Clearing her throat, Buffy broke the stretching silence. "Adopted?" She asked once the shock wore off. "As in the Harris' got you from some Agency?"

"That's the only kind of adoption I know of. Unless you think they went to the local pound and..." Xander trailed off as he sat back on the couch, his appetite gone. "You know, when I was little I always used to pretend that I was adopted. Never actually thought it would turn out to be true though."

Buffy frowned at his tone of voice. "How do you know that it is true? What do you know about this Jentry lady anyways? How do you know she isn't some evil...thing...person? Maybe she's a demon? Want me to slay her for you?" She asked, hopefully.

Xander smiled. "A demon who lies about adoptions?" He raised an eyebrow. "Kinda a lame gig, don'tcha think? Was all the good bloody jobs taken? Or did she get the short straw?" Now he was making fun of her.

"I'm serious Xander. All I'm saying is you shouldn't believe her right away. She might be up to no good. Or do I have to remind you about the seemingly harmless costume shop and the ever so helpful Mister Raynes? Or the substitute science teacher who turned out to be a giant praying mantis that got her rocks off by beheading her virgin boytoys? Or how about the preacher that hated woman so much that...should I go on?" Buffy tilted her head to the side as she waited for him to get her point.

"No, no need to go on. I get it, the moral of the story is don't trust anybody because they could turn out to be a demon who wants to eat your head." Xander held up his hands in surrender. "So...we should get Willow to check her out?"

Buffy nodded, glad that he understood. "We'll have Wil check her out then we'll check her out."

Xander's eyes lit up. "Do I sense a field trip in our future?" He rubbed his hands together in glee.

"Mm." Buffy was already in planning mode. "I'll have Wil take care of the travel arrangements." Her planning was interrupted when the door to the study opened.

"Ms. Summers?" A small, hesitant, voice asked from just outside the door. "Jenise sent me to tell you that Li isn't in her room again."

"Li? Isn't she the new girl from...China, Beijing right?" Xander asked Buffy as some of his glee faded as the real word, literally, came aknocking.

Buffy sighed. "Yeah, she's a newby that Faith just dropped off last week. There was another girl..." She stood and peered out into the darkened hallway to see who her messenger was. "Andira? Could you come in here, please?"

Andira was the youngest, at nine, of the slayers currently attending Summerlande Academy's European branch. "Yes, Ms. Summers?" She questioned as she stepped into the private study. "Good evening, Mister Harris." She greeted the dark haired instructor.

Xander gave the girl a small smile. "What did I tell you about the Mister part? Do I look like a Mister to you...don't answer that. Just call me Xander, please."

"The girl that came in with Li, what was her name?" Buffy questioned the little girl.

"Aleksandra, I...I think." Andira answered after a moment of thinking it over. "Her and Li aren't friends if that is what your thinking. Alek doesn't even speak English so I don't think she's made any friends."

"We're trying to locate a translator for her but not many people have the qualifications for the job." Buffy felt a headache coming on. "Okay, tell Jenise to give her until morning to show up and if she hasn't then come get me, alright?"

Andira nodded and quickly left the two adults alone, closing the door behind her on her way out.

"Give her until morning to show?" Xander asked with a raised eyebrow. "Is it wise to wait?"

Buffy shrugged and sat back down beside her friend. "Li is fifteen years old." She gave as an explanation.

Xander blinked. "Oh, that explains it." He said, sarcastically.

"Do you remember what it was like to be fifteen? Or a teenager for that matter?" Buffy asked after she smacked him on the arm. "She's new here, trying to fit in, I imagine she's just testing the rules. She'll be back before midnight." She said with confidence. "Now, back to our planning."

"During the earlier planning did either of us remember that we have responsibilities here? Can we just up and go?" Xander asked.

Buffy hated it when Xander acted his age. "We can and we are. Giles will be back from his fact finding tour on Thursday...which is two days from now. I think it's time he tried his hand at being Headmaster, why should I always be the one having all the fun? He can watch over the girls and make sure they don't demolish the school. Um...Dawn and Andrew can take over our duties until we return." She liked her idea.

Xander blinked, he did that a lot when having a conversation with Buffy. "Dawn and Andrew are away at school, how can they take over our duties when they ain't even here?"

"Well, Wil and I both managed so I guess Dawn and Andrew will too." Buffy declared. "I think the two of them will jump at the chance to get their hands dirty. And this way they get a taste of what awaits them when they finish furthering their educations."

"What makes you think they'll want to work at Summerlande when they finish school?" Xander asked.

Buffy smirked. "Because they don't got a choice. This is a family run school and the kids know it. This is our legacy, remember? Now enough about the younglings lets get back to our trip planning. Do you think Mrs. Jentry will mind a visit?"

Xander shook his head. "As a matter of fact she invited me to her office to review the documents she found."

"Probably so she can rip out your ribs and wear them like a hat." Buffy mumbled under her breath.

"Hey, I heard that!" Xander jumped up and backed away from his friend. "There is not enough eww's for that mental picture. You scarred me! For life even!"

Buffy laughed and stood, a wicked grin transforming her face. "I'll race ya to the video phone. Last one there has to talk to Kennedy!" She took off running for the door in which she threw open and darted out.

Xander was hot on her heels. "I'm telling Willow on you and she's going to turn you into a toad with lots and lots of warts!"

Only about a handful of bedroom doors opened so that the occupants could see what all the commotion was about. Everybody else was used to the childish behavior exhibited, quite frequently, by the Head Slayer and the Senior Watcher.