The two people sat on the sofa. On the coffee table in front of them sat a pot of tea and two cups. Working together, it hadn’t taken long to prepare everything. Buffy couldn’t remember when she had abandoned coffee in favour of Giles’ favourite beverage. A couple of times, after particularly nasty encounters, she had come back here. He would then make her a cup, informing her it would help her relax. It had. Eventually, it had become a habit, to visit here each night, share a pot and discuss the day’s events. Savouring the feeling of familiarity, neither were keen to break the silence. Giles knew the time of reckoning had come though.

"Sylvia’s family and mine go back a long way. Generations, in fact. Her father and mine were boyhood friends. It was through that friendship that Mr. Milson learnt about Vampire Slayers and Watchers. He applied to become a Watcher, but for some reason was rejected. He wasn’t bitter, but still wanted to be involved. He married the cousin of a Slayer."

"Why?"

"To sire a new Slayer."

"What? Why would anybody want to put their child through that? Didn’t he understand what it meant?"

"Oh yes. But all he could see was the glory, the chance to save the world. Albeit in a second-hand way. When he realised Sylvia wasn’t a Slayer, he moved onto his next plan. He arranged with my father for us to become betrothed."

"But that’s archaic. Nobody does that nowadays."

"Buffy." This was the hardest part. Would she look at him with disgust after tonight? "Watchers are bred."

"What?"

"Unlike a Slayer, the skills a Watcher needs can be enhanced through breeding. So, whenever a Watcher chose a mate, it was one who would help to strengthen those skills. A..after a while, the families of each future Watcher arranged the marriages."

She was shocked. She couldn’t believe what he was saying. It sounded so inhuman. "Is..is that what happened with your parents?"

"Initially, yes. Fortunately, my father came to care for my mother. And she often said that for her it was love at first sight. Mind, at the time, she was only 3, so I don’t know if we can accept that fully." He was pleased to see her answering smile.

"So, your parents were happy to have you betrothed to Sylvia?"

"Not completely. It was a good match, but my father did not want me forced into a partnership I did not want. He had seen too many go wrong. So, he had a clause made in the contract. If one of the participants did not want to go ahead with the betrothal, it could be broken."

"How old were you when you found out?"

"Sixteen. Just starting into my rebellion phase. I was pretty pi.... Well, rather upset."

"It’s all right Rupert. You can say pissed to me. I won’t get upset." She was so glad that he hadn’t proposed to Sylvia Milson, that she didn’t notice her use of his first name. She felt rather giddy actually.

Giles had noticed. It had sounded so right. He hoped she would say it again. "Anyway, I hadn’t seen Sylvia or her family in years. She’s six years younger than me. They were coming over for a visit. I was so angry. I had it all planned. Outright rejection, and to hell with them all. Then I met her. She sat there so quietly, Buffy. Didn’t say a word, unless instructed to. Can you imagine what it must be like? Being born a disappointment to your father? Being told all the time you had failed him, because you weren’t special? That the only way to please him was to marry this old man you never knew? And I was old to her."

He remembered that day. It had been one of those rare Indian Summer days that come to the English countryside. After tea, he was instructed to take Sylvia out, and show her around the grounds. They walked along quietly, neither saying a word. He was still angry. But, years of breeding held out. He could not take his anger out on this young girl. She was as much of a victim as he.

"Sylvia? Did they tell you about what they want to happen? In the future?"

"Yes. I am to marry you, and help you with your Watching duties. Then we shall breed our own Watcher, to carry on the tradition."

"Is this what you want?"

"It’s what will happen. You’ll be as suitable a mate as any other."

He couldn’t believe what she was saying. Hadn’t she ever had a childhood? "Sylvia. I don’t really want this betrothal. It isn’t you. I just refuse to let others plan my life."

She shrugged her shoulders. " Daddy will be disappointed in me. I’m sure he’ll find another Watcher though. Or have another daughter. One that you’ll like."

He couldn’t do it. She had suffered enough. "I’ll tell you what. In twenty five years time, if neither of us is with someone, we’ll talk about it then. If we were going to find somebody else, we would have done so by then. Agreed?"

She looked up at him with more emotion than he had seen all day. "Agreed."

They both sat quietly after that. So much made sense now. His gentle nature couldn’t see the girl hurt any more. So he gave them both a let out. Twenty five years would have seemed so long away. Both of them would have found somebody else. But it hadn’t happened. She turned to him. He was leaning forward, his arms resting on his knees. At first, she thought he was deep in thought. Then she noticed the tenseness, as if he were waiting.

At least she hadn’t run out half way through his sordid little story. How disgusted she must be with it all. With him. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see her leave. Suddenly he felt a warmth on his right hand. A touch. He turned his head, opened his eyes. She looked at him with such trust, such caring. She was crying. But so was he. She gathered him, cradled him. Like the last time they had cried together. When he had gone after Angelus. When he had wanted to die, to be with Jenny. Now he wanted to live. To be with the girl who held him so lovingly.

"What kind of monsters are they? To create a human breeding plan?"

"For years, all that was important was the Slayer. For the Slayer to survive, the Watcher had to be of high intelligence, and physically strong. The only way to guarantee this was to keep the bloodlines as pure as possible. Besides, in those day, arranged marriages were the norm, not the exception."

"It still sounds inhuman. Did they breed out emotion while they were at it?" Feeling, rather than seeing him wince, she rushed on. "I don’t mean you. I know how much you feel. How much you care."

"I suppose I’m a throwback then?" They both smiled at that, and moved away from each other, but still keeping their arms around each other.

"So, this happened twenty five years ago?"

"Yes. I had kept track of Sylvia during the years. She hasn’t been waiting patiently for me. She has been involved with other men. In fact, last time I heard, there was talk of a marriage. I don’t know what went wrong. I’ve made some inquires. I’m waiting for the answers."

"What did she say? This afternoon?"

"Not a lot. I didn’t give her a chance. I was too confused. Too angry at her for what she did. I’m seeing her tomorrow. Hopefully, by then, we’ll know more."

"I’m sorry I didn’t trust you enough. That I believed...."

He placed two fingers against her mouth. "Sh. It’s my fault. I should have told you everything. But it’s hard to explain being created like a machine. Especially here, in this country. I wasn’t sure you’d understand. I was afraid you’d be disgusted."

She gave into temptation, and kissed those fingers causing her mouth to tingle. Taking his hand, she turned it over and placed a kiss on the palm. "You could never disgust me. All you will ever get from me is my support. And my respect." Hearing the words he uttered so long ago repeated to him caused a strange sensation in his heart. Like it was once again coming alive. He moved his hand to her face, cupping her cheek. She turned into it, rubbing against it like a kitten, yet never moving her own hand. They looked at each other. They were now at a crossroads. So many different directions their lives could take. One direction, though was closed to them. They could not go back......

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