Ripper - Part 1; Welcome To Westbury Part 3 - What We Are Fighting For

[wakeupinacoma]

I had meant to post this as part of the other chapter but I got confused and counted the prologue as the third. :| But that just means I had more time to fine tune it. Here it is: will try to have another chapter up today.

Title: Ripper

Summary: After the destruction of Sunnydale, the defeat of the first and the aftermath of the destruction of the Watcher's Council, Rupert Giles, the Scoobies and the Slayers return to England. Over 2 years later, the Watcher, living in his family home outside of London, is visited by an old ally, sent to aid him in the fight against evil.

Note: This story takes place 2 years after the events of Chosen and over a year after the events of Not Fade Away. Everything that happened during the run of both Buffyverse shows are canon. BtVS season 8, is not. Not for this story. This story is an AU that negates the events of the comics, though there are some elements that will be. The characters of the Fairweather sisters are prominent characters in this series. FCed by the Head sisters because a) I love Emily Head since she started in Emmerdale and b) I had her as a similar character in a different story but when I heard Joss's plans for the Ripper series I made some changes. This story is a work of fanfiction. Prominent characters belong to Joss Whedon. Though the Comics aren't a part of my universe (though I do still love them) because of certains actions taken by certain vampires against certain watchers, there are elements of the comics, especially season 8 that I will be using: little tidbits that such as the direction of characters since the end of the shows. Any chapter that contains any comic information will be noted in the chapter notes. I will also note any OCs. My head is a little fuzzy and my math is worse so if there's any confusion on timeline or anything at all call me up on it and feel free to ask :)

Rating: FRT Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the story.

Characters: Rupert Giles, Cordelia Chase, Lavinia Fairweather, Sophronia Fairweather, mentions of the Scoobies and Angel Investigations gang

Pairings: Rupert Giles/Cordelia Chase/Lavinia Fairweather/Sophronia Fairweather -- non-romantic.



"You should have told her sooner."

 

"Yes, Sophie, thank you. When you're ready to bring something new to the conversation please do. Until then, shut up." They were all seated in the study of Giles' house, surrounding Cordelia. There was a silence that everyone wished would break but none wanted to break it.

 

Cordelia finally did with a sniff. "How did it… did they-?"

 

"A demon possessed Fred. And Wesley died when they took on the Senior Partners."

 

Cordelia looked at him, the first time since they left the cottage. "Helping Angel? With the vision I gave him?"

 

"This isn't your fault. Blaming yourself is not going to help anyone. Believe me."

 

Cordelia wiped the corner of her eye. "Is there anything else I should know?"

 

"Charles Gunn got turned into a vampire and Angel and Spike are trying to take him to Africa to get him ensouled."

 

Cordelia bit her lip. "So the only survivors of the vision that I gave Angel are two vampires and a demon." She looked at everyone, waiting for an answer to her non-question. Her eyes eventually came back to rest on Giles face. "Wes…" She let out a choked sob. "How could they do that? The Powers. How could the give me half a vision? How could they let me send my family into certain death?"

 

Giles took Cordelia's hand in his. "Cordelia, they walked into battle, to certain death, willingly. Angel asked each and every one of them if they wanted to back out and none of them did." Giles smiled. "Even in Sunnydale, Wesley fought for the good of the world. You both did. You both may have felt fear, but you never ran away because of it." He stood up, her hand still in his. "Come with me. Please?"

 

Cordelia followed Giles up the stairs, head bent, shoulders hunched. He opened a door and brought her into his room. "After Wesley died, his father approached me at the Council. He, uh, found some old volumes of Wesley's that Angel had sent back." He opened a drawer. "Roger had no use for them but thought the Council might. While I was going through the texts I found this." He opened up his hand and dropped the small item into hers.

 

Cordelia smiled, tears forming in her eyes again. "His pocket watch." Giles nodded.

 

"He was very proud of that. Forgot to wind it half the time but..." He trailed off his admittance.

 

She nodded. "It was his Grandfathers. He told me once in Sunnydale. When he was little he used to be so fascinated by it, his Grandfather said that once he became a member of the Watcher's Council, he could have it. Everytime he saw this, he fought harder to be a Watcher."

 

"It didn’t feel right, giving this back to his father. He took such pride in this watch, it should go to someone who really cared for him. Someone he really cared for."

 

Cordelia wiped her jaw line. "I really miss him."

 

Giles wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him, resting his chin on her head. "I know you do. Fight for him. Don't let his death be in vain." Cordelia nodded and wiped away the last of her tears.