Buffy walked to Giles', feeling light and good. So, she thought, it would be a good time to see Giles, and make him talk to her while she worked out at his place. She jogged to his door, ready to give a peppy knock and cute entry line. As she raised her hand to knock, there was... noise. And not... Giles' noise. It was... music noise. She was worried. NO MORE SINGING DEMONS, DAMMIT! She pounded on the door, worried now. "Giles?? Giles??"

The music stopped, and there were two voices from within. The door opened. "Buffy," Giles said happily. "Wonderful to see you. Come in." He gestured for her to enter.

Spike was sitting on a stool, messing with an old acoustic guitar. And there was another guitar leaning against a similar stool next to him.

She sighed out a breath. "Oh. You're... um... Not possessed. Good." She walked in. "Hey."

Spike looked up from messing with the guitar. "Hey, luv," he said with a grin. "Come to listen to us practice?"

Giles shook his head. "Spike, you are the one who wanted to do a duet. Not me."

"Aww. You're the only one I know who plays guitar, Rupert!"

Buffy smiled at their bickering. "You guys are playing together?"

Giles chuckled, then shrugged at Buffy. "What can I do? He needs me."

She smiled. "Yeah... Good luck gettin him to admit it."

Spike grinned and strummed a few bars on his guitar. "A flat. Still off a little." He motioned to the Watcher. "Rupe, help. Gimme a counterpoint."

Giles sighed and took his place, strumming an A to counter Spike's A flat.

Buffy pulled up stool to watch them.

Spike smiled at her, then adjusted the strings on his guitar again. "One more time, Rupert."

Giles strummed at the same time Spike did, making a beautiful counterpoint melody. They played instrumentally for a moment, testing all the cords, then wound it down.

Buffy was thrilled. The music was great.

Spike smiled at her. "Want to hear the song we were rehearsing before you got here? You've heard part of it before."

She was confused. "You haven't sung since-" She stopped. "Ok."

Spike took a deep breath, began playing alone, strumming a slow, slightly sad melody, after the instrumental introduction, he began to sing...

"Right now I feel Just like a leaf on a breeze Who knows where it's blowin'? Who knows where it's goin'? I find myself somewhere I never thought I'd be. I'm going round in circles, yeah Thinkin' bout you and me...."

She looked down slightly.

"And how do I explain it when I don't know what to say? What do I do now? So much has changed."

Paused, took a deep breath, then started the chorus, with Giles playing and singing with him.

"Nothing I have ever known Has made me feel this way. Nothing I have ever seen, Has made me want to stay. Here I am, ready for you. I'm torn and, I'm fallin', I hear my home callin', hey! I've never felt something so strong. Oh no. It's like nothing I've ever known..."

Giles continued to play, and Spike sang alone.

Buffy lifted her head to stare at Spike. Gave a small, super-tiny smile.

"You're the one I'm lookin' for, You're the one I need. You're the one that gives me A reason to believe. Followin' our star, Has lead to where you are. I feel so strong now, This can't be wrong now..."

Her head ducked shyly.

They sang together again.

"Nothing I have ever known Has made me feel this way. Nothing I have ever seen, Has made me want to stay. Here I am, ready for you. I'm torn and, I'm fallin', I hear my home callin', hey! I've never felt something so strong. Oh no. It's like nothing I've ever known, Nothing I've ever known..."

She was playing with her fingers now, his voice washing over her.

Giles's playing trailed off, leaving Spike playing and singing alone for the end.

"Right now I feel, Just like a leaf on a breeze. Who knows where it's blowin'? And who knows Where I'm goin'...."

He played the final cords, and let the song fade, his head bowed and eyes closed.

Sometime during the song, Buffy had stood, and she suddenly smiled. "That was such a great song!"

Spike looked up, his eyes open, and a single tear making it's way down his cheek. "Thanks, luv."

Giles smiled and reached over to pat the vampire on the back.

She smiled at Giles. "You did great, too."

Giles smiled. "Thank you, Buffy. But it was Spike's idea. He got the music, he found my guitar. And he changed the music so that the duet would work."

All the while Giles was talking, Spike had been staring at his guitar, his face taking on a slight pinkish red color.

She gave an impish grin, and reached a hand over to strum gently over the strings of Spike's guitar. "Is that right?"

An embarrassed half nod.

Her hand stroked over his on the guitar, too. "It's very impressive."

Giles chuckled and pulled the vampire into a sideways hug. Spike didn't struggle at all, but now his neck was turning red.

Buffy gave a small laugh, and took Spike's guitar, and leaned it against a near counter. Stood between his legs, and gave him a small kiss.

Spike squirmed a little. "Rupe... Buffy... cut it out..." Now he was beginning to resemble a tomato. "It's nothin' special, really."

Giles chuckled again, and gave Buffy a inquisitive look. Since when did vampires blush?

She shrugged. She had no idea. She semi-sat on his lap while he sat on the stool. "Oh. It... was for me? "

The vampire nodded. "Reminds me of you.... of us.."

Her voice took on a slightly hurt tone. "And it's not special?" Very quietly.

His head popped up." Yes! It's special to me... But I just meant, finding the guitar, helping reformat the music.. That stuff. The song is... very special. I can only play like six songs on the guitar. I'm better at piano."

Giles smiled. "Unfortunately, I don't have a piano."

She nodded. Smiled at two of her favorite men. "I still think it's all something special, ok?"

Spike grinned, the blush diminishing. "I do too, luv."

Giles nodded, putting a hand on Buffy's shoulder. "Actually, we're working on some other songs too. Spike had the idea that we could play some things at Dawn's 'Scoobies only' birthday party next week."

She gave a small gasp and big smile. "Really?"

Spike grinned. "Yeah. I just thought, you know, better than a CD. We're workin' on a bunch of songs, so that we can make a list, and take requests."

She gave him a big hug. "Awww!" She stood off his lap and gave Giles a kiss. "That is so sweet."

Both Brits turned a light shade of pink.

She grinned at both of them.

Spike had enough of being embarrassed. He jumped up, grabbed the Slayer in a bear hug, and spun around a few times.

She laughed, then started to lightly hit at his shoulders. "What are you doing??"

He spun around a couple more times, laughing, then plopped both of them on Giles' couch, with her winding up on top.

Giles just watched them, shaking his head and chuckling to himself.

Now the Slayer's cheeks were pink. "What are you *doing*?" she whispered furiously. She gave him a disbelieving, confused smile.

He chuckled, released her. "Just playing, luv. Good mood and all that."

Giles chuckled again, then got up. "I'm heading up to bed. Spike, please put up the guitars before you leave."

"Okay, Rupe," Spike called after him. Then he looked at Buffy. "Hi."

She blew her hair out of her eyes exasperatedly. "Hi."

He grinned at her, still laying on top of him. "And how was your day?" Playful small talk.

"Well, just fine. How was yours?" She rested her forearms on his chest.

He grinned. "Wonderful. Better, now that you're here." Leaned up and placed a small kiss on the end of her nose.

Small, repressed smile.

"Somethin' wrong, luv? You don't seem in a good mood." He cocked his head slightly. "Did I do something wrong again?"

She shook her head. "No. I'm in a great mood. I just.... feel dumb smiling huge. My face is kinda close to yours."

He nodded. "I noticed..." Leaned into kiss her. She leaned into him, too, letting a smile curve her lips as they touched Spike's. He purred happily, nibbling her bottom lip gently. "*I love you, you know..*", he purred to her. It was nice being able to talk without really needing your mouth.

She mentally smiled. 'I know.'

"*Good.*" He kissed a path down her throat, pausing to nibble and lick the scar he'd left. She shuddered gently, kissed at him, praying she'd hit skin, because her eyes were closed.

His purring increased in volume. Apparently, his forehead was a volume control. He nibbled at her collarbone gently, his hands roaming over her back. She moved her arms to run her hands over him gently.

He purred and pulled back, panting slightly. "Luv?"

It was low, throaty. "Mmm?"

"Do you have any requests for Rupe and I to learn? Or just me. I might feel like serenading you sometime," he said with a small, low chuckle.

"Yeah... it's called Kiss Me Again, by the Demanding Girlfriend."

He chuckled and did as she asked.

-----============================================================

Giles woke up early the next morning, before the sun was up. Went through his usual routine, then headed for the kitchen to make coffee. Not too long ago, he had regarded coffee as a "strange, American custom", but being around caffeine driven teenagers for so long, he'd wound up hooked.

He paused, noticing that the stools and guitars were still out in the living room. 'Thought I told Spike to put those up before...' The thought trailed off as he caught sight of the couple, still on the couch, asleep in eachother's arms.

Buffy was on top of Spike, her face nuzzled against his neck. Spike's cheek was resting on top of her head, and his hands were slightly up her shirt, resting on her back.

Giles smiled, then walked into the kitchen, started the coffee maker, then returned to the living room to consider the couple on the couch.

They hadn't moved since he'd first seen them a moment earlier, and had probably been in that same position all night. Giles sat in his recliner, and watched them sleep. Both of them breathing quietly, deeply, contented smiles on their faces.

'I'm glad Buffy finally has someone who really understands her,' the Watcher thought. 'Who loves her. I'm glad for Spike, too. Whether or not I want to admit it, he's becoming more and more important to me. Part of the family... It's irrational to think that Buffy won't need me anymore with Spike around, but sometimes, I just don't know. She's my daughter..' The word "surrogate" didn't even enter his mind. 'I love her. I just hope she's still going to believe she needs me, even though I know she doesn't. She can stand on her own, more than she knows. She's strong, and her heart.... Spike knows. He sees her. He loves her, almost as much as I do.' The Watcher continued to watch, until he dozed off again.

A while later, Buffy woke slowly. She was slightly confused for a moment, then remembered. A smile curved her lips, and she moved off Spike slowly. Spike's arms unconsciously tightened, not wanting his human hot water bottle to leave. She detangled herself, stretched, and looked around. And found her Watcher in the recliner, a cup of coffee balanced precariously in his hands, about to spill on him. She crossed to him, and pulled it gently out of his fingers.

Giles muttered something incoherent, and twitched, but didn't wake up.

Spike rolled over slightly, clutching a pillow as if it was his Tigger. Snuggled down against the couch cushions, sighed, and relaxed again.

She set the cup of the breakfast bar, and looked out over the room. Smiled warmly. Two of her three greatest loves. All they needed was Xander curled up on the rug. She pulled an afghan off the back of the couch, draped it over Giles. Giles, for his part, just muttered again. Something about a bird house...?

She walked into his bedroom, and pulled the folded blanket off the foot of the bed, came back in the living room, and unfolded it over Spike. The vampire rolled over again. His body wanted to wake up, but he was too relaxed. He purred in his sleep, sensing Buffy's closeness, and cuddled into the blanket until just the top of his head was showing.

She smiled. She wanted breakfast, but didn't want to burn anything, and didn't feel like waking either of them. It left only one choice. She walked to Giles' coat, and pulled out his wallet, and took a ten. She pulled on her shoes and slipped out the door, glad Giles lived in an apartment in the middle of town. Donuts.

========================================================================== ========

She opened the door slowly, edging in sideways, as if that would make less noise. There was still a covered lump of slumbering vampire on the couch, snoring quietly, but the recliner was empty. Giles was sitting at the dining table, reading the morning paper. He looked up, smiled at Buffy, and made a "shhh"ing motion, pointing at Spike.

She nodded, and placed her rather large white box on the table with a flourish. She pointed impressively, and made muscles.

Giles chuckled quietly. "I think we can talk in here, Buffy. Spike sleeps quiet deeply." He chuckled again. "I've never heard of a vampire snoring before. Or breathing at all, for that matter." He kept his voice low, anyway.

She nodded, sat next to him. "I know. He's a funny one. But guess what?"

"What?"

"Since he's all snoozy, we get eat the creme filled maple topped ones! And *he* doesn't." She grinned hugely, completely happy at the prospect. There were six of that type alone in the box.

The Watcher chuckled. "Let's save him one, and tell him that it was the only one."

She grinned. "Can we DO devious things like that?"

Giles smiled. "I won't tell, if you won't."

She blinked innocently. "Tell what?"

Giles chuckled quietly as he took a donut. "I have no idea."

Around her first bite, she said, "Giles? Can I ask you something?"

"Mmm?" This was said around a mouthful of donut.

"I want... for Dawn's birthday, to... um... fill her room with orange roses. While she's at school, ya know, just... litter the whole place with them... Do you..." She looked at her Watcher, very vulnerable. "Do you think she'd like it?"

Giles smiled, started to answer, then decided to swallow first. "She'd love it, Buffy. You know they're her favorite." He smiled. "You should have seen Spike when he came over last night. He was practically bouncing with excitement over redoing some songs. There was no way I could refuse to help him. He was just.... I don't know."

She grinned. "Spike?" A small pause. "How... how much do you think it would cost to get that many roses?"

Giles smiled. "Leave it to me, Buffy. You just deal with the set up. Oh, and has Spike mentioned that he wants to bake the cake?"

She gave Giles a fearful glance. "He what?"

"He wants to take over my kitchen tomorrow and bake a cake for Dawn."

"Oh my."

Giles cocked his head. "Something wrong?"

"Um.. does... Spike actually, ya know, COOK?" She chewed on her third maple donut.

Giles laughed quietly. "Actually, yes. Quite well. Remember a couple of years ago, when I first started letting him out of the bathtub?"

She remembered taunting him with her jugular. "Yeah."

"Well, I found him once making, and I'm not making this up, spaghetti and meat balls from scratch. And it was delicious!" He chuckled. "After that, we made a deal. I wouldn't put him back in the bathtub if he cooked at least once a day. He had no problem with that. He loves to cook, for some strange reason. A normal vampire, he isn't."

She gasped in shock. "No!!! He's not... normal??"

Giles laughed, then remembered to be quiet. "You mean you haven't noticed?", he asked playfully.

"Well, no... I thought he was your run-of-the-mill, ordinary, boring vampire."

"Insulting your boyfriend, are you?", Giles said with a chuckle. "Actually, he's never been normal. A vampiric demon takes the inherent evilness that's in all humans, and magnifies it. That's how it works. But Spike... When he was human, he was a shy poet without many friends or close relatives. The demon didn't have much to go on, so he had to learn from Druscilla, Angelus, and Darla. Under their instructions, he came up with the railroad spike thing. Which he only did twice, mind you. After that, he mostly laid low, until he developed a craving for killing Slayers. The rest is history." Giles looked at her curiously. "Surely you knew that vampires can not feel love, or any passionate emotion, they don't breathe, even in sleep, and they can not taste human food. Spike's always had too much human in him."

She nodded slowly. "Human with a demon visage. I always... always thought about it the other way. But it... doesn't fit him."

Giles nodded. "The persona he projected around his pack, and other vampires, isn't who he is at all. He told me himself that when Dru and the others weren't around, he'd go right back to writing poetry, and drawing, and learning music. He also said that he likes the idea of living forever for the simple reason that it means that he'll never have to stop trying new things. Learning. He has a thirst more for knowledge than blood."

She frowned at Giles. "It feels like... the more I get to know him, the more I know I don't know him at all." She looked at him confused. "But he knows everything about me."

Giles nodded. "I've been getting that impression as well. I don't ever remember telling him that I play the guitar, and yet, he not only knew, he knew that I can't play in the key of C. He's just very observant. Sometimes I wish I had known him when he was human. He would have made a fantastic Watcher."

She shook her head, a little distraught. She started to unconsciously shred a powdered donut. "That's fine for you. You can be friends... but we're... supposed to..."

"If there's something you want to know about him, why don't you ask? I'm sure he'd tell you anything."

She shrugged. "'Tell me everything about yourself that I don't know.' Real great. I don't even wanna know how long that list is." Her eyes turned more serious. "How can I... not know about him, and be in love with him?"

"You're in love with the man, not the history, Buffy. And he loves you. I don't know about you, but no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to stop liking him. And believe me, I've tried."

She pouted, now thoroughly disconcerted. "You think you're the only one?"

The Watcher chuckled, and patted his Slayer on the back. "I know. I've been watching you try to hate him for the better part of three years now."

She tossed him a baleful look. "I was succeeding quite well, thank you."

"Until...?"

She sighed. "Riley. He... Showed me something I didn't want to see about him." She shook her head to clear it. "Anyway. Later... he said, that he was sorry. He had just... wanted me to see. And he was sorry that it hurt."

"And he meant it. And that surprised you."

"I mean, yeah! I still hated him, cuz... Cuz I did, but after that... I watched him."

"Watched him?"

"Kept a closer eye on him, kicked his ass a few times..." She shrugged. "He started pestering me on patrol."

Giles was really interested. This was a new story. "About anything in particular?"

She sighed. "Anything! Pick something. My swing was low, my eyes were puffy, my outfit didn't match, my remarks to the vampires were lower than a toddler's IQ..." She smiled at the memory. "I told him I just wanted to make sure he'd understand them."

Giles chuckled. "I bet that went over well, with a vampire who practically has every word in the English language memorized."

She grumbled, "Yeah... he makes me feel like a retard. He can say what he's feeling so easily, and with like... eight syllable words, and I'm all.. 'Darrrr.... I like blue... It's a pretty color'."

Giles chuckled. "If it helps, he does the same thing to me. And if you tell that to anyone, and I mean ANYONE, I will tickle you to within a inch of your life," he said playfully, poking between her ribs.

She jerked and giggled, then scooted her chair closer to his, so she could lay her head on his shoulder. "You'll always be the smartest, kindest man I've ever met."

He gave her a sideways hug. "Thank you. And once again, don't tell anyone."

"Tell them what?"

"That Ripper's lost his edge," came a voice from the living room. "He's as much of a softy as me."

Giles shook his head. "Either go back to sleep, Spike, or suffer the consequences."

Loud, faked snoring.

Buffy laughed. "Spikey... morning, my blondie-bear!" She said in her very best Harmony voice. growl that sounded like a trapped, pissed off bear sounded from the living room.

Giles laughed out loud, nearly dropping his donut.

She continued. "Doesn't my Spikey-Wikey wanna know what I saaaaaved for my blondie-bear?"

The growl came again, sounding pained this time. And Giles did drop his donut. Buffy was waaay too good at Harmony's voice.

She tutted, picked up the donut and went to prop her hip against the back of the couch. "Blondie-bear... Ask mommy what she got for you??"

Growling got louder, but it was slightly shaky. He was trying to growl, and not laugh at the same time.

She shook her head with every word, like she was shaking it in a baby's face. "Shpiiiiiikkkkkeeey. Guess what your precious has for her wittle baby bwondie-bear?"

The vampire snorted, and rolled onto his stomach, burying his face in the cushions. "*A nice big chunk of your ass for me to kick?*", he asked in vampiric.

She dropped the voice a moment. "Giles... he's threatening me with violence." Switched back to Harmony-Whore voice. "When all I bwought for my wittle Spikey was a donut. But he can't have it now. No he can't."

Giles chuckled. "He doesn't mean it, you know."

"Donut?", the vampire said, speaking into the pillow, knowing that if he rolled over, he wouldn't be able to hold in the laughter any longer. "What kind of donut.... Pookie?"

She made a totally horrified face. "Ew! Stop that!"

He chuckled into the pillow. "Ok, sweetie pie."

She said thunderingly, "One more and the maple-frosted, creme-filled donut gets it." She winked at Giles. "The ONLY one."

He rolled over. "Maple... cream- filled... Buffy, I'm sorry.... Please?" Pathetic, puppy face.

She smiled. God, she loved power. "I don't know, *pookie bear*. Sweeting, sweetheart, honey, darling, pet, baby..."

Spike started shaking as if he was either in pain, or about to explode. "Slayer..." Warning tone.

She held the donut aloft, to her mouth. Deep sigh. "To eat, or not to eat..." She made a mad dash to hide behind Giles.

Spike rolled up and chased her into the dining room. "Gimme the donut, Slayer!"

Giles just laughed, not really knowing who to help.

She grabbed Giles' shoulder with one hand. "Giles!!! Make him quit!"

Spike was play growling, trying to fake her into running the wrong way around the table.

Giles stood up. "I will protect you, Buffy. And the innocent donut," he said, melodramatically.

She stuck her tongue out at Spike from behind her stalwart standing fast.

Spike snarled, taking his best "Big Bad" stance. "The donut doesn't leave here alive, Slayer." He growled, and half jumped toward them.

She squeaked, jumping back. Then she gave a 'resolve face'. "Stay back, or I shove it in my mouth... whole."

Spike froze. "Come on, luv. We can talk this out."

Giles chuckled.

She arched a brow dangerously. "Can we?? Can we REALLY Spike??"

He dropped to his knees. "Yes. Yes, we can always talk through it. Please, luv. Be reasonable."

She gave the donut a hungry look, sniffed it. "Oh... the maple." Turned the end to him so he could see the excess creme sticking out. "Ohhh... the creme..."

"Luv... Buffy, please..." He licked his lips. "I'll do anything..."

Now. THAT was interesting. "Anything?"

"Anything," he replied, KNOWING he was going to regret it.

"Well, I'm sure that Xander and Giles will be thrilled to hear about how you plan to take them BOTH to dinner, and to do... man-bonding things. And I'm really feeling like having breakfast in bed on Sunday."

Spike winced. Was a donut worth this? "Uh.... bugger. Alright."

She did a happy dance behind Giles. "Ok. Close your eyes."

He did as she asked.

She walked up to him, tapped a finger against his chin. 'Open...'

Eyes opened.

She sighed. "Your mouth, silly. Nevermind." She kept her eyes on his, and held the donut to his lips.

He latched on like a starving pit bull. Sucking at the creme hole. A happy purr.

The purr amused her, but the sucking was just gross. She let go, knowing he had it FIRMLY in his jaws.

He took the now hollow donut out of his mouth, and quickly ate the rest of it. He eyed Buffy. "You... are so dead." He charged. Chasing her into the living room and pinning her to the couch, tickling her ribs. "Apologize for freaking me out by imitating Harmony."

She squirmed beneath him. "GILES!!!!!" She was calling desperately for her father, her Watcher, her PROTECTOR, damn it! Where WAS he?

Giles walked in. "Yes?"

She whimpered, looked at him, pleading. "He-help *giggle* me!"

Giles chuckled, leaning against the doorway. "And how do you propose I do that?"

She squirmed, patting at Spike with pathetically weak blows. "I dunno!!!! PLLLLLEAAAAAAASE????"

Giles pounced, tickling Spike's ribs, causing the vampire to instantly cave to the couch in hysterics.

Buffy squirmed out from under his twisting frame. Gave Giles a quick smile. "Thanks."

Giles released, smiling at Buffy. "Anytime. I wonder if that would work with any vampire." He considered the giggling specimen on the couch. "Hmm. Probably not."

She smiled, then sat on the couch, to poke Spike's shoulder. "Hey."

"Fine. Don't hear my apology."

He looked at her. "I'm listening."

Deep sigh. "I'm sorry I gave you a wiggins by imitating Harmony."

He smiled. "Thanks, luv. Nice to know you care." He made a face. "You do that waaaay to well, you know. I thought I was having a nightmare for a moment."

Giles chuckled and sat in his recliner.

She snuggled against his shoulder, and smiled at Giles. "You're welcome. Ya know, for not eating your donut," she said to Spike. With a very tiny quirk of the lips to Giles, she continued, "Those are my favorites, and you just.. sucked it down."

Irrational wave of guilt. Damn soul. "Sorry, luv. Next time I'm out, I'll get you a whole box of just those kind, and I won't eat one."

Damn. Reverse guilt. "It's ok. Me and Giles had a nice chat over the glazed ones."

Spike nuzzled her. "Oh. Alright. Thanks for saving it for me."

Giles winked at Buffy. "It was nothing, really."

"Yeah. No big."

Spike nuzzled her again. "Good." He scratched at his ribs. "Bloody. Rupert, next time, be gentle. I think you bruised me!"

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know that you were so sensitive."

She smiled at both of them, and held Spike's hand. She smoothed her thumb over the back of his hand and glanced down at it. Noticed for the first time. "Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are your knuckles bruised?"

He shrugged. "Hit my punching bag too hard."

She scootched a few inches away to look in his eyes. 'Really? You weren't fighting?'

'Actually, yeah. Bunch of vamps cornered me outside of the crypt last night. When I was headed to Rupert's. They roughed me up a bit, and nearly broke my guitar. So I dusted 'em. Nothing big.'

She tried to not frown but a small line was between her eyebrows. 'Ok.'