Buffy spent the night in her dorm room. It felt like it had been ages since she'd been back there. She hadn't thought about school since Angel showed up and she had no idea how she was going to get through school when she could hardly manage her own life. She hardly slept, too busy worrying about everything to fall asleep.

Morning came and she considered going to class. But it was college. She didn't have to go to college the way she had to go to high school. There wasn't a truancy board to deal with and it wasn't like any other slayers had ever gone to college. It was disappointing, but it would make things infinity easier if she dropped out. She wasn't going to her classes anyway and she got the feeling that would continue to happen. The only problem was, if she dropped out, she'd have to start paying off the loans she took out to go to school in the first place. She'd have to get a job which she absolutely would have to go to. At least there wouldn't be any studying or homework. A job certainly seemed like the better option for Buffy.

Her mother would be disappointed, but... oh god her mother. Her mother had sex with Giles. Again! Giles was under a love spell. Her mother didn't know that. She needed to talk to Giles about Angel the way she should have days ago, but she did not want to talk about the night before. Not that Giles knew that she knew where he'd been, but he would likely ask why everyone had suddenly lost their minds.

With a sigh, she climbed out of bed and got dressed. She decided it was best to take care of it now before she couldn't think about any more. But what if Giles wasn't home? What he was still... at her house... in her mother's bed? Oh god. She crossed her fingers he'd gone home and left campus.

She considered herself lucky as Giles opened the front door. He looked tired, but at least he was dressed. He'd been expecting her most likely.

He offered her a cup of tea, but she cut him off in nervous excitement. "I need to tell you something."

"Alright," he said bemused by her outburst.

They sat down in the living room for Buffy to explain. "I haven't been having the nightmares anymore. Neither has Spike. I know I should have come to you right away, but everything was confusing and complicated, because... Angel is back."

She waited for Giles to react. He simply stared at her.

"He came back and he found me... with Spike. And they fought and there was this whole big argument and I'm still pretty sure Angel is just jealous and he doesn't seem to know anything about how he got back, but no more nightmares so that's one problem solved..."

Buffy sat quietly waiting for the explosion she was doomed to witness. She stared down at her clasped hands as Giles's eyes stared holes into her forehead. She was about to ask him to please just say something when he finally spoke.

"How could you Buffy?" He said calmly. "Not only didn't you trust me to tell me that Angel had returned, you kept your relationship with Spike from me. I don't expect you to come running to me to make an announcement about every boy you date, but this is Spike. Spike is dangerous and while I don't approve, I would not have judge or argued. The both of you have shared a lot and feelings such as these are to be expected.

"Of course," Giles continued calmly still. "Then I hear from Xander that Spike's chip has been removed. Exactly when did this happen?"

Buffy felt sick with guilt and could hardly convince herself to admit what she knew. "Angelus had it removed. It was one of the first things he did when he got here."

Giles nodded and took his time finishing his tea, not looking at Buffy. Finally, his anger got the better of him and he set the cup down. "How could do something so irresponsible?" He shouted. "You didn't think to tell me Spike could walk in here any time he likes and tear all of our throats out? Didn't you think I had a right to know there was a very dangerous, very feral vampire, sitting on my sofa? He could kill someone! It is your duty as the slayer to put an end to vampires like him yet instead of staking the bloody menace, you're busy taking him to bed! I have never heard anything more inane."

"You had sex with my mother!" Buffy blurted out and quickly covered her mouth.

"What- Well I- yes. Yes I did," Giles said blushing and nervously cleaning his glasses.

"And you were under a love spell like all the other men in town which I took care of, actually Anya did, and Willow did all the research, but the point is what the hell are you gonna tell her?"

Giles hesitated to speak. "Buffy I... I do like your mother very much. I wasn't aware of the love spell until it had worn off and after I realized... I was still very much where I wanted to be. I don't intend to tell her anything about the spell unless you think that I should. As a matter of fact, we have a date this weekend."

Buffy bit her lip. "I just think it might hurt her if she thought you only wanted her because of the spell."

"I understand. But should she find out about the spell, it would hurt her that we both lied to her. I will leave that decision up to you."

Buffy nodded. "I'm sorry I kept everything from you."

"I understand. Are you certain Angel has his soul this time around?"

"I'm certain."

"And Spike... He hasn't been killing?"

"Not a single living soul," Buffy said confidently.

"That's good then. Though I did wish he still had the chip to contain him."

"I don't."

Giles looked surprised at her.

"The chip didn't just stop him from hurting people, it stopped him from defending himself. He could have been seriously hurt, he was seriously hurt. It was wrong, like putting him in a muzzle. You can't beat evil by doing evil. He can be a good man, I know it."

"Except he isn't a man, Buffy. He's a vampire. It's in his nature to be evil. To do evil. That is what he is."

"Maybe it's vampire nature, but Spike's not like them. He never was. He was never as savage as Angelus or Drusilla or Darla. He killed for food and for revenge, but he can put that behind him."

"He's killed slayers. What was that for?"

"The same reason I like killing vampires. They kill people and I feel powerful when I'm better than them. Spike can feel better too. He can kill monsters and feel stronger for saving people."

"I just hope you're right."

"I'm more certain of it every time someone says that to me."


Buffy enjoyed the familiarity of walking through the dark cemetery, stake in hand. It was quiet, but it was just after sunset and the new vampires hadn't risen yet. She walked until she spotted a fresh grave. She stopped and considered it. Vampire or fully dead corpse? She sat on the headstone across from it to wait.

She heard the faint crunch of grass behind her and rolled her eyes. "You didn't exactly graduate from stealth academy did ya?"

"They tossed me out. Said my forehead wasn't big enough," Spike joked.

"At least I know how to tie my own shoes," Angel said.

"Hey! I was completely pissed last night. And it wouldn't have killed you to help me out!"

"Guys," Buffy interrupted, standing up and turning around to look at them. "I'm trying to patrol. You're going to scare away all the vampires."

They both just stared at her.

"I mean the other vampires."

"Angel started it," Spike huffed. Angel rolled his eyes.

"We came to help you out."

"And to make sure your mum is okay. I know you ran off last night to check on her."

"She's fine," Buffy said quickly trying anything not to think of it further.

"That's good then," Spike said.

Buffy turned around to look at the fresh grave behind her.

"You're just gonna stare at the dirt then?" Spike asked.

"Yep," Buffy confirmed.

"There's nothing down there," Angel said.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Great. On to the next one I guess."

Buffy walked away with her vampire guardians in behind her. She stopped when she came to a grave covered in fresh flowers.

"Not this one either," Angel said.

"Maybe you should lead the way since nothing is planning on jumping out at us?" Buffy suggested.

Angel nodded, his expression saying that something was very off with him. Buffy looked questioningly at Spike. The blond shrugged and followed behind his sire with Buffy at his side.

Angel stopped a few minutes later, he didn't point out a fresh grave containing a new born vampire but rather toward the top of crypt beside them. Sure enough, two vampires jumped down from the roof to land in front of them.

Spike had tackled the first before his feet ever hit the ground. Buffy round housed the second into the wall of the small crypt. Angel hardly noticed the fight. He could feel a presence nearby and there was a scent in the air. One that didn't belong in Sunnydale.

His eyes scanned the edge of the forest until he spotted what he was looking for. Long black dress, delicate brown curls, and glittering eyes. She hadn't worn her hair like that in a century. Her sire had made certain she knew the importance of blending in with the times. She seemed to have forgotten or perhaps she was too insane to care without Angelus there to remind her. Whatever the case, Drusilla stood at the edge of the woods, watching her sire with an insane smile.

Angel looked back at Spike. He was smiling, positively gleeful to be back at the hunt. He was completely unaware the love of his unlife was standing mere yards away. He should have sensed her as quickly as Angel. He should have recognized her scent. Angel shook his head sadly, wanting the best for his childe, but wishing he hadn't let Buffy weaken him this way.

He walked away from the pair, seeing they had everything under control. Drusilla waited for him in the shadows.