A/N: Just so you know, I'll probably keep up a similar Wed-Sat schedule for posting new chapters. I currently have no reason to suspect that it'll be an issue going forward.
Hello again, JayeMaru! Glad you're excited for another installment. We've still got a way to go before this is over! It's looking like five stories in total.
Beth sat at the kitchen counter, kicking her legs against the wood paneling, making a satisfying banging noise. Willow didn't seem to mind as she poured batter into the waffle iron, looking all the time smiley (she had come home late that night after spending time with Esme and that was where Beth stopped thinking any further about what amounted between the two). Spike though, didn't seem to like it, reaching down to halt her legs with his arm when she didn't cease and desist under his harsh glare.
"Somebody's cranky," she teased as he sipped his morning coffee.
"Horde of Minjark demons," Willow explained. "Bet Spikey's all sore."
"Shut your gob, Red," he barked.
"He also flipped a coin with Buffy to see who would wake up in time to drive you to school," Willow added with a grin, dropping a waffle on Beth's plate. She quickly drowned it in syrup. Spike eyed her as she did so.
"Gonna get a sugar rush your first day, love? You'll be vibrating right out of your seat," he told her.
"Don't care, want syrup," she replied before taking a large bite.
"A growing girl needs her food," Willow recited, "not to mention that she's a slayer. Burns up a lot of energy."
"Don't lecture me on parenting," he growled, though in his current mood, it sounded more like a whine.
"Ready for your first day of junior year?" Willow asked. "I think I enjoyed my junior year."
He snorted. "Didn' realize my presence was so uplifting for you," he muttered.
She frowned thoughtfully. "Oh yeah. Never mind, junior year was a nightmare, what with the Spike and Drusilla and then Angelus with Jenny and Acathala. And my poor fishies…"
Beth reached across the counter and gave a comforting pat to her aunt's shoulder. "Well, the bar's set pretty low then, isn't it? Though, if I am to follow in my mother's footsteps, I do have to engage in mortal combat with my future lover and then kill my other lover. Except I don't have either one of those, so I'm already behind."
"An' let's keep it that way," her dad added, some energy in his words. It seemed the caffeine was finally kicking in.
"Aw, but wouldn't it be so cute if Bethie got a boyfriend?" Willow asked and Beth made a grumpy face.
"No!" Spike nearly shouted and Willow shushed him quickly.
"Buffy is still sleeping!" she reminded him. "Do you want to deal with that?"
He looked like he wanted to argue more, but he sat down, resigned to keeping his voice lower.
"Don't worry too much, dad," she assured him. "Thanks to your genetic contribution, I can't imagine many boys will want to be with me since I can drink blood and drop some fangs."
"'Cept that little gypsy boy," he muttered into his coffee.
"It's Romany," she corrected hotly,"and he's in Massachusetts right now. Probably sleeping. What's the time difference?" Beth asked, turning toward her aunt.
"Four hours," she replied.
"Yeah, definitely sleeping," she grumbled. "Bastard."
"Ahead, Beth."
"Finish up your food," her dad instructed, standing up and dropping his cup in the sink. "Get your stuff an' we're going to school."
She stuffed the rest of her waffle into her mouth, much to the amusement of Willow, before rushing up the stairs to grab her backpack and brush her teeth. Spike was impatiently waiting at the bottom of the stairs, probably planning on going back to bed after he dropped her off. It almost made him miss the days when they lived where they worked and she walked down three flights of stairs to get to school. Though seeing her coming down the steps with a smile on her face, he realized that was a stupid thing to miss.
"You should try an' get your grades up this year," he told her as she put on her shoes.
She groaned, standing up so he could see the expression on her face. "Ugh, Dad, it's only the first day and you're already getting on my case? Besides, I have a social life now. I can't spend all my time studying."
He rolled his eyes, thinking she was growing up to sound more and more like Buffy every day. Oh, wouldn't her mother be proud? Though, if he had anything to do with it, she would not get herself a boyfriend like Buffy did. Sixteen and nary a date in sight, he thought he was doing a pretty good job.
He all but pushed her out of the car once they reached her school, thinking about the warm bed waiting him at home and hoping Buffy hadn't gone and starfished. Beth only rolled her eyes as her dad's car peeled out of the parking lot, racing home.
"Your dad ever drag race?" Nadja asked, coming up behind her. "Also, when do you get your car? My Beebee Esme gave me a ride this morning, but I'm bussing it from now on."
"They're still debating if I can borrow my mum's car," she explained, turning around and walking toward the school building. "Both are convinced that with their track records, I'm likely to be a piss-poor driver. I would like to throw in my own two cents by reminding them I've been driving since I was eleven, but apparently that means nothing to them."
"Oh poo," Nadja sulked. "Well, I have to wait another six months before I can take the driver's test again. I should pass this time." She fished through her skirt pocket and pulled out her wallet, looking at her driver's permit morosely. "I hate this little piece of plastic," she mumbled. "Oh, how it taunts me."
Beth and Nadja stopped on the first floor, taking a seat on one of the bench hallways. They had first period together, Physics, which made Nadja want to "yack," as she put it. Beth always figured Andrew could help her, since he was also that kind of nerd. Plus, he also liked to be useful. Considering how much she already knew it terms of fighting and demonology, he was at odds for what to teach her. She was already an excellent fighter, though she did lack actual experience. And unlike the other slayers, she had grown up in a very demon-centric world. When your parents bring home horns, you tend to learn a few things.
"You know, even though I dislike Zack, I think I'm actually going to miss his presence," Nadja admitted, looking a little scandalized.
She chuckled. "That's because he gave us that extra dimension."
"Does this mean we'll have to make a new friend?" Nadja asked, though she didn't sound too happy about the prospect.
"You think I'm good at making friends?" she snorted. "It's all on you."
"Well then, I guess three just became two and you can deal with it," Nadja replied. "It is our junior year though, and we do need to actual do something with ourselves."
"Excuse you, I am a slayer," Beth reminded her. "I already did something with myself. And what about all those adventures I have led us on? Don't those count?"
"I meant socially," Nadja reiterated with an eye roll. "Like go out and have fun. Maybe attend a party?"
"We did that last year and it did not end well," Beth said with a face. "You talking about homecoming?"
"Would your mom really be upset over the prospect of putting you in a dress?" Nadja asked, head turned so her expression could provide extra emphasis.
"No," she said, shifting uncomfortably. "It's just that those kinds of things don't really seem like our thing."
Nadja sat up straighter, eyeing her. "Have you been to a dance already?"
She shifted again. "Well, yes, kind of. Not in the sense of a boys-and-girls dance, but the Slayer Academy used to hold annual dances in hopes of keeping the girls from getting too rowdy. I went to one the first year I started to attend slayer classes with the other potentials and let's say it did not go well."
Nadja gasped, her eyes growing wide in horror as her hand reached up to cover her mouth. "It wasn't like Carrie, was it?"
"No! No one dumped pig's blood on me," she said. "The girls were just really mean. Especially Margaret." She glared off toward the wall. "Bitchy little Margie."
Nadja blinked. "Well, no homecoming then. But we have to do Prom next year. My mom wants pictures."
"You know those things usually require dates," Beth reminded her.
Nadja made a slight face. "Yes, but you can go with friends, or stag, or whatever they call it. Like I'd want a date anyway."
"My aunt brought up me getting a boyfriend," Beth told her sullenly. "You know, my mum was already dating at this point. But I can't help but think all the explaining I'd have to do at some point. Besides, who wants to date the weird vampire kid?"
Nadja sighed, shaking her head. "You know, at some point that's going to have to stop being your reason for not doing things. Zack and I are fine with you—I'm sure other boys would take no issue. You just have to pick a very cute one."
She snorted. "I'd be lucky to pull the dead-heads around here. It's one thing to be friends with the half-vampire, but dating? It's got like—stuff, you know. Snogging."
Nadja made an amused sound. "Maybe don't date if you stutter over the idea of making out."
"I-I just," she started. "It's not something I really thought about growing up. Not until recently, I suppose. If all the girls at the academy were disgusted by just standing near me, why would I expect a boy to like me? The only boy who remotely enjoyed my company was Jackie and we always felt more like siblings than romantic interests. I dunno, maybe I could try dating. That's an important growth step, isn't it?"
Nadja snorted none too gracefully. "Who cares? I don't care for dating, I've never met anyone I've ever wanted to date, not even a single time. I'm fine being single and you should be too. It's not the be-all-end-all of everything." She paused for a moment before adding, "Although, you do base your life off TV a lot, so maybe it is for you."
"Well, fundamentally isn't it important?" she inquired.
Nadja sighed. "Is there even someone you like? You usually have to like someone to want to date them." She eyed the girls in the hallway. "You know, if your mother really wanted you to date, she should have thought about that before she put you in an all-girl's school. Unless her aim is to make you a lesbian, then she was right on."
She laughed, covering it up with a cough. "You know, the boys' school is right across the way. Zack used to traverse over from there quite often."
"And yet, it's not until now that you've expressed any interest in dating," Nadja noted. "Unlike before, when you actually spent time with a boy from St. Jude's."
She sniffed, not sure if Nadja was trying to suggest something. "Well, the thought had only just occurred to me that maybe it could be a good thing for me—developmentally—to date someone. I'm sure my mum would love it."
"That's not a good enough reason to date someone," Nadja warned.
The bell rung, signaling the students to head to their classes. "Come on," Beth said, standing up, "we can ponder this more later. It can't be too bad today. All they do is go over the syllabus."
Nadja frowned, but stood up as well, grabbing her backpack. "Unless they're one of those evil teachers who starts a lesson today," she grumbled. "We better not have one of those teachers."
Beth sighed, tugging on her friend's arm and leading her down the hallway to class. She had a feeling that with Nadja, today was going to be a bit of a long day.
-.-
Charlie was up to his whittling again when Beth slipped in through the basement window. She dropped to the floor with a loud thump and he looked up from his work.
"Ah, ain't seen your 'round here these last couple of days," he announced. "Heard you made quite a stir down at Den of Sins."
She slid down into the seat across from him, one he said he had acquired from the teacher's lounge. She wondered if they were ever curious about the disappearing furniture. Or for that matter, she thought—looking down at the trash that had collected around in the maintenance room—if the maintenance men ever got curious.
"Is that what that place was called?" she asked, taking a pocket knife out of her boot and flicking the blade in and out. He eyed the blade, but didn't say anything. He'd come to find she had an affinity for taking out weapons around him. He didn't know if she was trying to intimidate him or if she just felt comfortable letting him know exactly what she had on him that could hurt him.
"Yeah," he replied. "You get what you want?"
She nodded. "He said it's Xavier. Can you believe that? Isn't Xavier like the runt of the litter?"
He snorted. "Puttin' it lightly. My daddy woulda taken him out back an' shot 'im, though, so I sees the comparison."
She looked up from her knife, flicking the blade back in. "You lived on a farm or something?"
He squirmed, realizing he might have said too much. "I did, long time ago," he offered, knowing he couldn't take back what was already said.
"How old are you, exactly?" she inquired. "Humans years and all."
He shrugged. "Lot older than you, that fer sure. You sure yer daddy likes you out 'round me late at night?"
"Well, he doesn't trust you, maybe because he's got the inner workings of a vampire down pat, but he trusts me," she told him, "and he trusts me to kick your arse if you try anything."
He actually laughed at that, his smile wide enough to make the corners of his eyes wrinkle. "Mm, I think yer daddy an' I would have gotten along if circumstances had been different. How old is he, 'xactly? All them years countin'."
"He's Victorian English," she told him. "I'm not sure on the exact date and neither is he."
""Magine he's of good stock," he stated. "That's what they said, yeah?"
"I wouldn't know, I wasn't alive then," she reminded him, "but he was educated. Lived well-off enough."
He snorted. "I 'member hearing 'bout him. Wanted everyone to think he was all big an' bad. Then he went an' killed that slayer an' made 'imself a name."
She perked up at this. "You were alive when he killed his first slayer? So, you're at least a century old."
"This whole conversation to find out my age?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
She shrugged. "Maybe. Is it wrong for me to wonder how old you are? You don't seem like some green-fanged vampire."
"That what they callin' them now?"
"You seem to know a lot of people too and it takes years to build up that kind of networking."
"Can't help you with yer history project," he stated.
She rolled her eyes at him. "Like I'd expect you to have paid enough attention to help we write about the war," she muttered.
"What war?" he asked.
"Any war. I tried asking my dad about the Boxer Rebellion. He was actually there. He just laughed at me. I thought about laughing at me."
"What can I say?" he chuckled. "We vampires got other things on our minds."
"I should probably get to the point of why I came by," she finally told him, "before my mum decides I'm taking too long and you're a pile of dusty mess. I was wondering if you can incite some anger between Xavier and McGregor."
The corners of his mouth turned down in a slight frown as he contemplated her request. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "An' why's that?"
"Well, we obviously want to 'storm the castle,' but maybe have less guards?" she explained. "We know that Xavier's been a pain in McGregor's ass since the beginning of time and he'd be a likely candidate to weaken Xavier. We know we can't do much to get rid of them, but we can at least unsettle them for a bit. Less likely to keep taking hikers that they, you know."
"You sure putting' a lot into these two hog-chasers," he noted. "You ought not be concernin' yourselves with the likes of them. They ain't gonna be trouble forever."
She frowned. "What, are you telling me both of them plan to kick it somewhere else?"
He frowned, a troubled look overcoming his features, making her think he'd said something he hadn't meant to, but she didn't know how. "Naw, I just mean they're small fish," he explained. "Bigger an' badder things out there then some Master-wannabes. You know that. Yer daddy used'ta be one of them."
"It's my duty," she clarified. "Not like you'd have any idea about that."
"I know a thing or two about duty," he retorted, sounding irritated. "Jus' cuz I ain't like you, don' mean I don't know about what it means to be loyal."
"Look, geez, didn't mean to brush a sensitive spot of yours," she replied, backtracking begrudgingly. He sounded really worked up about what she had said, and she only meant it as an off-handed comment. "And am I just supposed to take advice from you? Like you somehow got positive self-growth cornered?"
"Have I ever led you wrong before?"
She fidgeted in her seat for a moment. "Well no, but there's always room for unimprovement!"
"You just don't like to admit maybe you like me a bit," he chuckled. "That maybe I ain't so bad, even though I ain't got one of them fancy little souls your daddy done once tote 'round. Ain't all vampires want errybody dead. Some of us jus' want to be left alone."
"And you're one of those vampires," she stated.
He nodded. "An' always gonna be one. I'm here to help you help me, got it?"
"Yeah, I got it," she grumbled, standing up off the seat and pocketing her knife. "I'm still going to mess them up a bit. I'd like your help with that, please."
He waved his hand at her. "Sure, sure, I ain't got no problem messin' with their heads. I'll be sure to get 'em foamin' at the mouth for each other."
"And let me know if you hear anything more about those two," she asked. "I don't need them getting ideas of grandeur about taking over."
He let out a bark of laughter, his head falling back. "Shoot, girl, you ain't got to worry 'bout none of that! But I'll let you know if I hear the stirrin's of anythin'."
"Well, alright. If you hear anything more about anything, leave me a note in my locker and I'll swing by that following evening," she instructed. "It'll be late though. My Watcher's got me patrolling all this weekend. Says it's to give my parents a break. I think they bullied him into it, but he won't say. He thinks my dad is amazing, anyway, so he'll do just about everything he says."
"Your daddy is pretty 'mazin', considering all there is on the history of William the Bloody," he told her, grinning. "Ever wonder 'bout what didn' make it into the Watcher books? Your Watchers, they ain't got everythin' there is to know about vampires, only what vampires want them to know."
She scoffed. "My dad helped write his own biography. He told them all he could remember, so I'd say the Council knows all there is to know about his vampiric history."
"Think what you want, girlie," he replied, "don't make it true."
She rolled her eyes, crawling back out the window and running across the grass to her bike parked on the sidewalk. Charlie always acted like he knew more about her own father than anyone else did. And while she would relent that he understood the inner workings of his mind more than any one person could, she doubted he knew some dark history piece about Spike or even the Scourge of Europe. Hell, for all she knew Charlie was only a few decades old, born long past the era of Spike and his nefarious ways. She hopped on her bike and peddled home, hoping she and her mother could snuff out Xavier and McGregor in one fell swoop and be done with it.
-.-
"Are you actively trying to kill it or are you just playing with it now?" Nadja asked.
It was Wednesday night, which meant another evening spent patrolling in the cemetery up off 405. It was near several popular underground places for demons and vampires, leaving activity quite high. Not as high as Sunnydale, according to both Spike and Buffy, but still busy enough. And a relatively nice place to live, Spike had mentioned off-handedly, earning him a weird look from both to inquire if he was "shopping for a new home." He'd muttered about never mentioning his vampire past around them again before hitting a vampire in the face to redirect some of his anger.
"I thought I was supposed to test out my moves," Beth replied.
Andrew fiddled with his tie for a moment, watching the battle unfold. The demon was by no means difficult and it hadn't been like her first time in that construction site, but he was still nervous on duty. He knew that if she came home looking thoroughly beaten, he was going to get it from her parents. And while Buffy was terrifying when she was angry, Spike had actually killed people.
"There's more demons and vampires to kill around here," he reminded her, but he didn't think she heard him as she landed a spin-kick in the demon's gut, sending it reeling.
"Whoo! Go Beth!" Nadja cheered from the sidelines, doing her impression of a cheerleader.
"Don't, you might distract her," Andrew warned.
"Oh, yeah, of course. Go Beth," she said again, but this time in a much quieter tone.
Beth finally dispatched the demon by sending the top of a tombstone cross through its chest.
"Something will handle that right?" she asked, looking at the demon laid caught on the tombstone. "Or else the relatives of Jimmy Newstone are going to have a word with me."
"It should be fine," Andrew assured her, though he wasn't all that sure himself. Not like he knew anyone who knew Jimmy Newstone. Wasn't his problem. "That makes your third slay tonight."
"And how many in total?" she asked.
"Including or not including the ones you've claimed without anyone else's supervision?" he inquired, shooting her a skeptical look.
"I really did take on a pack of those Hallmark demons," she insisted and both her watcher and friend exchanged glances.
"It's Hielmar and with those, it's topping 112," he told her. "Pretty good for your first year."
"Oh yeah, take that slayers-in-training!" she cheered, fist bumping Nadja.
"Do other slayers not get to kill just yet?" Nadja inquired.
"Not in their first year of actual slayerhood," Andrew explained. "That year is spent honing in skills and making sure they know how to use their powers properly. After that, they get to go through monitored training exercises with whatever demons the council can collect then move on to actual trips outside. Once they're eighteen, they get a six-month field training period before getting dispatched to a slayer team in a city, where, of course, further training still occurs."
"Look at him, answering more questions that you asked," Beth teased.
"You sure do know a lot about slayer training don't you, Mr. Wells," Nadja noted.
"He used to have his own team, you know," Beth told her. "Like a bunch of slayers he made sure didn't die and everything."
"Really?" Nadja asked him, sounding intrigued. "What made you decide to work at the Council?"
He shrugged, suddenly bashful that all the questions were being turned on him. "After so much adventure, one wishes to settle down a bit and enjoy the years," he explained wistfully. "Though I did miss the action, the excitement!"
Beth rolled her eyes at his dramatic tone and the way Nadja actually seemed interested. "Is that why you volunteered to be Beth's personal Watcher?" she asked.
"No, it's because he was the only one who would take the job," Beth answered for him. "I wasn't popular amongst a lot of the Watchers either. Those who had worked at the Council before it exploded and Giles took over weren't very open to the idea of me even living there, let alone actually training side-by-side with other potentials. But my mum is very persuasive and scary when she wants her way. And, let's face it, the admin lady kind of has a crush on my dad."
"She wrote her dissertation on him and everything," Andrew added. "But that's not why I chose to be your Watcher, Elizabeth. Maybe no one else wanted to be, but I did. I was very happy when no one else asked for this prestigious position. It meant Giles had to pick me."
"And how happy was he about that?" Beth asked.
Andrew's face fell and he started to fiddle with his tie again. "His assistant thought it was a wonderful idea," he finally said.
"His assistant hates you," she reminded him, "but I am glad it's you and not some other stuffy Watcher I don't know. At least I have someone to go to Emerald City Comicon with me."
"Oh, that was fun, wasn't it?" he asked. "Next year we should do Doctor Who. I'd make a great Tennant."
Beth eyed him and even Nadja didn't seem to fully believe that. "Alright," she agreed, regardless of the funny thoughts imagining Andrew in a long coat, pretending to be heroic, gave her.
"Comicon. That's that thing that Zack did," Nadja stated. "Like a nerd convention?"
"It's is more than just a nerd convention," Andrew asserted, looking positively scandalized. "It is a great opportunity for small, art businesses to showcase their work and it allows communities to come together and enjoy pop culture."
"So nerds," Nadja decided. "Sounds just like something Zack does. At least I know Zack'll make friends some way in Boston as long as they have comicons."
"You've spoken to him recently?" Beth asked.
"No, I expect you to be my informant when it comes to how Zack is doing out east," Nadja told her. "His mother came over for dinner yesterday and was talking all about what Zack's told her. She says she misses him, but I saw those spa days circled on the calendar. She's happy she doesn't have to spend money buying him things anymore."
"Well, He hasn't called me and he said he would, once he's settled into his new college life," Beth replied.
"It's not like he's going to be partying or anything. Mr. Wells, did you go to college?" Nadja asked.
Andrew shrugged and made some noncommittal sounds.
"He didn't, but my dad did and my mum too. For a year. And a half," Beth informed her.
"Are you going to college?" Nadja asked.
"My mum expects me to," Beth replied, "though I don't know what I'd go for. Is 'Ass-kicking' a major?"
"Not hardly," Nadja muttered.
Interrupting their conversation rather rudely, a vampire sprang out from behind a tree, already in game face. Beth hopped up and brandished her stake, but the vampire made no move towards her. He only grinned at her, a rather ghastly sight considering the fangs. Huh. Maybe she should try that in order to scare her enemies.
"Are you the slayer?" he demanded.
She pretended to look around. "I don't see anyone else looking to kill your arse, so yeah, I'm the slayer."
He still didn't attack her and she was wondering if maybe he instead was hoping for a conversation or an interview, maybe some pointers. He was still grinning at her manically, and he even started to laugh. She was taken aback when the low chuckles escalated into full-blown hysterical laughter.
"Now would be a great time to stake him," Andrew mumbled, holding up a cross at arm's distance. Nadja stood beside him, just as taken aback as Beth was.
"Are you okay?" she asked him, not like she really cared. She was curious though. She'd never had the opportunity to meet an insane vampire and with all the stories she'd heard about Drusilla, that woman was looking pretty sane compared to this cackling maniac.
"Your reign of terror is coming to an end," he finally told her, his laughter subsiding.
"Seeing as I'm not moving any time soon, I've got to disagree with you," she replied, finally making a move towards him. He jumped to the left though, still not attacking, but still in game face.
"Can you please stand still so I can slay you?" she asked kindly, once again moving towards him and missing.
"Maybe I can make things easier," he said.
"Yes, easier would be nice," she told, him, swinging again. Damn. Another miss.
"I could be rewarded," he continued, almost as if she hadn't spoken.
She frowned, finally realizing he was talking to himself. She stopped, looking him over again and waiting to see what he did next.
"If I do this, maybe the Master of Bellevue will reward me," he muttered, an elated look taking over his face. "He could make me a Son!" And with those final words, he lunged at Beth. She only sidestepped him, turning around and shoving her stake through his back. He burst into a pile of dust and she stepped away, not wanting to get any in her hair.
"Well, that was weird," Nadja said suddenly, breaking the silence.
"What did he say?" Andrew squeaked.
"Something about his master and how he wants to be his son," Beth told him. "I thought Bellevue didn't have a proper Master."
"Or maybe he's got some weird submissive-dominant role thing going on?" Nadja suggested, sounding dubious. "Aren't all vampires a little masochistic?"
"I think we're done for the night," Andrew decided, looking very frazzled.
"113," Beth sang, patting him on the shoulder before walking toward the cemetery exit. "Also, I call driving!"