Buffy was jolted slightly when Charles pushed his chair back and stood up. He carried her across the room and through the hall to a small library. There was a couch in front of a roaring fire. He sat down with her still in his lap.
"These next few days you and I are going to get to know each other before I take you back to your new home."
He looked thoughtful for a moment and then continued. "You already told me some things about yourself. And even though I didn't understand them all that clearly I think it's best for you to let the past be dead."
Buffy turned her head and looked up to him. More like the future will never happen. She pulled herself out of the pain of that thought and asked him a question she wasn't sure she wanted an answer to. "How did you leave your past behind you after you were turned?" God, I hope he didn't go the Angelus way!
Charles smiled the smile of remembrance. "I threw myself into discovering this new world that I knew nothing about. I had always been an adventurer as a young lad. My station in life just never gave me the chance to act upon that. Before I knew there was a world beyond the next big city near my village, I was married with twins on the way and a farm to look after."
Buffy almost laughed outloud. This cultivated man was a farmer? "Well you must have met one stinking good Higgins."
The look Charles gave her was curious but he ignored the remark.
"When I became a vampire I left the farm and submersed myself in new duties but these took me to new and exciting places. So will yours, my dear."
"Duties?" Buffy asked confused and slightly apprehensive.
"Ahh, my love. I'm pushing you far too quickly. Do not concern yourself with that just yet. For now let's focus on us. A Sire and his Child. What do you know of the difference between a fledgling and a Child?"
"Are they not the same?" Buffy asked promptly.
Charles got comfortable with her on his lap. He always enjoyed this part of the bonding days. To make the Child understand It's importance was a feast for any Sire. "No, all vampires start out as fledglings. Some of them are destined to become Childer and others will stay fledglings. The Childer fledglings we call Newly borne. All of it has to do with power. A fledgling is given just enough blood to become the demon. They are turned and used without a second thought. But Childer are different. They are carefully chosen. They are well fed from their sires to ensure the passing of the bloodline. Then they are sheltered, nursed and taught to be the right kind of vampire. The trades that attracted the Sire to them are honed and their faults are filed away. You can feel me so clearly in your heart because I made you one of my strongest Childer. You drank me nearly dry and this time we spent so near to each other will strengthen that bond. But being a Child will have other advantages too. I will explain these to you later for now it is time for you to rest a bit."
Buffy smiled up at him. She felt so special to be chosen by such a sweet and gentle man to be his Child for eternity. But she felt something, like a twitching in her toes and an itching just between her shoulderblades.
Charles stood up settling her on her own feet. "Ahh, there it is. Do you feel it? The call of the morning. It will come to you exactly one hour before the dawn. When that happens and you are still outside, you must find shelter. But you know that don't you?"
Do I know what kills a vamp? You bet ya, but let's not go there right now. "Will I sleep the whole day?" She asked as a diversion. She actually had no idea how and if vampires differed from humans when it came to sleeping. Both Angel and Spike had been up during the day but they were no ordinary vampires. And that's the understatement of this century.
Charles spoke while leading her up the stairs to her bedroom. "We will have to wait and see, it is different for every vampire. although many of them at least sleep until tea time." Buffy had no idea when that was but she gathered it was somewhere in the afternoon. "Time to sleep, my darling. When you wake ring the bell in your room and Marie will help you dress."
Surprisingly Buffy slept the day away. She awoke refreshed and with a smile. Man, I never slept this long since becoming a slayer. Not that I needed it back then but, wow. She thought looking at the antique clock. She rang the bell for Marie and felt her presence closing in on the door. "Come in" She called before the girl could knock. After her sponge bath and make up she dressed in a green brocade dress Marie pulled out of a closet. Her hair was gathered in a roll of curls down the center of her head and she wore a jade chocker to complete the outfit. At the bottom of the stairs she found Charles dressed in all black with a top hat. He was holding a knee length fur coat.
"Tonight my dear, I am going to wine and dine you like a men should a lady of your graces."
He showed her to their carriage. "I trust you slept well?"
"Like a log." Buffy answered most unladylike. "Guess I'm a long sleeper. huh?!"
Charles smiled at her bluntness. He was fond of her honesty. "Not necessarily. The turning itself is a very exhausting business."
They came to a grand building in Greek style. "Have you ever been to the Ballet before,...??" He stopped what he was saying and looked at her sideways. "I suddenly realize that I have given you my name but I have yet to ask you for yours. Forgive me my rudeness. Please, could you tell me your name?"
Buffy blushed 3 colors red. She could almost hear her mother scold her for not introducing herself like she had been taught.
"No, please. Forgive me. I should have known better. My name is Buffy Anne Summers."
Charles looked startled and even more pale than usual. "Buffy." He almost whispered. It had sounded so reverently. Like a wind through a patch of flowers.
"I had a daughter. I named her Buffy. She died of infant's disease 2 years after her first name day. She had green eyes just like yours."
She felt so much like she was meant to be there at that moment that she couldn't not hug him and so she did. Charles found himself with arms full of a beautiful young lady, who was his Child and who needed him as much as he needed her.
"Let's see this Ballet." Buffy said half laughing, half crying.