Authors Choice (Spike takes over as Watcher when Giles leaves) by Chrissel +42
Responses: 1
Categories: Season 6
Characters: Anya, Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Spike, Tara, Willow, Xander
Summary:

I've read a couple stories (All4Spike and St Epiphany) where Buffy lays into Giles for deciding to go back to England in season 6 saying he's taught her all she needs to know as a Slayer and her mom taught her what she needs as a woman. The obvious plot hole to me (and others) is that Giles is leaving her Watcher-less! Watchers are responsible for the research end of slaying, something Buffy is completely unequipped to do.

So... What if, Buffy tells Giles fine - you want to quit and go back to England, that's your option, one she never got, but whatever. But he's leaving her without a critical role to be filled. Is he arranging a replacement from England? Calling up Wesley to fill the gap? Or wait a minute. There's always Spike. He speaks plenty of human and demon languages, knows more about various demons and how to kill them than most watchers anyway. You know what, never mind. Spike can be her new watcher!

How you choose to take the story from there is up to you. Does Giles change his mind and stay? Does Spike start wearing tweed? Do Buffy and Spike learn to have a healthy relationship? (I'm rooting for this one :). How do the Scoobies react? Can Anya be a Watchers assistant?



Summary: Challenge Response. Starts off with the events from Tabula Rasa but with a slight twist. Giles is set to leave for England in his misguided effort to force Buffy to stand on her own. Buffy, in her anger and desperation, demands for a replacement, someone who can take his place because a slayer on the Hellmouth needs a watcher. Where is Giles supposed to find a watcher with so few options and with time running out? Enter Spike. Will Buffy see the vampire in a new light now that he’s officially pulling for the good guys? An alternate season 6. 
Thanks to my awesome beta IngridZoe!
The amazing banner was made by the very talented OffYourBird.
Beta and Sensitivity Readers: None
Artists: None
Categories: Season 6, Episode Rewrite, Challenge Response
Characters: Andrew Wells, Anya, Buffy, Clem, Dawn, Giles, Halfrek, Jonathan Levinson, Mr. Gordo, Original Characters, Riley Finn, Samantha (Sam) Finn, Spike, Tara, Warren Mears, Willow, Xander
Genres: Angst, Drama, Dramedy, Romance, Slow-Burn
Warnings: Adult Language, Mental Health Issues, Sexual Situations, Violence
Challenges: Authors Choice (Spike takes over as Watcher when Giles leaves)
Completed: No Chapters: 8 Table of Contents
Word count: 46,428 Hit Count: 9,489 ePub Downloads: 83
Published: August 30, 2018 Updated: June 17, 2021