I might be writing Buffy a bit too clever and logical than she was on the show, but this is a few years after season 7. We know from her SAT that she was really smart, but she never focused. I'm writing her as if she focuses her slayer brain on helping kids. It's not my normal way of writing her, so I hope you can like it.

Chapter 9: A New Day

*****Later that Same Day*****

Scott and his pack assembled at Derek's house where their new friends were going to stay. Liam and Mason couldn't stop talking about the assembly.

"I still can't believe you guys did that!" Liam said.

Buffy was leaning against Derek on the new porch swing that he'd just put up. She grinned. "Well, I had to do something drastic," she said.

"You definitely succeeded," Mason said. "It was incredible."

Theo and Corey agreed. "The students that normally look at me with suspicion wouldn't look me in the eye at all by the time I went to my locker after school," Theo shared.

"I can't believe you let me and Lydia miss it," Malia said, glaring at her boyfriend.

"Willow taped it, so you guys can watch it with Oz and Xander later," Buffy said.

Another car pulled up. The Sheriff's jeep came behind it. Melissa, Chris Argent, and Noah Stilinski got out of their vehicles. Parrish was with him.

"Well, that was quite a show," the Sheriff said.

Melissa hugged Scott. "I looked for you after the assembly, but I couldn't find you," she said. "That was so brave of you."

"Thanks," Scott said. "I never felt so free and exposed at the same time."

"I hope we made the right move," Derek said glumly. "I didn't like it, but I was overruled."

Buffy looked smug. "What can I say? Scott agreed, and he's the alpha," she said. She leaned up and kissed her boyfriend, who couldn't stay annoyed with her.

"I think it was a good thing," Lydia said. "Mom told me what you did, and she was impressed."

"I talked to her afterwards," Noah said. "She was a bit nervous, but she knew it was time to do something drastic. She just needed a little push."

"Good to see you, Parrish," Xander said, greeting the hellhound. "Guys, this is Jordan Parrish."

Buffy stood and held out her hand. "Hi. I'm Buffy Summers. You are so much prettier than the hellhounds who attacked our prom," she said with a grin.

"So true," Willow added. "He's a cutie."

Parrish blushed at all the female attention, glancing at Lydia, who winked at him. "Uh, thanks," he said.

"That's Willow and Oz," Xander said, pointing. "I think you know everyone else."

"My son is in the crib taking a nap that I set up in our room," Oz explained.

"Yes, we're getting moved in this week," Xander said. "You want to help me put together the bed?"

"Sure," Parrish said. He followed Xander into the house, getting the tour.

"Can I play with the baby when he wakes up?" Malia asked Oz.

"Sure," Oz said, smiling at the werecoyote.

"We're here to help with the furniture," Lydia reminded her.

"What do I know about putting together furniture?" Malia pointed out. "Nothing. I was a coyote for half my life. I can play with the baby."

Lydia grinned and shook her head. "Fine," she said.

"That was really brave of you," Chris said to Scott. "My father would've been so pissed if he was still alive."

"He died? I'm so sorry," Buffy said. "My mother died a few years ago. It's never easy to lose a parent."

"Well, my dad was a bit of psychopath, and my sister, his protegee finally killed him," Chris shared.

"That's awful!" Willow exclaimed.

"This is Chris Argent. The sister of the woman who massacred my family," Derek said grimly. "He's from a long line of hunters, but I trust him with my life."

Chris smiled. "I appreciate that," he said to Derek.

"Did your sister survive the hunters?" Scott asked Scott.

"She's like a bad penny that keeps turning up," Noah said.

"More like a cockroach that won't die," Lydia said sourly.

"I didn't find her body," Chris said.

"Great. She'll show up just when we don't expect her," Scott said with a sigh of resignation.

"I always expect her," Derek added.

A delivery truck pulled up. Buffy jumped up excitedly. "That's the Sears truck with our kitchen appliances!" she said eagerly. She stepped off the porch to greet them, and they moved out of the way, so the guys could move the appliances in.

"I'll show them where to go," Oz volunteered, stepping inside.

"Mrs. McCall, if you want to go check out the house, Scott can show you guys the place," Derek said.

"Thanks, Derek," Melissa said, flashing him a warm smile. "It's a lovely place."

After the parentals went inside, Lydia looked at Willow. "Make sure you send me that video of the assembly, so I can send it to Stiles. He's going to be pissed that he missed out on the fun," she said.

"That's true," Scott said with a grin. "It's not the same without him here."

"He will be in town for Thanksgiving," Lydia said.

"When are you leaving for your trip?" Buffy asked.

"In two days," Lydia said. "Mom was upset that I decided to withdraw rather than be late for the semester, but I'm taking eighteen credits in the spring and plan on going to summer school. I'll be fine."

"It's kind of nice to not have school for a semester," Scott admitted.

"So what's the next step?" Willow asked Buffy.

"Well, tomorrow, you're going to play secretary, and I'm going to talk to the kids that are freaked out," Buffy said. "We'll take it one day at a time."

"Come on," Willow said. "We need to get the furniture organized."

Everyone agreed and got to work.

*****The Next Day*****

Buffy got to school a bit early, expecting some students. What she found was a line of them. Fortunately, Willow arrived a few minutes later and began organizing the students and signing them up for twenty-minute time slots. Three students stayed, and the rest got times to come back later. Willow wrote them all hall passes, feeling quite pleased with her job. She'd forgotten how much she'd loved being in school with all the learning. When they were students, Sunnydale High, though, had no one like Buffy that the kids could talk to, so Willow felt proud to be a part of something that was really good to help the kids even if her role was nominal.

For Buffy, the day flew by as so many students came to her with questions. Some were just curious while others were really freaked out. There was even a few that were angry with her. Buffy kept her cool, determine to not show her feelings about their bigotry.

"I don't know how you can expect us to be okay with monsters in this school!" a guy named Tim said. He was a junior.

"What monsters are you referring to?" she asked calmly.

"Those freaks! Those werewolves!" Tim exclaimed.

"If you're referring to Scott McCall, he's no longer a student here, and if you're referring to my boyfriend, Derek, I suggest you be careful with the name calling," Buffy said, giving him an easy smile.

"There's others at this school like them," Tim said sullenly.

"Okay, first of all, there's no one like Derek in this town. Second of all, monsters are not what people are; it's how they behave," Buffy said. "Timothy McVeigh, who blew up the federal building in Oklahoma City, killing over a dozen kids and two hundred more, was a monster. Parents who beat and starve their children are monsters. Cannibals are monsters. Werewolves look freaky by our normal human standards, but many people feel that way about Siamese twins. Many people felt that way about cross-dressers or transgender people when they first became known."

"It's not the same. Those people are humans. Werewolves and shapeshifters aren't," Tim insisted.

"So if an alien ship landed, waving a white flag, would you shoot them simply because they weren't human? Or would it be wiser to get to know them and make sure they aren't a threat to humanity first?" Buffy asked.

"See, you agree, they're not human," Tim said with smug satisfaction.

"No, I don't agree at all. I think if a werewolf and a regular person can have a baby together, they have to be human—that's just science," Buffy said. "They're biologically the same, but they have an anomaly that allows them to shapeshift. Like those people who are all bendy and can put their feet behind their head. That freaks out some people, and others are fascinated by it."

Tim stared at her a long moment. "I'm not trying to be offensive," he said. "I just don't get it. It's not natural."

"Well, that's debatable," Buffy said. "Natural is something that occurs in nature. Do you believe in God?"

Tim nodded. "Well, yea. I go to church sometimes with my parents," he said.

"So you probably believe that God created the world and is charge of nature?" Buffy asked.

"I don't think He goes around killing people with tornadoes and stuff like some do, but I do believe that He designed the system all life comes from," Tim said. "I think natural selection and evolution are just a part of the process He started."

"Does the Bible mention anything about werewolves or man turning into beast?" Buffy asked.

Tim shook his head. "Not that I've ever heard of," he said.

"You saw with your own eyes, though, that they exist now," Buffy said. "So what can you conclude? If God made the Earth and everything in it, and He set things in motion, where do things like werewolves come from? Are they inherently evil like demons?"

Tim was silent as he tried to think through what she was saying. He did appreciate that she wasn't preaching to him, but she was trying to get him to understand. "Where werewolves created by scientists?" he asked.

"No," Buffy said. "We do know that some scientist tried to take different shapeshifting genes and create a new species. Scott said they were called the Dread Doctors. They were like mad scientists. It really pissed him off."

Tim grimaced. "That's messed up," he said.

"Is it the werewolve's fault if a scientist takes his naturally evolved genes and creates something else?" Buffy asked.

"Then that creature would be the monster?" Tim asked.

"Well, I still believe you should judge people on how they act. If that shapeshifter person killed people who weren't trying to hurt him, then yes, he or she's a monster," Buffy said. "But I'd say that about anyone or anything that tried to kill humans."

"I guess," Tim said.

"If you really believe in your heart that God is in control or that there is some grand design even if you're not religious—I call them the Powers That Be—if you really believe that, then you have to conclude that the people or God in charge have allowed mankind to evolve," Buffy explained. "But the Powers have rules of science. Some things occur naturally like with Derek's family. Other changes occur when someone is infected."

"But that's like a disease," he pointed out.

"Well, you could look at it that way, but werewolves have this incredible ability to heal," she said. "Scott was asthmatic and kind of wimpy before he was a werewolf, so his werewolf infection that altered his chemistry ended up being a good thing for him. Diseases are always bad, but turning into a werewolf isn't necessarily bad."

"Can anyone be a werewolf?" Tim asked.

"Well, not everyone accepts the bite," she said. "Have you ever heard of someone getting a new heart or lung and then the person's body rejects it? They have to get another one or they'll die?"

Tim nodded.

"A werewolf bite is like that. Some people's bodies go through the change no problem," she explained. "Some actually die. Derek tried to save his first girlfriend who was dying with the bite when he was a bit younger than you. When her body rejected the bite, she died. Although she would've died anyway, it was like he'd killed her. It was pretty awful for him, so werewolves don't just go around biting people—not the good ones anyway."

"But the one that bit Scott was bad?" Tim asked.

Buffy nodded. "Yes. He was insane, and Derek took care of him," she said. There was no need to explain that the insane werewolf was his uncle, who he murdered and then came back to life.

There was a knock on her door. "Come in," Buffy called out.

"Buffy, you have another student waiting," Willow said.

"Sorry, Tim. We've went over a few minutes," Buffy said, smiling at him. "Why don't you think about what I said? Talk to your parents if you feel like they can handle it. Come see me in a few days if you need to talk some more."

Tim stood up. "Thanks, Miss Summers," he said. He gave her a small smile.

"You're very welcome," she said. After he left, Buffy sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Wow, that was tough!"

"You're doing great. He seemed to feel better," Willow said.

"I hope so," she said. "Send the next one in."

Willow smiled, nodding. "Sure thing," she said.

The day flew by as Buffy helped one student after another came to her for help.

After school, though, one pack of would-be hunters decided they didn't care for their new counselor. Led by a few of the football players, the waited after school, looking for the new counselor. At first, John, the ringleader, decided they should graffiti her car, but no one knew which car was hers. It never occurred to any of the guys that she didn't have a car yet as she was newly arrived in town. When her werewolf boyfriend picked her up in his black Mustang, they were frustrated.

"Look at that car. It's not fair. How did some werewolf get all that money?" John complained.

Donnie, a dark-haired, friend, nodded. "It's a sweet ride, though. Probably got it from all the insurance money," he said. "His house burned down and lot of deaths."

Toby, the only one with real brains in the group, said, "I researched the town's newspapers, and Derek Hale's family did all die in a house fire. The doors were barricaded from the inside. No suspects. The youngest to die was nine—Derek's cousin, I guess."

"Did the world a favor," John muttered. "No more freaks in the world."

Toby didn't think there was ever a reason to murder children, but he knew not to argue. "What's the plan?" he asked.

They saw Liam and his best friend Mason coming out of the school. "There's the freak, Liam," John said. "We know he's one of them,"

"Liam will get us suspended," Toby said. He really didn't want to pick a fight with the star lacrosse player. There was enough animosity between the two teams as it was.

"We'll just go after his little buddy, Mason," Donnie said, grinning in approval.

"Beat his ass and provoke Liam," John said. "Get him to cross the line first."

Toby shrugged. "If you want to get suspended, go for it. Mason is a nice guy. I got no beef with him," Toby said.

"Then keep your hands to yourself," John said, annoyed with his friends. "We don't need you."

"Whatever," Toby said, walking away from his teammates muttering, "I so need to get better friends."

Billy another teammate joined them after he left. "Dudes, I need a ride home," he said.

"Come on," John said, gesturing to his car. "We're going to plan a way to stop these freaks from taking over the school."

"Cool," Billy said as he got into John's double cabbed pick up.

The new counselor's presentation had pissed off as many people as it had scared, and some of them weren't just going to roll over because a hot blonde told them to.

*****Several Hours later*****

Buffy and Derek had spent the evening helping her friends move into Derek's house. Then they'd went out to dinner together, the entire group including parents. Scott, Malia, and Lydia were leaving on their trip to Europe the next day.

Scott looked around the large group that had taken over most of the Applebee's tables that could be pushed together. Xander had managed to get both Parrish and Theo talking about something. Liam, Corey, and Mason were discussing music with Oz while Malia flirted with the baby as Willow tried to feed him. Buffy was talking to the parents while Derek put in a word or two. Lydia was sitting on Scott's other side and leaned her head against his shoulder.

"I think our new friends fit with the pack so well," Lydia said. "We can go without worrying."

Scott nodded. "Yea, I know. The slayers in Europe will give us a good idea of how the group operates without Buffy," he said.

Lydia turned and looked at him curiously. "Are you concerned?" she asked.

"Not really. I just want to know how they work as an organization," he said. "Buffy is amazing, but are all slayers as tolerant as she is?" A part of him was still concerned that slayers would view werewolves as monsters and try to slay them if they shift.

"I guess we'll find out," Lydia said. She watched Xander laughing with Parrish. "Xander makes me miss Stiles so much."

Scott nodded. "Yea, I know. It's like they're lost relatives or something," he said.

Derek looked at Scott and rolled his eyes. "Stiles will totally offend him with all his pirate jokes," he said, his werewolf hearing allowing him to easily listen in.

Scott laughed. "That's probably right," he said. It didn't stop him from missing his best friend, though.

After dinner, Buffy and Derek made it home. "That was so nice," Buffy said, sitting next to him on the couch with a happy sigh.

"Yea," Derek agreed, putting his arm around her. "I like your friends."

Buffy smiled up at him. "Yea, they're pretty great," she said. "But they'll be a few other slayers coming. I have a full-time job, so I'll need slayers in town that can stay up really late patrolling. It's only a matter of time before this city becomes dangerous again."

"Do you think the hunters will back off?" Derek asked.

"Probably not, but they'll be in for a surprise if they try to come after anyone in this town," she said grimly. "The slayers all over the world are also looking actively looking for Monroe and any of her hunters."

"Any sign of her?" Derek asked.

"Well, Giles said he got a report in Belgium of an attack on a small village of werewolves," Buffy said. "I didn't say anything to Scott since they weren't planning on going there."

"No need making them nervous," Derek said. "Peter's going to be shadowing them anyway, you know."

Buffy looked surprised. "Really?" she asked.

Derek nodded. "He told me that too many things could go wrong, and he didn't trust that Scott and Malia would listen to Lydia if things went south," he said. Peter only ever expected Stiles or Lydia to make good calls as he had learned how quick minded to two were. They were less likely to do the wrong thing—in Peter's opinion.

"You know Malia doesn't strike me as the kind of girl who will appreciate that type of overprotectiveness," Buffy said, frowning.

Derek grinned. "Oh, she's not," he said. "She'll knock his teeth in if she catches him."

"You know when you say that about her, I get the feeling that you're probably not being facetious," Buffy said.

"I'm not," he said. "I don't know her as well as Scott and Stiles, but I know she's a live wire—unpredictable."

Buffy grinned. "She would get along really well with Faith," she said.

"When's she coming to town?" Derek asked. Buffy spoke about her darker counterpart quite a bit, and he was curious to meet her.

"She's busy putting out fires for Giles, but she'll get her eventually," Buffy said. "Why didn't your uncle come to dinner with us?"

"He's not one for family dinners," Derek said. "Not anymore."

Buffy was touched by Derek's slip of words. "Family? You considered that a family dinner?" she asked.

"Well, it's the only family I have these days besides Cora," Derek said. "Noah, Melissa, and Chris have been there for me a lot. Scott's like my brother and Lydia my sister. Malia is actually a cousin, so there is that connection. Ironically, we didn't know that before the guys brought her in to the pack."

"Life's funny that way, isn't it?" Buffy said, leaning back against him.

"Yea," he said. For the first time in so long, Beacon Hills felt like home again, and he knew that it was mostly because of the woman in his arms.

*****Chapter End*****