Buffy has to turn and face the strange changes...

"I don't know, Willow," said Buffy. "Ever since the thing with Faith, it seems like my mother has become another person. I mean, I had her checked out at the local hospital and they couldn't find anything wrong with her but I still get the feeling that something changed with her that day. I just don't know what. "

"Surely it can't be that bad," said Willow.

"Yes, it is," said Buffy. "She seems to be changing every time I see her. And I don't know what to do about it. I mean, I know she misses me. But I got my own life now. I can't be her babysitter and yet that is beginning to look like the only solution."

"Perhaps I can talk to her," said Willow. "She's always liked me. Perhaps she will tell you something that she might not feel comfortable telling you."

"I don't know," said Buffy. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt. After all, I need to do something. She is starting to become a terrible influence on Dawn. And Dawn... Well, ever since this thing with Faith, Dawn has had little respect for me. It's almost as if it's my fault that the attack happened. Sometimes I think Dawn would have more regard for me if I were just a big glowing ball of energy."

xxx

When they got to Buffy's house, Joyce was in the living room wearing a dress that was far shorter than the one she had worn earlier that day and Dawn was sitting on the couch wearing an outfit that was way too tight for her.

"Hello, Willow!" exclaimed Joyce. "You're just in time to witness me give Buffy the big news."

"What big news?" asked Buffy.

Joyce reached down and pulled her dress up over her head, immediately discarding it behind her back. Beneath her dress she was obviously naked.

Joyce smiled and said, "As of now, we are a clothing-optional household."

"Clothing-optional?" asked Buffy.

"Oh, who am I kidding?" asked Joyce. "I meant to say, pro-nudity household. From now on, all people who live here have to stop wearing clothes of any kind. Except maybe shoes. I like shoes. And of course, visitors like Willow are exempt because, well, they're visitors. And Dawn because, well, she really likes clothes."

"Hey, I like clothes too," said Buffy.

"Not like Dawn does," said Joyce.

"Er, okay," said Buffy. "Then I guess I won't live here anymore."

"Oh, yes, you will," said Joyce. "Especially if you wish me to continue helping you with your tuition and your college expenses."

"But, Mom..." said Buffy.

"Don't 'but, Mom' me, young lady," said Joyce. "I let you slide by enough in the past and you almost got expelled from school as a result. Now that you're on the right path now, I expect you to obey me. Else I'm going to have a serious talk with your Mr. Giles."

"Do I have to undress right now?" asked Buffy. "In front of Dawn? And Willow?"

"Hey, I don't mind," said Willow.

"Willow!" exclaimed Buffy.

"I don't mind, either," said Dawn.

"Dawn," said Buffy, "that's a terrible thing to say. I would object quite strongly if our positions were reversed."

"Oh, hell, Buffy," said Dawn. "You wouldn't even notice if our situations were reversed. You're too busy with your other stuff. You used to be cool when you were still going to high school. But ever since you started going college.... It's just as well Mom is making you go naked."

"'Mom' is not making Buffy do anything, Dawn," said Joyce. "I'm giving her a choice."

"Some choice," said Buffy under her breath.

"What was that?" asked Joyce in a sharp tone.

"Er, nothing," said Buffy. "So again, how long do I have before I have to get naked?" asked Buffy.

"No time like the present, Buffy," said Joyce. "And I would prefer you to undress right here."

"Really, Mom?" asked Buffy.

"Yes, really, Buffy," said Joyce.

"Okay," said Buffy.

And with that, she stepped out of her shoes, unzipped her dress, unhooked her bra and slid down her underpants until she was every bit as naked as her mother.

When Buffy turned around, she noticed that Willow was staring at her as if she had never seen a naked woman before and even Dawn seemed to be looking at her in a way that just didn't seem proper for a girl who was viewing her older sister.

"Will I look like that when I'm Buffy's age?" asked Dawn.

"Of course not," said Joyce. "You're a lot taller than Buffy and your hair is different."

Then Joyce turned toward her naked daughter.

"Now hand me your clothes," said Joyce.

"Please tell me this is a temporary thing," said Buffy as she picked up her clothes and gave them to Joyce.

"It will last as long as I say it will," said Joyce. "And in the meantime, I expect you to obey me and stay naked. Because to do otherwise would be to disobey me and that... that would be naughty."