Chapter 3

Bloody fuck, he could have handled that a lot better. The girl just got here and was obviously uncomfortable; he should have eased her into it. Even though Buffy had already known of her calling, she didn’t seem to be very accepting of it, and after Rupert explained about what happened to her, it was understandable. She was here for a reason, though, this town needed a Slayer. William just had to make her realize that. After talking with Rupert a while back, he was prepared to deal with a very troubled young girl. What he wasn’t prepared for was how utterly beautiful that young girl would be, but he quickly banished those thoughts. Beautiful or not, he couldn’t let himself go down that road again. This girl needed a Watcher, and that’s all he would be. William wouldn’t allow himself to get too close this time; he just had to keep trying to remind himself of that. Besides, if Buffy ever found out the truth, she would likely want nothing to do with him.


* * * * *


“Hey, Buffy, come sit with us.”

She smiled at the girl waving her over, sitting down at the lunch table across from a dark haired boy.

“This is Xander Harris, my best friend. Xander, this is Buffy Summers, she just moved here,” Willow introduced them.

He beamed at her. “Wills told me all about how you stood up to Cordelia. Man, I wish I could have seen that. You’re officially my Queen; I worship at your feet.” Xander bowed to her, extending his arm.

Willow rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind him, he thinks he’s funny.”

He sat back down. “I am funny, and don’t you forget it.”

Buffy shook her head in amusement. These two were quite a pair, but realized that she actually liked them, and that was something she never would have admitted in her other life.


* * * * *


“I need to speak with you, Miss Summers.”

She walked away from him. “Sorry, my mom’s waiting for me.”

William hurried after her. “I only need a moment of your time.”

Buffy stopped to look at him, letting out a breath. “I’m not doing this anymore, okay? Let someone else be the damn Slayer, I officially retire. It hasn’t even been a full year yet, and I’ve lost everything because of that. My friends, my family, I got thrown into a fucking mental institution because my parents thought I was crazy. I’m trying to build a new life for myself here, and that shit is the last thing I need.”

He nodded. “I am sorry for all that you’ve been through and if there was another option, I would gladly find it, but that’s not how things work. You are the only active Slayer; the only way for another one to be called is…”

“My death, yeah, I know the drill. Seriously, what is wrong with you people? How can one girl be expected to handle all of that responsibility? Who came up with these fucking rules? I’m only sixteen. I didn’t sign on for any of this, and I want no part of it. I’m done.”

William watched as she headed out of the school, needing to get her to listen to him somehow. Aria was never this much trouble, but things were a lot different then. Buffy Summers would be quite a challenge.


* * * * *


Her mom was working late at the gallery, and Buffy had the house all to herself. If she was back in LA, she would probably be out patrolling with Merrick right about now, but that felt like a lifetime ago. He was dead, and she was left alone with the creatures of the night. William seemed like a nice guy, but she couldn’t go through that again. Sure, she’d only known Merrick a couple of months before he was killed, but it was long enough for her to get attached. In that short time, he became like a father to her, far more than her biological one ever was. Not that she was having fatherly thoughts for William, a world of no on that one. He only looked to be in his early twenties, definitely no parental thoughts whatsoever.

A knock sounded at the front door, breaking Buffy out of her reverie. She went to answer it, rolling her eyes at the man standing there. “So, what, you’re a stalker now? How did you know where I lived?”

William smiled, taking notice of the adorable pajamas she was wearing, but got right to the point. “From the school, I figured you might feel more comfortable talking on your turf. I’m not about to give up, Buffy, you need to hear me out.”

Buffy gave in, this guy wouldn’t quit otherwise. She moved back, giving him a look when he didn’t budge. “Why are you just standing there? Come inside already, you’re letting all the heat in.”

He gave a sigh of relief, entering through the doorway. “This is a nice place.”

“Whatever, take a seat. You’re in luck; my mom shouldn’t be home for another couple of hours. Although, if you give me a hard time and refuse to leave when I tell you to, I will cry ‘rape’ loud enough for the neighbors to hear.”

William laughed, but had a feeling she was being entirely serious. “I’m sure it won’t come to that,” he said, sitting down on the couch.

Buffy sat across from him, crossing her arms. “Okay, out with it, I don’t have all night.”

Oh, this girl would definitely be a challenge, of that he was certain. “First of all, I’m sorry for being so callous in the library. I should have handled that better. I didn’t mean to just spring it on you, but I’ve been waiting for your arrival. Your therapist at the institution, Rupert Giles, is an old mate of mine. He told me all about you. It was actually he who got your mother the job here, and why you were able to leave so suddenly. He has connections, I guess you could say. Rupert used to be a Watcher, but he didn’t agree with a lot of the Council’s ideas, so they fired him. He thought I would be good for you, and that’s why he made arrangements for you to come here. See, I’m not exactly employed by the Council, but I am a Watcher. At least, I used to be. The bottom line is, whether I work for them or not, this town is located on a hellmouth. It’s not safe for anyone, and we desperately need a Slayer. We have agreed to keep you off of the Council’s radar, but in order for that to happen, Giles has been reinstated as your Watcher. He will be reporting to the Council to keep away their suspicions, but I would be the one to train you. As long as they think you’re doing a good job, they won’t bother checking up on you. Of course, you getting sent to the institution put a hold on things. Giles assured them that he could help you once you were released, get you back on the right track. I guarantee that if they sent one of their Watcher’s, you wouldn’t be given a choice at all. They like their girls to be puppets, train them from the time they’re in diapers, but you’re different. I knew that the moment I saw you. I think you’re exactly what this town needs, but it’s up to you. I’m not like those wankers, Buffy. I won’t force this on you if it’s not something you really wanted.”

She thought about it, standing up and making her way over to the front door.

William sighed in disappointment, following after her and exiting the house. He gave her one more look, waiting for her to say something and when it appeared that she wasn’t going to, he nodded and turned away, stopping when she finally spoke up.

“We’ll start training tomorrow after school, at your place; I’m not sure how I would explain that to my mom. I’ll tell her I’m at a friend’s house or something. Hell, she’ll just be so happy that I’m making friends, she won’t care to ask too many questions, but this is how it’s gonna be. If I agree to this, you have to let me call the shots once in a while. And if I want out, you let me go, no arguments. Do we have a deal?”

He grinned, giving her another nod. “Deal.”