For a long moment the three of us stared at Buffy in momentary shock. I recovered first, and felt a grin spread across my face as I stepped up and gave Buffy an embrace of welcome.

"Welcome back, dear heart." I told her. I was about to pull away when suddenly Xander slammed into us from behind, enveloping the both of us in a giant bear hug while Willow cried: "Buffy!" and rushed to join us.

I finally managed to push Xander off of my back, and allow Buffy time to turn and embrace Willow.

"Hey, Will!" she giggled, squeezing her so hard I thought I hear something pop though Willow didn't seem to notice. Or if she did, she didn't let it show.

Once she'd finished her hug with Willow, Xander moved in again.

I shook my head and glanced at Willow, who managed to smile, but there was a sort of hurt resignation in her eyes as well, bless her. Much to my own surprise, I ended up slipping an arm around her by way of consolation.

"Boy, your timing does not suck, huh?" Xander said, giving Buffy another squeeze.

"When'd you get back?" Willow asked.

"Just now," Buffy answered, disentangling herself from Xander's very warm welcome. "My dad drove me down, and I figured you three losers would be getting into some kind of trouble." She arched an eyebrow at Xander.

"I think we had the upper hand," Willow said, giving me a playful nudge, "we had our secret weapon, after all."

"A secret weapon which is unarmed." I responded. I was never going to not be carrying some form of protection ever again.

"None of you even have a cross?" Buffy demanded. She clicked her tongue and shook her head.

"That's very sloppy." She reprimanded.

"Well, it's been a slow summer," Xander explained, "that's the first vampire we've seen since you killed the Master."

Buffy's expression flickered for a second and I saw her shoulders tense.

"It's like they knew I was coming back." She joked half-heartedly.

"If they do," I broke in, "then they should know better than to try and attack her comrades. It was probably just a random attack. We are next to a graveyard, after all."

Buffy shrugged, she didn't look quite convinced, but then again, neither was I. What if they had somehow known she was returning? How would they even know that? Did that mean she was being watched? Buffy wasn't that sloppy, she would have noticed something, surely.

"So," Xander interrupted my rapid train of thought, "how was your summer? Slay anything?"

"Uh, no, actually," Buffy answered, "just, you know, hung out. Partied some. Shopping was also a major thing." She paused and glanced at me with a smirk, "Speaking of which, I need to drag you back to the store. You've worn that shirt and those pants too long."

I frowned and pulled my jacket over my ragged but very comfy t-shirt and gave a grumpy-sounding growl.

"I like my shirt. And my trousers, for that matter." I muttered.

"Anyway," Xander interrupted, "you sure haven't lost your touch. I mean that vampire-"

"I did kind of wail on him, didn't I?" Buffy smirked.

"I like your hair." Xander said suddenly. Then I noticed for the first time that her hair was indeed shorter than it had been last time, and straighter.

Good Lord, my observational skills were lacking.

"So how did you guys fair?" Buffy asked, "Have any fun without me?"

"No." "Yes." Xander and Willow said at the same time. I was wise enough to not say anything. They looked at each other and Willow frowned.

"Our summer was kind of yawn-worthy," Xander explained, "our biggest excitement was burying the Master."

I doubt the younglings noticed it, but at the mention of the Master's burial, I saw Buffy's back stiffen and her pupils dilated. Also, her heart sped up by a few beats, though from fear or some other strong emotion, I couldn't be sure.

"That's right, you missed it." Willow said, and then pointed back across the graveyard, "It's right up by that tree." Buffy followed her gesture and her heart sped up a little more. I frowned and took a step towards her, worried.

"Giles buried the bones and we poured holy water and we got to wear robes." Willow explained. She had been the one to actually pour holy water. Obviously it wasn't a great idea for me to be standing terribly close by to splashing holy water. Instead, I had stood back, observing and whispering a prayer in Latin that the bones of a fallen enemy to not be stirred, and that the light should shine no more upon so great an evil.

Personally, I was upset we hadn't just burned the bones and scattered the ashes. I didn't feel the Master deserved a burial at all.

Unfortunately, the matter had not been up to a vote.

"Have you seen Giles?" Willow asked. Buffy came back to herself and looked at Willow. She shrugged carelessly.

"Why would I do that?" she asked, "I'll see him at school."

The nonchalant way she said that, bothered me. I could feel my frown deepen.

There was something wrong, here. There was a turmoil going on inside of her, I could feel it.

"Well we're glad you're back." Xander grinned. Buffy smiled, rather unconvincingly and her gaze traveled back to the tree Willow had pointed at.

"Yeah," she murmured, "me too."

After that the two children did most of the talking, elaborating on what few events took place over the long, somewhat boring summer. For our parts, Buffy and I mostly stayed silent. Buffy more out amusement at how Xander and Willow bantered back and forth, while my silence was caused by my preoccupation with watching Buffy.

I had to remind myself that she had literally died a few months ago. Of course she would be acting different, but at the same time, there was something more than that, I thought. But it could have just been my imagination.

Before too long, we made our departures, or rather, I left the group to go tell Giles she was home, while Xander and Willow elected to walk Buffy home.

When I got home, Giles was sound asleep on the sofa, a half-finished cup of tea resting on the floor just underneath his hand, which was hanging off the edge of the couch. An open book was laid on his chest, and one of Mozart's sonata's was playing softly from the record player in the corner of the room.

I wouldn't have a chance in the morning to tell him that Buffy was back, since I usually left earlier to circle around the town in a wide berth and walk in to school from the opposite direction Giles came from. He thought this an unneeded precaution, and it probably was since no one really paid attention to me at school anyway, but I didn't want unpleasant questions being raised about why the librarian and a young student were always coming to school together, and then spending all their time in the library together.

Instead, I pulled a quilt off of the back of the sofa, draped it over him, moved the teacup, turned off the record player, and then went upstairs to bed.

The next morning, bright and early, I left Giles in about the same position I had left him in, but I also left him a note informing him that Buffy was back, and acting a little…I wrote 'melancholic' but I wasn't sure that was the correct adjective.

When I got to school, I'd forgotten how noisy it is on campus. There was the usual loud talking, screeches of laughter, and the smells…oh God, the hormones…

I winced at the onslaught of my sense and pulled my hood up and over my head to try and block some of them. My sunglasses were firmly in place but even with the bright light blocked, the bombardment was giving me a headache already.

What was worse was the fact that I spotted Cordelia almost as soon as I started heading for the school building, so I turned around and went the opposite way.

Of all the people I didn't want to interact with right away, she was one of them.

I wasn't sure how or if she'd explained away what had happened before summer break. I mean, I suppose I could see how one would explain away the vampire attack on the Bronze, but explaining away vampires and giant worm creatures was a hard one to pull off.

Either she was a master of self-delusion, or just incredibly forgetful.

Either way, I didn't want to have that discussion with her.

I took a lap around the building to give her ample time to get inside and away from me, and when I came back around to where I'd started, I spotted Giles.

The usual smile I couldn't help but use around him slid into place as I started to follow him into the school building, but stopped short when I realized he wasn't alone.

Ms. Calendar was with him.

I don't know why I didn't like her, but something about her just…I don't know. I can't say it was jealousy, because I was happy that Giles found someone to feel fluttery about, and his heart was most certainly fluttery right then.

There was just something about her that put me off.

I suppose she reminded me too much of a child. That's a poor excuse, and well I know it, but it's the best one I have right now so it'll have to do.

I hesitated, then followed them once the doors had closed behind them. I caught up with them fairly quickly, since they were walking slowly and chatting quietly to each other.

"How was your summer?" Giles was asking while I stole quietly up behind them.

"Extreme." She responded. I stifled a groan. Yes, she definitely reminded me of a child.

"I did Burning Man in Blackrock," she continued, "oh, such a great festival, you should have been there." Somehow I couldn't picture Giles at anything other than a book festival.

She started listing everything at the festival, and none of it particularly sounded at all like something Giles would enjoy. Apparently she must have realized that because she ended the list with: "Naked mud dancers; you would have…hated it with a fiery passion."

'Thank God, she's not completely daft.' I thought.

"I can't think of any redeeming…" Giles began, and then a thought occurred to him, "Naked?" he repeated. I rolled my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose under my sunglasses.

Humans.

Ms. Calendar nodded.

"And you probably spent all summer with your nose in a book." She sighed. I felt a twinge of resentment and decided it was time I stepped in.

"And had a marvelous time." I said, literally stepping up beside them. Ms. Calendar pulled back in surprise.

"Hey, Marge." She said, "Still going for the somewhat creepy aesthetic I see?"

I tensed, and then pointedly pulled my hood back.

"Still making a desperate attempt to appear ten years younger I see?" I asked, looking at her shortened hair and the bangs she'd added. She flushed and I saw her jaw set while Giles stared at me in dismay.

"Margery!" he snapped. I sighed.

I suppose I had to make an attempt at being civil with her, for Giles' sake.

I locked eyes with Ms. Calendar and bowed stiffly.

"Apologies, miss," I said tersely, "my conduct was not becoming of one of my age. Please know I meant no harm, I'm still learning the ways of…children, these days."

Ms. Calendar, to her credit, managed a short laugh at that.

"Apology accepted," she said, "and sorry I called you creepy. I keep forgetting you're half monster. They're not known for their fashion sense, are they?"

Giles made a noise of exasperation.

"Miss Calendar, really-" he said, when we were mercifully interrupted by the arrival of the rest of our group.

"Giles!" Willow exclaimed, trotting down the stairs excitedly.

"Hey, G-Man!" Xander joined in, "What's up?"

Giles gave both me and Ms. Calendar disapproving looks, and then plastered a smile in place.

"Hello," he greeted, "and don't ever call me that."

"Hey kids." Ms. Calendar said, after giving me another quick glare, which I ignored.

"Morning Marge." Xander said, nodding to me. I nodded to him and Willow, but watched Buffy. She seemed tense as she approached. Almost shy around Giles. Giles, on the other hand, softened when he saw her.

"How are you?" he asked gently.

"Alive and kicking." She answered.

"Buffy killed a vampire last night!" Willow exclaimed, and then blanched when a few people glanced curiously at us.

"Subtle." I said, nodding at her.

"I think you can get a little more volume if you speak from the diaphragm." Buffy offered. Poor Willow blushed and ducked her head.

"Sorry." She whispered.

"We got vampires?" Ms. Calendar asked, "I thought the Hellmouth was closed?"

I almost laughed at her.

"Yes, because obviously every vampire on earth was at the Hellmouth when it closed." I said. She glared at me again. I had a feeling I was going to see that look often.

"Well it may be closed but it's not gone." Giles explained, "The mystical energy that surrounds this place is still concentrated here."

"Which means we're still the undead's favorite party-town." Xander said.

"I can't speak for my half-brethren," I said, "but I hate parties."

"Now there's a surprise." Xander said, his eyes sparking with sarcasm. I didn't even know that was possible.

"I wonder if they're here for any purpose particularly?" Giles wondered aloud, stoically refusing to ignore the banter going on.

Buffy shrugged and smirked.

"You're the Watcher," she said, "I just work here."

"Yes," Giles acknowledged with a sheepish grin, "I suppose my Seeker and I will have to consult the books." Hearing my honorary title sent a wave of warmth through me, I'll admit. At the very least it was good to know he wasn't upset with me for my comment to Ms. Calendar.

I smiled at him, he returned it, but we were interrupted in our little moment by Xander, of course.

"Ohhhh," he said, looking at his watch, "Eight minutes and thirty-three seconds, pay up." He looked at Willow, who sighed in exasperation and fished some money out of her pocket.

"I called ten minutes before you had to consult your books about something." Xander explained with a grin. Giles didn't return it.

The bell suddenly shrieked at us, making me groan and pull my hood up again while Willow grabbed Xander's arm.

"We'd better get to class." She told him. He nodded and turned, looking as though he wanted to grab Buffy's hand, but she was already following them anyway.

"Oh, uh, Buffy?" Giles called as she started to move away. "I realize you've only just returned but, when you're ready I think we should start your training again." He said it gently, but Buffy's expression hardened.

She looked at me.

"Uh," I said, oh so very eloquently, "I suppose I'm ready for another sparring session."

She nodded and shrugged.

"I'm ready," she said, "see you after school."

"I mean, I understand if you want to wait a few days-" Giles began, but she interrupted him.

"I'm ready." She insisted, then turned and followed Xander and Willow. I looked up at Giles, and he returned the look.

"See?" I asked, "She's not acting like herself. Not quite." He frowned and nodded.

"It could just be nerves," he said, "after all that happened."

I nodded, but when we exchanged another look, I knew that neither of us were convinced that that was the problem.