As the doors to the library swung back and forth, Adam strode deeper into the library, pulling out a chair to the big study table and collapsing into it like a marionette whose strings were cut. He helped himself to a donut and stretched his long legs under the table, his toes nearly reaching Giles', who had taken the seat opposite.

Giles cleared his throat, going straight into Watcher mode. "What kind of demon did you kill last night? You said nothing of it to me this morning."

Buffy was still at the doors and she swung around to stare at her watcher like a deer caught in the headlights. "I don't know."

"Buffy, I've been your watcher for two years. You are a really bad liar." Giles crossed his arms over his chest.

"It was some demon with a sword, he came up to me and wanted to fight. We fought. I killed him." Buffy shrugged. "Demon dead; one point for the slayer." Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and turned to her attention to Adam. "You're here on business, what sort of business?"

"A mutual friend tracked me down." Adam made a face while chewing a donut. "Or, maybe, your friend. She doesn't like me much."

"Okay, so not Amanda. That narrows it down." Buffy walked back to the library table, hopping to sit on it, and grabbing the Starbuck's coffee that sat on the table next to her. "She, not Amanda." She counted on her fingers, "Female friends -- did Willow call you?"

Adam smirked. "I don't know Willow, but I can't wait to meet the fiery redheaded witch. No, it was another, older witch that summoned me."

Giles interrupted. "How did you kill the demon, Buffy?"

Momentarily distracted, Buffy answered Giles. "Beheading. Worked like a charm." Buffy turned her attention back to Adam. "What did she say?"

"After I hung up on her four times, disconnected my cell phone for a week and she finally pinned me down in a bakery on Rue Cler?" Adam grimaced. "I was minding my own business, I tell you."

"Yup, that'd be after."

"That I needed to come to the Hellmouth and watch you." Adam said the statement smoothly, but his expression was grim. "Something's coming."

"Something is always coming." Buffy shrugged. "Never been enough to convince you to enter the fray. Maybe you just missed me." She winked. "It's not been that long."

"I always miss you love. Even nine weeks is too long. And the thought did cross my mind. As much as I enjoy your company, it's not enough to drag me to a Hellmouth." Adam shrugged. "But between Her and the Boy Scout, I seem to be developing a conscience."

"Horrors!" Xander slammed a hand on the table. "A conscience. I hear they're rather hard to come by these days."

"I'd rather not have one at all." Adam sighed. "Much simpler. But someone yanked mine out of the ether and reinstalled it."

Xander smirked. "Well, last I heard a Buffy-happy can suck your conscience right back out of you. There's your answer."

"Xander Harris!" Buffy's voice was shocked, Giles' face was ashen.

Methos, on the other hand, was glib. "Tried that. Several times. Didn't work. But I had a world of fun trying." He waved his hand in the air and continued in his Welsh accent. "But that is neither here nor there. As it stands, Buffy, you have somehow lost your customary protections, and have become a target for opportunists. What I don't understand is how it happened."

"Is this a conversation we should be having right now?" Buffy pointed a finger at her watcher.

"He knows, doesn't he?"

Buffy shrugged. "No. I didn't tell him. I told Merrick and Angel. That's it."

Adam flinched. "Do you know why your protections are gone?"

"Probably -- there was that whole dying thing when the Master rose. Xander did CPR." Buffy took another sip of the Starbucks, giving Methos a pointed look. "Kendra was called."

Adam looked shocked. "What kind of monster would bring a slayer back? You don't revive slayers! It's not done. It's monstrous!"

Xander answered quietly. "I'm the one who brought her back. And I would do it again."

Giles shrugged. "You're correct, Adam, it is unforgivable to drag a slayer back into the battle once her term is over. But that said, I for one am very glad that Buffy is among the living."

"And where's Kendra?"

"Remember -- I told you. Drusilla killed her." Buffy's expression was pained.

Giles attempted to break into the conversation. "How do you two know each other?"

"I met Adam last Summer." She slid off the table. "We bumped into each other in Seacouver and spent the summer raising hell with Amanda. Mostly in Paris."

"You did not." Giles faced down his slayer. "I would have known. We have operatives in Paris. Half the council is located just outside of Paris."

"Uh-huh." Buffy smiled at Adam. "We didn't get out all that much. And watchers don't frequent the circles we ran in."

"And how did you get the money to go to Paris? Or a passport?"

"I was a kept woman. I helped Amanda with some of her freelance work. She paid me quite well." Buffy giggled. "As for the passport. If the slayer wants to leave the country for a vacation, do you have any idea how many demons are willing to make falsified papers for free?"

Giles choked on his tea. "I can only imagine."

"That reminds me, Amanda sent this." Adam dropped an envelope into Buffy's hand. "Apparently, she found a buyer for that relic you turned up. That's your cut."

"Really?" Buffy smiled and slid one nail under the envelope. "That stinker, she -- oh!" Buffy whipped out the letter, finally cracking a big smile. "She dumped the money in a Swiss account for me. Here are the numbers. Good." Buffy pocketed the cash that was in the envelope, and popped off the table. "Gotta motor -- it's time for class. Come on, Xander." Buffy walked over to Adam and gave him a long kiss that Adam returned enthusiastically. Giles blushed and looked away. "Dinner, tonight. Wear something -- nice. Maybe after we can take the edge off a bit."

Adam nodded with a tiny smirk. "I'm up to the task."

Giles watched Xander and Buffy leave with a puzzled expression on his face. "What the hell has gotten into my slayer"
Adam shrugged. "Two years on the hellmouth? No slayer has lasted even six month on an active hellmouth before. I wouldn't know. Seems like normal Buffy to me." Adam looked around the library, "Got any beer stashed, Ripper?"