Chapter 6

"Is that you, Buffy?" Willow asked as Buffy walked down the hall towards the bathroom.

"Yeah Wills, it's me." Buffy replied passing the bathroom and stopping at the doorway into Willow's room. "Dawn said you wanted to ask me something?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to know if you'd mind if I invited Tara over for dinner tonight."

"I don't mind, but Dawn and I aren't going to be home. I promised her some sister time tonight. Spike and Clem are taking patrol for me. Which reminds me, I'm having a Scooby meeting around lunch time today."

"Oh, I thought Dawnie was staying at a friends house tonight. She mentioned something earlier about you helping her pack."

"Yeah, I forgot about that part. But anyway, that's kinda what the meeting is about. She's packing for a trip, as well as I should really get going on too."

"Oh, I see." Willow said with a touch of sadness in her voice, thinking her best friend was neglecting to tell her things still.

Buffy, noticing her friends crestfallen look and the sadness in her voice told her, "Aww…don't worry, Wills. I just found out about the trip myself. I was planning on telling everyone at the same time is all."

Hearing this, Willow perked up a bit and told her, "Oh, okay. Sorry, my bad."

"Totally understandable, I would have reacted the same way if I were you. I'm gonna hop in the shower now, I'll be out in a few. How 'bout if you help me pack after that and we'll talk a bit about stuff before the meeting?"

"Alright, I have some stuff I've been meaning to tell you myself."

"That's terrific Wills. I'll let you know when I'm out."

"Okay, I'll be in here folding laundry."

Then Buffy walked back out into the hallway and down to her room to retrieve a change of clothes and then across to the bathroom for a hot shower. Half an hour later Buffy and Willow were sitting in Buffy's room on her bed, filling up a suitcase.

"So, where are you two going with the short notice and all?" Willow asked her.

"Oh, we're going to England. London to be exact. Giles wrote and said the Council wanted us, but he didn't mention why and I can't figure out why either."

"Well…what about your job at Double Meat Palace and Dawn's school? Is she taking work with her? What excuse did you give your boss?"

"I dunno about school. I didn't even think about that! I don't even know how long the three of us will be gone. Oh God! We have to call Giles. I'll be right back!" and before Willow could say another word, Buffy was already running down the stairs. "Dawn!", Buffy called, running down the stairs. "Dawn! Where are you?!"

"Buffy! Chill…I'm right here. What's your problem now?" Dawn said getting up from her place on the couch to meet her sister at the foot of the stairs.

"You need…we need to call Giles about school and the annoying social workers! He never said anything about mentioning to them about the trip! They can have you taken away!"

"Where's the phone book then?"

"You had it last, you were making the Scooby calls."

"Oh yeah…ummm…oh! Be right back!" and she ran into the kitchen to get the book off the counter. Within a few seconds she was back, phone book in one hand, phone in the other. "Here Buffy, I already have the page with the number."

"Ok, good. Now, just read it off to me while I dial."

So Dawn read off the number while Buffy dialled. After a couple rings Giles picked up. "Hello?"

"Oh good Giles, you're there! It's Buffy and Dawn. We received your letters and the tickets and we just had a question."

"Oh, yes. Very good. What is your question?"

"Well, we need to know if anyone notified Social Services yet. Willow reminded me about them and you didn't mention anything in your letters."

"Ah yes. Of course! I must've forgotten. So sorry. Actually, The Council and I were just talking about that situation. They have assured me that everything out there has already been taken care of. That includes your job at the Double Meat Palace also. But, just in case, I too have called both places."

"And…"

"And, they, (the Council), were telling the truth. Everything has all been taken care of. Dawn shall take the rest of the year off from school and will receive full credits for all of her courses."

"Alright!! Excellent!" came Dawn's reply from the extension in the kitchen.

"Dawn, calm down, we still need to call your school too. Isn't that right Giles?"

"Ummm, actually no, not if you don't want to or have the time to. But you might want to call just in case. That was the one phone call I didn't make yet."

"If and when we do call, what are we supposed to tell them? We can't just tell them anything. We should tell them the same thing as the Council told Social Services and them."

"Yes, you're right, you should. Very good, Buffy. You really are growing up quite well without me there."

"Yeah…I guess I am! Now can you please tell me what Social Services was told?"

"Ah, yes. I believe they were told that you had a very ill relative over here and it was important that you come."

"Wow, they actually accepted that?"

"It seems so. So, have you decided who you are bringing with you then?"

"Ummm…" Buffy started, not sure whether she should actually tell Giles about bringing Spike or not. But before she had a chance to stop to think about it for a moment Dawn was already squealing over the extension.

"Ooh!!! Can I tell him Buffy? Pleeeeeese?" she whined.

"Dawn, remember the discussion we had?" Buffy told her warningly.

"Oh. Yeah. I forgot. Sorry." Dawn immediately apologized.

"Buffy…are you there?"

"Yes Giles. Sorry. We, the three of us, decided that we want it to be a surprise."

"Alright then. I must be going. I shall be see you all when you get here."

"Ok, bye Giles."

"Goodbye Buffy."

"Bye Giles, thank you!"

"Yes you're welcome. Goodbye Dawn." Then they all hung up and Buffy walked into the kitchen to talk to Dawn.

"Dawn, you've got to be more careful. You almost blew our cover."

"I know, I'm sorry Buffy. It's just, well…I wanted to hear his reaction, and I really want to tell someone."

"I know that Dawn, I'm glad I have you to talk about this situation with. It must be so hard for you. I have an idea, why don't you go call Tara again and see if maybe you can go over there for a bit and talk before the meeting. Maybe you can convince her to let you help with Spike's spell too!"

"That is a good idea! Now, you might want to go back up to Willow. I'll let you know if and when I'm going."

"Yeah, ok. Make sure you are back for the meeting though, I need all the help I can get."

"Alright, we will. Promise!" then she picked the phone back up and dialled Tara's number, while Buffy went back upstairs to continue her talk with Willow and finish packing.

"Everything alright now?" Willow asked as Buffy re-entered her room.

"Yep, talked to Giles and everything is all squared away with Social Services, School, and even work! Only thing left to do with that is to call the school Monday morning and double check that the council really did notify them."

"Well that's good news."

"Yeah, I thought so too!"

"Hey, before you mentioned something about three of you going to England. What aren't you telling me Buffy?" Willow asked becoming sadly annoyed again.

"Ummm…well…you see…uh…Giles sent us 3 tickets for England and since you and Tara should stay together and you both have classes still and Xander and Anya are finally on speaking terms again and they both have their jobs to contend with too, I've decided…no wait…Dawn and I both decided that Spike should be the one to go with us. Especially because I'll need someone with my strengths and skills to protect and look after Dawn when I'm with the council." she told her as quickly as she could manage.

" Oh…I see then. But what about daylight? Won't that cause a problem with the plane trip?"

"Dawn is on the phone with Tara right now about that. She wants to go over and help. I think she figured that that way, there will be no magical temptations for you."

"Oh, alright. She's probably right."

"So you're not upset about us taking Spike instead of you?"

"Nope, you made excellent points. Besides, we'll see you soon enough, and you'll only be a phone call away."

"Wow. I didn't expect you to be so accepting of this. Do you think the others will react as well as you just did?"

"I don't know. But I guess you'll find out soon enough. Besides, it's kind of obvious you have feelings for him." Willow told her, only half joking.

"What! NO, no feelings. Just friends, if that! That's all! Really! I Swear! No Feelings!" Buffy ranted to her, face turning redder by the second and quickly panicking.

"Geeze, calm down. I was kidding!" Willow told her, really only half joking.

"Oh. Yeah. I knew that."

"Yeah…ok. I think I'm gonna go finish folding my laundry. Let me know when everyone gets here."

"Alright." she told Willow as she walked out of the room leaving a very paranoid and suspicious Buffy behind. Oh god, Buffy thought to herself, does she know? How can she know? We've been careful and his little comments haven't been that noticeable, that is if you weren't intentionally looking for them.

"Buffy! I'm leaving now. I'll be home soon!" Dawn called up the stairs interrupting Buffy's thoughts.

"Alright Dawn! Meeting's at 12, don't forget!"

"Yes, Buffy. I know! Goodbye!" Before Buffy could answer, Dawn was already out the door, leaving Buffy alone with her thoughts once again.

I'm probably just being paranoid. She can't know. Tara would never tell and neither would Spike or Clem. Besides, if she did know, she would've said something to me sooner. I'm just being paranoid. Soon she had finally finished packing almost everything and decided to wait until the following day to finish. So, she went downstairs to watch TV until everyone arrived.