Chapter 12

Spike was sitting back looking smug. Everything was falling into place. Giles had gotten Spike a set of papers making him legally ‘William Randy Giles’, a long-lost cousin of Rupert’s. The papers were good enough to fool everyone, including the council. To bad the only ones who got the joking reference were the three who lived through Willow’s Tablua Rasa spell. He didn’t really want to have to live with that moniker, but Buffy had pouted so prettily, did that hair flip thing, and flashed her half-smile. He couldn’t say no.

Buffy was bouncing in her seat with excitement. She couldn’t wait until this meeting was over. Spike had arranged for her mom to sell off the jewels of Amara, with a sweet commission for Joyce. The money transfer was coming in this afternoon and then the shopping could begin! After paying off the house and car, they were scheduled to meet an agent at the bank to buy the Magic Box for Giles and Anya. They would have to share it, but it would make a nice present for Giles when he got fired, plus Anya would be happy to have something constructive to do again. She couldn’t wait for everything to be finalized so she could tell them about their present.

Anya looked around the room and was trying to refrain from telling everyone how bored she was. She didn’t know why they still had to have Scooby meetings when they pretty much knew everything that was going to happen for the next four years. Giles was researching the First, Andrew was researching the Mayor’s Accession, and Jonathon was trying to figure out how to identify potential slayer’s without going through either the First’s minions or the Council lackey’s. She just wished she could be somewhere else at the moment. Perhaps after the meeting, she and Faith could go play pool before patrol. She always enjoyed playing pool at the Bronze with Faith. All those sweaty and glistening bodies around stirred her imagination.

Giles looked at the group before him, wondering why they were so adamant about not asking the Council for help. Snapping to attention he stared at Buffy.

“Giles are you listening?”

“Sorry Buffy what was that?”

“I said that there was no way in hell you are putting me through that ‘It’s Buffy eighteenth birthday so let’s strip her of all her powers’ thingy. Besides that didn’t go so well last time it was tried, so call up the Council and tell them to back off or I quit.”

Giles looked flabbergasted, “You can’t quit the Council.”

“Sure I can! I did it before.”

Anya looked amused, “Besides it’s not like they actually contribute anything. All they managed to do was to get blown up. The majority of them all die before any of us do.”

Giles paled and started to clean his glasses. “Good Lord”.

The moment the meeting was over, Giles was herding the group out of the library. Chaotic thoughts were swirling around in his mind. The Slayer’s birthday, what he was suppose to do, wondering what he had done, Buffy quitting the Council, the Council getting blown up. It was too much for him to process by himself. Picking up the phone he dialed the number for Quentin Travers.

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Giles stared at the phone in shock. He had been explaining about the slayer coming back from the future and Quentin had laughed at him. Quentin had arrogantly declared that it was impossible for the Slayer to have traveled to the past without the Watchers Council’s knowledge.

When Giles had pointed out the fallacy in that statement and mentioned the knowledge of future events that Buffy had retained, including the Cruciamentum, Travers had become furious. He accused Giles of warning Buffy about the ceremony and then coming up with a ‘idiotic cover story’.

After several heated moments, Quentin had ordered Giles to administer the required shots despite the Slayer’s knowledge. Upon his refusal, Quentin had fired him.

Giles continued standing and staring at the phone in shock. *I’m fired?*

Anya chose that moment to walk into the library.

“Giles have you seen Faith - we were suppose to go play pool? I wanted to hustle College Boys for money, like Spike showed me.” Not getting a response, she walked up closer to him, “Giles is something going on? Your staring at the phone like it bit you and I don’t remember anything like that happening.”

Giles looked at the attractive blonde before him, “I was fired!”

Anya looked unconcerned, “Oh that … they are about a week or so early. I wouldn’t worry about it though; you become a successful business man and out live them all.”

Seeing that her words didn’t seem to comfort him like they should have, Anya decided another tactic was in order. Moving closer to him, she hugged him. Pressing her body flush against his, her arms held him tightly. *Everyone likes a hug, it should make him feel better.*

As the hug progressed longer then what is considered to be polite or normal, Giles became aware of several things at once. First, he really had stopped thinking about the fact that he had just been fired. Second, Anya’s body was still molded tightly against his. He could feel every nuance of her body. It felt like heaven. Third, his body had started to react to the lithe body pressed up next to him and if didn’t stop the embrace soon, he would embarrass himself.

Anya was enjoying the hug and realized that she hadn’t held anyone like this since Xander and she broke up. Inhaling deeply she savored the scent of ‘Mark and Spencer’s Wood Spice’ coming from Giles. Sighing she shifted so she could lay her head on his chest. It dawned on her that this probably went beyond the norms of a polite comforting hug; but it felt so wonderful. With another sigh she started to back away from Giles, but not before noticing the slightly dazed look on his face.

“I am sorry you were fired Giles, but it will get better. I know from experience. Perhaps you would like to come play with Faith and I?”

Giles shifted trying to get comfortable in his suddenly too tight pants. “That’s quite all right Anya,” he stammered, “I will just call Spike and Buffy with the news. I am sure that the Council will not let Buffy’s birthday go by just because they fired me.”

Anya gave him another look that he couldn’t quite identify, “If you change your mind, we will be playing pool at the Bronze.” Turning, she left the room with Giles staring silently after her.

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