Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. They belong to Joss and ME
Chapter 6
Xander turned away from Elizabeth and sat down at his desk. He began writing up the papers she had requested. Willow would be the sole proprietor of her estate and as long as she had the power of attorney Angelus could do nothing. By the time he finished it was almost noon. He had sent for his carriage and put the papers in his satchel. Together he and Elizabeth left his office and started towards the home of Sir Giles.
Sir Giles lived just outside the small village. It was in no way a small home, not quite as large as Elizabeth's home, but ample nonetheless. Sir Giles occupied the master bedroom. Willow, whom he had taken under his wing after being orphaned at 5 years old, had a room at the far end of the hall, and there were three additional bedrooms apart from that. The first floor housed the maid's quarters, the kitchen, the dining and living area, and of course a large and very impressive library. The library housed all manner of books, from science, literature and poetry as well as every known book on the occult, but mainly witchcraft and demonology. There was also a section containing a few books and manuscripts on archaeology and religions. And last but not least, within the library, behind a large tapestry lay a well-hidden room used as a laboratory. Behind the main house was the carriage house with stables for the horses, and a small garden where Willow grew the herbs needed for spells.
The driver stopped in front of the door. Xander and Elizabeth stepped out the carriage. Willow had been in her room and saw them coming through the window. She immediately ran down and opened the door for them.
"Buffy, Xander!" She yelled and waved her hand. "What are you two doing here?" She was relieved to see Elizabeth in happier spirits after seeing her so troubled the previous day. Elizabeth gave her a hug, and for a moment she felt safe. In her friends arms she felt like these last few months had never happened. Soon after Giles came outside and shook hands with Xander and hugged Elizabeth.
"What a wonderful surprise." He smiled. "Buffy I should think you would be home preparing for your wedding this evening." He guided everyone inside and led them all to the library. Along the way he asked the maid to bring in some tea.
They all sat down at a large Mahogany table and for a while made small talk until the tea was brought in and placed in front of Giles.
"Thank you Jenny." Giles smiled up at his maid and put his hand on her shoulder. Jenny in turn smiled and excused herself as Giles absent- mindedly watched her leave. Willow smiled and looked at Xander and Elizabeth. They gave each other a knowing look. Once Jenny left Giles cleared his throat and spoke.
"Buffy, as happy as I am to see you here I have a feeling that your visit today is for something more than just small talk and pleasantries. Is there something wrong?" He was concerned. Today was her wedding day; she should be home nervously preparing to become a bride as any woman would; yet she was here and at the moment looking a bit nervous. Elizabeth looked at Xander. He placed his hand on hers and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"Go ahead Buffy." He said. She took a deep breath and preceded to tell the same story she had told Xander that morning. She went into more detail regarding Faith and Wesley, as well as telling them she was going to need a place to hide in order to make Angelus believe she was out of the country. During her telling of the story she never looked at Giles or Willow. Her eyes never left the edge of the table. When she was done, she looked up at them both and held her breath.
Giles had taken off his glasses and was rubbing his eyes so hard she was sure he would blind himself. Willow had tears falling down her face. Giles put his glasses back on and stood up. He turned and placed his hands in his coat pockets. He looked down and then up. He gave a heavy sigh and finally turned to look at her.
"Buffy." His voice was low. "Are you absolutely positive this is what you want to do and become?" She looked up at him and nodded. "You know this is a very dangerous undertaking, and that we will all most likely be in great danger if we decide to assist you."
"I realize that Giles. I know that I am asking so much of you all. I will understand if you decide not to help me." She stood up and took a step towards him. "But I am afraid for us all. I have yet to find out what Angelus up to. I don't know what all of this wealth and power he is amassing is for. But what ever it is, no good will come of it. All of the pain he has been the cause of so far is just the beginning." She looked at him with pleading eyes. She needed their help. There was only so much she could do on her own. If they decided not to stand by her side, she knew that eventually she would rid the world of Angelus. But how long would it take, and at what cost to the world?
"Very well then." He smiled and put his hands on her shoulders pulling her into a hug. "If what you say about Angelus is true, then he must be stopped before he has accomplished his task, what ever it may be."
"It is true Giles. All of it is true." She pulled back and looked at Willow, who had been very quite.
"Willow?" she stepped around Giles and walked towards Willow.
Willow looked up at her and stood. She looked at Xander and Giles, and then Buffy. She smiled.
"We had better get started." She said.
And so it began.
It was settled that Elizabeth would stay with Giles. Willow signed the papers Xander had written for the power of attorney and the transfer was legally made. Giles and Jenny served as witnesses, and they were notarized immediately. Giles instructed Jenny to make up two of the guest rooms and to make sure that the windows were covered so that no light would be able to come in.
"Buffy, we need to leave." Xander said looking at his watch. "Your driver will be coming back to town for you in an hour." She looked at him and nodded. They all looked at each other and in unison, to one long deep breath. They walked out side together, but no further words were exchanged. Elizabeth went into the carriage first, followed by Xander. She had been so afraid of the reaction of her friends, but it was all for nothing. They had agreed to support her and had decided to put themselves in harms way in order to bring Angelus to his knees.
Chapter 6
Xander turned away from Elizabeth and sat down at his desk. He began writing up the papers she had requested. Willow would be the sole proprietor of her estate and as long as she had the power of attorney Angelus could do nothing. By the time he finished it was almost noon. He had sent for his carriage and put the papers in his satchel. Together he and Elizabeth left his office and started towards the home of Sir Giles.
Sir Giles lived just outside the small village. It was in no way a small home, not quite as large as Elizabeth's home, but ample nonetheless. Sir Giles occupied the master bedroom. Willow, whom he had taken under his wing after being orphaned at 5 years old, had a room at the far end of the hall, and there were three additional bedrooms apart from that. The first floor housed the maid's quarters, the kitchen, the dining and living area, and of course a large and very impressive library. The library housed all manner of books, from science, literature and poetry as well as every known book on the occult, but mainly witchcraft and demonology. There was also a section containing a few books and manuscripts on archaeology and religions. And last but not least, within the library, behind a large tapestry lay a well-hidden room used as a laboratory. Behind the main house was the carriage house with stables for the horses, and a small garden where Willow grew the herbs needed for spells.
The driver stopped in front of the door. Xander and Elizabeth stepped out the carriage. Willow had been in her room and saw them coming through the window. She immediately ran down and opened the door for them.
"Buffy, Xander!" She yelled and waved her hand. "What are you two doing here?" She was relieved to see Elizabeth in happier spirits after seeing her so troubled the previous day. Elizabeth gave her a hug, and for a moment she felt safe. In her friends arms she felt like these last few months had never happened. Soon after Giles came outside and shook hands with Xander and hugged Elizabeth.
"What a wonderful surprise." He smiled. "Buffy I should think you would be home preparing for your wedding this evening." He guided everyone inside and led them all to the library. Along the way he asked the maid to bring in some tea.
They all sat down at a large Mahogany table and for a while made small talk until the tea was brought in and placed in front of Giles.
"Thank you Jenny." Giles smiled up at his maid and put his hand on her shoulder. Jenny in turn smiled and excused herself as Giles absent- mindedly watched her leave. Willow smiled and looked at Xander and Elizabeth. They gave each other a knowing look. Once Jenny left Giles cleared his throat and spoke.
"Buffy, as happy as I am to see you here I have a feeling that your visit today is for something more than just small talk and pleasantries. Is there something wrong?" He was concerned. Today was her wedding day; she should be home nervously preparing to become a bride as any woman would; yet she was here and at the moment looking a bit nervous. Elizabeth looked at Xander. He placed his hand on hers and gave her a gentle squeeze.
"Go ahead Buffy." He said. She took a deep breath and preceded to tell the same story she had told Xander that morning. She went into more detail regarding Faith and Wesley, as well as telling them she was going to need a place to hide in order to make Angelus believe she was out of the country. During her telling of the story she never looked at Giles or Willow. Her eyes never left the edge of the table. When she was done, she looked up at them both and held her breath.
Giles had taken off his glasses and was rubbing his eyes so hard she was sure he would blind himself. Willow had tears falling down her face. Giles put his glasses back on and stood up. He turned and placed his hands in his coat pockets. He looked down and then up. He gave a heavy sigh and finally turned to look at her.
"Buffy." His voice was low. "Are you absolutely positive this is what you want to do and become?" She looked up at him and nodded. "You know this is a very dangerous undertaking, and that we will all most likely be in great danger if we decide to assist you."
"I realize that Giles. I know that I am asking so much of you all. I will understand if you decide not to help me." She stood up and took a step towards him. "But I am afraid for us all. I have yet to find out what Angelus up to. I don't know what all of this wealth and power he is amassing is for. But what ever it is, no good will come of it. All of the pain he has been the cause of so far is just the beginning." She looked at him with pleading eyes. She needed their help. There was only so much she could do on her own. If they decided not to stand by her side, she knew that eventually she would rid the world of Angelus. But how long would it take, and at what cost to the world?
"Very well then." He smiled and put his hands on her shoulders pulling her into a hug. "If what you say about Angelus is true, then he must be stopped before he has accomplished his task, what ever it may be."
"It is true Giles. All of it is true." She pulled back and looked at Willow, who had been very quite.
"Willow?" she stepped around Giles and walked towards Willow.
Willow looked up at her and stood. She looked at Xander and Giles, and then Buffy. She smiled.
"We had better get started." She said.
And so it began.
It was settled that Elizabeth would stay with Giles. Willow signed the papers Xander had written for the power of attorney and the transfer was legally made. Giles and Jenny served as witnesses, and they were notarized immediately. Giles instructed Jenny to make up two of the guest rooms and to make sure that the windows were covered so that no light would be able to come in.
"Buffy, we need to leave." Xander said looking at his watch. "Your driver will be coming back to town for you in an hour." She looked at him and nodded. They all looked at each other and in unison, to one long deep breath. They walked out side together, but no further words were exchanged. Elizabeth went into the carriage first, followed by Xander. She had been so afraid of the reaction of her friends, but it was all for nothing. They had agreed to support her and had decided to put themselves in harms way in order to bring Angelus to his knees.