The afternoon sun shone into the almost empty room, as dust motes danced across the air. The smell of old leather and paper added to the almost surreal atmosphere. As if the books were waiting. For someone to rescue them from their entombment. But that wouldn’t happen here. Nobody visited the books of the library of Sunnydale High School.
Two young girls sat at the centre table. Both were waiting for the same man. The redhead was using the time carrying out valuable research. The blonde, with her feet on the table, continued distracting her friend with idle talk and gossip. They each had an appointment with the librarian, but he had warned them both that he would be late. A last minute meeting with the principal.
Suddenly the quiet of the room was broken with the sound of footsteps crossing the floor. Both girls stopped what they were doing and looked across at each other. Unless Rupert Giles had suddenly changed his choice of footwear, those nine inch stilettos definitely did not belong to him. They turned to face the newcomer.
What they saw was a beautiful woman in her early thirties, 5’ 10", blonde hair styled in a chignon. Everything from her designer suit to her perfectly applied make-up spoke self-confidence and money. She wore an amused smile as she looked the two girls over. Buffy immediately felt her hackles rise. There was something about the woman that set her on edge. It took all of her willpower not to try to straighten her clothes and fuss with her hair. She didn’t like her one bit.
As the other two continued to attempt to out-stare each other, Willow decided to make the opening move. "May I help you?"
"I’m looking for Rupert Giles." The cultured British accent seemed to suit the stranger.
"I’m afraid he’s not here. We can give him a message if you like." Buffy knew only that she wanted the woman out of there before Giles came back.
"That’s all right. I can wait."
"Are you a new teacher?"
The woman looked over towards Willow. "Which one of you is Buffy Summers?" It was obvious what she thought the answer was.
Buffy was starting to get really annoyed. "Who are you?!"
"Sorry I’m late. Principal Snyder wished to warn me about unsavoury influences again. Another hint at you I believe, Buffy." His head down, Rupert Giles didn’t at first realise the girls weren’t alone.
"Hello Rupert." The voice that he hadn’t heard for so long pulled him up short. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
"Good lord. What are you doing here?"
At the sound of near panic in her Watcher’s voice, Buffy began to worry. "Giles?"
"Hm? Oh, yes. Er, wh-why don’t you two run along? I’ll speak to you later."
"Aren’t you going to introduce us first, Rupert?"
"Yes. Yes, of course. This is Willow, and Buffy." As they all waited, he knew he would have to divulge a little more. He didn’t want to. Not until he had time to get some answers. And to explain. "Girls. This...This is Sylvia Milson."
"His betrothed."
