Graduation: Class Protector
by Mooncalf
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer and related characters are owned by Joss Whedon, WB and Mutant Enemy. I can only take credit for the new main characters I have created and various other vampire minions which may wander into my stories. I created them, so they are mine. Don't sue as this is just pure fanfic.

*****Chapter One – Class Protector*****

As Buffy, Willow and Cordelia stepped off the front porch Oz and Eli started clapping and smiling at them.

‘You look beautiful, all of you.’ Eli said, handing Cordelia her corsage, made form red roses.

She smiled and nodded meaningfully towards Buffy. Eli took the hint and handed her a box tied with a silver ribbon. Buffy took it and smiled as she opened it.

Inside was a corsage made form pale pink roses and carnations. She hugged Eli and whispered thankyou in his ear.

‘It’s from all of us.’ He said as she released him.

Willow was just fixing her corsage in place, a small bouquet of cream roses and deep green leaves. Oz held open the limo door and the five of them climbed into the car and headed for the prom.

**********

As they arrived at Sunnydale High the prom was already in full swing. The music could be heard from just outside the front steps. As they entered they saw Xander waving at them enthusiastically from the punch bowl. Oz and Eli wandered over to him to get some punch.

‘Oh my god.’ Cordy said in a sarcastic tone. ‘Have you seen what Harmony’s wearing? Slut much.’ She turned away in disgust.

Buffy looked around at the decorations. The walls were covered in the school colours…ribbons and swags of fabric reflected the lights on the disco ball. The whole room sparkled as everyone in it danced around.

‘Look, theres Esme and Eve!’ Willow shouted as she started waving to them. Eve waved back and they crossed the dance floor to greet them. Eve stood out in a long sparkling dress with large swathes of dark blue and silver across it. Esme was also in blue, but a much lighter colour, with a few sparkles here and there; she also wore a long silk scarf wrapped around her shoulders and upper arms, presumably to hide most of her scars.

‘Where’s Giles?’ Buffy asked.

‘Oh, well he’s supposed to be chaperoning so he’s taking it very seriously. He found a boy who’d smuggled in a few bottles of beer.’ Eve rolled her eyes and smiled affectionately. Buffy laughed slightly. Oz and Eli returned with Xander, carrying glasses of punch.

‘You haven’t missed much, there was one fight…but Snyder broke that up.’ Xander said, taking a large gulp of punch. He put the glass on a nearby table and led Esme to the dance floor, Eli and Oz followed with Cordelia and Willow. Leaving Buffy and Eve alone.

‘I like your dress.’ Eve said, smiling widely in the hope of cheering Buffy up a bit. ‘The corsage we got matches quite well too.’ Buffy smiled and sipped her punch. There was short silence before Eve spoke again. ‘I’m sure he’ll turn up.’

‘Yeah.’

‘I’m gonna go and find Giles, okay?’ Buffy nodded and Eve headed off across the crowd to search for him.

Buffy spent most of the evening sitting in the corner, watching the crowd. Xander asked her to dance but she refused, saying she wasn’t in the mood. She sat silently, sipping her punch and watching the crowd. The people she’d saved, people she knew…people she’d never even spoken to.

I thought I knew all it took to bother you
Every word I said was true that you’ll see
How could it be I’m the only one who sees your rehearsed insanity
I still refuse all the methods you’ve abused
It’s all right if you’re confused let me be

The floor packed out as the DJ played on. Buffy watched from the side of the dance floor as Esme and Cordelia let their hair down and attempted to persuade Willow to join them.

I’ve been around all the pawns
You’ve gagged and bound
They’ll come back and knock you down and I’ll be free
I’ve taken all and I’ve endured
One day it all will fade
I’m sure

Buffy scanned the crowd for a sign of Angel, even in the shadows at the sides of the dancefloor there was nothing. Maybe he wasn’t gonna show, maybe he’d had enough of her indecisiveness.

I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything

It was understandable, she was fed up with it too. All the heartache, all the pain, all the past. They could never have a normal relationship. No daylight, no physical side, and he’d probably outlive her by years. No kids…

I had no other hand in your ever desperate plan
It returns and when it lands words are due
I should’ve known we were better off alone
I looked in and I was shown
You were too

She watched Xander and Esme as they danced, they looked so happy. She wondered if they’d be able to endure the misery of that kind of relationship. They seemed happy enough now…maybe they’d always be that way. And Giles with Eve, they’d been getting closer, and they had a lot in common…in a quirky British way. How it could it work?

I’ve taken all and I’ve endured
One day it all will fade
I’m sure

The simple truth was that it could work if they wanted it to. It would work with Esme and Eve, because neither of them were like Angel. They weren’t still torturing themselves, and refusing to accept that they’d been judged, they’d paid a price and moved on. It was just Angel who did that. [To hell with this] Buffy thought as she entered the crowd to be with her friends.

I don’t owe you anything
I don’t owe you anything

There was no way this Slayer was gonna live her life in shadow and uncertainty. She hadn’t made it all the way through highschool just to give up on life, to resign herself to a doomed relationship. This was her home now, her friends, her mom, her life.

I’ll stick around and learn
From all that came from it

Buffy made a decision.

***********

The music stopped and Jonathan took the stage to announce the awards for the class of 1999.

Everyone stood to watch the awards being given and Esme wandered over to Buffy.

‘Come on, watch the awards.’ She said as she took Buffy’s arm in hers and led her over to where the others were standing.

They went through everything until the final award of class clown was announced. And as they watched it occurred to Buffy that she’d never really gotten to know half of the people nominated. Lost in thought she almost didn’t hear Jonathans voice announcing one more award.

‘We’ve got one more award to give out…if Buffy Summers is here tonight?’ A spotlight from above the stage cut through the crowd and caught a startled Buffy in its beam.

‘It’s the first time we’ve ever had this kind of award…but we thought that we needed it this time. So the prom committee asked me to read this.’ Jonathan reached into his pocket for a piece of paper.

‘We’re not good friends, most of us never found the time to get to know you, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t noticed you. We don’t talk about it much, but it’s no secret that Sunnydale High isn’t really like other high schools. A lot of weird stuff happens here.’

There was a lot of jeering from the crowd and a few people turned to smile at Buffy. She recognised a few faces, people she’d saved, people she’d stopped, and some people she’d never known. But they were all smiling at her.

‘But whenever there was a problem or something creepy happened you seemed to show up and stop it. Most of the people here have been saved by you or helped by you at one time or another. We’re proud to say that the class of ‘99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history. And we know at least part of that is because of you. So the senior class offers its thanks and gives you this.’

Jonathan was handed a golden umbrella decorated in sparkly streamers from the side of the stage, he opened it carefully and pointed to a gold plaque stuck to its handle.

‘It’s from all of us and it has written here, Buffy Summers, class protector.’

Esme poked her in the back and she started walking towards the stage, as she did the crowd parted. Everyone was clapping and cheering, a few people patted her on the back as she passed. Eventally she made it to the stage and Jonathan handed her the award, smiling widely.

Buffy looked out across the crowd at the people cheering for her. It was a strange feeling, but one she enjoyed. She knew now that with the Ascension stopped, and the Day of Reckoning averted they could all graduate safely. And she guessed that maybe they all knew; somewhere deep down that it was thanks to her.


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