As Buffy slowly pushed the front door open, she was greeted by the sounds of music and laughter. Curious, she softly shut the door behind her and crept to the doorway of the lounge and peeked around the door frame to watch and listen.
"No, seriously Giles, tell me what really happened."
Neither teacher nor pupil noticed their audience and there was more laughter before the former replied. Buffy could hear the warm humour and fondness in his voice as he shared the memory.
"Oh, okay, but you must promise not to repeat this." When he received an affirming nod, the Englishman crouched and lowered his voice secretively. "I simply told her that she was being unfair, 'mooned' the poor woman as you would call it these days... and ran off laughing. When mum got wind of it, she couldn't decide whether to scold me or congratulate me... I could tell, because she was trying not to laugh when she did eventually tell me off. Poor Miss Hiney... I don't think many people liked her at all... no surprise, really, considering how unkind she was."
Shock was written all over Dawn's face as she struggled to form an audible response.
"I... I... oh my... wow!" A giggle finally burst forth, despite her still stunned expression. "I can't believe... my god, Giles... you were such a... a... terror... when you were little. I can't believe that you showed that poor old woman your butt just to make a point."
Giles chuckled once more as he returned to his feet. "I was eight years old, Dawn... all children are terrors at that age."
Dawn stopped giggling long enough to plaster an indignant, self-righteous expression on her face. "I wasn't. I was innocently angelic."
At this, Buffy joined in the laughter with a snort and a splutter, entering the room properly to stare at her sister in amazement.
"How can you sit there and say that, considering all the times you stole mom's lipstick, pinched all the cookies, drew on my schoolwork and screamed blue murder at dad for not letting you take your blankie to preschool? Huh? You weren't angelic, you were a little devil."
"I was not!"
"You were too." Buffy insisted. "You were a total nightmare to live with. You always... what?" She turned suddenly as she became aware of Giles watching her closely. "Have I got something on me?"
"No, nothing..." he replied absently.
"What, then?"
"I was... uh... I was just wondering how long you'd been standing there."
Buffy flashed him a teasing grin. "Oh, long enough to know that you were a very naughty boy... and that if I was your mother I'd have taken you over my lap and pulled your trousers d..." A brilliant shade of red dashed up her neck to flood her cheeks and she coughed awkwardly before quickly changing the subject. "So, Dawn... how's the assignment coming on?"
Swallowing down a laugh, Dawn beamed at her sister by way of reply. "Great!" She turned and looked up at the man beside her. "Tell her what you told me, Giles."
He smiled affectionately down at her, before crossing the room to sit on the sofa. He beckoned Buffy over with a hand as he spoke, pride evident in his voice. "She's quite right, Buffy; she's doing very well. You would think that an instrument couldn't be learnt well in such a short period of time, yet Dawn has proven - yet again - to be the exception to the norm. She has shown remarkable dedication to both practicing and learning. Add in what I believe is a natural gift for music and I think it's fair to say that she is almost there with her song. All it just needs is perhaps some more work on the bar chords and some final polishing here and there, then she'll be ready for her performance, I'm certain."
"Oh, I... I'm not so sure about that..." Dawn's voice sounded odd suddenly, her eyes holding a panicked expression, not unlike that of a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. "I... I mean, aren't there other things I need to learn? Um... uh... what about that weird thingy you bought... that, that cap-thingy? Yeah, I-I'm sure I need to learn all about that before I do any p-p-performing."
"Nonsense, Dawn." Giles smiled serenely at his student. "I can teach you that later. You don't need a capo for your song, just a little more practice."
"Really? 'Cause I was thinking... uh... well, maybe you're right... I do need to practice more...but not a little... a lot... yeah, a lot-lot..." There were small tremors in her voice now, its tone rising gradually in pitch causing her sister to look at her in confusion.
"What's up, Dawnie? I thought you were looking forward to doing this."
"I... I was," the younger Summers admitted. "But... not in front of millions of people."
"Millions is a slight exaggeration, don't you think?"
"Okay... thousands. Doesn't matter... I can't do it."
"Don't be silly, Dawn... of course you can."
"No, I can't! I just can't sing in front of everyone... in fact, knowing my luck I probably won't. I bet something hellmouthy will happen like I'll lose my voice or I'll forget the words, or, or worse... I'll wish the earth will swallow me whole and it actually will... whatever, in some way I'll screw it up, I always do."
Giles watched the exchange between the two with amusement, finally deciding that now would be a good time to cut in. "Firstly, Dawn, relax. Stop worrying. You will be just fine... trust me on this. Secondly, Buffy, this isn't something silly. Stage fright is something quite normal - you should know that from your own experience at the talent show in your second year."
From where she sat at the far end of the couch, Buffy shuddered at the memory, prompting a grin to form on Giles' lips.
"Point made, I do believe." He turned back to Dawn as an idea struck him. "Why don't you play the song now, to just Buffy and I, before we sort out dinner? It'll be good practice for you... and then, gradually you could play it to more people, like Xander and Willow and then, in time, maybe Summer, David and Ellen and Christopher. How does that sound?"
"Pretty much like I have no choice." She grumbled, obediently lifting her guitar out of its open case. She fiddled with it for a while, adjusting the strap and checking the tuning, even though she knew full well that there was no need.
Watcher and Slayer observed the ritual with amusement, automatically turning to each other with a smile.
Weird thought Buffy, how this doesn't feel weird. She settled back more comfortably into her chair as she awaited her sister's recital.
As Giles took in Buffy's more relaxed demeanour, his smile grew. It's good to see the old Buffy back.