Giles returned a little after noon to find Buffy eating popcorn on the
couch, watching CourtTV.
"Hey, Giles!" Buffy said happily.
He frowned. "You're awfully.....chipper. Everything went well, I assume? Where's Spike?"
"Oh, everything went crappy. And he's downstairs being mopey boy."
"I.....see. And you're overly jubilant because......?"
"I have a plan. See, my other plans actually worked really well, even though they hacked off Spike pretty bad. But that's okay. A temporarily mad Spike beats a permanently split-up Spike any day."
"And, what, pray tell, is your plan?"
"It's a secret. If it works, I'll tell you. If it doesn't, I'll take it to my grave, because it's kind of.....odd."
"Buffy, you mustn't play around with these things. Spike is in a very delicate condition and--"
"--For Pete's sake, Giles, he's a little off in the head, he's not pregnant! And my plan is good. I mean, I think it will have the exact desired effect. Or the complete opposite, but I'm not dwelling on that."
"Buffy--"
"--Look, I've finally found someone I can be truly happy with. I loved Angel, but he was too self-sacrificing for anyone's own good. And Riley was a really great guy, but it just wasn't the right time for me. And, if I'm honest, it probably never would be with him. But Spike.....he doesn't idolize me and put me on a pedestal, well, okay, he does a little. But he sees my faults and loves me anyway. Maybe even because of them. And he's not threatened that I'm stronger. And even though I am, I still feel safe and protected with him. That's something I haven't felt in a long time. It's something that a girl needs to feel sometimes, even though she can technically kick a lot of ass. And he just.....he sees me, Giles. He really sees me for what I am, and not what I put on for the world to see. And he's not afraid to tell me when I'm being 'daft', which I need too. I need him, and I'm going to do anything I can to make things right. Anything."
"Just.....be careful. You could very well end up making things worse."
"I know, Giles. But I really think this will work."
"Very well. What can I do, if anything, to assist you?"
Buffy bit her lip and looked down into her bowl of popcorn. "Um.....I could use a few more days alone with Spike. A week, tops."
Giles sighed. "Fine. But I'm not staying with Xander and Anya. Listening to those two.....I could barely get to sleep last night. I'll find a motel."
"Thanks. Oh, and take the motel bill out of my very generous fundage from the Council." Buffy smiled.
"I may, at that. Now, if you don't mind, I'll shower and collect a few of my things first."
"You want lunch? I'm making."
"Oh, no, no that's quite alright. Thank you, though."
Buffy frowned. "I get the distinct impression that word has gotten around that I'm a terrible cook."
"There were rumblings....." Giles joked as he headed upstairs.
As Buffy was trying to think of a comeback involving bland British food, she heard the basement door creak open. She did her best to keep her focus concentrated on the tv. After all, if it was Spike coming up for some blood, she didn't need to get her hopes up. But after a moment, she saw him out of the corner of her eye.
"Um, I was rather hoping we could continue our conversation of earlier," William said.
Buffy smiled brightly. "William, it's so good to see you." He shyly looked away, and Buffy was certain he would be blushing bright red if he were able. "Come sit down. Want some?" She held out the bowl to him as he took a place beside her.
"Popping corn? Yes, thank you," he said as he took a few pieces from the bowl.
"So, anyway, about those piano lessons......"
**
They had been talking for about half an hour when Giles came down the stairs. William immediately went to him, hand outstretched. "Mr. Giles. Good to see you again."
Giles smiled, taking William's offered hand. "And you, too, William."
"Buffy and I were just discussing Merry Old England. Well, the England of my day, at any rate. I'd dare say it's quite different now."
Giles nodded. "That would be a safe bet, to be sure. Well, I'm only here for a moment, but it was indeed good to see you again. Buffy, I'll call you when I get settled."
"Thanks, Giles." Buffy stood and went to him. She gave him a hug and whispered, "Everything's going to be fine."
"I hope so," he whispered back.
"Bye."
"Goodbye. And should I inform the others of your wishes to be undisturbed?"
"That'd be great. Save me a phone call and a lot of 'splainin'."
"Alright. Take care. William," Giles nodded to the other man.
"Mr. Giles," William responded in kind.
As Giles left, Buffy turned to William. "Something to drink?"
He smiled. "That would be lovely, but you needn't trouble yourself."
"No trouble at all," Buffy said as she turned to the kitchen.
When she returned with the drinks, he was still standing in the middle of the living room, but now his face was a bit sour.
"Oh, Spike. Wasn't expecting you so soon. Here's a soda if you want to take it downstairs," she said, handing him the drink as she breezed by him to the couch. She couldn't help watching him, the tight muscles in his back, the twitching in his neck. She expected him to make some comment about her time with William, but instead he just hung his head and walked to the basement without a word. Part of her felt a little bad because she could see her coldness was hurting him a little. But that's exactly what she needed right now.
**
After about an hour, she decided to turn the fire up. She opened the basement door and called, "William?"
A somewhat icy, "No," was the only reply she got.
"Oh, sorry. I thought I heard.....never mind." Buffy closed the door.
Another hour passed and she went to the basement again. "Spike?"
"Yeah?"
A disappointed "Oh." A long pause, then, "Um, well........could you check and see if I have any towels in the dryer, please?"
She heard him scoff a bit, but then she heard the dryer open and close. "Nothin' in there, Slayer."
A quick, "Ok, thanks," followed by the basement door shutting.
Another hour later and Buffy headed to the basement, her arms full of laundry. She said nothing as she went about the business of separating the clothes.
Spike tried to remain focused on the book he was reading, trying to ignore her presence as she was so clearly ignoring his, but his resolve crumbled quickly. "Not even gonna say 'hi'?"
Buffy looked over at him, gave him a curt smile and said, "Hi."
"That it? That all I rate nowadays?" Spike closed his book and glared at her.
Buffy shrugged. "Um, how's the sulking going?"
A low growl. "Forget it." Spike opened up his book again, only to close it immediately. "No, on second thought, what the hell is going on?"
"Um, well, I'm doing laundry. It's what people do when their clothes get stinky. Or in my case, covered in demon goo and blood. Which, also stinky."
Spike clenched his teeth. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."
"Oh, sorry, I'm being really rude, aren't I?"
Spike nodded. "Yeah, ya really are."
"Do you have some laundry you want me to throw in? I mean, I know you only have a few things here, so I can wash whatever you're not wearing. And, by the way, I noticed you didn't come up for a shower today, which is a valid life choice and very keeping with the whole cellar dweller thing, but I think William would appreciate some cleanliness when he's out."
"I'll shower later, and that's not even the point! William, that's the point. You only talk to him now, that it?"
"He's the only one who wants to talk, last I checked. Look, like I told you before, I'm giving you your space and quiet reflection time or whatever the hell it is you need. But don't fault me for wanting to be around you, in whatever form I can get you. And he's nice. At least he still looks at me like I'm the most amazing thing he's ever set eyes on. All I get from you are scowls and glares. He's sweet. And I don't blame you, I know you're doing this for some good reason, though I can't seem to put my finger on it at the moment, but whatever. But he wants to be with me, and not in the dank, dark basement. He likes talking to me, and yeah, he talks about stuff you never really want to. So I'm taking full advantage of hearing about your short britches and choir singing and the fig pudding your mom would make for Christmas dinner. I'm trying not to invade on your time down here, but don't ask me to give up what little I can get of you." Buffy slammed the lid down on the washer, turned it on and left.
**
Buffy only saw Spike once more that night, when he came up to get a cup of blood while she was making her dinner.
"Do you want some food?" Buffy asked quietly.
"No, I'm good," Spike replied as he watched the mug turning in the microwave.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Spike said, "You know, you're going to turn into skin and bones eating like that. Salad's not a proper dinner," he ventured a joking smile.
Buffy glared at him. "Pigged out on Chinese food. Gotta make up for it. Wanna keep fit," she said curtly.
Spike shrugged as the microwave beeped. "You always look fit to me, luv. Always gorgeous." He snuck a look out of the corner of his eye, only to find her shaking her head. "What?"
"It's not going to work, Spike. I say that William you still looks at me a certain way, and you try to one up him?"
"No, that's not what I'm doing. Just payin' you a bleedin' compliment. And when in the world did things get this way with us? I ask for some time alone, you *were* okay with it, and now I get the arctic treatment. Gotta say, I'm a bit confused, luv."
Buffy shrugged. "Join the club. Is it my fault that I prefer a nice, sweet guy who enjoys my company to a dark, scowly one who shuns it? Sorry, guess I'm quirky like that." Buffy picked up her plate and went to the kitchen.
Spike just shook his head as he went to the basement, determined not to let her bait him. **
TBC!
"Hey, Giles!" Buffy said happily.
He frowned. "You're awfully.....chipper. Everything went well, I assume? Where's Spike?"
"Oh, everything went crappy. And he's downstairs being mopey boy."
"I.....see. And you're overly jubilant because......?"
"I have a plan. See, my other plans actually worked really well, even though they hacked off Spike pretty bad. But that's okay. A temporarily mad Spike beats a permanently split-up Spike any day."
"And, what, pray tell, is your plan?"
"It's a secret. If it works, I'll tell you. If it doesn't, I'll take it to my grave, because it's kind of.....odd."
"Buffy, you mustn't play around with these things. Spike is in a very delicate condition and--"
"--For Pete's sake, Giles, he's a little off in the head, he's not pregnant! And my plan is good. I mean, I think it will have the exact desired effect. Or the complete opposite, but I'm not dwelling on that."
"Buffy--"
"--Look, I've finally found someone I can be truly happy with. I loved Angel, but he was too self-sacrificing for anyone's own good. And Riley was a really great guy, but it just wasn't the right time for me. And, if I'm honest, it probably never would be with him. But Spike.....he doesn't idolize me and put me on a pedestal, well, okay, he does a little. But he sees my faults and loves me anyway. Maybe even because of them. And he's not threatened that I'm stronger. And even though I am, I still feel safe and protected with him. That's something I haven't felt in a long time. It's something that a girl needs to feel sometimes, even though she can technically kick a lot of ass. And he just.....he sees me, Giles. He really sees me for what I am, and not what I put on for the world to see. And he's not afraid to tell me when I'm being 'daft', which I need too. I need him, and I'm going to do anything I can to make things right. Anything."
"Just.....be careful. You could very well end up making things worse."
"I know, Giles. But I really think this will work."
"Very well. What can I do, if anything, to assist you?"
Buffy bit her lip and looked down into her bowl of popcorn. "Um.....I could use a few more days alone with Spike. A week, tops."
Giles sighed. "Fine. But I'm not staying with Xander and Anya. Listening to those two.....I could barely get to sleep last night. I'll find a motel."
"Thanks. Oh, and take the motel bill out of my very generous fundage from the Council." Buffy smiled.
"I may, at that. Now, if you don't mind, I'll shower and collect a few of my things first."
"You want lunch? I'm making."
"Oh, no, no that's quite alright. Thank you, though."
Buffy frowned. "I get the distinct impression that word has gotten around that I'm a terrible cook."
"There were rumblings....." Giles joked as he headed upstairs.
As Buffy was trying to think of a comeback involving bland British food, she heard the basement door creak open. She did her best to keep her focus concentrated on the tv. After all, if it was Spike coming up for some blood, she didn't need to get her hopes up. But after a moment, she saw him out of the corner of her eye.
"Um, I was rather hoping we could continue our conversation of earlier," William said.
Buffy smiled brightly. "William, it's so good to see you." He shyly looked away, and Buffy was certain he would be blushing bright red if he were able. "Come sit down. Want some?" She held out the bowl to him as he took a place beside her.
"Popping corn? Yes, thank you," he said as he took a few pieces from the bowl.
"So, anyway, about those piano lessons......"
**
They had been talking for about half an hour when Giles came down the stairs. William immediately went to him, hand outstretched. "Mr. Giles. Good to see you again."
Giles smiled, taking William's offered hand. "And you, too, William."
"Buffy and I were just discussing Merry Old England. Well, the England of my day, at any rate. I'd dare say it's quite different now."
Giles nodded. "That would be a safe bet, to be sure. Well, I'm only here for a moment, but it was indeed good to see you again. Buffy, I'll call you when I get settled."
"Thanks, Giles." Buffy stood and went to him. She gave him a hug and whispered, "Everything's going to be fine."
"I hope so," he whispered back.
"Bye."
"Goodbye. And should I inform the others of your wishes to be undisturbed?"
"That'd be great. Save me a phone call and a lot of 'splainin'."
"Alright. Take care. William," Giles nodded to the other man.
"Mr. Giles," William responded in kind.
As Giles left, Buffy turned to William. "Something to drink?"
He smiled. "That would be lovely, but you needn't trouble yourself."
"No trouble at all," Buffy said as she turned to the kitchen.
When she returned with the drinks, he was still standing in the middle of the living room, but now his face was a bit sour.
"Oh, Spike. Wasn't expecting you so soon. Here's a soda if you want to take it downstairs," she said, handing him the drink as she breezed by him to the couch. She couldn't help watching him, the tight muscles in his back, the twitching in his neck. She expected him to make some comment about her time with William, but instead he just hung his head and walked to the basement without a word. Part of her felt a little bad because she could see her coldness was hurting him a little. But that's exactly what she needed right now.
**
After about an hour, she decided to turn the fire up. She opened the basement door and called, "William?"
A somewhat icy, "No," was the only reply she got.
"Oh, sorry. I thought I heard.....never mind." Buffy closed the door.
Another hour passed and she went to the basement again. "Spike?"
"Yeah?"
A disappointed "Oh." A long pause, then, "Um, well........could you check and see if I have any towels in the dryer, please?"
She heard him scoff a bit, but then she heard the dryer open and close. "Nothin' in there, Slayer."
A quick, "Ok, thanks," followed by the basement door shutting.
Another hour later and Buffy headed to the basement, her arms full of laundry. She said nothing as she went about the business of separating the clothes.
Spike tried to remain focused on the book he was reading, trying to ignore her presence as she was so clearly ignoring his, but his resolve crumbled quickly. "Not even gonna say 'hi'?"
Buffy looked over at him, gave him a curt smile and said, "Hi."
"That it? That all I rate nowadays?" Spike closed his book and glared at her.
Buffy shrugged. "Um, how's the sulking going?"
A low growl. "Forget it." Spike opened up his book again, only to close it immediately. "No, on second thought, what the hell is going on?"
"Um, well, I'm doing laundry. It's what people do when their clothes get stinky. Or in my case, covered in demon goo and blood. Which, also stinky."
Spike clenched his teeth. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."
"Oh, sorry, I'm being really rude, aren't I?"
Spike nodded. "Yeah, ya really are."
"Do you have some laundry you want me to throw in? I mean, I know you only have a few things here, so I can wash whatever you're not wearing. And, by the way, I noticed you didn't come up for a shower today, which is a valid life choice and very keeping with the whole cellar dweller thing, but I think William would appreciate some cleanliness when he's out."
"I'll shower later, and that's not even the point! William, that's the point. You only talk to him now, that it?"
"He's the only one who wants to talk, last I checked. Look, like I told you before, I'm giving you your space and quiet reflection time or whatever the hell it is you need. But don't fault me for wanting to be around you, in whatever form I can get you. And he's nice. At least he still looks at me like I'm the most amazing thing he's ever set eyes on. All I get from you are scowls and glares. He's sweet. And I don't blame you, I know you're doing this for some good reason, though I can't seem to put my finger on it at the moment, but whatever. But he wants to be with me, and not in the dank, dark basement. He likes talking to me, and yeah, he talks about stuff you never really want to. So I'm taking full advantage of hearing about your short britches and choir singing and the fig pudding your mom would make for Christmas dinner. I'm trying not to invade on your time down here, but don't ask me to give up what little I can get of you." Buffy slammed the lid down on the washer, turned it on and left.
**
Buffy only saw Spike once more that night, when he came up to get a cup of blood while she was making her dinner.
"Do you want some food?" Buffy asked quietly.
"No, I'm good," Spike replied as he watched the mug turning in the microwave.
After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Spike said, "You know, you're going to turn into skin and bones eating like that. Salad's not a proper dinner," he ventured a joking smile.
Buffy glared at him. "Pigged out on Chinese food. Gotta make up for it. Wanna keep fit," she said curtly.
Spike shrugged as the microwave beeped. "You always look fit to me, luv. Always gorgeous." He snuck a look out of the corner of his eye, only to find her shaking her head. "What?"
"It's not going to work, Spike. I say that William you still looks at me a certain way, and you try to one up him?"
"No, that's not what I'm doing. Just payin' you a bleedin' compliment. And when in the world did things get this way with us? I ask for some time alone, you *were* okay with it, and now I get the arctic treatment. Gotta say, I'm a bit confused, luv."
Buffy shrugged. "Join the club. Is it my fault that I prefer a nice, sweet guy who enjoys my company to a dark, scowly one who shuns it? Sorry, guess I'm quirky like that." Buffy picked up her plate and went to the kitchen.
Spike just shook his head as he went to the basement, determined not to let her bait him. **
TBC!