Is with infinitude, and only there;
With hope it is, hope that can never die’
Giles was droning on about something. It was undoubtedly important, but Buffy was too nervous to focus on his message. She was only a few yards from him, seated in the front row of the lecture hall as he addressed the room. Behind her sat the nine Slayers who had arrived last week and sixty-six shiny, new recruits, the first batch of slayerettes identified by Dawn and Althanea and located and signed up by the recruitment teams. Seventy-five girls who were looking to her for leadership, guidance, inspiration. No pressure, okay? Right!
Most of these young girls hadn’t had to travel too far, either from spots around the U.K. and Ireland, or from just over the channel in France or Spain. But sixteen girls had flown all the way from the States, west coasters the lot, including ten Californian girls. And in a minute, Buffy was going to speak to them for the first time.
She’d love to blame the roiling motion in her tummy on pregnancy nausea, but at thirteen weeks, she’d finally put that behind her. No, it was just good old nerves. As Giles began winding his talk up, Buffy noticed that he sounded kinda weird. Like he had a smile in his voice. In fact, now she thought about it, he’d been acting kinda weird lately. As Giles stepped aside and Buffy took center stage, she decided it was something she should to look into. If she managed to survive the next twenty minutes!
“Hi, I’m Buffy Summers. You’ve no doubt already heard of me, maybe even heard strange stories about my life. People will tell you things about me, that I’m the head Slayer, the Chosen one, one of the longest living Slayers ever, that I’ve died a couple of times, and that I’ve saved the world … lots. They might say that I’m weird and that my friends and family are freaks. You may have also heard that I’m the one responsible for your powers being activated back in May, and you’re not sure yet whether that’s a blessing or a curse.
Well, all of those things are true in a way. I’ve done a lot, I’ve seen a lot and I’ve kicked a helluva lot of demon ass.” Laughter, much of it uncertain or very slightly hysterical, erupted from the ranks.
“I’ve fought and defeated a jumped up, narcissistic Hell God, a vain and self-absorbed Dracula and a cold and conceited Frankensoldier. I’ve staked fledgling vampires, freshly hatched from their burial plots and lead a team of the bravest fighters I’ve ever seen into battle against the armies of Hell. I’ve had to send one guy I loved to hell and watch another burn to ashes. All of this, and I’m only 22 years old.
Maybe these things seem strange and freaky and supernatural to you, almost impossible for you to relate to. But despite all the bizarre experiences I’ve had, I’m really not so different from any of you. I know some of you are younger, but a lot of you are sixteen or seventeen. I was only fifteen; just a kid, when I was ‘called’ and my powers were activated. I hadn’t been identified as a potential slayer, so I knew nothing about the supernatural world. I had no idea that vampires and demons were real, that they lived hidden from view but very much part of our world. I didn’t know how to fight, how to use a stake or a sword, what to look out for to keep myself safe.
I was no different from many of you – young, scared, uncertain and confused. But you have one huge advantage over the schoolgirl who was forced to burn down her high school gym to get rid of a master vampire and his minions. You have each other. You can share this huge destiny with hundreds of other girls. You can help and support one another through the daily grind, bitch and moan together when things get tough, cheer each other on when you need encouragement, celebrate when you win the battles, console one another when you lose.
You have each other; you have family. You may not know it yet, but from among this slayer family you will find big sisters, little sisters and best friends. Some of you may even find substitute parents.
I didn’t have slayer sisters like you do, well not for many years anyway, but I did have a ‘family’. I’d like to bring my family out here to meet you.”
The first row of people stood and walked to the front of the room to join Buffy, before turning around to face the new slayers. Each took a step forward as Buffy offered up their name.
“This is my family: my sister Dawn, my two best friends Willow and Xander and you already know my Watcher and surrogate Dad, Giles. Each one of these people is special, not just for the particular talents and skills they have developed over time, but also for the enormous emotional support they’ve been able to provide. They’ve been with me almost from the beginning of my Slayer journey. They’ve been with me through thick and thin, stood by me through the triumphs and the disasters. Sometimes we’ve watched each other make huge mistakes, but we’ve always had one another’s backs. Cos that’s what you do with family.
There’s one other person who is part of my family, the man who won my heart. He was one of my most determined enemies; he became one of my strongest allies. He has fought for me, he has died for me, and now he is the love of my life. You may have heard of him. If you’ve never been around his kind before, you’ll wonder why he makes you feel so uncomfortable, and if you have, then you’ll instantly know why. To our Slayer essence, he is the enemy, but to me and mine he is a champion, a hero. I hope you will come to see him as one of the greatest assets in your lives. Ladies, this is Spike.”
The vampire entered the great hall from the foyer on the left, where he’d been out of sight and out of range. There was an immediate reaction from some of the older girls, who having spent years as council trained potentials, were instantly aware of what the pinpricks dancing up and down the backs of their necks meant.
He was dressed innocuously in his ‘Watcher garb’ – black t-shirt and chambray shirt over dark blue jeans, but his pale visage and graceful gait betrayed his hidden nature. Murmurs of shock and recognition spread out like ripples across the room, as each girl responded hostilely to the face that had haunted her nightmares, to the tingles that tapped the nerves in her spine, and to the voice embedded deep in her subconscious that was screaming at her to fight, to kill. The room trembled with the force of lightly leashed aggression and the air shimmered with hostility.
Spike eyed the girls cockily as he sauntered over to the center of the room, to take his place at Buffy’s side. He turned to face them fully and stood, legs apart, thumbs hooked in his belt, fingers dancing dangerously close to his package, an arrogant smirk teasing his lips.
Buffy elbowed him and frowned which just caused his grin to grow wider. Shrugging her shoulders and shaking her head, she gave up and grinned back at him.
The girls watched this in total silence, shocked and confused by the interaction between the head slayer and this creature that they instinctively knew was a vampire. Disruption broke out as the girls started to mutter amongst themselves, and several began to recall Buffy’s words of introduction. This creature was a hero and the Slayer’s lover?
Buffy let them go for a while, unruffled by the anger and suspicion beginning to build throughout the room. She and Spike stood side by side, flanked by Dawn and Giles on one side and Willow and Xander on the other. The atmosphere had turned ugly, fuelled by the girls’ innate enmity of Spike.
Finally, just before the mood grew to riot proportions, Buffy stepped forward.
“Well done girls.” The crowd quietened down reluctantly, but tension still flooded the air. “That’s what it feels like to be a slayer. That anger and suspicion, that power pouring through your bodies like ultra-adrenaline, that is your slayer essence working its will through you. The slayer in you has awoken, and she is a greedy beast. The call to hunt and destroy that which it recognizes as the enemy is an overriding instinct.
Some may tell you that this is your calling, your destiny; at other times you might see it as a curse or a burden. But either way, now your powers have been activated, there is no going back. To be a slayer is not a job, or a part time interest, it is part of who you are. It’s your mission, your reason for being here. You're not here by chance. You're here because you are the chosen ones.
I hope in time, as you get to know Spike, you’ll be able to ignore your instincts to dust him. It will be awkward if you can’t, cos he’ll be responsible for many of your training sessions.”
There was a smattering of nervous laughter around the room.
“You will learn that this world you have stepped into is not always black and white. You’ll have to recognize the difference, and where it lies, between demons in general and true danger. Your class in ‘Mythology 101’ will help you identify some of the many demons out there, and sort out friend from foe. But never ignore your instincts totally, they are what will keep you alert, keep you safe, and keep you alive.
Classes don’t start for another five weeks, but we will begin training sessions tomorrow, either with Spike and myself or with some of the older slayers that arrived last week. Next week we’re expecting another group of 65 girls and another similar number the week after that. Make the most of this time to get to know one another, to share experiences, to bond. We’ll be around to chat with or to give advice, so just ask. Thanks girls, finish unpacking and chill, the day’s your own.”
Buffy relaxed and stood back as the girls began to chatter and get up and move out of the lecture hall. She felt Spike move closer to her from behind and she leaned into him lightly, dropping her left hand to the side to discretely link fingers with his. After all that speechifying she could really do with a Spike hug, but they’d decided to forgo the PDAs in front of the girls, determined to present as professional a face as possible during working hours.
The other Scoobies were milling around, and Rowan and Cat had wandered over to join them.
Giles cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I think that went very well Buffy. It was a bit of a risk bringing Spike in like that, but I think you made your point.”
“Yeah, great speech Buffster. You sure gave them some food for thought. Although I’m glad you had that shield up Wills. I don’t know how you were feeling Spike, but if Slayer looks could kill, then I think we would have all been dust from the fallout.”
“Yeah Harris, it got a little intense there for a minute or two. I don’t think I could have kept up the cocky smirk without knowledge of that shield being there. Thanks Red.”
“No problem guys. Better to be safe than sorry given the trigger happiness of young slayers.”
“How is the school organization going Willow?” Giles asked.
“It’s getting there. This week I’ve been focusing on outlining the curriculum. The girls will do the same core subjects as at any Secondary school, English, Mathematics and Science, but we’ve tailored the other subjects to suit our special focus. Physical Education will not only encompass fitness, but weapons, defense and training exercises and Citizenship studies will cover ethics and the slayer role in keeping our world safe. ICT will focus on accessing the research database we’re putting together and Vocational Studies will look at strategizing, teamwork, and leadership.
We’re looking at a few optional subjects now, obviously English as a second language for non English speakers, a couple of Language options for the others, History, which will focus on both the lives of past slayers and the history of various demon races.”
“Wow, sounds very schoolish,” Buffy said.
“You’ve worked very hard Willow.” Giles pulled out a thick manila envelope. “This came in the post this morning. I haven’t opened it yet. Would you care to do the honors?”
The A4 envelope was very official looking, the Department of Education’s insignia printed in the left hand corner. Willow took it eagerly from Giles and ripped it open. Her eyes quickly scanned through the page on the top of what looked like a pile of forms and booklets. She squealed in excitement lifted her head up to look at the others.
“Yes, we’ve got it - provisional approval to operate as an Academy. That means Amazon only has to sponsor ten percent of running costs and the Government will fund the rest. Phew, that’s a load of pressure off. We’ve still got an Offsted inspection tomorrow, and I’ve set up interviews for the English, Math and Science positions on Wednesday. Then it looks like I’ve got another wad of forms to fill out and send away,” Willow said as she glanced through the pile of papers in her hand.
“How will you staff the other, more ‘specialized’ classes? And will you teach all of the school levels or just Key Stage 4?” Dawn, who had spent a lot of time recently researching the UK school system, had lost most of the others with her questions.
“Well, Buffy and Spike can teach the P.E. classes, and I’ll take the ICT one. I’d love Giles to pick up either Citizenship or Vocational Studies but it will depend on the timetable. Otherwise Anthony Collins is going to provide a couple of his staff to take those classes and History.
And as for levels, we’re going to divide the girls into two groups. The 14 and 15 year olds will go into Year 10 for the two year programme leading up to their GCSEs and the 16 and 17 year olds will enter sixth form and work towards their A levels. All the girls will come out with formal qualifications and be well prepared for their slayer responsibilities.”
“But what about those girls who are 18 or older?” Rowan asked quietly.
“We don’t actually have a huge number of older girls. Five of the field slayers are older and have completed their secondary schooling in their home countries. Two of the new girls are 18 but they’d both finished school as well. So far, apart from Dana, and the 13 year old French girl, all of the other recruits are in the 14 to 17 year old range and even among the older girls, they’re all under 20.”
“So what happened with the poor loco chit’s activation? She’s 25 ain’t she, so a bit long in the tooth,” Spike said.
“We’ve got a theory about that,” Rowan said. “She’s been trapped mentally and emotionally at a much younger age. Maybe the mystical force that rules potentials out when they get to a certain age and stage in their lives ‘misread’ Dana’s true age and activated her anyway.”
“How’s she doing?” Buffy asked. “I keep meaning to go and see her but I haven’t got around to it.”
“She’s calm and settling in to her room,” Cat said “We’ve kept her pretty well sedated and topped it up with wee daily doses of Slayer’s Bane. I think Willow and Rowan are planning their inner road trip this week, is that not right girls?”
“Yeah, Thursday,” Willow said after glancing at Rowan. “It’s me that’s holding the works up. I’ve got Ofsted tomorrow and interviews on Wednesday so it’s all to do with scheduling. But we did a little practice on the weekend with Soledad and that went fine. She’s a good kid that one. She’s been spending quite a bit of time with Dana and has even brought some of the other slayers over to visit her. It seems to calm Dana down when there are other slayers around, like she feels safer.”
“Good, good. Cat and I will be there with you on Thursday when you ‘re ready to begin,” Giles said. “Now, Xander, Rowan, the girls appear very happy with their accommodations and the new staff are working well. Well done. Any problems so far?”
“Not yet,” Xander replied. “A couple of girls have swapped rooms, but as long as everyone’s happy then no problemo. No it’s going surprisingly well. The cracks will start to appear once we’ve got 500 girls squeezed in there.”
“So where are you going to house the other 1500 girls?” Spike queried.
“Well, I’m already looking into building companies that specialize in rapid construction of kitset buildings so that we can accommodate the predicted slayer deluge. Once we’ve selected a company, I’ll get them to meet with Wills as well about extra classroom construction.”
“Thank you Xander, well done. Now Buffy and Spike?”
“Yeah, the Slayer and I have been working out training schedules. The girls’ll do weekly fitness, flexibility and strength training using the pool, the running tracks and the gym. In fact we’ll get them started on that tomorrow. Each semester we’ll throw a different combat style at them, including tae kwondo, aikido, boxing and capoeira, as well as weapons training such as archery, fencing and kendo.”
“Spike and I can handle the general classes by ourselves, but we’ll contract local martial arts masters in to teach the different disciplines. We’ll add light and medium contact sparring sessions once they’ve become adept in two or more codes. Sparring will be much easier when you don’t have to pour your partner into a fully padded body suit just so he can survive your kicks and punches.”
Both Giles and Xander winced, while Dawn and Willow giggled.
“And we’ve also worked out a schedule for Work Experience,” Buffy continued excitedly. “We’ll do regular local patrols and each student will spend one week each semester living and patrolling with one of the international squads.”
Their ideas were received favorably and compliments were handed out appropriately. Finally Giles turned to Dawn. “How is the tracking going Dawn?”
“Good up until now. We’ve come to a bit of a halt due to distance factors. We can only scan with any degree of accuracy up to a distance of 1200 miles. Some of the IDs we did in Greece and Ukraine were really stretching matters. We need to get Russia done pretty soon and the Middle East or Asia, but that means either flying or portalling over there for a day or two and I’d prefer to take someone with me but everyone else has been too busy!” Dawn’s voice was getting a little bit screechy.
“Maybe,” Buffy looked at Spike and he nodded reluctantly, “if you could wait till Friday afternoon, I could do an overnighter with you. Head back Saturday evening. Maybe Moscow?”
“Oh yes,” Dawn squeed. “And some sightseeing on Friday night. We can’t portal hop all the way to Moscow, I’ve never been there before and we don’t have anyone we know there. But, Team 2 should be in Kiev on Friday, just over the border in the Ukraine. That’s Colleen and Matt, Dominique and Chao Ahn. Any of those guys I know well enough to lock onto. Then we could fly into Moscow, it’s only a thirty minute flight from Kiev.”
“How safe’s portal hopping for pregnant mums?” Spike asked.
“It should be no different than walking through a door,” Cat answered. “I scanned for things like radioactive isotopes or particle emissions before I hopped over to LA last week, and the readings were perfectly normal. I also checked my own vital signs before the hop and again the following morning. Everything was as you’d expect given the circumstances.” Cat looked sideways at Giles and seemed to blush.
Giles smiled at her and reached out to take her hand in his before turning to face the puzzled group before him.
“Yes, well, I’d like, actually we’d like, to make an announcement of our own. Catriona has done me the great honor of not only accepting a part time position as Ashdown’s Medical Officer, but also, and more importantly,” at this point he paused and turned to gaze fondly at the woman beside him, “of becoming my wife!”
The shocked silence and gaping expressions on the faces of the Scoobies did little to bolster Giles’ confidence, but Cat stepping in against his side and lovingly squeezing his hand lent him enough courage to hold his head up high.
“What the hell?” Buffy spluttered in outrage and confusion. “But you two don’t even know anything about each other. And what you do know you don’t like. Just days ago, you were bitching and mocking and, and … harrumphing about one another behind each other’s back. This has got to be some sort of joke.”
Buffy’s diatribe strengthened Giles’ resolve instead of undermining it and he looked her firmly in the eye. But before he could begin to deliver his rebuttal, Spike’s quiet interjection diverted the impending explosion.
“Hold on a minute pet, that’s a pretty poor argument. After all, that kinda carry on is hardly unique to Rupert and the Doc,” he said as he stepped up to her side. “Surely you’ve heard of UST? You know, unresolved sexual tension!”
“What’s that got to do with it? Isn’t UST just some pathetic plot device of middle aged romance writers and authors of those fanfiction thingies? I mean who’s ever heard of it in real life. How ridiculous. People don’t just go from being mortal enemies to suddenly falling madly in love with one another. That’s just not …” Buffy’s eyes widened and her mouth popped open as she glanced up at Spike’s smirk.
“Oh!” she said as the realization hit her. She quickly buried her pink stained face against Spike’s chest.
The vampire drew her unresisting body against his, offering her love and comfort even as he delighted in the way she instinctively and unguardedly sought reassurance from him. It still blew him away that she placed so much trust at his feet. Blinking back the sudden sheen from his eyes, he glanced up over Buffy’s head and caught the Watcher’s gaze, nodding his and the Slayer’s acceptance of the new relationship.
Giles nodded back, relieved at Buffy’s turn around, reluctant as it may be. The first bomb had been defused, but looking around the room, at Xander’s gaping mouth, Dawn’s moue of concern and Willow’s frown, he knew he wasn’t out of the firing range yet.
“I know it’s seems sudden. But actually I’ve known Cat for almost half my life. Yes, she’s swept back into my life with the force of a tidal wave. But she’s the one, the other half of me. I’ve wasted too many years without her by my side, and I refuse to waste a minute more.”
Xander seemed set to offer his five cents worth when a tug on his hand made him glance down at the upturned face of his girlfriend. Her beautiful face shone with the faith she had in him to do the right thing. He paused, remembering his vow to try and consider things fairly before leaping in judgmentally. Emotive overdrive switched off and reasoning gears fully engaged, Xander decided that if the Universe was benevolent enough to give a loser like him such an amazing second chance at love, then there was no reason why an old guy like Giles shouldn’t get a shot at it too.
Mind made up, and proud of himself for his newly found insight and tolerance, he grinned back down at Rowan before taking a step towards the Watcher and thrusting out his hand.
Giles took it hesitantly, suspicious of Xander’s rapid turn around, but was surprised and delighted by the boy’s confident bestowal of congratulations, and the warm hug and blessings from his goddaughter. He peered closely at the young couple as they stepped back, impressed by the added maturity and common sense Xander had developed over the last few months, certain that Rowan had a significant part to play in that growth.
Willow’s reservations however, weren’t going to be so easily mollified. She cleared her throat and shook her head at the way her oldest friend had just crumbled.
“Giles, I’m sure we’re all happy that you’ve found someone you’re attracted to, that you can spark off. But why the rush? Surely you can take some time to get to know one another as a couple, maybe even live together if you must. Surely there’s no need to jump straight into marriage.”
Giles considered the open, caring demeanor and gentle voice that barely masked the steel lying beneath Willow’s surface, and shook his head in disappointment.
“Willow, this is not some little dalliance or ‘crush’ as you might phrase it. Cat is the other half of me. Until she dragged the scales from my eyes, I was content with my life, happy with my work and my family, as you have all become. But I was merely stumbling through life, blind to what was missing, the gaping hole deep in my soul that yearned to be filled by that one person that gives our lives meaning.”
He turned to face Cat, grasping her two hands in his. “I found that person twenty-four years ago, but because of a number of reasons, some silly, some not, I lost her. I’ve been granted a second chance to spend the rest of my life with the woman who completes me, whom I love with such an intensity of passion and desire and tenderness that sometimes, when I look at her, when I feel her hands in mine, its all I can do to breathe. Cat is the one, my soul mate, my destiny, the love of my life, and no-one will take that chance away from me.”
He turned back to face his friends, finally singling the witch out. “Willow, you of all people should get that.”
The room was silent save for the odd sniffle. The girls all had tears running freely down their cheeks. Even the battle-hardened men’s eyes were suspiciously shiny.
Suddenly, almost as if reacting to a silent signal, Giles was attacked from all sides. He barely had time to tuck Cat safely in against his side before they struck. Accompanied by high-pitched squeals of glee and little tremors of excitement, his four girls, pseudo-daughters all of them, were gushing and hugging and oh-my-Godding uncontrollably. Extricating himself from the bedlam, the bruising and the likelihood of several crushed ribs, Giles managed to escape as the girls squealed once again at the sight of Cat’s ring and began pressing her for details of the upcoming nuptials.
Spike and Xander took in the sight of Giles’ shell-shocked form before the vampire laid a hand on his back. “Well done mate, didn’t know you had it in you. Looks like you need a strong drop of whiskey though. Come on, back to the Lodge, drinks on us.”
The women nodded eagerly, and as one the group turned and slowly made their way out of the converted chapel, chattering and laughing as they went. Giles paused. The early afternoon sun poured in through the stain-glassed windows, the multi-colored shafts of shimmering light bathing the floor of the alcove in a magical glow. The spectacular display seemed almost otherworldly, a touch of serene, ethereal beauty in a chaotic world. Nothing could have more clearly mirrored the tumultuous feelings of rapture coloring his very being, body and soul. With a tremulous smile, he turned and headed off to join his loved ones and his future.