Rupert looked in Jenny's direction and saw what she was doing. Knowing she wore nothing underneathe, he moved quickly over to her and stopped her hands from undoing the belt.

"Right, Xander, you come and sit at the desk and Jenny and I will sit on the couch. That way I can keep my eye on her and she can't on you as she'll have her back to you."

"Yeah and the couch should block anything she might. . .well. . .do."

Xander slowly inched his way over to the desk, giving Jenny a wide berth, as Rupert propelled her towards the couch. Taking hold of Jenny's shoulders, Rupert sat her down, and then sat next to her. He slipped an arm around her shoulders to keep her from bolting. She tried to turn around and look at Xander, but Rupert prevented her from doing so. Jenny looked up at him in part confusion and annoyance. She couldn't understand why he wouldn't let her be with Xander. "Why are you keeping me away from him? We're meant to be together."

"No, you're not. And it's for your own good Jenny."

"Look, Rupert, I know you're jealous and I'm sorry, but I can't help it if Xander's the man I want!"

"I know you can't. It's not your fault, you're under a spell. You don't really want him."

Jenny snorted. "You can be in denial as much as you want Rupert, but I love Xander and you can't keep me away from him forever."

Rupert took a deep breath and tried to be patient. "Do you remember a few years ago, when you were teaching at Sunnydale High and all of the female population was put under a spell that made them obsessed with Xander?"

Jenny nodded. "Yeah sure I remember. But this is different Rupert. This is real. I know what I feel."

Sighing he tenderly kissed the top of her head. "It's just a spell luv. And when I find out who bloody cast it, I'm going to rearrange them with my fists."

Time passed slowly. To calm them all, and to give himself something to do, Rupert took Jenny with him into the kitchen and made them all some tea. He left Xander's on the kitchen counter, and Xander collected it once Jenny was safely seated on the couch again with Rupert.

They all turned to face the knock on the door. Rupert was hopeful it was Spike. Xander on the other hand, was terrified it might be a female groupie. "Xander, could you get the door?"

"No way. What if it's the Potentials, or Buffy or Willow? Or even worse Andrew?" Rupert rolled his eyes skyward. Rising, he went to the door and looked through the spyhole. "Who is it?" Xander asked.

"It's Buffy."

"Oh no! Don't let her in Giles."

Buffy started to bang on the door. "Giles open up. I know he's in there. Xander I'm here. Giles! Let me in or I'll kick the door down."

"I'm sorry Xander, I'm going to have to let Buffy in."

"What? No! You can't!"

"I have no choice, Xander, I don't want to have to replace my front door." Rupert unlocked the door and opened it to admit Buffy. She stormed in, banging the door shut behind her.

"What're you doing with her?" Buffy indicated to Jenny who was now at Xander's side trying to paw him, while Xander was trying to ward her off. Rupert came over to his aid and stood inbetween Xander and Jenny.

"Answer me Xander?" Buffy moved menacingly nearer to Xander.

"I. . .I'm not doing anything Buffy. I swear."

"Liar! You're cheating on me with that gypsy whore!"

Jenny's mouth dropped open and Rupert said, "That's enough Buffy."

Buffy turned to Rupert. "Stay out of it Giles." She looked at Jenny. "Xander's mine. Stay away from him."

Jenny shrugged. "I can't help it if he wants a real woman."

Buffy made an annoyed sound in her throat. "You, a real woman? More like a two-faced liar and a slut. First you lie to us and take Angel away from me, then you steal my Watcher, and now you're after Xander! I think it's time somebody taught you a lesson!" Before anyone could react fast enough, Buffy slapped Jenny across the face, knocking her sideways off her feet. Jenny's arm came up to sheild her head as she hit the floor.

"Jenny!" Rupert dropped down by Jenny's side to see if she was okay. Buffy started to advance on Jenny again.

"Buffy no," Xander told her.

Buffy turned to Xander. "Oh, so you care more about her than me?"

"I care about you both as friends."

This distraction gave time for Rupert to jump to his feet. He stood protectively in front of Jenny. When he spoke next, it was Ripper. "Buffy stay back."

"Or you'll do what?"

Ripper smirked. "Oh you don't want to know what I'll do, believe me."

The room was filled with tension as Buffy and Ripper had a standoff, each staring hard at the other. When the door burst open, they all jumped. Spike stood in the doorway, with Amy in his grip. "I found our little Sabrina." He pushed Amy into the room and shut the door. Spike looked from Buffy to Ripper and then to Jenny who was now in a sitting position on the floor. "Looks like you could do with some help here!"

"Everything is under control, thank you," Ripper said evenly. Not taking his stare from Buffy, he continued, "So, you're responsible for the spell again Amy?" She didn't answer. And so Ripper proceeded, "Why? Who did you cast the spell for this time?"

Amy was still reluctant to answer, and so Spike took hold of her and shook her. "Answer the good Watcher now. You weren't shy about it when you were bragging to me just a few minutes ago!"

"For myself. To get back at you all."

Buffy turned her gaze to Amy. "To get back at us for what?"

Amy sneered. "Why do you think? For cutting me out of your little group. You all think you're above everyone else. That I'm not fit to be part of your pathetic circle. I'm not fit!" She laughed. "Willow's a murderer who tried to end the world. Spike's a murderer and a vampire. Anya was a demon. And you shut ME out! It's all, 'oh poor Willow, she has a problem with magic.' Well what about me? Nobody bothered to help me."

"So you cast the spell to make us all pay," Xander finished. "Why hasn't it affected you?"

Amy smiled smugly. "Because I cast it to make me immune this time, like it did Cordelia."

"Spike, take Amy and Buffy with you and get the necessary ingredients to reverse the spell," Rupert instructed, more like himself again. "And then bring them back here."

Spike nodded. "Come on!" He shoved Amy towards the door. "Buffy!"

"I'm staying here with Xander."

Ripper was back, "No you're not. You're going with Spike." Buffy looked at him and seeing the look in his eyes, turned and followed Spike.

Rupert knelt down beside Jenny and tentatively reached out to her face. "How are you feeling?"

"Sore."

He cupped her chin and examined her face. "You'll have a nasty bruise there for a few days."

"Yeah, for Buffy that was a gentle tap," Xander quipped. "Luckily she didn't thump you, coz then we're talking unconscious city."

Rupert helped Jenny to the couch and then got an icepack for her cheek. By the time the others returned with the spell ingredients, the bruise was already forming. Rupert helped Amy set-up on the kitchen counter, while Spike made sure the others behaved themselves.

The spell reversed, Spike was the first to speak. "Well, if you don't need me to referee anymore, I'll be going." He sauntered to the door.

"Yeah, I'll come with you," Xander quickly followed Spike out of the door.

Without a word, Amy headed for the door. "Where do you think you're going?" Buffy asked.

"Home."

Buffy crossed her arms and shook her head. "Not until we've had a nice little chat."

Rupert moved over to the couch and sat down next to Jenny. He placed a hand affectionately on her knee. Jenny looked up at him. "I'm so sorry Rupert."

He smiled and pulled her into his arms. "You've nothing to be sorry for." He kissed the top of her head and she burrowed against his chest. Rupert rested his chin on the top of her head.

Buffy walked around the couch and stood nervously facing them. "I'm sorry I hit you Jenny."

"S'okay," Jenny's muffled response came from against Rupert's shirt.

"Just never lay a finger on my wife again," Rupert said. He looked up at Buffy and she saw a glint of Ripper in his eyes.

"I won't. I promise."

Rupert nodded and then rested his head once more atop Jenny's. Buffy said, "I'll be going. Amy and I need to. . ." she broke off as she noticed Amy was no longer in the room. "Shit! She's gone." Buffy purposefully walked around the couch and out of the apartment, in search of Amy.

"Come on, let's get you into bed, luv," Rupert suggested. Jenny made a little noise of agreement, and he lifted her up off the couch and carried her upstairs. He tucked her in bed and then said, "I'll be back in a moment, I'm just going to lock the front door."

Rupert quickly went downstairs, locked the front door and collected the crossbow. Back upstairs he put the crossbow beside the bed, stripped and climbed in bed beside Jenny. She inched closer to him and tugged at her belt. Rupert helped her get the dressing-gown off and she tossed it onto the chair in the corner of the room. They shared a goodnight kiss, before snuggling up to each other and falling asleep.