A/N: Thanks to my wonderful beta AthenaHahn.
And thanks to all you wonderful readers and reviewers.


Smiling gently to offset the harshness of her words, Buffy continued. “You and I will discuss the sword, and perhaps my life, at a later date Mr. Giles.  None of us has the time for such a venture currently.”

 

Giles cleared his throat and opened his mouth to start arguing when Joyce jabbed him in the ribs with her finger.  “She said later, Rupert.  Don’t start on her or you won’t like the consequences!”

 

Glancing sheepishly at Joyce, Giles sighed and nodded. “Yes dear.  I’ll try and curb my curiosity.”

 

Anya started laughing and remarked, “That is something I’d never thought I’d ever see.  Giles not allowed to be asking questions!”

 

The rest of the gang snickered and giggled as Giles stammered and began to furiously polish his glasses.  “Right, just you wait.  I’ll save up some particularly embarrassing ones for later.  At least one for each of you sniggering prats.”

 

Buffy watched the goings on with an indulgent smile on her face.  Then she happened to glance at Spike, and found herself drowning in his crystalline blue eyes.  The burning heat she found in his gaze lit a fire within her, startling her.  With a great deal of effort Buffy tore her gaze from Spike’s and cleared her throat.

 

Spike noticed the startlement in Buffy’s gaze and realized he had allowed at least some of his thoughts to show in his eyes.  Smirking to himself he thought, ‘oh yeah, I still have it.’

 

Everyone glanced back at Buffy when she cleared her throat, the laughter dying on their lips when they saw the determination and hardness within her eyes.

 

Anya was the first to find her voice. “Oh, I bet I know what you want Elizabeth .  You want to know what’s going on here, who we are, and what we are doing.  Am I right?”

 

“Close Anya, very close.   The personal histories of you and your friends can wait for a better time.  However, there are two things I must know immediately, before I tell you why I am here.” Buffy stated in a soft, yet compelling tone.

 

Deliberately keeping his voice low and smoky, Spike asked, “And what would those two things be, Luv?”

 

Darting a glance sideways at Spike, Buffy replied, “First, I want to know who Rupert Giles is, and why he keeps calling Joyce dear and darling.”  She speared Giles with a glance, her green eyes seeming to pin him in place, and Giles felt as though he was her prey.

 

“Uhh, yes.  Right.  Well umm…” Giles began to stutter and glance around as if looking for help.

 

With a devilish glint in her eyes, Dawn piped up.  “He’s dating Mom.  Always making with the puppy eyes and kissy faces at her.  It’s utterly revolting.”

 

“DAWN!” Joyce exclaimed, her eyes wide and darting from Dawn, to Giles and then to Buffy, and back to Dawn again.  “Somehow I don’t think that’s quite what she meant.”

 

“No, Joyce.  That’s exactly what I meant.  I failed you when it came to Hank Summers, I won’t fail you again.”  Everyone heard the implied threat in Buffy’s voice, and even Spike shuddered at what it might mean for the Watcher.

 

“Right then.  I suppose I should explain myself and my intentions towards your daughter.”  Giles’ voice took on the inflections of his a polite Englishman.  “Madam, I love Joyce with all my being, and would do anything to keep both her and Dawn safe.”

 

“Even if that means letting them go?” Buffy queried softly.

 

“Whatever do you mean” Giles asked.

 

“If it was in their best interests to leave Sunnydale, go somewhere safer, away from you, would you let them leave?  Despite how much you might want them to stay?”  Everyone could see the honesty and concern in Buffy’s eyes.

 

Giles whipped his glasses off his face and jabbed them in Buffy’s direction.  “Now see here young lady, I have tried to get Joyce to take Dawn and leave town.  She refuses to do so.  What would you have me do, force them at gun point to board the bus out of town?”

 

Buffy’s eyes narrowed piercingly at Giles, her entire focus centered on him.  Almost as one the people in the room gasped as her pupils narrowed, becoming catlike slits.  Giles felt himself pale and wondered if he’d survive the encounter.

 

Joyce jumped to her feet, placing herself between Giles and Buffy. “Now Mother...” she began, only to start laughing as Buffy herself started to chuckle her entire body relaxing in the chair.

 

“You all look like I was about to eat him.  Trust me, I find English food rather… bland.”  Buffy giggled.

 

After giving Giles a few moments to compose himself, Buffy continued, “I like you, despite the Watcherness I sense in you.  Want to explain that part to me?  Cause I got to say, dying of curiosity here.”

 

Before Giles could say anything, Willow and Tara stood up, looking sheepish.  “Tara and I have classes in the morning, so we’d better go.  It was nice to meet you Buffy, and I hope you’ll stick around long enough go to the Bronze with us.”

 

Tara smiled shyly. “I enjoyed meeting you too, Buffy.”

 

Nodding to the two witches, Buffy told them she’d be around for a while, and she looked forward to seeing the Bronze.

 

Taking a cue from the girls, Xander stood up and dragged Anya with him.  “Ahn and I had better go too.  I have work tomorrow and Anya has to open the shop.  Remember Ahn?  That place where you talk the nice people into giving you their money?”

 

“Oh yes, I must get some rest so I can work and make money.  But don’t think I’m going to let you go to sleep without giving me at least 3 orgasms, Xander.” Anya’s voice trailed off as Xander pulled her out the door.

 

“I see Anyanka hasn’t changed in the past century,” Buffy remarked quietly to herself.  “Money and sex, its all she ever did think about, really.”  Turning her attention back to the others, she regarded Giles with a steady expression.  “So, Watcher.  Are you going to explain the details of your posting here in Sunnydale?  Or am I going to have to take a stab at it?”