Chapter Two

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Giles watched Buffy sleep the day away. She was a beautiful vision. A quick check of his watch reminded him that Buffy needed to wake up to meet her mom at the school entrance. He bent down to nudge her awake, being more firm than he'd been before. She smiled and opened her eyes.

"Oh, I did it again, didn't I?" She sprang to her feet with surprising vitality, "How'd I get in here?"

"Buffy? Are you quite alright?" he asked, stunned by her immediate responsiveness.

"Actually, I'm feeling great. Your office is just so cozy." She picked up her textbooks, "Giles...how did I get in here?"

Giles face flushed and he quickly escaped the question by pointing to his watch. "You must meet your mother. We don't want to upset her anymore than she already is." He urged. "I'm glad you find my office...cozy. I'd preferred a more masculine description, but I'll settle for what I can get."

"Giles, this place has always seemed more of a home than my actual home. I love this library. I can't explain it. That's probably why I slept so well here; slept through all my classes..." A look of panic spread across her face, "Oh no! I missed all my classes. I'll be suspended! Snyder will..."

"Don't concern yourself with him. I'll handle it. You just go spend some quality time with your mom. I'll take care of the patrol tonight." He gave her a reassuring smile.

"Are you sure you can handle the little nazi worm?"

"Positive. Please, go spend some time with your mom. I insist." He nodded toward the door.

"Wow. Have I told you I have the bestest Watcher in the whole wide world, oh Watcher-mine?" she headed out with a peppy spring in her step.

Giles smile dissolved into sadness as he watched her leave. This was going to be difficult. Hopefully Xander and Willow would help prepare Buffy for the trials ahead. He considered her reaction to the library and his office a good sign for how they would get along when the time comes for her to move in with him. The hardest part would be Joyce's reaction and Buffy's initial response. Luckily, he had Willow and Xander as secret weapons.


That night at the Summers home

Willow stretched across Buffy's bed. "This is so comfortable. Let's catch a quick nap before you go on patrol."

Buffy raised an eyebrow and looked suspiciously at her friend, "Giles told you to make sure I got some sleep, didn't he?"

Willow's face glowed bright pink and she sat up, "Uh...No! And I'm offended by the accusation, really. I just have your best interest at heart...you know...your well-being...well..." Buffy cocked her head slightly and smiled.

"Ok, fine! Yes, he did put me up to it. But he's worried about you. Your mom's being such a slave driver lately and Giles sees it affecting your slaying. He's just trying to protect you." Willow spoke quickly, defending herself and Giles.

"I know. She's already put up the barbed wire and released the guard dogs. It's going to be hard sneaking out tonight." Buffy put on her leather boots and slipped a stake in a hidden pocket.

"Doesn't your mom understand how important your duty as a Slayer is? I mean, if you don't do your job, someone could die?" Willow stood up and glanced at Buffy's dresser. She spotted Buffy's diary, and took note of it's location.

"I get it Wil...believe me. My mom's the wicked witch of the west." Buffy put on her leather coat.

"I don't mean to criticize, but...actually I do mean to criticize..."

"Wil, really, I understand. My mom and I have had this argument so many times I have nightmares about it. I actually considered running away again. She's being so unreasonable." Buffy stepped over to the window.

"Nightmares? Really? Like what?" Willow looked concerned.

"Oh its stupid. My mom would never do it."

"Do what?"

"I keep having nightmares that my mom has Giles taken away. See...stupid with a capital duh!"

"Taken away? How?" Willow couldn't restrain her curiosity.

"Well, like getting his green card revoked or canceled or whatever. I had another dream where she had him arrested for sexual harassment...oh, that was a fun one." Buffy sat back down on her bed. "Why?"

"I overheard your mom talking on the phone yesterday. I think she may be investigating Giles. It sounded like it was all official and government like. You may be having one of your prophetic dreams." Willow had a serious urgency in her voice that made Buffy uneasy.

"My mom was talking about Giles?"

"Yep...and it isn't the first time. I walked in on her and Giles talking in the library after the band candy incident. She was accusing him of taking advantage of her."

"No! That's not true." Buffy clenched her teeth.

"I swear, Buffy. She threatened to bring the authorities in if he didn't stay away from you."

"Wil, I believe you. I can't believe she'd accuse him of that. Giles would never...he is so the total gentlemen. Why wouldn't he tell me?"

"He knows your relationship with your mom is already strained. He didn't want to ruin what little you guys had left." Willow watched Buffy's forehead crinkle with confusion as tears began to trickle down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, we kind of thought you and your mom may have discussed this before."

"God, she'd trying to take him away...like dad." Buffy choked.

Willow hugged her. "What do you mean?"

She wiped the tears from her eyes and jumped up, "Come on. We're patrolling." She opened the window and put a leg over the frame.

Joyce barged into the room. "Where do you think your going young lady?"

"I've got to patrol." Buffy answered and pulled on Willows shirt, urging her to follow.

"No you don't. I've had enough of this. Get in here this instant." Joyce pointed an accusing finger at Buffy. Willow wished she could sink into the darkened corner of the room to escape her embarrassment.

"Sorry, duty calls. I'll be back in a couple hours." Buffy continued to exit.

"You get back in here your I'll have your Mr. Giles arrested for...for..."

Buffy's eyes blazed anger and she climbed back in the room. She walked up to her mother and stood her ground.

"What? Have him arrested for corruption of a consenting adult? Huh, mom?" Buffy snickered, "Go to hell!" she dived out the window.

Willow was stunned at Buffy's reaction, as was Joyce who looked at Willow with confusion and hurt in her eyes. Willow shrugged, "Well, if you weren't such a bitch, she wouldn't have to sneak!" Willow tried to climb out the window then nervously returned to the safety of the room. "Well...I'm not wearing the proper climbing gear, otherwise you would see me exit in quite the same manner. I bid you goodnight!" She declared with a finger punctuating the air as if she were delivering a line in a dramatic play. She felt ridiculous as she walked past Mrs. Summers to exit through the front door.

Buffy had tears in her eyes when Willow caught up with her down the street.

"What am I gonna do Wil? I just can't put up with her..." Buffy looked at Willow, searching for a solution.

"I think we need to go see Giles. He'll know what to do." Willow suggested, almost relieved at how she finally got some resolution to the secret she'd been keeping from Buffy. It had only been a month since she'd overheard the argument between Joyce and Giles but it was eating her up inside, keeping quiet about how badly Buffy's mom had mistreated him. As usual, Giles wanted to protect Buffy and insisted that Willow remain silent on the issue. Now, if she could only get Buffy and Giles to realize their true feelings for each other, her work here would be done.


Later at Giles apartment

"Just a moment..." Giles hurriedly stirred the contents of his pot. He quickly went to the door and opened it, surprised to see Buffy in tears on the other side and Willow consoling her.

"Are you ok? Come in, please." He stepped aside and waved toward his couch.

"She's fine, Giles. She had a bad fight with her mom." Willow tried to sound calm.

"She struck her mother?" Giles gasped.

Willow continued to steer Buffy to the couch and flashed a questioning glance at his dim-witted inquiry. "Uh...no, Giles. They had an argument."

"Oh...right. Sorry." He walked over to the couch, prepared to say something soothing but found himself lost for words at the sight of his weeping Slayer. "Um, Buffy...I..."

"Tea, Giles, " Willow directed, "And some of those cookies with the hazelnut filling Buffy likes."

Giles smiled, acknowledging Willow's order and disappeared into his small kitchen. He was grateful for her quick demands, he couldn't think of how to help.

After a short time, he returned with tea and an overflowing plate full of cookies, five different varieties. Willow had to muffle a laugh at his willingness to please. He served them each a cup of tea sat opposite of them. He raised his cup to his mouth and sipped in the liquid.

"Buffy's going to stay with you tonight." Willow said matter-of-factly.

Giles spit out the tea and choked on the remainder that that threatened to intrude in his lungs. He quickly recovered and nodded. "Yes..." he coughed, "of course."

:: Part Three ::

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