All right everyone! I was away on vacation, but now I'm home. I'd originally planned to post this before leaving, but had some issues with posting on another site, so it didn't end up here. Sorry.

Anyway, here you go. Be sure to leave me oodles of reasons to hurry back with more!

~oOo~

Chapter Ten
Watchers Shocked

Buffy woke up several hours later, still feeling wiped out. She blinked a few times and rubbed her eyes, then sat upright. She should get up. It was Sunday and, while she really had nothing to do—or planned—she shouldn't stay in bed all day.

Yawning, she looked around her room. Someone had come in and turned off her lamp and opened the curtains, so a little daylight was shining in. Yay daylight, she thought as she threw back her covers and got up. First order of business, peeing!

In the bathroom, Buffy used the toilet, then went to the sink to wash up. Her teeth felt disgusting, so she took care of that next. As she brushed, she gazed at herself in the mirror and decided she looked a little weary. The last week had been a total trip. She'd died in her time—or something. She thought she'd died, anyway. The Master bit her and...well, she had no clue what had happened after that. Maybe she was in another universe and another Buffy was dead. Or alive and fighting the Master. She just didn't know.

But what she did know was that now she was here! With complete strangers. So odd! And so lucky that she'd been found and taken in.

Finishing up with her teeth, Buffy spit, then rinsed—then groaned when her stomach loudly growled. Next order of business was food! Clearly, she was hungry. Again!

As she went up the stairs, Buffy listened for voices—and was thankful when she heard none. Not that she didn't like the sisters, because she did! And she was so grateful! It was just that she needed some alone time to think.

Thank goodness that awful Watcher woman is gone, she thought as she entered the kitchen. Going straight to the stove to put water on, she noticed immediately that the pot was still warm—which meant that at least one of the sisters was awake. So much for alone time.

While the water was heating, she found the bread and popped it in the toaster, then retrieved the butter. When her toast was ready, she buttered it, taking care not to use too much. The sisters had assured her that she could eat whatever she required, but...she sort of felt guilty for overindulging when so many were struggling to put food on their tables. She did have to keep her body fueled for slaying, but she would be thrifty when she could. This would be difficult...due to the fact that Slayers usually ate about three times more than the average person. But the food police probably wouldn't understand that, would they?

Pouting a little, Buffy took a bite of her toast, her mind drifting as she waited for the kettle to whistle. When it did, she shook herself out of her daydream and sighed, then went to prepare her tea. She wasn't usually a big tea drinker, but there was plenty of that in the house, she'd noticed, so in the last week, she'd had multitudes of tea. What she wouldn't give for a latte and a dozen donuts right now!

Smiling grimly—at how fast one could adapt to changes when they had to—Buffy carried her tea over to the table. Dropping into a chair, she nibbled on her toast and sipped her tea. She was somewhat in a fog.

I'm just still groggy, she told herself. I'll be fine once I'm totally awake!

When she'd finished her toast and tea, she pushed her plate and cup to the side and put her head down on the table, melancholia hitting her again.

"Oh. You're awake," came Vin's voice.

Buffy opened her eyes and sat up, pushing at the tears on her cheeks. She tried to smile at the brunette, but it didn't at all reach her eyes.

Vin cocked her head and studied Buffy, obviously noticing that things were off. "How are you?"

Buffy shrugged. "I miss my mom," she admitted. There was no point in hiding it.

Vin nodded. "I understand. You're lucky you have one though. I mean, Potentials are usually removed from their families early on and most Slayers live with their Watchers."

"Really? That just...blows."

"Your Watcher never told you?"

Buffy shrugged. "Giles says a lot of things I don't understand. Sometimes I just let him talk." She tried to smile. "I can't imagine living with him."

Vin shrugged. "That is just the way it's done," she said—then frowned. "Did you sleep well? You look tired."

Buffy shrugged again. "It was fine. I mean, not enough sleep, but still good. I'm glad I got to see Tom though. Makes my sleepiness today worth it." She grinned.

"We should talk about last night," Vin said next. She looked reluctant to broach the subject.

"Sure. What is up with your sister?" Buffy asked, jumping right in.

Vin sighed and went to prepare herself some tea. "Edna is...difficult."

Buffy snorted. "I'll say. Did she really expect me to just...go pack up and go off into the night with her?"

Looking back over her shoulder at Buffy, Vin grinned. "She did and you surprised her by refusing."

Buffy chuckled. "My Giles doesn't give me orders. We discuss any sitch we have, then decide together on the best course of action. Most of the time he lets me take the lead, because, you know, I'm the one risking my life out there."

Vin nodded. "Isn't that the truth!"

"Isn't what the truth?" came Sophie's voice as she breezed into the kitchen and slid onto a chair at the table.

"We were discussing Slayers and Watchers and how it's the Slayer who takes the risks and should always be consulted, not ordered about like a well-trained dog," Vin responded with a grimace as she set a cup of down in front of Sophie, then sat next to Buffy.

Sophie nodded. "Absolutely!" she said, her face looking a little sour. "Edna is just...just..." She grunted angrily instead of finishing her sentence.

Vin nodded. "And she'll be back. My guess is that she'll be back tonight with Rupert."

Sophie groaned—but Buffy perked up. "Rupert? That's her husband's name?"

The sisters nodded.

"Hmm. I'm assuming that my Giles is their grandson or something. Time wise, mine's not born yet. Not until 1954, so..."

"Ahhh...little Edmund has a son," Sophie said with a grin.

"Edmund?" Buffy queried.

"Edna and Rupert's son," Vin said. "He's about sixteen now, I think, and training to be a Watcher too."

"Such an adorable boy," said Sophie—and Buffy couldn't tell if the comment was sincere or snide.

Vin hummed. "We'll come back to the topic of Edna, but...what's the agenda for today?" she asked.

Sophie shrugged. "We might think about buying Buffy some clothing of her own," she said.

Buffy perked up at this. Shopping?

"She can't keep wearing our cast offs," Sophie said with a shake of her head. "She needs something less... old."

Vin nodded. "True."

"I know someone, who knows someone...we can get in without a fuss...without needing to go through the proper channels," Sophie continued.

Vin snorted. "That will infuriate Edna. Let's do it!"

Buffy frowned. "Is this like the food?" she asked. "Is clothing rationed too?"

Vin and Sophie nodded. "Yes," they said in unison.

"To buy clothing you need money and coupons. But we have a stock pile of those," Vin informed Buffy as she got up and pulled open a drawer—and pulled out a handful of booklets that were presumably said coupons. "What color coupons are we allowed to use right now?"

Sophie frowned at her sister. "I believe...the blue ones," she said—then looked at Buffy. "We rarely use them, because we use magic to create what we need most of the time."

Buffy nodded her understanding. "Couldn't we just, you know...do that then?" she asked, worried about taking too much from others. "Use magic, I mean?"

Vin and Sophie glanced at each other, then back at their guest.

"You wish to continue to wear hand-me-downs?" Sophie asked.

Buffy frowned. "Well, no, but I don't want to take too much from others."

Vin nodded. "We understand, but think of it this way... we haven't used our allotted amounts, so we haven't taken from anyone in a long time."

"All right," Buffy said, looking down at herself. "It would be nice to have something that's mine. Thank you."

Sophie grinned. "Of course, dear."

"Why don't you run along and dress and we'll make a day of it," Vin suggested. "We'll eat out as well. There are some nice pubs that offer a good meal...at a fair price."

Sophie snorted. "Expensive, she means, but yes...let's do it! We haven't had a day out shopping like this in ages. Fun, fun!" she said as she rubbed her palms together.

Standing, Buffy excused herself to get dressed.

~oOo~

The sisters had dragged Buffy all over London, insisting on loading her up with all the incidentals she was missing. They used their magics to send most everything back to the house, so they weren't burdened with carrying it all around with them—and so no one would see that they'd purchased so much at the same time.

Buffy enjoyed the shopping, of course, but watched the sisters' frivolous spending with unease. They didn't seem at all concerned about what was going on around them. The war and its destruction didn't appear to be a factor in their minds at all. In a way, Buffy could see Edna's point of view—except that Edna seemed to be on the other end of the spectrum. She was just as into herself, only seeing things from her perspective, as Vin and Sophie were of themselves.

But, in the end, Vin and Sophie were a force of nature! There was no way Buffy could have stopped them or even slowed down their shopping expedition. Watching their playful antics and silly frolicking around was amusing, to say the least. It must drive Edna nuts!

~oOo~

"Oh! Let's stop at the bakery," Sophie burst. "I think I'd like a cake."

Vin snorted. "And rub it in their faces?"

"Of course not," Sophie denied with a devious smile. "Shopping is hungry business, isn't it, Buffy?"

Vin chortled her amusement. "Right."

Buffy looked between the sisters, confused. "What am I missing here? We've just come from lunch?"

Still smiling, Vin gestured across the street. The sign over the business straight ahead said, "Giles' Bakery."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Oh. I see. We're not going to go visit Edna, are we?" She wrinkled nose with distaste.

"Absolutely not!" Sophie said. "We'll wait for her to visit us. On our grounds."

Buffy nodded. "Okay...then why are we here?"

"For cakes!" Sophie quipped.

"This is Rupert's family's bakery," Vin explained. "They've a very successful shop. Several shops actually. This one belongs to his parents. Rupert has several siblings. They all have a shop of their own. All over London."

"They sell the best baked goods in town and they always give us oodles of extras when we go into one of their shops," Sophie added—then grinned. "Mummy and daddy are sure to let Rupie know we were here."

Buffy raised a brow. "Is that wise?" she asked. "Sort of feels like baiting a vampire."

Sophie giggled.

Vin shrugged. "It doesn't matter at this point. Edna will be back no matter what we do now."

Sophie groaned. "Is it possible to love and loathe one's sister?" she asked as they started across the street.

"Of course. I love you, dear, don't I?" Vin asked. "But Edna...not a lot of warmth for that one at the moment."

Sophie chortled with glee. "Not what I meant, but...point taken. And agreed." Then she looked at Buffy. "You should invite Tom over. That ought to thoroughly annoy Edna."

Buffy frowned. "How will Tom annoy Edna?"

Sophie grinned. "Because he knows about you, Buffy. Slayers don't have friends."

Buffy scoffed. "I do!"

Vin laughed. "Of course you do, dear. How was Tom last night?" she asked.

Buffy shrugged. "I think he wasn't too pleased that I threw pebbles at his window, but he was...very gentlemanly when he joined me outside. He had to sneak out, of course."

"Of course," Vin said. "Places like Wools don't allow the children to go out often and never at night."

"Well, what they don't know won't hurt them, right?" Buffy said. "Providing they didn't find out."

"Tom seemed the sort to be able to handle himself," said Sophie. "I wouldn't worry. Though, the idea of him being there worries me quite a bit." She frowned and glanced at her sister.

"No, Sophronia! We are not going to abduct him!"

Sophie pouted. "Meanie."

"But you're welcome to invite him over, Buffy," Vin said. "If you'd like, we could go over and make arrangements with Mrs Cole for him to visit."

Buffy nodded. "I would like that."

~oOo~

Inside the bakery, Vin and Sophie were disappointed to find that the Giles were out for the day, but they were sure their worker would pass on the news. They were, however, given a bag of the finest cakes to bring home—the ones that were not sold to the public—in a Giles' Bakery bag that they'd be sure to leave out in the open at home.

A couple hours later, the three of them were in the kitchen, having tea again, when the front door bell chimed.

Sophie glanced at the clock on the wall and snorted. "Just like clockwork."

"They must have finished work and come here straightaway," Vin added with an annoyed frown. "I hope there isn't a Council order to take Buffy."

This time Buffy snorted. "I'm not going anywhere, guys! That sister of yours...and that Council of hers...are no match for me!"

Sophie grinned. "Which one of us is going to get the door?"

Vin rolled her eyes. "I'll do it," she said as she got up. As she was leaving the kitchen they heard her say, "I believe I'll need something stronger to drink though."

Still grinning, Sophie nodded. "I'll pour," she called out. "Buffy, be a dear and make some tea. Edna and Rupert won't want wine."

~oOo~

At the door, Vin sighed and smoothed out her dress, then pasted on a smile and opened the door.

"Good evening, Edna. Rupert. So lovely to see you... again," she said as she stood back and and held out a welcoming hand. Edna walked in without any sort of acknowledgement, but Rupert nodded a greeting as he went by.

"Edmund. It's been a while. It's good to see you," Vin said, smiling at her nephew.

"Hello Auntie Vin," the young man said, smiling back, embracing his aunt, then following his parents into the lounge.

"So. Where is she?!" Edna demanded as soon as Vin walked into the room.

Vin sighed. "No pleasantries, I see," she said, then looked at her brother-in-law. "Can I offer you a drink, Rupert?"

"Yes, thank you," he said. "Scotch, if you'd be so kind."

Edna huffed—her eyes widening when Sophie walked in with an already open bottle of wine, a jovial smile pasted on her face, the Slayer trailing behind with a tray of teacups.

"You can put those there, dear," said Sophie, with a gesture at a long table against the far wall.

Buffy did as instructed, then turned and gazed at those in the room. She resisted wrinkling her nose at the pinched face Edna Giles—she was not a fan of this Watcher—who was all but glaring at her. She wondered why the woman couldn't seem to stand being in the same room as her. What had she done to anger the woman so much?

Next she looked at the boy—young man, really—he was about her own age and looked so familiar it was difficult not to grin at him.

"This is our nephew, Edmund," Sophie introduced. "And this is Buffy Summers. She is our guest for the unforseeable future."

Edna snorted, but everyone ignored her.

Stepping forward, Edmund pushed his glasses up, then put his hand out. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Buffy," he said politely.

"Yeah. You too, Edmund," she responded, taking his hand awkwardly. She was unused to formal greetings with handshakes.

"And this is Edna's husband, Rupert," Vin said from behind Buffy.

Buffy turned her gaze on the man and gasped audibly. He looked so much like the Giles she knew that she felt her eyes suddenly filling with tears. She was fully aware that this man wasn't her Watcher, but her heart clenched at the sight of him.

"Giles!" she whispered, throwing her arms around the man and clinging to him.

Everyone in the room just stared at her. Rupert stiffened, but eventually patted the young woman gently while she hugged him. When she pulled back and looked up at him, he just watched her—and then she seemed to realize what she'd done and backed away, her face crimson.

"I...um...I'm sorry," she said—then hurried out of the room.

"That was awkward," Rupert said, taking his scotch from Vin and downing the entire glass.

Vin eyed him—as did his wife and son—while Sophie burst into giggles.

"I hardly think this is amusing, Sophronia!" Edna snapped.

"Oh! You're wrong there," Sophie said between giggles. "This is more amusing than anything I've seen in the past week. And you have no idea what we've been through this week."

Edna pursed her lips.

When Sophie was able to control her mirth, she turned and poured a glass of wine for herself and Vin, then looked at Edmund. "Would you mind going to your mother's old room to check on Buffy, please," she said sweetly.

Edmund glanced between his parents—both of whom gave him a small nod—then left the room.

"You didn't have to send him away," Edna said. "He is training to be a Watcher, after all. And we do not hide anything from him. Anything you tell us, he will be apprised of later on."

Sophie raised a brow. "That was done for Buffy, not so that Edmund wouldn't hear our conversation," she explained with exasperation. "Despite what you think of us, we do have feelings and we do care about others."

Vin nodded. "And right now, Buffy is our concern."

Edna snorted. "Not for long!"

Vin and Sophie shared a look, then sat down nonchalantly and took sips of their wine.

"What aren't you telling us?!" Edna snapped after several moments of silence.

"Before we do, why don't you tell us what you know about Buffy?" Vin said, turning the table on her.

Edna huffed. "We don't know anything about Ms Summers!" she said. "Just that The Slayer is in Chicago and that she's alive and well and doing her duty. So, what we want to know is what's going on here? How did this Slayer become activated when the current one is still alive? Where is this Watcher of hers and who is he? And how the devil do you two fit into all of this?!" Edna started pacing.

"We found her...in a fountain," Vin offered.

"Well, to be completely accurate, Tom found her in the fountain...in Trafalgar Square," Sophie nonchalantly corrected. "And we happened to find them."

"Yes. That's true," Vin agreed, nodding her head and sipping her wine.

"Found? Did she just...drop out of the sky?" Edna snapped sarcastically.

Vin and Sophie shrugged. "According to Tom, yes, he just found her. And yes, she did just drop out of the sky."

Edna scoffed. "This is ludicrous!"

Sophie barked out a laugh and nodded. "It is!" she said. "Utterly absurd."

"But one hundred percent the truth too," Vin put in. "And there's more..."

"Yes. Much more," Sophie agreed—but neither of them elaborated, which frustrated their sister to no end.

"Tell. Me. What's. Going. On," Edna ground out.

Sophie rolled her eyes. "All right. Fine. Just remember that you wanted to know! Buffy dropped out of the sky...from the future. She's been staying with us since then and you're not taking her!"

Edna blinked, then glanced at her husband and back. "If you two expect us to believe that nonsense, you're delusional."

Sophie chortled with glee. "Oh. One more thing. Your yet to be conceived grandson is her Watcher," Vin added—grinning as she watched both Edna and Rupert blink in shock, then drop onto the sofa.

"Oh, good Lord," Rupert said with a sigh.

"And by the way Buffy reacted, I imagine Rupert must resemble her Watcher quite significantly."

Sophie nodded. "Oh yes. I would say so."

~oOo~

Thanks for reading!