Part 5

"Giles!" Willow moved forward, hugging the older man tightly.

"I'm glad you could come" Giles said softly into her hair. "Willow. Too
tight. Hurt."

"Oh goddess. I'm so sorry" Willow said, pulling back. She looked into
his amused eyes and mock glared at him.

"You look well" he said, taking in her beauty. It was still so strange
to see her looking the exact same as she did all those months ago. "You
didn't have to come."

"I know. But, hey. I can't die so I might have an advantage on these
people. You think it's the council?"

Giles grimaced, "I'm pretty sure it is. There have been so many internal
changes these last few months. They killed Buffy."

"I know" Willow said softly. "And they almost got you and Faith."

"Are you alone?" he asked suddenly.

She smiled, "Of course not. They won't let me go to the bathroom alone much
less fly halfway across the world."

"I heard that pet" a teasing voice said from the doorway. Spike came in,
putting his arm around her shoulders, "Watcher. You look better."

"William." Giles nodded. "Spike, I mean."

Spike shrugged, "Eh, either one." He turned to Willow, "Angelus found
out some stuff. You up for seeing him?"

"Angelus is here?" Giles said, shock in his voice.

She nodded, "He and Dru wanted to help. As I said, where I go, they go.
Let him in, Spike."

Angelus came in, glancing at the watcher in disgust. He couldn't believe
he was helping a slayer and her watcher. Only for Red. "It is the
council. Well, a part of the council. They are trying to start a war of
sorts is the word on the streets. Certain people want more control.
Usual human bullshit."

"Ahem" Willow said, glancing at him.

"Well, most human" he corrected at her look. He looked at the watcher,
"From what I've heard, several of the better watchers and the hopeful
slayers have been killed. You and the brunette bitch got lucky."

Giles nodded, "Yes, we did. They are going after Xander and Cordelia
also though. Because of their connection to us. Willow, would you hand
me the phone?"

"Who are you calling?" she asked curiously.

Giles smiled slightly, "The only person I feel that we can trust. Also,
the only one that may be able to help us."

She laid back against Spike as he dialed. She watched as Angelus left
the room, ready to roam around. He was like a caged lion anytime he was
forced to remain inside. If it was his choice, he was content for days.
Typical man. She listened in shock as Giles spoke.

"It's Ripper. I need you Ethan. Now."
 
 

Part 6

"Ethan." Giles nodded at the man.

Ethan smiled, "Rupert. Nice of you to call."

"You got here quickly." Giles paused, "Thank you."

Ethan had to laugh, "Ripper old man. Why did you call me here? And what
is with the secrecy?"

"This is your big answer?" Faith asked, coming into the room. She let
her eyes roam over the older man. He was attractive, she'd give him
that. She also sensed something between him and her watcher. Intrigued,
she let her dark eyes look between them both.

"Who is the little bitch?" Ethan asked, his eyes raking over her body.

"Faith, meet Ethan. Ethan, this is my slayer."

"She's the slayer? What happened to the little blonde?" Ethan looked at
Giles in surprise.

"She's dead" Giles said quietly. "They got her."

Faith sat down next to her watcher, her hand moving to get him some of
his medicine. She watched him closely to make sure he took it all. She
let her eyes go back to Ethan. Not bad at all. "You think he can help?"

Giles nodded, "I honestly believe he may be the only one we can trust."

Ethan sat down, his eyes looking at the serious expression on Rupert's
face, "Who is they?"

"The council. They're after us." Faith said, testing him.

"Bloody marvelous. Ripper is going against the council." Ethan laughed,
"No wonder you thought of me."

"Will you help?" Giles asked, his eyes looking steadily at Ethan.

Ethan became serious, "You shouldn't have to ask that, Ripper."

"Thank you" Giles said quietly. He glanced at Faith, noticing how close
she was sitting. "I will let you fill him in, Faith. I am feeling rather
tired."

Faith watched him go, concern in her eyes. Looking back at Ethan, she
saw a similar expression on his face. Sitting back, she smiled, "So, how
long have you been in love with Giles?"

Ethan looked at her quickly and then started laughing. Yes, he liked
this one.
 

Part 7

"You were right, Ripper" Ethan said, setting a file on the table.

Willow looked over at the man, studying him. There was something shifty
about him, but she had a feeling that he could be trusted. He seemed to
really care about Giles. She had also noticed him getting closer to
Faith. There was definitely something kinky going on among those three.

"About?" Giles asked, sighing. He couldn't believe it. A week of Ethan
back in his life and he was already cavorting with not only his old
friend but his own slayer. Faith had pushed the issue three days before,
bringing up old memories. Things had gotten out of hand...now he had two
lovers. He shook his head slightly. Only Ethan could corrupt him so
easily.

"The coucil. Half of the uptight prisses are no longer fighting for the
good of evil."

"They're fighting for the good of themselves" Angelus said. He and the
human sorcerer had spent several hours researching and calling contacts.
>From what they had both heard, they had managed to piece together a
rather disturbing image of the council.

"Great. Just what we need. Greedy tweed wearers" Xander muttered.

"Do we have any idea who is good and who isn't?" Giles asked.

Ethan shook his head, "From Angelus and my contacts, we were able to
figure out some definites, but there are so many watchers."

"It is suppose to go very very high up" Angelus said, letting his gaze
find Dru, Spike and Willow. Only for him would he be trying to save a
damn slayer and her kinky watcher. Why should those three humans get all
the fun? He wanted Willow very much as did Dru. Why couldn't his family
have their own wild kinky sex orgy? Just his luck. Helping the good guys
without the perks.

"Bloody great" Spike said, rubbing Willow's arm. He had caught his sire
watching her more lately. He knew it was inevitable that they were going
to share with Angelus. It was part of the vampire family. He had tried
to be selfish and keep her to himself. He knew though that nothing would
happen until she was ready. He knew Angelus would respect that. Of
course, he had also caught his redhead's eyes on Angelus lately,
especially when his sire was walking around half nude all the bloody
time. Friggin show off. All in time, he knew. All in time.

"So, we're still on our own. I can't contact the council and tell them I
didn't die because we don't know who to trust. Marvelous." Giles said,
rubbing his head.

"We could go in and slaughter the whole lot. Start over with new
watchers." Angelus said, violence in his eyes.

"Uh...no" Willow said, smiling at her lover's sire. She let her eyes
trail over his broad chest before settling on Giles. "We can draw them
out. Let them know you are alive and in hiding. They don't have to know
we're here. We wait and see who comes to collect you. Then, we
slaughter."

Xander laughed, "Damn Wills. Hanging around the undead has sure made you
violent."

"I actually agree with Willow's plan. If they are dead, they can't kill
us" Cordelia pointed out.

"It does have merits, lover" Faith said, smiling at Giles.

Ethan just laughed, "I love mass mayhem. Slaughter it is."

Giles just shook his head. He had to admit, the idea did sound rather
delicious. They had killed Buffy after all. Tried to kill him and the
others. They should die. He gave a sigh of relief. At least they had a
tentative plan, no matter how unusual it may be.
 
 

Part 8

"What are you thinking?" Spike asked softly, his hand rubbing Willow's
arm.

"How lucky I am" she said honestly. She looked up at him, her green eyes
gazing into his eyes, "I love you, you know."

Spike grinned, "I know. Me too pet."

She hit his arm, "Me too? Is that all I get? After hours of making love,
all I get is a me too?"

He chuckled, kissing her deeply. He pulled away, staring at her flushed
face, "I love you, Red. Can't imagine life without you. Am the luckiest
undead bastard around for having you by my side. You are my sun, my
moon, my stars."

Willow giggled, "Enough already. You just had to say the three magic
words."

He looked at her, his hand brushing a stray lock of hair from her face,
"I feel it, even if I don't say it. We aren't very known for expressing
our emotions, luv. Well, except for the violence and anger."

"I know Spike. I see it in your eyes as you watch me....in your hands as
you touch me....in your kiss as you taste me....in the tolerant way you
put up with the others instead of breaking their necks like pencils."

He kissed her again, "You're babbling pet. Time to get some sleep. Long
day tomorrow. The watcher starts setting the trap."

"Ok. Sleep. Sleep is good." Willow snuggled closer to him, her hand on
his nude chest. She closed her eyes and drifted off. Spike held her
close as he watched her even breathing until sleep claimed him.
 

Next