Prologue

Buffy Summers was always a California girl. She was blonde, -- dyed, yes, but blonde no less -- a cheerleader, popular, -- with the football quarterback as a boyfriend -- and she had always been that way. Her parents were never that way; they were both nerds in their own way at school. But lately, Buffy was starting to think that it wasn't really who she was.

At home, Buffy was a goody-two-shoes. She felt she had to be ever since her mother, Joyce, and father, Hank, had divorced on bad terms and had remained on bad terms since she was fourteen.

Her mother worked until seven o'clock at the gallery she co-owns and curates at. But she brought in a lot of money, which was good since Hank didn't bother to pay child support. So it was Buffy's responsibility to get her chores and homework done and make dinner every so often. More often than not, the two would order out. And, if Buffy was honest with herself, she preferred herself this way. She was quiet and relaxed and herself at home but was still totally willing to talk about...well, anything.

Then her mom started dating a military man. He was a little older than Joyce but not much. He was very friendly and had gray hair and glasses. He was born in the U.S. and was legally a U.S. citizen. But from the time he was five until he was sixteen, he had lived in the U.K. At eighteen, he'd moved back to the U.S. and enlisted in the military. He was a high-ranking member of the United States Military with a United Kingdom accent. And his name was Rupert. Rupert Giles. But Buffy just called him Giles.

Tonight, Joyce was having Giles over for a "family dinner" with Buffy. Apparently, they had some big announcement. But Buffy already knew what it was. Her mom was always pulling something out of her pocket and looking at it then shoving it back into her pocket when Buffy entered the room. She wondered if they thought she was stupid.

The door to their three-bedroom apartment was yanked open and slammed shut. Buffy briefly registered the doorbell having rang beforehand.

She sighed to herself as her mother called for her to come say hello. She got up and went to say hello.

Then she went to check on dinner. She heard her mom and Giles talking excitedly in the living room, trying to be quiet. Buffy could hear them, but she didn't care enough to really listen. Until...

"Buffy! Can you come in here for a minute?"

She sighed and checked the hamburger patties once more. They were almost fully browned and would be ready to eat soon. She went into the living room and saw Joyce and Giles holding hands.

"What's up?" she asked.

"Well, Rupert and I are getting--"

"Married? No shit," the sixteen year old said.

"You knew?" Giles asked, raising an eyebrow at the girl.

"Your fiancée's not very discreet at hiding the rock you gave her," Buffy said, smiling. "Anyway, congratulations you guys. Giles, I'm glad you make my mom happy."

She smiled politely at Giles, and he smiled back.

"But there's more to the news," Joyce said. "Buffy, Rupert has been offered the position of Commandant at a military school in Boston: Franklin D. Roosevelt Military School. It's a well-paid job, and it is very suitable for a retired general."

"Oh. Cool. Congrats again."

His brows furrowed at her, but he smiled his thanks.

A beep sounded from the kitchen: the oven timer.

"Burgers are ready. Come and get 'em."

They sat down to dinner in the small dining room and ate their hamburgers in a comfortable silence.

Buffy was lost in her own thoughts, mostly, but she wasn't too out of it to notice Giles and Joyce trying to look at each other or hold hands all sly-like.

"Guys," she said, chuckling, "I don't mind you holding hands or anything in front of me. Don't worry about it. You are what you are and I'm happy for you."

She smiled warmly at both of them.

"Thanks, honey," Joyce said. "Actually, Rupert and I have one more piece of news for you which I'm assuming you haven't guessed on your own."

Buffy held up one finger, -- asking them to wait -- finished her hamburger, and then she turned her attention to the couple.

"Hit me," she said, grinning. "Just not literally please."

"Well, since Rupert has already taken the position at FDR Military School, and we're out of contact with your dad...we'll be getting married over the summer and moving to campus for as long as he's there."

"Yes, there's a special on-campus house for the Commandant," Giles said. "It's quite nice. I'm sure you'll like it, Buffy."

"We're moving there?!" Buffy exclaimed, surprised. "To Boston! I'm almost seventeen! I'll be a junior next year! I don't wanna just up and leave!"

"I'm sorry, Buffy," Joyce said. "But the decision's already been made. The academics are great and it's very well-structured and with Rupert as headmaster--"

"Commandant," Giles corrected her gently.

"Commandant. Right," Joyce said, smiling at him. "Well, with Rupert as Commandant...it's just more convenient."

Buffy took a moment to digest this information and eventually nodded in recognition. Though she refused to admit it, deep down she knew her mom was right. She nodded again and stood up, grabbing her plate. She threw it in the dishpan and stormed off into her room.

"That went well," Joyce said, sighing.

Summer came and went quickly, closing in the celebration of Joyce and Giles' wedding. It was a beautiful indoor wedding, followed by a reception in one of the gallery wings. It was nice and Buffy did actually enjoy it, though she regretted having to leave for the military school within the week.

Since Giles and Joyce had made their announcement the month before, Buffy had broken up with her idiot of a boyfriend and just generally withdrew herself from the popular crowd. She was no longer a cheerleader -- she saw no point in it. She'd become considered a loner and a social outcast, but she didn't care anymore. She was going to military school. She was sure she was going to be miserable so she figured she'd better start now.

Joyce had quit being a curator at the gallery, though she continued to co-own and fund it. She told the other owner that she wanted to be involved in any major projects. That was happily agreed upon.

Buffy's week was soon up, and the apartment she and her mother have lived in together for so many years is cleaned out and ready for its next owners. Buffy sighed and grabbed her last duffel bag. She looked around one last time and left the apartment.