Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all related characters belong to Joss Whedon, etc.
Authors note: Okay, heres the real chapter. I hope you enjoy. Thanks to everyone for giving me ideas for later on, and thanks for the help on how to bring Anya/Spike in.
Oh, and to the person that asked, AU means that it's basically set in an alternate universe, so things are not the same as in the TV series.
CHAPTER 22
Buffy half- heartedly struck out at her opponent. She didn't want to fight today. It was her birthday. Giles was so mean; he should have let her have the day off. She wanted to open presents and stuff, like you were supposed to do on your birthday. But Giles had said that she wasn't allowed to do all that until training was over. He said it was good discipline to learn, that you couldn't just drop important stuff when something you wanted to do more came up.
But as far as she was concerned you should be able to. Fun stuff should be more important than stuff you did all the time. And you only got one birthday a year.
Faith grinned over at her friend, who obviously wasn't having a very good time. "Hey cheer up B," she said, using the nickname she had recently concocted for Buffy "We've got the party to look forward to tonight." Then she winced. Whoops. That was supposed to be a secret. Giles had threatened that anyone who let it out wouldn't be allowed to come. Faith thought he'd been joking but you never knew with Giles.
"What party?" Buffy demanded, stopping in her spar, and glaring at her partner until she did the same. As far as she knew all that was happening tonight was she got presents. Giles had specifically said that she wasn't having a party. Had he been making stuff up?
"Never mind" Faith said. "I must've been thinking about some other time."
Buffy didn't believe her. Today was suddenly looking a whole lot better. Maybe Giles was making her train so he had time to get stuff ready. That'd be cool.
"Nuh unh." Buffy said firmly. "We never have parties. Giles says they've got a bad effect on us." She suspected that could have come from the time they had a food fight in the dining room. He had not been impressed, to put it lightly.
"Oh, alright." Faith said, pouting. "We're having a birthday party for you tonight. But don't you dare tell Giles I told you." She paused for a moment, trying to think of a reasonable threat. "If you do... um... I'll tickle you!"
Buffy's eyes widened in mock horror. "No!" She screamed playfully. "No tickling!"
The small blond Potential was very ticklish. Tickle torture for her really was torture. Although very fun torture.
Buffy's former opponent, who had been waiting for the two smaller kids to finish their conversation, was getting impatient. "Hey, kids, chat later would you? Some of us want to practice," she demanded.
Buffy stuck her tongue out at her. "Go find someone else to spar with then." She said. "I wanna talk to my friend and I'm not stopping because of you."
Much to Buffy's misfortune she happened to say that just as Wesley was wandering by to look for Xander and Oz.
"Buffy!" he exclaimed in horror "Have you no respect for those older than you?" He was quite shocked by the child. She may not have been the best mannered child, but she normally was not so rude.
"Nope" Buffy said, a little sulkily. Why was everyone ganging up on her today? It wasn't fair. It was her birthday. People should be nice.
"Well, I believe someone does not deserve to learn sparring today" he said. "Come out of there now, you can just spend the rest of the afternoon with me."
Buffy glared at him. "Don't wanna," she said. "You're boring"
Wesley glared right back at the child. "Right" he said. "We're going right home, and I think you need to have a little chat with Giles about rudeness."
Buffy was having none of that. She hated being lectured by Giles. He'd gotten so much better at ignoring their 'sorry' faces. He made them feel bad, and Buffy didn't like that.
She darted off, not caring where she was going, just wanting to get away.
Wesley looked off after the child. What on earth was wrong with her today?
Faith kicked him in the shin. "That was mean." She told him. "It's her birthday. You're supposed to be nice to her." Everyone knew that. It was the rules. And Wesley had broken them. So she was allowed to break the 'no kicking people except in spar' rule.
Wesley gaped at her. "It's her birthday?" he said. "Why didn't anybody tell me?" Now he was feeling rather guilty for snapping at the child. She had probably just been upset because he hadn't mentioned her birthday. He could remember how terrible it was to think that no one cared that you were older, that you had reached a new age.
Yes. He could remember quite clearly. His family had never been one for celebrations, but like any child he had enjoyed a good party. He had been so disappointed when, the year he turned 10, his whole family ignored his birthday. The first time it had happened her had felt thoroughly unloved, although of course that was not the case. Wesley had enormous respect for his family and knew they returned his love, in their own way.
"It's because you're boring" Faith told him matter-of-factly. "No-body remembers to tell you."
Wesley was stung. That was not a nice thing for the girl to say. He was not boring. It wasn't his fault if he had a different set of priorities than the children.
Faith seemed to realise she had said something wrong. "No offence" she said, as if that took all the hurt away.
"I suppose I had better go and find Buffy" Wesley told her with a sigh. "Have a nice time sparring."
He wandered off in the direction that Buffy had run in. "Buffy, please come back," he called, "I'm sorry I snapped. I'm not angry with you, really."
A small head poked around a corner. "Really?" Buffy asked.
"Really" Wesley promised her.
As he drew closer Wesley noticed that the child had tears in her eyes. Had she been crying? Surely not? He had never seen her cry, and to his knowledge she had never shed a tear when hurt while sparring.
When he reached her he did something he had never done before. He bent down and gave the child a hug.
Buffy stiffened in Wesley's arms. He had never hugged any of them before. It was strange. Then she realised it wasn't bad. It made her feel more happy, like hugs from her parents always had, like hugs from Giles did. She nestled down and hugged him back.
Wesley stroked the child's hair. He was surprised at how natural it felt, comforting a child like this. He scooped her up, and straightened.
"Come on, let's go home," he said quietly. Buffy nodded and rested her head against his shoulder. She may have been six now, but being carried felt right just now.
Wes carried the child back to their house. He realised that she had exhausted herself, and fallen asleep. So he settled her down in her bed and left her alone.
When Buffy awakened she found that her favourite jeans and her nicest t-shirt had been set out ready for her to put on.
She got up and dressed, realising how much better she felt now. And realising that this was her second birthday without her parents.
She also remembered how sad she had been when her mummy and daddy had not come to wish her a happy birthday last year. And the same sadness still lurked in her mind today. She wished they were here, even though she knew that they were gone and they weren't coming back.
"Hello sleepy" a male voice called through the doorway. Her heart jumped. It was her daddy. But then she recognised Giles' voice.
"Hello" she responded.
"Well, do you want to come down and open your presents or not?" Giles asked his ward with a smile. "Come on, get dressed"
The child threw on her clothes in record time. It seemed that the magic word 'presents' had worked.
Giles had been concerned when Wesley had come into the house with Buffy in his arms. He had thought the child was injured and unconscious. When he found out that she was just asleep his relief had been immeasurable. Although he never mentioned it to anyone, in his heart he thought of Buffy as his daughter. He had known her, and looked after her for most of her life after all.
"I wish mummy and daddy were here" Buffy murmured, almost to herself. She didn't know if she wanted Giles to hear or not.
But he did. "Oh, Buffy" he sighed. "I know you miss them. I do too." That was for sure. Joyce and Hank had become two of his closest friends, before they had died, protecting their daughter. He always missed them.
Buffy however, hardly ever mentioned them. Some of the time he thought she must have forgotten them. Although he knew that could not possibly be true. Her parents had been killed almost in front of her. He was certain that there was no way that had not imprinted on her mind. He just hoped she could also remember the happy times she had shared before their deaths.
"They're here" Buffy said suddenly. "I can't see them, cos they're dead, but I know they're here anyway."
She said it with the simplicity of a child, and it touched Giles. "Of course they're here" he said. "They would never leave you". In his head he added "And neither would I." He didn't say it out loud though.
"Can we get my presents now?" Buffy asked, her mood swinging in that way that only small children could manage.
"Come on then" he said, following her out into the living room, where everyone was waiting.
"Open mine first" Faith yelled.
"Mine" Kendra and Tara disagreed in unison.
"I wanna open Willow's first" Buffy said. She knew what her best friend had gotten her, and she wanted to show everyone else. Willow hadn't been able to resist telling her.
The gift was a beautiful snow globe. The scene inside it was made to look like her and her friends: Kendra, Faith, Willow, Oz, Xander, Giles, Wesley and Tara. They were obviously playing some sort of game and you could tell that everyone was happy.
Willow had been so proud. Giles, her and Wesley had all worked together to get the people to look like them.
"It's so pretty" Buffy said. Although Willow had described it to her, this was the first time she had seen it.
"It's from Wes and Giles too" Willow reminded her.
Wesley frowned at Giles "Why did no-one tell me that that was for Buffy's birthday?" he whispered in his fellow Watcher's ear. "I had no idea that it was her birthday, until Faith told me"
Giles shrugged. "I thought you knew," he said. "It is all we've been talking about when Buffy's not around."
Meanwhile Buffy had moved on to the rest of her presents. There were exclamations of glee and thanks whenever she opened one.
When the present opening had finished it was time for the party to begin in real. Buffy of course, acted as if she were totally surprised. Or her version of what totally surprised looked like anyway.
Giles shook his head. Either Faith or Willow had given it away. He knew they would. But it was sweet of Buffy to pretend she didn't know, even if her pretence just made it painfully obvious. The child just was not cut out to be an actress.
As she was stuffing herself with cake and ice cream, Buffy decided that this birthday wasn't bad after all. In fact, she decided, it was great.
Giles looked at Buffy and sighed. Today seemed to mark a turning point somehow. The eldest of his young Slayers was old enough to start school. His little family was growing up. It would be only a few years before the Council would require them to have more advanced training than they received here. Then they would be leaving him. To him, today seemed to be the end of Buffy's time as 'Giles' little Potential' and the start of, well, he didn't know, but he knew he would be there to see it.
THE END
Authors note: Yes, I know there were more chapters after this, but I've taken Gidgetgirl, and a few other's advice (again) and put them into a new story. It takes up a few months after this; making it pretty much a year after 'Young Slayers' began. Go and read it for the continuation. It's called 'times of change'
Authors note: Okay, heres the real chapter. I hope you enjoy. Thanks to everyone for giving me ideas for later on, and thanks for the help on how to bring Anya/Spike in.
Oh, and to the person that asked, AU means that it's basically set in an alternate universe, so things are not the same as in the TV series.
CHAPTER 22
Buffy half- heartedly struck out at her opponent. She didn't want to fight today. It was her birthday. Giles was so mean; he should have let her have the day off. She wanted to open presents and stuff, like you were supposed to do on your birthday. But Giles had said that she wasn't allowed to do all that until training was over. He said it was good discipline to learn, that you couldn't just drop important stuff when something you wanted to do more came up.
But as far as she was concerned you should be able to. Fun stuff should be more important than stuff you did all the time. And you only got one birthday a year.
Faith grinned over at her friend, who obviously wasn't having a very good time. "Hey cheer up B," she said, using the nickname she had recently concocted for Buffy "We've got the party to look forward to tonight." Then she winced. Whoops. That was supposed to be a secret. Giles had threatened that anyone who let it out wouldn't be allowed to come. Faith thought he'd been joking but you never knew with Giles.
"What party?" Buffy demanded, stopping in her spar, and glaring at her partner until she did the same. As far as she knew all that was happening tonight was she got presents. Giles had specifically said that she wasn't having a party. Had he been making stuff up?
"Never mind" Faith said. "I must've been thinking about some other time."
Buffy didn't believe her. Today was suddenly looking a whole lot better. Maybe Giles was making her train so he had time to get stuff ready. That'd be cool.
"Nuh unh." Buffy said firmly. "We never have parties. Giles says they've got a bad effect on us." She suspected that could have come from the time they had a food fight in the dining room. He had not been impressed, to put it lightly.
"Oh, alright." Faith said, pouting. "We're having a birthday party for you tonight. But don't you dare tell Giles I told you." She paused for a moment, trying to think of a reasonable threat. "If you do... um... I'll tickle you!"
Buffy's eyes widened in mock horror. "No!" She screamed playfully. "No tickling!"
The small blond Potential was very ticklish. Tickle torture for her really was torture. Although very fun torture.
Buffy's former opponent, who had been waiting for the two smaller kids to finish their conversation, was getting impatient. "Hey, kids, chat later would you? Some of us want to practice," she demanded.
Buffy stuck her tongue out at her. "Go find someone else to spar with then." She said. "I wanna talk to my friend and I'm not stopping because of you."
Much to Buffy's misfortune she happened to say that just as Wesley was wandering by to look for Xander and Oz.
"Buffy!" he exclaimed in horror "Have you no respect for those older than you?" He was quite shocked by the child. She may not have been the best mannered child, but she normally was not so rude.
"Nope" Buffy said, a little sulkily. Why was everyone ganging up on her today? It wasn't fair. It was her birthday. People should be nice.
"Well, I believe someone does not deserve to learn sparring today" he said. "Come out of there now, you can just spend the rest of the afternoon with me."
Buffy glared at him. "Don't wanna," she said. "You're boring"
Wesley glared right back at the child. "Right" he said. "We're going right home, and I think you need to have a little chat with Giles about rudeness."
Buffy was having none of that. She hated being lectured by Giles. He'd gotten so much better at ignoring their 'sorry' faces. He made them feel bad, and Buffy didn't like that.
She darted off, not caring where she was going, just wanting to get away.
Wesley looked off after the child. What on earth was wrong with her today?
Faith kicked him in the shin. "That was mean." She told him. "It's her birthday. You're supposed to be nice to her." Everyone knew that. It was the rules. And Wesley had broken them. So she was allowed to break the 'no kicking people except in spar' rule.
Wesley gaped at her. "It's her birthday?" he said. "Why didn't anybody tell me?" Now he was feeling rather guilty for snapping at the child. She had probably just been upset because he hadn't mentioned her birthday. He could remember how terrible it was to think that no one cared that you were older, that you had reached a new age.
Yes. He could remember quite clearly. His family had never been one for celebrations, but like any child he had enjoyed a good party. He had been so disappointed when, the year he turned 10, his whole family ignored his birthday. The first time it had happened her had felt thoroughly unloved, although of course that was not the case. Wesley had enormous respect for his family and knew they returned his love, in their own way.
"It's because you're boring" Faith told him matter-of-factly. "No-body remembers to tell you."
Wesley was stung. That was not a nice thing for the girl to say. He was not boring. It wasn't his fault if he had a different set of priorities than the children.
Faith seemed to realise she had said something wrong. "No offence" she said, as if that took all the hurt away.
"I suppose I had better go and find Buffy" Wesley told her with a sigh. "Have a nice time sparring."
He wandered off in the direction that Buffy had run in. "Buffy, please come back," he called, "I'm sorry I snapped. I'm not angry with you, really."
A small head poked around a corner. "Really?" Buffy asked.
"Really" Wesley promised her.
As he drew closer Wesley noticed that the child had tears in her eyes. Had she been crying? Surely not? He had never seen her cry, and to his knowledge she had never shed a tear when hurt while sparring.
When he reached her he did something he had never done before. He bent down and gave the child a hug.
Buffy stiffened in Wesley's arms. He had never hugged any of them before. It was strange. Then she realised it wasn't bad. It made her feel more happy, like hugs from her parents always had, like hugs from Giles did. She nestled down and hugged him back.
Wesley stroked the child's hair. He was surprised at how natural it felt, comforting a child like this. He scooped her up, and straightened.
"Come on, let's go home," he said quietly. Buffy nodded and rested her head against his shoulder. She may have been six now, but being carried felt right just now.
Wes carried the child back to their house. He realised that she had exhausted herself, and fallen asleep. So he settled her down in her bed and left her alone.
When Buffy awakened she found that her favourite jeans and her nicest t-shirt had been set out ready for her to put on.
She got up and dressed, realising how much better she felt now. And realising that this was her second birthday without her parents.
She also remembered how sad she had been when her mummy and daddy had not come to wish her a happy birthday last year. And the same sadness still lurked in her mind today. She wished they were here, even though she knew that they were gone and they weren't coming back.
"Hello sleepy" a male voice called through the doorway. Her heart jumped. It was her daddy. But then she recognised Giles' voice.
"Hello" she responded.
"Well, do you want to come down and open your presents or not?" Giles asked his ward with a smile. "Come on, get dressed"
The child threw on her clothes in record time. It seemed that the magic word 'presents' had worked.
Giles had been concerned when Wesley had come into the house with Buffy in his arms. He had thought the child was injured and unconscious. When he found out that she was just asleep his relief had been immeasurable. Although he never mentioned it to anyone, in his heart he thought of Buffy as his daughter. He had known her, and looked after her for most of her life after all.
"I wish mummy and daddy were here" Buffy murmured, almost to herself. She didn't know if she wanted Giles to hear or not.
But he did. "Oh, Buffy" he sighed. "I know you miss them. I do too." That was for sure. Joyce and Hank had become two of his closest friends, before they had died, protecting their daughter. He always missed them.
Buffy however, hardly ever mentioned them. Some of the time he thought she must have forgotten them. Although he knew that could not possibly be true. Her parents had been killed almost in front of her. He was certain that there was no way that had not imprinted on her mind. He just hoped she could also remember the happy times she had shared before their deaths.
"They're here" Buffy said suddenly. "I can't see them, cos they're dead, but I know they're here anyway."
She said it with the simplicity of a child, and it touched Giles. "Of course they're here" he said. "They would never leave you". In his head he added "And neither would I." He didn't say it out loud though.
"Can we get my presents now?" Buffy asked, her mood swinging in that way that only small children could manage.
"Come on then" he said, following her out into the living room, where everyone was waiting.
"Open mine first" Faith yelled.
"Mine" Kendra and Tara disagreed in unison.
"I wanna open Willow's first" Buffy said. She knew what her best friend had gotten her, and she wanted to show everyone else. Willow hadn't been able to resist telling her.
The gift was a beautiful snow globe. The scene inside it was made to look like her and her friends: Kendra, Faith, Willow, Oz, Xander, Giles, Wesley and Tara. They were obviously playing some sort of game and you could tell that everyone was happy.
Willow had been so proud. Giles, her and Wesley had all worked together to get the people to look like them.
"It's so pretty" Buffy said. Although Willow had described it to her, this was the first time she had seen it.
"It's from Wes and Giles too" Willow reminded her.
Wesley frowned at Giles "Why did no-one tell me that that was for Buffy's birthday?" he whispered in his fellow Watcher's ear. "I had no idea that it was her birthday, until Faith told me"
Giles shrugged. "I thought you knew," he said. "It is all we've been talking about when Buffy's not around."
Meanwhile Buffy had moved on to the rest of her presents. There were exclamations of glee and thanks whenever she opened one.
When the present opening had finished it was time for the party to begin in real. Buffy of course, acted as if she were totally surprised. Or her version of what totally surprised looked like anyway.
Giles shook his head. Either Faith or Willow had given it away. He knew they would. But it was sweet of Buffy to pretend she didn't know, even if her pretence just made it painfully obvious. The child just was not cut out to be an actress.
As she was stuffing herself with cake and ice cream, Buffy decided that this birthday wasn't bad after all. In fact, she decided, it was great.
Giles looked at Buffy and sighed. Today seemed to mark a turning point somehow. The eldest of his young Slayers was old enough to start school. His little family was growing up. It would be only a few years before the Council would require them to have more advanced training than they received here. Then they would be leaving him. To him, today seemed to be the end of Buffy's time as 'Giles' little Potential' and the start of, well, he didn't know, but he knew he would be there to see it.
THE END
Authors note: Yes, I know there were more chapters after this, but I've taken Gidgetgirl, and a few other's advice (again) and put them into a new story. It takes up a few months after this; making it pretty much a year after 'Young Slayers' began. Go and read it for the continuation. It's called 'times of change'