This really could have been edited into chap. 3 so, as consolation, I'm offering up chapter 5 too :)

Thanks for all the posts and adds! It's giving me a big happy! I promise the rest of Sunnydale with come out to play, it's the chapters I'm working on cleaning up and hoping to post at the end of the week.

Enjoy:

4.

Daniel lifted another chip, munching on it slowly, washing it down with the middle of his third beer. His stomach was full. His plate had been emptied, chips used to scoop the end of the rice and beans and ect. that had spilled out of the chimi-chonga and now he was out of that too.

The restaurant retained near-full capacity thru out the night, it now a good two hours later, and all was right with his world. Rupert was recounting the end of Bailey Smith, a rather officious man who had liked chasing Daniel out of rooms in the British Museum for any slight, and with particular zest when the correct paperwork had not been signed, stamped, and notarized.

Daniel was delighted to hear of how the man was tossed out 'arse first', and Rupert told a rather good story. Daniel joined in with a laugh at the end, remembering Camille as well, and overly happy on her behalf that Bailey ended with such an egregious egress…

Their waiter returned, nodding happily to both, "Do you want dessert tonight?"

Rupert shook his head, "No but I'll have the usual order to go."

Bert nodded, turning to Daniel. Daniel shook his head, "I'm finished. Thank you."

Bert nodded, taking his leave.

"How often do you come here?" Daniel asked.

Rupert's expression fell, "Not as often as of late, but I used to come here a couple of times a week."

"What changed?" Daniel asked, leaning back in his chair.

Rupert tilted his head, "The company" lifting his own beer to take a draw.

Daniel considered this, "Am I filling in for someone?"

Rupert barked out a loud laugh, his laugh erupting and filling the air around them. "I suppose you are" he shared after the laugh passed. Daniel leaned forward, curious.

"I was seeing someone" Rupert admitted, "but she recently discovered she didn't particularly agree with my past. I'm on, what the children are referring to, as 'a break'."

Daniel took this in, nodding sagely himself, feeling full of food and beer and camaraderie.

"What happened?" Daniel asked.

Rupert shifted, "I had a few old friends look me up. It was a part of my past I had hoped to leave behind, but the past is a curious thing, and it will have its pound of flesh for any deed left undone" he finished a bit bitterly.

Daniel nodded along with the words, realizing he needed context. "Friends from England, I assume?"

Rupert nodded. "The children have forgiven me, which is more than I can ask for, and matters more than Jenny, but, still-"

"You miss her?" Daniel offered. He understood missing a companion in one's bed. He still woke with Shau'ri's name unspoken, lodged in his throat.

"Quite" Rupert agreed.

"You keep saying children…" Daniel hung out, hoping his friend would elaborate, and save him the embarrassment of trying to ask.

"Yes; Students who I have become particularly fond of… and none of them children, really, when one takes a moment to consider…"

Daniel loosened, relieved he had not missed or forgotten some familial tie he should be aware of. "So you like teaching, then? It's agreeing with you?"

Rupert considered Daniel, considered the question before answering, "I don't really hold class, but, yes. I do. I have, … I feel, I have found a place for myself here."

In Daniel's mind, it clicked; Giles' named what was different from what Daniel had recalled of Rupert in London: he had found his place -In a small town, virtually unknown up the 101 north of LA, in a high school library, Giles had found his place.

Daniel smiled, wondering why it was here Giles had come to find himself here; Daniel daren't share how he'd found his own place where he had: that was classified. Instead Daniel settled for "I understand."

Rupert's eyes turned sharp, bright, assessing, and Daniel felt they were capable of scanning his mind and soul, "Yes, I believe you do."

Rupert's grin turned up higher, nearly predatory, "You wrapped away in things too classified to tell me and I, here, living as an American Gothic."

Daniel smiled along, and nodded, and felt happy. This was his best vacation to date.