A Short while Later at Jenny's House

Jenny closed the door behind Giles and asked, "Did the spell go okay?"

"Yes. It worked just in time. Angel showed up just after. He told Buffy's mother about them…"

"Oh! That's gotta be bad. Is she in a lot of trouble?"

"I'm not sure. They were upstairs talking when I stopped by. Willow told me."

"There's some tea in the pot. Help yourself." Jenny indicated to the kitchen area. "I should get back to the computer."

"Oh yes. Yes, of course. I'll just busy myself with this book. It seems rather interesting. There were quite a few things I wanted to look at properly, but was intent on finding the correct spell."

Rupert settled himself on the cream sofa with his cup of tea and the book, while Jenny sat typing away at her computer in the corner of the lounge. Occasionally he would look up at her and just watch her working. He liked to watch her when she was concentrating on the computer. The facial expressions she pulled both amused and endeared him. He found he could quite happily sit and watch her contentedly for hours. However, not wanting to impose on her, he pulled his eyes away and tried to concentrate on the book.

He gave a start and nearly spilt his tea as Jenny shouted, "Yes! It's worked!" She turned around to him with a look of excitement on her face.

"What? It has?" He stood and walked over to her, excitement growing on his own face.

"Mmmhh," Jenny confirmed, whilst starting to print it out. She stood and Rupert enveloped her in a huge.

"Well done. Are you certain it will work?"

"Well, there's only on e way to really find out. Let's try it!"

His face turned serious. "Are you sure you're ready? I mean, it could be extremely exhausting."

"I'm ready. I'm sure Rupert. I wanna do this. I have to do this."

From her voice and eyes, he realised that she was adamant. "All right. What do you need?"

Jenny consulted the printout. "Well, I've got all of these ingredients. It's just a case of getting them all together and forming a circle." She gave the printout to Rupert and he studied it. "Help me get them all. I'll get the ones from the chest I keep my ritual herbs in, you get the ones from the kitchen." Rupert nodded in assent.

Once the ingredients and tools were gathered, Rupert helped Jenny to cast the circle. He watched her intently as she started to perform the ritual to restore Angel's soul.

Rupert's heart rate nearly shot through the roof when Jenny suddenly went into a trance like state and started speaking in a language he didn't understand. Realising it was part of the ritual and that she was all-right, he relaxed slightly, but was still a little worried about her. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Rupert, Jenny came out of the trance. Her eyes snapped open and she sat bolt up right, gasping.

"Are you all right?"

Jenny nodded. "It's done. Angel's soul has been returned to him."

Giles waited until she had closed the circle, and then helped her onto the couch. He then went to the kitchen and brought her a brandy. "Here, drink this." She gratefully accepted it and he sat down beside and took her into his arms. He felt her happily lean against him and he kissed the top of her head. "How are you feeling?"

"Exhausted."

"I'm not surprised. You had me worried there for a while. You went into a deep trance." He tenderly stroked her hair.

"I'm all right. Just really tired."

"Yes, that's normal after such intense rituals. You should rest now. It would probably be a good idea if you got into bed."

"Mmm, sounds good." She sleepily leant more against him. "God, I'd tired."

"Okay, let's get you into bed. Come on." Taking the glass from her hand he placed it on the coffee table. Helping her to her feet, he supported her to her bedroom. "I'll leave you to get undressed while I ring Buffy and tell her the news."

He backed out of the room and closed the door. Smiling, he went over to Jenny's telephone and dialled Buffy's phone number. Buffy answered. "Ah, Buffy, it's Giles."

"Hey Giles. What's up?"

"Er, I, erm have some news to tell you. Jenny has been working on her computer and has managed to translate the ancient curse into English." He heard Buffy's gasp at the other end. "Er, Buffy there's more. Jenny has just performed the ritual to restore Angel's soul. We both think it's highly likely it's worked."

"Is this for real?"

"Yes." Giles could hear Willow in the background asking what was going on.

"God Giles this is…wow! Should I go and find him?"

"Yes, but Buffy, be careful, just incase it hasn't worked. And please, ring me as soon as you can to let me know either way. I'll be a Ms. Calendar's. She's rather exhausted after the ritual and I want to keep an eye on her."

"Will she be okay?"

"Oh yes. She just needs some rest that's all."

"Giles?"

"Yes?"

"Tell…er…tell her thanks."

"I will. Take care, and don't forget to phone me at Ms. Calendar's as soon as you can."

Rupert went back to Jenny's bedroom and lightly tapped on the closed door. "You can come in," Jenny called tiredly.

When he entered, she was sat propped up in bed. He went over to her and sat on the edge of her bed. Taking hold of her hand, he asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Okay. Just tired. Did you phone Buffy?"

"Yes. She's going to look for Angel. I told her to phone me when she finds him. She erm, told me to tell you, 'thank you'."

Jenny's eyes started to flutter closed. She quickly opened them. "You should get some sleep."

She shook her head. "No. Not until I know for sure whether it worked or not."

"Go to sleep. I'll wake you when I hear from Buffy."

"You'd better."

"I promise."

"You're staying here?"

"Yes, if you like?"

"I'd like." She patted the bed beside her. Smiling, he took off his shoes, socks, jacket and tie and made to get in beside her. "Is that all you're gonna take off?"

Rupert looked at her. "Well, I'd don't believe you're in any fit state to…"

Jenny rolled her eyes. "That's not what I meant. All as I wanna do is sleep. But you're not gonna be comfortable enough to sleep like that. Make yourself comfy Rupert. Sleep in whatever is well, under those pants and shirt." She smiled.

Rupert complied and took his shirt off, revealing that he wasn't wearing anything under his shirt. Jenny's smile increased, but she was too tired to comment on what a nice chest he had, she'd leave that for the morning. Rupert undid his belt and slipped out of his trousers. This time he was wearing something underneath, his blue underpants.

He climbed into bed beside her and she snuggled up to him. Wrapping her protectively in his arms, he kissed her lightly on the lips. Sighing, she allowed her eyes to close.

Rupert lay there and watched Jenny sleep, until the phone rang. He quickly grabbed the white phone beside the bed. "Hello? Buffy?"

"Yeah, it's me Giles."

"Did you find him? Is he…?"

"Yeah I found him, he was near your place. He's a bit of a wreck but it worked, he's got his soul back."

Giles let out a huge breath of relief. "And how are you?"

"I'm okay. Well, more than okay. I'm just glad to have him back. I mean, it's weird and everything, what with the way he's been recently, but well, at least he's back now." She paused and then said, "Giles!"

"Yes?"

"You know I said I found Angel near your place?"

"Yes?" He encouraged.

"Well, I went to yours to phone you. I'm in yours now. Giles, Angel, no Angelus had set something up for you. There was a red rose on the door, and inside he'd lit candles leading up your stairs, with roses on the stairs too. And downstairs there's a bottle of champagne and two glasses. At first I thought it might be something you'd set up for you and Ms. Calendar, but then I saw Angel's face." She took a deep breath. "He told me he, Angelus, not Angel, was going to kill Ms. Calendar tonight and leave her in your bed for you to find."

Giles momentarily stopped breathing and his blood ran cold. Looking at Jenny safe in his arms he let out his breath. "Giles? You okay?"

"Yes Buffy. I'm okay."

"I didn't know whether to tell you or not, but I thought I should. It's a really good job that Ms. Calendar did the ritual tonight." She paused a moment and then went on. "Angel's really…he…he's sorry." Giles was silent. "Erm, I'll clean it up, the roses and everything."

"Thank you. I'd appreciate that."

"Right, I'll go and get on with it then. See ya."

"Yes, see you tomorrow Buffy. And Buffy!"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad that Angel has his soul back. I know how much you care for him." With that, Giles put the phone down.

Looking at Jenny sleeping in his arms, he hugged her tightly. He was reluctant to wake her, but he had promised and so he gently shook her and called her name.

When she awoke she was at first surprised to find Giles in her bed, and then she remembered the ritual. "Hey!" She sleepily rubbed her eyes.

He smiled lovingly at her. "I'm sorry to wake you, but Buffy's just called." He felt Jenny stiffen. "It's okay, the ritual worked. Angel has his soul." She relaxed again in his arms.

"Thank God!"

"Yes. Jenny, there's something I really don't want to have to tell you, but we promised no more secrets and so I shall." He proceeded to tell Jenny what Buffy had told him. Jenny shivered and snuggled closer to Rupert. He kissed the top of her head.

"It's okay Jenny. It's over now. And we're together."

She nodded and lifting her head up, she kissed him lightly on the lips. He returned the kiss, and it turned into a deep long one.