Joyce laughed so hard tears came from her eyes.

"It's not that funny," Xander grumbled, but couldn't stop himself from smiling.

"No, it really is," Willow assured him. "I mean, if they were the only dodos in existence it wouldn't be, but since there are tons over there it really is."

"If I ever jump over there again, I'm going to make sure to pick up some eggs," Xander said.

"For breakfast?" Buffy teased.

"That too," Xander agreed.

"Hey!" Willow complained and punched him in the shoulder.

"I'll make sure to overload the egg carrier with eggs for hatching," Xander assured her, "but I'm still going to make omelets out of some."

"Do you ever land in the same place?" Buffy asked curiously.

"No, and there's no pattern to his jumps either," Willow said before he could reply, "we've got charts going back years and it's all random, although…"

"Although?" Buffy asked.

"I do tend to drop into colder climates when I'm sweaty," Xander said. "The percentage is low but it's there."

"It's low enough to be happenstance," Willow added.

"Have you tried meditating to try and steer it?" Buffy asked.

"Meditating puts me to sleep," Xander said, "and if I jump while asleep… I'm lunch."

"I'd think it'd wake you up, but best not to take any chances," Buffy agreed. "Oh, I looked in the paper and found an engineless VW microbus for three hundred dollars."

"A bus?" Willow asked. "Why do you want a bus?"

"It's a van," Joyce said, "they just thought micro-bus sounded cooler and why do you need a van?"

"Because it's better than searching for a cave to protect us while we sleep and it'll keep out insects," Buffy explained. "If Xander could jump while touching a vehicle it'd be safer and keep us out of the wind and rain."

"Then you should start small, like a garden shed," Joyce suggested. "You can get a lightweight aluminum shed for well under a hundred dollars. If you're just testing if the idea is sound it's best to go with something light and cheap."

"I still like the idea of a van," Buffy said, "it has windows you can look out of, but a shed works too."

"I'll tell Mayor Wilkins and he'll get one for me," Xander said. "He can probably get one made of plastic that's stronger than what we could get at the mall and weigh less."

"I can't believe the Mayor's been helping you, I'm used to people in power just denying what they've seen," Buffy said.

"He's been great," Xander said with a smile. "He's done a lot for me, far more than he needed to, but he's just that sort of guy."

Willow smiled. "He makes sure Xander stays healthy and pays for all the equipment he needs to stay safe."

"You were telling me about him organizing all the scientists and everything," Buffy said.

"He's really into conservation," Xander said. "I used to hate jumping but he showed me how I could use it to make a difference."

"Like with the passenger pigeons," Buffy said.

"Or you with the turtles," Xander pointed out. "Sea turtles are on the endangered list and you nabbed a couple dozen baby ones. Not only have you increased the number, you have brought in ones who are completely unrelated to the sea turtles we already have, so the entire species will be healthier."

"Buffy Summer: Turtle Saver," Buffy said proudly. "I like it."

"Not to mention the ground parrots," Xander added. "We got enough eggs for them to hatch a breeding population."

"Ground parrots?" Willow asked.

"About the size of turkeys, wicked claws and serrated beaks," Xander said. "Never seen anything like them before."

"Huh," Willow said thoughtfully. "We really should get you an instant camera so you could show us when you run into things like that."

"I'll bring mine next time," Buffy offered. "We can make a photo album."

"It'll be nice to have an album of all the places you've been," Willow said. "It might even help figure out a pattern."

"I'm surprised you hadn't done it already," Buffy said. "Hasn't the idea come up before?"

"The mayor had me bring a camcorder a few times, but all it did was help identify where I was later," Xander explained. "Naturalists take much better wildlife videos, and bringing back eggs, seeds, and such is a lot better than subpar video footage."

"Makes sense," Buffy said, "taking pictures would be more a personal thing."

"Well, now that we know all about each other…" Willow's voice trailed off and everyone turned to see what she was about to say, "let's do our homework!"

Buffy's jaw dropped and Xander laughed, while Joyce smiled.

"Teacher's aren't going to accept 'dire wolves ate my homework," Willow said.

"That's true, and mine actually was eaten by dire wolves that time," Xander said. "Maybe I should have brought a camera."

"I'll get you some snacks," Joyce said, pleased that despite how crazy everything was at least one of Buffy's friends had their head on straight.

0o0o0o0o0o

Giles found Harmony reading a demonic lexicon from the eighteenth century when he returned home. "Maxwell is an excellent primer on some of the more dangerous demons you may encounter," he said as he took off his jacket. "He's completely wrong about two species of demon and has misidentified a third, but the rest of his work is top notch."

"You'd think they'd make something more modern, if all this is still around," Harmony said, picking up a pen and writing something on a notepad next to her.

"Books like that one can be brushed off as medieval superstition," Giles explained, "a more modern book would threaten the masquerade. The best we've managed to accomplish is to release general information on them through fantasy novels and games."

"Yeah, I have noticed some stuff in here I've seen in horror movies, I just guessed they based it on fairy tales about the real thing," she said thoughtfully.

"In some cases that is indeed true," Giles said, "in others we've actually financed movies."

"Really?" she asked eagerly. "Which ones?"

"Besides ones about vampires, werewolves, and zombies we've managed to get scripts approved and produced about gremlins, possessed dolls, dream demons-"

"Gizmo is real?" Harmony interrupted him in disbelief.

"Giz-" Giles began before realizing who she was referring to. "Oh yes, I forgot they gave him that name to be more kid friendly. Lord Gizmodian the twenty third is indeed real, though much less cuddly than described. Have you seen Roger Rabbit? Imagine the personality of baby Herman with a much more foul mouth and you'll understand what he's actually like."

"You're shitting me," Harmony said in disbelief.

Giles chuckled. "I believe the proper response would be 'I shit you not'. Gizmodian is a source of great chaos, but not intentionally hostile. The real danger is, as was noted in the movie, the chaos that is spread when he is subjected to water. Thankfully it has to be pure water, so salt water has no effect, nor does soda or alcohol."

"I can't tell if you're messing with me or not," Harmony said after a few seconds of stunned disbelief.

"I rarely joke about such matters," Giles assured her.

"Alright," Harmony said, deciding to just roll with it. "So, what do we have planned for things?"

"Before my slayer had passed," Giles said with a wistful sigh, "I had planned to have her attend Sunnydale High to keep abreast of the local teen population, which are the main victims of the local demon population and train her in the library. As that is no longer going to occur, I've decided to tap into my savings and purchase a larger residence so we can train on site."

"Loft apartment in a warehouse for maximum space?" she asked.

"Would attract too much attention," Giles said. "No, I'm simply going to have to look into buying a larger residence with sufficient space for our purposes. Thankfully property prices in Sunnydale are remarkably low, so it won't be too expensive, though clearing the property may be a bit dangerous."

"Clearing the property?" Harmony asked curiously.

"A place of sufficient size that is not currently occupied can attract… squatters," Giles said delicately, "of a supernatural sort. Of course this being the Hellmouth it becomes almost a certainty. Fortunately, that means I can use it to my advantage, choosing a property that would normally cost quite a bit more, that the realtors have had a hard time moving."

Harmony spent a couple of seconds thinking about what he'd said before speaking, "So, basically since you're cheap, you're going to risk your life and possibly mine, to off a bunch of demons for a discount on a house?"

"Well, when you put it that way it just sounds reckless," Giles said with a sigh.

Harmony grinned. "Let's do it."

"Are you certain?" Giles asked, surprised at her quick change in tone.

"The best way to learn is by doing," she said, "plus since we can scout it out they'll be on the defensive, which gives us the advantage." Harmony turned and stared at him. "You're doing this more as a test of me than anything," she realized.

"That was my intention as well," Giles agreed, "though I'm surprised you discerned it so quickly."

"Eh? It was pretty easy to puzzle out," she said with a shrug. "You risked your life to save mine, so you wouldn't casually throw it away, but what we're doing is going to involve some amount of risk and better to find out how I'll respond under fire in as safe a situation as possible. Getting a property below market value is just a bonus."

"Indeed," Giles said with a smile, pleased that she was so much more perceptive than any of the American teens he'd had to deal with.

"Think we can rope Angel into helping?" Harmony asked.

"I fully intend to have him along as backup just in case it's not something we can handle alone," Giles assured her.

"Everything about him is a mind trip," Harmony said.

"And everything I've been able to find out says he's being truthful," Giles told her.

"How much were you able to find out and how'd you do it so quickly?" Harmony asked curiously.

"I contacted a friend of mine in the council archives," Giles replied. "Vampires aren't ones for long term planning, which is ironic considering their lifespans, so it was relatively easy to verify his story."

"Always double check and even then consider acceptance of any facts as provisional," she said as if quoting someone.

"Precisely," Giles agreed. He looked thoughtful for a moment as he considered her response. "Your parents were diplomats?"

"Of a sort," Harmony agreed cautiously.

"Would it raise any red flags if I was to have you registered as my niece?" he asked.

"Not sure my current ID would stand up to a stiff breeze, much less a careful look over," Harmony admitted.

Giles considered that for a moment. "So, I take it Harmony Kendall isn't your real name?"

"Harmony Kendall vanished a bit ago and no one is looking for her," she admitted. "Sunnydale is kinda famous in the… diplomatic community for having a lot of… unsecured IDs available."

"Would you mind telling me your real name?" Giles asked.

"I'd really rather not," 'Harmony' said, "my real name has people after it because of what my parents did."

"I see," Giles said.

"I will if I have to, but… it's a risk," she admitted.

Giles nodded. "I understand. Would you mind if we created a new identity for you? I assure you, I can have one made that will stand up to much more than a stiff breeze."

"I… What's in it for you?" she asked intently. Everything she'd been able to discern from his apartment matched with what he'd said last night, but she didn't know what his motivation was. Why was he willing to do all this for her?

"When I was a young adult, as most young adults do, I rebelled. I got involved in the punk scene, then the drug scene, and finally the dark magic scene," Giles said with a sigh, a far off look in his eyes. "It did not end well, a lot of people got hurt and a few even died. My father bailed me out of it, sealed my magic, and showed me a way to make up for all the harm I had caused. I joined the Watcher's Council. Instead of throwing parties and summoning demons for kicks I was taught to recognize the signs of dark magic and track the patterns of those that prey on humans." The older man chuckled. "Of course that all sounds much more grand than it actually is, for the most part I studied my arse off and filled out information requests for the council, I was rarely in any physical danger and had more than adequate backup when I was."

"Yeah, most… diplomatic work is ninety percent boring, two percent fun, and eight percent stark terror," Harmony said ruefully.

Giles nodded. "Indeed, nothing is as glamorous as it seems. Now, I was sent to train The Slayer, the most important job a Watcher could have."

"And she died before you could even meet her," Harmony said. "That's gotta fuck with you."

"Which is why you found me drinking," Giles said. "I was going to train her, educate her, make sure she could survive her destiny… and likely die beside her."

"Seriously?" she asked, surprised.

"Active slayers have a lifespan of only a few years and one on a Hellmouth?" He waved a hand. "My father is part of the progressive half of the council while it is currently headed by a traditionalist. The Traditionalist side of the council wanted me put to death when I was a teen and my training on how to be a field watcher was rushed, but none of that mattered to me, I had a chance to make a difference in a young girl's life, to help her bear the burden of being the slayer and I was going to do my damndest to make sure she had all the training and support she required."

"Fuck, now I'm pissed you didn't get to train her," Harmony said. "So where do I fit in? Are you going to train me like a slayer?"

"No," Giles said, "or to be more precise, not exactly. You see while I don't want all the years of training I've been put through to be for nothing and I do intend to train you, you will never be a slayer. Which quite frankly is a relief, you will never have a target on your back the way a slayer will, never have to seek out demons like they're driven to."

"So, what are you going to train me to be?" she asked.

"Since I can't give you the full training a slayer normally receives… I am going to supplement it with things I learned when I was your age," Giles said. "While I learned many things at that age, not all of them were evil, though many were dangerous. What I plan to teach you… is how to be the most dangerous person in the room, regardless of who else is there."

"You're going to teach me to be a bad bitch?" she asked intently.

"No, I'm going to teach you to be the baddest bitch," Giles said with a disquieting grin.

"I'll accept that training," she said eagerly, "and for my new name… how about Faith?"

0o0o0o0o0o

"I'm moving, I'm moving!" Buffy exclaimed as Willow prodded her to enter the library. The shy redhead had very pointy nails!

"Just remember the plan," Xander said, "we'll distract him and pick up the new history texts while you slide the slayer book in the book drop slot at the counter."

"Got it," Buffy said as the three approached the counter.

The two native Sunnydalers stepped up to the counter, while Buffy waited behind them with her backpack unzipped and her hand on a large leather-bound tome.

"Can I help you?" Giles asked the three teens, looking up from the residential property listings he was browsing.

"We need three copies of the new history textbook for Mr. Johnson's class," Xander said as Buffy made her move only to curse as the book refused to fit.

Giles looked over at Buffy in surprise. "I'd been looking all over for that," he said, as she gave up and set the Slayer's Handbook on the counter. "Where did you find it?"

"Here, I found it here," Buffy said nervously, "I thought it was something else and when I saw it wasn't, I brought it here… to return it."

"Thank you for that," Giles said, "I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome," Buffy said with a brittle smile.

"Three history books," Giles said, ignoring the strange girl as he picked up the Slayer's Handbook and stuck it under the counter, before pulling three textbooks from the stack behind him and laying them out for the three. "Here you are." he picked up a clipboard. "Names, please."

"Willow Rosenberg," Willow said, picking up her book as Giles checked her name off the list.

"Alexander Harris," Xander said, receiving his own book and getting checked off the list.

"Harmony Kendall!" Buffy blurted out in a panic.

Giles froze and then looked at Buffy over the top of his glasses. "Didn't you say your name was… something Hannigan last time you were here?"

"Yes," Buffy admitted nervously, "but I only said that because… I don't want to tell you my name." Her shoulders slumped.

Giles sighed. "Yes, there is a bit of that going around these days." He handed her the clipboard and pen. "I'll turn around and you can mark off your own name, alright?"

"Yes, thank you," Buffy said softly as Giles turned around. She quickly marked off her name and set the clipboard and pen on the counter, before picking up her book.

"Off you go," Giles said, waving them away. He shook his head as the three fled the library. "Bloody teenagers!"

Typing by: fyrewolf5

TN: Finally we figure out why "Harmony" is still around, and can't wait to see how much more complicated everything gets when/if Kendra comes, and how the harvest and all the other early things end up going.

TN2: And will be interesting to see if Buffy "traveling" multiple times will cause more slayers to be activated, or if Kendra will somehow end up traveling with him and getting Faith activated, which would make "Faith's" naming interesting.

AN: In the series Kendra was called the first time Buffy died and no new slayers were called for her subsequent deaths. Just throwing that out here.