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TITLE: Chapter Two
: By Destiny, By Heritage..
All That You Want Series Chapter Two : By Destiny, By Heritage..
Leigh sat on the steps of the reconstructed Sunnydale High and studied her book for English - "The Merchant Of Venice" by William Shakespeare. "Hey Leigh," kim said and stood in front of her smiling. Two other girls Lucy and Lara sat at either side. "I hate Shakespeare," Lucy says. "I hate English. Like when are we going to use it. in the real world?" "Like all the time you dork," Kim rolls her eyes. The four of them had been friends since the 3rd grade and it was now Freshman year. The first year of all things high school and growing up. "Hi ladies," Chris, a popular senior said going by with his almost equally popular friends Steve and Gary. "Hi," Kim said back and Lara and Lucy waved slightly. "Hey Leigh," Chris stopped and said specifically to her. She looked up from The Merchant Of Venice. "Chris," she said in an even tone then smiled. He smiled back and walked away. "He is so hot for you ! A senior, but not any senior. Definite for Prom King this year and Class president," Lara said excitedly. "I'm not so into him. Chris Wyatt can step aside," Leigh shrugged looking back down to her book. "--Into me if he wants," Kim says. "But why the Hell would you give him up ? He doesn't give Tracy Bleakerman the head cheerleader a second glance." The bell rang and the Sunnydale pupils filed into the class rooms. Leigh picked up her books and headed to history with her friends. "Guess who ?" A voice said as his hands wrapped around Leigh's eyes. He steered her left and right as she walked. "Quit it Joshua," she warned laughing. "You got me," he said shrugging. Leigh and Joshua had been best friends since 3rd grade and shared everything with each other. His soft medium brown hair swept over his brown eyes and he pushed it back with two hands. He was wearing a blue T-shirt under a darker blue shirt unbuttoned. His blue pants hung nicely over his trainers without dragging on the ground. He hooked his arm under hers and then his other best friend Billy hooked her other arm and then lifted her off the floor. "Stop it !" She laughed as they pulled her down the corridor. They put her on the floor and she hit Joshua's chest. "Jerk." "You love me really," he said. He hoped for a 'yes I always have' in a soft voice and for them to start making out in the middle of the school. For about three years he'd been having very strong feelings for her. Now in freshman year, he was sure he was in love with her. He loved everything about her. If only he could tell her in a non-best friend way. "You know it," she said adjusting her books and pulling his arm towards class. 'Close enough,' he smiled.
Leigh sat down in her class and brought out her notepad to doodle in. "Today we're going to find out more about Sunnydale high, our own school and what has happened to it," the history teacher Mr Miller said. "Let's go backwards. The school was rebuilt in 2007 to what you see today. Local peoples feared it was cursed after the explosion in 1999 during the graduation ceremony when many people told tall tales of a 70 foot snake that ate the principal, the mayor and several others. Now there were claims made that a young student was 'fighting' this snake and she caused the explosion yet somehow it failed to transpire." He went over to the white board and used his felt marker. "Her name was Buffy Summers." He scrawled it on the board. Leigh stopped dead. And dropped her biro on the table. "I used to teach her - or tried to. Girl was always in some kind of weird trouble. Always fighting, wrecking the local places. Questioned in a total of two homicides. Expelled from her last school for, surprise, surprise, arson." He clicked the lid of his marker pen. He walked to the other side of his desk. "Won Class Protector in the 1999 Prom. Sunnydale is different from other towns as I'm sure you've noticed. People are not who they appear to be. No matter how well you know them. As I'm well sure you've noticed."
Leigh sat at her lunch table alone and unwrapped her brown bag. Kim, Lara and Lucy were at cheerleading practice. "Leigh Summers ?" A manly, English voice said. "Yeah ?" She looked up. The man was in his mid twenties and looked like a younger James Bond. He had dark brown hair that swept back in a side parting and looked extremely handsome. She knew a few English guys. Her Moms older friend who she knew as Uncle Giles and her dads friend Wesley. He had brown eyes that looked as deep as her own and a nice smile although it was slightly worried at the moment. "Can I help you with something ? Haven't seen you around so, the admissions office ?" "No," he said looking down and smiling. "I need to speak with you about your destiny." "Right. Destiny. Sure. If you want me to do something. Like tutor somebody or go to an education conference..." "They haven't told you," he said sitting down across from her. He was wearing a sharp black pin stripe suit that made him look like some kind of catalogue model. "Who told me what ?" "Your parents. i need you to come to the graveyard--" "Woah, woah. OK, one. My parents wouldn't have not told me something and second, graveyard ? Are you crazy ? Insane maybe ?" She suggested. "Please trust me. You are the Chosen One." A chill ran down Leigh's spine. She had no clue what it meant but it didn't sound good. "Ask your mother Buffy about the Slayer and your father about Liam," he said. He gazed at her with such empathy. "I must go. You must meet me at 6pm in Shadyhill. Please," he almost begged. Softly, she nodded and agreed. He gazed at her once more then departed. Leigh couldn't sit still. Chosen. One. Slayer. Liam. All the words swimming in her head, none with meaning. She was going to do the unthinkable and skip Phys. Ed next and go home.
"I see," Giles said into the phone and nodded. "OK. Thank you. Goodbye." He placed the phone down softly and stood still. Olivia slid her arms around his waist and he put his hands round them. "Upsetting news ?" She asked. Olivia knew him so well and could tell how he acted when he got specific news. This was Slayer business "Buffy and Angel are still on vacation from work. Do you want to go and see them at the mansion ?" "Yes i do," he swallowed
Leigh walked in her door on the Crawford Street mansion. She threw her bag into the corner. "MOM ! DAD !" She yelled. She ran to their bedroom and knocked but no answer. "Mom !" She walked out into the garden and found her parents in the garden swing seat making out as usual. no time for the mandatory 'eugh gross'. "Mom." Buffy sat up and pulled her cardigan back over her shoulders and wiped her mouth cautiously. Angel grinned and ruffled his hair. "Yes honey ?" Buffy asked innoncently. then she glanced at her watch "What's the time ? Shouldn't you still be in school ? What happened ? Did--" "So you wanna tell me about you arson exploits ?" Leigh asked. "Blowing up Sunnydale High and then the one before it ?" Buffy went white and Angel supported her as she looked she might pass out. "What about the vandalism ? the fights ? How am I supposed to react when my history teacher tells me that MY MOTHER was nearly in juvenile hall for killing people ? HOW?" "Leigh this is complicated and--" Angel started. "Oh, and you wanna tell me who Liam is ?" Angel shuddered to a stop. "Liam," he repaeated his voice faltering. The three stared at each other for a long while. "Well ?" Leigh asked imaptiently. Giles came running through the door with olivia in tow. "Buffy," he said breathlessly. "Giles what is it ?" "It's about.. trout," he said eyeing Leigh. "There has been a massive overflow of.. trout and I need your help. A little faith in me." "Right. You'll need my help," Angel said. "It's by my house," Giles said. "Shouldn't you be at school ?" "Free," she lied. "Leigh we need to go take care of the.. trout and i'll be back and we'll talk," Buffy said walking quickly past her daughter. Her father followed Buffy out and leigh was left alone.
"Giles, what is it ? This better be urgent," Buffy warned as they packed into his red BMW. "Leigh just asked why I burned down the High school." "Oh. Well it is. I think we should be inside to talk about this." "No. Now." "Buffy, Faith was released yesterday from prison." "Oh. Well I thought--" "She's dead Buffy. Vampires. She was jumped. I have reason to believe they were the councils elite breed of vampires." "After Faith ?" "Yes. First chance and they killed her. She died alone and unhappy. And she didn't deserve to." Buffy slumped back in her seat and stared out the window. Angel, who was in the back with Olivia, sat forward and put his arms around her. "I know she didn't," Buffy said softly feeling the tears coming. She broke down in a sobs and cried into her lovers arms from behind.
Leigh stared at the clock in her room wondering whether she should go and meet the English guy. It was 5.50 and her parents had been away for hours. She grabbed her jacket and headed out the door.
"You came," the English man said pleased as he stood up form the cemetery bench. "Nearly didn't," she said coming face to face. The sun had alomst set and it was making beautiful shades of pink and orange ion the night sky. "I see," he said. "You never asked them." "Nope. Rushed off because of a big trout emergency. What am I doing here ?" "Miss Summers.." "Leigh." "Leigh. This is very difficult to say and very difficult to understand. In every generation--" "Skip the intro." "You are the Vampire Slayer." Leigh just looked at him. "A v-, a what ? Did you say vampire ? maybe you took a wrong turning. This is Sunnydale - land of the norm OK ? Looking foor hammer Horror territory - that's Translyvania." "There are creatures of this world unknown to man. Ones that eminate from the Hellmouth. You are the warrior that fights them The girl that stands on the edge of a nightly war. You are the Slayer." "You're crazy," she shook her head and turned and walked away. "You know it's true. You feel it. You are stronger and faster than a normal human. Your powers come from the supernatural realms," he shouted after her. She faced him again. "You never told me your name. You tell me my destiny yet not your name. Things a little backwards in England?" "Pierce Owen. I am your watcher. I will train you as a Slayer." "Well Pierce, I'm not a dog. You don't throw a bone and tell me to fetch." "Sorry. i will teach you to use your power and I will.. tell you that a vampire is behind you," he said breathlessly. "How can you do that ?" Leigh asked confused. "Like an Orb or something ?" "Behind you !" He said pushing a stake into her hand and turning her round. Leigh came face to face with something she had never seen before. He had ridges running round both eyes, sharp fangs protruding from it's mouth and cut front teeth. It looked remotely like a man. He was wearing a black suit and tie. The kind of clothes you would be buried in. It growled and attacked her. She fell to the ground as it attacked her. It reached for her neck. leigh groped for the stake and found it. She held it tightly. "Kay. Dracula movies. The heart. Stake to the heart," she said outloud. She brought the stake up behind the vampires (Still a little weird on this concept) back and went to stake him. instead the vampire hit it away. Awkwardly, Leigh pulled her necklace out of her rollneck. it was a large silver cross that her mom had given her. She pressed against the vampires face and it leapt off her yelping in pain. "Cross. Fact," she affirmed holding the cross unsteadily wrapping the chain round her hand. She vampire ran for her again. "Wanna help me out ? I know Watcher's your number but you out of a job if Slayer dies !" She yelled to Pierce. "Stake !" he said moving to throw her one before another vampire attacked him from the side. "Crap," Leigh muttered. She felt she knew what to do but she couldn't say it or describe it. The adrenaline ran through her veins beating the rythmn of what she should do. The vampire pushed her into a nearby tree and she reached up to catch hold of the branches. She lifted herself up and kicked the vampires face. The weaker branch broke and Leigh fell to the cold ground. the vampire pounced again and she aimed the branch his heart. It looked shocked as it impaled itself on it. Then a vampiric scream and he disentegrated into dust. Leigh blinked a few times to get the dust away and then saw that another vampire was attacking Pierce. She ran over stooping to pick up the stake on the ground and then grabbed the vampires shoulder and pulled him off Pierce. She landed a shaky punch on his jaw and then drew back the stake and slammed it into his chest. She felt the point touch something else in the vampire and the drew it back. it exploded into dust like the one before. She seen who was behind the vampire, slaying it the same time as she was. Buffy. "Mom.." She said slowly. "Leigh.." "Mrs Summers," Pierce said coming over to Leighs side. "Who are you ?" Buffy demanded. "I-I," he stuttered. Buffy punched him and he fell down. She grabbed his suit and pulled him up slightly to his knees. "Mom !" "Who are you ? What are you doing here?" "Please do let me up," he asked. Buffy pulled fully and he brushed himself down. "Being the longest living Slayer has certainly not weakened your strength." "Slayer ? Vampire Slayer ?" Leigh asked staring at her mother in disbelief. "Chosen One ?" "How do you know that ?" Buffy asked her daughter. "Vampire. Chosen One. He didn't say that just there." "Buffy, she is the Slayer," Pierce said. "What ?" Buffy snapped. Her blood ran cold. She shivered slightly. "She has been born into her destiny like you were," Pierce said touching his jaw. "No.. no," Buffy said slowly stepping back. "Please god no... Are they trying to hurt me? The council. They can't do this.... not to my daughter." "This was propheised long before any of us were alive," Pierce said. "The Council didn't do it to spite you. Leigh is the Slayer." "I'm the Slayer?" Leigh asked. "What the Hell is a Slayer ?" "I'm the Slayer," Buffy told Pierce. She turned to Leigh. "And don't use language like that." "He told me earlier about Slayers," Leigh said. "I tried to talk to you but.. trout." "Leigh go home," Buffy ordered. "What ? You can't shut me out Mom ? And who's Liam ?" Buffy glanced at Pierce and then threw him up against the bench. Her throat hold blocked his airway. He choked. "What did you tell her ? What ? Why ?" Buffy said angrily. "Mom stop it," Leigh said throwing Buffy off Pierce. "Woah. What did i just do ?" She stared at her mother on the ground away from Pierce. It was too easy. "Slayer strength," Pierce said rubbing his neck. Then he threw a knife at Leigh's head and she caught it. "And Slayer speed." "Cool," Leigh said smiling. "Deja Vu," Buffy muttered. "What is that the favourite party trick for watchers ?" "Wait, wait wait. So lemme get this straight. Mom you were.." "Are." "Are a Slayer. I'm a Slayer. Pierce, you're a watcher." "Your watcher." "Yeah whatever. How do you get a new Slayer ?" "When the old one dies," Pierce said. "But your mother has broken that rule. She died when she was sixteen and as revived. Another was called. Then she died so the latest was called. She was killed so here you are," Pierce explained. "Forever more, there will always be two Slayers." "So we have a short shelf life and now come in duo packs. Does.. dad know ?" "Yes. And Giles. He was my watcher but they fired him. And Wesley was another watcher but I quit the Council. And Olivia. Xander, Willow, Anya, Tara, Cordy, Gunn.." "So, everyone," Leigh concluded. "Except me." "Yeah. Leigh, i need you to go home. Tell your father. i'll be a Giles's. Pierce come with me," Buffy said.
Buffy opened Giles door with a soft kick and stormed in. "Where are they ? the council. Draw me a map. Give me directions. Get me a private 'copter. I don't care, just get me there," Buffy said walking up to her former watcher. "The Watchers Council ?" "No, the council of Glockenchester
- Of course the Watchers Council."
Giles stood up up took his
glasses off.
"Buffy, are you going to
tell me what happened ?"
A man in a suit followed
Buffy into Giles's house.
"Hi," he waved. He
walked over to giles. "I'm Pierce--"
He was interupted by Buffy
kicking Giles's wall in rage. it went through the plaster.
"--Owen." Giles rushed
over to Buffy to hold her back.
"Buffy, Buffy," he said trying
to bring her back. "What is it ?"
"Know how Faith died and
a new Slayer wil be called ? Polls are in. It's Leigh.
my daughter's the Slayer. He's her Watcher," Buffy growled gritting
her teeth.
"Oh God Buffy i'm sorry,"
he said putting his arms around her in a fatherly way.
"It's not fair Giles !
i'm the Slayer, I can't have a normal life, but i got the closest thing.
And now she's the Slayer."
"But a very important one,"
Pierce said quickly bridging the small silence.
"I don't care ! OK
? i've lived a life as a Slayer. the pain, the aloneness.
Night after night killing vampires, seeing what's really hidden under the
bed and i hate it. I don't want her to die scared, and frightened
and alone. I don't want that. i want her to be happy and normal.
At least give me that," Buffy pleaded with the Watcher.
"You know as well as I that
i can't reverse it," Pierce said.
"I thought i could sheild
her from it. the pain, the death, the violence. My whole life
as a slayer, Angel and his former vampireness. but I can't.
And she has to deal at 15 like I did. And who says she's gonna have
friends like Xander and Willow to help her ? Get me on the phone
to the council," Buffy demanded.
Pierce looked at her.
He had never been strong enough for this emotionally. He nodded and
Giles handed him the phone.
After a few minutes on hold,
Pierce passed the phone to buffy.
"Hi, who is this ?"
"Quentin Travers. And
who might this be ?"
"Buffy Summers, the Vampire
Slayer. Remember me ?"
"How on earth could i possibly
forget ?"
"That's right. I forgot.
I never got the chance to crush your skull and give you severe amnesia.
Weren't you expecting to hear from me ? You can't just tell me that
my daughters gonna have Slayer genes and expect me not to call to say thank
you."
"I--"
"I don't want her to have
the hand-me-downs. She has her own life. She's really smart
and... if I work for you again, will you call these guys off ?"
"It doesn't work like that
and you know it Ms Summers."
"Mrs. Mr and Mrs Angel
and Buffy Summers."
"I heard you married the
vampire."
"Ex."
"Yes. Your daughter
has a sacred--"
"Oh bite me !"
"I see you haven't changed."
"Not one bit. Slayer
anti-ageing is way better than some overpriced cream that doesn't work."
"I'm afraid our conversation
is being driven wayward. If there's nothing important--"
"I think my daughters life
is pretty important !"
"I'm truly sorry Mrs Summers.
Goodbye."
The line went dead.
Buffy pressed the button and passed it to Giles.
"Nothing ?" Pierce asked.
Buffy sighed and shook her
head.
"Why does everything in my
world have to be.. like this," she said collapsing on the sofa.
"I suggest you go home and
talk to Leigh. Chances are, she's more scared than you are at the
moment. You've been, em, 'handling' the dark forces that walk this
earth for 20 odd years. She's known for 20 minutes. She needs
explanation. She needs you," Giles said.
"It was so cool.
I just stabbed this dead dude with a stake and he totally dispeared into
dust," Leigh told her father.
Angel rubbed his temples
not sure he could take it all in.
"You're.. the Slayer," he
said shakily.
"I've said it like twenty
times."
"You've told the story twenty
times."
"I don't know why you're
having such a hard time about this. Moms a Slayer." Angel looked
at her. "She said you knew."
"I do it's just... you.
Leigh, we never wanted this for you."
"What about what I want ?"
"You really want this whole
other world of darkness and pain ? You want to stand and die alone
? Because i won't let you."
"You tried to stop mom,"
Leigh said slowly, guessing but sure she was right. "Who's Liam ?"
Angel sat down again.
"Along with the darkness comes secrets. Some you can't handle.
You're only fifteen."
"Who's Liam ?" She asked
more firmly.
"Me," Angel said simply.
Buffy came in and stood at the doorframe listening silently.
"What are you a criminal
? Change names and all that ? Cuz I can live with that."
"Worse than that," Angel
said staring at his hands. "I'm over 280 years old if you count my
mortal years."
"280 years old ? 280
? 2 hundred and eighty ? How ?"
"When I was 26.." Buffy
walked in and sat beside Angel. He felt her hand gratefully. "I was
turned, into a vampire. Angelus. After a hundred years of torture
and blood or so, I was given my human soul. After a hundred more
years or brooding and guilt, i met the Slayer."
"Me. To cut a long
story short.. ish, we fell in love, realised it couldn't be and then
left each other."
"I went to LA to atone.
There was a prophecy and I was to shanshu - turn human - as a reward.
When you were five I had turned human and came back to Sunnydale."
"So.. either you're not my
father or I'm part vampire. Like that guy in that string of movies.
Blade."
"Neither. I became
human for a day and.. you were concieved," Angel said. "But i turned
back time so Buffy didn't know you were mine and neither did i until i
saw you."
"Wow. this is.. alot,"
Leigh said sitting down. "So why could it be ? You two ?
Why'd you leave the first time?"
"Perfect happiness.
If i felt perfect happiness, my soul would be taken away and Angelus the
demon would take over."
"How did that perfect happiness
thing work ? What'd you.. Oh." Leigh realised as she
looked at her mothers guilty looks. "You went bad."
"Then I killed you," Buffy
whispered into Angel's shoulder. She choked on a rising sob.
"OK. So, you were an
evil vampire. Then one with a soul. You two fell in love and..
got together and you went bad again. Then what ?"
"I don't know if we should
tell you," Buffy said.
"No more secrets."
"OK. I had to kill
him because Angelus was going to suck the world into Hell--" Leighs
eyes went wide but Buffy continued. "--And Willow gave him his soul
at the last moment. I had to send him to the demon dimension where
a hundred years pass here on earth a day."
"3 months there. So
technically I'm about 9000 plus years old," Angel nodded.
"And then we were on-off
for a while because we knew we couldn't be close," Buffy said. "And
then he left."
"Which brings me up to speed.
OK. Crazy day. I'm a Slayer, my moms a Slayer my dad was a
vampire. Anything I missed ?"
"Willow and Tara are witches,
Anya was a former vengence demon."
"Xander ?"
"Normal Joe," Buffy said.
"Or Normal Xander. But we love him."
"Cordy ?"
"Film star. Not much
difference between that and demon," Angel joked.
"Gunn?"
"Demon hunter."
"Giles and Wesley were your
Watchers?" Buffy nodded. "And mines Pierce ?" She nodded
again. "What do they do ?"
"Train you. Tell you
to patrol. Takeaway your social life. Play Hell with your hair
condition. Keep you alive."
"Will I die ?"
"No." Buffy and Angel
said at the same time.
"I'll patrol with you.
You can learn from me and I've lasted this long."
"Others haven't ?"
"No," Buffy said chewing
her lip.
"I need to go out," Angel
announced.
"Where ? If you're
going to beat up Pierce Brosnan, I wanna come," Buffy chirped.
"Owen," Leigh said.
"I meant Owen. Whatever.
I already tried to. Talk to him."
"No. I'm going higher."
Angel took his duster jacket
and walked out off the mansion.
"Angel! What do you
mean higher ?" Buffy shouted after him.
Angel had found a way to
contact the Powers That Be in Sunnydale. There was a portal in one
of the crypts. He performed the ritual and then went through the
solid stone door.
He looked around him and
saw the new Oracles. They had been there 15 years but in Oracle sense
they were fairly new.
"Warrior, what have you brought
us ?" The female asked.
Angel held out an ancient
amulet and she used telekenisis to move it to her hand.
"Lovely. Why do you
come before us ?"
"I woke up this morning and
discovered.. I have all my vampiric strength back, I can do everything
I used to. I'm fast. i'm strong. I think I have more
power than I used to. Since I became human, i haven't aged.
I've had birthdays but I don't look eight years older than I was when i
became a vampire. 8 years and no age."
"If you're wondering if you
are still human the answer would be in your beating heart."
"Yes?" Angel guessed.
he wasn't up for the mind games the Oracles liked to play.
"Living as long as you have...
the process is not leaving you easy. The Slayer continues to fight
but not to age."
"But why?"
"To protect your daughter.
You have a pivotal role in her Slayer destiny. The Slayer by blood
and heritage but by destiny. If you have come to plead for her own
mortal existence then time on your part is wasted and better save for other
purposes," the brother said. "She is the One who will save us all."
"Anything further?"
"Do I tell them about...
about my strength ?"
"No!" The Brother snapped.
He aggresive and angry. "No, they must never discover your power.
Love is a weakness."
"Mine is a strength," Angel
challenged.
"It will kill you."
"Then I'll die with happiness
and honour."
"Do not tell them.
DEPART !" He waved a hand and Angel was back in the crypt leaning against
the wall. He turned to face it and rested his hot head against the
stone. He hit his hand off it and then came away with a huge chunk
of the wall.
"Dammit," he muttered.
He pushed the steel gate open and left the crypt. He stalked through
the graveyard mulling over what the Oracles said. He anticpated a
punch to his face and he put up an arm to block it and twist the arm round.
He threw his fist into the assaliants face and brought his elbow down on
the back.
"Bloody Hell !" The English
voice said. He knew who it was. The clothes, the peroxide blonde
hair. It was Spike. He stood up and backed away from his Sire.
"I heard you were human but I must have heard wrong."
"I heard you were dead but
I guess i must have heard wrong," Angel said in a low voice.
"Don't believe everything
a demon tells you children." He pulled out his Marlboro Lights and
stuck one in his mouth. He offered one to Angel.
"I don't smoke."
"That's right. You're
the little healthy demon."
"I'm not a demon."
Spike lit his cigarette and
blew out a cloud of grey smoke.
"Well you don't hit like
the great nancy poof you would be if you humanised. Aren't you going
to congratulate me?"
"For still being the biggest
prick on the face of the earth ?"
"Like you would know.
No. For getting me chip out." He grinned and walked closer
to Angel. "Heard Buffy and you had a kid. Bet she'd make a
tasty desert. After the Slayer of course."
"Which one ?" Buffy challenged
behind Spike. He turned round and threw his cigarette away after
taking another drag.
"Buffy. Don't you look
the screwable delight," he said with glee. "What do you mean, what
one ?"
"My daughter - Leigh - she's
the new Slayer in town. So you better keep away from all of us."
"Ooh Angel. Whole house
of Slayers to screw. Lucky boy."
Angel grabbed his throat
and crushed Spikes windpipe.
"Like i need to breathe."
"But ya need your head,"
Angel growled.
"What ? You can squeeze
his head off ? When you become Superman, Clark ?" Buffy said angrily.
Angel dropped Spike and looked at Buffy.
"I woke up.. I have super
strength Buffy. Vampire strength. But I'm human."
"When were you planning on
telling me ?"
"Oracles told me not to.
The strength is to help Leigh and her destiny. I'm not done atoning
yet."
"What about the happiness
clause..."
"I'm human." Buffy
slid her hand onto Angels heart and to her relief it was still beating.
"I don't understand."
"Me neither," Angel admitted.
"Oh how bloody beautiful
!" Spike exclaimed picking himself up. "You two should have your
own cult mini-series and a string of websites. And it's a heart wrenching
moment for Buffy and Angel shippers everywhere. Just so you know
Buffy, I'm the de-chipped type. So I'll be killing you all soon,"
he said jumping over the cemetery wall.
Next day Leigh woke up and
looked at her clock. 6am. Her phone rang just as she reached
for it. She drew her hand back but then she picked it up.
"Hello ?"
"Leigh. I'm sorry did
i wake you ? It's Pierce."
"No.. Pierce you didn't.
What's up?"
"I thought you may like to
train today."
"OK. Where ?"
"I have a special area set
up in an old factory. Training facility. Peterson Street.
Do you know it ?"
"The old sock factory.
Sure. Be there in half an hour."
There was a long silence.
"Well I'll see you there
then," Pierce concluded.
"Guess you will. In
half an hour."
"Fantastic. Well, til
then."
"Right. Til then."
"Goodbye."
"Bye."
She put down the phone lightly
and then sat up. She felt tingly all over. She'd been tossing
and turning all night but she felt awak and refreshed. She felt more
aware of herself. Everything about her was different.
"I'm the Slayer. i
am the Slayer. I'm
the Slayer," she told herself out loud.
"And I need a shower," she decided and left her bed.
"Leigh Summers reporting
for Slayer training," Leigh called into the old factory. She felt
something inside and then looked around. Something was coming at
her full speed. She pulled it to the side and landed on top of it.
It was Pierce.
"Oh.. god sorry," she said.
"No need. I was testing
your instincts."
"So, how'd they do ?"
"Pretty well for a day old
Slayer," he grinned. Leigh lay there on top of him for a while.
She looked into his deep brown eyes.
"I should move," she half
suggested
"I would say so," he agreed.
Leigh wriggled off him and
stood up. She held out a hand and he took it. She pulled him
up easily.
"Where do we start ?"
She looked at him in his hooded top and training trousers. he looked
so different from the man that had shown up at her school in a suit.
He looked almost normal. His brown hair was falling over his eyes
and he brushed it back.
"We start with the basics.
Don't disclose the information of you being a Slayer to any of your school
friends. You will be setting them a death trap."
"OK," she nodded. "So
what? i fight alone?"
"Far from it. You'll
have Buffy and your father Angel. You'll have their friends who've
assisted the Slayer on many occasions. And you'll have me.." he trailed
off. "you'll never truly be alone. I promise you that."
"Don't make promises you
can't keep," she said softly.
"I'm not." he pulled
his gaze from her and looked at his weapons.
"I know this will be hard.
My mom sent my dad to hell and i know that wasn't double oh seven easy
street. I've had dreams.."
"About what ?"
"Blood, horror, gut wrenching
misery. They're portents right ?"
"I'm afraid they could be."
"I can tell. It feels
like someones taking my spirit out of my body. In them, i want to
die it hurts so much. So I'm really hoping it's not a prophecy thingy."
Pierce didn't question her
dreams anymore and they trained. She learned faster than any Slayer
in history and operated and shot a crossbow within half an hour of seeing
it, threw stakes long distance with pinpoint accuracy into the vampire
dummies. By the end of the day, she was also very highly skilled
in the quarterstaff and was an expert swordswoman.
"That was quite remarkable,"
Pierce said with raised eyebrows going to the fridge. He took out
two bottles of water and handed one to the Slayer. "I've never seen
such rapid progress. Or myself feeling as much pain in my back."
He sat down. She sat on the old couch cross legged and sipped her
water.
"Sorry. Kinda got carried
away with the quarterstaff. Didn't mean to.."
"I hope you did. Have
you been training in any form before now ?"
"No, not really. Once
I wandered into the back of my Uncle Giles's shop and pummeled some on
the dummy but apart from that nada."
There was a silence between
them again. Leigh couldn't explain the feeling that was churning
in her stomach. Like butterflies mixed with something that made her
feel dizzy. She only got it when she was with Pierce. She felt
it last night in the cemetery and before when they first met. Maybe
it was being the Slayer. Having all this power and him being her
Watcher brought it out.
"So how come you got stuck
with this gig ? You're what ? 12 ?"
Pierce laughed. "24.
And I was born into being a watcher as you were a Slayer. It's all
I've ever known."
"Am i the first ?" She asked
looking into hsi eyes. He had to catch his breath and then let it
out as he spoke.
"Yes."
"So if i'm this big prophecy
thing why'd they send an amateur ?"
Her humour allowed him to
laugh and draw his gaze away from her.
"I'm an over achiever."
They both laughed again and Leigh looked at him as he did so. His
eyes danced and his eyebrows did the cutest thing.
They turned immediately as
the door crashed open. "Leigh Summers!"
It was Buffy.
"Your mother did know you
were gone all day didn't she ?" Pierce said in a low voice.
"She knew I'd be gone
but I think the problem is where."
"She's resisting your Slayer
duties ?" Pierce asked. Buffy was in front of them both now.
"Like Hell i am," Buffy said
in a tone that was harsh and unforgiving. Leigh knew this wasn't
like her mom. "Leigh. I called Kim's. Kim was at Lara's.
So I called them. They were out. So I called Lara's cell and
you weren't with them. I was at Giles's going out my mind and Xander
came in and mentioned he seen you going towards Petersons street.
It's really like Connect The Dots which you know I really hate."
"Mom.."
"Don't Mom me. When
I was 15. My mother never knew what i did at nights and she never
added 2 and bloody 2 to get the answer to the blood on my clothes.
It took her 2 years to figure it out. Two years of lame excuses and
sneaking out my room to save the world. And i've decided if i can
stop you training or going out i can stop you being the Slayer. It's
a lame theory but I'm going on a little initiative. We're going home."
"Buffy, Leigh is highly skilled.."
"She's going to be highly
dead if i let her be the Slayer ! Look James Bond you're just her
Watcher and you have no idea what it's like to care about her or to wish
you can stop everything. You don't love her," Buffy said continuing
her rant. The last part hit Pierce. A wake up. He stared
at Leigh who stared back. He eyes were longing for so much more.
She knew she had a destiny and she wanted to honour it. As he seen
her thoughts, he saw the purity of her soul. The innocence fifteen
brings. And he saw a little part of her feeling the same way he felt.
Wanting what he wanted. Trying to ignore this part was so hard and
Pierce tried so hard to tear his eyes away from her.
Buffy couldn't be more wrong.
"So are we in agreement ?
Good," Buffy said without waiting for an answer. "Leigh let's go."
Leigh stole one last look
at Pierce and slid off the couch. she took her jacket and followed
her mother out.
Pierce sat down in his apartment
6 blocks from Petersons street and opened a bottle of coke a cola.
He poured some into his glass and then screwed the cap back on. He
was wearing black jogging pants and a white vest that showed off his hidden
muscles mostly unrequired for regular Watching. But he was different.
He wasn't going to let his Slayer die alone. He wasn't going to stand
by and read books. He was going to avoid the mistakes his father
made.
He stared at the rum bottle,
trying to decide. Alcohol wouldn't clear his thoughts, only take
out the algebraic forms to make them seem solved. He put the rum
bottle back in the cupboard and then switched on the tv. He surfed
until her found VH1 and stayed on that channel. He relaxed back on
his chair and tried to get comfortable.
Then his thoughts drifted
back to his Slayer. He knew that he shouldn't. He should stop...
feeling, wanting. She's fifteen. And he was her Watcher.
nothing could come of it. And definitely not when her mother was
the Slayer also and her father was the fiercest vampire ever to walk the
earth.
The door knock brought him
back to earth with a shudder and he jumped up. He placed his glass
back down and then walked over to the door.
"Wow. you're just an
all seasons guy," Leigh remarked standing at the door. "Suit, tracksuit
and now this."
"Leigh," he said softly.
"What are you doing here?"
"Here to see you," she said
simply. "I am gonna freeze here since your hall's got no heating."
"Sorry. right," he
said opening the door wider. She came in and he shut the door behind
her. "Can i get you a drink or something?"
"Nope. I was just wondering.."
She said coming face to face with him. She didn't mean to but she
edged closer. And he edged even closer making her feel the rise and
fall of his chest. He touched her beautiful soft hair lightly and
ran the back of his hand down it. "I was wondering..." She murmured
leaning her head in the crook of his neck as he stroked her hair.
"Slayer stuff..."
"Sshh," he calmed her putting
an arm round her pulling her gently closer. He brushed his face on
her soft cheek and closed his eyes. Leigh closed her eyes and sighed
as she put her arms slowly around him feeling how warm he was.
"Pierce..."
"Mmhhmm?" He said quietly
still with his eyes closed.
"What am I doing here ?"
she said in a voice so full of un answered questions.
"Trying to make a dent in
the amount of times your mother snuck out her room at night."
She smiled and held him closer.
Softly, Dido's "No Angel" was playing on VH1.
I'm No Angel
Leigh felt a tear slipping
down her cheek onto his shoulder. Then another. Slowly and
silently, they fell splashing on his shoulder. He felt a small wet
patch and then turned her face towards his.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," she said trying
to stop her tears unsuccessfully. "I just.. i need to go. Sure
she's got CCTV in my room or something. So i should.."
"..Go. Right.
OK."
Leigh pulled apart from Pierce
and he wiped her eyes with his thumb.
"We could.. train.. tommorrow.."
Leigh suggested slowly.
"That'd be OK. After
school?"
"OK." Leigh headed
towards the door.
Pierce quickly caught her
arm and pulled her back into him as if he was going to kiss her.
His forehead lent against hers and she thought she was going to die if
she didn't kiss him soon.
"Be careful," he said softly.
"I will," she promised.
He loosened his gentle but firm grip and Leigh forced herself to walk out
of his apartment. As she closed the door behind her, Pierce fell
down onto his sofa holding his head in his hands. She had been so
close to him, and he resisted himself. He wanted that kiss so much
but couldn't bring himself to take it. And he knew he couldn't.
Not only was he her Watcher, but her was 9 years older. And he had
alot of ghosts that haunted him from his childhood. It wasn't fair.
She was already the Slayer
but she hadn't come close to touching real darkness.
THE END
"The road to Feedback is a rocky path" "Think we might make it?" You better.
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