Buffy flinched as Parker Abrams stroked her arm. He smelled wrong. It wasn't an unpleasant scent, just not appealing. It wasn't really much of a surprise. The whole room stank. Lately, her sense of smell had become so developed she could tell what Willow had for breakfast when they went for dinner. She pushed away from the good looking boy. He seemed nice enough, but it wasn't happening. His sob story aside, he just wasn't who she wanted.

The nausea got worse as she remembered Giles and his new love, Olivia of the icky cheese and the stunning beauty. He hadn't waited a week before falling into bed with someone else. She had no right to her anger. He had no memory of their time together. Buffy bit her lip. He hadn't meant to flaunt his new relationship. She knew that, but it stung even though he didn't remember their one night. She took a deep breath, fighting back the all too quick to surface tears. He had the right to a life. She had tied herself to him to give him that. She rested her hand on her shirt, over her stomach. The tidal wave of nausea that always accompanied these bouts of self torture hit just as expected.

She headed for the restroom. The nausea was just hitting its stride when she got there. Vomiting up what little food she had managed to eat, she gave into the tears and sobbed her heart out. There was no one here to hide her misery from. No Willow, no Oz, no Xander, and no Giles coming to her aide just a little too late with an endearing and adorable little speech. She bit her lip to keep from screaming out her misery. Would she ever stop wanting him? The tears streamed from her eyes. There had been demonic roommates that actually liked Celine Dion, it figured, and vampire gangs, gathering posters for their own amusement, but she could handle it. Giles would get to have a life. She had made sure of it. He would get another bite at that love apple with Olivia. He would get the happy ending he deserved. Slayers weren't happy ending girls. It was just a fact.

Buffy fell asleep tucked into the corner of the tiny room, tears still sliding from her eyes. She slept fitfully through the night. Another bout of nausea finally woke her and she gagged over the toilet for some time to no avail.

She washed her face and hands with cold water and looked into the mirror at her puffy eyes. Guilt hit. Willow was going to be so worried.

She opened the door and saw another blonde girl smack Parker. There were tears in her eyes.

"I never said it was forever." His syrupy voice grated along Buffy's nerves.

"You're a pig, you bastard." The girl ran out and Parker laughed.

"And you were a lousy lay," he called after her rapidly retreating form. He was laughing.

Buffy stepped out of the bathroom and walked up behind him. He was still chuckling. Anger flashed white hot. She tapped him on the shoulder and he turned. His eyes went wide with panic.

"It isn't what it looks like, Buffy." He said quickly.

"Really? Cuz it looks like you're an a idiot using any old story that will work to sleep with as many girls as possible." She smiled and tilted her head, perfectly perky. The moment he relaxed she punched him hard in the gut. Watching him fall to the ground was almost as satisfying as watching a vamp dust. She grinned for a moment and stepped over his crumpled form.

The sunlight played though the leaves and dappled the walkways. Sunnydale was so beautiful in the sunlight. She walked toward the dorm and the sadness settled back into its place within her. She felt a jolt as Giles used a small amount of his power. She was developing a keen sense about it. He was using more every day. She frowned and wondered if he even realized how often he relied on magic now. She shook off the pain and headed into her building. A quick shower and a change of clothes sounded like this side of heaven after spending the night on a bathroom floor.

She stepped up to the door and sensed him. Giles was in the room. She swallowed. He was in her room. Her mind went blank. She avoided him, went out of her way to steer clear of his happiness. It hurt too much, and he was in her room.

She took several deep breaths and draped her shawl across her shoulders. He couldn't show up when she had had a good night's sleep in her own bed, not her Giles. He always had to catch her doing something not quite right. She grimaced and looked down at her clothing. He would probably be able to tell she had spent the night on a restroom floor. She needed armor, lots of it. Stepping into her room, she blinked her eyes and stared into his beloved face. Her stomach clenched again.

"Good to see you here, in our room," she said with a clear voice. "What brings you to our room so early?"

"One might wonder what brings you to it so late, but it would appear we have a problem." He gestured to a book and she nodded, no longer listening. His voice reached inside her and carved her like a knife. He disapproved of her behavior, that much was obvious, but she had done nothing.

Willow was making happy faces and mouthing words behind his back, but it slid over her as she took in the vision sitting before her. He was gorgeous and she missed him so much. It was a constant ache.

His rundown came to an end, and Buffy blinked trying to make her mind focus. Why did words always run away from her when she needed them?

"Okay, you guys need to find that and I'll go look for Spike." Buffy looked at Giles and fought down the urge to throw herself into his arms and beg. She wasn't even sure what she would be begging for at this point. He needed her to be strong. She was doing this for him.

They left quickly. She managed to get dressed and out the door without wasting any time. She searched several bars the bleached wonder might find appealing. There were so many places he could be holed up, but Harmony liked her comforts. Maybe they had settled into the thieving bitch's lair.

She was cutting across campus when Spike stepped out and tossed her for distance in an easy move. He smirked at her as she sprawled on the ground. His swagger was telling. He wasn't being cautious. She popped up and staked him.

"Oh, that tickles." He smiled at her. "Do it again. Harder."

"You found it." She gasped as he shoved her back.

"Another bit of witty repartee. Might miss that, but not much." He giggled and tossed her onto a table and leaned over to gloat. She hit him with her cut hand and sprang back.

He made a show of licking the finger he had smeared in her blood. He hummed and closed his eyes for a second as she tried to relocate her shoulder.

"I get to kill you, then I'll trot off to old gramps and let him know you were all sprogged up when I drank you down." He spun and kicked, but she dodged his foot and knocked him to the ground by taking out his knee. He giggled then flipped up. "Yep, this lovely trinket is all I need to kill you."

"No, you need something else," she snarled as she hit him with a series of punches and kicks.

"Yeah, Pet, what would that be?" Spike said as he hit her so hard her head snapped back.

"Ability." Buffy spun and hit him with both feet. He stumbled back and she charged toward him. His grin was the only warning she had as his punch scent her flying through the air.

"Want to tell me who the lucky bloke you've replaced the great poof with is? I'd love to tell dear old Angel. Be the cherry on my sundae, it would." He came closer and she cradled her injured arm against her midriff.

"Not much into cherries. I like hot fudge, but you have to be careful it doesn't burn." She grabbed his hand and yanked the ring from it. The sun made him smoke. Buffy jerked back and stepped into a sun drenched section of the quad. Spike glared and ran away sizzling as she sank to her knees in exhaustion. Xander came running up and slid to a halt by her side. She looked up at him with a smile and passed out.

Buffy came awake to a familiar touch. She opened her eyes and looked into Giles' concerned face. He was dabbing at her head wound. She ached. Slayer healing worked, but pain was pain. She wished she could curl up in his lap and let him hold her, but it wasn't going to happen.

"Thanks, Giles." She took the cloth from him and stared into his eyes. He nodded and moved away from her gracefully. She bit her lip and suppressed the urge to beg him to hold her, to make her feel safe.

"Xander said you managed to fight Spike and reclaim the gem." Giles smiled at her. "Well done."

"What did you do with the ring?" She asked as the others crowded into the room.

"I have it here. I thought you might want to send it on to Angel." Giles looked down and away from her. His pain was so obvious, but he handed her the ring. She leaned forward and touched his shoulder.

"I want to destroy it. Angel might not abuse it, but I would never risk putting that kind of power in his reach. Even with the soul it would be a mistake, but if he were to lose it..." She shivered at the thought. Giles looked at her and nodded.

She took a deep breath and stepped out onto his patio. It was another perfect California evening. She grabbed a rock and smashed the stone on the small ledge that surrounded the garden beds. She felt the magic as it was released and stood there alone on his patio. The flowers were still blooming and she looked up at the early evening sky.

The door slid open behind her and she felt Giles' hands settle on her shoulders. There would be no happy ending for her, but he would be free. It had to be enough. She let the warmth of his body soothe her as they stared out into the darkening night in silence.