Chapter One: Welcome to Slayer High
Rupert Giles walked the halls of the school, his school. The halls were quiet at this time in the morning. All the girls slept late, probably because some classes went well into dawn and others accordingly didn't start until noon. This, however, was Rupert's favorite time of day. He could walk the halls freely without the chattering of the young girls or the constant interruptions of his thoughts. He smiled and made his way to the library.
After the destruction of Sunnydale they were left with the mission to find the activated Slayers. The question they would do when they found them. The Watchers' Council was gone. They're children at the Watchers' Academy were too young to take on the responsibilities. There was also not enough room to all the Slayers that wanted to be trained to be admitted there. Besides the school had only remain opened because most of those young Watchers had no real home to go home to, they're parents dying in Bringer attacks and the explosion.
It had been a joke by Andrew at first. They had all been staying in Kennedy's estate in New York. It was huge and reminded Andrew of the mansion in the X-Men. Xander smiled and turned to him, "Like we could ever bring all the girls here and train them. We don't have the money for that."
"Besides wouldn't that be ripping off the X-Men way too much?" Buffy had added.
They all had a laugh, but it stuck. The jokes about turning the estate into a school happened for days until the jokes stopped and planning started to begin. Little by little Giles, Willow and Robin began the process of turning it into a school. Kennedy was happy to donate the house to the cause. She managed to let it slip that the house was left to her not her mother, when her father passed away. She also let them know that her half-sister wouldn't care because she was off at school and her parents were never around anyway. That helped the idea grow and then there was the call from the Marcus Hyde, the headmaster of the Watcher school in Britain about the money left to the Watchers Council, which would more then pay for the new school.
Even when the idea was pulled into reality, there were still many jokes. When Giles had been named the person in charge Dawn and Willow kept calling him "Dumbledore", while Xander and Andrew insisted on calling him "Professor G". Whatever it was Giles had accepted the position with enthusiasm and quickly chose Robin and Willow to assist him. Three watchers had come to the school to teach and Xander and Andrew were hired to the staff as well.
They were all set. The mansion was being converted into dorms and classrooms. The girls to be training were being found and Buffy was going onto lead her life as a normal person. But she was the only one not staying. Buffy wanted to travel, see the world and she would get that, tracking down girls, finding herself. Dawn would remain at the school and was assured, Buffy would be back often to see her.
Before Buffy would leave, however, she insisted on settling the idea of another Council. It was no longer going to be the Watchers' Council, but the Council of Slayers and Watchers (CSW). At first she wanted to abolish the idea of watchers but realized how much all the watcher kids wanted to fulfill they're destiny. She had learned a lot from Giles and now with all the powerful girl out there, who would lead them? Someone would need to teach them to use they're powers for good. With the new formation, the slayers and watchers would be equals, therefore eliminating the problems that she had to fight against. She left the future of the Slayers in Giles capable hands.
Giles reached the library and was not surprised to see Willow at the table asleep over her books. He smiled widely and gently rocked her shoulder to wake her up. It didn't matter because she still woke up with a start. "What time is it?" She asked nervously as he took the seat next to her.
"Nearly nine. Were you here all night?"
"Not all of it. Xander and I took some of the girls out last night, and one of them asked a question that I didn't know the answer too." She shrugged. "I thought I was still awake so I went to look it up." She stretched and closed the book.
"I know you get anxious when you're teaching but you don't need to know everything." He said reassuringly.
"I know," she turned to look at him, "but I'm their teacher, they look to me for answers. I may only be their computer and math teacher but I am a Watcher now. I need to know these things."
"Let me guess, Quinn asked about a 'Ronas' demon."
"Yeah, why?" suspiciously.
"They don't exist."
"That explains why I can't find them then."
"I think Ms. Haley- Bridget said it to the girls to scare them. She told them they ate slayers. They weren't listening when she was teaching him about the other demons out there."
"Great. Well I guess if I wanted to scare them, I could tell them that I tried to destroy the world."
"Yes, I guess you could."
"So…" She said as she faded out.
"So?" urging her to continue.
"Sometimes I can't believe this happened."
"What?"
"That everything just worked itself out. I mean we faced the end and won, -again. We made this school. I mean we are only officially a month into it, but it works. Kennedy and I are still okay. I'm telling you, I was worried for a bit, her being a Slayer and all but it worked out and she more horn-" she paused, remembering who she was talking to and quickly reworded "-with the closeness then I'd thought she's be. Faith and Robin have their thing. You seem to be happy too."
"But you're still worried."
"It's Xander. He hasn't been the same for a longtime now."
"He lost a lot. Anya, his eye. He needs time to get passed it all."
"I know, but all the talk about how he's the glorified janitor of 'Slayer High', I don't know. He doesn't talk to anyone and has been spending way too much time with Andrew. He won't even pick out a glass eye; he's still wearing that ratty eye patch."
"It wasn't all that long ago that you were like that." Giles said, causing Willow to smile. "But Xander is surrounded by friends that love and support him. And he's not a glorified janitor, he's the glorified repairman."
"Your right. As always. But I guess that's why you're Dumbledore."
He glared. "I'm going to forget you said that and am going to send you off to spend the rest of the morning with your girlfriend. I'll put your books away." Willow smiled and started to get up.
"Thank you."
She was almost at the door when Giles spoke up again. "And take the advice from someone who spent three years in the High School library, if you're going to do research at night: use the office with the couch." He started returning her books back to the shelves. "It's much better for your back." Willow shot him another smile as she finally exited. He smiled in return and continued to put her books back on the shelves.
*********
Now that it was 10 am the girls were now up and about. Andrew tried to keep the kitchen and dinning room in functioning order. "No there is only enough for you to have three French toast pieces each! There's not enough for seconds yet!" He lectured the girls who began to gorge themselves. He had been put in charge of the kitchen since the school started. He was no repairman and no teacher but during the time of 'Camp Summers', managed to become very talented in catering. It was hard to believe that out of all the girls he had lived with for so many months only four of the potentials had lived.
Usually he would only put out food for a light breakfast but it was a Saturday. On the weekends he always made a big breakfast but he soon realized that the Slayer apatite where hard to satisfy.
"Chill out." Rona started in. "All the girls that aren't up yet, lose out."
"Ladies, can we please try have a meal in an orderly fashion." Ms. Addison Jepson scolded the girls upon entering the kitchen. She was average height, early fifties, had graying hair that never seemed to be out of place and was always smartly dressed. The girls responded to her stern tone over Andrew's whining and took their seats at the table. Now that a path was clear to the buffet table. "Good morning, Andrew." She smiled sweetly to him.
"Good morning, Addison." He replied the same way. "Today, we are having the "Star Wars" breakfast with 'Jedi' cinnamon French toast," The pieces had little cinnamon outlines of Jedi's wheedling lightsabers. "'Princess Leia' cinnamon buns and Imperial English muffins."
"How interesting?"
"Yes," trying to sound smart, "I believe that meals should have a fun quality."
"Ah."
After sometime the rest of the girls came by for breakfast. Even after Andrew's protest, they're was still enough food for the rest of the girls and the staff. He learned after the first meal they had, how to prepare a real meal for 33 people. There were 23 slayer students, one resident slayer instructor (Kennedy), one watcher in training (Dawn), and eight staff members including himself.
With all the complaining Andrew did, he liked it here. All he had to do was the grocery shopping, prepare three meals a day, to which he was given assistants, (that changed daily) and his new best friend Xander. His assistants never listen, so he usually went to work alone anyway. But there were still people around when he was finished. At this school he was never alone.
They all waited in the dinning room even when they were finished. At noon, on the loud chime of the big clock, Giles stands up in the up in the middle of the room and makes his daily announcements. Usually in the big training gym but given that it was a brunch day, he came to the dining hall.
"Attention, please!" Giles said just after the chime of the clock. The girls settled down and took they're seats and the staff table. Kennedy put her arm around her girlfriend, Andrew and Xander stop they're discussion of which "Trek" Captain was the best and Robin took a clipboard and went to Giles' side.
"Good morning, everyone." Giles smiled. Willow knew he loved this part. "It's that time again. There aren't too many so bare with me. First of all, good job on all you who went up against that Kelshanker Demon last night. Willow and Xander said you carried yourselves very well. Also Kennedy has told me there is a nest of Farlings in New York and any of you interested in going with her this afternoon, see her after the announcements." Kennedy smiled and raised her hand. "Also, Xander and Andrew will be going to the Star Trek Convention and are willing to take anyone with who with fit in the van-"
"But there still needs to be room for the model "U.S.S. Enterprise: NC 1701-E"." Andrew added. One of the girls, about 14 years old smiled and 'woho'ed the idea. Her name was Alexis and she was the one who jumped next to Xander and Andrew the couch to watch every Sci-fi marathon or new episode of Enterprise.
Giles slightly annoyed and continued. "Well, I'm sure Alexis, Xander and Andrew will have a great time." He pauses when everybody laughed and went on again. "Mr. Wood has the names of all of those who need to remain at the school this weekend for tutoring and their classroom assignments. Also please, if you are aware of any trips you will be making home at this time, bring the information to Mr. Montgomery as soon as possible. Well," He turned to Robin, "Is that it?"
"Just about. I have something to add, if I may." Giles nodded and Robin addressed the room. "I have to remind you that even though this is a school for Slayers, you still need to complete your academic courses to complete your High School education in order to graduate. Please remember those classes are just as important as your training. If you would do that you would be able to take the weekends off." He smiled and knew he had done his job when he heard the girls groan.
"Well, I think, that's it. As usual, if you plan to go into town, sign out first." Giles said quickly "You're all dis-"
Willow stood up quickly and cut him off "There is going to be a 10 p.m. group patrol for team-" she quickly looked at her own clipboard. "'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'- you guys gotta pick a new name- with Ms. Haley." She turns to Giles, "That's it."
"You're all dismissed." All the girls got up quickly and filed out. "Have a good day." Giles spotted Dawn towards the back of the mob and stopped her on her way out.
"I'll catch you later, Mel." She called as she waited with Giles for the room to empty. "So, Giles, what's up?"
"How about we take a walk?" He said putting his arm around her leading her out into the hall. He had always thought of her as a daughter and enjoyed engaging in the fatherly act. Behind them several of the girls had gone to Robin, finding out their classes.
When they reached an empty hall Dawn finally spoke again. "Come on, Giles, talk to me before I start to panic."
He gave her a quick weak smile. "I wanted to know how you were doing. We haven't talked in a while."
"We've both been busy. You have the school, I have my Watcher training."
"I was supposed to give you that, I thought." Saddened.
"But you have the school and Addison is good enough." Dawn waited in the silence before she spoke. "Buffy called you, didn't she?"
He laughed lightly, "She said you sounded unhappy."
"I'm happy. I'm not stealing or sneaking out. Why would I, I mean I have near teacher status and stuff. I would rather be with Buffy, but I'm a minor and need to go to school. Buffy never got a chance before at a real life, she taking it. Plus, I actually am going to become something here. I like being Watcher girl. But considering you're pseudo-dad I would like to spend more time with you."
"And you know, if you want to talk to me, my door is always open for you."
"Yeah." She smiled and they continued they're walk until there outside. "So was Buffy in Washington when she called."
"Yes, she be heading back to California soon." Dawn nodded in disappointment, "Don't worry. She won't wander forever and she's come back to us."
"I know." Sadly letting her smile fade. They stopped and Giles put a hand on her shoulder.
"I think, I'm going to take over your training again."
"Good." They were at the front of the building now and the vans were being loaded. "I'm going into town with Mel and Carrie, I better get going."
He gave her a hug. "Alright. Have a good time." He let her go. "Come see me when you get back, and don't spend too much money." He called to her as she walked off to the van.
******
Giles walked the grounds after Dawn ran off. He took the path going around the small park and then to the front gate. He had missed the days when the children would come to him for help but forgot how tiring it got. He forgot how much he hated the techno noise Buffy used to blast during her training and the unstable nature of teenage girls. He was very grateful when Bridget and Curtis had chosen to come to the school. They had been his friends back in the day and was relieved that after the explosion, they were still alive.
Arguing voices brought him out of his haze. He hurried to them, they sounded like his girls. From inside the gate he saw a car on the side of the road not to far from the gate. Actually it was two cars. They were clearly not his girls, most of them were adults. Four of them, all women, were arguing over directions. The other two, a boy and a girl both teenagers, ignored they're elders. Giles opened the gate and went through to see if they needed his help.
"I'm telling you it's not around here." Said the blond one with short hair.
"It's on the directions. I've been here before." Said the tall brunette with her back to him. To Giles' surprise she had an English accent and a familiar one at that.
"Excuse me? Can I be of assistance?" Giles finally said.
The brunette, who seemed to be in charge turned around to the man who was now directly behind her. "Yes, we're looking for- Ripper!" her eyes went wide.
"Ona." He said breathlessly and his eyes glittered. He pulled her into a tight hug. "I thought you didn't make it."
"We did." Said one of the other women. He let Ona go and gave the other woman a glance. Raven curly hair and dark eyes, he would know this girl anywhere.
"Sophia." He also lean into her and gave her a hug.
"So you didn't forget me."
He pulled back and gave her a kiss on her forehead. "How could I ever forget you, Sophie?" He let her go into a half hug and turned back to Ona. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Looking for your school." Ona said, smiling. "We brought two new students and some pre-trained Slayers for you. We'll have some more pre-trained Slayers once I've contacted the rest of the girls."
"What?" Confused by what she was telling him.
"Remember all that Sisterhood of the Slayer, Unchosen potentials? Well, we all got Chosen." She said matter-of-factly.
"You mean," he stammered and looked at Sophie, "But you're in your thirties. You're too old."
"Well we did." Sophia said giving him a squeeze until he whimpered. "We all became Slayers."
Ona looked around the public street. "Maybe we should go inside."
"Right, inside, good idea." He watched them as they got back in they're car and drove off into the grounds. He was still in shock. This was going to be an interesting day.
End Chapter One