Oopies. I'd meant to post this DAYS ago! Sorry for the delay...I just totally forgot that I posted it in the two other places I'm posting this and not here! *sigh*

Chapter Twenty-two
Joined by the Giles

As Edmund made his way to the front door, he thought about his day with Buffy and Tom—and the conversations he'd had with them and with his mother's sisters. In his youth, he'd always adored his pretty young-looking aunties. They were fun and silly and he'd always wondered why they didn't visit with them more often. Now though, he could see his mother's distaste for their lifestyle—and how they seemed to intentionally egg his mother on.

However, he could also see why they stayed away from his admittedly uptight mother. She made zero attempt to put aside her opinion of them and their way of life and was often rude and insensitive toward them.

When he got to the door, he sighed before pulling the door open.

"Mother. Father," he said, nodding at his parents.

Edna went inside while Rupert closed his umbrella, then stepped inside as well and shook off the rain water that had immediately covered his outer clothing.

Edmund looked outside to the streets—the rain was coming down quite a bit for the time of year. He hadn't been able to hear it from the dining room, but now that the door was open and he could see and hear that it was teeming, he wondered about Buffy going out to patrol. Would she still want to?

"Shut the door, Edmund. You'll catch a cold," his mother ordered.

Edmund rolled his eyes—then grinned as he realized he'd copied Buffy Summer's actions concerning his mother.

As soon as the door clicked closed, one of his parents turned on the hallway light.

"Good evening, son," said his father, clapping him on the back in greeting.

"Yes. Good evening, dear," his mother said. "Did you have a good day with the Slayer and that...urchin."

"Mother!" said Edmund.

"Be nice, love," Rupert said. "Let's use their names."

Edna huffed. "Right. Or we'll be scolded by the girl."

Edmund laughed. "She's really quite nice, Mother. If you gave her a chance, you'd see."

"Nice," Edna said plainly, without a hint of disgust. She was confused though. How did this all manage to happen? She'd never had an issue acquiring the new Slayer. Never. And the Slayer had never been a witch before!

Well, not during her tenure anyway! The Council had given them next to zero information other than, "This has happened before on a couple of occasions. You won't follow this any further."

She didn't though. Instead, she went poking around in the files. Normally they were off work around five o'clock, but they'd both stayed longer to dig through the Slayer bios. When they found what they were looking for, she'd growled and snapped the folder closed, then handed it to her husband. It was done.

Done, but...not completely closed, in Edna Giles' book. As she was related to Lavinia and Sophronia Fairweather, she had some leeway—or so she hoped. The Council wouldn't ask her to not see and talk to her sisters, so...she could and would continue to gather information.

Rupert moved to help his wife out of her dripping coat. "Come on, dear. Do try."

Edna nodded. "I told you I'd try and...I will. I am trying," she said to her husband, then looked at her son. "So?"

"Our day was lovely, thank you. We went to the pictures and saw Major Barbara," he told his mother.

Edna smiled. "Ahh. The one with the stubborn Salvation Army woman."

Edmund nodded. "We all enjoyed it. It was Tom's first film," he said as they walked toward the dining room.

Edna shifted her gaze to Rupert—which Edmund didn't see because he was walking in front of them—who shook his head, as if to tell her it wasn't the time.

"We're having supper," Edmund told his parents, inwardly cringing at what they'd think when they saw all the food on his aunties' table. "Have you eaten?"

"No dear. We stayed at work late to do some research," Edna said vaguely, her eyes going to her husband again.

Edmund glanced over his shoulder at them, catching the look this time and knowing that his mother was intentionally leaving out information. She didn't usually do that with him, as she wanted him completely trained, but now that he'd become friendly with the Slayer, she'd become more secretive.

"Clearly you found information you aren't sharing," Edmund said.

Edna sighed.

It was Rupert who answered instead. "We are not to interfere, but yes we have."

Edmund nodded. Not sure how he felt about it. On the one hand, he was glad for Buffy if she were truly free of the Watchers Council. He'd never questioned it before, but...this time with her had been most enjoyable. On the other hand, however, he'd miss her if she disappeared from his life and he didn't get to see her again. It seemed like, if the latter happened, he would lose a friend.

But then, he would lose her anyway. If she remained the Slayer, her life would be short. Eventually, she would be taken from him—from all of them.

The other possibility was that she'd go back to her own time. In which case, she'd be gone as well. Being friends with Buffy Summers was going to be heartbreaking in any situation.

"Good evening, Rupert," Sophie called out the moment they entered the room. Then nodded stiffly at her sister. "Edna."

"Won't you both join us," asked Vin. She didn't wait for a response. Instead, she just gestured at the extra place settings and Buffy got up to moved them to the table while everyone shuffled around to make space. When Edna and Rupert didn't move from where they were standing, Edmund went to his mother and led her to the place at the table that she had usually taken in the past.

"Sit down mother," he said gently, as he pulled out her chair for her.

Giving them a tight-lipped smile, she moved to sit—Rupert going to his place.

After sitting, Edna looked at the food on the table and fought a scowl. There was far too much food there, but bringing it up or fighting about it would be useless—Lavinia and Sophronia hadn't a care in the world when it came to Edna's concerns.

"How was your work day?" Vin asked politely as she went back to eating.

"Long," answered Edna.

Sophie smiled. "Always a lot of research for you, yes?" she said knowingly as she poured a generous amount of wine in both Edna and Rupert's glasses. "I gather you found what it was you were looking for."

Rupert looked between the sisters, then pushed at his glasses and nodded. "Yes," he said, glancing at Buffy. "We learned that yours is an unusual case and that we are to leave you to whatever you might decide."

Buffy's eyes widened—then she grinned. "Awesome!"

Vin and Sophie glanced at one another, then at their sister.

"How ever will you abide by that?" Vin said teasingly, causing Sophie to laugh.

Edna glared at her sisters, then took a deep breath. "As I do not have a choice, I will...do my best to put it aside." She added for now in her head.

Sophie snorted. "But you aren't going to disappear, are you?"

Edna snorted back—sounding exactly like her sister. "Certainly not!"

"Alrighty then," Buffy said as she picked up her glass of wine and sipped, making a face—she was never given wine at home, but she was acquiring a taste for it. It was better than tea, which sort of tasted like mucky brown water to her.

"So. Buffy, I'm told you three went to the pictures today," Edna said conversationally—then looked at Tom. "Your first film, Tom. Did you enjoy it?"

Tom blinked at being addressed directly—and by name—then nodded. "Yes, Mrs Giles. It was...a pleasant experience."

"You look...nice," Edna remarked, not that she could really see much of the boy sitting at the table. But what she could see looked less orphan-like.

Frowning, Tom reached up and pushed a wave of dark hair off his brow, then smoothed down the shirt he was wearing. He'd intended to change out of Edmund's clothing and back into his own, which were severely worn, but familiar. But hadn't yet. "Thank you. Your son loaned me something more appropriate." He glanced at Edmund, who was sipping his drink.

Buffy snorted. "Looks nearly identical to what you were wearing to me."

Edna frowned and looked at the blonde teenager. She was wearing a top that was close-fitting and had her hair throw up on her head. The Watcher couldn't see the bottom half of her—due to the fact that they were sitting at the dining table—but she suspected it was equally casual. "Did you wear that out today?"

"Mother!" Edmund hissed.

Buffy laughed though. "Oh, hell no! Edmund made sure I was appropriately dressed as well," she said. She almost mentioned that he'd given her one of Edna's hats to wear, but decided against it so as not to get her friend in trouble. Buffy couldn't imagine that Edna Giles would be pleased that she'd loaned Buffy a hat without her knowledge. "I'm wearing this now, so that I can go out and patrol as soon as the sun goes down completely. I need clothing that allows me to move more freely for that, so..." She gestured at herself.

Edna's eyes widened, then quickly shifted to her husband.

Rupert halted his fork halfway to his mouth. "You are planning to patrol?" he asked.

"Well, of course," Buffy said with a bob of her head. "It's...what I do in my time, so...I'll do it here too." She shrugged, her messy ponytail bouncing.

"And yet you want nothing to do with the Council?" Edna asked with obvious confusion.

Buffy bit her lip. "I never actually said that. Not really. I don't want anything to do with the bossiness that comes with being the Slayer, but I will always be the Slayer. And, in this time, I'm a witch too!"

"You weren't a witch in your own time?" asked Rupert.

Buffy shook her head. "Naw. I was just plain old Buffy the vampire slayer." She grinned.

Edna shook her head. "You should have a Watcher, Buffy."

Buffy shook her head again. "I have a Watcher, Edna. But my Giles isn't here," she said with a glance at Edmund. "He's...not born yet and I...won't accept anyone else as my Watcher. I just won't. I...can't." She shrugged and looked down.

"But you shouldn't do this alone, Buffy," said Rupert. "We could assist you. Please allow us to help."

Vin snorted. "That didn't take long. So much for putting it aside," she grumbled.

Sophie huffed. "Is that the only reason you're here?" she asked.

Rupert shook his head. "No. Clearly we're interested in Buffy and the situation. It's unusual and she's an anomaly. That in itself is fascinating, but it is not our sole interest. Our main concern is that our son has become emotionally invested," he admitted as he pushed at his glasses and looked between his wife and son, then back at the girl in question. "For the sake of your friendship with Edmund, we would like to work with you. To keep you safe, at the very least, and to guide you should you need it of us. This would be outside the scope of the Council."

Vin and Sophie glanced at each other, then looked at the Watchers.

"Not a secret," Edna added. "Just out of hours."

Vin nodded. Of course not, she thought. God forbid the Giles withhold something from their precious Council.

Buffy shrugged. "Okay. I'd be amenable to that...if y'all are capable of less bossiness." She glanced at Edna. "I don't do well with being told what to do. Giles... my Giles...he's like family to me. Like...a father figure who's also my friend. He helps me and guides me, but he never just orders me around like a dog. I won't allow you to do that."

Edna studied the girl. Buffy Summers was quite different to any Slayer she'd met in the past. Much stronger in will. Tenacious, in control, and intelligent. The fact that she had a brain—and used it—was a good thing. She wouldn't follow blindly and that meant that she just might have a better sense of self-preservation than past Slayers. These were all good things—even if she wouldn't just roll over and allow the Council to order her about.

"Do you think you are capable of following the Slayer instead of instructing her?" Tom Riddle put in. He'd been listening—obviously, he was listening since he was sitting right there and could hear it all. He didn't like all the talk of the Giles family forcibly inserting themselves in Buffy's life. Vin and Sophie Fairweather had graciously taken her in and were caring for her. They'd all but taken him in as well—he was feeling more and more comfortable here—and he felt like this shift could mean that he'd be pushed to the side. Or even out completely! He hadn't liked Mr Giles' talk of Edmund's emotional interest at all! He didn't want to share Buffy with anyone! Least of all with a boy that was their age.

Everyone sat up a bit straighter. It was unusual that the dark-haired boy said anything unless spoken to first. For the most part he just watched and listened and took everything in—and the Giles ignored him. They were good at ignoring him.

Edna bristled. She wanted to comment that this didn't concern him, but knew it wouldn't be well received. Her sisters and the Slayer clearly liked the strange boy, despite the interloper's oddities.

Next to him, Buffy reached out and took his hand and squeezed it—and held on. And Tom was grateful. How did she always seem to know what to do to calm him?

"We would like to be a part of Buffy's time here, Tom," Rupert responded. "We would also like to assist you in any way we can."

Cocking his head, Tom frowned and eyed the older man. "And how is that?"

"We could research your family," Edna interjected.

Tom looked at Edmund, then back at the Watchers. "Yes, I've been told that many of my relations are still alive," he said, letting them know that he knew they'd already started poking around.

Edna frowned and looked at her son—and Edmund raised his chin in defiance. This was new. She was unaware that he'd passed on that information. "It appears so, yes."

Tom shrugged. "Clearly I was unwanted at the time of my birth."

"Possibly," agreed Edna. "Or perhaps your existence was unknown to anyone but your mother."

Tom glanced at the girl holding his hand. "Yes. Buffy and I have gone over several possible scenarios. She has agreed to help me look into them."

"If you'd like, we could continue to look into it for you," Edna offered.

Tom's dark eyes narrowed. "But what's the catch? What would you need in return?" he asked. They were being too nice and, in his experience, anything that seemed too good to be true, probably was.

"No catch," said Edna. "Obviously you'd need to keep Buffy's identity a secret."

"Buffy has more than one secret though, doesn't she?" Tom responded. "Slayer. Time-traveler. And her other secret, which happens to be my secret as well. Magic. Our existence is not supposed to be known outside of our kind either and yet, here we are." All of this openness terrified him—and he hated fearing anything.

Edna nodded. "Very true. Hmm. Then I propose that all of this information should remain...between us." She looked around the table at the other six people sitting there, waiting for nods of assent.

"How is that possible, Edna?" Vin cut in with a shake of her head. "The Council already knows about Buffy's magical status, so that's at least what, twenty or so of the senior members?"

Edna shrugged. "Yes. Approximately," she said, her eyes going to her husband.

"Give or take, yes," Rupert added. "I'm sure they'd like to keep it contained to as few people as possible. They won't want your identity and defection to become common knowledge."

"I am not defecting!" Buffy burst. "I'm...checking out other avenues. Exploring possibilities. But still slaying. I'm not abandoning my post. I'm not!"

Edna sighed. "Be that as it may, you're refusing to allow the Council to place you with a Watcher, so—"

Vin cut off her sister with a snort, then waved a hand dismissively. "Bottom line. A significant number of the Council knows that Buffy is a witch," she said shortly. "And the Ministry of Magic knows that she's a Slayer."

Tom cringed at hearing Muggles discuss his world. Dumbledore had assured him that he wouldn't get into trouble for this, but it all still made him nervous. Like he was losing his secret—a secret that made him feel special.

Edna rolled her eyes. "I just meant that no one else should be given any other information about the Slayer."

"I'm not sure that's possible," Buffy put in. "I'm not in the habit of being secret girl. In my time, my close friends know about me. It makes my job easier."

"You've said that," Rupert said. "It's highly unusual."

Buffy nodded. "I know, but..." She shrugged.

"And dangerous," Edna added.

Buffy shook her head. "I've actually found that it makes it easier for me to protect them...since they know, I don't have to hide who I am and what I'm doing," she said. "Less skulking about, you know?"

"If you didn't have friends, you'd be much more focused on your role of being the Slayer," Edna argued.

Buffy barked out a laugh. "And how well has that worked for all the Slayers of the past? I'd say, not so well. They're all dead and I'm alive."

"You aren't though, are you? You weren't a Slayer long and you're...dead now?" Edna said with a shrug.

Buffy frowned. "Maybe, in my time...I don't know. But I'm not dead here, as you can plainly see. All of that is beside the point though. Unlike all the others, I have friends and I will continue to have friends. Them being aware is crucial to their survival. I will be cautious, but I will not hide who I am. I refuse."

"Are you always this obstinate?" Edna asked.

Buffy nodded. "I'd say, 'ask Giles," but..."

"Hmm. I wish we could," said Edna, her eyes going to her son.

"I think we should set up a meeting with Albus Dumbledore," Sophie suggested.

Reluctantly, Vin nodded her agreement. It would be helpful to have both sides represented. They—she and Sophie—were more like parents and only wanted what would be best for Buffy, but they didn't have enough information on either side to guide their houseguest.

"Who is this Albus Dumbledore?" Rupert asked.

"A professor at our school," Tom responded.

"He's the one who informed us that Buffy is a witch," Sophie said. "He brought a letter from the school, inviting her to attend."

Edna nodded. "I see." She didn't like the idea of sharing the Slayer with the magical world, but it seemed they didn't have a choice. "How do we get in contact with this man?"

"We are actually waiting for him," said Vin. "He is supposed to contact Buffy soon, to set up a study schedule, so that she'll be ready to start at their school in September. She has missed out on the first four years of her education at Hogwarts and is very behind."

Buffy grimaced. The idea of cramming four years of magic into...what, the next two months...didn't sound at all enjoyable. She'd never been the best student.

Tom noticed instantly when Buffy became rigid and squeezed her hand. "You can do this."

Buffy sighed and looked at her friend. "I don't know, Tom. Slaying is easy. I'm used to it. But magic, not so much. It's completely foreign to me." She looked down.

Turning in his chair, Tom reached up to bring her gaze to his, then brushed at a strand of blonde hair that had fallen over her face. "I will help you. We all will," he said, hating that he was including the Giles in his statement.

Buffy studied him, then nodded.

~oOo~

Not long later, Buffy set her napkin on the table and moved to excuse herself. She knew that both her friends were going to offer to go out patrolling with her, but she needed some time to herself. "Bathroom break," she informed them. She decided that she'd go down to her room, then sneak out again—but a tapping high on the window prevented her escape.

"Damn!" she cursed, knowing it was the letter from Hogwarts that they'd been expecting.