Thanks to my reviewers, as always. You guys rock.

Chapter 20

The next morning, the doorbell was rung at Kara's. She opened the door to find a delivery boy with a bouquet of roses. She accepted the vase and tipped him, before closing the door and carrying the flowers into the kitchen.

"Oooh, pretty! Who are they from?"

Kara searched for the card.

Be ready at 7pm tomorrow night, and wear something nice. Love, Spike.

"Spike. He wants to take me out tomorrow."

"Well, good! It is good, right?" Stephanie asked.

Kara buried her nose in one of the fragrant blooms. He always remembered her favorite type. "It's very good."

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Another boring day in The Magic Box. Buffy stowed her bag away, then went in search of Giles to say "good morning". Her Watcher was on the phone in his office, so he gestured to her to wait until he was done.

"Yes…the request I sent you was perfectly serious…In this day and age…Quentin…Quentin! Thank you. Do I have to remind you about certain secrets…" Giles held the receiver away from his ear until the shouting stopped. "Very good…We'll expect the contract right away. Good day."

"You got him to say yes!" Buffy squealed excitedly.

"Well, I'm sure it will come with some kind of catch, but we'll sort it out. The Council is sending an employment contract for us to look over. If you approve of the terms, you sign it, and officially become a paid employee."

She shot over and wrapped him in a tight hug. "Oh, thank you, Giles! You're the best. I don't know what kind of leverage you used, and I probably don't want to, but that was so awesome. Do you think they're going to ask for something unreasonable?"

"Uh…Buffy…can't...breathe."

"Oops! Sorry!"

"It's quite alright, dear. I know you're excited. As for your question, I'm sure there will be at least one point we will disagree with. Quentin will not make this easy, since he would normally never choose to pay a Slayer."

"Giles, will he go after you because he knows you know things now?"

"I already took care of that. Part of my request for you was an addendum that if anything happened to me, or any of your loved ones in retaliation for this, that all the hidden things I know will be uncovered. He doesn't know who knows, or doesn't know, what, so it will make him cautious. The only thing we have to worry about is the contract, itself. Now, let's get to work, hmm?"

"If you insist."

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A buzzer sounded as Spike walked into the small store.

"I hear you do custom work."

"Yes, sir. With reasonable accommodations, of course."

"Right. I want this, made like this, and done in a week." He placed a sketch, a list of materials and specifications, and a deposit on the counter.

"Sir…this is quite a request. We can't possibly get it done in a week…"

Spike leaned in close to the clerk, his look pure intimidation. He slapped a sizeable advance in the clerk's hand. "I want it done in a week. And it better be your best work. You really don't want to see me disappointed."

"N-no, sir! Do you want to preview the item before it is assembled?"

The vampire winked at the nervous man. "I trust you. Call that number when it's ready." He spun on his heel and left, leather coat swishing around his ankles.

The clerk wiped his sweaty brow, and took the work order into the back. It would take their combined efforts to get the blonde man's order filled in time. He didn't want to think about the consequences if they fell behind.

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"There's my baby brother! I'm so proud of you! Here's your graduation gift." Kara handed Peter an envelope. He placed it in his pocket.

"Thanks. I hope we can leave soon. I want to get this robe off. Where's Steph?"

"Saying hello to some of the teachers, I think. What are your plans for the summer?"

"Not sure, yet. I'll have to prepare for college at some point."

"Right. You and Steph will both be at Chapman in the Fall. Did you decide on a major?"

"History. I really got into it this year, so it feels like the right course. Maybe end up a teacher."

"Well, it's a noble profession, if your heart's in it. Let's go find the others."

Pictures were taken with at least four cameras, the group in the shot juggling about depending on who was taking the photo. Peter was naturally on the shy side, so all the attention made him fidgety after a while. Kara interceded on his behalf after noticing his fifth eye roll of irritation.

"Hey, guys, I think we have enough pictures. The three of us are starving, so how about we move on to dinner?"

Peter picked the nearby Outback Steakhouse, and the family settled in once the food arrived. Kara sat between her brother and sister, Peter to her left, since he was left handed. It had been a long time since she had joined all of them for dinner, but it didn't feel wholly awkward. She took home another helping of garlic mashed potatoes, and a slice of cake, when they parted ways.

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Buffy couldn't wait to tell Will the good news on their date tonight. He was finally done with the school year, so he'd finally have more time for them…she hoped.

She dressed in a halter-top that dipped low in the back, and an embroidered silk skirt. He'd mentioned they were going someplace nice for dinner. Buffy hurried to open the door when she heard the chime.

"Hi! I'm really looking forward to tonight," she said happily. She'd added a lightweight sweater just before he arrived, since the breeze was cool tonight.

"Me, too," he replied. "You look nice."

"Thanks. Shall we?"

They walked to his truck, where he opened the door for her. Will pulled away from the curb and drove south.

"So, where are we going to eat?"

"It's a Thai place. That alright?"

"Sure, I think. I don't know anything about their food," she replied, shrugging.

"Well, you like Chinese a lot, so you'll like this, too."

"Okay. How was your last week?"

"Busy. I had to get all the grades in on time, send recommendations to colleges for the seniors, get all the equipment locked away for the summer. And since I'm the new guy, chaperone Grad Night on Wednesday. I swear, all these kids listen to nowadays is a bass beat. Every song they played sounded the same!"

"Aww, poor baby. I'm sure that was loads of fun. I got some good news today."

"Oh?" he asked.

"Giles got the Council to agree to paying me for Slaying. I don't know how much, yet, but anything is long over due. They're sending the details."

"They're going to pay you just for a couple hours of patrol a night? That's pretty generous."

"No, they're paying me for risking my life all the time and keeping the world safe from the next apocalypse," she tensely explained.

"Well, either way. I thought it was your Sacred Calling? Isn't that something you're supposed to do out of the goodness of your heart?"

"Yeah, and it has been! I take my job very seriously, Will, but it also makes it hard to live in the human world. Not many jobs would let me run off at a moment's notice to handle a Hellmouth emergency. My dad only pays for half of college, so I have to get the money somewhere. Jeez, I thought you'd be happy for me."

"I am. I was just surprised. Whatever makes your life easier, honey."

He slipped in a CD, the universal sign that he was done talking for now, leaving Buffy to watch the scenery go by out the window.

Once they were seated at the restaurant, Buffy took off her sweater and draped it over the back of the chair.

"Showing enough skin tonight, Buffy? I told you this was a nice place," he said disapprovingly.

Her mouth gaped in shock, but before she could reply, the waiter came by to take their orders. He took Will's first, and when she was about to say what she wanted, Will cut her off and told the waiter what she should have! What was this, the '50s?

"I'm perfectly capable of ordering for myself, thank you."

"I just thought I'd be helpful, since you said you didn't know the food. Oh, I've been meaning to tell you. A friend of a friend has offered me the lead in his play, and rehearsals start next week. We'll have to postpone our trip."

"What! We've had that planned for months. When did you agree to this play?"

"Um…two or three weeks ago, I think. It's a big opportunity for me, Buffy. It's going to be reviewed by all the major newspaper critics. This is my chance for some real recognition."

"Alright. Would you excuse me? I'm going to the ladies' room."

"Sure. Don't take too long. The food will be here soon."

Buffy nodded, and rose from her seat. Once she was in the restroom, she pulled out her cell phone.

"Hey, Mom. I just wanted to let you know I'll be home early, after all."

"Are you alright, Buffy?"

"Yeah. I just need to ditch my date and hail a taxi. Bye, Mom."

"Be careful, sweetie."

Buffy put the phone away in her purse, then stuck her head out the door to check for a back exit. Ah, good, the door to the kitchen was back here. She ran through, yelling "sorry!" to all the waiters she jostled in her haste. She breathed in relief when she made it outside.

Where the hell had the sweet guy she'd known last year gone? She thought he'd adjusted to the Slayer thing, since she'd told him last September, but she could tell now that he thought less of her for it. I guess not everyone's cut out to know about the monsters. After finding a cab, and finding out the price for taking her all the way back to Sunnydale, Buffy directed the driver to the Hyperion, instead. She'd ask one of Angel's crew to take her home.

Buffy rapped on the glass door as she opened it, announcing herself. "Hello? Hope I'm not intruding?" A very familiar brunette walked out of the office.

"Buffy! This is really a surprise. Is there trouble we don't know about?" Cordy asked.

"No, nothing supernatural. I was on a date, and it really sucked, and cab fare to Sunnydale-"

"Costs a fortune, yeah. So, you need a ride home?" Cordelia asked, a teasing note in her voice.

"Yes, I got stranded. Laugh at Buffy's expense. Is anyone free to help me out?"

Cordelia softened, remembering a few of her own bad dates. "Yeah, I can drive you. Gunn and Fred can hold down the fort for a couple hours."

"Thanks, Cordelia. You've truly saved me." Buffy followed the brunette to her car.

"So, tell me about the guy."

"Ugh, where to start…"

By the time they reached Buffy's house, both ladies had realized that their former rival had grown up, and really wasn't so annoying anymore. Buffy thanked Cordy again, handed her some gas money, and waved as the other girl left. Her mother was sitting in the living room, waiting for her to come home.

"Buffy? What happened, sweetie? Why did you have to leave Will?"

"Can I have a chance to sit first?" she teased her mother. Joyce smiled sheepishly, and patted the sofa cushion. "He's not the same guy, Mom. Tonight, he was condescending, controlling, patronizing…and then, he tells me that our trip is off because he got a role in a play. We've had the reservation for months, and he just accepted the play two weeks ago, and didn't tell me until now! Looking back on it, he's been different ever since he found out about my night job. It's just gotten worse with time. Did he call while I was out?"

"I let the answering machine get the phone, since I didn't want to get in the middle, and went back to my movie upstairs. I don't know if he called."

"Well, it doesn't matter, either way. I think I'm done. This sucks! Is every guy that comes around me destined to turn into a jerk because of it? I mean, Kara wouldn't set me up with a jerk, right?"

"Of course not, if she knew. I should tell you, I've had reservations about your relationship for a while."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Buffy, you're not 16 anymore. This isn't like with Angel, where I thought a college man was preying on my teenage daughter, or the bad vibes I got from him. You're 21, and as long as I felt Will wasn't a danger to you, then I let you find your own way. You've been complaining for months that he never had time for you, and that he seemed distant, or that he was trying to plan your life together without you. Either you two would talk it out and things would get better, or you'd realize that he wasn't who you want to be with anymore."

"Wow, you have that much faith in me not to royally screw up?"

"Like I said, you've grown up. I need to guide you less and less all the time."

"I'll always need you, Mommy. You make life make sense"

"I'm glad you feel that way, Buffy. So, chocolate ice cream?"

"God, yes!"

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"I'll get it! Hello?"

"Dawn? Put me on the phone with Buffy, please."

Dawn covered the mouthpiece while she whispered to her sister. "It's Will. He wants to talk to you. He doesn't sound happy."

Buffy sighed, then took the phone from Dawn. "Buffy, here."

"That wasn't very nice last night, Buffy. Why did you skip out on me?"

"To be honest, Will, you aren't the same guy I got to know. This isn't working for either of us. You hardly want to see me anymore."

"So, that's it? You just throw away a year because I'm busy?"

"No, I'm ending this because you haven't been treating me nicely. You practically called me a slut at the restaurant, Will!"

"I did no such thing."

"You implied it! Plus, canceling the trip? That was a Christmas present, to us, from Kara. It was supposed to be special. The fact that you took a job, and didn't tell me right away, shows that you don't care what I think. Better we quit now than linger on like this for a few more months."

"Whatever, Buffy. You just can't hack being a normal girlfriend. If you can't support my efforts to make a better future for us…Find some freak who lives in the dark. That seems to be all that matters to you." He slammed the phone down, making her jump. Buffy sighed, and put the cordless back on the charger.

"You okay, Buffy?"

"Yeah, it's been going this way for a while. No big shock."

"Did he say anything mean? 'Cause I'll kick his ass for you. You deserve better."

"That's sweet, Dawnie. It's Saturday. Wanna go shopping?"

"You're on!"