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I have to apologize. I had this one written for a while, and didn't have a chapter title. I finally found one I liked and well, since today is a relatively pain-free one, I figured I'd post it all for you. Enjoy. OH! And you guys that are reviewing are the absolute best! Thanks soo much. Nia

[A/N: You guys will notice that I’m not using quotes and stuff in this, unlike Origins – well, this is for a couple of reasons – because Origins is so much, it’s a serious work and while this is far from a complete fluff ball, its not quite the same weight. Either way, they are two completely different stories and I’m treating them that way. If I find a quote that works easily, I’ll use it, otherwise, I’m gonna skip it. So this quote is from James Joyce. . . one of my favorite authors, and apparently someone else’s also. However, the disclaimers are always in full force and effect.]


Fourth. Mistakes are often the portals of discovery.

When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long.
Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward.
Mistakes are lessons of wisdom.
The past cannot be changed.
The future is yet in your power.
Hugh White, US politician (1773 - 1840)



Riley Finn knew he was in deep shit. In the last hour his entire world had unraveled. Yesterday, his appointment letter from West Point had arrived, his future was all planned out and waiting for him.

Now? Not so sure. His appointment letter was tucked away in his backpack and he had no idea what was going to happen to him. He couldn’t imagine something worse could happen.

Staring at the walls of the Assistant Principal’s office, a place he’d only ever been to before to get an award or good news of some kind, Riley felt the first stirrings of fear. This was going to screw up his appointment. He just knew it.

A door opened down the hallway and heavy steps came closer, way too quickly for his peace of mind. He looked up at Mr. Stevenson’s approach, then dropped his gaze when he caught the fury in his eyes.

Oh shit. I’m done for now.

Mr. Stevenson stalked past him without acknowledging his presence, without so much as a glance down. As he walked by, Riley could see the muscle in his cheek twitch, signaling his extreme agitation.

Oh shit.

With a brief knock on the AP’s door, Stevenson walked right in. Riley closed his eyes, willing away tears of self disgrace and fear. I’m still going. I’m still going. Its West Point, they can’t take that away from me.


********************************************************************************

They’d barely made it out of the courtyard when the shaking started. Buffy’s teeth started chattering before they hit the end of the first block and by the time they’d crossed the street, the tears started flowing.

Halfway to her house, just two blocks away, Buffy hunched over and vomited on her shoes.

Willow didn’t know what to do. Oh god. Oh shit. Oh Buffy. “You okay? You’re okay, right? You can’t stop now. C’mon Buffy.”

She knew she was completely incoherent and some part of her usually logical brain was horrified by the idiot part that was controlling her mouth, but Willow couldn’t stop.

Tugging her best friend’s arm, Willow pulled Buffy forward a couple of steps. “That’s good. C’mon Buffy, take a couple more.” She did it again, nearly crowing in relief when the action seemed to jump start Buffy into moving again.

But it didn’t last long. Only to the end of the second block and barely across the street.

“C’mon, Buff, I can see your house from here. We’re almost there. C’mon.” In her nervousness she found herself almost baby-talking in a sing song voice. “One foot. That’s a girl! One more. One foot in front of the other. Yeah! Buffy.”

Her glee was short-lived when Buffy hunched over for the second time and threw up all over the sidewalk.

Buffy’s hands were icy cold and Willow had no idea what to do when suddenly from three sides she had different people vying for her attention. Buffy was still hunched over, only now it was just dry heaves, nothing substantial left in her stomach. Xander’s voice was calling out to her from down the block, Mrs. Wilson was coming down her walkway and Mr. Stevenson was getting out of his car.

Huh?

Mr. Stevenson was the first to reach them, his voice kind and sympathetic. “Had a feeling this was going to happen.” He placed a warm hand on Buffy’s back, leaning over to talk to her. “Buffy? Can you stand up?” When she didn’t respond or react, he said a bit more forcefully, “Miss Summers can you hear me?”

No response.

Willow was chattering away trying to get Buffy to answer when Buffy’s legs started to give out. Mr. Stevenson had her up in his arms as Mrs. Wilson placed a hand on her brow. “She’s in shock.”

Mrs. Wilson was appalled. “Oh my. What happened?”

Willow started babbling again, but Mr. Stevenson’s low voice broke through her words, “scare at school.”

Quickly taking charge of the situation, Will shifted Buffy in his arms, looking at the little red-head. ‘Willow, get my car door. Where does she live?”

“Half a block away, just across the street.” Whirling around, opening his car door and motioning with her hand to where the house was, Willow looked to him for guidance. Xander jogged up, his question then catching everyone’s attention. Without turning around, Will called out, “Harris? That you? Grab my keys.”

“Willow? What’s going on?”

Changing his mind about getting her back into the car and driving her home, Will figured it was just as easy to walk. And it was, because Buffy was limp in his arms, despite her inner chill. His attention split between the two teens trailing him and the one cradled in his arms, Will barked out orders. “Which house? Someone get the door.” And then, “Willow? Call her mother.”

Once inside the house, Will looked around, not really noticing the nice comfortable feel of the house, the welcoming aroma of vanilla pervading the air. “Get her shoes off.”

Gingerly, Willow sat down on the couch next to her, slipping her shoes off and then quickly running into the kitchen to wash her hands. ‘Willow? I need a blanket.”

Looking around, Will spied a folded up blanket on the chair next to the fire place and grabbing it he put it around her. Willow wandered back inside, sitting down again. She started to get up, but Will said, “no stay put. She needs to stay warm. Cuddle up with her.”

Xander was hovering around, after closing the front door and Will caught his eye, “Harris, get her something warm and sugary to drink.”

“Warm and sugary? What, Mr. Stevenson, what should I? Hey, would hot chocolate work?” Not waiting for his teacher’s answer, Xander made a beeline for the kitchen, to the sound of William’s voice saying, “yeah, that’s perfect, even better if you have mini-marshmallows.”

“Willow? Did you get her mother?” From her spot on the couch behind Buffy, the red-head shook her head yes, and Will asked, “how long before she gets here?”

“She works right here in Sunnydale at the art gallery downtown. She should be home in about five minutes.”

“Okay that’s good.” Gazing down at the still dazed blonde, Will’s heart contracted just a little bit. “Buffy? You feeling any better?”

Sleepy dazed vivid green eyes lazily opened to focus on him crouched down next to her. She had no idea how she got into her living with him here, but she didn’t even care. “Will?”

He smiled at her, his deep blue eyes full of concern. “Shhh. Your mom will be home soon. You’re going to be okay.” His eyes focused on the red-head who was watching them closely, “Willow? Have her mother call Mr. Giles’ office. I’ll be there.”

Willow sat up, disentangling herself from Buffy, who rolled to her back and closed her eyes again. She didn’t want Mr. Stevenson to know how badly she wanted him to stay. Heavy tears slid from her eyes and Buffy curled underneath the blanket.

“Mr. Stevenson, where are you going?” Willow’s voice was quiet, her uncertainty easy to detect.

William glanced down at the blond girl, caught her peeking up at him and his grim smile warmed her chilled body. Turning his attention to the other teen on the couch, he said, “to deal with Finn.”

And before either one of them could ask what that meant, he was gone.


********************************************************************************


There was no sound from behind the door. No raised voices. Nothing. Riley took that as a fairly good sign. His attention was split between the door and the clock over the secretary’s desk. As he watched the second hand tick a complete revolution, the phone rang. He paid that no attention until he heard a “yes he is. Hold on one minute.”

Then, “Mr. Giles? I have Joyce Summers on the phone. Yes sir. Hang up and I’ll put her through.”

A brief pause. “Mrs. Summers? Mr. Giles will speak with you.” Another pause. “Yes he is m’am. You’re welcome.. Hold on.”

Riley dropped his gaze from the secretary when she pointedly looked back at him. It had to be all over school by now. What had happened in the courtyard had to have been embellished and expanded and just. Shit. Just shit.

Another fifteen minutes ticked slowly by.


********************************************************************************

Joyce flew in the doorway, thoughts scrambled in her head. Willow’s message had been garbled, nothing really making sense until she heard, “Buffy’s in shock”. She’d barely grabbed her purse before she was out the doors of the gallery heading at a run for her car.

Buffy and Willow were curled up together on the couch, the red-head holding a mug of something for Buffy to sip from. “Girls?”

One look at her mother and Buffy collapsed into great gulping sobs. “Mommy?”

“Oh honey. What happened?” Maternal instincts kicked in and Joyce sat down on the other side of her daughter, gathering her in a comforting embrace. Unfortunately she still had no answers.

Turning her attention to the other girl, Joyce asked her. “Willow can you tell me what happened?”

Hesitantly at first, Willow relayed the events of the day. She covered everything from Mr. Stevenson’s first rescue to the disaster of what happened in the courtyard. Xander stood in the doorway listening to everything, his face blanching at the news of Buffy’s pregnancy. By the time Willow was finished, Joyce Summers was in a towering fury. And so was Xander Harris.

“Where is Mr. Stevenson now?” Joyce was trying to hold it together for Buffy, but it was a near thing.

“He didn’t say where he was going to be, only that he was going to deal with Riley.” Willow tried to remember, but it was Xander who said, ‘he wanted you to call Mr. Giles’ office. He’s probably there.”

Joyce nodded once, then asked Xander to get the phone for her because she didn’t want to disturb Buffy, who had fallen into a light sleep.

The first phone call Joyce made wasn’t to the school, it was to the doctor’s. They would see Buffy in two hours, in the meantime, she could have anything sweet and should be kept warm.

Getting the okay from the obstetrician had calmed Joyce somewhat, enough so she could call Giles’ office. The phone was answered on the second ring.

“Good afternoon. Mr. Giles please.”

“Joyce Summers.”

“Yes. I’ll hold.” Joyce smiled at the two awake teenagers, brushing her hand lightly over Buffy’s hair, while she waited patiently to be connected.

“Thank you. Oh. One question. Is Mr. Stevenson with him?”

“He is? Yes, thank you.”



********************************************************************************

“Rupert Giles.”

“Would you mind terribly if I put you on speaker phone? I’d rather have Mr. Stevenson go over this with both of us. Yes. He was an eyewitness.”

“Very well. Hold on.”

Looking down at the complicated contraption on his desk, Rupert was at a loss until Stevenson leaned over and took the receiver from him, hit the hold button, then hands free button and suddenly Joyce Summers’ voice filled the room. It was obvious she wasn’t speaking to either one of the men present. “Its okay sweetheart. Everything’s going to be okay.”

“Mrs. Summers?” Rupert’s voice broke through.

“Yes. I’m still here.”

“Very good. Mr. Stevenson is here with me now.”

Will spoke, identifying himself. “Mrs. Summers. How is Buffy?”

“My daughter is still very shaken. Hasn’t said much of anything. Willow’s actually told me what happened.”

“I’m sorry.”

Joyce’s composure broke a little on her next words. “I’d like to thank you, Mr. Stevenson for what you did for my daughter today. I can’t thank you enough.”

“You’re very welcome. I have to tell you that your daughter is a very smart and talented girl. I’m very proud to have her in my class.” Will wanted to say more, but now wasn’t the time.

“Thank you. Can you please tell me what happened?” Will gave a very dispassionate accounting, controlling his temper, but just barely. Joyce could hear the anger in his tone and Giles could see it in his eyes.

Best do as I planned then. Remove the boy from his classes with Ms. Summers and get him out of Will’s. He had both Finn’s and Summers’ files on his desk, and Will had informed him of the girl’s condition, which further complicated things. Finn was possibly in some very deep trouble.

His attention re-focused on something Will had said and he stopped his internal musings to listen to the conversation.

“Well you could Mrs. Summers, but for now maybe just an order of protection would be best.”

Rupert broke in, adding, “I’ve already taken steps to ensure they won’t be in a classroom together.”

“Thank you Mr. Giles. That was one of my concerns. I know they have more than one class together.”

“I’m also going to suspend Finn for three days. Incidents like this are not tolerated, Mrs. Summers.”

Joyce let out a deep breath. ‘Thank you both. I appreciate everything you’ve done for us today. I know Buffy feels the same.”

She was about to hang up when Will’s voice stopped her. “Mrs. Summers?” Would you please let me know how she is later?”

“Sure thing. Thanks again.”

“No problem.”

The call was disconnected and Giles studied the files in front of him, completely missing the look on the other ex-patriot Englishman’s features.

“Will? I’ve no idea how to do this. It would be simple to take him out of your English class and put him in Logan’s class. But the rest of it is just. . . . I’m going to have to re-do his entire schedule. They have four classes together.”

Giles took off his glasses, laying them down on his paperwork. “And now I have to suspend the boy also.”

“Well, Rupes, it gives you three days to work on his schedule, now doesn’t it?”

“Funny Will. Your mother should’ve put you out with the wash water when you were born.”

“Gee thanks ever so.” Growing sober, he said, “it should go on his permanent record.”

“I know. But it won’t. His West Point appointment is already in jeopardy.” Giles looked at his sister’s son and sighed, “do you think the Summers woman will press charges?”

“No. I dunno. She might. Sounded angry enough.”

“That she did. All right. Let’s get this over with.”

Rupert Giles got up from his desk and walked to his door.

“Riley Finn, would you come in please?”



Okay. Like I said before, I'm sorry this took so long. Please, let me know what you think about this one, cos you know, I'm kind of curious . . .





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