For my fans: this is fanfic, anything goes. But, I update depending on how many reviews I get telling me to keep going! So review!
One week before Halloween; Sunnydale's Bus stop:
Rupert Giles sighs impatiently while checking his watch for the fifth time. The Sunnydale bus is running late again, but this is the first time that he has been the one waiting for it.
He thinks back to one week ago when he had received a letter from an old friend whom he has been corresponding with off and on since his wild days as "the Ripper". Her letter requested that he look after her niece because she feared for the girl's safety and sanity. When no proof could be found of misconduct in the home but the girl was still terrified of her family, the aunt sneaked the girl onto a bus and sent her on her way.
Giles naturally felt nervous at the thought of looking after the young woman, with his only experiences in dealing with young women coming from Buffy but accepted for old time's sake.
Finally, to his relief, the bus appears down the road. It pulled up to the bus stop and the door slides open. Giles' eyes carefully compare the exiting passengers with the picture he was given. The last person to step out of the bus is her. She looks around, clenching her small backpack's straps tightly.
The anxious look her in her eyes are easily read when her eyes meet his but she relaxes when he extends his hand. "I am Mr. Rupert Giles, Miss…" he trails off questioningly.
She looks him over, taking in his stiff brown jacket and glasses. Smiling shyly, she pulls her long golden hair behind her ears. The girl takes his hand, shakes it gently, and replies, "My name is Tara."
"What a beautiful name," he says encouragingly. "Well then, Miss Tara, let's go home." She nods nervously but quickly follows him as he walks towards his car.