Title: Unforeseen Circumstances 4/27
Author: Jadedragon
Rating: R
Spoilers: Season 4 up until Bad Beer, Angel Season 1, in my verse, Doyle didn't die!
Paring: B/G, B/P mentioned
Summary: Buffy has to face the consequences of her night with Parker
Notes: <> denotes thoughts
Thanks: To Wyrmbath for such a quick and through beta. Great work, Wyrmie!




Buffy was quite pleasantly surprised when she met Dr. Still Water. He was a middle-aged man who immediately put her at ease. He and his wife were dressed in jeans and t-shirts, not looking at all like a doctor and his wife. She and Giles discussed her pregnancy with them in detail and made arrangements for her first appointment the next day.

Wesley watched as Giles and Buffy discussed her pregnancy with Steven and Running Dove. At first it was a bit of a shock to realize that they were indeed lovers, then the prophecy came to mind, the bit about the Watcher accepting the child of the Slayer. The prophecy was beginning to come true. Wesley wondered what changes would be made in the Council. He knew that major changes were needed; Slayers should be more than just a tool to be easily replaced when killed. He had realized that when he had gotten to know Buffy and her friends. Knowing them had changed his views of the Council and of himself. He wished now, that he could have done more at Graduation to help them.

The party broke up early as Buffy, Giles and Wesley were still tired from their trip and Buffy's appointment was at 9:00 in the morning. Black Raven walked his guests to the door as they left discussing reservation concerns among themselves. Soon the house was quiet, everyone in bed.

**********

Quentin Travers looked at Timothy Wainwright as he collected his belongings from the local Sheriff's Deputy. He was in a foul mood! Why did the Council send this `pup' to get him out? Why not send someone with real authority? After they had left the jail with the two Special Ops in tow, Wainwright turned to Travers.

"Mr. Travers, the Chairman wants to see you immediately upon your return to London. You are to take the next flight, which leaves in two hours," he informed the older Watcher.

"But I have to get the Slayer! My job is not finished!" Quentin told the young idiot. < How dare he talk to me in that tone of voice! >

"I have my orders directly from the Chairman. Smyth and McTavish will see that you are on the plane back to England by the Chairman's orders." Wainwright corrected him.

"Who will retrieve the Slayer? You?" he asked with a sneer on his face.

"Yes, I am to be her Watcher. I must leave now. I have to repair the damage you did in trying to strong-arm her." He told the older Watcher as he left him with the two Special Ops who proceed to guide Travers, none too gently, to the awaiting taxi. Smyth and McTavish had their orders and would `accompany' Mr. Travers to London and hence to the Chairman's office.

Timothy had accomplished the distasteful part of his assignment, now to meet his Slayer and her family. He still couldn't believe his fortune, a Slayer of his own. He had read of his cousin Rupert's time as the Watcher for Buffy Summers. Timothy only hoped that he could be as successful as Rupert and keep his Slayer alive for four or more years. Timothy was sad when he thought of Buffy Summers and Rupert. They had been a formidable team and he wished that he could have studied under his cousin.

He slowly made his way outside the city limits of Salem toward the home of the new Slayer; it was strange to drive on the `wrong' side of the road. He was unsure of what kind of reception he would receive, but he needed to try and `mend the fences' as it were as soon as possible. The Slayer was needed on the Hellmouth. Granted, it had been quiet, but things never stayed quiet there for very long.

Timothy was at his destination within twenty minutes of leaving Travers at the County Jail. He hoped that he would be able to convince Ria and her dad of her destiny. It might be difficult; vampires seemed to be a thing only of myths, legends and monster movies to most, especially Americans. He had his work cut out for him.

**********

When Colin heard someone at the door he went to open it. He wondered who would be calling; he wasn't expecting anyone and they didn't usually have visitors after dark. When he opened the door a man stood there in a tweed suit, looking similar to the men who had attacked his daughter. He was immediately on his guard.

"Who are you and why are you here?" Colin asked the stranger.

"Mr. McCallahan, my name is Timothy Wainwright. I am a member of the Royal Council of Watchers and I've come to apologize for the actions of Mr. Travers and the men under his direction. I also need to speak with you and your daughter on a very crucial matter."

Colin recognized the cultured English accent and wondered what he was talking about.

"Please, may I come in? What I need to tell you and your daughter will take some time and it would be safer inside your home," he said with some urgency.

Colin realized that something had the man upset and he hesitantly invited him to come in. He led Mr. Wainwright to the living room where Ria and Lara were talking and eating pizza.

"Mr. Wainwright, this is Ria, my daughter and her friend, Lara Sampson. What did you have to tell us?" he asked of the stranger.

"First, Miss McCallahan, I must apologize to you and your friend for Travers' gross negligence and the unreasonable manner in which you were treated. He was sent here to inform you of what happened four mornings ago."

"What are you talking about? What happened?"

"Did you feel any different four mornings ago than usual?" Timothy asked the new Slayer.

"Yes, I felt stronger and more agile, but how did you know that?" she asked wondering just who this man was?

"You felt the calling that morning. Please bear with me for a moment and let me tell you a story, which may help to explain things. There was a young girl who suddenly gained strength and agility, over night. She didn't know what was happening until a man came and told her that she was the Chosen One, the one girl with the strength and agility to hunt and kill vampires and other demons of the night. The young girl didn't believe him until he took her to a cemetery. There they were attacked by a vampire, which she succeeded in killing. The man then trained the young girl and helped her in her duties until he was killed and another took his place. They were known as the Slayer and her Watcher. She recently was killed and you now are the new Slayer and I am to be your Watcher," Timothy finished.

Colin looked at the man sitting in his living room. He had to be crazy. "There is no such thing as a vampire."

"What do vampires look like?" Ria asked in a quiet shaky voice.

Timothy took a picture, which showed a vampire in full game face out of his briefcase and handed it to his Slayer. Ria took the photograph and looked at it before continuing.

"Dad, I saw a man with this type of face last night. I fought him but couldn't knock him out. I ran back into the house, but when I looked back he was gone."

"You never said anything."

"I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what it was!"

"Miss McCallahan, you have the aura of the Slayer and vampires will be drawn to you. I can train you to defeat them and research any other demons that you encounter."

"I've trained my daughter all of her life and I dare say that I'm a better trainer than you!" Colin told the man he suspected of trying to take his daughter from him.

"In the martial arts, I dare say that you could probably beat me into a bloody pulp. But when it comes to the mystical realms that is my specialty and I know more than you could imagine."

"Mystical? What are you talking about?"

"I have studied the occult and demons most of my life preparing for my duty as a Watcher to the active Slayer. Where you are a master of the martial arts, I am a master of the occult and demonology."

"But what does this have to do with my daughter?" Colin asked, scared of the answer to the question.

"Your daughter has been called as the Slayer. It is her destiny to protect the world from demons and vampires. I know that this is hard to believe but it is true. I have several journals that I would like you and your daughter to read. They contain some of the adventures, if you will, of the last Slayer, Buffy Summers, and were written by her Watcher Rupert Giles. I would ask that you read them and meet with me tomorrow to discuss them. Please call me in the morning. Here is my number. I'll let myself out." Timothy concluded as he left the home of his Slayer, hoping that he had done the right thing.

**********

Colin, Ria and Lara sat in shock for several minutes before they reached for the briefcase containing the volumes that Mr. Wainwright had mentioned. Each of them took a volume and started reading.

As Ria read about Buffy and her junior year at Sunnydale High School she was pulled into the love story between Buffy and Angel, a vampire who had a soul. The story was heartbreaking especially when he had been turned back into a vicious demon. She could feel Buffy's pain and the pain her Watcher felt for her. Buffy's best friends, Willow and Xander helped her in her quest to rid the world of vampires and helped her to keep her life somewhat normal. She realized from what had been written by the Watcher, that it was unusual for a Slayer to have friends or anyone other than her Watcher to know about her calling. She felt, as did the Watcher, that it gave Buffy more strength and hope to have others fighting beside her, even if it was only in a helping role. As Ria read more, she came to respect this Slayer and her Watcher and saw the deep love and respect that had grown between the pair. They were partners in this nightly crusade against the demons who preyed on the innocent. Without even waiting for the morning discussion with Mr. Wainwright, she knew that she would continue the fight where Buffy had left off. She could do no less. Dad had always taught her to help anyone however she could.

As he read the journals, Colin realized just what his daughter's decision would be. It wasn't his to make. Although he could forbid it, he knew that he could lose her if he did. Ria had always reached out to help others, thinking of them before herself. She would take on the role of Slayer and it scared him to think of his little girl fighting the monsters described in such great detail on the pages of Mr. Giles' journals. Colin felt the love Mr. Giles had for his charge and wondered what sort of relationship they'd had. As he continued to read, he made a decision -- he would help his daughter in her duties as Slayer. Buffy had her friends help her, so he would help his only daughter. He knew that his sons would probably want to help, too; but Morgan and Sean had families of their own and Keenan was at the University of Georgia.

The more she read, the more scared for Ria, Lara became. Her friend was a Slayer and would have to kill all the demons that she was reading about. Lara wanted to help her, but she was scared of being hurt. She would do what she could, she was fairly proficient at using a computer and finding things on the net, so maybe she could be Ria's `Willow'.

The three read late into the night before finally going to bed around 3 am. They got up at 9 the next morning fixed breakfast and took Lara home before Ria and Colin then went to meet with Mr. Wainwright at his hotel room.

**********

Giles was standing by the stream when Wesley walked up beside him. The two Watchers had not had a chance to talk privately since the ceremony and both knew that there were matters to be discussed.

"Wesley, I want to thank you for all of your help. Buffy and I would never have made it this far if not for you. You are a true friend," Giles told the man beside him.

"I'm glad I was able to be of service to you and Buffy. I felt when the call went out to the new Slayer. I only hope that the Council truly believes that you and Buffy are dead. If they realize that the prophecy of the child is about to happen, there are those who will hunt you and Buffy down and eliminate both of you, as well as the child. We still have to be on guard."

"I know. I worry about Buffy. In the months to come, she'll be unable to protect herself. When she gets to that point in her pregnancy, I want one of us to be with her at all times."

"That won't be a problem, and Black Raven and his people will also help protect her and the child," Wesley looked at the other Watcher, not knowing how Giles would take his next question. "Rupert, how long have you and Buffy been lovers?"

"Not long. When her pregnancy was confirmed, I told her that I would stand beside her whatever happened. She was so very scared and depressed that I had her stay with me. It wasn't long before our true feelings were revealed and soon after that, we made love for the first time. Wesley, she means the world to me I will do whatever is necessary to protect her!" he warned the other Watcher.

"I'll help however I can. I saw the relationship between you soon after I came to Sunnydale. At the time I admit, I was rather angry. She was supposed to be my Slayer, yet she always looked to you when she needed help. I was never truly her Watcher, I never could have been. The bond between the two of you was too strong to let anyone else in," he assured the man he had come to respect. "What will you and Buffy do after the child is born?"

"I honestly don't know. We haven't had a chance to discuss that or anything else; everything is changing so fast! I just want to protect her and the child, that's my first priority," he told the other Watcher before leaving him to return to Buffy. She would be waking soon and he didn't want her to awaken alone.

**********

Timothy was reading the final journal the Council had received from his cousin, which told of the destruction of Sunnydale High School when Buffy and Rupert had defeated the Mayor after his ascension. The summer following the Mayor's attempted ascension had been quiet. Timothy thought that was unusual, but it seemed to be a pattern in Sunnydale. Rupert surmised that it had to do with the shorter nights of summer and that vampires seemed to migrate. His theory had panned out over the last four years that he had resided on the Hellmouth. Timothy was still studying the volume when there was a knock on his door. He knew who it was, Colin had called him thirty minutes before to say that he and Ria would be coming to speak with him.

"Mr. Wainwright, what is involved in being a Slayer?" Ria asked him as she and Colin entered and sat down on the couch in the room.

"The first thing is to learn about vampires and how to kill them. There are Slayer's Handbooks, but Rupert, didn't seem to feel that they would be of any help with Buffy and I'm rather inclined not to use them. He and Buffy were the most proficient Watcher/Slayer team in the last fifty years."

"You talk as if you knew Mr. Giles?" Colin noticed the emotion in Mr. Wainwright's voice.

"Rupert was my first cousin. His death and the death of Buffy, even though I never personally met her, are hard to deal with. He and I were very close when we were younger. He was like a big brother to me." Timothy admitted to them in a pain filled voice. "He was a wonderful Watcher, even though there are those in the Council who would violently disagree with me. Mr. McCallahan, I won't lie to you, being the Slayer is not an easy job, but I will do everything in my power to help your daughter and keep her alive."

"I believe you. But you won't be alone, I plan to continue training my daughter and I want to learn how to kill these demons right alongside her. Please call me Colin. I think we'll be spending a lot of time together."

"Mr. Mc…Colin, I hope I haven't misled you and Ria, but we will be going to Sunnydale. We're needed on the Hellmouth."

"We're going to California?" Ria asked in excitement. She had never traveled and had always wanted to see California.

"Yes, to Sunnydale," Timothy confirmed.

"How large is Sunnydale?" Colin asked the Watcher.

"Not sure. Why?"

"Well, I'll be going with you and Ria. I was wondering if the town was large enough for a dojo?"

"Dad, what about the dojo here?" she asked concerned for her Dad.

"Morgan and Sean can manage it and divide my classes between them. I'm going with you. Buffy had her friends; you will have me and any other friends who may join us. I' won't let you fight these monsters alone," he assured his daughter. "Mr. Wainwright, when do we leave?"

"Please call me Timothy. We'll be leaving in two days. I only have two tickets. You'll have to book your own. The Council will only pay for mine and Ria's."

"That's no problem. Tell me what flight it is and I'll call and get a ticket. I'm going with you."

They talked for another hour, and then Colin and Ria took Timothy to lunch. Afterwards they took the Watcher to the dojo to meet Morgan and Sean. The three of them had decided to tell her brothers exactly what was happening and why she and Colin were suddenly moving to Sunnydale, California.

Ria was sad to leave Lara, her best friend, behind, but she looked forward to finally getting to travel, to seeing Sunnydale and her first, (well, second) vampire. She was excited to begin her new life. She liked Timothy and was learning so much from him. All the things that she had always thought of as fairytales, she was discovering to be real. It was freaky, especially when she was now the Chosen One, the one who would kill such demons. < Way Cool!! > Finally she drifted off the sleep dreaming of traveling to a far away land where she was a heroine.



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