g120- yeah, one more part of Crush and voila here it is. hehe

Zigpal- thanks for review and clappyness and well, this episode is pretty much all about the post-band candy 2 occurences. And re the buffy-partner sitch, well, I will tell you now I'm a Spuffy fan, but right now I think B's in a 'be alone with Buffy' time but we shalt see...hehe.

"I do," Grace complained, holding her head. She and Edward were on complete opposite sides of the room and weren't looking at each other once. Plus, Michael wasn't letting go of Grace's hand; perhaps subconsciously afraid she was going to go running off to the elderly Englishman.

"Well, we did have a lot of that cake didn't we?" Jac checked with them all, fully knowing the story being fed was a cover story. Buffy and the others had explained to her, her husband, her Dad and brother (who had many a story he didn't want to tell when he finally arrived back) what had really happened with the leftover band candy. "I mean, all that sugar and alcohol can send one rather…well rather crazy I suppose"

"I guess…" Peter reasoned, "But I wish I knew how I got this bruise on my face," He said rubbing his sore cheek and Giles, his family and the Scoobies all looked away nervously, some clearing their throats to stop themselves from laughing at the perplexed expression on Peter's face.

"Well, we'd better get back to our hotel," Grace announced, "I know I'm exhausted…and sleeping over here on random pieces of furniture didn't do me any good, I know that much"

On her word the rest of the Taylors also rose in silent agreement.

"Yes, well I suppose we had better make tracks," Mike agreed, heading over to give his youngest daughter a kiss on the cheek, "I guess we'll be seeing you at the wedding then…but hopefully some time in between?" He asked, "I miss seeing you all the time like when you were younger"

"Yes, sweetie," Grace agreed, "It's bad enough Arlene is all the way in Illinois, but…with us in Idaho now and you still here in California…it seems all so damned far away from each other"

"Well, there are a lot of last minute things to do about the wedding…" Joyce reasoned, "But you can always help with that you know…I mean I know Arlene wants final check on all the dresses so…"

As Joyce and her daughters went to say bye to the rest of their family, Grace headed over to Giles, scrutinising him carefully.

"You realize how ridiculous I still feel this all is?" Grace asked him.

"What do you mean?"

"Both of you…. middle-aged and acting like you're both getting married at twenty"

"Well, uh-"

"The point is…. whatever it was that made us all act the way we did- I have a feeling it was all that wine for me…" Grace told him, not letting him finish, "It funnily enough made me remember feeling young again…even though I'm so clearly not. And if you can make my daughter feel that way all the time…which from the way she acts around you…. you evidently can, then, well…." She looked at him directly, making unavoidable eye contact, "Then I don't have a problem with that"

"So, you explained why what happened, happened," Brian said finally, "But you haven't quite explained how yet Rupert"

"Erm… you know it was because of the cake…well," Joyce answered instead, "The band candy got accidentally baked into the cake"

"And the 'band candy' is...?" Jac asked.

"It was something that happened…when I was in my senior year of High School," Buffy explained, "We were told to sell the candy to our parents to support the band…. and well, eating it turned the adults into teenagers"

"Like what happened to us…" Edward surmised and Buffy nodded.

"Exactly! Except well…there was no evil plan behind it…" She looked to Giles, "Was there?" He shook his head and she made a mental note to ask about that fact later, "No, there wasn't"

"Well, I could definitely do without it happening again," Jac concluded, giving her husband a pointed look for his antics with Joyce's sister. Harvey immediately turned red with comic embarrassment, before going to defend himself.

"What? It wasn't me!" He argued, "It was the effects of the candy! It had absolutely nothing to do with me"

There and then Joyce and Giles both silently decided never to tell them how the two of them had ended up together.

"Hmmm…" Jac said, sounding unconvinced but a smile was playing at her lips as she pushed Ted and Harvey in front of, signalling for them to start heading to the front door. "Just start walking." She turned to Joyce and Giles, "Well, thanks for erm…having us, despite the less than favorable circumstances." Awkwardly, she gave Joyce a quick and polite hug, before looking at Giles, "It's been nice seeing you again, really, Rupert. Although your teenage self left a lot to be desired,"

"Yes, well," Giles, said in embarrassment, straightening his glasses as a form of distraction and his sister smiled at him.

"Well, see you soon then," She told him, giving him a hug that was a lot less awkward than the one with Joyce.

"Joyce," Brian said simply with a little nod, before turning to his brother who to say looked unimpressed with him was an understatement. Despite the fact that Giles was the youngest sibling, Brian knew it was one thing his little brother had always been excellent and the best at- the look of disapproval. And it was that look that he was getting now. No doubt to do with what he had said about Joyce yesterday in the kitchen. "Rupert," He said simply as he knew there would be more than likely no manly handshake or a hug like Jacqueline had given him. And with that he left also, leaving behind only their Dad.

"Well, things haven't exactly gone according to plan have they?" Edward said to his son, "Everything went rather to hell, I should think, don't you?"

"Yes, well, that's one of the more unpredictable aspects of living on a Hellmouth," Giles replied smoothly.

"Yes, quite," Edward agreed, before looking at Joyce, "You remained rather level headed in such a crisis though," He told her, "That is, until you became as bad as the rest of us,"

"Yeah, I kept my cool…" Joyce agreed, "But still- I don't think it'd be asking too much when I ask you to stay away from my Mother from now on would it?"

"What?" Edward was thrown off by the reminder of his actions under the influence of the cake, "No, no, of course not. Perfectly right to ask, I suppose. I- well, erm…well."

"No more candy bars are left in the fridge." Dawn concluded as she closed the fridge door, "At all. All gone."

"As is any remains of that cake," Buffy added, "So," She said, turning to Giles, "What made you so sure before that Ethan didn't have a bigger plan behind this?"

"For the same reason you know it was Ethan behind it," He replied and Buffy frowned.

"You remembered seeing him putting it in the fridge?"

"Well, yes…no…I mean, he just put three bars in there?" He checked, "Casually sneaked them in?"

"Pretty much," Buffy confirmed.

"Well, it's quite simple really. Ethan was doing what he does best- no master plan, just doing it simply because he knew it would create absolute chaos."

"And it did," Joyce concluded, "Like really did"

"I suppose that thought amuses him…" Giles said thoughtfully, "Can't imagine why"

His facial expression revealed he was being sarcastic.

"Well," Buffy said, "I'd be sincerely glad if he didn't do anything like that again. Ever. I can't handle you two being teened up." She told the couple, "Last time it wigged me out and this time…it just drove me crazy." They looked at her in genuine surprise and she eagerly elaborated, "Arguing, kissing, arguing, kissing, arguing, groping, arguing, kissing, arguing, kissing- should I carry on?"

"Actually-I beg you to stop," Giles told her.

"Well, it sounds just like you were as a teenager Buffy," Joyce commented, "At least from what I saw and what you and the others have told me about Angel."

"That's different, he was-"

"A vampire," Joyce finished with a roll of the eyes, "I know. But it's a nice feeling of…payback to have a shoe on the other foot scenario"

Buffy was about to reply when the phone rang and she rushed off to get it before Dawn could. Last time Dawn had answered the phone it had been one of Buffy's college professors…Dawn hadn't known and had at first assumed it was a call center and had said things that had forced Buffy to buy her professor muffin basket after muffin basket in apology.

"I have to say though," Joyce said to Giles once her daughters had left the room, "I did enjoy having all the attention you paid me…"

Giles instantly knew what she was getting at.

"I know we haven't been…. well, seeing much of each other of late what with-"

"Glory and everything- I know, I know." She finished, "I do understand though…it's just…I kinda…well…" He kissed her and words were forgotten and as he pulled away she smiled, "More things like that," She encouraged him, both of them knowing they were going to make up for their lack of 'attention' tonight as they made with the intense smoochies, wrapping their arms around one another.

That is until Buffy walked back into the room, the phone in her hand and all plans flew out the window.

"Giles." She said simply, but there was no response. The couple carried on kissing and Buffy rolled her eyes, "Giles!"

At that the two did actually break apart.

"'Bout time," Buffy complained, holding the phone out to him, "It's Anya. You're needed at the store. Some customer thing. I don't know"

As he reluctantly took the phone off her he looked at Joyce apologetically.

"Rain check?" He asked and she sighed in resignation, trying to keep a smile on her face.

"It seems to be what we do best lately," She replied before heading out of the kitchen and Giles put the phone to his ear while Buffy just stood there looking puzzled.

Later on, after the Gileses had long since left the house and Buffy was out with her friends, Giles was at the Magic Box and Dawn was in bed, Joyce sat out on the back porch alone, for a breath of fresh air. There was a rustling in the bushes and Joyce turned to see Spike heading over to her, most likely coming to the house to pester Buffy some more. There was no malice anymore now and it always seemed more like playful banter.

"Joyce," He greeted her simply as he took in the fact she was back to wearing one of her thin, simple, yet prettily designed bateau neckline jumpers and trousers. Also the fact that she wasn't chewing gum. "Back to normal, I see"

"Very funny," She told him, sounding extremely unamused by the mention of it all.

"Well I thought it was," He admitted as he took a seat beside her, "You two…." He started laughing, "You two sneaking out behind Buffy's back." He laughed even more and she looked even less amused as she thought on the events. The first time she'd been affected by the band candy but for it to sneak up on her again? She was just utterly and completely ashamed and embarrassed. Of course, there was the upside that it had humbled some members of Giles' family.

"And let's not forget…" Spike added, "You were checking me out"

"I was not checking you out!" Joyce immediately protested.

"Oh that's why you were giving me the eye then?" Spike challenged and Joyce sighed.

"I was thinking like a teenager okay? And I was just…." She struggled for a term to use that would sum it up, "appreciating what was there"

"I'll bet," He said knowingly but Joyce once again looked very unamused at being reminded of the events.

"Oh come on luv, you've gotta find it a little bit funny," Spike appealed, looking back at the house briefly, hoping that Buffy was going to come outside soon. Seeing him being amiable and chatting with her Mom might even give him an edge after all.

"I didn't find it funny the first time…so why should now be any different?" Joyce challenged evenly but Spike just looked surprised and confused.

"First time?" He asked, "This wasn't-" As he asked this he immediately saw the look of regret on her face- she hadn't known that he didn't know. Huh.

Joyce automatically went to get up and leave, intending to head back into the house without saying another word, but he tugged her back down insistently.

"Oh no, you can't say and not explain. Can't leave a guy hangin'. What happened the first time?"

"Nothing…. much…" She told him, but he looked unconvinced as he looked at her expectantly with a raised eyebrow, knowing there was more to be said, "Well…that time…every adult in Sunnydale…. reverted to their teenaged selves," She told him, "It was madness really."

"Yeah?" Spike checked and she nodded, but he still looked unhappy about how little she'd said, "But I wanna know about how you and the Watcher were specifically"

"Spike…" Joyce said, sounding very reluctant, but he just looked at her silently, not letting her get away with it and she sighed in resignation, "Fine. Well…the band candy…was erm…well; it was how Rupert and I met. In a 'meeting' kind of way…you know-"

"Ah…." Spike nodded in understanding, "A teenage kiss lingered into adulthood?" He filled in knowingly, but Joyce seemed uncomfortable as though he hadn't got his facts quite right but she didn't want to tell him this. More fool her, "What? What is it?" He scrutinised her, "More than a teenage kiss?"

"Buffy would kill me if I told you…and then I'd have to kill myself," Joyce told him, but Spike's curiosity had been peaked and he wasn't letting her get away with that easily.

"No…what did you do? Rob a store together?" He asked jokingly.

"Well…erm yes…." Joyce admitted, causing Spike to emit a short sound of amused surprise, "It was for a coat," She explained, "For me. I wanted the coat…and he got it for me"

"Jeez, sentimental even as a frickin' teenager," Spike shook his head before looking at Joyce again, "Did he get caught by the coppers though?"

"Mm-hmm…" She nodded, smiling at the memory now rather than cringing in embarrassment, "But he erm…well, he didn't fancy getting taken to Sunnydale Jail to put it lightly and he…uh, he knocked the policeman out." She laughed a little as she thought of the way her teenaged self had watched the entire thing eagerly, "I shouldn't laugh but…"

"No, you should." Spike encouraged her, a wide grin on his face, "So anything else happen after that? Or did Buffy turn up to ruin your fun again?"

"No…well, let's just say it involved the police car hood…. and handcuffs" She refused to say anymore that and Spike sat there, frowning in thought as he puzzled out what she'd just said. Then his eyes became wide in surprise as he looked at Joyce again, "You didn't."

"Erm…yeah…we did," Joyce admitted sounding nervously embarrassed once again. Why did she admit to so much? If she had to, she would guess it was because Spike just always seemed like an easy person to talk to. It was so easy to forget he was a vampire. Or that he didn't have a soul. But what part did that play in any of it? He'd helped them out just as many times as Angel had. And he hadn't tried to kill her…like Angel had. So what did having a soul really mean anyway? If anything? "Twice," She added and Spike's eyes got wider if that was at all possible, "And then Buffy came along and ruined our fun"

"Twice…on a…with…" Spike laughed in disbelief, "Bloody hell…you kinky pair," He laughed some more, "I never knew Giles had it in him." He paused. "Got to know his teenage self a lot more last night though"

"Yeah, I heard from a horrified Xander that you two had been getting on for once," She said to him and Spike nodded in agreement.

"Yeah uh 'Ripper'- definitely my type of guy."

"I don't doubt it," Joyce agreed as she briefly thought over the similarities between Spike and Ripper.

"He's come far since then hasn't he?" Spike asked, thinking of how Giles had gone from upper-class child to a very rebellious (and apparently eventually very dangerous) teen…up to his mid twenties…and then made it all the way back to being the good guy again. Spike could relate to it all…and shockingly found himself able to empathize with the Watcher. Spike had been the upper class stuttering librarian type centuries ago and now he was at a pretty badass stage- having been the Big Bad and all…but like Giles, could Spike make it back to being a good guy? He would always be a vampire…so could he be a good person? Was there as much hope for him as there had been for Giles?

"More than you know…" Joyce agreed.

"Yeah," Spike sat there in silent contemplation a moment with Joyce. "I think I may even start laying off him a bit. Stop being the thorn in his side you know?"

"I don't think you ever will, or will ever want to, stop being a thorn to him, but I appreciate your promise to try"

"Yeah, I will…" Spike said, more to himself than anyone.

It was much later on than that when Buffy still wasn't home, probably out patrolling or at the Bronze- she had talked about seeing the intern from the hospital, Ben, not too long ago, having thanked him from looking after Dawn not too long ago and Joyce believed the two of them had the potential of becoming an item. Buffy was at least showing interest, if the way she talked about him was anything to go by. Well, Buffy wasn't home and Dawn was still in bed when Giles arrived home from the store.

She was in the kitchen, her back to the door to the dining room, when he walked in. She heard his steps and turned to look at him, smiling almost involuntarily. As they met in the room they kissed warmly, before pausing just to hold each other, her cheek resting against his. And then just as they seemed to rest into one another they pulled apart to look at each other again, both feeling how incredibly long it felt since they'd had a night together. One night where they didn't worry about the fate of the world.

Her arms went around his neck; his left hand was on her waist behind her back, the other brushing across her neck, her cheek and her hair. Then they slowly pulled apart as they led each other out of the kitchen and slowly and quietly up the stairs up to their bedroom.

Seemingly silently, there was the fluid sequence of clothes coming off before the two of them were naked in bed.

All responsible thoughts were forgotten for the second time as he held himself just above her and moved his chest slowly against her belly and across her breasts. He did this again and again, as he kissed her lips or ears or ran his tongue along her neck.

Responsibility lay behind in the top drawer of the bedside table, but it was a distant reminder, far, far away from them. They would make love for an hour, maybe more, before he rested beside her and while his arm rested around her, her palms rested on his hands peacefully.

The next morning Joyce woke up calmly…which soon morphed into slight panic. They hadn't used any protection last night…and she wasn't on the pill. She couldn't be on it- she'd tried once, but had soon been informed by her doctors as well as finding out first hand, that she was allergic to some of the components. Just great.

And now- crap. Why had they forgotten? They never had before now. But they'd been so lost in the moment…curse those damn moments. Too worried to relax in bed any longer, she climbed out from underneath the cupboards, Giles remaining sleeping, and she headed into the bathroom.

Well, she didn't feel sick. But then again she didn't straight away when she was pregnant with Buffy. But she'd been twenty years younger then…easier to get pregnant. Now, there wasn't really much chance was there? And just because of one night? No, she was being ridiculous. She'd always had a talent for being calm about the big things, and panicking over the ridiculously small. And that was exactly what she was doing. Panicking over a non-existent problem.

She was due this week and when she started, it would just prove how stupid her fears were. Of course…she could just go to the pharmacy for the morning after pill. But wasn't that a form of abortion…if she was pregnant that is. Which she wasn't. Wasn't, wasn't, wasn't. She was just being silly.

What she needed to do was get dressed and go to work. Focus on other things.

When Buffy came home ranting about her recent Spike revelation, Joyce wasn't really listening. She nodded and hmmed concernedly in all the right parts, but her mind was decidedly elsewhere.

"Mom?" Buffy questioned, "Are you listening to me?"

Joyce didn't answer, a stare on her face only proved to both Willow and Buffy that she wasn't.

"Joyce?" Willow prompted, sounding concerned.

"Hmm?" Joyce looked up at them both blankly before closing her eyes and shaking her head as if to clear it, "Sorry I was…I was just thinking. Erm," She looked at Buffy, "Did he actually tell you? Spike, I mean, did he actually say the words 'I love you'?"

"No…" Buffy admitted, "I didn't let him get that far…but I could see the words coming"

"Honey did you…" Joyce searched around for an appropriate way to phrase her question, "did you somehow, unintentionally, lead him on in anyway? Send him signals?"

Buffy suddenly looked uncertain, as she seemed to mentally go over all recent encounters with Spike.

"Well, I do beat him up a lot," She reasoned, "For Spike that's like third base."

"Scarily true," Willow agreed.

"In that case," Joyce said carefully, thinking things over, frankly glad to be able to think about something else, "I think maybe you should go talk to him?"

"What? Mom!"

"You need to talk things through, clear things up for Spike…kindly…and then maybe all this won't seem so dramatic"

"Mom! I can't believe you even think this situation can be a reasonable one,"

"Buffy," Joyce said simply, "Sit down."

Buffy did so.

"Now, I'm not kidding myself- I know Spike's a vampire and that in anybody's books that should officially strike him off the dating list," Joyce told her, "But that didn't stop you dating Angel did it?"

"Mom you can't possibly be comparing Spike to Angel!"

"Maybe I am…what am I saying is…although you may not be interested in Spike that way…what he's feeling is not that far-fetched"

"Yes it is," Buffy, argued, "He has no soul"

"So?" Joyce countered, "He's saved our lives as many times as Angel did and Spike hasn't tried to kill me."

"But Spike is still the bad guy, as he keeps reminding us time and time again"

"Yeah, well, sometimes bad guys get better," Joyce said knowingly, "And Spike is trying to change. Trying to change for you no less. I just don't think it would hurt for you to at least talk to him instead of storming over there, guns blazing"

"Fine," Buffy sighed, "I'll go. I'll go do the talking thing," Buffy stood up to look down at her Mom on the sofa, "But if this goes wrong I'm fully blaming you"

Joyce stood up also, and put both hands on Buffy's shoulders so her daughter was now facing the front door.

"Fine, I accept that. Now go."

Once Buffy was out the door, Joyce noticed that Willow was squinting at her.

"What's the matter?" She asked.

"I don't know…" Willow answered honestly, "You're just all…glowy"

"I am not glowy!"

Willow jumped back slightly at the snap in Joyce's tone of voice.

"Yeah, great plan Mom!" Buffy shouted as she stormed back into her house, "talking to him went great"

"What? Honey, what happened?" Joyce got up from her seat on the sofa next to Giles to walk over to her daughter.

"Spike and his crazy ex Drusilla electrocuted me and chained me to a wall that's what happened. And then Harmony came along for the ride!"

"Oh dear," Joyce said simply, having nothing else to say as she realized how horribly wrong everything had gone.

"He then tried to make some big show of how he would stake Dru for me and then showed how thoroughly this is an obsession, not love, by monologing to me while I was still chained to the wall!"

And on that note, Buffy stormed off up the stairs and Joyce half ran after her.

"Is there something wrong with me if I find that all very passionate and romantic?" she called up the stairs.

Buffy didn't answer, but Giles did.

"Yes,"

"You know I can't invite you in," Joyce said, as she stepped out into her back garden, spotting Spike hovering in the bushes, "Buffy would never forgive me"

Hiding space found, Spike stepped out into the open and walked over to where Joyce was stood.

"I really bollocksed everything up,"

"Yeah, you did," Joyce agreed, "From what I've heard anyway." She paused, "But everyone makes mistakes"

"Not like this I don't think," Spike countered, shaking his head in disbelief at his own actions.

"You know it could never have worked anyway, don't you Spike?"

"I guess," He grudgingly admitted.

"But I did talk Buffy into giving you the benefit of the doubt. To talk to you instead of beating you senseless"

Spike looked at her in surprise but then groaned in depression.

"Then I really buggered things up didn't I? Bloody hell."

There was nothing more to say to him right now. Her heart went out to him, he looked so lost, but he needed to sort this all out on his own. So, as he stood there in the garden, thinking it all, wondering to himself how he let everything go so horribly wrong, she gave him a slight smile goodnight and headed off in the direction of the house.

"You're not the only one," She murmured to herself.

Oh yeah baby, another little story arc beginning. Or two really if you think about it. So would really appreciate feedback more than usual this time. Because, well, I know exactly where I'm going with this storyline (I think...haha) but I wanna see what you guys think of everything first.

Also, my internet browser is playing up lately so my updates may be a little all over the place, but hopefully it'll be sorted out soon.