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~*~
Chapter 4
~*~

The next morning Xander arrived just as he had promised. He brought the ever popular donuts and greeted Willow warmly. "You the only one up yet, Will? Guess Buffy needed to sleep in a bit and it’s not every Saturday she has the day off lately"

Willow looked at her oldest friend with compassion. He was going through problems of his own now, having left Anya at the altar. Xander was living in denial about his own problems and was frightening Buffy into sharing that condition too. Willow knew his good mood was mostly a front and she was loathe to add to the list of things bothering Xander, but it was time to deal with reality. Their friendships had to allow each of them to exercise free will.

Willow clearly remembered how afraid she had been to reveal her love for Tara. She knew how big a step it was for Buffy to admit that she had anything but a hate relationship with Spike. Willow also shared Xanders fears for Buffy’s safety and happiness. Still when all was said and done, it was Buffy’s choice to make and Xander needed to keep from destroying another important relationship in his life.

Willow prepared herself for some harsh words from Xander, she knew that his seemingly chipper mood wouldn’t last once she opened the can of worms labeled, ‘vampire issues’. Still, after all that Buffy had revealed, and all that Willow suspected Buffy left unsaid, she knew that the Xander bomb had to be defused as soon as possible for all of their sakes.

"Xander, I love you so much, you know that, but don’t you think you should put aside your feelings about Spike, about vampires in general, around Buffy? I mean, I get where you are coming from. I was at the factory too, remember. It was my face that had the glass bottle kissing it. I get where you don’t trust the new improved Spike, but it’s not about us. Willow paused for a moment, her eyes begging Xander to understand, before she continued.

"Buffy is lonely. She’s never going to be a normal girl with a normal life. Hey, Riley was sorta super normal guy and even he couldn’t make it last with her. She seems to need something that a normal guy just doesn’t have to offer. It’s kinda sad that Buffy’s this big, bad superhuman slayer and yet too scared of her best friends deserting her to even try to enjoy some lovin’, don’t you think? I mean, either they’d work out and Buffy would finally be happy, or Spike would go all bad and we’d dust him, or it would just end on its own. The point is that friends are supposed to be forever and love and support each other even if they make lousy love choices or walk out on their weddings".

Xander looked both pained and embarrassed as he listened. God knew he loved Willow like she was his own sister and Buffy was the best friend either of them had ever had.

"I stayed up last night thinking about things," he admitted. I know you’re right. I know that Buffy has the same right to pick any living or undead guy she wants to and she’s an adult and can do adulty things with them, too. I just worry, you know. God, she changed so much after Angel. I don’t think she could survive anything like that again." Xander raised his hand to stave off the impassioned reply that appeared to be on the tip of Willow’s tongue. "Yeah, yeah, I know that Spike isn’t like Angel at all, but he IS a vampire and that can’t be of the good. Still, you’re right, it is her bed to make and lie in…..and I would like to just take back the images those last words brought with them". His smile was a weak one as he looked at Willow, but it was sincere.

"Maybe it would help Buffy a lot if you said all of that to her", Willow advised. "It wouldn’t hurt to tell her before Giles gets here, too. She doesn’t need both of you ganging up on her over Spike issues. She doesn’t even need to WORRY that you’ll gang up on her about this. Spike is gone for now and we’ll deal after Giles goes back to the Motherland, okay?"

"Yeah, I get it. I’ll talk to Buffy when she comes down, before we go into research mode. I can’t say I am happy with this, but then I’m not a happy guy lately anyway, am I? No need for everyone else to be gloomy and alone, I guess. Hey, looks like you and Tara are makin’ with the lovey eyes again. Any hope for a quick lesbiconciliation, and please forget I just used that word." Xander had the grace to look sheepish at this point.

"Looks like I might not have totally blown things, yeah. We’re takin’ it slow, but we’ve met for coffee a few times since your weddi……um..lately. I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed, though. How about you, Xan, how are you holding up?", she asked him.

"Yeah, well there aren’t enough fingers and toes in all of Sunnydale to help me out I guess. I really didn’t mean for that to happen. I just, you know, don’t want to repeat history and hurt An. Guess it’s too late for that to matter. I don’t think I could hurt her more than I did", he answered. Willow could see from his face that the wounds were raw indeed.

"Speaking of the man in tweed, any word on when Giles is coming?", Xander asked in a sudden change of subject.

"Yes, he called this morning to give me his flight information. That’s why I got up so early. I don’t think Buffy even heard the phone ring. She cried herself to sleep last night. I didn’t want to make it worse, so I didn’t go to her room, but I could hear her through the wall. She’s really hurting, Xan", Willow said. Her face showed the worry she felt for her friend’s emotional well being.

"When do I pick him up?" Xander asked, ignoring the implications of Willow’s comment about Buffy’s sleeping issues.

"Well, he is supposed to get in here at 1:06 p.m. tomorrow on the shuttle flight from LAX. I imagine he’ll be kinda jet lagged for a while after he gets in. Xan, please don’t bring up Spike, okay?" Willow’s reminder was gentle yet firm.

"Fear not, o beauteous witch, The Xanman knows when to keep his mouth shut. I say that in spite of numerous examples that might make that look like a lie", he said.

"So who’s the liar and what’s the lie?", asked a sleepy looking Buffy. "Are those donuts I see there? I think I need the extra sugary goodness that comes in a Krispy Kreme box today. That, and a whole pot of coffee", she mumbled.

"Xander was just saying that he’s learned tact and diplomacy. You can fill in the blanks about liars and the lies they tell", Willow teased.

"Yeah, um, speaking of which, Buffy, I think I should say something about, you know, the whole ickyness that is Spike and you", he began. He cleared his throat as he caught the glare that Willow was giving him at the way he had started his "supportive talk".

"What I mean to say is……you know I hate the guy. He’s a vamp and I don’t trust him, plus there’s the whole, ‘I’m gonna drain you all when I get this chip out’ thing …which I’ll admit he hasn’t said in a long time. And, yeah, he’s helped a lot this past year or so and sometimes not just to get something in return. I guess what I am saying is that I may not feel like throwing a party or being his best man or anything, but if you get back together with Spike, I won’t make life a living hell for you. But, I also get to be first in line to stake his ass if he hurts you. I think that’s only fair, and a guy can only hope. Also, I’m not gonna say anything to Giles about the sleeping with the enemy stuff. If you want him to know, it’ll be up to you to tell him. I’m your friend for life, Buffy, and if Spike’s good to you I’ll try to stay off his back", Xander said, sincerity shining through his eyes.

Buffy burst into tears and raced from the kitchen scaring both Xander and Willow.

"What did I say, Will? I thought that was what I was supposed to say to be supporto friend and all. What’s wrong with the Buffster?", he asked.

Buffy made it to the sofa in the living room before she sat down and let the tears fall as they seemed determined to do. She had never expected the kind of reactions she was getting from her friends over the whole Spike thing. Okay, Xander wasn’t happy, but he wasn’t ballistic either. Willow even seemed to be pro-Spike all of a sudden and Tara looked to be even more on his side than she had when Buffy initially confided in her.

Had she been wrong to be afraid? Could she have made the worst error of her life by ending what she was starting to have with Spike? Had she sent away the best thing that had ever happened to her, thrown away the strongest love anyone had ever felt for her? Was it too late to even think she might have a chance to fix this mess?

~*~
Chapter 5
~*~

Giles looked tired and drawn when he finally settled into Dawn’s old room. The weary Watcher hadn’t been able to sleep well since the call from Willow nearly a week before. Magic and demon summoning were dangerous even for a well-trained practitioner. In the hands of rank, childish, amateurs or megalomaniacs, it was usually fatal to all involved. He well remembered his days as Ripper and the fallout from that mess.

It pained him to realize his Buffy might be at risk, not from demons or hellgods, but wankers who had read too many graphic novels and attended one too many Dr. Who conventions. Giles only hoped he was not too late to avert such a disaster. Bloody stupid children to play with such powerful elements! While they might deserve whatever happened to them, Buffy sure as blazes didn’t!

He had been called on the carpet in London for loose handling of his Slayer. They had insisted that he undergo retraining in how to be a field Watcher to an active Slayer. He had been utterly humiliated at their attitude, but withstood it to stay in his position as Buffy’s watcher.

He’d be double damned if he would lose her again, lay her in the ground one more time. Rupert had felt his heart literally break the last time, felt like he’d aged a decade at least. He had a second chance now. Perhaps the Council had a point; he had to do things right if his Slayer hoped to survive on the Hellmouth.
And Giles had every intention of seeing Buffy reach an age that would cause the Council to write a policy that included retirement benefits for Slayers. If that meant retraining for him and a different attitude towards Buffy, so be it.

First on the agenda, however, was going to be a bit of a nap. He’d just traveled nearly halfway around the globe and it felt as if he’d walked most of it! Buffy was at work right now and Willow was still at school.. He knew that Xander wouldn’t be back until the building crew finished up at the construction site and that allowed plenty of time for some shut-eye.

It was so hard to think of the "children" as working and being adults. It seemed only the yesterday that they were silly upper level twits, quipping and staking
while worrying over proms and principals and who was dating whom. It was also strange not to see Anya firmly attached to Xander’s hip. Her bluntness was oftimes embarrassing, yet refreshing in its own way. Anya’s candor had proven useful on more than one occasion, as had the girl herself.

Giles slept the morning through, his peaceful slumbers uninterrupted until mid afternoon when the house came alive again with its inhabitants arrival.

Willow got home first. She had convinced Tara to come home with her and eat supper before the big meeting. Willow looked forward to spending time with Giles again, despite the fact that they hadn’t parted on the best of terms.

Willow had done and said many things while on her magic high. Her success in bringing back Buffy had turned bitter to the taste once she had discovered
that she had pulled her best friend from Heaven rather than rescuing her from a hell dimension. When she had last talked to Giles for any length of time, Willow’s
arrogant and ill considered words spoken after Buffy’s return had hung in the air between them, nearly visible in their weight.

Willow had always adored Giles, even had a crush on him that first year after high school. She desperately coveted his good opinion again. She had been trying so very hard to stay away from all things magic. The personal cost to her had been much more than she was willing to pay. If Tara was beginning to see Willow’s determination and come around, maybe Giles could respect her again after this visit, too.

At any rate, Willow was glad for multiple reasons that Tara was with her for this meeting. Tara was her rock, her true strength. Willow had only forgotten that fact for a short, tragic time. She wasn’t going to blow this second chance, not with Tara and not with Giles.

Giles was just coming down the stairs as the girls moved from the entryway towards the kitchen.

"Hey, Giles. How was the trip? Not too bumpy, I hope. Do you want me to have Tara make a proper pot of tea for you? She’s gotten really good at it, no bags at all", Willow said in greeting.

"Willow, Tara. Yes, thank you, a cuppa sounds lovely about now. I’ve only just risen and need to clear the remaining cobwebs. The flight was fine, a bit of turbulence over the Rocky Mountains, but not bad otherwise. It was a bit more unnerving to see my seatmate reading a book about the Donner party as we were being tossed about over that area though", he joked.

"Oh, hehe, yeah, the Donner party and "guess who’s coming to dinner" in the wild mountains….I get it". Willow gave a light laugh.

The three stood in awkward silence for one moment before Willow could stand it no longer and flung herself on the Watcher saying, "God, Giles, I’m so glad you came. We’ve missed you so much and have really made some awful mistakes without you here.
Please say you’ll stay. We need you, we ALL need you"..

Her hug nearly knocked the stuffing out of Giles, but his slightly embarrassed smile showed he didn’t really mind. These young people were, in many ways, like his own children. He hated being estranged from any of them.

"Oh, Willow, mistakes are all a part of growing up, you know that. You have been doing quite well I have been told. You’ll make a fine sorceress once you are ready to properly train. I’ve been talking to the head of a coven that does some work for the Council. She says that after you have distanced yourself from the darkness you embraced, they would love to have you come--both of you, Tara too-- and study proper magics. You can never remove the powers from yourself. In time you will need to learn how to use them as they are intended to be used. I am quite proud of you for stopping when you did and avoiding the temptation to slip back into easy fixes".

As if they had been magic themselves, Giles’ words melted all the uncomfortable feelings and their joyful reunion was unmarred by past words and deeds. Forgiveness was the best, most powerful magic ever created.

The three shared tea and stories with much laughter and love as they waited for Buffy to return home from another long shift at the burger hell of Sunnydale.

"Oh, I can just see Mr. Travers choking on that", exclaimed Willow as she collapsed in laughter, picturing the scene that Giles had just described. They were all still laughing when Buffy came in through the back door.

"Hi guys, Giles! Boy, am I glad to see you! What’s the funny?", she asked the giggling group.

"Mr. Giles was just telling us about something that happened at the Watchers Council last month. He’d have to tell it to really make you see it in all its glory. It’s enough to say that Mr. Travers and mud, lots of mud, do not mix well", Tara said and began to laugh once again.

"I’d love to hear it. Love to see it actually. Hmm, Quentin Travers and mud, I’m kinda liking the mind pictures that gives me", said Buffy.

Giles got up from the table and circled it to hug Buffy to him and whisper, "My dear girl, how I have missed you". Buffy felt herself tear up in response. She was making way too much with the weepies lately, she decided. "I’ve missed you so much, too, Giles. Please don’t disappear again. I’m no good with goodbyes", she said into his jacket.

"Yes, well, I suppose we should begin to sort out this problem with Lex Luthor and his henchmen. The sooner we put these boys in the hands of the human authorities the better. Why don’t you go up and get cleaned up and comfortable, Buffy. We need to wait for Xander to get here anyway", said Giles.

Willow followed Buffy up the stairs to have a private word with her. "Buffy, Tara and I are still looking for a good spell to find Spike. I just wanted you to know
that we are on it and haven’t forgotten"..

Buffy looked at Willow and sighed, "I could sure use things to start going right for a change. Thanks, Will. You haven’t said anything to Giles yet, have you?"

"Nope, not a word will pass these lips", Willow said and made a pantomine of zipping her lips shut. "I figure what Giles doesn’t know won’t hurt us", she said with a smile.

"’K, I’ll be down in a few minutes. Is Xander bringing pizza or should I call for Chinese?". Despite having spent the last several hours surrounded by what passed for food to the general populace, Buffy’s stomach was growling.

"Already taken care of. Tara ordered Italian on our way over. They should be delivering pasta goodness any minute now".

At that, the doorbell rang and the delivery boy was handing wonderful garlic-y smelling sacks to Giles, who was fishing in his wallet to pay the boy. Xander arrived right behind the delivery boy’s exit and greeted Giles with a warm handshake and the trademark Xander snarkiness. "G-man with an open wallet, just the sight I’ve been dreaming of seeing. What kind of wicked good is in that bag and am I invited?"

"You’re not a vampire, Xander, you don’t need an invitation. And speaking of vampires, I hope it isn’t too much to hope that Spike won’t be joining us
this evening". Looking into the bags, Giles completely missed the worried look that passed between the Scoobies.





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