"Tatum?" The librarian took off his glasses and squinted at his daughter.

"Yah, hi dad." She dumped her bags on the floor.

He hurried towards her and stopped when he reached her.

"Is this a time for a...a hug?"

"I guess..." said Tatum, unsure. They hugged awkwardly.

"So hello?!" said the girl, "Did everyone forget about Buffy? The Vampire Slayer? The Chosen One?"

"Ah...about that..." Giles removed his glasses, cleaned them and put them back on, "The Council and I have had many discussions as to how this could have happened...We've researched the matter in great detail...It is quite unprecedented, and this sort of situation has never occurred in the entire history of slayers..."

"GILES!" Buffy yelled, "Get to the point."

"Ah...yes...well, it seems that there is indeed not a Chosen 'one'...but in fact a Chosen Two."

He looked at the girls dramatically, and was disheartened by their blank expressions.

"Yeah, so?" They both said at the same time.

"There are two slayers at the same time!" Giles said with enthusiasm, "Two slayers!"

"Ok..." Tatum sighed, "We're talking about vampire slayers?"

"Yeah, and that would be me!" Buffy smiled at her, "But I'm retired."

"No, you are not." Giles looked at her sternly.

"I don't need this!" Buffy pouted, "It's my first day! I was afraid that I was gonna be behind in all my classes, that I wouldn't make any friends, that I would have last month's hair. I didn't think there'd be vampires on campus. And I don't care."

"Then why are you here?" Giles asked her.

Buffy was caught off-guard, "To tell you that... I don't care, which... I don't, and... have

now told you, so... bye."

"Is he, w-will he... rise again?" Giles called after her.

Buffy turned back, "Who?"

"The boy."

"No. He's just dead."

"Can you be sure?"

"To make you a vampire they have to suck your blood. And then you

have to suck their blood. It's like a whole big sucking thing. Mostly

they're just gonna kill you. Why am I still talking to you?" Buffy began to walk away again.

Meanwhile, Tatum had seated herself at one of the library tables and was listening to them with increasing interest.

Buffy turned again and headed for the door. Giles took a view paces towards her, "You really have no idea what's going on, do you? You think it's coincidence, your being here? That boy was just the beginning."

"Oh, why can't you people just leave me alone?" Buffy whined.

"Because you are the one...not the only one now may I add, that must fight against the powers of evil to kill – "

"Vampires." Buffy finished.

"Not just vampires; zombies, werewolves, incubi, succubi, everything you've ever dreaded was under your bed, but told yourself couldn't be by the light of day. They're all real!" Giles said.

"Hold it for a second."

The two swung around realizing that Tatum was still in the library.

"So vampires, zombies, werewolves...they're real?" she said slowly, "And Buffy is the Slayer, and she kills them or fights them, or slays them...whatever."

"Yes." replied Giles, "And all these creatures of evil are drawn to Sunnydale because this town is situated on the Hellmouth."

"The Hellmouth is evil. It is the gateway to hell, and evil things use it pretty much as a subway." explained Buffy.

"That is not entirely true, Buffy. The Hellmouth is in fact sealed, but it still attracts demons." said Giles.

"Hey, I know! Why don't you kill 'em?" said Buffy suddenly.

"I-I'm a Watcher, I-I haven't the skill..." Giles stuttered.

"Oh, come on, stake through the heart, a little sunlight... It's like falling off a log." said Buffy.

"A, a Slayer slays, a Watcher..."

"...watches?" said Buffy, without missing a beat.

"Yes. No! He, he trains her, he, he, he prepares her..."

"Prepares me for what?" Buffy said angrily, "For getting kicked out of school? For losing all of my friends? For having to spend all of my time fighting for my life and never getting to tell anyone because I might endanger them? Go ahead! Prepare me."

They looked at each other for a moment. Buffy exhaled, turned and left the library in disgust. Giles hesitated for an instant, "Damn."

He exited the library quickly.

Tatum lit a cigarette. She was bored. She was cranky. She was tired. And she was confused. Vampires? Slayers? A Hellmouth? She was sure her dad belonged in the hospital with her mom.

Giles returned to the library and went straight to his office. He smelt smoke and dashed into the library. His eyes fell on his daughter. She smiled innocently up at him.

"Put that out at once!" he said loudly.

She didn't move a muscle. She looked up at him coldly, "Finally decided to pay me some attention then? Or did you just think your precious books were on fire?"

"I am dreadfully sorry. I know you must be tired, but there are situations that are a matter of urgency." said Giles.

"Oh, my bad." She threw her cigarette to the floor and stamped it out, "I didn't know that helping your only child settle in to a new town and get to know her better would be near the bottom of your dire list."

She stormed out of the library.

Giles stamped his foot, "Damn."

He exited the library quickly.