Willow entered the Summer's home through the front door and walked straight to the kitchen where Oz was tending the pot of soup and Joyce Summers was bustling about, loading rolls into the oven and setting the dining room table. Willow could hear Joyce muttering under her breath, but couldn't make out what she was saying. "What's with Mrs. Summers?"

"Oh, she invited Aaron to dinner, but he didn't stay." Oz glanced over at Buffy's mom.

"Aaron? Aaron who?"

"Jarnisa's second."

"Oh. That Aaron." Willow glanced over at Joyce, who was headed to the dining room with a load of napkins and soupspoons. She whispered under her breath. "Did Buffy stake him?" Oz shook his head no. "I don't understand, why is she so friendly with the vamps all the sudden?"

"She isn't." Oz's expression was completely bland.

"So where is Buffy now?"

"Upstairs." Oz opened his arms to his girlfriend with a come-hither look.

"Oooh. Cuddles!" Willow moved into Oz's embrace. "Who wears vanilla perfume?"

"Buffy, we were dancing to some music." Oz pointed at the stereo, which had run out. He pushed play, and pulled Willow into his arms. She giggled. The sound of Lorne crooning "Stand by Me" came on.

"As long as you were just dancing."

"Just a friendly dance." Oz pulled Willow close. "You're the only girl I want to dance dirty with." He let out a small growl in her ear. "Wolves are strictly monogamous. You're my mate. And we're possessive, too." He tightened his hold on her. "Love you, Willow."

"But, I thought, well, you've had other girls."

"I wasn't a wolf then."

"Oh." Willow smiled to herself as she heard Oz's rumbling purr as he ran his hands up and down her back. "So who's making with the mojo? Is Giles here?"

"Mojo?" Oz pulled back for a second, "What do you mean?"

"Somebody's doing some magic. There are wards up, and some sort of charm? I think." Willow looked over to where Joyce was shredding the salad. "You haven't taken up Wicca, have you, Joyce?"

"Me? No. We're Presbyterian." Joyce began spinning the salad spinner. "Who knows what Buffy is up to? Maybe she's doing the magic."

"No. I think magic and slayers are unmixy things. That's why they have Watchers. Who else is here?"

"That man that came over and told Aaron to leave." Joyce looked puzzled. "Who was he? I don't know why? Buffy and Aaron seemed to be getting along just fine."

"Ethan." Oz told her.

"Ethan. He seemed a bit old for Buffy. How old is he?"

"Great, he did a spell on you." Willow looked disgusted.

"Forty-three." Oz told her. "They are friends. He's an old school chum of Giles."

"Ethan turned me into a ghost!" Willow started up the stairs.

"Willow, I wouldn't recommend going up there." Willow ignored him and continued up the stairs until she hit a barrier and bounced off, taking two steps to regain her balance.

"He's closed off the whole upstairs!" Willow returned, sitting on the stool next to Oz with a sulk on her face. Oz gave her a friendly growl and pulled her close. "He could hurt Buffy, or have her under a charm, or be setting a trap for Giles or…" Oz shut her up with a kiss.

"They want privacy."

"Why would Ethan and Buffy want privacy?" Willow was unbelieving. Joyce was studying the two teenagers with a curious look.

Oz whispered in her ear so Joyce couldn't hear. "They tend to be vocal in their lovemaking."

"No. No. No!" Willow was shaking her head and whispering loudly. "You've got to be kidding me. This is not happening. Ethan's evil."

"You don't care for Ethan, then?" Joyce set her plate down and sat across from the teenagers. "He's been very polite the few times he's been over."

"Ethan's been here?" Oz looked surprised at this information.

"Oh, yes. He helps supply artifacts for the gallery. He's especially helpful with southeast African art. I've known him, what, almost two years now?" Joyce looked up at the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

"Hi, Wills." Buffy walked down the back steps into the kitchen, Ethan right behind her. He was in a freshly starched lavender shirt, and was starting to tie his tie. "I'll get that." Buffy let Ethan pass, and stood on the first step so she could reach his tie. "Half-Windsor or four-in-hand?"

"Windsor." Ethan smirked. "Decided to try my wards, little witch?"

"Oooh, a challenge." Buffy giggled, and began working her fingers through the dark violet silk tie. "Why dressing up, anyway?"

"Got to go back to the Magic Box and meet with David. He wants to buy some of your herb stock. Is the list of your supplies at the mansion?"

"Oh." Buffy smoothed down his tie. "Yes, it's in the top right drawer of my desk. What about Aaron, is he going to get antsy and come back here?"

"Nah. He needs to hunt, and it'll take him a bit to come up with the deposit." Buffy nodded. "Besides, he'd rather have me. No offense, he prefers males, and you're a really lousy sub."

Buffy made a face and said sarcastically. "Thanks a lot, Ethan."

"You're a slayer, you're not cut out to be a bottom."

"And you are? Is he going to hurt you?"

"I like it, dear. You don't. And, no, he can't do me any real harm. My house is packed with magic fail-safes." Ethan smiled at her fondly and patted her cheek. "Don't worry about me, I've played with Aaron before." Ethan pushed her hair back from her face. "Lovely girl. I don't like the thought of him touching you. Got to keep him occupied for the next few months."

"I can top you, and much more safely for you than some depraved antique vampire." Buffy looked up at him unhappily, not noticing that Giles had come quietly into the kitchen, and was eavesdropping on the conversation,

"I know, darling, but this one time, let me do this for you." Ethan noticed Giles and Faith behind Buffy and frowned. "I'm sure Will can straighten things out when he gets back."

Buffy was still frowning. "Don't let David cheat me."

"For the herbs? Not a chance." Ethan smiled, eyeing Giles suspiciously over Buffy's shoulder. "That's why we're going through David, not Willie."

"I don't like Willie. He's a sneak."

"Nobody likes Willie."

"Lorne does."

"No, Lorne doesn't. He's got Willie over a barrel, and Willie's paying the two of us through the nose for next week's engagement. It does Lorne no good to rub Willie's face in it."

"Well, at least I get a solid week of Lorne lovin'." Buffy grinned. "I like that."

"That's my Annie girl. Chin up." Ethan gave Buffy a kiss on the cheek and whispered in her ear. "Ripper's here."

Buffy whirled around and shrank into Ethan, giving Giles a hard stare. "What are you doing here?"

Giles' mouth was set in a tight line. "The better question is what the hell is that bastard doing here?" His voice was harsh and his jaw was twitching.

"A favor."

"He's a snake! You can't possibly trust him."

"Hullo, there, Ripper. Nice to see you too." Ethan grinned at him, a taunt in his voice.

Buffy crossed her arms over her chest. "You don't pick my friends, Giles."

Giles pushed past Buffy heading for Ethan. "Give me one good reason not to pound your sorry hide into pulp."

"I say, if anyone has just cause, I think it would be me. But I really don't think we should turn Joyce's lovely home into a battle ground." Ethan griped as he headed for the refrigerator, pouring himself a glass of orange juice. "You got any cookies, darling?" Buffy walked to pantry and tossed a bag of Chips Ahoy to him.

"And how do you figure that?"

"Two words, Ripper." Ethan approached Giles with easy confidence, holding up two fingers and saying in a low voice, "No johnnie."

Giles recoiled. "That's none of your business."

Ethan popped a cookie in his mouth. "You like to break your toys when you're done playing with them, Ripper. How long until you tire of your latest one?"

"Damn you."

"Good thing this one has more friends than the last one."

"She is not a toy."

"Keep telling yourself that. You and I both know you're a bleeding rounder. Faith, where are you and Sarah holed up?"

Faith shrugged. "Sarah's dead. I'm moving into B.'s mansion."

Ethan rolled his eyes and stepped back from Giles. "Lovely, Ripper. Did you break her too? What did you do, pull the bird's wings off and fry them for dinner? Nah, you probably just handed her over to the council with the perfect set up for blackmail."

Faith hissed sadly under her breath, now regarding Giles with an expression of distrust. "Jessie."

"Fuck you, Ethan. I'm going to kill you." Giles started for Ethan, fists up, only to find Buffy holding him back.

"Don't Giles, he's a guest in my home, I asked him here, and he's doing me a favor."

"What could he possibly do for you that I can't?"

Buffy smiled sweetly. "He's letting Aaron top him. Would you rather do it?"

Giles blanched. "Bloody hell. Aaron? Why?" For a split second, compassion for his old lover crept into his voice. It was gone as quickly as it came.

Ethan couldn't resist another snide comment. "Jealous, Ripper? I didn't know you had it in you."

Buffy frowned again, looking at her feet unhappily and scuffing at the floor. "So I don't have to."

Ethan turned to Buffy and ran his hand down the side of her face, cupping her cheek. "I told you I don't mind."

"And I do mind. Call me when he leaves so I know you're okay." Anxiety was written all over Buffy's face and she looked completely defeated.

"Sure thing, love." Oz took Buffy by the hand and pulled her to him on the side opposite Willow. Buffy nestled into Oz's side, seeking comfort and reaching out to squeeze Willow's hand. "I'll swing by the house a seven a.m. to take you to Abbott." Buffy nodded, and Ethan pulled on a suede jacket he had left on the counter blowing a kiss to Giles on the way out.

Giles began muttering curses in ancient Babylonian. Buffy stared at him in shock. "Giles! Watch your language! And I know for a fact that's not possible, I've tried it. Very uncomfortable."

"Maybe you haven't tried it with the right person, dear," Giles replied sarcastically, eyeing Ethan's retreating form.

"Well, I'll ask him the next time he's around." Buffy smirked back at her irritated Watcher.

"You will do no such thing!"