Since summer was so close, the girls headed straight to the magic shop instead of waiting for Buffy. Willow had gotten the store next to a gym, so it was great for the slayers to train. And it was great for Buffy and Robin to actually talk since this was the first chance she'd gotten all day.
"I just don't know," Buffy said as she explained Selena's story. She was sure now that something wasn't right.
"I get it," he said. "I mean, I understand you don't trust her yet. She is just sixteen."
"Well, I'm not going to say what I was doing at sixteen, but making up a story about vampires was not it. The stories I told were real, and I had friends that knew that. I don't think she's had that option. I'm worried though. Most of the slayers now don't have watchers. After the First was able to blow most of them up. Giles said there's about ten slayers for every watcher… And there's more than ten here! In Cleveland alone! I can't imagine how it is for anyone who doesn't know about this world. Where they don't know vampires and demons exist and they don't know they're supposed to fight them. I mean, having that power and not knowing how to use it… I would say I was there once, but I wasn't. I had Giles." Buffy took a deep breath after her big rant. She was scared for the other girls that didn't know about the world of the Slayers.
"It's okay, Buffy. Giles know that you're doing what you can now. You're trying to look after as many as possible. Which is why there are four girls living with me and Faith, you, and Willow. I keep expecting guys to start showing up, too. But I know the slayer gene is strictly for women only. Some kind of club you have going here, Buffy." Robin joked. Buffy looked at him blankly.
"None of these girls chose this! I know many of them want to just live normal lives. I did. But I gave up on that whenever I had to kill Angel." She confessed as thought about having to kill her first love in order to save the world. Only seven years ago. So much has changed. I have a new love now. This time he sacrificed himself to save the world.
"I know, Buffy. I know. Relax," Robin sympathized. Buffy looked at the clock. Almost four, and still no word from Angel or Giles. It was going to be a long week.
"I gotta go," she said after a minute. "I told Willow I was going to meet her at the shop so we could work on some stuff… Plus, I need to help the girls with their training."
"Okay. I'll see you around seven," Robin said, indicating he'd also be at Willow's for dinner.
I'm so glad dinner was uneventful. I'm very glad there are so many of them now. I don't have to keep the conversation going, Buffy thought as she drove home. The girls had quieted down some now. No school tomorrow so maybe she'll be able to sleep in some. Faith could patrol. She said she would and take some of the girls with her. For a Hellmouth, it's surprisingly ordinary. Everyone went their ways as the house door opened. Buffy called dibs on the shower before anyone else. She really did not care if she used all the hot water. She just wanted to soak and hope that the little aromatherapy Willow showed her works. She started the water and took a bottle of oil from the medicine cabinet. The bottle read "Lavender Essential Oils." Willow said that lavender was used for balance, peace, calming, and sleep. Exactly what Buffy needed. She poured a little into the tub, and settled into it. The water was hot, but it immediately felt better. She sank into the tub, trying to absorb the essence of the oil, hoping to infuse her own body with what the oil is supposed to do. She closed her eyes and tried to relax.
Knock-knock-knock.
Buffy jerked up, and some water splashed onto the floor. "Crap," she mumbled. "What?" she answered.
"Buffy, you've been in there for almost an hour! Let someone else get in there!" Dawn said, half-jokingly.
"Ugh… Okay. I'll be out in a minute," she called back. She unplugged the drain and toweled off. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes didn't look near as purple underneath. But an hour of sleep wasn't enough. Not even close. She put on her robe, and put her towel on the floor to soak up the water that had spilt. She lied on her bed, and again, she missed the cold arms that used to hold her. She lied there, thinking about him. Thinking how much she missed him. She closed her eyes, hoping to get some sleep. Screw it. She decided to get dressed. I need to kill something. She got dressed, and told Dawn she was going out…
