Buffy had escaped to the library in the Cleveland headquarters. No one would believe the slayer would seek refuge there so it was a perfect hiding spot. There would be disbelief at what Buffy was doing right now. The prime slayer was currently reading a book.
You see, people forget, Buffy only plays a ditz. In reality, she was far smarter than anyone in the headquarters knew except Giles. The fact the book she was reading was in Ancient Sumerian would have been the surprise.
Buffy hadn't let on but she didn't find Ancient Sumerian difficult. For the simple reason, she was around when it had been a live language.
Giles was the only one to know Buffy's big secret. Giles knew of her status as immortal. It was the main reason she was so distraught at being taken from heaven. She had waited five thousand years to see Heaven. Only she didn't get to enjoy it for very long. It was a peace she never thought she would ever get.
To her watcher's credit - he had kept her secret. What he was sneaky about was waiting until they were alone. He would then ask questions about periods of history that the records forgot.
Her relaxation ended in a second. She could feel something wrong. A shiver ran down her spine as she recognised the sensation. The quickening, whoever it belonged to, was so very strong. As a result, it could belong to only one person. Her sword was drawn without conscious thought. She stormed down the hallways zeroing in on the source of power.
People could see the slayer's anger so got out of her way. All wondered who had a death wish because you had to be suicidal to anger the prime slayer. All stepped aside hoping not to draw her anger.
In the entrance to the headquarters, Adam Pierson, stood uneasily. This was one reunion that he was not looking forward to. He and his wife had parted company when he became a horseman. There was a lot of anger at the time as you would imagine. He hoped the thousands of years would have lessened her anger but somehow he doubted it.
A sweet young redhead greeted him, "Hello. How can I help you?"
He was charm personified, "Thank you but the person I'm meeting already knows that I am here."
"What the hell are you doing here?" The voice was so cold and angry that nearly all the people in the entrance hall shivered. The only time Buffy was this mad was when the First was making an appearance. They had never seen the sword, which she had levelled against the guest's neck.
A mischievous smile crossed his face, "Can't a husband come and visit his wife?"
The gasps around the room were ignored by the couple. There was an intense stare off as Buffy decided how she felt about seeing him after so long.
Buffy snickered despite her anger. Methos always did use humour to avoid tricky conversations. She didn't give any ground. He wasn't off the hook just yet. She answered, "Divorce wasn't possible. I figured skipping continents would have given you a clue."
Adam saw the crowd and wanting a private conversation switched to their native language, "We need to talk it is important."
Buffy sighed and withdrew her sword. She knew that whatever she was about to learn it would give her a headache. She replied using the same language, "Follow me."
The crowd as one let out a breath of relief. They had no clue what was going on. There were a lot of questions raised by a small conversation. Willow was no different as she had a lot of questions. Willow knew there was only one person would have any answers - Giles.
She found him in his office. He was reading a tomb she didn't know. She interrupted the reading with a babbled,"Giles you need to come quickly. It seems Buffy has a husband but they don't seem to get along. I also am confused as she spoke a language I've never heard before."
Giles looked up from his book with a frown and a sigh. He'd almost laughed at the pout and slight jealousy he heard in the Wiccan's voice. Willow defined herself by her Wiccan and academic pursuits.
Giles ignored the jealousy issue. It was not his place to make Willow look inside herself at the issue. He did hear the words in the babble longs since a tuned with deciphering Willow in full babble mode. "Did you say, husband?"
"Yeah, Did she get married and not tell us?" Willow asked, unhappy at the thought her friend was keeping secrets from her.
Giles didn't care about Willow's hurt feelings right now. There was a more pressing matter. In one of their late night gab sessions, Buffy had talked about her past. In particular, she had talked about the love of her life. Giles had thought she meant Angel or even Spike. He was wrong, her love for Methos far outstripped what she had felt for Spike or Angel. She had spoken of her utter heartache when he had become one of the Horseman.
Giles reflexively polished his glasses and moved to intercept Buffy. He tried to placate the young Wiccan but it was maybe a tad harsh. "Willow the language you heard is so old, no-one apart from Buffy and her husband can speak it anymore. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to stop my slayer from doing something she'll regret."
It was a truth that Buffy refused to acknowledge. The fact no matter what transpired - she truly did love her husband. Giles was sure that if she took his head as their race did. Once she'd calmed down she would regret it.
Giles was relying on the fact they'd gone to Buffy's quarters to avoid an audience. The only trouble was ... He never got a chance to intervene. As he opened the door, he saw the couple disappear into a portal.
They were gone and you would never know they had stood there. Giles knew he wasn't imagining it as Whistler was standing in their place. He didn't want to know the answer and yet Giles found himself asking, "What is going on?"
Buffy and Methos had been cut off mid-curse. No matter their feelings they grabbed hold of each other as they were pulled through the portal. Buffy got her bearings first and stood up. She left Methos to stand on his own, he was old enough.
Buffy knew they were not alone and looked to the other woman. The lady spoke, "A star shines on our meeting Eliza. I am Lady Galadriel.
Buffy quirked an eyebrow, "Not to be rude but where are we?"
Galadriel smiled, "Well if you follow me little one. I will explain all that your Powers-That-Be failed to explain.
Buffy didn't know what the hell was going on. She did know that she liked this Galadriel even with the crack of her being a little one. She put aside her anger at Methos and traded him a look of irony. At five thousand years old, she couldn't be considered young by any one's standards.
Wow, this royally sucked and it wasn't even a Tuesday