Disclaimers: All the characters in this story belong to Joss Whedon.

Chapter 16: No right

The gallery was quieter than normal. Joyce had busied herself with sorting out the new shipment of painting. She had been promoted to gallery manager a few weeks ago and had put an advert in the papers and on the internet for her old job and she had load of replies. One application that stood out was Miss Anne Mclay. She was the same age as Joyce, had a child and had already worked in an art gallery were she use to live. Joyce was impressed so she rang Miss Mclay up and arranged an interview for this afternoon.The woman from 1632 Revello drive was stood at the reception desk. She wore a black skirt, with a matching jacket, white shirt. She also wore see through tights and high heels. Hair left down. Joyce appeared out of the side office and went up too greet her.

"Anne Mclay? (extends her hand) Joyce Summers, I am gallery manager...if you would like to step into my office and we will go over you application and then I will give you the grand tour," she smiled as she shook her hand and showed her to the office.

Willow was stood at her locker, putting away her books from first period when Oz came up to her. He tapped her on the shoulder, causing her to jump.

"Oh! Hi-hi Oz, whatareyoudoinghereatmylockerIfyouwanttotalktoSpikeyou'vejustmissedhim," she babbled, breathlessly.

"I think you should breathe (smiles) I came over here to ask you if you would like to go for a pizza tonight? I mean you don't have to but I really like you,"

Willow's eyes lit up and she just beamed at him and looked dreamily into his eyes.

"Yeah sure, I would love to..."

"Ok, I'll meet you after school," Oz said and then he kissed her on the cheek.

Willow squealed and skipped to her next lesson.

The lesson was Bio and Willow sat next to Buffy. The blonde eyed her friend as she was smiling more than normal. It was not like Willow at all to be like this. The last time she was like this was when she aced her history test.

"Okay Will, spill," Buffy nudged her friend.

Willow turned to face her friend.

"Oz asked me out for pizza!" she whispered

Now she was grinning along with Willow. Willow had a date. Xander had been on a date but Buffy had never been on one. Not even with Xander. Okay Xander was one of her best friends but still. This got her down a bit.

"So were there smoochies?" Buffy asked, raising a brow.

"Buffy!(frowns)...he kissed me on the cheek,"

Willow touched where Oz had kissed and the frown was wiped away. Buffy looked glum and depressed. Last night set her off thinking about her dad and how he doesn't want anything to do with her or her siblings. For the first time she realised that her and Spike had more than vampire slaying in common. His little "Your dad was silly" speech threw her completely. She thought he hated her guts, but could he actually be recipocating the feelings that she had for him? No, not a chance in hell. He liked his girls hot and popular not ugly and geeky, oh and the slayer. She huffed and carried on with her work.

Anne entered the house and slipped her shoes off, sighing at the comfortable feeling of the soft carpet under her feet. She sank herself into the sofa and smiled as she heard the keetle finish. Tara must of seen the car coming and popped it on. A few minutes later Tara entered with two mugs, handing one to her mother. Herbal tea. Anne sniffed it and smiled.

"Ah you've been experimenting again?"

"Y-yeah, I got the recipe off this woman who works at t-the magic box," Tara explained.

She smiled as Anne smiled at the taste of the tea. Tara continued talking.

"S-so, how did you g-get on at the g-gallery?"

"I got the job (smiles) the woman who lives next door is the manager, really nice woman, I start tomorrow morning,"

"T-thats great mom,"

Anne looked at the clock and sighed. She told her daughter to drink up because they had somewhere to be. Tara questioned whether that was a good idea but she rarely argued with her mother.

The master paced in his lair, whilst Lucas and Jonus looked on. He seemed pensive in his stride and they could see the cogs going round in his mind. The slayer had somehow been able to fight Jonus and fight the three and still live.

"How strong is this slayer? Have you any proof of her killing any vampires?" the master queried

"I saw her kill one of us the other night and she fought me, and yet lives," Jonus replied darkly.

"Hmm, very nearly proof enough. I can't remember the last time that happened,"

"1843. Madrid. He caught him sleeping," Lucas reminded them

The master began to pace again.

"She mustn't be allowed to interfere with the Harvest!" he barked.

"I would never allow that!" Lucas said

"Oh don't worry I believe that she will come to us...after all we do have something that belongs to her,"

Lucas smiled at a very scared looking Mike.

"I only thought of you as a meal boy...looks like you've been upgraded to bait,"

Giles was sorting out his books and Spike was actually doing his homework for once. The watcher smiled as he watched his son get stuck into his maths homework. Grunts and groans came from him as he tried to work out the sums. A knock came at the door. Giles went to answer the door whilst Spike looked at the door quizzically. The middle-aged man's face dropped when he saw who was stood at the door. His ex wife and his daughter. At first he stared at Anne and glanced at Tara with a slight smile. Then he looked back at Anne, frowning. She cleared her throat.

"Not going to let us in Rupert?"

Unwillingly he stepped aside and let them in. Spike wasn't there now. He must of gone to his room Giles thought. Anne inspected the living area and the kitchen while Tara stood next to her dad.

"This is a nice place you've got here," Anne said as she came to stand infront of them.

Giles took off his glasses, cleaned them and put them back on before turning to his daughter. He stroked her hair lovingly.

"Tara...you haven't changed a bit (turns to Anne) what are you doing here?" he questioned her.

"We've moved here...besides I want to see my son,"

Giles scoffed at her.

"Now you want to see him after seven years? Now you actually bother to see how he is doing? You are unbelieveable Anne! You have no right waltzing back into his life like this!" he shouted at her but whispered it at the same time.

Spike had just returned to hear his dad yelling at some woman. Tara smiled as she saw her little brother.

"W-will!" she stuutered as she wrapped her arms around him.

He looked at her, confusion all over his face until she looked at him properly.

"Tara? What are you doing here?"

Anne turned to him and smiled.

"William, oh look at you! Aren't you just the lovelyest boy, why don't we sit down and catch up?" she chirped

Giles shook his head in the negative.

"No, William you go out, let me deal with your mother,"

Anne glared at Giles. He was telling him what to do? She had the right to see her son. Granted she hadn't been around for him but there were reasons why.

"You do not tell my son what to do, Rupert! William, I want to talk to you, stay here and we can do that,"

Tara and Spike looked back and forth as they watched their parents argue. Finally, he had enough. Spike stood in between them, jaw clenched.

"Will you two just shut the bloody hell up! You're both acting like teenagers(they become quiet)...right dad I'm going out (pauses) just so you know where I am I'll be at Buffy's...Mom leave your address and I will think about coming round," Spike grabbed his coat and left his bickering parents and Tara to it.

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