Xander was not in a good mood.

He'd had a hard week at the construction site, working long hours, shorthanded. Now he was at the Magic Box on the weekend donating his time to help Anya and Giles get the shop ready, and it seemed that everyone was conspiring against him to make his job as difficult as they could.

Anya followed him around compulsively, pointing out edges that needed more sanding and nails that weren't exactly flush. To make matters worse, when she was not pointing out his shortcomings as a carpenter, she was fawning over Giles as he looked for clues about the demons and monsters that had been surfacing around Sunnydale. Since when had the two of them developed such a friendly working relationship? The last time he checked they had been playing tug of war over a Ramadan effigy, with Anya anxious for the older man to leave. Now she acted like she was about to melt every time he removed his glasses. Xander was certain that she was just doing this to spite him, but it rankled all the same.

Then there was Spike. Xander refused to join in with the others and call him William. Who did he think he was fooling anyway? The vampire was just angling for another way to get into Buffy's pants. Xander would stake him before he'd ever let him touch Buffy again. That didn't appear to be much of a threat anyway. Spike was more interested in schmoozing up to Giles than in hitting on either Buffy or Anya. So far the two adversaries had managed to avoid each other, with Xander retreating to the back room or the loft whenever Spike came into the shop. Right now the creep was sitting with the Watcher describing the water monster that had attacked Buffy and him earlier that week. Xander was curious, in spite of his hatred of Spike. He wandered closer to the table.

"No, I didn't really get a good look at the head, just the body and those leg things."

"And how long do you estimate it to have been?" Giles reached for a thick volume.

"Over twice my length. Whacked me on the head with its tail."

"Hmm. So we're talking about a creature at least twelve feet long."

"I'd guess twenty, rough and dirty. And I couldn't reach all the way around it."

"Leviathan." Anya blurted.

"Anya," Giles began in his pedantic tone. "A Leviathan was reputed to be a large fish or squid. Also, it was a mythical creature that dwelt in the sea."

"I've seen one. They are large, ugly, eely things with long tentacles. This one sounds like it was on the small side, fortunately." She pulled up a chair beside Giles and searched for a particular book. She flipped through the pages, finally stopping on one. "There. See?" She moved the book in front of Giles. "People are confused over whether it is a fish or a squid, because it has traits of both. They're not mythical, just extinct."

Giles slid the book over to William. "Is this the creature?"

William shuddered. "Nasty bit of news, that one. Tasted like week-old chocolate milk gone bad."

Giles turned to Anya. "This is the second time you've identified a creature that has been considered extinct. Do you have a theory?"

Xander snorted. "You're asking her?"

"Xander, I have been around for over a thousand years. I've seen a great many things."

"Yeah." Xander remarked rudely. "We all know about some of the things you've seen." He glared at William.

"That's enough." William stood.

"What'cha gonna do Willy? Gonna try and hit me and give yourself a migraine? Oh, that's right. You won't hit me because you're all souled and remorseful now. You wouldn't chance hurting a poor wittle human."

"Xander, please." Giles tried to interrupt.

"Care to test me?"

"What's going on here?" Buffy was standing in the doorway. The tension between the two men was palpable. They looked like they were about to pounce on each other. William's jaw was clenched and Xander had curled his hands into fists.

"I don't see why we need him around." Xander didn't take his eyes off the shorter man. "All he does is screw up everything he touches."

William sneered. "Seems to me I'm not the only one around here screwin' things up. Tell me again why we need you, you small-minded carpenter boy."

"Please... stop." Giles sputtered.

Buffy marched over to stand between them. "What is this all about?"

"Spikey here felt the need to defend Anya from her big, mean ex-boyfriend."

"That's ex-fiancée." Anya clarified.

"And I'm tired of everybody around here buying his big 'I'm redeemed' act and forgetting what he put us all through."

"I haven't forgotten anything." Buffy stated. "But he still deserves a chance."

"I've told you before Buffy, I don't need you to defend me." William's voice was cold.

She turned to him angrily. "Do I have to pop you in the nose again to make you two stop this macho posturing? Weird stuff is going down and we all need to be able to work together. We can't keep getting sidetracked while the two of you decide who has the biggest stones!"

Anya raised her hand. "I can tell you."

Everybody stopped arguing and turned to look at her in shocked disbelief. Giles removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Xander stormed away and began to earnestly pound on something in the back room. Buffy and William shuffled uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact.

Giles cleared his throat and motioned to the reference book. "It would seem that we have found your river monster, Buffy."

She walked around the table and studied the drawing. "Yes. I think that's it. What was that doing in Sunnydale?"

"I can't believe that the appearances of these monsters are unrelated." Giles frowned in concentration. "The Leviathan, the dragon, and the Ghora that William referred to."

"That was over a year and a half ago." William noted.

"Perhaps you could share the circumstances with us."

William looked uneasy. "I was when I helped Dawn with the resurrection spell."

"I still can't believe you had a hand in that." Buffy looked at him dubiously. "You hate magic!"

He gazed at Buffy "I had to help out the Li'l Bit."

"Tell me more about this spell." Giles prodded him.

"Well you see, we went to this guy, Doc, who I heard was a specialist in those kinds of spells. He told us we needed a Ghora egg, then told us where we could find one."

"So he knew the whereabouts of a creature known to be extinct? And you didn't think that odd?"

William shrugged his shoulders. "I'd heard of them, and I knew they were rare, but how would I know they weren't supposed to be around here? This is the Hellmouth, old man."

Anya pulled up the chair next to Giles. "Giles isn't old." She turned to smile at him adoringly. "He's just mature."

"Yes, well." Giles cleared his throat. "Back to your story. Tell me about this 'Doc'. Was he a warlock of sorts?"

"That's what I thought when I first heard about him, but after meeting him I knew he wasn't human. He had this whole reptile thing going."

"That's right." Buffy recalled. "You and Xander went to him for help later and he attacked you with his tongue. Then you thought you killed him."

"Yes." William nodded. "Except then he showed up to bleed Dawn on the tower. He hit me with the tongue, then he stabbed me in the back and threw me over."

Giles inclined his head. "Yes, I had forgotten some of the other details of that night. I was otherwise... occupied."

"He was a Time Wizard." Anya stated.

Again, everyone stopped to look at her. "They're kind of like Vengeance Demons. They have some magical powers, but can only use them at the request of others." She smiled at the others who were staring at her in amazement.

"Anya, you never said anything about that before." Buffy noted.

"Well," she raised her eyebrows. "Nobody told me about the tongue thing. I guess Xander was too busy with his faux proposal to tell me anything relevant."

"I heard that!" Xander yelled from the back room.

"I know." Anya yelled back.

"But you said 'Time Wizard'?" Giles questioned.

"Yes. They can teleport through time, like I can teleport through space. They are very rare."

"Can they teleport anything with them?" Buffy asked.

"Not that I'm aware of." Anya answered. "I can't teleport another person, unless it is a specific part of their vengeance wish. That's why D'Hoffryn has to personally go claim his recruits. We don't have the ability to bring anyone to him."

William turned to Buffy. "So you're thinking..."

"That this guy has gone back in time and brought some creatures back with him." Buffy looked to Giles. "But why, and how?"

Xander was standing in the doorway. "But wait Buffy. I thought you threw him off the tower and killed him."

"And the two of you thought you had killed him in his shop." She looked around at all the others "Did anybody see his body later?"

They all shook their heads silently. "Buff." Xander stated quietly. "We were a little more focused on you, and your... body."

"That's ancient history guys. Don't let it get in our way now." Buffy was all business. "We know that Doc was working with Glory." Buffy's mind was thinking through the possibilities. "Why would he conjure up a Ghora demon with eggs to help you and Dawn?"

"I have a theory about that." Giles speculated. "What if he was just looking for a reason to have contact with The Key? Perhaps to verify that she existed? Did he touch Dawn in any way?"

"Pulled out a strand of her hair."

"But Giles," Buffy objected. "Glory didn't know that Dawn was The Key then."

"He could have time-traveled." Anya pointed out. "Glory thought Dawn was the key, then sent him back to make sure. And she could have given him the power-boost he needed to transport the Ghora."

"That makes sense, in a strange sort of way." Giles commented. "But with Glory gone, I don't know what he could be up to now."

"Or," Anya added. "How he found the power to bring these creatures here."

Buffy looked at the others soberly. "That's what we have to find out."

~*~*~*~

Dawn walked through the cafeteria holding her lunch tray, and moved to sit at a small table across from Janice.

"Hey Dawn, over here!" Chelsea was waving to her.

Dawn shook her head. "No thanks!" and motioned to her friend.

"She can come over too! Missy was just leaving." Chelsea nudged Missy, who dropped her jaw in consternation. Chelsea leaned over to whisper to her, "At least move your butt over. We can get the goods from Dawn."

Dawn and Janice reluctantly rose and joined Chelsea and Missy. There were two other girls already sitting there who looked extremely interested in Dawn.

"So!" Missy squeaked. "Chelsea said she was at your house and that your sister was on a date with Mr. Browning." The girl's eyes had a rabid glow.

"No." Dawn shook her head. "It wasn't a date. Buffy just lost her job and they were discussing a new, um, job possibility."

"Right!" Chelsea uttered a dry laugh. "Sunnydale doesn't even have an archery team. That was so lame! Besides, "She nodded sagely. "He called you Dawn."

"What?" Dawn's eyes widened.

"Don't forget your homework Dawn." Chelsea mimicked in a bad English accent.

"Oh, that." Dawn fumbled for an explanation. "Well, OK then. He's just an old family friend that we knew from. from Los Angeles. And Buffy didn't want anyone to think I was getting special favors."

"Then why didn't she just tell us that instead of making up that stupid paintball story?"

Dawn squirmed uncomfortably. "I. I don't know."

"Look." Janice pointed at the doorway. "There they are now."

Dawn looked over to find Buffy and William in deep conversation just outside the cafeteria. She glanced uncertainly at her classmates then rose and made her way over to the two adults. "What are you two doing?" She hissed.

"And I'm glad to see you too!" Buffy was taken aback.

"Buffy!" Dawn whined. "How am I supposed to act like I don't know him and that you two aren't involved if you keep showing up together?" She looked from Buffy to William, then back to Buffy again. "Everybody is driving me nuts asking questions about you two, so I lie to them so nobody thinks anything goofy is going on, then you do stuff like this, and everybody knows I'm lying, then they really think something is up. Give me a break!"

"I'm sorry Dawn." Buffy looked at her apologetically. "I was just in the neighborhood looking for job possibilities. I heard that Pasta Shack had openings. Anyway, I had a thought about this Doc business and thought I'd discuss it with William."

"Well thanks for waiting for a less conspicuous time and place to discuss the freaky lizard demon guy. What if someone overheard you?"

"You're lecturing me now?"

William interrupted. "Perhaps it would be best if we moved this inside and out of the hallway." He gestured into the cafeteria.

"And I guess it's time for me to do a little damage control." Buffy sighed. "Come on Dawn. Let's go save some face." The three walked back to the table of girls, who hadn't taken their eyes from them.

"Hi." Buffy began. "I guess you guys have been wondering why I've been hanging around the school, huh?"

The girls looked at one another and giggled.

"Well," She continued. "I really wasn't talking to Mr. Browning about coaching, or about Dawn's grades."

Chelsea leaned back and crossed her arms, smirking. Missy just stared at William with an adoring glow.

Buffy wrung her hands nervously then motioned toward William. "It's just that, he's an old, um. Well he's sort of." She looked to him for help, her eyes pleading with him to come up with a plausible explanation.

He raised and eyebrow at her. "Continue Miss Summers. You're doing well."

She was tempted to stomp on his foot, but instead forced a smile back onto her face. She put her hand through the crook of his arm and turned to the girls. "He's my boyfriend." She looked at him with a spiteful gleam in her eyes. "Aren't you, dear?" She gritted out between clenched teeth.

"Yeah, right!" He tried not to laugh.

"What?" Dawn exclaimed.

"I knew it!" Chelsea was ecstatic.

"Oh." Missy looked ready to swoon.

The other three girls at the table were owl-eyed. They couldn't believe they were in on the Sunnydale High story of the year.

Buffy patted his arm. Hard. "Well, sugar plum and I have some personal things we need to discuss, so we'll be going now."

William nodded his head, "Ladies." Then allowed Buffy to drag him from the room. "Well that was just bloody brilliant!" He stated once they were out of sight and pulled his arm away. "That's certain to squelch all the gossip."

"At least Dawn doesn't have to make up any more lies."

"No, she can just keep talking about your little fabrication!"

"I didn't see you coming up with anything helpful."

"You're the only woman I know that calls someone a boyfriend once she stops sleeping with him."

"Do you think you could say that a little bit louder? There are probably about two or three-hundred students that didn't hear that."

"So now you're ashamed that you're not shagging me?"

"No. I'm ashamed that I didn't stake you five years ago."

"Believe me sweetheart, putting up with your idea of a relationship makes staking look like a walk on the bloody beach."

"Well that's not your problem any more, is it?"

"Apparently it is now, thanks to your little revelation in there."

"Look, I don't know what else to say. Just. deal."

"Easy for you to say. You don't have to spend the next hour trying to teach American Literature to a bunch of horny adolescents."

"Well." Buffy grasped for a way to put a good spin on the situation. "Maybe they'll back off now that they know you're taken." She looked at her watch. "Hey, I've gotta go. I have a job interview in ten minutes." She started down the call, then called back to him. "I'll meet you after school Honey. We'll take care of that little Doctor problem then, OK?" She stopped and blew him a kiss.

He would have gladly throttled her.

*****

Two and a half hours later Buffy, Dawn and William were standing outside a dark little shop in an alley.

"This is where it was." William glanced up and checked the address again. "Looks deserted now."

"Ugh." Dawn shivered. "This place gives me the creeps."

Buffy stepped into the alley and scanned it up and down. "I don't see anything. We'd better look inside." She nodded to William. He reached into the pocket of his slacks and brought out a lock pick.

"You can still do that?" Dawn questioned.

"Being souled doesn't make a fellow forget about a hundred and twenty odd years of petty larceny." He muttered as he worked the lock.

"Doesn't make him any faster either." Buffy observed.

He turned the knob, then stood and held the door open for the two girls. "I get the job done."

"Eventually." Buffy brushed passed him. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim interior of the shop. It was mostly deserted, except for some stray papers and a few old books. She stepped down from the small landing, closely followed by Dawn and William. "So this is where you dragged my little sister to in the middle of the night?"

William didn't answer her, but walked to the adjoining room to see if there were any signs of the Time Wizard remaining there. Except for dust, the place was clean. "Anything out there?" He called over his shoulder.

"No. Nothing." Buffy continued to glance around, but knew they wouldn't be picking up any leads there today.

"Where to next?" Dawn asked.

"There's a new demon hangout in town." William told them. "I'll go ask around there."

"Oh Buffy, can I go. please?" Dawn begged her sister. "A new demon place! It's probably pretty cool."

"OK." Buffy agreed.

William opened the door. "After you, ladies."

*****

Dawn looked around in wonder as the three approached the strange bistro. "You know," she said to Buffy, "I've been by this place dozens of times. How come I never noticed it was a demon hangout?"

Buffy glanced over at her and smiled. "Just the way things work in Sunnydale."

"There he is." William gestured toward his loose skinned friend.

Dawn trotted over. "Hey Clem!"

Clem jumped, knocking the small round table over and spilling his drink. "Whoa there!" He yelled, then turned to see who had called him. "Dawn! Hey."

"Hi Clem." Buffy waved.

"Slayer." He nodded his head, then looked over at William. "Hey are you two back together?"

"No!" The both answered.

"Oh yeah. I see." Clem scratched his head. "Well here." He bent down to set the table up. "Have a seat everyone." He was short a chair, so he walked over to a table occupied by two Chaos demons, and with a fangy growl, borrowed a chair from them and gave it to William. "So, what brings you here today?"

Buffy leaned over to speak to him in a low tone. "We're looking for some information. Have you heard any talk lately about a Time Wizard being in town?"

"Oh, you mean Doc." Clem nodded.

"You know him?" William asked.

"Hey, you know me. I get around." Clem shrugged his shoulders modestly.

"What can you tell us about him?" Buffy wanted to know.

"He comes and goes." Clem related. "Sometimes I do some odd jobs for him, just to earn a few bucks. Hey!" He pointed at William. "Remember those cute demon eggs I asked you to hold for me about six months ago?" Clem chuckled. "Of course you remember. You had that freak explosion that wiped out your downstairs."

Buffy looked up, startled.

"Yeah." William nodded. "You mean the harmless little Suvolte eggs?"

"No." Clem shook his head. "They weren't Suvolte. Those things are dangerous. You've got to keep them frozen."

"Found that out the hard way." William muttered.

Buffy glanced down.

"Hey!" Clem was apologetic. "Doc's always seemed like such a decent sort. I had no idea he was dealing in the Suvolte trade. You shoulda told me."

"Had other things on my mind after that. Have you seen him around lately?"

"Oh, let's see." Clem inclined his head and scratched his ear. "I saw him a three or four weeks ago." He pointed at William. "The same day you came back."

"Where?" William questioned him.

"Right here." Clem motioned over his shoulder with his thumb. "When you left he came over and sat down."

"You talked to him?" Dawn blurted out.

"Sure. I talk to everybody."

Buffy shook her head. "What did you discuss."

"Lots of things. Hmm. Let me see." Clem drummed his fingers on the tabletop. "There was the menu. He's a picky eater and wanted to know where the horseflies were imported from." Clem nodded. "Then the weather." Clem laughed. "Demons always want to talk about the weather."

Buffy tapped her foot impatiently. They were close to information, and she wanted some answers. "Anything else."

"Oh yeah! We talked about him." He motioned to William.

"What about me?"

"He asked me who my friend was." At the alarmed look on William's face, Clem rushed to reassure him. "Don't worry. I didn't tell him anything." Clem shook his head, sending his ears flopping. "I told him you were just a friend from out of town here for a short visit. I even made up a name for you." Clem smiled proudly. "I told him your name was Rocko."

~*~*~*~

Part 13

Giles leaned an elbow against the new staircase railing and rubbed the back of his neck. "So, you've been able to verify that Doc has been around the Hellmouth during the last several months, and that he's probably been tracking your movements."

"We know Doc's been watching him." Buffy motioned toward the table where William and Dawn were looking for information on Time Wizards. "We also think that he might have been trying to kill us with the Suvolte eggs."

"How so?" Giles straightened to listen intently.

"He told Clem that the eggs were harmless and just needed a quiet dark place to sit for a few days. He was even the one who suggested that an old crypt might be an ideal spot. Clem knew Spike was looking for some extra cash." Buffy glanced around, uncomfortable about looking Giles in the eye. "If we had been down there unarmed when those things hatched out."

"I see." Giles cleared his throat. "Well then, did you feel like the Fyarl demons were attempting to kill you?"

"No." Buffy rejected the idea. "They were able to get the drop on us and could have killed Dawn and me pretty easily. I'm thinking more along the lines of a kidnapping."

"So Doc has gone from wanting you dead to needing you for some unknown purpose?"

Buffy nodded. "Maybe he wanted us dead for revenge, or. or to just get us out of the way."

Giles rubbed his chin. "Now, for whatever reason, he's decided that he needs you alive." He shook his head "I just don't know. There's something we're not seeing here." Giles pursed his lips as he thought deeply for a moment. "I'm going to make some calls that might prove enlightening."

"And we'll keep trying to get a bead on this guy." Buffy tuned to look at the other two again. "My main concern right now is Dawn and keeping her safe. Doc is the one who bled her that night. I won't let him harm her again."

*****

Several hours later, after supper had been eaten and Dawn had showered and gone to bed, Buffy and William stepped out onto the back porch to discuss the situation quietly. Buffy sank down on the top step and wrapped her arms around herself, even though it was a warm evening. "I'll kill him before I ever let him near Dawn again."

"You'll have to wait in line, love." William sat down and patted his pockets, finally locating a nearly empty pack of cigarettes."

"I haven't seen you smoke since you came back."

"I've cut down." He lit up and dropped his lighter back into his pocket. "Don't want to make a bad impression on the kiddies." He looked up at the sky, and blew a trail of smoke up into the air. "Figured I could use a bit of the old vice tonight."

"About earlier," Buffy began tentatively. "What Clem said."

"Forget it Buffy." There was a faint growl in his voice.

"But, when we found those eggs. I didn't even give you a chance to explain."

He exhaled another trail of smoke and looked away from her. "Doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters."

"No." His voice was calm and deliberate. "It doesn't. You were right. I was evil and it was a stupid scheme. I don't know if it would have made any difference if I'd have known what was in the eggs."

She leaned forward and draped her arms around her knees, interlacing her fingers. "It makes a difference to me." She said in a small voice.

"Well then," He stood and ground out the cigarette with his boot heel. "I'd best be off and let you get some sleep."

She stood and slid her hands into her front pockets. "Good night. You try to get some rest too."

He paused in the moonlight, a faraway look in his eyes. "Good night, good rest. Ah, neither be my share."

"That's nice." She tilted her head. "Is there more?"

He twisted his lips into a wry smirk. "I don't think you'd much care for it."

"Go on." She urged him.

He closed his eyes, then continued: "She bade good night that kept my rest away; And daff'd me to a cabin hang'd with care, To descant on the doubts of my decay. 'Farewell,' quoth she, 'and come again tomorrow.' Fare well I could not, for I supp'd with sorrow."

He paused and opened his eyes to gauge her reaction. Her expression was thoughtful. "Finish it."

"Yet at my parting sweetly did she smile, In scorn or friendship, nill I construe whether. 'T may be, she joy'd to jest at my exile, 'T may be, again to make me wander thither. 'Wander,' a word for shadows like myself, As take the pain, but cannot pluck the pelf."

"I didn't know you knew poetry. What was that?"

"Shakespeare." He shifted uncomfortably, then turned to leave. "Well, good night then."

"William, I don't hate you."

"Perhaps you should."

Before Buffy could say another word the backyard was inexplicably filled with vampires. Most were newly risen from the smell of them. Buffy and William immediately moved so that they were standing back to back, their muscles poised for action, their eyes and ears on full alert.

"Well well, what have we here?" William drawled out in a sardonic tone that was belied by the tension Buffy could feel in his body. "Looks like we have some minions who stumbled into the wrong place."

The vamps moved in, closing in a tight circle around the two. Buffy counted eight. There were too many in close proximity for her to tell if more were hidden in the bushes. None of them spoke, except for growls of hunger and rage.

"Four for me and four for you." She said lightly.

"That's about the size of it."

"Good odds, I'd say."

Lightning swift they both sprang into action. Buffy grabbed the stake concealed in the back of her waistband and dusted two before they realized she was armed. William grabbed the head of one nearest to him and twisted viciously. He didn't wait for it to dissolve into dust before kicking another in the stomach and knocking it into a third. Buffy leapt into the air, spinning and catching a vamp in the head. It fell to the ground and she landed on top of it, staking it in a quick, smooth thrust. William grasped the arm of the fourth attacker and spun him around. Buffy stood ready and killed it, then tossed her stake to William, who finished off the two struggling to their feet. Buffy smiled at the remaining vampire, which had just realized his undead afterlife was nearly over.

"Something tells me you should have slept in tonight!" She quipped, before hurtling herself at the demon, bloodying its mouth and nose with vicious punches and smashing her knee into its groin. As it bent over, clutching its stomach she reached her hand up in the air and caught the stake, then slammed it home into the creature's back. She tucked her weapon back into her pants.

"Wow!" she turned to her partner, brushing her hands on her jeans to remove the fine particles of dust. "That was."

Their eyes met. He recognized the glow he saw in hers. He stepped back in retreat.

She took two steps forward, not breaking their eye contact.

"Buffy, you don't want to do this."

"Shut up." She launched herself onto him, knocking him onto his back. Her mouth found his and her fingers twined through his hair.

"Mmpf. Buffy. Please..." His protest was interrupted by her greedy kisses. Her hands crept down his shirt and back up underneath it. He was able to twist his head free. "Love, you're going to regret this..."

"No." And she was on him again, ripping his shirt open. He managed to gain a little leverage and flipped her over onto her back. When he attempted to stand she grabbed the sides of his torn shirt and pulled him back down on top of her. "William," she moaned.

At the sound of his name, he sank into her kiss, returning its fervor for a moment, before a measure of sanity returned and he pulled himself slightly away. "Buffy, think about this. You don't really want to... You'll hate yourself and me in the morning."

"No! No I won't." She denied feverishly, and reached for him once again. "Please..." Her voice was raw.

Suddenly his body was ripped away and flying through the air to land on the porch steps.

"What?" She sat up in a daze and looked into the furious face of Angel. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to kill him." Angel stated grimly. He marched over to the fallen vampire, lifted him by the now tattered shirt, and punched him twice in the face.

"Angel. Stop!" She grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, then backhanded him across his cheek.

Angel looked at her in surprise. "I saw what he was doing to you. I heard you pleading with him."

"It's not what you think."

William pulled himself up and wiped the blood from his nose and mouth with the back of his hand. "Well, hello Peaches. Fancy meeting you here."

Angel advanced on him, rage darkening his features. "What did you think you were doing? You were sent here to help her, not rape her."

The words turned William cold. "I would never hurt her like that. Not again."

"Again?" Angel raised his fist and grabbed him.

Buffy wrenched his arm back. "You're not going to hit him. You will stop and listen."

"What's going on here Buffy?"

"Let's just all calm down and go inside to talk." She walked over to William. "And we need to clean your face up."

With nearly identical nods of their heads, the two vampires followed her inside the house, eyeing each other warily.

~*~*~*~

"Why are you here Angel?"

"First, you're going to tell me what I just saw out there."

They were sitting at the kitchen island, Buffy across from Angel. William was to her right, with a paper towel pressed to his nose. Buffy glanced over to him guiltily before facing Angel. "You just interrupted us... I mean we were. I was throwing myself at him."

"That's not what it looked like."

"I know what you thought. You were wrong."

"Then why were you kissing him?"

"That's none of your business."

"You are both my business. I'm responsible..."

"For nothing!" Buffy stood up, angry. "You gave up 'responsible' a long time ago."

'Buffy..." William placed a calming hand on her arm. His face had stopped bleeding. "He does have a right to know if you're in danger. At least hear him out."

"You're defending him?" She looked at his bruised face. "Where has he been the last two years?" She shook his hand off. "Oh, I see. The two noble vampires with souls are all teamed up now to serve the higher purpose."

"Not exactly." William looked down and shook his head.

"What then?" Buffy looked from one to the other.

"What has he told you?" Angel wanted to know.

"Not much." She admitted. "I know that Cordelia picked him up in Africa and brought him to you. You were in some sort of trouble."

"That's all?" Angel asked, eyeing William warily.

"What was there to tell? The two of you spent the summer in LA brooding together, then you sent him back here because you had more important things to do"

"Did he tell you that?" Angel's eyes blazed.

"No. That's just my take."

"Buffy," William interrupted. "I asked Angel to let me come back here."

"Let you? Since when do you listen to anything he has to say?"

"It was easier to come with his blessing than fight him."

"I don't understand you two. You're fighting on the same side now. You had all summer to work this out. Why all the hostility?"

"We have over a hundred years of bad history to work through Buffy. William showing up with a new outlook on life doesn't just make that go away."

"So you two spent the last three months squabbling over who gets to be the general, and who gets to be the foot soldier?"

Angel shook his head. "I was in pretty bad shape when Cordy brought him around. It took me a while to get my strength back. I didn't find out about his soul until later. By that time..."

William smirked. "Seems that I'd invaded his turf. Thought I'd do him a good turn and keep his business going for him. I shoulda remembered his jealous streak."

"It wasn't that and you know it. You did everything you could to rub it in. You could have made things easier." Angel sneered.

"What, spend a few years wallowing in my misery, living off of rats? Not my idea of making a difference. Besides, I had to shake you out of that great blue funk you were in."

"You knew how I was betrayed..."

"Yeah, and you laying around pissing and moaning about it wasn't doing much to help the situation."

Buffy frowned. "What? You two spent the entire time at each other's throats?"

"We managed well enough once the cheerleader talked some sense into the big pouf."

"I told you not to call me that. And don't call her a cheerleader."

"Oh yeah, what exactly is it that you're calling her these days?"

"Shut up, William."

"Sod off."

Buffy smacked her hands on the counter top with a loud crack. "Stop it, both of you!"

They stopped arguing. "Sorry Buffy." Angel's voice was quiet. "He just gets under my skin."

"He seems to have that effect on a lot of people."

Rather than being insulted, William looked rather pleased with himself. "Very well then. I think I'll be off. You two have a lot to..."

"Wait just a minute." Angel growled. "I still want to know what was going on out there tonight."

William shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "Look. It was a one-time thing. We had a fight with a group of vamps and got a little worked up. It won't happen again, will it Buffy?"

"I don't understand how it happened in the first place." Angel eyed William speculatively. "Are those scratches...?"

Buffy blushed and turned her face. "Why don't you just tell us why you came here tonight."

Angel walked away to collect his thoughts, then turned to the other two. "There have been some rumblings in the Demon world that something big is going to go down here."

"Well yeah, we'd kind of sussed that out." William told him.

Buffy spent the next half-hour detailing all the recent demon and vampire encounters, with William adding in comments and observations. Angel sat quietly through the narrative, nodding thoughtfully from time to time, his silence revealing his concentration. Finally he sighed and stood to pace around the small kitchen.

"I really don't have anything new to add to what I've already told you. I'll have Fred go over some of this other information to see what she can dig up."

"Fred?" Buffy frowned. "I thought Wesley was your big research guy."

"Don't go there pet." William warned. His warning was too late, as Angel had already launched into a rant on traitors. "He does go on, doesn't he?" He whispered into her ear, before walking over to clap his hand across Angel's shoulder. "Seems to me I've played that role for you as well, Peaches, and looky at how well we're doing."

"Fu..."

"Ah, ah, ah." William wagged a finger at him. "Temper, temper." He turned to Buffy. "At that, I'll be off. Seems to me you and the dreary one have a lot to discuss, and you don't need me around bollixing things up." He walked over the refrigerator and jotted down an address on the notepad there. He tore it off the top sheet of paper and handed it to the other man. "This is my place, Angel. If you need somewhere to crash and you aren't feeling inclined to stake me after you and Blondie have your heart- to-heart, come on over. The fridge is stocked and you can help yourself. Just see that you don't wake me up with that god-awful snoring racket you make." With that, he turned and breezed out the back door.

Angel noted how Buffy watched him go. He approached her soundlessly and took her chin gently in his hand. He studied the conflicting emotions in her face. "What's going on with you two Buffy?"

She avoided his gaze. "What did he tell you?"

"He said he wanted a soul because he was in love with you. He thought it would give him a shot." A pitying look crossed his face. "He should have known you'd never feel that way toward him."

"There's something you should know." Buffy searched for the right words, hoping that Angel would somehow understand. "The last two years have been so hard for me."

"I know Buffy."

"No you don't!" Her head snapped up angrily. "You don't know because you weren't here."

"But you've told me..."

"It isn't the same." She fidgeted restlessly. "First Dawn showed up and we found out that she hadn't really ever been here, then Riley left." She looked at Angel accusingly. "I'm sure that pleased you to no end."

"I never like to see you hurting."

"He was right to go." She let out a soft breath. "He knew I didn't love him the way he needed me to. I cared about him, but it wasn't enough." She looked at Angel. "I thought I couldn't have real feelings for another man after you."

"I'm... I'm sorry Buffy."

"No." She put her hand up, as if to ward off his words. "I don't want to hear that from you. I just want you to understand."

"Understand what?"

"I need you to understand where my head was. My mother died and I was alone to take care of Dawn and the rest of the world."

"Buffy, I knew that you had Giles and your friends. And if you needed me all you had to do was call."

"What?" She looked at him in frustration. "Call you so you could come out and hold my hand and say sweet things to make me feel better, then leave before sunup?"

"I know." He acknowledged quietly.

"You weren't here, but he was." She looked at him steadily. "Spike never had to be asked to help. He was here and he did what I needed without question. He almost died twice protecting Dawn, even when everybody else thought it was hopeless."

"His motives weren't completely pure Buffy."

"I know that. I know he was trying to play nice to score some points with me."

"Then why are you telling me this?"

"Did you know that he stayed around after I died? Did you know that he still fought demons and vampires; that he still took care of my sister?"

"It was guilt..."

"He had no soul Angel. Where did he get the guilt?" Her eyes flashed angrily again. "You never seemed to have any."

Angel had no answer for her.

"Then when I was brought back, I felt alone... only half alive." She studied his face for reaction. "Except when I was with him."

"What are you trying to say Buffy? You didn't..."

"I started sleeping with him."

"No!"

"He loved me. He let me... use him." She looked down in shame.

"Oh Buffy." He shook his head. "You were weak. He took advantage of you."

"No, he didn't."

"He saw his chance to move in, and that's what he did. What happened? Did he wait until you were alone and needy, then make his move?"

"It was me. I started it."

"You wouldn't. Not with him."

"Wake up! Why would I lie to you about this?" She clenched her hands, determined to make him listen. "I went to him. I started everything. I would sleep with him, then I would tell him that he was a disgusting thing and that I would never touch him again, but I always did. Over and over and over again." She looked up at him, her face full of shame. "I even beat him and told him I could never love him. Then I went to him again."

"What did he do to you? He said he."

She thought for a moment. "Look, it wasn't the best situation, and when I finally ended it, things got... ugly." She paused. "Then he left."

"Buffy, that twisted relationship; that wasn't you."

"Oh yes, it was. Now you tell me, who was the monster?" She began to cry. "I didn't want you to find out. I never wanted you to know I had that kind of ugliness inside me." She turned away from him. "It took almost losing the world and being powerless to stop it to make me stop thinking about myself. I almost threw everything away."

"Buffy, come here." He took her hands and led her to a chair. He sat facing her. "Do you think you're the only one who's done terrible things in the last year?"

"You're good, Angel. You wouldn't use someone who loved you like that."

"Maybe it's time you found out about the ugliness inside of me."

"It can't be worse."

"I turned my back on all my friends. I tried to lose my soul."

"Why? How?"

"I was in a dark place. I wanted to stop the pain. So I slept with Darla."

Buffy's eyes grew wide. "Did you...?"

"No. Sex alone wasn't enough to break the curse. I didn't love her, so it didn't really mean anything to me."

"Oh." Buffy fiddled with a button on her shirt, surprised. "So it wasn't the. I mean, when you turned evil it wasn't just because we.?

"No. It was because of how I felt about you when I was with you."

"I see." She swallowed hard as she digested that bit of information. "So you tried to change, but it didn't take?"

"That's not the worst of it. I used Darla and Drusilla to slaughter humans."

Buffy's head shot up. Her expression was stricken.

"They were human, but they were monsters."

"Angel, it's not up to us to pass judgment on humans."

"I know. And I also know that you will probably never see me in the same light again, but I worked through that time in my life, and I've tried to make it up to the friends I hurt in LA. It's taken a lot of time to earn their trust again."

"I don't know what to say."

"That isn't all of it." He waited until she nodded, ready to hear more. "Darla had a baby. My baby."

"Oh no." The color drained from Buffy's face. "How could that happen?" she whispered in shock.

"It was a miracle, and a prophecy. Darla is dead, but now I have Connor."

"You had a child and you didn't even think to tell me?" Disbelief still colored her words. "You have a baby?"

"He's not a baby any more." Angel went on to relate how Wesley had betrayed him and how Connor had grown up without his real father, then returned to kill him. "... And that's when Cordy showed up with William."

"You called her Cordy."

"Yes."

"William said something earlier about her, and you defended her." Buffy watched his expression closely. "She was there while you went through all this."

He nodded, but remained silent.

"She used to have a wicked crush on you. Did you know that?"

"She was just a kid then."

"So was I." Understanding was dawning inside her. "You have feelings for her, don't you?"

Angel paused, then nodded again.

"Are you in love with Cordelia?" Her incredulous expression told him that she already knew the answer.

"I haven't told her yet."

"Oh Angel. What's happened to us?"

"We're just moving on with our lives."

"You are." She spat bitterly.

"And so are you... now."

"What do you mean?"

"Tell me about William."

"I already did."

"You told me that you were lost, and that you used him. But then you found yourself again." He waited for her agreement. "And now you've put your life back together and rediscovered your family and friends."

"That's right."

"Then tell me why you were kissing him tonight. Are you still using him?"

"No." She shook her head, then looked up at him in wonder. "No, I'm not."

"Why did you kiss him, Buffy?"

"Because he was there..."

"Is that why you usually kiss men?"

"No! I..."

"Tell me."

"I wanted him."

"You wanted a man?"

"No, I wanted him!" The words poured out of her in a flurry. "He makes me laugh and he's there when I need him. He makes me so mad I can't see straight, then quotes beautiful poetry. He teases my sister like an older brother would and she adores him. He fights beside me like he's an extension of me. He understands me better than I understand myself. He always has."

"Are you telling me that you love him?"

Buffy stopped. She looked down and all around the room - anywhere but at Angel. "I just don't know." She walked to the door and stood looking into the darkness outside with her arms wrapped tightly around herself. "Why was it different with him?"

Angel moved behind her and rested his hands lightly on her shoulders. "What do you mean?"

She turned to look at him. "Why could he love me when he had no soul, but you couldn't?" Her eyes were glassy with tears that threatened to spill if she blinked.

He turned her into the cool comfort of his embrace and rocked her gently back and forth as her tears broke free. "Oh Buffy, it wasn't you. Don't ever think it was because of you." He loosened his hold on her and she stepped back, wiping her eyes with her fingertips.

"Why then?"

"When Drusilla turned him he was idealistic, full of hope and romantic notions. She just caught him at a weak moment. He was able to keep that part of himself." Angel's face hardened. "I had very little humanity left in me when I met Darla. I was shallow and lazy, looking out only for my own interests. There was nothing left when the demon took over."

She nodded in understanding. "Your soul made you feel again."

He nodded. "Spike never lost that. That's probably why I always resented him so much. I used to tell him that he was soft and weak. I would use his feelings against him to try and control him." Angel smiled at the irony. "That's what finally drove him to turn on me."

"You would have destroyed the world."

"It's what I wanted."

"Then why is it so much harder for me to forgive him?"

"You're going to have to answer that one yourself, Buffy."

*****

Angel left quietly. Buffy watched him walk away, then shut off the lights and started up the stairs to her bedroom. Dawn jumped up from her place on the staircase where she had listened to most of the conversation. She ran as quietly as she could to her room and jumped under the covers to feign sleep as Buffy passed by to look in on her. After Buffy had gone, Dawn looked up and slowly a brilliant smile bloomed across her face. She bit her bottom lip in glee, then hugged her pillow before plumping it back into a puffy shape, and lying back down to dream happy dreams.

~*~*~*~

"Grand Re-Opening October 19th" proclaimed the banner across the front of the Magic Box. Giles paused to admire the artful display of magic paraphernalia and books in the new picture window, as well as the shiny brass door latch on the new wooden door that made the shop look homey and welcoming. He shifted the large box from his right and to his left and let himself in. The bell at the top of the doorway announced his presence. It was one of the few things in the shop that had survived Willow's attack.

The store interior was pristine and ready for the next day when, hopefully, it would be full of customers. Xander had outdone himself. Giles was glad Anya had insisted on the top-of-the-line insurance coverage. Her business instincts were unparalleled.

The subject of his musings was currently polishing a display case filled with crystals and ceramic figurines. "Giles!" she greeted him. "Isn't this great?" Her enthusiasm was infectious.

"Yes." He nodded. "Quite wonderful. Tomorrow should be a success."

"That's exactly what I was thinking." She noticed his box. "What have you got there?"

"Just a little gift for the big day."

"You brought me a gift?" Anya's head tilted and her expression softened into a sweet smile.

"Er, yes." He acknowledged modestly. "Just a bit of something to help with the." He trailed off as she hurried out of the room. ".transition." he finished.

She re-entered from the back room with a package wrapped in gold paper. "Look. I've got something for you too!" She was beaming proudly.

"Thank you Anya. This is unexpected."

"Open it!" She urged.

He lowered his box onto the counter and took her gift. It was about a foot long and heavy for its size. He broke the string and unwound the gold paper. Inside was a small statue. It was quite ugly with large protruding eyes, as well as a large. "Anya, would this be a fertility idol?"

"Yes!" She nodded her head, pleased that he had recognized it. "It signifies good fortune and wealth. When I saw it I knew it would be perfect for you."

"Well thank you. It was a lovely thought."

"What did you get me?"

He gestured to the box. "Why don't you open it and see?"

The box was sealed shut. Giles handed her a pocketknife and she cut through the tape and pushed the flaps out of the way. Inside was packing paper that she quickly discarded onto the counter. "Oh Giles!" She exclaimed peering in. "Is it.? Yes!" She squealed happily. She lifted out the new electronic scanner. "It's perfect! I can use this with my new cash register and sell my merchandise with a greater speed and accuracy." She turned to him. Her eyes were glowing. "Thank you!"

"You're quite wel." He was cut off by Anya's grateful lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him close while she kissed him, then released him just as suddenly.

"My goodness." Giles was stunned.

"You know that I had sex with Spike, don't you?"

"Why do I keep hearing confessions to that effect?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you knew. Some people around here have trouble forgiving other people around here. It's much easier when things are out in the open."

"I appreciate that Anya, and yes, I did gather that something had occurred with William."

"It was just a one time thing. We were drunk."

"Of course."

"Did you like that twisty thing I did with my tongue?"

"Umm. Well, yes. It was quite.nice."

"It used to get Xander all worked up so that he wanted to, you know." She reached out and stroked his tie. "I thought you might like it too."

"Well I can't say that I've ever." She was kissing him again. For the life of him, Giles didn't understand why he was letting her. To be truthful, he seemed to be kissing her back. He really needed to put a stop to this, but Anya was a breath of fresh air in what had been a particularly dreary year. Besides, the girl happened to be a phenomenal kisser.

"My god Anya. Is there a man around here that you won't give it up for?" Xander stood inside the front door, his face flushed with resentment.

Giles and Anya had been so intent upon each other that they hadn't heard the bell ring when he came in. Now they jumped guiltily.

"Well, there's you." Anya sneered. "Besides, I wasn't giving it up. I was kissing him and it's none of your business."

Xander stalked over to her, his toolbox in his right hand, his left clenched into a fist. "Were you always this much of a slut, or is this part of the Vengeance Demon thing?"

"That's enough Xander." Giles' voice was hard. "You owe her an apology."

Xander looked over to him and chuckled bitterly. "I hope you're not letting her lead you on. She's doing this just to get back at me, since she can't curse me herself." He stormed away. "I'm just going to get the rest of my stuff, and I'm through."

Giles moved to follow him, his color high with anger.

"Stop." Anya held onto his arm. "Whatever you say to him won't do any good."

"What I want to say?!" Giles huffed indignantly. "More likely where I want to hit. He had no call to speak to you in that manner."

Anya's expression became wistful. "He wasn't always so bitter." She shook her head. "Oh, I don't know what to do to make things better."

Giles looked back at the doorway to the back room. "I just wish he'd get over his ridiculous obsessions!"

Anya smiled and grasped her pendant. "Granted!"

"What?" Giles whipped his head back to her.

Anya was excited and bounced happily. "You just made a wish in anger, and I granted it!"

"Do you mean...?"

Xander, who had walked back into the room with a sheepish expression, interrupted him. "Giles, Anya... about all that crap I just dumped on you... listen, I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from."

"Uh, that's all right Xander. Are you feeling well?"

"I'm feeling great! I can't wait for the big day tomorrow."

"Xander," Anya stepped forward. "Do you hate me?"

He seemed to be astonished by the question. "Of course not, An."

"And what about Spike?"

"Wow, he has a soul now. How about that?" He shook a finger at Anya. "You know, he hates being called Spike."

"And Buffy?"

"I'm glad she's doing better. It's good to see her smile sometimes."

"What about Willow?"

"I miss her. I hope she gets better soon."

"And your parents?"

Xander shook his head slowly from side to side and blew out a long breath. "There are two people who just can't let go of old baggage. It makes me sad that they've chosen to spend their lives being miserable." He looked around the shop. "Anya, this place looks really great. I'll be here tomorrow for your big opening. Let me know if you need anything before then." He gave her a quick hug, shook Giles' hand, and walked out of the shop whistling.

"What was that?" Giles asked, flummoxed.

"Zipidee-Doo-Dah, I believe."

*****

Xander was so upbeat and carefree as he exited the shop that he didn't notice the slight man standing across the road gazing at the building. His benign expression revealed none of the complex thoughts going on behind his strange, dark eyes.

A few minutes prior Doc had sensed a small surge of magical power, which had attracted him to this spot. Interesting. The witch had not returned, yet some power was still present. He had wanted to determine the source of it. Since this appeared to be a magic shop, small amounts of mystical energy were to be expected, so this was no cause for concern. His plan was coming together nicely; he just had to wait patiently for the right time. Waiting was not a problem. He was patient. He had made a foolish mistake before, but it was nothing that couldn't be rectified. This time there would be no surprises. He had tested the slayer and the vampire, and knew that they were resourceful. He hadn't expected the young minions he had sent to the house to actually defeat them, but he was impressed with the speed in which his young vampires were dispatched. Then there had been that display of passion between the warriors afterward. That was an interesting development. It might prove useful when the time came to implement his

plan. They would not be easy to capture, but there was a path of lesser resistance that would serve to bring the others to him.

He smiled coldly. It would happen soon, very soon.

~*~*~*~

The re-opening was a success. The shop had bustled with activity since Anya had turned the sign from "Closed" to "Open" and unlocked the door. The timing had been perfect. With Halloween only two weeks away, even the common folks unversed in the magical arts had been coming in to buy items.

The scanner was working perfectly, and Anya looked to Giles often to let him know how much she appreciated his gift. He would return her glance with a smile before a customer would draw his attention away. It was a good day.

Xander and Buffy had dropped by to help out. Since Buffy was still without a new job, she had been there for most of the day. Anya tried to keep her away from the customers as much as possible, but she was very handy for carting merchandise around and helping to load vehicles. Dawn was in charge of greeting people as they entered and helping them find what they were looking for. Anya had no intention of letting the girl anywhere near the cash register, no matter how sorry she said she was for the petty thefts she had committed over the last couple of years.

The overall mood inside was upbeat. Two more hours until close, and then receipts to tally. She sighed happily once again, then turned to ring up another customer.

Buffy set down a box of ceramic figurines that were needed to restock a display case, then flexed her shoulders and stretched her arms. She'd carted so much stuff today that she wouldn't need to work out later. The bell at the door pealed once again, as it had constantly all day. She felt familiar tingles go down her spine and she turned expectantly. He was here.

She hadn't spoken to William since the night Angel visited. She had a feeling he was avoiding her. She had stopped by the school on Friday afternoon on the pretext of seeing Dawn, but he was occupied with some students. She contented herself with watching him interact with the teenagers. He listened intently to their comments and laughed with them often. It was amazing how comfortable he was relating to people who would have been nothing but a food source to him a year ago. He really seemed to enjoy them as individuals. He had finished his question and answer session, then glanced over to Buffy and pointed at his watch, indicating that he was late for something. He'd gathered up his things and left the room quickly after that. She hadn't been able to communicate beyond a small wave.

Now they were in the same room, and she wasn't going to miss an opportunity. "Hi." She stepped up beside him. She glanced around. "What do you think?"

"Looks like Anya's got another success on her hands."

She nodded her agreement. "It's been like this all day." She tilted her head to the side. "What brings you here?"

"Just checking up. It's good to see everyone working together."

"Almost everyone." Buffy commented, with a hint of sadness entering her tone.

"Ah yes, the birds." He understood. "Any word from Willow?"

"Not since she called a couple of weeks ago."

"I know I haven't really said too much about Tara, but it was really such a shame. She was a sweet lady."

Buffy looked at him sadly. "You know, she was the only person I felt like I could talk to last year. She didn't judge me or try to tell me what to do."

"That explains all the teasing she dished out to me at your birthday party." He clenched his jaw. "Warren. I wish I'd been here."

"It wouldn't have made a difference. Nobody could have stopped it."

"I didn't know he was capable of."

"None of us did. That isn't your fault."

He sniffed and gave a small smirk. "I'm sure Xander would have a different take on that."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Oh, wait until you talk to Xander. You won't believe it!"

"What.?"

She took his hand. "Come on. You'll see." She dragged him through the shop and toward the back room. William tried to pull his hand away, thinking that the sight of Buffy having any contact with him would set the git off, but she held on resolutely, lacing her fingers through his. She pulled him through the doorway. "Hey Xander, look who's here!"

Xander turned from where he was showing some of the workout equipment to a teenaged boy, and smiled in greeting. "Hey guys!" He walked over and patted William on the shoulder. "Glad you could finally make it. I wanted you to see some of the new equipment we installed."

William stared at him wordlessly, waiting for an insult or punch that never came. Buffy smiled up at him and squeezed his hand. "What do you think of my new training room?"

The vampire finally found his tongue. "Looks nice. sturdy." He was unsure of what was happening, so he decided to play along. "You've outdone yourself Harris. Why all the fancy upgrades?"

Xander shrugged modestly. "Just trying to do what I can. I thought that if we modernized this, Buffy might be able to start teaching some self-defense classes here." He looked at William sincerely. "What do you think?"

"I.uh, I think that Buffy would do a great job teaching self-defense."

"That's great!" Xander clapped him on the back. "We were wondering if you'd be willing to help out with that."

"Help out? You're asking me to help Buffy?"

"Well, she needs a sparring partner that she can't hurt when she's showing moves to people." Xander smiled. "You'd be perfect."

William gave up trying to understand what was happening. "Let me get this right, Harris. You want me around here with Buffy? You are asking me to spend time at a place where you know I'll see Anya?"

Xander nodded his head sheepishly. "Look, I know I've been really hard on you in the past, and I've busted your chops for a lot of things that really weren't your fault." He held out his right hand to the other man. "If you can forgive me for trying to kill you, I think we can make this work. What do you say?"

William paused for only a second, the reached out to shake Xander's hand. Their eyes met in mutual respect and agreement. "Sounds like a plan."

Buffy finally dropped his hand so that she would hug Xander. "We'll see you later. Thanks for all your work on the place."

"Don't worry about that Buffy. You'll get a bill. after you start your classes."

She and William left. He was mystified. "What just happened in there?"

"A curse!" Buffy told him happily. "Isn't it great?"

"William." Anya rushed over to him from her spot behind the counter. "Will you please go help Giles? I believe that woman he's trying to help is a Hathren Demon, and he's having trouble with her dialect."

With a nod to Buffy, he departed to help the Watcher. Buffy stared thoughtfully at the two Englishmen. Anya noted her gaze and stood to watch them as well. She leaned over to whisper in Buffy's ear. "Have you been in a room, and a certain man comes in, and your heart starts beating just a little harder, and your skin gets all tingly, and it's hard to breathe, and pretty soon all you can think about is dragging him off somewhere where you can be alone and mash your bodies all together?"

"Yeah." Buffy sighed. "More and more all the time."

*****

Two hours later, an exhausted and euphoric Anya turned her sign back to "Closed" and lowered the blinds behind the display window. She joined the others lounging around the table. Everyone was mellow and hungry.

"Where is the deliveryman with those pizzas?" Xander asked.

On cue there was a knock at the back door. William rose to answer it. "I'll get it. It's on me." He called over his shoulder while reaching for his wallet.

"You know," Dawn mused. "It's nice having someone else around with a job." A thoughtful look crossed her pretty face. "How much do you suppose a teacher in Sunnydale makes anyway?"

"I don't know." Buffy frowned. "I never really thought about it."

Anya reached over to touch Giles on the hand. "You used to work at the school. How much did you make?"

"Pardon me?"

Anya laughed. "Humans are so uptight about discussing money!"

"I hardly think this is a human issue." Giles sounded slightly affronted.

"Oh yeah? Watch this." Anya waited until Spike came back carrying three large pizzas and two liters of Coke. "William, how much do you make now?"

"Hundred and Twelve Thousand, before taxes."

"What?!" Buffy almost fell off her chair.

"See!" Anya nodded; satisfied that she had proven her point.

"You make HOW MUCH?" Buffy's mouth gaped open.

Giles removed and wiped his glasses.

"Obscene, isn't it?" William commented.

"Giles, did you make that kind of money when you worked at the school?" Buffy asked.

"Well, librarians, as a rule, don't command quite the same pay scale as the teachers do. There is a, well. a lower mortality rate."

"But, but, this is your first year teaching!" Buffy exclaimed.

"Hey, he's a great teacher." Dawn pointed out.

"With a degree from Oxford." William added.

"It was issued in 1874!" Buffy sputtered.

"Lucky for me they didn't even look at the date."

"Anya," Xander added. "He makes almost as much as you do."

"I don't believe this!" Buffy paced around the table. "I just spent the last seven months smelling like the DoubleMeat Triple Slam for six dollars an hour! I have zits from clogged pores and grease plugs in my ears."

Xander pulled her down on the chair next to him and laid an arm across her shoulders. "It's OK Buff. It was a learning experience for you. We'll get you all set up with your own Dojo in here and you can pull down the big bucks too."

"You think?" Buffy wrinkled her nose. "How much can a self-defense instructor make in Sunnydale?"

"I think you can charge upward of twenty dollars per hour." Anya opined. "Per student."

"Nobody is going to pay me that much."

"Buffy!" Dawn leaned forward. "Are you nuts? All the girls in school can't wait for you to open. Chelsea said her sister takes classes in LA and pays thirty, and that isn't even a Hellmouth."

They were interrupted by another knock on the door. William looked at Xander quizzically. "Did you order anything else? Maybe some wings?"

"No." Xander shook his head

"Hello…?" A soft voice came from the back.

Everybody sat and gaped as Willow entered the room. "Hi guys! I'm back."

~*~*~*~