Now clad in a clingy sun-dress, Buffy sat at a sidewalk table in front of her favourite café. Whether he’d exaggerated his lack of skill for Dawn’s amusement or had genuinely forgotten a lot of the Italian he’d once known, Giles had clearly got his mojo back, engaging their waiter in a lively discussion as he ordered their meal.
As the waiter hurried off, Giles lent back, but kept staring in the same direction, obviously distracted by something. He was wearing shades so Buffy couldn’t tell what until two girls strolled passed, walking the confident walk of young women who are well aware that they are young, thin and look stunning in tight tops that show off their tanned, toned midriffs.
‘You perv,’ Buffy said, pretending to be shocked.
‘When in Rome,’ replied Giles with a sly grin.
Again, Buffy felt herself getting flustered. It’s just Giles, she said to herself. Just your tall, handsome Watcher with a voice that could melt chocolate, who looks at you like you’re the most precious thing on Earth.
‘Buffy, are you alright?’
‘Mmm. Yes.’
She smiled at him.
‘You’re here. It’s so weird. Not as big a shock as last time you popped up from nowhere. When you beamed into The Magic Box that day, I thought I’d die and you…’
Buffy‘s brain caught up with her mouth and she went quiet.
‘Nearly did.’ Finished Giles smoothly.
‘I shouldn’t use words. This time is better, so much better.’
‘Without a doubt,’
Giles’ expression changed to one Buffy couldn’t quite interpret. Was he nervous?
‘I had meant to to call ahead, b-but my secretary made an absolute hash of booking the flights and scheduling a-around my being here.’
He snatched off his shades, cleaning them in a gesture so familiar and predictable that Buffy wanted to laugh.
‘Really I ought to let Mark go, or or employ his talents elsewhere. The problem is I-I don’t think he actually p-possess any talents.’
Stammering, much? What was going on?
‘Giles, take it easy,’ Buffy soothed. ‘And maybe get to the point, you’re creeping me out a little here.’
‘Sorry, you’re quite right,’ he paused, placing his shades on the table with delicate precision. ‘It is wonderful to see you, but I am actually here on official business.’
Buffy felt her adrenalin surge. Ever since Faith had emailed about her trip to Council Headquarters, she had been waiting for something like this. After all she was the most successful Slayer there had ever been, there was so much she could offer the Potentials by sharing her experience and training ideas. He may not have appeared to save the world, but once more Giles’ timing was flawless. Buffy would be miserable here without Dawn, time in London, time with him, that would be perfect.
‘Since becoming Head of the Watchers Council,’ Giles began, the previous uncertainty in his voice falling away. ‘I have overseen the instigation of many necessary changes from the previous regime, none has given me more pleasure than the reason I am here today.’
From a pocket he produced a white envelope and a slender jewellery case, both of which he handed to Buffy.
‘The envelope is from the Council, the box is from me.’
Buffy hesitated, this wasn’t what she’d been expecting and deep down something warned her that this wasn‘t right. She glanced over at Giles, he was nervous she could see it clearly now. There was only one way to find out why, she opened the envelope.
‘Please say something,’ pleaded Giles.
Buffy didn’t even hear him, she kept her eyes on the cheque, counting each of the six digits again and again.
‘Wha-huh, by which I mean, wha-huh?’
‘Of course it is impossible to quantify all that you did and express that in pounds. So as as Watchers and Slayers are bound together, it seemed approprate that we were paid the same.’
Buffy snapped back into reality.
‘This is how much you were paid?!’
‘Over seven years, it isn’t that much,’ he sounded concerned. ‘I didn’t mean to insult you, it should be more.’
‘Giles, this is the largest cheque I have ever seen. Seven years? It would take me seventy to earn that much.’
Alright big lie, but this was a huge amount. It was unreal.
‘Why?’
‘This is to thank you and to allow you the freedom to start again, to pursue whatever you want.’
Giles flashed her a smile.
‘Take this money and have the fantastic life you so richly deserve.’
None of this was making sense to her.
‘What’s in the box?’
‘Open it.’
Buffy shook her head, whatever it was she didn’t want to know.
‘Go on,’ he prompted.
She snapped open the lid, to reveal an exquisite gold watch.
‘It’s a watch,’ she said blankly.
‘I know it is a cliché, but still I thought you‘d like it.’
Was Giles insane? The watch was stunning, anyone would be looped to be given it.
‘Cliché?’
‘Retirement. It’s all over. Buffy Summers, you are free.’
Buffy turned the watch over in her hands, then looked across to Giles who was clearly waiting for more of a reaction. She let the watch fall onto the table, slowly got to her feet, then ran and ran.
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
