Watchers Council

Chapter 20

The sun beat down on Giles and Willow as they sat on the front steps of the main building. “I remember the first time we did this” she grinned at him and saw him smile. “We were trying to escape quietly when Buffy and Xander made sure everyone in a five mile vicinity knew we were sneaking off”

“I can’t believe it’s two years since that first trip” he stretched his legs out and leaned back.

“It’s nearly three years since we demolished Sunnydale” she reminded him and they stared into space for a few minutes. They both roused themselves when a car drew into the car park and honked its horn. “I think she’s been spending too much time with Xander” Willow sighed and lifted one of Giles’ bags. “Hi Kate” she smiled as Kate moved to the back seat. “I think I should drive” she suggested and rolled her eyes when Alex laughed and slid back in behind the wheel.

“Are you OK in the back?” Alex turned to check on Giles and Kate. “Oh for heaven sake, can’t you at least wait till we’re off school grounds?” she sighed as she pulled out of the car park.

“Perhaps Giles could drive and we could cuddle up on the back seat?” Willow suggested and rested her hand on Alex’s right thigh.

“If I drive I get to choose the music” Giles reminded them why he wasn’t allowed to drive.

“Bay City Rollers” the three women shouted in unison and everyone laughed at his pout.

*****

Xander was helping John to unpack grocery bags when he heard the other car drawing up outside. “Do you want to start the barbecue while I finish up in here?” he asked and handed a lighter to the young man. “Buffy, they’re here” he shouted and returned to storing the food.

Half an hour later Alex was sitting on the decking with the men. “Doesn’t this remind you of the good old days of work?” Xander asked and waved at the sand and rolling waves. “I mean, don’t let us stop you if you feel the need to get into your bikini and start posing”

“Xander!” Alex slapped him playfully and shook her head. “It must be nearly a year since I actually had an assignment in my own right” she sipped at her beer. “It feels kind of strange to be on the other side of the lens but at least I can have a few drinks and relax without worrying about how I look”

“I had noticed that you had let yourself go a little” Giles said quietly and smiled as she stuck her tongue out at him.

“Did I see you bringing a guitar case in with your luggage?” John asked Giles shyly.

“Kate made me bring it” Giles admitted. “But I’m hoping she’ll forget all about it” he stared at Xander over the top of his sunglasses.

“That gets my vote” Xander toasted him with his bottle and turned to explain to the others. “He gets women all dreamy eyed and soppy when he plays”

“That would never do” Alex shook her head seriously and winked at John. “I don’t suppose it’s quite as easy to bring a drum kit along?” she smiled.

“Well yeah, but I brought my guitar instead, maybe we can play together later?” he asked Giles and the two of them moved off a little to discuss musical tastes.

Alex and Xander stared out at the ocean for a while before Willow joined them. “Hey, what’s up?” she asked as she settled down beside Alex.

“Nothing, Xander was just warning us of the evil effects of Rupert’s singing” Alex shrugged.

“Ooohhh yes” Willow sighed. “It’s been a while but I still remember the tinglies” she grinned and shivered a little.

Alex stared at Willow and then at Xander. “I see what you mean” she laughed and pulled Willow closer to her. “Where are the rest of the girlies?” she asked.

“Kate was sorting out some salad for dinner and Buffy was telling Tess all about Xander when we were in high school” Willow smiled and waited a beat for Xander to realise what she had just said.

“Buffy!” he shouted and jumped up from the step to run inside.

“Smooth” Alex grinned and kissed Willow for several minutes.

“Can’t you do that somewhere else?” Buffy finally sighed and dumped several plates next to the barbecue. “John and Giles won’t come back to help with the cooking until you stop”

“Sorry” Willow apologised and went to help set the table while Alex laughed and collected drinks orders from everyone.

*****

“I am not going back on that water slide” Willow insisted several hours later as everyone chose chairs and cushions in the main room. “Besides I think they have an age limit, we’d probably get thrown out of the water park if we tried”

“Speak for yourself” Alex grinned and sat down on the arm of Willow’s chair. “Just because I’m involved with an older woman doesn’t mean I have to miss out on the fun stuff”

“Six months!” Willow said in an exasperated tone and shook her head.

“I don’t think I want to do the water park thing either” Buffy sighed as she leaned against John’s legs. “I seem to remember finding some stalls at the next town down the coast” she leaned her head back as John ran his fingers through her hair. “You wouldn’t mind some quality shopping time?” she pouted and smiled as he shrugged.

“I’m sure I can cope” he paused for a moment. “There aren’t any shoe shops are there?” he asked worriedly and smiled at her when she sadly shook her head.

“Perhaps we could just have a lazy morning and head out there for lunch and shopping in the afternoon” Giles suggested around a yawn.

“Must be the sea air” Kate stretched and yawned as well.

“Yeah, I’m pretty tired too” Alex tried to keep a straight face as she slid off the arm of the chair, squeezing in next to Willow.

“I guess there’s no takers for British Monopoly?” Xander sighed. “How about a walk on the beach before we turn in?” he suggested more hopefully to Tess and started putting his shoes on as she nodded and went to collect their sweaters.

“They make a nice couple” Buffy sighed as she watched them head down the sand.

“She seems really nice but am I the only one waiting to see what her thing is?” Willow asked and looked around the room.

There was a stunned silence for several moments before Buffy finally expelled a large breath and shook her head. “OK, I give in, her thing?” she asked as if not really wanting the answer.

“Yeah” Willow nodded, completely oblivious to the troubled looks from the others. “I mean Xander has never gone out with a nice, normal, non lethal girl before and I keep waiting to see what kind of demon she’s going to turn into”

“Surely you checked her out?” Kate asked with a smile.

“Oh yeah” Willow nodded firmly and saw Alex looking slightly startled. “I mean I checked out her background on the computer” she assured her. “No checking out of her in any other way”

Alex shook her head. “Did someone give you a full strength beer?” she looked around the others before shaking her head at Willow. “I’m sure Tess is just the nice, normal architect that she claims to be and that her only plans for Xander involve having a good time this weekend with his non weird friends” she stared pointedly at Willow.

“I thought you went out with Xander?” John said quietly to Willow and looked towards Buffy for confirmation. “So that means he has gone out with a nice, normal, non lethal girl” he smiled at Willow and looked surprised at the sudden laughter from the rest of the room. “What?” he asked as he looked around them all.

“Ignore them” Willow scowled at them and stood up. “I’m going to bed” she announced and started to walk off in a huff before Buffy stood up in front of her. “Dramatic exits, remember our talk about them?” Willow smiled at her friend and saw the momentary confusion before the memory came to the surface.

“I also remember the aftermath and I don’t want to see you end up in leather again, young lady” Buffy smirked and stood to one side to let Willow past. “It’s just a pity that we never thought to take a picture” she sighed and winked at Giles as he coughed into his glass.

“Leather?” Alex looked towards Giles as he waved his hand. “Rupert?” she asked and turned towards Willow when he wouldn’t reply. “Will?” she said quietly and grinned as Willow’s blush disappeared below the neckline of her sweater. “I think it’s time for my bedtime story” she handed Buffy her half full glass as she passed.

“I’m not sure I want to hear about it” Kate laughed as Giles finally caught his breath and avoided eye contact with Buffy. “Come on” she smiled at him and carried their glasses back to the kitchen. “Good night” she said to Buffy and John as she followed Giles into their room.

“Looks like it’s just you and me” Buffy sighed and sat down next to John on the sofa. “What can we do to pass the time?” she tried to pull off innocent eyes but failed miserably.

“British Monopoly?” he asked and grinned as she pouted. “Strip British Monopoly?” he asked quietly as he moved closer to her lips.

*****

“So how many of these beach properties do you own now?” Kate asked as she sipped coffee with Xander next morning.

“An even half dozen at the last count” he smiled and shrugged. “They pay for themselves and we can usually find tenants for most of the year”

“I just can’t quite place you and Buffy as property magnates” she admitted. “And the strange thing is I’ve only ever known you as successful adults yet I still treat you like children I’ve taught at my own school” she looked vaguely puzzled as she tried to work out her feelings.

“It’s spending so much time with Giles” he suggested. “He is much better but he still uses his ‘indulgent adult’ tone of voice occasionally and we all still respond to it” he smiled. “I guess we’ll never really be allowed to grow up until we’re all doing our own thing, away from each other”

“Are you planning on leaving?” she asked quietly, glancing over her shoulder to make sure nobody else was around.

“Not really” he gazed out to the waves. “It’s just that Tess might be going for a job on the East Coast and we’ve been talking over our options”

Kate was about to ask him some more questions but he was still looking at the sea without seeing it so she sipped at her coffee instead. Giles found them fifteen minutes later, just sitting next to each other. “Good morning Xander” he said quietly and dropped a kiss on Kate’s forehead.

“Hey Giles” Xander smiled at him and stood up. “I’ll just go and check on Tess”

“Is everything OK?” Giles asked Kate as he watched Xander walk back inside.

“Everything’s fine” she assured him and took a deep sigh. “Did you sleep well?” she asked and patted the step next to her.

“Mmmm” he nodded as he sat down and kissed her properly. “I’m sorry I was so tired last night” he ran his fingers through her hair.

“That’s OK, I was too” she rested her head on his shoulder. “Perhaps you’d like to make it up to me now though?” she slid her fingers inside the shirt he was wearing and ruffled the hair on his chest.

“Kate” he whispered fiercely and looked over his shoulder. “We can’t” he pulled her hand from inside his shirt and placed it firmly in her lap. “Everyone will be up and about for breakfast soon”

“Rupert” she sighed and turned to face him. “We are on a romantic weekend break to the beach” she began and raised her finger in warning to stop his interruption. “Yes, we are here with other people but they are all paired off as well and I will not be the only woman not getting any” she smiled as the look of shock took up residence on his face.

“You have been spending too much time with Alex” he finally suggested and pulled her towards him. “In my defence I just meant we shouldn’t do anything out here” he whispered in her ear and kissed her neck. “But if you’d rather use these hard wooden steps than our comfy bed then who am I to argue?”

“Oh” she sighed as he kissed his way from her neck to her shoulder then back again. “Perhaps you’re right” she finally managed to push him away long enough to stand up. “Let’s go” she practically ran back inside and he watched her with a silly grin on his face.

*****

“Sounds like we aren’t the only ones having a lie in” Alex whispered as they heard subdued moaning and sighs from through the wall.

“We need to get up” Willow giggled and pulled herself away from Alex, despite her protests. “I am not going to do stuff with you while we listen to Giles and Kate!” she whispered fiercely and pulled on her pajamas. “Let’s get some breakfast” she threw Alex’s robe towards her and headed for the kitchen. “Yes please” she said when Buffy held up the coffee pot to her. “And it would help if you could clatter and bang some pots and pans” she sighed as she perched on a stool at the counter.

“Xander doing the Tarzan thing again?” Buffy grinned and set a mug before her.

“Worse, Giles” Willow stared at the coffee and heard Buffy wince.

“You should be glad he has found someone he can share his life with” Alex scolded both of them as she came up to stand next to Willow.

“I know but it’s just…” Buffy shivered and looked perplexed. “He’s Giles” she shruggs ifs if this explained everything.

“You both need to get over it” Alex sipped at the coffee that Buffy gave her. “I’m sure you had your chances in the past but he’s with Kate now and he’s happy”

“I never” Buffy started indignantly before Willow shusshed her. “I never wanted a chance with him like that” she protested more quietly.

“Oh yeah, I forgot, he was your watcher and everything was strictly professional” Alex sighed sarcastically and shook her head. “Come on Buffy, do you really think he didn’t have feelings for you that went a little beyond student and teacher?”

“We were friends” Buffy hissed insistently and looked to Willow for support.

“And that’s why he kept all of those pictures of you” Alex interrupted before Willow could say anything.

“There was the whole mystic bond thing” Willow suggested after a moment during which Buffy was unable to do anything but look completely dumbfounded.

“He was paid to be her watcher but he was looking and seeing as well and they weren’t in the job description” Alex suggested dryly and went to refill her coffee mug.

“You are wrong” Buffy finally shook her head. “I know I was oblivious girl where he was concerned for a long time but I would have known if he had those feelings for me”

“He didn’t” Willow agreed with her and shook her head when Buffy looked relieved and disappointed at the same time. “You are his slayer, the most important thing in his life, but he didn’t and doesn’t feel romantically towards you” she hoped that her reassurance would end the conversation. Alex shrugged as if to say that she would believe what she wanted on that score while Buffy seemed lost in her memories. “Let’s get changed and be strangely troubled by inappropriate thoughts while getting a Wil Willow suggested and they all headed to their respective rooms, making as much noise as possible while getting ready.

*****

“Want another?” Xander asked as Giles wandered into the kitchen later that afternoon.

“Mmm please” Giles nodded and yawned before accepting the beer from him. “I’m glad we could all make it this weekend” he sighed and slumped into one of the armchairs.

“I thought you would give it a miss” Xander suggested as he joined him.

“Why?” Giles asked as he put his feet up on the coffee table.

“I just thought you two would rather spend some time on your own” Xander shrugged and drank his beer. “I know it’s difficult with Kate’s school being so far away”

“It’s only an hour’s drive between the campus’” Giles protested and yawned again.

“Yeah and you are both loving the two hour commute every time one of you decides to sleep over on a school night” Xander said dryly and leaned back in his chair to see what the women were laughing about. “Why don’t you just get her a job at our place?” he turned back to find Giles scowling.

“I can’t offer her a job at the campus” Giles sighed. “First of all I can’t go around hiring people just because it will make my love life a little easier to manage and, more importantly, we can’t offer her a Principle’s post and she wouldn’t take a lesser post”

“Why not?” Xander asked and started to tear at the label on his beer bottle.

“Because she can’t be expected to take a demotion and leave her career in tatters just because I want her near me” Giles explained patiently.

“I meant why can’t you hire someone just because it will increase smoochy time?” Xander watched him glare across the top of his bottle. “I mean, it’s not as if the Board are going to complain about anything you put to them, not after the success you’ve made of the Council since bringing it here”

“Be that as it may” Giles began but Xander interrupted him.

“Stop trying to talk yourself out of this” he said seriously. “Giles, you are running an organisation that is more relevant in the world saving business than it has been in hundreds of years and you’re doing it by rewriting the rule book every day.” He stopped to take another drink and let the lecture sink in. “If you want to hire people who will concentrate more on the academic side of things for a change then do it” he suggested as if this was the most obvious thing in the world. “You have a team of people around you who can get these slayers to the peak of their profession but then what?”

“Then they go out and kill demons” Giles suggested and looked up as Willow wandered in to join them. “Come and help me explain this to Xander” he begged.

“What’s up?” she asked and lay out on the sofa to listen to their argument.

“I was just suggesting that maybe we need some teachers at the school who can prepare the slayers for something other than demons” Xander shrugged.

“But we do” Willow suggested and heard Giles murmur in agreement. “We have the basic curriculum and sports covered”

“Yeah but the only cr wer we are pointing them towards is hanging around graveyards at night” he suggested. “I’ve been thinking about this s Lau Laurie and Jane left to do the modelling thing with Alex” he sat up and struggled to explain his point. “Around the world we need maybe twenty teams of slayers actively slaying, right?” he looked towards Giles who nodded. “Even if something drastic comes up, we can call on the rest if we need them” Xander turned towards Willow. “So, all I’m saying is that it w do do any harm to have a few more people around who know what the world is like outside of our little bubble of weirdness”

“Most of the students come from normal backgrounds and end up with us because they can’t handle the slayer stuff they’ve been dumped with” Willow reminded him.

“I’m not saying we don’t train them how to use their powers responsibly” he agreed. “But people like Kate, Alex, Tess and John can show them that there are other things they can do after they leave us”

“I don’t think any of them want to become careers advisers” Giles shrugged.

“I’m not suggesting we ask them to set up tables at Career Day” he admitted with a smile. “I’m just saying that they are the kind of normal people we want the students to interact with and we should be able to find some way of passing on their experience” he leaned back in his chair frowning.

“Because putting responsible adults in the way of young, impressionable teenagers always works so well” Giles laughed and shook his head.

“Hey” Willow looked offended. “I’m not sure why I’m offended by that comment but I am” she nodded definitively and scowled at him.

“What’s wrong with Willow?” Kate asked as she came looking for them.

“She thinks Giles may have been mocking her” Xander smiled and stretched. “Did you want a drink?” he asked and started to get up.

“No, I’m fine thanks, I was just trying to work out where you had all disappeared to” she rested her hand on Giles’ shoulder and looked over at Willow. “Obviously I thought to look here first, after all it’s a gorgeous day with fabulous sun, sea and sand so where else would you be?”

“I get the message” Giles sighed. “Come on, last one to the sea is an ageing British Watcher” he grinned at her and started for the door.

“What were you and Giles arguing about?” Willow asked once they had left her and Xander alone.

“I was just suggesting that he get Kate a job with the Council so they could see more of each other” he shrugged and went into the kitchen.

“I guess he declined?” she smiled and accepted a glass of juice from Xander.

“Mumbled something about how it would look if he got his girlfriend a job so he had smoochies on tap” Xander shrugged and took up his usual position on the stairs of the decking, facing the sea.

“So he used some perfectly sound ethical arguments?” Willow sat down beside him and shook her head. “He still fights dirty sometimes” she grinned and bumped her shoulder against his.

“I know he was making sense but I just think life is short and he should be taking every chance he can to make whatever he has with Kate work” Xander looked a little embarrassed at his sudden eloquence on Giles’ love life.

“It’s nice that you’re worried about him sweety but he’s right, how would Kate feel if he lined up a manufactured job for his little lady?” Willow explained.

“Ouch” Xander winced. “OK, I get it but I still think he’s getting too old to be going steady with someone for eighteen months” he looked seriously at Tess as she lined up with Buffy against John and Alex over the volleyball net. Willow stared at him for several minutes before shaking her head and turning to follow the raucous game.

*****

“Katherine” Giles growled as she stood grinning at him.

“You don’t scare me Mr Watcher” she laughed and heard Buffy sniggering behind her. “I know you brought it with you and you know I’m going to win the argument so just go and get it” she folded her arms and tried not to laugh again as he huffed off to get his guitar.

“I can’t believe I’m finally going to get to hear him sing” Buffy snuggled onto the sofa next to Willow.

“You never forget your first time” Willow assured her seriously and saw Alex and Tess collapse in a fit of giggles. “Just you wait, you’ll see” she nodded at them and settled down for the show.

Complete silence met the end of their first song and Giles finally looked up from his guitar to see them all staring at them. Xander was shaking his head slightly and Willow was looking smug but the rest were sitting, open mouthed as if in shock. “Normally this is where people clap and throw money” he said quietly and grinned at John.

“It wasn’t money I was thinking of throwing” Alex said and then clamped her hand over her mouth as everyone else stared at her. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?” she asked and closed her eyes to avoid the astonished stares from Willow and Kate.

“I told you” Willow finally started to giggle and this seemed to release everyone else from their silence.

“Very ggrrrr” Kate said quietly so that only Willow could hear.

Giles cleared his throat and rearranged his shirt collar. “Let’s try another one” he suggested to John and the young man played the introduction.

After they had finished the third song Xander pulled Tess onto his lap and whispered something in her ear. She blushed and nodded and he shook his head. “You guys should record a CD” he suggested. “Barry White has nothing on you”

“Perhaps we should take a break” Giles mock scowled at him and everyone broke into their couples as drinks were poured and snacks handed out.

“I had no idea” Alex hugged him. “Why have I never heard you sing before?” she demanded of him and turned to Willow. “Why have you never let me hear him sing before?”

“It’s not my fault he wants to keep his rock god identity a secret from the students and faculty” Willow held up her hands in her defence. “Although I think he’s quite right if your reaction is typical” she suggested and grinned at the blush that rose to her girlfriend’s cheeks. “Imagine him doing that in front of all 600 students?” she let the visual form in their minds and saw the nods of agreement.

“I am standing right here” Giles reminded them and smiled as they all laughed.

*****

“Are you OK?” John asked Buffy as she continued to stare into space.

“Hmmm” she answered and shook her head before focussing on him. “Sorry, what did you say?” she finally noticed that everyone else had moved.

“I’m going to pretend that at least some of that distraction was about me” he sighed and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

“I’ve never seen you play guitar before” she smiled at him. “Did you enjoy it as much as everyone else seemed to?” she followed him out onto the deck for some fresh air.

“I’ve never had that reaction before” he admitted and leaned against the railing as Buffy leaned into him. “Yourealreally never heard him sing?” he looked down at her.

“Nope” she looked thoughtful. “Is he good or is it just because it’s so different from the Giles we know?” she asked him and sat down on one of the chairs.

“He is technically good on the guitar but a little rusty” he shrugged. “The voice though, nothing wrong with that” he smiled as she sighed dreamily again. “If I didn’t know both of you I’d be jealous” he admitted and leaned down to kiss her.

“Mmmm” she groaned and licked her lips when he pulled back. “I think you’ll find the pleasing after effects will make you forget your jealousy” she promised and pulled him into a rib crunching hug.

The next forty minutes were taken up with some popular classics that even had Xander singing along. Eventually Giles stretched and put his guitar down beside his chair. “Enough” he said as Alex and Buffy tried to persuade him to do one more number. “I’m supposed to be relaxing” he complained and flexed his left hand. “This is harder work than signing all of those bloody requisition forms that Dawn keeps leaving for me”

“You need to promise that we’ll do this next time we’re here” Buffy warned him and nodded her agreement to his rest as he accepted the bargain. “Why would you give all of this up to work at a museum?” she asked and glanced at Tess. She knew that Xander hadn’t wanted to give her the full history until he was sure about her and she didn’t want to stray into dangerous territory but she felt the need to know more about the younger Giles.

“My father decided that being a rock star wasn’t a valid career choice” Giles admitted and slipped his arm around Kate as he settled into a comfortable chair. “I was persuaded to return to Oxford to finish my studies and, many years later, looked in the mirror to discover I had turned into a tweed clad, stuffy old man” he grinned at Xander and Willow.

“And then you met up with us and our subtle hints finally got you out of the tweed” Willow suggested and looked a little confused as Kate and the others started to laugh. “I mean into other, less tweedy, clothes” she finally caught up with what they were laughing about. “You even started to wear the earring again” she pointed at the tiny diamond stud glittering in his left ear.

“The last thing I do on a Monday morning is make sure he’s taken it out before he goes into school” Kate laughed and shook her head. “Apparently it would be the end of civilisation as we know it if his students saw him as anything other than 150 years old”

“Has Dawn ever seen it?” Buffy asked and reached behind her for the camera.

“I don’t think so” he shook his head and ran his finger across his earlobe. “These had better not find their way onto the internet” he pointed a warning finger at Willow and she shook her head.

“I’m not the only one who can use a computer you know” she huffed.

“Everyone get behind Giles and Kate” Buffy ordered and they all stood behind their chair. She spent a couple of minutes arranging everyone to her own liking before staring through the lens for several moments.

“I’ve actually worked with David Bailey and he doesn’t take this long” Alex sighed and grinned at Buffy as she glared over the camera at her.

“Ready?” Buffy asked before setting the timer and moving to stand between John and Xander.