Chapter 14: Wrapping up the Summer

*****Sunnydale*****

Phil Coulson waited until the Fourth of July celebrations were over to secure his new position at Sunnydale High school. Luckily, they had an opening for a subject he was actually qualified to teach as he had a bachelors in American History with a minor in military history. He'd been in town a week, and he had only ventured outside after dark twice. The first time he had been followed by two guys. Normally, he would have stopped and confronted his shadows. However, since he had been warned about the vampires in town, he felt it prudent to make it to safety rather than try and fight. The second time, he had been at the diner across from his apartment when he heard a commotion in the alley.

That's when he saw his first vampire. He couldn't just let the monster kill the girl it had in its clutches, so he yelled, "Hey, let her go!"

The guy snarled and looked at him with yellow eyes. When Phil saw the fangs, he realized that all his intel was correct. The town really did have vampires. Instinctively, he pulled out his gun and repeated his warning: "Let her go!"

When the creature wasn't making a move to obey, he discharged his gun, shooting it in the leg. Luckily, it had the desired effect. The girl was free and didn't waste any time running off. However, now the vampire had a new target: him. Just when he thought he was going to be the monster's next meal, he was saved by a teenager.

"Did I hear a gun?" the girl said. She looked at Phil with interest.

"I was making it let the girl go he was trying to eat," Phil said.

"Good thinking," the girl said. "But you need to go and let me handle this."

Phil was not inclined to allow a child to fight a monster, but the girl moved past him before he could protest. Then she was fighting the vampire. Clearly, she was super powered as she moved incredibly fast. When she pulled out a piece of wood and stabbed the vampire, it turned to dust. Then he realized not only were his reports accurate, but the girl must be a vampire slayer.

"You are a vampire slayer," he said.

She smiled. "You've heard of me?" she asked in surprise.

"Not exactly," he said. "I'm a history teacher, and I've heard rumors."

"Then you know this town isn't safe at night, right?" she asked.

He nodded. "I live across the street," he said, pointing. "I was having dinner when I heard a girl yell for help. I couldn't just do nothing."

"You're very brave," the slayer said. "Be careful. A gun full of holy water would work better than bullets, however."

"You mean like a squirt gun?" he asked incredulously.

She grinned and winked. "Yep," she said.

He held out his hand. "I'm Phil. Phil Coulson," he said.

"Faith," she said, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you. Be careful."

Phil watched her walk away before heading back to his apartment. Once inside, he made up a detailed report of his encounter with the vampire and the new slayer. Then he considered how he'd go about getting holy water and a squirt gun. Wouldn't Director Fury go just a bit nuts when he heard? The though amused Phil, but he wanted to survive this assignment.

Now it was time for him to meet the mother of Buffy Summers, the original slayer. He stood in front of her art gallery, impressed with the window display. Then he went inside. The woman from his file was prettier in person, and he gave her a friendly wave as he walked around the gallery. She allowed him to look a few minutes before approaching him.

"Hello," she said. "Can I help answer any questions?"

"I just moved in town and could use something to liven up my apartment," he said.

"Well, I am happy to help," she said. She held out her hand. "Joyce Summers. This is my gallery."

"Phil Coulson. I'm the new history teacher at the high school," he said, knowing that would put her instantly at ease. It did.

She relaxed. "Oh, my daughter will be a senior this year," she said.

"Really?" he said. "That's great."

"She's got a great group of friends," Joyce said. "She's been in New York with them as the spring semester was particularly rough. A teacher died and her boyfriend. They're checking out some schools."

"That's awful," he said. "The principal mentioned the loss of the teacher—a gang problem or something."

"Or something," Joyce said sourly. "I'm going to be joining Buffy in a few days, so my assistant will be running the shop."

"Well, I'll try to pick out something while you're here," Phil said. She walked with him and pointed out a few items, sharing the history. Phil found her easy to talk to—charming. His file didn't say much about her outside of her divorce. Did she know about the supernatural or her daughter? He needed to find out more. It was too bad she was already planning on leaving town for a bit.

******New York*****

Buffy was excited that her mother was coming to New York to tour some schools with her. It would be good to spend time with her mom away from the hellmouth. When she'd last seen her mom, she was still in a fog of misery over what had happened with Angel. Now she felt like she was in a much better place. They had gone to the Hamptons for Fourth of July weekend, which Cordelia had gone on and on about. Buffy didn't think old money was any better than new money as she had grown up around wealth in Los Angeles, but Cordelia did. Watching Tony and Bruce create their own fireworks and then shoot them off on the beach, though, had been a sight to behold. Pepper put her foot down after the fire department was called, but they had fun while it lasted.

She drove with Happy to the airport to get her mom, waving at her as Joyce came through the gate.

"Mom!" she yelled. Joyce smiled and moved to embrace her. Buffy was careful not to hug her too tightly, but she stilled pulled her close, having not realized how much she had missed her mother until right then.

Joyce was happy to be reunited with her daughter and more than a little bit overwhelmed by Tony's tower, which they all called home for the summer. "I can see you've been living the high life," she said.

Buffy grinned. "Wait until you see the photos we took the night of the gala," she said.

It warmed Joyce's heart to see her daughter so happy, especially after the misery of the past few months. Allowing her to come to New York had clearly been the right call. "I can't wait," she said.

Buffy took her to her room, so Joyce could drop off her bag. Then she gave her a tour of the place, asking how things were back home.

"Good. I met the new history teacher at the high school," Joyce said.

"Really? Mr. Clements finally retired," Buffy said. "Willow will be very excited. What's the new teacher like?"

"He was very nice," Joyce said. "He came into my shop actually—that's how I met him."

"Oh, he's got taste?" Buffy asked with a grin. "Is he single?"

"I didn't ask, but he lives in apartment and didn't mention having anyone help him decorate," Joyce remarked.

"Well, I hope you got his number!" Buffy said.

Joyce blushed, causing Buffy to squeal. "Oh my God! You did!"

"Not exactly," Joyce said. "All new customers give me their contact info as I keep them on my mailing list for shows and stuff."

"That's handy," Buffy said with a smirk.

"Miss Summers, Sir has refreshments in the dining hall if your mother is in need of sustenance," JARVIS announced.

"Thanks, JARVIS," Buffy said.

"Who's that?" Joyce asked.

"He's Tony's imaginary friend who runs his life—the parts that Pepper doesn't," Buffy said. "Tony says he's an artificial intelligence computer program, but he's too cool to be just that."

Joyce laughed. "Well, the man is a genius," she said.

Buffy took her to the snacks laid out and found Xander there stuffing his face. He smiled and hugged Joyce. "Glad you could join us, Mrs. Summers," he said.

"Please, Xander, call me Joyce," she said, smiling. "Buffy tells me you've had a great time."

"The very best ever," Xander said. "It's going to suck going to back to the hellmouth we call home."

Willow and Oz came into the room, greeting Mrs. Summers. They all sat at the table eating a snack while the teenagers told her about the past few weeks. Cordelia arrived with the photos from the gala as she insisted on real copies to show off back home.

"Mom told me they hired the new history teacher, Will, and he's a real hottie," Buffy said, winking at her mom.

"I never said that!" Joyce exclaimed.

"You didn't deny it, though," Buffy said with a grin.

"You're incorrigible," Joyce said.

"So tell us about the new slayer," Xander said. "You've met her, right?"

Joyce nodded. "I have," she said. "I had her and her watcher over when they first came to town. She's about the same age as you all, but she is quite beautiful and fun loving."

"Cool," Buffy said.

"How's her watcher? Is it a man or woman?" Willow asked eagerly.

"It's a woman named Diana," Joyce said. "She's very British like Giles, but she seems to understand that Faith is an American and won't be exactly like the council expects."

"That's good," Buffy said. "Is she going to stick around when school starts?"

"I told Giles that I wanted her to," Joyce said. "If Kendra died with both of you fighting on the hellmouth, then surely both of you are needed." She looked unhappy at the thought.

"Don't worry, Joyce," Xander said. "Tony's been cooking up all kinds of cool things in his lab. So far, we have protective chainmail and neck guards. He's working on weapons. We're going to be fine."

"We also have been learning self-defense," Cordelia said. "I totally kick ass now."

"That's true," Buffy said. "Cordy is very good. Tony hired a bodyguard, who trains all of us."

"Really? That's great," Joyce said, feeling better already about everything. Having someone with Tony's resources was a good thing. "Did you know that I received a very large check in the mail recently? I'm assuming Mr. Stark had something to do with the Watcher's Council deciding to pay you."

"Awesome! I can buy more shoes and weapons!" Buffy said eagerly.

"I was thinking that we could use it for your college fund," Joyce said.

"Or that," Buffy said with a sigh.

Tony made an appearance, overhearing the end of the conversation. "I believe all the kids should be getting some money from Giles when they return," he announced. He held out his hand. "So glad to see you again, Mrs. Summers."

"Thank you so much for everything, Mr. Stark," Joyce said, shaking his hand.

"Please, call me Tony," Tony said.

"As long as you call me Joyce," Joyce said.

"What's this about money?" Cordelia asked.

Tony grinned at her. "I got the skinflints to cough up some money as JARVIS uncovered the huge amount of assets the Council has," he said. "I told Travers if he didn't start paying his slayers, I would tell the Prime Minister and our President about his exploitation of minors."

The teenagers laughed. "How much?" Xander asked.

Tony shrugged. "You will have to speak to Giles," he said. "Clearly, Buffy will get more as will the new slayer. You will get paid for at least world saving events."

"That's great," Willow said.

Naturally, Xander had to call Giles and ask him about it and was ecstatic to know he might get a decent set of wheels when school started after all. "Uncle Rory was going to give me one of his junkers, but it'd be nice to have a used car that won't break down when I leave town. I want to go on a road trip after graduation. Drive around and see the country," he shared.

"Oh, really?" Cordelia asked. "Any plans on me accompanying you on this journey?"

"If you want to join me, I'd love to have you," Xander said, smiling at his girlfriend. They'd not talked any about what they were doing after graduation. Cordelia had her heart set on college out of Sunnydale, and Xander had no plans on going to college.

"I might be persuaded," she said, giving him a coy look.

He pulled her in for a kiss. The two of them hadn't yet had sex, but her birthday was next month. Cordelia had decided eighteen was definitely old enough to lose her virginity. Of course, her friends all thought she'd lost her virginity to Daryl Epps as he was older than she was, but he had never pressured her, knowing she was only a freshman when they dated. She loved Xander, and she wanted him to be her first. It was foolish to think he would be her only—they were too young to start planning their futures that way. However, her mother always told her that if she waited until she had real feelings for the guy, her first time would be special. It would be something that she would look back with fondness no matter where life took her.

Xander was just thrilled to have a girlfriend who let him get to second base, and he was crazy about her. The fact that Willow and her were now getting along made things so much better. He was a happy guy with simple needs, after all.

Joyce felt good seeing how happy all the kids were, but she wasn't so sure that she would be able to be so casual about the danger they put themselves in.

Fighting monsters or slaying vampires was not what she wanted for her daughter. She watched as Buffy asked Tony about a new weapon, and she was so animated. It had been too long since Joyce had seen her daughter so passionate about anything. Why did it have to be weapons and monster slaying that did this? It was wrong on so many levels, and Joyce was trying hard to be supportive. She had just wanted so much more for her only child, but her daughter dying before graduation was a real possibility. Joyce worked hard to keep the smile on her face as she knew Buffy needed her support. She needed Joyce to be okay with her calling, and Joyce was working hard to be there. How did a mother resign themselves to her child dying before she did? Buffy had already died once, and Kendra was dead. The odds weren't in her daughter's favor, and fear for Buffy kept Joyce up at night.

Yet she smiled and kept the fear at bay.

Buffy, of course, had no idea the dread and worry that her mother was feeling as Joyce smiled and seemed to be listening as she described the new weapon that she was collaborating with Tony over. It felt good to share with her mother this part of herself, and it made her return home not seem nearly as burdensome.

Her mother accepted her calling, and there was a new slayer in Sunnydale that would help her when she returned.

Senior year was going to be great!

*****Chapter End*****

Okay, I know this is mostly a filler chapter as I wasn't very inspired. We're going to move the action back to Sunnydale, though, so I hope the next chapter will be better. Review if you want. I do appreciate the effort when you make the time. Thanks!