Chapter 11

The next morning, Buffy drove Dawn down to the rink since she didn't have to be at work till eight that morning. They found Gen in the bleachers and sat beside her. She was watching Tina skate out on the ice, who was in the middle of doing an amazing spiral.

"She doesn't do it very much anymore," Gen said.

"She must have been great," Dawn commented, truly impressed.

Buffy smiled as she thought back to her Regionals, when she had competed against Tina. "The one and only time I competed against her back home. She was amazing."

"Whether you like it or not," Gen said, "she's the best. No offense to you Ms. Summers of course."

Tina spun to a stop and noticed Dawn sitting in the bleachers. "When I say five-thirty, I do not mean five thirty-three!" she barked.

Gen turned to Dawn with a shrug. "It's your torture now. Why am I out of bed?"

Teddy appeared at the top of the stairs, "Hey, Dawn—" he called, hurrying down towards her.

"And NO distractions!" Tina shouted. Teddy and Dawn looked at each other, wishing they could have just a minute together. "Both of you know exactly what I'm talking about!" she added.

"Yeah, I know," Teddy said with a resigned sigh.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "You better get out there, Dawn. Don't worry I will talk to her later. There will be concessions on her training you. I'm not going to do to you what I had to go through after we moved to Sunnydale."

Dawn looked at her older sister and nodded knowing what she was talking about. Buffy hadn't had much in the way of a social life. She hung out the Bronze with Willow and Xander and saw Angel occasionally. But that had been the extent of her social activities. She had to give up so much to be a Slayer including a life of her own. Especially after Dawn, herself, had come into the picture and their mother had died. Buffy had then sacrificed everything for her. Dawn put on her skates and got on the ice.

Gen turned to Buffy. "Mom showed me you're long and short at your Regionals. You were pretty good. You should talk to mom about working here. Mom has been saying that she could use some help training the skaters. You would have to ask mom how much you would make of course. But it can't be any worse than what you would be making now. Plus you could take an active hand in training Dawn."

Buffy thought about what Gen had said and then nodded. Gen was right a job like this would be perfect for her. She could help to train Dawn and still make enough of a living to support her and her sister. And then an idea came into her head, a way of insuring she could put food on the table and still train Dawn.

While Dawn trained, Buffy slipped out and went to her car pulling out her cell phone. She dialed Giles number at the Watcher's Council.

Giles picked up on the first ring. "International Watcher's Council, Rupert Giles speaking."

Buffy smiled. "Hey Giles."

"Buffy. Now this is quite a surprise," Giles said. "To what do I owe this wonderful surprise?"

"I need to ask a favor," Buffy said.

"Of course. Anything for you Buffy." Giles replied.

Buffy let out a sigh not sure if she wanted to really ask. "I want to borrow a hundred thousand dollars."

"For what Buffy? You're not in trouble are you?" Giles asked.

"No, nothing like that, Giles," Buffy said. "Willow told you about Dawn skating right?"

"Yes," Giles said.

"I can't train her as it sits right now and work to put food on the table. And I do want to train Dawn. So I had an idea how I could train Dawn and still put food on our table. I want to offer the owner of the rink she's training at the money to become a partner. This way I can quit my job and help to train Dawn, and still have an income coming in."

Giles took a few moments to think it over. "I think we can do that, Buffy. Don't worry about repaying it. We'll consider it backpay for your years in Sunnydale. While I have you on the phone. Is Dawn still going to college?"

"Not right away," Buffy said. "Probably once she's done skating."

"Then you are aware that Dawn has a full scholarship to any school she wants to attend courtesy of the Watcher's Council. The only stipulation of course is once she graduates she works for us for a minimum of one year as a Watcher." Giles said.

Buffy's eyes went wide; she hadn't known that Giles was going to offer Dawn a scholarship. "No I wasn't aware, Giles. I had her applying for a physics scholarship because I couldn't afford to pay for it."

"I thought I had told you, my apologies Buffy. You don't have to worry about her education. It's the least I can do for my daughters." Giles said.

Buffy had always known that Giles had considered her like a daughter to him. But this was the first time he had actually said it to her. "Thanks, Giles." She hung up the phone just as Dawn came running out and hopped in to the car.

"Wow that was exhausting. You missed the session, you know? Why were you out here?" Dawn asked.

Buffy smiled. "Just needed to talk to someone. Well I better get you to school." She dropped Dawn off at school and then drove back to the rink. She called in to work and told them she needed a personal day. She then walked into the rink and Tina's office.

"Ms. Summers, I didn't expect to see you back today," Tina said.

"I was talking to Gen this morning and she informed me you needed someone to help train your skaters," Buffy said.

Tina looked at Buffy for the longest time before finally speaking up, "That is correct. Are you applying for the job?"

"Yes and No. Here's the deal. I want to become a full partner in the rink. I'm willing to offer you a hundred thousand dollars." Buffy said before smiling at Tina's astonished look.

"Why would you want to do that? After what I did to Dawn, you've been very much … I won't say you hated me … but you don't trust me. How could you stand to be partnered with someone you don't trust?" Tina asked.

"Because I believe everyone deserves a second chance. Besides this way I can quit my job. Come here help you to train the skaters, teach some classes, and help to train Dawn while making some money to pay bills." Buffy said.

Tina thought about it for a moment, "Actually I think that is a good idea. I had been thinking along similar lines myself. Well not the partner part of it, but offering you a job. But with the amount of money you're throwing around there how can I say no. I'll take $75,000. You keep the other $25,000 for Dawn's skating expenses. Since you will be a partner we won't worry about my fee for training her."

"Good. Now I will get you the money as soon as I receive the check from my backer." Buffy paused for a moment before continuing. "He's a good friend and sort of a father figure since my own Dad left so I trust he will get me the money. I want this to remain a surprise, okay. So let's not tell Dawn till Sectionals."

Tina nodded. "Okay. Anything else?" she asked.

"Actually there is one more thing." Buffy said. "Teddy."

Tina frowned. "What about my son?"

"He wants to date, Dawn. I have no objections. When she's training at the rink of course no distractions. After she goes home though she can see him. You see I had a night job in high school and through college and after. I had it hard having any sort of stable relationship. I don't want that for Dawn."

Tina thought for a moment, she didn't like it. Teddy could be a distraction for Dawn. But if she didn't consent, Buffy could take her money and Dawn and go to another rink and find another coach. "Deal. But while she is training he cannot be a distraction. So if I have him here working on something okay. Otherwise…"

Buffy shook her head, "No I think it will help her if she has her own fan section. She already has Gen and I. Teddy should also be allowed to cheer on his girlfriend."

Tina sighed. "Okay. But he stays in the bleachers. It's okay to have someone cheering for you. But I will not allow him to distract her. May I ask what she intends to do about college?"

"We really haven't talked about it since she decided she wanted to go to Sectionals. I think she wants to skate for now, then when the time comes go to college," Buffy said.