Chapter 1

Joyce Harris wearily made her way down the stairs of the two-story house. Despite the Californian sunshine, cold rain streaked down the windows of the living room.

"How is she?"

Willow turned to her mother, pulling the blinds across the dismal scene outside.

"Resting. Poor girl, I wish we could do more."

The red head hugged her mother. "You've done more than enough. Xander's bringing Dawny home, and Buffy is very secure…considering the events. The most you can do now is sleep, and be there for her tomorrow."

Joyce looked at the flaming hair Willow had inherited from her father – admiring how beautiful her daughter had become. Kissing her forehead, Joyce turned and went along the hallway to her bedroom.

Upstairs, Willow peeped in at her blonde cousin sleeping in her room. Continuing along the corridor to Xander's room where she was sleeping, she recalled the death of her father, and knew exactly what Buffy was going through.

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When Buffy Summers had moved onto the campus of UC Sunnydale, her mother and stepfather had seemed sad to see her go, and Buffy had never expected anything unusual to happen. When she found a message on Faith's and her answering machine saying that the Summers had mysteriously disappeared from their home on Beverly Driveway, Buffy suddenly felt totally helpless inside the braver exterior formed around her.

Her kind aunt took her home with her, when she found her niece in her abandoned childhood home. As much as she missed them, Buffy had refused for her parent's disappearance to completely up-turn her life, and decided to return to her dorm room the next day.

"Buffy, are you sure this is the best idea?" Joyce looked at Buffy throught the car window.

"Yes. I don't want this to totally dominate my life. I need to free my mind a bit."

"Okay…. Remember, Willow's across the hall and I'm always free when you need me."

Buffy smiled and turned from the car, slipping her ID in the lock, entering the dorm as Joyce pulled out.

"Hey B."

Faith got up from the computer as Buffy came in. "You ok?"

"Yeah I'll be fine. I'm gonna take a shower and try to re-organize myself."

"Cool. Oh, that reminds me. We've got a new professor for ancient history. Rupert Giles. Mrs Burkensan left to have her twins."

"Thank God! That woman drives me crazy!"

Buffy picked up her robe and went down the hallway to the bathroom. Watching the water drip down the steamy tiles, she rinsed her hair out and let the heat of the water sooth her aching muscles. She quickly dried off, trying to focus on the term ahead, and not the questioning she expected from the police on her parents' disappearence.

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"Okay, that's all for today. Oh, Miss Summers, can I speak with you?"

"I'll see you at lunch Will."

Buffy approached the Professor at the front of the class. "Professor Giles? You wanted to see me?"

"Ah, Buffy. Yes."

Rupert Giles removed his glasses and wiped them on the end of his tie. Placing them back on his nose, he looked at the girl infront of him.

"You certainly have grown into a beautiful young woman."

"E..excuse me?"

"I am sorry, I knew your parents- actually became quite close before I left to England. You were only a baby of course."

"Oh," Buffy nodded and bit her lip at the thought of her parents.

"They loved you very much Buffy, and I just want you to know that I'm sorry for you're loss and if you need anything at al…."

"I know. Thank you." Buffy looked at him with a half smile.

He smiled back at her, and then looked at something over her head.

"Ah, William! Miss Summers, this is my son William."

Turning around, Buffy had to take a step backwards to look up at the man infront of her. She suddenly found herself lost in the deep blue eyes smiling down at her, and followed the contours of his face down the strong jawline, and to the rippling muscles underneath his thin t-shirt.

"Hey luv', nice to meet you." She jumped as she noticed his hand had been held out to her.

She took it and stammered a hello, hoping he hadn't noticed her gawking.

"Yes, well you better get to your next class Buffy." Giles' voice broke through Buffy's hazy daze, and she smiled up at the blonde before walking around him to the door.
Glancing back as she closed the door behind her, she noticed William looking over his shoulder at her. Quickly darting out of view, she took a few deep breaths before heading to calculus.

"Come on Buffy. Get a grip girl!"

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"So Xander is gonna bring Dawn down on Friday. We'll have to miss the frat party, but we could always try to head back before the end." Willow looked across the table at her troubled cousin. "Buffy? Are you listening?"

"Huh? What? Oh, sorry Will. What was that about Xander?"

"Buff, you've been staring at that coke can since we sat down! Are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"Sorry Wills, lost in my thoughts."

"So are you coming on Friday or not?"

"Yeah. I-I'll be there."
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Willow sat on Buffy's bed surrounded by books, with Buffy right next to her. Faith sat across from them, buried in a business studies textbook, tapping her pen on the side of her foot.

'Tap-tap-tap'
Buffy glanced up at Faith
'Tap-tap-tap'

"Ok Faith! What's up?"

"Huh? Nothing!"

"Faaiiith!"Buffy taunted in a singsong voice.

"What!"

Buffy sighed and looked at the doe-eyed brunette opposite her.

"I know something's on your…"

Just then the door flew open and a whirl of chestnut-hair flew into the room.

"Sorry I'm late girls, but I brought chips!"

"Gimmie! Hey Anya did you change your hair? AGAIN!" Faith questioned, clearly trying to put an end to the interrogation session.

"Stop changing the subject Faith." Pushed Buffy.

"B! Nothing is up!"

"Oh yeah..?" said Anya. "I'm guessing you haven't told them about Robin yet then?"

"Robin?" Willow was suddenly showing some interest in the conversation.

"Yep. Faithy here has gone head over heels for Giles's son! Aaand the new class assistant!"

"Oh my God!" screeched Willow, throwing a cushion towards Faith.

"Robin? Giles's son is called William."

"Oooo! Who's William Buffy!" teased Willow.

"He's..no one."

Just then the chimes of Buffy's mobile echoed through the screeches and Buffy gave a relived sigh as she picked up. No number- she was suppose to inform the police when this happened…. what the hell.

"Guys shut up. Hello?"

"Hey, Buffy?"

"Speaking."

"Hey, it's William."

Her stomach did a quick lurch as she remembered those deep pools staring down at her, and she sat up from the lounging position she'd adopted.

"William. Hey, erm…how did you get my number?"

"Some girl named Anya gave it to me? Said she knew you."
"Oh right" Buffy looked up at Anya, who raised her eyebrows and smirked.

"Look, Buffy. I was wondering if you were going to the frat party on Friday, cos if you are I was wondering if I could maybe walk you over or pick you up or…"

'God man stop babbling!'

"…Yeah."

"Sure, Friday sounds great."

At the sound of Friday Willow frantically started waving her arms in Buffy's direction.

"Oh! Oh, I'm sorry William, I can't come to the party, my sister's coming home from Canada and I have to meet her."

"Right. Ok. Well how about a movie next week?"

"Even better! I'll see you then?"

"Yeah, I'll call you."

"Ok..bye William."

"Call me Spike."

"Bye…Spike."

Buffy sighed contentedly as she hung up, and turned around to be bombarded with pillows by her grinning friends.