Author's Notes:

thanx, cricket, for helping me on this. and amber, bushwoolie, and jennifer for comments. all other comments are welcome.also, sorry for skipping from 3rd to 1st person view. i just think it's work better. nowon with the story!!

Ch. 19-

Knocking on the door of Buffy's home, I felt a bit apprehensive. It would be my first night of slaying with my powers, and the first night of leaving Madeliene. But I hardly had need to worry, for justthen Buffy opened the door.

"Willow, Madeliene, you're here. I hope you like chicken with rice, because I had a huge craving for it today. Oh well, enough about me. Come in, I'll getMom." Buffy asked.

"'Kay, Buffy. Lead the way." I said as I made my way to the kitchen, finding Mrs. Summers pulling rolls out of the oven. I couldn't help but feel how safe thescene felt.

"I hope you don't think I made these myself, they're Pillsbury. How have you two been?" Mrs. Summers asked sympathetically.

"Good, actually. It's still hard, though, Mrs. Summers." I answered, the pain bearly evident in her voice.

"Please, call me Joyce. Heaven knows you're old enough to, and now, well, you're in the adult world, even if you are still in school." She said rather cheerfully.

"Okay, Joyce. Do you need any help?" I said, feeling a bit weird. "Madeliene, can you set the table for me?"

"Alright." Madeliene said nicely, and without a moment to spare was getting out plates from a cupboard, not moving from the seat she was in.

"Madeliene!! I meant the regular way!" I chastised the little girl, making a sideways glance to see how Joycehad taken that sight.

Joyce looked a bit weirded out, but soon recovered. "Willow, it's all right. Madeliene's just practicing something that's normal to her. Go on, sweetie."

"'Kay!" Madeliene said happily, and after a glance at me she began setting the table.

After a small grace, dinner ensued with normal conversation. Well, if a Power Puff Girl debate between a 40 year old and a 5 year old and slaying techniques between teenagers can be considered normal.

Soon it was prime slayage time, and as Buffy was getting together supplies, I coached Joyce onMadeliene's nightly rituals.

"She reads aloud a chapter of 'Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle' each night. She's on chapter 4 now. She can watch T.V., but nothing above a PG rating. She needs to brush and floss, and say her prayers. She knows what to do. Did I miss anything?" I finally finished. I was kinda taking my guardian role too seriously.

"Willow, I raised a little girl too. I have an idea of what to do. You just go slay and don't worry." Joycesoothed me.

"Mom's right, Will, and it's time to go, so come on!"Buffy said from behind me.

"Alright. Let me say goodnight to Madeliene." I replied, then went to the living room, where Madeliene was. "Be good, o.k., sweetie? And don't try to get away with anything I wouldn't let you do. Now give me a hug." I said, closing my arms around the littlegirl.

"You be careful too, Willow. Don't get hurt, cause then I'll have to come help." Madeliene said, soundinga little muffled.

"O.k., I should go now. Come on, Buffy."

Once outside, we went to the park, a favorite vamp hang-out. On the way we analyzed the previous morning.

"He freaked. Really freaked. Screaming, and yelling, and pacing, and waving his arms, the whole 9 yards. I just don't understand why he went crazy like that." I said while trying to hone my senses.

"He still sees you as a little kid. Like, Maddy's age. He's known you his entire life, and you're like a sister to him. Seeing you in a potentially adult situation was like walking in on his little sister. How would you feel if you saw Maddy in thatsituation?" Buffy rationalized.

"Mad. But I'd ask first!! I think..." I trailed off, feeling some kind of force. "Buffy...behind that building. There's vampires. Oh no, they have a victim. A girl, she feels young, but they haven't hurt her. But not for long. We have to go!" I whisperedfrantically.

"Damn, you're good, but we can't just bust in. we have to take it kinda slow or-" Buffy said before she was interrupted by a scream. "Or maybe we can."

Running to the vamps, we found 3 of them, 2 guys and a girl, surrounding a girl that looked about 14. You could almost taste her fear. Taking a deep breath, I forewent the witty sarcasm thing and went straight for the heart of the nearest demon. The other two were too surprised to do anything at first, but soon regainedtheir wits.

"Hey, that wasn't nice. Who do you think you are just waltzing in and killing oh fu-" Oops. The stake seemed to slip right into the annoying little bitch's heart.

"You're turn, shorty." Buffy remarked as she plunged her stake into the rather short vamp. As suddenly as it had started, it was over. Now we had to deal withthe girl.

"What did you just do? I think I know, but it can't be what I think I saw. Is it what I think I saw?" Sheasked, looking bewildered.

"It was gangs! On PCP! With really ugly faces!! And-" Buffy said, launching into the standard repsonse.

"Buffy, I have a different idea." I interrupted. Stepping up to the girl, I placed my hands on her head and murmured a small chant I had found in a spellbook:

"What was seen is now forgotten What was known is now gone Believe elders like a child Believe what I say to thee"

Shaking her head, the girl's eyes glossed over, and she asked groggily, "What happened? I can't think. Canyou help me?"

"You were walking and we saw you faint. We came over to help. Are you okay?" I asked, weaving a verybelievable lie.

"Wow, I knew I worked too hard at basketball tonight. Thanks for helping me." She said, trying to get herbearings.

"No problem. Want us to walk you home?" Buffyquestioned.

"I live really close to here. I'll be fine. Thanks again!" She called, already half way across thestreet.

Once she was out of hearing range, Buffy let out adeep breath.

"Damn, Will, you're good. I mean, for your first kill with these powers? I wasn't this good when I first gotmine.

"But I've had 2 1/2 years to practice slaying. You didn't. But I was pretty good." I said, beaming at mysuccess.

"Yes you are. Any more vamps on the radar?" Buffyjested.

"Not so far. Let's hit the cemetary. That's a really good vamp hang-out. Anyway, back to the Xander problem. I would be mad a Madeliene, but I would have asked, and found out what was going on. At least I think I would. He didn't even ask, he just assumed I was a slut. And that really hurt. He should know me better than that." I lamented.

"He should, but he's Dense Boy. Give him some time. He should come around. If not, I make him come around."Buffy said resolutely.

"I hope so. I'd hate for our friendship to go down the drain like that. It's just been going on too long. Now about Oz. Why is he being so preoccupied? He usually at least gives me an idea of what's wrong. But I have no clue. But I want to help and I can't if I don'tknow what's wrong." I ranted.

"Now I know he'll come around without me helping. I'm sure he just doesn't want to bother you while you're busy adjusting with the powers, and Madeliene. And your parents. You have a lot going on. Don't deny it."Buffy said cautiously.

"You want to know something? The last real thing I did with my parents was the time Oz had to come for dinner. And even that time it was kinda quick because they had a plane to catch for some conference. I don't even know my parents. It's kinda hard to miss people you didn't know. But I am mourning the fact that they're dead. And Aunt Lacy and Uncle Ryan, they were parents. When they had to go out of town Mad went with them. They had family outings, they spent time with her. The only reason Madeliene wasn't with them this time is because Madeliene asked to stay here. I knew my babysitters a lot better than my parents. I'm mostly sad for Madeliene." I said shakily, trying to figure out what I had just said. Things were startingto make sense.

Suddenly, before Buffy or I could say anything, I picked up on a huge problem. Looking behind me, I tried honing my skills to find the vamp, when I heard a muffled cry. Whipping around violently, I found Buffy in the grasp of a very ugly demon. It was obviously not a vamp. He looked about 7 1/2 feet tall, rather thin, large, sharp teeth, black horns, and ruby-red, scalely skin. But the most prodominent feature was the black eyes. They were huge. They seemed to stare right into you're soul and reveal allyou're secrets.

I found myself staring into his eyes, unable to tear myself away. I knew I was trapped, and there was no way I could run. Then, I heard a small voice. I knewit was Madeliene.

Moving my arm, I concentrated on the being and with all my might threw him against the alley wall, about 10 feet away. Upon impact, he drooped Buffy, unharmed, and she ran to my side, too afraid to realize that he was vulnerable enough to stake. To be honest, I wastoo.

Moving slowly, he stood up and began to walk away, when suddenly he stopped and faced me, snarling,

"You got lucky this time, but it won't happen again. Be afraid, for yourself, and the little girl. Be very afraid. I'll be back to get you later."

I was too shocked to move. How did he know about Madeliene? And how badly could he hurt her?

After a few minutes of shock, Buffy had to say something to break the deafening silence.

"Well, just when the mayor wasn't enough, we get another friendly neighborhood demon. Come on. I want to check on Mom and Maddy. Then check on everyone else." Buffy said, taking charge. I mutely followed, glad to not have to think until we got back toBuffy's.

To Be Continued...