Chapter 79: Revelations
"It's kind of like having a lifelong disease she needs to manage." Doing my best to steer Joyce's understanding, I seem to have finally found something that works.
"Nothing we do will take away her powers. Unless you want her heavily sedated for the rest of her life of course."
At least according to the Buffy. "That's always an option and will muffle her mystic signal."
Giles was very forthcoming once he started spilling the beans. Apparently, that's why the Watcher's use a very specific drug for the test, even though any mundane drug has an increased effect on Slayers.
Buffy probably could have endured the snake bites even better than I did. But even a couple beer will turn her into a spring breaker.
"The Watchers will insist she has a destiny and it's Buffy's responsibility to save the entire world..." Scorn drips from every word I utter and I stare deep into Joyce's eyes until I'm positive she understands. "They're not going to pay her either."
I never really liked the lesson learned from career day in the show. Buffy should have a life outside Slaying and the easiest way is make sure she's taken care of. "That's antiquated information and why I'm in Sunnydale."
"I thought you moved because your charge was here?" Buffy interrupts with a curious expression wrinkling her forehead.
"I can have more than one. How many other desks are in my classroom?" My off the cuff response has her satisfied for now and lets me turn back to her mother. "If Buffy chooses to fight evil, she doesn't have to worry about money. I made sure to get a few portfolios set up."
"But can't she just..." Joyce fumbles for the word. "Not be magical anymore?"
I know this is a serious moment and yet I just can't resist the opening she gave me. "The magic's inside you. "Buffy can stop being the Slayer just as easily as I can change my genes. And I really wouldn't mind being something less pokey, pretty sure that's the real reason Fred dumped me."
"Did you just make a joke at your own expense?" A grin has nearly taken over Angel's face.
Darla nods thoughtfully and sighs in relief. "Sounds like the moping is finally over. Good, it was long past sad and approaching pathetic."
"Never let Cordelia be in the same room as your sister." Buffy's face contorts in fear at the thought of how much verbal damage the duo could unleash together.
"I have enough children vying for my time." The words are ironic coming from such a youthful face. "I don't need another one yapping at my heels."
Clearing her throat, Joyce brings the discussion back to her own daughter. "You're going to keep her safe?"
"I can only promise Buffy will never be alone if she chooses to fight."
It's been challenging to keep any of the spotlight away from her daughter's rather huge destiny. "Lots of people who have a reason to fight, we don't need to draft a teenager."
But I think I've managed to downplay it enough for both of the Summers women.
"Mom, stop worrying so much." Flippant like she was at school, Buffy seems to be getting her nerves under control. "Jesse is going to videotape the patrol and you can see it's not such a big deal. Pretty boring most nights actually."
Maybe in LA with a crew who doesn't really want to fight vampires every night despite the bravado.
As much as I think it's a good idea, I can't help but worry about something unusual happening.
Would be just my luck for tonight to turn into a two-part special.
"And no, we can't just try not being special." As soon as I see more arguments forming in the concerned mother, I can't stop myself from using her own future words against her. "I tried and my life pretty much fell apart. When all I had to do was accept myself for who I was, Harry already had."
The doorbell rings while Joyce is stewing over the words. "Giles can answer any of the technical questions. But we need to go if we want to get the early risers tonight."
Handing Joyce the envelope with all of Buffy's stocks, I steer her towards the door. She wastes very little time opening the packet and gasps when she sees how many companies are included.
"How much did this cost you?" She's a businesswoman herself and knows just one portfolio like this wouldn't be cheap.
"A couple years of migraines and some well placed sure bets."
Really glad I got that put in motion before I had to work entirely off of memory. Really wasn't a big deal for me. But I know it's enough to live relatively comfortably."
That's the least I can do for the people willing to fight evil.
A flicker of guilt hits me as I remember something about this very woman's relatively soon future. "And since we're on the topic of the future, you should probably book a full physical."
Questions start to fire from everyone involved and I do my best to provide answers. But sadly, I only watched those episodes once because of my personal reasons and can't provide anything better.
Giles and the teens are let in to discover a very tense room as answers are pried from me. "All I know is it's something about your brain and it happens when Buffy's in college. I'm honestly not even sure if an early warning will do anything but stress you out, just figured you should know."
"Is everything alright?" The British accent comes out awkwardly as none of the teens with him seem willing to start the greetings.
"Just more bad news." Tapping my arm to give him a clue towards the topic's personal nature, he thankfully nods in understanding.
"I believe it's my turn to answer questions?" Giving me an out, Giles pulls out the book with the very blatant title 'Vampyres'. "I believe it's best if we start with this book. Would you prefer if we go to your place or mine?"
"Let's go before she changes her mind," hisses an eager to hunt Buffy. "I really want to see if Sunnydale is all talk."
"We have three cemeteries to hit before we drop Darla off at work." Willow holds up a spreadsheet she printed off at home. "Four expected to rise according to the coroner's code phrases."
"Well..." Snorting at my own dumb idea, I decide it couldn't hurt to share it. "If any of you ever want to apply for a job at the place, it would really make our job a whole lot easier."
It was just a spur of the moment idea. But the more I think about it, the more I consider its viability.
Stake the corpse or misfile the body for cremation and we could cut the fledges in half.
Jesse is quick to grab the fire axe he's been using lately while Willow is content with the Stun Gun and pepper-spray Fred got her for Chanukah. The other four stick with stakes and the required holy water, letting Buffy have her choice out of my rather small weapon collection.
"This one I guess." She eventually grabs a shorter blade with a pout. "... Merrick has way nicer ones."
"So do I in fact." Giles doesn't give me any slack and glances at the rack with surprise. "And I just have the basic field kit right now. My own collection is still a few months from being delivered."
"Russel and Jenny aren't coming tonight." It's left unsaid that they have a date. But Jesse is quick to put the pieces together and smirk in support of his coach. "And since it's a school night, Darla and I will take over after curfew."
That part was mainly for Joyce. Since most of the vampires retire once the teens are back inside, we don't actually have to stay out the whole night.
