SECOND
CHANCE
NOTE: I own none of the Scooby gang because they belong to mean old Joss.
A/N: I'd like to say thank you to everyone for the reviews that I've gotten so far. I have a plot planned out for this story but if you have any suggestions or requests then I might fill them in.
CHAPTER 9
Wesley pulled up in front of the Summers household. Autumn quickly inquired why they were there but Wesley just told her to get out of the car. Autumn had to refrain from making a comment about him sounding like a cop, even though it was pretty tempting. A half tired Buffy appeared at her front door when she heard the knock. She was surprised to see a rugged looking Wesley, Spike, Maggie, and a red headed girl she didn't know standing on her front porch.
"What's going on?" the blonde slayer asked.
"What is going on?" Autumn echoed.
"Hi, Buffy," a hyper Maggie waved.
"Uh, hi..." Buffy looked her over. "Are you OK?"
"Oh, yes," Maggie replied. "Just a little... energetic."
Buffy sighed. "Come in."
The four of them followed Buffy into her living room as Dawn was coming down.
"Hey, Buff, you having a sleepover?" the thin teenager asked.
Buffy ignored her sister. "Wesley, what are you doing here? With Spike and Maggie and.... girl I don't know."
"Oh, sorry. Autumn, Autumn Tucker."
"Oh, I'm Dawn." Dawn held out a hang and Autumn shook it.
"I'm Spike." The bleached blonde also held out a hand for Autumn to shake.
"Uh, hi." Autumn slowly shook his hand. "Are you evil?"
"Yes," Buffy replied for Spike. "Just not the way you're thinking. Oh, and, Wesley, I repeat, what are you doing here?"
"Honestly... couldn't think of anywhere else to take them," Wesley told her.
"Question." Autumn raised her hand. "Who are these people?"
"Autumn, meet Buffy, the vampire slayer," Wesley formally introduced.
"Say what?" Autumn couldn't believe it. "She's... a slayer? What happened to Chosen One-ness?"
"Oh, that part you listen to." Wesley rolled his eyes.
Autumn shrugged. "Info goes in but I'm not sure when it comes out."
Spike and Dawn went into the kitchen with Maggie, leaving Wesley, Buffy, and Autumn in the living room. Autumn sat on the couch next to Wesley and Buffy sat on the arm of a nearby armchair.
"What were you doing?" Wesley asked Autumn.
"I told you that I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. You told me to train."
"With me, you little—" Wesley stopped himself. "Oh, right. I'm a teacher, can't call you that."
Autumn raised a curious eyebrow.
"What happened?" Buffy asked.
Autumn looked at her. "I went vampire hunting with Maggie."
"You have no experience," said Wesley, trying calmly to reason.
"You didn't say anything about experience," Autumn reminded him kind of idiotically.
Wesley groaned, burying his head in his hands.
Buffy had to laugh a little. He reminded her of Giles.
"You can't go in like that," Wesley tried to explain. "Especially with a regular child as your backup. You could have both been killed."
"But I killed one of those vampires."
"You got one?" Buffy asked.
Autumn nodded.
"You still go hurt." Wesley took hold of her chin, examing the cut, which was closing. "Lucky for you you're a Slayer."
Autumn took her head away. "I think you're freaking out too much."
"Freaking out too much?" Wesley nearly exclaimed, taking Buffy by surprise. "Let me tell you something, chit. If I'm going to be your watcher I'm not going to put up with this."
Autumn stared at him. "You're my watcher?" Wesley nodded. "But I heard you were a reject."
Buffy laughed again.
"You're just going to have to trust me," Wesley sighed, trying to keep calm with the redheaded teenager.
"Can you do the same for me?" Autumn asked.
"I'll attempt it," Wesley replied.
Dawn gave Maggie a bandage for her cut and sat down at the table with her and Spike.
"I can't believe you went vampire hunting," said Dawn. "Was it fun?"
Maggie nodded. "Up until I got the concussion."
"Why were you out there, anyway?" Spike asked.
"We couldn't sleep," Maggie replied honestly.
Spike stared at her for a moment then busted out in laughter.
Maggie looked at Dawn nervously asking if Spike was all right.
"Oh, he's fine," Dawn told her. "Just a little hysterical-ish."
"What time is it?" Maggie asked.
Dawn glanced at a nearby clock. "Past midnight."
Maggie gasped. "Oh, my God! I'm going to be dead. I have to get home."
"Relax, bit," said Spike, standing. "I left my bike at the cemetery. I can take you."
"Thanks," Maggie smiled at him.
Autumn entered the kitchen. "I wanted to get away from Wesley. Buffy said I could have a yoo-hoo." She looked at Spike. "Am I supposed to kill you? You know, super duty."
"Just what the world needs... another Slayer." Spike left the kitchen.
"So what's going on?" Autumn asked Maggie and Dawn.
"I have to go," Maggie told her.
"Oh. Same time tomorrow?" Autumn asked.
"Um, didn't Wesley just get down on you about that?" Maggie reminded her.
Autumn shrugged. "He talks, I stare at something shiny. So how about it?"
"Well, it's fine with me I guess," Maggie told her.
"This is great," said Dawn. "I'm going patrolling with you guys!"
"You are?" Maggie and Autumn asked simultaneously.
"Yeah. Buffy's been training me a little. The more the merrier, right?"
"Fine. What are you to Buffy?" Autumn asked.
"Sister."
"Come on, Maggie," Spike called.
"Oh, I have to go. I'll see you two tomorrow." Maggie got up from the table. "Meet at my house, all right?"
Autumn and Dawn nodded as Maggie left out.
A/N: I should have made this longer. Shame on me. Well, I'll make it up to you, promise. Please review.