The Tribute

One Moccha and One chunky chocolate Cookie each later Willow, Xander, Karen and Buffy exited the Espresso pump.
“Yeah and then We walked in to find him singing at the espresso pump” laughed Xander
“Mr Giles?” Asked Karen
“Yup, The one and only, it was quite a reminder of why I used to have a crush on him. He has a good voice” piped up Willow. Buffy could only laugh and twirl the axe in her hand as the 4 strolled along the street.
“um.. Don’t; you get in trouble with the police for carrying weapons openly?” Karen asked in general.
“The Police and I have an.. Understanding..” said Buffy with a little smirk.. “I don’t get in their way, they don’t; get in mine. Or rather ours.” She indicated the little group as they reached the T Junction at the end of the road. “So we’re headed this way” Buffy said pointing along Wiltshire Drive.
“I’m this way.” Karen indicated the other way. “well thanks for like.. saving my life..”
“You want me to walk you home?” Asked Xander. “You’ve had a rough night.”
“You’ve not exactly had the easiest of nights either, Mr. Human Target” Willow pointed out “If anyone walks Karen home IT should be Buffy.”
“I’m fine Will.” Xander said without Buffy Getting a chance. “I feel kinda responsible here, after all, if it wasn’t; for me taking her to he magic box we wouldn’t; have run into Jafar and his minions back there.”
“I’ll explain later” Buffy said to willow as she looked confused. “Okay Xander, If anything happens, Yell, hopefully My spider sense will pick it up.. and remember 9am sharp tomorrow, the Taxi for the airport at 9.15”

The 4 splint into 2 pairs Buffy and Willow headed off to 1630 Revello Drive, and Xander and Karen walked in the opposite direction.
“Airport?” Asked Karen “you guys going on a trip or something?”
“Yeah, To England.”
“Why? Where? I have Family in England.”
“well lets just say it’s Slayer Business, and as for Where we are starting in London, I think. Where do you family live?”
“Somewhere on the South Coast. We’re supposed to be visiting them soon. Dad always promised that we’d go once we were settled in the new home.”
“that’s pretty cool”
“yeah” Karen turned a corner into a street and then a few more.. the conversation wandered from England to shanghai knights and then from the to Jackie Chan…
“I still think that Owen Wilson is a better foil to Jackie Chan, than Chris Tucker.” Argued Xander
“What ever makes you think that?’
“Well for one, He’s actually funny. And doesn’t rely on an overly squeaky voice to get laughs.”
“Good point I suppose.”
“It’s not often I hear that” Xander said quetly to himself. Between Anya at home and her and the other ladies in the Scoobies, Xander ended up not coming up with that many strategies.
“Well This is me.” Karen nodded to a house they had stopped outside.
“well I’m glad you got home okay.”
“I wouldn’t; have if it wasn’t; for you and the others, Mainly you though.” She leant over and kissed his cheek. “thank you Xander.”
“all in a days work.”
“Thanks none the less. You are a real hero” smiled Karen and headed up the steps into her house. Xander stood and watched her inside.

~*~

Willow slid her key into the lock, and she stepped inside, she felt bad for running out on Tara like she did, but she need air, she’s never had a dream that intense.
“Tara, Baby?” she called out as she saw the kitchen light on…”Baby?”
walking towards the kitchen she found Tara out cold on the floor, and Miss Kitty Fantastico curled up by her head. Will Rushed to Tara’s side, rolling her onto her back.. “Tara.. . Baby wake up..”
“whazza..wh…” Tara mumbled as she opened her eyes at Willow behest.
“why are you here, are you okay?” the redhead muttered as she checked her girlfriend for any sign of wounds
“I don’t; know I guess I just passed out, I came down to fed the cat, and that was the last thing I remember except I had this weird dream I saw you and Xander, and buffy and some blon…”
“it was just a dream, relax.” Willow cut her off with a hug, trying to forget her own dream. “come on, baby, lets go back to bed.”

~*~

Fifteen minutes later Buffy walked through her front door and up to her room, she went to her bedroom and pulled a suitcase out of the closet. And started throwing clothes into it. An hour later she was packed, and She flopped down on he bed, That Killikan Demon had caught her hard in the ribs and it was aching a little. Standing she kicked off her shoes and headed into the kitchen, and made and Ice pack with some Ice and a towel, he slowly reached her arm above her head and peeled her shirt off revealing her lean, athletic Body, she felt the cold air on her shin and she shivered a little, her skin tightened and she gooseflesh, closing her eyes she reveled in the loneliness.. the silence,, the solace… picking up the Ice pack she placed it over her ribs she felt the pain ebbing away.
“Tough night, Slayer?” asked an English accent from the window.
“Spike!” Buffy jumped and grabbed her shirt and holding it in front of her self in a vain effort to keep her dignity “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough. Hurt Ribs?” enquired the vampire as he implied he’d seen her peeling her top off. He opened the back door and stepped inside. Buffy regretted ever inviting him in.
“Y..Yeah.” she nodded “Got in a fight with some Snake type things.”
“Killikans..” Spike confirmed
“How’d you…”
“One of ‘em was a friend of mine. Now has an axe wound where his spine used to be.”
“Oh. I’m sorry… I didn’t.. They were attacking someone…”
“Oh no, Bloody good riddance to him, guy was a total berk anyway. But the worse thing about it is he owed me money” Buffy shook her head and her guest soldiered on. “who was the cute blonde chicklet?”
“stay away from her Spike., that is the one and only warning you are going to get.”
“oh but slayer, apart from the fact that tomorrow morning you are headed to another country… you forget that I’m still bothered by this bloody chip, I couldn’t; do more that give her a cold.”
“Goodnight Spike.” Said Buffy walking towards him, and he was backing towards the door…
“But..”
“GOODNIGHT SPIKE”
“I have”
“Good. Night” and the door closed with spike on the outside. Buffy locked it behind him and headed off to bed, for a VERY very fitful night of sleep.