The Winning Hand

Chapter 8 - The Men (Giles and Otherwise)

Spike was sitting at his desk brooding. His mum had apparently found
a new chum in Buffy, and the two were off having a 'girls day'. It
seemed like forever since they had been alone together; his scowl
deepened at the thought that this bothered him. He was not going to
get involved with her, dammit!

Spike's musings were cut off by the entrance of his father; Rupert
Giles was quickly followed by Spike's friend Xander, and then
surprisingly his grandfather Thomas. "Grandda! What are you doing
here?" He stood quickly to envelop the older man in a warm hug.

"Since you won't be bothered to come visit us, I've come to see what
you're about." Thomas Giles' voice boomed throughout the room.
"Now where's the lucky lass I've heard so much about?"

Spike smirked at the not so subtle hint. He turned to greet his father,
who was looking at Xander with a 'what about us?' expression on his
face "Hi da, how was your trip?" He gripped his father's hand before
pulling him into a brief embrace.

"Fine. Thank you for asking, *cough*, *cough*, finally." Rupert Giles
returned the embrace with equal affection, and a bit of teasing.
Rupert knew that the affection his children held for Giles was strong,
and didn't mind it a bit.

For a moment the three generations of Giles' men stood together.
The resemblance between Rupert and Thomas was incredible. They
were both rather ruggedly handsome, short light brown, though
slightly graying, hair. Spike's looks were rather more rakish than
rugged. His bleached blonde hair giving off a 'big bad' image he'd
worked hard to produce.

"Ahem." Xander interrupted the family reunion without qualm. "What
about me?"

Spike chuckled and slapped his friend on the back. "Hey Xan! How
are you?" Xander grinned his goofy grin, reminding Spike why he'd
missed his friend so much. "Why don't you visit more often, you
bloody ponce?"

"Maybe because your constantly insulting me?" Xander offered,
though his grin never wavered. Spike was like a brother to him, and
as an only child Xander definitely appreciated that.

"So, where's your mother?" Rupert asked, having missed her the few
days they'd been separated.

"She's out with Buffy. They're having some sort of bleedin' girls day;
shopping, or getting makeovers or some such." Spike grumbled,
making his grandda break out in a grin.

"Jealous boy?" Giles asked.

"What? Course not!" Spike denied. "Just thought since Xan was here
and all, Buffy could get her stuff taken care of. You did get all her
papers right?" Spike turned an eye toward Xander.

"Of course! Would I be here if I hadn't?" Xander chuckled to himself at
the look of concern that passed over Spike as he questioned him. He
softened a bit at the look and added, "I've got everything she needs,
we just have to pick a bank to open the account at and she'll be all
set."

They talked and laughed for a bit more, the men getting to know one
another again after their short separation. "So where's grandmum?"
Spike finally asked.

"She was too busy with her garden to make the trip. She's still
expecting a visit from you soon young man." Giles admonished her.

"And I'm planning one soon." Spike loved the old house in Sunnydale.
It was actually more like a castle. His grandda had had it built special
after he'd made his first million and asked his grandmum to marry
him. It was an impressive sight. There was only one road that went to
the house, and it curved along a cliff at the top of which stood the
Giles castle. Spike had spent more than a few days of his youth
standing out there watching the waves crash into the cliff side and
dreaming of his future. "Can't ever stay away from that old homestead
for too long, you know that."

"Why don't we call and see if the women have returned?" Rupert
suggested, impatient to see his wife again. At his father's request,
Spike nodded and reached for the phone, ignoring the small knot that
formed in his stomach at the thought of seeing Buffy again.

When he rang Buffy's room, his mother answered and invited them all
up to the suite to finish whatever business Buffy had with Xander. The
men agreed and headed up directly.

***

Joyce was smiling to herself. Buffy was in her bedroom changing into
one of the new outfits that they'd bought during their trip. A cute, sexy
summer dress that set off the green in her eyes and the highlights in
her hair. It was a pale yellow cotton number with spaghetti straps that
hung to just above her knees, showing off her smooth tanned legs.
She'd asked Buffy to put the dress on with the pretense of wanting to
see her in it one more time. But she knew what her son's reaction
would be when he walked into the room to find Buffy in that dress,
and so she smiled.

When the bell rang, Joyce crossed over drink in hand and ushered
the men in. She gave her husband a brief but passionate kiss before
hugging her father-in-law and surrogate son, Xander. "We're so glad
to see you again Xander. You should come visit more often."

"Yes Mrs. Giles." Xander answered dutifully. Smiling at the warm
affection he always felt when in the presence of the Giles' family.

"Xander! You know you can always call me Joyce!" Joyce
admonished him, giving him a playful swat on the shoulder.

"Oh!" Buffy exclaimed, stopping in the archway of the door. She
hadn't known anyone besides Joyce was there, too busy rummaging
through the bags to find the dress Joyce had wanted to see.

Spike's head turned at the sound of her voice. His eyes took in the
length of her, his hands itching to do the same. The dress she wore
inspired images of her beneath him, skirt ridden up above her waist,
smooth legs wrapped around him. He could feel his penis stretch and
lengthen in his denims. He swallowed hard, his adams apple bobbing
in his throat.

"Buffy! Didn't I tell you that dress looked beautiful on you?" Joyce
grinned at her. Then she introduced all the men, ending with Xander.
"Oh, the boys are here to do a little business. This is Xander, I believe
he's your lawyer?"

"Oh, hello." Buffy was extremely nervous. She'd never been around
so many handsome men in her life. And the way Spike kept looking at
her and not saying a word was very disconcerting. "Thank you for all
you've done for me." She addressed the young man Joyce had
introduced.

"No problem Buffy. Anyone who takes 2 million away from Spike, is a
friend of mine." Xander grinned at her, and she smiled back at the
goofy expression and easy camaraderie he inspired.

Pulling out his briefcase, Xander got down to business. He gave Buffy
copies of her birth certificate and the other papers he'd gotten to
hasten the transfer of her money. "Now, you just need to let us know
what bank you want the account opened in, and we can finish up the
rest."

"Bank? Uhm." Buffy thought, but didn't really know any of the banks
here. "Can we just leave it in the one it's already in?"

"Sure!" Xander agreed heartily. "That's a good idea, less paperwork,
and the bank chieftans will definitely do a rain dance for you."

Buffy laughed out loud at the crazy things Xander was saying. Her
head was thrown back and her eyes sparkled with mirth, while
Xander laughed right along with her.

Spike's gut churned and twisted.

"So that's it then, luv. As of tomorrow morning, you'll be a millionaire."
Spike announced.

Buffy's laughter tapered off, her face paling. Her hand came up to cup
her cheek, and her eyes widened just a bit. The deer in the headlights
look, Spike gulped. "Wow! I think I'm in shock." Buffy whispered.

Spike was by her side instantly. "Don't think too much about it luv. It'll
overwhelm you, but we'll all help. I'm sure Xan can get a list of
financial advisors with good reputations for you." Spike looked up at
Xander and waited for his nod of agreement before continuing. "And
anything else you need just ask, luv, and I'll make sure you get it.
Okay?" He'd taken her hand without thinking, stroking it with his own
while he talked in soothing tones to her.

Buffy was grateful for the calming effect Will always had on her. But it
confused her as well. Were they to be friends now?

"Let's celebrate shall we?" Joyce asked. "This calls for some
champagne!" Rupert called for room service, while Joyce and the rest
of the clan gathered around Buffy to congratulate her.

Buffy's head was spinning. She was still in shock over the finality of
her winning. And now she was caught up in a whirlwind of
congratulatory hugs and kisses. And when Thomas Giles bent down
to envelope her in a hearty embrace he whispered sweet words to
her, "you are a pretty lass after all," before pulling away.

There was talk of a big family dinner to follow, and her eyes began to
mist when she realized that she was included in the planning. Without
warning tears began to fall. Muttering a quick, "Excuse me", Buffy
rushed from the room. She locked herself in the bathroom before she
let the sobs wrack her tiny frame. She was leaning her back against
the bathroom door when they finally hit. Sliding to the floor she
wrapped her hands around her knees and hugged, waiting out the
crying jag.

Once her eyes had dried, she stood to examine herself in the mirror.
Splashing cool water on her face she was glad to hear silence
beyond the door. Finally exiting the room she walked back out to the
bedroom relieved that the Giles' had left her alone. 'How humiliating
to have broken down in front of them all like that', she thought.

Sitting on the edge of the bed she contemplated putting away all her
new purchases for the day. She wasn't really in the mood, but it would
give her something to take her mind off what had happened earlier.
Before she could open the first bag, her eye caught movement at the
bedroom door and she turned to find Will watching her with a
concerned expression.

A crimson blush stained her cheeks and she quickly looked away.
"I'm sorry." She apologized. "I didn't mean to...that is...I couldn't help
it." She finished lamely.

"No need to apologize Buffy. We know it's a bit crazy, your whole life
turning upside down this way. We didn't mean to crowd you, or upset
you. Winning that much money is a life altering and overwhelming
experience for anybody." He walked closer, wanting to join her on the
bed and wrap a comforting arm around her, but he didn't trust himself.

"It's not that." Buffy couldn't face him, so she continued to hang her
head. "It's your family. They...they should have been mad. They
should have been upset, to lose all that money. But instead they were
*happy*. They congratulated me! And they were so affectionate. And
warm. And - " Buffy broke off. She didn't really know how to explain it
to him. He'd obviously been around that kind of warmth and affection
his whole life. Would he understand how someone who'd never
received that, would feel?

Finally she turned her face upward to meet his gaze. "My family,
wasn't very big. It was just me and my mom. My dad left before I
could really remember too much of him. And my mom was never very
affectionate, or touchy. She never gave big hugs or sloppy kisses."
Buffy shrugged. "I know she loved me. But she just wasn't like that."
'And I'd never really known what I was missing until today', Buffy
thought.

No matter how bad an idea it was, Spike crossed over and took a
seat on the bed beside her. His hand came up to grip her chin and
force their eyes to meet. An ache went through him at the sad look
that hid behind her emerald eyes. "Buffy, luv. You don't have to be
ashamed of that. And you don't have to be embarrassed to want
those things. That affection and love. You deserve them."

They sat studying each other for a moment. After awhile the ache
Spike felt twi and and grew into the sweet burn he'd come to
associate with being alone with Buffy Summers. His head tilted and
descended, their mouths meeting in an open passionate kiss.

He groaned at the first touch of her soft lips, his tongue snaking out to
trace the outline of her mouth before plunging in to its depths. His
hands slid down to her shoulders, reve in in the feel of her skin. She
mewled and arched toward him, trying to gain more contact, and he
complied. His hands wandered her body, as his tongue explored her
mouth.

He'd been hard since the moment he first saw her in that dress, but
now he was practically throbbing in pain. Caught up in the feel of her,
he hadn't noticed her movement until she was already straddling his
lap. When she let her weight fall on top of him, her moist heat landed
on top of his erection causing them both to groan and thrust.

Spike wrenched his mouth off hers, taking in big gulps of air trying to
cool himself down. What was he doing? Damn! Why couldn't he
control himself around this woman? Slowly he pushed her off his lap,
rubbing his sweaty palms on his trouser legs as he stood.

"I'm sorry Buffy. I shouldn't have - "

"What?!" Buffy was fuming. "You shouldn't have what? Kissed me?
Touched me? Made me want you?"

"No. I told you, you don't know the rules of the game." Spike insisted.

"And I told you, you don't have to protect me! I can take care of
myself." She answered back.

Consumed with frustration and guilt, Spike lashed out. "Really? I find
that hard to believe, when you can't even face your ex!"

Buffy winced at his direct hit. She stood for a moment collecting
herself before answering calmly, "You're right. I need to face him.
You'll always see me as a coward or a child, until I can show you that
I can stand up for myself." She was panting and her breasts were
heaving with each lung full she took in.

"How do we do it?" She asked.

Spike was taken aback at the question. Racy images flitted through
his mind, and he tried to focus. "Do it?"

"Yes. Inform the press? Do I need to call a press conference or
something, or will you just give them my name?" She waited patiently
for his answer.

Guilt assaulSpikSpike at the question. She wasn't ready for that, and
yet he'd pushed her into it with his stupid words. "Buffy, you don't
have to." He tried to approach her, but she shrugged him off.

"No, I do. I have to do this for me. You said yourself I wouldn't be able
to hide from them forever. And I'd rather deal with the press on my
own terms, rather than theirs. So are you going to call the press
conference?" She asked, pointing her upturned chin at him.

Spike sighed heavily before heading toward the phone to call his
assistant.