Two Slayers— One Heart (Version 3.0): Part 52

Interlude:

Rose woke up half an hour later, cuddled between two warm bodies, and smiled just a little. She shifted a little, felt Sh'rin's arms tighten around her some (she knew that it was Sh'rin behind her by body type), and… who the heck was in front of her?

She opened her eyes to see a broad expanse of male chest, covered by a snug blue T-shirt, and felt Ballard stroke her shoulder lightly.

"This is kind of different," Rose said, smiling a little and worming closer to Ballard, feeling Sh'rin come with her. "But… nice."

"Willow said that you would feel better for having two of us with you," Sh'rin said. "And that you would not mind Ballard being one of the two."

"Not at all," Rose said. She looked up into his deep green eyes, saw the concern there, and said, "Right now, anybody who loves me is good. And when I love them, too… even better.

"Besides, I've said it already— if I was going to try a man, it'd be this one."

"Flatterer," Ballard said softly. "But thank you." He squeezed her shoulders, but made no other change in how he was holding her.

"Welcome," Rose said. She shifted a little, wormed still closer. "And that you aren't trying to take advantage of that… yeah. Written in stone, Ballard. If I decide to try my luck with your half of the species, it'll be with you."

"If you decide to do that," Ballard said, smiling at her, "I'm afraid I'll have to insist that Sh'rin, Dawn and Elaine all be okay with it— and tell me so. Past that… I'll cooperate with a smile on my face. You're lovable, Rose— and so cute that it's distracting."

"Dawn and I would be fine with it, I tell you now," Sh'rin said. She leaned over and kissed Rose's cheek. "And I think Elaine would be, as well. But I do not see any reason to worry about it. What is meant to be will happen. Waiting will show what is to be."

"Yeah, I like that attitude," Rose said. "And… right now I feel about as sexy as a moldy slice of bread, anyway."

"Why so hurt, love?" Sh'rin asked. "You have fought monsters before, and not been in such pain. I would understand, to better help."

"The girl," Rose said. "Sh'rin, that girl, they… they killed her! No reason, just… just cut her down! She was only fourteen, and they cut her down, they killed her, and the sons-of-bitches did it in my school!

"If I'd just been a little faster, if I hadn't been so caught up in what Mrs. Lyle was teaching us that I didn't put anything away until the bell rang— that girl shouldn't have died, dammit! It's my school, and I shouldn't have let anybody die!"

"Stop that!" Ballard said sharply. He raised up on one elbow, looked at Rose and frowned. "Don't you dare do that to yourself, Rose Killian! You can't be everywhere, you can't save everyone— and you can't see the future! You had no way of knowing what was coming, and you cannot— can NOT!— blame yourself for this!"

"She didn't deserve that!" Rose sobbed. "She didn't deserve it, she shouldn't have died, I'm a Slayer, I'm supposed to protect people!"

"You did!" Ballard said. "Six orcs with swords, Rose— what would they have done if you hadn't been there? How many more would have died? Been hurt, maybe crippled?

"You saved dozens of people, Rose— and the girl who died was not your fault!"

"Rose, my love, you cannot hurt yourself so," Sh'rin said, also raising up on one elbow, leaning over and brushing Rose's hair out of her face. "You have gifts, my Undefeated one— but no one has such gifts that they can save everyone! Not even a Slayer, not even she who was chosen by the Prime to be second in command."

"Rose," Ballard said, "After the night when Jenna took out Linnea's parents, and your father's ghost kept her from going too far with that, I asked Dawn about your dad, who he was, what he'd done, how he died. And I have to say… honey, he'd hate that you're doing this to yourself.

"He had to lose some, Rose— no one can outsmart every fire, no one can get every person clear before they die.

"What would he say to you right now, Rose? Am I completely crazy, or would he tell you that you're trying to take too much responsibility, responsibility for things that you could not possibly have changed?"

Rose didn't answer, just sobbed harder, clung more tightly to Ballard, let Sh'rin hold her more tightly. She fell asleep again shortly, but didn't sleep for long. After forty minutes or so of deep, unmoving sleep, she woke up, hugged Ballard immediately, rolled over and hugged Sh'rin, then spoke.

"Thank you for being here, you guys," Rose said softly. "And for talking sense to me. You're right— both of you. I can't save everybody— and Daddy would hate this, hate me… doing this.

"But if I find who's responsible… I'm not holding back. They go down."

"That is as it should be," Sh'rin said, and leaned over to kiss Rose, tenderly and only a little sexually. Then she smiled and said softly, "Still you are the Undefeated… with a little help."

"A lot of help," Rose said. "A lot of help. Ballard? Surprise!"

She kissed him. Not quite sexually, but firmly, and with no… sense of reserve.

"Pleasant surprise, thanks," he said when she backed away.

"Hey, you're right here cuddling me, too," Rose said. "Can't let Sh'rin get all the rewards."

She lay silently for a few minutes, then sighed and sat up. "Okay… bathroom, then I want to do some forms. Then… Sh'rin, feel up to some swordplay?"

"With you?" Sh'rin said, and grinned. "Rose, such is always a treat."

"Flatterer," Rose said. "Once I'm wound down some, I want to see what everyone thinks about what happened, how it happened— and how to make sure it doesn't happen twice."

An hour later, Rose ate when told to (with little enthusiasm until she'd had a few bites, then eagerly), then went to the library, where Whitey, Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Ballard were waiting for her and Sh'rin.

"So, any ideas as to what the hell brought a gang of orcs into my school this morning?" Rose asked, after assuring the others she felt much better.

"Not yet," Willow said. "I found the place they came in after I got rid of the bodies— about which nothing has been said yet— but the energies used… not familiar. Not demonic, either. Something… else."

"Can you prevent it from happening again?" Whitey asked. "Ward against it, somehow?"

"I'm afraid not," Willow said. Then she corrected herself, said, "Well, I could— on a single location with a lot of work— but the location can't be much bigger than a ten foot diameter circle. So… if whosis can move the entry point, yeah, no good. Also? Wards like that involve a big honking magic circle and stuff that people would probably sorta notice in a girl's bathroom."

"Damn," Whitey said. "Okay… suggestions?"

"I could see if I can get hired as a guidance counselor," Buffy said, sounding about half-serious. "Worked in Sunnydale."

"But without Robin pulling strings, I don't think you'd get it, Buffy," Xander said. "Sorry, but— you aren't qualified."

"Security guard?" Buffy said hopefully.

"They don't use them," Rose said. "No. No, but… look, why don't I start going in early? Looking around for stuff that isn't good? Then if there's a problem, I can call home for backup, and we can decide what to do then."

"It's our only option," Whitey said. "At least until we know more.

"But you be careful, Rose. I know you're angry, but you can't let that rule."

"I'll be careful," she said, sighing. "I will— I promise. But… I want this thing. This is my school— the bad guys don't get to screw around with it."

"Female territoriality at its very best," Xander said, and shot her a grin. "Rose… you sound like Buffy."

"Thank you," Rose said. "Tells me I'm on the right track."

"Damn skippy," Willow said.

"Aw, you guys are gonna make me blush," Buffy said.

"We try," Xander said. He looked at Rose, said, "You know, if you keep this up, maybe we should send your class officers to the old Sunnydale High website— it's still up, wasn't hosted at the school. We direct them to the class of ninety-nine who's who, maybe they'll get the idea, and name you the Class Protector for two-thousand-five."

"They named you Class Protector?" Rose asked Buffy.

"Still got my protective umbrella," Buffy said with a grin.

"That's so cool," Rose said. Then she frowned. "But… no offense, Buffy, because following in your footsteps is not a thing to be upset by, but… I really hope it never escalates to the point where they have to name anybody Class Protector."

"No offense taken, Rose," Buffy said. "Now… have a little surprise for you."

"What sort of surprise?" Rose asked— and her cell phone, clipped to her belt, rang.

"That sort," Buffy said, and grinned.

Thinking it would be Elaine, calling to make sure that she was all right, Rose didn't even look at the caller ID window on her cell phone before she flipped it open and said, "Hello."

"Hi, honey," Kelly said. "Buffy tells us you've had a bad day, are you okay?"

"Mom!" Rose said, giving Buffy a look so loaded with gratitude that it almost involved leaking tears. As Buffy made a little bow in response to the look, she and the others quietly left the room. "I'm okay, Mom— better, anyway. Did… did Buffy tell you what happened?"

"Yes, sweetie, she did," Kelly said. "She also said that you were reacting to it much more than you had to previous fights. Was it because of the girl who died, Rose?"

"Yes, ma'am," Rose said, gulping tears against a fresh wave of sadness. "But… I'm better now, Mom. Ballard and Sh'rin helped me get my head back on straight. I know it wasn't my fault, now, but—"

"You were blaming yourself!" Kelly said. Rose could almost hear her mother's head shake. "Thank god for Sh'rin and Ballard, daughter mine. If they hadn't done that, I'd have to get Rupert to bring me home early just so I could kick your butt! And I'd hate that— I love Ireland, dear. I love you more— but you'd have had a hard time living that one down."

"I'm okay, Mom, really," Rose said. "Or… I will be, when the pig son of a dog father that did this is deader than hell!

"I'm going to do it, Mom. I'm going to kill it. And if I can't, for whatever reason, then I'm going to stand by and cheer for whoever does it.

"That thing's dead— it's just not gotten the message, not yet."

"Then you kill it," Kelly said. "You end it, Rose, and you make your school safe. But you be damned careful while you do it!"

"I will, Mom," Rose said. "I'm going to do the last thing I ever thought I'd do tonight— I'm going to sit down to study with my Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual. I'm going to memorize the strengths and weaknesses of every monster in the book."

"All right, that sounds like a plan," Kelly said. She laughed a little, and said, "Well, you always were a quick study. I'll bet you do it."

"I may make a crib sheet," Rose admitted. "Depends— if these things that come through are all as common as orcs, I won't need it, but if it gets into the freakier critters, well… I just hope it doesn't."

"Then so do I," Kelly said. "So… anything good happening?"

"Oh, the couple days after you guys left were great— Slayer-Fest Oh-three, it rocked. Sparring, storytelling, more sparring… it was great," Rose said. "And Elaine and I are taking each other to our school's Halloween dances. Oh, and Whitey's got something sneaky up his sleeve. Involves the Winston Academy, whatever it is."

"He talked it over with Rupert and I," Kelly said. "After Buffy called about what happened at school, he put the idea to us— and we approved it. I think he'll announce things at dinner tonight."

"That's cool, I can wait," Rose said. "Let him have his moment."

"Yes, that's decent of you— he loves to surprise people," Kelly agreed. "Honey, would you like to talk to Rupert? He's right here."

"Please," Rose said. "But I want to talk to you again before we hang up."

"All right, Rose," Kelly said. "Here's Rupert."

The phone audibly changed hands, and Giles said, "Are you all right, Rose?"

"I'm okay, Dad," Rose said, grinning in delight at saying that last word. "Little bit of a stupid moment, but Sh'rin and Ballard slapped me about the head until it was sitting straight on my shoulders again."

"I'll have to thank them," Giles said, "for taking such good care of you."

"Feel free, because they did," Rose said. "Whitey said the only reason they didn't call Elaine and Sunrise home was because they thought they should maintain a presence at Winston, too. Since they couldn't bring them home, Sh'rin and Ballard made excellent calm-Rose-down people— they cuddle great."

Giles said, after a brief hesitation, "Excellent. Rose, I'm just relieved that you're recovered. You mustn't blame yourself— that way lay madness. You did the best anyone could have done, and better than many. Your mother and I had the story from Buffy, and she from you— so I know that you did an excellent job.

"Now… one quick item of business, then you can talk to Kelly again. Rose, can you get your sword into the school with you for a few days, and not get in trouble for it?"

"Yes, Dad," Rose said. She sighed in relief, and said, "I was going to ask about that— thanks for thinking of it. I can use another sword— but that one's my sword. I'm best with it."

"Very good," Giles said. "I do understand about personal weapons being best for fighting.

"All right, Rose, your mother and I will be home late Sunday afternoon. I'll see you then. Here's your mother."

This time, it took significantly longer to exchange the phone from one set of hands to the other, and Kelly's first words after taking the phone back explained why.

"So, Ireland's Flower found it pleasant to cuddle with a guy, huh?" Kelly asked, her tone deliberately light and almost-teasing. "Is this a sign that I've got hope for grandchildren sooner than I can expect them from the as-yet-unknown-gendered baby that I'm carrying now?"

"Well, I don't— Mom, honestly, I don't know," Rose said, blushing. "But… well, there's always Laurie."

"True, and her kids will be my grandchildren as much as yours or nameless's will be," Kelly said. Her voice softened a little, and she added, "But honey… they won't be your father's grandchildren. That matters, too. Not enough to ever get me to ask you to do something you aren't comfortable with… but enough that I hope your enjoying cuddling with Ballard is maybe a hint that you aren't gay so much you are bisexual with a strong preference for women."

"That… could be," Rose said. "I mean… Mom, honesty time. I… Sh'rin kissed me, when I woke up the second time, after they got my head on straight. And after that… well, I kissed Ballard. And yeah, that was nice. It wasn't a super-sexy kiss or anything, but it wasn't completely not-sexy, either. And it was… nice.

"But at the same time… too much honesty time, maybe, but I don't want any half-truths between us.

"At that same time as kissing him was nice, I don't think… Mom, I can imagine myself doing some things with Ballard that are definitely sex acts. But I can't quite imagine actual… actual intercourse."

"Well, how long have you been thinking about that sort of thing, Rose?" Kelly asked, her voice level and friendly.

"Not long at all, really," Rose admitted. "Only since… well, I started thinking about it a little Friday night, when Sh'rin, Sunrise and Ballard all went out on a date."

"So… maybe you'll start thinking about it, someday," Kelly said. "Or maybe you won't, honey— and that's fine, too. I love you, I love Elaine, I love Dawn and Sh'rin. If the four of you are happy as you are… that's enough. But every parent hopes for grandchildren, and I'm still catholic enough that I hope for that a lot."

"That's reasonable," Rose said. "Mom… thanks for not pushing."

"Oh, believe me, not pushing is easy," Kelly said. Rose could hear the smile on her mother's face as she continued. "Not only am I already so proud of you that it hurts in a really delightful way, I approve of the people you love. Then add in that I really don't want you pregnant until you're eighteen at least, and not pushing? That's an easy thing."

They talked about little things for a couple of minutes longer, then Kelly told Rose that she loved her, accepted return sentiments, promised to pass the same on to Giles, and they hung up.

Rose sat for a minute, smiling at how good it felt to talk to her mom and dad, then got up and went to see if she could find Buffy, to see if the Prime Slayer might feel like sparring.

Elaine:

So at the end of second hour, Mrs. Anders, my English III teacher, gives me a message to call home, and to do so now, as it's "urgent." She had a planning period next, so she let me use my cell phone in her room, stuck around right outside so that I could have privacy, but also get a late pass for third hour if I needed it.

I called, and Xander answered.

"It's Elaine, is everything okay?" I asked.

"We hope it is," Xander said. "Don't entirely know, just yet. Elaine, has anything weird happened at school? Anything at all?"

"Not that I've heard about, Xander," I said. "What's going on?"

"Okay, well… Rose is okay, Elaine— but she phoned in a Snyder at BHS." Xander drew a deep breath, said, "She had to kill a bunch of Dungeons and Dragons orcs, but they killed another girl first— someone she didn't know, thank god, but still… she's upset. They're closing BHS, and I guess she's talking to the cops. Whitey and Buffy went to get her, and took Wil along to get rid of the orcs before someone gets too close a look at them."

"Damn it," I said. "Xander… if Rose needs me, will you call me out of school? Please?"

"If she needs you, yes," Xander said. "If she can hold it together until school's over, Elaine… well, we'd like to maintain a Slayer presence there all day, if Rose is okay."

"I… okay," I said, trying not to sound mad. I got the situation, I did— but I wanted to go to Rose. "Okay, I'll stay, if Rose can be okay without me."

"Thanks, Elaine," Xander said. "Listen, I'd like you to talk to Kimber, see if she can set up something that might give her a little warning if something supernatural happens there, so she can warn you. I'd really like for nobody else to get killed."

"I'll see her in my next class, pass her a note then," I said. "Are you telling Sunrise, or should I?"

"Nancy's on the phone with her right now," Xander said. "We wanted you both warned as fast as possible."

"Okay, that's good," I said. "Thanks, Xander. Call me if Rose needs me."

"I will," he said. "Promise. Be careful, Elaine."

"I will be," I assured him, and hung up. I went out to the hall, got a late pass for World History from Mrs. Anders, assured her that things were okay at home, they'd just wanted me to know that something had happened at BHS, since my girlfriend went there.

Mrs. Anders looked at me a little oddly, and said, "I thought you and Dawn Summers were… seeing each other."

"We are," I said, blushing. "It's… complicated, Mrs. Anders. But she knows about Rose, and vice-versa."

"Kids," Mrs. Anders said, shaking her head ruefully. "I swear, I love you all— but you're all completely insane."

"Only mostly insane," I said. "You met Rose, Mrs. Anders, at… at Mom and Dad's visitation. She's the little redhead."

"The one who threw out that wretch from the airline?" Mrs. Anders said, and smiled when I nodded. "Oh, yes, I remember her. So tiny, and she handled that miserable man like he was nothing. I approve of her.

"Well, Elaine, if you're happy, and so are your girlfriends, I'll admit that maybe you aren't insane. But grant me that it's at least unusual?"

"I can give you that," I said. "Thanks for waiting for me, Mrs. Anders."

I went to class, sat down next to Sunrise— she looked a little tense, but only a little— in the desk on one side of me, Kimber in the desk on the other side of me. I wrote a note to Kimber, explaining what Xander had asked, and she gave me a nod after I'd passed it to her. While Mr. Kimmel was writing on the board, putting up some notable facts about early Roman history, she pulled an old beeper from her purse— well the outer case of a beeper, the case looked empty— and dropped in a few items she took out with it. A hearing aid battery, a part of a comic book page, folded tightly, a dried leaf, and a tiny pewter pentagram (a charm from an inexpensive necklace, I think). She then cupped her hands around the whole thing, and, after making sure no one was looking at her, whispered a few words. For just a moment, I saw dim golden light pulse out from between her fingers, then it faded. She glanced at it, gave me a thumbs up to indicate "all clear," and dropped it in the pocket of her blazer.

I twitched my way through the day, but it stayed calm. As soon as we were out of our last class (Dance, which Sunrise and I had together), we headed for home at the best speed I thought I could avoid getting arrested at. We made good time— by this time I knew where the cops were hanging out and running radar— and got home at three-ten, parked the car, and headed inside.

Rose was sitting on the couch in the living room, snuggled up to Chantelle, her ear against Chantelle's belly, a look of delight on her face. She heard us, looked up, came over and slid into my arms for a long, tight hug, before turning her face up to be kissed.

I kissed her, held her a moment more, then let her kiss Sunrise. After they broke, Rose came to sit on the couch between us, as Chantelle slid down to make room for us, then leaned lightly and companionably against me.

"You okay, Rose?" I asked. "Really okay?"

"I am now," she said. She kissed me again, said, "I was messed up for a while, but… I got over it. Thanks to first Buffy holding me for a while, then Sh'rin and Ballard. They cuddled me and talked sense to me. Then Buffy called Mom and Dad, and they called and talked to me. Then I sparred Buffy, then I showered, then Chantelle let me do something inexpressibly cool— and listening to little Jocelyn Kelly's heartbeat got rid of the last of my doldrums.

"Now… you and Sunrise are home, I'm fine. And I will stay fine. But once I've found and killed the thing behind what happened at school today…? Yeah, then I'll be better than fine."

We talked for a couple of minutes, then the doorbell rang. I got up to get it, arrived just behind Willow, who was closer by virtue of being on her way downstairs when it rang. I decided to stay with her— just in case. Kind of a tense day, you know?

Willow opened the door to reveal a really hot blond lady, about twenty-five years old, around five-nine, athletic, but with C-cup breasts. Her face was a near-perfect oval, rounded and gentle, very pretty, and her eyes brown.

"Uh, hi," Wil said, seeming a bit stunned (not that I blamed her— the lady really was hot). "Can I help you?"

The woman smiled a little nervously and said, "Hello. I'm looking for Rose Killian… have I found the right place?"

"Oh, sure," Willow said. She stepped back, motioned our visitor in. "Come in, please."

"I'll get Rose," I said, and went back to the living room to call her.

She came, looking a mix of curious and ready to fight— but relaxed as soon as she saw the visitor.

"Miss Heller!" Rose said, and relaxed (and caused me to relax— I recognized the name of her fencing coach). "Hi, come on in."

The woman came in, and promptly made me like her— she looked Rose over quickly, and said, "You look better, Rose— I was worried about you this morning."

"I'm much better," Rose said. "Comes from having people I love and who love me work at taking care of me.

"Guys, this is Lydia Heller, my fencing coach. Miss Heller, this is my friend Willow Rosenberg, who also teaches the students here— mostly computer science, but she can teach most of the sciences. And this—" Rose took my hand, pulled me forward, kissed my cheek. "— is the reason I was able to spare you having to talk to me about crushing on you again; my girlfriend, Elaine Marshall."

Willow shook Miss Heller's hand, seeming to be a little gone in lust still, then I shook her hand.

"Rose… can you separate school and not school enough to trust yourself with calling me Lydia when we aren't in school, and Miss Heller when we are?" Lydia asked.

"I have no problems doing it with my kung fu instructor, I can't see having a problem with doing it with you." Rose said, smiling in glee. "Thank you— Lydia."

"You're very welcome," Lydia said. "Now, since you're okay, I should probably—"

"Ack, no!" Rose said. "You can't just leave! Come in, meet my friends— or, if I'm gonna be honest, my family, just not by blood."

"Well, all right," Lydia said. "If you're sure…."

"Absolutely sure," Rose said. "And I know they'll enjoy meeting you— after all, it's not just the kung fu that lets me use a sword as well as I do, and they all appreciate that particular skill."

Rose got everyone not busy into the living room— even the newbies— and introduced them, opting for student, teacher, and administrator as titles, plus calling everyone friends and family. (Diane Hodges she introduced as a counselor.) Then she led Lydia outside, where Xander and Whitey were taking advantage of the nice weather and collaborating on a grilled meal. Whitey she introduced as the assistant principal of the Giles Academy, and Xander as "the poor guy who gets to do all the jobs nobody else does— a lot of the administrative details, a lot of the maintenance— Vincent helps with that— and pretty much all of the repairs."

"It's definitely a pleasure to meet you, Lydia," Whitey said, after they'd been introduced, and Rose and I had gotten drinks for the eight who were staying outside (Lydia, Whitey, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Chantelle and ourselves). "I've seen Rose fence, as opposed to using a sword in the kung fu style, and I have to admit, I'm impressed. You obviously earned your Olympic medal, to be able to teach so well."

Lydia seemed wowed by the mansion, and more wowed by the grounds, kept staring around in awe even as she answered.

"Yes, and I'm glad of it," Lydia said. "She's integrated the two styles, plainly— I saw evidence of both today. And she saved a lot of lives… including possibly mine. I'd have had to try and get the students out of there, and I think that would have made me a target."

"Yes, we're very proud of her," Whitey said, and grinned at Rose. "She did it right."

"Yes, and she must be Supergirl, too," Lydia said. "I really expected her to be asleep, if not in a hospital bed."

"Really?" Xander said. "How come?"

"When she saw… saw that Wendy Farmer was dead, died from the first blow, Rose dropped the sword she'd been using," Lydia said, watching Rose for signs that she should stop talking. Seeing none, she continued. "I caught it— and that thing was heavy— low-grade steel, I guess, and… well, I figured adrenaline had kept her going, and she'd be a wreck by now. That blade weighed seven or eight pounds at least, maybe more."

"I did nap a while," Rose said. "But really, Lydia, I'm okay."

"I'm glad— but still amazed," Lydia said. She smiled a little said, "I'm also amazed at you, young lady. You kept your head so damned well— you need to look at being a cop, or something similar. Being able to keep your head in a crisis, that's a priceless gift, Rose."

"You didn't freak, either," Rose pointed out. "In fact, you were really good— and I like that you were so worried about me. Made me feel good. Still does."

"On that note," Whitey said, visibly reaching a decision, "Lydia, will you stay for dinner? It's no trouble, before you say a word, and people who make Rose feel good are definitely a good idea to have around, after what she had to do today."

"In that case, yes, I will stay," Lydia said. "Thank you, Whitey."

Soon enough, my irrepressible Rose had gone inside, come out with fencing masks, jackets, and a couple of foils— and she held them up to Lydia with a raised eyebrow.

"Rose… you're nuts!" Lydia said, laughing and standing up. "But… you're also my favorite fencing partner. You're on!"

The jacket Rose had for her was a little loose— it belonged to Giles— but not bad. The mask fit fine, with all that hair to pad it (and Willow practically leaped to help Lydia get her hair wound up and tucked in the mask), and the foil Lydia visibly liked. (It was the one that Sunrise used when fencing Buffy, so about the right length.)

Soon, we were all treated to watching Rose fence an Olympic Bronze Medal winner, and it really was a treat— watching them felt nothing like a sporting event, and a lot like a pirate movie. They danced around, and fenced for a good five minutes before Lydia finally got a touch on Rose, and Rose flipped up her foil in defeat, laughing like a loon, before doffing her mask and accepting a hug from Lydia, who was panting, sweating, and laughing joyously.

But when they separated, she looked at Rose very oddly for a moment, before saying, "Okay… Rose, are you human?"

"Uh, pretty sure I am," Rose said cautiously. "Why do you ask?"

"Rose, I'm in excellent shape, and I know it," Lydia said. "I'm in better shape than any woman I know— no bragging, I work for that.

"Yet I'm panting and sweating, and you're breathing just fine, and I can't see a drop of sweat."

"Uh, well… you… I'm a lot smaller?" Rose said, desperate for a cover of some sort. "Less me to move around? And… still riding leftover adrenaline from earlier?"

"Bull," Lydia said. "Honey, as a liar, you're an excellent swordsman.

"Rose… please, talk to me?"

"It's not my decision, Lydia," Rose said softly. She didn't take her eyes from Lydia— and she didn't have to.

"It is my decision," Buffy said. "Or… one I can make— if Whitey agrees."

"I agree," Whitey said. "You or me?"

"Me," Buffy said. "With some help."

She went to the huge wood pile by the back door (there to stock the smaller piles indoors by the various fireplaces), looked at those logs on the top, picked up one that was about two feet long, and probably six inches thick. She hefted it, nodded, and took it to Lydia, handed it to the older woman.

"Look it over," Buffy said. "Make sure it's solid, not cut anywhere, not rotten."

Lydia did as she was asked, though she was visibly puzzled, and said, "It's solid— good, heavy oak."

Buffy took it back, nodded— then tossed it towards Rose in a long, high arc, saying "Punch!" as she did so.

Rose punched the log as it dropped in front of her face, a flicker of motion too fast to follow— and it broke neatly, spraying little flakes of bark and a few splinters outwards, but not many.

"That's… Rose, are you sure you're human?" Lydia asked. "Because I don't think a human could do that! Propped on something, sure— but just falling in the air, unsupported? No way!"

Lydia sounded fascinated, not freaked— and that made it easier for Rose to go on, I'm pretty sure.

"I'm human, Lydia," Rose said. "But… I have gifts. Superhuman gifts."

"Okay, so… how?" Lydia asked. Then she looked at Rose, really looked at her, and said, "Rose, I promise— I won't tell anyone about this. I'm not afraid, not at all— I'm fascinated! Also… Rose, I saw how you use those gifts today. You're no danger to people. You're the very opposite of danger."

"Do you believe in magic, Lydia?" Buffy asked.

"I… no, I don't," Lydia said. She looked away from Rose, looked at Buffy, and smiled a little. "I'm about to change my stance on that one, aren't I?"

"Probably so," Buffy agreed. "Willow… can you show Lydia something magical?"

Willow pointed at the broken log, and the two pieces floated up in the air. She muttered a spell— and the two pieces rejoined seamlessly, even the little splinters and pieces of bark flying back into place. The log then floated to Lydia, who took it out of the air, looked it over carefully, and said in a soft, amazed voice, "Magic…."

"Unfortunately, that magic has a bad side, Lydia," Buffy said. "There's good magic… and there's evil magic. There are good magical creatures… and evil ones."

Buffy talked until supper time, explaining all about demons, monsters, Powers That Be, Slayers, Watchers… all of it.

We all ate together, sitting out in the warm October evening, the newbies, Nancy, all of us. Lydia was fascinated by everyone and everything, and when Vincent leaned back on a loveseat with Vivian curled in his arms and started to purr, she broke into the biggest, most delighted smile that I've ever seen.

"My god, you're purring!" Lydia said. "That— you're purring! That's the most wonderful thing I've ever heard!"

"I feel sorry for those who cannot purr," Vincent said. "There is no better way to express contentment— or to enhance it."

"You must be a cat person," Rose said.

"Oh, I love cats," Lydia said. "I love dogs, too—" She scratched the head of Abe, who'd found a new person to pet him and stuck with her, and continued. "— but cats are my favorite animals. I have two."

"I have claws as well," Vincent said. "And catlike reflexes. But purring is my favorite feline manifestation."

"It should be," Vivian said, sounding warm and drifty. "It's certainly mine."

"Okay, while I've got you all out here," Whitey said, "I have an announcement to make, one that affects you student types— and that I think you'll like.

"Girls… Xander had a brilliant idea, and with the permission of Giles, we've worked it into a reality.

"Thanks to Brianne's near-incessant complaints about the lack of eligible guys in the household, and the recent discussion of Halloween plans, Xander hit upon the idea of approaching the administration of the Winston Academy and asking if we could arrange to have you girls who want to do so attend their Halloween dance. I spoke to Principal Jackson this morning, and because I volunteered to have the Giles Academy absorb all expenses of their party— refreshments, entertainment and such— and to assist in chaperoning, we have been invited to bring ourselves and our students to the academy as guests for their Halloween Dance on Saturday, November the First."

They cheered, most of them. Jenna didn't look interested, and neither did Linnea (or silent little Delia, who hadn't said a word since right after Kennedy's funeral), but who could blame any of them?

Once the cheering died down, Brianne stood, found her way to Xander, hugged him, and kissed him loudly on the cheek. "You are my personal hero, Xander Harris," she said hugging him again. "Thank you!

"Boys! There will be boys!"

We all laughed, and Whitey said, "Attendance is not mandatory— I figure some of you won't want to be in a crowd, and I don't blame you— but all of you who want to can come. Ages eleven and up are invited. Do please let Nancy know if you don't want to go."

Inevitably, we all started talking costumes. It was a good night.