Watchers Council

Chapter 7

Xander sat down and looked around the boardroom table. “Are there any questions?” He waited till Giles nodded slightly in his direction. “If there isn’t anything else I’ll leave you to the rest of your meeting and get back to the site” he nodded at Giles and gathered his papers before leaving.

“The boy certainly seems to be coping well with the demands of the project” the man sitting to Giles’ left suggested and everyone else nodded in agreement. “Of course, you were right to insist on him getting the position” he began gathering his own papers as he addressed the last comment to Giles.

Giles smiled slightly. “I’m glad you’ve finally realised that I know what I’m talking about” he left a beat before continuing. “As Mr Harris suggested, the construction will be back on schedule by the end of next week and we should be able to accept another intake of students by the end of the month” he looked around the faces and was pleasantly surprised to see most of them looking impressed. “If there isn’t anything else, perhaps now is a good time to break for lunch and we can look over the financial projections this afternoon”

“Will Ms Rosenberg be joining us for lunch?” the same man asked and smiled as several others agreed that this was a good idea.

“Mr Sutherland, you are incorrigible” Giles smiled at him. “Ms Rosenberg is planning on meeting us in the dining room”

Willow smiled as the men filed into the room. “Justin” she moved to kiss the cheek of the elderly man. “It’s so good to see you again” she waved at a few of the others and sat down between Giles and Mr Sutherland at the long table. “I want to know everything you’ve been up to since your last visit” she bounced excitedly in her seat.

Giles shook his head. Willow and Justin had become firm friends after her first board meeting. She had delivered a lengthy report on the progress of the library referencing project and had taken care to explain the technical aspects of the computer programmes being used to index and cross reference the information. Her obvious enthusiasm had overcome their initial coldness towards the technologies being discussed. Some very stern questions had stumped her for a few moments but she had gathered herself and dealt with the concerns quickly and efficiently. Giles had been worried about how she would cope, particularly considering that she had been explaining how she had improved the paper based system that many of the board members had established and worked on over the preceding decades. He needn’t have worried as her charm had won them all over by the end of the meeting. Justin had been so impressed at the ease and confidence with which she had handled the complaints of the others, some justified and some not, that he had asked her to teach him how to use the computer system. They had spent several days closeted together in her office and on emerging had obviously bonded. Despite the unlikely nature of the partnership it had endured and she had become a favourite of many of the board members as she treated them all like naughty grandfathers.

“How is the new girlfriend?” Justin asked quietly, nudging her in the ribs as he leaned in closer to her. “Still blushing when she’s mentioned I see” he smiled to show her he was teasing.

Willow finished chewing. “She’s doing very well thank you, she’s coming up to visit next week” she waited till he had a mouthful of food before taking her revenge. “You still dating the disgraced dame?” she asked sweetly.

“Willow!” Giles hissed at her as Justin started to cough. “We don’t call them dames in England” he explained, reaching round behind her to pat Justin’s back.

Willow and Justin both snorted with laughter and Giles glared at them. Justin eventually waved his hand and took pity on Giles. “She actually is a Dame of the British Empire” he explained and smiled at the look of astonishment on the younger man’s face. “And yes” he grinned as he turned towards Willow. “I am still dating the disgraced dame”

“You should make an honest woman of her” Willow waggled her fork at him. “Do you want to borrow the money to buy the ring?” she asked, aware of Giles groaning behind her.

“It’s too much fun when she’s dishonest” Justin shrugged and nodded towards Giles who was holding his head in his hands. “Is he alright?”

“He’ll be fine” Willow nodded and patted Giles’ thigh. “He just gets extra Britishy when you guys visit, it usually takes us a few days to de-scone him again once you’re gone” she felt him tense up beside her as he tried not to laugh.

The rest of lunch passed uneventfully and the group of men were returning to the boardroom when Giles tapped her shoulder. “Extra Britishy?” he asked and raised one eyebrow. “Any why on earth are you offering to lend him money, he’s the third richest man in Britain!” he whispered.

“I know, it’s an old joke between us” she shrugged. “I just need to pick up my papers, will you be ready for me in about fifteen minutes?” she asked and walked briskly off as he nodded.

He watched her walk away from him and found his mind concentrating on the sway of her hips and the confidence in her walk as she pushed through double doors and disappeared from his view. Shaking his head and blowing out a deep breath he entered the boardroom and began the afternoon session.

*****

“Buffy” Willow smiled at her friend and came round her desk to hug her. “When did you get in?” she pulled a chair forward for her before returning to her seat.

“Ten minutes ago” Buffy was grinning. “I picked up a hitchhiker on the way” she was obviously desperate to tell her secret. “Seems to think she knows you” she shrugged and stood to open Willow’s door again.

Willow grinned as Alex stood in the doorway. “Nope, never seen her before in my life” she shrugged and stared at some paperwork on her desk. At the cough from the doorway she finally looked up. “Although, now you mention it, perhaps she reminds me of someone” she stood up and moved round the desk quickly, embracing the young woman in the doorway and drawing her into the office. “Hey” she said quietly as she finished kissing her. “What have I told you about accepting lifts from strange women?”

“Seemed the quickest way to get here” she grinned and pulled her into another kiss. Alex looked over her shoulder as she heard the door closing. “I think we’ve scared her off” she licked her lips. “I thought she’d never leave” she put her arms round Willow’s waist and lifted her off the floor. “Now where were we?” She asked as she gently placed Willow down on the edge of her desk and leaned against her.

“I can’t” Willow eventually mumbled apologetically. “I’ve got a report to give to the Board” she glanced at her watch. “Ten minutes ago” she grimaced and struggled to stand up. “I can’t believe I’m saying this but can you wait for a couple of hours?” she sighed.

“You can’t go to a meeting looking like that” Alex grinned as she sat down in the chair recently vacated by Buffy. “Not unless the old guys have their heart attack medicine with them”

Willow looked down and quickly rebuttoned her blouse and ran her hands through her hair. “Any better?” she asked and moved to a mirror on the wall. “Nope still look like I’ve been semi-ravished” she mumbled and tried to reapply her makeup. She jumped as her phone rang. “Sorry, I got caught up in some work, tell them I’m on my way” she put the phone down and reached to grab her papers. “That was Dawn, they’ve sent out a search party for me” she reached the door before turning back and kissing her girlfriend quickly. “I’m really sorry, I’ll make us dinner tonight and try to find some way to make it up to you?”

“I’ll be fine, I’ll go and find Xander and catch up on his news” Alex stood and brushed her hands down Willow’s skirt. “Just making sure you were crease free” she protested as Willow groaned at her. “Now go, I’ll meet you back here later” she turned her towards the door and pushed her out into the corridor.

*****

“Sexy Lexy” Xander grinned and pulled her into a hug. “I thought you weren’t due till next week”

Alex sat on the edge of his desk and swung her legs. “Hurricane threatened to hit the coast and the shoot finished up earlier than we thought so I called Buffy and she was passing my way and gave me a lift up here”

Xander sat down dramatically in his seat and grabbed his chest. “You let Buffy drive you?” he asked incredulously. “Does Willow know of your death wish or is it just a new development?”

“She’s not that bad” Alex grinned and nodded her head in the direction of the other desk. “What happened to the other Alex in your life?” she asked.

“Mr Smythe is surveying a piece of land we recently purchased to the north of here” Xander tried to look managerial. “I expect it will take him at least a week to do a thorough job”

Alex laughed. “You are an old fraud and someone will eventually find you out” she pointed at him. “So what’s your news?” she asked and spent the rest of the afternoon laughing at Xander’s mostly unsuccessful attempts to find female companionship.

*****

“Willow are you sure you are OK?” Giles whispered and watched his friend blush.

“Sorry, I’m just a little distracted, where was I?” she shuffled through her papers and finally managed to get to the end of her report. “Are there any questions?” she asked brightly, privately offering to disembowel anyone who kept her in this room a moment longer.

“I think your report was as complete as ever” Justin nodded and watched as she glanced at her watch. “Are you joining us for dinner tonight Ms Rosenberg?” he asked, preserving the tradition of formality that they still practised.“NO!“NO!” Willow practically shouted. “Sorry” she pulled herself together and held her papers against her chest to reinforce the minimal control. “I have some work that I need to take care of, perhaps I’ll see you all at lunch tomorrow?” she asked. She bent down as she passed Giles. “I’m really sorry but Alex and I have arranged to have dinner tonight and I really need to spend some time with her” she whispered in his ear. “Can you manage without me?” she looked beseechingly at him.

“You should have said, we could have postponed your report till tomorrow” he grinned at her. “Of course Ms Rosenberg, I’m sure we’ll all miss your presence tonight but your work must take precedence” he said in a louder voice and nodded as she gripped his shoulder to show her thanks.

*****

“Definitely gay” Alex nodded seriously. “I mean I’m finding it difficult to ignore your manly sexual magnetism and I’m quite gay, she must have been very, very gay to turn you down”

Xander nodded sadly. “That’s what I thought” He seemed to give the matter some thought before looking up at her. “Isn’t there some sort of signal I could watch out for. Some sort of sign that would let me pass onto the next one because every woman I’ve asked out in the past month has claimed that I’m not her type” he shrugged. “Unless there is a gay convention in town I should be get bet better odds than that”

Willow shook her head as she entered his office. “Xander I told you none of them were gay, you just need to get some new pick up lines” she kissed Alex and slid her arm round her waist. “Have you listened to enough of Xander’s tales of woe or do you need any other reasons to remember why you prefer girls?” she grinned.

“You’re the only thing I need to remind me of that” Alex grinned and ran her hand across Willow’s butt. “How did your meeting go?” she asked as Willow hissed at her touch.

“I have no idea” she grinned lopsidedly. “I told Giles we’d arranged to have dinner tonight so I’ve been let off duty” she took a deep breath as Alex’s fingers ran up the back of her thigh. “We could collect your things from my office and then get some shopping in for dinner tonight?” Willow suggested.

“Or you could go straight home and order pizza and I’ll drop Alex’s stuff off tomorrow morning?” Xander suggested as he watched the two of them together. “Whatever you want, please decide quickly, I’m not as young as I used to be you know”

Willow grinned at Alex and turned to Xander. “I think we’re going with your plan” she nodded. “Thanks Xan, see you sometime tomorrow?”

He shook his head as they left his office, arms round each other and giggling. He sighed and picked up his phone to track down Buffy to see if she needed some company for dinner, the pizza suggestion had made him hungry.

*****

Alexled led onto her back and stared at the ceiling as she tried to catch her breath. “Thank God for bad weather” she giggled as Willow snuggled up next to her. “I’ve missed you Will” she leaned down to kiss her hair.

“Not as much as I’ve missed you” Willow managed between heavy breaths. “But there is something to be said for the long distance relationship” she ran her hand across Alex’s abdomen, giggling at the sharp intake of breath and muscle spasms she caused. “The welcome home parties tend to be memorable” she looked up and felt her heart melt as their eyes met. “How long can you stay for this time?” she asked quietly and saw a shadow pass across Alex’s eyes. “Sorry, I know I promised not to ask but I just like to know how much of this I can look forward to”

“It’s OK” Alex lifted her chin up so that she could see her eyes again. “I don’t have another assignment for two weeks and after that I’ve cleared my diary for three months” satchatched as Willow looked confused. “I was hoping that you wouldn’t mind if we tried living together for a while, just to see if we can put up with each other for more than a few weeks at a time”

Willow shook her head to clear the confusion. “Mind, why on earth would I mind?” she asked incredulously. “But how can you afford to take time off, I thought you worked whenever they called you”

Alex shook her head and brought Willow closer, pulling the duvet across them both. “Will, I’ve been working steadily for five years and, even though I say so myself, I’ve been one of the most successful models at the agency” she grinned a little. “I just told them that I needed some time to play house with my honey and that I would find someone else to represent me if they didn’t like it” she shrugged.

“And they liked?” Willow grinned.

“They liked” Alex nodded and leaned down to kiss the grin from Willow’s lips. After several minutes she leaned back from their embrace to meet Willow’s eyes again. “Are you sure you are OK with this, if you’re happy with the status quo I can give them a call and set some work up”

“Don’t you dare” Willow rolled over till she was lying above her girlfriend. “You are going to be so happy playing house with me that you won’t ever want to model another swimsuit” she thought about what she had just said. “Except for me” she nodded, happier with the qualification.

*****

Buffy was sitting in Dawn’s office, catching up on the gossip when Giles returned from the board meeting. “Buffy, I didn’t know you were coming back today”

Buffy smiled at him. “Alex and I drove up this morning and surprised Willow after lunch”

Giles nodded and loosened his tie. “So that’s what happened” he muttered as he dumped the pile of papers he had been carrying and draped his jacket across the back of his chair. “She was perfectly sane when we had lunch together then half an hour later she was a babbling idiot” he laughed at the memory. “At one point she couldn’t remember the name of the project she was giving her report on” he shook his head.

“Alex certainly seems to be able to get her mind onto other things” Buffy agreed and checked her watch. “Xander suggested a night of pizza and videos at his place, Dawn and I were just getting ready to head over there do you want to come with?” she asked.

“I really need to have dinner with the Board members but they usually retire around ten, perhaps I could join you then?” he suggested and smiled as they agreed to his plan.

*****

Willow groaned as Alex hunted through her wardrobe. “Do we need to get dressed?”

Alex looked over her shoulder at the pout and shook her head. “I really want you to have this present and if we collect my bags from Xander tonight it means he won’t have to come round in the morning” she explained patiently. “Which means we can sleep, or whatever, as late as we want”

Willow considered this argument and grudgingly began getting dressed. “Just as long as the ‘or whatever’ means what I think it does” she grumbled and ran a brush through her hair.

*****

“It’s open” Xander shouted as he heard the knock on the front door. He expected Giles and was surprised when Willow peeked round the corner, closely followed by Alex. “What are you two doing here?” he asked and stood up to meet them. “Is everything OK?” he asked.

“Willow?” Buffy asked and came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel. “What are you two doing here?” she asked.

Dawn emerged just behind Buffy, carrying two plates heaped with pizza. “Willow, hey Alex, want some pizza?” she asked and put the plates down when they shook their heads.

Willow looked a little embarrassed. “I’m sorry, there isn’t anything wrong we just thought we’d take a walk over to pick up Alex’s stuff to save you having to come round in the morning”

Xander went into the hallway to collect the bags and Buffy slumped into an armchair. Alex whispered something in Willow’s ear then looked apologetically at Dawn. “Actually I would love some pizza, I’m starving, I haven’t eaten since breakfast” she moved to sit next to Dawn on the sofa and began asking about Dawn’s latest boyfriend.

Xander returned with the bags and saw Alex deep in conversation. “Why don’t you guys join us, we were just going to watch a video and I can order some more pizza”

Willow hovered uncertainly, she really wanted to get back to her own place with Alex but the object of her uncertainty was currently deep in conversation with Dawn and didn’t look like moving any time soon. Eventy shy she shrugged and took her coat off. “Looks like that’s a yes”

The extra pizzas arrived at the same time as Giles and he paid for them before pushing the door open. “Alex” he smiled as he saw her coming out of the kitchen. “I thought you and Willow were having dinner together”

“We are” Willow walked out of the living room, shrugged and took the pizza boxes from him.

Alex put down her glass and hugged him. “Rupert, it’s really good to see you again, you’re looking as rdly dly handsome as ever” she grinned up at him and watched as he blushed slightly.

“You are the perfect tonic after a day with the Board of Directors” he smiled and led her into the living room. “The Board members were very worried about you” he wagged his finger at Willow as she returned from the kitchen. “They took a lot of convincing that you hadn’t had some sort of nervous breakdown”

“I’m really sorry” Willow grinned at him unrepentantly. “Alex arrived just before I left for the meeting and my head was suddenly filled with stuff I didn’t want to report to the Board” she admitted.

“Remember the last time you thought you were having a nervous breakdown?” Buffy giggled and sat down next to Alex and Dawn on the sofa, leaving the armchair for a frowning Willow.

“What are you talking about?” she started to ask before comprehension suddenly dawned. “You wouldn’t?” she begged and looked very panicked.

Alex looked a little concerned but saw Buffy still grinning so knew that nothing really bad was happening. “Willow, what’s Buffy talking about?” she asked.

Willow dropped her head into her hands and groaned. “It was before we met so the story would probably bore you to tears” she glanced back up at the others. “Which video are we watching first?” she desperately tried to change the subject.

Giles and Xander shrugged their shoulders as Dawn looked to either of them for an explanation and Buffy studied her slice of pizza with deep concentration to avoid everybody’s gazes. “OK, I give up, what are you talking about sister of mine?” Dawn finally asked.

Buffy looked towards Willow and cocked her head slightly to the side as if to ask permission to continue. Willow pursed her lips then took a deep breath before nodding her acceptance. Just before Buffy started she held up her hand and turned towards Giles. “Whatever happens in the next ten minutes you need to remember that I have always respected you” she thought about saying more but shook her head and returned to staring at the floor.

Giles looked at her in shock before removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes. “Willow, what on earth are you talking about?” he asked and then looked towards Buffy as Willow kept silent. “Buffy?”

“When we went on the first beach trip together Willow self diagnosed some weird stuff that was happening to her as a nervous breakdown” Buffy shrugged as if this would end the strange interlude. “It lasted for about eight hours because she hooked up with some gorgeous blonde the next day and hasn’t looked back since”

Willow looked up to smile at Alex and felt her blush deepen when Giles cleared his throat. “What on earth does that have to do with you respecting me?” he asked.

“Ah” Willow cursed her assumption that Buffy would spill all of the beans instead of just opening the can and leaving her to do the rest. “Well the weird stuff kind of involved me..” she paused, unsure of the best way to phrase this but saw how anxious Giles was getting and just decided to get it over and done with. “Well I was starting to have feelings for you” she met his gaze and tried to tune out the noise coming from the others in the room. “I had been spending a lot of time with you at work and then Buffy mentioned the high school crush and it seemed to spiral out of control” she heard Buffy quietly explaining the history to Alex but decided she would deal with the fallout later. “When we were finally able to get away I was exhausted and you were being really supportive and caring” she stopped and gauged his reaction so far. He was staring at her but not in shock, more interested than anything else and she sent part of her brain off to work out why he wasn’t pacing and cleaning his glasses as she had expected. “You were also wearing a pair of shorts that showed off your legs and I kind of checked you out a couple of times then freaked out about that a few more times by myself before I told Buffy in confidence” she stopped to glare at her friend. “She suggested the overwork cause as more likely than a nervous breakdown and also suggested that I should find myself a girlfriend to take my mind off of it”

Alex shook her head and stared at Willow. This was obviously quite hard for her to admit but she was also aware of Giles being deceptively calm and quiet about the whole thing. She realised Willow had stopped talking and replayed her last sentence. “So that’s why you decided to act on the opportunity when I came along and asked for your phone number?” she asked and smiled at the memory. “So technically, I’m just rebound girl for your unrequited lust for Rupert?” she teased but saw Giles stiffen in his seat.

Willow looked shocked and stood up to come towards her. “I never used you like that” she insisted and took the seat vacated by Buffy. “I would have fallen for you the first time I saw you, no matter what else was going on in my life”

“Will I know, I was just teasing” Alex kissed her softly to show that she was sorry for treating this lightly. “I don’t have any doubts about your feelings for me and I know exactly what you saw in Rupert even without having seen the shorts” she winked at Giles and saw him make a supreme effort to smile back at her.

“Is anyone else getting déjà vu with the inappropriate sex talk?” Xander asked and picked up the remote controls. “If we’re all agreed, can we get started on this video?”

Two hours later Buffy, Willow and Alex were making their preparations to leave. Giles stood up and carried some debris to the kitchen and was surprised when Dawn followed him. “Did you enjoy the movie?” he asked and piled dis dishes beside the sink.

“Are you OK?” she asked, ignoring his question. “Earlier I thought you were dealing when Buffy was teasing Willow but now I’m not so sure”

“I’m fine, as long as the silly story doesn’t affect Alex and Willow’s relationship?” he quirked an eyebrow and rested against the kitchen counter.

“I shouldn’t think so” she shook her head and continued to stare at him. “I just wondered at your reaction to Willow’s sudden revelation and equally sudden about face, at a guess I would say you you were surprised by the early part of her story and hurt by the latter part.” She waited for a few moments until it was obvious he wasn’t going to answer. “You can tell me to mind my own business but I’m guessing that you have feelings for Willow, after all Alex’s suggestion that her feelings were one sided seemed to cause you almost physical pain”

“Nonsense” Giles took a deep breath. “I’ve known Willow since she was sixteen”

“She’s not a little girl anymore” Dawn said softly, interrupting him.

“Don’t you think I know that?” he met her eyes and tried to temper his emotions. He knew he was tired and didn’t want to admit anything he would later regret. “I can’t deny that she is a beautiful woman and her intelligence andrit rit even more so, however, you know that we have a history together that makes our friendship even more precious and I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise it”

Dawn watched him as he closed down his emotions and his face became unreadable. “Surely your friendship can stand some honesty?” she suggested. “I would have thought your history together would have made it almost indestructible and I would imagine it could stand up to both of you admitting your feelings for each other”

“What would be the point?” he shrugged and admitted his feelings by default. “She is happier with Alex than I have seen her in years and I couldn’t wish for anything more for her”

“Never mind Willow, Alex can take care of any fallout with her” Dawn moved to stand in front of him and reached out to touch his arm. “It’s you I’m worried about Giles, you need to work this kind of stuff out and move on”

“You think I can just forget about her and find someone else to take her place?” he asked sarcastically.

“I don’t think your feelings are that trivial, no” Dawn agreed with him. “But you could allow someone else to get close to you, surely that would be better than growing old alone?” she spoke softly, still unable to read his face. “I’ve probably overstepped the mark completely here and you have every right to tell me to take a running jump but you must know how important you are to Willow and the rest of us and I only want to try to help”

“Dawn!” Willow shouted from the hallway and Dawn quickly took a couple of steps back from Giles. “Oh there you are, are you ready to go home?” she asked and tilted her head towards the front door.

“Give us a minute, Giles and I are just sorting out some work stuff” Dawn smiled at her and waited till Willow had gone before continuing. “You know that you will never be alone while any of us have anything to say about it but you also know that we can’t give you the heart melting stuff that you really want”

Giles stared at her for a moment longer before wrapping his arms round her for a hug. “Have I mentioned lately how much you mean to me?” he sighed and held her back at arms length. “Give me a few days to work through some things and I’ll be back to normal”

Dawn nodded and smiled at him. “I’d better catch up with them, don’t want them to think we are workaholics” she pointed over her shoulder and headed out after the others.

Giles watched her leave and frowned. “Bloody hell” he muttered under his breath and went to find his own jacket.

*****

Several days later the various heads of departments were milling around thffeeffee machine and waiting for Giles to call the meeting to order. He raised his voice to tell them that he was ready to begin and spent the next hour going over the results of his recent meetings with the Board of Directors. “Essentially they were very pleased with our progress to date and just asked that you all keep up the hard work” he smiled round the faces and wondered again how the team managed to function so well together. He had insisted that anyone who bee been employed in England would still have a job if they wanted to relocate to the new HQ. This left him with the task of fitting together middle aged and older members of staff, who had worked for years under Quentin and his ilk, with the younger, largely American, group of experts he had gathered over his years as an active watcher. Although they had experienced various arguments and bruised egos at the beginning, he had been surprised at how quickly the various departments had settled down to ensure the new Council was given a virtually pain free birth. He suspected that many of the old guard were pleased with the changes he had put into place and that those who had chosen to move with him were the most open minded of the surviving members. However, he spent a lot of his time making them aware of how grateful he and the Board were for their efforts. He glanced round the room again, realising that they sensed there was something else to come. He grinned “Oh and they mentioned that the quarterly bonus would be reinstated as of next month”

The dispersing crowd murmured happily and several people took the time to shake Giles’ hand before heading back to their offices. “You used to get a bonus?” Xander asked quietly as he handed Giles a cup of coffee. “We were out there every night risking our lives and you used to get financial rewards for catching your quota of bad guys?”

“It wasn’t quite like that” Giles grinned and shook someone’s hand as they passed. “As the active watcher I was on the highest salary they paid so I wasn’t entitled to the bonus”

Xander looked at him incredulously. “And you still drove the Citroen?”

Giles laughed “Well I was supposed to be a high school librarian and I took the secret identity thing quite seriously in the early days you know”

Willow joined them and nudged Xander. “Hey good news about the bonus” she looked between both of them. “What’s up?”

Xander shook his head. “G-Man” he used the title because he knew it still annoyed Giles. “Was just telling me how he was paid such a huge salary by the Council that he didn’t get the bonus and then he reminded me that he was pulling down the Librarian cash as well”

Willow laughed. “Well how did you think he found the money to help Buffy and Dawn out?” She winked at Giles “Unless you thought he was moonlighting by dancing at some trashy nightclub for the dollars that got stuffed in his..”

Xander put his hand over her mouth and looked round to see who was within earshot. “I was washing dishes” he hissed and slowly removed his hand. “Do you have any idea what the construction guys would do to me if they ever heard so much as a whiff of a rumour?”

Willow shook her head and smiled sweetly. “They won’t hear it from me, but you’d better play nice with Giles” she waited for the panic to fade from Xander’s eyes. “So what are you planning on spending your bonus on?” she grinned and looked between them both.

Giles was looking mildly shocked and made himself a promise to get Xander drunk enough one night to tell him what had just happened. “Actually I think I’m going to take a trip”

Willow and Xander looked at each other in surprise before Willow reached out and pinched Giles’ arm. “Have you been possessed by some kind of job shirking demon?” she stared into his eyes.

“Ow” he murmured and rubbed his arm. “There are some archaeological digs in Central America that I’ve been asked to consult on and I think I might offer to go down there for a few weeks” he shrugged. “It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything hands on and everything seems to be ticking along quite nicely here”

Willow shook her head and turned back to Xander. “Who’s the lucky lady that’s going to be spoiled by your bonus?”

“Actually Buffy and I have been talking about buying one of the beach houses near where we stayed the first time and I guess that we can definitely afford one now” he shrugged as Giles looked surprised. “We’ve been renting places a couple of times a month for the last eight months so it makes good financial sense”

Willow looked between the two of them and grinned. “I think we might all have changed bodies” her grin grew wider as she saw tlooklooking confused. “You are shirking the day job and heading off for some fun stuff” she pointed at Giles. “You are investing in property and looking at the long term financial gain” she pointed at Xander. “And I’m planning on blowing my entire bonus on something extremely sparkly for my girlfriend”

“Woah” Xander pulled her further into the corner they were standing in and G cro crowded behind them to effectively shield their conversation from anyone else. “Would this be sparkly in the diamond sense?”

“Absolutely almost definitely” she was practically jumping up and down in her excitement. “I think we’re past the cute teddy bear stage in our relationship and I really want to prove to her how much she means to me”

Giles coughed a little before putting his hand on her arm. “Alex already knows how much she means to you, are you sure you’re ready for the next step?”

Xander nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I mean this is serious and Alex still works away a lot and you guys are great when you’re together but…” he ground to a halt as he saw her face fall.

“You think I’m rushing into this?” she asked quietly. “I don’t want to freak her out, perhaps she’ll think I’m some kind of mad stalker type”

Giles quickly jumped into the breach to pre-empt what looked like becoming a major Willow babble. “Not at all Willow, Xander and I are just concerned that you are moving a little too quickly” he saw her jaw jut forward a li and and recognised the signs. “However” he sighed succumbing to the inevitable. “I know how much Alex and you love each other and I think you are perfect for each other so perhaps you are moving at exactly the right speed”

Willow was ready to bring out her resolve face but instead dissolved into a large grin as Giles finished. “Really?” she squeaked. “I am a little nervous but we’ve agreed to trial living together for a few months and I just wanted her to know how committ am am to what we’re building together”

Xander quickly turned into Willow’s best buddie. “Can I be best man?” he grabbed her arm. “Oooh and that meauffyuffy has to wear the ugly dress again” he grinned.

“Slow down Xan” Willow playfully punched his arm. “I’m only buying her a ring” she shrugged then grinned mischievously at both of them.