Good evening, One and All,
Okay, so I was a bit late. But here is chapter eighteen. As we are about to get a heck of a snowstorm in my area of the world, I will probably be snowed in and doing little else but write in the next few days (oh, and tend to a recuperating puppy and several chilly horses). I do hope to go back to having two chapters out next week - probably Wednesday and Sunday. :::crosses fingers in hope::::
Thanks for all the get well wishes. I seem to be doing much better, as is Rupert. Still a little tuckered, but not bad, all things considered. I am grateful for your understanding and patience.
That being said, I'm off to write some more. Hope you all have a lovely weekend and for those of you who are about to get pummeled by the snow, hope you have lots of TP!
*Cheery Vibes*, Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Spike and a widdle Buffy and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Righteous (Chapter Eighteen of The One)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com . Also, please visit the wonderful fan listing that Rachel put together. Sign up today and link to your website (or just sign up to say hi!). The fan listing can be found at .
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Buffy and Spike patrol and realize that Buffy's situation is progressing. Anya, Tara, Willow and Takina start on their mission to discovery Draconius's plan and receive some help from a junior Scooby. Xander finds out that there is a secret plot of which he seems to be the only one not in the know.
Righteous
"You've got to learn to control it, Pet," Spike breathed, his arms wrapped tight around her shaking form. She clung to his waist, her head buried in his chest, deep, wracking breaths making her entire body shudder.
"I.I don't want to have to control it," Buffy muttered. Her voice was as shaky as her body. "I want it to stop. To go. Do something."
Spike stroked her hair, never letting up on the pressure of his arm around her. "We'll sort it out, Love. But until then, you can't let it run rampant in you. Gotta control it. Gotta make it work for you."
Buffy's eyes darted up and caught in his. Hers were normal again. Human. Sweet. Afraid. "Spike, what if. what if this never stops?" A sob caught in her throat.
He sighed, pulling her impossibly closer. "Cross that bridge when we come to it, Love. I'll show you. Teach you how to control it."
She nodded, her body still shaking under his strong arms. "What.what do I do with all this.all this.rage? And the bloodlust? Where'd that come from?" It was the best she could do. She mustered a smile.
Spike returned her gesture in kind, letting her go enough to brush her hair from her face. She was Buffy again, but that feral being was right under the surface. What scared him most was that part of him was horrified by it. And part of him was completely aroused. He wasn't sure if it was the part of him that had taken on Buffy that was disgusted or excited, but he was starting to think she might be a bit of both when she looked at him like that. When she saw his beast. "You can't become the scourge of Sunnydale, Pet. Undermine the whole chosen one image, you would."
She chuckled, pushing herself half a step away, but keeping her hands pressed against him. Buffy felt as if she might lose it again without the feel of his heart under her fingertips. The sounds of his breath. "No scourging. Cutting bloody swaths through Sunnydale is definitely not of the good."
"No, Pet," Spike agreed with a soft nod of the head. "It's not."
She turned on a heel, facing away, her hands still finding a way to keep holding onto him. His wrist was clutched in her hand. "So, what do I do with it, Spike?"
Spike moved in behind her, pressing his chest hard to her back. "You've got a few choices, Love."
"What.how. what works for you? How did you go all that time when. when you were a Vampire.? I mean a not breathing, heartbeat-y Vampire. and not feed? Not.kill things?" Buffy asked, still looking away. It was too hard to look at him. To let him see what she was becoming.
"Well," Spike whispered, brushing her hair away and looping it behind her ear. He spoke so that his lips brushed against the delicate shell of her earlobe with every word. "Started by eating pig's blood and feeling sorry for myself. Not much for the bloodlust when one is brooding."
She chuckled, letting her back fall against his chest. Spike pulled her in closer, his lips still caressing her ear with every syllable. "After that, realized that I could kill demons. Put us on the same side. Didn't care much. Just wanted the violence."
Buffy nodded, her eyes slipping closed. "I get that. I mean now."
"I know," Spike said softly, almost regretfully. He took a deep breath, bringing himself back in control. "Then there was you."
A quiet smile broke across Buffy's face. "What about me?"
"First off, right fine fighter you are. A good round with you'd shore up the rage for a week or two." Buffy chuckled, letting one hand snake behind her and her palm falling on the nape of his neck.
"So, we could fight?" Buffy questioned, knowing he had more to say. Feeling him press his jeans against hers and understanding that a good battle or bloodletting wasn't the only way to satisfy the beast.
"We could," Spike purred, his teeth nipping the edge of that delicate ear. "See, after a few long, tense years, I also realized that a righteous shag would do the trick as well."
A laugh escaped her throat, making her whole body shake against his, letting all the right parts rub against each other. She felt it start, low and tight in her belly. "Righteous, hunh?"
"Not just any shag, Pet. Had to be you. Only you. Had to be that sweet combination of rose petals and steel fists, broken beds and little.whispered.words," Spike punctuated each of the last sounds with a kiss, making her body electrify on contact.
"And that worked? I mean, to quell the beast?" Buffy asked, her other hand now searching behind her and finding his denim clad backside under her palm. Oops, she thought as she gave it a squeeze.
Spike chuckled, although it was more of a purr. "Well, wouldn't say it was quelled, but it was certainly tired enough after that it didn't care to rip out the throats of passers-by."
She had no choice but to laugh again, making their bodies that much closer, vibrating with the sound of her giggles echoing under her skin. "So, you think that I should start at the beginning then? Demon slaughter?"
"Passed that test, Love," Spike whispered, his hands now aimlessly wandering along the waist of her jeans, his fingers cool with the night air, skimming her skin like a breeze.
"So, I need to skip to the brawling with you?" She asked, her body now completely on fire by his caresses. His hands slid under her shirt to rest lightly upon her flat belly.
"You could," Spike continued, his fingers relentlessly tracing delicate patterns on the smooth expanse of her torso, working ever closer to the scrap of lace she liked to call a bra.
"Or," Buffy said, her voice low and quiet as that pull in her belly warmed her skin. "I could skip to the righteousness."
"Or any combination thereof," Spike agreed, his mouth working down her neck as if on a mission to meet his hands.
Buffy sighed, her body nearly melting against his. She felt both helpless and utterly powerful against him. Something in her was so grateful. So thankful that he had seen her like he just had and still wanted to be part of her. "You're not all grossed out?" Buffy asked, her voice hesitant for the first time since he'd made contact.
He pushed himself hard against her. "No, Pet," he hummed against the skin of her neck, his tongue flickering over the big pulse. "Not likely."
"So, what do we have to do to make this righteous shagging thing work?" Buffy asked, pushing herself back into him like a giant cat rubbing against his legs. An involuntary moan escaped his lips.
"Think you'll figure it out," Spike answered, lifting her into his arms and carrying her off towards the Crypt. "Trust me?"
"Always," Buffy answered, her eyes serious and light. It was the last thing she said before her lips found his.
Dawn watched them from the staircase. Tara, Willow, and Takina sat in a circle with candles all around them. Anya sat in the center looking amazingly bored. They hadn't started yet. The only reason Dawn could even tell is that nothing weird had happened in the house. That much mojo in that small a space generally caused at least the lights to malfunction, if not the entire electrical system.
"So, what do you think? I mean, the dropping down the rabbit hole bit wasn't that bad.." Willow said, a shy smile breaking on her face. She remembered looking for Spike using a similar spell. It stood to reason the journey would be a lot easier on a demon accustomed to interdimensional travel.
"I don't see why you don't let me just teleport," Anya complained, her hands still on her hips even sitting down. The aggravation played like a cartoon across her features.
"B.because if you teleport using your own power. then we can't anchor you. Giles said." Tara stuttered. She'd always been a little intimidated by the demon. Something about her brazenness.
"Giles this, Giles that. When you gonna learn he's just a *man*!" Anya huffed. "And by nature, all men are wrong." She thought about it a moment. "Although he's less wrong than most, and far yummier and his penis.."
"Ewww, enough!" Willow shouted, squirming. "No penis. Especially no Giles.. Ewwww."
Anya smiled victoriously. There was something about embarrassing the other girls that made her giddy. "All right. So, no teleporting. But the rabbit hole thing." Anya whined, shifting around in the center.
Takina wisely kept her mouth shut. If there was one thing she had learned while in this extended family she had become a part of, it was do not speak about things you don't know more than the others about, and don't try to win a verbal sparring match with any of them. Particularly not Anya.
"Guys?" Dawn said tentatively from the staircase. All eyes fluttered up to her in varying stages of annoyance. The girl cringed.
"What?" Anya asked, still annoyed. "Come to watch me plummet through space as a little ball of light?" She thought again. "Can you even see that from here?"
"No," Willow answered, swinging her head towards the demon and then back at Dawn. "What is it, Dawnie?"
"Uh, Key here?" Dawn contributed. "Open small portals in a single drop?"
Takina smiled, nodding at the girl. Finally, a voice of reason. And to think it came from the youngest of the bunch. "Not bad, Dawn."
Dawn smiled gleefully. "See!"
"That would require blood and I don't know if I want to take my chances with Buffy and/or Spike right now," Willow said softly. "But thanks for the offer."
Dawn's face fell in disappointment. "It only takes a little."
"Dawn," Willow began. Tara touched her arm, nodding softly. If the girl wanted to help, let her help. She thought it loud enough that her lover could hear her.
Willow sighed, looking at Anya. "Portal work for you?"
A big smile lit up Anya's face. "Much, much better. Thank you. Now, can you go through while you're invisible? Rupert said they shouldn't see me."
"I thought you didn't *care* what Giles thought," Tara teased, the softness of her face melting even Anya.
"Well, sometimes," the demon admitted. "And I do have a young son and plan on many more, which means many more rounds of."
"Enough with the visuals!" Willow shrieked, cringing. "Dawnie, who's with the kids?"
"Why do you think I'm down here?" Dawn asked, descending the staircase. "It's like Mr. Mom upstairs. Cyrus has Em and Will, Giles has Randy. Xander's up there with River playing keep away from Spike's son and Oz is trying to entertain them with the wonder that is wolf noises."
"No Buffy or Spike?" Takina asked, looking up at Dawn's smiling face from her perch on the floor.
Dawn shook her head. "Nope. Longish patrol. Either means that the demon population multiplied overnight or they're doing the naked lambada."
"Okay, have I said enough with the visuals?" Willow asked, not that imagining Buffy and Spike together was nearly as traumatic as imagining Giles naked, but still.
Dawn giggled. "Oh, are you so glad you don't live here anymore then."
"Sit. Bleed," Willow joked, moving over and letting Dawn into the circle. Dawn plopped down, grateful to finally be of some sort of help, and rolled up a sleeve.
"So, what does bring you back into town, Oz?" Xander asked, picking up River and moving her three feet further away from Will. It was like Sisyphus trying to roll the boulder up the mountain. Each time he did it, the little boy would find the little girl. This he didn't like. No child of Spike's was going *near* River until at least her. ever.
"Um, work. Life. Spike asked for some help," Oz evaded, chasing Emma around the room on all fours. Emma giggled madly, dodging his swatting paws. Well, what would be paws were it a full moon.
Giles cleared his throat at Oz's answer. Part of him wanted to chuckle. Part wanted to hide. Knowing why Oz was really back was a bit uncomfortable for the Watcher. Knowing that Xander would eventually find out was almost amusing.
Xander shot Giles a glance. He knows something, Xander thought. Something I don't. "Nothing in particular? I mean, Dawn said she heard you guys talking after we left the other night."
Oz continued his chase, never breaking stride. "Nothing particularly particular. Unless you mean specifically particular."
"Good answer. Evasive, but good," Xander snarked, finally giving up and letting River free on the floor. It took about a half a millisecond for her to stumble to Will and fall in a heap next to him, her little head leaned into his good arm.
Cyrus stood. "Shall I make some tea?"
"Might be a good idea," Giles replied. "It looks to be a long night in the making."
Cyrus nodded, glancing at Emma and took his leave. Oz still chased her playfully, his energy almost as boundless as hers. "Just. it's up to Willow to tell you, man."
"Ah ha!" Xander shouted, raising one finger in the air. "So there *is* a big secret that you're keeping from me." His face slackened as he thought about it. A pout broke on his lips, and his words became softer. "That Willow's keeping from me."
Oz stopped, pulling the giggling Emma down on his lap. "No, man. It's not like that. I mean, it's just. It's not a secret like that. Just something she has to figure out how to tell you."
"She told *you* and you haven't been around for years!" Xander countered, trapped firmly between hurt and annoyed.
Giles sighed. "The only reason she has discussed this with Oz and not with you is because Oz is. involved."
The wolf had suspected that Giles knew, but it still made him blush when his suspicions were confirmed. "Well, yeah," he agreed. "And Spike asked me to ."
"Wait. Giles knows? Spike? Who else?" Xander retorted, jumping from his chair and beginning to stalk the room.
Giles pulled off his glasses, wiping them on the edge of Randy's jumper. "Well, Buffy. And of course, Anya. "
"And Tara," Oz contributed, smiling.
Xander's eyes went wide. "And you said Dawn overheard it?"
"Spike kicked her out before she heard the whole thing," Oz comforted, tickling Emma as she giggled on the floor.
"So, Dawn doesn't know.," Xander said relieved. A horrible thought occurred to him. The ultimate betrayal. "Ta..Takina?"
Giles looked at Oz. Oz at Giles. They both shrugged. "Don't think so, Man," Oz finally answered.
Xander paced the room in long circuits, his anger and his hurt bubbling to the surface. "So why? Why didn't she tell me? *What* didn't she tell me?"
"I'm afraid it's up to her to decide when the time is right," Giles answered, shifting Randy in his lap.
Xander shot a pleading look to Oz. "Look, trust me when I say that I'd tell ya if I could. I would. In a second. Maybe half. But it's not mine to tell."
"Willow," Xander said. It was more like a rush of air than a word.
To be contd.
Okay, so I was a bit late. But here is chapter eighteen. As we are about to get a heck of a snowstorm in my area of the world, I will probably be snowed in and doing little else but write in the next few days (oh, and tend to a recuperating puppy and several chilly horses). I do hope to go back to having two chapters out next week - probably Wednesday and Sunday. :::crosses fingers in hope::::
Thanks for all the get well wishes. I seem to be doing much better, as is Rupert. Still a little tuckered, but not bad, all things considered. I am grateful for your understanding and patience.
That being said, I'm off to write some more. Hope you all have a lovely weekend and for those of you who are about to get pummeled by the snow, hope you have lots of TP!
*Cheery Vibes*, Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Spike and a widdle Buffy and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Righteous (Chapter Eighteen of The One)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing: Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com . Also, please visit the wonderful fan listing that Rachel put together. Sign up today and link to your website (or just sign up to say hi!). The fan listing can be found at .
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (With, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Buffy and Spike patrol and realize that Buffy's situation is progressing. Anya, Tara, Willow and Takina start on their mission to discovery Draconius's plan and receive some help from a junior Scooby. Xander finds out that there is a secret plot of which he seems to be the only one not in the know.
Righteous
"You've got to learn to control it, Pet," Spike breathed, his arms wrapped tight around her shaking form. She clung to his waist, her head buried in his chest, deep, wracking breaths making her entire body shudder.
"I.I don't want to have to control it," Buffy muttered. Her voice was as shaky as her body. "I want it to stop. To go. Do something."
Spike stroked her hair, never letting up on the pressure of his arm around her. "We'll sort it out, Love. But until then, you can't let it run rampant in you. Gotta control it. Gotta make it work for you."
Buffy's eyes darted up and caught in his. Hers were normal again. Human. Sweet. Afraid. "Spike, what if. what if this never stops?" A sob caught in her throat.
He sighed, pulling her impossibly closer. "Cross that bridge when we come to it, Love. I'll show you. Teach you how to control it."
She nodded, her body still shaking under his strong arms. "What.what do I do with all this.all this.rage? And the bloodlust? Where'd that come from?" It was the best she could do. She mustered a smile.
Spike returned her gesture in kind, letting her go enough to brush her hair from her face. She was Buffy again, but that feral being was right under the surface. What scared him most was that part of him was horrified by it. And part of him was completely aroused. He wasn't sure if it was the part of him that had taken on Buffy that was disgusted or excited, but he was starting to think she might be a bit of both when she looked at him like that. When she saw his beast. "You can't become the scourge of Sunnydale, Pet. Undermine the whole chosen one image, you would."
She chuckled, pushing herself half a step away, but keeping her hands pressed against him. Buffy felt as if she might lose it again without the feel of his heart under her fingertips. The sounds of his breath. "No scourging. Cutting bloody swaths through Sunnydale is definitely not of the good."
"No, Pet," Spike agreed with a soft nod of the head. "It's not."
She turned on a heel, facing away, her hands still finding a way to keep holding onto him. His wrist was clutched in her hand. "So, what do I do with it, Spike?"
Spike moved in behind her, pressing his chest hard to her back. "You've got a few choices, Love."
"What.how. what works for you? How did you go all that time when. when you were a Vampire.? I mean a not breathing, heartbeat-y Vampire. and not feed? Not.kill things?" Buffy asked, still looking away. It was too hard to look at him. To let him see what she was becoming.
"Well," Spike whispered, brushing her hair away and looping it behind her ear. He spoke so that his lips brushed against the delicate shell of her earlobe with every word. "Started by eating pig's blood and feeling sorry for myself. Not much for the bloodlust when one is brooding."
She chuckled, letting her back fall against his chest. Spike pulled her in closer, his lips still caressing her ear with every syllable. "After that, realized that I could kill demons. Put us on the same side. Didn't care much. Just wanted the violence."
Buffy nodded, her eyes slipping closed. "I get that. I mean now."
"I know," Spike said softly, almost regretfully. He took a deep breath, bringing himself back in control. "Then there was you."
A quiet smile broke across Buffy's face. "What about me?"
"First off, right fine fighter you are. A good round with you'd shore up the rage for a week or two." Buffy chuckled, letting one hand snake behind her and her palm falling on the nape of his neck.
"So, we could fight?" Buffy questioned, knowing he had more to say. Feeling him press his jeans against hers and understanding that a good battle or bloodletting wasn't the only way to satisfy the beast.
"We could," Spike purred, his teeth nipping the edge of that delicate ear. "See, after a few long, tense years, I also realized that a righteous shag would do the trick as well."
A laugh escaped her throat, making her whole body shake against his, letting all the right parts rub against each other. She felt it start, low and tight in her belly. "Righteous, hunh?"
"Not just any shag, Pet. Had to be you. Only you. Had to be that sweet combination of rose petals and steel fists, broken beds and little.whispered.words," Spike punctuated each of the last sounds with a kiss, making her body electrify on contact.
"And that worked? I mean, to quell the beast?" Buffy asked, her other hand now searching behind her and finding his denim clad backside under her palm. Oops, she thought as she gave it a squeeze.
Spike chuckled, although it was more of a purr. "Well, wouldn't say it was quelled, but it was certainly tired enough after that it didn't care to rip out the throats of passers-by."
She had no choice but to laugh again, making their bodies that much closer, vibrating with the sound of her giggles echoing under her skin. "So, you think that I should start at the beginning then? Demon slaughter?"
"Passed that test, Love," Spike whispered, his hands now aimlessly wandering along the waist of her jeans, his fingers cool with the night air, skimming her skin like a breeze.
"So, I need to skip to the brawling with you?" She asked, her body now completely on fire by his caresses. His hands slid under her shirt to rest lightly upon her flat belly.
"You could," Spike continued, his fingers relentlessly tracing delicate patterns on the smooth expanse of her torso, working ever closer to the scrap of lace she liked to call a bra.
"Or," Buffy said, her voice low and quiet as that pull in her belly warmed her skin. "I could skip to the righteousness."
"Or any combination thereof," Spike agreed, his mouth working down her neck as if on a mission to meet his hands.
Buffy sighed, her body nearly melting against his. She felt both helpless and utterly powerful against him. Something in her was so grateful. So thankful that he had seen her like he just had and still wanted to be part of her. "You're not all grossed out?" Buffy asked, her voice hesitant for the first time since he'd made contact.
He pushed himself hard against her. "No, Pet," he hummed against the skin of her neck, his tongue flickering over the big pulse. "Not likely."
"So, what do we have to do to make this righteous shagging thing work?" Buffy asked, pushing herself back into him like a giant cat rubbing against his legs. An involuntary moan escaped his lips.
"Think you'll figure it out," Spike answered, lifting her into his arms and carrying her off towards the Crypt. "Trust me?"
"Always," Buffy answered, her eyes serious and light. It was the last thing she said before her lips found his.
Dawn watched them from the staircase. Tara, Willow, and Takina sat in a circle with candles all around them. Anya sat in the center looking amazingly bored. They hadn't started yet. The only reason Dawn could even tell is that nothing weird had happened in the house. That much mojo in that small a space generally caused at least the lights to malfunction, if not the entire electrical system.
"So, what do you think? I mean, the dropping down the rabbit hole bit wasn't that bad.." Willow said, a shy smile breaking on her face. She remembered looking for Spike using a similar spell. It stood to reason the journey would be a lot easier on a demon accustomed to interdimensional travel.
"I don't see why you don't let me just teleport," Anya complained, her hands still on her hips even sitting down. The aggravation played like a cartoon across her features.
"B.because if you teleport using your own power. then we can't anchor you. Giles said." Tara stuttered. She'd always been a little intimidated by the demon. Something about her brazenness.
"Giles this, Giles that. When you gonna learn he's just a *man*!" Anya huffed. "And by nature, all men are wrong." She thought about it a moment. "Although he's less wrong than most, and far yummier and his penis.."
"Ewww, enough!" Willow shouted, squirming. "No penis. Especially no Giles.. Ewwww."
Anya smiled victoriously. There was something about embarrassing the other girls that made her giddy. "All right. So, no teleporting. But the rabbit hole thing." Anya whined, shifting around in the center.
Takina wisely kept her mouth shut. If there was one thing she had learned while in this extended family she had become a part of, it was do not speak about things you don't know more than the others about, and don't try to win a verbal sparring match with any of them. Particularly not Anya.
"Guys?" Dawn said tentatively from the staircase. All eyes fluttered up to her in varying stages of annoyance. The girl cringed.
"What?" Anya asked, still annoyed. "Come to watch me plummet through space as a little ball of light?" She thought again. "Can you even see that from here?"
"No," Willow answered, swinging her head towards the demon and then back at Dawn. "What is it, Dawnie?"
"Uh, Key here?" Dawn contributed. "Open small portals in a single drop?"
Takina smiled, nodding at the girl. Finally, a voice of reason. And to think it came from the youngest of the bunch. "Not bad, Dawn."
Dawn smiled gleefully. "See!"
"That would require blood and I don't know if I want to take my chances with Buffy and/or Spike right now," Willow said softly. "But thanks for the offer."
Dawn's face fell in disappointment. "It only takes a little."
"Dawn," Willow began. Tara touched her arm, nodding softly. If the girl wanted to help, let her help. She thought it loud enough that her lover could hear her.
Willow sighed, looking at Anya. "Portal work for you?"
A big smile lit up Anya's face. "Much, much better. Thank you. Now, can you go through while you're invisible? Rupert said they shouldn't see me."
"I thought you didn't *care* what Giles thought," Tara teased, the softness of her face melting even Anya.
"Well, sometimes," the demon admitted. "And I do have a young son and plan on many more, which means many more rounds of."
"Enough with the visuals!" Willow shrieked, cringing. "Dawnie, who's with the kids?"
"Why do you think I'm down here?" Dawn asked, descending the staircase. "It's like Mr. Mom upstairs. Cyrus has Em and Will, Giles has Randy. Xander's up there with River playing keep away from Spike's son and Oz is trying to entertain them with the wonder that is wolf noises."
"No Buffy or Spike?" Takina asked, looking up at Dawn's smiling face from her perch on the floor.
Dawn shook her head. "Nope. Longish patrol. Either means that the demon population multiplied overnight or they're doing the naked lambada."
"Okay, have I said enough with the visuals?" Willow asked, not that imagining Buffy and Spike together was nearly as traumatic as imagining Giles naked, but still.
Dawn giggled. "Oh, are you so glad you don't live here anymore then."
"Sit. Bleed," Willow joked, moving over and letting Dawn into the circle. Dawn plopped down, grateful to finally be of some sort of help, and rolled up a sleeve.
"So, what does bring you back into town, Oz?" Xander asked, picking up River and moving her three feet further away from Will. It was like Sisyphus trying to roll the boulder up the mountain. Each time he did it, the little boy would find the little girl. This he didn't like. No child of Spike's was going *near* River until at least her. ever.
"Um, work. Life. Spike asked for some help," Oz evaded, chasing Emma around the room on all fours. Emma giggled madly, dodging his swatting paws. Well, what would be paws were it a full moon.
Giles cleared his throat at Oz's answer. Part of him wanted to chuckle. Part wanted to hide. Knowing why Oz was really back was a bit uncomfortable for the Watcher. Knowing that Xander would eventually find out was almost amusing.
Xander shot Giles a glance. He knows something, Xander thought. Something I don't. "Nothing in particular? I mean, Dawn said she heard you guys talking after we left the other night."
Oz continued his chase, never breaking stride. "Nothing particularly particular. Unless you mean specifically particular."
"Good answer. Evasive, but good," Xander snarked, finally giving up and letting River free on the floor. It took about a half a millisecond for her to stumble to Will and fall in a heap next to him, her little head leaned into his good arm.
Cyrus stood. "Shall I make some tea?"
"Might be a good idea," Giles replied. "It looks to be a long night in the making."
Cyrus nodded, glancing at Emma and took his leave. Oz still chased her playfully, his energy almost as boundless as hers. "Just. it's up to Willow to tell you, man."
"Ah ha!" Xander shouted, raising one finger in the air. "So there *is* a big secret that you're keeping from me." His face slackened as he thought about it. A pout broke on his lips, and his words became softer. "That Willow's keeping from me."
Oz stopped, pulling the giggling Emma down on his lap. "No, man. It's not like that. I mean, it's just. It's not a secret like that. Just something she has to figure out how to tell you."
"She told *you* and you haven't been around for years!" Xander countered, trapped firmly between hurt and annoyed.
Giles sighed. "The only reason she has discussed this with Oz and not with you is because Oz is. involved."
The wolf had suspected that Giles knew, but it still made him blush when his suspicions were confirmed. "Well, yeah," he agreed. "And Spike asked me to ."
"Wait. Giles knows? Spike? Who else?" Xander retorted, jumping from his chair and beginning to stalk the room.
Giles pulled off his glasses, wiping them on the edge of Randy's jumper. "Well, Buffy. And of course, Anya. "
"And Tara," Oz contributed, smiling.
Xander's eyes went wide. "And you said Dawn overheard it?"
"Spike kicked her out before she heard the whole thing," Oz comforted, tickling Emma as she giggled on the floor.
"So, Dawn doesn't know.," Xander said relieved. A horrible thought occurred to him. The ultimate betrayal. "Ta..Takina?"
Giles looked at Oz. Oz at Giles. They both shrugged. "Don't think so, Man," Oz finally answered.
Xander paced the room in long circuits, his anger and his hurt bubbling to the surface. "So why? Why didn't she tell me? *What* didn't she tell me?"
"I'm afraid it's up to her to decide when the time is right," Giles answered, shifting Randy in his lap.
Xander shot a pleading look to Oz. "Look, trust me when I say that I'd tell ya if I could. I would. In a second. Maybe half. But it's not mine to tell."
"Willow," Xander said. It was more like a rush of air than a word.
To be contd.