Disclaimer: Unfortunately I own nothing that can be traced to Buffy, Joss Whedon, ME, or any of those other things. The only thing I own is my imagination and writing. Oh! And all the new characters in the stories. Those are all mine. But seriously, I don't own anything of Joss'. I don't have that kind of money.
AN: Going to try to start updating this story again. I have the workings of the next chapter! Whoop! Hopefully will be out sometime before this coming weekend!
Chloe's comment had silenced every person in the room for several minutes.
Spike was trying to hide a smirk, but if Buffy's slap on his arm and shake of her head was any indication, he wasn't exactly doing his best. He couldn't help the pride that surged through him when she had let out her comment. It reminded him of…well…him.
Buffy's thoughts weren't far away from his. It seemed Chloe was getting more and more like Spike every day. She couldn't help smile herself. She knew that not letting Chloe in on the discussions about the prophecy was technically unfair, but Buffy just wasn't sure that she was ready for Chloe to know, especially since she, herself, knew so little. The guilt crept over her.
Rona sighed deeply and got up off the bar stool. She had had enough of silence and refused to keep it up any longer. "She really is some sort of freak of nature."
"Wow, Rona. Way to bring the bitch out in the open." Chial accused.
Rona pulled a face full of apathy. Shy spoke to her defense. "Please! She's right. This is ridiculous. Chloe-though clever she may be-just said that to get back at us all for talking about stuff she can't know about. Like she can even hear that far anyway. Total bluff."
Giles didn't let them say anything else. "I wouldn't be so sure girls. There really isn't much we know about her abilities, and since she just turned 17 last week…Buffy and Spike haven't given us any time to-"
Spike let out soft but deep growl. "Don't you bloody start that again Rupert! We all know you had a field day when you found out Buffy was pregnant and by me no less. That watcher brain inside of your head had a happy, I'm sure. But there is no bloody way you are going to put your little council analysis bullocks on her. Buffy and I told you when the time came we'd do it."
"Yes, I remember quite well, Spike. And if I recall Buffy was doing the talking…while you were doing the…more physical persuasion."
It was true. If Spike were being completely honest and felt willing, he would admit that they had been a bit forceful…but that was understandable when your daughter was basically considered an experiment for the new Watcher's Council head to fuss over. "Well if I recall, you weren't exactly agreeing with us at the start."
Giles looked taken aback. "You and Buffy just assumed that I was going to poke her with needles and…I don't know...bloody dissect her or something! Does it ever occur to anyone that I have dealt with Buffy these last couple of years and stopped Travers from doing far worse to her than I ever would even consider?"
Spike laughed humorlessly. "Bullocks, Rupert. You saying you would throw some daggers at her….let her hit a board a couple of times and then let it be? You would have-"
Buffy, who had been watching the pair, decided to intervene. When Spike and Giles got into a spat, they could go on for hours. She figured it must have been some weird British thing she would never understand.
"Spike. Giles. Both of you shut up. This is not what we were supposed to be talking about, but Giles, Spike is right. It isn't the time to go all test modey, okay?"
"Buffy, I know your concerns. I understand them, but with the prophecy-"
"We don't know anything about the prophecy Giles!" Buffy was in no mood to talk about those certain details with Giles. Especially since they hadn't even talked about the two kids he had thrown on them. "Except for some vague stupid passage, nothing about it has come up anywhere. Until we do find something, I'd like to keep Chloe out of the research and assessments you have planned. It's hard enough as it is. I think she pretty much knows what goes on when she's not in the discussion. Did you not hear her ten minutes ago?"
"Who knows what she thinks she-"
"Seriously, Giles. Leave it be for a while longer; at least until we find something." She rubbed her head and ran a hand through her dark golden hair. "Now, can we please talk about these kids? I want the whole story."
Giles seemed to give up for the time being and Buffy inwardly sighed with relief. Spike, however, still had a scowl on his face and sat as far away as he could get himself from Giles. That happened to put him right next to the ever amused Shy. She leaned over to whisper something.
"Don't worry fangy, I am totally with you."
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The grin Chloe kept on her face all the way up the stairs was eerily similar to a certain someone else's. If anyone had seen it, they would have known exactly whose child she was. There would be no doubt. The two teenagers with her, however, did not notice.
She led them up the stairs and through the long hallway, passing pictures and paintings along the wall.
"I wish I could keep the small talk going and maybe reference a couple pictures and all that, but to be honest, I don't know anything about most of the pictures." Chloe stared at one at Xander, Dawn, Willow, and Buffy at the beach. She often pictured herself in the pictures; saw her little feet padding on the sand with a shovel or something in her hand…maybe her dad reaching out for her. Her fantasy popped as she remembered she had stopped talking. "They are all pretty much from P-SAS."
Her use of an unknown acronym got Gretchen's attention. "What's PSAS?" She asked her as she watched Chloe study the picture.
Chloe looked over at her and smirked again. "Pre Slayer Awakening Spell….before the First got to Sunnydale and the potentials were called. I have yet to come up with something better...though I am pretty sure Xander has a good one. I stick to mine though."
"How long ago was that?" Gretchen questioned.
"About two years. You're telling me you don't remember feeling it?" Chloe was confused. With how much Vi, Rona, Shy, and Chial talked about the spell and the power they felt when it hit them…Chloe assumed it was pretty monumental.
Gretchen looked down and was quiet for a moment. She finally spoke up softly. "I remember that day. I was at school. I was giving a presentation in my English class. It was on this book called Shabanu. All of a sudden I felt this huge power hit me out of nowhere. I completely fell back against the chalkboard. It was weird…" She trailed off then looked back up. "But why don't you remember it? I mean it was only two years ago."
Chloe leaned back against the wall. "Man, are there stories to tell you…but we've been downstairs for a while. You guys should really try to get settled in as much as you can." Without another word she continued down the hallway. She pointed out her room and their bathroom. She stopped at the end of the hallway.
"So these are your rooms. You each have your own for now, however, slayers do tend to stop by all the time from the academy. You might have to share a room every once in a while."
"Seems kind of like a bed and breakfast or something." Gretchen was peering around the doorways to the room.
"Not exactly." Chloe shrugged. "Um. You guys can decide which room you-"
Deryk, who had been completely silent the whole way, suddenly slipped into the room on the right side of the hallway and slammed the door shut.
"-want." Chloe finished her sentence and looked questioningly at Gretchen. "Strange little guy. It doesn't matter. I always liked this room better. It has a cooler shape and everything." She walked into the room on the left and opened the curtains. "So Deryk….he doesn't talk much, huh?"
Gretchen nodded. "He hasn't said a word to me in a couple of weeks. Since…" She closed her eyes tightly and once again bowed her head. "You know what, I'm a little tired."
Chloe lipped curled up on one side in understanding. "Okay. Yah. Get settled in and all that rot. Feel free to have a look around. The stairs are right over there around the corner to the left." She walked to the door and started to close it. Gretchen's voice made her pause.
"Thanks"
"Hey. You're part of this twisted family now so you are gonna have to get used to it." She closed the door with a click, glanced at Deryk's door, and then made her way to her room. She flopped down on her bed and took a deep breath. "So will I."
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