Part 13<\/b><\/p>\n
Sunnydale High Library
\nFour Months Later<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, Giles, this is really starting to suck!\u201d Cordelia Chase huffed, as she dramatically flounced her pom-poms down on the library check-out counter. The teenager was in full cheerleading attire and had just stormed through the library doors, obviously in emotional turmoil.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry?\u201d The Watcher-Librarian rose from his crouching position behind the counter to address his newest slayer. Cordelia had only been a slayer for a few months and had proved herself quite the resourceful one at that, too. \u201cWhat\u2019s starting to- suck?\u201d He was almost afraid to ask.<\/p>\n
Cordelia rolled her eyes in exasperation, as she rummaged through her backpack, producing a good inch of envelopes. \u201cThese!\u201d With disdain she slammed them down on the table, next her Sunnydale pom-poms.<\/p>\n
Giles peered at the mass of envelopes the girl had just produced and began to gingerly sift through them. His mouth in a grim line he realized why she was in such an emotional upheaval- they were bills. \u201cCordelia, the post mark on these are from about two months ago. They\u2019re long past due. What have you been doing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, let\u2019s think about this\u2026\u00a0slaying<\/i>!\u201d She screeched, pleased when she saw him flinch. \u201cI\u2019ve been killing nasties, doing school crap- that, might I add you insisted I keep up with since I\u2019m the new slayer on the block- and just trying to keep myself fed.\u201d Cordelia scrunched up her neck, groaning as her muscles popped. \u201cI don\u2019t have the luxury of a mom or even a dad anymore to keep up with this stuff and to hold up some secret identity jive. I need help! I\u2019m just a kid, Giles!\u201d Cordelia slumped over the counter, laying her head on her arms in exhaustion.<\/p>\n
Looking at her forlorn expression across her lovely face, Rupert Giles could tell that the responsibilities of adult and slayer life were starting to get to her. Cordelia\u2019s adulthood was literally forced upon her twofold and she was going to buckle soon if she didn\u2019t find a schedule. Unlike Buffy, Cordelia had to be an adult and provide for herself. Luckily, during those beginning months upon her return to Sunnydale, Cordelia\u2019s cousin from Japan, Jin Yoshino, had come to stay with her to help her set up. But he had had to return back to Japan, leaving the slayer alone again.<\/p>\n
During her time back in Sunnydale, there had been a rash explosion of demonic activity, keeping both slayers busy. Cordelia had already made a personal enemy out of Spike, the latest master vampire to hit the Hellmouth. Granted Spike hated both Buffy and Cordelia, but he seemed to have a more special yen toward Cordelia since she\u2019d nearly killed him on Halloween. According to Angel, that was the nearest\u00a0any<\/i>\u00a0being, slayer or demon, had come to killing him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you spoken to Angel about this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Cordelia snapped her head up, glaring at Giles as if he were a loon. \u201cWhy would I want to talk to him about my woes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI-I just assumed since you live in the same building with him, he could try and stop buy on occasion- to m-make sure you were getting along with your bills. A friendly neighbor sort of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell my bills and I are not getting along at all, and the last thing I want is Buffy\u2019s boyfriend to know about it.\u201d The less she saw of Angel the whole lot better off she would be!<\/p>\n
Cordelia spun on her heal, to take seat at the infamous Buffy-worship table to take a seat.\u00a0Funny how this used to be a library at one time or another<\/i>, she mused to herself. \u201cI figured I could ask the Watcher for some kind of guidance other than slaying. It\u2019s not like I\u2019m asking you to be my surrogate father or something!\u201d Trying to ignore the fluttering ache in heart at the mention of Angel\u2019s name, she began to absently flip through a volume on succubae and incubi. She didn\u2019t notice Giles\u2019 face turn red at the mention of him as her surrogate father.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpeaking of which,\u201d Cordelia looked up from her book, \u201cAny news on that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father?\u201d Giles was thoroughly confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, no, me getting my own Watcher.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there something wrong with me being your Watcher, Cordelia?\u201d This was disconcerting. There was nothing that came to his mind to think of what he could have done to have offended the girl in anyway, to have her want a new Watcher.<\/p>\n
She shook her head, as she leaned back in her chair, \u201cNot in the least, it\u2019s just that every Slayer has her own Watcher and wouldn\u2019t it be easier for you? Buffy is a handful and I\u2019m sure not that easy on your ulcer either.\u201d Cordelia flashed him one of her brilliant toothy smiles.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is absolutely right, Mr. Giles. She is past due to have her own Watcher.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Giles and Cordelia whipped their heads in the direction of the foreign voice that had just interrupted.<\/p>\n
Cordelia could feel her face loose color as she looked into the eyes of the man who was standing in front of the library doors. It was the same eyes that she saw every morning, but this was not the face she\u00a0ever<\/i>\u00a0wanted to see again.<\/p>\n
Sunnydale High
\nMain Hallway<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cSo, Buffy, we gonna Bronze it tonight?\u201d Xander Harris eagerly piped, as he and Willow ran into Buffy outside of physics class.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, totally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Willow gingerly swooped in beside her best friend and looped her arm through Buffy\u2019s. \u201cCan we invite, Cordelia, too?\u201d This was like mine fields, but it was worth a try. Buffy had to learn to get along with the other slayer and it was long past due.<\/p>\n
The blonde halted in mid-stride, her sneakers screeching on the linoleum. \u201cDo we always have to make an issue of this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are we making it an issue? She\u2019s a slayer now, Buffy. She fights on your side.\u201d Willow could not understand why her friend was so adamantly against associating with Cordelia. Aside from having to do occasional slays together, Buffy avoided her like the plague.<\/p>\n
Buffy shifted on her feet, trying to control her temper. \u201cIt\u2019s complicated, and I don\u2019t want to go into it. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander wrapped his arm around Buffy\u2019s shoulders, \u201cNo prob, Buff. You can tell us when you\u2019re ready.\u201d He ignored the murderous look that Willow was giving him, and steered Buffy toward the library.<\/p>\n
With silence hanging heavily between them, the three friends headed through the library doors and almost ran into the two people standing right beyond them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa, there!\u201d Xander exclaimed, as he and the girls came to an uncomfortable stop. This was not usual. Very foreign people in their sanctuary.<\/p>\n
Giles was standing by the counter, looking ramrod straight and more serious than they had ever seen him. Cordelia was as beautiful as ever in her cheerleading outfit, not taking her eyes of the strange couple that was standing just before Xander and the girls.<\/p>\n
And what a strange couple they were: the woman was positively gorgeous, with honey blonde hair and the man was distinguished, with raven-black hair peppered with gray. As Cordelia was staring at them, they were staring at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiles?\u201d Buffy skirted around Xander, and the \u2018odd couple\u2019 to stand by her Watcher. Her look to him was \u2018Who the hell are they?\u2019<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t Giles who answered her, but the man instead. \u201cBuffy Summers, I presume?\u201d His accent was pure, classic British. \u201cIt\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, my dear, I\u2019m Daniel Bellaver.\u201d He came over to her, extending his hand out, pleased when she shook it.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, charmed. Who are you?\u201d Buffy released his grip, and nodded to the woman.<\/p>\n
The woman gave a sweet smile that set her beautiful face to an almost angelic expression. \u201cI\u2019m Vinessa Chandler, Buffy. We\u2019re from the Watcher\u2019s Council. I\u2019ve heard a lot about you.\u201d Vinessa turned back around to Cordelia and stepped over to the slayer. \u201cAnd I\u2019ve heard much about you too, Cordelia.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Cordelia whispered, still not truly taking her gaze off of Daniel Bellaver. \u201cI\u2019m sure you have. Excuse me.\u201d Cordelia gracefully came around to stand in front him. \u201cWhat the hell are\u00a0you<\/i>\u00a0doing here?!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia<\/i>!\u201d Giles shouted out in alarm. He knew exactly who this man was to the girl, but he was not prepared for her rude behavior. And poor Willow almost swallowed her tongue at the outburst.<\/p>\n
The emissary from the Council merely smiled, \u201cCordelia Bellaver Chase\u2026 now is that anyway to speak to your grandfather, young lady?\u201d He did admire her spirit. Always had.<\/p>\n
She just shrugged. \u201cYou\u2019re lucky I spoke to you at all, Grandpa.\u201d Cordelia flipped her long hair over her shoulders, and smirked at him. \u201cI can see that the pretty lady is obviously going to be my new Watcher, and she could have come here all by herself. And so I ask you again, what are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan\u2019t an old man come and see his only grandchild?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo!\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy and the rest of the gang were watching this whole escapade in stunned silence. Not only was Cordelia getting a new Watcher, but her own grandfather was part of the Council? Buffy couldn\u2019t believe how much was being revealed about the brunette in just a few months!<\/p>\n
Giles decided he was going to take this into his own hands. \u201cUm, Mr. Bellaver, Ms. Chandler? What\u2019s say we have the children go so they can resume their classes? I think we have much to discuss.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I think so, Rupert,\u201d Bellaver turned to the younger man. \u201cEspecially how it is that these\u00a0other<\/i>\u00a0children know about the goings on of slayer business.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUh, ye-yes,\u201d Giles sputtered, clearly embarrassed about the whole situation. \u201cTh-that would be best. Uh, Buffy, Cordelia- we\u2019ll speak later.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, whatever,\u201d Cordelia grumbled, obviously brimming with rage at seeing her grandfather so suddenly. Gathering up her stuff, she politely sneered at him again and stormed out of the library, the rest of the gang following suit.<\/p>\n
Sunnydale High
\nOutside Quad<\/b><\/p>\n
There was no way in hell she was going to stay on campus as long as he was here!\u00a0Winter mid-term be damned<\/i>, she thought to herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia, wait up!\u201d<\/p>\n
It was Willow shouting after her. With Buffy and Xander likely in tow, old kill joy. Cordelia wanted to just keep on walking, but Willow and Xander had been the only ones to be treating like a human being, so she decided, \u201cWhat the hell.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stopping by a bench in the outside quad, Cordelia ceremoniously dumped her pom-poms and books on the seat. Spinning on her heal, she turned around to great the coming onslaught of questions. And judging from the fiery green in Buffy\u2019s eyes, they would be coming from her.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is going on, Cordelia?\u201d Buffy stopped mere inches in front of the other girl, not happy that she had to look up into her eyes. It was one thing before when she hadn\u2019t been a slayer, but now she held equal power to her\u00a0and<\/i>\u00a0was taller. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell us your grandfather was part of the Watcher\u2019s Council?\u201d<\/p>\n
This chick was really starting to get on her last nerve. Ever since she had seen her nearly come apart when the Anointed Twerp had tried to raise the Master, Cordelia had backed away, given Buffy some room. She\u2019d realized that night that Buffy needed Willow, Xander, and Angel more than she ever would. So, she had decided to step off to the sidelines, hoping that Buffy would come around and realize that she wasn\u2019t that bad anymore, and would begin to accept her. They were\u00a0slayers<\/i>; never in the history of their existence had two been activated at the same time. One would think the girl would be bright enough to see how much damage they could bestow to the dark side, but no! Buffy was a twinkie.<\/p>\n
Cordelia was tired of being nice and tired of the bleached blonde.\u00a0I think it\u2019s almost time to throw down<\/i>, she gleamed. For the first time in weeks, Cordelia felt a smile spread upon her lips that actually touched her soul.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you going to answer me or not?\u201d Buffy pressed, \u201cAnd what\u2019s with that stupid grin?\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander quickly jerked his head toward Willow, whose eyes were equally wide. This was so not good. Buffy may have never wanted to admit it, but Cordelia was a better fighter. Xander had been there with Angel when she had almost beheaded Spike on Halloween. He\u2019d seen the bitch in motion and it looked like she was about to go \u2018ka-boom\u2019. Slowly, he began to inch away from the super-chicks, pulling Willow with him by her backpack.<\/p>\n
Crossing her arms over her ample chest, Cordelia took a large step forward, until she was toe to toe with Buffy. \u201cIn regards to \u2018what\u2019s going on\u2019, it seems as if I\u2019m getting my own Watcher, so now you\u2019ll have Giles all to your very own. No more Cordelia getting in Buffy\u2019s way of bonding with her Watcher!\u201d Buffy looked like she had just been slapped. Pretty. \u201cAnd about my grandfather being part of the Council-\u201d Tilting her head up to the blue sky above, she let Buffy sit on that one.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou. Never. Asked.\u201d Turning on her heal, Cordelia went to gather her things.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhoa! I never asked?!\u201d Buffy had leapt forward, right in front of the other slayer as she was about to get to the bench. \u201cHow dare you speak that way to me! We had the right to know that you had a direct link to the Council, Cordelia. What\u2019d you think you were so special that you could keep it to yourself?\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh, that did.<\/p>\n
Balling up her right fist, Cordelia laid a punch so hard against Buffy\u2019s jaw that she slammed into a spruce tree four feet away, her shoulder hitting the trunk. That suede jacket was definitely going to need dry cleaning now.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordy!\u201d Xander shouted out in alarm as he ran over to were Buffy was struggling to pick herself up. Her lower lip was totally split open with blood dribbling down her chin.<\/p>\n
And to make matters worse, nearly half the school was out there witnessing the whole event. Most of the student body new that Buffy was stronger than normal, by having seen her do the impossible with their own eyes or stories passed down from peers. But now they had just seen Cordelia Chase, picture perfect cheerleader, display an equal amount of physical prowess.<\/p>\n
Holding up her hand in warning, Cordelia\u2019s hazel eyes bore into Buffy\u2019s. \u201cThat was just an appetizer. Unless you want the full course, dumbass, I suggest you watch what you say to me from now on.\u201d She began gathering her stuff, still not taking her warrior\u2019s gaze off of Buffy. \u201cThe day you declare that my personal life is your book to read again, is the day your ass is grass. Again!\u201d<\/p>\n
Giving Willow and Xander a brief smile, she headed back into the school. She had a chemistry mid-term to take, and she suddenly felt more than capable of taking it on. Surprisingly, Cordelia found no trouble making her way through the crowds. They were making way for a queen.<\/p>\n