After he was sure Emmy would remain upstairs Giles hit the brandy. He knew Emmy needed to hear about her mother and see those pictures. He just wished it didn’t hurt so bloody much. And as he had so many times before, he was going to drown his loss in alcohol. 

Fifteen minutes later he was saved from certain drunkenness by an knock at the door. <Who would be calling at this hour?> he thought as he answered it. The sight on the other side of door nearly knocked Giles out with surprise.

“Hello, Rupert,” said a man. Giles stood gaping. The man was sixtyish and handsome with his salt ‘n pepper hair and gentlemanly demeanor. He was dressed in a long trench coat and hat over his expertly tailored suit. “It 
has been too long.” 

“Nearly twenty years,” Giles said after he stopped staring and motioned the man to enter.

“As I said, too long,” the man said as he removed his hat and coat placing them on the rack conveniently set by the door. “I apologize for the late hour, but I figured you would prefer it, considering your circumstances.” Giles nodded, understanding.

“Thank you. Emmy has never met any one whom I grew up with. Chances are she would be asking all kinds of questions I would not let you answer.”

“I will never understand why you have chosen to keep everything a secret from the child.”

Giles stiffened, “It is none of your concern, Arthur.”

“Quite right, quite right, “ Arthur answered dropping the subject.

“So, tell me, why are you here?” Giles asked.

“I am here to represent the council, Rupert. We need you. The new slayer needs you,” he toned seriously. Giles laughed in his face.

“I am not a Watcher. The Council fired me for being too emotionally invested in my slayer. Or do they not remember?”

“They remember very well, Rupert. That’s why they need your help.” The Council knew Giles would not be happy to hear from them, which explained why they sent Arthur Gavern, someone Giles had met when he was just a boy, to speak with him. Giles was furious at the Council, but he could not be completely rude to his boyhood friend.

“I’ll fix us a cup of tea, and you can tell me what they think is so important to incorporate a black sheep such as myself,” Giles offered and began to make the tea. Arthur seated himself on the couch and looked around the room. His eyes landed on a picture of a teenaged girl smiling brightly as she threw freshly fallen leaves at the camera. At first Arthur thought this was a picture of Giles’ late wife, but as he gazed he realized this was not Rupert’s wife, but his daughter.

On his long flight over the ocean Arthur had read everything the Watcher’s Council had collected on his friend and his life in America. A wealth of information was available his first three years in California, it dwindled considerably after his termination and completely dried up after the death of his wife. It was as if he had fallen off the face of the earth, which, Arthur reasoned, is probably just what he wanted.

“She’s lovely, Rupert. Your Kessem. The spitting image of her mother.”

“Yes, she is, on both counts,” Giles replied, bringing the tray to the coffee table and setting it down, “But at lovely as she is, she would still scratch your eyes out for calling her by her formal name.”

“She doesn’t like it?” Arthur asked.

“I think on some level she does, on some deep level, maybe,” responded Giles with a smile. Nothing brought him more joy that talking about his daughter, but they had more insistent matters at hand. “But enough chit-chat. Why don’t we get to why the Council had sent you all this way.” Arthur heaved a heavy sigh and began. He knew this was not going to be easy.

‘The Slayer died over a month ago,” he said.

“Yes, that happens all the time. Truly after several thousand years the Council is used to this event,” Giles interrupted him. His exterior remained placid, but inside he was tearing apart. Just the mention of a slayer dying sent him back to the night of Willow and Buffy’s death. 

“If you would let me continue, I will explain it to you,” said Arthur. “As I said the slayer died over a month ago, but the identity of the new slayer was not discovered until just a few days ago.” Giles’ eyes grew wide at this statement. “The girl is almost sixteen years old, and knows nothing of who she is. As far as we know she has never even faced a vampire. As you know, girls this age are some what reluctant to train.” Yes, Giles knew this very well. “This girl needs someone with a great deal of experience in this kind of situation. Everyone on the Council agrees that someone is you.” 

“Me?” Giles asked, “But why? The Council deemed me unfit years ago.” 

“This girl has no parents and lives with an aunt. She will need a father figure as well as a Watcher.” Giles smirked as this. They wanted him to come back to the Council for the very same reason the kicked him out. 

“Absolutely not.” Giles stated with utmost certainty. “I will not up root my life or my daughter for the sake of the council.” 

“She’s here, Rupert. In Sunnydale,” Arthur said staring straight into Giles’ eyes. “She moved here only a few weeks ago. Is this sounding 
familiar?” It did, terrifyingly so. 

“My answer is still no. I will not have my daughter pulled into the life 
that killed her mother. Please leave, Arthur.” Arthur did not fight him. 
He rose and went to the door grabbing his hat and coat. 

“I will be in town for the next several days, staying at the Regal. Call me 
if you changed your mind.” 

“I won’t.” Arthur nodded and left. 

Giles returned to his glass of brandy. <Oh hell.> he thought <Could things 
possibly get any worse?> 
******************************** 
Emmy went to school the next morning completely oblivious of the 
conversation that had taken place the night before. All she cared was that 
it was Friday and she would have her magic lesson tomorrow. She busied 
herself at her locker and getting ready for class. She said hello to the 
people she knew on the way. When she reached her class her friend Jake 
waiting for her. 

“Hey Em,” he said in greeting as he scurried to finish his homework. 

“Hey,” she said as she sat down beside him. 

“Dad wants me to ask you if you want to go with us to the lake next 
weekend.” 

Emmy looked down at the trig homework that had taken her an entire hour to 
do. Jake was flying through it like multiplication tables. Emmy sighed, it 
was so unfair these things came so easily to him, especially since he didn’t 
care. Jake had skipped two grades when he was little, he was so smart, but 
he really didn’t give a rat’s ass. This caused his dad, her Uncle Xander, 
no end of stress. Uncle Xan had always struggled in school and didn’t even 
go to college. He didn’t understand why his son didn’t take more pride in 
his intelligence. Uncle Xan had told her many times, that Jake was the only 
person he knew smarter than her mother. 

“Are Aunt Anya and your little brothers coming, too?” she asked. 

“No, thank God,” he responded never looking up from his homework. He was on 
the last problem and Emmy would have bet three months allowance he hadn’t 
started it before the first bell. “I think Dad wants to bond with us or 
something. He said something about how important it was to spend time 
together, before our lives get too complicated. Whatever that’s supposed to 
mean.” In spite of the fact he was only fourteen he looked like he belonged 
in this classroom. He had inherited his father’s height and build, so he 
was about the same size as everyone else. Most of the time people forgot he 
was something of a child protégé. He got in way too much trouble for a 
smart kid. 

Jake and Emmy had known each other since birth. Her dad often compared them 
to her mom and Uncle Xander, but unlike her mom, evidently, Emmy could never 
imagine dating Jake. They knew each other too well. Emmy remembered last 
night wishing she had the kind of friends her mom did. She looked over at 
Jake <At least I have one> she thought. 

Jake finished his homework and turned to Emmy, “So what do you say? Are you 
in for a weekend of bonding with my old man?” Emmy laughed. 

“Yeah, I’m in. I can’t think of anything better to do,” she teased. The 
bell rang and class started. 

Half way through a mind numbing trig lessen the guidance councilor, Mrs. 
Ropper knocked on the door and entered the class bringing with her a girl. 
The girl looked to be Emmy’s age. She had deeply tanned skin, amazingly 
dark eyes, and l-o-n-g dark brown hair. Emmy thought she was the most 
beautiful girl she had ever seen. Emmy looked down at her own snow-white 
skin and envied the girl’s dark features. 

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Higgert, but we have a new student today,” Mrs. 
Ropper announced. “Everyone this is Josephine Turner, she recently moved 
here from Orlando, Florida. I’m sure you’ll all make her feel welcome.” 
Everyone in the class was staring at her, and Emmy’s envy washed away and 
was replaced with sympathy. Emmy had gone to the same school her entire 
life, she couldn’t imagine being uprooted in the middle of the year. “I’ll 
need a volunteer to show Josephine around the school.” 

Before Emmy realized what she was doing her hand was in the air. “I’ll do 
it,” she said. Jake turned to her in surprise. Emmy normally didn’t put 
herself on the spot like this. <Maybe she’s finally coming out of her 
shell> he thought. <It’s about damn time.> Jake loved his friend, but 
really thought she could use get out more and stop spending so much time 
with her spell books. 

“Emmy, how nice of you,” Mrs. Ropper approved. Emmy stood, grabbed her 
books and followed the pair out of the room. “Just bring her to the office 
after you’re through,” Mrs. Ropper said and left them. Emmy extended her 
hand to the girl. 

“Hi, I’m Emmy.” The girl took her hand gratefully. 

“Hi, I’m Jo. No one calls me *Josephine* but I couldn’t seem to convince 
Mrs. Ropper of that.” Emmy nodded sympathetically. 

“She’s just like that. It has taken me two years to get her to call me Emmy 
instead of Kessem.” 

“Well, it’s nice to hear I’m not the only one,” Jo replied. “By the way, 
thanks for volunteering. I was having nightmares no one would. Mrs. Ropper 
said you don’t get many new students.” 

“That’s the truth,” Emmy agreed, “You’ll find that not many things actually 
change here in Sunnydale.” Jo shrugged. 

“That’s OK. I think I could deal with some stability.” Emmy started on her 
task of showing Jo around. The pair made casual conversation about which 
teachers to avoid and which day to bring a lunch to school. When they were 
coming to close of their tour Emmy was running out of casual conversation. 
The whole concept was new to her, so she hadn’t had much practice. 

“So, what do your parents do?” she asked reaching for a new subject. 

“Uh. . .not. . .much,” stammered Jo, “They both died a few months ago.” 
Emmy’s eyes widened with shock. <What, is the weather not good enough for 
you!> she chastised herself. 

“I’m sorry,” Emmy said gently, “That’s harsh.” Jo bristled at what she 
perceived as pity. 

“Yeah, how would you know?” she shoot back. Emmy stopped walking and turned 
so she was face to face with Jo. 

“My mom died when I was little. I don’t think you ever get over something 
like that.” It was Jo’s turn to be shocked. 

“I’m sorry, Emmy, I just thought. . .I thought. . .” 

“It’s OK,” Emmy reassured her. “I get it.” The pair resumed walking down 
the hall. 

“So,” Jo said trying to start up the conversation again, “what does your dad 
do?” 

“He’s a writer.” 

“Really,” said Jo impressed, “Would I have read anything he’s written?” 
Emmy laughed at this. 

“Not unless you have some pretty peculiar interests.” Jo looked confused, 
so Emmy continued. “He writes text books mostly on demonology, the occult 
and weirdo old religions only a few people have even heard of.” 

“Well, that’s cool, too,” Jo said, “A little freaky, but cool.” By the time 
they got to the office it was nearly lunchtime. 

“Ah, Emmy, Josephine, I was wondering when you would get back,” Mrs. Ropper 
greeted them. She turned to her watch. “Since, you’ve managed to waste 
half of your day with the tour it’s time for lunch. Emmy, why don’t you 
take Josephine with you, I believe you and Mr. Harris have Mrs. Ragland for 
American History fourth hour and so does Josephine. You can show her there 
after you eat.” 

“Sure, Mrs. Ropper,” Emmy responded as if she was answering a question 
instead of obeying an order, and turned to leave. 

“Oh, and Emmy,” called Mrs. Ropper after them. 

“Yes?” 

“Would you please inform Mr. Harris that if the fetal pigs are returned 
without incident he will avoid suspension.” Emmy gave her a look of wide 
eyed innocence, inspired by the fact she really didn’t know what the 
guidance councilor was talking about. 

“What fetal pigs?” 

“Just tell him,” and she turned her back to them and left. 

“Fetal pigs?” asked Jo sufficiently freaked out. Emmy sighed. 

“I have no idea, but I’m sure Jake does.” 

They found Jake in the nearly deserted cafeteria strategically placing his 
french fries in odd shapes around his tray. 

“Jake,” Emmy said as she approached him, “what are you doing here? Aren’t 
you supposed to still be in physics.” 

“Yeah,” he shrugged, “I tried to explain to Mr. Nilan the equation we were 
supposed to be using for centripetal force wasn’t valid, because it didn’t 
account for the effect of the earth’s gravity of a system while in motion. 
He sent me to the office, but I thought it would be more fun to explore the 
little known genre of fry art. What do you think?” Jo was staring at Jake 
not knowing what to think. 

“Jake, this is Jo, the new girl,” Emmy began the introductions, “and Jo, 
this is Jake, who is too smart for his own good.” 

“Hey,” he said to Jo, and turned his attention back to Emmy, “It’s not my 
fault the teachers at this school are not properly educated.” 

“Of course not,” Emmy responded trying not to laugh. She set her books on 
the table and motioned for Jo to do the same. 

“Oh, Jake, Mrs. Ropper wanted me to tell you something about fetal pigs. . 
.Does that ring any bells?” Jake looked at her guiltily. 

“Maybe a ding or two,” he admitted sheepishly. 

“Jake!” 

“What? They were just sitting out. They were begging for someone to steal 
them.” 

“And of course, you thought you’d teach them a lesson?” 

“Some one had to.” 

“One of these days Mrs. Ropper will carry out her threat to suspend you.” 

“Never!” 

“Why?” 

“She’s secretly in love with me.” 

“And what planet have we chosen to live on today?” 

“Just how long have you two known each other?” Jo piped in. 

“Forever,” Jake sighed. “We were genetically engineered to be friends. We 
didn’t get a choice in the matter.” Emmy punched him in the arm. “Ouch!” 

“My mom and his dad were best friends,” Emmy told Jo. “We’ve known each 
other our whole lives.” 

“That’s kind of cool,” Jo said. 

“Yeah, it would be,” Jake told her, “If Em here wasn’t such a dork.” 

“I’m the dork?! Listen here, Mr. Zillion and a half IQ, there’s only one 
dork at this table. I’ll give you a clue. The dork doesn’t have breasts.” 

“Like I said,” Jake continued with a glimmer in his eye, “If Em wasn’t such 
a dork---OUCH!! Watch it, girl! I bruise easily.” 

“Whatever!” 

For some reason watching their familiar sparing made Jo feel at home for the 
first time since she’d come to Sunnydale. A smile grew on her face. Maybe 
she was finally where she needed to be. 
************************************* 
“Hey Jo!” Jo heard from behind as she headed out of school at the end of her 
first day. “Wait up!” She turned to see Emmy heading toward her and 
immediately brightened. 

“Hey Emmy, what’s up?” 

“Not much. I was wondering what your Friday night plans are.” 

“Nothing really.” 

“Cool, do you want to go to the Bronze with me tonight?” Emmy asked, “Jake 
is always trying to get me to go with him, but I don’t want to be just 
hanging around while he’s talking to other friends. I thought if you went 
with me, we could hang out together, you know.” Jo smiled. 

“What’s the Bronze?” she asked. 

“Oh God, I’m sorry. It’s the club Jake’s dad, my Uncle Xander runs. It has 
live music and people dance. We never have to pay the cover either. It’s 
fun. That is if you like that sort of thing. . .do you? Like that sort of 
thing?” 

“Yeah, I do. Should I meet you there or something?” Emmy was so shocked as 
she said yes, she hadn’t thought about this part. 

“I don’t know. Maybe you should come over to my house before and get ready 
and stuff?” 

“Sounds good to me.” 

“Cool. Let me give you the address.” Emmy sat down on a bench and started 
to root through her bag for a piece of paper and a pen. <This is so cool, 
an actual girl to do things with.> Emmy was usually uncomfortable around 
women. Jake had a theory why. He said that she had grown up around too 
many men, her dad, his dad, him, his two little brothers. The only woman 
she really had much contact with was her Aunt Anya, and Jake was the first 
to admit she didn’t act like most women. <Uncle Xander said once that Anya 
had a colorful past, maybe that’s why she wasn’t normal? Who knows?> All 
Emmy knew was the idea of spending a few hours getting ready to go the 
Bronze with Jo sounded like a lot of fun. <Hopefully, it will be.> 

Emmy handed Jo the address. “It should be easy to find,” Emmy told her,” 
but if you have any trouble my number’s at the bottom. I’ll see you seven?” 

“Seven is good. I’ll see you then,” Jo said and turned to go to her car. 
<I can’t believe it. It’s my first day of school and I already have a 
friend. This is SO COOL!> She smiled all the way home. It had been a long 
time since she had something this good to smile about. 
********************************* 

A month had passed since that fateful night and Emmy was still on cloud 
nine. As far as she was concerned her life couldn’t be going better. She 
had a new best friend in Jo. Jo and Jake got along famously. They had even 
begun to tease one another the same way Emmy and Jake always did. They 
spent countless hours together at Jake’s house or Emmy’s just hanging out, 
watching movies, eating junk food and laughing. Sometimes they would go to 
the theater or the Bronze and sometimes they would let Jo just drive them 
around town and talk. It didn’t seem to matter what they were doing as long 
as they were together. Which was exactly were Emmy was heading right now. 
The three of them were meeting at Jake’s house for a night of rented movies 
and junk food. 

Her dad was even taking more time to teach her magic. For the first time 
since Emmy had realized she had this power her dad was making instruction a 
priority, and Emmy was too happy to question it. The only down side to her 
life was that she had to hide her magic from Jo. Emmy knew she had to keep 
it a secret from everyone but the Harris’s, and until now it had been easy. 
It seemed so wrong to keep the secret from Jo. Emmy even thought of asking 
her dad if she could tell her, but thought better of it. 

Soon Emmy was headed up to the door of Uncle Xander’s house. She didn’t 
bother to knock, she never did, and walked in. 

“Uncle Xan, Aunt Anya?” she called. 

“In the kitchen,” she heard Aunt Anya’s voice come from the other room. 
Emmy went to join her. 

“Hey, where’s Jake?” she said looking greedily at the cookies cooling on the 
table. 

“He and his father went to the super market and video store,” she answered. 
“Stop mooning over them and take one. It’s OK, I didn’t make them. Xander 
did before he left. So, how is life treating you?” Emmy eagerly grabbed a 
cookie and took a bite before answering. 

“OK. Spring vacation’s next week, so that’s good.” 

“Quite. Except that I’m going to have five children to look after instead 
of three.” Emmy looked up at her concerned. <Had they been hanging out 
here too much?> 

“I’m sorry, we can watch movies somewhere else. . .” Anya reached over and 
ruffled her hair. 

“I’m teasing. You know you aren’t any trouble, and even if you were Xander 
wouldn’t have it any other way. Learn to take a joke, Em. It will be good 
for you.” 

“Lucy I’m h-o-me!” Xander called announcing his presence to the house. 

“We’ve been married for fifteen years,” Anya stated, “and for every single 
one of them Xander has known I hate that.” 

“But then why does he do it?” Emmy asked curiously. 

“Because he knows I hate it.” Anya looked down at Emmy’s puzzled 
expression. “Don’t worry, you’ll understand if you unfortunate enough to 
marry someone as crazy as your Uncle Xander.” Xander and Jake came into the 
kitchen and set their bags on the table. 

“Woman!” Xander said and swept Anya into his arms. “Come to me.” Anya beat 
against his chest. 

“Let me go you freak.” 

“Ah, but you like the freak in me,” he said and kissed her passionately. 
Anya could no longer feign resistance and kissed her husband back. They 
kissed. . .and kissed. . .and kissed. Jake and Emmy looked at each other 
and simultaneously rolled their eyes. Anya and Xander were always doing 
this. Once they started kissing it was like no one else in the world 
existed. 

“EHMMM!” Jake exaggerated clearing his throat. “Come on you guys! Jo going 
to be over soon, and I don’t want to have to explain the sounds coming out 
of your bedroom to her. At least Emmy’s used to them by now.” Emmy tried 
to suppress I giggle. 

Xander and Anya reluctantly parted lips. Still embracing his wife Xander 
turned to his son. “Get out of here then,” he pretended to snarl, “before 
things get *really* nasty.” Xander lifted Anya so she could wrap her legs 
around his waist. 

“Come on, Em,” Jake said shaking his head as he turned to leave. “Let’s 
leave them alone with their geezer love.” Jake and Emmy headed to Jake 
room. “They are so-o-o embarrassing. They’re married. Shouldn’t they have 
gotten all of this out of their system by now?” 

“I think it’s sweet,” Emmy said. 

“You wouldn’t if it was your parents. . .sorry, Em,” he added seeing Emmy’s 
face fall. She shook it off. 

“It’s OK. Anyway, where’s Jo? Shouldn’t she be here by now?” As if on cue 
they phone rang. 

“We’ll get it!” Jake called to his parents as Emmy reached for the phone. 
“As if they will.” 

“Hello,” said Em. 

“Hello. . .Em?” 

“Hey Jo, what up? Where are you?” 

“That’s why I’m calling. My car broke down half way there.” 

“That sucks.” 

“Yeah. My aunt’s going to pick up the car, but do you think Mr. Harris 
could come and pick me up?” 

“I don’t see why not.” 

“Cool. It will take Aunt Rachel about a half hour to get here, so don’t 
hurry. I’m a block from the Tasty Freeze.” 

“OK, see you in a few.” 

“Bye.” 

“Bye.” Emmy hung up and turned to Jake. “Jo’s car broke down. You think 
your dad will go and pick her up?” 

“Yeah, but you get to go interrupt the brothel that is now the kitchen and 
ask him,” Jake insisted. 

“Whatever,” Emmy said heading to the kitchen. 
****Meanwhile in the kitchen***** 
Xander slowly pulled away from the kiss. Anya leaned back to look at him. 

“Honey, what’s wrong,” she asked concerned. Xander was always surprised how 
quick his at-one-time-a-demon wife could turn gentle. 

“Jo’s coming over,” he responded. 

“Yes, that’s happened at least five times a week for almost a month. Why is 
it bothering you now?” Xander sighed and sat down on a kitchen chair taking 
Anya with him. She unfolded her legs, so that she was straddling him. 
“Well?” she prodded. 

“Giles still hasn’t told Jo she’s the slayer.” Anya was confused by this. 

“But why? Surely he’s had enough time to brush up his ‘one girl in all the 
world’ speech. What’s the problem?” 

“He seems to think Jo should have time to adjust to her surroundings and 
become comfortable with him before he breaks the news to her.” 

“But that’s ridiculous. She’s loosing precious training time.” Xander had 
to agree. “And I think there’s more to it than that,” she said and stopped 
to think for minute. 

“Like what?” 

“Well, Giles has been intently teaching Emmy magic since Jo came to 
Sunnydale. I know because he’s come over to borrow some books and stuff. I 
just wonder if he’s more worried about Emmy than he is about Jo.” Xander 
considered this for a moment. 

“He’s preparing her,” Anya continued. “You know how paranoid he is about 
that girl. Like it’s her fault her mother died. Emmy wouldn’t try do 
something as foolish as closing the Hellmouth. Not that she would even have 
an opportunity any more after Willow and Buffy got through with it. Giles 
needs to get his priorities straight.” 

“I’m sure he thinks he does,” Xander defended his friend.

“It’s ridiculous Xander,” Anya replied. “If the slayer is here, it’s only a matter of time before something happens. How is keeping the slayer and Em ignorant to what’s really going on going to help anyone. . .especially Em. Emmy is not her mother and Jo’s not Buffy. If he’s so hell bent on protecting his daughter from what killed them, he should tell her the truth.”

“I know, but it’s his choice.”

“But should it be? We’ve raised Em with Giles. I know as well as you do she could handle it, so what’s he waiting for?”

“What’s a *slayer*?” Emmy asked stepping out from behind the door where she’d been listening. Anya and Xander both jumped.

“Em!” Xander went a bit wild eyed. “How long have you been there?”

“Long enough. What a slayer? And what do this have to do with my mom and Jo?”

“The Slayer is the one girl in all the world,” Anya began in a sing-song voice, but Xander stopped her.

“Em, was there something you needed?” Xander asked trying to change the subject.

“We need to go pick up Jo at the Tasty Freeze,” Em shook her head. “But that’s not the point. Uncle Xan, what’s a slayer?”

Xander ignored her question. He knew there was only one man who could deal with this and it wasn’t him. Xander untangled himself from his wife and stood. “Go get Jake. We’ll pick up Jo and go to your house. You can ask your father.”

“But Uncle Xander!” Emmy whined.

“Don’t push me on this!” he said harshly and Emmy jumped back. Guiltily he reached out to gently touch Emmy’s face. “I’m sorry, Em. Just go get Jake. The sooner you do, the sooner you’ll get your answer.” Emmy wasn’t happy about it, but she did as he asked.

***********************************

The tension in the car was weighing down on all four of them by the time they reached Emmy’s house. Xander and Emmy were silent in the front seat staring forward. In the back Jo and Jake whispered to one another furiously trying to figure out what was going on. It felt like years later, but they finally reached their destination. They unloaded themselves from the car and headed inside.

Giles, blissfully unaware, was interrupted by from his reading by them entering the house. Seeing their somber and confused faces, Giles put down his book concerned.

“What’s happened? Is everyone all right?” His eyes traveled up and down Emmy’s body but couldn’t find any outward signs of harm.

“Guys, sit down,” Xander said and the three of them sat down on the couch together. “Now Em, ask your father what you asked me.”

Emmy looked confused up at Xander, sighed and asked, “What’s a slayer?”

Giles eyes went wide with panic. “Where did you hear about the Slayer?”

“I over heard Aunt Anya and Uncle Xander talking about it. . .and Mom and Buffy.” Giles’s eyes shot furiously to Xander. Xander shrugged and sat down.

“I’m sorry Giles. We didn’t know she was there.”

“*Dad*, what’s a slayer?” Emmy repeated. Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his forehead. <I have been stalling for too long anyway> he thought.

“Emmy, you know there are things in this world that can’t be explained.”

“Yeah,” she replied, “Like my magi---” Emmy glanced quickly over at Jo.

“It’s OK, Em. Like your magic.” Giles turned to Jo. “Emmy is a witch as her mother before her.”

“A witch?” Jo said in disbelief.

“It’s true Jo, just go with it. I’ll explain it to you later,” Jake piped in. Jo didn’t look convinced but Giles continued.

“Emmy has the ability to perform spells and call on certain powers, but there more types of mystical forces than she knows of. In this world there are creatures who are not all human. There are demons walking on earth.”

“Demons, Dad?” Emmy said sarcastically. “Come on.”

“Kessem. Now is a time for you to listen.” The sound of her full name silenced her.

“As I said, there are demons here on earth, and as long as there have been demons there has been the Slayer. The one girl in all the world----” Giles stopped. “God, this a stupid speech!” He gathered himself together and continued, “The one girl in all the world born with the strength and skill to fight them.”

“But what does this have to do with my mom and Buffy and Jo” <Jo jumped at the sound of her name> “and something called the ‘Hellmouth’?” Emmy interrupted. Giles shot another menacing look at Xander, who hung his head in shame. Giles took a deep breathe.

“Buffy was the slayer. The Hellmouth was a portal to the demon realm. Your mother and Buffy died closing it.” Emmy tried to take all of this in.

“And Jo?” she asked. Giles turned to look at Jo who was concentrating very hard on her lap.

“Every time one Slayer dies another is called. About two months ago the last Slayer died. Jo is the new Slayer.”

“What kind of crack are you smoking?” Jo yelled rising to her feet. “Are all of you people mental? I’m not the new anything!” she insisted.

“Jo, sit down,” Xander said. “I know this must be hard, but it’s true. Giles and I both recognized you.” A thought occurred to Emmy.

“But Dad, if all of this *is* true,” she said still not really believing, “What does it have to do with you?”

“As long as their has been Slayers,” Giles continued completely devoid of all emotion, “there have been watchers. Some one who is assigned to help the slayer and train her to fight the evil. . .”

“Your dad,” Xander finished for him, “is a watcher. He was Buffy’s, that’s how we all met him, and now he’s supposed to be Jo’s.”

“This is ridiculous!” Jo insisted and ran out of the room and up the stairs to Emmy’s room.

Jake, who had been unusually silent this whole time looked from his dad to Giles. “This has been enlightening. Insane, but enlightening,” and he got up and went to join the girls.

“It’s never easy,” Xander said to Giles as he rose to leave. “They’ll come around. Call me when they need to go home.” And he left, leaving Giles alone.

*************************************

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