Summary: Paige Matthews is assigned to be Buffy and Dawn Summers Whitelighter when they come into their powers.
Pairing: Paige/Buffy Dawn/Faith
Disclaimer Buffy is owned by Joss Whedon. Charmed is owned by Time Warner (maybe CBS since they had planned a reboot, I don't know).
Author's Note: Some changes were made to both BTVS and Charmed to line up the timelines I wanted (see my site for the story's timeline) Seasons 1-7 of Charmed were pushed back seven years. Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Paige's birthdates were changed to make the new timeline work. Patty's death happens three years later than it did in canon. Dawn has always been here, she is a year younger than Buffy.
Title is Tentative till either I come up with something better or you all suggest something better.
Special thanks goes out to DaBillmann who's story Darling One gave me the idea to do this one.
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth
March 13, 1997 – Thursday
1635 Revello Drive
Paige Matthews stood at the window staring across the street. With the defeat of the Avatars and Kyle being made a Whitelighter after his death, Paige had been assigned a new charge, two witches who did not even know they were witches or had an active power. In fact, one of them had been called as the Slayer.
The Elders had filled Paige in on what the Slayer was, where Sunnydale was. She had found out that there were other kinds of demons than just what she and her sisters fought. That the world was far older than they had believed and that portals existed all across the globe that led to other dimensions, mostly ones filled with demons. And that the Source himself had likely been one of the last, if not the last, of a race of demons known as the Old Ones.
She had watched the house from the time that the Slayer, who she had found out was named Buffy Summers, had been taken to school by her mother, Joyce Summers, till now shortly after Buffy and Joyce both had returned home.
Summers Home
Buffy stood in front of her bedroom mirror, contemplating her choice of attire for the evening. She held up a revealing outfit, unsure if it was the right fashion statement. Speaking aloud to her reflection, she sarcastically remarked, "Hi! I'm an enormous slut!"
Dawn, Buffy's fifteen-year-old sister, couldn't help but burst into laughter, earning a glare from her sister. It was clear that Buffy's initial outfit wasn't quite what she had in mind. Buffy discarded it and opted for a plainer alternative.
Examining herself once more, Buffy joked, "Hi! Would you like a copy of the Watchtower?"
"You used to be good at that," Dawn commented as her sister tossed the outfits onto the bed.
"Yeah, I know," Buffy sighed. "Which one would you choose?" She knew her sister didn't possess the same fashion sense as her, but Dawn did have good taste.
Before Dawn could reply their mother, Joyce Summers, entered the room. "Are you going out tonight, honey?" she inquired of Buffy.
"Yeah, Mom. I'm going to a club," Buffy replied.
"Will there be boys there?" Joyce asked.
"No, Mom, she's going to a nun club," Dawn quipped with a small chuckle. Normally, she would accompany her sister on a night out, but tonight she felt the need to stay in. After all, unlike her sister, she wasn't a Slayer. Besides, they had just moved to Sunnydale, and Dawn wanted Buffy to scout the area and ensure it was safe for her next time.
Joyce brushed off her youngest daughter's mild sarcasm. "Are you going?" she turned her attention to Dawn.
"No, staying in tonight," Dawn answered.
Joyce nodded, redirecting her focus back to her eldest. "Well, be careful," she advised Buffy.
"I will," Buffy reassured her mother.
"I think we can make it work here," Joyce insisted, her tone filled with positivity. "I've got my positive energy flowing. I'm going to get the gallery on its feet—I may have already found a space."
Buffy and Dawn mustered up forced enthusiasm. "Great," they replied in unison.
"And that school is a very nurturing environment, which is what you both needs," Joyce continued, wanting to offer her daughters reassurance.
"Mom..." Buffy and Dawn interjected simultaneously, their faces flushing with mild embarrassment at the attention their mother was showering upon them.
"Oh, not too nurturing. I know. For you, Buffy, are sixteen and you, Dawn, are fifteen; I read all about the dangers of over nurturing," Joyce acknowledged, then added truthfully, "It's hard. New town and all. For me, too. I'm trying to make it work. I'm going to make it work."
"We know," Dawn chimed in, offering her support.
"You're both good girls. You just fell in with the wrong crowd. But that's all behind us now," Joyce said with a sense of relief.
"It is," Buffy affirmed. "From now on, Dawn and I are only hanging out with the living. I—I mean, the lively... people."
Their mother visibly relaxed, a weight seemingly lifted off her shoulders. "Okay. You have fun, Buffy," Joyce said before turning toward Dawn. "You want the usual, Dawn?"
"Sure, Mom," Dawn replied with a smile, grateful for the familiar comfort her mother's care provided.
Streets of Sunnydale
As Buffy stepped out of her house and embarked on her walk, Paige seized the opportunity to test Buffy's Slayer abilities. She wanted to gauge the sharpness of her powers, so she orbed out and reappeared half a block behind Buffy, silently trailing her. The initial test involved determining whether Buffy could detect her presence.
Leaving the comforting glow of the suburban streetlights behind, they ventured into the desolate city streets on the outskirts of town. Paige wondered how much farther Buffy had to go until she reached her destination. So far, Buffy seemed oblivious to her presence.
Suddenly, Buffy spun around, locking eyes with Paige. However, due to the distance between them, Paige remained concealed in the shadows, just far enough away to avoid being easily seen. Turning swiftly, Buffy continued on her path.
Paige continued to follow, maintaining a discreet distance. Buffy quickened her pace, and Paige matched her speed. 'Good,' Paige thought, 'I can test her speed and see if she can outpace me.' Buffy turned the next corner, picking up even more speed, and Paige calmly pursued, maintaining her discreet position.
Then, Buffy disappeared into an alleyway. Paige slowed her pace and nodded to herself. She could sense where Buffy was, just like any Whitelighter could sense their charge. Paige felt that Buffy was executing a handstand on a pipe ten feet above the ground. Curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to spring Buffy's trap, eager to witness the Slayer's response.
Paige entered the alleyway, and suddenly, Buffy descended upon her without warning. Her legs locked around Paige's neck, but with a quick maneuver, Buffy tipped Paige over, rolling and slamming her to the ground. Paige swiftly regained her footing, grateful for the basic martial arts skills Phoebe had taught her.
Buffy grabbed Paige and forcefully pushed her against the wall. Paige instinctively raised her hands in a non-threatening manner. "Is there a problem?" she asked, maintaining a calm demeanor.
Buffy eyed her suspiciously, finally getting a clear look at Paige. Paige reciprocated the gaze, observing Buffy's blonde hair, toned physique, and undeniable beauty. Paige shook her head subtly, trying to shake off the thoughts that had momentarily crossed her mind. While she found Buffy attractive, she recognized the inappropriate nature of her thoughts, as Buffy was ten years her junior.
"There's a problem," Buffy retorted, her voice laced with suspicion. "Why are you following me?"
Paige made sure to keep her voice steady as she matter-of-factly replied, "I know what you're thinking, but don't worry. I don't bite."
Buffy took a step back, her face reflecting confusion. "What do you want?" she demanded.
'To have you as my lover,' Paige thought but quickly shook herself mentally to dismiss the notion. "The same thing you do," she said aloud.
"Okay, what do I want?" Buffy inquired.
"To vanquish vampires and other demons," Paige stated.
"Sorry!" Buffy interrupted, recovering her composure with a smooth transition, mimicking a game-show host. "That's incorrect, but you do get this lovely watch and a year's supply of Turtle Wax... What I want is to be left alone."
Paige maintained her steady gaze on Buffy. "You really think that's an option anymore?" she questioned. "You're standing on a Hellmouth, and from what I've been told, it's about to open." She reached into her jacket pocket, producing a jewelry case containing the Carolingian cross that Phoebe had insisted she acquire for Buffy. "Don't ignore this," she warned, tossing the box to the younger girl. "You need to be prepared."
Buffy defiantly lifted her chin. "Prepared for what?"
"For the Harvest," Paige replied with a smile before orbing out, leaving Buffy in a state of shock.
"A demon?" Buffy pondered aloud, trying to process the encounter. Carefully, she opened the box and beheld the intricate Carolingian cross nestled within. She looked back up at the spot where Paige had stood just seconds before. "Perhaps not... Why else would she give me such an ornate cross? It looks quite expensive."
The Bronze
Paige stood on the balcony, peering down at the bustling activity below. Standing ten feet away from her was Buffy, accompanied by an older gentleman she assumed to be Rupert Giles, Buffy's Watcher. The music drowned out most of their conversation, but Paige strained to catch snippets of their dialogue.
"So, you enjoy partying with the students?" Buffy playfully taunted Giles. "Isn't that a bit scandalous?"
Giles responded with a withering tone. "Right. This is my idea of fun." He continued to gaze down at the stage. "Watching Clown-hair prance about is hardly my definition of a party. I would much prefer to be home with a cup of Bovril and a good book."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "You need a personality upgrade, stat."
Giles admonished her, "This is a perfect breeding ground for vampire activity. Dark, crowded... Besides, I knew you were likely to show up. And I have to make you understand—"
"That the Harvest is coming, I know. Your friend told me," Buffy interrupted.
Giles shot Buffy an anxious glance. "What did you say?"
"The... Harvest," Buffy replied cautiously. "Does that mean something to you? Because I'm drawing a blank."
"I'm not sure... Who told you this?" Giles questioned.
"This girl. drop-dead gorgeous. About my height, with flowing brunette hair that framed her face perfectly. And her eyes... oh my goodness, Giles, they were the most captivating shade of brown I've ever seen. I couldn't help but be drawn to them... in an annoying sort of way. I thought you two were friends."
Paige's heart skipped a beat as she heard Buffy's description of her, and a mixture of surprise and self-consciousness washed over her despite their age differences. She pressed her hand against her chest, feeling the rapid thumping of her heart. A soft smile played at the corners of her lips; her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
As the initial surprise subsided, Paige reminded herself of why she was there. She couldn't let her personal feelings overshadow that not only was she older than Buffy by ten years but also, she was the young Slayer and her sister's Whitelighter. And as their Whitelighter she had a job to do.
"No..." Giles muttered, his brow furrowing. "The Harvest... Did she say anything else?"
"Something about a Hellmouth. I really didn't like her."
Paige silently exhaled, relieved that Buffy hadn't looked in her direction. She didn't want to reveal her identity just yet.
Paige was glad that Buffy did not look her way; she might have pointed her out to Giles. She did not want to reveal who she was not yet anyways.
"Look at them," Giles remarked, his tone tinged with annoyance. "Throwing themselves about... completely unaware of the danger that surrounds them."
"Lucky them..." Buffy retorted.
Paige sighed, realizing she had a long way to go in helping Buffy understand and embrace her calling and her eventual witch powers. She briefly wondered if Buffy's powers had been bound, which might explain their absence. Determined to find out, she made her way past Buffy and Giles. She descended the stairs unnoticed, making her way toward the back of the club where she had previously located the bathrooms. Stepping into the women's restroom, she found an unoccupied stall. Closing the stall door, Paige orbed.
Summers Home
Dawn and Joyce sat side by side, engrossed in a movie, when suddenly ethereal lights materialized before them, transforming into the figure of a woman. Dawn sprang up, positioning herself protectively in front of her mother. Though lacking Buffy's powers, she was determined to shield her mother from any harm inflicted by a demon.
"Dawn, please sit down," Joyce calmly requested.
Dawn glanced at her mother, perplexed by the absence of fear in her eyes. Joyce wasn't supposed to be aware of, let alone believe in, the supernatural.
"Sit down, sweetheart," Joyce reiterated, coaxing Dawn back onto the couch beside her.
Dawn hoped that her mother knew what she was doing.
"Greetings, Whitelighter," Joyce greeted the visitor, leaving Dawn astounded. It had been ages since she had encountered a Whitelighter, ever since she abandoned that life and bound her, Buffy's, and Dawn's powers. "What brings you here? I'm no longer a witch, and neither are my daughters."
Paige let out a sigh. "You bound your daughters' powers, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did," Joyce confirmed, perplexing Dawn further. "At the same time, I bound my own. I lost a dear friend to a demon. I couldn't bear the thought of Dawn or Buffy suffering the same fate. That's why they were kept oblivious to the supernatural until your sudden appearance."
"But Buffy and I are familiar with the supernatural," Dawn interjected. "In fact, Buffy was chosen as the Slayer."
Joyce's hand rose to her face in disbelief. "You mean she was telling the truth about fighting vampires?" she asked, studying her youngest daughter.
"She was," Dawn affirmed. "Mom, I know you weren't involved in her being institutionalized, but you could have fought Dad on it."
Joyce sighed, while Paige attentively observed the exchange. "My ex-husband was oblivious to the supernatural. He believed Buffy was delusional when she mentioned battling vampires, leading him to have her committed. Eventually, she recanted and claimed it was all a ploy to gain attention."
Paige sighed in response. "Buffy is the Slayer. Perhaps you should have revealed the truth to her and Dawn, Mrs. Summers. With proper training in her powers, Buffy might have been better prepared for her calling as the Slayer. Unfortunately, due to your ex-husband's actions, she now wants nothing to do with that life. Yet she is bound to be a Slayer until her death. I am determined to ensure she lives many more years."
Joyce exhaled deeply and nodded. "I can't undo the binding on hers or Dawn's powers as long as mine are bound. I cast a spell to bind us all."
"I can rectify that," Paige assured. "Have you heard of the Charmed Ones?" Joyce nodded. "Not only am I a Whitelighter, but I'm also a witch, one of the Charmed Ones. If you provide me with the spell, I can unbind yours, Dawn's, and Buffy's powers."
Joyce inquired, "Will you be the one guiding both Dawn and Buffy?"
"Yes," Paige replied. "I will even request permission from the Elders to include you as my charge."
After Paige departed, Dawn stared at her mother for a long while. "Why didn't you tell me or Buffy? Seriously, Mom, you must have known what was happening."
Joyce sighed. "I didn't want to believe that what you both experienced was connected to the supernatural. I tried to keep you away from it because I didn't want you two to endure what I went through."
Curiosity piqued, Dawn asked, "What did you go through, Mom?"
"My best friend was killed by a demon the year Buffy was born," Joyce confessed, a shadow of sorrow in her voice.
Dawn's eyes widened, her heart aching for the pain her mother had silently carried all these years. She reached out and embraced Joyce tightly, offering a comforting presence in the face of past traumas resurfacing.
"I'm so sorry, Mom," Dawn whispered, her voice filled with empathy. "I had no idea."
Joyce returned the embrace, seeking solace in her daughter's embrace. "I wanted to protect you from the darkness, Dawn. Losing my friend was unbearable, and I couldn't bear the thought of you and Buffy facing the same fate."
Dawn pulled away slightly, looking into her mother's eyes. "But by keeping us in the dark, Mom, you inadvertently left us vulnerable. We needed to know the truth, to be prepared for the dangers that lurked in the shadows. Buffy's journey as the Slayer might have been different if she had known from the beginning."
Joyce's lips trembled, a mix of regret and determination shining through. "You're right, Dawn. I should have trusted you both with the truth. I should have supported Buffy when she needed me the most. I failed you both, and I'm so sorry."
Dawn's voice softened, filled with compassion. "We can't change the past, Mom, but we can change our future. Paige is here to guide us, to embrace our powers and face the supernatural together. We can be a united force against the darkness."
A spark of hope flickered in Joyce's eyes, a renewed resolve taking hold. "You're right, my brave girl. We will confront this together, as a family. No more secrets, no more hiding. We will face the demons and protect each other, just as we should have from the beginning."
Bronze
Buffy's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of danger. Her instincts were on high alert, sensing the imminent threat that lurked within the crowded space. Without a moment's hesitation, she pointed toward the corner where a young man stood engaged in conversation with a girl. "There's one," she said.
Giles, initially perplexed, followed her gaze. "What? Where?" he inquired, his confusion evident as he peered down over the railing.
Buffy strained to get a better view, trying to show Giles the target of her concern. "Down there. Talking to that girl."
From their vantage point, neither Buffy nor Giles could clearly discern the girl's features. However, the young man's appearance caught Buffy's attention, and she felt an unsettling intuition creep over her.
Giles cast a skeptical glance in Buffy's direction. "But you don't know—" he began, only to be swiftly interrupted by Buffy's assertive voice.
"Oh, please! Look at his jacket. The rolled-up sleeves and that outfit. Just take a moment to process it," Buffy urged urgently.
Giles's confusion deepened. "It's outdated?"
"Its carbon dated! Trust me, only someone who's been living underground for ten years would think that's fashionable," Buffy retorted, her conviction unwavering.
Giles attempted to interject, questioning her assertion, but Buffy was already leaning farther over the balcony railing, her focus fixated on the unfolding scene below. A sinking feeling gripped her as the vampire motioned for the girl to accompany him, gradually revealing her identity.
"Oh, no…" Buffy whispered, a knot of dread tightening in her stomach.
Giles, now recognizing the figure, voiced his realization. "Isn't that—"
"Willow," Buffy confirmed, her voice laced with concern.
Giles, bewildered, sought an explanation. "What is she doing?"
"Seizing the moment," Buffy responded, her determination resolute as she swiftly made her way toward the stairs, urgency propelling her forward.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
As Paige returned to the Bronze, a sense of urgency filled her. To her dismay, both the mysterious man and Buffy were nowhere to be found. Determined not to lose track of her charge, Paige closed her eyes, focusing her powers to sense their presence. The energy pulsed through her, guiding her senses to their location.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Paige swiftly made her way back into the crowded venue, heading toward the bathroom stall where she had initially orbed in. Drawing upon her Whitelighter abilities, she summoned the power of teleportation, disappearing from the bustling club in blue and white orbing lights.
Restfield Cemetery
As the world around her shifted and blurred, Paige orbed in outside a foreboding mausoleum. The cold night air sent shivers down her spine, but she remained resolute. She had arrived at the next destination, ready to face whatever challenges awaited her in the pursuit of protecting her charge.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"Who the hell are you?" Darla growled; her hostility evident.
"Wow, you mean there's actually somebody around here who doesn't know already?" Buffy retorted. "That's a relief. I'm telling you, having a secret identity in this town is a job of work."
As Buffy engaged their attention, Xander positioned himself between the two vampires. The unexpected turn of events seemed to catch the creatures off guard, causing them to loosen their grips on Willow and Jesse.
"Buffy, we bail now, right?" Xander prompted, but Willow's date had regained some composure.
"Not yet," he snarled.
"Okay, first of all, what's with this outfit?" Buffy taunted him. "Live in the now, okay? You look like DeBarge." Then, shifting her focus to Darla, she added, undeterred, "Now, we can do this the hard way, or… well, actually, there's just the hard way."
Darla stood her ground, unyielding. "Fine with me."
"You sure?" Buffy persisted. "It's not going to be pretty. We're talking violence, strong language, adult content." Even as the words left her lips, Willow's date lunged at her from behind with lightning speed.
Reacting swiftly, Buffy withdrew a stake concealed beneath her jacket, thrusting it backward with precision. A dull puncture sound filled the air as the creature impaled himself, his eyes widening with surprise before he collapsed to the floor. Buffy never even glanced at him. As his body hit the ground, it disintegrated into a cloud of dust.
"See what happens when you roughhouse?" Buffy quipped at Darla.
Xander and Willow were speechless, their gazes fixed on the empty space where a body had been mere seconds ago. Darla, however, remained wide-eyed and cautious, far from intimidated. Slowly circling Buffy, she prepared to face her directly. "He was young," she sneered in disgust. "And stupid."
"Xander, go," Buffy commanded.
"Don't go far," Darla warned. Without warning she lunged at Buffy. Buffy met her head-on, parrying her blows with martial arts precision, while Xander herded the others out.
Without hesitation, Xander guided Willow and Jesse, urging them to flee through the woods. No words were exchanged; they were all grappling with the shock of what had just transpired in the mausoleum. Buffy... the Slayer...
As Buffy landed another well-aimed strike, Darla crashed to the ground. There was no humor left on her face; she was drenched in sweat and out of breath. "You know, I just wanted to start over," she grumbled, placing one foot on Darla's chest. "Be like everybody else. Have some friends, maybe a dog… but no. You had to come here. You couldn't go suck on some other town."
"Who are you?" Darla glared up at her, eyes burning with fury.
"Don't you know?"
Before Buffy could say more, a pair of hands suddenly seized her throat, hoisting her off the ground effortlessly.
"I don't care," Luke said slowly.
Buffy hadn't sensed his presence behind her. As Luke emerged from the shadows, his colossal figure rendered her small and insignificant, and she realized the odds were now dangerously stacked against her. With little effort, he flung her into the air, sending her flying a good fifteen feet until she collided with the wall, her face taking the brunt of the impact.
Luke turned on Darla, who was struggling to get up. "You were supposed to be bringing an offering for the Master," he berated her. "We're almost at Harvest, and you dally with this child?"
"We had someone." Darla defended herself, fear creeping into her voice. "But she came and… she killed Thomas… Luke, she's strong."
Luke fixed Darla with a contemptuous stare. "You go. I'll see if I can handle the little girl."
Struggling to lift herself from the floor, Buffy witnessed Luke closing in on her. This time, she was prepared for his assault. She deflected his arms and delivered a swift kick to his face. It momentarily staggered him, but he quickly regained his composure and landed a solid punch to her jaw.
"You are strong," Luke muttered. He slammed her back to the ground and gave a throaty laugh. "I'm stronger."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Paige reached her limit, realizing she couldn't delay any longer. The stakes were too high—her charge's life hung in the balance, unaware of her own potential as a witch. Determined to intervene, Paige swiftly orbed out.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
"You're wasting my time," Luke said calmly.
"Hey," Buffy retorted as Paige materialized behind Luke, her presence a welcomed sight. She hoped Paige was on her side. "I had other plans, too, okay?"
Luke forcefully pushed the tomb lid, sending it hurtling toward Buffy. With swift agility, she leaped over it, landing on top. In a fluid motion, Buffy somersaulted over, planting both feet firmly on Luke's chest.
The impact caused them both to fall, but Buffy swiftly regained her footing. She pulled out her stake and aimed it at Luke's chest. Just before it could strike, Luke's hand shot out, seizing the stake inches away from his body.
"You think you can stop me?" Luke's face contorted with rage. "Stop us?"
"Yes, she can," Paige interjected, extending her hand. "Stake." The stake obediently disappeared from Luke's grasp, reappearing in Paige's hand.
As Luke rose to confront his new adversary, he found Paige already driving the stake home, reducing him to a cloud of dust.
"Who are you?" Buffy inquired; her curiosity piqued.
"My name is Paige Matthews," Paige introduced herself. "And I'm… I'm your Whitelighter."
"And they are what?" Buffy questioned; her confusion evident.
"Think of Whitelighters as guardian angels for witches," Paige explained. "And you Buffy Summers are not only the Slayer, but a witch. I'm here to guide you and your sister, Dawn, toward your destinies and help you both in learning to control your powers."