Summary: Buffy returns to Sunnydale one year after Becoming, Part 2 and finds something unexpected.
Disclaimer: They belong to Joss Whedon.

Homecoming

by: Northlight

She was home. After a year of running, Buffy had finally come back home. She hesitated before the school, her emotions swirling wildly out of control. Buffy took a deep breath and inched forward. A second later she had backed away from the steps which would bring her to the entrance of the school.

"Come on, it's Giles!" Buffy reprimanded herself. "There's nothing to be worried about." Even as she spoke, the thought of Jenny's death and Giles' torture both at the hands of Angelus rose in her mind. Giles had never blamed her for what had happened to Jenny nor had he ever expressed displeasure in her inability to kill Angelus. But what would her Watcher think about her running away?

She had abandoned her duty. She had abandoned him. Would Giles be able to forgive her for the pain and worry that he must have felt after she had left her life in Sunnydale?

Buffy smoothed her hair nervously and moved forward again. This time, she didn't back away.

The doors swung open beneath Buffy's hands and she followed the familiar path towards the library. The memories of the countless times she, Willow and Xander had walked together towards the library was overlaid by the still painful memory of her frantic run back after meeting with Angelus.

The thought of the horror she had found waiting for her at the end of that journey suddenly made Buffy fear for what she would find waiting for her this time. Unconsciously, her steps quickened.

It seemed an eternity before Buffy reached the library. Her hand reached out and rested against the door as she steadied herself. The familiar sound of quarterstaffs connecting made Buffy step away from the door in surprise. 'Somebody's training?' Buffy thought incredulously.

She cautiously moved back to the doors and inched one open. The sight which met her eyes was a decidedly unexpected one.

Giles and a girl were sparring.

It was enough to send a burst of jealousy racing through Buffy. That girl was with *her* Watcher. In *her* library. Using *her* equipment!

'She must be my replacement,' Buffy realized, an odd sense of disappointment seizing her. Somehow, Buffy had always thought that Giles would have been searching for her, waiting for her to come back. She hadn't thought that he'd find himself another Slayer.

The dark haired girl brought her staff down, knocking Giles' away from him. The force of her blow sent Giles reeling back and tumbling to the floor. The girl smiled as Giles brought out a handkerchief and dabbed at his damp face.

Buffy's teeth ground together. Nobody went around knocking her Watcher down!

The girl bent down and hoisted Giles to his feet. He murmured a thanks before heading out of Buffy's line of sight. Buffy nudged the door open wider, trying not to lose sight of him.

Unfortunately, the motion had drew the other Slayer's attention. Their eyes met, and the two girls remained motionless, staring at each other from across the room.

Buffy was surprised by the look of hostility which had descended on the other Slayer's face. 'Keep away' the dark haired girl silently warned Buffy.

Buffy bristled at the girl's silent warning, ready to tell her who was in charge. And then, the realization struck her. Giles wasn't her Watcher any more. She had given up on her duty and position as Giles' Slayer when she had run away.

"You take care of him!" Buffy hissed softly before backing out of the library. It was only when she was beyond sight of the library that Buffy let the tears stream down her face.

April stared at the library door in surprise as it drifted shut. From everything Giles had told her about Buffy, she hadn't expected her to give up so easily. 'I guess she realized that she has no place here anymore,' April thought.

'I can't believe that she told *me* to look after Giles! She's the one who ditched him because she wasn't tough enough for the job!' The thought that despite Buffy's weakness, she was still Giles' Slayer annoyed April.

He still thought of his first Slayer. He still searched for her. He still waited for her. What he didn't seem to recognize was that Buffy was gone and April was more that willing to take over.

A momentary pang of uncertainty struck April. 'Should I tell Giles that Buffy was here? He'd be thrilled to see her again... And he'd want her back instead of me...'

No. Buffy had lost this when she ran away. And April wasn't about to give it up.

"April?" Giles said softly "I thought I heard something."

"I didn't," April lied, keeping a cheerful smile on her face. "Now, why don't we go research something?"

Giles looked at the door sadly, "I felt something..."

"Come on, Giles!" April exclaimed, grabbing her Watcher by the arm and pulling him away from the door. "There's nothing out there."

~End~

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