Title: The English Patience: Thursday
Author: Am-Chau Yarkona
E-mail: grant@hagden169.fsnet.co.uk
Summary: Having made up with Spike, Giles has nonetheless decided he must take Willow to England. They spend a week there.
Rating: PG-13 (for language)
Pairing: Giles/Spike (tending Rupert/William)
Spoilers: End of season 6, other spoilers for early season 7.
Timing: Early season 7. Post 'Songfic interludes' and pre 'First Cuddles'.
Warnings: Mild slashyness, romance.
Author Notes: Part of my 'Demon!Cuddleverse' series. Section 3, to be exact.
Story Notes: This is a collection of e-mails, telephone calls and diary entries. Hope the labelling clear enough.
Disclaimer: Not mine, just playing, not even chocolate money, Joss is God, etc.

From: Willow Rosenburg [wrosenburg@aol.com] To: Spike [williamtb@att.net]

Spike,
I don't know why he didn't ring last night. maybe he was too tired, maybe it was something else. We've been doing the rounds of some liabary he knows that are fiarly local. I tried to ask him why he didn't speak to you, but he just changed the subject. I'm not sure he knows you told me about him and you, or perhaps he thinks it'll upset me because of Tara.
I am still upset over Tara, but it'll take more than knowing that he's with someone he loves to make me go all pysco-witchy again. Hopefully he'll phone you tonight, although he still seems frustrated. I think there might be something he's trying to do without letting me know what it is- a spell or something.
Give my love to the other Scoobs,
Willow.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Rupert?"
"No, Willow. I'll call him, Spike." ["Giles! It's Spike on the phone for you."]
"William?"
"'s me. How are you?"
"I'm fine. I thought I told you not to ring up."
"I wanted to hear your voice again, and you didn't ring me."
"William, please don't whinge."
"I'm not. I need you…"
"If there's something you really need to say to me, say it: if not, please hang up. I and Willow need to be undisturbed, to do our meditions on control and such."
"I need you to love me, Rupert. Love's bitch, remember?"
"Goodnight, Spike. I'll see you on Saturday."
"Rupes…"
"Goodnight."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Giles' diary

10:55pm It's getting harder. William rang me, and I wanted to talk, tell him everything, but with Willow in earshot, I really couldn't. I'm not sure I really could tell him anyway. Patience, Rupert.
Patience. Why are you so impatient? It's not like you. Willow may sort herself out yet, without the help of any phycic, powerful, accessable or otherwise. It's Thursday, and we're travelling home on Saturday, so why so impatient? William is some but not all of it- hang on, when did Sunnydale become home? England is home.
You are at home now, Rupert. Remember that. You don't ever have to go back to Sunny dale, to William. You've been without a lover for long enough before, even when there was one there willing to take you.
I've got to calm down, take my time.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

William's Journal

He sounded sad on the phone: frustrated, annoyed with me, and sad. I ddin't mean to annoy him, and it makes the seperation that much harder. When I find out what's upset him, I think I'll kill it or them. Chip, soul, be damned- no one hurts my lover that badly and gets away with it. No one.
Of course, that could be why he doesn't want to tell me.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

From: Spike [williamtb@att.net] To Willow Rosenburg [wrosenburg@aol.com]

Willow,
I'm sorry if I disturbed you two, but I needed to hear his voice. I… You must know what it's like.
William.