They spent the next week alternating between Buffy's house and Spike's
crypt. When they stayed at Spike's, he always had candles lit, and Summer
always stayed upstairs. When they stayed at Buffy's, she always closed up
the curtains tight, and Summer got accustomed to staying downstairs without
much fuss. It was a sweet arrangement, but Spike noticed Buffy was getting
increasingly distracted as the days went by. Finally one night, when she
wasn't even responding to his soft nibbles on her ear, he asked her what
was wrong.
"Nothing." Buffy turned in his arms and smiled sweetly.
"Bollocks. You're upset about somethin' and you won't tell me what. Don't make me tickle it out of you..." Spike raised an eyebrow and grinned suggestively.
"Don't you dare! And I think we both know how that tickle war will end, Mr. 'Please, please, please Buffy, I can't take anymore'!" Buffy poked him in the chest.
"Pfft, never happened. And stop changing the subject. What's got you off in la-la land?"
Buffy shrugged. "Giles is coming back tomorrow. Just a little nervous, I guess."
"About getting an allowance from the Council of Wankers, or telling him about us?" Spike ran his finger lightly along her arm.
"Both, I guess. He said he'd tell me everything when he got here. And I told him I had some things to talk with him about too. I don't know...he's like my father. I know he won't approve of this. And how can I just be like, 'Gee, thanks for risking your reputation and swallowing your pride so I can get this money, by the way I went and did the one thing you I knew you'd disapprove of the most!'" Buffy sighed and closed her eyes. "I just don't know how to tell him.
Spike kissed Buffy on the forehead. "You'll figure it out, luv. You always do. And I'll be there with you, for support. Unless you don't think I should be."
"I don't know. Maybe I should tell him in private. Not sure what's the best route of attack here." She looked up at Spike, her weariness showing clear.
"You gonna tell him tomorrow? At the shindig?"
"I don't know. I think so. I think I just want to get it out of the way. I mean, it's a party for Xander and Anya's engagement. He can't get too mad, right? It's a happy occasion. A little bit of bad news won't hurt anything.."
"Bad news...been called a lot of things in my day but...no, wait, I *have* been called bad news before...scratch that."
"Oh, Spike, you know what I mean. Not bad news, just news Giles won't be happy to hear. I've just got to handle it delicately."
"Well, luv, if he doesn't accept it, not sure how much of a loss that is."
"It's Giles! I can't lose him...don't even say that."
Spike shook his head and pulled her tighter. "I'm sure he won't reject you. He won't be happy, I know. But if he were to turn his back on you, he wasn't worthy of your love anyway. 'S all I meant."
Buffy nodded. "I know, you're right. It'll all be fine. Everything will work out. It always does. Usually after much in the way of demon guts and averted apocolypsesesses...but it always works out." Buffy snuggled in close to Spike, warming him with her body.
**
Buffy waited nervously at the Sunnydale Airport. She was shifting from foot to foot, watching the arrival gate. She wished Spike could have come with her. But that would have probably given away the big secret that she had no idea of how to tell Giles. She didn't want to disappoint him, but she was so happy with Spike. If there was any way of showing Giles that, making him understand, maybe he would be able to accept it all.
When she saw him emerging, she ran up and gave him a big hug. "I missed you so much! Don't ever leave again!"
Giles chuckled as he embraced her. "Well, that's not a guarantee I can make, but I can assure you I'll be here for a good long while."
"Come on, mom's car should be big enough to fit you and all the loads of Council money you brought with you??" Buffy raised her eyebrows expectantly.
Giles smiled. "We'll discuss that later. And when did you get your license?"
"Um, you know...a while ago..." Buffy lied.
"Uh huh. Perhaps I'll drive. Not so keen on losing you again so soon after getting you back!"
Buffy pouted. "Killjoy."
**
By the time they reached her house, Buffy had filled Giles in on the goings on. Most of them, anyway. She told him about the party for Anya and Xander's engagement, which seemed to surprise Giles, but he didn't say anything about it.
After Giles got resettled into the guest room, he came to the kitchen to find Buffy making tea for him. She was obviously trying to butter him up for info, and after much outright begging, Giles finally divulged the fruits of his trip. He was tempted to make Buffy wait until the party, but decided not to detract from the attention the happy couple would be getting. He informed Buffy that he had managed to get most of his demands met, including the Council's agreement to pay off her home while putting the deed in her name. Giles wanted to assure that no underhanded politics would cause her to be kicked out to the street. Giles had planned on using Joyce's insurance money for the house, but he'd changed his mind and tried to finagle a bit more out of the council. They also agreed to a rather large lump sum that was to be put into an investment account. The big catch with that, however, was that the Council retained primary ownership of the account, with Giles being the secondary. They were not about to let a girl like Buffy have access to such money, so Giles had to acquiesce and take responsibility for it.
The primary ownership meant that if Buffy or Giles upset the Council or didn't bend to their wishes, the money would be gone. Buffy, or rather Giles, was entitled to all the interest and dividends that the account produced, as long as the Slayer and Watcher played ball. Since this was still more than Giles had hoped for, he agreed to the terms. He was quite sure that there would come a time when the Council would make demands that he or Buffy were unwilling or unable to meet, but he hoped Buffy would be able to save up some money for that eventual rainy day. The Council also put in the stipulation that no one had access, except the Council itself, to the principal in the account for 5 years. Giles surmised that the Council hoped that a Slayer's shortened lifespan would aid them so the full amount could revert to the primary owner. Giles had been sure to read all the fine print, noticing that his secondary ownership only lasted as long as Buffy lived. He knew, though, if there was any Slayer that could last that long, it was Buffy.
After he finished filling her in, her eyes were a bit glazed. Giles wondered if he went into too high of detail of the account handling.
Giles chuckled at her look. "In short, you will own this home and have money enough to pay the bills. Even enough to start saving, which I think is rather necessary, if I know the Council."
Buffy shook her head. "I can't believe.....I mean.....it's really more than I was hoping for. I was expecting them to laugh you right out of the country. But this.....it's a lot."
"It is. With conditions, but it is more generous than I expected them to be."
"Why? I mean, I'm not even the real Slayer."
Giles took sipped on his cup of tea. "With Faith in jail, the Council essentially has *no* Slayer. You're all they've got, so they're going to do what they can to keep you happy. To a point, of course. It's why your talk with them last year worked. They don't have anyone else to fight their fight. Not until Faith passes....."
Buffy's face clouded. "You don't think......I mean, I know the Council can be pretty underhanded and dirty, but you don't think that my stubbornness could put Faith in danger, do you? I mean, not that I should care......she's not high on my list of likes, but still......"
Giles shrugged. "One can never tell with the Council. But I think it's safe to say that if they haven't made an attempt to have a new Slayer called yet, it's not in their minds. And so they're making do with you."
Buffy frowned. "Gee, thanks. Make me sound like a second string cheerleader!"
Giles smiled. "Of course that's not what I meant. They're damned lucky to have you."
Buffy pouted. "Well, I guess I can't be *too* mad at you since you went and got me loads of money!" She moved from leaning on the counter to give him a hug.
"Yes, well.....I believe you had something you wanted to discuss with me as well?"
Buffy released him slowly. "Yeah, well.....I think it's news for later."
Giles frowned. "Buffy....."
"No, really, it's just......well, ok, it's something I know you won't be thrilled to hear, but it's nothing bad, I promise. Please, just leave it for later. Really, it's......"
Buffy was mercifully reprieved by Willow and Tara coming in the front door. "Hello? Anyone here?"
Buffy's eyebrows shot up in surprise and relief. "In the kitchen!"
Giles gave Tara and Willow hugs, assuring them that Buffy's money issues were being handled when they asked him about his efforts.
"That's great! Cuz, no one wants to see Buffy in one of those scary Doublemeat Palace uniforms, " Tara offered with a smile.
"And an 'amen' to that!" Buffy laughed. "So, we got everything for decorating?"
Willow frowned. "Yeah, we got it. Tara told me we should do it by hand instead of taking a shortcut. Said it would mean more to Xander and Anya."
Giles shared a look with Tara. "Yes, well, I'm certain they will appreciate all the effort you girls are putting into the party."
"Girls? Hey, while you're living under my roof, mister, you'll help with decorating for all festivities. It's a house rule." Buffy poked Giles in the arm.
Giles raised an eyebrow. "Yes well, do allow me a moment of respite for the jet lag that has been incurred by traveling back and forth across the ocean to procure funds that will make said house yours....."
Buffy looked sheepish. "Well, I guess you can sit it out just this once......"
"Yes, well, I'd prefer to nap it out, if it's all the same to you. Do wake me before Anya and Xander arrive."
"Will do." Buffy saluted Giles as he left the kitchen.
**
Giles' wake up call came in the form of loud music from downstairs. After he'd freshened up and changed clothes, he trudged downstairs, trying to shake the fog from his head. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs to see Willow and Tara working with the radio. They saw him and Willow quickly said, "Sorry! We're trying to get the volume dial to work right, but something's wonky. I could fix it, but......." Tara frowned. "But we'll just keep working on it......Sorry for waking you." Giles dismissed them with a smile and a wave of his hand. He headed into the kitchen to have a cup of tea, hopefully allowing him to fully wake.
What he saw jolted him to full alert. Buffy. Spike. Spike kissing Buffy. Buffy kissing back. Not just kissing. Groping, feeling, moaning, smacking......
Buffy pulled away from Spike quickly when she heard Giles clear his throat. She looked guilty. Spike looked a bit sheepish, but pushed it away with a milder than usual smirk. "Watcher."
Giles eyes never left Buffy. "I think there was something you wanted to discuss with me?"
Buffy nodded and walked to where Giles stood. "Well, I guess this is unnecessary, but Spike and I are......seeing each other."
Giles clenched his jaw. "No, Buffy, you and *I* are seeing each other. What you were doing with him had nothing to do with vision."
Buffy sighed. "Giles......I'm sorry." She heard Spike scoff quietly behind her. She shot him a look before turning back to Giles. "Not sorry that I'm with Spike, but sorry that it disappoints you. Because I knew it would. And obviously I didn't set out for any of this to happen, and I wouldn't intentionally hurt you for anything. But things just......happened with me and Spike. We got closer--"
"Oh, I can bloody well see that!" Giles snapped.
"Hey! Ease up, Rupert. It's obvious this is hard for her, no need in making it harder," Spike defended.
"You.....you are not involved in this discussion. I would like to speak with Buffy alone." Spike looked nowhere near leaving.
Buffy gave quiet thanks for her second reprieve that night in the form of Anya and Xander's arrival. As she heard them coming in, she asked Giles, "Can we finish this later? Please? I promise we'll have it all out, but right now.....I don't want to ruin their party."
Giles gave a tight nod. "No, I don't wish to dampen the occasion either. But Buffy.....we *are* going to discuss this at length."
Buffy nodded. "I know....."
As she headed to the living room, Spike began to follow. Giles grabbed him by the arm. Spike raised his eyebrows. Giles began, "Spike........" Unsure of what he wanted to say, and certain whatever he had in mind would only make things worse, Giles sighed and released Spike. Spike gave him a cold glare before he left the kitchen.
**
TBC
"Nothing." Buffy turned in his arms and smiled sweetly.
"Bollocks. You're upset about somethin' and you won't tell me what. Don't make me tickle it out of you..." Spike raised an eyebrow and grinned suggestively.
"Don't you dare! And I think we both know how that tickle war will end, Mr. 'Please, please, please Buffy, I can't take anymore'!" Buffy poked him in the chest.
"Pfft, never happened. And stop changing the subject. What's got you off in la-la land?"
Buffy shrugged. "Giles is coming back tomorrow. Just a little nervous, I guess."
"About getting an allowance from the Council of Wankers, or telling him about us?" Spike ran his finger lightly along her arm.
"Both, I guess. He said he'd tell me everything when he got here. And I told him I had some things to talk with him about too. I don't know...he's like my father. I know he won't approve of this. And how can I just be like, 'Gee, thanks for risking your reputation and swallowing your pride so I can get this money, by the way I went and did the one thing you I knew you'd disapprove of the most!'" Buffy sighed and closed her eyes. "I just don't know how to tell him.
Spike kissed Buffy on the forehead. "You'll figure it out, luv. You always do. And I'll be there with you, for support. Unless you don't think I should be."
"I don't know. Maybe I should tell him in private. Not sure what's the best route of attack here." She looked up at Spike, her weariness showing clear.
"You gonna tell him tomorrow? At the shindig?"
"I don't know. I think so. I think I just want to get it out of the way. I mean, it's a party for Xander and Anya's engagement. He can't get too mad, right? It's a happy occasion. A little bit of bad news won't hurt anything.."
"Bad news...been called a lot of things in my day but...no, wait, I *have* been called bad news before...scratch that."
"Oh, Spike, you know what I mean. Not bad news, just news Giles won't be happy to hear. I've just got to handle it delicately."
"Well, luv, if he doesn't accept it, not sure how much of a loss that is."
"It's Giles! I can't lose him...don't even say that."
Spike shook his head and pulled her tighter. "I'm sure he won't reject you. He won't be happy, I know. But if he were to turn his back on you, he wasn't worthy of your love anyway. 'S all I meant."
Buffy nodded. "I know, you're right. It'll all be fine. Everything will work out. It always does. Usually after much in the way of demon guts and averted apocolypsesesses...but it always works out." Buffy snuggled in close to Spike, warming him with her body.
**
Buffy waited nervously at the Sunnydale Airport. She was shifting from foot to foot, watching the arrival gate. She wished Spike could have come with her. But that would have probably given away the big secret that she had no idea of how to tell Giles. She didn't want to disappoint him, but she was so happy with Spike. If there was any way of showing Giles that, making him understand, maybe he would be able to accept it all.
When she saw him emerging, she ran up and gave him a big hug. "I missed you so much! Don't ever leave again!"
Giles chuckled as he embraced her. "Well, that's not a guarantee I can make, but I can assure you I'll be here for a good long while."
"Come on, mom's car should be big enough to fit you and all the loads of Council money you brought with you??" Buffy raised her eyebrows expectantly.
Giles smiled. "We'll discuss that later. And when did you get your license?"
"Um, you know...a while ago..." Buffy lied.
"Uh huh. Perhaps I'll drive. Not so keen on losing you again so soon after getting you back!"
Buffy pouted. "Killjoy."
**
By the time they reached her house, Buffy had filled Giles in on the goings on. Most of them, anyway. She told him about the party for Anya and Xander's engagement, which seemed to surprise Giles, but he didn't say anything about it.
After Giles got resettled into the guest room, he came to the kitchen to find Buffy making tea for him. She was obviously trying to butter him up for info, and after much outright begging, Giles finally divulged the fruits of his trip. He was tempted to make Buffy wait until the party, but decided not to detract from the attention the happy couple would be getting. He informed Buffy that he had managed to get most of his demands met, including the Council's agreement to pay off her home while putting the deed in her name. Giles wanted to assure that no underhanded politics would cause her to be kicked out to the street. Giles had planned on using Joyce's insurance money for the house, but he'd changed his mind and tried to finagle a bit more out of the council. They also agreed to a rather large lump sum that was to be put into an investment account. The big catch with that, however, was that the Council retained primary ownership of the account, with Giles being the secondary. They were not about to let a girl like Buffy have access to such money, so Giles had to acquiesce and take responsibility for it.
The primary ownership meant that if Buffy or Giles upset the Council or didn't bend to their wishes, the money would be gone. Buffy, or rather Giles, was entitled to all the interest and dividends that the account produced, as long as the Slayer and Watcher played ball. Since this was still more than Giles had hoped for, he agreed to the terms. He was quite sure that there would come a time when the Council would make demands that he or Buffy were unwilling or unable to meet, but he hoped Buffy would be able to save up some money for that eventual rainy day. The Council also put in the stipulation that no one had access, except the Council itself, to the principal in the account for 5 years. Giles surmised that the Council hoped that a Slayer's shortened lifespan would aid them so the full amount could revert to the primary owner. Giles had been sure to read all the fine print, noticing that his secondary ownership only lasted as long as Buffy lived. He knew, though, if there was any Slayer that could last that long, it was Buffy.
After he finished filling her in, her eyes were a bit glazed. Giles wondered if he went into too high of detail of the account handling.
Giles chuckled at her look. "In short, you will own this home and have money enough to pay the bills. Even enough to start saving, which I think is rather necessary, if I know the Council."
Buffy shook her head. "I can't believe.....I mean.....it's really more than I was hoping for. I was expecting them to laugh you right out of the country. But this.....it's a lot."
"It is. With conditions, but it is more generous than I expected them to be."
"Why? I mean, I'm not even the real Slayer."
Giles took sipped on his cup of tea. "With Faith in jail, the Council essentially has *no* Slayer. You're all they've got, so they're going to do what they can to keep you happy. To a point, of course. It's why your talk with them last year worked. They don't have anyone else to fight their fight. Not until Faith passes....."
Buffy's face clouded. "You don't think......I mean, I know the Council can be pretty underhanded and dirty, but you don't think that my stubbornness could put Faith in danger, do you? I mean, not that I should care......she's not high on my list of likes, but still......"
Giles shrugged. "One can never tell with the Council. But I think it's safe to say that if they haven't made an attempt to have a new Slayer called yet, it's not in their minds. And so they're making do with you."
Buffy frowned. "Gee, thanks. Make me sound like a second string cheerleader!"
Giles smiled. "Of course that's not what I meant. They're damned lucky to have you."
Buffy pouted. "Well, I guess I can't be *too* mad at you since you went and got me loads of money!" She moved from leaning on the counter to give him a hug.
"Yes, well.....I believe you had something you wanted to discuss with me as well?"
Buffy released him slowly. "Yeah, well.....I think it's news for later."
Giles frowned. "Buffy....."
"No, really, it's just......well, ok, it's something I know you won't be thrilled to hear, but it's nothing bad, I promise. Please, just leave it for later. Really, it's......"
Buffy was mercifully reprieved by Willow and Tara coming in the front door. "Hello? Anyone here?"
Buffy's eyebrows shot up in surprise and relief. "In the kitchen!"
Giles gave Tara and Willow hugs, assuring them that Buffy's money issues were being handled when they asked him about his efforts.
"That's great! Cuz, no one wants to see Buffy in one of those scary Doublemeat Palace uniforms, " Tara offered with a smile.
"And an 'amen' to that!" Buffy laughed. "So, we got everything for decorating?"
Willow frowned. "Yeah, we got it. Tara told me we should do it by hand instead of taking a shortcut. Said it would mean more to Xander and Anya."
Giles shared a look with Tara. "Yes, well, I'm certain they will appreciate all the effort you girls are putting into the party."
"Girls? Hey, while you're living under my roof, mister, you'll help with decorating for all festivities. It's a house rule." Buffy poked Giles in the arm.
Giles raised an eyebrow. "Yes well, do allow me a moment of respite for the jet lag that has been incurred by traveling back and forth across the ocean to procure funds that will make said house yours....."
Buffy looked sheepish. "Well, I guess you can sit it out just this once......"
"Yes, well, I'd prefer to nap it out, if it's all the same to you. Do wake me before Anya and Xander arrive."
"Will do." Buffy saluted Giles as he left the kitchen.
**
Giles' wake up call came in the form of loud music from downstairs. After he'd freshened up and changed clothes, he trudged downstairs, trying to shake the fog from his head. He stopped at the bottom of the stairs to see Willow and Tara working with the radio. They saw him and Willow quickly said, "Sorry! We're trying to get the volume dial to work right, but something's wonky. I could fix it, but......." Tara frowned. "But we'll just keep working on it......Sorry for waking you." Giles dismissed them with a smile and a wave of his hand. He headed into the kitchen to have a cup of tea, hopefully allowing him to fully wake.
What he saw jolted him to full alert. Buffy. Spike. Spike kissing Buffy. Buffy kissing back. Not just kissing. Groping, feeling, moaning, smacking......
Buffy pulled away from Spike quickly when she heard Giles clear his throat. She looked guilty. Spike looked a bit sheepish, but pushed it away with a milder than usual smirk. "Watcher."
Giles eyes never left Buffy. "I think there was something you wanted to discuss with me?"
Buffy nodded and walked to where Giles stood. "Well, I guess this is unnecessary, but Spike and I are......seeing each other."
Giles clenched his jaw. "No, Buffy, you and *I* are seeing each other. What you were doing with him had nothing to do with vision."
Buffy sighed. "Giles......I'm sorry." She heard Spike scoff quietly behind her. She shot him a look before turning back to Giles. "Not sorry that I'm with Spike, but sorry that it disappoints you. Because I knew it would. And obviously I didn't set out for any of this to happen, and I wouldn't intentionally hurt you for anything. But things just......happened with me and Spike. We got closer--"
"Oh, I can bloody well see that!" Giles snapped.
"Hey! Ease up, Rupert. It's obvious this is hard for her, no need in making it harder," Spike defended.
"You.....you are not involved in this discussion. I would like to speak with Buffy alone." Spike looked nowhere near leaving.
Buffy gave quiet thanks for her second reprieve that night in the form of Anya and Xander's arrival. As she heard them coming in, she asked Giles, "Can we finish this later? Please? I promise we'll have it all out, but right now.....I don't want to ruin their party."
Giles gave a tight nod. "No, I don't wish to dampen the occasion either. But Buffy.....we *are* going to discuss this at length."
Buffy nodded. "I know....."
As she headed to the living room, Spike began to follow. Giles grabbed him by the arm. Spike raised his eyebrows. Giles began, "Spike........" Unsure of what he wanted to say, and certain whatever he had in mind would only make things worse, Giles sighed and released Spike. Spike gave him a cold glare before he left the kitchen.
**
TBC