her head up and down really fast. It felt like someone was grabbing out at her heart and crushing at it. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't see, she couldn't think. All she could do was make vague motions. About 15 seconds later, Sheila began to run as fast as she could to the two and immediately embraced her daughter. She knew something was wrong. Willow never cried.

"Willow sweetie what's wrong?" Sheila asked stroking her daughters fiery red hair. Willow just clung to her as if she were the one about to fall down the canyon and mom saving her. She noticed Ira's shocked look and he immediately began to race towards the gate. "Willow, where is Rose?" Sheila asked. Willow could barely hear her and she started pointing out towards the canyon where her father started running towards. It dawned on Sheila what her daughter was finally getting at and she began squeezing her daughter so tight. She started crying uncontrollably and clinging on to Willow for dear life. Rose had fallen down the canyon, and Willow saw it. "How do you know?" Sheila asked calming down a little bit. Maybe Willow was just over reacting and she thought Rose fell into the Canyon. She did do that sometimes. Willow found her voice, what little of it she had left.

"She...shee.sh...she climbed the gate I guess. I came out side of the snow cone place and I saw her inside the gate...ash...sh...she was looking down over the canyon because she liked the view. I told her she should come back in..." Willow started. Sheila than knew in her heart what her daughter had witnessed. Willow went on..."and she started to get up and when she finally got to her feet the rock broke off. She was holding on with her hands. I got in the gate to help her up. I got to her and I pulled her up about half way...and...and then she told me she could go up the rest of the way. I backed up to the gate and when she finally got her knees on the ground a bigger chunk of the ground went loose and she was on it. She was to far from the sturdy part of the ground to hold on. andaanndandand...I'm so sorry. I should have made sure she got up all the way...I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry." Willow started crying and whimpering in mousy tones.

That was the last thing she ever saw of Rose, except at the funeral. They called the police and they questioned Willow about what happened. The only real response they got from her was a white face, a whole lot of crying, and green eyes turning into blue when ever they said something that made her upset. They sent a helicopter down to look for Rose and they eventually found her floating down stream in the small little river. When the parents asked, the strange man in a white mask said that because the fall was so far down that Rose probably didn't feel a thing. But even that didn't comfort Willow. All she could think about was Rose's last scream of anguish. Ever since that day, her mother changed. She was no longer what you would call sweet, kind, and loving. She was mean, cold, and bitter. Especially when it came to things she disapproved of. Boys in her house, was one of them.

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End Flashback.

"Willow you know you shouldn't bring up your sister in this house. It was almost 11 years ago." Sheila said in a quiet voice, remembering Willow's face when she started telling her what happened that fateful night.

"Well if that was all you were planning on asking me, than I think I'll just leave and go look for Oz." Willow said putting her head down. She felt ashamed of bringing up her sister.

"No! No more Oz. Willow I insist." Sheila said. Willow's heart froze at what her mother just said.

"Mom? I'll date Oz if I want to. I'm 21 years old now." Willow said. "You can't forbid me to see Oz."

Her father than interjected.

"Willow, your mother and I have come up with a decision that we think would be the best for you and we wish you to follow it." Ira said.

"Why can't I see Oz?" Willow asked furrowing her brow. *I don't care if you want me to follow it. He's been there for me more than you two have* Willow thought.

"Well honey we just don't think he is good for you. I mean, you've been dating him for what...2 months, and he's already sleeping with you in our house?" Sheila started.

"Oz..." Willow started in a very articulate voice, as if to get her point across, "and I have been dating for almost 4 and a half years." Willow said smugly.

"You what?" Willow's parents asked in unison. "Why didn't we know about this before Willow...don't you think that we should have the right to know about these things? We are after all your parents." Sheila said. "but the fact that you hid it from us makes me very disappointed in you young lady." Sheila went on.

"Well. I love you both...very, very, much...but...I love Oz so much. You can't ask me to stop seeing him." Willow said shaking her head at her parents.

"Willow. I know your old enough to make your own decisions, but you also have to understand that if you disobey us, we will refuse to pay for your financial bills for college." Ira said. "Now, be a good girl and do what your mother says. Just call that little boy Az or what ever his name is and tell him its over." Ira said patting her on the back. She flinched away from him and gave him a dirty, angry, icy look.

"I don't care. I have a job, and incase you have forgotten, I've got scholarships that are still good up to the next 3 years. I don't need you anymore. I mean, Oz would love it if I moved in with him. He's practically been hinting at it for months..." Willow said but was than interrupted by her mothers angry voice.

"Move in with him!!! Your father and I were married before we moved in together. You might as well have been sleeping with him if you do that."

"Well lets think MOM!!! 4 and a half years. What does that say to you. Oz and I have been sleeping together 6 months after I graduated from highschool." After her little outburst her mother looked at her horrified. Than her eyes grew dark, cloudy, and low. To Willow she looked like she was experiencing stage 1 of rabies.

"Willow, you are not to see that boy again...DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" Her mother said. She looked over at her father and he was giving her a very disapproving look. She met his eyes and he cast them down, shaking his head. They looked at her like she was a bug. Oh well it didn't matter. She was old enough to do what she wanted.

"I told you already. I love him. He's been there for me when you haven't..." Willow said starting to sniffle. "He's all I think about night and day, and he told me that one day he was going to marry me. You know what I said? I said, the sooner the better." Willow finished in a cold icy voice.

"Willow." Sheila started quietly. "You don't know what love is" she finished.

"Yes I do. I may be young, and I may have grown up in the 90's, but you can't tell me that I don't know what love is. I mean, look at you and dad. You're miserable. Dad has to sleep on the couch or on the floor at night because your to cranky. Obviously you and I share different concepts of a couple. Oz and I do things together. We wouldn't stop just because something bad happened 11 YEARS AGO!!!!! I don't care if you stop paying for my college. I have a job, I can start school any where else in the country for free, and...if I ever get in a rough spot I could always go to Nanna's in Mexico. She may be old but, she adores Oz. The only reason you don't like him is because he is helping your little girl grow up, and not you." Willow finished. Her father was steaming the entire time she spoke. His fingers were itching. And to think that his daughter would go so low as to use her scholarships. The Rosenbergs never accepted charity and they weren't going to any time soon.

"Willow you will do as you are told. Or else..."

"Or else what. You'll punish me. You'll ground me. You'll lock me in my room?" Willow said furious. She had been holding that in for so long. She was an adult now and she was going to get it through his head. Nothing, no matter what the price was, would take her away from Oz. Well almost nothing.

"I'm a buisness man Willow. You do realize that I have connections. I understand that your boyfriend Az is just now starting to start college because of his little Dingo miss hap. But you do realize that if you do not do as you are told, and break it off with him now...I will see to it that he never sees what the inside of a college looks like." Her father threatened. He had a very smug smile on his face knowing that he had won her over. If she really loved him, she would let him go to college. Willow could not believe what her father had just said.

"If you do that, I will never speak with you again." Willow threatened.

"Now this is nonsense." Sheila interrupted. "Willow...go...go do as your father tells you. If you really love him you will let him go." Sheila said trying to reason with her daughter.

"Do you love me dad?" Willow asked looking up into his smug eyes. He had her trapped.

"Now that is a silly question to ask Willow. Why wouldn't I." Her father asked.

"Then why won't you let me be happy?" Willow asked defeated.

"I do want you to be happy. That's why I am simply helping you make a few choices I don't feel you are old enough to make right now." Her father said. In his mind, he was right. That was how he was taught and that was how he expected to teach Willow.

"Please don't do this. Don't make me leave. If you make me break up with the one thing in life that actually makes sense to me, than don't ever expect me to come back. Because I won't be here the next time you walk in that door. You will never see me again." Willow said. She really had grown up.

Her father's face fell and he looked at her in disbelief. He thought of reconsidering, but pride stood over love in his family. Her mother was the same way. "Willow, I know your upset but I asure you that we are only doing this for your own good. Now...lets make a deal. You can see him tonight, but tonight I want him to understand that it is over between you too." There. That should make her happy. Willow looked down at her father. He wasn't the same man she knew 11 years ago. Tears were flowing fluently down her face. She nodded her head meekly. She knew when she was defeated.

"I'll go pack my bags..." Willow said in a soft voice filled with desperate tears. Her parents looked at her with shock. She walked up the stairs to her room and gently closed the door. She packed her bags as quick as she could. Just as she was about to open the door her mother came in. Her mother never actually felt that her daughter would leave her. She never thought her daughter was serious.

"Willow! You and I both know this is ridiculous. Now unpack your b.."

"SHUT UP!!! Shut up, shut up, shut up." Willow said looking at her mother with hatred. "Why can't you just let me be happy. That's all I want. For once to be able to live without you and Dad making a decision for me." Willow said breaking off into tears. "Your so obsessed with the ideal daughter. Your so dead set on making your lives happy that you never even considered to see how miserable you've made mine." She got down on her knees and huddled next to the wall bringing her knees to her chest. Her mother went over to her daughter in sympathy and gently tried to put a lock of Willow's hair out of her eyes. Willow flinched away as if that one touch had stabbed her. "Don't ever touch me again." Willow said in a deadly voice. Her eyes growing a faint yellow from all the fury she felt. "I have done every thing you have ever asked me to do and still you deny me of the one thing I have ever wanted."

"And what might that be? What ever it is, I assure you I'll go buy it for you." Her mother said. Anything to see her daughters sweet smile.

Willow smiled a bitter smile. "What do you think? I want a life of my own. I want to be capable to do what ever I want without you or dad getting in my way." Willow said pointing fiercely at the open door. "Now get out." Willow demanded. "I'll be gone in 10 minutes. I don't ever want to see you again." Willow said in a deadly tone.

"Now Willow!!!! This is getting ridiculous. Do you hear me, REDICULOUS. You are not..." Sheila started. Willow was so angry she picked up the most breakable object in her room and flung it at her wall. Sheila turned pail at that one notion. Never had she seen Willow destroy something so valuable. It was the porcelain doll she gave to Willow when she was 3. The instant the doll hit the wall, it shattered into a thousand pieces. It was just about the same as Willow's now terrible life. The doll was practically the only thing she had left of her childhood.

"If you don't leave this room now, so help me god, the next object will be aimed towards your head." Willow threatened. Sheila was dumfounded and Baffled all at the same time. She made a few mousy noises of disbelief and walked stiffly out the door. She gave Ira one of those scared, frightened looks. Ira thought he should go in and reason with Willow, but by the time he got 2 feet away from the door Willow stormed out. She threw her tote bag with her clothes in it over the railing and raced down the stair case. Her CD player, her savings from her recent job, her savings account, and the dress she was planning on wearing on her date with Oz in her hand. She picked up the tote bag that landed on the lower floor and flung it over her shoulders. The last thing Sheila and her father ever heard from Willow again was the loud slamming of the front door. Willow raced into the day towards Buffy's. Buffy would let her stay for a while. At least for the week. Willow was already planning on buying a ticket to New York. One of her old time best friends, Samantha, would be there. She would always talk to her over the phone and Samantha would just urge Willow to go to college in New York. She finally made it to Buffy's and started pounding on the front door.

Buffy heard the commotion down stairs outside and quickly broke her trance of studying to see what was going on. The look on Willow's face would haunt Buffy until she died. She immediately let Willow in.

"Willow. Oh my god...what's wrong?" Buffy asked, concern in her voice. "Is Oz Ok?" Buffy asked. At that Willow started crying so hard she made the kitchen table shake. Buffy guided her to the couch.

"My parents...they told me to break up with Oz. I told them no, but they got me trapped. He threatened to make sure that Oz never saw the inside of college if I didn't and I don't want that to happen. I love him so much. And my Mother..." Willow said her mothers name in a low guttural voice of disgust. She looked down at the floor and gave it a dirty look. "I never thought I could hate some one so much. I hate my father too. Buffy you have got to let me stay here with you this week. I swear, its only a week. After that I'm going to New York." Willow said. This scared the daylights out of Buffy.

"Willow! You don't have to leave Sunnydale to get away from your parents." Buffy said in disbelief.

"But what about Oz. How will I ever face him again after tonight. He'll storm out just like I did with my parents. Buffy. You have got to promise me that you will never tell him why. He'll just hate me even more for not having faith in him. And the problem is that I do have faith in him, and I know that if I told him why he would say he didn't care and it would be that much harder to let him go. I will never let myself destroy someone else's life the way my parents have just destroyed mine." Willow said. Buffy quickly enveloped her in a hug and Willow sobbed into her shoulder. "I don't know what to do. I love him so much. I don't want to leave, but I won't be able to look at Oz the way I want to. I hate this so much..." Willow said beginning to cry. "I never thought it would get this bad...I never thought I would hate them so much." Willow went on. After about an hour of heart wrenching tears Willow finally sobered up, yet her heart was aching so painfully, Willow found it hard to breath. She instantly remembered where that feeling came from. 11 years ago. Never, had Willow thought she would ever feel as much pain as she did that day, 11 years ago. The anticipation was killing her. She was supposed to meet Oz in 3 hours. How was she supposed to tell him it was over without giving her parents away. Without giving the secret she made Buffy promise to keep.

Buffy wept for her friend. Not only was she crying because Willow and Oz were soon to be over within 12 hours, she was also about to loose a friend. The best friend she had ever had. The one and only friend who ever made her feel complete. Willow was a kindred spirit. They both had experienced the same thing considering Vampires, demons within and outside themselves, and their parents. And now, they were both about to share the same status of loosing the most important man in their life. Buffy had lost Angel permanently when he moved to LA and Willow was about to loose Oz. They could only wait...

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Continues
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