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psubratAuthor: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: Giles gives Buffy some surprising advice...
Timeframe: Immediately following "Bound By Dreams"
Buffy looked down at her hands. They were folded tightly in her lap. She didn’t want to tell Giles anything about her and Spike. She was afraid that he would think less of her. The tears started to slide down her cheeks. Great. More tears. That’s all she’d been doing lately. This had to stop. She was Buffy the Vampire Slayer not Buffy the Constant Crier. She wiped her tears away and looked at Giles. He was sitting patiently on the couch waiting for her to begin. Apparently, Spike hadn’t told Giles much of anything except that he had tried to rape her. The fact of the matter was, she needed to come clean to him about everything.
"Buffy, I’m sure it’s not that serious," he said reassuringly. "You can tell me anything, you know."
She shook her head. "That’s the thing Giles. It is serious. I made a lot of bad decisions while you were gone. A lot of things happened that I’m ashamed of."
He set his teacup down and took off his glasses again. "Bad decisions are part of growing up. Buffy please, perhaps you’ll feel better if you just get it all out in the open."
She stood up and walked behind the chair she was sitting in. Without looking at him, she began. "Giles, I know you’re going to be disappointed with me..."
"I’m very proud of you Buffy. No matter what."
She nodded her head slightly and lowered her eyes. "When I came back from wherever I was, I-I felt alone. No one understood what I had gone through. Spike was the only one who didn’t want anything from me. He wasn’t pushing for me to be myself again. While everyone else expected happy Buffy, he just let me be me, ya know?"
Giles nodded.
"I started hanging out with him more. I knew how he felt about me...and I used that to feel again. We became involved."
"Involved?" Giles asked with a frown. "Exactly how ‘involved’?"
"I was sleeping with him." She looked over to see his reaction.
He smiled somewhat and then looked back at her. "I had assumed that was the case, but I’m glad that you finally told me."
"You’re not mad? Or disappointed?" She asked quickly.
"No. Actually, I’m a bit amused. Please continue."
"Are you sure? No, ‘Buffy you need to get your priorities straight’ or ‘Are you out of your bleeding mind’?"
Giles laughed and shook his head. "Buffy, you’re a grown woman now. We all make mistakes. It’s called being human. Don’t be so harsh on yourself."
Buffy sat back down in her chair amazed at his answer. She had been sure that he was going to be upset and disappointed with her. "There’s more."
"Dawn, come help me with the inventory," Anya requested of her teenage helper.
"That’s Halfrek’s job," Dawn replied, making a sour face. She hated helping Anya with the inventory simply because the ex-demon was so demanding. She’d rather dust and help the customers.
"I gave her the day off and besides, you know better than to call her that. It’s not who she is anymore."
Dawn rolled her eyes and plunked down into the chair next to William who was now busily writing in his journal.
"Dawn, mind Anya," William said without looking up from what he was doing.
"But..."
"Dawn," he said, locking her gaze with his. "I understand you have a debt to pay off. Now go."
"Fine," she said in a huff.
Anya walked over to William. She couldn’t get over how much he had changed. He was quite attractive. "William," she said getting his attention. "Thank you for your help with Dawn. Sometimes she can be...difficult."
He smiled warmly at her. "You’re welcome. You just have to be firm with her is all. She’ll listen."
"It was good sex," Anya blurted out.
"Pardon?" He asked, startled and shocked.
"The sex. Between us. It was good. I just wanted to let you know that."
"Uh," he sputtered. "Thanks." He could feel his cheeks flush.
"If I had known that the person who had hurt you was Buffy, I would have never done it. I didn’t know. But it was still good sex." She smiled at him and patted his arm, then went back to the inventory with Dawn.
William sat in stunned silence as he watched her walk away.
"I assumed there would be more," Giles said matter of factly. He had known that Spike had not been telling him everything, but now, he knew that the former vampire was just trying to protect Buffy’s personal life.
"Giles," she started hesitantly. "It wasn’t a good relationship that Spike and I had. It was...unhealthy." She hung her head again in shame. "I used to beat him up whenever I felt like it. That’s how it all started. The sex."
"I see." This might be more information than he wanted to know, but he would allow her to continue, for her own piece of mind.
"I guess I took everything out on him. So when he...when things got out of hand in the bathroom, I’m partly to blame. I changed the rules and didn’t tell him."
"Buffy, no one deserves something like that. It’s the worst thing that a man can do. You do realize that, don’t you?"
"But Giles. I didn’t stop him. Not until it started to go too far. I could have stopped him right away if I had wanted to. And now I think I know why."
"I’m not quite sure I understand where this is going...."
"I’m in love with him." Had she really said that out loud? And to Giles? She sat back and waited for his reaction.
Giles took his glasses off the table to clean them. He had known this was coming. However, it was still difficult to hear. Dawn had talked to him about Buffy’s feelings while they had chatted about the portal. The teen was concerned that if Buffy didn’t come to terms with her true feelings, that she would be too distracted to do her job. He had agreed.
When Giles didn’t respond immediately to her confession she assumed that he was about to lecture her. She braced herself and waited for the worst.
"Buffy, I know that you’re expecting me to tell you that you’re out of your mind and that you need counseling, but I’m not going to say anything of the sort. As I said previously, you’re a grown woman now. I cannot make these decisions for you. Only you know how you feel about Spike. About William actually."
"But Giles," she sighed. "That’s just it. I loved him before he became William. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. It’s too weird."
Giles chuckled. "Believe me, I’m the first to agree with you on that one." The smile faded from his face and his tone became serious. "Can I offer you some advice? Not as your watcher, but rather as a father figure."
"Please."
"I don’t necessarily approve of Spike or what he did in his past. However, I have gotten to know William the human over the last few months and I have to say, in all honesty, he’s a good man; and he loves you very much. God help me for saying this but, if you love him as well, you need to tell him."
"But the others," she said hesitantly.
"To hell with what anyone else thinks, Buffy. You, of all people, deserve to be happy. You’ve been through enough pain and suffering. Don’t punish yourself with this as well. Embrace it. I for one am not going to stand in your way."
Buffy stood up and rushed to give Giles a hug. She felt liberated at last. "But how will I tell him? I don’t think he wants a relationship with me again. Not that I can say I blame him. I was a total whack job to him."
"Just tell him. Because if you don’t, if you keep harboring this feeling, you’re going to be miserable for a very long time, and it will affect your slaying abilities. You can’t afford to have an off night because your mind is elsewhere. I don’t think I need to remind you of that."
Buffy smiled her first genuine smile in a while. "Nope. No need to go there."
"Now that we’ve had our chat," Giles said, getting up and heading towards the door. "Why don’t we head to the shop to talk to William about the Master. I think he would be quite interested in what you have to say. He’s been having dreams himself."
"What?" Buffy exclaimed in surprise.
Giles was already out the door. She quickly grabbed her keys and went to catch up with him.
"Okay, Bit. Ready for lunch," William called down to the teen. She was down in the basement going through inventory. He could almost hear her silent cheers as she bounded up the steps.
"Anya do you want us to bring back anything for you?" Dawn asked as she grabbed her wallet.
"No thank you. Xander is supposed to stop by. He’s going to spend money on me," the ex-demon said cheerily.
"Probably best that I’m not here then," William said with a grin.
Dawn snickered as she followed him out the door into the bright sunlight. Spike walking in the daylight, it was all so surreal. "Think we should have waited for Buffy and Giles?" She asked.
"No. That’s all right. I’m sure they can fend for themselves. It’s William and Dawn day," he added with a smile.
They walked along in silence for several moments. "She’s in love with you, you know," Dawn said suddenly.
William’s head snapped around to look at her. "I’m sorry but I don’t think I heard right."
"You heard me just fine," Dawn said with a grin.
"Dawn, I would rather we not discuss Buffy if that’s alright by you."
"Suit yourself but I think we should. You guys can’t go on hiding it forever."
"Hiding what?" He demanded.
"Your feelings."
"I am not discussing this with you, Bit."
"That’s just what she said," Dawn stated as she came to a complete stop. "Why are you two being so difficult?" She was so frustrated. What was their problem? Why couldn’t they just be up front about how they felt? She thought it would be cool if her sister and Spike would get together.
William stopped and turned to face the teenager. "Dawn, there are just certain things in this world that aren’t meant to be..."
"Stop it," she said as she grabbed his arm. "I’m not a little kid. I know about these things. I’m older than you and Buffy combined."
Suddenly the area around them darkened and the air began to hum and ripple.
"What’s going on?" William asked in awe.
Dawn looked over at him and shrugged. "Portal."
They both peered through the portal once it had stabilized. There on the other side looking shocked and confused was Buffy and Giles.
The meeting at Wolfram & Hart adjourned. They were to meet back at the offices later that evening and then leave for the ceremony together. "Wesley?" Lilah asked once they had reached the front entrance. "We’re going back to the hotel for a while, are you coming?"
He shook his head. "No. I think I’m going to wander around for a bit. Try to get reacquainted and all."
Lilah smiled. "Just remember, you work for us now. And don’t be late tonight."
He nodded and closed the limo door for her. He stepped back from the curb and watched the limo pull away. He’d already decided that his first stop would be the Magic Box. Better to get it out in the open that he was back in town, rather than run into one of them out on the street. There would be fewer questions this way and less suspicion. He patiently waited for the traffic to pass by before he crossed the street to the shop.
Author: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: Dawn's portal powers are explained; William gets a shocking surprise and the Big Bad rises...
Timeframe: Immediately following "Fatherly Advice"
Buffy and Giles stood on the other side of the portal in complete shock. It was good that they had looked up from their conversation when they did, otherwise they would have walked right through the opening. Giles picked up a loose pebble and threw it through the breach. It struck Dawn on the other side. "Hey watch it Giles," she said in mock pain. "You trying to put someone’s eye out?"
Giles looked chagrined. "Now is not the time to be making jokes, Dawn. We must get this portal closed before someone notices!"
William scanned the area where the portal opened, hoping that no one other than them had noticed the change. They were downtown near quite a few shops and it was lunchtime, which meant that there were many people around. This wasn’t good. "Giles, there’s too many people here for you two to come through on this side. I think it will draw too much attention. Bit and I are going to have to come to you."
Giles nodded. He had been thinking the same thing. He believed that the only way for the portal to close was for Dawn to move through it, one way or the other.
William grabbed Dawn’s hand and with one last glance around the area, pulled her through with him. It had been just like walking through a doorway. That simple. Unfortunately, when they had reached the other side, the portal didn’t close. Instead, it seemed to become more electrified.
"Dawn!" Giles shouted above the humming. "You have to close it!"
"I don’t know how!" The teen shouted back at him.
William looked at Giles and then back at Dawn. Something in the back of his mind told him they knew the answer to this. Suddenly he smiled at Dawn and said, "Tell me more about this Steven bloke."
Dawn looked at him strangely. Why did he want to know about Steven all of a sudden? They had already talked about him this morning. As she was about to ask him what he wanted to know, the portal snapped shut.
Wesley walked into the magic shop and looked around. There were a couple of customers off to the side admiring a candle display but he didn’t see anyone he recognized. As he moved further into the shop, he noticed a young, blonde woman behind the cash register. She looked familiar to him but he couldn’t place where he had seen her. He knew she was part of the briefing notes but he thought he knew her from somewhere else as well.
He was browsing the books when she walked over to him. "Is there something I can help you with?" She asked with a smile.
"Actually, no. I was hoping to catch up with an old friend. Is Rupert around by chance?"
"Oh. You’re looking for Giles," she said with a frown. "Sure you don’t want to buy something?"
He was a bit confused by the young woman. "Is he here?" He asked with some irritation.
"Who?"
"Giles."
"No. He’s not here right now. Although he should be here soon." She knew immediately she didn’t like this man. His eyes were cold and she didn’t like the scar on his neck. He just gave her the creeps.
"May I wait for him?"
"Suit yourself," she stated as she ran back to the cash register to ring up a customer. Then she added, "Just don’t touch anything."
He sat down at the table to wait for Giles. The magic shop, he thought, was a very good front for a watcher. No one would ever suspect what really transpired behind these walls. He busied himself reading the titles of the books on the table. They looked like watcher books. He was about to pick up one that looked like a journal when he heard his name.
"How did you know to do that?" Buffy asked in amazement.
William shrugged. "It just seemed like the most sensible thing to do. Get her to think about something else. Can’t concentrate on two things at once. Kind of like not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time."
"Yes! Of course!" Giles declared. "Break her concentration and the portal will close. It’s quite simple really."
"Glad you seem to think so, Giles," Buffy cracked.
William chuckled.
"Now we know how to close them," Dawn said with a grin. "But we still don’t know how I open them."
"I think I do Bit," William stated.
"How?"
Giles had discussed his suspicions with William the other night. Neither of them had complete proof as to the how, but William was certain after witnessing the event himself, that he did. "You were agitated and we were talking about Buffy. The next thing that happened was a portal appeared in front of Buffy. I’d wager that it happened the same way when you opened a portal to my room."
Dawn thought for moment. She couldn’t remember exactly what her and Buffy had been talking about. The excitement of the portal had overshadowed everything else that had happened that day.
"You’re right," Buffy said hesitantly. "We were arguing. About you."
William and Giles both nodded. "Good work, William," Giles said, patting the new watcher on his back. "Mystery solved for now. Shall we continue back to the Magic Box?"
"Wait," Dawn demanded. "You’re saying that all I have to do is think about something or someone and a portal will just open up there?"
"We’re not quite sure on the specifics yet Dawn..." Giles had started.
"So cool! I’ll just think about the Magic Box and open a portal," she said in a giddy tone. "That’s so much easier than walking there."
"No!" Giles shouted at her. "You cannot just go off opening portals whenever you feel the need. Firstly, we aren’t certain how stable they are, and secondly, you cannot attract attention to yourself. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I get it," Dawn said defensively.
"Come on, Bit," William said, putting his arm around her. "Let’s go get lunch now." He led her back to town as Buffy and Giles looked on.
"We must watch her, Buffy," Giles said with a concerned tone. "Until we fully understand the ramifications."
Buffy nodded silently as she watched William and her sister walk away.
"Wesley?" Xander asked from the other side of the table.
"Xander! So good to see you again," Wesley stated as he stood up and extended his hand to Xander.
"So what brings you back to Sunnydale?" Xander asked, not bothering with the handshake.
Wesley dropped his arm down to his side. He thought maybe the young man had gotten over the past, apparently he was wrong. "Actually, I work here now. Across the street at the new law firm." He noticed Xander’s confused expression and added, "They deal with international trade agreements and such. I translate documents for them." He thought the cover sounded thin but it’s what Wolfram and Hart had decided upon.
"How lucky for us," Xander said dryly.
"Yes. Quite," Wesley said, looking down at the table. "I’m waiting for Rupert. Did you by chance see him on your way in?"
"Uh, that would be a no. And I’m not sure how happy he’s going to be to see you."
Wesley tried to smile. Had Harris always been this obstinate? As a teenager, the boy had gotten on his nerves, but he didn’t remember him being this annoying.
At that moment, Buffy and Giles entered the shop. Wesley was relieved. He didn’t want to be in Xander’s presence any longer. He was afraid he might hurt the young man.
Giles was stunned to see Wesley standing on the other side of the shop. The last that he had heard, Wesley was working with Angel in Los Angeles. He met Wesley’s gaze and smiled. He noticed immediately that something was different about the former watcher. Wesley seemed cold and hard, as if he had seen too many horrendous things in one life for his mind to handle; but there was something else there as well.
"Wesley?" Buffy asked incredulously. "What are you doing here?"
"I asked him the same thing, Buff," Xander said in a disgusted tone. "Mr. Stuffy Watcher here works across the street at the new law firm. Guess we’re stuck with him now."
"Good afternoon Buffy. Rupert," Wesley stated, still holding Giles’ gaze. "I wanted to stop by and talk to you for a bit. Let you know that I was back in town. Perhaps we could catch up?"
"Why don’t you catch up with the next bus out of town," Xander sneered.
"Xander that’s enough," Giles stated flatly. "Anya would you get Wesley a cup of tea and bring it into the office, please?" He motioned for Wesley to follow him. Once Anya brought in the tea, the door closed. Buffy and Xander stood out in the shop with eyebrows raised.
Wesley had left the shop by the time Dawn and William had come back from lunch. William was relieved that he didn’t have to deal with Xander for the time being but he knew that eventually the two would have to at least be civil. He didn’t blame the whelp for wanting to beat the living life out of him. He deserved it for what he had done to Buffy before he had left. However, Buffy had threatened Xander with death if he touched one hair on the watcher’s head, ever. He had been grateful to Buffy for her support. It was a little unexpected but nonetheless appreciated. The thought brought a smile to his lips.
"Hey smiley boy," Buffy said with a puckered brow. "Wanna share the happy?" She sat down in the seat next to him.
She had startled him out of his reverie. His mind was quickly racing to cover his true thoughts. "I was just thinking," he lied. "Of the look on Xander’s face when he saw me standing in front of him at the Bronze."
Buffy chuckled. "Good thing Giles and I were holding him back. If you were still a vampire I think he would have dusted you on the spot."
"I think you’re right," he said with a smile. "What can I do for you Ms. Summers?" He asked, trying to change the subject.
"Huh? Oh. Why I’m sitting here. Right."
He thought she seemed a little jumpy, even jittery. He wondered if she had been drinking too much coffee again. He raised his eyebrows, silently asking her to continue.
"Well Giles said that we needed to talk. Something about our dreams of the Master."
"You’ve been having them too?" He asked incredulously.
"Yeah," she said, unsure if she wanted to let on that he had been in her dreams as well. "He’s in a cave. The first time I had the dream, he started to feed on me. The second time..."
"The second time what?"
She took a deep breath. "The second time, you started fighting him."
William sat back in his chair to let it all sink in. "You were wearing a white tunic."
Her eyes widened. She nodded. "And you were wearing nothing but faded jeans."
They stared at one another for what seemed like minutes. Finally, William broke the silence. "I think we need to research this." He handed her one of the books he had been going through earlier and then tackled a thicker book. "First, we need to know if there is a prophecy that deals with the Master’s return."
"And secondly?" Buffy asked.
"Secondly," he said hesitantly. "We need to find out why we’re experiencing the same dreams."
"Are you ready, Heinrich?" Gavin asked with a smile. Everything was going as planned. His men had captured a fledgling vampire the previous night and had brought it to the apartment for Heinrich’s approval.
"I’m ready," the man stated coldly. "Let’s begin."
"Very well," Gavin stated as he had the fledgling brought into the darkened room. They had starved the young vampire on purpose so that it still had that same craving and blood lust as when it had awakened in its grave the night before.
Heinrich motioned for them to let it go. Gavin nodded his approval and the vampire was released. Heinrich glided over to it and stroked its face. "How would you like to become the most famous vampire in history?" He asked soothingly.
The vampire didn’t move. It only nodded slightly. It seemed entranced by Heinrich’s eyes.
"I will remember you fondly for what you’re about to do," Heinrich said, baring his neck to the fledgling. "Now feed." The fledgling did as commanded and stopped when Heinrich ordered him to.
Gavin stepped in and cut the vampire’s wrist so that Heinrich could suckle the fledgling’s blood.
Once the former master vampire had signaled he’d had enough, the fledgling continued to feed on him. Eventually Heinrich dropped to the floor dead.
Immediately, one of Gavin’s men staked the fledgling from behind. They then picked up Heinrich’s body to move it to the car. The body was to be transported quickly to a cave in the woods and buried. Then the ceremony would begin.
"William," Buffy said closing her book and gently closing his as well. "Before we start the research stuff, I-I need to talk to you."
William noticed that her tone had become serious as well as the expression on her face. "Is there something wrong? Are you alright?"
"I’m fine. It’s just that...Remember what you told me and Angel once?"
"Which time?" He laughed.
"When you came back to Sunnydale; after Dru had left you the first time..."
William tried to think. He remembered he had returned to town and had tried to make the witch cast a love spell so that he could get Drusilla back. "I vaguely remember, pet. It was a long time ago," he said shaking his head.
She looked at him trying to see if he was playing dumb or really didn’t remember. She decided that he didn’t remember and continued. "Well, you once said that Angel and I could never be friends."
He remembered the rest, "Right. And that you two would fight and shag and hate each other till it made you quiver. But you could never be friends because love wasn’t brains."
Buffy nodded her head slowly. "What I’m trying to say is, William, I don’t think we can ever be friends because I’m in..."
She didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence because they were interrupted by a voice from behind them.
"Buffy, have you seen Anya? I need to talk to..."
Both Buffy and William had turned their heads to see who had interrupted their chat. William’s eyes widened. Could it be? "Cecily?" He asked incredulously, believing his eyes were deceiving him.
"William, is that you?" Cecily cried.
"It’s me, luv!" He exclaimed as he quickly stood up.
"Oh William," she whispered as she ran to him and threw her arms around him.
Buffy watched in horror as the one thing that she hadn’t prepared herself for, happened.
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: Giles gives Buffy some surprising advice...
Timeframe: Immediately following "Bound By Dreams"
- 19 -
Fatherly Advice
Fatherly Advice
Buffy looked down at her hands. They were folded tightly in her lap. She didn’t want to tell Giles anything about her and Spike. She was afraid that he would think less of her. The tears started to slide down her cheeks. Great. More tears. That’s all she’d been doing lately. This had to stop. She was Buffy the Vampire Slayer not Buffy the Constant Crier. She wiped her tears away and looked at Giles. He was sitting patiently on the couch waiting for her to begin. Apparently, Spike hadn’t told Giles much of anything except that he had tried to rape her. The fact of the matter was, she needed to come clean to him about everything.
"Buffy, I’m sure it’s not that serious," he said reassuringly. "You can tell me anything, you know."
She shook her head. "That’s the thing Giles. It is serious. I made a lot of bad decisions while you were gone. A lot of things happened that I’m ashamed of."
He set his teacup down and took off his glasses again. "Bad decisions are part of growing up. Buffy please, perhaps you’ll feel better if you just get it all out in the open."
She stood up and walked behind the chair she was sitting in. Without looking at him, she began. "Giles, I know you’re going to be disappointed with me..."
"I’m very proud of you Buffy. No matter what."
She nodded her head slightly and lowered her eyes. "When I came back from wherever I was, I-I felt alone. No one understood what I had gone through. Spike was the only one who didn’t want anything from me. He wasn’t pushing for me to be myself again. While everyone else expected happy Buffy, he just let me be me, ya know?"
Giles nodded.
"I started hanging out with him more. I knew how he felt about me...and I used that to feel again. We became involved."
"Involved?" Giles asked with a frown. "Exactly how ‘involved’?"
"I was sleeping with him." She looked over to see his reaction.
He smiled somewhat and then looked back at her. "I had assumed that was the case, but I’m glad that you finally told me."
"You’re not mad? Or disappointed?" She asked quickly.
"No. Actually, I’m a bit amused. Please continue."
"Are you sure? No, ‘Buffy you need to get your priorities straight’ or ‘Are you out of your bleeding mind’?"
Giles laughed and shook his head. "Buffy, you’re a grown woman now. We all make mistakes. It’s called being human. Don’t be so harsh on yourself."
Buffy sat back down in her chair amazed at his answer. She had been sure that he was going to be upset and disappointed with her. "There’s more."
******
"Dawn, come help me with the inventory," Anya requested of her teenage helper.
"That’s Halfrek’s job," Dawn replied, making a sour face. She hated helping Anya with the inventory simply because the ex-demon was so demanding. She’d rather dust and help the customers.
"I gave her the day off and besides, you know better than to call her that. It’s not who she is anymore."
Dawn rolled her eyes and plunked down into the chair next to William who was now busily writing in his journal.
"Dawn, mind Anya," William said without looking up from what he was doing.
"But..."
"Dawn," he said, locking her gaze with his. "I understand you have a debt to pay off. Now go."
"Fine," she said in a huff.
Anya walked over to William. She couldn’t get over how much he had changed. He was quite attractive. "William," she said getting his attention. "Thank you for your help with Dawn. Sometimes she can be...difficult."
He smiled warmly at her. "You’re welcome. You just have to be firm with her is all. She’ll listen."
"It was good sex," Anya blurted out.
"Pardon?" He asked, startled and shocked.
"The sex. Between us. It was good. I just wanted to let you know that."
"Uh," he sputtered. "Thanks." He could feel his cheeks flush.
"If I had known that the person who had hurt you was Buffy, I would have never done it. I didn’t know. But it was still good sex." She smiled at him and patted his arm, then went back to the inventory with Dawn.
William sat in stunned silence as he watched her walk away.
******
"I assumed there would be more," Giles said matter of factly. He had known that Spike had not been telling him everything, but now, he knew that the former vampire was just trying to protect Buffy’s personal life.
"Giles," she started hesitantly. "It wasn’t a good relationship that Spike and I had. It was...unhealthy." She hung her head again in shame. "I used to beat him up whenever I felt like it. That’s how it all started. The sex."
"I see." This might be more information than he wanted to know, but he would allow her to continue, for her own piece of mind.
"I guess I took everything out on him. So when he...when things got out of hand in the bathroom, I’m partly to blame. I changed the rules and didn’t tell him."
"Buffy, no one deserves something like that. It’s the worst thing that a man can do. You do realize that, don’t you?"
"But Giles. I didn’t stop him. Not until it started to go too far. I could have stopped him right away if I had wanted to. And now I think I know why."
"I’m not quite sure I understand where this is going...."
"I’m in love with him." Had she really said that out loud? And to Giles? She sat back and waited for his reaction.
******
Giles took his glasses off the table to clean them. He had known this was coming. However, it was still difficult to hear. Dawn had talked to him about Buffy’s feelings while they had chatted about the portal. The teen was concerned that if Buffy didn’t come to terms with her true feelings, that she would be too distracted to do her job. He had agreed.
When Giles didn’t respond immediately to her confession she assumed that he was about to lecture her. She braced herself and waited for the worst.
"Buffy, I know that you’re expecting me to tell you that you’re out of your mind and that you need counseling, but I’m not going to say anything of the sort. As I said previously, you’re a grown woman now. I cannot make these decisions for you. Only you know how you feel about Spike. About William actually."
"But Giles," she sighed. "That’s just it. I loved him before he became William. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. It’s too weird."
Giles chuckled. "Believe me, I’m the first to agree with you on that one." The smile faded from his face and his tone became serious. "Can I offer you some advice? Not as your watcher, but rather as a father figure."
"Please."
"I don’t necessarily approve of Spike or what he did in his past. However, I have gotten to know William the human over the last few months and I have to say, in all honesty, he’s a good man; and he loves you very much. God help me for saying this but, if you love him as well, you need to tell him."
"But the others," she said hesitantly.
"To hell with what anyone else thinks, Buffy. You, of all people, deserve to be happy. You’ve been through enough pain and suffering. Don’t punish yourself with this as well. Embrace it. I for one am not going to stand in your way."
Buffy stood up and rushed to give Giles a hug. She felt liberated at last. "But how will I tell him? I don’t think he wants a relationship with me again. Not that I can say I blame him. I was a total whack job to him."
"Just tell him. Because if you don’t, if you keep harboring this feeling, you’re going to be miserable for a very long time, and it will affect your slaying abilities. You can’t afford to have an off night because your mind is elsewhere. I don’t think I need to remind you of that."
Buffy smiled her first genuine smile in a while. "Nope. No need to go there."
"Now that we’ve had our chat," Giles said, getting up and heading towards the door. "Why don’t we head to the shop to talk to William about the Master. I think he would be quite interested in what you have to say. He’s been having dreams himself."
"What?" Buffy exclaimed in surprise.
Giles was already out the door. She quickly grabbed her keys and went to catch up with him.
******
"Okay, Bit. Ready for lunch," William called down to the teen. She was down in the basement going through inventory. He could almost hear her silent cheers as she bounded up the steps.
"Anya do you want us to bring back anything for you?" Dawn asked as she grabbed her wallet.
"No thank you. Xander is supposed to stop by. He’s going to spend money on me," the ex-demon said cheerily.
"Probably best that I’m not here then," William said with a grin.
Dawn snickered as she followed him out the door into the bright sunlight. Spike walking in the daylight, it was all so surreal. "Think we should have waited for Buffy and Giles?" She asked.
"No. That’s all right. I’m sure they can fend for themselves. It’s William and Dawn day," he added with a smile.
They walked along in silence for several moments. "She’s in love with you, you know," Dawn said suddenly.
William’s head snapped around to look at her. "I’m sorry but I don’t think I heard right."
"You heard me just fine," Dawn said with a grin.
"Dawn, I would rather we not discuss Buffy if that’s alright by you."
"Suit yourself but I think we should. You guys can’t go on hiding it forever."
"Hiding what?" He demanded.
"Your feelings."
"I am not discussing this with you, Bit."
"That’s just what she said," Dawn stated as she came to a complete stop. "Why are you two being so difficult?" She was so frustrated. What was their problem? Why couldn’t they just be up front about how they felt? She thought it would be cool if her sister and Spike would get together.
William stopped and turned to face the teenager. "Dawn, there are just certain things in this world that aren’t meant to be..."
"Stop it," she said as she grabbed his arm. "I’m not a little kid. I know about these things. I’m older than you and Buffy combined."
Suddenly the area around them darkened and the air began to hum and ripple.
"What’s going on?" William asked in awe.
Dawn looked over at him and shrugged. "Portal."
They both peered through the portal once it had stabilized. There on the other side looking shocked and confused was Buffy and Giles.
******
The meeting at Wolfram & Hart adjourned. They were to meet back at the offices later that evening and then leave for the ceremony together. "Wesley?" Lilah asked once they had reached the front entrance. "We’re going back to the hotel for a while, are you coming?"
He shook his head. "No. I think I’m going to wander around for a bit. Try to get reacquainted and all."
Lilah smiled. "Just remember, you work for us now. And don’t be late tonight."
He nodded and closed the limo door for her. He stepped back from the curb and watched the limo pull away. He’d already decided that his first stop would be the Magic Box. Better to get it out in the open that he was back in town, rather than run into one of them out on the street. There would be fewer questions this way and less suspicion. He patiently waited for the traffic to pass by before he crossed the street to the shop.
Author: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: Dawn's portal powers are explained; William gets a shocking surprise and the Big Bad rises...
Timeframe: Immediately following "Fatherly Advice"
- 20 -
Unleashed
Unleashed
Buffy and Giles stood on the other side of the portal in complete shock. It was good that they had looked up from their conversation when they did, otherwise they would have walked right through the opening. Giles picked up a loose pebble and threw it through the breach. It struck Dawn on the other side. "Hey watch it Giles," she said in mock pain. "You trying to put someone’s eye out?"
Giles looked chagrined. "Now is not the time to be making jokes, Dawn. We must get this portal closed before someone notices!"
William scanned the area where the portal opened, hoping that no one other than them had noticed the change. They were downtown near quite a few shops and it was lunchtime, which meant that there were many people around. This wasn’t good. "Giles, there’s too many people here for you two to come through on this side. I think it will draw too much attention. Bit and I are going to have to come to you."
Giles nodded. He had been thinking the same thing. He believed that the only way for the portal to close was for Dawn to move through it, one way or the other.
William grabbed Dawn’s hand and with one last glance around the area, pulled her through with him. It had been just like walking through a doorway. That simple. Unfortunately, when they had reached the other side, the portal didn’t close. Instead, it seemed to become more electrified.
"Dawn!" Giles shouted above the humming. "You have to close it!"
"I don’t know how!" The teen shouted back at him.
William looked at Giles and then back at Dawn. Something in the back of his mind told him they knew the answer to this. Suddenly he smiled at Dawn and said, "Tell me more about this Steven bloke."
Dawn looked at him strangely. Why did he want to know about Steven all of a sudden? They had already talked about him this morning. As she was about to ask him what he wanted to know, the portal snapped shut.
******
Wesley walked into the magic shop and looked around. There were a couple of customers off to the side admiring a candle display but he didn’t see anyone he recognized. As he moved further into the shop, he noticed a young, blonde woman behind the cash register. She looked familiar to him but he couldn’t place where he had seen her. He knew she was part of the briefing notes but he thought he knew her from somewhere else as well.
He was browsing the books when she walked over to him. "Is there something I can help you with?" She asked with a smile.
"Actually, no. I was hoping to catch up with an old friend. Is Rupert around by chance?"
"Oh. You’re looking for Giles," she said with a frown. "Sure you don’t want to buy something?"
He was a bit confused by the young woman. "Is he here?" He asked with some irritation.
"Who?"
"Giles."
"No. He’s not here right now. Although he should be here soon." She knew immediately she didn’t like this man. His eyes were cold and she didn’t like the scar on his neck. He just gave her the creeps.
"May I wait for him?"
"Suit yourself," she stated as she ran back to the cash register to ring up a customer. Then she added, "Just don’t touch anything."
He sat down at the table to wait for Giles. The magic shop, he thought, was a very good front for a watcher. No one would ever suspect what really transpired behind these walls. He busied himself reading the titles of the books on the table. They looked like watcher books. He was about to pick up one that looked like a journal when he heard his name.
******
"How did you know to do that?" Buffy asked in amazement.
William shrugged. "It just seemed like the most sensible thing to do. Get her to think about something else. Can’t concentrate on two things at once. Kind of like not being able to walk and chew gum at the same time."
"Yes! Of course!" Giles declared. "Break her concentration and the portal will close. It’s quite simple really."
"Glad you seem to think so, Giles," Buffy cracked.
William chuckled.
"Now we know how to close them," Dawn said with a grin. "But we still don’t know how I open them."
"I think I do Bit," William stated.
"How?"
Giles had discussed his suspicions with William the other night. Neither of them had complete proof as to the how, but William was certain after witnessing the event himself, that he did. "You were agitated and we were talking about Buffy. The next thing that happened was a portal appeared in front of Buffy. I’d wager that it happened the same way when you opened a portal to my room."
Dawn thought for moment. She couldn’t remember exactly what her and Buffy had been talking about. The excitement of the portal had overshadowed everything else that had happened that day.
"You’re right," Buffy said hesitantly. "We were arguing. About you."
William and Giles both nodded. "Good work, William," Giles said, patting the new watcher on his back. "Mystery solved for now. Shall we continue back to the Magic Box?"
"Wait," Dawn demanded. "You’re saying that all I have to do is think about something or someone and a portal will just open up there?"
"We’re not quite sure on the specifics yet Dawn..." Giles had started.
"So cool! I’ll just think about the Magic Box and open a portal," she said in a giddy tone. "That’s so much easier than walking there."
"No!" Giles shouted at her. "You cannot just go off opening portals whenever you feel the need. Firstly, we aren’t certain how stable they are, and secondly, you cannot attract attention to yourself. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, I get it," Dawn said defensively.
"Come on, Bit," William said, putting his arm around her. "Let’s go get lunch now." He led her back to town as Buffy and Giles looked on.
"We must watch her, Buffy," Giles said with a concerned tone. "Until we fully understand the ramifications."
Buffy nodded silently as she watched William and her sister walk away.
******
"Wesley?" Xander asked from the other side of the table.
"Xander! So good to see you again," Wesley stated as he stood up and extended his hand to Xander.
"So what brings you back to Sunnydale?" Xander asked, not bothering with the handshake.
Wesley dropped his arm down to his side. He thought maybe the young man had gotten over the past, apparently he was wrong. "Actually, I work here now. Across the street at the new law firm." He noticed Xander’s confused expression and added, "They deal with international trade agreements and such. I translate documents for them." He thought the cover sounded thin but it’s what Wolfram and Hart had decided upon.
"How lucky for us," Xander said dryly.
"Yes. Quite," Wesley said, looking down at the table. "I’m waiting for Rupert. Did you by chance see him on your way in?"
"Uh, that would be a no. And I’m not sure how happy he’s going to be to see you."
Wesley tried to smile. Had Harris always been this obstinate? As a teenager, the boy had gotten on his nerves, but he didn’t remember him being this annoying.
At that moment, Buffy and Giles entered the shop. Wesley was relieved. He didn’t want to be in Xander’s presence any longer. He was afraid he might hurt the young man.
******
Giles was stunned to see Wesley standing on the other side of the shop. The last that he had heard, Wesley was working with Angel in Los Angeles. He met Wesley’s gaze and smiled. He noticed immediately that something was different about the former watcher. Wesley seemed cold and hard, as if he had seen too many horrendous things in one life for his mind to handle; but there was something else there as well.
"Wesley?" Buffy asked incredulously. "What are you doing here?"
"I asked him the same thing, Buff," Xander said in a disgusted tone. "Mr. Stuffy Watcher here works across the street at the new law firm. Guess we’re stuck with him now."
"Good afternoon Buffy. Rupert," Wesley stated, still holding Giles’ gaze. "I wanted to stop by and talk to you for a bit. Let you know that I was back in town. Perhaps we could catch up?"
"Why don’t you catch up with the next bus out of town," Xander sneered.
"Xander that’s enough," Giles stated flatly. "Anya would you get Wesley a cup of tea and bring it into the office, please?" He motioned for Wesley to follow him. Once Anya brought in the tea, the door closed. Buffy and Xander stood out in the shop with eyebrows raised.
******
Wesley had left the shop by the time Dawn and William had come back from lunch. William was relieved that he didn’t have to deal with Xander for the time being but he knew that eventually the two would have to at least be civil. He didn’t blame the whelp for wanting to beat the living life out of him. He deserved it for what he had done to Buffy before he had left. However, Buffy had threatened Xander with death if he touched one hair on the watcher’s head, ever. He had been grateful to Buffy for her support. It was a little unexpected but nonetheless appreciated. The thought brought a smile to his lips.
"Hey smiley boy," Buffy said with a puckered brow. "Wanna share the happy?" She sat down in the seat next to him.
She had startled him out of his reverie. His mind was quickly racing to cover his true thoughts. "I was just thinking," he lied. "Of the look on Xander’s face when he saw me standing in front of him at the Bronze."
Buffy chuckled. "Good thing Giles and I were holding him back. If you were still a vampire I think he would have dusted you on the spot."
"I think you’re right," he said with a smile. "What can I do for you Ms. Summers?" He asked, trying to change the subject.
"Huh? Oh. Why I’m sitting here. Right."
He thought she seemed a little jumpy, even jittery. He wondered if she had been drinking too much coffee again. He raised his eyebrows, silently asking her to continue.
"Well Giles said that we needed to talk. Something about our dreams of the Master."
"You’ve been having them too?" He asked incredulously.
"Yeah," she said, unsure if she wanted to let on that he had been in her dreams as well. "He’s in a cave. The first time I had the dream, he started to feed on me. The second time..."
"The second time what?"
She took a deep breath. "The second time, you started fighting him."
William sat back in his chair to let it all sink in. "You were wearing a white tunic."
Her eyes widened. She nodded. "And you were wearing nothing but faded jeans."
They stared at one another for what seemed like minutes. Finally, William broke the silence. "I think we need to research this." He handed her one of the books he had been going through earlier and then tackled a thicker book. "First, we need to know if there is a prophecy that deals with the Master’s return."
"And secondly?" Buffy asked.
"Secondly," he said hesitantly. "We need to find out why we’re experiencing the same dreams."
******
"Are you ready, Heinrich?" Gavin asked with a smile. Everything was going as planned. His men had captured a fledgling vampire the previous night and had brought it to the apartment for Heinrich’s approval.
"I’m ready," the man stated coldly. "Let’s begin."
"Very well," Gavin stated as he had the fledgling brought into the darkened room. They had starved the young vampire on purpose so that it still had that same craving and blood lust as when it had awakened in its grave the night before.
Heinrich motioned for them to let it go. Gavin nodded his approval and the vampire was released. Heinrich glided over to it and stroked its face. "How would you like to become the most famous vampire in history?" He asked soothingly.
The vampire didn’t move. It only nodded slightly. It seemed entranced by Heinrich’s eyes.
"I will remember you fondly for what you’re about to do," Heinrich said, baring his neck to the fledgling. "Now feed." The fledgling did as commanded and stopped when Heinrich ordered him to.
Gavin stepped in and cut the vampire’s wrist so that Heinrich could suckle the fledgling’s blood.
Once the former master vampire had signaled he’d had enough, the fledgling continued to feed on him. Eventually Heinrich dropped to the floor dead.
Immediately, one of Gavin’s men staked the fledgling from behind. They then picked up Heinrich’s body to move it to the car. The body was to be transported quickly to a cave in the woods and buried. Then the ceremony would begin.
******
"William," Buffy said closing her book and gently closing his as well. "Before we start the research stuff, I-I need to talk to you."
William noticed that her tone had become serious as well as the expression on her face. "Is there something wrong? Are you alright?"
"I’m fine. It’s just that...Remember what you told me and Angel once?"
"Which time?" He laughed.
"When you came back to Sunnydale; after Dru had left you the first time..."
William tried to think. He remembered he had returned to town and had tried to make the witch cast a love spell so that he could get Drusilla back. "I vaguely remember, pet. It was a long time ago," he said shaking his head.
She looked at him trying to see if he was playing dumb or really didn’t remember. She decided that he didn’t remember and continued. "Well, you once said that Angel and I could never be friends."
He remembered the rest, "Right. And that you two would fight and shag and hate each other till it made you quiver. But you could never be friends because love wasn’t brains."
Buffy nodded her head slowly. "What I’m trying to say is, William, I don’t think we can ever be friends because I’m in..."
She didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence because they were interrupted by a voice from behind them.
"Buffy, have you seen Anya? I need to talk to..."
Both Buffy and William had turned their heads to see who had interrupted their chat. William’s eyes widened. Could it be? "Cecily?" He asked incredulously, believing his eyes were deceiving him.
"William, is that you?" Cecily cried.
"It’s me, luv!" He exclaimed as he quickly stood up.
"Oh William," she whispered as she ran to him and threw her arms around him.
Buffy watched in horror as the one thing that she hadn’t prepared herself for, happened.
