Title: Love Immortal. 5/7
Author: David A. Knapton
E-mail: belgin_tei@yahoo.co.uk
Archived: NHA, The Mystic Muse, others if you want but it's polite to let the author know you are doing so.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my perverted mind. The characters belong to the owners of BtVS and Highlander.
Spoiler: Season 1 & 2, set sometime between Passion and Becoming II but Angelus killed Oz not Jenny who is still working on the spell to restore Angel's soul.
Rating: Possibly 18/NC17 overall this part 12A/PG-13.
Pairing: Buffy/Willow (eventually) Giles/Jenny Xander/Cordelia.
Summery: Joyce finds out about Buffy's relationship with Angel.
Notes: Just thought I'd point out that some of the dialog in this part is taken from various episodes and not necessarily spoken by the person that originally said it! Also some dialog is taken from the scripts but was cut before filming so will not match what viewers remember.
Thanks so much to my great beta Hilary.
= Thought. [Flashback] = Ah duh Flashback.
Feedback: If you wish but be warned only obscene amounts of money will stop me posting more parts of this story if you don't like it and want it stopped or you can do what I do don't read stories you don't like!!!!
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Without thinking Joyce opened Buffy's bedroom door, she stopped in the doorway, the call for the girls to get up dying on her lips as she stood spellbound. Buffy and Willow were still asleep laying on their sides facing each other, the covers had been kicked to the bottom of the bed, both girls hands were moving over the other, nothing overtly sexual, just light caressing over their night cloths.
Joyce blushed as she realised what she was doing, Joyce get a grip you're watching your daughter almost make-out with her best friend in her sleep. Time for denial Joyce! She quietly backed out the door and closed it before knocking a bit harder than necessary, "Buffy, Willow time to get up," she called through the door before hurrying down the stairs to drown herself in coffee.
Buffy's eyes slowly fluttered open, as her mother's voice brought her out of the wonderful dream she was having. She was in bed with her best friend Willow after they had declared their undying love for each other. They were making-out. Cool. Then she noticed where her hands were, her eyes went wide and she pulled her hand away from the redhead as if she had touched a naked flame. Blushing profusely she spun around to sit with her back to her friend, as she felt Willow do the same. "We're up mum," she called out.
Willow smirked in her sleep, she felt 'her' Buffy's hand lightly caress her side and back as she did the same thing to the blonde, then from a long way away came the voice of her lover's mother announcing that it was time to get up. She woke with a start as she felt her friend abruptly withdraw her hand from her and begin to turn. She blushed as she realised what she had been dreaming about! She followed Buffy's example and jumped up into a sitting position, her back to her friend her colour deepening as she realised what they had been doing, all be it subconsciously.
Silence rained for several minutes as both girls sat in contemplation of what must have been happening it was finally broken by Willow, "Ah maybe I should go home today, ah it will only be one night on my own, mum and dad will be back sometime tomorrow." Please don't say yes.
Buffy was silent for a moment before croaking out, "Why!" she cleared her throat, she turned so she could look at her friend's back, "Why?" she asked again calmly this time, but with a little sadness as well as some bitterness in it.
Willow turned to look at her friend, meeting her eyes, "I-I just thought that ah you know! Hmmm, you would want me to go!" she stammered a blush coming to her face.
"Of course not. It wasn't as if we made a conscious decision, it was just a dream nothing more, okay?" Buffy said, Oh right Summers just a dream! That you both had. she looked down at the bed, worrying a piece of fluff.
"Yeah that's right," Willow brightened as her mind took hold of the idea, "I read a paper published by a Professor Walsh that explained what... ah you know. What we were... ah doing. Is-is a subconscious re-reaction to-to being in close proximity to someone when you are dr-dreaming, that's all. Ah maybe we should ah talk about it later," said Willow suddenly jumping up. "Yes later," or never, "But if we don't hurry we will be late for school, and that would be bad because don't wanna get black marks on our permanent records!" Willow babbled before scrunching up her nose as Buffy looked up at her, an amused look coming to her face. "Do you think they really do use a black pen? And what sort of mark do you think they make, it can't be a tick cuz ticks are normally goo..." She stopped in mid babble as she watched Buffy collapse onto the bed laughing, "What?" she asked in an indignant tone.
After a couple of minutes Buffy was able to get control enough to speak, "Sorry Will, it was so funny one second your on about dreams and you know," she blushed again nodding towards the bed before turning back to the redhead, "And next you go into detention and black marks," giggled the slayer.
Willow got a worried look on her face, "Detention! No one said anything about detention; do you think they would give me detention? I mean I've never done anything wrong before! I mean I'm a straight A student always have my homework in on time," she saw Buffy arch an eyebrow, "Okay I get my homework in before the due date," Buffy continued to look pointedly at the other girl. "Okay I hand my homework in the day after I get it," muttered Willow.
Buffy got up still laughing, "Come on Will lets get ready and no I'm sure they wouldn't give the best student in the school detention if she was late once and anyways we can always ask mum for a ride," she said beginning to pull out some clothes from her closet.
--------------
Giles hesitated at the open door of the computer room upon seeing Jenny doing something with the infernal machine. Oh how he hated computers, he frowned I wonder how she got into computers? She lived before the industrial revolution before cars, steamships or planes. Maybe it was easier being out in the world as the modern world came into being! Not like me hiding myself away from everything in the councils library? He knocked on the doorframe, a shy smile coming to his face as Jenny looked up, "Ah I was wondering if you have a minute to talk about Buffy and Willow?"
"No, not now I have a class to teach and," she nodded towards the pile of computer printouts and computer discs, "I have a lot of marking to catch up on, I had planned to do it yesterday, but what with Angelus torturing me I didn't get around to it," she gave him a mischievous smile, which he frowned at, "Sorry didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Look I have a free period at 11, I'll come by the library then okay?"
"Yes that maybe best, no chance that we will be overheard by a student, other than Buffy and her friends. I can go days without seeing a single one, no one comes to ask for a book, strange, these Americans," Giles sighed before his curiosity got the better of him. "If you don't mind me asking. How did you get into computers?"
"Simple Rupert, survival."
"Sorry?" Giles frowned again, "I don't understand?"
"Before computers and modern communications were invented immortals could simply move to another country or even another town and invent a new identity, but now we need a lot more background to disappear," Jenny told him.
"Yes I can see how that would be a problem," he nodded.
"So changing the subject. How've you been?" smiled Jenny.
"Not very well. Since Angel lost his soul, he seems to have regained his sense of whimsy," Giles told her.
"Willow mentioned something this morning about her fish?"
"He's been in Buffy's bedroom too. I'm going to have to drum up a spell to keep him out of their homes," he said without much enthusiasm.
Jenny grabbed her purse and pulled out a small book, "Here," she said handing the book to him, "Might help. I've been... reading up since Angel changed. I don't think you have that."
Giles looked back to her after reading the title, "Thank you," he smiled.
"How is Buffy doing? I haven't seen her since last night and I haven't had a chance to really talk to her since she found out about me."
"How do you think?" he snapped.
Jenny sighed, "Rupert, I know you feel betrayed."
"Yes, that's one of the unpleasant side effects of betrayal," he snorted.
Jenny sighed even deeper, "I lived with the people that Angel hurt the most, the Romanii girl he killed that day a century ago was to be their greatest hope for the future." She hesitated before revealing the rest, "The daughter of the headman of the Kalderash people had two possible destinies, she would either become the tribal wise woman that would close the Hellmouth or be lost to the world when the darkness's creature of two destinies took her from them." A tear came to her eyes as she remembered that fateful day.
[Flashback]
1898 Romania.
Jenna slowed her horse just outside the camp, it snorted nervously, and even it could sense that all was not right with the camp up ahead. It was far too quiet.
Jenna dismounted as quietly as possible and drew her sword, holding it at mid-guard position she slowly advanced towards the central fire. She stopped as she saw a body in the shadows of a large tree, scanning the surroundings she slowly bent down throwing another quick glance around to be sure whatever had killed the man was not going to jump out at her. She turned her attention to the body as she went to check if he was still alive the body fell sideways into the light coming from the fire.
Jenna gasped as the well know features came into view, a tear slide down her cheek as she gently caressed his cheek, "Mugur," she whispered to the body that had once been the headman of her people. She had helped deliver him into the world, for which the father had been so grateful he had named the baby after her long dead husband. When he had grown into a heavy set youth she had briefly taken him as a lover, but when he had succeeded his father as head of his family, and although he had loved Jenna deeply he had been forced by the tribe to take a mortal woman as his wife.
That had been 14 years ago, they had only produced one child, a daughter, the tribal wise woman had announced upon seeing the girl that she would succeed her as the wise woman, and if the goddess willed it, would have the power to close the Hellmouth, forever ending the terror of the vampyres. But it had not ended there as the wise woman had pronounced her destiny she had begun to mumble in ancient Slavic, only Jenna among those assembled could understand what she had said, 'That one would come to take her from the world if she was left unguarded, this one would walk in both light and shadow and if he succeeded the fate of the world would pass to him, either to save or destroy it.'
The tribe had pressed on her to guard the girl above all else, at first Jenna had been reluctant to take on such a task, to have the fate of the world in her hands had seemed so frightening, but upon looking into the face of the baby Anezka, her heart had been filled with such wonder and joy that she had relented. As the babe had grown Jenna had begun to look upon her as the child she herself could never have. As the girl grew so did her wisdom, by the time she was ten her council was in great demand by many, eventually she came to the notice of the Watchers Council who wished to bring her into their ranks, at this Jenna had counselled the tribal elders not to trust the Watchers pointing out how they treated their other charge, 'the slayer'. Her words fell on deaf ears and the elders decreed that on the day of her fourteenth birthday she would be placed under the Watchers protection.
That had been 8 months earlier; Jenna had left her people in anger shortly after to seek out her friend and teacher Marcus Constantine at the time living in northern Italy. Eventually her anger had dissipated, only to be replaced by guilt that she had left 'her' child to her fate. So, after talking it over with Marcus she had resolved to return to the tribe and go with Anezka when they sent her to the council.
She rose slowly, the anger and guilt erupting inside at not being here when whatever had attack her family. With murder in her eyes she stalked into the camp, the anger died as she looked into the first wagon, the blood drained from her face as she looked on the face of 'her' daughter, "Anezka," Jenna cried as she dropped her sword and rushed over to the limp body of the girl, "Please, oh please no," she said gathering the girl up into her arms rocking her back and forth lost in her grief.
She did not know how long she stayed there gently holding onto the dead child but she suddenly stopped as she heard a loud crashing sound followed by a grown. She gently lay the girl down and retrieved her sword. Slowly moving outside, she could see more now as the night sky began to pale giving way to another day. The bump had been caused by her horse entering the camp and knocking over some pots in its search for something to eat, the increasing light also allowed her to see more of the camp, there was blood everywhere but no bodies, she heard the groan again, it was coming from the other side of the wagon.
Jenna cautiously walked around the wagon, it was Anezka's mother Ludmilla she hung limply by her hands, which were pinned to the side of the wagon by knives, the blood slowly running down her arms and dipping off her slightly bent elbows. Jenna worked the knives out of the wood as gently as she could while Ludmilla whimpered slightly.
She tenderly eased Ludmilla to the ground, helping her sip a little water that she coughed back up, "Who did this?" Jenna asked her anger returning.
Ludmilla coughed up more blood as she told the immortal how a stranger by the name of Angelus had followed Mugur and the other men back from the local village where they had been trading some of there wares for the things they could not make themselves. They had invited the man to eat with them not realising that he was a vampire until it was to late, he had killed the men that night, some of the women and children had managed to escape but he had caught Anezka and holding her had threatened to kill her if Ludmilla did not return to the camp with them. Once there he had tied the girl up before pinning Ludmilla to the wagon and draining Anezka of her life's blood in front of her. With her tale told Ludmilla died.
Jenna searched the camp but only found more dead, five men, two women and a little boy. Not having the time to bury them, she placed them all in one wagon and burned their remains. After taking what supplies she needed, she freed the wagon horses and headed for the tribe's meeting place two days ride to the north.
[End Flashback]
"...It was my duty to protect her...I failed." Jenny was quiet for a moment, "I didn't come here to hurt anyone. I lied to you because I thought it was the right thing to do. I didn't know what would happen... I didn't know I was going to fall in love with you."
"Jenny..." Giles said quietly.
"Oh god," Jenny blushed, "Is it too late to take that back?"
"Do you want to?" Giles smirked.
"I want to be right with you. I don't expect... more. But I want to make all this up to you," she said somewhat shyly.
"I understand. But I'm not the one you need to make it up to," Giles said not unkindly, "Thank you for the book; I'll see you at 11 then." He turned and she watched as he disappeared down the corridor as her next class began to file in.
--------------
Jenny entered the library just after 11 to see Willow and the gang sitting around the table discussing the prophecy that she had told Buffy and Willow about, Goddess was it only two days ago! It seems like a lifetime and I've had a lot of those. They stopped talking as they heard the door open, turning towards her she was met with various types of looks; Xander was one of suspicion Buffy and Giles had what could only be described as neutral looks, a warm smile came to Willow's when she saw her teacher and Cordelia had her normal bored look, all in all about what she expected.
"Ah hi, I see you got the prophesy," she nodded towards the cluttered table, the scroll laying open in the middle, "When I couldn't find it last night I guessed it would be here. So any idea when Buffy is supposed to fight Angelus?"
"I'm not sure I have found indications of a meeting in the black chronicles but as usual it is very vague, whereas the scroll seems to be a bit too precise for my tastes. Until Willow brought the scroll to me yesterday I had never heard of it or its contents, where exactly did you acquire it?"
"The reason you have never heard of it before now is that I only vaguely knew what it contained. No one other than the wise women of the Kalderash knew of its existence, I asked for the original scroll a couple of weeks ago I only received it last weekend, as I'm sure Willow told you. I had planned to show you it yesterday."
"Can you read it?" asked Xander, "Coz it looks like Greek to me!"
"English looks like Greek to you dork," smirked Cordy.
"He's not that bad Cordy I hear he was seen last week reading," giggled Buffy, "Okay it was a comic but it did have some long words in it like "Kryptonite"."
"Hey enough with picking on the only boy in the group," snapped Xander. Giles raised an eyebrow, "Ah, I know you are of the boy gender but you being so much older we don't really think of you like that... ah sorry Giles I'll shut up now."
"A Uh, quiet Xander," said Giles, he turned to Jenny, "Putting aside the scroll for a moment, as I said earlier I would like to work out a joint training program for Buffy and Willow," both girls beamed at each other, "Although I have experience with swords it does not compare with your own, and if the scroll is right and Buffy does have to fight Angel I'd like to think I am giving her the best chance to win, so would you train her to use a sword?"
"Please Jenny," Willow added giving the older immortal a puppy dog look.
It hung in the air for a moment; Jenny smiled at her young friend, "If you can combine that look with your other skills Willow, no immortal alive could stand against you," she laughed. "Yes I'll train Buffy but not here, I own a gym downtown, it would be safer if Willow brought Buffy there tomorrow after school."
Willow jumped up to hug her teacher. "You own a gym?" asked Cordy.
Jenny smiled down at the young cheerleader, "Actually I own five, one in New York, one in Dallas, one in Chicago and one in Cleveland as well as the one here. An immortal needs to invest her money in something."
"And just how much fundage do you have," asked Cordy a little shocked for some reason.
"Well lets see there are the five gyms, hmmm, a antiques business in London and another in Prague, a half share in a couple of hotels as well as stocks and shares, at the last count I believe I was worth somewhere in the region of 170 million dollars," everyone gasped, even Willow, "Although I haven't bothered checking for about five years so I expect its quite a bit more now," she giggled at the looks on their faces.
--------------
Next day Jenny's gym
Other than Buffy and Willow the only others present were Giles and Jenny who had suggested that the two girls duel so she could see where Buffy needed the most improvement.
The ring of steel on steel echoed off the walls as the two parried and thrust as they tried to disarm the other. It was obvious to both adults that the only thing stopping Willow from winning was Buffy's greater speed and strength.
"Okay stop," called out Jenny as she strode towards the two panting girls.
"Hey Will how did you get so good?" smiled Buffy.
Willow smiled, "I had some really good teachers..."
[Flashback]
Previous summer
Willow followed Jenny into the large private room next to the public gym owned by the immortal she could sense another already there, she was still a little apprehensive whenever she sensed another immortal but she guessed that was a good thing.
She saw that the other immortal, Duncan, doing some warm-up exercises, the Scotsman smiled at them as he walked over to them, "Good morning ladies, Jenna asked me to help her with your training," he said looking at Willow.
"Ah thanks," Willow said lightly blushing. "So where do we start?" she said looking at the other two immortals.
"With the basics Willow, first we show you how to hold a sword and how to defend yourself then when you have mastered that we will show you how to attack and beat your opponent," explained Duncan before leading them over to one of the benches around the sides of the room.
When Jenny saw the case on the bench she smiled at Duncan, "You managed to get the sword for me?"
"Yes, it turned out that Conner had it all the time, it was one of the swords he found after he killed The Kurgan in New York a few years ago, it seems Kurgan killed Diego." The Highlander sighed before a smile came to his face as he picked up the long narrow case and handed it to Jenny, "I think he would be pleased to know you were passing it onto another immortal to learn the skills he helped develop."
Jenny returned his smile as she took the case, "Yes I know he would," she said. She turning to Willow who had a curious look on her face and held out the case to her as she opened the lid, "This rapier was the first ever made by the weapon smiths of Toledo, Spain. It was made for a very good friend of mine by the name of Diego de Valera in 1515. Both Duncan and I learned a great deal from him over the years, now he is gone I want you to have his sword so I got Duncan to find it for me."
Jenny smiled at the look of awe on her young friend's face as she gently picked up the finely wrought sword with its intricately woven handguard and the large uncut Ruby set as the pommel stone. Willow looked at her teacher shaking her head, "I can't take this it's too much, I'd never be able to pay you back," she said.
"Willow I got it for you, you need a sword and you will find no better blade than this, and I don't want anything in return other than that you learn to use it properly in memory of a great man and a dear friend."
"I-I don't know what to say... Thank you," said Willow trying to hug her teacher and keep hold of the sword without stabbing herself or the others.
"Right then shall we begin," Duncan smiled at the two female immortals as he walked into the centre of the room.
Jenny sat down on the bench getting a curious look from the redhead, "I'll sit and watch for a while, there is no one better to teach you than Duncan."
Willow nodded; walking over to the Scotsman she gave him her best smile, "Okay what's first?"
"Well I see you already know the correct way to hold a sword."
"Ah yeah ah Buffy, Xander and I sort of ah snuck into the library one morning and ah were ah playing with Giles collection. Buffy showed me how to hold one," Willow explained.
"I see," said Duncan somewhat sternly, "You will need to be very careful around them from now on, you can't be killed but they can," he chastised the redhead.
"Ah okay so ah defence," said Willow trying to get the piercing dark eyes from looking so angry.
"Right," said Duncan shaking off the feeling of concern. He had started worrying since meeting the young immortal, she regally put herself in danger on the Hellmouth. He just wished he could persuade Jenna to take her away from this town before something happened that destroyed the bubbly redhead's life. "There are five main guard or stance positions, low, middle and high as well as hanging and back," he demonstrated all five, "The low guard is called Alber 'the fool's guard' in the German schools since they feel it is foolish to rely only on what is basically a defensive position where you react to your opponent's moves, but until you have properly learned to use your sword it should be your primary position." Duncan began the lesson that Willow knew would be a long hard day.
[End Flashback]
"Right Buffy I think we need to start from the beginning, although you have faster reactions than Willow, you may meet something that is faster, if you do not improve your skill you will not survive," Jenny said.
Buffy looked at Willow for a second before turning back to Jenny, "Alright we'll start from the beginning."
"Okay there are five basic positions to hold your blade. Low, middle..."
--------------
Buffy entered the gym from the private shower/changing room drying her damp hair, she smiled at Willow who sat waiting with Cordelia. The Cheerleader had arrived earlier so they could de-vamp her car using the book Jenny had given Giles the day before. "Ready to go?" Buffy asked smiling down at the other two.
--------------
Buffy watched as Willow nailed the last of the four wooden crosses to the frame of the French windows, while Cordelia poked around Willow's room, bored. "You really think this'll bother him?" asked the slayer.
"Ira Rosenberg's only daughter nailing crucifixes to her bedroom wall?" smirked Willow looking at Buffy, "I have to go to Xander's house just to watch 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' every year," she pointed out.
"Yeah, I see your point," said Buffy somewhat sadly before brightening a little, "You can come over and watch it at my house."
Willow returned Buffy's smile, "Thanks, although it is worthwhile just to see Xander do the Snoopy dance."
Cordelia was looking into Willow's aquarium, "Uh Willow, are you aware that there are no fish in your aquarium?"
Willow let out a little whimper; "You know Cordelia," said Buffy somewhat angry that the cheerleader had upset Willow, "We've already done your car. You can call it a night if you want."
Quickly Cordelia crossed the room to pick up her coat from Willow's bed, "Sure, two's company, three's... not," she said seeing the way they were staring at each other, "And you know I'd do the same for you if either of you 'had' a social life." As she picked the coat up she saw an envelope on the pillow, "Oh hey... this must be for you," she said holding it out to Willow.
Willow and Buffy exchanged a concerned look. Willow took the envelope; opening it she removed the paper from inside and glanced at it. A worried look coming to her face as she held it out to Buffy, "It's for you..."
Buffy takes the paper from Willow, she opens it with some trepidation, "Mum," she exclaims as she shows the charcoal sketch of her sleeping mother.
--------------
Joyce turned off the engine and got out taking the groceries off the backseat, as she turned and headed for the door. She jumped as a figure stepped into the light almost making her drop the bags, Oh god Angelus, she paled, What can I do? Oh god oh god, her mind shouted as the monster came closer.
"Mrs Summers, I have to talk to you," he said in what sounded like a worried type of voice.
"You're... Angel," Oh god oh god, her mind continued to scream, Got to get inside before... oh god oh god.
Angel smiled at her, "Did Buffy tell you about us?" he asked.
"She told me..." God Joyce think of something! "She wants you to leave her alone," she told him as she tried to get past him to her door.
Angel followed Joyce, "I can't... I can't do that," he told her in a distraught tone of voice.
"You're scaring her," And Me. Joyce replied in a slightly frightened voice.
"You have to help me," pleaded Angel, watching her fumble with her keys, "Joyce, I need to be with her. You can convince her. You have to convince her."
"I'm telling you to leave her alone..."
"You have to talk to her for me, Joyce. Tell her I need her. She'll listen to you." Angel bent down to help Joyce when she dropped the grocery bags in the process of getting her door key in the lock.
"Please, I just want to get inside," pleaded Joyce.
"You don't understand, Joyce. I'll die without Buffy... She'll die without me."
"Are you threatening her?" asked Joyce, her maternal instincts taking over from the fear.
"Please! Why is she doing this to me?" asked Angel.
Joyce abandoned the spilled bag and stood taking the key she turned the key, turning to look at him, "Just leave us alone," she said.
Angel had a sad look on is face, "I haven't been able to sleep since the night we made love. I need her," he said.
Oh god it was Buffy! Joyce pushed the door open and stepped in with a sigh at being safe. As she turned to close the door her eyes went wide in fear as he moved to enter the house, Oh god oh god no please no. she began to take a step back.
But, as Angel got to the doorway he stopped short as if he hit an invisible barrier.
Joyce turned towards the stairs as she heard Willow speaking. "...His verbes, consenus rescissus est."
Buffy breezed past her mother to stand just inside the open doorway, Angel unable to move any closer, "Sorry Angel. I've changed the locks," she said before slowly closing the door in his face.
Buffy turned to see her mother only to notice an odd looking expression on her face, "We need to talk Buffy," Joyce said, turning to her daughter's friend she smiled slightly, "Will you excuse us dear, I think I need to talk Buffy alone." Both girls exchanged worried looks as Joyce hung up her coat before returning to the bottom of the stairs, "Up stairs Buffy, we have a lot to talk about," she said as she led the way.
Willow watched as Buffy and her mother turned at the top of the stairs obviously heading for Buffy's room. She sighed and went into the living room to finish her homework.
--------------
Giles frowned as he approached the Summers front door, there was several bags of shopping scattered around the porch, there was no sign of blood and the door looked alright, he knocked and while he waited, he began picking up the scattered items wondering why they had been left.
On hearing the door opening he looked up to see Willow stood looking down at him, "Willow? Hi," he said standing up.
The redhead frowned at him, "Giles what are you doing?"
"Oh I found all these groceries on the porch is everything alright?" Giles said handing Willow a bag and retrieving the other and following Willow into the kitchen.
On returning to the front door Willow held out a book, "Here's the book."
Taking it Giles smiled, "Yes, I should do my apartment tonight. Did the ritual work out all right?" he asked.
"Oh yeah. It went fine," smiled the redhead for a moment before becoming serious, "Well, it went fine up until the part where Angel showed up and told Buffy's mum that he and Buffy had... well, you know that they had... they had... you know," a sudden relation dawned on her, "Uh, you DO know, right?"
"Oh, yes, sorry," said the watcher slightly embarrassed.
Willow let out a breath in relief, "Oh, good. Because I just realized, that being a librarian and all, maybe you really didn't know..."
"No..." he blushed a little more, "Thank you, I got it."
"You would have been proud of her, though. She totally kept her cool," said Willow very upbeat as she opened the door, "Okay. Well, I'll tell Buffy you dropped by..." she said as she went to close the door.
"Wait!" said Giles, "Do you think I should perhaps... intervene on Buffy's behalf with her mother?" he looked towards the stairs, "Maybe say something..."
"Sure!" smiled Willow, "Like what would you say?"
"Well, like... for instance, I could say... that is..." Giles sighed giving up, "So, you 'will' tell Buffy I dropped by, then."
"You bet. As soon as she comes back down from talking with her mum," smiled Willow before closing the door and returning to the kitchen to put the groceries away.
--------------
Buffy and Joyce sat in uncomfortable silence next to each other on Buffy's bed.
"That stuff with the herbs and the Latin, that's, um... He's just real superstitious," Buffy said quietly.
"Oh." She must have had him in the house... oh god he could have killed us at anytime!
"I figure if we're careful not to..."
"Was he the first," Joyce said without thinking. Buffy looked up as her mother rose, blushing slightly as she realised what her mother was asking. "No. Wait. I don't want to know. Or, I don't think I want to..."
"Yes. He was the first. I mean, the only," Buffy tried saying.
"He's older than you," A lot older, god Joyce hold it together.
"I know," Buffy said, only just above a whisper.
"'Too' old, Buffy. And he's obviously not stable." That's an understatement if ever there has been one. "I really wish... I thought you would show more judgement," said Joyce sitting back down next to her daughter.
"Mum, I... he wasn't like this before," Buffy told her mother.
"Are you in love with him?" Oh god, please don't say yes.
"I was..." Buffy began to say.
"Were you careful?" Oh good one Joyce, he's a vampire for godsake.
"Mum..." exclaimed Buffy.
"Don't 'mum' me, Buffy... you don't get to get out of this. You had sex with someone you didn't even see fit to tell me you were seeing," Joyce told her daughter.
"I made a mistake," said Buffy sadly.
"Don't just say that to shut me up because I think you really did." God did you make a mistake.
"I know that!" snapped Buffy, "Mum my life is so... I can't tell you everything."
"How about 'anything'?" Joyce turned to look at Buffy, "Buffy, you can shut me out of your life, I'm pretty much used to that, but don't expect me to stop caring about you 'cause it's never gonna happen. I love you more than anything in the world."
Buffy said nothing. Joyce waited a moment getting her thoughts in order, Okay Joyce time to lighten the mood a little. "That would be your cue to roll your eyes and tell me I'm grossing you out."
Buffy turned to her mother love in her eyes, "You're not. I'm glad."
The silence between them warmed a little.
"Well, I guess that was the talk," said Joyce.
"How did it go?" Buffy asked smirking slightly.
"I don't know, it's my first."
"Well, what did you tell Grandma when you..." asked Buffy.
"Nothing," said Joyce frowning, "I don't think she knows..."