Disclaimer: i do not own any of the Buffy cahracters or universe, as much a i would love to own Spike (hmm, good thoughts) They belong to Joss whedon and his own wonderfully creative mine

Authors note: Sorry it took me so long to update, i hit a major brick wall and have only just been able to jump over it...next update wont take as long, promise. I know this chapter suck, but please review anyway

Chapter six: Miracles

Buffy awoke feeling well rested, refreshed and full of energy. As before, the demon/ghost that had been created by her resurrection had made an appearance, but, thanks to Willows spell, it was made corporeal and quickly slain. The trio was running late and hadn't made themselves known yet, but Buffy had decided this was a good thing, the more time she had to fins them the better. At the moment, it was night time and Buffy was sitting at the table in the Magic Box, the rest of the gang was there also. Buffy noticed that they were all acting a little stand-offish towards her and none of them had mentioned their previous discussion of heaven. Buffy didn't mind though, she knew they were just trying to deal and they'd be back to normal in no time.

She had one of the many demon books in her hands, casually flipping through the pages and looking at the pictures. She was unable to concentrate though, her mind kept wandering to the fact that today was the day that Giles returned home and she was counting the minutes before he walked in the shop door.

She knew the first time she had came back she had used him as a shoulder to lean on, a way out of having to deal with her life and all the responsibilities that came with it because she knew he would take care of everything for her, but, eventually he had left, leaving her alone to stand on her own two feet, but not this time, this time she would be strong and he would stay with her, she knew it. Buffy was pulled out of her thoughts by the sound of the bell on the shop door ringing, she turned around to see Giles standing in the doorway, she got up from her chair and began to walk over to him, he dropped his bags and did the same. They met in the middle

"Oh God, Buffy" Giles said, not sure if his 'daughter' was really back or not, they wrapped their arms around each other for a hug, Buffy closing her eyes and holding on to him tightly

"You're alive, you're here…and you're still remarkably strong" he told her

"Huh?" Buffy asked before realizing she was crushing him again "oh, sorry"

"Willow told me, but I didn't let myself believe it" he said, still staring at her in awe while the others stood around and watched them, small smiles on all of their faces

"Its…you're" Giles began, lost for words

"A miracle" Buffy finished for him

"Yes, but then again, I always thought so" he told her, cupping her cheek and rubbing her hair gently. Buffy leaned in for another hug, although she held on a little looser this time so he was able to breath, and she was able to stay in the arms of her watcher/father for just a little longer. After the hug had ended and Giles had greeted the other members of the gang, him and Buffy walked into the training room to talk

"So" Giles said, still unsure of what exactly to say, Buffy picked up on this and decided to help her out

"I can start, so, how was England?" she asked "how was…life?"

"I'm not really sure how to answer that. Well I arrived home, I, uh, met with the council" he began

"Always a good time" Buffy added sarcastically

"Yes" Giles agreed "otherwise. There's nothing else to report. I um, kept a flat in Bath; I …met with a few old friends, and almost made a new one, which I think is statistically impossible for a man of my age"

"And now you're back" Buffy said with confidence in her voice

"Yes"

"Wow, Giles are you miserable about it or just really British" she asked

"I'm not going to lie to you Buffy" He said, taking his glasses off and beginning to clean them "leaving Sunnydale was difficult, and coming back is…" he faltered to find words

"I'm guessing the word is inconvenient?" Buffy added for him sadly

"No…bewildering?" Giles stated "and how are you? Really? you look tired" he told her

"me, nah, fine" she said "I mean, yeah, sleeping's hard, but just because of the whole waking up in a box thing, so maybe waking up's the problem-but only for a second. I sleep ok, great even, except, you know, the dreams" she told him before continuing "Giles, I wasn't in hell, I was in heaven, the took me out of heaven" Buffy said "but, it wasn't their fault, they didn't know until I told them" Buffy added quickly, noticing the glint of anger in Giles' eyes

"Buffy, how can you be ok about this?" he asked, amazed

"It's hard, but I'm dealing, I just want to get on with my life" she told him

"I understand, you seem to be doing incredibly well under the circumstances, I'm so proud of you" he told her truthfully

"Thankyou Giles" she said hugging him again "thankyou so much"

Buffy was sitting on her back porch, they had returned home from the Magic Box and Buffy had made the bed on the couch up for Giles and had had a talk with him, now she was waiting for what she knew would happen next

"Giles, you have a good talk with Buffy?" Willow asked as Giles entered the kitchen

"Yes, now she's back…from heaven" Giles said, not being able to look at Willow

"She…she told you?" Willow asked, wondering why she had expected her not to tell him

"You're a very stupid girl; do you have any idea of what you've done? The forces you've harnessed, the lines you've crossed? Of everyone here, you were the person I trusted the most to respect the forces of nature. Think of what you've done to Buffy, what you've taken her away from" Giles said

"I know I was stupid, I'm sorry, I can't say anything else, I can't change what happened, I am so sorry" Willow said through sobs.

Giles expression softened a little and he took the witch into his arms for a reassuring, it'll-all-be-ok hug

This happened differently this time…I guess that's a good thing Buffy thought

"Spike, wait out here for a second and then we'll patrol" she said, although no one could be seen

Spike stepped out of the shadows and crushed his cigarette with his boot

"No worries pet, how'd you know I was here?" he asked curiously

"I just did" she told him before walking into the kitchen

"Guys-don't fight" Buffy said as Giles and Willow pulled away from their hug and turned to look at her

"Giles, I know you're worried about me, but I'm fine, really and Willow, I know you're sorry, I know you wouldn't have brought me back if you knew where I was"

Willow opened her mouth to speak, but unable to find words, she closed it again and jut nodded

"I think that maybe you should cut back on the magic for a little while though" Buffy told her calmly

"Yes, I agree" Giles cut in

"But, why?" Willow asked

"Because the magic's you used to bring me back are very powerful, I want you to be careful, tone down your use of magic for a while, please Willow, for me?" Buffy said

"Ok" Willow agreed

They all hugged each other goodnight before Buffy returned outside to parol with Spike

"You ready?" she asked him

"Sure am luv, what was all that about?" he asked as they started walking towards the cemetery

"You know, just stopping a potential problem before it gets out of hand"

"Uh-huh, so how are you going, really?" Spike asked, concern evident in his voice

"Spike, I'm doing ok, I promise" she told him and he knew she was telling the truth

"Good, I'm glad to hear it; you really are a miracle you know?"

"So I hear" she said with a smile.

They walked the rest of the way in comfortable silence, each one content to be in the presence of the other.

A/N: If you are a spuffy fan, please check out the story i am co-writing with my firend slayer rock chick, the story is called what you're waiting for and it's in her name...thanks

If you are a spuffy fan, please check out the story i am co-writing with my firend the story is called and it's in her name...thanks