The Giles' Men

Chapter 29

*****

‘Giles’ Residents’

“Buffy.” Giles called out as he entered the master bedroom where Buffy was finishing her make-up.

“Giles I meant it when I said I didn’t want to talk to you.” Buffy said as she transferred items from one purse to another.

“Well I do want to talk. And I want to know why you’ve started calling me Giles instead of Rupert?”

“You don’t seem to mind when my friends call you Giles.”

“Yes, but you’re my wife.” Giles replied.

Buffy closed her bag and turned to face Giles. “I really feel that only one woman should call you Rupert in a town.”

“This is because of Anne?” Giles questioned. “She’s always called me Rupert.”

“And so have I.” Buffy stated angrily.

“All this has been about who calls me Rupert?”

“No! All this has been about the fact that I have no clue about who the man I married is. I find out you have a son, yes I’m shocked but I deal. Now I find out you were married before, I’m in shock and I’m not dealing.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about that.” Giles said.

“You seem to be sorry about a lot of things lately.”

“And you’re not sorry about anything?” Giles asked.

“What do I have to be sorry about?” ‘Other than sleeping with your son, which you don’t know about, and I’m not sorry for.’ Buffy added in her head.

“What about the affair you had with Angel?” Giles questioned trying to come up with a way to get his point across.

“Okay, I didn’t tell you that so you could throw it in my face whenever you felt like it. And my having an affair with Angel has nothing to do with us.” Buffy stated.

“Sure it does. I know you and Angel were lovers, and I’m okay with you being friends with him and spending time alone with him.”

“Angel and I don’t have a child together, and we were never married. You and Anne do and were.” Buffy said.

After a few minutes of silence she walked over to where Giles was standing and pulled her wedding ring off of her finger and handed it to him.

“What are you doing?” Giles asked as she placed the rings in his hand.

“I’m done listening to you trying to come up with reasons why you’re right and I’m wrong. And I’m done trying to make you understand.” Buffy sighed before heading out towards the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To meet Willow at the gallery.” Buffy replied.

“Will you be back?”

“Maybe.” Buffy said as she turned to the walk out the room.

“Buffy?” Giles called after her.

Buffy stopped just short of the door but didn’t turn around. “I can’t do this anymore. Go be with your family.”

“You are my family.” Giles said as he came to stand behind her.

“Not the way I should be.” Buffy whispered.

Giles placed a hand on her arm and turned her to face him. “Is this because of William?”

Buffy pulled free of his hold. “No, it’s because of me.”

*****

‘Spike’s Flat’

“Mum!” Spike called out as he walked into the apartment.

“She’s in her room.” Drusilla said from behind him.

“Is she alright?” Spike asked as he turned to face his sister.

“She will be after you talk to her.” Drusilla said as she picked up a pair of keys and her purse.

“Where are you going?” Spike asked noticing Drusilla’s movements.

“Exploring.”

“I don’t want you walkin’ around town by yourself.” Spike said.

“It’s a small town, I think I can take car of myself for a few hours.” Drusilla replied.

“I don’t care how small of a town Sunnydale is, I don’t want you walkin’ around on your own.”

“You do it.” Drusilla said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“I’m older, and not a teenage girl.” Spike stated.

Drusilla closed the distance between herself and her brother and placed a hand on his shoulder. “William I’ll be fine. My cell number’s on the board in the kitchen and I’ll call ever hour on the hour.”

Spike sighed. “Fine, but no more than a few hours.”

“Thank you.” Drusilla said giving Spike a kiss on the cheek.

“Do you have any money?”

“No. . .”

Spike pulled out his wallet and pulled out a few twenties. “Here. Don’t spend it all in one place.”

Drusilla smiled and took the offered money. “I won’t.” She walked over to the door and opened it. “I’ll be back later.”

“Be careful.”

“I will.”

“I mit Dit Dru. Movin here was for your benefit as well as Mum’s.”

“Always my protector.” Drusilla teased. “I promise I’ll be gooile ile I’m out.”

“Crazy bint.” Spike sighed as she closed the door behind her.

“I heard that.” Drusilla said popping her head back through the doorway.

“I bet you did. Now go have fun explorin’.”

“Bye.”

“If that phone doesn’t ring in an hour I’m comin’ after you.” Spike called after her.

Drusilla nodded her head. “One hour on the dot.”

“Drusilla?” Anne called out as she walked into the hallway by the door.

“She just left.” Spike said turning to face his mother.

“Oh William you’re home.” Anne said in a small smile upon fully entering the area.

“Yeah, did you need Dru for something?” Spike asked pointing at the door behind him.

Anne shook her head. “No, I heard the door and was wondering who it was.”

“Just me.” Spike said as he walked into the living room.

Anne followed him. “I thought you’d be gone most of the day.”

Spike took a seat on one of the couches and waited for his mother to do the same. “I thought we should talk, but if you want me gone I can go.”

Anne reached out a hand to keep Spike from leaving. “No, I’d like us to chat.”

“Do you want anything to drink first?”

“No thank you.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Alright.” Spike said as he sat back.

“What did you want to talk about?” Anne asked.

“I wanted to apologize for earlier.”

“It’s understandable.”

“No it’s not.” Spike said shaking his head.

“Yes it is. You didn’t like the way I spoke to Buffy. Not that I blame you, I didn’t like the way I spoke to her either.”

“Then why did you?” Spike asked.

“Do you remember what it’s like to have feelings for the same person someone else cares for?” Anne asked as she leaned forward.

“Yeah. . .” Spike responded not knowing where his mother was taking this.

“That’s what’s happening now with Rupert and Buffy.” Anne explained. “I still have feelings for your father, but he’s married to another woman.”

“Buffy.” Spike replied.

“Yes, Buffy. I’m sure she’s a great person, but right now all I see is the person standing in my way to being with Rupert again.” Off the look her son was giving her she continued. “I know it’s not right, but I can’t help feeling the way I do.”

“You didn’t have a problem with her when you thought she and I were dating though?”

“No, I thought the two of you were good together.”

“We were.” Spike whispered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” Spike said louder.

“You care for her.” Anne stated noticing the look in her son’s eyes.

“More than I should.”

“What about this Faith girl you mentioned?”

“I like her, but more as a friend.”

“Then why are you dating her?” When Spike looked away a light bulb went off in her head. “Oh, to make Buffy jealous. I take it they have a not so pretty past together?”

Spike looked back to his mother and nodded his head. “Faith’s slept with every boyfriend Buffy’s ever had.”

“Oh. . .”

“With the exception of Dad
“O
“Oh!” Anne said with a sigh of relief. “Why would you date a person like that?”

“It’s part of her past. Nothing I can do to change that, so why should I hold it against the person she’s trying to be now.”

“You shouldn’t. People make mistakes, it’s in their nature.”

“Guess so.” Spike said as he stood up from the couch.

“What did you do?” Anne asked as she also stood up.

“What do you mean?”

“I know that look. You did something you knew was wrong, but you’re not sorry about doing it.” Anne said.

“I don’t knhat hat you’re talking about.”

“William.”

“Mum please, just let it go.”

“Alright, but only for now.” Anne said with a sigh.

“I’ll be in the study if you need me.” Spike said before walking away.

After Spike disappeared Anne sat back down. “Oh William, what have you done?”

*****

TBC. . .