Part 9

Meggie slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Giles.  She grabbed the robe he had hanging on the back of the door and threw it on before she went left the room.  Quietly, she descended the stairs to find Spike reclining on the couch with Buffy curled up in his arms.  The morning sun inched steadily towards the couple through the window.  Meg quickly crossed the floor and pulled down the shade.  The sound however woke Spike and he opened his eyes and looked across the room at the other woman.

"Thank you," he whispered.  "For everything."

With that, Buffy began to stir, and Spike softly eased himself out from beside her and pulled Meg towards the kitchen.

"Where did you find my stuff?" he demanded. 

"Well William, it wasn't overly hard.  I had always had in interest in you and your history.  I simply started scouring old bookstores and posting on the internet.  Finally, I got a lead that took me to a used book dealer in the south end of London.  I went through countless boxes of books until I found it.  When I learned I was coming here, I had the contents bound professionally for you."

"Why, what's it to you?" asked the vampire.

"It's nothing to me," replied Meg, "But it's something to you, and that is why I did it." And with that cryptic answer, she turned towards the sink and began to fill the tea kettle.

"Well, doesn't that seem like a nice little riddle," said Buffy from the doorway.  "But you didn't answer his question."

"Ah, but you see, it answered the question for him, and that is what matters," said Meg as she poured boiling water into her mug.  "I am sure you have a great many questions yourself, Buffy.  And I will answer all the questions that have to do with you."

Buffy paused for a moment.  She had been ready to verbally attack the older woman, but with that answer, she had the wind completely removed from her sails.

"Oh… well… I guess…," said Buffy clearly puzzled as how to proceed.  "Ok, how well do you know Giles?"

"Well enough.  But Buffy, what does that have to do with you?" replied Meg.

"OK, why are you here?"

"To teach at the university among other things," answered the older woman.

"What other things?" asked Buffy?  "I know, I know, what does that have to do with me?  Ok, are any of the other things going to effect me?"

"Yes Buffy, they are, but to your benefit I hope.  I will confess that I spoke with Giles about some of this last night and neither one of us could think of how to explain all this, but I think the straightforward truth would be best.  I am a watcher associated with the Watcher's Council, and I am here…" she started.

"I already have a watcher.  Giles is my watcher.  I thought I cleared all of this up with them the LAST time.  No Giles, No Slayer!" Buffy stated firmly.

"Buffy shut up.  Sit down and listen to the woman," said Giles exasperatedly as he walked into the kitchen.  His expression changed for the better as he approached the other woman.

"Good morning Love," he said as he kissed Meg.