Part 21

"Wow, Fang, I love it," Faith told Angel as she and Giles arrived for dinner. She carried a few books with her, so that they could use them for research afterwards. Giles entered the home after her, also commenting on the decor.

"This is certainly an improvement over the mansion, I must say." Angel was pleased that Giles was willing to enter their home. He had regretted the lost of trust the watcher had in him before he had lost his soul and killed Jenny. The fact that Giles had accepted, not only the invitation for dinner, but also Angel's relationship with Willow went a long way in helping Angel forgive his past actions.

"Giles, you're here," Willow shouted as she entered the living room. "Hey Faith." The two new arrivals took in Willow's appearance, once again finding themselves amazed at the changes that had taken place in the young girl. He knew that many of them had come because of the betrayal that had taken place but he couldn't deny that they were good changes overall. In front of him stood a woman who knew what she wanted and would go to any length to get it.

"Of course We're here. You did invite us to dinner after all," Giles replied, a smile forming on his face.

"Yup, and G-man brought an after dinner present," Faith said.

"Really, what is it," Willow asked, curiously.

"Just something to drink," Giles answered, handing a bottle over to Angel, who looked at it over.

"This is an excellent year for brandy, Rupert," he said as he looked at the bottle of brandy that his guest had given him. "You shouldn't have gone to the trouble."

"It was no trouble really, " Giles assured the vampire. "It was just something that I had lying around the house."

"Just lying around the house," Angel said. "Man, I would love to see what else you have just lying around the house then." Angel then laughed, surprising Giles who had never seen the vampire so easy going before. (Must be Willow.)

"Yeah, well, what can I say. I have some really good friends." Giles smiled at Angel, feeling totally comfortable with the vampire for the first time since his return from hell.

"So, who wants a tour of the place?" Willow offered.

"I do," Faith replied. Giles nodded his head as he took the books from Faith and set them on the living room table.

"Well then come on," Willow waved for Faith to follow her. "Angel, do me a favor and check on the pasta. And put the bread in the over to warm."

"Ma'am, yes ma'am." The foursome laughed as Angel mock saluted the red head. Willow took Faith's arm, showing her around the home. Faith made no comment when she found out the Willow and Cordelia were sharing the same room with their respective vampires, just filing the information away for later use. Finally, Willow and Faith joined the men in the moon room.

"Oh, wow, I love this room. It's so cool," Faith said, awestruck as she looked up at the moon and stars.

"That's how I felt when I first saw it," Willow told the girl. "It's become my favorite room. But that could also be because this is where Angel and I first kissed." Willow turned a slight pink at that admission.

"Well, I can see where this would be a perfect place for that," Faith said, taking a seat next to Giles. Willow noted the closeness of the two, but didn't say anything about it, not sure if what she was thinking was possible. "So where are your two roomies?"

"Well, Spike and Cordy went out to get a few things. One being desert and two being dinner for Spike and Angel," Willow explained.

"We aren't actually going to have to watch you eat, are we?" Faith asked, not sure if she liked the idea of watching the two vampires drinking blood. She could tell by the stiffness in Giles' posture, that he did not relish that concept either.

"No, don't worry," Willow grinned, as Angel came to sit on the arm of the chair she was in. "The two of them will be good boys and eat pasta just like the rest of us."

"We promise to be on our best behavior Faith, don't worry," Angel told the brunette slayer. Faith and Giles both nodded. Angel decided to ask the question that the four housemates had discussed earlier in the day. "So, what happened last night after we left? Willow and Cordelia said that Buffy and the others went out of their way to avoid them today."

Giles took a deep breathe, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. "It wasn't a pretty sight. No sooner had the four of you left, then Buffy, Xander and Oz went on the attack. I never imagined that the three of them knew some of the, uh, colorful language that they had used to describe the prophecy and the fact that it appeared that the four of you had been fated to be together."

Faith snorted, "Tell me about it. Even I hadn't heard of some of the words they were using." Angel noticed Willow stiffen at the thought of her former friends possibly trying to do something to harm her and her friends. He put a reassuring hand on her shoulder to calm her.

"What did they do?" Before Giles answered, a voice called out from the inside of the home.

"Hello, where is everybody?"

"In the moon room Cordy," Angel replied. The foursome were quickly joined by Cordelia and Spike.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Cordelia asked. She then noticed the tension that seemed to have entered the room. "Okay, let's rephrase that question and say, what happened?"

"Giles was telling us about what happened after we left last night," Willow explained. "Apparently the others didn't take the news of the prophecy all that well."

"Bloody hell," Spike spat as he took Cordelia's hand. "What did they do?" Giles waited until Cordelia and Spike took a seat on the other chain in the room, Cordelia sitting on Spike's lap.

"It seems that the three of them are rather convinced that because the prophecy stated that the four of you were meant to get together because of a betrayal, that it would excuse their actions."

"Idiots," Spike grumbled. Cordelia shushed him, lightly hitting his arm. "Sorry."

"Nothing to apologize for, Spike," Giles replied, again surprised at his comfort at the presence of the blonde. "They are idiots and I am sad to say, completely uninterested in the fact that the four of you were meant to be together. If they took the chance to really look at you, they would see that you are made for each other. Even I can see that and you know how I feel about the two of you." Giles pointed to both Spike and Angel.

"So, what happens now?" Willow asked, quietly. While she knew that Buffy, Xander and Oz had all betrayed her trust, it was still her nature to not want to hurt someone.

Giles shook his head," I don't know. I'm afraid of what they might do. They insisted that there must be some kind of spell that has made you all fall in love with each, so there should be a spell that would break you apart."

"Rupert, this isn't a spell," Angel stated simply.

"I know and that's the worst part," Giles replied sadly. He saw the looks on the others faces and realized that they had taken his statement out of context. "That's not what I mean. What I mean is that because of their obsession with breaking you apart, they will do the damnedest to destroy your happiness."

"Giles, what should we do?" Cordelia asked. "What do you think would be the best way to handle this?"

"I wish I could tell you Cordelia," Giles said. "All I can do is let you know that I will do anything and everything in my power to help the four of you. I would be honored if you would allow me to be of any assistance that you may require."

"Count me in on that offer," Faith added.

Angel answered for the two couples, "Your offer is accepted gladly." As Angel said that, a timer went off in the kitchen, announcing the dinner was done.

The six people decided that they wanted to eat in the moon room since it was such a beautiful night out. The conversation ranged from everything including the latest in fashion(Cordelia), to tattoos(Faith and Spike) and British history(Angel, Giles And Spike). Everyone complimented Willow on the wonderful meal that she had provided as they all grew more comfortable with each other. Faith and Giles could see how close the housemates were and envied them the ability to find so much happiness after what had happened. The group researched the prophecy and found nothing that appeared to help them in what was about to come. The only useful thing that came out of the research was the fact that it had been agreed upon that the fact the three that would come to try and harm them, were in fact the three that had also brought them together. Eventually it was time for Giles and Faith to go home, Giles volunteering to drop Faith off at her motel. The six people bid goodnight, never knowing that on the other end of town, three people were plotting to tear them apart with the help of a little spell that they had discovered.
 
 
 

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