They were standing on opposite sides of the room, staring as each other like caged animals that needed to kill each other to escape. Or do something entirely different. The Slayer had her arms crossed protectively in front of her chest and her "I'd prefer to be breaking your nose right now" face. The vampire was leaning against the wall with an attitude that was designed to tell her that he couldn't have cared less if she was boiling in hot water right in front of him.
Giles was in the middle, holding a brightly glowing crystal. Willow's latest disaster. Apparently almost getting Spike and Buffy married hadn't been enough. A week later they couldn't be in separated rooms and were (once again!) occupying Giles' living room. She was getting the lecture to end all lectures as soon as his 'Buffy and Spike magicked to constantly be in the same room' headache wore off. That is, if she hadn't left the country by then.
"Giles!" the Slayer hissed.
"Yes, Buffy," the man sighed. "I'm almost ready. Please, call upon your last resources of patience, would you?"
"I've been locked in a room with Spike for the last 6 hours. I called upon them about 5 hours and 59 minutes ago." she gritted her teeth, as if the ordeal was causing her physical pain.
"Don't know what you're so bloody pissed off about, Slayer." Spike looked her up and down, smirking. "You haven't taken your eyes off me for the last 5 hours and 59 minutes. I'd say you aren't suffering all that much."
"The only reason I have forced myself to look at your pathetic ass is because I don't enjoy being magically rushed into walls when you decide that you want to move said ass to another room!" she almost yelled, her hands forming two powerful fists at her sides.
"Oh, so it's my ass that you have your sights on, eh?" Spike curled his tongue behind his teeth, getting a ridiculous amount of satisfaction from the way her jaw dropped at his words. "Could've just said so, pet. I'm sure we can arrange something as long as you say 'pretty please, Spike'."
"Enough!" Giles' urgent voice stopped Buffy's reply in the last second. "Say it now!"
"I" now it was Spike's turn to look like he was in physical pain while looking at Buffy and uttering the phrase. "need you."
"Iwantyou." Buffy let out so quickly Giles looked at her sternly, fearing failure in breaking the spell.
"I" Spike swallowed, finishing their part in the reversal. "love you."
The crystal stopped glowing.
"Thank God!" before the Watcher's words were out one supernatural being flew out of the apartment while the other locked the bathroom door.
Willow rang an hour later.
"Giles!" her panic was almost sending sparks through the phone.
"Willow, I will deal with you tomorrow."
"You don't get it! The reversal spell won't work. They have to mean the words for it to work."
"Oh, dear."
