Rupert Giles approached the Bronze with Xander and Angel behind. He was ignoring them as best he could, but they would not heed his warnings. A two hundred fifty year old being should know better. Xander would no doubt be making a scene with or without their vampire escort.

The regular bouncer stood at the door with two large Corvanth demons behind him. They looked human, but had the ability to run an electric charge along their skin. Giles watched as the bouncer turned away a group of teenagers.

"Sorry, the club is closed for a private party." The bouncer smiled at them. "If you are not on the list you are not going in."

"I believe I am on the list. My name is Rupert Giles."

"Yep, you can head on in. Enjoy your night." The bouncer smiled and opened the door. His hand dropped in front of Angel. "What's your name?"

"Angel."

"Sorry." The door closed on the vampire's outrage, and Giles couldn't help but smile. He took a deep breath and took in his surroundings.

There were several types of demons dancing. An obviously demonic band was playing a song with a wildly syncopated beat. He scanned the room and found Buffy playing pool, twirling her stick and grinning at a disgruntled shifter.

He moved toward her, but Willow grabbed his arm. He looked down at the red headed witch and raised a brow.

"You can't interrupt them. Buffy's building a coalition of mostly benign mystical creatures to put an end to the commandos." Willow towed him to a table. "Spike and Oz have her back."

"Hi, Giles." Anya plopped down next to him. "Buffy sure throws a great party. Are you having fun?"

"Why are you here, Anya?" Giles studied the room.

"I speak a lot of demon languages. Buffy asked me to come help. She's a dab hand at negotiating, but she needed some guidance on certain demonic social conventions." Anya grinned. "It's been a hoot."

"The three largest covens will be here later." Willow smiled. "She's gonna try to find me a tutor. I mean that's not a high priority, but still it's so cool."

"Yes." Giles watched Buffy drive her pool cue into the gut of the shifter and back hand him to the floor. One booted foot rested on the man's chest. She looked like a barbarian queen. "I suppose that could be useful."

"She needs you, Giles." Willow looked at him steadily. "She's scared. Those bastards hurt her. Spike saved her. You shot her with her own crossbow. It's been a rough couple of days, but she is turning it around."

"By associating with demons?" Giles looked between Anya and Willow.

"Spike is good for her." Willow crossed her arms across her chest and glared at him.

"He's a good choice for her really. He is an Aurelian. I know Angel is technically the head of the line, but Spike is the most functional of the remaining family. If he steps into the role of Master of the Line, the hell mouth could be protected far more securely." Anya sipped her drink. "They're a power couple in this world. Anything or anyone that isn't afraid of her will be afraid of him."

"The Council will come after her." Giles leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "Any slayer associating inappropriately with demons is terminated. How do we protect her from them?"

"First things first, Watcher." Spike clapped his hand on Giles' shoulder. "I have to make sure she is safe from you."

Giles opened his mouth to defend himself and closed it without a word. His shoulders u slumped. There was nothing to say. He'd hurt her so many times.

"Good." Spike nodded. "We can skip the false protestations. My mate deserves better from you."

"I agree." Giles looked up and down the sneering vampire. "And she deserves better than you."

"Agreed." Spike spun a chair around and sat facing Giles with his arms crossed along the back of the chair. "But fate or really rotten luck has led us here. Take your pick."

"I want to help her. I want to apologize and spend the rest of my life proving to her how very much she means to me." Giles swallowed.

Spike's eyes narrowed to cerulean slits.

"Has he passed inspection?" Buffy joined them, resting her hand on the vampire's back. She looked lovely, but she always did. The cold light in her eyes made him very aware of what he had lost. He could see her assessing him.

"I don't trust him, Love. That Council of his has hurt you before." Spike grimaced. "I still can't get over the sick bastards using Kralik."

"You would have ripped out my throat and guzzled the blood back then." Buffy patted his shoulder.

Spike shrugged and grinned.

"Woulda done it a week ago, Love." He pulled her down for a kiss. "I'm a lucky vamp. Been shown the error of my ways."

"I'm sorry, Buffy." Giles stared up at her. "I can never express the depth of my shame."

"Words." Spike waved his hand dismissively.

"They mean something to me." Buffy nodded to her watcher. "He's important to me."

"Can't have a slayer without a watcher?" Spike nodded. "I can live with that."

"Is the mating mutual or one sided?" Giles pulled off his glasses and began to polish the immaculate lenses.

"Mutual." The slayer and the vampire responded at the same time.

"Wouldn't make a slave of her." Spike stroked her arm. "And I'd dust before I let her make one of me."

"I want to dance before the witches get here." Buffy tugged on Spike's arm. "Quit trying to intimidate my watcher. He's staying. He can help us, and maybe he'll earn my forgiveness."

Spike nodded and they disappeared into the crowd. Giles felt a moment of relief. Buffy was giving him another chance.

The music stopped.

Giles stood up and looked toward the commotion on the dance floor.

"I know for a fact your bloody name was not on the list." Spike sneered. "Peaches."