Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Rating: T
Chapter 10
"Where do you wanna go first? Dress or underwear?" Willow asked as they drove away from Buffys bank.
Giles had reluctantly driven off in the other direction but only because Buffy had put her suitcase in his car and promised that she will be home once they were done.
"I don't actually need underwear, I have something at home that will do and he's never seen it so that's a bonus" Buffy said checking the way was clear before she pulled out of a side street.
"What?" Willow asked looking over at her and seeing the secretive grin on her face.
"Its a body chain," Buffy said grinning at Willows puzzled look, "It's a gold choker with green crystals in it that has a chain that goes down between my boobs and connects round the back, it has a chain that goes around my hips with a single chain that connects the top half to the bottom half over my stomach and one with green crystals attached to it connects all of it straight down the back"
"Wow! That's not exactly underwear though is it, you're missing a few pieces. How come you have it?" Willow asked surprised that she had something like that.
"Dunno, saw it in fetish shop, one of those ones that sell all kinds of kinky shit and just bought it" Buffy said with a shrug of her shoulders, "I've had it a while now just never had a reason to wear it and yes I know it's not technically underwear but that's the point"
"What were you doing in a fetish shop?" Willow asked with a smirk when she saw Buffy blush.
"Needed new handcuffs" Buffy mumbled her blush deepening when she remembered how the old ones were broken.
Willow snickered at her making Buffy roll her eyes, "So I take it you want a backless dress then to tease him with what could be around the front under the dress"
"Yep and I want it in white, gonna need some gold heels too" she said pulling up to the valet parking for Harrods.
They got out of the car and Willow lifted the strap of her bag over her shoulders as Buffy handed the keys to the valet. Buffy linked her arm with Willows and they strolled off towards Harrods.
"Buffy come here! I've found your dress!" Willow said excitedly half an hour later, rushing up to her and gripping her arm.
Buffy let her drag her over to a long white dress with a bateau neckline, straight skirt that would touch the floor even with heels on and long sleeves, she lifted it off the rack and saw the very low back stopped just above where her butt would start. She hung it back up and saw the split in the skirt that stopped mid thigh and smiled.
"It's perfect Will it's even my size" she said hugging her and lifted it back off the rack and took it over to the counter.
"There you go miss" the assistant said handing her a garment bag with her dress in, "Is there anything else I can get for you?"
"No thank you" Buffy said with a smile and draped the bag over her arm.
"The dress didn't actually take that long to find, now I need some shoes and a bracelet and we have to go to Hamleys and get something for the kids" Buffy said, "Food too, do you need anything? Or Abby?"
"No we're good but the food sounds like a good idea but nothing heavy ooh ice cream" Willow said pointing across the mall.
They walked over and bought a cone each, licking them as they walked around looking for the right shoes, "Hey Buff?" Willow asked as they stopped outside a jewelery shop, "didn't Giles get you that wide gold cuff bracelet for your birthday last year?"
"Oh yeah, I'll just wear that" she said walking away, "When my Dads cheque clears I'll have to try and stay away from here" she said as they stopped at another jewelery shop, going inside for the diamond stud earrings she saw in the window.
"What cheque?" Willow asked when they had left.
"Oh yeah, didn't get a chance to tell you" Buffy said as they made their way to Hamleys, "Dad gave me and Dawn a check each for ten mil, that's why I had to stop off at the bank, I needed to deposit it"
Willow stopped walking making Buffy jerk backwards, "Ten Million! Each!" she said in a squeaky voice.
"Yeah took us by surprise too but that's why Rupert gave me his credit card" Buffy said pulling her on with a grin, "Normally a very stupid thing to do but seeing as we'll be rolling in it soon he said it doesn't matter if I put a dent into his families money"
"Oh so that's why you didn't blink when the dress cost two grand" Willow said as they entered the toy store.
"Yep and it was totally worth it, Rupert's jaw is gonna hit the floor" she said with a grin as she picked up a teddy bear for Lizzy.
"How much are you gonna make him suffer until Friday?" Willow asked picking up a teddy as well. She knew Buffy hadn't forgiven him for what he said which meant the suffering was a given.
"Lot's" Buffy said with an evil grin, "We're talking slinky nighties and workout clothes while he's on the sofa suffering"
"Evil Buffy just evil" Willow said laughing as Buffy picked up a domino set for Olly and a sketchpad and pencils for Tommy. She also picked up a Lego set for Jesse as well not able to buy something for her kids and leave him out.
When they got to the till Buffy took Wills teddy off her and paid for that as well, giving her own version of resolve face when Willow tried to argue. On their way back through Buffy found her shoes, a pair of subtle glittery gold platform heels. Grinning, happy that they had managed to find everything in less than two hours, they made their way to the food hall and picked up a few dozen donuts for everyone then headed back to the valet.
After Buffy had put her things in the trunk and Willow had deposited the donuts on the back seat they drove off to find a McDonalds drive-thru for nuggets and fries knowing that they wouldn't get home before dinner.
Halfway home they stopped at a services and Willow ran in to get a couple of gingerbread lattes from Costa. As Willow was walking back to the car Buffys phone rang and she answered it without checking who it was.
"Hello?"
"Buffy where are you?" Giles asked trying, and failing, not to sound worried or panicked.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "At a services getting coffee" she said as Willow opened her door and climbed in.
"How long will you be? The children think I'm lying about you coming home"
"Hey Giles" Willow said as she handed Buffy her latte and a bag. Buffy looked inside the bag and squealed with delight as she pulled out a piece of chocolate cake, her current craving.
"What!? What is it?" Giles asked openly panicked now.
"Don't worry Giles I just gave her chocolate cake" Willow said sipping on her decaf latte.
"Oh for a moment there I thought you were being attacked" he said with a chuckle.
"We'll be another hour maybe more, depends on traffic" Buffy mumbled around a mouthful of cake.
"Sorry what was that? I didn't quite hear what you were saying as you inhale that cake my love" he said with an amused voice.
"Bite me Rupert" she said as she swallowed.
"Ask me nicely and I might" he said casually causing Willow to squeak and blush.
"Do you mind I'm sitting right here" she said glaring at Buffy as she laughed at her.
"You're gonna be waiting a long time for that to happen darling" Buffy said sweetly screwing up the paper bag and picking up her latte, "we're leaving now see you in a bit" she pressed the button disconnecting him before he could say anything else.
Willow shook her head and grinned "Evil, pure evil" she said as Buffy laughed.
Willow took Buffys phone from her bag as a text came through a couple of minutes later and smiled as she read it to her, "It's Giles, he says 'Love you too see you soon' with a few kisses and a winky face"
Buffy grinned and pulled out of the parking space, Willow turned the radio up once they got back onto the motorway and they thought up ways to drive Giles mad for two days.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Mum you're back!" Olly cried when they came through the door a little after six. The traffic had been brutal as they got near Swindon and had been crawling along for the last hour.
"Told you I would be" she said laughing as he hugged her round the middle.
"Hi Aunty Buffy" Jesse said waving at her from the living room floor.
"Hey Jesse, is your Mom and Dad here too?" she asked him.
"Yeah they're in the kitchen with everyone else" he said not taking his eyes from the TV.
"Okay good to know, Will change of plan" she said handing the dress and the other bags off to Willow and taking the donuts and the toys from her, "I'll guard the donuts you hide that dress in the spare room and wait there, I'll get Abby and Helen" she whispered to her and smiled secretively when she winked back and moved off to the stairs.
"Come here Jesse" she said as she gently pulled Olly off of her waist, "I have something for you, and you Olly" she said noticing his slight frown.
She handed them the domino's and the Lego set and they happily ran back to the floor to play with them, "Olly where's your brother and sister?"
"In the kitchen" he said without looking up.
"Is Aunt Dawn and Uncle James here?"
"Nope, he took her to dinner" Jesse said as he pieced together a Minecraft cave.
Smiling fondly at them she pushed her way into the kitchen, "Hey guys" she said as they all turned to face her.
"Mum!" Lizzy cried and ran over to her giving her a hug, "Dad said you were coming back but I wasn't sure" she whispered loudly making Giles and the other adults smile.
"It's okay, here I got you something" Buffy said and pulled out the teddy she had bought her. Lizzy squealed happily and ran off to her room with it.
"And I got these for you Tommy, I know you needed a new set" she said handing him the sketch pad and pencils"
"Thanks Mum" he said with a grin and followed his sister.
"Uh Buff?" Xander asked his eyes on the three boxes in her hand.
"Yes Xander?" she replied knowing what he was about to mention.
"Are those donuts from the bakery in Harrods?" he asked his eyes following them as she put them next to the fridge.
"Yes they are Xander" she said turning to face him, smiling sweetly, "Hey Helen, I'm gonna need to borrow you and Abby for a minute if that's okay" she said looking at each of them as she walked back to the kitchen door.
"Sure Buff, come on Ab" Helen said glaring at Xander, "Touch those donuts and I'll sic Buffy on you" she told him and laughed when he smiled back at her, trying to look as innocent as possible.
Buffy looked at Giles and smiled, resisting the urge to laugh when his whole body relaxed and he smiled back. She led the girls out of the room and up the stairs where Willow was waiting in the spare room.
"Right, I have dinner with Rupert on Friday and I have the dress and the shoes, I know what jewelery I'm wearing I just need help with ideas for my hair and make up" she said to them as she unzipped the dress bag hanging on the wardrobe.
"Oh wow, that's gorgeous" Helen said, getting up to turn it around, "You're gonna look amazing"
Abby who had been busy thanking Willow for the teddy she had just given her looked up and said, "What shoes are you wearing with it?"
"These," Buffy said opening the shoe box and showing them, "Gold jewelery too"
"Hair should be plaited and pinned like this" Helen said bunching her hair up around the back of her neck, "I could do it while Abby does your make up if you like"
"I mean I can do it myself but it would be quicker if you guys helped" Buffy said grinning at them, "I'll probably be getting ready in Rupert's office at headquarters as we're leaving after his meeting so would you all meet me there?"
"I'll bring them don't worry Buffy, where's your body chain?" Willow said putting her arm around her wife.
"In the back of my closet hidden behind my shoes" Buffy said as she zipped her dress back up. She turned to Willow looking at her thoughtfully, "You might have to help me hide the chain through the dress, I don't know if it will bulge through the material or the gold would be visible through it"
"We'll see on Friday when you put it on" she said standing up pulling Abby with her, "Want me to put the usual lock and password on the wardrobe?" she asked as Buffy tucked her things inside it.
"Please, that way he can't cheat and see it before it's on"
Willow grinned at her and she and Abby walked to the wardrobe holding hands. They each put a hand on the wood and muttered a few words in Latin before the wardrobe glowed slightly and they stepped back.
"Come on, let's go and rescue the donuts from Xander before he eats them all" Helen said linking arms with Buffy as they left the room.
Buffy knocked on Lizzy's and Tommy's doors as they passed and told them there were donuts downstairs alone with Xander and the women laughed when they bolted down the stairs in front of them shouting for Olly and Jesse.
They were still laughing when they walked into the kitchen and saw the kids and Xander helping themselves to a box of donuts on the island with Giles looking on in mock horror.
"Couldn't wait huh?" Buffy said removing the bottom box and putting it down on the other end from the kids.
"Na uh" they all said around mouthfuls of donuts.
Buffy smiled at them and pulled a plate from the cupboard. She opened the box and pulled out the two that were Giles' favorites and handed him the plate,
"There you go my love" she said leaning up and kissing his cheek, moving away and tutting at him while wagging her finger when he tried to capture her mouth.
She returned to the girls and pulled out her strawberry and cream donut and started eating. She kept her eyes on the girls as they chatted away and when she started to lick cream from her fingers she noticed Willow giggling silently as she ate. Buffy looked over at Giles and saw his donut stopped halfway to his mouth as he stared at Buffy.
She looked back at Willow and grinned, picked the strawberry from the top of the donut and sucked the cream off before she bit down on it. They heard Giles groan and they both burst into a fit of giggles, Willow only stopping when Abby asked her what was going on. They both explained what they had discussed in the car in a whisper to Helen and Abby and pretty soon they were all laughing as they ate.
Buffy removed five donuts from the last box and handed it over to the others to fight over when Xander tried to snag one from their box. "Why do you think I bought three boxes Xand? I knew you would be here" she said with a grin at Helen who just rolled her eyes.
"I don't know where he puts it, Jesse too" Helen said as they watched the boys all take another donut, Lizzy standing next to Giles with a glass of milk after she had eaten three of them.
"They're boys," Abby said, wiping her hands on a napkin, "We get boobs and cramps and they get the ability to eat whatever they like"
"When you hit fifty you need to be careful what you eat" Giles piped up as he crammed another jelly donut into his mouth, "It all builds up around the middle and you start to look pregnant"
"Better make use of the next twelve years then" Xander said cheerfully as he finished his sixth donut.
Willow shook her head as she poured a glass of milk for each of them, putting four in front of the boys and one next to Giles before pouring the rest of the milk out for her and the others.
"Can you show me what you plan to do with my hair?" Buffy asked Helen who smiled and placed her fingers on Buffys temples.
"Okay wow that looks amazing" Buffy said as her eyes unfocused, seeing what Helen was projecting into her head, "how long will that take?" she asked her when she was finished.
"Not long and it won't need that many pins either" she said around the last bite of her donut.
"Okay cool, I'll take the pins, make up and my jewelery," Buffy said winking at them, "If you guys could bring the dress and the shoes so he doesn't see it that would be great"
"We can do that" they all said together and started giggling again.
"The meeting starts at one right?" Buffy asked Giles grinning at him when she saw his look of confusion.
"Yes should finish around five and we have reservations at seven" he said frowning at her, "Why?"
"Well as long as I can get ready in your office then I can talk to Faith and Ella for a bit and tell the other head Watchers that I'm retiring from active duty then leave around half four to get ready" Buffy said looking around at them when she realized they had all gone silent, "What?"
"You're really retiring from active duty?" Xander asked staring at her, a hopeful gleam in his eyes.
"Yeah, like Rupert said, I've been the Slayer for twenty three years it's time I hang up my stake" she said looking around at them, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Oh Buffy thank the Goddess" Willow said and threw her arms around her.
That was the catalyst and pretty soon everyone but Giles and the kids, who were standing there with smiles on their faces, had their arms around her, "Having trouble breathing guys" Buffy said from under their arms.
"Sorry" they muttered, smiling happily.
"It's just that we're happy, we all worry about you when you go out and although you're supposed to be taking a backseat to all the Slaying the other Watchers seem to think you're on call twenty four seven" Xander said gruffly, his eyes bright.
"Yeah and whenever you go out it's not just Giles that gets scared, we just handle it better than he does" Willow said brushing away the moisture in her eyes as she grinned happily at her best friend.
"What they said" Helen said putting her arm around Xanders waist and laying her head on his shoulder. Xander smiled down at her before wrapping his arm around her shoulders and kissing her hair.
"Yeah ditto,"Abby said leaning over and gripping Buffys hand, "we all talk about how unfair the other Watchers are, I mean most of them have magic and they still can't figure out how to do it without you, we all think it's just laziness"
"It's going to be a shock to their system when I reiterate her position as consultant and point out that she is not their back up Slayer" Giles said putting his plate and glass in the sink, "they will have to fight their own battles and only call on her when it's a matter of an apocalypse that needs her experience like it's meant to be" he said smiling at Buffy as he picked up the empty glasses from the island.
"And on that happy note we're leaving" Xander said, "Come on Jesse get your stuff you have spellings to learn and a book to read"
"Oh but I wanna play with Olly and his new domino's" he whined.
"Now Jesse" Helen said frowning down at him.
"Fine" Jesse said stomping out of the room.
"You three have any homework?" Buffy asked her kids.
"Yep" they all said and traipsed out of the kitchen after hugging their mother.
"We'll go to, I have the report to write on the attack on the school" Willow said giving Buffy another hug and a kiss on the cheek, "So happy" she said then walked off to get her and Abby's coats.
"You're gonna look great on Friday" Abby said giving her a hug.
"Thanks to you three I will yeah" Buffy said with a laugh as she hugged her back, "and thanks for taking care of the kids this morning" she said when Abby had pulled back.
"Don't mention it, it's what you do for family" she said giving Buffy a smile.
Buffy and Giles followed her out of the kitchen to see them all off and stood waving at them from the front door as they drove away, Giles with his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm gonna have a bath" Buffy said stepping out from under his hand and making her way to the stairs.
"Any room for me?" Giles asked hopefully.
"Not tonight" she said softly and carried on up the stairs.
Giles sighed and went back to the kitchen to tidy up. A few minutes later Buffy called down the stairs to him,
"Rupert where's my book?"
He walked out of the kitchen and stopped dead at the bottom of the stairs, his foot on the first tread. He had looked up and saw Buffy standing there wrapped in a towel that gaped a little over her hip. He opened and closed his mouth a few times before his brain remembered how to work his legs and voice.
"I'll get it" he said his voice a little higher than usual.
She smiled at him as she turned and walked back into their bedroom. He walked in and caught a glimpse of her as she dropped the towel and climbed into the bath. He bent at her bed side table and retrieved the book, taking it to her as she sat back amidst the bubbles.
She had lit her jasmine, lavender and sandalwood candles and piled her hair on top of her head. The soft, flickering candle light made her look even more beautiful and he couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"Thanks" she said and reached out for the book in his hands.
"You're welcome" he said, biting his lip on a groan when she leaned back and he saw her nipples peaking out from under the bubbles. He reached out and tilted her head to the side, frowning when he saw the wound had almost healed, "Did Willow cast a glamour to hide this?" he asked when she pulled her head out of his hand.
"Yeah, I just didn't want to deal with the stares today, ya know the 'is she being beaten at home' stares" she clarified at his puzzled look.
"Ah okay, well it's healing nicely" he said runnin the tip of his finger over the surface of the cut.
"I know" she said softly opening her book.
He stood there for a few minutes more staring down at her until she looked up at him and cleared her throat, "Sorry" he muttered sheepishly and walked out of the bathroom, turning as he pulled the door shut he saw her smiling softly at him and he couldn't help but grin as he walked down the stairs.
He was in for a long couple of days if the whispered conversation and the giggles from the girls was anything to go by. His mind flashed back to her eating that damned donut and he groaned when he felt the twitch in his groin.
Shaking his head to clear the images that were rapidly filling it he went back to his task of cleaning the kitchen.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Finally Friday was here. Giles had been driven to distraction by Buffy for the last two days, walking around the kitchen in her slinky nighties at night and during the day wearing her workout gear. She had made him sleep on the couch as well and his body was itching to touch hers.
She hadn't allowed more than a kiss on the cheek or forehead since she had come back from London Tuesday night and what's more Willow, Abby and Helen seem to be in on it as they brought her pieces of decadent chocolate cake with them every night. Every time Buffy had groaned when she took that first bite, the sound had traveled directly to his groin.
"Buffy, come on love, we need to leave now" he shouted up the stairs.
"Coming" she shouted back and turned to Willow, "Right you, Helen and Abby come get me from the meeting room at four thirty which should be right around the time they'll be losing their shit about me retiring"
"Buffy I've got it go already" Willow said handing the box with her body chain and other jewelery inside of it over to her, "have fun making him squirm on the way up there" she said grinning wickedly at her.
They had all had fun coming up with ways Buffy could torment Giles while he was forced to sleep on the sofa and seeing the way it was working Helen was thinking of trying it with Xander especially when Buffy told them that with this much sexual tension being built up Giles would probably go all night.
"Oh, unlock the wardrobe before you go" Willow said just as Buffy was rushing out the door.
Buffy swore and changed direction, heading into the spare room. She put her make up case, her overnight bag and the box on the bed and put her hand on the wardrobe,
"Sunnydale" she said and the wardrobe glowed brightly for a second before a click was heard, "There you go, have fun with the kids and I'll see you tomorrow around dinner time" she said giving Willow a hug.
"Oh and tell the kids that it's okay for you to teach them something new and that the movie night you're planning is okay by me" she said grinning knowingly at Willow when she blushed.
"How did you know?" Willow asked trying not to look guilty even though Buffy had busted her.
"You're kidding right? Olly has a big mouth, how did you not know that?" Buffy said laughing at her friends irritation.
"I'm gonna turn him into a toad" she growled affectionately.
"As long as he's in bed before eleven go for it" Buffy said laughing, "I gotta go before he pops a blood vessel" she said when Giles shouted up the stairs again.
"Have fun" Willow called out as Buffy rushed off towards the stairs.
"About bloody time" Giles growled when he saw her, thankful that she was wearing a chunky knit sweater and jeans. He didn't know how much more he could take of her skimpy outfits.
"Sorry had to remind Will about the plan for her and the girls to get me from the meeting room and unlock the wardrobe" she said opening the front door.
"It's a shame Xander can't be there as well" he said opening the boot for her, looking intrigued when the box she dropped in there rattled slightly.
"Do I get to know what you're wearing now?" he asked her hopefully. Every time he had asked her over the last two days she had just smiled secretively and shaken her head.
"Nope, you have to wait until tonight" she said smiling at him sweetly.
"But what if we don't match?" he asked as he held her door open for her, pulling his trump card knowing that she was a stickler for this kind of detail.
"You're wearing your black suit with your dark green tie and the cufflinks I bought you right?" she asked as he sat down and pulled his door shut.
"Yes exactly, so what if what you are wearing will clash with the green" he said as he started the car.
"We'll match don't worry" she said and reclined the seat, "I'm gonna nap for a bit, didn't get much sleep last night"
"Why what's wrong?" he asked pulling out of the drive.
"Having these weird dreams, not sure if it's prophecy or if it's just my brain on chocolate cake" she said settling herself more comfortably in the seat and closing her eyes.
"What are they about?" he asked starting to worry.
"Don't know, they're jumbled that's why it's weird" she muttered as she let the sound of the tires hissing on the road under them and the soft classical music Giles had put on the radio lull her into a doze.
"Make sure to tell me when they get clearer, even if it is just your brain on chocolate cake" he said with a grin.
"Uh huh" she mumbled sleepily.
He glanced over at her and saw her head had lolled to the side, resting on the side of the chair. Smiling lovingly at her he reached over and tucked her hair behind her ear, turning the radio down a little when a more energetic piece came on and she twitched slightly.
An hour into their journey she woke up and removed her sweater revealing a spaghetti strap vest with nothing underneath it. Giles couldn't help but glance at her as she sat up and twisted her torso to face him when she threw the sweater on the back seat.
"How far did we get?" she asked laying back as she yawned. Placing a hand on her stomach, she shifted her hips and leaned more on her right side facing him.
"About half way, you can go back to sleep if you're still tired" he said trailing a finger down her cheek.
"Hmm I think I'll just doze for a bit" she said and closed her eyes.
Giles stared straight ahead for the rest of the journey, unable to risk looking at her fully as she had shifted onto her back, stretching at one point and nearly making him crash the car as she arched her back and groaned in relief.
"Robin's not due to phone in until three if you want to wait in my office" he said when they had pulled into the underground parking under headquarters.
"I think I might, these things are usually really boring" she said taking her things from him, leaving her overnight bag in the car.
"I know they are but at least you'll liven this one up my love" he said cupping her cheek.
"Yeah but that's not until later," she said leaning into his touch and resisting the grin when he closed his eyes in relief that she hadn't pulled away, "what can I do to make it more lively for you now?" she said tapping her chin, her eyes narrowed in thought.
Before he could say anything, her hand shot out and gripped the back of his neck. She pulled his head down and kissed him like she hadn't kissed him since Monday afternoon. He groaned when he felt her tongue slide over his lips and his hands came up and buried themselves in her hair as he opened up to her.
After a few minutes she pulled away, grinning at the dazed look on his face, "I'd say you're feeling pretty lively right now" she said, laughing when he shook his head.
He grabbed her hand and placed it over his groin, pressing hard as his hips involuntarily thrust forward, "What do you think?" he whispered in her ear then placed a gentle kiss on her neck below it, grinning wolfishly when he felt her shiver, "With the way you've been acting the last couple of days it's a wonder I haven't had a permanent hard on"
She pulled her hand away and smiled sweetly up at him as he adjusted his trousers and pulled on his suit jacket, "I don't know what you're talking about" she said innocently, watching as he reached into the backseat and removed his suit bag.
"Yes you do, you and those witches have been conspiring with each other to drive me out of my mind" he said holding his arm out for her as they walked to the elevator.
Laughing at his injured expression they rode up to the top floor, Buffy batting his hands away when he tried to pull her closer to kiss her again. They parted ways at the top, Buffy taking his suit bag from him and watched as he walked into the meeting room with his briefcase.
"Hey Verity, how've you been?" she asked Giles' secretary as she walked into his office.
"Not so bad actually, Jeff is back from his month long research trip in Africa" she said standing up and following her into the office. She liked Buffy, she was always kind to her and didn't expect her to run around getting her cups of tea or coffee like some of the other wives.
"That's good, did he find anything helpful?" she asked as she put her things down on the desk and hung Giles' suit on the bathroom door.
"Some dusty old scrolls in a cave that the translators are in heaven over" Verity said getting comfortable on the sofa.
"Let's just hope they're not another prophecy about the Slayer" Buffy said sitting next to her and rolling her eyes, "the last one that showed up every Watcher to an active Slayer were having strokes over it, would not stop ringing the house to talk to Giles, drove me mad"
"Yeah but they all seem to be about you anyway" Verity said with a smile.
"Yay, lucky me" Buffy said sarcastically, "well they're all in for a shock later"
"Why? What's going on?"
"I'm pregnant again, with twins apparently, so I have decided to retire from active duty" Buffy said twisting so she could face Verity, "but don't say anything until the official memo goes out okay, wouldn't wanna ruin the surprise" she said with a grin.
"Oh my god you're pregnant with twins!" Verity cried wrapping her in her arms, "That's amazing congratulations, was it planned?" she asked when she let her go.
"Nope, total surprise" Buffy said grinning happily.
They settled in for an over due gossip and before she knew it, it was time to talk to Faith. She said goodbye to Verity and made her way down to the meeting room, knocking on the door before just opening it and walking in.
"Hey guys" she said smiling at the others around the table, "Hey Robin, how've ya been?" she asked when she saw his face on the tablet next to Rupert.
"Five by five Buff" he said with a grin and she laughed at their old joke.
"Faith and that gorgeous little girl of yours about by any chance?" she asked him when she was level with the end of the table.
"Yep I'll just get them" he said and disappeared from the screen.
Buffy leaned in and gave Rupert a kiss on the cheek as she lifted the tablet out of the stand, "Sorry to interrupt guys, I just haven't seen her for a year and I want to catch up if that's okay"
"Not a problem Mrs Giles" Adrian Schubert said in his heavily accented German voice, "we need you to stay in the room though just in case we need Robin back"
"Not a problem, I'll take it over here so as not to disturb you too much, just let me know when you want him" she said with a smile and walked to the other end of the room just as a sweet little voice echoed around the room making the others smile.
"Aunty B where are you?" Ella called out making Buffy laugh.
"I'm right here sweetie" she said lifting the tablet up, smiling when she saw her face, Faith sitting behind her with a big grin on her face.
"Hey B, how've ya been?" Faith asked her as Ella clapped happily on her lap.
"Great, I'm pregnant again" she said as she sat down.
"Really wow, hear that Ella Aunty B is having another baby" she said looking down at her daughter.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" she asked her as she wiggled on her mothers lap.
"It might be one of each" Buffy said smiling at the look of wonder on her face.
"Twins! Rather you than me B, one's painful enough" Faith said grimacing.
"Hey I have something I want to talk to you about that you might wanna talk over with Robin but you only have until four fifteen to think about it" Buffy said lowering her voice so she wasn't overheard by the other Watchers in the room.
"Yeah what is it?" Faith asked lowering her voice to match Buffys.
"I've decide to retire as an active Slayer and wondered if you wanted to as well" Buffy said, "We would still handle the big apocalypses but that would be it"
"That actually sounds good to be honest, I'm getting pissed off with being called out for demons that the other Slayers can easily handle" Faith said, "I'll leave you with Ella here while I go and talk to Robin although I think I know what he'll say"
"Hell effing yeah?" Buffy guessed grinning.
"You know it" she said lifting Ella up as she stood, "You talk to Aunty B for a few minutes okay I'll be right back" she told her as she sat her back down on the chair.
"Okay Mommy" she said happily.
Ella talked to Buffy for the next fifteen minutes telling her all about her classes and what she was learning at school and the puppy she might be getting after Christmas and about the snowman she made with Faith the day before. She told Buffy about the girls at the American school all ganging up on Faith and the other slayers that were training them in a snowball fight and how Faith had managed to blow the microwave up by accidentally leaving a spoon in a bowl of soup and then she told Buffy about making Faith and Robin jump when she walked down the stairs and saw Faith sitting on Robins lap.
By the time Faith and Robin came back Buffy was in hysterics and had tears running down her face she was laughing so much.
"What's she been saying?" Faith asked after Robin had taken Ella away.
"You blew up a microwave" Buffy gasped "and were caught screwing on the couch"
"Oh my god, that little devil" Faith said blushing as she grinned, Buffy could hear Robins booming laughter before she saw him.
"She is your daughter, she's bound to just say whatever comes into her head" he said cheerfully as he kissed Faith on the head, "About your plan, we're in" he said seriously turning his attention to Buffy.
"Great I'll make the announcement then you can chime in and say you are too as the senior Slayer in America" Buffy said in a whisper.
"Sounds good so twins huh" Faith said, "Any names floating around yet?"
"We haven't talked about it but I like Hannah and Mason if it is one each" Buffy said grinning at Robins shock.
"Haven't you guys heard of protection" Robin said shaking his head.
"Funny, that's just what Xander said" Buffy said laughing when Faith elbowed him in the gut.
"Buffy" Giles called over, "we need Robin back for a minute"
"Robin you're needed" she said as she stood and walked back to the table.
She set it back in the stand and stood behind Giles, her hands on his shoulders as she watched the clock. When it had ticked over to four fifteen she gave him a little squeeze and he looked up at her and smiled.
"I actually have an announcement to make if you gentlemen don't mind" she said when Louis Dubois, the French Watcher, started to talk about her coming over to take care of a demon problem in Paris.
"By all means Mrs Giles, you have the floor" he said smiling kindly at her.
She smiled kindly back as she actually liked the old guy and moved from behind Giles to stand next to him at the end of the table, "I have decided to retire from active duty and only act in the capacity of consultant" she said and was met with a resounding shout of disagreement from most the Watchers sitting at the table, a few actually nodded at her.
She looked over at Faith, who was now prominent on the tablet's screen and rolled her eyes, she whistled loudly to get their attention. "As I was meant to be just a consultant from the beginning this should come as no surprise to you, your Watchers have been calling on me to take care of problems their Slayers should be more than capable of handling and I have had enough. I will gladly handle any major apocalypse as I have always done and will happily advise your Slayers as to their best course of action but I will no longer take care of it for them. I have been doing it for twenty three years and I see no point continuing when I am no longer needed to especially now that I am pregnant again" she said bending forward slightly with her hands pressed flat on the table in front of her.
"And I have decided to retire as well" Faith said, "I have been a Slayer for twenty one years and like Buffy said, your girls are more than capable to take over so don't act like babies and just accept it ya miserable fuckers"
Buffy grinned when they heard Ella say "Uh oh, Mommy said a bad word" even a couple of the Watchers hid grins behind their hands.
"And you support your wife's decision Rupert, and you Robin?" the Italian Watcher asked.
"I do" they both said at the same time, "I for one am extremely happy that Buffy has decided to do this because it means I no longer have to worry about whether or not my children will lose their mother and that we won't have to live through what we did five years ago when we lost our daughter" Giles said placing his hand over hers on the table.
"I feel the same way" Robin said, "And I feel comfortable saying this for Rupert about Buffy as well but I am also tired of seeing Faith hurt when she goes after demons your girls can handle"
"Well if the senior Slayers are being hurt on these missions then the less seasoned Slayers could be killed which just proves their Watchers right when they call on you" the Italian Watcher said with a self satisfied smirk.
"Actually," Willow said from the doorway causing everyone to turn their heads, "the fact that they're getting hurt has nothing to do with their experience and more to do with the jet lag they experience traveling all over the globe by magical means" she continued as she walked into the room followed by Abby and Helen, all three of them glaring down at the men seated around the table.
"And as most of your Watchers are, in actual fact, witches and mage's who signed up at the very beginning to help with the shortage of eligible Watchers, they should be able to aid their Slayers easier than Buffy or Faith" Helen said crossing her arms.
"We at the coven worked tirelessly to develop the bullets and shotgun pellets that your Watchers are supplied with to kill or at least seriously maim most demons, why aren't they using them?" Abby said laying the dress bag over the table.
"They don't always work" the Spanish Watcher mumbled looking down at the table top.
"They are not meant to work on all demons, only most of them" Buffy said glaring at them, "They worked just fine on the Lorash I took down Monday night"
"But what do they do if they don't work on a demon?" the Russian watcher asked, the only female to make it as a head Watcher so far.
"Then axes, swords, stakes and arrows should do the trick just like the good old days before we enlightened you all and brought you out of the dark ages" Buffy said sarcastically making the girls snort with suppressed laughter, "now if you will excuse me I have to get ready for a date, see you later Faith, kiss Ella for me"
"Will do B, don't do anything I wouldn't do" she called out making the girls laugh.
"Well there's not a whole hell of a lot you wouldn't do Faith" Willow said grinning at her.
"And aren't I thankful for it" Robin said with a waggle of his eyebrows.
"Eew way to much information" Buffy said smiling at Giles when he chuckled.
"See you in a bit love" she said as she left, leaving Giles to deal with the fallout of her decision.
"She can't do that surely" the Italian Watcher said as she left.
"She can and she should" Louis Dubois said glaring at each of the Watchers who were frowning, "She is right when she said that we call on her for situations that our girls can handle on their own"
"Then why do you do it?" Giles asked him surprised at the frank confession, "she has gone every time she was called, leaving her children at home with either me or her sister not knowing if she would see them again, so why take her from that when a simple phone call would have sufficed?" he glared at him, his chest heaving with the anger that was desperate to rip its way free.
"I can't speak for my colleagues but it was a case of wanting to see her in action, to show the girls that she is what they could become, she is a legend for a reason Rupert, calm yourself" Louis said holding his hands up in surrender.
"He is right that we wanted to show her off, maybe even show her parts of our countries but it doesn't change the fact that she is the Slayer" the Italian Watcher said defensively, "It is her sacred duty to fight the forces of darkness not stay home and be a mother"
"How dare you!" Giles shouted jumping to his feet, "she has earned the right to live her life as she wants to live it, so has Faith"
"You're a legacy, aren't you?" Faith asked from the tablet.
"Yes I am" the Italian said proudly.
"That explains it then, you're an idiot" she said sneering at him, "It was Watchers like you that put Buffy through the Cruciamentum, tried to kill me, dictated how we lived and died for centuries. When we started to rebuild the council we all agreed that it wouldn't be like the way it was, that it would not treat the girls like weapons and start to treat them like human beings and part of that was giving the girls we activated the choice and the chance to live their lives and allowing them to make decisions for themselves"
"But that is what is wrong…."
"Shut up boy" Adrian, the German Watcher, said sneering at him, "You have no idea what it is like to lose a Slayer, to train her, spend every moment together only to watch her die fighting a never ending war. You have no right to say that Buffy should die as a Slayer is meant to. She is the oldest and best Slayer to ever live, which includes my Johanna, and it is no longer necessary for her to fight unless her experience is an asset we will need to draw on"
"Agreed" the Russian, "we can talk this into the ground but the fact remains that she has more than earned the right to retire"
"I think the only one that doesn't agree is the idiot from Italy" Louis said glaring at him.
"I don't agree either" Bainbridge said from the other end of the table, "It is a Slayers destiny, her purpose, to die fighting evil. Never has one died of old age and they shouldn't"
"Luckily no one cares what you think" Faith said glaring at him. Like Buffy, Faith didn't like or trust him either.
"Well you should girl, my family have been Watchers for centuries and have been shaping girls like you all that time, we were also responsible for many of the customs that you people tore down and replaced with your own"
"I'm glad they did" Adrian said glaring at him, "It was your family that made it compulsory to teach Watchers that getting attached to the Slayer was dangerous and foolish"
"We were right, look what happens when Watchers become attached" Bainbridge said waving his hand at Rupert, "One of the finest families to ever grace the Watchers council and it's reduced to that, a man in love and married to his Slayer"
"Shut up Bainbridge or the next time Buffy wants to beat you to death I'll let her" Giles said not even bothering to look at him.
"As if I can believe you have that much control over her" he sneered at him.
"You're still breathing ain't ya" Faith said, "If he didn't have any control over her then you wouldn't be"
Adrian and Louis both coughed to hide their laughter earning a glare from Bainbridge. Giles was still going through the paperwork in front of him giving no outward appearance of having been affected by his words but inwardly seething nonetheless.
Maybe next time I feel Buffy tense when he's talking down to her I'll just let her go he thought biting back a grin.
"Adrian I have a question about your relationship with Johanna actually. If you don't mind my asking?" Giles said looking over at him, "You too Louis"
"Ask away" they both said.
"Did either of you feel a pull towards your girls? Or they to you?" he asked holding his breath for their answers.
"No, just a sense of protectiveness that I was powerless to do anything about" Adrian said sadly.
"Hmm, I didn't either but...did you? And Buffy?" Louis asked.
"Yes, both of us felt a pull towards each other and I have been unable to turn anything up on it in my research" Giles said blowing out a disappointed breath.
"I will look in to it with my own library and let you know if that would be of any help" Louis said absently and Giles could see that he had already heard of it.
"What do you know Louis?" he asked him watching him carefully.
"Just that I have read something of this subject. Three centuries ago I believe it was, a Watcher wrote in his journal about feeling a pull towards his Slayer. He put it off as part of his connection to her but he found out that she had felt one towards him as well. They gave in to the attraction and he wrote about feeling a shock go through him as soon as their lips touched, I know he looked into it himself but I can't remember what he found. Like I said, I'll look into it and let you know" he said nodding at Giles.
"That would be appreciated, thank you" Giles said gratefully.
He didn't notice the slight widening of Bainbridge's eyes at his mention of the pull or how the Watcher listened with interest, a sly smirk on his face as he sat back and pulled a phone from his pocket with a calculating gleam in his eyes.