Chapter 5

Buffy blinked, groaned and rolled over as the sunlight poured through the curtains. Or, she attempted to turn over anyway. Giles blocked her movement. He tightened his hold and muttered something in his sleep.

"Giles." she said softly. "Giiiiles."

"Mmm."

"Wake up Giles."

"Go back to sleep Buffy." he muttered, burying his head in her hair.

"Rupert Giles!" she snapped. He sat bolt upright, his hand falling from her hip. "Finally." she said under her breath.

"Why in the bloody blazes did you wake me up? It's only-" he looked at the clock. "-seven-forty."

"I couldn't get back to sleep. Now that you're up, we can go for walk around town. In the sunlight." she added, looking at the window. He sighed, stood and stretched. Even squashed together, the bed was still to small for both of them. But, neither said anything, so they both suffered. Buffy grabbed some clothing to head for a shower, and he followed her, wondering what was going on with her.

"Buffy-" he tried to stop her, but she'd already went into the bathroom. It had been straitened up, but the evidence of the night before was still there. A broken shelf, shower rod, ripped shower curtain in the trash, and there was a small rip in the rug.

"It wasn't a dream then." she said dejectedly. He gently grabbed her elbow and pulled her from the bathroom, shutting the door.

"Come on, you'll shower downstairs this morning." She nodded and went down the stairs, right in front of him. Since it was a Saturday, no one else was up. Buffy quickly shower, followed by Giles. They ate a light breakfast before quietly leaving.

The couple walked into town. Buffy looked around, hearing slightly muffled. She watched as the town began awakening, seeing everything in more definite colors. Blinking, she shook her head to clear her hearing. The colors faded to what the usually look like. They walked through the park and stopped at the pond. Leaning into Giles, Buffy looked at the water, watching the ducks and fish.

"Will you patrol with me tonight?" she asked, watching as a duck chased another one.

"If that is what you want."

"Thank you."

"Whatever you need." he replied, hesitantly putting an arm around her waist. She sighed.

"This will probably sound cliche, but I'm getting to old for this. I'm tired of my friends and...allies turning against me."

"That doesn't sound cliche." he said. "Buffy, you truly need to think about what you want to do about Willow and Tara." he said gently. She sighed.

"I'm not sure. Really, I think I want Willow to leave and Tara to stay, but they're a couple. They won't leave on another."

"Tara shall probably do whatever she thinks is best Buffy."

"And Willow..."

"Shall do what you want once she grasps the importance of what has occurred."

"And that'll be never." she said with a snort. He removed his arms, grabbed her hand, and gently tugged. She closed her eyes for a moment then followed. It took a little while, but they finally appeared at the edge of the woods.

"Come, I have something to show you."

"Giles..." she said, looking around nervously. He placed a hand on her cheek, distracting her from her thoughts.

"Trust me." he whispered.

"I do." she whispered back. He smiled and pulled her through some thick growth. After a few moments, she gasped. "Oh, wow..." The were a river that flowed, unknown, from the pond. The clean water was silent as it rushed over the rocks. There was a small clearing, about the size of a small gym, and it young trees and flowers. "Giles, this is...wow."

"I found this when you were in college, during one of my runs." he explained. She looked around the area, eyes wide. A hand on her arm made her turn to look at him. He wiped away a tear that was at the corner of her eye. "No crying." she chastened with a smile. She gave him a 1000 watt smiled and walked into the clearing before promptly sitting on the grass. He quietly walked over to her and knelt down as she laid back with a happy sigh.

They stayed in the hidden area for over an hour. The couple talked about many things, from Dawn's school work, to Willow and Tara, to training. The only two things they didn't talk about were that attempted attack the night before (they did talk about Spike's ability to hit her thought) and her emotions/thoughts to what had happened with everything in the last few days (the Nerd Trio, Spike and Xander).

"Would you like to stop for something to eat?" Giles asked as they passed the coffee chop. Buffy looked at him, head tilted, assessing if he wanted to eat. After a few moments, she said no and they continued walking. They walked all around towns, sharing stories and triumphs. The couple stopped for a moment outside Ethan's old costume shop. Giles face darkened as Buffy scowled. They kept moving.

It was nearly four when they finally made it to the house. About eight hours. Dawn was dutifully sitting in the kitchen doing her homework. It was research on Willow's laptop. Willow and Tara were still at collage.

"Hi Buffy. Hi Giles." Dawn called as the door opened.

"Hey munchkin." Buffy said, making Dawn peer over the computer at her sister. She was happy. Not completely fine, there was something lingering in her eyes, but for the most part, she was happy.

"Good evening Dawn." Giles said,

"Giles, we're not in England, you can said 'hey' or 'hi'." Buffy teased, earing a mock scowl. He was about to tell her off, playfully, when the front door opened.

Willow and Tara were home early. Buffy looked at Tara, who entered first, smiling, the Willow, and left the room, not wanting to ruin her good mood. Tara went upstairs to put her things away and headed for the kitchen, where Buffy was. Giles was helping Dawn, and Willow was in the living room, doing who knew what.

Buffy made some tea and looked for the chocolate cookies she knew where in the kitchen somewhere. After a few minutes, she clutched the box and a tray with mugs, tea and the usual sugar, milk/creamer and lemon. She'd acquired the taste for tea while with Giles. It only took six years.

Buffy sat the tray and cookies on the table and took a seat next to Giles, Dawn beside her. Willow and Tara sat in armchairs. Everyone made their tea in silence. Giles broke the silence.

"Tara, there's something I'd like to ask you." Tara looked up, sat down the teacup, and waited, knowing it was serious. He placed an arm around Buffy's shoulder and she leaned into him. "I need all possible information you can gather on the resurrection spell as soon as possible." Willow and Tara stared for a few moments.

"Of course." she replied. Dawn looked out the window and went to the door, knowing who was walking up the pathway should hear. She put her finger to her lips and resumed her seat. "Is there anything specif you want me to look for?"

"The changing of molecular and spiritual structure." he said, eyes connected with hers. "It seems something in the spell is now throwing the sensors in Spike's chip off. He can hit Buffy." Three intakes of breath. Dawn had been told earlier so she would be calmer by the time Willow arrived from classes.

"W-what?" Xander asked, shocked. "Hit? As in pain wise? With none for him?"

"Yes." Buffy said in a small voice. She burrowed further into his embrace and felt the last of her bruises protest at the movement.

"I'll see what I can find, but I'm not sure it'll be easy or fast." Tara said.

"I'll help." both Willow and Xander said. Neither Giles or Buffy said a word. Tara stood and went over to the couch before kneeling in front of Buffy,

"It'll be alright." she said. "I'll do whatever I can to fix everything." Buffy nodded, understanding that the witch meant more than just Spike being able to hit her.

"Thank you." she said, holding the offered hand. Tara nodded and returned her to her seat.

"You don't have to thank me-us." she said. Buffy gave a slight nod before looking at the rug in front of the couch.

"Buffy..." Since they'd talked about Willow and Tara earlier that morning, she'd made a decision about what to do.

She steeled her resolved and faced that three friends that were spread out slightly.

"Willow, Tara, I've got something else to ask you." She looked at her hands, fiddling with them. Giles place da hand on her shoulder and smiled encouragingly.

"You can do this." She nodded.

"I-I want you guys to move out for a while." Willow stared at her, Tara just nodded, as if expecting it. Buffy turned to Tara. "I'd hate for you to leave, but I don't want to keep you from Willow." Giles cleared his throat slightly.

"I-I think it would be b-better if W-Willow and I had s-some t-time apart." she said, stuttering nervously wile looked between the couple and her lover. Willow looked like she was about to cry and Tara's expression hardened.

"You may stay here if you wish, Tara." Giles said, watching both witches.

"What?! This is just to get me out, not both of us!" Willow yelled standing. Xander was out of his chair just as fast. Buffy let got of Giles and stood, her feelings of pain and betrayal evaporating in anger.

"Not everything is about you Willow! I'm doing this for myself, Giles and Dawn. Would you rather the world go to hell or be destroyed when the next big bad comes? Cause, that's what's gonna happen if I don't get back to normal. You're not even trying to help anyone! You're just sulking and trying to get your magic back!"

"What the hel-"

"No!" Dawn yelled, standing between Buffy and Willow, who'd taken a step towards the blond. "I'm still super pissed at you Willow. I'm not gonna hide that anymore. You know you did wrong. What you should be doing to trying to help Buffy and Giles with the demons and stuff instead of complaining."

"I'm not!"

"You are! Whenever they're not around to hear, it's always 'poor me' this and 'mean Giles or Buffy' that. It's annoying!"

"I've gonna agree with Dawn Wilsters." Xander said, standing next to Dawn to block Willow's path even more. "I admit, we haven't been helping them. But I, even ANYA, doesn't complain as much about the consequences of what we've done." Willow's eyes darkened with anger and the room started feeling empty of air. But Willow couldn't draw any magic. Everything magical that Giles did not do, was cut off from her. So, she was somewhat protected from demons, but she had absolutely no access to magic.

"Willow." Tara said disappointedly. "How could you even try that?"

"I-I-"

"I believe it's time for you to leave Willow." Giles said, stepping between Dawn and Xander. The redhead looked at her lover, whose head rose, expression hard and determined. Tara wasn't a meek as they all thought. Through the return of Buffy and Giles, she'd hardened quiet a bit. Willow hung her head and left, Xander right behind her. They four stood in the living room, waiting until they heard the car drive off. Then they sighed and slumped in relief.

"Tara, thank you." Buffy said.

"It's true." the other blond admitted, looking at her feet for a second. "What I'd said. Willow and I do need time alone. And I'd like to help, however I can." She smiled and ruffled Dawn's hair. "Even if it means making funny shaped pancakes." They all laughed.

Giles hesitantly placed a hand on Buffy's hip. She jumped and quickly muttered an apology and forced a yawn for effect. The couple made their way up the stairs. Dawn and Tara stood in the living room.

"Are you gonna be ok?" Dawn asked. Tara smiled.

"Yeah Dawn, I will be." Dawn looked at the ceiling, a worried expression flittering on her face.

"I think somethin' happened to Buffy."

"Like what?" Dawn said she didn't know and preceded to tell Tara about what she'd seen the night before. Tara frowned, but couldn't think of anything.

"I might have just saw Buffy having a bad sec, but I don't think so."

"I think we should just wait before jumping for conclusions." Tara said. Dawn nodded and they headed for bed.

AN: Any ideas? Comments? Please review.