DISCLAIMER The Characters, xcept for Stephan , and Amanda Oeters, are not mine, borrowed
without permission.

Title Consequences


""I do". A fist to the ear sent one demon tumbling away, while a well placed boot
shattered the ribs of another. I tore a third of the Slayer, which left one for her to handle. I thought
her more than capable, while I used my fangs to rip the throat of the one I fought, before turning to
the others.

As a vampire, my sensibilities were somewhat less than the norm of humanity. I will not
apologize for lacking the time for finesse.

"Slayer" I roared as my opponent fell, "my car is at the entrance, by the gate. "Can you
make it."

"Yeah, as soon as I make sure no more is about."

"More are coming. I will not make saving your ass a career. Move or be left behind."
Without bothering to look to see what she was doing, I whirled and sprinted for the entrance.
Thudding feet told me that the Slayer was following, though I didn't believe that she was all happy.

I was through the passenger door, and had the engine gunning by the time she had slammed
the door shut. The door was not yet shut before I slammed the pedal to the metal.

"Okay what the hell was that all about."

"Your death Slayer, had I not been there." In truth I had just arrived in Sunnydale, and was
headed for Magic Box, when I noted the sounds of fighting in the cemetery. I would have driven
by, had I had I not had he feeling that I should investigate.

It was good that I had. The demons were determined to rid themselves of the Slayer, for
the third time, and had come across a strategy that would have earned them their goal. Four had
fought, while fifteen more waited in the bushes. Eventually, the Slayer would have died.

"Well thanks for the save, but I could of handled it."

I never said anything. Just concentrated on getting all of us to the Magic Box in time. I
couldn't trust that the demons hadn't had a back up plan. Besides, the Slayer wasn't their target.
Another was.

A cross bow feathered carcass was outside the front entrance when we got there, and the
sound of figthing came from inside. The car was barely stopped before both the Slayer and I were
racing through the door.

Two demons were inside. Rupert Giles and Xander were fending off one while, Willow,
Anya, and Tara and Spike battled the other. I took one, the Slayer took the other.

Soon the fighting was over, and and quiet replaced the sounds of strife.

"Ste-Stephan."


Of course, I recognized the voice, coming from behind me.

Without conscious thought, I spun and back handed Willow across the room.

I don't know how hard she hit. But I heard the crunch of bones as she hit the wall.

Utter, shocked silence fell over the room.

Then pandemonium broke out. Spike was the first to react, but i'm older, faster, stronger,
and used his momentum to grab, spin and throw him at the Slayer, who barely had time to jerk that
stake out of the way before he hit. I batted a book Xander threw, at Giles, disrupting his aim with
the cross bow, and took him out with an uppercut.

The other three were wise enough to stay out of reach, and it took a few minutes for the
Slayer and the vampire and the watcher to untangle themselves, and by the time they were ready to
rejoin the fray, a harsh voice rang out.

"STOP!"

Willow had crawled up, from where she'd crumpled, and sat leaning against the wall. "No
more." She glared at me. "I suppose you have a reason."

I wasn't too worried about the Watcher, though Rupert giles was always a dangerous man.
Spike and buffy were another matter, so I didn't let down my guard. Neither did they, but they
didn't attack.

"Okay, you got a few minutes, for Willow. Better make it good."

I paid scant attention to the Slayer. Merely walked over to see that there was no serious
damge to my Servant. Her eyes followed mine, defiantly, apprehensive.

"I suppose you're mad, just like everybody else, cause I used magic to bring buffy back."

"There is a balance, a rhythm between the rise and fall of life. Even for Slayers. One dies
and another is chosen. How did you plan to deal with the consequences of your action?"

"Consequences, what consequences. There have been no consequences. Have there?"

I hissed. 'Do you mean to tell me that you chose to upset the natural balance of things, with
no plan to deal with the consequences of your actions?"

Willow slumped. "What happened."

"Walls weakened, extradimensional creatures walked the Earth, my sister and I were kept
busy dealing with the consequences of your actions." I speared her with an eye. 'You came to the
attention of those who would use you to their own ends. I found Buffy dealing with some of those
consequences. She might find herself dealing with that for some time to come."

"Thanks Will,: the Slayer muttered. "Just what I needed."

"Well I'm sorry," Willow screamed, anger flecking her eyes. "Sorry I ever thought the
world would be better with Buffy in it, rather than not. Sorry for wanting my friend back, and the
next time I see Athena, I'll apologize to her too. But she's back. Deal with it."

"For countless centuries," my voice grew bleak, " my sister was with me. Now she is
dead, killed while dealing with it."

That took the fight out of Willow. "I'm sorry," she whispered sinking down to the floor. "I
didn't know anything would happen."

"That disappoints me more than what you did."

"My words hung in the air, and she hid her face.

"Every action has a reaction. When the action is natural, the reaction is equal and natural.
When magic is used, who knows what the reaction will be, and not necessarily equal or natural."

Okay, okay, I'll help you deal, if I ever find the time."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Giles has me cataloguing his book collection, and writing summaries of sections he sets
out, and when I'm not doing that, I'm writing lines. I haven't written lines since grade school."

I transferred the eyebrow to the Watcher. He shrugged. "It was the only way I knew to
teach her that every action has its consequence. I'm not sure its working."

"Neither do I, but idle hands do the devil's work, or some say. I have a couple truckloads
of books I'm not using, if you want, I'll send them here. Still, that should not deter her from taking
on the additional task I have in mind for her."

Willow glared at me. "Oh, and what task is that?"

"One dies and another is chosen."

"Cryptic much."

I turned to face Xander. "I wouldn't involve you, if I had any other choice."

"Involve me, how?"

"I need a Watcher. I would like you to consider the position."

"What.... but they don't even like me, keep calling me boy"

"If I could do this myself I would, but the Council would never accept me, and I am too
busy chasing around willy nilly across the world, dealing with the aftereffects of Willow's spell."

"But...."

"The Council will accept you're on the job experience with the current Slayer and her
Watcher in lieu of more formal training. But they do reserve the right to send instructors. They
also ask that you work under Giles' supervision for a time."

"But...."

"You will be a full Watcher, with a trust fund, from which you may draw what expenses
you deem necessary."

"Wouldn't Giles be better..."

"Mr. Giles will be busy with the current Slayer."

"But..."

"There is truly no other choice. If you do not do this, I may have to abandon her to the
mercies of Social Services. Who will, no doubt, find her a suitable home with suitable foster
parents, but she was the Slayer, and whomever they find will be ill prepared to handle what
dangers may follow, and will be endangered themselves. With you, she has a chance."

"Wait, whoa, back the steam engine up. What she? You say she was the Slayer?"

"One dies another is called."

"I could be her Watcher." I glanced at my servant. "There's no need for Xander to pay for
what I did."

"The Council will not accept you," I told her. "You have shown a willingness to use dark
magic a little too often for that."

"Oh."

"So if I don't do this, this girl goes to a foster home, at least until some ugly gets to her, and
probably the family who took her in. But, you said she was the Slayer, didn't you? Isn't she still
the Slayer? What happened to her Watcher?"

I pulled a cell phone out of my pocket, and pushed a couple buttons. "Yeah," a sleepy
voice answered.

"You may come in now."

The front door tinkled and a young girl entered. No more than thirteen, she looked several
years older, with mousy brown hair wisping around a rather plain face. She looked around, and
sidled over to stand beside me. Her eyes fixed on Giles.

"Watcher," she asked, a mixture of hope and dread in her voice..

"To the current Slayer."

Her eyes narrowed as she spotted Buffy. With a guttural scream, she launched a round
house kick that sat a surprised Slayer on her back side. The Slayer bounced back, to find me
standing between her and Amanda. A well placed hand restrained Amanda while the Slayer
pondered the benefits and pitfalls of trying to go through me to beat on a thirteen year old child.

"Who is she,"Buffy snarled, "and what's she doing here."

"Her name is Amanda Peters. She is, was, the Slayer chosen after Buffy died. She
received the strength, the stamina, the determination and the essence of the Slayer. When Buffy
returned to life, or rather was brought back to life, she lost the strength, the stamina, and the
essence of the Slayer. But not the determination, or that quality that marked her to the underworld
as Slayer. She and her Watcher were taken." I stabbed my servant with an eye. It took me six
days to find her. Six days in which she was forced to watch her Watcher tortured. She, the
Watcher, died only moments before I breached the door."

I looked at Buffy. "She knows she is no longer the active Slayer. But she still has the
determination, the mentality that she must protect her Watcher. Something she failed to do because
her Slayerness was stripped from her and restored to you. Hence the attack."

The room was silent when I finished speaking. In typical fashion, it was Xander who
spoke.

"So if I'm going to be her Watcher, I'm going to need a bigger place."

"Xander," Buffy protested. "You shouldn't..."

"I must agree with Buffy," Giles spoke. "This is a big decision, and you, and er Anya,
should take some time to think it over."

"What's the choice," Xander shrugged, trying to sound chipper but hiding the fear I could
smell. "You heard him, if I don't, ....well I can't just throw her to the wolves, er vamps, er
whatever.'

"I suppose you can't," Giles sighed and rubbed his nose. "You have my support, and all
the help I can offer."

"Me too," Willow affirmed, and looked at Buffy who had remained pretty much silent .
"Buffy?"

"Oh what the hell, I'll help too. Though you handed me quite a plateful, so I don't know
what I can do."

Amanda sensing the change in the room left my side, and approached Xander.

"Watcher?"

"Yeah kid, I guess I am."

Amanda turned and glared at Buffy."