Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. I'm just doing this for fun, and hopefully entertainment
Reviews: Welcomed and appreciated
Quentin Travers was a man who was not used to being kept waiting. But his watcher, Rupert Giles was doing just that. Keeping him waiting. It had been months since he had received a report of any consequence. Not since the whole Acathla incident had anything of import come out of Sunnydale. The occasional demon attack, a pack of werewolves, reports to keep them occupied, but it all seemed a little too pat. Quentin was sure his watcher was keeping something from him and he would soon find out what. A knock at his door brought him out of his reverie. "Yes, come in."
A pompous young man entered. So this was the one chosen to report and possibly replace Rupert Giles. Well, he thought as he shook his head, I must get more involved in the mechanics of this operation once again.
"Mr. Travers, so pleased to meet you, sir. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce here, at your service." He held out his hand.
"Actually sir, at the service of the council. I assume you've been updated regarding the goings on in Sunnydale. Or rather, the lack of goings on, which for a Hellmouth is quite unusual." Quentin raised one eyebrow, waiting for a response.
"Well, yes sir. I have been informed of the rather lackadaisical attitude that seems to have been adopted by the recent watcher. I can assure you sir, on my watch no such nonsense will be tolerated. You have chosen well, I will not let you or the council down." Wesley stood with his hands behind his back and his nose in the air. Yes indeed, he did know what was going on with the slayer and he would soon put a stop to all that foolishness. After all, she might be a slayer, but she was also just a seventeen year old girl who was in dire need of discipline.
"Fine Wyndam-Price. Just remember, she's been allowed to ride rough-shod over her present watcher. And, according to her watcher, she's greatly influence the second slayer. So, she is not someone to be under-estimated. And the same goes for Rupert Giles. It appears he has picked up some nasty habits since he's been away from our directives. Your job is to see what is happening in California and report back to us. At that point we will decide the fate of Rupert Giles. And if needed, the fate of the slayer."
Wesley looked a bit confused, but pushed on. "No worries sir. I'll have things ship-shape in no time." He shook Travers hand once more before he left. Quentin shook his head again, this was going to be very interesting to say the least. He hit the intercom on his phone. "Gracie, call Jensen in, I think we need to start looking for another replacement. I have a feeling Wyndam-Pryce is not long for the watcher world."
Buffy blocked the kick the Lei-Ach demon threw at her and looked over at Angelus.
"Could use a little help here." She was fighting off three of the demons and Angel was leaning against a tree, watching her with a wicked grin on his face. He loved to watch her in action. It totally turned him on. Although, just about anything she did turned him on. He just loved he fact that she was so capable and so lethal.
"If you get into trouble I'll step in. Come on Buff, you're twice as strong as I am." He chuckled as he saw the daggers she aimed at him with her eyes.
She looked back at the demons as her eyes flashed yellow, determination becoming her impetus. Within seconds she had broken the necks of two and was quickly advancing on the third. Sensing his eminent demise the last demon waved his hand and a portal opened, allowing for his escape.
"Yeah! And take your brothers with you." Buffy turned, picked up the dead demons and tossed them into the closing vortex like they were garbage bags filled with dried leaves.
Buffy turned to Angel with her hands on her hips, eyes still spitting gold flecks. "You are in so much trouble."
Angel couldn't help laughing at the righteous indignation staring him in the face. "And you are the slayer. You could've taken those guys with one hand tied behind your back. You've had six months to adjust, long enough. Now just do your job and get over yourself." He turned to walk back to street.
She shook her head in confusion at his sudden change in mood and ran after him. "What was that all about? I deal, I deal everyday. I'm over it." She looked over at him, waiting for an explanation.
Coming to a stop, he turned to face her. "You gotta be strong Buff. You can't afford to be a little girl anymore. The watchers council, Giles is afraid something big is coming from them. If they should find out it's going to be war, do you realize that? They aren't going to care if you save the world a thousand times over, it's an ego thing and their egos will not allow a turned slayer to do what they consider to be their god-given mission."
"Okay," she said slowly. "Just what did Giles tell you that he didn't tell me?"
"The council is sending another watcher over to observe. He thinks it's his replacement."
"Like I would totally let that happen. And?"
"And if he reports back that the original slayer is now a vampire…the council is ruthless Buffy. They have resources even Giles doesn't know about and they'll come to Sunnydale regardless of their exposure and take care of the problem."
"And the problem is me?" Buffy was beginning to get really mad. She felt her demon and she was almost relishing the emotions coming up.
Angel looked at her, the voice was cold. "That's my girl. Use the demon." He took her by the shoulders and pulled her close to his face, her eyes golden and filled with anger. "We'll go to Giles and tell him we're going to fight this if we have to. He was afraid you weren't up to this, but I know how strong you are." He looked deeply into her eyes. "Or we could just leave. I have a villa in Italy, we take off spend a few decades in Europe? We owe them nothing Buff, you owe them nothing."
"Always wanted to see Italy, but it can wait." She had a bit of a devious smile on the face. "No, I want to see what these bastards have in mind. They can't have Giles, he's mine. Besides, this could be fun." She actually perked up a bit and smiled. "We have eternity for Italy, let's take care of Sunnydale first." She got up on her tip-toes and kissed him. "For the first time in months I feel comfortable in my skin. See, there's always a positive if you look for it." She giggled. "Race you home!"
Willow walked into the main room of the mansion to Spike reading one of her spell books. "Hey, watcha' up to?" She leaned over his shoulder to see what he was researching. "Teleportation? Thinking of going somewhere?" She plopped down next to him on the sofa.
"Just had some time to kill." He closed the book and turned to her. "So, how was dinner with the folks?"
She smiled and took an unneeded breathe. "It was great! Since I've been a vampire I spend a lot more time with them. Weird, huh? Anyway, they asked me to move back home. They redid my room, which was really nice since I moved all my stuff over here."
Spike was taken aback. "Oh. So, what are you gonna do pet?"
"Well, I think we should start kinda slow, so I thought I might spend weekends? 'Cause you know, they work all during the week. But I thought it was really nice of them, making the effort and all. Even Mom. Cordelia thinks it's a good idea."
"She was at dinner with you?"
"Yeah, we had plans to get together but then this invitation came from Mom and so I asked Cordelia if we could go there." She touched his arm. "She and Xander are at the Bronze, so I wanted to stop by and see if you wanted to come too."
He looked at her. They had gotten very close over past six months and he realized he was just a little bit in love with the girl. It hurt him when she excluded him, considering how much time they had spent together while she acclimated to her vampirism. But he also realized she needed to assert her independence. She felt it, he knew that, but she wasn't ready for him. She kept company with the boy, the werewolf. Harmless, he thought. He was just about ready to leave the fold for awhile, give her time to grow up. But for tonight maybe he'd just pretend they were just two friends out for drinks and dancing.
"Okay, your on. Lets go, could use a beer about now." He rose and pulled her up with him.
"Oh. Let's leave a note for Buffy and Angel. I think they could use a night out without any slayage involved." She wrote a few lines and left in on the 'fridge.
"We're off then?" Spike held his hand out to her.
She took it and nodded with a big Willow smile. "Dancing, drinking, frivolity! Let's go."