Tatum walked along the corridor lost in her own thoughts. Suddenly she remembered that she hadn't been to the principal's office and it was afternoon classes.
After listening to him for a good long while, she got her timetable, and was told to get her books from the library. Tatum decided that she might as well blow off class until tomorrow. She walked down the corridor and bumped into Buffy.
"Hey!" said Tatum, "You headed for the library?"
"Unfortunately." groaned Buffy, "I know this has probably totally wigged you out; the whole Slayer and Watcher deal. And the vampires and stuff."
"Explains a great deal actually." replied Tatum, "I've come across some nasty looking dudes that were looking to get their asses kicked. Big with the biting. And afraid of this." She held up a large silver cross, "I really shoulda figured it out."
"Ass kicking? You kick ass?" Buffy queried.
"Yeah...partly why I got my ass kicked out of school."
"So you've like had training? Karate and Judo and stuff?"
"Nah...it just comes naturally really." explained Tatum, "I mean, I could hit people normally, and I was on the gymnastics team, then suddenly one day I could just really wale on people, and I knew proper moves...it was strange. And that's when I'd get into random fights on the street, like with vampires and stuff."
"Sounds like something I vaguely remember going through..." mumbled Buffy.
They entered the library and Giles pounced on them.
"Aha! You're both here! I can finally get you to understand the truth of what I've been trying to explain to you since this afternoon!"
"Uh-huh." the girls said in unison.
"I have spoken with my associate Mr. Quentin Travers, and the Council and I have finally come to a relatively appropriate conclusion."
"Uh-huh." they said again.
He turned to Buffy. "Do you remember last summer when you burnt down your school gymnasium?"
"Kinda..." she replied, "Vampires, me, matches, fire."
"Well do you remember waking up in the hospital?" Giles pressed on.
"Yeah, I remember the fire and all the vamps doing a Ms. Springfield on me, then...yeah, the hospital. I had...erm...passed out from the smoke and they had to pump my stomach, or lungs or something."
"Yes!" said Giles, looking pleased.
"Don't have too much of a happy, Dad." said Tatum.
"Yes. Sorry." Giles looked embarrassed, "During this standard procedure however, you...flat lined as they say."
"I died?" said Buffy, shocked.
"Indeed you did." said Giles, cleaning his glasses, "And that was when the second slayer was called."
"The second slayer?" Buffy said loudly, "That's what you were on about?! The Chosen Two?!"
"Yes, indeed." said Giles quietly, "This girl does not know she is the slayer, has not had contact with a watcher, and does not know her calling."
"Who is she?" asked Buffy.
"My daughter..." Giles whispered.