Buffy sighed deeply as the bathroom door clicked shut.
Coming in and seeing Faith going through her panty drawer had been something of a shock, leaving her with barely the presence of mind to tie her robe shut before speaking. Not that Faith probably would have minded. Buffy could have sworn that Faith was trying to untie the towelling belt with her eyes anyway and maybe she should have kept the other slayer in the room until she'd succeeded.
Nice plan in theory, but Faith would have been late for her date with Robin and she would have been late for her date with Alex…
Okay, and her point was?
Shaking her head, she looked through her wardrobe. Trust Faith to have chosen her sexiest outfit. Not that Buffy had been planning on wearing it tonight – smart casual was her goal – but the thought of Faith wearing her brand new stuff to seduce someone else rankled.
Choosing a strappy red top and black pants, Buffy went to choose underwear next and cringed as she looked through the drawer. Faith had been in here. She'd had two handfuls of the underthings when Buffy had startled her. That might have been more of a turn on if they were all sexy little purchases from Victoria's Secret, but there were more than a few comfy Pink K briefs amongst the good stuff.
"Yet she still seemed plenty flustered when I caught her red handed," Buffy smiled as she chose a comfy pair from the drawer and dropped her robe ready to pull them on. "Almost as flustered as I felt when she wouldn't stop watching me in the mirror."
She'd used three times as much make-up as she usually did for one sitting, just because she hadn't wanted to break the strange, still moment between them.
The shower came to life next door. Faith was in there, probably using the delicious smelling passion fruit shower gel. Robin was in for a real treat tonight.
Buffy looked down at her naked self, pondering. If she went in there, to say, scrub Faith's back, would Robin still be in for a treat?
That was the million dollar question alright. If she opened the bathroom door right now and climbed into the warm, Faith-filled shower, would Robin be eating pizza alone tonight? Or would he just be dining a little late because Faith took so long getting ready?
Buffy wasn't prepared to face the latter. If Faith opened the shower door to her, only to dry off and go out with Robin after…
Buffy dressed, touched up her make-up, ran a brush through her hair, grabbed her bag and left the room, all as quickly as possible. So not wanting to be still in her bedroom when Faith came out in just a towel. Her frantic speed to get out of there actually made her laugh out loud at herself, relaxing her a little as she went down to the living room.
Naomi was sitting on the couch alone, watching BBC-America. She seemed pretty into whatever was on, but when Buffy jumped down the last few steps to avoid the gap, she looked up.
"Miss Summers, you look fantastic," she smiled appreciatively at her elder. Buffy mock-glared at her until the English Rose remembered herself. "I'm sorry, Buffy, you look fantastic."
Buffy grinned at her before looking down at herself. "I do?" She knew she didn't look awful, but fantastic… really?
"Absolutely."
"Well you look very…" Buffy paused, wanting to return the compliment, but struggling for a second. "…undressy-ed up. What's wrong? I've seen you looking more glamorous for breakfast."
"I, ah, well, that is…" Naomi seemed embarrassed and looked down at her worn multi-coloured jumper and slightly baggy leggings. "I thought I'd veg in front of the telly as I have the place to myself."
"Okay, but why are you staying in all alone?" Buffy walked behind the couch, leaning her elbows on the back beside the cadet's right shoulder.
Naomi twisted around to face her. "Well, Craig and Reece are out on dates with Andrew and Dawn. The girl's are going on patrol. Kennedy is taking Willow on a date. Xander is going to Barnies and he mentioned, rather crossly, that you were joining him there as the deputy sheriff's date. Even Uncle Rupert is going to the disco this evening."
"Giles is coming to Barnies?" Buffy grinned, and leaning even closer she whispered to his niece, "This is his second mid-life crisis, isn't that a bit greedy?"
Naomi giggled, or maybe the word was tittered if you were English. It was pleasant either way.
"Well why don't you come with us?" She suggested, using two fingers to tap Naomi's shoulder playfully. "You don't have to sit in this big old house all alone."
Truthfully, Buffy wasn't too keen on the young Watcher staying in alone. She hadn't seen a Pixie all day, but that didn't mean they wouldn't try taking Naomi if she was left vulnerable.
"I'm not sure; I wouldn't want to be a burden…"
"Well you won't be; and I'd really like it if you came."
"Aren't you going to be on a date?" Naomi asked, surprised.
"Oh, well yeah, but not a serious one. I mean we're not exclusive," Buffy chuckled. "So going on a date with you too isn't forbidden or anything."
Buffy wondered when she'd leaned far enough over the couch to notice Naomi suddenly holding her breath. Then she wondered why she was throwing the word date around so freely today. It just kept rolling from her tongue. And then she wondered what Naomi was going to say, seeing as the girl still hadn't made a sound.
Naomi smiled a secretive little smile and wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. "But it is forbidden between Watchers and Slayers, correct?"
"I'm not your Slayer." Buffy pointed out, wondering why her voice was suddenly so much lower.
Naomi seemed to be trying not to laugh and Buffy didn't know whether to be offended or not. Kissing her would hide the smirk, but that seemed more than a little forward even though it was what she wanted to do.
"And how deficient did that line make me sound," Buffy rolled her eyes. It was safer just to laugh this off than to travel any further down the same road. "I don't know what's gotten into me today."
She was starting to stand up straight when Naomi trapped her forearm against the back of the couch.
"No Buffy, its okay. I'm just a little stunned. I've spent so many years hearing about you and studying you and wanting to meet you that I think I perhaps developed a rather insane long distance crush, and now I'm here…"
"You get to realise it," Buffy murmured; she waited a second, gazing into pretty eyes, before giving Naomi's lips the tinest of kisses.
Naomi got very still, but didn't pull her mouth away. Buffy kissed her again, just as quick.
She felt very aware of where they were; Giles was in his bedroom, just a door away. Anyone could come down the stairs or through from the kitchen. This was crazy, and she knew it, but when Naomi still didn't move away or tell her to stop, Buffy leaned closer for a longer kiss that also went unchecked.
Why was she kissing the Watcher cadet again? Oh yeah, because she was hot, because she was there and because Faith didn't love her. Three very good reasons just at the minute.
Her hand gently cupped the back of Naomi's head, deepening the kiss. Naomi went up on her knees on the couch, bringing them closer, her own hand resting on Buffy's cheek.
But then abruptly Naomi pulled away, nearly toppling from the couch as she angrily muttered: "I'm going to bloody kill him!"
"What?" It had all ended so fast, her mind was still full of thoughts of sliding over the back of the couch and removing Naomi's fraying jumper. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Naomi said quickly, although that didn't look so true. "That was very, very nice, but I don't think it would be a good idea to continue."
"Why?" Buffy looked about her. "Is it the not so secret location? Because there are other places we can go."
"No, no, it's not that. It's just…" Naomi struggled for the right way to explain. "I'm not a lesbian, before now my only link to the other side of the fence was having a gay best friend, I mean, of course, I always said I wouldn't kick Jennifer Aniston out of bed, but then I never thought I'd get a chance to bed her in the first place… I think what I'm feeling here…" she bit her lip for a second before continuing. "I think what I'm feeling here is just something akin to idolization, and it would be dangerous for me to think of it as anything else."
"Okay," Buffy shrugged. "I guess I can settle for idolization instead of making out; it's a different kind of satisfaction, but it'll do. Jennifer Aniston, huh?"
Naomi smiled. "She's my other idol. So who did you want your big celebrity lesbian clinch to be with when you were my age?"
Buffy frowned, first at the age comment and then at the question. "No one. I was one hundred percent into guys until just recently, or at least I thought I was. Now I'm starting to look back and wonder if there were signs, you know?"
Buffy sighed wistfully as she spoke for the first time about a question that had been bugging her for a while.
"Did I choose a relationship with a guy who couldn't have sex because secretly I didn't want to have sex with a guy? Was I with Riley because he was Mr Conformity – nice and safe with two-point four kids and a picket fence reflected in his eyes – because I was trying to kid myself that that was what I really wanted, or what I thought my mom wanted for me? Was I with Spike because his attitude and his darker side reminded me of someone else, someone who it was even more crazy to love than him?" Buffy looked up sharply at Naomi. "You are so wishing you had your notebook right now, aren't you?"
"Yes." Naomi smiled. "But it's okay, I have a good memory."
Buffy chuckled. "I don't know, I think about all that and then I think I'm going crazy. I know I loved all of them, deeply in Angel's case, but now… it all pales into insignificance."
"So the only woman you've ever felt this way about is Faith?"
Buffy chuckled some more. "Yes, and yet strangely I kicked her out of bed this morning."
Giles came out of his bedroom all spruced up and Buffy stood up straighter. Suddenly getting caught macking on her Watcher's niece didn't seem such a good idea. Giles only saw his two girls talking though and merely gave them a cheery nod before going into his office next door.
"I'm going to go touch up my lipstick before everyone congregates." Buffy told her. "You can still come tonight if you want? I promise not to make any more moves." She grinned uncomfortably.
"No thank you, going to a pub and not being allowed to drink will just be frustrating. In fact if you don't mind, I might see if the girl's will let me go on patrol with them."
"No, that's okay, a good idea even, Just be careful and stay with them all the time, okay?"
Naomi got to her feet, nodding. "Buffy, will you do something for me?" She hesitated and Buffy waited patiently. "Tonight, if you and Alex get close… please try and remember all you've just told me."
"Um, okay." Buffy frowned as Naomi left the room.
As the lights in the cinema came up at the end of the movie, Dawn relaxed her fingers around Reece's ready to reluctantly let go. To her surprise he kept a firm grip as he stood up and gave a playful tug to get her out of her seat.
Smiling, she followed his lead back into the centre aisle. If this hadn't been a date at the start of the night, she was pretty sure it was now. Giddiness surged through her as she let the fact that Reece liked her sink in and then the nerves came back multiplied by a million. Good nerves this time though. Okay, still very nervous nerves, but the kind where she was going to pee her pants from excitement, not fear.
"So it's still early," Fen said as they wandered back into the foyer. "Do you guys have to get going yet?"
"No." Dawn said quickly, not even knowing what time it was exactly, just that she wasn't letting go of Reece's hand yet – which meant he couldn't drive them home yet. "We have a few more hours."
When they'd finally cleared the crowds inside and outside the cinema it was dark out and chillier than it had been before they went in. Even the slight shivers that went through Dawn didn't change her mind about going home.
"So what now?" Craig asked, looking about.
"Let's take a walk." Reece smiled only for Dawn. "See what we can find."
"Okay." She nodded eagerly, squeezing his hand for the hundreth time and still hardly able to believe she was really holding it.
She caught Fen's eyes and the blonde dropped her gaze to the hand-holding before giving Dawn a big grin. Dawn smiled, shrugging one shoulder in a shy response.
Walking behind them, Andrew's eyes were locked on Dawn and Reece's joined hands as he tried to come up with ways to separate them. Sure that it was what Buffy would want him to do. Short of barging between them and insisting they both hold his hands instead, he could think of nothing though.
Plus Dawn looked really happy. As happy as he'd ever seen her even and Reece was smiling as he talked away to her, not looking at all like the arrogant asshead Andrew had come to think of his as. Maybe the cadet wasn't all that bad after all or maybe he was, but Dawn was changing him and making him be a better person.
If that was the case, then Andrew trying to break them up could be a really bad thing.
Reece was a leader by nature – just as Andrew himself was a follower – and leaders could be dangerous if they weren't set on the right path early on. What if this was Reece's turning point and Dawn was the one to set him on the right path? What if this innocent act of holding hands was what stopped Reece from becoming a bad watcher and in the years to come maybe even an enemy of the true objective of the new Watchers Council?
Andrew could be the only person who stood between a glorious future for the Council and the total annihilation of it. His actions at this seemingly very mundane moment could change the fortunes of Slayers stretching all the way into the infinity of time…
Andrew gave a little yelp of surprise as Craig suddenly took his hand, shocking him from his thoughts. He pulled his hand out of the loose grip as he glared at him for the scare.
"Sorry," Craig muttered, putting his hand back in his pocket. "Just you were staring at them two so much I thought you might wanna hold hands too."
"I…" Andrew couldn't really explain what he'd just been thinking about.
Craig waited for an explanation for a few seconds and then gave up. Skipping ahead a couple of steps, he linked arms with Fen and started up a conversation with her.
Andrew looked at his hand. No one had ever tried to hold it before. Not since he was in fifth grade anyway and his mom used to walk him to school. Feeling disappointed, he followed behind the other four, still able to feel Craig's touch on his palm.
Half an hour after kissing Naomi for reasons that were far from reasonable, Buffy found herself sandwiched between Xander and Giles in the truck on the way to Boudenver. Trying without success to block out Xander's griping.
"I just don't understand why you had to choose my friend to play out your revenge." She hadn't told him her plan, he'd guessed. "When this hits the fan, it's going to blow the crap all over me."
"Stop whining. Alex knows I just meant it as friend date," she lied.
"I think you may be over-estimating his ability to read minds." Xander countered.
He was looking all fancy in a new blue shirt and dark dress pants. Buffy was so used to seeing him in his working gear these days, she'd forgotten how nice he could clean up. The plain black eye patch – that he was fiddling with as he complained – added rather than took away anything from his naturally handsome face.
"Okay fine, so maybe he thinks it's a date as in the romantic kind, so what?" Buffy shrugged. "It's not like he's had a chance to pre-conceive where this might go. He won't have gone out and bought a ring. We'll have a nice time tonight and then I'll tell him I'm not looking for a relationship just before we go home."
"You have no idea what that does to a guy, do you?" Xander asked, and his tone was only semi-jokey.
"Xander, we have more pressing matters to worry about than what two consenting adults are expecting from this evening's affair." Giles said, as he negotiated the bendy road into the village. "We still have a useless shower block and a large hole in the kitchen ceiling."
"It's not for want of trying, believe me." Xander sighed in exasperation. "Every time I manage to get a human instead of a voicemail machine, the plumber guy promises he's on his way and then he just doesn't show up."
"Maybe he keeps getting lost." Buffy watched the surrounding fields and trees go by. "We do live in the middle of nowhere."
"He's a local." Xander explained. "And all the locals seem to know where we live."
"True."
"And the hole in the ceiling?" Giles asked firmly as they drove along Boudenver's main street.
"You want the good news or the bad news?" Xander chirped.
"Good news." Buffy answered automatically.
"The generator in the basement works just fine, and there was even some diesel left in there. Oz helped me get it going this afternoon before he left. Just as well seeing as Willow was about to go into melt down trying to wash all her and Kennedy's clothes in a big tin tub."
"And the bad news?" Giles asked.
"We're going to need a lot more juice to keep it running. I called around and the quickest quote was a week at the earliest. Apparently there's a big raccoon problem, they're getting into people's basements and chewing through the wires. Lot's of fried critters and dead power all over the county."
"Does that mean we have to keep an eye out for crispy raccoons?" Buffy wrinkled her nose at the thought of going down to the basement and finding fluffy – or not so – dead animals all over the place.
"Well no, because Goorzar already took care of our electricity for us." Xander reminded her.
"I suspect your friend the deputy sheriff will be most helpful in supplying me with all the useless information on the raccoon infestation that he can think of." It was Giles turn to sigh.
"Hey you made up the Badger club, not me!" Xander indicated the wide alley next to Barnies and Giles swung the truck in and parked up.
"And I have already lived to regret it."
Music was pumping from inside the one story bar as they all climbed from the cab. It sounded livelier than usual at least. If Alex thought this was a serious romantic date, having some loud music and lots of other people around would make it easier to escape if she had to.
A couple of young men were standing in front of the doors. They moved politely out of the way, but Buffy could feel their stares on her back as she walked through the door Xander had pulled open.
She stopped just the other side, disappointed. Okay, so there weren't a lot of other people after all.
The old men that were always in there were seated at their usual table at the back and there were maybe seven or eight other patrons, ranging in age from younger than her to older than Giles.
Going to the bar, flanked by Giles and Xander, she looked over to the little deejay booth that had been set up in a corner of the room. Giant speakers faced out into the room, and a well-built kid with a shock of dark brown hair was leaning intently over a high-tech CD player.
"I never thought The Bronze would make me an elitist," Xander said next to her ear while they waited for service. "But this is just… feeble."
Buffy chuckled. "It's still early."
"Then let's all drink to the hope of better times ahead." Xander drank from one of the beers put in front of them.
Buffy eyed the bottle once he'd finally stopped his discreet gulping. "Yeah well let's take it easy because my idea of better isn't carry you home." She said mildly.
His reaction wasn't so mild. "I've been working my ass off all day, so I'll drink what I want, thank you!"
He marched off with his bottle in hand to a table and sat down with his back to the bar.
"Oh boy, the fun begins," Buffy muttered, sipping from her own bottle as she looked around for Alex. She couldn't see him yet. Maybe he was busy in the back.
"He's not been very happy recently, has he?" Giles remarked from her side.
"Not for a while, no. I'm worried about him." She admitted. "And the amount of work you're putting on him isn't helping."
"Me?" Giles looked surprised. "But he asked for the job, Buffy. When I mentioned getting in a contractor to see to all the work that was necessary, he offered his services immediately, and I don't mind saying I was extremely pleased. I couldn't think of anyone better qualified for it at the time, but now I'm wondering if I was wrong." He looked pained as he took a sip from his imported beer. "I had hoped that having something to focus on would help pull him out of the depression he sank into in Los Angeles, but maybe it was too soon."
"Yeah, well there's having something to focus on and there's being worked into the ground. I think Xander's feeling the latter at the moment. You're expecting him to do every little thing and he's burning himself out trying not to let you down." Buffy explained. "You should have realised it was more than a one person job."
"Well of course it's more than a one person job, that's why…" Giles trailed off as what she was saying sank in. "Oh, the silly git!"
It was his turn to march off to join Xander at the table.
Buffy sipped some more of her drink and stayed at the bar. Despite the warning she'd given Xander, her own bottle was nearly empty. There was no point walking away when she'd need another in a minute.
There was a tap on her shoulder and she turned her body around, expecting it to be Xander back, trying to get away from Giles. It wasn't. It was a big, good-looking guy with wild brown hair and a sheepish smile on his attractive mouth.
"Hello." The way she said it sounded more like a question while she waited to see what he wanted with her.
"Hi Buffy, I'm glad you made it. I thought you might have changed your mind."
She stared at him for a beat, wondering how he knew her name and then it clicked.
"Alex!" She stared at him in astonishment. "Oh my God, you shaved your beard all off!"
The cab Robin had ordered dropped them off on Boudenver's main street, right in front of the general store.
Faith had seen it all when she'd walked through the day before, but he took a few minutes to check out the scenery in the dying light.
"Quaint." He smiled at her.
"Ain't it just." She smirked. "Barnies is down that way, but, uh… feel free to tell me to go to hell seeing as you're gonna be paying all night, but is there any chance I could borrow a couple of bucks to get a pack of smokes?"
"I don't know if I'm comfortable with being an enabler," he grinned, but fished out his wallet anyway.
"Yeah well I don't smoke many, but I've got a feeling I'm going to need their calming qualities tonight." She admitted.
"Feeling nervous about hanging out with 'the Fam'?" he copied her word choice from before.
"Yeah, and I know its lame, but…"
"It's okay Faith," he cut her off gently. "I get why you'd be nervous; they're a pretty tight knit group. Go get your cigarettes, I'll wait here."
"Thanks."
Inside, the store was bigger than it looked, but not by much. Faith let her eyes scan the few well-stocked aisles before she walked up to the counter. The guy behind it was the same old guy who'd presented her with the free gifts of towel and soap the day before.
"Hey." She greeted. "Remember me?"
"Of course Miss," he smiled at her. "And how are you settling in?"
She chuckled. "Honestly? I'm not sure yet."
"Well these things take time." He nodded, knowingly. "And what can I do for you today?"
"Carton of Luckys please?" Faith put the money on the counter so he didn't think she was after another freebie.
He turned and fetched the brand she wanted from the back wall. "Here you are, Miss."
She took the cigarettes from him.
"Aren't you going to tell me these things will kill me?" she asked as he opened the cash register.
"Should I miss?"
"No, you just seem like the sort that would."
"I find that most people die of something sooner or later," he smiled politely as he handed her back the change. "Enjoy your evening; the disco is always quite the success."
"Yeah, thanks." She regarded him through narrowed eyes for a moment. She'd never said she was going to Barnies.
He continued to smile at her courteously and maybe a little gormlessly. Then again, she was all dressed up and that cop had said the disco was like the social event of the month around here. It wouldn't take a genius to make the leap.
Forgetting about it, she sauntered back out on to the street to Robin. Unwrapping the cellophane on her cigarettes as they walked up the street, she didn't notice the pretty almond-shaped yellow eyes watching from the alley.
There had once been a bell above the door, but over the years the metal arm holding it in place had been bent upwards and now you had to open the door with some force for it to make any sound at all.
This night, it wasn't the bell that alerted him to another customer, but the absence of any noise at all. The changing pattern of air molecules perhaps or a subtle sixth sense he possessed without understanding.
Owen looked up.
The door was closed, but a familiar scent had invaded the shop, taking him back to the past, taking him back to someone he'd spent a long life time trying to forget.
Frankincense.
With it came the memories stored forever in his subconscious; memories of magic and mayhem and…
"Hello Olwyn."
Her clear voice sounded right in front of him – although he still couldn't see anyone – unchanged despite the years. Maybe he was finally going mad, he'd always feared it would happen one day and the timing would certainly appeal to certain sods.
Yet hadn't he known she would come here, at this time, and hadn't he made plans in the event of it? Yes of course, but he hadn't known she would come to see him, she never had before. Perhaps this time she was more upset than usual. Despite himself he feared her wrath, not for himself, but for what he had built.
"Lucie," he murmured the name that still felt like love on his lips. "What can I get for you this evening? Perhaps some Chicory to relieve your shyness or some Garlic to see you safely on your way, hmm?"
There was sweet, sweet laughter in the room. "Come now old friend, are you not pleased to see me."
"That is the very problem, my lady, I can not see you. Did you really take the time to visit to hide behind parlour tricks?"
"Parlour tricks?" Meleusa repeated, amused, as she drew the sigil in the air and let herself be seen. "I remember a time when invisibility was your holy grail."
"A time long since past." Owen looked upon the woman – not that she was just a woman anymore – that had once been the heart of his existence, his only real grounding in a life overflowing with fantasy.
She was still a handsome woman, still as exotic as ever with her smooth dark skin and captivating, tantalising eyes…
Quickly he averted his eyes to the counter, not caring if she noticed his weakness, only concerned with not letting her gaze get the better of him.
"You look so old, Olwyn," she said, never was she one to mince words for the sake of feelings, especially his it always seemed.
"I am old Lucie," he reminded her.
She smiled thinly. "Yes, a shame you found the elixir so late."
"All that matters is that I found it in time. Why are you here Lucie? Why do you still linger? Jupitus remains trapped; there is nothing here for you now."
"You know why," she countered, finally pushing back her thick multi-coloured robe. She'd cut her hair. It was still the same shiny black but now it was cropped close to her head, and was presently slicked stylishly back from her face. It was a jarring change to what he remembered of her silken tresses, but took none of her beauty away.
"There is power rising here, Olwyn," she continued, a merry glint in her eyes now. "Can you not feel it?"
He didn't answer and she laughed pleasantly. Once upon a time hearing her laugh had made him want to trade his pen for a lute (not that he knew how to play one). Now it chilled the marrow in his bones.
"Always so dutiful, my dear Olwyn. Did you ever make it to Sunnydale?"
"I never had the need." He replied shortly.
She nodded, "No, I suppose not. You've done a better job here, I'd say, very pretty."
"Then if it pleases you…" he began.
He saw her black gloved hands lay palm down on the countertop and looked up to see her leaning towards him.
"It doesn't please me," she said, her voice very low. "I can not remember the last time I connected your name with a happy occurrence!"
"Then you will be delighted to leave, my lady, I am sure." Although not as happy as he would be to see her leave.
She shook her head again. "No, I think its time I took a holiday, and this cosy haven of yours comes highly recommended."
"Ah yes," he smiled tightly. "Global murder and mischief must cause you a lot of stress. Putting your feet up for a couple of years will probably do you good. Please stay, enjoy the scenery, sunbathing by the lake is must-do."
Her eyes flashed yellow briefly, his sarcasm aggravating her. She wasn't used to insubordination, but then it had probably been some time since she'd let herself be in the company of someone who didn't bend to her will or break resisting.
"I was actually thinking a working holiday. The power here is fierce but unbalanced, so many champions for good… and their hangers on," she nodded at him. "It's only fair the other side should have their representative."
"And you think you are equal to this task?" he sneered, but deep down a cold fire burned in his belly.
"I was Consort of Jupitus, Lord of Destruction, for four centuries; I think I know my way around the job." She snapped, and it felt dangerously good to rile her. Pulling up her cloak once more, she suddenly smiled again. "And you know, I think I'm going to like working here."
With one last mocking smile, she turned for the door, with a little hand wave she was invisible again before it closed behind her.
More shaken than he could remember being in a long while, Owen hurried to the door and started bringing in the merchandise bins from outside. Once that was done, he shut and locked the door up tight before flipping the sign from open to closed.
People would wonder why he had closed two hours early, especially with the disco tonight that always brought late trade in, they'd probably even complain.
'Let them,' he thought as he readied himself for going home. 'Let them complain about such trivial things for as long as they can, for soon their grumbles may be far from trivial.'
They'd found the funfair after a while and none of them could think of a better way to spend the rest of their evening than the way that included bright lights, fast rides and the smell of cotton candy floating in the air.
There wasn't much there to be honest, but Dawn was still impressed with it. Sunnydale hadn't had anything like it all. The carnivale had come once a year, but Buffy had never let her go at night because of the huge threat to human life its shadowy chaotic atmostphere posed.
Dawn had thought that the same threat could possibly lurking around here. Lakeside was less than ten miles from the Hellmouth and chances were every carnivale the world over attracted the seedier side of life and unlife. She was with a Watcher though, and even if Reece was just a trainee at the moment, she trusted him to protect her. And it wasn't as if she didn't have her own skills in phyisical combat.
They were on a ride like the Tilt-a-Whirl now, in a semi-circular car big enough to hold all five of them, although it was a squeeze. The attendant had spun them a few times at the beginning of the ride, but when he'd moved on, Craig showed them a trick he knew to keep the car spinning and spinning and spinning.
Dawn was screaming and she could hear Fen beside her screaming too, and on her other side she could hear Reece laughing hard enough to die from it. The G-force was pushing her head back painfully into the seat, but she didn't even care because it was too much fun and when she tried to wave her arms in the air like Fen was she couldn't get them to do it properly and she let them collapse back down onto the bar to hold on tight. Reece grabbed one of her hands and lifted it for her and she turned her head as best as she could to offer him a rictus-y smile.
Eventually – too soon and not soon enough – the ride ended and the five of them stumbled out of the car and clattered off of the metal skirting.
Dawn's legs were wobbly and she nearly fell on stepping onto firm ground again; Reece caught her arm, laughing, and pulled her close to his side to steady her.
"Oh God." Was all Fen could manage as giggles dribbled from her.
"And that's how you get your money's worth." Craig panted.
"I'm gonna be sick!" Andrew leant over a bollard with one hand pressed to his stomach.
"Wuss." Dawn laughed at him, although she was still feeling dizzy too.
Craig moved closer to Andrew and rubbed his back. "You alright mate?"
"Yeah, I just need a minute." Andrew said with his eyes closed.
Reece shook his head at the pair and Dawn giggled, rolling her eyes.
"So who's gonna win me a bear?" Fen asked. Getting four bemused stares, she pointed around at the numerous stalls. "I don't mind which bear, as long as its big enough to look like my date for the rest of the night. Fifth-wheeling sucks."
Dawn smiled apologetically and walked the few steps to her friend's side. It was the furthest away she'd been from Reece since entering the cinema, and she didn't like it, but she didn't like the guilt either.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you into a wheel."
"Sunny D, I was kidding!" Fen yelled at her, laughing.
"Well why don't the three of us go and get something to eat," Reece suggested, hiking his thumb at Craig and Andrew. "Give you ladies some time to yourselves."
"Hot dog please?" Dawn said encouragingly.
"Ditto." Said Fen.
"Got it." Reece smiled at them and motioned for the other two boys to follow him as he walked away.
As soon as they were alone, Fen grabbed at Dawn's arm and bent her knees as she crooned: "Oh my God, Dawn, what a catch!"
"What?" Dawn grinned.
"Reece! He is so way beyond perfect boyfriend material."
"You just look so different," Buffy grinned. "I didn't even recognise you."
"Well I remembered what you said," said Alex shyly, he was behind the bar now getting them both fresh drinks. "About liking men naked… face-naked." Despite his teasing, he was blushing as hard as she was.
"Yeah, I was a little drunk, not my greatest impression making night," she admitted, accepting another beer.
"I don't know, I thought you made a great impression, great as in big anyway," he smiled, and she could actually see it and it was nice! "Certainly none of the old guys are going to forget you in a hurry."
Buffy looked to where he was gesturing. The troupe of old men she'd spotted walking in all raised their tankards to her and she turned again quickly, going an even brighter red.
"Anyone would think I'd been pole dancing," she cringed, grabbing at Alex's big arm as he came back to her side of the bar.
"Well, during the off-season, discussing the price of milk can turn into a spectator sport around here. So stories of monsters and lesbians are like a red letter day to most folk."
"Oh. Well in that case can we sit down before they start clapping and jeering." Still holding on to his arm, she led him over to Xander and Giles.
"For heavens sake, Xander, of course I never meant for you to undertake every single task by yourself." Giles looked up briefly as Buffy and Alex sat down, before focusing again on a sulky looking Xander. "It would take you a month of Sundays and more even without all the extra work that keeps cropping up."
"You said you wanted me to do it all." Xander reminded him. "I remember it well; it was when the nightmares began. You put me in charge of the repair and maintenance and told me to see to it all, and I'm trying, but it's a big long list and I'm just one little carpenter-man, Giles. And I can't keep up with the renovations and deal with all the little day to day crap of burnt bedrooms and broken ceilings too. I'm sorry to let you down, but…"
"You just said it yourself, you stupid man, I put you in charge!" Giles shouted over the table to Xander. The music hid any hush in the back ground conversation, but Giles looked around embarrassed anyway to see several people looking over.
"I don't know why all the locals are so down on us," Buffy said, ducking a little in her seat. "When we provide so much free entertainment."
Alex grinned at her, and then glared at the patrons staring over. They all looked quickly away.
Xander was sitting back in his chair, surprised at the outburst. It had been a long time since he'd been shouted at by Giles like that. And from what he could remember, in the past he'd usually deserved it, this time he was the injured party and the shouting should have been upsetting, yet all he could focus on was one little word.
Seeing Xander's expression, Giles hurried to explain himself. "When we first discussed it I thought I had made myself clear, but apparently not. I didn't hire you just for your handy-man skills Xander; I hired you as a general contractor, a type of project manager I suppose. I never meant for you to try and fix every blasted thing yourself."
"'Sup guys, this where the party's at?" Faith asked cheerily, coming up behind them.
Buffy choked on her mouthful of beer and tried to hide the coughing that came with it. What was Faith doing here? She was supposed to be on a date with Robin.
"Giles just called me a man." Xander told Faith. Either her apology earlier had done the trick and he was trying to put the past behind them, or he was so excited at being declared a man at last by the head of their little family that he wanted to share it with everyone.
"Actually I called you a stupid man," Giles corrected. "And is that all you heard of what I said?"
"I'm in charge, you said that too right?" Xander's back straightened in a way Buffy hadn't seen in a while.
"Yes. I know absolutely nothing about construction, renovation, building codes or the like and so I delegated… to you. You were then supposed to delegate anything you didn't want to do to other people. Sub-contracting I believe it's called."
"Oh, right." Xander smiled sheepishly. "I guess you're not such a slave-driving ass after all then."
"And I guess you're not such a lazy arse either." Giles smiled as he took a sip from his beer.
"And to celebrate this coming togetherness," Robin set down a tray of drinks onto the table. One for them all. "I didn't know what you'd like, so I just got you a beer," he told Alex, who looked surprised than he'd even been included.
The deputy sheriff stood to shake hands and they politely introduced themselves.
Buffy took the opportunity to glance at Faith, who was looking over to where the deejay station had been set up, but she caught Buffy's movement and turned to her instantly.
Buffy almost looked away on instinct, but stopped herself and said quietly, "I didn't know you were coming here. I thought you two were going out for pizza."
"Change of plans," Faith shrugged, looking so damn hot in Buffy's new clothes that Buffy had to lick her lips. "First night here and all, figured I should…" she trailed off, nervous.
"It's very nice that you decided to join us," Giles smiled at her.
Faith's eyes flicked his way, but settled on Buffy again quickly.
All Buffy could do was nod, not trusting herself to speak. It was nice that Faith had joined them, what wasn't nice was that she'd joined them with Robin in tow. Buffy could handle them getting pizza together somewhere else, not so much with the handling when they were sitting in front of her.
"Your cousin's good," Buffy said politely to Alex as soon as he sat back down. The boy DJ who was playing a mix of rock and pop, and okay so it wasn't the most original line up but she could see her self dancing to it, maybe, later, if Xander did. "Does he do it professionally?"
"He'd like to, but…" Alex shook his head. "Makes good money over the summer though, hires himself out to all the hotels and lodges, uses my big amp for free," he smiled. "Nine to five he works for the electricity company, and hates it, but it's a regular wage and he's got a kid on the way, so…"
Buffy glanced over; the deejay didn't look old enough to soon be a father, but then it wasn't like the kids had a lot else to do around here.
"I guess its difficult finding work, especially this time of year, huh?" She felt Faith look over again. "Not many Doublemeat Palaces with the high staff turnover around."
"Well it's not the ideal time to be job hunting, no." Alex agreed, "But there's usually something part time to be found if you're desperate. Why, are you looking for a job? Because we need a new administrative assistant down at the department – just a few hours a week – and I can put a good word in for you."
"Uh no it's not me." Buffy hedged, not sure how Faith's pride would take this conversation. "A friend."
"Well if they know how to file tell them to come by for an informal interview," he offered.
There was a big sigh from across the table and Faith sat up straighter. "She means me."
"Oh." Alex looked really awkward now. "Well that might not work out."
"You don't say," Faith drawled.
"I don't get it," Buffy looked to Alex. Was this a jealousy thing? Because if so she'd end this date right now even if it wasn't terrible so far. Not that that would help get Faith the job, but, but… she may be a born again slut, but she still had her principles. "You won't even give her an interview?"
"Well, no, I mean, yes, I could give her an interview, but there wouldn't really be a lot of point." He apologised uncomfortably.
"Ex-con working in the sheriff's department B, think about it?"
"Oh, good point. Oops. Well Alex said there was other stuff if you want it bad enough."
"Needs to be full time anyway." Faith took a sip of her beer.
"Well we, I mean you…" Buffy shook her head, not caring if this made her lose some ground. "We still have a week to find you something."
"I'll ask around." Alex promised.
Faith nodded, "Thanks."
"Can't Giles put you on the payroll?" Robin asked.
"I don't want to ask, he's doing enough already." Faith fidgeted.
"No he's not, I mean he is, but one more little thing won't hurt." Buffy touched Giles arm to get his attention. "Giles can you put Faith on the payroll so that the parole officer thinks she's in full time work?"
Giles, still deep in conversation with Xander, one where they were finally on the same wavelength and getting somewhere, answered distractedly,
"I, ah, she already is on the payroll and she's enrolled as a student at the school, unfortunately that's not enough for the courts, at least not while Deb is still coming for her weekly visits. I spoke to her on the telephone this afternoon about it – a lovely woman, very helpful – She's aware that Faith won't need full time education to complete her GED and Faith can't pretend to be taking any more advanced classes until that's on her record. I can't employ her as a teacher like the rest of you while she's on parole… but never fear, we'll think of something." He smiled brightly and turned back to Xander.
"So along with a part time plumber and electrician, I could get, maybe, one other guy?" Xander was working stuff out on a napkin.
"Get three if you like," Giles offered. "The money's there in the account I set up for you. I did wonder why it wasn't going down nearly as fast as I expected."
"No I think one will be enough. I can take Andrew on more full time now and annoying as he is, he makes a great gopher. And I'd rather keep doing all the woodwork myself. It's just the plastering, decorating and heavy lifting I really need the help with." Xander concluded. "In other words, all the stuff I don't want to do."
"That's fine." Giles nodded. "Do as little as you like as long as you make sure the rest of it gets done in a timely fashion by someone else. And don't take Andrew away from the rest of his duties for too long, the place would be a mess without his feather duster. You can start advertising in the morning."
Buffy looked from her two favourite men – who were both wearing happy job-well-done smiles – to Faith – who wasn't listening to them as she pulled the label from her beer bottle despondently.
Robin caught her eye and was obviously thinking the same thing as her.
"Do you know anyone looking for some work, Al?" Xander asked his friend. "Full time, fair pay, great boss."
"Um?" Alex squinted at Xander. Yep, he was thinking the same thing too.
"God, do you all have Stupid as your middle name or what?" Buffy asked.
When all three in question shot her slightly hurt looks, she rolled her eyes.
"Xander meet your new plastering, decorating, heavy-lifting employee of the year; Faith meet your fantastic easy-going new boss."
They both stared at her for a beat before staring hard at each other.
"You gotta be frickin' kidding me!"
"No way, not a chance, no!"
"No escaping it guys," Buffy smirked, feeling the weight of one problem lift at least. "It's fate."
Thanks for reading. Feedback always welcome.