Chapter 6

Secrets

Over the course of the next 4 months, Rose came every day to the library. Cordelia had introduced her to the gang and every day they would talk with her. Giles was blown away by her comprehension and understanding of everything. Soon Giles started testing Rose on other things such as math and social studies and she got outstanding grades from everything from 3rd grade work all the way up to 12th grade comprehension. Giles called her a 'Child Prodigy' which in regular terms was a genius.

Friday's were special. Friday's were when Rose and Cordelia were left alone and had time just the two of them. But one Friday the gang stayed behind and Buffy approached Rose.

"Rosa," Buffy said sweetly. It was the nickname the gang had given her.

"I think it's time we told you something really important," Giles said. Cordelia held her breath. She wondered if they would.

"I'm a vampire slayer and Giles is my watcher. I fight off vampires with my friend Faith who is also a slayer," Buffy said, deciding to give it to her in light terms. She could ask questions if she needed to. Rose sighed.

"I know," she whispered. They looked at her curiously.

"Your boyfriend, Angel, he's a vampire," Rose said.

"What's going on right now?"

"Well," Giles said "the mysterious whereabouts of a vampire named Drusilla and her daughter are the title of subject just now. You see her daughters not a vampire she...,"

"You don't have to explain Giles," Rose replied picking up the book and placing it back on the bookcase. Giles looked confused.

"You can stop searching because here I am," Rose said quietly. Everyone let out a small gasp of surprise.

"I'm Drusilla's daughter. Priscilla Rose Mailey," Rose said.

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything before. I just thought that maybe you guys wouldn't like me after that." She turned to Cordelia with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"Awe, Rosa, come here baby," Cordelia whispered and opened her arms. Rose ran into them and Cordelia pulled her onto her lap. Tears fell from her eyes and she angrily wiped them away. She lifted her head slowly but Cordelia gently pushed her back down under her chin and stroked her hair.

"Shhh, it's okay," she murmured softly into her ear. The group sat in silence.

"He's the one that hurt you isn't he?" Buffy asked.

"Spike."

Rose slowly nodded her head yes.

"Oh! I got one, why don't you go by Priscilla?" Willow asked. They had all gone back to Giles house and made the task of asking Rose questions sort of a pajama party. They sat in the living room. Giles sat on the sofa in his red rob and slippers calmly drinking tea. Buffy sat next to him in her puppy dog pajamas with an extremely sleepy Nicky in her lap in his SpongeBob Squarepants pajamas. Xander sat in an arm chair with a tank top and sweats on, cradling a sleeping Alex in his matching pajamas to Nicky's. Oz sat crossed legged on the floor still in his shorts and shirt; he had argued he slept in his boxers. Willow laid her head on Oz as he tried concentrating on tickling her ears but it was hard knowing the subject at hand. Rose sat on the floor next to Cordelia.

"I go by Rose because Priscilla is just Drusilla with a different beginning. I don't want anybody thinking that I'm anything like my mother because even though I love her she is a little scary."

"So. Spike hits you?" Xander asked. His expression was one the scoobies weren't used to seeing. His voice was a bit shaky and his eyes were full of concern and curiosity.

"Spike hits me yes," Rose said.

"What does he do?" Giles asked.

"Giles! You don't have to go into any details Rose," Buffy said.

"Mommy says I irk him. She says I set him off which makes him upset. He gets upset over a lot of things."

"And Drusilla doesn't stop him?" Willow asked.

"No only sometimes. Most of the time she just watches but at the same time, she doesn't let him kill me."

"I want you to stay with us," Buffy said.

"I can't," Rose said in a sort of a panic.

"I have to go home and protect my mommy from Spike. He hits her too."

"Rose we don't want you to have to live like this, scared all the time," Willow said softly grabbing Rose's hand.

"I have to go, but I'll be back in the library on Monday."

It was Saturday night around 6 and all Cordelia could think about was Rose. She was sitting on the couch alone. Xander had gone with his parents to Arizona for his uncle's birthday and Buffy and Willow had to take care of Nicky and Alex again while Giles went away to Texas for another watchers council meeting. She was getting antsy and decided to take a walk, having no intellect of her restless night ahead.