Title: The English Patience: Friday
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 know. It won't be long now. He's going to e-mail you himself (I've been teaching him!), so I won't say too much.
Willow.

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

From: Rupert Giles [rupertg@aol.com] To: Spike [williamtb@att.net]

Dear William,
I hope this works. Willow is an excellent tutor, but I fear I am not a good pupil. I'm sorry I was so sharp on the phone last night, but I did ask you not to ring.
Looking forward to seeing you again,
Sincerely yours,
Rupert Giles.

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

From: Spike [williamtb@att.net] To: Rupert Giles [rupertg@aol.com]

Rupert,
I'm sorry too. Please phone me.
Love you,
William.

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

"Yeah?"
"William? It's me."
"Oh. Hi, Rupert. You get my e-mail?"
"Yes, I did."
"Good. Willow been teaching you, huh?"
"Yes, she has. Very… intresting."
"But fun?"
"In its way. It still doesn't feel like real knowledge, though."
"Telephone doesn't smell, either."
"William, you know me entierly too well."
"I don't think so. I think I ought to get to know you better, spend more time with you…"
"You would."
"Course. 's why I said it."
"How are things in Sunnydale?"
"Okay. Buffy took Xander on patrol last night, and I went with Dawn. We met- oh, one vampire, and Dawn got him with no help from me. A just risen fledge, not even eaten, I guess."
"I'm glad to hear it. Dawn's doing well, is she?"
"Yeah. Seems to have got a pinch of that Slayer-strenght. Something to do with the monks making her from Buffy, I guess."
"It could be."
"How's Willow?"
"She's doing well. I ought to go back to her, really. We're doing a special concenratation exercise."
"Watching telly?"
"No!"
"Then how come I can hear it in the background, pet?"
"Oh- vampire hearing. Damn. yes, we're watching telly and I fear I might be missing Tom and Jerry."
"Dear me! You'd better hurry back to the settee, then. See you tomorrow, love?"
"As soon as possible."
"Good. See you."

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

Giles' diary

Today was a complete failure too, and now I've run out of time. I guess I will never meet Alice Malone. I managed to speak to William without breaking down, and we're all packed ready to get on the flight tomorrow. I'm going home- William's presence is what makes a place home. I see that now.

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

William's Journal

Only hours to go! He's coming back to me. I feared he might want to stay at home a little longer, but he's coming back. In less than twenty-four hours, he'll be with me again.
So why do I still want to go out and kill something? The demon in me, that delights in violence, I guess.