Chapter Two
Their Gift, Her Sorrow
"So, who wants to look for jobs?" Buffy asked as she sat down by Willow and Xander. She had a plate of food in her hand that she'd just collected from the breakfast buffet table that stood a few feet away. The others stared at her with confusion.
"Buffy, have you spoken to Giles yet?" Willow asked and Buffy shifted her head to the side with confusion.
"Well, he just got back this morning and well..." Willow began, but she stopped at looked at something behind Buffy. Buffy was about to turn around to see what she was looking at, but stopped when she heard a familiar voice.
"Your being relieved of your duty, Buffy." Giles' voice sounded from behind where Buffy sat. She felt her heart sink, her head scream, her body froze up. She wanted to speak, but she could only get one word out as she careened her head back with all her strength.
"Re-relieved?" She questioned and Giles took his glasses off and began to clean them. He spoke again as he put them back on.
"The council has hired me back on with quite a large salary and they wanted me to tell you that since there are more slayers than ever before, your being relieved." He said and Buffy looked like she was about to break, like she would burst out into tears. Everyone looked at her with shock.
"Buffy, what's wrong?" Willow began.
"How could they?" Buffy covered her mouth, she felt so hurt.
"Buffy, Buffy, no, it's okay, this is good news actually." Giles began as he came closer and tucked an arm around this generation's original slayer.
"Paid vacation, for all of us, high salary I should say and then, they want you in England, training the girls to fight. Who better to help teach them than the slayer herself. They want to interview you, talk to you. They want to conform more to the slayer's will." Giles spoke with a smile.
"No, it doesn't make sense. The council only cares about themselves, their murderers!" Buffy spoke out. Giles shook his head, disagreeing with her.
"They were sure the world was going to end. They didn't have faith in you and when I was there, I told them that they should listen to you more, that you could use more help. They barely came through, and then when I was there the last few days... They tended to my every need Buffy, they were astounded. I told them there's a lot they could learn from you and they agreed." Giles explained and Buffy held a firm frown on her face.
"Aren't you excited Buffy?" Willow asked.
"We're all being given jobs and we're all getting a much-deserved vacation of your choice!" Xander added.
"All expenses paid for." Willow put in after.
"I guess... I just, I don't know how to feel." Buffy said as she put her elbows on the table and with her hands, she held her forehead. Giles, Willow, and Xander exchanged worried glances.
"We know your going through a lot Buffy and we think it would be good for you, to you know, relax and have a little time to yourself." Willow said.
"For a while now, you've been upset and slaying isn't helping things, you deserve this Buffy, this is your time to do whatever you want. We can go anywhere you want." Xander said.
"Buffy, are you alright?" Giles added at the end. Buffy nodded her head and forced a smile onto her face.
"Yeah guys, I can't wait, it's going to be awesome." She did her best to sound excited and she looked down at her food. She wasn't really hungry anymore.
"Hey guys, I'm going to get some food, I'll be right back." Dawn finally showed up. She was taking her jacket off and placing it on a chair along with her handbag. Buffy set her plate down in Dawn's spot.
"Hey Dawny, take mine, I'm not really feeling so hungry." Buffy suggested. Everyone gave a worried glance in her direction.
"Are you... Sure?" Dawn asked and Buffy smiled with a nod.
"Yeah, I had a big dinner last night so, still trying to get hungry." Buffy lied. Dawn gave her sister the 'are you sure your sure' look, but she sat down and proceeded to eat.
"Oh, Giles, tell Dawny the good news!" Willow let out. Buffy felt like things weren't looking up. After everything she went through, they didn't want her slaying anymore? Was she really so horrible at her job that they'd want to replace her as soon as possible? Now that they can? Was she a failure compared to all the slayers of the past? It didn't make things any better when Dawn herself became excited about what was to come. Why couldn't anyone understand that she had finally accepted her role as a slayer? She had finally let it become a part of who she was and now they wanted to take that away from her? Buffy held back a sigh as she thought and waited for the others to finish eating so they could leave. She wanted to just curl up in bed right. Curl up and wait for the world to pass on by. She didn't even realize the looks the others gave her. The looks that consisted of worry and care. She thought she was hiding it well, but they all noticed how withdrawn she was. They all worried about her well-being.
"Buffy, are you sure your alright?" Giles asked and Buffy looked caught off guard at the question directed at her.
"Yeah Giles, I'm fine. Just tired after everything, you know?" Buffy said and Willow shook her head.
"Buffy, we want to be here for you." Willow said and Buffy watched Dawn's face become distressed at the others suggesting something was wrong.
"Guys, I'm telling you, I'm just really drained. A lot has happened, I'm just trying to get some rest and some quiet time." Buffy stated, she didn't really know how true it was, but she didn't want them to worry.
"Buffy." Willow said her name in a desperation for the blonde haired girl to open up.
"Seriously Willow, I'm fine." Buffy said and the others all gave off disappointment. Buffy couldn't stand it. No matter what she did, it wasn't the right thing. She couldn't stand feeling like they were disappointed in her.
"I'm gonna get going, want to go shopping later, maybe." Buffy said as she got up.
"Can I come?" Dawn immediately quipped, but Buffy shook her head.
"Actually I might stay in, I don't know yet." Buffy answered, not expecting anyone to challenge her lie.
"Buffy, I could come too, make it a girl's day." Willow suggested, but Buffy shook her head.
"Um, its kind of a personal thing I'm shopping for, but next time I would love to do that." Buffy smiled as she started out of the room, trying to avoid any more questions.
"Do you think shes really going out?" Xander questioned with worry, but Dawn was the one to shake her head.
"No, I think she's probably going to stay up in the room again, so after I finish eating, I'll go up there." Dawn said as she looked down.
"What am I doing wrong?" She asked after a few moments of silence passed by.
"I try to comfort her every night, but I feel like I can't even help her at all." Dawn let out, her voice heightening as she spoke.
"Its okay Dawny, you can't blame yourself. Buffy's gonna be okay, we'll get through this with her, we always do." Willow comforted the young girl and the other two nodded in unison. The aura of the mood was abruptly cut off when Jonathon took Buffy's old seat and sat down, he already had a plate of food he'd gotten with him. He dug in, not even realizing the somber mood the others held about them.
"What a beautiful morning" He began in his cheery voice.
