Title: The Lesson
Author: Wildecate
Email: Wildecate@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss and not to me ya de ya de ya....
Summary: Buffy is sick of being predictable and when she finds that Angel and Spike are fighting over her, she decides to teach them both a lesson.
Author's Note: This is in answer to SpikeLover's Challenge Number 4. As promised SpikeLover, the twist in the tail.

It was late and the last thing that Buffy Summers wanted to be doing was patrolling. She had griped a little with Giles before he had pointed out that the quicker she go the quicker she'd get home. She swung past most of the cemetaries (of which there were many) and was finally on her way home when she heard the sounds of a fight. She followed the noise, moving swiftly and silently, scaling a wall like a monkey. When she reached the top she cautiously peeked over and nearly lost her grip in shock.

Below her in a clearing were two vampires, one pale as moonlight the other dark as shadow. They circled each other slowly, both stripped to the waist, both showing signs of injury, the red weals already healing. Buffy caught her breath and swung herself up on to the top of the wall to watch. They were not aware of her presence and she did not want them to stop. The atmosphere was tense and neither of them took their gazes of each other for a second.

There was a sudden clash of steel and Buffy jumped a little as the two ancient swords met in a shower of sparks. Their gazes did not waver for a second. There was silence and stillness for a long moment and then they began to move around each other, feinting and blocking.

Buffy watched in sheer fascination as the two men tested each other's skills to the limits. She could see the muscles moving beneath the pale skin and the tattoo ripling on Angel's back. She watched, mouth slightly open, as Spike flexed his shoulder muscles in preparation for another strike.

In fact.... she settled herself more comfortably on the wall and fixed her gaze on the blonde vampire as he swung the large sword menancingly in front of him. Despite the attitude and the fang thing, he was quite an attractive guy. Those piercing blue eyes and seductive smile were things she had been aware but had never really had any effect. Now, she saw him in a whole new light.

With a couple of swift moves Spike had disarmed Angel, the sword flying up in the air and landing quivering, point sunk into the earth by at least a foot.

Angel snarled, his face vamping in and out again, before launching himself at Spike.

"You want to fight, let's do it properly" he snarled and Spike kicked him off and threw his sword to land next to Angel's.

"Properly then" Spike said "Slayer's got us fighting each other now. Who would have thought it?"Angel swung a punch at Spike who deftly ducked out the way and then stuck his foot in Angel's chest, knocking him backwards against a tree. Angel jumped back to his feet and headbutted Spike who staggered backwards.

The two vampires glared at each other for a moment then Angel grinned.

"She won't go with you"

Spike wiped away a trickle of blood that was trailing from his nose and looked up at him.

"She won't go with you either."

"She's more likely to go with me than you" Angel grinned smugly "She wouldn't even look at you."

With a roar Spike flew at Angel again.

The Slayer was not happy. She sat, long legs dangling off a wall and watched as the two vampires below her fought. There wasn't really any point in her joining in. In the mood she was in at the moment she'd probably stake them both and despite the fact they were acting like a pair of 11 year old school boys, as a rule she was fond of both of them and besides this was quite funny. They had no idea that she was watching - at least she didn't think so, well actually she knew so. There was no way that they would be acting like this if they thought she had been anywhere in the vicinity. She winced as the blond vampire dealt the dark haired one a hard blow across the mouth and knocked him backwards. As he lay on the ground trying to recover, the vampire jumped on him and headbutted him.

"OK guys, time out here"

The two vampires froze and looked up as Buffy Summers swung herself off the wall and jumped down beside them. This fight could have easily gone on all night because they weren't fighting to kill each other, they were just fighting like a pair of male stags fighting over the last female in the herd.

"This is ridiculous."

Spike let Angel's head drop on the ground banging in against the roots of tree and he jumped to his feet quickly. Angel sat up, rubbing his forehead ruefully.

"I'm not going to ask what this is about" she saw them both look relieved and decided that she wasn't going to let them get off that easily.

"I know, I was here for the argument at the beginning."

Angel climbed to his feet and she stood in front of them angrily glaring from one to the other until they had both dropped their gazes to the ground, looking like kids who had got caught stealing cookies.

"For your information, I have no intention of going to the dance with either of you. So you can either carry on fighting for no reason or you can help me patrol as penance for having such big egos."

"How do you figure the big ego part?" Spike asked.

Buffy turned and looked at him, her dark eyes looking straight through him.

"The dance is tomorrow - neither of you even asked me. I'm not just going to say yes just because one of you ask me. The pair of you think that poor little Buffy is so desperate that she won't have a date and she won't have anyone to go with and at the last minute you two turn up and save my reputation so I have someone to go with."

Angel looked away from the angry stare and rubbed his head again which was beginning to throb painfully. He knew he was guilty of this - turning up and expecting Buffy to be free.

"So do you have anyone to go with?" Spike asked "Or are you just having a go and then hoping that one us will turn up and stop you from having to go on your own."

Buffy stuck her chin out and smiled proudly "I have someone to go with, thank you for asking, Blondie" she turned on her heel and stalked off, leaving the two of them gazing after her.

"She never stops surprising me" Angel said thoughtfully.

"She doesn't have anyone to go with" Spike said "unless she's been keeping him real quiet."

Angel nodded "So do we carry on fighting or not?"

"I say not, we could go and get a drink instead though."

"Drink?" Angel asked "drink."

"At Willie's bar" Spike clarified knowing what Angel thought he meant. Angel, of course, didn't know that Spike had stopped his human diet and had probably thought that Spike was suggesting going hunting.

As Angel and Spike headed off towards the bar, Buffy stepped out from behind the tree where she had hidden herself. Typical. The best thing about Angel was that he was quite reliable for things like showing up in the nick of time to save face. It had never occurred to her to go with Spike but then it had never occurred to her that he would want to go. And now she had a problem because she didn’t have anyone to go with. Except...... there was one person. She smiled to herself. If he said yes, this would be one lesson neither Angel nor Spike would forget.

It was morning now. Saturday meant no lectures and Buffy knew that she only had a few hours in which to soften her target up so she began by rising early and turning up at his house in her training gear.

Rupert Giles got up early every day. It was a habit that had been installed in him in boarding school and he had maintained it. The image of "Stuffy Giles" was useful as cover but "Stuffy Giles" had to be fit to help train the Slayer and he ran for five miles every day plus working out with his weights. None of the younger members of the gang seemed to realise how fit he was despite the fact that he was easily old enough to be their father and yet he could still keep up with them and beat vampires in a fight. It never really occurred to them to think about it but he remembered the first time they had seen him out of his "tweed uniform" and in "civvies".

He was about to leave his house when there was a knock on the door and he opened it to find Buffy standing there in blue sweat pants and a grey tank top obviously ready to work out.

"Buffy, isn’t it a little early for you to be here. It is Saturday."

She smiled her best little girl smile being careful not to overdo it.

"I thought I might work out with you. I mean, if that’s OK because if it’s not then I’ll ...." she allowed her voice to trail off uncertainly and glanced up and was gratified to see Giles smile.

"Of course Buffy. I was just going for a run if you want to join me."

She nodded and he stepped out the house to join her on the sidewalk.

The two of them ran round Sunnydale, down to the reservoir and then back into town. There was a small boxing club in town that Giles knew of and occasionally went to. He and Buffy walked in and she was suddenly aware of the sunlight being blocked out. She looked up at the huge man in front her and smiled.

"Hi, I’m Buffy Summers" she said brightly.

"Hello Hank, we fancied a quick round in the ring if that’s OK with you." Giles spoke quietly beside her and laid a hand on her shoulder possessively in case anyone around got any ideas.

"You.....fight her?" Hank was genuinely shocked by this idea.

"Come on Rip, you’ll make mincemeat out of her"

"Cos I’m a girl" Buffy asked, offended.

"No offence Miss, but you’re a tiny little thing. I know this guy, he'll break you in half without breaking a sweat."

"Well I’ll tell you what. I’ll take you on instead"

The huge man stood back and roared with laughter.

"Hear that guys, Miss United States here is going to whop my ass"

"I’ll do it in 30 seconds too" she said and unzipped her sweat top and handed it to Giles.

"Buffy I really don’t think this is wise. I mean, 30 seconds?" Giles whispered in her ear.

"Oh don’t be such a worry wart - 30 seconds is enough time" buffy eyed Hank up and wondered if he would be a good sport about getting beaten by a girl. She thought so and decided to make it quick and clean. That would be the easiest way to get this over and done with.

"I’m thinking it’s too much time. Imagine what you could do to him."

"Oh relax" Buffy swung herself up into the ring and clipped her hair back. "I’m not going to kill him."

Hank bent down to Buffy’s ear and whispered quietly "I’ll be real gentle Miss. I don’t want to hurt you".

"Well" Buffy whispered back "I'll try very hard not to hurt you then."

She backed off and assumed her normal fighting stance.

"Come on then big guy" she said out loud "Give me your best shot."

Less than 10 seconds later he was out cold on the floor of the ring and Buffy was leaning anxiously across him. Giles touched her shoulder.

"Is he all right?" she asked

"I think so. Did you pull your punches?"

"Punch, you mean. And yes I did."

Hank was dragged into his office and Giles and Buffy waited until he had come round enough to talk. He grinned at Buffy while holding a bag of ice to his head.

"You’re good little girl" Buffy raised her eyebrows, and Hank grinned ruefully "OK, but maybe not so little"

After Buffy had proven her strength at the boxing club, she and Giles headed back to his house at a sprint and she won knowing he would be pleased if he beat her because, well he’d beaten her, but on the other hand, she should have won so he’d be angry and she wanted him in a good mood.

He grabbed two large bottles of water out of his fridge and handed one to Buffy and took a long sip from the other one.

"So what do you want to do now?" she asked

"What do you mean?"

"Well what do you normally do on Saturdays when you’re not saving the world with me?"

Giles looked mildly confused and then thoughtful.

"Actually, that’s my normal Saturday occupation"

"Well I have something to ask you. And I don’t mind if you say no but it would mean lot to me if you said yes."

"What would I be saying yes to?"

And Buffy told him.

That night Willow, Tara Anya and Xander waited patiently just inside the huge hall where the ball was due to be held. Willow had opted for a simple short blue dress and Tara was in flowing green accentuating her long blonde hair. Xander was in his tux and Anya had found an ankle length black velvet dress that clung to every curve and dipped low at the back. None of them had any idea what had happened that day or what had happened with Spike and Angel. So they were all quite shocked when Spike and Angel came in together both dressed smartly in tuxedos.

"So where’s Buffy?" Angel asked curiously. Willow was still taking in the image of Spike in his tux and she didn’t answer.

"Who is the mystery man she’s got bringing her tonight?"

None of them knew. And so when Tara glanced over to the door and saw Rupert Giles enter with Buffy Summers on his arm dressed from head to foot in red she smiled to herself. She had become very fond of all of the group but especially fond of Giles. It was immediately obvious to her what Buffy was doing and, if what she had heard was right, Spike and Angel richly deserved the shock that was coming to them.

"So who is this guy that Buffy is bringing then?" asked Spike.

"Well," said Tara looking away from the doorway "I’m guessing that he’s tall, handsome, funny, probably older than her. Someone with some experience in how to treat women, someone with a tuxedo and a white rose in his buttonhole. And someone who Buffy would make a real effort for."

"Wow" said Anya "you’re not being at all specific are you?" and then she caught the direction of Tara’s gaze and she nearly swallowed her tongue.

"Yargh" she said.

"Older guy huh?" said Xander.

Buffy saw them, smiled and gave a little wave. Giles bent down and whispered something in her ear and she smiled and brushed her lips across his cheek.

"OK I’m going to pretend that I didn’t see that" said Xander.

"Yeah, you and rest of us" said Spike.

"Wasn’t I old enough for her?" asked Angel almost to himself

"I think the problem was that you were a little too old" answered Spike "which begs the question, does that mean I’m too old for her?"

"I think anyone with a triple figure age is out here" said Willow.

The group watched Giles and Buffy walk towards them, now hand in hand.

"Are you going to pretend that you can’t see them for the whole night?" asked Anya "Because I think this is an all night thing."

"Are you enjoying this?" asked Giles in her ear. Buffy turned and brushed her lips across his cheek with half a look on their friends.

"Oh yeah".

"Me too" he took her hand and they walked to their friends. Buffy could see the looks on their faces ranging from sheer disbelief and shock on the faces of her two favourite vamps, through to wonder on Willow’s face and a smile on Tara’s. For a fleeting moment Buffy wondered why Tara was smiling and wondered whether there was something she knew that the rest of them didn’t but that thought passed when Giles let go of her hand and rested his hand on her back.

They had agreed mild flirting, just to put the fear of hell into their friends. She knew from previous conversations that they still regarded Giles as "Stuffy Giles" and up until a little while ago she had felt the same. Right up until the point when Giles had picked her up for the ball in a smart car that he had borrowed from a friend and had presented her with a sheaf of roses. He was obviously intent in making this evening absolutely perfect and Buffy intended to wallow in being treated as a woman for one night. She knew that there was no hidden agenda with Giles and there was certainly no physical attraction there, but he knew how to make a girl feel special and Buffy was aware that there was a big smile on her face and she didn’t think that anything could wipe it off.

Throughout the whole night Giles had been thoroughly attentive. They had danced all the slow songs together and he had managed to avoid coming off as an old fogey by avoiding all the new fast dances. Buffy had fielded all querying looks with a sweet smile and she had completely avoided talking to Spike and Angel who had disappeared together about an hour after they had arrived.

Giles was surprised by the reaction he had gotten from Buffy. He had thought well, known that she had asked him purely to prove a point to Angel and he had been certain that she would leave him and spend the rest of the night with Angel. But she hadn’t. She had stayed with him, her arm though his, her hand in his - her arms around him when they were dancing and he began to see what was so entrancing about his Slayer that kept Angel hanging on and had made Spike change his ways. He had not seen Angel and Spike leave but he knew that they were shocked and was quietly pleased.

Giles and Buffy sat in the car outside Buffy’s house.

"It’s customary for the girl to ask her date in for coffee."

"It’s also customary for the date to try and sleep with the girl and I have no intention of doing that." In the darkness Giles could have sworn Buffy was blushing.

"OK well I’ll settle for goodnight then" she said quickly and turned to get out the car.

"Buffy", and she turned back to him "I just wanted to say that I had a lovely time tonight" and to her surprise Giles lent across and kissed her quickly on the cheek.

"Yeah, me too" and Buffy opened the door and climbed out quickly.

"I'll see you Monday" she said and quickly ran into the house.

Giles stayed where he was for the moment and was aware of movement down the side of the house. There was a flash of blonde and Giles grinned. There were two people playing this game and he would be willing to bet that Buffy was going to get quite a shock when she went upstairs.

Shock didn't even cover it. Buffy was silent when she opened her bedroom door and saw Spike sitting there.

"What?" she said flinging her wrap and bag on the bed.

"That was a nasty trick Slayer"

"Which trick was that then?" she asked innocently unpinning her blonde hair and shaking it out.

"You and the old guy. We both know you were acting tonight."

Buffy turned away from the mirrow and faced Spike.

"Actually I wasn't acting. I thoroughly enjoyed myself tonight. Especially the look on your faces."

Spike growled under his breath and then before Buffy could stop him, he was across the room and had hold of her.

"Don't play games with me Slayer. I don't like it."

She shook off his cold grip and glared up at him.

"Yeah? The same way I don't like you assuming I'd go with you tonight. I didn't even know you were going. I didn't even know you wanted to go, let alone with me."

Spike watched her pace around the room and realised that she was quite upset about this. He loved her like this.

"You didn't exactly give me much of a chance, did you pet?" he said quietly.

"Every time I tried to talk to you I got a faceful of abuse and sarcasm. You don't exactly make things easy for me."

Buffy raised her eyebrows "I don't make things easy for you?"

Slowly Spike began to move towards her, not wanting to startle her.

Buffy watched him warily, ready to move at any moment but she was so caught in the look in his eyes that before she knew it, he was standing opposite her, nearly touching. He could feel her warm breath on his face and with his preternatural hearing, every beat of her heart echoed in his head.

"Slayer, I wanted to go with you tonight." Spike spoke simply.

"I didn't know" she said pleadingly.

"You knew last night"

"Ah well" Buffy backed off but only a little way "I was angry last night. You and Angel - how childish was that?"

Spike looked slightly embarrassed and shrugged.

"Hasn't anyone fought over you before?" he said quietly.

Buffy shook her head and silence fell.

She found herself looking deep into his eyes and began to feel a little light headed. She could hear him speaking from a distance but she wasn't really listening to what he was saying.

"You really don't know do you?" Spike stepped forward and stroked her cheek, her skin soft beneath his callused fingers.

"You walk around with your head in the clouds half the time and the rest of the time that chip on your shoulder is so big you can't see anything. You don't see how obessed Angel is, you didn't see how captivated Giles was tonight." He took a deep breath purely out of habit and touched his cold lips to hers.

"And you don't see me." He descended on her mouth again, his hands either side of her face and then tangling in her hair. Buffy slid her arms around his neck and responded to Spike's deep kiss with everything in her. Eventually she pulled away and stared at him, a small smile on her face.

"I see you now."