New Beginnings

By PSUBrat

Truce

Xander and Anya made their way into the Bronze to find a table. Buffy and Dawn were supposed to meet up with them later and fill them in on the new guy. A band was supposed to play tonight so the place was going to be packed; hence the need to get there early and stake their claim. Xander steered Anya towards a table at the back of the room. It was still early enough for Happy Hour so Xander decided to take full advantage of the "All you can eat" special. After piling his plate high with several items, he returned to the table to hang out until Buffy arrived.

"So do you think they're talking to the new watcher right now?" Xander asked Anya with a mouth full of food.

"Probably. Giles had been pretty insistent on not having anyone else there. I couldn't even total today's receipts!" She was beside herself not knowing how much cash was in the drawer. She knew she should have counted it as it came in. It wasn't fair. Silent partner. Right. Silent meant no talking. Instead, whenever he came to town he used the Magic Box as his gathering area; which usually meant she had to shut it down. Hopefully, this would be his last trip to the States.

Xander stopped in mid-chew and looked over at his girlfriend. At the moment he looked like a chipmunk storing it's food. "An, I'm sure you'll be able to count your money first thing in the morning." After a few more chews and a swallow he added, "Besides, I'm more concerned about this new guy. I don't want another Wesley hanging around."

Anya hadn't heard anything that Xander had just said. She was too busy studying the Asian man that had walked in and taken a seat in one of the chairs to their left. There was something about him…

***

Buffy began punching the workout bag with quick, forceful jabs. Beating something up, even if it was just a bag, was therapeutic for her. The more she thought about what had just happened in the shop, the more forceful her punches became. She began adding a few kicks along with the jabs.

"So he left us and went to Africa." *Punch* "Wanted to get a soul so I would love him." *Kick* "Couldn't write or call could he?" *Jab left* *Jab right* "Just shows up and expects me to accept him being my watcher? *Punch* "Too damn bad." *Back kick* Her last kick resulted in the bag being hurled across the training room.

"Guess I'm gonna have to have Xander fix that again," she sighed.

She had been so engrossed in beating up the bag that she hadn't heard the door open or the approaching footsteps. "Buffy," William said quietly, "We need to talk."

She looked up at him, the tear stains on her cheek evident along with others threatening to spill over at any second. "Spike. William. Whatever. I don't have anything to say to you."

"No. And that's quite all right. I have some things that I want to say to you."

Her shoulders slumped and she lowered her head. "Fine." She wasn't sure she liked this new Spike. He seemed more refined.

"First. I want to apologize for what happened the night I left. I know that saying sorry isn't going to make up for what I did that night, to you. I'm ashamed that I hurt you."

She could hear his voice catch in his throat when he tried to apologize. One look in his beautiful blue eyes told her that he was sincere. But she still had a lot of anger in her. "You're right. It's going to take more than an apology to make things right, Spike." She put her hands on her hips and looked down at her feet. She'd better do this before she lost all nerve. She looked up at him determined to get through the next few moments. "What you did to me, what you tried to take from me, was wrong," she hesitated as her mind took her back to that night, "but, I had no right to do the things I did to you. I'm sorry too."

William's eyes grew large when he realized what she had just said. Had the Slayer actually apologized to him? He tilted his head and looked at her. He took in every contour of her face. She was still just as beautiful as when he left, even more so if that were possible. She wouldn't make eye contact with him. "Buffy," he said at a loss for words, "thank you."

She looked up into his amazing blue eyes. She wanted to tell him how she felt. That she had missed him, but before she could say anything, he continued.

"I know that we can never go back to the relationship that we once had. I have no desire to actually. It was too painful, Buffy. I want you to know, that from my end, our relationship will be strictly a working relationship. I hope that at some point, we will be able to friends." He hesitantly extended his hand and waited for her to shake it.

Buffy was stunned. Had he just admitted that he didn't want a romantic relationship with her any longer? She looked at his hand and then looked into his eyes. She couldn't read him. She used to be able to look into his eyes and see how much he loved her. Now there was nothing. She sighed and met his hand with her's. Dawn had been right. His hand was warm. Suddenly she was overwhelmed with her feelings for him. She was so lost in them that she hadn't even noticed that he was trying to remove his hand from her grip.

"Buffy," William asked placing his left hand on her shoulder, "are you alright?"

"Huh? Yeah. Sorry," she said releasing him and nodding her head, "Truce."

William smiled warmly at her. Perhaps they could be friends after all.

***

Giles watched with interest as Buffy and William wandered into the shop together and sat back down at the table. They had both been in the back room for quite a while. Things seemed to be at least cordial between them. He sighed. He still had his reservations about William being Buffy's watcher, but he really didn't have much say in the matter since the decision had been made and the man was now here. He was confident that Buffy would accept this change eventually, but for now he would help to smooth things over. He cleared his throat and stood up while taking his glasses off. "Buffy, Dawn and I have talked at great length about the portal. I believe that I may have an answer for how they appear. However, I'm not quite certain as to the why. William, I'm going to need your help with some research."

William nodded his head, took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. He was getting used to being a researcher. It wasn't all that different from what he did as a human the first go around.

Buffy was amazed at how eager Spike looked to get to the books. William, she corrected herself. He goes by William now. "Well Dawnie, what say we head over to the Bronze and meet up with Xander and Anya?"

Dawn looked at Giles who nodded to her silently. "Can I invite Steven?" She asked Buffy.

Buffy sighed. "I suppose. But no sucking face, understand?"

Dawn smiled and ran over to the phone to call the teen.

"Uh," William asked, "Who's this bloke then that my Niblet is calling?"

"Her boyfriend," Buffy said rolling her eyes.

"What," he asked incredulously, "Are you daft? She's too young to be dating. I know what boys that age want. And it's not just a walk in the park. I…"

Buffy started laughing.

"What? What's so bleeding funny Slayer?"

"You! Here you are; the scourge of Europe, all refined and Giles-y like, all worried about a 17 year old boy." She couldn't stop laughing.

He was about to say something back to her when Dawn returned to the table. "So Niblet," he said, eyeing her curiously, "what's this I hear you have a boyfriend." Dawn blushed and nodded. She was grinning from ear to ear. William didn't like that look. Not on his young Niblet.

"Wanna come with us?" Dawn asked with a grin.

"Will this Steven be there?" William asked with a frown.

"Uh huh. And it would probably be a good way for us to introduce you to Xander and Anya. Cause the Bronze is a public place. I don't think Xander would do anything to you there."

"Dawn. I think Giles needs William to help him with research right now," Buffy cautioned.

"Why don't we all go?" Giles suggested figuring that nothing would get done this evening anyway. Not with William's worry about Dawn's dating habits.

They all looked at Buffy and waited for her response. It probably was best for them to have Xander meet William in public since Xander would less likely make a scene that way. "Fine," she said finally. "Let's go."

"Right then," William said with a grin, "That's all settled. Off we go."

The foursome gathered their things and headed out the door into the night.

***

Gavin sat back in the comfortable chair to take in his surroundings. So, this was the infamous Bronze that he had been briefed on. It didn't look like much from the outside but it was a different story on the inside. He let his eyes peruse the room. It wasn't full yet, but it was getting there. It seemed that everyone from town showed up here sooner or later. He noticed a young couple sitting to his right. They seemed to be engrossed in some sort of conversation that he wasn't privy to. It looked pretty serious and he thought they looked familiar to him.

He took his palm pilot out of his shirt pocket and scanned through the photos that he had downloaded before leaving his office. After the second photo, the right face appeared along with the following information:

Name: Anyanka. AKA Anya Jenkins
Age: Unknown
Occupation: Part owner of the Magic Box and a Vengeance demon
General Information: Part of the 'Scooby Gang'. Became human in 1998 after a wish gone wrong. Once engaged to Alexander LaVelle Harris (AKA Xander). Left at altar by said fiancé in 2002 and returned to her demon roots. Loves money.

Gavin smiled as he stole another glance at the animated couple. "Hello Anya," he said to himself with a grin. And the guy with her must be Xander. Quite an unusual moniker for Alexander. He also thought it unusual that the two had remained friends despite the halted nupts. He then turned his attention to Xander's information:

Name: Alexander LaVelle Harris. AKA Xander.
Age: 21
Occupation: Construction site foreman.
General Information: Part of the core group of the 'Scoobies'. Once romantically involved with Cordelia Chase. Former fiancé of Anya Jenkins (AKA Anyanka). Unhappy childhood due to alcoholic parents. Probably the weakest link.

Gavin studied the information closely, looking for something that he could use against the couple at a later date. He slid the handheld back into his pocket and picked up his drink. This was going to be so much fun. Too bad Lilah couldn't join him. Such a shame.

***

"Xander," Anya said in hushed voice trying to get his attention, "Xander!"

"What?" He was still eating.

"The guy behind us, to our left; there's something strange about him. Do you recognize him?"

Xander slowly turned his head to check out the man that Anya was referring to... "The Asian dude…?"

"Yes. Him."

He watched while the man slipped something into his breast pocket. He turned back to Anya and shook his head. "Nope. Never saw him before. Maybe he's new in town."

"Oh," she said enthusiastically, "I should go give him a business card and welcome him to Sunnydale."

"Sure An. Why don't you do that?" He picked up another hot wing and was about to devour it when he caught site of Buffy coming into the Bronze. And she wasn't alone.

***

They had decided that William would walk behind Giles as much as possible until they got to the table. Once there, Giles and Buffy would flank Xander as Dawn introduced the new Watcher. Buffy hoped that things wouldn't get out of hand. She hated the thought of maybe having to hit Xander. She found Xander and Anya as soon as the small group entered the Bronze. Xander was waving to her and straining to see who she had brought along. She took a deep breath as they made their final approach to the table.

"Hey Buff," Xander said with a smile. "Bring some party guests with you?"

"Hi Xander," she said making her way over to his side and putting her arm around him. "Hey Anya."

"Hi Buffy," Anya replied, "Giles. Dawn." From her angle she could see the new Watcher. He looked very familiar. She tilted her head and her eyes grew large as she started to process the information. She looked at Buffy who silenced her by putting her finger to her lips. Anya nodded.

Giles stepped out of the way and quickly made his way over to Xander's side. "Good evening Xander," he said with a slight smile. The distraction had been enough.

Dawn cleared her throat. "Xander and Anya, I'd like you to meet Buffy's new watcher…"

"Spike," Xander demanded. "Is that you?" His body tensed. He tried to get out of his seat but Buffy and Giles held him firm. "You son of a …"

"Spike is dead Xander," Dawn stated cutting him off, "This is William. William Giles."

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