Dean knew girls. He had caught the look on Hannah's face the moment her mother had begun speaking and knew that Hannah did not share her mother's view of the world. The only reason he had heard what her mother had said was that he was used to listening for the slightest sound. For Hannah with her Slayer hearing it must have been as loud as a shout and just as embarrassing as if her mother had.

He went and stood directly in front of Hannah's mother and got right in her face, the impulse to protect his Slayer almost as strong as the need to protect his little brother already. "If you've got something to say to me you do it to my face, ma'am," he said as quietly and politely as he could.

"Not that I really care what you think of me, but you really should be a little more considerate of your daughter. Hannah has done something really important. She graduated from Slayer School. That means that she survived three years as a Slayer. And all you can do is come and embarrass her in front of her sister Slayers and the people she has to work with?

"I mean, does it really matter what I wear? Shouldn't you be more concerned about what's in my head and what I'm capable of doing? I'm your daughter's Watcher. My job is to make sure that she lives for as long as possible and kills everything that tries to kill her. You didn't even think about asking what my qualifications are." Dean knew that the best way to chew out a society bitch like this was to be as polite as possible. It was the best way to show up her bad manners. That was what was keeping him from cussing her out as only the son of a marine could.

"I know who you are Mr. Winchester," Grace said but Dean interrupted her.

"Just where did you get your information ma'am? That stupid poll written by brain dead Barbies? Or the article by the paparazzi that I almost knifed to death when he tried to take a picture of me naked in the shower?" That little piece of information caused a buzz among the young Slayers, who groaned that the photographer hadn't gotten the picture.

"Cause I know for sure that you didn't ask anyone who really mattered. Like the any of the people who chose me for this job because I have ten years field experience and nearly ten years of learning what I need to know to do the job." Dean was breathing fire at this point. He was the one charged with keeping her daughter alive and the only thing she could think about was his clothes?

"It's not going to make a difference," Mr. Adams said quietly. "Hannah is practically dead already. She's under a death sentence. She might live another year. She certainly won't live much longer than that. She needs to come home so we have some chance of,"

"I'm not under a death sentence." Everyone looked at Hannah. She had come up quietly behind Dean. She took a deep breath and continued without looking at anyone. "I'm not going to live on a hellmouth. I'm going to Stanford University and I'm going to be a business major. I'm going to own my own business." She looked up and pinned her parents with a glare. "I am not going to die before that happens. I will probably die before I hit forty, but I'm not going to just lie down and wait for it to happen. They don't teach that here. The first rule of Slaying is 'Stay Alive' and I intend to do just that."

Buffy stood behind Hannah with her hands on Hannah's shoulders and smiled at her in pride. She remembered the lectures she had given over the years, usually right before a battle, and it always started with rule number one, Stay Alive. She had first articulated that rule to Faith when the vampire who had killed her first Watcher had followed her to Sunnydale. It hadn't been the last time she'd said those words, but Hannah had taken them to heart. She had based her decisions on that rule and her dreams, the best combination of all. She was also proud of Hannah's standing up to her parents. For such a shy girl, it was a huge step forward.

"The Winchesters are some of the best Hunters in the United States, some say the world but I think that's pushing it a bit," Buffy said to Hannah's parents and the group they had brought with them. "Hannah has chosen not to be a front line Slayer. Because we have so many Slayers now she has that choice. She can't stop being a Slayer and yes, eventually it will kill her.

"But unlike when I was called, Hannah has a chance at a real future and she's grabbing it with both hands. That's why we asked John and Dean to become Watchers. With their help she can do anything she wants to do, own her business that she has been planning for years now, get married and have a family, either her own children or through adoption, she can do anything she wants."

"Except drive," Hannah muttered.

Buffy glanced at her and grinned. "Well, except drive a car. We Slayers tend to fall into two categories behind the wheel. Either we're too busy watching for vampires and other demons or we're so focused on the road that we cause accidents because no one else can keep up with our reflexes."

"I hope you're the focused type," Dean said. "Because there's a chance you might end up behind the wheel with us. Depends on who's hurt and how bad." As long as she kept the Impala in one piece he'd be happy with that.

"Hannah, what kind of business are you planning on starting?" Mrs. Kelly asked trying to change the subject without insulting anyone.

"I plan to own an upscale boutique, ma'am. Thank you for coming to my graduation and birthday party. It was very kind of you to bring Jeremy." This kind of politeness had been drilled into Hannah from the time she was allowed out of her nursery. She knew the real reason that Mrs. Kelly and her son had been invited but it wouldn't be polite to say so.

"Not at all my dear," the routine politeness wasn't all that routine on Mrs. Kelly's part. "We were so pleased to hear that someone we knew had been called as a Slayer. It is a huge responsibility. We're very proud of you. Amber wished she could have come but she's getting settled in at Oxford in England. She's planning on becoming a Watcher someday. Your calling inspired her." Mrs. Kelly deftly took Hannah's arm and escorted her off towards the food tables where two enormous birthday cakes were being lit.

"I'm glad that Amber made it in. She was worried that her grades might not have been good enough. I tried to tell her that she couldn't get any better than straight A's, but that's Amber, always worried she isn't good enough." Hannah was pleased that her best friend from her childhood in New York had managed to achieve this first step towards her dream.