Rating: G.
Disclaimer: All the characters you recognise belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, WB, Kuzui, Sandollar, Fox and anyone else who has rights to BtVS. Anyone you don't recognise is mine, as is this original copyrighted work of fan fiction. All trademarks and copyrights acknowledged. No copyright infringement intended, inferred or implied.
Feedback: Yes Please. Because without my medication it's the only thing that stops the voices.
Couples: No.
Spoilers: No.
Dedication: To my late therapist ... "If you swim with sharks, you get bit".
Distribution: Buffy Beta Fanfic Archive and Slayer's Anonymous. Anyone else, ask and ye shall receive.
Author's Note: I just couldn't stop myself. If you haven't read the prequel to this story, "Assignment: Buffy", do so now (just email me and ask for it). This story won't make much sense without it.
Summary: Buffy's Guardian recalls how he and Buffy first met.

I recall that day, when I first met my Slayer.

The day before I had been given my orders ... my assignment. As a Guardian it was my duty to protect the baby Slayer. Protect her from all that might endanger her. I was her Guardian. My life was nothing. She one day would be the Chosen One. It was my duty. Why I had trained so long and hard. I had been assigned to protect the baby Buffy Anne Summers. That was my assignment, but I still had to make contact.

I had spent nearly twenty four hours travelling to Los Angeles. I had been accompanied by a grey-suited man from the Watcher's Council, Smith he called himself. "An original mind at work there", I remember remarking when he told me his name.

As was always the case with the Watcher's Council, everything seemed to rely on leaving it all to the last possible second. We arrived at the toy store, just minutes before Joyce Summers entered with the baby Buffy. Smith made sure I was situated at a suitable location where I could catch her attention and survey what was going on in the store.

I must confess, at that point I was extremely nervous. The adrenalin was pumping and if I had a stomach I'm sure it would have been packed with butterflies. As Joyce Summers entered the store wheeling the little Buffy in her buggy, I was instantly in awe. Sure, I'd heard the rumours of the Chosen One having an aura. A radiance which Guardians and Watchers could pick up on. A link if you like. A distinct connection which bonds us together as we fight the creatures of the night. But, you get sceptical. What is real and what is propaganda? But I have to say that it was true. It was almost as if a light radiated from her. The store illuminating as she entered.

I had to stop thinking such things, I told myself. I had a job to do. I had to make contact with the child. Somehow I must leave this store with her and her mother. Smith had suggested "Sit there and look cuddly". I didn't know whether he was being helpful or just raising the weight issue, but he was not the sort of individual you would argue with. Well not if you were my height anyway.

As they approached I attempted to act my cuddliest. The Watcher's Council knew that they were here for one reason ... to make a purchase. To get something for Buffy. But who would make the choice? Buffy or her mother. I'd been placed in the aisle with the special offers. Me ... only a dollar ninety-nine, good job pride was something I jettisoned years ago.

As I sat there, all belly and snout, looking sweetly down at the little Buffy, she gurgled. A little bit of dribble appearing out of the right side of her mouth. Talk about cute. Her little hands reached out wanting to grab me. But she was in the buggy and I was on a shelf way out of her reach. Briefly I pondered that if the Guardian thing didn't work out I could always get a job in sales.

But my self-satisfaction was cut short. Joyce Summers just passed me by. Wheeling my Slayer away from me. The sudden realisation that I could have failed her before I started was torturous. What could I do to grab her attention? What could I do to alert Joyce to my presence? Make her choose me over the other toys. I needed an idea. What? Persuasion was not an option, after all foam pigs are not renowned for their abilities as intellectuals. Next. A little song and dance routine. Perhaps a melody of songs from Oklahoma, "Ooooo-klahoma where the ......". No that was discounted straight away. Foam pigs can't sing either.

Whilst debating the limited number of options open to me, Joyce's eye had been caught by a yellow teddy bear. Although it was nearly three dollars, which to me seemed expensive given the bargain that could be got for under two, she was seriously considering it. Meanwhile Buffy was entertaining herself by trying to chew her own hands.

As I watched Joyce take the teddy bear from the shelf, it looked as if it's brown eyes were glaring back at me. I had to blink, surely I was the only toy of my kind hear. As I looked again, the teddy definately was grinning. And it was not a good grin. It was a bad grin. It was the grin of something evil. My Slayer was in danger.

I was instantly overtaken by panic. I had to act and act immediately. Smith was no where to be seen. It was down to me. Somehow I had to get to Buffy. Teddy was not going to take my Slayer. A Guardian will protect his Slayer with his life.

Joyce had placed Teddy in her basket and was making her way up the busy aisle. Ensuring that no one was looking, I managed to make my way along the shelf. I moved as fast as my podgy little legs would allow. Rushing past the other toys, trying to keep up.

Joyce stopped, as she met a friend and started talking, oblivious to what was going on. I could see Teddy, sitting in the basket as it eyed the baby Buffy. Devilish plans hatching in its mind. Somehow I had to get to that basket. Somehow I had to protect my Slayer.

But I was trapped on the shelf. Stuck with no way down. Below me was my Slayer, the baby Buffy. Innocently occupied by all the different noises, people and things that kept coming into her vision. Little did she or anyone else know of the danger she was in.

There was no choice. I would have to jump. Throw myself off the shelf and let gravity take me to the basket. Joyce was coming to the end of her conversation. Her and her friend were making their goodbyes. It was now or never. I backed up and prepared myself and then I was airborne. Hurtling towards the basket, my price tag flapping behind me as the ground raced up to greet me, I braced myself to crash into the basket where Teddy resided.

But as the prospect of my landing came ever closer, Joyce began to move. She began to walk away. The basket was moving further and further out of my trajectory. If she kept moving I would impact on the store floor, no doubt to be trampled by the feet of the other patrons. Death would be mine. And Teddy would get my Slayer.

I held out my feet. Stretching out to grab onto the basket as I flew past. Desperately reaching out trying to add just a little bit more to my reach, and as I passed the basket I managed to catch it.

I hung there briefly, relieved that I had not become aisle kill. But Teddy was not going to let this be. It moved ... and moved fast. From within the confines of the shopping basket it went for me. Punching and clawing at me as I held onto the basket with dear life. With demonic strength it kept attacking me. I tried to negotiate my way around the basket to find a way in, but it pursued me. Frantically it charged again and again. Swiping at me as I tried to find away out of my precarious situation.

Whilst all this was going on Joyce was getting closer to the till. I had to do something. If we got there, Teddy would be purchased and Joyce would end up taking this monster into their home. Without protection from her Guardian, Buffy would not stand a chance.

There was only one thing for it, throw myself into the buggy. I was not in a position to fight off Teddy and time was running out. Calling on the last of my stamina I negotiated my way around the basket's frame again, trying to find the optimum position from which to launch myself for my infant Slayer. Teddy, meanwhile, was still trying to dislodge me. Ramming himself into the side of the basket, he finally managed to uncouple one of my feet from the side. As I hung there I had but one thought ... "I am Mister Gordo, Guardian of the Slayer". And carrying that thought I jettisoned myself off the side of the basket towards the buggy.

It was just in the nick of time, for we were almost at the till. It was a much shorter flight than the one before, and the landing a good degree softer, landing on the infant Buffy as I did.

With an appreciative little gurgle, Buffy picked me up. From the corner of my eye I could see the rage which Teddy felt. But now I had to be still. If I was lucky I would end up being purchased.

Buffy, however, liked the new toy. She had something new to play with ... a pink pig. As I remained motionless, she took me and placed my left ear in her mouth and started gumming on it. A Guardian is trained for many things. For hand to hand combat. Dealing with demons. Close protection of an infant Slayer. But for receiving a waterlogged ear courtesy of Slayer saliva ... No, that one is not in the training manual. But an earful of spit was just the break I needed, because we were at the till.

As Joyce presented the Teddy, the shop assistant noticed me in my semi-damp state as Buffy decided that the left ear was wet enough and perhaps she should start on the right ear.

"Are you taking this as well?" the assistant asked.

"Oh Buffy", Joyce remarked, "did you want the little piggy too?" she asked looking at her little girl.

Turning to the assistant, "I think she likes the pig", Joyce continued.

"Well at least his ears", she replied as I was removed from Buffy's grasp and my price checked.

With the price entered I was returned to my Slayer as she sat there thinking about trying to put one of my feet in to her mouth. Joyce paid the cashier and with Teddy placed in her bag, we were on our way out of the store.

As we made our way back to the Summers' house, I knew that I had answered destiny's call. I was with my Slayer. I had been chosen by the Watcher's Council. I had been chosen by Buffy.

The journey home would not take long ... and I knew that when I got there I would have a score to settle with Teddy.

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