The Chosen One

Denver, Colorado – 1973

"Giles?" Buffy called softly while she stepped through the door. "Giles, are you home?"

Giles walked out of the kitchen just as Buffy stepped into the living room. Giles wiped his hands on the towel hanging from his pocket and strode toward the teen. His eyes showed concern as he performed a visual scan, looking for any injuries. Not seeing any, he finally made eye contact.

"What's wrong, Buffy?"

"I… I think I'm the Slayer again."

"Well, why do you think that?"

"When I woke up this morning I was hyper, and I broke the bathroom door when I was trying to get Dawn to hurry up in the shower. I haven't had that happen in this lifetime, so I was just wondering if slayers and watchers exist in this reality. And now you're looking really funny, and I'm going to take that as a yes. Giles!"

"Yes, the Council does exist here, and Quentin Travers is already in charge. I was not forced to remain an active Watcher this time around because of my older brother, Geoffrey. So I decided to move to America instead of taking on a Potential Slayer. And then we ran into each other, and it never occurred to me that you would be lost to the Council again. I thought that this world simply would not require your services."

"So I'm going to have to deal with being the Chosen One and facing all of those idiots again; only this time I won't even have a good Watcher?"

"You may still have a good Watcher, Buffy. It just won't be me."

"Why not? We've been friends for six years. You know me. You know how I operate, my like and dislikes, what'll make me obey and what will make me ignore an order. Giles, you're even more perfect now than you were in Sunnydale!"

"It is precisely because of all of that that I may not be chosen as your Watcher. If you recall, I was fired for becoming too fond of you. This time will be no different. If anything, I am more fond of you now than I was when I was fired."

"Obviously, since we've kinda spent sixty years with each other since then."

"Right." Giles started to polish his glasses, but stopped when he saw a strange gleam in the young Slayer's eyes. "What are you plotting?"

"Do you think we could just overthrow the Council early this time?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what if we just head to England and take over? They can't really stop us. I mean, unless Travers has more power this time than he did in our universe. Does he?"

"Actually he is rather less liked here. I believe a number of people would participate in your coup."

"Perfect! So we just need to find a way to get over there and overthrow the tyrants!"

"There are a few minor flaws in your plan, Buffy."

"What?"

"Well, for starters, last time we simply took over after the First destroyed the building and everyone in it. Second, you're only fifteen. If you recall, last time it was hard enough to get the Watchers to follow a twenty-three year old. Third, you are still under the authority of your parents. Fourth, Willow, Xander, and Dawn are much too young to be involved in a revolt. Fifth, you no longer have a powerful, world-renowned witch at your disposal. And sixth, you haven't even met your new Watcher yet. What if he or she decides to help you once you're older?"

"Older?"

"I was thinking that we might discuss this again when you turn twenty-one."

"Assuming I get to turn twenty-one this time around."

"You will. You will have two Watchers, a sister, and two dear friends helping you. Last time I wasted too much time trying to discourage your friends. This time I will do my utmost to support you in whatever way I can, short of storming the Council prior to your twenty-first birthday."

"Fine, fine. But if they get all uppity at me, I am so going to fire them again."

"Understood."

"And who said I don't have an uber-witch this time?" Buffy asked with a smirk.

"I thought Willow promised not to start practicing until she started her Sophomore year?"

"Not quite. You told her not to and she pouted, which you took as an agreement. But then we realized that if she started her training earlier, and paced herself better, she probably wouldn't develop an addiction to the dark stuff this time."

"I understand your reasoning, but I do wish you would have come to me about this. What if someone got hurt?"

"Giles, she can remember everything she could do back in the old universe. This is just training her body to hold all of that magic. Dawnie will probably start in the next few years."

"And you're alright with that."

"Not at all. But I did learn something from all the mistakes last time. I need to let her make her own mistakes; give her some freedom. Otherwise, I'll just lose her."

"Yes, well… Have you any idea when to expect your new Watcher?"

"Probably some time in the next few days. I wasn't really paying attention last time this thing developed."

"Alright, Petey. You did great. This time I want you to turn your shoulder in and duck your head down. That way it won't hurt you as bad," Xander instructed. Willow and Dawn cheered from the sidelines while Xander taught Willow's six-year-old cousin how to tackle someone while taking the least amount of damage. The boy had announced nearly a month earlier that he was going to be a cop when he grew up. Amazingly enough, this one had stayed with him, unlike the decision to be the next Elmer Fudd, or his decision to be a chef, or the time he wanted to be a pro football player. The others gave him a bit of training for each occupation before he changed his mind again.

"At least this way he'll be well-rounded," Dawn commented, breaking into Willow's thoughts.

"Hmm?" Willow questioned, turning to look at the ten-year-old.

"With us teaching him a bit about everything he wants to be. He'll be a well-rounded adult."

"That's true. And he'll remember his childhood fondly."

Peter Andrew Shanahan, Jr. was having the time of his life. His sister/cousin and her friends were spending time with him again. Ever since that old lady started spending time with Buffy, they all got too busy to play with him. Then the old lady went away somewhere, and they came back. Well, Buffy was still sad that the old lady was gone away, but he knew she would get better. Buffy never stayed sad for long.

As if called out by his thoughts, Buffy walked out of her house at that moment. She still looked sad, but not as sad as before. Petey waved to her shyly as she walked by, and she smiled down at him. Then she picked him up and tossed him over her shoulder, just like his Daddy would sometimes. She put him down, and then helped Xander teach him tricks to take out bad guys.

After nearly another two hours of playing, Petey finally got worn out. He lay down under the tree and in no time was asleep. The Scoobies gathered a few feet away to discuss things.

"Well?" Xander asked.

"They said I wouldn't be taken from my home, but they are going to send a replacement Watcher. They're still not letting Giles take over permanently. But the new guy's not due to come in for another week."

"I'm sorry about Phelps, Buff."

"It wasn't as bad as losing Merrick was. I mean, I'll miss her, but I know that I'll survive without my Watcher. Now then, would you guys be willing to patrol with me tonight?"