Chapter 8

Buffy woke up with a smile on her face; she got out of bed giddily and proceeded with her morning routine. As soon as she reached the door of her charge’s room inside the mansion, she heard activity coming from within. As she opened the door she saw father and daughter by the veranda as William tried pointing out the terrain of the whole street to his daughter.

She slid the glass panel open and knocked softly to announce her presence. William looked back with Prudence tucked securely under his arm. “Hey”, he cleared his throat, “She woke up early, started crying…I thought I’d stay with her for a while” he defended his presence. Buffy nodded in understanding as she offered to take Prue but he turned back to the landscape overlooking the balcony. “See that green hill, princess. Daddy’s gonna build you a castle atop that hill someday… Wouldn’t you like that?”

Buffy went back inside to tidy up the room as William trailed off. It had been the first time William willingly went into her daughters room to spend some time with her and she’s not gonna get in the way of that.

Later as she was finished changing the sheets, William came out from the balcony with a sleeping Prue in his shoulder. “She fell asleep” he whispered as he continued to sway her back and forth. “She hadn’t finished her milk and she fell back to sleep again.”

“She must have been tired,” Buffy concluded as she tuck the last sheet in. “It’s almost lunch, let me take her and start on her porridge just in case she wakes up hungry.” But William decided to tuck her in himself. “I think you should start getting ready for the office, Sir. Faith had been calling nonstop.”

“You can call me William. And had she?” he asked as he and Buffy walked out the room shutting the door behind them as they made their way down the hall.

William fished his cell phone out of his pocket as she punched in some numbers. “Faith-“ Before he could get anything in one could hear the voice of his secretary straining his ear. “Yes-…yes” he answered patiently. “Faith!” he said which caused the voices to stop booming. “I’d like to have all my appointments cancelled and won’t be taking any phone calls,” he looked at Buffy as if awaiting her reaction. As soon as he had finished the voice started booming in again, “Faith, please just reschedule them” with then he flipped the phone successfully cutting the chattering of voices on the other line. “So I was thinking-“

“You’re not going to the office?” Buffy interrupted.

“Actually, I just wanted to sit in all day and do absolutely nothing.” Buffy looked at him astound as if weighing the idea. William couldn’t help but grin at her naivety. “You’re just adorable, pet!” he said mindlessly as they descended the stairs. Buffy followed behind him a bit startled. “So I was wondering, if you have no plans with Prue today, I’d love to take you guys out.”

“Oh really?” William raised one brow in reply. “Well,” Buffy started, “we were supposed to play outside or lock ourselves up in her room and bore ourselves with toys we have repeatedly played with,” she shook her head, “we couldn’t possibly give that up for a day out with you, who I might add have cleared your whole schedule for.” She went pass the swinging doors of the kitchen a bright smile on her face.

“That’s good to hear” William matched her expression, “We’ll leave after lunch? That good?” Buffy nodded in approval. “Great. You guys start getting ready then. Willow,” he called the redhead over who was just sitting at the kitchen island having breakfast with Giles. “Can you come with me for a while; I’ll just need you to pack a few things up.” Willow hastily rose from her seat and followed William out the door.

“He taking you out?” Giles inquired as he sat at the bench nursing his cup of tea.

“Me and Prue actually.”

“Well that’s something…”

“I think William just wanted to spend some time with Prue is all” she defended his actions as she went over to the cupboard and took out pots and pans. “Something we don’t see everyday, but maybe that’s just what the New Year brings.”

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“Ready to load up?” Giles asked from the threshold of the front door of the house as Buffy brought over Prue’s things.

“Yup” she said as she picked Prue up from her stroller to give way for Giles to take it. Just then Joyce followed by Willow came out carrying a couple of bags and a cooler.

“Put this in the trunk too will you?” Joyce handed it to Giles who slumped over because of its weight.

“What is in this?” Giles asked as he hauled it over the trunk of the SUV they constantly used.

Just then a black convertible swiftly halted in front of them all. They all stared at the unfamiliar vehicle with a wary look on their face. The window slowly rolled down, “Well what are you waiting for, Ms. Summer?” William took off the shades that rested on the bridge of his nose, “hop in!”

She couldn’t help but grin at the boyish attitude he had, she felt like a high school girl being picked up by her college boyfriend. “Isn’t Mr. Giles going to drive us?”

“Nonsense” he got out from the driver seat and rested his head on his hands over the roof of the car. “I’ll drive. They can all have the day off if they want.” He walked over to them to relive Buffy of her belongings as he placed the things inside the trunk of his car.

“But-“ he turned to her, eyebrow raised in question. She shook her head, “does the car have a car seat for Prue?” William had a proud smile on his lips as he clicked something in the small remote thing he was holding and the roof of the car opened and on the middle of the backseat was a tiny car seat just the exact size for Prue.

“Are you ready to get going then? Unless of course you want to check if I have the proper kind of brakes or something,” he teased her. She merely narrowed her eyes on him as she placed Prue on the backseat and got on the passenger seat herself. And soon they were speeding down the road.

“So, where are we going?” Buffy inquired, she had been silently seating on the passenger seat. The silence was deafening, fortunately or unfortunately Prue had been quiet the whole car ride making the stillness more unbearable. William briefly looked at her direction as their eyes met before turning his attention back to the road.

“Somewhere special.”

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Crates were being hauled over trucks as the ships blew their horns signaling their last departure for the day.

It had been quite sometime since he had come over and visited the docks. Drusilla had requested that her ashes be thrown into the ocean when she dies and he did just that even though he thought putting her under the ground would have been more appropriate. After her funeral he had isolated himself from the world, from his family and friends. And that was the last he had visited the place or pretty much anywhere that reminded him of her. But he realized that it was time to move on with his life, she would have wanted him too and maybe this is the first step.

“This was her favorite spot” William declared, not to anyone in particular, “We almost considered getting married here but decided on a cruise wedding instead. She had loved the water.”

They were walking along the docks, private ships were anchored on their left and right as Buffy, pushing Prudence along, followed William to the edge. He stopped on one particular yacht. It was the kind with a cozy small home-like structure beneath, it was indeed a beauty, if you were in to those things that it.

“What’s this?” Buffy asked as she followed William up the yacht. He walked over to the edge of the railing, taking in the blow of the wind.

“This, is Spike’s most prized possession… next to his motorcycle and let’s not forget that piece of metal he passes off as a classic sedan” A voice from behind them answered her question.

Buffy turned around to learn that the voice had come from a man in his mid –thirties. He stood in front of them with his hair all up in the wrong places, he looked liked someone who had just woke up from sleep but nonetheless offered Buffy a warm smile then approached William. William offered him a handshake but he seemed to be over formalities as he pulled William in for a hug, tapping his back a couple of times in the process.

“So how you’ve been my man?”

“I guess I’m doing okay and it’s William now,” William replied as he explored his yacht more closely, “You been taking care of Edith here?”

“Of course! I practically live here!”

“I can see that, Clem” William threw an awkward glance towards Clem’s messed up hair, “I can definitely see that.”

Clem chuckled as he run his hands through his hair to try to smoothen it out, “Not that I’m complaining of course, this thing is better than any apartment I could find, at no cost too.” They turned back to the front of the vessel; William satisfied that nothing major damage had happened to it. “So who’s the lady? Don’t you think we’re moving on just a little too fast?” He said meant as a joke which William seemed to take differently as he sent him a death-defying stare. Clem just held his hand up as a sign of surrender.

“This is Buffy,” William introduced the two, “Prue’s nanny” he stressed a little too much for Clem’s comfort. “Buffy, this is Clem. A friend I met along in the business who also happens to be taking care of Edith for the past month or two.”

They both extended their hand to shake exchanging they’re pleasantries. “Edith? The boat you mean?” Buffy asked.

“Ye-“ Before William could answer her question, Clem had cut him off.

“It’s not just a boat, sweetie. It’s a yacht, a very important yacht for this boss of yours I might add. Entrusted me with it didn’t he?” He shrugged as a smile formed in his lips. “Gotta be important right?” Buffy couldn’t help but laugh. “Is this little Prue?” He bent down to look at the baby in the stroller, playing with her tiny hand in the process.

“It sure is!”

“She sure isn’t that little anymore, last time I saw her she was tiny. Can I?” Clem asked to take Prue into his arms and Buffy simply answered him with a shrug and a nod. “Has Daddy been taking good care of you, cupcake?” He touched her nose and she answered him by wriggling her nose beneath his finger. “She’s a beauty, Sp-Will. Just like her mother…” Silence fell as they all felt the awkwardness of the moment.

“Yeah…” William was the first to recover as he tried to change the subject, “Hey, you think I can borrow the yacht for today?”

Clem smiled as he handed Prue back to Buffy’s care, “Why not? It’s your boat! Go for it!”

Later after Clem had cleaned himself and his mess up, he hesitated to leave William and his company alone in the vessel insisting that maybe he should go along with them, even if it’s just to get the boat away and back. But William had insisted that he didn’t need him, he’s pretty sure that he still remembers how to stir a boat. With a wave and a last look at Prue, Clem had shook on his backup onto his shoulder and left the three of them to themselves.

“So what are we to do here?” Buffy broke the silence that settled over as soon as Clem left them to themselves.

“Anchor off, I guess,” William started to get the ropes out of the dock and hauled the anchor out of the water. “There are some things inside the cooler and a couple of chairs and others things beneath,” he pointed to the small structure with a stairs leading beneath the yacht. “I’ll look after Prue after I get this out.” He continued pulling at the ropes and put the sail up then stirred the vessel off into the sea.

As soon as Buffy reached the lower section of the boat she began searching for a closet or something where all the things William had said could be found. The bottom portion of the structure was pretty impressive with its own living room and kitchen. As she went in deeper, there was also a bedroom at the end and another door which she opened the found the folded up beach chairs and tables which she skillfully maneuvered out from beneath the yacht.

She began hauling all the things up the stairs, then realizing that she wouldn’t be able to do it herself. She decided to call for William’s help. As soon as her head reached the top of the boat. She saw father and daughter by the wheel as William dexterously stirred the vessel as he had Prue tucked securely under one arm. She couldn’t quite make out what William was supposedly telling his daughter, but seeing them just like this gave her a sense of accomplishment. Somehow she was responsible for bringing the two of them closer to each other, and maybe this was her purpose for coming to England earlier than she had planned. She had accomplished it, so it will be easier for her to leave them. Right?

“Hey!” William startled Buffy out of her reverie. He had turned around wondering if Buffy had any problem finding the stuff for she had been gone for a pretty long time. But instead he found her standing on the steps looking at their general direction as if she had spaced out with a look of, he didn’t know what it was but his guess was that it was a look of longing. “What are you doing there?”

Buffy blinked her eyes a couple of times as she heard a voice talking to her. She had been thinking… thinking about- well it’s not really something she should still be pondering about it’s not even something that is open for discussion. It was her plan and nothing’s stopping her, there is no thinking that needed to be done. “Umm, I just needed help in bringing the things up.”

William simply pulled something on the panel and set Prue down on her stroller, locking the wheels as he walked over to her. Holding onto her shoulders, he asked “Is everything okay?” Buffy plainly nodded her head he walked pass her. ‘no thinking…no thinking’.

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“Is that your stomach growling I hear?” Buffy and Prue were sitting on a beach towel on the far end of the yacht. They had been watching the sunset together while William was at the other side barbequing some meat. The three of them had spent the whole four hours or so sitting around the boat and sight seeing the different islands and mountain the scenery before them had to offer. Apparently, William had some fishing poles and bait in the vessel so they enjoyed a nice hour or so of silently trying to get the fishes under the water to bite on their bait. Neither of them got any though Buffy did almost catch one but pulled on the reel to early causing the fish to get away but nonetheless she had to admit that she did have fun. William was not as uptight once you get to know him, Buffy guessed that Joyce was right, he was a wonderful man if you took time long enough to look.

Prue buried her face in Buffy’s shoulder as she nuzzled the infant’s stomach and rose from their position to go and fetch her thermos. “Okay, okay. It’s coming, sweetheart.” Buffy said as she heard another soft growl come from Prue’s stomach, or she could just be imagining it.

“Hey,” William greeted them as he saw Buffy and his daughter, ‘his daughter’, that was probably the first time he had allowed himself to think that, walking over to him as Buffy searched for something from the bags they had brought. “Dinner’s almost ready, too bad we didn’t caught any fish.” He threw them a smile as he placed the last of the meat from the grill into the plate and put out the fire.

“So how’s my princess been?” He walked over to them as he wiped his hands on the apron on him. He relived Buffy of Prue and brought her over to one side as the Buffy searched for the thermos. “Did daddy’s little girl had fun?” he asked her as if she would be able to understand what he was trying to convey but Prue smiled nonetheless. He scrunched his nose up in respond and he brought her above his head to simulate an airplane which made Prue giggle with laughter as he brought her down and gave her a tight hug.

“Da-ddy” Prue had uttered incoherently but it still seemed to make William have a warm smile spread across his face as she repeated it another time.

“That’s right, bit. Your daddy’s little princess.” He slightly patted her on the nose, “Such a smart girl.”

“Well that smart little girl of yours is currently hungry,” Buffy interrupted them carrying with her a bowl and spoon, “so I suggest you haul her over to me, daddy.” Buffy had stressed good humouredly as she gave him a lingering smile.

He raised an eyebrow at her in question, something she just noticed he loves doing, but handed Prue over to her nonetheless. He then made his way down the steps to the lower level of the boat. He walked around as if searching for something, he looked inside the bedroom and let his eyes linger there for a while then tuned his head over to the living room couch then over to the kitchen, surveying the place. He stood in the middle a couple of minutes before finally grabbing his phone at the back of his pocket and flipping it over and started to punch in some numbers.

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“Buffy! Buffy!” William called from the lower deck, “Can you and Prue come down here for a second?” He heard footsteps descending the steps as he grabbed some sheets from the cabinet on the far back of the cabin. He didn’t wait for them to actually get to the landing and without looking at them he asked, “Did you guys bring any extra clothes?”

“I brought an extra shirt and shorts for Prue in case of any accidents.” Buffy tried to answer over Prue’s wails. The baby had been crying for the last five minutes, she guessed she was starting to get tired, she couldn’t blame her for they had a busy day. It was now eight o’clock at night and she didn’t get her afternoon nap either, no wonder she was restless.

“And you?” William asked as if there was no noise preventing Buffy from hearing him.

Buffy’s ears strained just trying to make out what he said, “No. I didn’t think we would need it.”

“What do you think about-“ William stopped short as it was the first time he heard his daughter wailing her discomfort just across from him. “Why is she crying like that? Is there something wrong with her?”

Buffy smiled at him in the naivety his employer possessed, he can make a big business run smoothly, and get his will all done with a snap of his finger but when it comes to his own daughter it’s like he’s a four year old boy learning to ride his first bike.

“Are you laughing at me, Ms. Summers?” William asked in a straight face, making Buffy suppress her smile and rub smoothing circles behind Prue’s back to let her cries subside. “I don’t think anything’s funny, do you?” Buffy face held no emotion at that moment. She didn’t know if she should feel scared, maybe she had offended him, should she apologize? But as soon as she saw that smile twitch in the corner of William’s lips she had to prevent herself from killing the man before her for making her heart jump and do summersaults. “Who’s funny now?” He laughed, a deep laugh those kinds that only men can do.

Buffy looked at him pointly, eyes narrowing in annoyance? Either way he stopped and got back to his original question. “What do you think about staying here for the night?”

“Here? As in, in the middle of the ocean?” William nodded in reply. “Is it safe?”

“I’ve done it before and so has Clem, we’ll be fine. We’ll just anchor ourselves to the nearest shoreline just to be on the safe side.” He had answered her with a question, trying to assure her of their safety.

“Okay, if you say so. I guess Prue can sleep on the bed?”

“Yeah. I just changed the sheets I think she’s really starting to get tired.” He noticed, Prue had stopped her crying opting instead for soft whimpers as she made herself comfortable on Buffy’s shoulder. “I’ll just be upstairs if you need me.”

Buffy proceed into the bedroom and saw the newly spread sheet and decided to lay Prue on it, she shared the bed with her for a while until she had fallen into a deep slumber. Wanting to make sure that Prudence didn’t fall onto the floor anytime during the night, she had found some body pillows beneath the bed. Buffy took them out of their containers and placed it on both sides of Prue. Satisfied with the safety of her charge, she placed the monitor on the bedside table and decided to go and look for William.

She found him by the control panel seemingly holding on to the wheel as he looked into a far away place. “What are you looking at?” She asked as she came from behind him. He looked up seemingly pulled out of his gaze.

“The lighthouse.”

“What of it?”

“Did you know that in literature a body of water symbolized life?” He asked as if he didn’t hear Buffy at all. “And that a lighthouse shows you the right path to take. Just like in life, everyone has a lighthouse… don’t you think so?” Buffy swallowed the lump on her throat, not knowing how to answer William’s question. That didn’t really become a problem for he had continued on, “Something or someone has to guide them right? Or they would loose their path…” he trailed off seemingly unaware of his surroundings.

Soon Buffy and William found themselves near the shoreline, Deciding that this spot would do, William started to let go of the anchor and safely secured themselves for the night.

Neither had said anything after that mini-monologue William had spoke. Buffy simply didn’t know how to respond to his words and William didn’t find it fitting to say anything more thus they both stayed silent. “We should settle in,” William broke the silence as Buffy stood by the stairs fidgeting with her hands. “Start early tomorrow, maybe we could go over to one of the near by beaches?” He suggested as he offered Buffy a warm smile to which Buffy replied with one of her own as she nodded her head and went below the deck with William following in from behind.

“You can have the bed,” he told her as he went for the small closet and got some sheets and a blanket, “I’ll take the couch.” Buffy argued that she can sleep in the couch, it is his yacht and she was just a helper after all. But William would have none of it, insisting that she take the bed, even if she is a nanny he stressed that it didn’t exclude her of the privileges a woman should have over a man and it’s never just a nanny. She plainly smiled at him in reply conceding defeat. He had handed her some oversize shirts and sweatpants to change into. And just before they settled themselves for the night William had gave her a kiss goodnight on her left cheek, a kiss she didn’t know the meaning of and didn’t care to ask either.

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Creeping into the mansion was not as easy has she had first thought, there were hidden cameras in places she didn’t give notice to before. Now that she’s just a few meters from the library she made sure to stay quite so not to attract attention. As she swung the door open she immediately went in search for the particular case she was looking for. Fear was overwhelming her as she walked around the study. She went over to the mantel and tried to look there seeing nothing she rose from her position overturning a frame. She quickly spotted the briefcase on the chair being camouflage by the dark night. How stupid was she, it’s probably because her nerves were killing her. Having done her task she stealthily retreated.

To be continued...

Chapter 9

Sleeping never came easy for him, especially when he was in a couch that was not really very comfortable. He would have loved to blame himself for his situation but he didn’t. It was only right to let the lady have the bed. He might have known to have turned into a grouch but he still knew how to treat a lady right, and letting her sleep on the couch while you snore yourself to sleep inside a big comfy bed is not it. As he stirred again for the endmost time tonight he heard soft whimpers, he tried to ignore it but somewhere in him told him to get up. Maybe it’s because he couldn’t sleep and decided to check it out since he had nothing else better to do or maybe it’s his fatherly instincts finally kicking in, whatever it was it made him go and take a peek inside the room where his daughter and her nanny resided.

She saw her sleeping soundly on the bed and couldn’t help but let his eyes linger on her for a moment, he didn’t know why he did, he was suppose to be married… used to be a married man and this is not how they, what he used to be, acted around women… very beautiful attractive women. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, that have never crossed his mind before and he didn’t know why it did now.

His pondering was interrupted by his daughter crawling over to the foot of the bed and pulling on his sweatpants. He looked down on her and swept her up in his arms, “couldn’t get to sleep too huh?”

Buffy stirred in bed, she was always a light sleeper which is probably a good thing given her job. As she opened her tired eyes, she felt someone looking her way, that feeling when you just know that someone is fixing their eyes on you. When her vision cleared he saw William on the left side of the bed trying to keep a restless Prue from moving too much and trying to get her back to sleep.

“Hey,” he had greeted her when he saw her looking their way, “how’d you sleep?”

“Is it morning already?”

William shook his head, “It’s midnight.”

“Then, not very good” she answered as she sat up in bed, and tried to calm the little girl down. “You couldn’t sleep?” she asked about his presence, surely if he were sound asleep in that very uncomfortable couch outside he couldn’t have heard Prue soft cries for attention. William shook his head, as he sat beside the bed Prue on his lap, “Couch not very comfortable then?”

“You could only imagine.”

“I told you should have taken the bed.”

“Now that wouldn’t have been very gentlemanly of me now would it?” Buffy scoffed that earned him a stern look.

“So you’d rather not sleep at all, then? Is that better?”

“Well, of course not. But that’s beside the point.”

“The point being what?” he shrugged in response. “Look why don’t you take the bed, I can’t go back to sleep anyway.”

“Yeah?” She nodded with a smile on her face, “How about this little girl?” he asked pertaining to the little girl bouncing on his lap, how could she possibly have so much energy in the middle of the night.

“Oh, she can sleep anywhere?” William raised a brow asking her to continue, “Yeah, just put her down in any hard surface and she’d be fine.”

“And this comes from the woman I trust my child with?” He shook his head in false disappointment.

“Well you should have thought twice about that now… shame on you.”

William was laughing with her, he couldn’t remember the last time he had such a great time just talking and chatting about nonsense with… well anyone. This woman brought out sides of him he didn’t know existed or things he thought were long lost, buried to the ground the day he had been widowed.

“So...” they tried to make themselves comfortable on the bed, Prue in between them, finally out of energy and sleeping soundly. They had talked for he didn’t know how long as they waited for his little girl to fall back to sleep. And up to this moment Buffy didn’t seem to open up about herself. “I’ve been yapping here all night, and I have not known a single thing about you. Do tell me what’s the story of Buffy Summers?”

“I have no story?”

“Come on, everyone has a story…” he persisted as he rest his head on his elbows.

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Night had come and gone and he still couldn’t sleep, he and Buffy had talked till the wee hours of the night or rather morning until he noticed that she was beginning to get sleepy despite her testament of not being able to go back to bed after she had woken up. He had told her to rest herself and he’d be right there on the other side of the bed trying to get as much rest as possible. But the truth was he couldn’t, all he could do the remaining of the time was stare at the beauty before him.

And when he finally decided to get his butt off the bed and do something he found himself in the small confine of the kitchen trying to make himself breakfast, his stomach was growling and he needed a quick fix as he heated himself a pot of coffee.

Later as he cooked up the bacon and eggs Joyce had packed for them, he didn’t know how she could possibly have known that they would be needing it. Maybe she had a hunch they would be spending the night? Woman and their instincts he thought, which wasn’t so bad considering his stomach was growling just by the aroma of the food.

“Morning!” Buffy came out from the back, hair tousled in all the wrong places, hair he’s like to run his hands through, as she yawned. “What smells so delicious?”

“Morning to you too!” He looked up from the stove, “Do you want breakfast?”

“You’re making me breakfast?”

“Sure, why not.” He answered her nonchalantly.

“Okay then…” she replied as she sat on one of the stools over the counter.

“So where’s Prue?” He asked as he placed the plate bacon and eggs right in front of her then went and grabbed some bread in the bag Joyce had packed.

“Inside,” she pointed to the back than served as their bedroom for the night, “I think she was too exhausted from last night.” William grabbed the seat beside her.

“Dig in.” he pointed to the food he had prepared for them to devour. Buffy hesitantly grabbed a slice of bread and a strip of bacon as she chewed on. Instead of having some himself, William couldn’t help but stare at her mouth as she chewed.

“I had a great time yesterday…” William was pulled of his stare as Buffy talked to him.

“Yeah…”

“Especially last night… It was nice to just sit down and talk…”

“Yeah…” He didn’t know how it happened, who leaned in first but soon he was finding her face a mere inch away from his, they were so close that he could hear her breathing, the slow steady beating of her heart and as their lips were about to brush upon each other…

“ring… ring…”

Buffy was pulled out of her trance, he blinked her eyes. They almost kissed! She realized and she didn’t know if it were a bad thing that it was cut short by the stupid ringing of the phone or if she were relived by it.

“I need to take this.” William said as he stood and proceeded to the upper deck.

to be continued...

Chapter 10

“Can I take your coat ma’am” the butler had asked when they entered the ballroom on Corinthian Gardens. Buffy simply smiled at him and let him help her take her coat. From the level above the ballroom one could see the multitudes of people gathered to support a benefit one of the big names in England had gladly hosted. Sparkling champagne can be seen flowing all over the occasion not to include the diamonds that each and every guest sported. Buffy felt so mediocre, mingling with this people makes her look so… plain. She doesn’t have big diamonds on her ears and neck; she didn’t have vagarious gowns that probably cost more than her lifetime education.

Then why was she here then if she didn’t feel as comfortable among these people? Well, it had something to do with never coming alone in these ‘bloody’ occasions.

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After the supposed trip they had the other day, William had been super busy as soon as he stepped foot back into his house. Faith was there following him all around the mansion and he had spent all his time either in meetings with Angel or in the study having a meeting with Angel. Buffy wasn’t really surprised for he knew William was a busy man plus after the phone call he had received the other day in the yacht, she had felt him tense up and seemed to always be thinking about something. The only reason Buffy thinks he comes home, is to sleep, and he hardly does that too.

One morning, as Buffy was walking with Prue around the house, she passed by the westside of the mansion where the study of William resided. Buffy decided to have the initiative to knock on his door and maybe visit him. They hardly seen them around the house and Prue hasn’t have a glimpse of him for over a week. That, and another thing that was bothering her mind. It was nearing the date that Lakeside would want her answer, she had asked for an extension on it saying she had to settle some previous engagements and they had said that they’d give her another week then that was it, if she were not to give them an answer they’d have to give her position to someone else.

She didn’t know what kept her from saying yes and just go for the job that is what she had wanted all along. It’s why she’d here in England in the first place. In her mind, she says that it was for Prue. She had been attached to her charge more than she ever thought she would and she didn’t want to leave her just like that. But in the back of her mind, she was wondering about that almost kiss she and William had shared, did it mean anything? Maybe it was just a moment thing? Whatever it meant she wanted to find out.

She slightly tapped at the door, hearing no response, she pushed it slowly open. She found William slumped over his desk, sleeping. Prue struggled free of her hold and landed herself on top the desk. She crawled over slowly to her father’s head which rested on top of the old oak wood. She patted his hair quite a few times then started to slap William’s cheek until he finally stirred from his sleep.

Seeing this Buffy quickly grabbed Prue from the table, fearing that William would get mad for making her wake him up especially now that he hardly gets any sleep.

William was woken up by the feeling of his right cheek being slapped by a small hand. He stirred and tried to open his eyes against the bright light coming from the windows. He felt the hardwood under him and concluded that he had yet again fallen asleep in his study, papers scattered under him. He tried to get his head up despite the body pain he felt for sleeping in this position. He found Buffy and Prue in front of him, and blinked back to clear his eyesight of them. Buffy seemed to be saying something but he can’t seem to hear her clearly. She was retreating for reasons he didn’t know. “Wait.” He said as he rose from his seat and walked over to the small bathroom adjoining study. He washed his face and drank a little before returning back to the study.

Buffy was on he lounging area, Prue on the floor crawling under the coffee table. The sight before him made a smile creep up from his lips. He can’t remember the last time he did that this week. His little girl looked so adorable, obviously oblivious of the world around her. He had been busy this whole week about… he didn’t even want to think about that right now. He haven’t seen Prue, which wouldn’t have mattered before but now it was different, Buffy made it different, he had missed her so much he didn’t even know about it until he saw her there crawling around.

He walked over, threw a smile Buffy’s way then stooped down just in time as Prue came out from the end of the coffee table. “Hey princess” he scooped her up and sat on the lounge chairs nearby, placing Prue on his lap and laying down on the couch trying to get comfortable and stretching his back.

Prue crawled up on his chest and started punching William. He started to cough, “Oh, baby… not there daddy’s not feeling very well.”

Buffy rose from her seat, “Prue,” she chided, something William noticed she does a lot, as if Prue would be able to understand her. “Don’t do that.” She picked her up, “Daddy’s have had a hard day. She’s very violent isn’t she?”

“Just like her dad!” William said proudly.

Buffy laughed, “Well, we better go, I know you have a lot to do.”

“No, no.” William stopped them, “I’ve really missed her,” Prue slipped out of Buffy’s grasp landing on William’s lap yet again. He ruffled her hair and brought her closer to him. “Stay, I could definitely use the distraction.”

“Distraction? From what?”

William looked her way as if pondering if he should even mention it to her or not. It’s not really any of her concern, she can’t possibly be of any help… unless of course. No, he couldn’t. “Well…” he prolonged, “it’s not really something you’d like to know.”

“Try me.” Buffy answered quite confidently, if there was something she didn’t like much it’s that she is kept out of the loop and she can definitely feel that something is boiling up right in front of her.

“So, you doing anything this weekend, luv?” He obviously have changed the subject and Buffy decided to let it go, she’d find out what was up with him somehow.

“Nothing in particular really…” She trailed off.

“That’s good, I need a favor” Buffy raised her brow in question, “There’s this benefit on Saturday, something about orphans or something. I was wondering if would like to come with me.” Buffy made a move to object, but it didn’t escape her mind to think if this was a date “and I’ll get someone to look after Prue. There’s just something with never coming alone in these ‘bloody’ occasions.”

Buffy laughed, probably to cover up her disappointment she didn’t know why she felt, but shut it when she saw him give her a look, “Sorry. But I don’t think…” He actually thought he could persuade Buffy with a batt of an eyelash and hell it was not working… okay maybe a little, especially when he used Prue as his accomplice. He held her up in front of him, throwing his voice, badly one might say, saying, “Please go with daddy, Ms. Buffy. I would greatly appreciate it. I’ll promise never to throw up on you anymore or pee and poo in my diaper… much.”

Buffy didn’t know how to answer except with a smile and a nod uttering a “fine!” as if she was being forced into it, which in this case she is but she knew better.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

“Would you like something to drink?” William asked as they descended the beautifully decorated stairway. Buffy had stood at the top of the stairs astound by the vision before her, people were already passing by them yet she didn’t care just stared at the mass of people before her.

“Huh?” Buffy shook her head, “yeah…”

“Okay then, pet. I’ll be right back,” he squeezed her shoulder, “go on and socialize.” Buffy looked at him warily, “you’ll be fine.” He assured one last time before he went to the direction of the bar.

‘Okay, Buffy. You’ll be fine, just walk around, smile to the people and you’ll do great! Okay…” she chided to herself as a woman in all black and pearls made eye contact with her, seemingly not very pleasant. As she retreated and decided to look for William before she gets lost, her back hit another, she thought twice before confronting the figure, “I’m so sorr-“

“Buffy!” It was Cordelia looking her best in a elegant black cocktail dress with big pearls around her neck and on her ears. “So William did take somebody after all huh?” She offered her hand to her as Cordelia walked them around the floor, smiling and waving to almost every person she sees. “Social events, they can take so much out of you” Buffy simply nodded and gave her an ‘uhuh’ as if she had been to these kinds of occasions her whole life. “Look there’s William right there” she pointed on to the direction of the adjoining room.

And indeed William was there talking to an old couple, holding two drinks in his hand. He seemed to be very much into the conversation yet he kept looking from side to side obviously looking for a way out. Cordelia just shook her head as she headed the other direction tailing Buffy behind. “Men.” She said under her breath.

“So, who was that William was talking with?” Buffy ask as they sat on one of the few available tables.

Cordelia waved to another couple, before turning to Buffy, “Oh those were his in-laws, Drusilla’s parents, they’re not in very good terms” she whispered the last part as if it were a forbidden rumor.

Buffy just nodded her head, she didn’t feel very comfortable asking more questions about matters that really don’t concern her, even though deep down she’d really like to know. “So, you here with Angel?” she changed the subject as she took a champagne glass from one of the waiters walking around with strays on their palm, how they balance them, Buffy had often wondered.

“Yeah, he’s here somewhere…” she waved to the mass of people in the middle of the floor walking around having meaningless conversations with people their probably never see again unless of course there was another benefit or gathering of this sort. “Probably talking his way around, you know how he is. So, I heard William took you and Prue on a sailing trip?”

“Yeah,” Cordelia asked her to proceed, “it was fun…” Cordelia was waiting for Buffy to continue on yet she just remained silent. “What?”

“Thats all?”

“Well…Oh! Here comes Angel.”

“Hey sweetheart,” Angel went over to Cordelia and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Are you having fun?”

Cordelia looked at him knowingly, “Do I ever have fun at these event?”

Suddenly Angel noticed Buffy, “Buffy right? So William did come,” he immediately scanned the crowd for any trace of his friends, “so where is he?”

“He’s over there with Lindsay and Darla, they seem to be deep in conversation. Oh how William would love to get out of that.” Cordelia answered with a heartfelt laugh as she took a sip of her drink.

Suddenly Buffy felt a hand on her shoulders, “Sorry took me so long, pet.” William handed her a drink, “You having fun?”

Before Buffy could reply, Cordelia had butted in, “We are here you know, William. I’d be nice if you actually included us in you and your dates conversation.” Not a lot may have noticed, hell nobody probably did, but Buffy’s face heat up at that.

“Sorry…” William turned towards the brunette, “Are you having fun Cordy?”

“What do you think?” she answered him with narrowed eyes, then somebody she apparently know passed by and a smile could be seen forming on her lips yet again as she waved at the person.

William had an unusual expression on his face as if it was the first time she had seen Cordelia act this way which caused Buffy to give out a giggle. “What are you laughing at?”

Buffy looked at him eyes sparkling, “nothing” which William raised a brow at.

“Look, man” Angel pulled William to the side, “we need to talk.”

William excused them from Buffy and Cordelia as he and Angel went over to the side, “What’s wrong?”

“What did they say?”

“Nothing really, just advised me and stuff on a whole lot of bogus, saying a bunch of bullshit, playing the ‘we’re just doing what’s best’ card.” William shook his head in disbelief.

“You have to look out, man” Angel said as he looked around, much like a spy relaying a secret information. “I heard that the examiner would be around within the next week.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just heard it around.” Angel was concerned for William, if there was one thing he hated more than losing a case it’s seeing the people he cared for get hurt. Even if sometimes he didn’t want them to know this softer side of his. “You have to be careful, don’t leave anything that might put any of us in jeopardy lying around, if you need to keep things discreet then do so too. You got it?”

“You know… maybe I wanna stop trying and get it over with… let them win it.” Angel looked at him warily, “I’m not ready for this…”

“If you love her enough you would… she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”

“Very well.”

“I think you should bring the lady home,” Angel suggested as he looked at the ladies way and glanced at his watch, “try to make a good impression.”

William closed his eyes as he exhaled felling fed up inside with the circumstances he was in. This wasn’t how he expected his life to be, this was not the happily ever after his precious wife had wanted. He loved her more than anything in this world, that’s why he’s gonna do everything in his power for this to go his way… for her.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

They had drove home in silence, each not knowing what to say to the other thou both wanting to have a conversation. As Willima parked the car on the driveway, he got out of the car expecting to open the car door for Buffy but she had gotten out on her own. As he opened the door into the house she had let her walk in first. He didn’t know what to say… didn’t know how to act. Does he just leave her and go straight up to bed? Does he walk her to her room… since well she doesn’t really have an apartment he needed to drop her off to. Then he thought, why was he worrying about this, he invited her to come to the benefit with him because he didn’t want to go alone, she was not his date… right?

“So, I better get going then… early day tomorrow.” Buffy said as she started for the back of the house where their quarters stood. “You should too I know you have a lot to do tomorrow.”

“Yeah…” William answered as he saw her walk away from him, “Buffy!” he called for her as he ran towards her. “I needed to give you something…”

“What is it?” She asked.

“Something I wanted to give to you a week ago…”

And there it was, the almost kiss she had said they had was turning into a real one. She didn’t know how to feel. This was her boss… her employer. She was pretty sure somewhere this was not allowed or maybe it was… she was too nervous to feel anything, William probably thought she was a moron for she was probably freezing up on him but damn did he kiss good.

“…a proper kiss.”

Buffy opened her eyes, cheeks flushed. “I think that can be considered a proper one…”

to be continued...