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Jenny sympathized with the young woman, as she watched Buffy drag her luggage behind her. The poor girl still felt sluggish from the extra Benadryl she had taken before their flight. Once it became known they were on the same ship, it was decided they'd share a taxi van.

While working on some websites during the flight, Willow and Jenny bonded. They'd revamped a few of Jenny's client's award winning horse sites, keeping away from a few more popular ones that she was in charge of.

She felt uncomfortable having Willow work on a few of the ones she was doing for her husband and some of his co-workers. Since neither girl questioned her about her last name, she had thought to leave it be, for now. For some reason, and she was not one to question fate, the question about her husband's occupation had never come up.

Buffy felt like she was in a fog and was having a hard time keeping focused. It seemed the check-in counter was not getting any closer no matter how much they walked.

‘Damn, won't do that again, that's for sure,’ she told herself, as she kept putting one foot in front of the other, kicking herself for taking that extra pill. ‘Damn drugs, damn flying, damn blue eyes that keep popping in my head,’ she rambled in her head.

Willow felt refreshed, having survived her first time flying and rather enjoyed it after she became accustomed to the dips and sway of the plane. It had helped that Jenny had kept her occupied with all the web designs and stories about the things her daughters had done on previous flights as well as different things she had seen people do.

She felt bad that she had not kept Buffy much company, even if her friend did sleep through the whole trip, and was difficult to awaken when it was time to land.

‘Note to self, no more drinking and taking medications at same time,’ she told herself.

Sara and Allyson walked behind their mother and her new friends, rolling their eyes at the adults around them. They played a game of pick out the fans going on the cruise, versus the people just going on the ship for a regular vacation. Allyson elbowed her sister when she noticed a woman dressed in gothic vampire costume.

"Gee, trying to be obvious," she told her sister.

Sara giggled. "Thinks she's going to get Liam or William dressed like that."

"Yeah, go figure," Allyson smirked. "Like Uncle Spike would even look twice."

"Sara and Allyson Giles, behave yourselves back there," Jenny said in her motherly tone.

Willow heard the reference of Uncle Spike and the last name Giles, and it clicked. She had been traveling with Rupert Giles' family all this time.

‘Oh, my goodness we are going to be on the same cruise with the stars of the show," Willow thought as she started to worry about how this would effect her relationship with Jenny.

Jenny knew by the look on Willow's face that she had figured out for herself that she was Mrs. Rupert Giles of "Vampires, Watcher, and Wizard."

Willow decided the best way to address it was head-on, but with some tact. The last thing she wanted Jenny to think was she had become friends with her because she was the wife of a TV star, not because she was a nice lady.

"So, I never thought to ask, but what does your husband do for a living?" Willow asked, trying to be oblivious to the knowledge of who she was not traveling with.

Jenny appreciated that she had been asked about her husband and not the usual, "Oh, your Rupert Giles’ wife." Something, many of the shows fans say to her.

"His name is Rupert Giles and he is an actor," Jenny replied, offering up a warm genuine smile in return.

"I hope you don't think that I only hung out with you, because I didn't know honest, and it's not because of him, I really appreciated what you did for me," Willow started to ramble slightly.

"Willow, relax, I know you didn't know who I was," Jenny replied as she smiled reassuringly at the young woman. "You were too busy with everything going on, and to be honest it was refreshing having someone not recognize who I was, and who my husband is, and all that jazz."

"Cool beans, I hope we can still be friends?" Willow asked as she glanced over at the older women with a hopeful look on her face.

"Oh, most definitely. I love your ideas with the designs we worked on," Jenny openly smiled as she reassured her that they were still friends. "Why didn't you get into web designing yourself? You are a natural for it."

"No need for a web designer in Sunnydale, so I became a teacher," Willow replied as she noticed they were almost to the check in counter before she continued. "I'm credentialed to teach, but no jobs at the present in the schools, so I teach in preschool for now. I never had the courage to move outside of Sunnydale."

Jenny looked at the redhead and noticed the insecure small town girl that wanted more, but was scared to take that chance and move to the big bad city.

"There is a world out there, Willow, and it's up to you to explore it and find what you are looking for," Jenny encouraged as she voiced her other thoughts aloud, "And something tells me it's not in Sunnydale."

Willow stopped walking and looked at the older woman with a shocked look on her face. "How did you know?"

Jenny tilted her head and looked closely at her new friend, and sighed. "I just do. Don't ask me why or how, I just do. Giles tells me it's the gypsy in me."

She and the girls were meeting Rupert on the ship, so she knew she was safe from the groupies fawning all over her and the girls…for now. She looked back and noticed Sara and Allyson making faces, and whispering more comments on the fans that had shown up in costume.

Buffy quietly joined them in line, still feeling off kilter, hoping that she would soon feel better and feel like socializing. Since landing, she'd been in her own little dazed world, not paying any attention to anything that was going on around her.

‘Where Wills goes, Buffy follows,’ she had kept telling herself since her friend had woken her up.

Lindsey McDonald was on the look out for Jenny Giles and her girls. His present assignment was to make sure the Giles family made it on ship without any complications. He was the assistant to Lorne Caritas, the organizer of Multimedia, who was hosting the convention.

He looked at the photo presently in his hand, to confirm that it was indeed her standing in line talking with a gorgeous blond and delicious redhead.

‘'My, oh my, looks like this could be one great time,’ he said to himself as he thought of the wonderful things he could do with the red-haired beauty.

He walked over, prepared to charm the pants off one or both of the young women that was standing with his assignment. This was indeed looking like a great week after all.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Giles," he introduced himself, his southern drawl smooth and refined. "Might I introduce myself- I'm Lindsey McDonald. I'm a representative here from Multimedia to escort you and your family on board to meet your husband."

Jenny smiled at the young man, too tired to refuse his assistance, never liking preferential treatment, as she said, "Thank you Mr. McDonald.

"Are these two young ladies traveling with you?" he asked offering his most charming smile.

Willow quickly shook her head no and replied, "No, no we are not with the convention, no, we are, I mean Buffy and me are here on our own."

"Are you both traveling on the Caribbean Princess?" he asked as he looked in to the redhead's beautiful green eyes and wondered if she would be available to play for the week.

"Yes, same ship traveling, but not together, together," Willow rambled on, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the way the dark blonde haired man was looking at her.

"Then allow me to assist you to check-in," he said as he gave her a wink, turning his attention over at the petite blond that looked like she was about to fall on her soft little ass. Thinking to himself there were much better way to make that sweet derriere hurt, but in a good way.

He reached his hand out for her luggage as he offered, "Here little darlin', let me get those for you."

Next thing Buffy knew someone was taking her luggage out of her hands, and a somewhat handsome man with a southern accent was saying something about helping her with her luggage.

"Ladies follow me and let me get you on board so you can freshen up and begin your vacation on the right foot."

Jenny rolled her eyes as she and the others followed the young man and he led them out of the line and through a door leading toward the ship. She watched him talk to a couple men in the Princess Cruise Line uniforms and noticed how he worked his magic, and even made it a simple boarding for Buffy and Willow along with her and her daughters.

She smiled when she heard Allyson whisper to her sister, "He's cute."

Then Sara's response, "Yeah, and I think he likes Willow or Buffy."

"Do you want him to kiss you?" Sara asked her younger sister.

"Ewww, no way," Allyson made a face as she shuddered. "Kissing, no way, just said he was cute is all."

"Allyson and Lindsey sitting in a tree, K. I. S. S. I. N. G."

"MOM! Tell HER to stop it," Allyson whined as she glared at her older sister.

"Mom, tell her to stop it," Sara sing-songed as she waggled her eyebrows. "Should I sing it louder, so HE can hear me?"

"Sara, please stop or I will have to tell Brian Winston you are the one who put the card in his mailbox with your kisses all over it," Allyson smirked as she skipped up past her mother.

"Why you…"

"Honestly, Sara, when are you going to learn your sister watches you like a hawk so she can gather ammunition to protect herself from you?" Jenny laughed. "And I guess we need to talk about kissing cards and Brian Winston?"

"God, I'm going to sell her to the slave market on one of those islands," Sara grumbled. "And it was a dare is all. Megan made me do it when we were playing truth or dare at camp last week."

Buffy could not help but smile as she listened to Jenny and her girls and thought, ‘God, I wish I had a sister, I could have shared all of that with growing up.’

She looked over and noticed for the first time the effort the dirty blond man was putting in to impress Willow, and thought how cute he was. To her, he just didn't seem to be Willow's type, not that she knew her friends type. It was just something about him that really screamed it loud and clear.

"Well, this is where we part company, for now," Lindsey said offering the redhead a sexy smile. "Curtis here will arrange to get you and your luggage to your room."

"Thanks," Willow replied shyly, still feeling uncomfortable with the man. "I really do appreciate the help."

"Yeah, we both do," Buffy spoke up for the first time. "Maybe we’ll see you around the ship sometime."

She wanted to get to their room, take a shower, change into a suit, find a lounge chair by the pool, and enjoy what she could of what was left of the sun.

"Jenny, maybe we can meet by the pool later," Buffy suggested.

"Yes, and you know my cabin number, so stop by or call," Jenny replied as she waved them good-bye, since her husband had already checked in and Mr. McDonald had told them the cabin number.

"Will do," Willow turned back to smile and wave at her new friend.

Lindsey watched the blonde take Willow's elbow, pulling her along to follow the crewmember who was taking them to their room.

‘Oh, don't worry there strawberry, I will see you again real soon,’ Lindsey thought to himself as he pictured in his mind what he would like to do to her.

*******

Spike and Wes sat on the chairs on the Giles' balcony, and watched the other boats and ships in the distance. Wes now had a name to go along with the face. Since Spike had asked him to travel with him to Sunnydale, she kept popping up in his mind.

‘Lovely name, Willow, it suits her,’ he thought as he continued to enjoy the Florida warmth.

Anya had been more then willing to tell him all about the young woman, during the bus ride from the airport to the cruise line. Seems the redhead was interested in his character and thought he was hot. He hoped that when he joined Spike in his journey to Sunnydale she would come to like the man as well.

"So, Rupes, wife and kids gettin' here anytime soon, or have they decided to jump ship before even jumping on?" Spike chuckled.

"Very funny Mr. Crawford," Giles replied as he rolled his eyes at his friend's lame joke.

"He is a barrel full of laughs, is he not?" Wesley snorted sarcastically. "He really should reconsider a career change. I do believe he missed his calling."

Giles laughed, "Yes, I do believe you are right. Maybe we should see if his agent could work something out before it's too late?"

"Funny, ha, ha, ha," Spike smirked. "Just wait till Jenny gets here with my girls, then we'll see if you can get away with ‘kick the Spike’."

"One day they will wake up and see you for the whelp you really are William," Wesley calmly replied as he stood to join Giles at the bar. "I do say, ole chap, your women do have a rather unusual liking toward Blondie Bear."

"I heard that," Spike yelled from the balcony. "Don't call me that, Percy."

"Hmm, they do have a soft spot for pets, and he does make a likeable pet. If you like to keep pets that is," Giles sighed. "I have tried to teach them better, but I'm sure it's a phase they will grow out of when the next bear species becomes popular."

"Listen you wankers, don't talk about my ladies that way," Spike said from the balcony door, winking at Jenny and the girls as they came into the room quietly. "I think they do a great job at thinking for themselves and don't need you to save them."

Jenny looked at Spike and raised her right eyebrow, at the same time putting her finger across her lips to signal the girls to be quiet. Both girls smiled and blew kisses to their uncle.

"Honestly, Spike I am the man of the house and what I say goes," Giles replied as winked at Wesley. "My word is law."

"Oh, really, dear? Is that how it works?" Jenny asked, staring at her husband, knowing he was kidding, but decided to play Spike's game of embarrass the husband.

"Jenny, my luv!" Giles exclaimed as he turned and walked quickly over to his wife. "God, I missed you," h said as he pulled her into a tight hug.

"So I gather. Should you not be dragging me by my hair over to the bar and making me serve you?" Jenny replied as she moved her arms up around her husband's neck. "I think for that remark I get many kisses."

"Ewww, can we go to our rooms now?" Sara asked as she rolled her eyes and sighed as her sister giggled.

"After I have a kiss and hug," Giles looked over at his oldest and smiled, "I missed both of you as well."

"Yeah, and when you're done with him, there's me and Uncle Percy there who needs an Uncle's welcome," Spike reminded the girls, ignoring Wesley's glare.

The girls moved quickly to hug their father, and then over to hug and kiss the men they loved as family. Jenny again put her arms around her husband's neck and pulled his head down so she could whisper, "I missed you too! Later I will show you just how much."

"I will hold you to it, and return the favor," he whispered against her lips before deepening the kiss.

"Don't know about you kiddies but I think swimsuits, pool, and bon voyage party is in order," Spike suggested as he winked at the Giles girls. "Who wants to meet me up by the big pool and watch the ship sail away?"

"Me, me,” was heard as the two girls jumped up and down with excitement written all over their faces.

"Then meet me in, say, fifteen minutes, up on the main pool deck by the bar," Spike instructed as he turned to go. "Now, I think I need to leave before I hurl," he said, winking at Sara as he nodded toward the kissing couple.

"Yeah, don't you know it," she giggled as she ran to her room to see if their luggage had arrived yet.

"See ya," Spike said as clapped Giles on the back. "Hold the fort for fifteen and then you and the Missus can have some conjugal married time."

"Thank you William," Jenny said with a smile as she blew him a kiss. "If only I had met you first," she sighed dramatically.

"Then you would have been robbing the cradle, my dear," Giles said as he playfully glared at his wife, causing his wife to laugh.

Wesley tried hard not to smile as he pretended to draw his sword and offered, "Leave it to me, Sir Giles, to remove this vermin from your home."

"Oh please, bad man with the big sword, do not hurt a fragile soul as I," Spike pleaded right before he ran for the door laughing. "Oh, what a big sword you have, my Lord. Can you wield it or is it just for show?"

Jenny and Giles could not keep from laughing as Spike turned and ran out the door leaving Wesley speechless at first.

"One of these days I will learn that he has to have the last word most of the time, and when he does, it will always be at my expense," Wes sighed dramatically.

"But that's why we love him so," Jenny replied as she walked over and hugged the young man. "And don't play that innocent act. I know its tit for tat, so don't think you're pulling one over on this very experienced mother’s radar here, I know better."

"Well, I will leave you both to…" Wesley discreetly coughs "…unpack."

"Take care old chap, and please keep your head about you and don't push him overboard," Giles chuckled. "Or at least not in front of the children."

Wesley smiled as he bowed replying, "As you wish, my Lord." He then winked at Jenny before leaving to join Spike.

*******

Buffy prepared to use the keycard to unlock their door and counted "One, two, three, open,"

Both women were speechless. They had splurged and paid extra for a balcony, and what a difference it made. The sun shining through the balcony doors was a sight. The silver colored bedspreads on each of the two twin beds sparkled from the natural light shining on it.

There was a full horizontal mirror at the head of the beds with a small bedside table in between the beds with the phone, a clock, and a lamp on it. Over in far right corner was a desk- like vanity area that right now had a bottle of what appeared to be champagne of some kind.

Then, over in the left hand corner, was a two tier shelve unit that held the TV on the top one, and some exotic fresh flowers on the bottom.

"Oh my goodness, it's beautiful," Willow sighed.

Both girls jumped when they heard a knock on their door. "Who is it?" Buffy asked.

"The porter with your luggage, Miss," a male Jamaican accent was heard through the door.

"Oh, luggage, good thing," Willow laughed as Buffy opened the door and let the two young black men in with their belongings.

Buffy opened her purse and took out a few dollars and handed them out as the men were leaving. She was so grateful of not having to pull her suitcases anymore, it was worth the tip.

"Thank you," the one said that had announced their arrival.

"Thank you for carrying them up to our room for us. I’ve never been on a cruise before and didn't know what to wear so I might have over packed," Buffy said smiling as she apologized for how heavy they must have been.

"No problem Miss. The name is Jeremy if you should need anything," he said, taking an instant liking to the generous young woman who not only gave them a tip, but a genuine smile as well.

‘She is good people, will watch out for this one,’ he thought to himself.

"Thank you Jeremy," Willow said with a pleasant smile as well. "Can we know your friend's name?" she asked the quiet one.

"Alfie, you can call me Alfie," he whispered shyly.

"Thank you Alfie," Buffy said as she made introductions. "I'm Buffy, and this here is Willow."

"Good to meet you both. If you have any questions about the islands, and you see either of us, ask," Jeremy offered. "We will make sure you only go where two lovely ladies traveling without escorts should go. I recommend the ship excursions if it’s only the two of you’s."

"Yes, please, don't go out alone if ya don't know where ya's be goin'," Alfie said as he looked up, showing the Buffy and Willow how shy he was around them.

"Thank you for the information," Buffy replied. "Where do you normally work on the ship?"

"Alfie, here works in the kitchen mostly, and I work in the Club Fusion," Jeremy answered. “So you know where to look for us, if you have any questions. Now we have to go. Both of ya have a good time, and make sure you go on the upper deck to the back of the ship for the bon voyage."

"Okay," both Buffy and Willow promised before they shut the door after the porter's left.

"They seem really nice," Buffy sighed.

"Yeah, they did, we will have to look them up later and get island details," Willow replied as she looked at her luggage then back at Buffy who silently shook her head ‘yes’.

"Quick, unpack and run up and watch the ship sail out of port," Willow suggested, wanting to get a glimpse and then come and freshen up.

"Sounds like a plan, and then we can come back and check out the cabin and unpack the rest of our stuff, while we decide what we want to do tomorrow," Buffy laughed as she grabbed her suitcase and took the bed by the door. "I say we take turns sleeping by the balcony. Your turn first."

Willow nodded her head yes, as she grabbed her bag as well, putting it on the bed. She moved to open the balcony door, letting in the sea air. Both girls took a deep breath and then only unpacked their dress clothes that needed hung in the closet.

"Yeah, baby, we are cruisin'," Buffy said as she gave Willow a high five, before they opened the door to go and watch the ship depart from port.





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