Chapter 13.

Rupert Giles was one in a million. With his bookish appearance and mild manor you could easily be forgiven for thinking him nothing more than a shy librarian waiting for retirement. Few people saw the glimmer of mischief in his eyes, the eyes of the rebel within. They were the same eyes that spoke of the growing love that he had for Joyce Winters and the unspoken bond that he shared with Spike.

It had been a subtle process really. Spike had needed a quite place to work on a year ten history project, somewhere that wouldn't call his devil may care attitude and rebel image into question. In actual fact Spike was one of Sunnydale Highs best and brightest students but that was an extremely well kept secret, just the way Spike liked it. So in search of anonymity and better text books Spike snuck into the University library and literally ran into the newly appointed librarian. It took almost six months before Giles realized that Spike was a high school student but by that point Spike had already been working as his library assistant for two months.

The unlikely pair became fast friends. Somehow Giles was able to see the boy behind all of Spikes bravado and in turn Spike was slowly reminding Giles how to relax and remember the man he once was. Spike had a suspicion that in his youth Giles was not dissimilar to himself. In the office, on a small but tidy desk sat an old photograph of a very young and scruffy Giles leaning against an impressively shiny motorcycle and the most beautiful woman Spike had ever seen. The minuet Spike saw it he knew that wherever that woman had gone she had taken the smiling young Giles with her.

After years of staring at it and wondering Spike just had to know and so reluctantly Giles had recounted his story of heartbreak. The photo had been taken on their first wedding anniversary, he and Jenny had been high school sweethearts, hopelessly in love and exquisitely happy. Giles was twenty eight when Jenny and their six year old daughter Emma died in a collision with a drunk driver. Needless to say it tore his life apart and by thirty years of age good, safe, dependable Giles was the curator at the British Museum. Now at forty seven Rupert Giles was in love for only the second time in his life. Only this time he could never seem to find the words to tell her so.

Giles was quickly woken from his romantic contemplations as Spike came bursting through the library doors at ten o-clock, just like he did every Saturday morning. Today however Giles sensed that there was something on his mind.

"You look tired Spike."

"Can't say I got much sleep last night"

"A young lady?"

The hue that colored the librarians cheeks at this vaguely phrased reference to Spike sex life was bordering on the hilarious.

"Not in the way you're thinking. Get your mind out of the gutter!"

"Well, I mean…."

"Breathe ……. A friend of mine had a ruff night, I think she was a little lonely."

"Buffy Summers?"

"How'd you know?"

"I know all of the other friends that you'd stay up all night to see, she lives next door and for some reason you've mention her at least once a week for almost five years now."

"Well, I mean…."

"Breathe."

"I see that smirk Giles. Don't think I don't see it. What ever you're thinking, it's not anything like that."

Silence stretched between the two men as Giles observed the young rebels internal dialogue, which he has no doubt centered around Angel.

"Go ahead, say it."

"He doesn't deserve her, he's cheating on her with half the bloody town."

"Don't you think you're exaggerating? No matter what you think of him Buffy doesn't seem like a careless girl, I'm sure she sees a side to him you don't. I grant you, they are an oddly matched pair and if he's cheating on her than she should get rid of him. However it isn't up to you to decide who is or isn't good enough for her. I mean it William."

"Hey now, I want your advice old man but there's no need to resort to name calling."

"Watch who you're calling old William."

"Fine, Rupert."

"Spike?"

"Yes Giles?"

"Get to work"

The older man swatted half heartedly at the man he considered a son. What a pair they made, an old man who knew he was in love but didn't know how to say it and a young rebel who had somehow fallen in love and didn't even know it. That kind of love, the kind that sneaks up on you, that was the kind that always hurt the worst. But good lord it was worth it! Shaking his head at the both of them Giles headed into his office.