Giles had never been much of a skeptic when it came to demons and strange happenings. He had learned early on that almost anything was possible and one should never underestimate others. But standing here, looking at his slayer, presumably from the future, he was starting to have his doubts.

“And you’re sure this is you?” he asked past Buffy.

They were standing in the kitchen, talking rather quietly. Riley, future Buffy, and Spike were sitting in the living room.

“Well, she looks like me, sounds like me. I don’t know, Giles. It’s weird, but there’s something about her.”

“Do you feel any sort of connection to her?”

“I guess. I can’t really explain it. But I have this bad feeling. Maybe it’s them…maybe it’s what sent them here. I don’t know.”

Giles nodded. “We’ll have to keep a watch on them.”

“You can do that. It is your job after all. You know…watching.”

He frowned at her.

“Well, I can’t keep them at my house. We don’t want them getting near mom or Dawn. In case they are evil.”

“Point.”

“What should we do?”

“I suppose we talk to them. See what we can find out.”

She followed him out of the kitchen.

“So, what’s the verdict?” future Buffy asked.

“Beg your pardon?” Giles asked.

“Do you believe us?”

“I’ll admit, it is a bit outrageous, but not unheard of. And you two seem genuine enough.”

“Thanks ever so,” Spike said sarcastically, earning him a slap on the arm from Buffy.

“What do you think is happening?”

“I'm not sure. I don’t know very much about time travel. I’ve heard stories, and read about it happening, but as far as I can tell, it’s rare. Demons have to have quite a bit of power to even open a portal through time, much less control it. Did anything or anyone else come through?”

Buffy shook her head. “I don’t think so. As far as I know it was just me and Spike.”

“So, were you guys in the cemetery? In the future…before it wasn’t the future…” past Buffy asked, making a face at her own words.

“No. We were at my house; in the basement. We were walking up the stairs when we heard something. Turned around, and there was the demon.”

“And next thing we know, we’re waking up here,” Spike added.

“That’s very odd,” Giles said. “Why do you suppose the demon would attack you in your home? Did you do something to upset it?”

“Not that I know of. I’d never even seen a demon like that before.”

“Can you describe it?”

“Uh, well, it was big and ugly and yellowish with green eyes I think. Oh, and it had a stick.”

“A stick?”

“You know…like a magic…stick. It was blue.”

“Like a Merlin kinda deal?” past Buffy asked.

“Yeah, sort of. That may have been what it used to open the portal. I didn’t really see much. There was just this big flash of light.”

“Wait,” Giles said. “Merlin. There’s something.” He walked over to his book shelf and scanned the books. When he found the book he was looking for, he pulled it out and flipped through the pages. He stopped on one page. “Here.” He showed it to past Buffy and Spike. “Is this it?”

“Yeah,” Buffy said. “What is it?”

“It’s a Swinboc.”

“A huh?”

“Swinboc. They’re very ancient. There hasn’t been a report of one for hundreds of years.”

“So, what does this swimmy demon thing do?”

Giles rolled his eyes at her attempt at the name. She certainly had that in common with his Buffy.

“They’re like genies. They grant wishes to those who free them.”

“Like from a lamp?” past Buffy asked.

“I suppose it’s possible. That’s where the whole genie in a bottle legend got started. But they can be confined into almost any object; talismans, rings, and even silverware sometimes.”

“Wait, talismans?” Buffy looked at Spike. “You don’t think it was in that thing Angel gave us?”

He shrugged and reached into his pocket. The trinket was still there, so he pulled it out and handed it to her. She showed it to Giles.

“Angel?” past Buffy asked.

“Yeah. He brought it to me to use for…saving the world purposes.”

“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Giles said taking it from her and examining it.

“Is there anyway to tell if it used to have a demon inside it?”

“There could be remnants of demon essence around the object. A simple spell could probably tell us if anything demonic was ever contained it here.”

“Willow,” past Buffy suggested. “She could do the spell.”

“Yes, but we shouldn’t wake her tonight. I don’t believe any of us are in exceptional danger.”

“So, if this demon guy is like a genie, then why didn’t he ask us what we wished for. Isn’t that how it usually works. Three wishes?”

“They’re typically telepathic.”

“In other words, he just knew what we wanted?”

“It’s possible.”

Future Buffy contemplated this. If the demon really had known what she wanted, then why wouldn’t the First just be dead? Why the hell would it send her to the past? Unless, what she wanted was a second chance to change everything. She could even prevent the First from ever resurfacing, could stop her own death.

“You think this things what sent us here then?” Spike asked.

“No, I wouldn’t say so. Genies have the ability to grant wishes, but to mess with time…seems a little out of their league.”

“Alright then, what could do it?” he asked.

“A witch,” Riley said.

Everyone looked at the soldier who had been quiet up until this moment.

“A witch could do it. Professor Walsh once had a whole department dedicated to the study of witches and warlocks. Some of them are very powerful.”

“Giles?”

“He’s right I'm afraid. We could very well be dealing with a powerful Wicca.”

“And I'm guessing that won’t be a walk in the park?” future Buffy asked.

“Hardly.”

The idea of facing a powerful witch did not appeal to Buffy…s…at all. Future Buffy knew how Willow had gotten when she went all dark after Tara died. If that was any indication of how this witch would be, she wanted to avoid a confrontation at all costs.

“Alright. It’s getting late. I say we call it a night. Tomorrow we’ll do research, get Willow on it. Maybe then we can figure out who, or what, is really doing this,” past Buffy said.

“I think that’s a good plan,” Riley said.

They both stood up.

“What about us? Where are we gonna stay?” future Buffy asked.

“You two can stay here. Buffy can stay in the guest room, and Spike…you can take the couch,” Giles said.

Spike made a face. He’d slept on that couch before and it was none to comfortable.

“Joy.”

“He could be making you sleep outside,” Riley told him.

Spike glared at him.

“Giles,” past Buffy asked, “Are you sure? I was only kidding about you watching.”

“I’ll be fine. I'm becoming more and more that this Buffy and you are the same person. And as for Spike, as long as he’s still got that chip in his head, he couldn’t hurt me if he wanted to.”

Future Buffy and Spike shared a look.

“Right.”
-------------------------------

Spike stared at the ceiling. Watcher boy really needed to rethink his color scheme. Peach ceilings did not go well with the rest of the place. He sighed and rolled onto his side. He really needed to get some sleep. It would be morning soon and they would have to face the rest of the scoobys. Plus, he had yet to run into himself, and he was sure that would make for an interesting conversation. ‘Hey, mate. I'm you from the future, and guess what? You’re still a pathetic love sick wanker.’

He tried to will himself to sleep, but it wasn’t working. And this lumpy couch wasn’t helping matters any. Oh, what he wouldn’t give to be in the slayer’s bed. That was where he was supposed to be tonight. Not on Rupert’s couch…alone. Stupid genie demon. Couldn’t fate even let him have one night?

He was pulled out of his thought by the sound of quiet footsteps on the stairs. He looked to see Buffy approaching him.

“Hey,” she said walking over to where he was.

“Shouldn’t you be asleep right about now?” he asked her.

“That was the plan. I just can’t seem to get comfortable. Besides, I can’t stop thinking about the First and all of its evil plans.” She sat down beside him on the couch.

“I’m with you there, Slayer. I can’t sleep either.”

“I think it’s this place.”

“Giles’?”

“No, I mean…here in the past. Everything’s just so…I don’t know.”

“Insane?”

“Yeah. And we still don’t really know why we’re here. I just wish things would be simple for once.”

“You should know better than that, luv. Wishful thinking is no ones friend.”

She smiled. “Specially not mine.”

“Preaching to the choir, pet.”

She was silent a moment, lost in her own thoughts.

“Would you mind if I stayed with you tonight?” she asked suddenly.

“Are you sure that would be a good idea, luv? What if Giles, or other you, sees you with me?”

“They won’t. I won’t. I’m smarter than myself…now. And I’m sneakier too.”

“You lost me, pet.”

“Please.”

“Alright.”

He shifted over on the couch and she crawled in beside him. She snuggled up to him and he put his arms around her.

“What do you think is going to happen to us?” she asked.

“I don’t know.”

“This is part where you’re supposed to say that we’re gonna be fine. Everything’s gonna be fine. We’re gonna make it back to the future, and kick the First’s ass, and live happily ever after.”

“Okay, what you said.”

She smiled against his chest.

“Thanks, Spike.”

“Anytime, pet, anytime.”