TITLE: Magic 12/14
AUTHOR: Rari Coss
DISCLAIMER: It all belongs to Joss, the real king of the world, the WB, UPN, Fox, Mutant Enemy and anybody else who feels they own it. Im just borrowing, lost in admiration, and then giving them back, memories wiped clean.
FEEDBACK: Absolutely.

None of them were remotely sleepy despite the late hour. They all had gotten something to eat and then moved back to the living room. Giles had selected to sit in one of the chairs. Short of sitting in his lap Willow couldn’t see anyway to be near him so she reluctantly sat on the couch. After she had sat down she glanced up to find Spike smirking at her. She stuck her tongue out at him and then blushed. She looked down at her hands.

Peter was going on and on about how Giles had fixed his broken ankle. Todd was agreeing with everything he said. Spike and Jim sat in the chairs on either side of Giles, content just to have him there. Giles absently responded to the guards’ queries while he pondered Willow and her amazing interest in her cuticles.

Aaron had a crease on his forehead as he frowned, listening to Peter describe how amazing the magic had felt. He looked at Giles. “Why is it so different? What makes that…” He pointed at Peter’s ankle. “…so different from that?” He pointed outside to the front field.

Giles shook his head. They all started throwing out suggestions. Willow started arguing with them and Giles watched them as if from a distance, smiling as Willow started demonstrating his magic with her hands. He just let them talk.

Spike stared at them all. He couldn’t believe how blind they all were. He couldn’t believe that he, a vampire, could see so clearly what the difference was while none of the rest of them, including Giles, were able to. He spoke softly. “It’s about love.”

No one except Giles heard him clearly. But they all saw Giles turn his head to Spike quickly when he spoke. Aaron asked. “It’s about what?”

Spike cleared his throat. “His magic, the magic he does right, the plants, the protection, the ankle, it’s all about love, keeping things safe, making things right, making things better.”

Willow frowned. “How about the door?”

“He was fixing it. Putting it back the way it was supposed to be.”

“Why didn’t the wall get fixed?”

“You just asked him to think about the door. He could have done it, he could have fixed the wall just as easily.”

Aaron pointed to the front again. “What about that? What’s that about then?”

Spike answered Aaron but he looked at Giles. “He thinks it’s about hate. It makes him afraid. It gets in his way and messes the magic up.” Giles looked stunned and Spike continued, this time addressing Giles directly. “You think you can’t attack or destroy without it being about hating. But it’s not about hating. It’s about taking a stand and using all that you are to get the job done.”

Willow stared at Spike, amazed at his insight. She thought about every time Giles had used his magic over the past few days and she knew Spike was right.

Spike spoke again. “Listen, when Jensen starts to send you out, you can avoid being hurt, and probably keep the rest of us from being hurt, but you won’t be much use unless you use your power to kill.” He grinned. “I don’t think many demons die from plant overgrowth.” Giles rolled his eyes.

Mike looked confused. “What do you mean, when Jensen sends you out?”

Spike ignored the question and continued to talk to Giles. “The magic isn’t separate from you. It can’t control you, not anymore. It is you. You’ll use it to do what’s right because you’ll choose to do what’s right.”

Giles got up and walked to the window looking over the front field. In the dark he could barely make out the terrain changes he’d created out there today. He needed to think and he still wasn’t used to thinking around so many people. He reached for the doorknob and turned to them. “I just want to check on the garden. I’ll be back in a little while.”

Willow stood up protesting. “That’s what you said earlier.”

Giles let out a soft chuckle. “Yes, I suppose it is.” He amended his words. “I won’t go past the garden, I promise.” He glanced quickly at them all and stepped outside. Willow walked to the window overlooking the back and watched as Giles walked to the garden and stepped into it.

Mike asked again, looking at Spike. “What did you mean about Jensen sending him out?”

Spike looked over at Mike. “That’s what this is all about. Seeing if Giles can use his magic to kill so Jensen can use him.”

Mike looked at Spike. “You mean like an assassin?” Spike just looked at Mike but didn’t respond.

Willow spoke up, still looking out the window. “That’s what Giles is afraid of.”

The guards exchanged looks with each other. They wondered what Jensen would ask of Giles, and what the toll might be. Spike rose and went to stand next to Willow, looking outside as well. Giles was further back now but still in clear sight. Reassured Spike returned to his seat.

Willow continued to watch Giles. She wanted to be out there with him so much. She leaned her forehead against one of the panes of glass.

Spike turned in his chair and faced her. “If you don’t go out there, I will.”

Willow’s jaw dropped as she stared at Spike. She thought about Spike and Giles last night and how she had thought they had been kissing. Then she thought about how jealous she’d been when the three of them had been talking and how Spike had probably seen it. He had always been able to read her so clearly. Her eyes narrowed and he grinned at her and then he laughed. “Don’t get all worked up. I like my eyes right where they are. I’d just as soon you not claw them out.” He ducked as she came over to smack him. He stood and evaded her again. “I’ll just have a snack every now and then and leave the rest of him for you.” She was about to hit him again when she realized that she had a very interested audience. She blushed and covered her face with her hands.

They all started to laugh and Mike got up and opened the door. He turned Willow around. “Go get ‘im, tiger.” He gently pushed her outside and shut the door behind her.

Willow thought about throwing herself in the one of the craters Giles had created. Her face felt like it might explode. She sighed and fanned herself. She sighed again, braced her shoulders and walked to the back. She didn’t see him at first but then she realized he was crouching down at the edge of the garden, his hands in the dirt. She walked over to him. “What are you doing?”

He looked up and smiled at her. “Checking for moisture.”

“Is it okay?”

He nodded and stood. “Yes, it’s fine. We won’t need any rain tonight.”

She looked at the garden. “Will it survive once we leave here?”

He looked over it as well, his face sad. “No, I don’t suppose it will.”

She let out a sad noise when she saw the expression on his face. She touched his arm. “I’m sorry, that was a thoughtless question.”

He put his arm around her and gently squeezed, then quickly let go. “It’s all right. Do you think Jensen might oblige me and send a gardener?” He laughed softly as he watched Willow try and answer him without disappointing him. He chucked her under her chin. “That was a joke, Willow.”

She smiled at him, rolling her eyes. She strolled next to him, her hands clasped behind her back. She watched his profile, watched his lips as he spoke and his hands as he gestured. Heat began to pool again in her lower belly. She sighed. He turned to her. She pulled her gaze from his face and kept walking. He reached out and swung her around to face him. “What’s bothering you? Why won’t you tell me?”

She blushed and she was grateful for the cover of darkness. She just didn’t know what to say. She felt like calling Xander again. Maybe she could have Xander tell him. She glanced back at the house. Maybe she could have all of them tell him. She glanced up at him and saw the concern in his eyes. She took a deep breath. “Can you use your magic to know what I’m feeling?”

He shook his head confused. “What do you mean?”

“Try it. Try and use your magic and see what I’m feeling.” At his frown, she touched his arm. “You did it earlier, I sent it to you and you felt it. Just do it again. I don’t know how to say it, I don’t know what words to use.” She put her hand on his chest. “Just listen with the magic.”

He placed his hand over hers and closed his eyes. She sent him her love, and her desire for him. It swept through him like a firestorm. He took a step back and opened his eyes wide. He felt like he was out of breath. He searched her eyes, not believing what he had felt from her. He shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

She smiled softly at him. “Is it that hard to understand?” She gently touched his cheek.

He looked down at her. He looked at this woman he loved more than life itself. He softly laughed. It was such a small step from that love to lowering his head and capturing her lips in his. An infinitely small step, so he took it. His lips gently touched hers and he answered her. “No.” He felt her teeth against his lips and he looked down at her to find her grinning. He grinned back. She glanced back at the house and holding his hand she led him towards the back of the garden, out of sight.

He took her there, in his garden. He laid her down and he loved her. The magic trickled out and in it they found each other’s passion and discovered how and where to touch. When he thrust into her and spilled his seed the magic burst out. It surrounded them like thousands of fireflies, touching every cell of their bodies until they were vibrating with it. It was pure sensation, stronger than their orgasms had been and they held each other as it rushed through them like a waterfall and then slowly faded away.

After a minute he lifted his head and looked down at Willow. She looked at him in amazement. “Oh my God, is that going to happen every time?”

Giles laughed and she could feel his cock move in her. She pushed up against him. He pushed a strand of hair off her face and ran his tongue over the outline of her lips. She groaned and pushed against him again. He could feel himself growing hard again. He grinned at Willow. “I have just discovered a major advantage to being young again.” She grinned back and placing her hands behind his head, she pulled his lips back to hers. It happened again when Giles found his release. They rode it out in ecstasy. When it had passed she looked at Giles. “Wow, that’s quite a bonus.” Giles laughed and held her tightly.

He pulled off to her side and looked at her. He ran his hand down her face and then down her body, ending at her hip. He shook his head. “When…?”

She smiled. “When did I start feeling this way?” At his nod she thought back. “I’ve loved you for so long, no one has been more important to me than you, not for a long time. This part, though, it was after you talked to Jensen, when we were in your bedroom.” She laughed. “It was why I called Xander.”

Giles’ eyebrows rose. “Xander knows?”

Willow scrunched her face up. “It sort of wigged me out.” She leaned over and kissed him.

He put a hand on her breast, feeling the shape and weight of it. He touched her nipple watching it as it pebbled and grew tight. He ran his tongue over it. He looked at her. “Still wig you out?” She shook her head and laughed. He pulled away from her so he could do the same with her other breast. “And what sage advice did Xander give you?”

She pushed him to roll back and he obliged her until she was lying astride him. “He told me that I should tell you.”

Giles nodded and then groaned as Willow started making her way down his body. “Remind me to thank him next time I see him.” He groaned again and his hips bucked as she engulfed him.

Eventually they made it back into the house. They lay on his bed, her head on his chest. She made little circles playing with his chest hair. They were relaxed but still wide-awake. She laughed. “Boy, you’re better than a good night’s sleep.” Suddenly she yawned and he laughed at her.

She lifted her head and looked down at him. “Can we talk about the magic for a minute?” She grinned. “And I don’t mean the sex magic.”

He laughed. “Sex magic?” He looked at her, serious again. “Yes, we can talk about it.”

“Are you feeling better about any of it?” He thought about it for a minute without answering so she pressed on. “Did you ever think badly about Buffy because she killed demons?”

Giles looked at her in amazement. “Of course not.”

“So you don’t feel bad about the idea of demons being dead?”

He shook his head. He knew where she was heading. “No, I don’t have any ethical dilemma regarding the killing of demons.” He ran his fingers through her hair. She stayed silent, giving him the opportunity to say more. “It helped tonight. Speaking with Spike earlier and then when we got back. Why the magic was going wrong, it helps to understand that.” He smiled ruefully. “I guess the bottom line is that I’m afraid that it will come back. That if I use my magic in a way that the monster would find attractive, that it will come back.”

He lifted his head and quickly kissed her. He put his head back down. She ran her fingers over his eyebrows. She shook her head. “It won’t happen. But even if it did, if you ever felt it, we’d just say the spell again.”

“You won’t always be there.”

She frowned. “Yes I will. I’m not going anywhere.”

He tilted his head, his eyebrows furrowed. “Willow, you won’t be able to come with me when I get sent out on assignment.”

Her eyes narrowed at him. “Why not? You let me fight with you and Buffy for years, even when I wasn’t a witch. Now I am, and stronger than ever, and you are so strong it takes my breath away. You can make sure nothing bad happens to me and still have plenty of magic to spare to kill all the bad guys. And then I’ll be there if something goes wrong. Which it won’t.”

He shook his head and she raised her chin. “Giles, stop. You’re stuck with me, and with Spike. The three of us, we’re a team.” As he opened his mouth to speak again she put her fingers on his lips. “And I would suggest, for your well being, that you not even think about having this conversation with Spike.”

Giles gave up for the time being. He just held her tightly and enjoyed the sensation of her presence. She snuggled against him and yawned again. As the sun rose, they both finally drifted off to sleep.

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