It was a rare sunny day in Sunnydale. Everyone seemed to be celebrating by taking the day off. Teenagers lounged in the ice cream parlor and on street corners. Neighbors gathered for lemon aid and impromptu lawn parties. Everyone was languid in the heat, like a cat napping in the sun.

Even the nasty's seemed to be relaxing. There were no spells to disenchant, no mysterious alien bug things or mythical monsters to kill, no ancient curses to break, and no vampires to dust. Buffy didn't even have any homework.

"Giles, I'm boooored," She wined to her forbearing mentor. He sighed and set his book down.

"It's not often that you have the time to be a teenager. Wasn't it just last week that you were complaining about missing a date?"

"But I don't have a date today."

"It's a nice day out, Buffy." He told her, "There has to be something to do."

"Why aren't you outside then?" She asked.

"I'm researching," He told her.

"You're always researching." Buffy complained. "Don't you ever take time off? Are the other watchers all napping? For an ancient organization dedicated to the eradication of evil, they don't seem to do much."

"Very few people are active in, or even aware of the Slayer project." He told her, "The Hell-mouth isn't the only thing that needs watching."

His left hand came up to absentmindedly rub the tattoo on his right forearm.

"So you're saying that the watchers are a meddlesome group with their fingers in too many pies."

"I'm saying that the world doesn't revolve around you, no matter how many times you save it. The others have their own assignments."

"Like what?"

"Like watching."

"Watching who?"

"Immortal beings that are all forced to play a game where they chop off each other's heads until there is only one left."

"Ha ha, Very funny Giles."

Giles only raised his eyebrow at her.

Buffy wrinkled her nose back at him.

"Alright, Alright. I'm going," she gave in.

"Maybe Willow is bored too."

"Hmn,"

"Enjoy the time off while it lasts."

Buffy flounced out of the Library.

Rupert Giles smiled fondly. He picked up the old diary and went back to the story, which involved a monk, the Caesar of Rome, and way too much beer. Methos was an interesting man.