A/N: Okay, so I've barely written anything in the past few months. Sorry about that. But I just won a couple of awards for this story, and it got me thinking about it again. So here you go:

-Clark-

I can't help but feel relieved as I follow Mr. Giles into the kitchen to help with the tea. He seems to be a lot less threatening than Buffy and Xander. They're Willow's friends, and I can understand why they don't like me, but I can't stand having them glare at me anymore. I think I'll be safer with Mr. Giles.

I watch as he fills a tea kettle with water and puts it on the stove to boil.

"Is there anything I can do?" I ask carefully.

"There are cups in the cupboard above you."

I nod and open the door, getting out cups and laying them on the counter.

"So, Clark. What do you do?"

The question throws me for a moment, it's not really one I've had before.

"I'm working on my family's farm for a year. Then I plan on going to school in Metropolis." I'm glad that he's making small talk. It makes the whole situation feel a little more normal.

"So, you don't even have a real job?"

Mr. Giles' tone remains even, but I can't help but take some offense at the question. "Well, working on a farm is a lot of work."

"Oh, I don't doubt that at all," he continues. "I simply mean that you're still living with your parents, correct? That you have no means of supporting yourself, or Willow."

"Look..."

I try to defend myself, but he interrupts.

"Not having a job at your age is nothing to be ashamed of really," he sounds friendly enough, but I have a feeling something bad is about to happen. "After all. You are only 18."

I have a sense that I'm stepping into a trap, but I answer anyway. "Yeah, that's right."

"Which means that you aren't legally old enough to drink." He turns back to tend to the tea.

"I know. I know that I shouldn't have been drinking. And trust me, I don't normally drink. But the girl I liked hooked up with my best friend, and..."

I trail off as Mr. Giles slowly turns and glares at me.

"You mean that not only did you get drunk and marry the girl who is like a daughter to me, but you did it because you were upset over some high school crush?"

And suddenly Mr. Giles is more frightening than Buffy and Xander combined.

"I didn't mean..."

"I have no doubt that you view this as a mistake, Mr. Kent." Giles takes a step forward and I find myself moving back. "After all, you couldn't have wanted to end up married. Especially not if you are chasing after another woman. But there is something you need to understand."

I swallow nervously, "Sir?"

"If you hurt Willow, if you hurt her in the slightest, I will dedicate the rest of my life to destroying you. Willow may have convinced Buffy and Xander that you aren't an immediate threat, but she hasn't convinced me of that. I'm very protective of the ones I love, Mr. Kent." Though his words are angry, his voice never raises.. He remains completely calm, which just makes him more scary. "Willow is a strong young woman, and she is usually very sensible, and I trust her ability to take care of herself. But if you hurt her, I will kill you. Do you understand?"

I nod. Even though I know that this guy couldn't actually do any damage to me, I can't help but feel threatened.

"Do you understand?" He repeats, more firmly this time.

I nod more vigorously. "Yes. Yes, I understand."

"Good."

Just than the tea kettle begins to whistle.

"Bring me that tea pot, if you would." He says, pointing to where it sits on the counter.

I don't react at first, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation. Shaking my head, I grab the pot and hand it to him.

"Thank you."

I nod, dazed before wandering back into the living room. Willow is chatting with her friends, and seems to be happy. When she glances up, and catches my eye, I see her smile fade. She quickly stands up and walks over to me. She grabs my hand and marches me determinedly out of the room.

"What did he do?" She asks, her eyes flashing.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Willow crosses her arms over her chest. "Come on, Clark. I saw the expression on your face when you left the kitchen. Giles did something didn't he."

Suddenly I'm not sure what is more frightening, angry Willow, or angry Mr. Giles.

"He...he's just protective of you."

Willow nods. "I knew it. He threatened you, didn't he." She stares at me, waiting for an answer. I can't keep eye contact with her, and my gaze drops to the floor.

"Yeah, a little."

"Damnit. I told him not to do that."

"You knew he was going to do something like this?" I ask.

"It's not exactly new."

"I wasn't really expecting it. I mean, he seems so..."

"Nice? Stuffy? British?"

I nod. "Yeah. All of those things."

"Giles can be...well he can be a little scary sometimes." She shakes her head and I can tell she's mad. "But I told him not to go Ripper on you."

I pause for a moment before asking the obvious question: "Ripper?"

"His nickname when he was younger."

"Well, that's...really not comforting at all."

Willow studies me for a moment, then seems to reach a decision.

"Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"I want to talk to Giles."

Oh, that seems like a bad idea. I don't really need the man to be any more angry with me than he already is. "You don't need to do that."

"Yes, I do."

Somehow I can't get out of this. The look on her face shows that she's not going to be allowing any discussion on this.

She grabs my hand once again and pulls me toward the kitchen.

This isn't going to be pretty.