AN: I know I know. Took long enough. This ch is slightly different from the previous but I think it needed it. Enjoy
38:00
It took a little more than two hours for Giles to arrive in LA and he was more than slightly irritated. Aside from not having any idea as to the situation he was walking into, Xander's constant questioning had done nothing to sooth his aggravation.
"Hey, have you seen Buffy today?"
Giles sighed and tried to restrain himself from purposely crashing the car
"She's undergoing a council test."
"Works in theory I guess." Xander nodded as he once again looked out the window
"Theory?"
"Well yeah. I mean as long as she hasn't killed anyone."
"Why would you say that?"
"Oh come on." Xander stared incredulously at Giles, "Last time I checked, Buffy almost died because of a council test. I test you had full participation in "
"Thank you Xander."
A reminder of what he had done to his precious girl was all he needed to complete his day. The memory of what he put her through still had him waking up every night in a cold sweat.
Giles pulled up in front of a hotel and handed the Valet a rather large tip.
"Thank you Gregory."
"Wow, is there anyone you don't know?" Xander asked as Gregory drove away.
"I can almost guarantee I'll know every staff member here." Giles told the boy. Xander was more confused than ever but for once kept quiet about the fact.
Once inside, Giles was directed to the elevator which he and Xander took to the Penthouse. Giles tuned out to most of Xanders constant chatter about the size and grandeur of the hotel and as a result, almost didn't hear Xander talking about stealing a towel for Willow.
"Does she know about this little excursion?"
"Nope. She's spending the weekend with Oz because she can't see him at night with him being Wolfy and all."
"Ah yes, full moon. I had forgotten."
"Whoa, forgotten? Who are you and what have you done with Giles? You don't just forget about a small thing like the werewolf cycle. What's up with you?"
"I've just had a great deal on my mind the past few days."
"Obviously."
Giles knocked on the door at the end of the hall. When it opened Quinten started in surprise.
"Mr. Giles. You are the last person I was expecting. You know you aren't meant to intervene with these proceedings. You aren't even a council member so you should really not have even been permitted into the building."
"Harsh." Xander frowned at the older man.
"And you bought one of her friends. That's even…"
"I was called by Andrew. He requested that I come to LA and I was to bring Alexander with me."
"No one calls me that." Xander mumbled
Giles gave him a look that clearly said not to interrupt and turned back to his former boss. Quinten looked between the two of them for a few moments before stepping out of the door way so they could enter. He led them down into a small room which Xander guess was probably the closet at some point but had been transformed into a small work area that looked out into the rather large dining room, lounge and kitchen. The only difference being that there was a large bed in one corner of the lounge room. As Xander looked around he noticed one other alteration
"Buffy!"
The man sitting behind the desk turned and gave Xander a bright smile.
"Hello Alex. It's been a while."
"Andrew? More like years. I haven't seen you since…"
"Your seventh birthday. So that what ten years?"
"Eleven almost. Do mum and dad know you're back in the USA?"
"No. and may I ask you not to tell them. It's simpler if they think I'm in England going mad."
"They still go on about you going over there, when they're out of it or whatever, all they talk about is how you should have been locked away for even thinking up stories about vampires let alone believing in them.
"I'm glad you know the truth. There may be hope for you yet."
Xander just grinned and lightly punched his cousin. The two had grown up together, Andrew being almost exactly ten years his senior.
"So, why are we here?" Xander asked as he looked back through the glass to his friend.
He watched as Buffy suddenly squealed and bounced off the couch as if something was after her. Xander frowned when he saw what that something was. Angel had leapt up and had immediately tried to tackle her. Buffy spun and blocked him with a side-kick. Xander felt sick to the stomach as he watched a sparring match begin.
"What the hell is going on? Is he evil? I'm going to kill the bastard."
Xander grabbed the stake he had taken to carrying everywhere and made to walk through the door into the open area. Giles, Quinten and Andrew all held him back.
"It's okay Xander. Do you really think I would condone Buffy to face off with Angelus again? I'm not happy about this test but I would never let it come to that."
Xander looked at Giles and relaxed a little. He started pacing the room until he noticed a heart monitor on the desk.
"Who are you monitoring?"
"Angel." Andrew was a little wary of what Xanders reaction would be. If he reacted with violence at the mere thought of Buffy and Angel together, he couldn't guess what would happen when it was revealed Angel was human.
"Angel…You mean…beating…human…heart."
Giles thought the boy was about to faint and if he was honest he wasn't far off it himself. He hadn't known about this part of the test.
"How." Was all he could manage.
"Quite simple really. There is a demon whose blood mixed with that of a vampire has the ability to make them human again. We've altered the mixture so that it won't have a lasting effect but all in all, your Angel is human."
"He isn't our Angel." Xander spat. He was having serious trouble believing what he was hearing
"Quinten, you had best explain what is going on and Andrew, why did you tell us to come." Giles voice seemed calm but Ripper was close to the surface.
For the next hour, Quinten explained exactly what the test was; how they were administering it and what the outcomes would be should Buffy pass or fail. The whole time, Xander stared as his friend generally played around with the monster that wore he lovers face. From what he had managed to pick up the pair had 48 hours to kill and while he could think of much better ways of spending two days alone with your lover. The pair didn't seem to have any desire to. Or if they did they weren't acting on it. Maybe there was hope for the girl yet. The he and Buffy could go off to some beach somewhere and…Xander shook himself out of his daydream long enough to hear the end of Quninten's speech.
"Now as to why Andrew asked you to come, I really have no idea."
"Sir, something happened a few hours ago that I thought deserved Mr. Giles attention. And Alex's."
"And why wasn't I informed of any situation?"
"It's not a situation. Just…well take a look for yourself."
Andrew went over to the video machine and pressed play. The three skeptics in the room sat and watched the moments that had passed between the lovers between the two movies. Andrew smiled as he saw the expressions on Giles' and Quinten's faces soften. He looked over at Xander and saw only indifference.
After the video had finished, Giles sat back and rubbed his eyes.
"I know this is hard for you." Andrew began.
"You have absolutely no idea how hard this is…but its for the best. I see that now. I may not agree but I can accept."
As Quinten nodded in agreement, Andrew turned to Xander. The boy looked at the blank TV screen then over to Buffy as she sat Indian style calmly meditating while Angel read.
Xander ran from the room.
36:30
AN: Whoa, I am so sorry this took so long. U can blame me there is no excuse that I can think of cept laziness. Typical, it takes the busiest working week for me to get it done. Anywho, what u think J
Reviews
Thankyou all so so much. Love you all.
Blondiegrl: Thanx a lot J
3988Akasha: I couldn't go without cuteness. Its muchly needed J
melluvben: never underestimate the power of self control
Melanie: thanx. And by the way, not even my cousin knows what the council is up to :P
Kate: Thankyou very muchly J
JadedTruth: I'm so pleased you're enjoying this. Sorry bout the lateness of the chapter J
Crystalix: Variety is the spice of Buffy and Angel
Jessica: lol, I love it as well J
Dreamergirl18: thanx sweetie
YeLo: funniness. I have no idea if they can handle it…or do I…
Buff: Thanx J
Lilsoccercutie55: thanx so much for reviewing. It is fun getting them. As to who Alex is…Mystery solved
Xanderschick: lol, I'd be gone in the first 5 minutes. But if that happened then would there be a fic…maybe, maybe not :P
Buffstuff500: soz 2 all bout the pet-name thing. To my young mind I thought that was how relationships worked (this was started 4, nearly 5 years ago) I have now since grown up J
SalorEarth: To be human or not to be human. That is the question
Afanficcritic: y Thankyou. C above coment in relation to pet-names
Neverlookback: the film thing was mainly coz I couldn't think of any ideas. That's cured now and we have less hours so yay J
SailorNeo: ohhhhh I LOVE that movie. How good is Johnny in it. Can't wait till it comes out here on DVD, 1 month 2 go :D