Buffy woke to the sound of her mom’s voice and tapping on her bedroom door, “Wake up sleepy head, we have lots to do today so time for breakfast and then we’ll head off to the mall for the mandatory mom and daughter shopping day.”

“Right,” she thought to herself as she fought of the remaining fog of sleep.“Birthday?  Mine, oh yeah, I remember!”

Stretching and yawning Buffy made her way downstairs to join her mother for breakfast. Over pancakes and juice the Summers women planned their day. First there would be facials and manicures followed by some serious clothes and or shoe shopping. Then lunch, more shopping and then home in time for party preparations before their guests arrived tonight. Somewhere in amongst all this Buffy had decided there was also going to be a serious and long overdue mother/daughter discussion in regards to a certain sacred duty. She knew Giles thought it was best if her mom was protected from that particular aspect of her life, but she'd had enough of the lies and the deceit. Also, more and more it seemed that her life as the Chosen one seemed to be encroaching on her mom’s safety. So forewarned, forearmed and all that…right? The only thing Buffy couldn’t work out was exactly HOW she was going to tell her mom and how she was going to get her to believe her!

An hour later, showered, dressed and ready to take on an intensive day of shopping, they were back in the kitchen for cup of coffee before heading off. Well, no time like the present, Buffy decided, also at home, so no danger of being overheard when her mom wigged out-which she was pretty sure she would do. Also weapons at hand for proof and possible visual demonstration of slayer abilities.
 
“Mom”, she began, voice soft and hesitant, “there is something we REALLY need to discuss.” She looked up to see her mom fixing her with an intent ‘Oh my God, what's wrong now?’ look. “Okay, this is going to be kinda freaky. Also, not easy to explain so I kinda need you to let me finish and then you can ask whatever you want…okay?”
 
“Buffy, are you in some kind of trouble?” Joyce found it hard to keep the unspoken “again” out of her voice.
 
“No, no, mom. No trouble, just major wiggi-ness, okay?”
 
“Okay, I think.  What is it, honey?”
 
Buffy opened her mouth and the words poured out. “Right, okay here goes…vampires are real, and um, well, I am the Vampire Slayer, you know once into every generation yadda yadda yadda. Hmm... wish Giles was here, he is so much better at that bit than me. Anyway I kinda have special powers, you know, really strong and fast and then there’s the spidey sense, well vampire sense really but… I am so not doing a good job of this am I?” She hesitated looking at her mom’s shocked, disbelieving face. “Mom, really, I know it sounds like you should call the men in white suits to come and take me away but what I am saying is true. Mr Giles, the school librarian, is my Watcher... its kinda his job to train me and tell me what to fight and pretty must just be bossy Mr Stuck up. But, hey, he is good at it. And well, remember parent teacher night at school and those guys that broke in? Well they were vampires. The one you hit with an axe his name is Spike he’s like a big time master vampire who is way old but not as old as Angel...”
 
“Angel? Your boyfriend, Angel?”
 
“Well, he was, but not any more, I kinda broke up with him last night, but yeah, THAT Angel. But he is a good vampire, he has a soul and he helps kill vampires and other bad guys.”
 
“Buffy, do you have any idea how insane this sounds?” Joyce’s voice was shrill with anxiety.
 
“Yeah, mom, I do, really I do.” Buffy felt the hysteria building as she blurted, “And I wasn’t supposed to tell you but I didn’t want to keep hiding this and having you think I’m like this major loser who burns down school buildings and gets in fights just because I feel like it and I SO don’t want you to be disappointed in me any more. I know I have caused you so much trouble and you probably wish you had any daughter in the world but me and I am so sorry, mom, I just…”
 
“No, Buffy, I have NEVER wished for any other daughter than you. I love you and I am proud of you.” She gathered her sobbing daughter in her arms, stroking her hair and gently rocking her. “You think of others before yourself, you are strong and sensible and no mother could ever be prouder of her daughter than I am of you.” As Buffy calmed in her arms Joyce drew a deep sobering breath. “Okay, honey, start again... but slower this time and from the beginning.”
 
Several hours later they had finally made their way to the mall for the planned mother/daughter day. Both were rather quiet and each was lost in their own thoughts. Telling her mom had been the scariest thing Buffy had ever done, even scarier than facing the Master, but she was glad she had done it. Yeah her mom was freaked out... who wouldn’t be? But she had dealt. In the end after explaining things the best she could, and answering a million questions-sometimes over and over again-she had passed the buck and told her mom that her Watcher, Mr Giles, was the best person to ask and as he would be at the party tonight maybe she could save any further questions until then.