This chapter is rated T for some foul language that is very rare for me. However, Beth is a foul-mouthed creature.

Chapter 7: Thanksgiving Tales

******Where We Left Off*****

"Grandpa, Clem looks very strange, and I plan on explaining why his skin condition is something unique to him," Buffy told John, "but I would rather wait until after dinner."

John stood up, taking in the man's deformity. He was deeply touched by his granddaughter's compassionate nature. Obviously, she invited in this deformed man who the community shunned.

"Hi, Clem," Dawn said, hugging him.

His other granddaughter was just as kindhearted, and it made him so proud. He walked over to the man, and he held out his hand. "John Dutton. I am very pleased to meet any friend of my granddaughters," he said.

Clem had never in all his life had a man of such stature want to shake his hand. When the rest of her family stood and surrounded him to honor him, he had to fight the tears that threatened.

His clan would never believe this story. John had no way of knowing, but his acceptance would become a source of protection for his family in ways that he could not predict or foresee.

Xander looked at Anya. "I'm confused," he said to her.

"Clearly, Buffy's family are not specist like some I could name," she said airily.

Giles was standing in the dining room with Tara and Willow. Spike leaned in the doorway watching, grinning at Clem's expression.

"I don't think Buffy needs to worry about her family learning the truth," Willow said.

"Why do you think they're being so nice to Clem?" Tara wondered.

"They probably think he's some deformed individual and want to make him feel welcomed," Giles guessed.

"That's—" Willow began and then stopped talking. "Really very sweet."

"They are good people," Tara observed.

"I fear we are going to lose both of them," Giles said with a sad sigh.

Willow frowned. "No, she's taking classes in the spring. I helped her sign up for a four-week course over Christmas break," Willow said.

"So that she can get into law school to help her family," Tara pointed out.

"Yes, Buffy will always be the slayer," Giles said. "We know that she will always come here if she is needed, but she has given more than enough. If she wants to change her focus, I think we need to support her in this."

They nodded as Jamie announced that it was time to eat.

Dinner was a festive affair. John could not remember the last time he had enjoyed a holiday meal so much. Although he missed his grandson, his granddaughters' presence brought him such joy. Her friends were great conversationalists. Somehow, Beth had managed to actually get along with another female, Xander's fiancée, Anya. She was explaining how to increase her portfolio the younger woman, who was actually taking notes.

Xander and Kayce struck up a conversation about construction while Giles was explaining to Jamie how gifted Dawn was in ancient languages but struggled in math.

"I've been tutoring her. She's not so behind in math anymore," Willow said.

"Willow tutors us all," Buffy said, smiling at her friend.

John chatted with Spike and Clem about poker and how much they loved to play it. Naturally, they had enough sense not to mention kittens.

"I haven't had a good poker game in a while," John said.

"I taught your granddaughters how to play. Only Dawn has a knack for it," Spike said, giving her a proud look. "She's a natural."

"She gets that from me," John remarked, smiling at Daw

"Big sis couldn't keep the rules straight," Spike said, snickering.

"That's because I was drinking when you taught me, and you know it. I don't ever drink, so if you'd taught me sober, I'm sure I'd do just fine," Buffy said, glaring at him.

"Do you two never not fight?" Beth asked, catching the conversation.

"It's the nature of what they are," Anya remarked dismissively.

Beth looked at Anya, figuring that she would get straighter answers from her. "What are they?" Beth asked.

"You should not ask questions in this town unless you really want to know the answer," Anya said in quiet voice. No one was paying attention to them, but she kept her voice down because she knew that Buffy's hearing was slightly better than normal.

"I always want to know the truth," Beth said. "I don't like surprises."

Anya grinned. "Well, Buffy's entire life is one big surprise," Anya said. "Of course, she can't help it. She was born cursed or blessed—it depends on your point of view. I just know that she dragged my Xander into her violent and dangerous world. He would, though, say that she saved his life the first week he met her and gave his life meaning. I just would like, sometimes, to be enough for him, you know?"

"Well, sure," Beth said. "That's why I think it's crazy that you said yes to his proposal. Men today are not like my dad. They are really immature. Xander seems great, but I don't think he's ready to give up his life to be a husband and father. An engagement is going to put too much pressure on your relationship unless you make the engagement long and don't start planning a wedding. You should wait a few years at the very least to actually get married. What's the rush? You're still a couple."

Anya thought about what she said. It was true that she and Xander fought a lot about Buffy and Willow. If Buffy left, it would just be Willow. Maybe they should wait to plan the wedding and set a date until after things were settled. He proposed; he loved her. There was no rush to get married. Beth was right.

"You might be right about that," she said. "If I follow your advice, I can increase our portfolio, and we can have a really great wedding without any help from his toxic family. Not to mention, afford a fabulous honeymoon."

"There you go," Beth said, patting her hand. "You are thinking like a winner."

Anya smiled. "I really like you, and I rarely like humans," she said.

"I feel the same exact way," Beth said, grinning. "Except I don't usually like horses either."

"Really? Don't you live on a ranch?" Anya asked.

"A horse fell on my mother and killed her," Beth explained.

Anya winced in sympathy. "Oh, I understand," Anya said. She knew how it was to ride and die by horses as it was all they had for transportation back when she was first human.

"So back to what you were saying," Beth reminded her. "What's so dangerous about my niece's life?"

"She's the slayer," Anya said. "Supernaturally called to protect people from monsters, and this town is on a hellmouth. Yes, monsters are real. Vampires, demons, and witches. Of course, witches aren't normally evil unless they channel too much bad magic. I used some dark magic on an ex-boyfriend about a thousand years ago. That's how I got my gig as a vengeance demon. I helped scorn women everywhere until Xander broke Cordelia Chase's heart, and I ended up stuck as human. Buffy's a vampire slayer, and Spike is a vampire. He's got this microchip in his head thanks to some military guys who came to town two years ago to study the supernatural, so he can't hurt humans. But he's still evil and likes to kill things. He helps Buffy; he genuinely likes Dawn and has the hots for Buffy."

Beth listened to her spiel, sipping her wine. Then she laughed. "You almost had me for a minute there," she said. "I especially liked the part where you were a thousand-year ex-demon that used to curse scorned women. You look damn good."

Anya grinned. "Thank you," she said. Then she turned to Xander. "Xander, I think we should put off planning our wedding and have a long engagement. Save some money."

Xander looked surprised. "Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yes," Anya replied. "Beth gave me pointers on how to increase our portfolio, so we should be millionaires in ten years. We can marry within five years and have a child a year after we get married. Does that sound acceptable?"

Xander that twenty-seven was a good age to be dad. Much better than twenty-two or twenty-three, which a marriage next spring could have made happen. He felt the pit in his stomach that he hadn't realized he was carrying slowly disappear.

He smiled. "Whatever makes you happen, babe," he told her.

She flashed him a smile.

After dessert was had, John suggested they have a game of poker in the kitchen since there was a table in there. Giles, Clem, Spike, and Dawn joined them. More than five it became too busy. Beth helped her niece—much to Spike's annoyance as it was clear that Beth was a very skilled player.

They weren't betting with money the first game. It was a surprise that Dawn via Beth lasted so long, but the real surprise was Giles.

"Giles, why didn't you tell us you were a card shark?" Xander asked.

"There's a lot I don't tell you guys," Giles said with a smirk.

"He's got the big brain, so I'm not surprised," Buffy said, smiling.

Dawn was out, and then it was John and Giles.

"Who knew cards could be so interesting?" Willow said to Tara.

It took about thirty minutes, but Giles did force John to fold.

Xander cheered. "And the Brit takes down the cowboy!" he exclaimed.

John laughed and shook Giles hand. "Clearly, you've played a lot," he said.

"Not since my college days, but it was how I earned extra money," Giles admitted, causing his kids to laugh.

"I knew it!" Xander exclaimed.

It was a really good Thanksgiving. Buffy decided all demon talk could wait until the next day. As the guest left, John hugged Buffy. "I can't remember when I have had such a pleasant day with my kids. Beth and Jamie actually got along. She stayed for an entire meal, and no one got into an argument," he said. "Most importantly, you make me so proud."

Buffy hugged him, working to not squeeze too hard. She hoped that when he found out who she was, he would still be proud of her.

*****The Next Day*****

Beth had trouble sleeping because Anya's words kept playing in her mind. Although she did dismiss them as a joke, something was nagging her. She would never confide in Jamie, and she didn't want to go to her father with the tale. That meant it left Kayce. She saw him coming out of the bedroom he was sharing with their father and waved him into Buffy's room she was using.

"Come here," she whispered.

"Give me a minute," he said. He went into the bathroom. A few minutes later, he came to the bedroom.

Beth shut the door behind him. "I need to tell you something Anya said to me yesterday," she told him. "At first, I thought she was just pulling my leg. But I can't get it out of my mind because it was so insane." She told Kaycee what Anya said.

Kayce listened. When he didn't laugh or smile, Beth became worried.

"Isn't that crazy? What do you think?" Beth asked.

"I didn't know that about Anya, but I knew witches and magic was real," Kayce revealed. "Willow and Tara are witches. I have seen Willow use magic."

"No fucking way," Beth said in disbelief.

"I'm serious," Kayce said. "Buffy is a vampire slayer, and she was holding back when we sparred. I went out with her Wednesday night with Spike and her friends to clear out a nest of vampires. Spike is a vampire who helps them. I saw her slaying vampires and fighting. She was incredible."

"Anya said Spike has a chip in his head that keeps him from hurting humans," Beth said, feeling like she'd entered a sci-fi movie.

"Buffy is a real superhero," Kayce said. "Every night, she patrols this town, killing monsters that prey on humans. Dawn told me last night that Clem was a loose-skinned demon. Not all demons are evil."

Beth sat down on the bed, her head spinning. "I need a drink. There's not one bit of alcohol in this fucking house," she complained.

"Didn't you bring something?" Kayce asked her, grinning.

"I drank it already," she admitted.

He laughed.

"I had Thanksgiving dinner with a fucking demon," she said. "There's not enough alcohol in the world to make me forget that."

"So should we tell Dad?" Kayce asked.

"Fuck no," she said. "I say we let little miss superhero tackle that one."

Kayce smiled but shook his head. "You are shameless," he told her.

"Dad is going to flip his shit, and you know it. Dawn is going to be physically removed from this house so fast, she won't get time to take all her shoes!" Beth predicted.

"I think Buffy will have something to say about that," Kayce warned.

"This is just fucking insane," Beth said, getting up and pacing. "I need a drink."

"It's nine o'clock in the morning," Kayce pointed out.

"You just told me that this town is on a hellmouth. Demons and monsters are real and that my niece, who I have grown right down fond of in the short time I've known her—a miracle for me—is a fucking vampire slayer," Beth said. "Her best guy friend Xander's fiancée, Anya, who I genuinely liked, another first for me—I never like other women—wasn't lying. She is a thousand-year-old former vengeance demon. Buffy's other best friend Willow is a fucking witch. She has real fucking magic powers. You've seen this?"

Kayce nodded. "I have. She produced light with her hand. Our nieces' lives are hard and dangerous," he said. "I was a soldier, so I can get a bit of what she's been through. She told me that she was called at fifteen. Her first mentor—she called him a watcher was killed. Her life's been difficult. Giles is her current watcher. He helps train her and tells her how to kill whatever monster she faces. Not all demons are killed the same."

"That's why he's in her life? It's a fucking conspiracy," Beth muttered.

"There's another slayer, Faith, who was called when Kendra was killed. Kendra was called when Buffy died her sophomore year, but Xander resuscitated her," Kayce repeated what Buffy told him. "Buffy says that if Faith can come to Sunnydale, she can leave."

"Well, damn, that's great news. Where's Faith? Let's get this done," Beth said.

"She's in prison in California. For murder," Kayce shared.

"Damn it. Fuck this fucking day!" Beth swore, back to packing. "Go get Jamie. He's a lawyer. It's about time he was good for something."

"He's not a California lawyer. How can he help?" Kayce asked.

"He's a lawyer. She's in prison. We'll get her here, so Buffy can be with her family," Beth said.

"You know it's not ever gonna change who or what she is," Kayce said. "She's not normal. She'll never be."

"Who the fuck cares?" Beth said, bluntly. "She's ours, and she belongs with us. Dawn deserves to have a family and be away from a place this dangerous."

Kayce went downstairs to get his brother. His father was awake and listening to Dawn explain how she made her pancakes. He said good morning and motioned for Jamie to come with him.

Jamie followed him up to Buffy's bedroom where Beth was at, confused as to why.

"Just be quiet and follow me," Kayce whispered.

Jamie was confused by Kayce's out of character behavior but complied. Then when they were all in the room, he looked between his two siblings.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys?" Jamie asked. "This is really rude. Buffy's going to be up any minute."

"We have to tell you some things about Buffy," Kayce said. "Then we need you to help her friend, so you can help get her out of this dangerous town."

Jamie listened as his siblings told him a preposterous story. If it was only Beth, he wouldn't have left, convinced she was just messing with him. Kayce, however, wasn't prone to flights of fancy or making up fairy tales.

"You're for real?" Jamie asked his brother.

"I am. She took me with her Wednesday night," Kayce said. "She climbed out her window."

Jamie's mind was spinning as he tried to process what they were saying. He got up and went out the bedroom to the room next door, knocking.

Buffy opened the door, smoothing down her hair. "Good morning, Uncle Jamie. What's up?" she asked, giving him a bright smile.

Jamie looked at her a long moment. "Are you a vampire slayer? Is this town on a hellmouth?" he asked.

Buffy lost her smile and looked scared. Jamie could see the fear of rejection in her eyes as she nodded. "Yes. Yes to both questions," she admitted.

He didn't understand how it could be or why such a thing happened to her. But this was Lee's daughter, and he had loved Lee. Lee would be very proud to know her. "Your father would be so proud of you," he said, raising his hand to her shoulder.

Buffy's eyes filled with tears at his unexpected words.

"Really?" she asked.

"Yes," Jamie said. "He would. I am." He pulled her in his arms and hugged her. Somehow, Jamie knew that she had been fearing rejection.

Buffy hoped her grandfather would react just as well.

*****Chapter End*****

I thought this was a good place to stop. Reviews are always appreciated. Thanks so much!