Gypsy Girl

Pairing: OC/Spike

Summary: When a travelling Gypsy from the Kalderash clan settles on the Sunnydale, she'll be no exception to the challenges of life on the Hellmouth. Alexandreina will survive though, she always does, but will she get a chance to live?

.


CHAPTER FOURTEEN


Alexandreina struggled to hold back her tears as she dressed Janna's body in traditional clothing. It felt wrong. She knew, logically, that Janna couldn't do it for herself, being dead and all... but still, a small part of her expected Janna to slap her hand away and start fussing over the dress. Janna would mutter something under her breath about being a modern woman and then spout off something about 'sexism' or 'ancient transitions being toxic and patriarchal'. Alexandreina would snort and roll her eyes. She might have even had a sarcastic comment to make, simple because she knew it would get under Janna's skin. And Janna, unable to help herself, would give Alexandreina the reaction she had been looking for.

But none of that was going to happen...

Not now.

Not ever again.

Because Janna is dead.

Alexandreina shuddered a little at the thought. The corresponding images flashing through her minds eye. She sighed, "Why couldn't you have stayed out of it, Janna?" Alexandreina whispered to the cold body of her cousin.

But she got no reply.

Not that she was expecting one to begin with.

It just felt like something she had needed to say aloud. To get off her chest. There was something comforting about speaking to Janna's body. As if she were still there. Asleep or something. So Alexandreina didn't stop herself as more words came to mind. Speaking was better than the cold silence anyway.

"I know you would fuss over the dress" Alexandreina sighed, "But even you knew deep down that some traditions had to be upheld"

Janna would have rolled her eyes then and begrudgingly nodded... if she had been alive to do so.

Alexandreina shook her head.

She could keep doing that anymore. She couldn't keep pretending as if Janna wasn't laying here dead. It wasn't healthy. It wasn't helping. It was only making her heart clench in pain more and more. However Alexandreina silently admitted to herself that she didn't know what else to do. She hadn't mourned someone so deeply before. She hadn't bonded with anyone like this before.

The doors opened.

Alexandreina whipped around, ready to protest at the invasion of privacy, when she realised it was Giles.

Giles...

Janna's gorger boyfriend...

"Oh" Giles seemed to pause similarly. "I-I Uh, I didn't realise y-you would be making a-a-arrangements"

Alexandreina mutely nodded before she lifted one shoulder in a sad attempt at casualness. "Everything is taken care of. My people, we have our ways to mourn. Traditions" She explained

"Right. O-of course" Giles nodded, though it seemed to be an attempt reassure himself. "I guess I wasn't thinking too clearly"

He looked embarrassed.

Lost.

"You could help me?" Alexandreina offered, knowing it was what Janna would have wanted. "You can come with me to the funeral if you want too. It won't be held here in Sunnydale. I'm taking Janna home to our camp"

"Oh... uh, okay" Giles nodded, though he seemed suddenly nervous.

Alexandreina gestured towards the box that sat beside Janna's body. It contained makeup, jewellery and a few things to make Janna's hair look nice. Alexandreina turned back to Janna when she felt Giles approach. He just stood silently watching as she finished Janna's makeup and hair. She had done only simple makeup, knowing Janna wouldn't have wanting anything more. Alexandreina grabbed the bangles from her box and put plenty onto each arm. Placing the Kalderash Clan ring onto Janna's finger with gentleness that Alexandreina didn't usually possess.

"What is this for?" Giles asked softly

"It's for tradition. So she can find our ancestors spirits in the afterlife" Alexandreina offered

"Afterlife?" Giles echoed

Alexandreina nodded, "Yeah. The spirits of our people guide us. They speak to us sometimes too. They protect us. We draw on them for advice or power in times of need"

Giles didn't look like he knew what to say to that. He just stood there watching Janna.

Alexandreina didn't mind his silence though. Somehow it was better than the silence when she had been alone with Janna. So she went about fixing the traditional black skirts that she had dressed Jannas body in. Smiling sadly to herself as she tucked the modern white blouse into the shirts. Janna would be happy to have the compromise of tradition and modernism. Alexandreina smiled secretly as she fixed the bright red shawl over Janna's shoulders, placing her cousins hands prettily in the coffin.

Now Janna was ready.

Ready to finally go home again...


Giles POV:

Alexandreina had told him to pack enough for two weeks. He had. But now he wished he had asked more about what and where they were going exactly. Or even asked how they were getting there with Jenny- with Jennys coffin.

Giles sighed.

He was exhausted.

The painful emotions paired with the lack of sleep was taking it's toll. Yet he couldn't quite find it in him to care too much about any of that. About anything at all, really. Because Jenny was gone.

Dead.

Never coming back.

And what was left for him if he didn't have Jenny?

All those plans for the future, hopes and dreams they shared... it was all gone. The family they had hoped to create was nothing more than a hopeless dream now. His future had died when Jenny did. He was okay with that though. Because he didn't want any of it without Jenny.

He had never loved a woman as deeply as he had loved her. He didn't think he ever would again.

And he was glad.

Because what he had with Jenny could never be forgotten or replicated.

Never.

The sound of a car horn brought him out of his thoughts. He knew that must be Alexandreina here to collect him. Giles' sad smile was strained but genuinely as he silently thanked Joyce and Buffy. "Thank you for letting me stay here" he said to the two. "I appreciate it"

Joyce smiled, "It was no problem, Rupert"

"Yeah. Giles, it's what family does" Buffy added with a sad smile of her own.

Giles merely nodded.

He didn't know what to say to that. His mind didn't seem able to find words as of late. Though neither of them seemed to be bothered by it. So he simply grabbed his bag and bid them another thanks before exiting the house. Giles felt his eyes widen as they landed on the large modern bus stopped on the side of the street. It was painted a modern sort of dark matt grey on the outside, the windows unlike anything he'd seen in a vehicle before. It almost looked like a camper can, but he could have sworn it almost looked like a school bus.

What had he gotten himself into?

Giles hesitated.

The doors to the bus opened and he could faintly see Alexandreina sitting behind the wheel. She waved him over with her usual impatient air. "Giles! Come on, we need to get on the road" She urged, detachment plain in her tone. Almost as if she was completely unbothered by the contents of her bus.

Giles sighed but found himself approaching the bus despite himself.

Being there to lay Jenny to rest was more important than an uncomfortable ride to an undisclosed location. Giles knew that. So he approached the bus with all the determination he had left in him. He eyed the interior of the bus, noting that it had been altered from its original state. His brows furrowed at the tiny little front cabin that left hardly enough room for them both to sit. Though the front was covered in enough mix-matched patterned carpet and cushions to be somewhat uncomfortable looking.

In a hippie sort of way, he supposed

Then again, he shouldn't have been too surprised by that.

Alexandreina did not dress, or even act, like a regular teenager. Alexandreina very much acted like someone who had been raised separated from most of what he considered to be 'regular society'. Though he knew it was because she was more of a traditional Gypsy... or Romani as they preferred to be called. Jenny had filled him in a little bit about what it was like travelling and living in their camps. He had always sensed that while it wasn't a bad life, that it had not been Jenny's preference.

Unlike Alexandreina.

No, Alexandreina thrived in the freedom that travelling life provided.

The thought only made him more wary as he stepped up the small steps of the bus. He smiled thinly, "Hello, Alexandreina" but his voice was unavoidably solemn. As it had been since Jennys death a couple days ago.

Alexandreina nodded in greeting as she hit a button on the steering wheel to shut the doors behind him. "It'll be a day and a half of driving before we get to the camp" she informed him softly.

Softer than usual.

Giles almost had to remind himself that he wasn't the only one grieving.

Alexandreina may be a harsher and more guarded sort of person, but she still felt things as others did. Though one wouldn't have often been able to tell just by looking at her. She was wise far beyond her years. Intelligent but also a very wary and distrustful person. She always seemed far older than she truly was. Whether it was the way she spoke, dressed, her independence or the way Alexandreina held onto composure, Giles wasn't sure.

But could respect it.

Though it was still unnerving sometimes.

"Yes, well, where exactly are we going?" He asked, his eyes narrowing without permission.

"Kalderash land" Alexandreina smiled slightly at that. "It's 6 acres of nothing but land..." She wistfully informed him. "The elders remain there on ancient grounds all year. But the others travel when it pleases them. Except December and January. Or occasions like this one..." Alexandreina grew sad for a second before her face was once again closed off to him.

Giles could only nod silently.

He wasn't really sure what to say to that though.

"Anyway" Alexandreina sighed slightly as she shook her head. As if that would clear her mind. Then she turned to him again. "You can sit up here if you want... but you're welcome to make yourself at home in the back"

"Uh, well..." Giles didn't want to admit he was hesitant about doing either of those things.

Alexandreina rolled her eyes.

She twisted in her seat and opened the door that blocked off the rest of the bus to the small drivers cabin. She nodded her head for him to enter the back area with a smug sort of smirk on her lips as he did so.

And immediately he understood why as soon as he did.

It was amazing.

From the inside one could not tell that this was a bus. It looked like a home. An apartment. A nice, comfortable and warm place to live. Giles couldn't help but wander around inspecting the covered bus with amazement. He hadn't seen anything like it before. It had everything one would need. A kitchen, a living room, a bathroom, closets, a bedroom... everything. And somehow it seemed bigger on the inside than he thought it should have logically been.

Nothing felt cramped.

Though it reinforced the stereotypic Gypsy style. There was an array of warm coloured blankets, carpets, tapestry, fabric and pillows everywhere. It looked like he would have expected from a 'Gypsy' home. Though Jenny had informed him that not all of her people shared this same sense of style. Jenny herself had been more of a minimalist in style. Preferring greenery and organisation rather than decorative items.

Giles sighed.

"There's tea in the top left kitchen cabinet. Cups in the cabinet on the wall next to the window. There's cherry pie, rhubarb pie, and blueberry crumb cheesecake" Alexandreina appeared in beside him then, listing off things as if she hadn't moved up behind him without making any sound.

Giles took his glasses off and cleaned them, the unnecessary action soothing him.

"I have fresh enchiladas and chicken Alfredo in the fridge too" Alexandreina added, "Just, you know, help yourself to everything"

"Thank you" Giles nodded appreciatively, realising she also wasn't sure what to do or say. "I'll make tea. Would you like some as well?"

Alexandreina shook her head.

"I'm okay" she said, "We gotta get on the road. I'll stop at lunch and take a break then. I've been fixing up the family journals and adding pages for Janna and Enyos"

Giles nodded despite his curiosity over what that actually meant. He assumed it was a cultural thing, but he didn't really know. Now didn't seem like the time to ask though. Not when her eyes seemed to grow distant as she said it. As if she was actually struggling to make the words sound as casual as she presented them. But in this case the so clearly forced casualness belittled her intent.

"My little library is in my bedroom. You might find something of interest in there to keep yourself entertained" Alexandreina stated before she disappeared back into the drivers cabin.

Giles sighed again.

Lately that seemed like it was all he was capable of doing.

Jenny would have smiled kindly if he'd told her that, and she would have reminded him being adult didn't mean you couldn't enjoy life. Jenny would have suggested some movie or activity that would take his mind off of his worries. She would have encouraged him to have fun doing something other than reading for once. And he would. But not for the reasons he let her believe. He didn't find many of the games, movies or sporting events that she suggested fun. He did, however, enjoy the way her eyes lit up and how her laugh sounded when she was truly happy.

It had never been the activities she chose that made his day... but rather her company.

And it would never happen again.

Not now.

Not ever.

So Giles sighed again, because there was nothing left now to stop him. There was nothing left to make him truly happy anymore.

The kettle screamed.

Giles startled, but he calmed when he realised it was just the water. He grabbed one of the mugs from the cupboard as he took the kettle off the heat. He pulled out the rack of teas Alexandreina informed him of and was slightly surprise too see how many she had. Though from the labels he knew some were of her own blend. Judging from the Romani language she'd labeled them with, he guessed they might hold a specific purpose. Giles made a mental note to ask later, when the time was right. In the meantime though he settled for some classic Earl Grey tea... and he did help himself to a slice of that delicious looking rhubarb pie.

Giles was pleasantly shocked at how good the pie tasted.

He hadn't thought Alexandreina much of a cook to be quite honest. Though he wasn't too sure what to make of Alexandreina. The girl, at 17, acted far different than most others her age would. Alexandreina behaved as if she were 21 - independent, responsible, but still young and occasionally reckless.

Jenny had been worried about how much Alexandreina drank and partied, he recalled.

But Jenny had also known that Alexandreina could take care of herself, and apparently had been doing so for a long time now. From what he understood Alexandreina possesses a great deal of power and an impressive connection with both her own intuition and the spirits. Jenny had explained that Alexandreina probably didn't even realise just how powerful she truly was. Not that Jenny had thought Alexandreina would care to know of such things.

Giles hadn't understood that.

If he'd held power as significant as Jenny had implied, he would have wanted to know about it.

But apparently Alexandreina did not seem to share the same views. And now, after seeing a more personal aspect of the girl, he had to agree with Jennys words. Indeed it did seem that Alexandreina preferred the traditional Romani travellers ways. She resisted any attempt to get her into the school system, refused financial aid in acquiring a more permanent home, held no regard to any laws that pertain to children living without adult guardians... and that seemed to just be the beginning of it.

Only a fool would not see that.

It was abundantly clear that Alexandreina did not want a place within 'regular society' if one must use that term. She wanted to roam free of her own accord.

Jenny had told him once that it was the Romani blood in her veins. That many from the Kalderash Clan felt similarly. That they'd do anything to maintain their freedom. Jenny explained that some from her Clan live purely off the land, others indulging in more modern lifestyles. But none would consider themselves part of the society that Giles knew. None of them even really considered themselves Americans, but that was not common amongst all Travellers, mostly it was just the Kalderash clan.

They were their own people.

They separated themselves from others unlike them. Even other travellers too.

Giles was intrigued by the way of life, in a more observational way, of course. He didn't think he could ever live that way. Though he respected their choice to do so.

Giles wandered into the hallway of Alexandreina's home, in search of the library he had wanted to see. He found her bedroom easily, the room larger than he had predicted. Though he paid it no mind when he located the shelves and shelves of books. The was a small loft right above the shelving units with a sink and beanbags. Giles could immediately tell that it was a place Alexandreina spent her time.

Jenny had been right in calling it an impressive collection.

Giles eyes widened a little when he looked at the selection of books she had. They were not just any books. A lot of them were ancient texts, prophesies, demon history. "How did she get this..." he wondered with a choked chuckle as he morphed into something resembling a child in a toy store. Some of the books he didn't even dare to touch because they were so old.

Jenny was right.

It was a librarians fantasy.

Giles couldn't help but take it all in with fascination. Trying to remember each and every detail of it all. It was then that he found a few open books on the desk. They looked old and haggard. Though they were beautiful things. Each with a different take on the same sort of style. Instead of hard covers or binding, this set of books were covered in fabrics and the sorts. They looked handmade. Giles picked one up, staring at the picture of a small family of four on the front cover.

He recognised that face... It was a younger Jenny.

This must be Jennys.

The books cover was covered with choppy patches of green fabric in all shades and textures. Random pieces of fabric sewn onto the hard cover with brown fabric tassel on the edges. Beads and dangly charms hung neatly from the top of the spine. The picture stuck onto the front was of Jennys family. Giles could already put names to their faces, remembering when she had mentioned them.

Would he meet Jennys brother and mother at her funeral?

The thought was daunting.

Giles opened the book, the other pages were much the same as the cover had been. Each page was some kind of cardstock that had been sewn together with pieces of mix-matching fabrics. Although Jennys book seemed to be consistent in its shades of emerald green. The inside, unlike a few of the other books on the table, was neat and organised with pockets and photos on each page.

Like a storybook, he realised, of her life.

Before she met him.

Giles smiled at the childlike scrawl that clearly hadn't changed much. The beginning page telling him that she had been 12 when she had first been 'gifted with the materials' to create her own 'travelling journal' as she referred to it. Giles eagerly read through the pages. Smiling at the happy childhood memories shown on each page.

'I am learning my people's ways. But I question it. If we are so gifted, and the world is not, why do we not share ourselves with them?'

That was Jenny.

Giles couldn't help but smile longing.

'Alexandreina is but 8 and yet she holds more intuition than the elders have seen in centuries. They say her destiny is great. I believe it. But what will my destiny be? I do not like waiting for the answers to reveal themselves the way little Alexandreina does'

Each page revealed more and more of Jennys life. Giles felt his eyes water as he read the critical wonder in which she questioned things. As she craved to understand the world and how it worked. He read her question after question. Her doubts and her strong beliefs. Her proclamations to stop world hunger or build travelling homes for poor people who can't afford land.

She was smart even as a child.

But she had clearly always been kind.

The images of her smiling face grew older with each page. Capturing the memories that had made her who she was. The core people in her life stood right beside her in this images. But as she grew older, as the pages kept turning, people faded and so did that smile. Her fathers death taking more than just her words. The fabric of the pages during that time were black with fabric. The neatness and care she had previously taken was missing from those select pages. The images of her at the 'reception' and the 'celebration of life' did not display her beautiful smile.

Giles heart broke as if he too had experienced the loss with her.

He was engrossed in the story of his love now. And Giles turned the page with a solemness he hadn't predicted. But he was too invested to question why it all felt real to him.

Slowly the pages brightened again. At first it lifted to a navy blue fabric, but still the work was rushed. The writing shorter. The effort less. Jennys apprehension palpable as life shifted and changed for the 15 year old girl. Life without a father was different. But it was clear that Jenny had a wonderful mother and brother to support her. The family grew closer, the pain there still, but life went on. The pages turned to talk about travel, about all the different places she went across the country. Even occasionally going back to Romania where the Kalderash Clan are originally from.

The images of the scenery from her travels were lovely.

They had not gone to the tourist populated areas. They had gone to the places not as commonly known but even more priceless to experience. And it was there that Jennys interest in history and language piqued. Pages and pages after that was fact and history she had learnt. Details of artefacts or folk law she had discovered and begun researching. And that same fascination had transferred to other cultures as well.

Especially the American culture.

The white picket fence, 2.5 kinds, a dog and 9 to 5 job. Football, baseball, high school.

Jenny researched it.

Giles frowned a little at the way she seemed to be fixated on what she perceived as 'normal'. He thought it a shame that she was embarrassed by her own families way of life. As if she were lesser for it. But it made sense once he read the brief accounts of the discrimination she had experienced.

Giles sighed.

He didn't ever think about why she rejected her own culture. He'd never questioned it.

Maybe he should have though?

It's too late now, so he read on. Finding that the more Jenny became concerned with what the 'local gorger' kids thought, the more she lost what she had once held value in. But in the end it seemed Jenny had found a balance. As she grew older, she seemed to see the flaw in the 'American way of life' too. Not that her pride let her admit that her family.

'Alexandreina knows. She knows everything. How to get under my skin, how to make me scream in rage, to embarrass me, how to make me laugh... but I know nothing of the cousin I hold so dear to me. I knew nothing. Not when it counted. Not when she needed me to know. Now her family are dead and she's alone and I still don't know anything of current value'

Giles frowned.

Jenny had not given much detail when he had asked about Alexandreina's past. Apparently it was a delicate subject.

He knew not to pry.

He respected her privacy.

Thankfully not much more was said about Alexandreina. Only brief pages where images from them having spoken or gone out existed. The rest was Jennys journey through collage and her first job as a teacher. Giles smiled and settled for the first time since finding her dead.


Alexandreina had been slightly concerned for Giles when they arrived at her peoples land. Various cars, caravans, mobile homes and tents had been set up. There was more than enough room to accomodate for whichever way one preferred to live.

There was no judgement.

Not amongst kin.

But they had arrived in time and were the catalyst for the whirlwind of activity that followed.

Giving Giles no time to accommodate to the new environment. Or for her to explain what exactly was happening now. Instead he was pulled out of her home on wheels and shoved into the fray. Both of them watching as Janna's coffin was carried off from her converted bus. The special made frozen packs taken from the coffin as Missa Calendar set about making sure her daughter was ready to be buried and blessed. It was in that time that Alexandreina had to worry most about Giles. He wouldn't receive the warmest welcome, but thankfully most were too busy to notice one man.

"Giles" Alexandreina called to him, realising he had been looking lost in all the activity.

It was probably a lot for someone like him to take in.

She felt a pang of pity for him.

"Follow me. Stay close, alright?" She demanded, not leaving time for him to answer before she was walking again. The traditional black skirts she wore swished around her ankles. Her Great-grandmothers silver anklets clinking as she walked. The small white blouse she wore puffed out on the sleeves that singed just above her elbows. Alexandreina had on more old silver bangles than she could count. They had all belonged to various deceased women in her family. Women who Janna was about to be buried beside.

"Should I have worn something specific?" Giles whispered worriedly

Alexandreina snorted.

"You're fine" she assured him, glancing sideways at his suit.

He currently looked very British. Damper and proper and polished. Like a true Gentleman from the 1800. As if he would said things like 'poppycock' and 'best of the morning to you, old fellow'. He certainly stood about amongst the crowd.

It wasn't what the men of her people wore to a funeral, but that was for the best.

It would be offensive if he had shown up in significant traditional clothing of a culture he was not a part of. She would not be able to guarantee he walked away alive from a confrontation like that. Hell Alexandreina might have been tempted to kill him herself over the offence.

But he had not done that.

So he was fine.

Janna would have thought him handsome in his usual suit anyway.

Alexandreina slowed slightly as she approached the sacred grounds. She kept her eyes focused on where she was going. Not once wanting to catch sight of familiar names that haunt her.

She sighed.

The rest of the family had gathered around and taken their seats. The elders where already standing before the coffin in wait. Alexandreina felt her bare feet sink slightly in the moss that covered the ground. She pulled the red shawl over the top of her head and gave Giles indication to pause. Alexandreina moved to the front row seats, lifting her skirts as she knelt before Missa.

Missa kissed the top of her head. "Child. You have seen my Janna's last breath. You were with her in spirit"

Alexandreina tensed and she took a shaky breath. Attempting to keep her emotions at bay. She hadn't known Missa was aware of that. Alexandreina hadn't told anyone about it. But she pretended as if it didn't bother her in front of Missy anyway.

Jonny tisked weakly at the attempt. "Always the brave one" he offered a watery smile in greeting while he clutched his pregnant wife to his chest. As if being parted from his wife meant he would loose her too. Or maybe he just didn't have the strength to keep upright on his own?

Both viable.

Alexandreina bowed her head, unable to find words. She didn't know what to say.

Not this time.

Not when she too was hurting at the loss of a great person. No- no she did know what to say. She would simply say what Janna never had the chance to say to them. Alexandreina lifted her head, meeting their eyes with strong determination. Watching as mother and son exchanged rightfully wary glances at the look on her face. Everyone knew Alexandreina was as stubborn as anything and often a bit of a trouble maker when she got ideas in her head.

But this was not that.

This was making sure Janna rested in peace, knowing nothing important was left unattended in her absence.

"Janna found love" Alexandreina announced in Romani, knowing Giles would not understand it. Hoping the change showed them how serious she was. "Janna wanted to marry. To have a family"

Missa gasped, "She did not tell me..."

"She was going to. But then she wanted to finish what Enyos had started" Alexandreina explained in her first language; Romani. "She wanted to do her duty to our people first"

"Who is this man?" Jonny demanded in Romani, though his voice wavered slightly.

"A librarian. Like a father to the Slayer" Alexandreina reluctantly informed them. "He is good. If he were not, Janna wouldn't have chosen him"

Missa nodded sadly.

"A gorger?" Jonny sighed, looking like he wanted to be mad but could not muster the anger needed.

Alexandreina nodded, her eyes flickering behind them to where Giles stood curiously. She was sure the only reason they hadn't noticed was because of his silence. Missa's intuition was as good as her own, after all. Or maybe they sensed he was family and paid it no mind?

Alexandreina didn't know which.

Nor did it matter.

She rose from her knelt position and offered Giles a small smile. "This is Rupert Giles... Giles, this is Missa Calendar, Jonny and his wife Esme Calendar"

Giles smiled sadly, "It is nice to meet you. Though I wish it had been under different, uh, circumstances"

Missa smiled sadly, "Me too"

.

.