Running her eye over the guest room one more time, Buffy checked that everything was perfect. Of course one of the advantages of entertaining her best friend was that it really didn’t matter. Willow would have slept under a blanket on the couch with pleasure if it meant that she and Buffy could spend some time together, however it felt good to be making things special for her imminent arrival.
Pleased though she was at the thought of seeing Willow in the flesh and not on a screen, Buffy felt a little guilty over the fact that Willow had dropped everything to be with her. Sure things were rough at the moment, yet Buffy was unwilling to acknowledge just how bad the situation had become. The bottom line was that she loved Giles, knowing that he loved her and would never, ever hurt her. Buffy was feeling confident that the situation would improve, it had to. And now really wished that she had spared Willow the meltdown that had dragged her across the Atlantic.
But hey, she and Willow were getting together again and that was most definitely of the good. It was strange now to think that there had once been a time when she, Willow and Xander had been together everyday, and often when the Scoobies were doing their thing most of the night as well. Once, if she went for as long as a weekend without seeing her buds, then she’d miss them with painful intensity, but how soon that had all changed after Sunnydale sunk into the ground.
At first they’d been together, then on going their separate ways were always on the phone or emailing. Something would be said or they’d see something on TV that made them think of each other and they’d instantly be calling. After a while the thoughts were enough and the calls lessened, but the love and loyalty between them never faltered.
The doorbell rang, propelling Wilf towards the door barking furiously. Buffy ran too, nudging him out of the way to open it.
‘Willow!’
‘Hey Bu…’
Willow reached forward to embrace her friend only to be nearly knocked off her feet by Wilf.
‘Wilf, down!’ Buffy commanded, grabbing his collar and dragging him off into the kitchen.
‘Calm down, then you can meet our guest,’ she told him as she closed the door before returning to Willow who was stood slightly wide-eyed on the doorstep.
‘Where were we?’
‘We’d got as far as ‘hey’.’
‘Hey Will.’
‘Hey Buff.’
They hugged and went inside.
********************
Giles had come home as late as he dared, in no hurry to face Willow. Though Buffy saw her at least twice a year he had not done so since he’d got married. That had been a happy enough meeting , but everyone acts a little crazy at weddings. Now with no distractions Giles felt ill prepared to face the hostile stares, pointed small talk and long silences that had typified the last few meetings before their relationship had broken down completely, and all contact ceased. Isolated at work as his colleagues made their disgust at his lack of defiance over the budget cuts known, was he now facing the prospect of being ostracised in his own home as well, however temporarily?
The door slammed behind him and Wilf came running, followed closely by Alice. It didn’t matter how many times a day someone walked in and out of the door, Wilf’s greeting each time would be prolonged and affectionate. Wilf capered about before finally jumping up and placing his paws on Giles’ chest, for a second dog and master were very nearly eye to eye, then Wilf sauntered off.
‘…and she’s going to come to Sports Day to see me race…’
Now the hallway was a lot emptier without thirteen stones of excitable Wolfhound in it, Giles could give Alice his full concentration. She was buzzing, lit up by the attention, presents and promises her ‘Auntie’ Willow had lavished upon her. Irrespective of his own feelings towards her, Giles was genuinely impressed by the effort Willow put in to being a real presence in Alice’s life. Using all the technology at her disposal, but also telephone calls, and for an added sense of mystery - letters, Willow maintained a healthy relationship with the little girl she so clearly adored.
‘…and we’re going to go to Hamleys and the Natural History Museum…’
‘You’re going to be very busy then aren’t you? Or is Auntie Willow planning on moving in?’
Giles asked out of genuine curiosity as well as in jest. He had thought that Willow was only staying for three days, but Alice’s itinerary indicated a more prolonged visit. Hopefully in Alice’s over-excited state half of what she was saying were merely desires rather than actual plans.
‘The Natural History Museum, again? What must I do to persuade you of the superiority of my own institution?’
‘Make it interesting,’ she replied cheekily - she loved teasing him.
Alice grinned up at him, her eyes dancing, and Giles couldn’t help but reflect for the thousandth time on what a fool he’d been to place moments like this, and all that he had at risk, over an affair that meant so little to him. He smiled down at the super-energetic seven year old who’d changed his life so completely.
‘But if I made it interesting then we’d get more visitors. And I have no desire to spend my time pandering to the witless queries of the uneducated proletariat.’
Alice started to laugh. Giles was never entirely sure how much of what he said she actually understood or whether she simply reacted to his tone of voice, but from the first day they’d met he had never talked down to her, and would always patiently explain what he meant if asked.
‘Especially over-inquisitive children,’ he added in a voice full of theatrical menace.
Alice gave a shriek as he chased her down the passageway towards the kitchen, stopping immediately and leaning somewhat self consciously against the door frame as soon as he noticed Willow sitting at the table.
‘Giles, Hello.’
‘Willow, h-how good to see you.’
They paused long enough for them both to start to feel uncomfortable before Willow got up and they tentatively, a little awkwardly embraced one another then sat down to dinner.
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Coming next Willow and Giles will discuss their differences and Buffy is going to learn the truth. Should this end in happiness or sorrow? Please let me know what you think. Thank you.
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