I got to the gym, and picked up the Dawnster. After all, no one likes Gym anyway right?
Buffy had something slayerish to do, and I figured I'd get it out of Dawn. She seemed kinda shaken though. Seems the school was given my name as someone who could pick her up, and the gym teacher didn't even question my being there.
"Let's go," I smiled, and we walked out to the car.
"I hope everything is okay. What's up?" She was somewhat quiet in the car. I wondered if Buffy told her not to tell. That'd be just like her, leaving the Xandman out of something if she thought I'd get hurt. HA! I run a construction company now, I can take almost anything. Except slugs. But there aren't that many slug demons around.
Didn't take long to get to the Summer's house. I parked and smiled at Dawn.
"So, should be raid the kitchen? Anything chocolate in there? I'm in the mood for some..." I trailed off, as I looked up at the porch.
"Were we expecting company," I said, my eyes on Faith. I got out of the car, and waited for Dawn before going anywhere near the porch. This, was unexpected. And maybe a bit scary. She only tried to kill me.
(we can continue here if you like: Open to Dawn, Becca, Faith, Xander, and whomever else ends up at the Summer's house)
Well, at least, it looks like I'm one. I've got the suit, the car, and the job. What more can a man want? Anya. I pushed the name out of my mind.
Today was a big day. Dawnie was starting school at the new Hellmouth High, and I was working near-by on the library in case any of the old, literal ghosts, came on by. Buffy gave her a phone, and I have one, so we're all connected. It's odd, being the boss. I tell other people what to do. What would Cordelia say?
I have to admit, going over the blue-prints, I found it somewhat freaksome that the new Principal's office was directly over the old library, and so over the opening to Hell! I'm so not going to the zoo this year, not a chance. I don't want to be hyenaized again. Oh god, there better not be a field trip there this year. If there is, Dawnie is going to stay home sick, even if I have to sit on her.
Of course, one thing that kept running through my head (Anya) was Willow. I missed her. I mean, ok, she tried to kill us. But that was the grief. That wasn't her. Or at least, not all her. I mean, who hasn't tried to get their friends killed at least once? She's always been there, for as long as I can remember. And now, she isn't. I can't just call her every night to talk about what's on T.V. Well, not that I could for a while, there was Oz, then Tara, then the magick thing, then Tara again, then trying to destroy us all. But it's the thought that counts. I could have called her up. I still can I guess, but overseas calls? Not as cheap as you might think.
So I wait, and I miss her.
"Hey, Joe!" I yelled down to my Foreman, "Don't know if you noticed, but there are three guys playing dice around the side." Joe grimaced when he looked at me, and went to blister their ears. See, I'm the boss, I don't have to do that anymore.
But, I do stand here, and watch. Help when needed. And worry.
At first. Not just being a watcher. I'd always been that, though it took a few years with Giles to understand exactly what that meant. I gave advice. I helped train. And I watched just like he always did (though he drew a paycheck far longer for it than I did).
So I learned. I even had a slayer once, one of the girls that was effected by Willow's spell. Like most watchers (and very unlike Giles), my slayer died before she turned 20. I can't go into the details. They're too...painful. Now I understand how Giles felt, every time Buffy died. Not just as a friend, but as a mentor, teacher and sometimes parental figure. For some of us life hands us all the loss we can bear, and pushes us to our limits.
But now I was there. I could not sit here in London, while I knew some sociopath was after Willow. I couldn't lose her too. We'd kept in touch, through e-mail, phone calls, and the occasional visit. It was fun. I got to know her girlfriend, and she never met mine. I didn't keep any long enough to count. You can't, as a watcher, because so much of your life is hidden. I know that now.
Giles had wanted me to stay, and watch over the Council (I can't resit a good pun). I can't. Andrew, who has really become a man, will be the Officer-in-charge while I'm gone. All the younger watchers respect him. And he too, lost his slayer, although a bit faster than I did mine. We didn't fault him though. We faulted the demons. It's a cruel world, and I consider those who don't know exactly what is out there, sometimes anyway, to be the lucky ones.
But back to Willow. I wasn't going to let her die, not if I could help. I made sure Giles and I had tickets for the same time, the same plane. Of course, that was also to help him. He can't carry his own baggage anymore, no matter how much he wishes he could. And yes, I mean that literally and figuratively. I know, because I've seen it. I've watched him decline as he aged, but very slowly.
So I'll help take care of him, and Willow. And Buffy, Dawn and their girls'. Giles even called Tara. I don't know how anyone will react to that, our secret we've kept for years. But she's needed now. We're all needed now.
So it'll be one big happy reunion. 'Cause it could be the end of the world. Again.
And for the thousandth-million time, I find myself wishing that Anya would be there as well.
