---

Prologue

“So what does my super girl want now that she’s a big five year old in school?” Joyce asked as she tucked Buffy into bed.

“A Barbie car,” she answered enthusiastically. “And a horse. I want a horse. And can I name the baby?”

“I think your dad might have some say in that,” Joyce smiled as she tucked the covers under little Buffy’s chin. She placed a kiss on the child’s forehead before saying goodnight and turning off the light. Softly padding to her bedroom and climbing into bed, she winced slightly at a sudden sharp little pain in her chest. She really was going to have to give up the Asian food, she thought to herself.

“Buffy all tucked in?” Hank asked his wife as she settled in. When he didn’t get a response, he glanced up from his book to note that she looked concerned as she rubbed a spot on her chest.

“What’s the matter? Baby giving you heartburn again?” He asked as he leaned over to place a kiss on her cheek.

“Yeah, that must be it,” Joyce said as she offered a small smile.

Ten minutes later she was sure that this wasn’t heartburn. This was worse. Much worse.

“Hank, something’s.....”

Hank looked up from his book again when his wife stopped talking. In a matter of seconds, he saw the concern in her eyes turn to panic before becoming eerily void of emotion. The last thing he heard from his wife was a strange gurgling sound erupting from her throat.

“Joyce?” Hank prodded. “Joyce?!...... JOYCE!!”

**********

Two hours later.....

“Mr. Summers, I presume?” The doctor called as he entered the small white waiting room.

“Yes! How’s my wife?” Hank anxiously asked as he balanced his sleeping daughter on his hip.

“We were very lucky. We were able to perform an emergency c-section in time. You have a beautiful baby girl. She’ll be in the nursery for quite a while, of course. We will need to monitor her closely to make sure there’s no further complications, but I think she’s going to be just fine,” the doctor smiled.

“And my wife?” Hank again requested.

“I’m terribly sorry, sir, but there was nothing we could do. She suffered what’s called a pulmonary embolism. It’s a blood clot in the lungs. It sometimes happens in pregnancy. There’s nothing that you or your wife could have done. I’m very sorry for your loss.”

Hank barely heard the doctor’s final apology as he sank down into his chair, processing the news.

His wife was gone.....

He had two daughters to care for.......

And his Joyce was gone......

The following night Hank crawled into a bottle, and Buffy’s life would never be the same again.

**********

“Mommy! You can’t go there!” Buffy asserted as she stepped between her mother and the big building with the white doors.

“But, sweetie, Dawn is coming. It’s the only place we can find her. I have to go in there,” Joyce said as she leaned down and tucked a stay hair behind Buffy’s ear.

“No mommy! I’ll find Dawn. I’m a Supergirl, see?” Buffy said as she pulled up her jammies to show a blue jump suit with a large “S” across the front. “If you go in there, the hospital monster will get you.”

Buffy turned around as a large white square monster stomped toward her. With several kicks to the legs and punches to the face, the giant square fell to the ground in defeat. Buffy turned back around to find her mother smiling proudly at her, and holding a small blanketed bundle.

“You saved me Buffy! And look, I found Dawn. You’re our hero,” Joyce proclaimed as she leaned down and placed a kiss on Buffy’s forehead.

“I’ll always save you mommy.....and I’ll help take care of the baby,” she smiled.

“Of course you will. You’re my super girl!” Joyce beamed.

---