Title: One Night, Nine Months, & Two Years 10/?
Author: DeeBeth
Feedback: there are worse things in life then flames, and not many better things than praise, but I'll settle for professional criticism.
Disclaimer: all characters, except the few I will make up as the story progresses, belong to UPN, The WB, Mutant Enemy, and of course Joss Whedon, not to mention the countless others that I don't know or have never heard of. The only thing I know for sure is that the shows (BtVS & AtS) aren't mine and I have no control over what the characters do, no matter how hard I wish, pray, and dream!
In front of the double glass doors inside the Bus Station, Buffy paced nervously. Not only because the bus was over thirty minutes late but because something had happened to make Wesley decide to move back to Sunnydale. What could it be? She asked herself, but the only thing she could think of was that Angel could have gone evil again and was staked or was still at large reeking havoc on the lost souls of LA. But if that were the case there was no way Wesley could leave. So it had to be something else, but what?
Wesley came through a glass door at the other side of the room, caring three suitcases, one in each hand and one over his shoulder. He walked over to the petite blonde waiting by the double glass doors that led outside. "Hi, long time no see," he attempted to lighten the meeting that would no doubt be awkward, especially with what he had said on the phone two hours earlier. "Uh do I know y…Wesley? Is that you?" Buffy exclaimed surprised by the appearance of the once clean cut, uptight man, who now looked so.. rugged. his hair longer and not gelled, the startings of beard evident, and a horrible jagged cut on the left side of his neck. "What happened!" was the first thing Buffy thought to ask. "It’s a long story that I will explain in detail later. I hope you don’t mind but I have some stuff that is going to be delivered to your house." He said handing Buffy the duffel bag that she was reaching for. "More? You have more stuff?" Buffy asked eyeing the visibly stuffed luggage. "Yeah, my books and other stuff were crated and are being shipped here. I gave them your address because I didn’t know any other addresses other than Giles’, and I get the distinct feeling that he won’t be happy to know I’m here." Wesley said, though it could have been a question, Buffy chose to take it as a statement. "Well, lets get going, lots of stuff that is of the boring to go through at home." Buffy said caring the duffel bag Wesley gave her out the door as he followed her.
They walked over to Xander’s car that she borrowed for the occasion. After they loaded the trunk with his stuff, Wesley turned to face the Slayer. "Now let me get a look at you, what’s it been two, three years?" he asked studying the young woman before him. "Yep three years next month," Buffy said smiling up at he very different version of her once annoying Watcher. She had a feeling that the changes on the outside meant that there were definitely changes on the inside, good ones. "There’s something different about you, you hair it’s shorter." Wesley stated. "Yeah do you like it? It was kind of an impulse thing." Buffy said smoothing her hair with her hand. "I love it, very becoming on a woman of your stature, and I imagine a lot easier to take care of when fighting the creepy-crawlies of the night." Wesley said softly, smiling as he reached a hand up and stroked some stray hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. "I guess I’m not the only one who decided to change his appearance?" she smiled pleasingly at he new look that was Wesley Wyndom-Pryce. "I’m afraid my changes have been more out of necessity than choice. And others were quiet literally forced upon me." he said gesturing to the scary looking cut on his neck. "Wesley whatever happened I’m so glad you’re here, and by the looks of things there was a chance you would never be anywhere again." Buffy cried giving the surprised ex-watcher a hug that he returned eagerly. It had been so long since he had physical contact that wasn’t meant to kill him. "It’s okay I’m here and I’ll take care of everything. But you have to do your share, no slacking off or tacking advantage of my knowledge and willingness to help." He said putting his arm around the small woman beside him. "No there will be nothing of the old Buffy it’s all about the new ‘take charge and live life’ Buffy." She said energetically. Wesley looked at her and smiled his first real smile in months. Not for a second regretting coming back to Sunnydale.
As they drove off it the direction of Buffy’s house they went passed a stopped car that was parked, but running and had its blinker on to turn out onto the road. Giles who picked up a few groceries and necessities like Scotch, was about to leave when he saw a particular blonde with a man. At first he thought he didn’t know her male companion, until he looked at him harder Giles realized it was Wesley Wyndom-Pryce. What was Wesley doing here? And why was Buffy so happy to see him and the hugging, was that at all necessary? It also wasn’t lost on Giles that Wesley seamed rather pleased to be back in Sunnydale, what could he have come back for? Then it hit him. To take over the stuff that could be defined as Watcher Duties. Wesley who was incompetent at best in the past, had been making vast improvements according to Cordelia’s last call about two months ago.
He would have to talk to Buffy soon things were getting worse instead of better. But what could he do now? She had found a replacement for him in her life. Giles thought as he finally turned on to the road, fighting the very strong urge to follow Buffy and see where Wesley was staying. Hitting the steering wheel with one hand Giles exclaimed, "Christ, I’m jealous of Wesley!"