A/N: Not going to disclaimer, of course I don't own Buffy. The only thing I own is the original stuff I've come up with for this fic.

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"I don't want him to come either!" Xander protested to Anya.

"He could stay with me." Maria said pointedly causing Giles, Xander and Anya to look at her and a grin to spread across Spike's face.

"There see, perfect." Anya practically beamed.

"Absolutely not!" Giles gave a strangled cry.

"Oh please, what do you thinks going to happen? Besides I've more than enough room, more room than Xander anyhow." Maria folded her arms across her chest.

"I am here you know!" Spike grumbled.

"And I'm trying to do you a favour. You've already said he can't hurt anyone. This way you all get your romantic days and Spike can probably tell me a few interesting stories." Maria tailed off.

"Absolutely not." Giles said moving Maria away from Spike and glancing over at him to see him smirking his head off. "Spike could still be dangerous. I can't ask you-"

"To look after a vampire whilst you get your end away?" Maria asked, it was too blunt and too bitter, but it was unfair of him to show this much concern when he wasn't going to care come midnight when he was kissing someone else. Maria knew this bitter jealousy was unlike her, she knew that it wasn't really Giles' fault that she'd been a coward, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't help how it moved in her chest. How its cold, green fingers closed around her heart and forced the bitterness to spill into her voice.

"He's worried I'll seduce you." Spike said suddenly over her shoulder.

"Don't be ridiculous." Maria batted him away.

"He is, he's worried you'll fall for my wild charms if you're with me for a few days." Spike pressed. "He's worried that you're lonely and I'll seduce you."

"That is not the case at all." Giles rubbed his temples.

"I don't understand why it's so awkward, they've already kissed why don't they all just be orgasm friends together?" Anya asked Xander a little too loudly.

"We haven't- what- what on Earth- why would we?" Maria garbled, a flush spreading across her cheeks and down her neck.

"Yeah, what do you mean kissed?" Spike asked, lips pulling up into a smirk as he looked between Maria and Giles.

"We'll take him!" Xander interjected before the conversation garnered even more awkward speed. "It's fine we'll take him but he's being tied up."

#?#

When Olivia had called to say she was visiting, Giles had been happy. Deep down inside he knew he was looking for a distraction from his feelings for Maria, looking for a distraction from the tension and the pain he felt.

What better distraction could he ask for? Things were mostly physical between him and Olivia, not really serious and maybe that was exactly what he needed right now. Olivia was young, beautiful, intelligent and she was sparky, a dry sense of humour like him.

Now though, in the dark of his bedroom, Giles couldn't help thinking about whether this was really fair? Even if the parameters of his relationship with Olivia were implied in the fleeting visits she engaged in. Was it fair of him to be with her and be thinking about another woman? Was it fair of him to be midway through kissing her and wondering what Maria's lips would taste like? Wondering what the skin of Maria's hips would feel like in his hands. Wondering how she'd react to his lips on her throat and his hands on her thighs.

Anya had said they'd kissed, but Giles would definitely remember if he and Maria had kissed. Or would he? A spark of something came back to him, like an ember he couldn't quite catch. The flash of Maria saying she tasted cigarettes after they'd both been reverted back to teenagers for the afternoon. He was being silly, Maria had probably smoked too and if it had happened, especially in front of the others they'd have told him. Wouldn't they?

Olivia shifted in her sleep and Giles felt guilt sweep over him. He should be thinking about the beautiful woman in bed with him. Not the beautiful woman he didn't have the guts to tell how he felt. He couldn't help it though as his mind wandered to Maria, wondering if she was still up and reading, or sleeping soundly. She'd have been talking with Spike had he not intervened, rather than alone.

Had he really been worried Spike would seduce Maria? Definitely not. Maria would nev- but then her attitude towards demons was certainly less judgemental than his. She had a don't judge a book by it's cover attitude that fascinated and worried him. Spike would probably have some story or another that would make her feel sympathy towards him. Plus, despite his youthful looks Spike was older, a lot older than any of them and Maria had expressed to him during several screenings of movies that she liked the older man.

Someone more well read than Spike though. Still the thought of Spike seducing her sparked something inside him that wasn't worry about her getting eaten. It was somethings else. Something bitter and congealed that caused his teeth to grind.

#?#

Relief spread throughout Giles as Maria came through his ever-open front door.

He'd hit the books as soon as he'd realised the problem, knowing that everyone would be coming to him for answers. Everyone apart from her had been accounted for.

I can't- she mouthed and then pressed at her throat. Giles nodded knowingly to her.

I can't speak, I'm sorry I didn't know where else to go. I didn't know what to do and I thought I saw something last night. I just- I thought you'd all be here, and I know you're busy. I was worried something might have happened to you and-

Giles took hold of her hands to stop the frantic signing Maria had been doing. It was impressive that she could ramble in any language, even American Sign.

It's okay. Why don't we get you something to drink?

Rupert there's something out there, this is not just, can't- why aren't you freaking out? It's stolen our voices!

Luckily, we still use pen and paper as an alternative form of communication. Giles replied gesturing to Willow and Buffy's boards. Maria looked about to flap again though and he took hold of her hands, tucking a crooked finger under her chin and making her look at him. Maria felt calm sweep over her, warmth blossomed in her chest in a way only Giles could elicit and then she saw Olivia over his shoulder and pulled her hands away feeling embarrassment, hurt and maybe even a little shame.

I might have panicked. Her hand fluttered across her chest trying to show the others what she meant. Willow took her pen and wrote on her whiteboard. Hi Maria. The tension left her again and Maria waved, smiling back at Willow.

Have you heard of the Gentlemen? Giles asked tapping her on the shoulder to get her attention. Maria seemed to be doing that thing again, Willow called it her inner rolodex because it looked like she was trying to search through books in her head.

Anything more specific? Maria replied, Giles scratched his head and then remembered he'd written out the poem Buffy had recited. He handed it over to her.

This is from a fairy tale. Maria said and Giles shook his head. It is. Maria responded, looking around at the others who shrugged, having no idea what Giles and Maria were signing between themselves.

I've read it. Maria signed frustratedly.

It's not from a fairy tale, these are real monsters. Giles signed and Maria just looked at him like he was stupid, causing him to give her a look that said he still didn't believe her.

It's from a fairy tale. I've read it. I know I have. They need seven and they might take yours. They're talking about hearts. Maria made a sign to show the others and then patted her chest, forgetting once again that they couldn't understand what her and Giles were saying to each other.

Maria, they're real monsters. Demons. Not fairy tale villains.

And most vampires aren't romantic lovelorn generals pining for their dead wives.

Where have you read it? Maybe I have it here. Giles swept his hand around, seeming to be coming around to the idea that she could be right.

No, I read it at home, definitely not here or the library or the shop. I can remember reading one about a baby eater in the same book and sleeping downstairs with the light on afterward. I know I have that book somewhere. I've definitely read it. I'll find it and bring it back. Maria signed with a determined look on her face she turned to leave, the others looked on still confused. Maria pointed to herself and then made the gesture of a book, then did something with her fingers that was supposed to resemble walking.

Giles grabbed her arm as she went to leave and for a split-second Willow thought he was going to kiss her.

Are you sure? He signed

Maria nodded and then signed 80% because Giles had made her doubt herself but she was sure she had read it.

Be careful. Giles signed, not looking happy that she was heading back out into the streets alone.

#?#

Maria was buried beneath a mountain of books from the Mythology section of her shelves. She was on her fourth, possibly fifth book. Time and space disappeared around her when she was researching. Knowing this she'd prepared a flask with tea and a plate of biscuits to keep her going. Time had become a foreign concept.

It wasn't until she found the correct book and called out, I knew it. That she realised she'd entirely lost track of time and clearly Buffy had already defeated the monster and restored order. She got up, blanket falling to the floor and walked straight to the phone to call Giles before pausing. He was probably busy with Olivia. With a sudden weightiness in her chest she replaced the receiver and returned to her fortress of books and tea.

#?#

"I think we need to talk." Olivia stopped running her nails up and down Giles' arm and sat up.

"We do? That sounds ominous." Giles replied trying to remain light despite the thickness that seemed to suddenly hang in the air.

"Rupert, when I go home this time I'm not coming back, not here, not like this." Olivia said firmly.

"I- What? What do you mean?" Giles didn't know why he was so surprised. He should have known this was coming, demons were a lot for anyone to get their head around, and even if they managed that, they were terrifying. To learn that all those things from myth and legend might be real, especially the terrible things, it was a lot to take in for what was supposed to be a fun and flighty visit.

"This is, it's fun and it's good but I think, you want something more. I think, you want someone to play mother while you play father and I am not, I'm not ready for that kind of commitment."

"That's not the case at all, what, Olivia where is this coming from?" Giles knew though, deep down he knew where this was coming from. Olivia hadn't been the same since Maria had left to do her reading and find the book. He'd been itching to ring her since their voices came back, he wondered if she knew yet or if she was so lost in books she hadn't realised. Olivia wasn't stupid, she'd probably picked up on his looking at the phone, on the fact his mind kept flitting elsewhere.

"You've changed Rupert, in a good way but you've changed."

"Well if it's in a good way then why are you leaving?" Giles asked her, though he wasn't sure why he was even asking it anymore.

"Look it's not you-"

"I'm sorry I'm having trouble believing that when-"

"Rupert you're also in love with someone else. Someone who is much more inclined- no that isn't the right word- someone who is much more okay with this whole magical saving the world sort of life." Olivia put it the bluntest way she could to save them both the embarrassment of this back and forth.

"I am not." Giles protested. If he wasn't though how did he know exactly who she was talking about?

"Well maybe you haven't admitted it to yourself yet, but you are. I've seen the way you look at her and part of me wishes you looked at me that way, but another part doesn't. This, this whole chasing demons and saving the world thing it's a LOT and it's scary and when you add into that all these kids looking to you for guidance, not even in a teachery way but in a parental figure way, it's-" Olivia tapered off and sighed, sliding her hands into her back pockets.

"But I never expected you-" Giles felt like he should explain.

"I know. I know you never expected me to be part of it but it's inevitable really isn't it. Eventually it's going to come down to a choice of me or them, demon hunting or a quiet life and I don't want to be the one to make you make that choice. In fact, I don't think you should have to make that choice."

"I- uhm- I'm not sure what to say." He really didn't. Olivia was right he did have feelings for someone else and he did care about the kids (though they weren't really kids anymore) like they were his own nieces and nephews and he already knew if it came down to it he'd probably always choose to help them. At least when it came to Olivia anyway. Hadn't he been fired from the Watcher's Council for having a father's love for Buffy? Olivia's reasonings too, were all the reasons he'd never initially asked Maria on a date, the reasons he'd chickened out before they'd found out her father was a vampire. Now his reason for not asking Maria came down to a fear of rejection, a fear of ruining what they had, a fear that she might not feel the same, a fear that one small sentence could change everything when there had already been so much change in his life.

"I think the fact you're not begging me not to go is probably a sign that I'm right. You should tell her. I've seen the way she looks at you, the way she looked the first day she saw me here in your shirt."

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