"What do you think he meant by two volunteers?" Dawn turned to he sister raising her eyebrow.
"What do you think?" Buffy countered with her own question.
"I think I"m just a kid who doesn't need to think about two vampires fighting over the chance to babysit my sister and me." Dawn pulled the covers up to her chin and grinned.
"Smart aleck." Buffy grinned at her little sister as she settled in under the covers, "Despite the "babysitter" situation, which I am far too tired to think about right now, are you going to be okay with moving?"
"I'm not thrilled but if we have, then we have too. If it means your safe, I can do it." Dawn yawned, "It might be nice to start over somewhere that nobody knows us or about our freaky past."
"Yeah, it might at that. Let's get some sleep." Buffy closed her eyes, "Night, Dawnie."
"Night." Dawn sighed sleepily as she scrunched up her pillow.
Buffy fell asleep and dreamed she was being forced to choose between two doors one was dark and seemed to be safe and comfy like an old friendship or stuffed toy, the other was light and was new and scary, yet she was drawn to it as if it she knew she knew there would be wonderful possibilities there too.
******
Spike stood on the backporch smoking his last cigarette, he could have sworn there had been more in the pack this morning. Stepping around the side of the house he dropped the empty pack in the trashcan, wouldn't do for Buffy to find it in the yard. He was surprised to see the glow of a cigarette on the backporch when he returned, he was more surprised to see Giles on the inhaling end of it. "Rupert, didn't realize you had taken up smoking?"
"Only when I've had a long day," Giles took a long drag off the cigarette, "And when I can nick one from you."
Spike laughed soflty, "Thought they were dissappearing awful quick lately."
"We need to talk." Giles stared at the moonlit sky, "About Buffy."
"Figured it was gonna come to this, I love her Rupert, would never hurt her," Spike started his speech.
"I know, " Gilles interrupted.
Spike seemed to ignore him, "I'd die to protect her and the 'Bit too, you have to know that."
"I. Do. Know. That." Giles carefully enuciated each word.
Spike looked as if he'd been hit with a brick, "You.....know?"
"Yes, I do. I can't deny it any longer, your actions.....I know you love her. Of course 'he' does too. I want what's best for Buffy, but I want her safety and her happiness above all else. Are you going to ask her about going with she and Dawn?" Giles expression matched the seriousness in his voice.
"I was going to talk to her tomorrow. Why?" Spike looked almost nervous.
"I just want to make sure she's not going to be pressured, I assume Angel will also plead his case." Giles turned to Spike watching the blond vampires reaction carefully.
"S'pose he will at that." Spike agreed.
"And if she decides to let him go with her, how will you handle that?"
"Guess, I'll have to accept it. It'll hurt, but I do love her and I do want her happy even if it's not with me." Spike's words were so heartfelt that Giles felt a pang of sympathy for the vampire.
"I'm not sure she should choose either of you - she's got a chance at a normal life now. But somehow, I don't think that Buffy will ever be a normal girl. If you go....I will be checking on her often and if you should ever cause her pain...I"
"You have a stake with my name on it. Soul or no soul."" Spike finished the sentence.
"I'm glad we understand each other." Giles stepped off the porch and dropped the butt of his cigarette, grinding it into the ground with his boot.
"Best pick that up, Buffy doesn't like 'em collecting out here." Spike told him before he dissappeared into the kitchen.
****
Giles remained outside for another half hour awaiting Angel's return.
"Giles." Angel spoke as he entered through the side yard.
"Angel, I need to speak to you."
"About Buffy?" Angel stepped up onto the porch.
"Yes, I assume you are going to talk to her about looking out for her when she and Dawn leave?" Giles
asked already knowing the answer.
"Yes, I can take some time off from the business and keep an eye on her and Dawn, help her get settled."
Giles sighed, "Do you think that's wise? You and Buffy in that close proximity for a long period of time?"
It was Angel's turn to sigh, "I will always love her Giles. Thats why I want to do this, I've let her down in the past, but I can do this for her. I can control my emotions, it will be okay. And anyway, if it comes down to me or Spike - who do you really want with her?"
Giles' reply was matter of fact, "That's Buffy's choice."
Angel looked at the watcher with surprise, "You mean that?"
"I do mean that, it's Buffy's choice and if she chooses Spike. You have to promise me that you will abide by her choice." Giles tone was serious.
"I..will always abide by Buffy's choice. But that doesn't mean I have to approve." Angel frowned.
"Welcome to the "don't approve of Buffy's choices" club, I'm the president." Giles grimaced, "But if I can learn to abide by her choices you bloody well can too."
Giles left the darkhaired vampire staring at the moonlit sky with these final words, "And if you should be the one who goes, you get the same warning I gave Spike, you hurt her, I'll stake you."
****
Buffy woke early the next morning to the sounds of girls chattering and suitcases being lugged down the stairs. She and Dawn went to the kitchen to find Willow and Xander both there. Xander trying to clean up some of the mess from the night before and Willow cooking a goodbye breakfast for the Potentials.
Kennedy stood in the corner her expression sullen.
By noon the last of the girls would have been taken to the airport and headed home. "Buffy!" Willow lay down he spatula long enough to hug her friend, "I'm sorry we didn't stay last night!"
"Yeah, Buff. If we had known." Xander started to apologize.
"It's okay, it's all over now." Buffy gave Xander a quick hug.
"Giles filled us in on everything." Xander 's eyes were filled with sadness, " We'll miss you."
"I'm going to miss you all too." Buffy's eyes teared up at the words.
"We can keep in touch though." Willow's dabbed at her eyes with a dishtowel.
"We will keep in touch." Buffy told her clearing her throat.
"Yeah and you can come visit us in.....well wherever we're going." Dawn chimed in.
"Of course, now I'll have a couple of vacation spots." Willow answered smiling in Kennedy's direction. The girls expression immediately brightened.
"Virginia. I've found you a place in Virginia Beach and there are some good schools in the area." Giles piped in as he entered the kitchen.
"I don't think I've ever been to Virginia." Buffy told him with a smile.
"It's lovely, you'll like it and there's beach there." He smiled at her, "You and Dawn will do fine. You should start packing your things though, I'm hiring a uhaul for your necessities and will send the rest of your belongings later."
***
The rest of the morning was spent chauffeuring Potentials to the airport and packing.
Angel and Spike both entered the kitchen at the same time. They frowned at each other before Angel spoke up, "Buffy I need to speak to you, please?"
"Okay." Buffy answered a little hesitantly.
"Can we talk alone?"
Spike watched the whole exchange angrily, Peaches had beat him to the punch again. He was about ready to say something when Dawn spoke up, "Spike can you please help me get these boxes from my room."
He continued to watch as Buffy left the room with Angel. "Spike!" Dawn called out repeating her request
"Sure, Nib, I'll help." He told her still watching the spot where Buffy had been standing.
"Those boxes right there." Dawn pointed to several boxes sitting in her floor.
"Whats in them, rocks?" Spike complained as he picked up the first box.
"You have vampire strength what are you complaining about?" Dawn shook her head at him, then added softly, "You're worried aren't you? Worried that Angel is talking to her and convincing her that he needs to come with us?"
"I don't care, if Buffy want's Peaches with you then thats her business." Spike tried to sound convincing. He carried the box out of the room and stopped at the door, "Do you think she will?" He asked his voice small.
"I don't know for sure, but I don't think you should worry too much." Dawn smiled as she picked up a smaller box and followed him down the stairs.
Dawn went back upstairs to get some more stuff leaving Spike alone in the living room. Buffy and Angel were in the dining room, if he tried he could hear everything they said. He sighed what to do?
****
"Buffy, I wanted to talk to you about something. Giles told me that you were going to need some protection when you leave. I want to offer to be that protection for you and for Dawn." He smiled at her as he pushed a stray hair behind her ear.
"You want to come with us? But...how bout you life in LA?" Buffy asked raising her eyebrows quesioningly.
"I can leave them for a little while, get you settled make sure your safe." Angel sat down in the chair next to her, "I want to do this for you, I haven't been there for you when you needed me before, but this I can do."
"What exactly does this mean though? You're just going to come and stay with us until you're sure we're safe and then go back to LA - just like that? Nothing's really changed since you left the first time Angel."
Buffy sighed as she took his hand in hers, "I know you care for me.....but you have others you care for now too. I don't think us spending that much time together is a good thing."
"But.....I do care, Buffy." His voice was soft and full of emotion.
"I know you do. But..we aren't in each others lives anymore, Angel. You need to go back to your life in LA."
She smiled sweetly at him.
"You're gonna let Spike go with you aren't you?" Angel raised his eyebrow dissapprovingly.
"He hasn't asked.' Buffy answered truthfully.
"He will." Angel replied, "Be careful. And if you ever need me...."
"I know where to call." Buffy stood and put her arms around his neck, taking in his strength remembering the scent of her Angel and sighed.
"I do love you, you know that?" Angel asked before his lips met hers in a tender kiss. A goodbye kiss.
"I know. Now I've got packing to do." Buffy smiled as she left the diningroom.
Spike quickly dodged into the kitchen, he had given in to his urge to spy and only caught the last bit of the encounter, Angel professing his love and kissing Buffy was enough for him, he didn't need to hear the rest.
Well if that's how she wanted it. He turned to go to the basement might as well pack his few belongings and get out of here...out of her life for good. So much for accepting this gracefully.
"Spike!" Buffy called out as she bumped into him on her way to the kitchen, "You okay? You look like you've lost your last friend."
"I...I'm fine." He blurted out his tone sharp.
"Okay, somebody's grumpy."
"You know what Summers...I had this whole speech ready.....gonna tell you why I should be the one to go with you and Nibllet...guess that doesn't matter now. It's obvious you are "ready" now...." Spike jerked the basement door open.
"Ready for what?" Buffy asked confusion on her pretty face.
"Ready for me .......not to be here." He told her before he angrily marched down the basement steps.
TBC
"What do you think?" Buffy countered with her own question.
"I think I"m just a kid who doesn't need to think about two vampires fighting over the chance to babysit my sister and me." Dawn pulled the covers up to her chin and grinned.
"Smart aleck." Buffy grinned at her little sister as she settled in under the covers, "Despite the "babysitter" situation, which I am far too tired to think about right now, are you going to be okay with moving?"
"I'm not thrilled but if we have, then we have too. If it means your safe, I can do it." Dawn yawned, "It might be nice to start over somewhere that nobody knows us or about our freaky past."
"Yeah, it might at that. Let's get some sleep." Buffy closed her eyes, "Night, Dawnie."
"Night." Dawn sighed sleepily as she scrunched up her pillow.
Buffy fell asleep and dreamed she was being forced to choose between two doors one was dark and seemed to be safe and comfy like an old friendship or stuffed toy, the other was light and was new and scary, yet she was drawn to it as if it she knew she knew there would be wonderful possibilities there too.
******
Spike stood on the backporch smoking his last cigarette, he could have sworn there had been more in the pack this morning. Stepping around the side of the house he dropped the empty pack in the trashcan, wouldn't do for Buffy to find it in the yard. He was surprised to see the glow of a cigarette on the backporch when he returned, he was more surprised to see Giles on the inhaling end of it. "Rupert, didn't realize you had taken up smoking?"
"Only when I've had a long day," Giles took a long drag off the cigarette, "And when I can nick one from you."
Spike laughed soflty, "Thought they were dissappearing awful quick lately."
"We need to talk." Giles stared at the moonlit sky, "About Buffy."
"Figured it was gonna come to this, I love her Rupert, would never hurt her," Spike started his speech.
"I know, " Gilles interrupted.
Spike seemed to ignore him, "I'd die to protect her and the 'Bit too, you have to know that."
"I. Do. Know. That." Giles carefully enuciated each word.
Spike looked as if he'd been hit with a brick, "You.....know?"
"Yes, I do. I can't deny it any longer, your actions.....I know you love her. Of course 'he' does too. I want what's best for Buffy, but I want her safety and her happiness above all else. Are you going to ask her about going with she and Dawn?" Giles expression matched the seriousness in his voice.
"I was going to talk to her tomorrow. Why?" Spike looked almost nervous.
"I just want to make sure she's not going to be pressured, I assume Angel will also plead his case." Giles turned to Spike watching the blond vampires reaction carefully.
"S'pose he will at that." Spike agreed.
"And if she decides to let him go with her, how will you handle that?"
"Guess, I'll have to accept it. It'll hurt, but I do love her and I do want her happy even if it's not with me." Spike's words were so heartfelt that Giles felt a pang of sympathy for the vampire.
"I'm not sure she should choose either of you - she's got a chance at a normal life now. But somehow, I don't think that Buffy will ever be a normal girl. If you go....I will be checking on her often and if you should ever cause her pain...I"
"You have a stake with my name on it. Soul or no soul."" Spike finished the sentence.
"I'm glad we understand each other." Giles stepped off the porch and dropped the butt of his cigarette, grinding it into the ground with his boot.
"Best pick that up, Buffy doesn't like 'em collecting out here." Spike told him before he dissappeared into the kitchen.
****
Giles remained outside for another half hour awaiting Angel's return.
"Giles." Angel spoke as he entered through the side yard.
"Angel, I need to speak to you."
"About Buffy?" Angel stepped up onto the porch.
"Yes, I assume you are going to talk to her about looking out for her when she and Dawn leave?" Giles
asked already knowing the answer.
"Yes, I can take some time off from the business and keep an eye on her and Dawn, help her get settled."
Giles sighed, "Do you think that's wise? You and Buffy in that close proximity for a long period of time?"
It was Angel's turn to sigh, "I will always love her Giles. Thats why I want to do this, I've let her down in the past, but I can do this for her. I can control my emotions, it will be okay. And anyway, if it comes down to me or Spike - who do you really want with her?"
Giles' reply was matter of fact, "That's Buffy's choice."
Angel looked at the watcher with surprise, "You mean that?"
"I do mean that, it's Buffy's choice and if she chooses Spike. You have to promise me that you will abide by her choice." Giles tone was serious.
"I..will always abide by Buffy's choice. But that doesn't mean I have to approve." Angel frowned.
"Welcome to the "don't approve of Buffy's choices" club, I'm the president." Giles grimaced, "But if I can learn to abide by her choices you bloody well can too."
Giles left the darkhaired vampire staring at the moonlit sky with these final words, "And if you should be the one who goes, you get the same warning I gave Spike, you hurt her, I'll stake you."
****
Buffy woke early the next morning to the sounds of girls chattering and suitcases being lugged down the stairs. She and Dawn went to the kitchen to find Willow and Xander both there. Xander trying to clean up some of the mess from the night before and Willow cooking a goodbye breakfast for the Potentials.
Kennedy stood in the corner her expression sullen.
By noon the last of the girls would have been taken to the airport and headed home. "Buffy!" Willow lay down he spatula long enough to hug her friend, "I'm sorry we didn't stay last night!"
"Yeah, Buff. If we had known." Xander started to apologize.
"It's okay, it's all over now." Buffy gave Xander a quick hug.
"Giles filled us in on everything." Xander 's eyes were filled with sadness, " We'll miss you."
"I'm going to miss you all too." Buffy's eyes teared up at the words.
"We can keep in touch though." Willow's dabbed at her eyes with a dishtowel.
"We will keep in touch." Buffy told her clearing her throat.
"Yeah and you can come visit us in.....well wherever we're going." Dawn chimed in.
"Of course, now I'll have a couple of vacation spots." Willow answered smiling in Kennedy's direction. The girls expression immediately brightened.
"Virginia. I've found you a place in Virginia Beach and there are some good schools in the area." Giles piped in as he entered the kitchen.
"I don't think I've ever been to Virginia." Buffy told him with a smile.
"It's lovely, you'll like it and there's beach there." He smiled at her, "You and Dawn will do fine. You should start packing your things though, I'm hiring a uhaul for your necessities and will send the rest of your belongings later."
***
The rest of the morning was spent chauffeuring Potentials to the airport and packing.
Angel and Spike both entered the kitchen at the same time. They frowned at each other before Angel spoke up, "Buffy I need to speak to you, please?"
"Okay." Buffy answered a little hesitantly.
"Can we talk alone?"
Spike watched the whole exchange angrily, Peaches had beat him to the punch again. He was about ready to say something when Dawn spoke up, "Spike can you please help me get these boxes from my room."
He continued to watch as Buffy left the room with Angel. "Spike!" Dawn called out repeating her request
"Sure, Nib, I'll help." He told her still watching the spot where Buffy had been standing.
"Those boxes right there." Dawn pointed to several boxes sitting in her floor.
"Whats in them, rocks?" Spike complained as he picked up the first box.
"You have vampire strength what are you complaining about?" Dawn shook her head at him, then added softly, "You're worried aren't you? Worried that Angel is talking to her and convincing her that he needs to come with us?"
"I don't care, if Buffy want's Peaches with you then thats her business." Spike tried to sound convincing. He carried the box out of the room and stopped at the door, "Do you think she will?" He asked his voice small.
"I don't know for sure, but I don't think you should worry too much." Dawn smiled as she picked up a smaller box and followed him down the stairs.
Dawn went back upstairs to get some more stuff leaving Spike alone in the living room. Buffy and Angel were in the dining room, if he tried he could hear everything they said. He sighed what to do?
****
"Buffy, I wanted to talk to you about something. Giles told me that you were going to need some protection when you leave. I want to offer to be that protection for you and for Dawn." He smiled at her as he pushed a stray hair behind her ear.
"You want to come with us? But...how bout you life in LA?" Buffy asked raising her eyebrows quesioningly.
"I can leave them for a little while, get you settled make sure your safe." Angel sat down in the chair next to her, "I want to do this for you, I haven't been there for you when you needed me before, but this I can do."
"What exactly does this mean though? You're just going to come and stay with us until you're sure we're safe and then go back to LA - just like that? Nothing's really changed since you left the first time Angel."
Buffy sighed as she took his hand in hers, "I know you care for me.....but you have others you care for now too. I don't think us spending that much time together is a good thing."
"But.....I do care, Buffy." His voice was soft and full of emotion.
"I know you do. But..we aren't in each others lives anymore, Angel. You need to go back to your life in LA."
She smiled sweetly at him.
"You're gonna let Spike go with you aren't you?" Angel raised his eyebrow dissapprovingly.
"He hasn't asked.' Buffy answered truthfully.
"He will." Angel replied, "Be careful. And if you ever need me...."
"I know where to call." Buffy stood and put her arms around his neck, taking in his strength remembering the scent of her Angel and sighed.
"I do love you, you know that?" Angel asked before his lips met hers in a tender kiss. A goodbye kiss.
"I know. Now I've got packing to do." Buffy smiled as she left the diningroom.
Spike quickly dodged into the kitchen, he had given in to his urge to spy and only caught the last bit of the encounter, Angel professing his love and kissing Buffy was enough for him, he didn't need to hear the rest.
Well if that's how she wanted it. He turned to go to the basement might as well pack his few belongings and get out of here...out of her life for good. So much for accepting this gracefully.
"Spike!" Buffy called out as she bumped into him on her way to the kitchen, "You okay? You look like you've lost your last friend."
"I...I'm fine." He blurted out his tone sharp.
"Okay, somebody's grumpy."
"You know what Summers...I had this whole speech ready.....gonna tell you why I should be the one to go with you and Nibllet...guess that doesn't matter now. It's obvious you are "ready" now...." Spike jerked the basement door open.
"Ready for what?" Buffy asked confusion on her pretty face.
"Ready for me .......not to be here." He told her before he angrily marched down the basement steps.
TBC