"Hey!"

"Matt. You get clothes?"

"Yeah." He smiled at his sister. "I had a good time." He admitted. "Buffy let me get a giant cookie from Starbucks too."

Katherine looked at him and scowled, "You seriously got G Star Raw jeans?"

"Yeah." Matt blushed, "Buffy said I could." He said softly.

"Have you any idea how much they cost!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah. I have the receipt. You want to look at it?" Buffy asked her sarcastically. "He has expensive jeans. He knows they have to last, they fit, and his new friends won't laugh at him." Buffy said matter of fact.

"He's just following the majority!" Katherine snapped standing up.

"Yeah. Cause not stabbing people and wearing jeans is so not the way to go!" Buffy rolled her eyes. "Where's Giles?"

"He's in the garage getting a surprise present ready for you." Katherine said spitefully.

She frowned as Buffy's face turned to goo and she smiled slowly.

"Seriously?" she put down the bags and walked quickly towards the garage. Opening up the door to the garage she burst into smile as she witnessed Liam holding a punch bag up as Giles secured it to the bracket. They both turned in shock at the door opening. "For me?" she asked quietly.

"Well….um….yes." Giles floundered.

"You shouldn't have." Buffy said tearfully.

Liam held the heavy bag and watched confused as her eyes filled up and her eyes showed complete love for his dad's cousin.

"I thought it was the least you could do."

"What is it?" Matt asked appearing and breaking the moment. "Cool, a punch bag. Do you box Buffy?" he asked excited.

"More kickboxing." She smiled.

"You got G Star Raw jeans!" Liam exclaimed walking over to his brother.

"Yes. And yes they're expensive, and yes they're popular, and yes they have to last, and yes I made him buy them." Buffy complained. She looked up at Giles, suddenly standing holding the punch bag as if she had been there along, "This is so sweet." She said to him.

"You're welcome." He said stressfully, trying to secure the bag. "I thought I could encourage some training while you were here." He gasped in between breaths.

"I love it. And we got Matt clothes. They weren't too expensive so don't listen to Liam and Katherine. And they all fit."

"I have to say, I approve of the polo shirt." He said taking a break and admiring the teenager's collared T Shirt. "I like a collar…it's a step in the right direction."

"Approval from Giles?" She asked shocked. "Where were these compliments and understanding when I was his age?"

"I don't believe mini skirts, revealing tops and high heels ever warranted encouragement." He said smirking.

"Ouch. That hurt." She sulked.

Liam and Matt watched the interchange between the two and studied the two very different personalities. They never saw Giles smile much and it was very refreshing to see him joking and conversing with a young person.

"Buffy said chicks dig polo shirts."

"Buffy!" Giles said sternly, "Whatever you encourage in this house, the use of your awful American colloquialisms is NOT permitted."

"Why I'm sorry." She said primly, "The female race do so much prefer polo shirts to a standard crew cut T Shirt." She rolled her eyes. She smiled as she heard a chuckle from Matt and Liam.

"Do you really think girls prefer a polo shirt." Liam asked arms crossed and thinking about it.

"Yup. Or a shirt, but Matt refused to buy one. All the guys over with us wear a Shirt. Even if it has a T underneath."

"It's a valid point." Giles nodded. "Right. I think this is ready for trying out." He said, coming down the ladder as Buffy let the bag go.

"Hang on. You just held the bag up for five minutes?" Liam asked confused.

"I'm strong." Buffy shrugged, keeping her attention to the punch bag. "I'm going to change and come and test it out." She smiled widely, nearly running out of the room. "There's still grocery bags to take in!"

The three males looked at one another awkwardly.

"So I presume you got everything you were looking for?" Giles asked a little nervously.

"Yeah. She was really helpful." Matt nodded.

"Good." Giles nodded. "What are the plans for this evening? I was going to start on something for dinner…spaghetti bolognaise perhaps?"

"Sounds brilliant Giles." Buffy beamed, jogging in with a bobble in one hand, trying to put up her long blonde hair, dressed in her training kit.

"I know you like it, it was the others that I was concerned about."

"We all eat it." Liam nodded, his eyes glued to Buffy in tight fitting leggings and sports vest.

"Jolly good."

"I got a text through from a guy at school. He's going to come in past here and we're going to walk over to Max's." Matt explained.

"I can take you in the car." Giles said matter of fact.

"I'd rather walk." Matt said nervously.

"He doesn't want to look un-cool Giles." Buffy said, staring at the punch bag.

"Perhaps Liam can walk you over?" Giles tried hopefully.

"Um…" Matt stated.

"It's either a lift or Angel, Buffy or I walk over with you."

"I'm heading out tonight anyway." Buffy said shrugging as she punched the swing bag and forced it backwards significantly. As the conversation continued all males watched Buffy as she positioned herself offensively and started punching the bag.

"You are?" Giles asked confused.

"Yeah. I want to see what the night life in this place is like…which will probably end up in me getting a coffee."

"She's just trying to pick up a guy." Katherine said steely as she arrived at the garage door.

"Yup." Buffy said lightly.

"Buffy." Giles warned.

"It's okay Giles, they've all done sex ed by this age." She laughed, swinging a punch which caused the bag to swing to a foot of the ceiling.

"Matt?" Giles asked despairingly.

"Okay. Buffy can walk us down, but I don't see the point." He said turning and leaving the garage.

"Out. Both of you, and break up this teenage fiasco." Giles said grumpily, moving Liam and Katherine out of the garage.

"Hey." Matt nodded as Donald opened the door and shuffled nervously. "Buffy!" he called up the stairs, "I'm leaving!"

"And I'm right here." She smiled running down the stairs. "Giles, we're off!" she called.

They were surprised as Giles appeared into the lounge and walked over.

"Very well. I'll be out at my meeting by the time you return."

"Cool. Don't wait up if I'm not in." she said pointedly as he nodded at them.

Buffy left the house, catching up with the boys who were briskly walking down the path.

"Donald, this is Buffy. She's like some adoptive daughter of Rupert's who's on holiday from America." Matt tried to explain lamely. "Nice to meet you Donald." Buffy said politely. "I'm heading into town, so I asked Matt to let me head in with you. I've only been here a day so my direction's still a bit basic." She explained, seeing the relief in Matt's eyes as she covered for the protectiveness of Giles.

"No problem." Donald smiled lightly at her. "Are you enjoying your trip?"

"I've only been here one day, so it's a bit early to say. It's cool to see Giles again though."

"You mean Mr Giles?" he asked confused.

"Yeah. We weren't so much with the 'Mr' back home. There's enough tweed in his wardrobe for us to know he's official." Buffy joked. "So where are we heading?"

"A few streets away. Max has the X box with controllers and his parents are out."

"I have my spare one." Matt held up his controller.

"Cool." She nodded, her head going through the possibility of drink and drugs in her head. "Hey, Matt, I don't have your number." She said quickly, pulling out her cell phone after realising her promise to Giles that she or Liam would make sure he got home okay. Matt looked at her, reading her thoughts as he reeled off his number reluctantly. "Cool. Thanks." She gave him a swift smile.

"His street's just down here." Donald said, pointing in the right direction.

Buffy nodded, following the guys a few steps back, pretending to be looking through her cell.

"Hey. Is that not…" Donald said, suddenly coming into contact with Buffy as he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Hey. Those guys are mugging him!" Matt exclaimed loudly, letting the three muggers turn and look in their direction. Buffy looked at them, reaching into her new jacket for her stake as she took off in their direction down the street. One of the vampires holding, who she presumed was Max, lowered his head towards him as the other two started running towards them.

"Stay back!" she ordered the two boys as she ran past them.

As the first vampire and Buffy charged one another at full speed, the two boys looked on concerned, rooted to the spot. Donald took a moment before following Matt who ran after the petite American blonde. Both boys stopped in their tracks as Buffy jumped through the air to mimic the vampire's movements before the other body turned to dust and Buffy rolled out of the move. Running towards the second vampire, she smirked as the vampire faltered slightly at seeing his companion turn to dust so easy. As she reached the second vampire, she simply pushed him to the side, heading straight for the third with the teenager. As she pushed the vampire off of the boy, she saw red on the tips of his fangs before punching him clean in the face. After a few punches, a kick in the stomach, followed by a duck and a stake to the chest, she turned to head after the second who she had let pass her. She grimaced as she saw Matt take a punch and sprinted back, tackling the vampire off of him as Donald picked himself up off of the ground. Exchanging blows with the vampire, she took a knock before taking his legs from under him and leaning over to deliver the killer blow. Standing up she caught her breath as she assessed her surroundings.

"You okay?" she asked, walking briskly over to the boy who was holding his neck. "Let me see." She demanded, pulling his hand away and looking at the neck. She stared for a moment before looking at him reassuringly. "It's okay, it's just a scratch, he didn't puncture properly."

"What…" The boy paled as Buffy put her arm around his waist.

"Buffy?" Matt asked frowning as he walked over to her. Buffy frowned as she noticed the bruise coming up on his face and the swollen lip of Donald.

"Let's get you guys somewhere huh?"

"What happened? How did they just…disappear." Matt asked confused. "Someone else saw that right?" He looked hopefully between them all.

"I…think…I did." Donald said cautiously looking at them all.

"Yeah, you saw them, you're not going crazy Matt. I'll explain it when we get somewhere better." She looked at the boy who's waist was still in her arm, "Max, they were heading to your house?"

"My mum and dad's evening was cancelled so we can't go there, it's why I was heading along the street to meet you." The boys all looked at one another, "I have my X box in my bag" he explained, still very pale.

"What about ours Buffy? Rupert is out and Liam and Katherine were going out."

Buffy thought for a moment before nodding, "Let's do it."

Buffy came back through from the kitchen with antiseptic wipes.

"Max, let me see your neck." She ordered, sitting on the coffee table in front of the sofa. Max sat forward and pulled off his jumper. "It's not bad. Just a scratch." She said wiping the dried blood and looking at it.

"Why was it….you know." He asked embarrassed.

"Trying to eat your neck?" she asked pointedly as he nodded relieved, "Because it was a vampire." She heard Donald scoff behind her as she turned and glowered. "Oh, forgive me. Because normal people have human faces which turn wrinkly, with big fans, who suck blood from people's necks and turn to dust when you put a wooden stake through their heart." She said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"Vampires?" Matt frowned.

"Yeah." Buffy sighed. "Giles is going to flip." She groaned. "You feel okay Max?"

"Yeah, but my mum and dad…"

"It's not holes, it's literally two scratches. Just say that you were caught by a branch while climbing a wall or fence or through a bush or something." She said seriously. The boy nodded a little more colour in his face.

"Is that why Rupert made you walk me over? Why he wanted to give me a lift?" Matt asked, trying to process it all. Buffy nodded in response,

"He knows about everything that goes bump in the night. Most humans don't…for obvious reasons. People either think they're crazy or they're too keen to ignore the facts as their mind can't process it."

"Are there a lot of them?"

"I didn't think there would be a lot here no. There were be heaps where I came from in America."

"So will they follow us?" Matt asked a little scared.

"Wouldn't think so. Any other vampire there would have shown themselves. Any who didn't won't want to mess with me unless they have a big plan. Besides which, they can't get into your home unless you invite them in."

"You have to invite them?" Max laughed.

"Yup. Otherwise it's like an invisible barrier they can't get through. Though if it's a public building where everyone is invited they can come and go as they please."

"Why do they never go to the school then?" Donald asked sceptically.

"They can only go around in darkness. Sunlight kills them. They burst into flames and turn to dust."

"Liar." Donald said sceptically.

Buffy shrugged, "Whatever." She looked at Max, "You're fine. I'm off to the garage if you need me Matt." She said walking away. Teenagers. She sighed, she should have left them to get bitten and seen if they believed here then.

Liam and Katherine walked into the living room and stopped in their tracks.

"I thought you were going to your friends?" Katherine asked frowning.

"We were, but Max's parents changed their plans." Matt said, not taking his eyes off of the tv screen.

"Well you can scram up to your room." Katherine said crossing her arms.

"They can stay here." Liam said softly, "They're not doing any harm."

"Yes they are, they're taking up the lounge and the tv." She walked over and turned off the tv as the three boys groanded and Matt started to complain.

"You have a tv in your room. Go there." She said crossing here arms.

"I'm sorry boys, this is my sister, the bitch." Matt said livid.

"SCRAM LOSER!" she shouted.

"Wait til Rupert hears, he won't be happy. You're going to be grounded forever twice." He said heading towards the stairs. "Thanks for your support Liam." He scoffed passing him.

The boys entered his small, but sufficient bedroom and looked around."I know it's not much, but we've only been here for a couple of weeks." He apologised.

"It's kinda small." Max noted. "I know, it was Rupert's study. Katherine got the spare room and Angel got the spare lounge downstairs."

"Where's Buffy sleeping?" Donald asked.

"In a room off the back of the garage. It's usually locked with all of Rupert's personal things, but I guess he has no secrets from her."

The conversation stopped as they listened to more commotion and shouting downstairs.

"You think you own the place! Come back here when I'm talking to you." Katherine roared. They heard the front door slam and moved to the window as Buffy suddenly appeared on the flat porch roof with a jump up from the ground. They all stared as they heard the front door open and Katherine begin to shout, before she noted that Buffy was nowhere to be seen.

"Come back here and….."

Matt chuckled, before the boys joined in. Buffy turned and looked at them from her stance down the sloped roof. Turning her attention back to the front garden, she waited until Katherine had disappeared before jumping back off of the roof and moving down the street.

"You think she was right…about vampires?" Donald asked sceptically.

"She did just manage to jump up and down from the roof."

"And she said she was into kickboxing." Matt said in thought. "She said Giles was going to be mad too…maybe he knows stuff."

"Maybe that's what's in his room?" Max said putting two and two together. The three of them looked at one another, jumping as there was a knock and Liam walked in.

"Hey. Um, it's quite late. Buffy said I should walk you home? She said you wouldn't disagree."

"No, that's cool."

"I'd rather have the hot blonde walk me back though." Donald said seriously. "Have you seen her body?" He looked at Liam, seeing his scowl and walked past him, Max following closely. "You coming Matt?"

"If it means not being in the same house as phsyco alone, you bet!"

"That's your sister you're talking about." Liam said warningly.

"Well go remind her then!" he despaired, walking past him.

"Hello." Giles smiled nervously as he entered his house, looking at the teenagers before him. "How is everyone?"

"Fine." Liam nodded from the sofa as Katherine refused to acknowledge him.

"Is Matthew and Buffy in?"

"Matt's in his room, Buffy is out."

"Still out?" Giles frowned as he looked at the clock.

"She said don't wait up." Katherine stirred. "Yes. Quite. I just expected her to take less time." He frowned, heading towards the stairs.

"She only went out after we got back in."

"Really?" Giles asked.

"Ask geek up the stairs, he knows more than us."

"I would appreciate if you didn't refer to him as a geek Katherine." Giles said strictly. "Regardless of what mood you are in, or how you feel, I can assure you that your fifteen year old brother is probably not feeling any better." He shot, heading up the stairs.

Katherine looked at Liam, half hurt and half defiant.

"He's right. Matt's got the same feelings as us. You shouldn't exclude him. He lost mum and dad just the same as us." He stood up, following Giles up the stairs.

Liam slowed down as he heard Matt and Giles speaking in Matt's room.

"Buffy was walking us along to Max's when we saw him with these three guys. One was trying to bite his neck." Matt told Giles, stopping his story.

"And?" Giles asked concerned.

"Buffy ran on and….kinda killed or got rid of them." He said. "Max's house was empty so we came here: Buffy said we could. She said they were vampires….then after Katherine came in and went crazy and made us give up the tv. Buffy was training in the garage and then left. We were up in the room listening to Katherine shout at her. Buffy left the house and Katherine went after her. When she opened the front door, Buffy jumped onto the roof until Katherine went back inside."

"Did Katherine see here?" Giles asked quietly."No, Buffy was just avoiding her. She was shouting as normal." Matt sighed. Giles nodded, deep in thought.

"Is it true? Are there vampires?" Matt asked confused.

Giles sighed, leaning back on the desk chair in the boy's room. Thinking hard to himself.

"Don't think. Just answer." Matt said pleadingly.

"Then yes Matt. Buffy's not lying." He said seriously. "I was afraid of this happening when you moved here." He sighed.

"Afraid of what?" Matt asked confused.

"You and your brother and sister getting dragged into matters which don't concern you." He admitted.

"What do you mean, don't concern us?" Matt asked annoyed.

"I'm sorry Matthew. Can you give me a minute to think things over." Giles apologised sitting for a moment frowning.

"Okay." He said nodding, sitting back on his bed, his back against the wall. The two sat in silence for a couple of minutes before Giles continued.

"Matthew." He said looking at him softly. "You are aware that I work as a librarian at the high school. And that before that I was a librarian in America?" he asked. The fifteen year old nodded his shaggy dark hair. "Well, that's my day job to speak of. Out with work, I was, in American, what is known as a watcher." He took a deep breath. Unaware that Liam was still standing silently outside of Matt's bedroom, holding a breath. "In every generation, a girl is born to protect the world against the dark and evil. I know it's a bit inconceivable…unbelievable…" he elaborated at Matt's blank face, "But there are vampires and demons in the world. One girl is born to protect the world against those things, and that girl happens to be Buffy. It's changed lately and there are more of them. However, for every girl, who is called the slayer, there is a watcher who guides her…a bit like a mentor. I was Buffy's mentor."

"SO wait. What, is Buffy like superwoman?" he asked confused.

"Similar. But real." Giles nodded.

"And you're like her mentor teacher guy."

"Was. Yes." Giles nodded.

"Is that what's in Buffy's room. All the information on vampires and demons and stuff?" Matt asked instantly.

"Yes." Giles nodded. "Although I have another few sources." He admitted. He looked gently at the young boy. "I'm sorry you had to find out like this. I did intend for you and your siblings not to be involved in this."

"Why?"

"Because it's very dangerous." Giles gulped, "Deadly." He said softly.

"People die?"

Giles's face paled as he remember his once time girlfriend, Buffy dying twice, Tara, the effects on Willow, Anya. "Yes." He said softly.

"Shit." Matt frowned.

"Language please Matthew." Giles said softly. "It takes a while to get your head around it. Although seeing Buffy dust those vampires must have been a tell tale sign." He tried.

"Yeah. It was a bit weird. I took a punch to the face. It hurt like hell. Max got his neck scractched by one's teeth." He said in awe.

"Really! Is he okay!" Giles exclaimed, luckily covering Liam's gasp from outwith the door.

"Yeah. Buffy said it wasn't punctured, just scratched. She said for him to tell his mom and dad that a branch scratched him when he was climbing a wall or fence or something."

Giles chuckled a little. "Yes…well Buffy has plenty of experience in covering up lies when it comes to slaying." He smiled. "Did her mum and dad know?"

Giles' face became serious, "Her mum found out a couple of years after she was called…when she became the slayer. Her dad still doesn't know. Buffy has no real contact with him." He admitted. "Though I don't want to go into Buffy's background too much without her being here." He said.

"Huh." Matt nodded. There was a moment's silence.

"I'm just going to put my jacket away okay?" Giles asked, standing up from the chair. Heading for the bedroom door, he didn't fail to notice Angel's feet disappearing into the bathroom as he exited the room. Frowning, he noted the movement for later and went to put his jacket away. He was surprised when Matthew appeared at his door.

"Can I see the stuff in Buffy's room please?" he asked.

Giles looked at him a moment, studying his slightly confused face but his willingness to understand.

"Tomorrow when Buffy's back Matthew. I don't want to invade her privacy and it would be nice if she was there to go through it with you too."

"Okay." He nodded. "Where is she?"

"Buffy?"

"Yeah." Matt nodded.

"She'll be patrolling while exploring town. She'll be looking for vampires to slay and trying to enjoy herself at the same time. Probably looking at the cemetery before heading to the local club to dance inappropriately." Giles said his eye brows raised.

Matthew laughed, "Drinking?"

"No…not after an incident with a demon at a frat party and beer turning people into monsters." He smiled softly. "Why don't we go and have a cup of tea?" he offered. Matt smiled and nodded as the two of them headed downstairs.

"Liam, are you not heading to bed?" Giles asked as his brother and sister headed up the stairs to bed.

"No, I thought I'd stay up a bit, I'm not tired." He said shrugging.

"Very well." Giles nodded, frowning a little before heading through to the kitchen. Liam followed him with his eyes and let out a big yawn. Turning back to the TV screen, his mind once more ran over the conversation he had listened to this evening.

Ten minutes later, the front door opened and Buffy came in.

"Hey. How you doing?" she asked, taking off her new jacket and hanging it up. Liam turned around and let his eyes wander over her body which was dressed in a knee length skirt with knee high boots and skin tight hoody jumper.

"Okay." He nodded, "You?"

"Yeah. Good." She let a smile spread over her face before she walked over to the couch, tapping his feet to be moved, before flopping down on the sofa. "Anything good on?"

"Nope."

"Great." She said, her eyebrows raised. She turned to see him, a smile playing at her lips until he smiled and chuckled. Her gaze met his as she continued, "You should smile more, it really suits you." She said softly. Her attention moved to the kitchen door as Giles walked through. "Hey," she smiled. "Buffy. How was your evening?" he asked interested.

"Good. I got a cute guys number at the club." She smiled. She rolled her eyes at Giles' frown. "I know, I know, holiday romances aren't convenient. Nothing stopping me having some fun though." She chirped. "Anyway, I'm going to head to bed. My time table still isn't British." She apologised.

"Buffy." Giles said softly.

"Yeah?"

"Matt told me his friends came here to play games?"

"Oh. Yeah." She nodded, looking at Giles and well aware of the hidden conversation.

"I thought you could tell me about it tomorrow?" he suggested. "Cool. Suits me. Night Giles." She smiled before giving him a tight hug and heading through to her room. Sighing, Giles sat down on the single seater and took a sip of his tea.

"You okay?" Liam asked.

"Hmm? Oh. Just thinking." He tried to smile. "As much as I love Buffy, it doesn't stop me worrying about her." He said softly.

"She seems like a nice person."

Giles looked at the nineteen year old closely, thinking he saw a glint of something else in his eye, "Yes. She is very special, and very close to my heart." He admitted. "However, that doesn't mean that she's not a twenty one year old girl."

Buffy opened the inner door to the garage and sat down on the steps, watching Matt at the punch bag. After a moment, he stopped and turned to look at her.

"Hey." He smiled. "You sleep okay?"

"Hmm. More sleep is good." She yawned, pulling her arms around her more to try and give her more heat as she leaned against the door opening in her pyjama bottoms, vest top with her socks. Matt smiled, turning his attention back to the punch bag. Buffy looked up as the door to the garage opened behind her. "Morning." She mumbled as Liam looked at her shocked and walked into the garage. Looking around, he sat down next to Buffy, watching Matt. Glancing at Buffy, he pulled off his jumper and handed it to her,

"Put this on." He said quietly.

"Thanks." She smiled, pulling his jumper on and pulling it down as far as it would go. She chuckled as it drenched her and shocked Liam by leaning her head on his shoulder as she fought sleep.

"You had breakfast?" he asked her.

She shook her head, "Need to wake up first." She mumbled. She frowned and suddenly stood up, slowly walking over to the punch bag. "Matt?" Matt stopped and looked at her. "Put your hands up further. To here." She took them gently in her hands and lifted them up a bit. "And keep your chin tucked in. Head high, but chin in." she said, leaving him to it and returning to the door. She stopped as she heard Katherine yelling from inside. "And the peace is shattered." She mumbled, walking out of the garage, shutting the door gently behind her, before heading into her room. Waiting for Katherine to go into the garage, she picked up her towel and headed for a shower.

As Buffy opened the door to the landing immersed in her own thoughts, she jumped as she bumped into Liam and Katherine.

"Hey. Um, your jumper." She offered him it back, making him smile gently at her nervousness. Standing in front of him in a towel made him fight not to sweep her over with his eyes. He could tell the top of her breasts would be visible if he looked down, but gulped as he nodded silently. "God. Can you not get dressed and stop my brothers drooling over you?" Katherine moaned.

Buffy blushed and shrugged, "I'm not making them drool. Besides which I'm only going to my room." She paused before screwing up her face a little, "You know what, I'm sooo not responsible to you." Buffy shook her head, walking past her.

"I wasn't drooling." Liam frowned at his sister.

"Yeah right." She scoffed rolling her eyes.

"Giles, I'm heading out." Buffy said lightly, walking into the kitchen to find him sitting with a Sunday paper in his hands.

"Really? Where?" he asked confused. "Pretty much anywhere that's not where Katherine is." She admitted. "Buffy." Giles warned softly.

"What? She's not my responsibility. She makes Dawn look positively angelic Giles!" she exclaimed.

"She's having difficulties adjusting."

"Don't go there! I've been there. And sure I was mucked up, but hell I just screwed myself up, not everyone around me." She exclaimed. She took a few deep breaths as Giles studied her.

"I've offered to run the three of them down to their home town to see some friends. We're leaving in half an hour."

"Cool." Buffy nodded.

"I was hoping you would come too. Give us some time to chat."

"How long is the journey?" She asked grudgingly.

"An hour and half each way."

"Three hours in the car with Katherine?" she asked amazed at the suggestion.

"She's not that bad." Liam's voice came from behind her.

"Are you kidding me?" Buffy looked at him amazed. "Your brother is the picture of teenager, you're sister makes Gerrard Kahn look spiffing."

"Ghandis Buffy."

"Gerrard, Ghandis, same thing!" she complained to Giles waving her hand in his direction, making Liam smile involuntarily. The men were silent as she sighed and shut her eyes for a moment, controlling her temper.

"For you. Only for you." She said seriously looking at Giles. "And we drop off Katherine first and pick her up last!"

Giles smiled at her gently, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. But I can't promise I won't kick her ass if she pisses me off."

"Buffy." He warned.

"What, am I throwing away my privilege to heaven?" she raised her eyebrows, "Didn't think so." She turned swiftly and left the room, leaving Giles and Liam looking at one another.

"They really seem to wind one another up the wrong way." Liam stated, going for some more food.

"Yes. Well. Your sister is…a challenge. A challenge which Buffy doesn't require along with her responsibilities." Giles said calmly. "And Katherine is…adjusting hopefully. God forbid this lasts for months." He sighed exasperated.

"What. On. Earth. Is all the shouting about." Buffy sighed, making it to the front door where the rest stood.

"Who goes in the middle of the back seat it appears." Giles stated, watching the younger two siblings bicker and yell at one another.

"I'll go in the middle. Problem sorted, now let's go." Buffy said, walking through the middle of Matt and Katherine as Matt smiled and Katherine frowned. She looked up at Liam as he held the door open for her and smiled lightly at her. "Thank you Liam."