A/N: Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Here it is, only one more chapter to go after this. I really like this chapter, it's a little bit of a change, more light-hearted. I think you guys will enjoy this one. Again thanks to everyone who has continued to support this fic, part 12 will be the last and then I will thank everyone who has reviewed personally. I hope to have part 12 done soon, I already have a song picked out for the epilogue (you know me and my obsession with using songs in my fics). So enjoy this chapter, and please review! I will love you forever.

Part 11

One Week Later

Monday, July 10th, 2020

Buffy walked into the backyard, carrying cookies and lemonade on a tray. She stopped and smiled at the sight before her.

"Okay, now you pull the string back," Angel said. He was teaching Serena how to use a crossbow. Her daughter obeyed, sending the arrow flying directly into the center of the target Angel had painted on a tree. "Perfect!"

Serena smiled at him. "I think I'm a natural."

"I agree," Buffy said, approaching them. "You guys have been out here for a while, so I brought you a snack."

"Thanks mom," Serena said, setting the crossbow down on the picnic table. "Mmm, cookies."

Buffy smiled at Angel. "How's she doing, coach?"

"I think she takes after her mother," he said with a smile.

Buffy faked a frown. "Are we sure that's a good thing?"

"I am very sure," Angel said, leaning in for a kiss. They were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat.

"Sorry to interrupt. No one answered the door, so I thought I might find you back here," Giles said.

Buffy smiled. "Hi Giles. We were just taking a snack break."

"So how is the training progressing?" he asked, coming over to join them.

"Great. Serena mastered the crossbow this morning," Angel said proudly.

Giles smiled at his granddaughter. "Maybe it's time to put her new skills to work in the field."

Buffy glanced at Angel, panicked. "You mean, take her on patrol?"

"Yes. She's been training for a week now, and there is only so much she can learn this way. It is important for Serena to learn how to apply her skills when faced with a combat situation."

"Hello? Sitting right here," Serena said.

Angel placed a comforting arm on his wife's shoulder before facing his daughter. "Serena, would you like to go out tonight?"

She nodded. "I think I'm ready. Like, as long as you and mom are there."

"Of course," Buffy said tightly. The thought of her baby going on patrol terrified her. She knew that her daughter had been making amazing progress this last week, and that her natural slayer instincts were kicking in. But she still didn't understand or control them completely. Buffy couldn't help but flash back to the night when she had lost Liam. No, she thought to herself, forcing herself to look at the spot where two weeks ago they had buried their only reminders of their son. It's going to be fine. I can't shelter her for too long, she thought.

"Buffy, are you alright?" Giles asked, concerned.

She sighed. "Yeah, it just worries me."

Serena hugged her mother. "Mom, I'm going to be fine. And you, dad, and Grandpa Giles will be there."

Giles looked up in surprise. That was the first time his granddaughter had spoke of him or called him that since he had told her parents about the dreams. "You...you want me to be there?" he asked.

Serena smiled. "Yes. And I'm sorry, for blaming you. It wasn't your fault. If I was in your position I probably would have done the same thing."

Giles beamed at her. "You have no idea how grateful I am to hear you say that."

She walked over and gave her grandfather a kiss on the cheek. Giles gave the younger girl a hug. Buffy and Angel smiled at the scene.

"Well, I suppose I'll let you continue your training," Giles said happily. "Buffy, may I have a word inside?" he asked.

"Sure. Have fun, you two," Buffy said.

Buffy and Giles reentered the house and sat down on the back porch, which was closed in but still gave them a view of what was going on in the yard. "Have you heard anything from the council?" Buffy asked.

"Actually, no. But I would assume that the new Watcher should be arriving any day now. They shouldn't have had that much difficulty in finding someone," he added. "What I really wanted to talk about was how Serena and yourself are dealing with this."

Buffy forced a smile. "It's getting easier. Serena really seems to like the training. But the thought of taking her out is giving me a wiggins," she admitted.

"Buffy, we won't allow anything to happen to Serena. You can't protect her forever," Giles said sadly.

"Well I can try," Buffy said weakly. "I mean, she's my baby, Giles."

"Believe me, Serena's well being is my number one priority as well. However, she seems to be a natural," he said. Serena was blindfolded in the yard, and Angel was moving around her. Every time she threw the ball it went right to him. Buffy smiled, remembering when she had done the same exercise with Giles so long ago.

"She does," Buffy agreed. "You know, she's friends with Liz again. I think something happened with her that made Serena come around about the whole slayer deal."

"Really," Giles said, cleaning his glasses. "Well I am glad to hear it. Serena needs her friends, especially now."

"Liz knows, too. She was here when they were training the other day. Serena hasn't told us what happened though. But I don't think it's really important," Buffy said. "The important thing is that Serena has everyone who cares about her by her side right now."

"That is very true," Giles said. "When the new Watcher gets here, it will be another difficult time. I just hope that Serena will have an open mind about someone...new training her."

"I still wish you could do it," Buffy said.

Giles chuckled. "Buffy, you know that I am much too old. But I will be there, and my assistance will always be available."

Buffy smiled. "I know." She sighed. "We had to cancel our trip to Hawaii."

"I'm sorry," Giles said sympathetically. "Was Serena disappointed?"

"Well, we were supposed to leave only a couple of days after we found out that Serena is a slayer. Then she retreated to her room, and Angel and I agreed that a distraction wasn't going to help her deal. She hasn't even mentioned it."

"Buffy, you are still going to be able to take family vacations. Just not this year, in the midst of all that is going on."

She smiled slightly. "I know. But you see, my family used to be halfway normal. We used to take vacations, go to the movies. Now here we are again, back in the middle of slayer training and darkness. Deja vu is overrated."

Giles nodded. "Buffy, Serena is at a distinct advantage opposed to your situation. She had two parents that understand what is going on, and want to help her."

Buffy thought back to the days when she had to constantly sneak out of the house and hide her stakes. "Yeah, that is a plus."

Giles stood up. "Well I should get back home to your mother. She has been a little on edge since all of this started."

Buffy nodded. "I'm going to come over and see her this week. We'll call you when we're ready to patrol."

Giles smiled. "I'll be waiting."

After he was gone Buffy sat and watched Angel and Serena training. She couldn't help but smile. Her daughter did seem to be catching on really quickly, and she knew that she was in good hands with Angel. Let's just hope that the patrol tonight goes just as smoothly, she thought grimly.

"Serena, the important thing is to always be alert. They could sneak up from behind you, and you need to be ready. And always make sure you have more than one stake. You always need to be one step ahead of them. Oh, and never let them corner you, because then-"

"Buffy," Angel said softly, suppressing a smile.

She winced. "I'm sorry. Am I ramble-girl? I guess I'm just a little nervous."

"Mom, chill out. It's going to be fine," Serena said.

It was just after sundown, and Buffy, Angel, Serena, and Giles were walking through Restfield Cemetery. They were equipped with stakes, crossbows, crosses, and cookies, courtesy of Joyce.

"Well, we are bound to have some vampire...activity soon," Giles said, glancing around. "Perhaps we should spread out. They would be most likely to attack if perhaps Serena appeared alone-"

"Are you suggesting that we use my daughter as bait?" Buffy asked incredulously.

"No, of course not. Just perhaps we could move out of sight, or else Serena may not get the opportunity to test her skills," Giles said, defending himself.

"Well she won't be able to test her skills if the vampires get her first!" Buffy said, raising her voice.

"Buffy-" Angel said, interrupting. But his wife was on a roll.

"Well you know they say that throwing someone in the deep end is the best way to teach them how to swim. So maybe throwing a girl in a graveyard at night is the best way to teach her how to slay vampires!" she said, her hands on her hips.

"Buffy, we would immediately come to Serena's assistance the second a vampire showed himself. I think you are going to need to get used to the idea of your daughter being in danger," Giles said stubbornly.

"Get used to it? Get USED to it? Giles she isn't even trained! She's still a...a beginner!"

"Hey!" Serena interjected. "Chosen one here."

They ignored her. "Buffy, eventually Serena will be in the same position that you once were. She will be coming out every night alone."

"Not if I go with her," Buffy said defiantly.

"Excuse me but I seem to remember a certain incident where your mother accompanied you on patrol and found the bodies of two dead children! And then you were almost burned at the stake," Giles reminded her.

"That was different! Mom didn't understand, and she couldn't have helped me anyway. But I am a trained slayer."

"This isn't helping," Angel said loudly.

"Buffy, your slayer powers are declining every day. You would only interfere," Giles said heatedly.

"Excuse me, but I was the Chosen one until like, two weeks ago. And my slayer powers are just fine," Buffy lied.

Serena sighed, wandering over to a tree and setting down the bag of weapons she was carrying. They could be into this for a while. So much for her first patrol. No vampires would come within a hundred feet of them with her mother and grandfather arguing so loudly. She sat down on the grass and watched as her father tried to break up the argument.

A vampire crept closer, noticing the two adults fighting and the other man trying to end it. He started to move away, but then he noticed the teenage girl sitting on the other side of a tree, with her back to him. He smiled wickedly, moving closer.

Serena hummed quietly to herself, while her mom continued to yell at Giles. "You think I am incompetent? Look at yourself! You're just an old Watcher. FORMER Watcher!"

She suddenly got a strong feeling and whipped her head around. She started to shriek when she saw the glowing eyes of a vampire only inches from her face, but her slapped a hand over her mouth before she could. He dragged her around the tree, while she flailed her arms and legs, trying to connect with the vampire.

"Well we may as well go home, I think you scared away all the vampires," Buffy shot as Giles. She turned around. "Serena, we're leaving." She glanced at Angel in alarm. "Where is Serena?"

"Serena?" Angel yelled, trying to remain calm. He spotted her bag of weapons unattended by the tree and froze. "Oh no."

"See look what you've done now!" Buffy yelled at Giles, as she ran full speed towards the tree.

"What I'VE done?" Giles yelled back, following with his stake ready.

Angel reached the tree first, and stopped to look around. He heard the noise of a scuffle and hurried to the other side. He stopped dead, causing Buffy and Giles to bump into him.

"Ouch! Why did you stop?" Buffy said angrily. "Our daughter-"

"Take that!" Serena said triumphantly, plunging a stake into the vampire's heart. She stepped back as he turned to dust, looking quite pleased with herself.

"Serena! You killed a vampire," Angel said proudly.

"Yes, one that abducted her while Giles was distracting me with his accusations," Buffy muttered.

"You started it," Giles said quietly.

"Hey, well maybe it was for the best. I was only dragged around a tree and almost bitten before I remembered the stake mom made me put in my pocket," Serena said dramatically.

"Great work Serena," Giles said, giving her a pat on the shoulder. "I am glad that everything turned out for the best." He shot a Look at Buffy.

Buffy looked down. She felt really stupid now. Her daughter had almost been killed on her first patrol because of her nerves and immaturity.

Serena walked over to her mom and linked arms with her. "What do you say we head home? I think my work here is done," Serena said, still feeling very important.

Buffy cracked a smile. "Okay. I'm proud of you, by the way. I'm sorry that I almost-"

"It's okay. But I think you owe someone an apology," Serena said.

Buffy turned to Giles. "I'm sorry. I guess I just let my nerves get the best of me."

Giles nodded. "But for the record, I am not old. I am quite spry actually."

Serena laughed as she and her mother retrieved the bag of weapons and started off for the car. "Oh, and remind me to teach you some better puns. Take that?" Buffy said with raised eyebrows.

Serena frowned defensively. "Well at least I didn't miss the heart."

Tuesday, July 11th, 2020

"She seems to be doing well," Joyce said. It was the next morning, and she and Buffy were sitting on the back porch drinking coffee while Serena trained with Angel and Giles.

"She is. She killed a vampire last night without even breaking a sweat," Buffy said proudly.

"Well she takes after her mother," Joyce said softly. "I wish that I could have helped you while you were going through this."

Buffy placed a hand over her mother's. "Mom, it's okay. I survived. The important thing is that you're here for Serena now. We all need to help her adjust to being the slayer."

Just then the doorbell rang. Buffy frowned. "I wonder who that could be." She set down her coffee and hurried to the front of the house. "Coming," she called. She flung open the door and stared in surprise at the stranger on the porch.

It was a young guy, no older than twenty, attractive with rumpled blonde hair and nice features. He was average height and skinny, and had a nervous appearance. He was wearing a gray tweed suit and carried a suitcase. Buffy deduced from the choice in clothing that he was the person they had been anticipating.

"Watcher?" she asked simply.

He nodded nervously. "Is this the Summers-O'Leary residence?"

Buffy nodded, glancing him up and down. If her Watcher had been this young and cute, things might have turned out differently in her life. "Yeah. I'm Buffy," she said, reaching out to shake his hand.

"Yes, Miss Summers, of course. I have heard many things about you," he said awkwardly.

Buffy chuckled inwardly when she thought of the things he had probably heard about her from Quentin and the other Council members. "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

"Ah, yes. Bromley. Kenneth Bromley. As you already know, I have been sent by the Watcher's Council of England to be the official Watcher for Miss Serena O'Leary," he said importantly.

Buffy opened the door wider for him to enter. "She's in the backyard, training with my husband."

"Mr. Angel, that would be," Kenneth Bromley said, suddenly looking much more alert. "I have studied him in great detail."

"Who hasn't," Buffy said dryly. They joined Joyce on the back porch. The older woman stood up, taking in their guest.

"Mom, this is Kenneth Bromley. He's from the Watcher's Council," she said pointedly.

"Joyce Summers," she said, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise," Kenneth said, sounding distracted. "That would be Miss Serena?"

Buffy followed his gaze out the window, to where Serena was practicing combat moves with Angel while Giles looked on. "Yes. That's my daughter."

Kenneth nodded quickly, looking a little taken aback. Buffy's eyes narrowed when she realized that he had just been checking out her daughter. Her fourteen year old daughter. "May I?" Kenneth said, obviously wanting to proceed to the yard.

"Sure," Buffy said, leading him outside. The three people in the yard looked up. Giles nodded first.

"I'm assuming this is the new Watcher," he said cordially, coming over to shake the other man's hand. "Rupert Giles."

"Kenneth Bromley," he said nervously.

Angel glanced him up and down. "Angel," he said, shaking his hand.

Kenneth appeared starstruck. "Of course. You are a legend, Mr. Angelus. To meet you face to face-"

"It's just Angel," he said shortly. Kenneth nodded quickly, shifting his feet back and forth.

Serena moved past her father. "You're my Watcher?" she asked, staring at him in disbelief. She had been expecting someone like Giles. Maybe younger, but she didn't expect someone so...handsome.

He nodded, running a hand through his untidy blonde hair. Maybe this slayer thing isn't going to be so bad after all, Serena thought with a smile.