TGQ1_NA

*Balteiar and Earth*

Chapter five

�What do you mean, you lost her!?� Methos screamed, a looked of total disbelief stamped on
his darkly tanned face. He was sitting on his thrown in the formal chambers looking down at
one of his servents who was trembling on the floor in front of him.

�That child and her mother don�t change a style of clothing without 1,000 Billion people noticing,
and your trying to tell me that you didn�t even notice one of them leaving a bloody palace with
probably 20 guards with her!?�

From where he was leaning casually in the far doorway watching, even Ash grimaced. His
father Methos was terrifing even when he was in the best of moods, but when he was mad
even he went running for cover.

But right now he was most definitely pissed.

Creeping silently across the room, Ash stuck to the shadows. Right now all that he needed was
his father to catch him snooping in on political business. Reaching the back landing he
crouched down behind one of the many huge statues of his family members and tried to keep
himself from being seen. Noticing that his father seemed to be reading somthing the servent
handed to him and would likely stay that way for a while, Ash looked around the room with a
bored expression on his dark face.

The room was extreme.

That was all you could say to explain it really. It was so huge you could barely call it a room. It
was more like a hall. The huge blood red walls towered above joining with the shocking black
roof making everything seemed increadably Gothic and dark. The black marble floors and
chanderlers that fell from the roof were cold and impersonal, letting no sense of love flow into
the room. Even the huge portraits that fell from the walls were cold and evil, the dark colours
swirling together to make people that stared back at you seem cruel and dark.

Flicking a lock of shocking black hair away from his face, Ash tried to remember just once in
his short life that he had ever felf at home in this massive room. He couldn�t. His whole home
was like this actually. Dark and evil, no sunshine ever gracing it with it�s pressence. The huge
estate was like somthing out of a nightmare. A montrous castle that rose from the ground like a
evil seed that had somhow been misplaced in the creation of life on Balteiar. It�s twisted walls
towered above anything else. Yet at the same time the castle was so incredibly beautiful.
Nothing had ever been build like it before and probably never would again. It was simply
unique.

Unique and evil and dark.

Just the way that the Vanquisher�s liked it.

Court de la Fransgeria was the main Palace on Balteiar, which in itself was the Capital planet
of the Son�s of Chaos. The biggest and most powerful Vanquisher suport force of the ever
going war with the Alliance. Their leader was Methos. A Vanquisher that would have to be one
of the most respected people of the Vanquisher population. It had been his grandfather himself
that had actually founded the Son�s and had been passed on to Methos from his father with the
heavy burden of yet another Queen in the Alliance.

Everynne.

The strongest Queen to rule in 10,000 years, and the most hated person ever on Vanquisher
worlds. The Queen who, at the ridiculous age of 18, had been plucked from her world with no
training what so ever and been thrust into a position that usually took hundreds of years to
master. And what was worse was the fact that she had a Vampiric daughter, a child that the
Vanquisher�s should have had custody of from the start. She was rightly their�s in every way,
but still she was living. Living and training for a position that everyone knew would wipe out the
Son�s of Chaos forever.

Sitting on the ground, Ash shook his head in disgust. After years of plaining they had recently
began the attack on Allrelen that rightly should have squshed the Alliance Capital into ablivion.
But it hadn�t. They hadn�t counted on the Talent of the Alliance. Their invisable mind power had
wiped out half of Methos scout ships in the first week. But still the immortal Vanquisher�s just
kept on coming, exhausting the Alliance to the brink of colapse. Everyone knew that there were
just not enough Sensitive�s on Allrelen and that Methos�s would eventually get through.

Ash thought is was disgusting. He was all for changing Allrelen, it was the reason for the
Vanquisher�s disgrace and banishment from the Alliance, and the way the people lived in such
luxury made him sick, but he thought that if they were going to do it they might as well give
them a quick death. Shaking his head again, he had to admit that was they problem with him. It
just wasn�t an evil person. Everyone thought he was a disgrace to his father and all that they
had been working for.

Ash de Zellreaire was only 18 years old and the heir to one of the most powerful families in the
galaxy. Born the sole child of Methos and Zara de Zellreaire, at his birth billion�s had
celebrated. The wealth and respect of the de Zellreaire�s was all to well known. Since Ash was
18 he was now considered an adult although he would not stop growing until his 21 first
birthday as was the lifecycle of Vanquishers. He also had huge responsibilities to fulfill and a
destiny that had been shaped hundreds of years before his birth.

Outwardly, Ash was everything Methos could have hoped for in a heir. Tall, well muscled but
lean, and exceptional fighter and with a brilliant mind. But the boy had unfortunately been born
with his mother�s emotions and beliefs. A pacifist deep at heart, Ash had an unusual love for
animals and anything that was weaker than himself. He was a very protective person and
cared for those very few family member�s he loved dearly. A true Vanquisher in appearance,
his wavey black hair falling just below ears, and his high check bones, dark skin and slighly
slanted cat eyes giving him a very exotic appearance. And of course, he had also inhearated
the most visable trait of any Vanquisher: his silver eyes. Everyone had to admit that he was a
striking person, his dark hair and dark brown skin reflecting deeply with his startling silver eyes.

But the boy was just too quiet. Moody and a lover of Alliance poetry, Ash seemed to spend
most of his time with his nose in a book. But you couldn�t call the teenager boring. Not by a
long shot. His dark, moody personalitly - along with his money - drove females crazy, he never
had a shorten of dates.

�You what!?�

Ash jerked his head up just in time to see his father jump of him seat quickly and stride over to
the servent, his midnight black cloke flying behind him. Methos was in such a rage that we he
reached to man he just reached down and lifted him straight off the ground. Clinging to the poor
servent by the coller of his shirt he thrust him flush up against his face so that they were nose
to nose.

�Sire, uh, we think Lady Everynne may have excaped with her daughter through another
source.� the shaken man sputtered, dreading his Sire�s reaction. But seeing Methos� suddenly
narrowing eyes the man quickly looked down and regretfully told him, �We think they may have
gone through the Star Gate.�

Methos stiffened. �What do you mean you think she might have gone through the gate!?� He
hissed out, a look of total fury on his face causing it to morph into the hideous visage that of a
Vampire.

The poor man blanched and started to shake even harder. Seeing that he wasn�t about to get
an answer from him, Methos let out a cry of disgust and brought his hand up to strike the crying
man.

Sencing that it was time to cut in, Ash got up slowly from his hiding place and walked out of the
shodows and into full view of his father. Methos swung his head around in surprise but seeing
who it was, a look of dislike appeared visually on his face. Still looking at his calm son, Methos
morphed back into his seemingly human visage.

�And what can I do you, dear heart? Can�t you see that i�m a bit busy at the moment?� Methos
said in a sarcastic voice.

Ash didn�t bother answer but just raised his eyebrows in the servent�s direction. Following his
gaze, Methos threw back his head and let out a bark in horrible laughter.

�And I surpose you wish for me to spare this excuse for a Vanquisher, my son? After you
obviously heard what he said?�

Still his heir didn�t say a word, just continued to stare at him with what Methos interupted as
pity. Growing angry Methos threw the man over his shoulder in fury and was rewarded with the
sound of him hitting the ground with a satisfying smack.

He didn�t get up.

Sighing in annoyance, Ash completly ignored his father and walked right past him to get to the
fallen man. Crouching down beside him, Ash ran his fingers over the dark Vanquisher�s
detailed face and finally down to his neck where he checked for a pulse. Finding one, he
breathed a sigh of relief. The room was silent for a few minutes as Ash sat patiently by the
unconscious man until he finally opened his eyes. Seeing that it was his master face not his
Sire�s, the servents visially relaxed in Ash�s arms. Smiling down at him kindly Ash asked,

�Are you alright now?�

The man�s eyes shifted to the side and he tensed again when he saw Methos standing not to
far away with his arms crossed across his broad chest, watching them in interest. A smirk
easly read on his dark face.

Bring his eyes around again, Ash saw the gratitude raidating from the man�s silver depths.

�Yes, m�lord. I�m fine.� Ingoring Ash�s outstretched arm, he managed to get up by himself and
face his Sire.

After looking at the man for a few minutes, Methos suddenly clicked his fingers and cuttly told
the man to get out of his sight. The gratful man hobbled out of the room silently.

Now that they were alone, Methos finally turned to face his tall son. Looking at each other in
silence, the gap of dislike could never had been bigger.

It was Methos who broke the spell. Shaking his head he made a show of casually walking back
over to his thrown and sitting down.

�What am I to do with you, Ash?� Methos asked.

His son remained silent. Chuckling, Methos leaned his head of his hand and regarded Ash with
interest. Finally he sighed and told him, �Have you ever relised just how unlike a Vanquisher
you are?� Not waiting for an answer, he continued, �Because I certainly have. You don�t act
anything like the rest of us, all you do is sit around her reading that blasted rubbish.�

�It�s not rubbish.� Ash replied quietly for the first time.

Methos snorted and shook his head slowly. �Ash, my native son, how little you seem to know.
Anything even remotly made by *them* is considered to be rubbish in this household, is that
clear?� The threat was obvious.

Ash critted his teath but forced himself not to retaliate. It would only give Methos an excuse to
punish him.

�Yes, Father.� Ash whispered.

Methos huffed sumgly. �Good, and don�t you bloody forget it.�

Silence once again settled into the room. Ash just wished his father would release him so he
could go finish his book in peace. But as usual, nothing would go as he planned.

Methos was watching his son intently. Wishing not for the first time that he could have turned
out anything but what he had. Hundreds of years he had waited for a child, waited for the right
bride to come along, and when he finally does get one, a son thank the gods, he turned out
more like his mother every day. The two of them had never gotten along. Father and son were
so completly different in personilities that friction could somtimes overflow in Court de la
Fransgeria so fercely that one of the them would leave the Palace for days on end. And when
that did happen, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They all knew that one day one of them
would end up killing the other.

Shaking his head, Methos sighed regretfully. They really could have been a great pair. But
looking deep into his son�s dark face, Methos was glad to see that his words had caused the
boy pain.

Oh, well. Might as well rub some salt into the wound.

�You really are a disgrace, you know that don�t you? You should have been born to the blasted
family that your so obsessed with, i�m sure they would have excepted you with open arms. And
I�ll tell you now, my son. If that girl is found anywhere else in the galalxy, she *will* be killed.�
He quietly told at his son. �But, I bet Everynne is pleased with her child, the girl�s practically
perfect, unlike what I ended up with.�

Ash hung his head and sighed. Seeing this, Methos barked out laughing again.

�And he is too much of a coward to admit it!� He laughed in Ash�s face.

Jerking his head up, Ash stared hard into his father�s face. �No father,� He said proudly. �I am
not a disgrace.� Seeing his father regard him in surprise he continued.

�I�m just glad I didn�t turn out like you.� Without waiting for his father�s reply Ash turned on his
heels and marched out of the room. Black cloak rustling behind him...

..His father�s laughter ringing in his ears.

***

But as Ash walked down the deserted corridor he knew his father was right. He *was* more like
a Tessionare than a de Zellreaire.

To Ash, everything that the Tessionare�s stood for was based on love, order and
peace...Everything that The Son�s of Chaos weren�t. Their beautiful planets were friendly, warm
and carefree and to Ash, everyone lived out their lives in luxury. But he also knew that the
Imperial Tessionare�s would never let him into their lives. He may not act like one and no
matter how much he hated his life, he was an immortal Vanquisher and he always would be.
They would be forced to kill him before he took two feet towards Lady Everynne to plead his
case.

But this was Ash�s dream and nothing in the galaxy could take that from him. He dreamed of
one day where he could live in peace on the spectacular surface of Allrelen, gaze up
whenever he wanted at the staggering form of the Crystal Palace in wonder and be proud to
call it his home. To be able to come home after a long days work and have a loving wife and
family waiting for him that loved him for who he was and not because of who his parents were
and because of his name.

To be able to meet the legendry Everynne, to put her beautiful face to her powerful name. To
have the otherworldly Slayer put her delicate hand on his forhead and tell him in the wellknown
humourous voice of her�s that he was forgiven for all of his crimes.

And maybe - just maybe - be able to gaze down at the mysterious form of her famous
daughter. The child that was so much like him that it was frightening. Even though he had
never even seen a photo of her and would only know what she looked like from word of mouth
he would do anything to be able to stand before her graceful body and gaze into her green
eyes and to feel her start to smile and know that it was him that had brought that vision to her
rosy pink lips. To be able to sit with the Princess that was only a few years younger than he
was and tell her anything. To tell her stories of his life that he had told no one and know that
she would just sit and listen. Her powerful green eyes watching him silently as he finished his
tale. And then for her to take him in her arms and chase away to demons of his childhood.

To have to population of Allrelen and The Alliance take him under their protection and for him
to know that his father could never touch him ever again as long as he was with them; the most
powerfulest organisation the galaxy. He would not have to have anything to do with his old life
every again....

That thought jolted Ash from his day dream so forcfully that he stumpled and walked into one of
the pillars that lined the corridor. Shaking his head vigorously he brought his hands up and
clutched it forcefully. How could he be so stupid? Making all these plans and totally forgetting
just what this will mean to her? Ash sighed when he knew that he was going to have to make a
choice. There weren�t many people that he would miss if he managed to excape Balteair, but
he knew this farewell would probably kill her....

*****

Ash found his mother sitting on the window seat in her room staring out onto the courtyard
deep below. Stopping in the doorway, Ash looked on lovingly at his beautiful mother. A 35 year
old woman in the immortal body of a 21 year old. Her long black hair framed her beautiful, dark,
medieval face and her huge slanted silver eyes were shining with tears and she watched the
wonderful sunset in the distance.

Ash always had to admit that his mother was too nice a person for someone like his father.
They were completly the opposite of each other. Zara was calm, wise, and caring. Everything
that Methos was not. Even though she was so dark in complexion Zara carried herself with a
blinding light, a light that just made people stop and stare at her. At the beautiful woman that
she was, at the way she held herself with such pride and regality. It almost made people just
start to weep from looking at her.

Noticing that she was not alone in the room, Lady Zara slowly turned her delicate head around
to see who her visitor was. Seeing that it was her son, her face broke out in a beautiful smile
and she beckoned the tall teenager over, patting that seat beside her. Gratefully seating
himself on the window seat, Ash took Zara�s hand�s in his own. Seeing that all was not well,
Zara�s brow�s married in concern. Breaking the contact with their hands she brought her own
up and cuped her handsome son�s face.

�Your not happy here, are you, my son?�

Ash looked down, but he couldn�t stop the anger that fired in his slanted silver eyes.

�Oh, Mother. Why does he hate me so much?�

Zara sighed, sencing that that was the source of the problem. �Because, my love, you are too
much like me for his liking.�

Ash slowly raised his head. �But that�s a good thing. I don�t think I could have handled it if I was
like him.�

Zara chuckled sadly. �And secretly, I am glad you are not as well.� She gave the tall child a
warm hug, �I love you just as you are.�

But Ash would not be convinced. �Why ever did you marry him in the first place, Mother?
Couldn�t you see that you would not be happy here?�

Lady Zara looked down in her lap.

Yes, she was unhappy here, they both were. But there was no way that Methos would let them
go now. But the truth was yes, she did know he was evil when she married him, of course she
knew, how could she not? But Vanquisher traditions meant more to the elder generations than
Love. You did what your parents told you to do, and that included just who you married. Methos
and Zara�s marriage had been arranged when she was barely three years old. The first time
the 113 year old Methos had set eyes on the toddler he knew that he would marry her one day.
At first her father had refused, he loved his daughter very much, but there was nothing he could
do against the power and authority of Lord Methos.

What Methos felt towards Zara couldn�t be translated as love, well she didn�t think so. He was
too cruel to her and her beloved son for that. He had been so nice at the start of their marriage,
treating her with cold politeness that would have been so much more fitting for people who had
just meet for the first time that it made the innocent 17 year old Zara weep in frustration in the
first few weeks in their marriage. But there was nothing that could possible be done and as the
years passed and blended together Methos and Zara�s relationship became more cold, more
unloving that Zara thought she would smash her hands against a tree from frustration.

And what made it worse was the way her husband treated Ash. At first it had started as a few
hits and punches but by the time the boy was 10 years old his father was beating him daily,
leaving black welts in his path that lasted for weeks forcing Ash to wear more covered clothing
to hide them from the public.

Lady Zara winced and looked back at her son who she found was watching her with interest.

He looked so much like his father....

Zara shock her head, forcefully denialing herself that thought.

�Well, my child. What is to be done?� She said it quietly but they both knew what his answer
would be.

�I want to leave Balteiar, mama.�

There it was. The answer that she had been dreading her entire adult life. The day that she
would lose her darling child. But deep inside her she knew that this day had been on the
horizon for a very long time. From the first time she had seen the look of such hunger in her
son�s eyes, the longing to see something different than these dark, bleak walls that had been
his only life for the past 18 years.

She knew that her son could not be contained by these evil walls from the last time she had
ever seen Methos strike their child. She had watched in horror from the doorway, ready to
spare her own slight freedom by rushing to save her darling boy from the torture that he was
enduring. But one look in his eyes had still her movements and sent shivers down her spine.
There had been a look of such hate, such revulsion in Ash�s eyes that she knew that her son
would never put up with such humiliation again. That he would rather face the punishment for
trying to escape than endure it ever again.

That had been just over two years ago and from that day forth Methos had never touch his son
in force ever. It was if he too, knew that he would never get the satisfaction of seeing his only
child scream in pain as he lay on his stomach as wips were lashed down at his back, leaving
bloody pathways in their wake.

Zara shivered again and Ash layed his hand over her�s where they sat trembling on her lap.
Slowly she brought her head up and looked into her tall son�s sadly smiling face, as if he had
known just what she was thinking.

And it was at that moment in time that Zara knew that she would kill anything that lay in the
path her darling son�s future. She knew that not her, and definitely not Methos had the right to
stand in the way of their son�s destiny.

He would do great things, and she knew that from the bottom of her breaking heart. She had
then felt such a burst of love and fear that she sobbed and crushed Ash to her chest in a tight,
fearful hug.

�Please don�t forget me, my child.� she whispered in his ear. Ash chuckled.

�Oh, Mother. I could never, *ever* forget you for a thousand years, and I never will.� He held
her tighter. �You are the only person I love in this world and I promise I will come back for you.�

Zara smiled sadly. �Do not make promises you can not keep, my son.� knowing that Methos
would rather kill her than let her off Balteiar. But looking at him, she saw with wonder that Ash
was deadly serious.

�I mean it, Mother. I will not let you stay here in this place for the remainder of your life.� Zara
had tears sliding down her checks as Ash brought her hand up and kissed it in the age old
gersture of respect.

�I will come back for you mama.� It was said so simply, so humbly, but Zara knew that he would
hold himself to his word.

Zara just smiled slightly, saying nothing in answer.

And so, together, the two seemingly prisoners of their own world began to form a plan. A plan
that they both knew might get them killed. But they didn�t care. Their cause was too great, to
desperately important to the both of them that he get away from this life. To escape to worlds
were hopefully they could both live in peace for the remainder of their lives.

And they had no way of knowing that the actions that they planned well into the night would
leave their worlds and others sensationally changed from that day on.....

******

Nimisha woke early the next morning to the sound of birds chirping. The girl sat up in her bed -
the same that Buffy had slept in the night before - put her arm around her knees and gazed out
the open bedroom window. Without a smile on her gypsyish face she calmly regarded the birds
swooping and darting in the morning Californian breeze as the sunrise poured in the window
and danced around the room.

They seemed to be having such a great time, she thought to herself. Cocking her head to the
side she watched them with a flash of envy. The way they could just fly away, leave everything
in their lives and just disappear to a new horizon where their were no burdens laying heavily on
their shoulders moved her deeply.

Shaking her head at the sight Nimisha got out of bed and pattered across the floor in her satin
night dress, loose black curls falling casually down her back. Twenty minutes later a fully
dressed dark featured teenager amerged from her bedroom and walked into the kitchen where
Oz and Willow were already up, dressed and having breakfast. Nimisha smiled as the smell of
pancakes filled her senses.

Sitting herself down at a empty seat she nodded her greetings to Willow who nodded her piece
of toast in her direction as a welcome. Looking around she found Oz in an apron in front of the
stove nursing a frying pan full of pancakes.

Nimisha laughed out loud at the picture that so resembled Afraya in the days that he came over
and cooked her and Buffy breakfast.

�What?� Oz said, as he turned around and grinned at her. Waving the flipper in her direction.

Nimisha smiled broadly. �Now that�s a sight I like starting the day too, a male cooking.�

Willow smirked. �It is the one thing I insist on.�

�Yes, well.� Oz said in his own defence, walking over to them with the frying pan. He reached
them and dumped a pile of Nimisha�s empty plate. �See how they taste first.� he told her
laughing as she had looked up at him in surprise. �I�m not too great at making them in bulk.�

As Nimisha dug into the pancakes and Oz took at seat and did the same, Willow looked over at
her in interest. Noticing that she had an audience, Nimisha stopped eating at looked up at her
mother�s best friend. Seeing that she wasn�t getting any reaction Willow said,

�So..?�

Nimisha wrinkled her nose. �So what?�

Willow sighed, seeing that she had totally lost the girl. �So..what�s going on with today?� she
shrugged. �Is that package in the mail this morning birth citificates, school records, what?�

Nimisha put down her fork and reached over to pick up the package that was sitting on one of
the empty seats around the table that she had not noticed before. Looking through it for a few
minutes, Willow and Oz waiting patiently for her to finish. Seemingly satisfied with the contents,
Nimisha handed it over the table to Willow and explained to them as the Witch looked through
it, �Everything in there is fake. Mama�s contacts in New York set it up so that I could go to any
school in the country without any problem of being found by the Vanquishers.�

As Willow pulled out a seat containing what was meant to be Nimisha�s grades, her eyes
widened in surprise but she didn�t say anything.

�So you can just do that?� Oz asked her in surprise. �Make up records that never existed?�
When Nimisha nodded, he laughed at the irony of it. �You guys sure are efficient, i�ll give you
that. You sure do things with class. Like with that Telepathy thing last night. What�s up with
that?�

Nimisha nodded, wondering when they would get around to asking her about that. �It�s just
really a communications system, that all.� She shrugged. �It�s a way to talk over distance, if
you�ve got that much range.�

�But everyone can do it?� Willow asked.

Nimisha nodded again. �Mostly. But how far you can reach depends entirely on the level of
your sensitivity. If its high, than you can speak clearly for millions of miles, like Afraya last night.
He was probably sending from Allrelen.�

Their eyes opened in surprise, wondering just what other gifts she had. But they both decided
to leave it for the moment as they all went back to finishing their breakfast.

Twenty five minutes later Willow and Nimisha were driving towards Sunnydale High after
dropping Oz of at that Bronze where the Dingo�s would be playing that night. As Nimisha sat in
the passenger seat, staring at the senary as the drove toward the school, Willow looked over
and noticed just how nervous she seemed to be. But when she asked her if she was alright,
Nimisha just smiled. �Sorry. It�s just that i�m not used to this sort of thing.� she explained. �I�ve
got a tutor back home so this whole classroom thingy is a newbe to me.� Willow just laughed.

�Your�ll be fine, Nimi. And remember i�ll be just down the hall if you need me, Giles too.�

Nimisha smiled at her, thinking not for the first time just how lucky Buffy was to have such a
great friend. Buffy had told her all about her and Willow�s adventures, the mischief that they
used to get into when Willow started Wicca. Nimisha only wished that her own best friend was
here to share this new adventure with her. But, she reminded herself, it was only for a couple of
weeks. She would see Asia soon.

But her concentration was broken when they drove into the staff entrance of the busy High
School in Willow�s car. Students were milling around, probably hoping that they bell wouldn�t go
so they wouldn�t have to go to class. Looking out the window at them as Willow tried to find a
park, she noticed that they were all laughing in groups, backpacks flung over their shoulders
and summer clothes clashing with each other. Nimisha looked down at her own clothing and
was glad that she had let Buffy buy her this outfit. She was wearing a long, dark green skirt and
a white stylish blouse that fitted with her black hair - which she was wearing down after Willow
had begged - and her pale skin. She just hoped to the Gods that this was the right style of
clothing to be wearing.

Jumping out of the car when Willow finally found a park, Nimisha noticed instantly that people
were staring at her. Self consciously she lowered her head and scuttered over to Willow�s side
of the car. The Witch frowned in worry, remembering what Buffy had discreetly mentioned to
her yesterday about Nimisha attracting people. Willow had promised her friend that she
wouldn�t let her daughter attract any unwelcome attention and she intended to stick by that
rule.

Smiling down at the girl and trying to ease her fear she told her, �Come on, you scaredy cat.
Their not going to bite.� Nimisha looked at her and smiled back. And with that the two walked
out from behind the car and down the main path towards the school building trying to ignore the
curious looks they were getting from onlookers.

They had just walked up the front steps and were pushing the doors open when they heard
someone yell from behind them, �Hey Nimisha, wait up!� Spinning around they were confronted
by a grinning Alex Matthews, who was jumping up the stars receiving curious looks from
people walking past them as to how the popular footballer could possibly know the new girl
already.

Recognising him immediately Nimisha smiled in greeting as they continued through the front
doors with Alex walking beside her. �I was hoping you�d start today.� He told her. �I even went
and asked the desk staff if we�d be getting any new students but the old bats wouldn�t tell me.�
he said, still grinning from ear to ear.

Nimisha startled, pleasantly surprised to find that he had gone to that much trouble to find out
about her. But looking over at Willow she didn�t think she looked very happy at the news. The
Witch was frowning and looking at Alex like he was a bug to be exterminated...quickly.

�I don�t think that they�d appreciate being called that, do you Alex?� Willow said sternly, the
teacher taking over for a minute. Alex�s head shot up and he seemed to notice that Nimisha
was walking with his teacher for the first time. He shot Nimisha a look, questions in his eyes,
but Nimisha was grinning to much to answer and just looked down at her feet, trying not to
laugh as Willow proceeded to grill Alex.

�Miss Rosenberg!� Alex stuttered. Not really having a clue what to say. Looking over down at
Nimisha and seeing that she was trying so hard not to laugh just got him going and to his
horror he found that he was grinning and couldn�t stop. Noticing this, Willow was just about to
yell when she also caught sight of her niece and found herself grinning. She couldn�t really
blame Alex, her smile was incredibly infectious...and she disliked the desk staff as much as the
next person.

�Yes, well.� Willow said, trying to sound stern. �Just not to their faces, is that clear?� Alex
grinned down at her, thankful that his usual happy, friendly teacher was back. He really liked
Miss Rosenberg, everyone did. Not only did she make the classes incredibly easy to follow but
she was dating the really, really, cool guitarist from the Dingo�s. She had gotten them all free
tickets to their concerts if they passed all their exams, which when you think about it was a fair
trade. But seeing Nimisha walking with her, Alex was stuck. Just how did they know each
other?

And that was exactly what he asked them. Willow frowned at the blunt question but answered
him anyway, sticking to the story that the three adults had arranged.

�Alex, Nimisha is my cousin. She will be staying with me and Oz for a few weeks while her
mother�s overseas.� She looked up at him and managed to smile. �So I want you to show her
around the school for me later, is that alright?� Nimisha looked over at her in surprise,
wondering about the sudden turn of events, but she didn�t complain too much. Alex, on the
other hand looked like he had won the lottery. His eyes lit up and he smiled broadly.

�Sure, Miss Rosenberg. I�d love to.� he said in his nicest voice.

Just then the bell rang for first period and Alex�s smile fell. Willow laughed and told the boy,
�We�re going to see the Principal at the moment and then lunch. So why don�t you meet here at
the beginning of lunch and you can give our new girl here the guided tour?�

Alex smiled again nodded happily. �Sure thing, Miss.� He said as he started to walk backwards
towards a open door that kids were all pouring in. He looked at Nimisha and grinned
lopsidedly. �Seeya at Lunch, Nimisha.� he said waving. Nimisha waved back at him as he
disappeared inside the door and it was closed behind him.

****

Hours later, an incredibly bored Nimisha was sitting on one of the seats by the front entrance of
the school waiting for Alex to show. The meeting with the Principal, Mr Thomas had gone really
well and Nimisha had known from the start that she was going to like the man. He was
hilariously funny and had Nimisha giggling in no time. And Mr Thomas was equally happy to
have such a beautiful, polite, and did he mention bright? student in his school.

But alas, the meeting had finished earlier than expected so Nimisha still had about 10 minutes
before Alex got out for lunch. The sun was shining in the sky brightly and their were teenagers
all around, talking and joking with each other, sometimes stopping their conversations all
together to look curiously at Nimisha as they past her. But she just turned her head and
ignored them.

Deciding to do a little exploring on her own, Nimisha got up and started to walk around the
grounds, past cars and people she continued to walk until she found herself around the back of
the school standing on a huge grandstand, looking down at people on a field practicing football,
cheerleading, and generally anything else that was an outdoor sport. Fasanatied by all the
different activities, Nimisha giggled and started to hop down one by one to the bottom of the
terraces. So intent on her path that she didn�t see a red headed boy stand up from where he
had been watching the practicing until it was too late and she crashed right into him.

They both yelped and went flying in separate directions where they landed on their butts,
facing each other. Nimisha cried out in pain when she landed on her right wrist the wrong way
and picked it up with the other hand and started to nurse it. The red headed boy was breathing
heavily and was he fumbled around for his glasses that had dropped when he went crashing to
the ground. Spying them on the ground not far from her foot, Nimisha bent across and picked
them up.

They were broken. Totally snapped in half. Nimisha frowned in sadness seeing that she had
been the cause of the boys broken eyes. But looking at the boy she saw that he was still
fumbling around with his hands, looking, and that there was nobody around in visual sight. So
Nimisha concentrated with her mind and Telekineticly matching up the glasses. Desbritly
concentrating not to over do it, Nimisha let out a tiny bit of blue power from her finger tips and
sealed the glasses together in the breaking line. They looked better than new.

Smiling proudly at herself, Nimisha brought her hand up to her forehead and made sure that
the moon was well and truly gone before reaching over and placing the glasses in the boy�s
hands.

He yelped again at the sudden contact, but noticing that it was his glasses that she had placed
in his hands, smiled broadly and put them back on his face.

Jesse Phoenix couldn�t believe his eyes when he finally lifted his head to thank his helper and
found himself in the company of the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He just sat their,
mouth agape for what must have been minutes. Finally noticing that he was staring, Jesse
blushed and lowered his head again, mentally kicking himself inside.

Nimisha grinning almost instantly to the suddenly shy teenager and found herself looking at
him more closely. Carrot red hair was cut short just before his ears, and piercing green eyes
were hidden by thick blue glasses that looked about two sizes to big for the boy�s small, elfin
face. Looking at his slight frame Nimisha saw that he couldn�t be any bigger than she was, and
that wasn�t very tall at all. Looking at him, Nimisha found herself warming instantly to the boy,
almost connected to him, which startled her a bit because it had never happened before.

But seeing that he was still blushing, Nimisha decided to put him out of his misery. �Are you
okay?� she asked him kindly. �You looked like you had quite a fall there.� She smiled at him
when he slowly raised his head and was surprised to find her still there. Seeing that she was
only being nice, and hopefully wouldn�t turn into one of those horrible, teasing blonde girls that
he always had so much trouble with, Jesse smiled back.

�Yeah, i�m fine.� But seeing that she was holding her wrist tenderly, his brows married in
concern and he reached over to get a better look at it. �How �bout you?� He asked her quietly
when he gently took her wrist off her and started to press down at certain places. �That looks
really sore.� When he pressed in a especially tender spot and Nimisha yelped in pain, Jesse
winced and gently placed her arm back in her other one.

�It should be okay if a few hours.� He told her as he bent down and retrieved his books and
paper that had been dropped in the fall. �Just keep the pressure of it, and you�ll be fine.�

But when he started to walk away, Nimisha reached out with her good hand and stopped him.
He stopped and looked down at her hand on his t-shirt in wondered surprise.

�Thank you.� Nimisha whispered to him, wondering why he was leaving.

He looked up into her face in surprise, as if a thank you was the last thing that he expected
from her. But looking at her more closer, he suddenly figured that he had never seen this girl at
school before. She must have been the new girl that everyone was talking about this morning,
he thought. Looking at her, he thought she certainly fit the description that everyone was
painting of her. Small, black hair, incredibly beautiful, a great body...As he felt himself getting
hot under his collar and start to blush he knew that yes, she was definitely the girl that they
were talking about.

�Your new, aren�t you?� he surprised himself by asking. But she only smiled, embarrassed and
chuckled gently. �Is it that obvious?� she asked, and Jesse found himself getting a better
footing on the grandstand, not really interested in leaving any more.

�Not really.� he reassured her. �Except that your talking to me is sort of a giverway.� He had
said it lightly, not feeling sorry for himself but just really stating a fact, but Nimisha frowned and
changed the conversation deliberately.

�So what�s your name?� she asked him brightly, thinking that she might as well have his name
if she was going to try and sort out these weird feelings that she was feeling around him.

He looking surprised again, but this time a little pleased. �It�s Jesse.� he told her smiling. �Jesse
Phoenix.� he held out his hand before he could stop himself, but Nimisha only laughed and
accepted the out stretch hand.

�It�s very good to meet you, Jesse Phoenix.� she said grinning. �I�m Nimisha.�

�Of course you are...� Jesse said softly and Nimisha looked at him oddly. Jesse clamped his
mouth shut but he couldn�t stop thinking how fitting her name was. A beautiful name for such a
beautiful girl...

�Hey, Nimisha!� They both heard the voice and looking up to find Alex leaning over the railing
watching them intently. It was impossible to see just how long he had been there.

Jesse had paled as he dreaded looking up to see who his murderer was going to be. But he
visibly breathed a sigh a relief when he saw who it was. As popular footballers went Alex was
one of the nicest you could meet. Everyone loved him, even the nerds like Jesse. And that was
only because he was nice to them back, he wasn�t mean to anyone and that alone, won him a
lot of friends.

�Oh, Hi Alex.� Nimisha called up and waved.

�Hey, Jesse.� Alex called kindly and Jesse smiled awkwardly back.

�Well, you coming or not?� Alex yelled down at Nimisha, grinning broadly again as he tapped
his watch. �The tour�s five minutes over due and that Aunty of your�s will skin me alive if I don�t
show you *all* of the school by the end of lunch, so hurry it up will you? I like my skin!� he
laughed.

Nimisha turned back to Jesse and placed a hand on his arm. �Thank you again, Jesse
Phoenix. It was wonderful to meet you.� She said, smiling brilliantly. �I�ll see you round.�

�You don�t have to speak to me if you don�t want too.� Jesse said, humbly. But Nimisha just
laughed. �Of course I will.� She told him, grinning. �No one tells me what to do and i�ll talk to
who I want, and that includes you!� she said in false growling that only made him start to grin.

�Okay, Nimisha. I�ll see you around.� he said, giving in, but not really fighting that hard.

And as she started to skip up the steps to meet the pretend angry Alex, Jesse stared up at her
in awe. Never in his entire life had he meet such a wonderful person that he touched his heart
so much.

He shook his head and sighed as the two disappeared from view. Bending down, he picked up
the last of his drawings that he had forgotten to pick up. Shuffling through them he trying to put
them in order and gave up and just gathered all the drawings in a pile. But he didn�t see one fall
from the bottom of the pack and fall through the cracks of the terraces and land face up on the
grass below. And as he walked over it towards the building, the face of his newly accomplished
freehand demon stared back at him....

****

The tour went great. Alex spent the next half and hour showing Nimisha every corner of her
mother�s old high school and Nimisha simply loved it. Even though it wasn�t the same school at
all, they had build it an excact replicar of the old one so the rooms were excacty the same. As
she was lead around all the differnet classrooms she thought back to all the stories that Buffy
had told her when she had been a little girl and would sit gluded to Buffy�s lap as she sat with
her arms locked around her adored mother�s neck looking up into her face with abvious
longing. So whenever they passed a building that Nimisha reconised she would began to place
the events to most of the scenes.

She was introduced to what seemed like hundreds of people, mostly all Alex�s friends. They
were all polite, interested in where she had transfered from and just how Alex and her knew
each other. But Nimisha couldn�t help but feel that they felt somehow threatened by her and
she couldn�t for the life of her think of why, but it didn�t really matter for she forgot everyone�s
name seconds after she was thrust into the face of someone else.

But the meeting that she did remember happened just as Alex had given her the grand tour of
the Cafeteria. They had been just walking out the doors when they held someone call from
behind them.

�Oh, Alex there you are!� The high voice called and Nimisha groaned, reconising it immeditly.
�I�ve been looking over the school everywhere for you and all I could get out of everyone was
that you were giving some new girl the guided tour. Now if you come right up here and give me
the biggest hug ever I will totally forget how mean you were to me yesterday...�

The voice broke off as Nimisha and Alex sighed in annoyance and turned around to face
excactly the person that they really didn�t wan�t to talk to. Maria�s eyes almost poped out of her
head and she saw her hoped future date with her newest worst enemy. The people around the
group suddenly went quiet as they all sensed what was about to go down.

But lucky for her, Maria colected herself before she could endure further embarrassment.

�Alex, honey. Are you going to introduce me to your new friend?� the cheerleader asked
sweetly.

Nimisha visually sighed in disgust and Maria�s jaw tightened.

It was then that she noticed another girl standing behind Maria looking incredibly out of place
with the Prom queen�s fury. Nimisha recognised her immediately as the girl from the mall the
day before and the only one who had been even remotely nice to her apart from Alex. Catching
the blonde girl�s eyes Nimisha smiled kindly and the girl - Karan, Nimisha remembered -
startled then smiled awkwardly back and gave her a discrete little wave.

Nimisha turned back to the conversation when Alex replied, �Maria, this is Nimisha.� his jaw
tightened. �If you stuck around yesterday at the mall you would have found that out.�

Now the entire Cafeteria was deadly silent, every pair of stunned eyes glued on the couple and
every now and then would shift to Nimisha, wondering just what she had to do with it.

But Maria was to surprised to even notice the audience that she had accumulated with her little
fake outburst.

�Yes, well.� Maria said quickly. �It seemed to me that you too, were a little too quick to judge.�
She changed to conversation suddenly. �But since you seem to be finished, and i�m sure
*Nimisha* here could find directions from anyone, would you like to walk me to my next class?�

Alex raised his eyebrows, wondering just how stupid she actually was. �No sorry, Maria. I�ve
got to deliver Nimi to Miss Rosenberg for debriefing and then I�ve got Football practice with the
team.� he smiled sweetly at her. �But i�m sure *you* could get directions to your next class from
anyone, don�t you think?�

And with that, Alex gently pulled Nimisha along beside him as he exited the stunned room. As
the were walking along Nimisha turned her head around and caught sight of Karan, who was
looking back at her with a sad look on her face the told Nimisha instantly that she would rather
be going with them than stay with Maria and probably be who the popular blonde vented her
anger on.

Trying to ease her glum mood, Nimisha smiled at her and tapped her watch. The small girl�s
eyes lit up with interest as Nimisha held up two fingers and then pointed and the entrance of
the cafeteria, signalling that they should meet there later for a talk. Karan smiled broadly and
nodded her head vigorously as she agreed. Then noticing Maria turning in her direction she
wiped her smile off her face so quickly that Nimisha couldn�t help burst out laughing. Ignoring
Alex�s confused look that he shot her, Nimisha turned back forward but still couldn�t get the
smile off her face.

And she was still smiling when they turned the corner and saw Willow leaning against the wall
waiting for them, looking at her watch every couple of seconds. Spying the two teenagers she
smiled and waved them over quickly, but already pushing off the wall to meet them half way.

Looking at her in confusing for her hast, Nimisha�s brows shot up in surprise when Willow
reached them and grabbed hold of her forearm tightly. Not enough to hurt, but to stop her from
going anywhere.

�What�s the matter?� Nimisha asked when she saw the hurried look on Willow�s face. A
dreadful fought came to her.

�It�s not Mama, is it?� she asked her horrified, and Alex looked at her oddly. Sensing the girl�s
train of thought, Willow yelped and said quickly, �No! I�m sorry, Nimi. Your mother�s fine from
what I know.� Nimisha breathed a huge sigh of relief then frowned. �What�s the hurry then?�

Willow grinned. �I was just wondering if you�d like to go meet the Librarian and get your books.
Lunch is almost finished and if we get them now you can start your classes tomorrow.� But
seeing that Nimisha hadn�t bought it, Willow looked slyly at her and nudged her head towards
the library direction.

�Mr Giles is with a few people at the moment but i�m sure he wouldn�t mind if we interrupt him,
their all good friends of mine.� As the realisation drawned on the girl�s face and her mouth
slowly opened Willow giggled and continued. �So if you�d like to follow me, there are some
people that I would *love* for you to come and meet.�

****

They lost Alex quickly, telling him that they both had some *very* important business that they
needed to discuss with the Mr Giles, the school Librarian. He had looked at them very oddly for
a few seconds, probably wondering what in the worlds was so important that Mr Giles needed
to know, but seeing that he wasn�t going to get any more out of them, left them to it.

And as the quickly hurried down the corridor, talking nervously together they completely
ignored the curious looks they received. Nimisha was too excited to even notice. She couldn�t
believe it, she was going to meet the rest of the gang that she had heard so much about from
Buffy. She just wondered to herself why in the world they were all here at this time of the day.
Buffy had told her that they usually meet after dark at Giles house for meetings when they had
all finished high school and didn�t have access to their Library.

Willow had told her that they were all there after Giles had called them all together after he had
received a important phone call from Angel in Los Angeles. He hadn�t told Willow any of the
details when he had intercepted her on her way to class, but just told her to meet in the Library
at the end of lunch.

�You won�t be able to stay for long.� she told Nimisha as the hurried towards the new Library.
�Knowing them it will be all about Vampires and Demons, and they *do not* know that you
know about all that stuff, so without blowing half our cover, you�ll have to leave pretty quickly.�

Nimisha nodded, understanding where she was coming from. Still, it was a shame that she
wouldn�t be able to stay and talk about the things she knew better than anyone, well better than
them anyway. She was actually quite nervous. Hoping for her mother�s sake that she make a
good impression of these people that had made such an impact on her darling Buffy�s teenage
life.

But what she didn�t expect to see when Willow pushed open the Library doors was the be
confronted by a very angry Anya who was leaving the Library at the same time.

�That�s it!� she screamed as she threw her hands up in the air in frustration. �I am *so* sick to
death of you! Why can�t we go to a romantic movie for once?� She turned around and stamped
her foot. �You know how they get me all hot and bothered, I thought you�d love to take up that
opportunity!�

The completly baffled Nimisha tore her eyes off the furious Anya and found the object of her
rage wincing at the pitch of her voice as he hid behind the table.

Xander was everything that Nimisha had thought he would be. And more. Even though at that
moment he looked like he was about to run for his life, she knew that standing up he was a
proud, handsome figure that must have filled out a bit after Buffy had left Earth. His face still
had the same goofy, lopsided grin that it must have always been there, and despite trying not
to, Nimisha found herself quite unable to stop grinning.

Seeing that she was not going to get a response, Anya screamed in rage and turned around
again, ready to make a spectacular exit by storming out of the room, but only banging right into
a black haired, wide eyed, teenager.

�Oh!� she yelped in surprise as she stepped back from Nimisha. Wondering what the yelp was
for Xander too, looked up and found himself staring across at what could have been a teenage
replacer of Angel. His eyes opened wide in shock and was about to say something when he
noticed Willow standing with the girl.

�Hey there, Will.� he greeted his childhood friend as he jogged over and gave her a friendly
hug. Breaking contract he turned to Nimisha and grinned at her. �So whose your new friend?�
he asked without breaking eye contract with Nimisha, who herself was completely staring at his
in awe, not really believing that standing right in front of her was her mother�s first ever
Sunnydale friend.

Willow smiled when she noticed the girl reaction. But seeing that she needed a bit of time to
collect herself Willow tried to distract the staring Xander. �Xan, this is my cousin Nimisha, who
is also a student of mine and we�ve just come to get her some books.�

Xander frowned in confusion. �Your cousin?� he asked her. �How come I�ve never meet this
cousin?� trying to rack his brain over the many years that he and Willow had been friends and
trying to remember every face of every one of her family members that he had met.

Willow bit her lip, but ready to stick to the story her and Buffy had made up if Xander ever
asked her this, and they just knew he would.

But her answer was cut of as Giles walked out of his office with a cup of tea in one hand and a
note pad in the other. He was so engrossed in what he was quickly scanning with his eyes that
he didn�t even notice that he had a extra visitor that usual.

�Ah, good. Your all here.� he said as he reached the centre table and gently placed his tea cup
of the surface. �I�m sorry to call you all down here in the middle of the day but I have just had a
conversation with Angel that is of great significance.� Finally pausing, Giles looked up from his
note pad and looked at the group, noticing Nimisha for the first time. His eyebrows shot up in
surprise as he took in the dark teenager standing in front of the door with Willow, Xander and
Anya, who saw him and looking very uncomfortable instantly.

�I�m sorry, my dear. I didn�t see you standing there.� he smiled at her and Nimisha smiled
slightly back. �Can I help you with anything?�

Willow took this as her cue to step in. Leaving the group she walked up past Giles and into the
stacks, searching for the right books. �She�s a new student, Giles. We came to get her some
books.�

Giles just nodded as Willow continued to pick out several books of the new stacks. Walking
over the suddenly shy teenager, Giles held out his hand in greeting. �If Willow hasn�t told you
yet, i�m Mr Giles, the school Librarian.� After a beat she took his hand and shook it and Giles
was startled to feel that her hands were shaking.

�It�s nice to meet you.� Nimisha said quietly, almost whispering. But she had to stop herself
from looking up at the kind, old face of her mother�s most trusted friend. The person that had
probably kept her alive for the entire three and a half years that she was in Sunnydale.

Oh, but how Nimisha just wanted to reach up and run her hands over his kind, worn face and
reassure herself that he was actually real. To sit down and tell him everything. For there was
no way of him knowing that standing before him, shaking his hand, was the reason that his
beloved Buffy had left him forever, and the most treasured person in her life.

Giles smiled and let her hand drop, having no clue to her thoughts. �Can I have your name
please?� he asked her and Nimisha�s eyes widened.

Seeing that he had startled her, Giles rested his hand on her shoulder and told her
reassuringly, �It�s just for the records, my dear. So we can tell who is taking the school books
out.� Nimisha breathed a sigh of relief.

�It�s Nimisha.� she told him. �Nimisha Tessionare.� She just hoped to the gods that Buffy�s
contacts had managed to place her name of the school files.

Giles smiled, delighted. �Now that�s a lovely name.� he told her as he walked over to the bench
and took the books off Willow who had just come down the stairs and taken a seat by the now
seated Xander and Anya who were both watching the scene with interest.

He started to tap a few keys into the computer and stopped abruptly when the Library doors
swung open and tall, long legs stepped into view.

Xander whistled and his eyebrows shot up when he caught sight of the rest of the womans
body and was rewarded with a hard wack on the shoulder by Anya who until a couple of
seconds earlier, had been sitting in his lap.

But Xander�s reaction was fully justified. The woman was spectacular. Long brown legs where
married to breathtaking hips and a firm tummy that was fully visible under her hip hanging short
skirt and high singlet top. Long light brown hair fell to her shoulders and was left loose so it
hung softly around her tanned face. Stepping further into the room, blue eyes sorted person to
person, rested on Nimisha for a beat of a second, before coming to lay of Giles.

Without a word, the tall brunette crossed the room towards Giles. Everyone stopped what they
were doing and watched her walk in silence.

She was deadly.

The way she carried herself; her back straight, head held high, seemingly at ease with her
body. Their was not a living soul in the room that didn�t doubt that she could move any one of
her muscles with a flick of her mind. She walked just the way Kendra had walked years before
and that certain point was not lost on members of the group. She walked with total confidence,
as if she knew that no one would bother challenging her path.

And boy, was she right.

Not bothering to spare another glance and the remainder of the group, the woman walked right
up to Giles and offered him her hand.

�Sita Reijik, Sir. I�m the new temp for Mrs Johnson. Mr Thomas sent me down her to get some
books that i�m going to need.�

Totally stunned, Giles awkwardly reached out a shook the serious woman�s outstretched hand.

�Well, ah, It�s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Reijik.� He took of his glasses and cleaned them on
his shirt. �Mrs Johnson, did you say? What ever could be wrong with Mr Thomas� assistant?�

Sita sighed and shook her head. �Wouldn�t have a clue, sorry. I just work here.� she finally
smiled.

�Yes, well. I won�t be a moment.�

And as he turned around to enter the stacks to retrieve her wanted books he caught sight of
Nimisha, who stood, rooted to the spot, her eyes huge with emotion as she fixed her gaze on
the floor in front of her feet. Passing the girl, he noticed just how straight her back was and how
heavy she seemed to be breathing since Miss Reijik had entered the room.

Carefully looking at the woman, he finally picked up that she had completly ignored Nimisha
since entering the room. They both stood firm, looking totally away from each other. Looking at
them both from the gaps high up in the stacks, Giles could have sworn that it seemed that they
almost knew each other....

Shaking his head and putting it down to nerves since they both seemed to be new to the
school, Giles got Sita�s books and walked down the stacks once again.

Handing the woman her books, Giles told her, �Those are just rental. I�m sure Mr Thomas will
get around to getting you some permeant copies.� he smiled as she flicked through the top
one.

Looking up, Sita smiled her thanks at him and promised to have them back as soon as
possible.

Turning around, Sita said her goodbyes to Willow, Anya and Xander and quickly left the room.
Silence fell as the wooden doors swished.

�Well, that was interesting.� Xander spoke up.

Willow didn�t say anything. She was watching Nimisha in worry, wondering why the girl had
gone so tense all of a sudden. But when she started to move for the first time a minutes and
turned to Giles, Willow saw that her hands were shaking as she thanked the Librarian who had
looked at the girl in surprise at her sudden change in character.

�That�s quite alright, my dear. I hope you enjoy your stay at Sunnydale.� he smiled down at her
and she forced herself to smile back.

Walking up to Willow she placed her hand on her shoulder and said to her quietly, �I�ll be back
in a couple of minutes. There�s something I have to do.�

Ignoring Willow�s suddenly open mouth as she was about to ask her where she was going,
Nimisha quickly spun on her heels and jogged out the doors, leaving a confused group of
people in her wake.

Out in the hallway, Nimisha scanned the crowd until she spotted the brunette going around the
doorway leading out into the front of the school.

Quickly she followed.

At that instant the bell rang, almost making Nimisha jump out of her skin, but still she continued
to follow the woman out of the building and across the court yard and across to the now
deserted school gates. Without any need to discuss it, the woman walked across the grass
without a word. Nimisha knew Miss Rijik could tell she was there, it was pretty hard not too
when they were the only two people on the outside of the school grounds.

The woman finally reached the gates and stopped arburbtly, waiting for Nimisha to catch up.

But still she didn�t turn around.

That was until Nimisha was standing right behind her, breathing heavily. They both stood there,
waiting for the other to make the first move.

But seemingly not being able the handle the suspense any longer the woman spun on her
heals and grinned down at the panting girl in front of her. They stood and stared at each other
in silence for what seemed like hours. But finally they both burst out laughing....and with a cry
of undeniable joy.....

...Nimisha flew into her waiting arms.