Disclaimer: Don't own 'em - not making any money off 'em. Dern it.
Notes: Sorry about the delay. Been working on planning a new Buffy story and got a bit sidetracked by it.

Chapter 6

Buffy can't keep her hands to herself as they sit down to a much needed meal. She devours her food, keeping her hand on Spike's thigh. He is guilty of the same thing as he sips his blood, except his hand keeps wandering further north.

Buffy pushes his hand down and away from her crotch, but her blush betrays how much she's enjoying the attention.

There are eyes on them, but Buy doesn't let it make her shy. She had wasted so much time where Spike was concerned, but she isn't going to waste anymore of it.

"We have o much stuff to do," she says giddily.

"Are you positive this is what you want? If it's only because you're upset with Rupert –"

Buffy cuts him off with a kiss. "I told you this is what I want. I want to be a slayer and patrol a Hellmouth. I don't trust Giles to not interfere with our relationship and unless he's genuinely sorry, I don't know if I can truly forgive him. This is what I want, so stop questioning me."

Spike smiles. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to check one last time."

They quickly finish their meal and head back to Spike's apartment. Buffy wonders if she'll be able to talk Spike into some fun between the sheets one last time before they need to get down to business. It'll probably take him no effort at all to get him to agree." Her cell phone ringing interrupts her thoughts.

She doesn't look at the caller id as she answers, thinking it's either Will or Dawn. She should have looked at the caller id.

"Buffy?"

Taking a deep breath and then slowly releasing it, telling herself to not lose her temper, she answers, "Hello, Giles."

She ignores Spike's look of concern as he opened the door to the apartment. She walks in first and goes over to the small table, avoiding Spike's eyes.

She glances at the book that lies carelessly on the tabletop as she takes a seat: The Myth of Kokopelli. She furrows her brow. 'I wonder what Kokopelli is. Definitely something to ask Spike.'

She tunes back into the problem at hand when Giles begins talking. "Have you finally seen reason? Are you ready to talk like an adult?"

"Talk like an adult? Funny. That doesn't sound like an apology."

"I have nothing to be sorry for," Giles said, and she heard the Ripperesque quality of his voice.

Spike lays a comforting head on her shoulder, lending her his silent support. She smiles at him gratefully, taking the hand that lays innocuously on her shoulders. She turns it over and peppers a soft kiss to his palm, and then taking a deep breath, she says "You interfered in my personal life, and you had no business doing it. So yes, you do have something to be sorry for."

"It was for your own good," he belligerently implores.

"You don't get to decide what's for my own good, but I do need to thank you for something."

There's silence for a moment, and then he asks, "For what?" Buffy can hear the hesitance in his voice. He's acting as if she's a rattlesnake that's posed to strike.

It pleases her more than it should. "Well, you made me even more certain of my decision. I was going to call Faith first, but I guess I can tell you before I ask her. I'm going to talk to Faith about taking over guarding the Hellmouth there so she can do something she'll enjoy more."

"What about your duties here?"

Buffy swallows. "I'm a slayer, and if I guard a Hellmouth, I'm still following my duties. Before, I was too lost in my grief to say what I wanted, but I'm not anymore."

"Spike's making you do this, isn't he? Can't you see he's trying to control you? Are you that stupid?"

Spike growls, and she's about ready to follow her lover's example. She stands up and presses a kiss against Spike's neck, sighing contently when his arms come around her. She always feels safe when he holds her, and right now, she dives into the offered security.

When she has her anger somewhat under control, she says in a steely voice, "The only one trying to control me is you. I never thought it would happen, but you've become just like the old council. Before I know it, you'll be reinstating the Cruciamentum." She knows he wouldn't go that far, but she wants to hurt him as well as caution him so he doesn't go down the path he's heading.

"I would never do that! Just because I don't want you to associate with that monster -"

"Stop it!" she yells over the phone, his insult to Spike crumbling her composure. "You don't seem to understand that you don't have a say. You're not my father, not my brother, and you're not even my watcher anymore. You're my boss. And most bosses don't get involved in their employee's personal lives. I'm with Spike, and I'm going to be with him. No one is going to interfere with us this time. And newsflash. I didn't want to train a bunch of slayers to begin with. I did it because I was too heartbroken to care enough to voice my objections. Spike and I talked it over. He was okay with going to England, as long as he could be with me and still get some violence in. I'm the one who chose Cleveland because I think it will make me happy. All he cares about is me and doing what is best for me. Cleveland is what we decided together."

"I won't pay you then."

Buffy clenches the fist that isn't holding the phone.

"We'll make it work, love," Spike says soothingly.

She looks at Spike and knows he's right. She wouldn't accept his help financially at one time, but she no longer has the same issue with it. "Fine. Keep your money, but we're still going to Cleveland. And you should know that you sounded exactly like the old council just then. 'Do it my way or you get nothing.' You should be proud of yourself," she finishes sarcastically.

"Buffy, talk -"

"I'm done talking," Buffy interrupts. "You made your stance very clear to me, and I can see you're not going to change your my mind when it comes to my relationship. I need Spike like I need to breathe, and I'm not afraid of admitting that any longer. So, unless you accept Spike's place in my life, you..." She hesitates. Despite everything, she really hates to hit the last nail in the coffin, but she has to. She can't let anyone who will try to take Spike away from her be a part of her life. "If you can't accept Spike's place in my life, you won't be a part of my life."

"Buffy!" he gasps and she knows he's surprised by how far she'll go.

"I'm sorry, Giles. I love you, but I love Spike more. I know what it's like to be without him, and I never want to feel that type of pain again. Goodbye." She takes the phone away from her ear and flips it close, saying goodbye to that part of her life.

"Buffy?"

Spike's quiet question takes Buffy's attention away from her silent phone. "I'm okay," she whispers.

"You didn't have to do that. I could have dealt with his disapproval. It wouldn't have chased me away."

She reaches out and cups his cheek. "You shouldn't have to deal with it, though. And either should I. People who care about me should accept us if I'm happy. And I don't want to have to constantly defend us to those who don't accept it. And I wouldn't be surprised if he came at you from behind with a stake to eliminate the problem of our relationship."

"I wouldn't be surprised either," he mutters, and she knows he's remembering Giles teaming up with Robin.

"I hope he'll come to accept us, but if he doesn't, then I don't want him in my life. I'm not going to give him the opportunity to hurt you."

"He could still find a way to get rid of me," Spike points out.

"I know, but it will be harder if he doesn't have an all access pass to you. And I know you can take care of yourself if something were to happen in Cleveland."

"Of course I can," he reassures her, and she cracks a smile.

They leisurely kiss, and she hums her disappointment when he pulls away.

"Do you want to take a break before you call Faith?"

Buffy looks at her phone, and then looks at Spike. "Definitely." They make themselves comfortable on the bed, Buffy's head resting on his chest and Spike's arms around her, and then they drift off to dreamland.