Inheriting Family

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or worlds portrayed it this work of fan fiction. It is meant to be purely entertainment for anyone crazy enough to read it. The worlds and characters belong to their creators and corporations.

A/N: Reviews Rock and Recommends make me right faster. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review this and recommend the story. It is appreciated.

August 7, 2010

By: Fire Wolfe

Beta: Genuka Who saves my sorry ass from stupid mistakes.

Part 17 Not Happy

Buffy was not happy with the news the president gave them. She looked over at Giles and from his expression had a feeling that this device the Air Force was using held major mojo. Her recent dreams told her that this thing with Cassie was far more then family. It was never easy or even simple she wondered if they were all cursed. What had they all done in a past life to deserve this type of headache? Giles was a good and decent man who worked hard to save the world many times. He did not deserve this kind of stress on top of the normal crap they dealt with. She hated that Giles' family was going to be in danger because of something supernatural. It was rather ironic that the semi-normal member of the Giles clan was still drawn into her dreams. She could not understand why Janet's eyes glowed or why she had risen from a coffin like device in her dream. At first Buffy had assumed that Janet had been turned but her face did not have ridges and she could feel a soul in her. In fact Buffy's slayer senses picked up two souls. One very old and powerful and one that would fit with her age of around 45 years old. She had not mentioned the dreams because Giles hadn't needed more grief. She looked over at Faith who seemed willing to follow her lead. After the last battle the two eldest slayers had sat down and talked for a long time. They had decided that they needed to clear the air. They had argued, fought and eventually admitted that they were both wrong and right. They knew now after the other slayers that their real issue had been about dominance. The slayer was the top of the food chain. Each of them had felt they should be the top predator. It had been a natural reaction to the inner slayer drives. There was also the fact that both of them had been very young and afraid.

Oz's return had helped with that. He had taken them both aside and talked to them about pack behavior. They had asked for his help when the slayers seemed to be on edge and fighting. The inner slayer was restless and it was driving each slayer hard. They had held it at bay during the fight with the first because everyone instinctively knew they had to work together to survive. They had acted in a pack manner without even acknowledging it. Buffy had recognized the tension in them and asked for help. She did not want the new mini-slayers to have the same issues and problems she and Faith had. Faith and she were both certain now that they had fought because of their need to be the best and the top of the line. Buffy also knew that it was Faith who was the last chosen slayer. She was still the head of the line or the Omega but, it would be the slayer that followed Faith who would be the next chosen one. Giles had found some information about the demon that the shadow men had used to create the slayer and they had learned it was a pack animal or rather a pride animal. It was not a werewolf but rather a large cat like creature. It was not a saber toothed tiger but more along the lines of a panther. It was the Megantereon and the reason panthers appeared in slayer dreams. Giles believed that these demon cats had lived in prides much like lions did in modern times. Because these early animals had to fight to survive Giles seemed to think their prides ran like wolf packs. This made as much sense as anything to Buffy and Faith so they accepted that slayers would need to find and prove their place.

Of course both senior slayers insisted on fairness when these battles took place and there were rules. It was not the free for all they had endured in their early fights. They also made sure the younger girls never learned of their foolish behaviors. After all they had to be mature and set an example according to Giles. They had both very maturely stuck out their tongues at him for that remark. Because really want else was there to do when he made it so they had to act all grown up and responsible. Neither woman liked the fact that the mini's all seemed in awe of them and almost worshipful.

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On Air Force One-

Giles cleaned his glasses. It would of course do little good to bang his head against the table. He really wanted to. He had thought that they would gain a respite after defeating the First Evil. He was not happy that his children would be in a new fight especially since this one was so preventable. They should have been able to step back for a while and recharge. His eyes drifted over to Buffy. He still could not believe she wanted a relationship with him. He was an old man and she was still very young and beautiful. He was however not willing to give her up, she had always been his light. He should but, it wasn't possible he was not that selfless. He watched as Buffy leaned back closed her eyes and looked to the heavens. He was saddened that this new prophecy would once more demand so much from her. Rupert wondered why she had to endure so much. She had to his count died at least three times to save the world. When would her soul know peace? Was it so great a thing to ask that his beloved know peace? Surely she above all was worthy of heaven.

Buffy reached over and took his hand in hers. She sent him a mental picture of a deep dessert with the sun ring across it. It was lovely and peaceful. She showed him a small camp and led him to it. There was an oasis here. I am at peace Giles. This is my haven. Our haven. Join me for a moment and we can be refreshed. Time here moves differently. A day here is but a moment outside. Rupert Giles decided that he could take that moment. He took his slayers hand and found peace. After all if they were to save Cassie and the others they would need to be well rested. Buffy's smile made it all worth it.

The president and the others only saw he and Buffy deep in thought. None of them were going to disturb that.

TBC...