Disclaimer: Again, sadly, all of these characters are not my own, they are Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy's. *sniff*.
Feedback: Yes please!
Setting: After "Doomed".
A/N: Thank you, little_me, CY, sandybanks, Len, Fhulhi the Crazy, and BlueSuzzanne (who actually didn't review this story but my other) for your reviews! Keep them comin'!
****
Meandering through the crowds of students, Buffy attempted to find her next class, recall the chapters she read for homework, and sort through everything that had just occurred. She wasn't doing too well. So far, she'd walked past a certain pine tree three times and she couldn't remember if she ever read the chapters assigned. All she could think about was waking up to a hungover best friend who about fifteen minutes after waking up had announced her love to a vampire that had been hiding in their closet. Yes, after making out for five minutes out of the fifteen, Willow broke apart from Spike, long enough to explain how she didn't feel empty any more to her best friend. She said that she thought her unhappiness wasn't out of missing Oz but really out of lacking Spike and his love. She talked about how happy she was now. Oh, and she mentioned sleeping with Spike the night before in her drunken state while Buffy was gone.
All of this sent the already stressed-out slayer into over load. What was she supposed to say? Her best friend and her mortal, well kind of, enemy were in love. While Buffy's exit which included stuttering "I can't believe it" a dozen times may have lacked her usual eloquence, she deserved some peace. And a classroom full of bored students and an equally if not more-so teacher would be just the place to get that peace. If only she could find it.
In the end, Buffy gave up.
'I'm sure there are plenty of peaceful, boring environments that I can go to,' she thought reasonably. 'I wonder what Giles is up to.'
****
Giles was up to his knees in books. As usual. He was doing his annual sorting of books, reorganize them, add in new ones, see what to add to his collection, the like. Buffy could barely whisk into his house without knocking there were so many books scattered about.
"Giles?" The girl asked, stepping in carefully. "You okay?"
"Oh, yes," the smiling English man said, emerging from behind a stack. "Don't worry, no demon's here."
"No, it's just, I was afraid that so much clutter would cause you to have a breakdown," Buffy said while inspecting the room. "Or that it was a breakdown that caused all of this."
Giles smiled in spite of himself. "Just the annual sorting of the books."
"Hm. Clever title."
By now Buffy had begun going through Giles' refrigerator with no avail.
"Um, shouldn't you be in class or-or something?" Giles questioned.
"Well, yeah," Buffy replied as she took her head out from the frig, settling on a yogurt. "But I got lost. I'm feeling a little disoriented."
"And yet you found your way here." Then, seeing Buffy's worried expression, Giles turned serious. "Was it a demon or..."
Waving her spoon wielding hand, Buffy cut her watcher off. "No, no, nothing like that. Well it does involve a demon but not how you think."
The intelligent ex-Liberian look confused. Buffy sighed, hoping Willow wouldn't mind her spilling.
"It's Willow," Buffy began. Giles' face tensed. "She and, well as hard as it is to believe, Spike are, well, in love."
"Oh dear," the watcher mumbled, seeming to be lost in his thoughts. "That is disorienting."
Giles, after clearing a seat among his books, sat down, a distant look on his face. Buffy perform a similar ritual of clearing a spot and sat down next to him.
"It's a lot," Buffy started. "Well, duh, it's a lot. But it's kinda a good a lot. I mean."
Buffy got up to pace but finding it useless amoung the piles, again sat next to the still dazed man.
"I'm happy for Willow. I didn't get to see her with Spike for long but she seemed happy. Really happy. It's nice to see her like that again."
Giles, breaking his trance, nodded and said, "yes, she deserves it. But I'm just not so sure that Spike does."
"I know what you mean. But I talked to him briefly and he really loves her. He's willing to do good for her to earn our approval. That's gotta count for something."
"Yes, of course it does. Spike's done a lot though, it'll be hard."
"Well, for now, we should try to be supportive, for Willow's sake. We can put up with Spike if it makes her happy. I hope. I'm just worried about how Xander will react."
****
"Harris!" Shouted a burly man from across the construction site. "Hey Harris!"
Xander looked up from the hole he'd been digging to see his boss come barreling over. As customary, he wiped the back of his hand across his forehead in hopes to wipe the sweat that trickled down his handsome face.
"Harris, Peters showed up. You have the rest of the day off," his boss informed him.
"Thanks but I-" Xander cut off when he saw his girlfriend, Anya, waiting for him. Even with her awkward stance, Xander thought Anya was beautiful in her ruffled white blouse and flowy but figure-flattering red skirt. In her hands, Xander noticed, she was clinging to a small brown paper bag. "Thanks, boss, I'll see you tomorrow."
Dropping his hard hat and shovel, Xander ran towards his ex-demon girlfriend and gave her a short kiss. Pulling back, Xander felt a little foolish for his sudden excitement but he couldn't help it.
"Xander," the smiling girl said. "Your all sweaty.'
"Oh, right. It's kinda hard to spend a day digging in the sun and not get sweaty."
"The sweat makes your muscles shine," Anya observed, smiling and running her hand up and down his arm suggestively.
"I'm imagining having s-"
"So what's in the bag?" Xander asked, cutting Anya off while noting the stares from his coworkers.
"Oh," Anya said as if she'd forgotten about it. "I prepared you a midday meal."
Taking the bag nervously, Xander smiled as wide as he could at his girlfriend.
"I've heard that sometimes women do that," Anya continued on as Xander inspected the contents of the bag. "You know, make meals for their husbands or boyfriends. I decided to surprise you."
"That you did, Anya, that you did," Xander said. with as much pleasure he could muster. In the bag, Xander had discovered a dented container of pudding, a fruit roll up, some water, and a sandwich that looked like something he'd find behind his washing machine. She tried.
Grinning at her favorite human's approval, Anya grabbed Xander's hand while his other hand expertly found a trash can and disposed of Anya's surprise.
"Let's go have sex!" Anya suggested a little too loudly.
Xander only smiled back and nodded.
****
The sun was setting in the sky. But the change of light to dark was barely noticed by Willow and Spike. They had been together all day, talking, laughing, and well, other stuff. Willow was happy. She didn't have any worries with Spike. It was the same for Spike. At first, there were some worries about what the others would think and how their relationship would work in the long run. But soon those thing's didn't matter.
When the sun had completely disappeared, Willow suddenly remembered something and started to worry again.
"We have to tell the others," Willow said softly as she lay cradled in Spike's strong, pale arms.
Spike nodded and replied, "first, you should get dressed. It took me a long time to see this," he lifted the sheet off of Willow's naked form, "and I don't want anyone to get a free show."
Willow laughed and stole the sheet back from Spike, wrapping it around herself.
"Small doses, honey, small doses," she quipped, grinning at Spike evilly. "We both know what it does to you."
"If only other people could see this side of you. The tougher side of Willow. The kinky side of Willow."
Spike remained lying on Willow's bed as the redhead searched through her closet.
"Maybe they will with you around," she said, removing her 'lost' pink sweater from the closet floor and displaying it to Spike with an arched brow.
"So that's where that went!" Spike cried.
He got up and rummaged briefly through the clothes. He finally emerged, a white miniskirt in hand. Then he handed it to Willow.
"You want daring?" He asked. "I think we have your outfit for tonight.
****
As usual, everyone gathered at Giles' house. Buffy was already there, she'd decided to cut the rest of her classes and train all day. It relaxed her. It also made both her and Giles sweaty, a fact Anya, who arrived with Xander soon after the sun set, couldn't help but comment on.
"It looks like we weren't the only ones having sweaty fun today," she said bluntly.
Giles got flustered and Buffy was grossed out.
"Ew, Anya! It's called training," Buffy cried as she located her water bottle. "Besides Giles is way old."
"Oh, you'd be surprised at how many 60 year-old men I cursed because they cheated on their 20 year old wives. The wives usually wished for their husbands to die and were extremely grateful when they did. Quite satisfying work," Anya couldn't help but share.
"Keep that in mind, Giles," Xander teased playfully.
"I am not 60 years old," the perturbed English man muttered as he tiptoed through the stacks of books still cluttered on the ground so he could get to the kitchen.
Laughing, Buffy turned to her friends. Her face fell when she remembered the task at hand, telling Xander and Anya about Spike and Willow. She wasn't sure how they'd react. Anya, being new to the group and having never been threatened by Spike, probably wouldn't have a strong opinion on the matter. But Xander, Willow's best friend and someone who hated Spike more than Buffy, would definitely have something to say. It was hard to say what it'd be.
"Guys," Buffy began. "I have to tell you something."
"Something's wrong at the Initiative," Riley announced as he strode, well, stumbled into the room full of books.
"And that wasn't it," Buffy mumbled, annoyed at the interruption.
"All the computers are either down or not operating properly. The elevators are going haywire," Riley continued, not hearing his girlfriend's comment.
"Oh dear. Are the cages for the demons okay?" Giles asked worriedly.
"Thankfully, yes. And we have most of out lights intact."
"That's very strange," Giles observed as he removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I guess we'll have to-"
"We know the drill, Giles," Buffy interrupted. "Time to crack the books. If we can find anything in this clutter."
As everyone milled off to different piles, the door opened again. In stepped Willow and Spike acting very couple-like.
"Willow! You're just in time for- Why is he here? And why are you holding hands?" Xander asked, clearly angry.
"We have something to tell you all," Willow started, squeezing Spike's hand for support.
"No, I don't think I want to hear this," Xander said, turning away from the happy couple.
"Xander! You have to listen so you can understand!" Willow cried. Spike remained silent at her side, not wanting to say something to make the situation worse, a first for him.
"Nothing you can say will-"
"Isn't that Hostile 17?" asked the up until now silent Riley.
"Bloody hell. Matters at hand, soldier boy," answered the also formerly silent Spike.
"No, I think this is the matter at hand. You're a vampire," Riley said and Xander nodded in agreement.
"It looks like me, you, Giles, and Buffy weren't the only ones having lots of orgasms today," Anya said as she observed Willow's and Spike's slightly messy hair.
"Not now, Anya!" Xander hissed at his girlfriend.
"Wait, Giles and Buffy...?" Spike asked, voicing Willow's, Riley's, and his confusion.
"Matters at hand, fangless," Xander said.
"Now that was just uncalled for-"
"Guys!" Buffy shouted, getting everyone's attention. "I can see why you're a little upset-"
"A little?" Riley scoffed.
"I was too and so was Giles-"
"Giles knew about this?" Xander asked, glaring at the nervous watcher. "When did this thing," he hissed out the word thing, "begin?"
"Listen to Buffy," was all Giles said in his defense.
"It started this morning," Buffy said, trying desperately to help out her friend.
"This morning? It doesn't look like it," Anya observed.
"Anya!" This time it was Buffy to scold the ex-demon. "Let me finish. What I want to say is that: look at how happy Willow is."
"She was just fine before he came back," Xander said.
"No she wasn't! The lot of you were just to blind to see it!" Spike interjected.
"Are you saying we're bad friends?" Xander said, wanting to storm up to the bleached vamp but instead found himself wadding through books.
"I'm saying that- Willow!" Spike cried as the silent redhead suddenly fainted beside him.
Now everyone rushed, well, again, as much rushing they could do through the books, to their friend who was lying limply in Spike's arms.
"What the hell happened?" Spike demanded.
Feedback: Yes please!
Setting: After "Doomed".
A/N: Thank you, little_me, CY, sandybanks, Len, Fhulhi the Crazy, and BlueSuzzanne (who actually didn't review this story but my other) for your reviews! Keep them comin'!
****
Meandering through the crowds of students, Buffy attempted to find her next class, recall the chapters she read for homework, and sort through everything that had just occurred. She wasn't doing too well. So far, she'd walked past a certain pine tree three times and she couldn't remember if she ever read the chapters assigned. All she could think about was waking up to a hungover best friend who about fifteen minutes after waking up had announced her love to a vampire that had been hiding in their closet. Yes, after making out for five minutes out of the fifteen, Willow broke apart from Spike, long enough to explain how she didn't feel empty any more to her best friend. She said that she thought her unhappiness wasn't out of missing Oz but really out of lacking Spike and his love. She talked about how happy she was now. Oh, and she mentioned sleeping with Spike the night before in her drunken state while Buffy was gone.
All of this sent the already stressed-out slayer into over load. What was she supposed to say? Her best friend and her mortal, well kind of, enemy were in love. While Buffy's exit which included stuttering "I can't believe it" a dozen times may have lacked her usual eloquence, she deserved some peace. And a classroom full of bored students and an equally if not more-so teacher would be just the place to get that peace. If only she could find it.
In the end, Buffy gave up.
'I'm sure there are plenty of peaceful, boring environments that I can go to,' she thought reasonably. 'I wonder what Giles is up to.'
****
Giles was up to his knees in books. As usual. He was doing his annual sorting of books, reorganize them, add in new ones, see what to add to his collection, the like. Buffy could barely whisk into his house without knocking there were so many books scattered about.
"Giles?" The girl asked, stepping in carefully. "You okay?"
"Oh, yes," the smiling English man said, emerging from behind a stack. "Don't worry, no demon's here."
"No, it's just, I was afraid that so much clutter would cause you to have a breakdown," Buffy said while inspecting the room. "Or that it was a breakdown that caused all of this."
Giles smiled in spite of himself. "Just the annual sorting of the books."
"Hm. Clever title."
By now Buffy had begun going through Giles' refrigerator with no avail.
"Um, shouldn't you be in class or-or something?" Giles questioned.
"Well, yeah," Buffy replied as she took her head out from the frig, settling on a yogurt. "But I got lost. I'm feeling a little disoriented."
"And yet you found your way here." Then, seeing Buffy's worried expression, Giles turned serious. "Was it a demon or..."
Waving her spoon wielding hand, Buffy cut her watcher off. "No, no, nothing like that. Well it does involve a demon but not how you think."
The intelligent ex-Liberian look confused. Buffy sighed, hoping Willow wouldn't mind her spilling.
"It's Willow," Buffy began. Giles' face tensed. "She and, well as hard as it is to believe, Spike are, well, in love."
"Oh dear," the watcher mumbled, seeming to be lost in his thoughts. "That is disorienting."
Giles, after clearing a seat among his books, sat down, a distant look on his face. Buffy perform a similar ritual of clearing a spot and sat down next to him.
"It's a lot," Buffy started. "Well, duh, it's a lot. But it's kinda a good a lot. I mean."
Buffy got up to pace but finding it useless amoung the piles, again sat next to the still dazed man.
"I'm happy for Willow. I didn't get to see her with Spike for long but she seemed happy. Really happy. It's nice to see her like that again."
Giles, breaking his trance, nodded and said, "yes, she deserves it. But I'm just not so sure that Spike does."
"I know what you mean. But I talked to him briefly and he really loves her. He's willing to do good for her to earn our approval. That's gotta count for something."
"Yes, of course it does. Spike's done a lot though, it'll be hard."
"Well, for now, we should try to be supportive, for Willow's sake. We can put up with Spike if it makes her happy. I hope. I'm just worried about how Xander will react."
****
"Harris!" Shouted a burly man from across the construction site. "Hey Harris!"
Xander looked up from the hole he'd been digging to see his boss come barreling over. As customary, he wiped the back of his hand across his forehead in hopes to wipe the sweat that trickled down his handsome face.
"Harris, Peters showed up. You have the rest of the day off," his boss informed him.
"Thanks but I-" Xander cut off when he saw his girlfriend, Anya, waiting for him. Even with her awkward stance, Xander thought Anya was beautiful in her ruffled white blouse and flowy but figure-flattering red skirt. In her hands, Xander noticed, she was clinging to a small brown paper bag. "Thanks, boss, I'll see you tomorrow."
Dropping his hard hat and shovel, Xander ran towards his ex-demon girlfriend and gave her a short kiss. Pulling back, Xander felt a little foolish for his sudden excitement but he couldn't help it.
"Xander," the smiling girl said. "Your all sweaty.'
"Oh, right. It's kinda hard to spend a day digging in the sun and not get sweaty."
"The sweat makes your muscles shine," Anya observed, smiling and running her hand up and down his arm suggestively.
"I'm imagining having s-"
"So what's in the bag?" Xander asked, cutting Anya off while noting the stares from his coworkers.
"Oh," Anya said as if she'd forgotten about it. "I prepared you a midday meal."
Taking the bag nervously, Xander smiled as wide as he could at his girlfriend.
"I've heard that sometimes women do that," Anya continued on as Xander inspected the contents of the bag. "You know, make meals for their husbands or boyfriends. I decided to surprise you."
"That you did, Anya, that you did," Xander said. with as much pleasure he could muster. In the bag, Xander had discovered a dented container of pudding, a fruit roll up, some water, and a sandwich that looked like something he'd find behind his washing machine. She tried.
Grinning at her favorite human's approval, Anya grabbed Xander's hand while his other hand expertly found a trash can and disposed of Anya's surprise.
"Let's go have sex!" Anya suggested a little too loudly.
Xander only smiled back and nodded.
****
The sun was setting in the sky. But the change of light to dark was barely noticed by Willow and Spike. They had been together all day, talking, laughing, and well, other stuff. Willow was happy. She didn't have any worries with Spike. It was the same for Spike. At first, there were some worries about what the others would think and how their relationship would work in the long run. But soon those thing's didn't matter.
When the sun had completely disappeared, Willow suddenly remembered something and started to worry again.
"We have to tell the others," Willow said softly as she lay cradled in Spike's strong, pale arms.
Spike nodded and replied, "first, you should get dressed. It took me a long time to see this," he lifted the sheet off of Willow's naked form, "and I don't want anyone to get a free show."
Willow laughed and stole the sheet back from Spike, wrapping it around herself.
"Small doses, honey, small doses," she quipped, grinning at Spike evilly. "We both know what it does to you."
"If only other people could see this side of you. The tougher side of Willow. The kinky side of Willow."
Spike remained lying on Willow's bed as the redhead searched through her closet.
"Maybe they will with you around," she said, removing her 'lost' pink sweater from the closet floor and displaying it to Spike with an arched brow.
"So that's where that went!" Spike cried.
He got up and rummaged briefly through the clothes. He finally emerged, a white miniskirt in hand. Then he handed it to Willow.
"You want daring?" He asked. "I think we have your outfit for tonight.
****
As usual, everyone gathered at Giles' house. Buffy was already there, she'd decided to cut the rest of her classes and train all day. It relaxed her. It also made both her and Giles sweaty, a fact Anya, who arrived with Xander soon after the sun set, couldn't help but comment on.
"It looks like we weren't the only ones having sweaty fun today," she said bluntly.
Giles got flustered and Buffy was grossed out.
"Ew, Anya! It's called training," Buffy cried as she located her water bottle. "Besides Giles is way old."
"Oh, you'd be surprised at how many 60 year-old men I cursed because they cheated on their 20 year old wives. The wives usually wished for their husbands to die and were extremely grateful when they did. Quite satisfying work," Anya couldn't help but share.
"Keep that in mind, Giles," Xander teased playfully.
"I am not 60 years old," the perturbed English man muttered as he tiptoed through the stacks of books still cluttered on the ground so he could get to the kitchen.
Laughing, Buffy turned to her friends. Her face fell when she remembered the task at hand, telling Xander and Anya about Spike and Willow. She wasn't sure how they'd react. Anya, being new to the group and having never been threatened by Spike, probably wouldn't have a strong opinion on the matter. But Xander, Willow's best friend and someone who hated Spike more than Buffy, would definitely have something to say. It was hard to say what it'd be.
"Guys," Buffy began. "I have to tell you something."
"Something's wrong at the Initiative," Riley announced as he strode, well, stumbled into the room full of books.
"And that wasn't it," Buffy mumbled, annoyed at the interruption.
"All the computers are either down or not operating properly. The elevators are going haywire," Riley continued, not hearing his girlfriend's comment.
"Oh dear. Are the cages for the demons okay?" Giles asked worriedly.
"Thankfully, yes. And we have most of out lights intact."
"That's very strange," Giles observed as he removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I guess we'll have to-"
"We know the drill, Giles," Buffy interrupted. "Time to crack the books. If we can find anything in this clutter."
As everyone milled off to different piles, the door opened again. In stepped Willow and Spike acting very couple-like.
"Willow! You're just in time for- Why is he here? And why are you holding hands?" Xander asked, clearly angry.
"We have something to tell you all," Willow started, squeezing Spike's hand for support.
"No, I don't think I want to hear this," Xander said, turning away from the happy couple.
"Xander! You have to listen so you can understand!" Willow cried. Spike remained silent at her side, not wanting to say something to make the situation worse, a first for him.
"Nothing you can say will-"
"Isn't that Hostile 17?" asked the up until now silent Riley.
"Bloody hell. Matters at hand, soldier boy," answered the also formerly silent Spike.
"No, I think this is the matter at hand. You're a vampire," Riley said and Xander nodded in agreement.
"It looks like me, you, Giles, and Buffy weren't the only ones having lots of orgasms today," Anya said as she observed Willow's and Spike's slightly messy hair.
"Not now, Anya!" Xander hissed at his girlfriend.
"Wait, Giles and Buffy...?" Spike asked, voicing Willow's, Riley's, and his confusion.
"Matters at hand, fangless," Xander said.
"Now that was just uncalled for-"
"Guys!" Buffy shouted, getting everyone's attention. "I can see why you're a little upset-"
"A little?" Riley scoffed.
"I was too and so was Giles-"
"Giles knew about this?" Xander asked, glaring at the nervous watcher. "When did this thing," he hissed out the word thing, "begin?"
"Listen to Buffy," was all Giles said in his defense.
"It started this morning," Buffy said, trying desperately to help out her friend.
"This morning? It doesn't look like it," Anya observed.
"Anya!" This time it was Buffy to scold the ex-demon. "Let me finish. What I want to say is that: look at how happy Willow is."
"She was just fine before he came back," Xander said.
"No she wasn't! The lot of you were just to blind to see it!" Spike interjected.
"Are you saying we're bad friends?" Xander said, wanting to storm up to the bleached vamp but instead found himself wadding through books.
"I'm saying that- Willow!" Spike cried as the silent redhead suddenly fainted beside him.
Now everyone rushed, well, again, as much rushing they could do through the books, to their friend who was lying limply in Spike's arms.
"What the hell happened?" Spike demanded.