For the next week Buffy spent most mornings with Thea, training her. Oliver had decided to come and watch on the third day, and by the fifth day he was giving his sister pointers as well as sparring with her too. Thea, who had shared with Buffy on their second day that she still felt some distance from her brother even after he'd returned home, had been thrilled when her Ollie, had decided he wanted to help her learn to fight.
And Buffy had smiled at how eager Thea was to learn.
Fortunately, Malcolm Merlyn had been spending most of his time with Angel, Bruce and Willow, sharing intel on Ra's lair, organization and financial empire—which was massive. Then Buffy had learned from Faith on the fourth day, that D'Hoffryn had done a bit of the binding mojo on the Merlyn Patriarch, and he was essentially castrated from being a complete prick.
But it hadn't stopped the man from confronting Buffy when he'd discovered she was helping Thea.
"What gave you the right to teach my daughter how to fight?!" Malcolm ranted, after walking in on Buffy and Thea sparring.
"I'm not your daughter!" Thea grumbled, earning a harsh glare from the older man.
"I'm sorry," Buffy drawled out evenly, "I wasn't aware that Thea needed your permission. She is an adult and a capable one at that."
"You had no right!"
Buffy moved into the older man's space and glared up at him with a wicked smirk of her own.
"Too bad. You know what I think?"
"I'm pretty sure you're going to tell me whether I want to hear it or not."
"I think that whatever evil plans you have mulling around in what passes for a brain inside that thick skull of yours just can't seem to get on board with the fact that you aren't calling the shots anymore."
"And you are?"
Buffy shrugged. "I'm leaving that up to the more interested parties in this little scenario. I'm just here because Faith asked me to help. Frankly, you bore me."
She heard Tommy and Oliver chuckle behind her, while Thea was grinning from ear to ear.
"You wouldn't be saying that if you had to fight me." Merlyn countered, causing Buffy to laugh.
"You really think you're a match for me?" She glanced over at Tommy and lifted her chin in his Father's direction. "Do delusions of grandeur run in your family?"
Shaking his head, Tommy just replied with, "He's always been supremely arrogant."
"What's the matter, Miss Summer's? Afraid to put your money where your mouth is?"
Buffy slowly turned to face the man, and in that split second Malcolm noticed her entire demeanor change into something much darker. Her eyes flashed, and her grin changed—making her look almost feral.
Then she grabbed him by the collar and dragged him over to the weapons closet, hearing Tommy whisper to Oliver, "Oh, this is going to be soooo good."
Oliver's nod and Thea's giggle were mostly ignored, as Malcolm reached for two katanas. Buffy glanced at him and then took a single long sword and walked over to the platform, twirling the weapon expertly in her hand.
"You think you're going to be able to defeat me with just that?" Merlyn sneered.
"I want you to feel as if you have a fighting chance, Pops. If I defeat you in less than a minute, where is the fun in that?"
"Your overconfidence is misplaced."
"So are your skills. Come on tough guy, and show me what you've got?"
Merlyn didn't even hesitate, and he unleashed both weapons in succession. What he wasn't counting on was Buffy dropping her sword in a flash as she moved like quicksilver into his fighting space and grabbed both his wrists with her hands—stopping his forward momentum as she instantly launched her body upwards and back, using her feet against his chest and Merlyn found himself flying through the air a good hundred feet, as he landed into the deeper water on the far side of the platform.
When he broke for air, it was to the face of the Slayer as she stared down at him with a self-satisfied grin on her face. The shouts from Tommy, Thea and Oliver were rather poetic too.
"You were saying?" She laughed.
When she went to turn around and walk away, Merlyn launched both katanas at her back. Tommy's yell didn't stop Buffy from twisting her body mid-air as she effortlessly caught both katanas in each hand and as she landed back on the platform, she twirled the weapons into an immediate offensive position as she crouched at the ready.
Oliver's whistle of appreciation couldn't be helped.
Thea however, was clapping with enthusiasm.
"Nice!"
Buffy bowed and then kicked up her sword, catching it and walking back over to the weapons closet to put back the toys. When she turned around, Merlyn was standing right behind her and as he went to land a blow...she kneed him in the groin.
His groan and collapse on the floor was rather funny.
"Idiot." She mumbled, as she walked back over to the observers and said, "who wants pancakes?"
Tommy snickered as he glanced at his Father, who was lying prone on the ground in pain and he grimaced.
"You guys go ahead. I'm going to make sure he's okay."
Buffy smiled genuinely and nodded, while Thea gave Tommy a kiss on the cheek and Oliver just lifted an eyebrow as if to ask, "you sure?"
"It'll be fine."
Nodding, Oliver followed his sister and the Slayer upstairs while Tommy stood there glowering at his dad, arms folded in exasperation.
"So? Did you find out what you'd wanted?"
Malcolm stared at his son as he gingerly stood and winced at the pain he felt pretty much everywhere.
"Tommy..."
"Come on Dad. You just had to challenge her, why? You knew you couldn't defeat her so what was it? Some kind of test?"
Considering his son, Malcolm had to wonder if he'd truly underestimated Tommy all these years.
"I'm surprised you picked up on that."
"I'm not an idiot Dad, despite what you might want to think."
"I don't think you're an idiot, Son."
"No?" Tommy replied waspishly, "have they finally figured out your real endgame?"
Merlyn bristled as he considered his son warily. "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Oh, come off it Dad! I know you better than you think I do. You don't think I haven't figured out what this is really all about?"
"And just what has your wild imagination come up with?"
Tommy folded his arms and widened his stance, figuring a more aggressive posture might get his Father to take him seriously for once.
"When I found out about Thea, so much made sense. Why you'd been so distant after you returned home. Then I found out where you'd been and why. Avenging Mom wasn't about love so much as it was about power. You, the great Malcolm Merlyn, for the first time in your life felt powerless. Your money hadn't given you that, and even with your connections? You'd still failed to get that. So you sought out the one person you thought who could give you the power you craved. Except, it didn't quite turn out how you'd expected it to. You ended up being the servant, to a more powerful Master...isn't that right, Dad?"
Malcolm was utterly surprised by his son, and it took all his considerable efforts to remain passive as Tommy berated him.
"Not going to admit it? That's fine, I get it. So let's play devils advocate for a moment, okay? Somehow, you convinced Moira that you were a decent enough guy that she not only slept with you but gave birth to Thea. Was that planned? My gut is telling me it was, by you. You tried to kill Robert Queen, to take over Queen Industries? Was that your plan or Ra's? My guess it was his. You're an observant man, and once you'd found out about Faith Wayne my guess is you decided to use this situation to your advantage. So what's the plan now, Dad? Have one of the Slayers dispose of your Master, so you can take over in the vacuum left behind? His daughter might have a thing or two to say about that, but somehow I doubt that'd stop you."
Tommy watched his Father closely, and it wasn't until the very end of his speech that he noticed a visible reaction on his Father's face. His eyes flashed and blinked in surprise, and Tommy knew he was right.
"You don't have to confirm it verbally, Dad. I know I'm right. This was never about me or Thea or being a good father—this has always been about power and your obsession with it." Tommy then turned to walk away but at the last second paused and said smugly, "how it must grate on you to know that for all your machinations, that you're not even close to being the most powerful person in this little game you've got going. I'd be careful if I were you. Something tells me Buffy or Faith could end you with a snap of their fingers."
Malcolm watched his son walk away with a feeling of pride heavy in his chest. He had often wondered if Tommy would ever reach his full potential and he'd finally done so, despite his lack of interest in Merlyn Global.
As he grabbed a towel that was sitting on a shelf nearby, a voice cleared its throat and Malcolm turned around and saw a figure move out of the shadows. The shock of pale blonde hair was a dead giveaway and Malcolm swallowed at the fierce glare of the vampire staring at him.
"Should I end you now?" Spike growled.
"I have no intention of betraying my children, Mr. Spike."
"No? You sure about that, because your Son wasn't too far off the mark, was he?"
Malcolm didn't reply, but Spike didn't need him to as it was fairly self evident that despite the binding spell, that Merlyn was still trying to call the shots.
"So, you want to be the Demon's Head?" Spike asked and Malcolm bowed his head in reply, which caused Spike to hum thoughtfully.
"Then I suppose it's in your best interests to make sure that my Slayer emerges victorious in this fight, because if she doesn't? There won't be a rock in this world you can hide from me. I don't know if you're aware, but I was once known as William the Bloody."
Merlyn nodded, well aware just whom this vampire was.
"Good. Looking forward to working with you, Merlyn." Spike snarked, as he walked back into the shadows, leaving Malcolm wondering just what he'd gotten himself into.
Meanwhile upstairs, Buffy was helping Alfred with breakfast when Faith came downstairs into the kitchen with Bruce at her heels.
"Hey B, something smells good."
"Breakfast." Buffy glanced at her sister Slayer and took in her appearance. "You're starting to show."
Faith nodded with a small smile as she cupped her belly and felt her husband wrap a possessive arm around her middle. "I noticed that too. We are on our way into Gotham to meet with someone. You okay holding down the fort here?"
"We're good. Doctors appointment?"
"Yeah, and a meeting with my personal shopper too. Bruce's idea."
"Ah, well have fun but be careful."
"Five by five," she smiled at Oliver and Thea as they walked into the kitchen. "Where's your Mom?"
"She's doing some work on her computer this morning. Talking with some associates in Tokyo about a shipping contract." Oliver picked up an apple and tossed it. "She'll be down soon."
"Well, give her our best, but we are just heading out for the day."
"Do you have any requests for dinner this evening, Miss Faith?"
"No Alfred, whatever you want to make is fine." She then smirked at Buffy. "B here is a huge fan of lasagna though."
"Faith!"
"What, it's true!"
"I like other things too." Buffy pouted for effect, causing Thea to giggle at the pair while Oliver just watched bemused at the banter between the two.
"Buffy really liked Mom's homemade chicken pot pie, too." Dawn piped up as she walked into the room with Willow. "Oh, and her homemade chocolate chip cookies!"
"Those were the best." Buffy hummed in agreement as she flipped another stack of pancakes on a plate. "Remember when she tried to bake bread though. That was a disaster."
"It came out looking more like small bricks than loaves of bread."
Buffy nodded wistfully. "Peanut butter and butterscotch bon bons...remember those?"
Dawn hummed happily. "Oh, those were good and so easy to make too! We should make some!"
Buffy smiled lovingly at her baby sister and agreed. "I can go pick up supplies later."
"What's in those?" Faith asked with interest.
"Peanut butter, butterscotch chips, mini marshmallows and corn flakes. Simple, easy, delicious!"
"I do believe I might have all those ingredients in the cupboard to your left, Miss Buffy." Alfred offered with a small smile.
Buffy hurried over and opened it, squealing with delight as she pulled out all the necessary ingredients while the rest of the group looked on with amusement, fondness and a bit of indulgence. "You're the best, Alfred!"
"You going to finish making breakfast?" Oliver teased and Buffy stuck her tongue out, but moved back over and poured another round of pancakes onto the large griddle.
"Next time, Queen—you can make your own breakfast."
"I'm pretty sure no one wants burnt food to eat."
"Ollie is hopeless in the kitchen." Thea admitted with a snort. "He once burnt water when trying to help Raisa in the kitchen."
"How is that even possible?" Dawn asked.
"Easily." Both Faith and Oliver piped in simultaneously, each grinning at each other while Bruce shook his head.
"You are a much better cook now, Beautiful. I don't think you've burnt water since before we got married."
"You're just lucky I like to help Alfred in the kitchen, pretty boy. You still can't get your own coffee in the mornings."
Bruce growled and pulled her into him with a playful smirk as he chuckled deeply. "Be careful, wife."
"Burn me up later, husband. We really do need to get going though. We're going to be late."
"Of course." Bruce nodded to Alfred. "Call me if you need me."
"I will, Master Bruce."
Everyone watched the two lovesick adults leave, and Thea giggled after they'd gone.
"They're beyond. Are they always so..."
"Sweet?" Dawn replied.
"Adorable?" Willow piped in.
"Nauseating?" Deadpanned Buffy, as she flipped a couple more pancakes with a happy hum.
"Buffy!"
"Huh?" Hazel eyes locked with the blue of her sister, who was mock glaring her way. "What?"
"You're such a buzzkill."
Sticking her tongue out for the second time that morning, Buffy wisely chose not to comment on Dawn's adoration over Bruce and Faith's displays of affection.
"You're not a romantic?" Thea asked intrigued, and Buffy threw back her head and laughed outrageously, earning a curious look from the elder Queen.
Buffy shook her head as she bit her lip, then her face fell into a small frown as she considered Thea's question.
"I'm not sure I'm the best judge to offer testimony on the merits of romance, Thea."
"You've never been in love?"
Both Dawn and Willow gave her a worried look, but Buffy shrugged.
"Once, a long time ago when I was young and impressionable and thought I knew what love was supposed to be."
"What happened?"
"He turned evil and I had to kill him to save the world. After that, I pretty much realized that having a happily ever after is a luxury I'm not sure I can afford to have."
The room went deathly quiet and Buffy turned and smiled softly at Thea's look of dismay.
"Don't worry about it, Thea—and please no pity. I hate that. I'm luckier than most and frankly, there are more important things than worrying about my nonexistent love life."
"Like?"
"Trust, loyalty, honesty, strength, understanding and family. Love is the hopeful culmination of a strong foundation. Besides, if life has taught me anything, it's unpredictable. You never know when you're going to find that diamond in the rough."
"You like diamonds, huh?" Thea quipped and Buffy shook her head emphatically.
"I don't like jewelry much. I like weapons," She winked, "Oh, and dancing. Killing baddies ranks somewhere under rocky road ice cream."
Another round of laughter filled the room, and Oliver had to admit that Buffy was remarkably well-adjusted and pragmatic after everything she'd been through. She didn't seem to take herself too seriously, which he'd missed in his own short-sightedness and subsequent fascination with Faith Wayne. But now that he could admit he had been wrong, and had opened his eyes a bit wider—he was really starting to appreciate Buffy Summers a bit more.
"Do you have any plans for today, Miss Buffy?" Alfred asked and Buffy bit her lip, but Oliver noticed her shoulders stiffen slightly as she quickly glanced at Thea and then him, before her eyes moved back to her task of making pancakes.
"I have somewhere I need to be in a few hours, but it won't take me long. Did you need me to get anything from you while I'm out?"
"I don't believe so, but I'll make sure to check in before you leave."
"Sounds good, Alfred."
Tommy and Malcolm Merlyn walked into the kitchen and Buffy smirked at the older man, who'd managed to get himself cleaned up and more presentable after his trip into the underground lake.
"Hungry?"
"I could eat." Tommy grinned with a nod of thanks as he took a stack of pancakes and sat down at the same table Thea and Oliver were at. Both Dawn and Willow were getting some juice and fruit and once everything was settled, all enjoyed breakfast.
Once the meal was done, Buffy made her way upstairs to change when she was stopped by a voice to her right.
"Buffy."
"Spike."
"It's done."
"Thank you."