Giles moved swiftly around the room. There were many books lying open, scattered about the tiny space.
Willow glanced up from the computer, "Find anything?" she asked the watcher. He glanced at the girl and shook his head.
"Nothing yet. How about you?"
"Nada," she replied. "Buffy?" Willow glanced over at the blond girl hunched over a big tome.
"I think I found something," Buffy mumbled. Giles moved over to the Slayer and picked up her book. She pointed to the section. He began to read aloud.
"The Forgotten Warrior will return to Earth to join forces with the Chosen One. Together they shall face down the dark forces until…"
"What?" Willow asked. Giles looked at the book again.
"It doesn't say," he said, shocked. An unfinished prophecy. He had never encountered this before. The answer to Willow's query escaped him.
Buffy, however, was optimistic. "Look, we get to choose our destiny for once. Can I get that in writing?"
"I think it already is," Willow motioned toward the book in Giles' hands.
"So Elisa and I must fight together," Buffy mused. "Oh goody, we all know how lucky I am in that department."
"But you liked Kendra," Willow reminded her. "Maybe Faith was just a fluke."
"Maybe," the Slayer agreed. "But I'm keeping my guard up. I can't risk another 'friend' going to fight for the other side."
"I wonder what you have to fight this time?" Willow wondered.
"Geez, could it be the end of the world?" came Buffy's sarcastic reply.
"Again?" a voice called from the front door. Xander entered the apartment, dragging Elisa behind him. Giles' rolled his eyes. No one bothered to knock around here. He gave up trying to enforce that rule.
Willow noticed the new Slayer's apprehension. She greeted her with a warm smile, "Hey Elisa, how are you doing today?"
Elisa glanced at Xander quickly before answering, "Um, I'm fine. Xander's been helping me a lot." Xander grabbed Elisa's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, an offering of support.
Buffy noticed the new girl's uneasiness and felt her own misdirected resentment drain from her body. She herself remembered what it was like to be the outsider, trying to join a group of friends. Any strength this girl possessed, it was not evident in her social skills. In a way, this girl reminded her of Kendra. Except this girl was obviously more comfortable around Xander. Buffy couldn't help but feel jealous as she watched her best friend and this new girl.
"So, G-man!" Xander said. "Find anything?"
Giles rolled his eyes at the unwelcome nickname. "It's rather extraordinary. It seems Elisa is the subject of an unfinished prophecy." Elisa looked at Giles in confusion.
"Can they do that?" Xander asked.
"It's rather odd," Giles agreed. "One would assume something happened to the prophet before the prophecy could be completed."
"What did it say?" Elisa questioned.
Before Giles could answer, Buffy broke in, "You and I must fight evil until. . .rest unknown."
"Oh."
Xander smiled. It looked like Elisa would be around for a while. He couldn't help but like his new "roommate." She seemed to understand him and enjoyed his company. And he always had a thing for Slayers. At least this one actually seemed to interested in him as well. Elisa glanced over and offered a shy smile.
"Well, if I'm going to be around awhile, I guess I need to get more clothes," Elisa spoke up. "Buffy, I hope you don't mind me wearing these for now, I had nothing else."
Buffy looked at the girl's clothing and then again at Xander. They definitely weren't hers. Xander stood behind Elisa shaking his head vigorously. "AN-YA," he mouthed.
"Oh, no problem," Buffy replied, finally understanding Xander's meaning.
"We can take you shopping," Willow offered. "We'll make it a 'Girl's Day Out,'"
"But. . ." Xander protested.
"That sounds wonderful," Elisa interrupted, smiling at the witch. She turned to Xander, "I'll see you tonight?"
"Of course," he replied, disappointed. The girls began to gather their personal items before heading toward the door.
"We're outta here!" Buffy called as she reached the front door. Willow was right behind her.
"Coming?" she asked Elisa, waving good-bye at the men. Elisa nodded and started to follow.
"Wait!" Xander cried, grabbing her arm before she could leave. Elisa raised her eyebrows in question. "Here," Xander said, handing over a small handful of cash.
Elisa's eyes widened in surprise, "I can't," she argued.
"Keep it," Xander insisted. "You can always pay me back later." He all but pushed the girl out of the door.
"Women," he muttered, shutting the door. Giles looked at the boy and gave a small smile.
"They'll be back in about, oh, five hours or so," Giles commented. "Let's prepare, see if we can find anything else about your new houseguest."
Xander took a look at the book Giles was holding out to him. "Watchers," he groaned and sat down to work.