Buffy and the others would be shocked to discover that I was once younger than them, I'm sure, but I was ten once. At the time, I had fantasies about becoming a fighter pilot like my mother's brother had been in World War II. If I couldn't become a fighter pilot, I'd settle for being a grocer like Mr. Hanson, a kindly gentlemen who owned a convenience store I frequented. There was something about the daily duties of a store clerk and manager that appealed to me.

Everything changed on the eve of my tenth birthday, when my father pulled me aside and told me what my future would really be. I was destined to become a Watcher, like him and his mother before him. My future was pulled out of my hands.

I loved my father, dearly, but that one conversation began a rift in our relationship that was never completely mended. I was pulled out of school before the next term began and sent to a special academy for future Watchers. Some of the classes were interesting, I'll admit, but I still hated it for being forced into it. I silently vowed to do everything I could to ensure that I never became a Watcher, ever.

I met Ethan Rayne several months after I turned fourteen. I first saw him at a Christmas party, as a matter of fact. He wasn't the most impressive young man, but I'd become interested in him immediately, if only for his knack for getting into trouble. I was convinced that Ethan Rayne was my key to striking back at my father. In a way, I was right.

A friend of the family had invited my father, mother, and I to their annual Christmas party, held at their country house. I must admit that the food was good, although that was all I liked about it. I counted at least five hundred people at that party, if not more. I wasn't allowed into certain rooms such as the billiard room, smoking room, or any other room in that corner of the ground floor. My mother told me in no uncertain terms that I was to stay in the vicinity of the great hall, drawing room, conservatory, and library, and that I was to stay indoors.

When my mother told me that, I course, I rolled my eyes but bit my tongue. Who did my mum think she was fooling, anyway? As if I hadn't already been privy to a cigar smoke or two, and although I was still a virgin, seeing a couple necking each other would hardly cause me to faint or some other such nonsense. Remaining in public places just wouldn't do.

I had very little interest in going near the billiard or smoking rooms, or even in staying where my mother told me to stay. Everywhere I looked were people that knew me or my father, and a good majority of them were Watchers or Watcher relatives. I despised people like that. All of them expected me to follow in my father's footsteps, of course. They'd speak highly of my father and of the Watchers, and would expect me to hang onto and agree with their every word.

After fifteen minutes of this, I'd had enough. They were just like my instructors at the Watcher Academy, and I hated them all. Already, I could feel my patience running out. I had to get away.

The problem was, of course, slipping by my mum without her seeing. Don't ask me how I managed it. I ducked my way across the great hall from the door of the drawing room to the door of the entrance hall. From there, I planned to sneak my way around any late arrivals coming in through the front doors and find some part of the house that wasn't inhabited by stuck-up Watcher ponces.

My mother was standing in the middle of the hall, talking with a group of other people. Every once in awhile, she'd glanced over at me and give me a warning look. I had to plan my escape perfectly so that she didn't suspect.

For once, I was grateful for the quick reflexes my Watcher training had afforded. The second my mother glanced away from me, I ducked down behind a group of conversing people I thankfully didn't know. I then carefully made my way to the entrance, hoping against hope that I'd be out of the room before my mum thought to check on me again.

No such luck. I heard her call my name when the door was still several feet away. I still had time; she hadn't spotted me yet. I broke into a run for the doors.

I ran out into the entrance hall. Only a butler was there, and he paid me no heed. I took advantage of this by heading toward the nearest closed door that lead into another part of the house. I opened it and dashed inside as quickly as possible.

The sounds of the party instantly dimmed to be replaced by other sounds. I heard pots rattling and rightly assumed that the kitchen wasn't far away.

I had no real desire to be seen be any of them, either. No doubt that some well-meaning butler or servant would assume that I had gotten lost and would steer me back to the doom that was no doubt waiting for me in the form of my parents.

The corridor running down this wing of the house was empty. I walked cautiously down it, placing an ear against any closed door I came across, looking for someplace that I could hide for a few hours without being spotted.

I was passing by the double-doors leading into the kitchen when the door leading to a room next to the kitchen, presumably the scullery or pantry, opened. There was nowhere to hide. I waited for whoever it was to appear.

I was surprised to see a boy my age being dragged by the ear out into the hall. "This is the last time, Ethan Rayne!" the woman who held firmly onto the boy's ear exclaimed. "I'll make sure your father punishes you for sure this time, mark my words!"

Ethan gave the large woman a smile. "Come on, Ms. Janet. I wasn't doing anything wrong."

She responded with snort.

He made large puppy-dog eyes at her. "Let's just let this slide, shall we? I promise to be more careful-" She glared at him. "I mean, I promise not to do it ever again."

She regarded him for a long moment before grunting and shaking her head. "I am going to regret this. You're nothing but a scoundrel, you are, but what can I say when you make that face?"

She let go of his ear and he stepped back, grinning. He rubbed his sore ear while he began to back away from her. "Thank you, Ms. Janet. You'll not regret this."

Neither of them had noticed me yet. Once the woman had disappeared back into the room, Ethan had managed to back up until he was standing only a few feet in front of me. I didn't move as he turned away, a satisfied smile on his face, only for his face to replaced with one of shock when he saw me.

He jumped at least two feet in the air. At the time, I thought very little of it, but years later I would think back on that moment with fondness.

"Who the devil are you?" he asked me frankly.

"Rupert Giles," I said. "Your family owns this estate, right?"

"Yeah. What of it?"

I just shrugged. "Nothing. I was just unaware that the Raynes had any access to suggestion charms."

He looked positively alarmed now. He tensed and straightened to his full height. Back then, he was actually taller than I was, and he towered over me by a good two inches. "I don't know what you're talking about, mate. I suggest you go back to the party now, have a grand old time." He studied me for a moment before his eyes widened in sudden comprehension. "You're one of the Watcher types, aren't you? The ones father is always insisting on keeping around?"

I'll never know why exactly I did what I did in that next moment. I despised the Watchers, surely, but at the same time, I wouldn’t let someone insult me. Ethan had a slight look of distaste on his face. What I didn't know at the time was that distaste was directed solely toward Ethan's own father. To my ears, however, it sounded as if Ethan Rayne was openly insulting the Watchers and me. If he'd just insulted the Watchers Council and left everyone else out of it, I might not have reacted the way I did; who knows?

All the anger I'd been storing up for years just came tumbling out. I let loose a roar as the little training I had received took over. Ethan's eyes widened slightly before my punch impacted with his cheek with enough force to send him sprawling.

I stood over him, clenching my fists in fury. Ethan's hand went up to his mouth; when he moved it away again, his fingers were covered in blood.

That was the first time I'd ever felt such rage, and although I didn't know it, it wouldn’t be the last. As it was, I wasn't thinking very clearly, and I was getting ready to punch him again when Ethan's hand emerged from a pocket. He opened his palm and blew on it, and finely ground powder flew into the air in front of my face.

I hadn't even noticed him reaching into his pocket and was caught completely unawares. The minute I breathed in that powder, my eyesight started to get a little blurry. I found I couldn't see straight anymore, even though I was wearing glasses.

Suddenly, there were voices coming from down the hall.

"Ethan!"

"Rupert!"

I recognized my mother's scornful voice easily. I would have had the decency to look guilty if it weren't for the fact that I passed out.

*****

When I woke up, I was lying on something soft and someone was waving a fan in my face. Looking around, I discovered that I was lying on a sofa in the morning/breakfast room. The fan-waver was my mother.

There were angry voices in the background. I glanced over to see Mr. Rayne and my father engaged in a heated discussion. Ethan sat in the corner with his arms crossed and his gaze directed toward the carpet.

"Are you all right, Rupert?" my mother asked. I nodded as I sat up. Ethan glanced up and our gazes met.

He glared at me.

I glared back.

"You can trust that the Raynes will be placed under immediate investigation by the Watchers Council," Father was saying. "We will be very curious to know how young Mr. Ethan acquired that sleeping drought in the first place-"

"I assure you, Mr. Giles, that your investigation will be in vain. I have no knowledge of how Ethan came upon the drought, but you can rest assured that I will find out and that he will be dealt with-"

This did not assure my father, however, and it wasn't long before the three of us were leaving and on the road back to London. As I listened to my father ramble on about the Rayne's total disregard to the Council's regulations concerning magical purchases, I couldn't help but silently agree. I hadn't appreciated being knocked out by that sleeping drought, and if I ever saw Ethan again, I was determined to give him an even harder wallop than the last one.

*****

The second time I came across Ethan Rayne was at Watcher Headquarters in London. It was two weeks later, and Rayne, Sr. had been called before the Council to answer the charge of owning magical substances against the Council's regulations. Normally, any family anywhere could own the sorts of things found in the Raynes' position. I learned that the Raynes had been forbidden to own anything magical after an incident some year's hence. I am still uncertain about the details regarding that incident.

I was still in training, of course. The Watcher's Academy was in another building, but part of the training was done as interns at the Council building. If one was lucky, a trainee might even get some field experience during these internships.

I spent that day working in the library, helping to file and catalog the numerous volumes contained therein. Eventually, I needed to use the toilet, so I excuse myself, left the library, and went down the hall.

Only one stall was occupied. I went over to an urinal and went about my business. After I was done, I walked over to one of the sinks and splashed water in my face. It had been a long day, and I was looking forward to getting back out into the world.

I glanced up into the mirror when the stall door opened. I stared before turning around. It was Ethan.

He froze when he saw me. For a long while, we stood there, glaring at each other. "Rupert Giles," he said.

"Ethan Rayne," I replied. "I owe you a punch," I told him as I felt the anger over the memory of our last meeting rising within me.

His eyes widened slightly, then he forced himself to relax. He smirked. "Come on, then. Take your best shot. I can beat you anytime."

"We'll see," I said as I stepped forward and raised a fist.

His eyes widened again in fear, but he didn't take a step back.

The door opened. "Rupert? Are you in here?"

I dropped my fist in surprise and sudden guilt. It was the librarian, Charles Green. I may not have liked many of the Watchers but Mr. Green was kind and did not act arrogantly around me like the other adults did. I did not want him to see me beating up Ethan.

The door opened completely and Mr. Green stepped inside. His gaze turned to us. "Ah, good, there you are. Rupert, I was wondering if you could accompany me upstairs to the third level and help me to move a crate to the librarian? And perhaps your friend could help us carry it? From what I remember, it's a bit heavy."