Title: Season of Change 9/?
Author: Katy Hart
Disclaimer: Joss and company own them. I’m just changing things for the better.
A/N: At long last, the next part. With much thanks as always to antennapedia for her prodding and questioning, any mistakes left are my own.
From Buffy's Diary Jan 12, 99
God, what a night. Faith and I were on patrol, commiserating over her break up with Scott. We hear a rustling in the bushes and it was mom! Mom! She chose this night of all nights to do some mother-daughter bonding. Then the vamp appears. Faith and I go after it and when I return, mom's not there. She wandered over to a nearby playground.
She was staring at the bodies of two kids. Oh, god. Just when I thought I'd seen it all the Hellmouth throws this at me. Faith came running and I sent her to call the cops. I was too busy trying to calm mom down. I looked the bodies over quickly, nothing that seemed supernatural. But the symbol on their hands was worth noting. Will talk with Giles in the morning.
Giles, now there's something to write about. He's acting like what happened last week didn't really happen. It's all normal repressed Giles all the time. There's still that...something between us, but it's different. I know he loved Miss Calendar, but did seeing her ruin what we might have? I'm confused.
From the Personal Journal of Rupert Giles January 12, 1999
It seems that even Sunnydale is not immune to the everyday horrors other towns face. I heard the news about the two children this morning. Buffy came to me and told me it was her mother who found the children. Poor Joyce. For her to be exposed to the horrors that Buffy faces every night. I know that she had been having trouble adjusting to what her daughter is and does, to see actually evidence of it must be extremely traumatizing. She may have thought seeing Buffy in action would help her understand, but maybe now she will see what a dangerous world it is that we live in and will leave the monsters to those who know how to deal with them.
Buffy told me she felt strangely disappointed that this incident seemed to bear no markings of supernatural intent. I told her to let the police do their jobs. Not everything in the world can be solved using weaponry or brute force.
I know that the events of the last week were upsetting for Buffy; they were for me as well. I went to Jenny's grave. I sat there in silence for a long while. I loved her and I still do. With the lives we lead I feel that I must move on, find my happiness where I can. I think Jenny would understand.
Buffy's Diary Jan 13, 99
Humans are seriously messed up. It's so much easier when dealing with vampires and demons. At least I know they're bad. Well the vamps anyway. Except Angel. Okay, back to my point. All signs point to this being some cult or something. Mom showed up at school. So not cool. She's organized some kind of gathering at City Hall. There are some days when I wish she was still in the dark about the whole Slaying thing.
Back from the vigil thingie. Giles was kinda nervous around her and me. Must be something left over from the candy incident. It's like he's afraid to let on that something happened between us. Right. Like mom would ever think that Giles kissed me. I think she's in denial that I would ever want to be involved with anyone again after...well, you know. Love sucks.
From the Personal Journal of Rupert Giles January 13, 1999
While my research had pointed to the possibility of involvement by witches, I was quite surprised to see that everyone is clinging to that notion. Willow's mother seems like a nice woman, if a bit more focused on things other than her daughter. There are times when I am surprised she and Xander have turned out as well as they have given their home lives this was one of them. On the other side of the parental spectrum is Joyce who seems a tad too involved in Buffy's life. It seems there is no happy medium. The fact that Joyce mentioned Buffy's calling out in the open like she did has me deeply worried. I shall renew my efforts into finding out what is going on.
Perhaps delving into research shall keep my mind off of other things. I got a letter in the post today. From Quentin. I cannot believe they actually expect me to go through with it. The entire thing is barbaric and antiquated. I do not know how I shall handle it when the package arrives. Will I have the strength to carry out my duties as a Watcher? Will I succumb to the will of the Council? I am at a loss as to what to do. Years of training says I must carry out my duties, yet my emotions, my feelings for Buffy tell me that I should not. I shall have to, as the saying goes, cross that bridge when I come to it.
Buffy's Diary Jan 14, 99
I can't believe that Willow got in trouble. I'm writing this in class, who knows what would happen if mom found my diary at home. The wig factor is off the charts right now. How would Snyder have reacted if Miss Calendar was still around? They symbol I saw was harmless, I even told Giles so. When I went to see him, they were taking his books away. I've never seen him so angry. It was scary. But hot. Help me.
And MOO? What was mom thinking? Need to do some research to help Willow now.
From the Personal Journal of Rupert Giles January 14, 1999
They confiscated my books. All the codices and indices. Most of them from my personal collection, acquired over years of traveling to obscure stores and cultivating the right relationships. A few belong to the Council. If anything should happen to them.....
And to think that Buffy's mother is behind it all, her and her organization with the dreadful acronym. I have no idea what could have gotten into that woman. I have no idea how she'll proceed from here. Thankfully I have a few books here at home and can keep looking into the symbol Buffy showed me.
Buffy's Diary Jan 16 '99
Okay, now that all the really wiggy stuff has past and things have calmed down around here (well as much as the Hellmouth can be called calm); I'm catching up on what happened. Mom's rally was a bit hit with all the parents. Can I just say that the mayor gave me kind of a creepy vibe?
Left to patrol, letting Giles go do more research. Had an awkward moment with Angel at the playground, but I also had a realization there. We knew nothing about those kids. Went back to the library, found out the deal. Fairy tales are real, who knew? Giles was kind of cute in Watcher lecture mode. (God I've got it bad. Help!!)
Went back to the house to confront mom and the next thing I know, I'm tied to a big pole! What gives? Willow was on one side of me, Amy and Faith on the other. The parents had all of Giles' books around us; they were going to burn us at the stake!! Cliché much?
Now I know that my life wasn't going to exactly be long, being the Slayer and all, but a fiery death wasn't exactly how I pictured going out. Add to this the fact that it was my MOM who was responsible for everything and let me tell you, I was seriously about to have a breakdown. Amy used her magic to rat herself and escape, wish she could have just made the ropes or stakes disappear.
So I'm struggling with the ropes (what did they use, industrial strength?) when Giles bursts in. His voice is sexy, even more so when it's speaking another language. (Okay, yes, I was about to die and I notice his voice, I told you I needed help.) So the kids appear and morph into this really ugly demon-thingie. Finally I pull the stake I'm tied to free and slay the thing.
Of course now all the parents are in full denial mode again, as usual. I've been trying to help Will de-rat Amy with no luck. Maybe Giles can help. After all of this, he seemed really glad I wasn't extra-crispy Buffy, he helped untie me then gave me a hug. Then he got all stiff and British, starting to stammer (which is cute). Something else is bothering him and he won't say what. I'm sure he'll tell me in his own sweet time.
From the Personal Journal of Rupert Giles January 16, 1999
Another day, yet another concussion. One wonders how I am still functioning after all the hits to the head I've taken. Needless to say, we all survived the latest round of trouble, but not without harm.
That blasted machine they insisted on putting in my library finally came of some use, again. Jenny must be smirking, wherever she is. The children were not children, but rather a demon using the Hansel and Gretel tale in a twisted fashion. While I was lecturing about this to the children, I noticed Buffy seemed deeply interested. I had no time to wonder if it was in me or in the mythology. I would like to think it was the former.
We attempted to confront Joyce and her organization, to no avail. When I came to, with Cordelia hovering over me, Buffy was gone. It was back to the library for some supplies and onto the town hall, again. My German is still a bit rusty, not often is it used in spells and such. Demons seem to prefer Latin or something older. I must comment on how well Cordelia handled herself, quite astounding really.
Seeing Buffy ties to that stake, it was....unsettling to say the least. To see that she could not escape despite her Slayer strength, the emotions running through me were so jumbled, it is hard to pin down exactly what I was feeling. Fear mostly, as well as a deep desire to go help. But logic won out and I recited the spell, knowing that was my best option.
Buffy came through it of course, using the stake she was tied to as a weapon. This shows that she continues to grow as a Slayer. I wager she will be recorded as one of the best in history. The fallout was minimal, with the citizens of Sunnydale returning to their existence of feigning ignorance. My books, however, are another story. Oz and Xander are meeting me later to see how many survived.
I think Buffy may have noticed how awkward I have been acting. I declined to tell her why. She probably thinks it's just my reaction to everything that has happened these past few days. Every day when the post arrives, I put off collecting it for as long as possible. I dare not think how I will react when the package arrives. Will I have the strength to do my duty as a Watcher?