Title : Anacreon's Song
Series: Samian Wine and Pyrrhic Dances Stories 10
Author: Surnia
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Spike/Willow Buffy/Giles
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by Joss Whedon and is owned by 20th Century FOX. No copyright infringement is intended

Giles woke up before Buffy. He studied her face for a time, relieved to see her looking so peaceful and unworried. He wished that it was not only in sleep that she could find any peace. Mind you, given prophetic dreams, sometimes even sleep wasn't a refuge. She looked almost fragile in sleep - which was deceptive, since he knew that part of her was as rough and resilient as anyone he'd ever met.

Suddenly a horde of worries and insecurity overwhelmed him. Was this the prelude to a new level of awkwardness? And maybe it was all just reaction on her part, as she had reacted to almost losing Angel to the Judge. Disaster. Oh dear. He stifled a groan. Maybe that was it. Sort of a perverse assertion of life in the face of death. Couldn't see why she would want him anyway.

He carefully got out of bed and grabbed his robe on the way to the bathroom to have a shower - the shower he probably should have had last night, he thought a little grimly. Well, at least he hadn't completely given in to his hormones.

He let the water flow over him. Pity problems wouldn't wash away the same way. He turned it off and towelled himself down and put out some fresh towels for Buffy. She was restless when he came back. He sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroked her hair back from her face. "Buffy?"

"Hmm?"

"The shower's free."

She sleepily opened her eyes and blinked. "You're all wet."

Looking down, he said, "Natural consequence of having a shower. Want anything special for breakfast?"

"Orange juice."

He handed her a bath towel and went to get out some clean clothes for himself. He didn't turn around as he heard her walk across the room to the bathroom. He quickly got dressed and went downstairs to put the kettle on and sort out breakfast.

Buffy stepped into the shower, wondering why Giles was avoiding looking at her. She closed her eyes in the spray. She had probably shocked him right down to his socks - well, out of his socks and the rest of it. He was probably humouring her last night. But Damn, he felt good. Damn. And she didn't have to worry about him losing his soul. Or biting her neck. Or not understanding while she had to rush off to battle the forces of evil. Or having to come up with some lame explanation for someone disappearing into a pile of dust. But now he probably thought she was a complete slut. Damn. But there was a lot to be said for a living body as opposed to an undead one. She hadn't realised just how dead Angel felt. Not until she had a living body for comparison.

Tuning off the shower and wrapping the towel around her, she looked at her clothes. They were a mess and she'd lost her underwear. Time for a very nervous Slayer to face the music. Well, Giles would never say anything - just as long as he didn't give her that Look - or a non-look. That would be worse. Non-look was definitely worse.

She went down the stairs. Giles was staring at his teapot, waiting for it to brew. A glass of orange juice was waiting for her. Looks like Non-look, she thought unhappily.

Buffy picked up the glass and drank the juice while Giles poured his tea, still looking fixedly at it. "It's not gonna run away, Giles."

"What? Oh, yes."

"I think we need to talk."

"Yes, of course."

"Giles, I ..."

At that moment the phone ran and Giles quickly went to pick up, rather obviously relishing the opportunity to avoid the topic at hand. "Hello, Giles residence. Ah, Joyce. Yes, how are you? I'm fine. Yes, Buffy's here. I'll put her on."

Buffy picked up the receiver and said, "Mom, hi. Yeah, I'm fine, just Slayer stuff. You're going to be how long? No, no problem. Okay, good luck at the auction."

She looked up. Giles had his head buried in his crossed arms. "Giles?"

He said in a muffled tone, "How would you have fancied telling her that you had just spent the night with your middle-aged Watcher."

She frowned and then said, "Well, she might take it better than the night with the psychotic demon lover."

She noticed that his mouth twitched. "Yes, well, you have a point in that respect."

She came up and touched his arm, "You know, Angel's a *lot* older than you."

He looked at her, "Technically speaking, yes, that's true, but physiologically he's ...

"Dead."

"Undead."

"Are you trying to tell me I'm too young, or you're too old, because if you are ..."

She was interrupted by a banging on the door. Giles opened and found Willow standing there. She gave him a fierce hug and said, "You're okay! Spike said you were but I still wanted to make sure!" She looked beyond him at Buffy. "Hey, Buffy! Making sure that Drusilla didn't come back for another bite?" Buffy nodded. "I hope you're going to make sure that Angel gets that ho out of town."

"Good idea, Wills. I swear if I see her again, she is so dead." She looked at her clothes and said, "I'll catch you guys later. I'm going home and change. Good thing it's not a school day."

Willow frowned slightly as Buffy hastily left and then gave Giles an appraising look. He swallowed and said, "Tea?"

"Yeah, okay." She followed him to the kitchenette. "So you gonna tell me what happened last night?"

"I thought that Spike would have given you a run-down. Drusilla thought it was only fair that she should have me since she had lost both Angel and Spike. Spike and Buffy arrived in the nick of time. Spike carted off Drusilla to Angel."

She gave him a look. "I mean afterwards."

"Afterwards?" he echoed innocently.

"Come on, Giles, I know you and I know Buffy. Let's just say I noticed a lot of tension in the room. Non-slaying tension."

Giles studied his cup of tea. She looked at him mischievously and teased, "I would guess that you didn't shag like bunnies, or you both wouldn't be so tense."

"Willow!"

"Spike's doing terrible things to my English. Or, alternatively, enriching it in certain areas. I could have said something much much ruder. I had no idea English was so rich in various areas." She giggled. Giles was an interesting shade of red. Willow added, "Don't tell me you two didn't *do* anything."

"We didn't shag," he said in a barely audible voice.

"Why on earth not?" she asked. "At least with you she doesn't have to worry about loss of soulage."

"Yes, well, we all know that she's in love with Angel. And she reacts badly to loss or possible loss, so she wasn't herself."

"God, Giles, you really do have a self-esteem problem. Did the Council drill *that* into you, or was it your family? If it was your family, I so do not want to meet them. So did you do anything?" He was silent. "Giles? Give!"

"Stuff," he muttered in a voice which could barely be heard.

"Would you like to be more specific? Come on, spill! And speak up! I don't have vampire hearing."

Suddenly a flash of anger appeared in his eyes and he stated, "It's none of your business, Willow."

Unperturbed, she tossed her red hair and said, "I think it is. I care about both of you," She looked pointedly at him and stated, "I'll see you later."

She was thinking: some serious sorting out was necessary with those two. Why couldn't they just have fun? Since when did responsibility mean that you couldn't have a life? She went to Buffy's house and knocked. Buffy answered, having changed into fresh clothes. "Hey," she said.

Willow came in and sat down. She said, "Okay, are you going to tell me what happened last night?"

"Spike and I rescued Giles from certain death and undeath."

"And..."

"And?"

"And!"

Buffy sat down heavily. "And I sorta got carried away after near Giles lossage."

"And?"

"What do you mean, 'And'?"

Willow made a noise of frustration. "All I could get out of Giles was that there was no shagging but a barely audible 'stuff'." Her eyes lit up. "So explain 'stuff'?"

Buffy went bright red and buried her face in her hands. She muttered something unintelligible.

"What?" Willow said, putting her ear closer. "A blow job?" Buffy clamped her hand over Willow's mouth. "Hey, we're alone and I'm a big girl." She chuckled. "That was my first move too. Works a charm. And then?"

"Whatdoyoumean," Buffy muttered in a very small voice.

"Did he return the favour?" Buffy's face disappeared in her hands again and she nodded. Willow chuckled again, "Better still! And then?"

Buffy looked at her aghast. "There was no 'and then'. We went to sleep." Willow frowned and Buffy continued, "He *said* he didn't want to take advantage and that I was upset." Her face fell, "Maybe he was just humouring me and thinks I'm a complete ho."

Willow snorted, "Not likely. He just doesn't see how anyone younger could like him. He has a serious self-confidence problem - unless it involves heroically beheading vampires. He lets go and then goes on a guilt trip." She looked critically at Buffy, "Do you? Or were you just upset?"

Buffy thought a moment, "I can't imagine being without him. But I've never thought about him as a *him* before you and him and then I really got an eyeful when we rescued him and the idea of what Drusilla was about to do..." She shuddered.

"I heard," Willow said, licking her lips. "He's very tasty when undressed, isn't he? Preferably tied up and helpless. I wonder if Spike would let me ..."

"Willow, you're terrible!" Buffy was by now an extremely interesting shade of red.

Willow stood up and said, "Come on, Buffy, we're going to my house."

"Why?"

"You need a little computer information."

"You're the netgirl."

"Information about *stuff*. Come on, where do you think I get my ideas from?" She turned around, "Oh, and a certain book which I store under my mattress. You need some serious help before you wreck everything. He'll never take the initiative until he's sure it's what you want." An almost lecherous smile spread across her face, "And then he will." She started to muse, "You could tie him up? Play the dominatrix? Do you like chocolate?"

Buffy looked at her wide-eyed.

Willow grinned, "We'll just have to work out what you like. Buffy? Mouth? Flies?" She shook her head. This might be a challenge. Perhaps they would have to take it in stages. Talk about a confident pair of people lacking in self-confidence.

****

Buffy and Willow went to Spike's just before sunset. Buffy had decided that she and Spike would make sure that Angel left Sunnydale with Drusilla. Almost the moment the door closed behind Willow, Spike came bounding out of the bedroom, completely naked and still damp from the shower. Paying not the slightest intention to Buffy, he grabbed Willow and wrapped her legs around his waist and started to kiss her frantically while heading for a table on which he deposited her, while pulling her skirt up.

Once she stopped giggling in delight, she said, "Spike! Wait! Buffy's here!"

Spike turned around, glanced at Buffy, muttered "Slayer," and turned back and resumed kissing Willow while removing her underwear.

"Spike!" Willow insisted, glancing over at Buffy who had her face hidden in her hands.

"What, Red? I've been waiting for hours to screw the arse off you."

Willow giggled while Spike nuzzled her neck and ordered him, "Bedroom, Spike. Buffy, you'll have to wait a minute ... or a few."

Spike growled in complaint at the delay and carried her off to the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him. Buffy sat down and waited, occasionally jumping at the noises issuing forth from the bedroom.

Eventually a fully dressed Spike emerged, grumbling. "Red says we should have a looksee at Dru's. Make sure the wankstain gets her out of town."

Buffy glared at him and said, "You really are a deeply obnoxious person."

"Just my natural charm, luv."

For the most part, they made their way there in silence. Finally Buffy said, "Why Willow?"

"Why Willow?"

"There's an echo here. Why you and Willow?"

Spike was silent and finally said, "Dunno. She's fragile but strong. A lovely babble. Ferocious sexual drive. Dunno. You think that attraction is logical? If logic played any part in it, would you have fallen for my sire?"

Buffy didn't reply, and, in any case, they were now close to the warehouse. Spike said, "Stay here. I'll send the wanker out while I keep an eye on Dru."

He disappeared into the building and sometime later Angel emerged. Buffy took a deep breath, looked up at him and then looked away. "So, are you leaving with her?" she asked.

He nodded.

"For how long?"

"I don't know. I have to figure out at least how to keep Drusilla from coming back and going after you, Willow and Giles. If she won't see sense, she'll have to find another obsession."

"You."

"A temporary measure. According to Spike, Willow's looking for a transference spell or something."

"You know, it would be a lot easier if you just stepped aside and let me do my job."

"I can't. She's my responsibility. I made her like she is."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Is she walking again?"

"Will be tomorrow. But we'll be gone by then." He reached for her face, "Buffy..."

She stepped back and made a gesture that he should stay away. "No, just go."

"If I'm needed ..."

"Right. Don't call us. We'll call you."

She spun around and rapidly walked away, making for the cemeteries. It proved to be a very disappointing night. No a vampire to be seen. She headed for Giles', remembering her stimulating afternoon with Willow. She stopped at his door and swallowed. She had had the carpe diem talk. She had had the pep talk. She had had a run-down of possible techniques and plans. And she also had a terrible case of chicken feet which took her straight home for the night.

***

The following day, Willow stopped by Buffy's house. She was disappointed when she found her at home. She set herself down ont he couch and asked, "Well?"

"Well?"

"What happened?"

"Nothing. Chicken feet."

"God, Buffy, am I going to have to use a spell?"

"No, no, no. No spells. Remember Xander and love spells."

Willow was looking at her intently, her brain obviously going into overdrive to resolve the problem. Buffy looked at her in growing alarm. "I hate it when you get that expression on your face and it doesn't involve demon slayage." Willow considered her and finally asked, "So you wanted to go but chickened out?"

"Yes. No. Maybe. I think. Sort of."

"Well, that sounds definite."

"What if he hates me?"

"Never happen. Believe me, if he was going to hate you, he would have already done it."

Buffy's face fell. "Because I let Angelus kill Jenny."

"Because you didn't trust him when Angel came back."

"That was complicated."

"And you're making this complicated. What's so complicated about carpe diem?"

"Look what happened last time I carpe-d."

"Not the same."

"I don't want to lose Giles like I lost Angel."

Willow rolled her eyes and said, "What am I going to do with you two! Giles isn't going to turn into Gilesus. He might turn into Ripper, but that's okay. In fact, that's more than okay - as long as he's not mad at you." Willow pondered for awhile and then said, "I've got it! A double date!"

Buffy blinked in amazement laced with a sense of dismay. "Double date? As in you and Spike and me and Giles?"

"It's perfect!"

"How is that perfect? How is vampire, Vampire Slayer, witch and Watcher perfect?"

"Because you two being with us will be so awkward that you'll forget about being awkward with each other!"

"Somewhere there's something logical in there. I think. Movies? Pizza? The Bronze? What do you have in mind?"

"Supper."

"Whoa! Supper for Spike is O, A, B, or AB."

Willow giggled, "I think he'll be thinking about something else. I'll put him in charge of the drinks!"

"Are we talking Spike's place?" Willow nodded vigorously. "Willow, weirdness is the relevant word here." Willow sniggered. "Anyway, Giles probably won't come."

"Oh yes he will - or we'll turn up at his place. Look, I'll arrange the invitations. He's not going to know that it's a double date. You just turn up at - say - 9.00. And wear something sexy."

"Willow!"

"Let's go shopping and get you some sexy underwear."

"Willow!"

"I've got money - from Spike. Let's see, how sexy should we get? Chemise? Bustier? Speaking of which, I need a new bustier."

"Willow."

"Don't be a wuss." She winked. "If all goes well, maybe Spike and I will leave the two of you together. Unless, you want to go in for foursomes!"

"Willow, I'm thinking that Spike is not a good influence on you."

Willow assumed an innocent expression, "How do you know that it's not the other way round?"

***

Willow had convinced Giles to come for supper. He thought that he was just making certain that Spike was treating her properly. Willow had thoughtfully forgotten to mention to him that Buffy was going to be there - just to ensure that neither of them developed a case of chicken feet. Spike was grumbling, but she had convinced that a night in a motel would be different and she would make it well worth his while.

The initial awkwardness lessened over supper, largely due to the fact that Spike drank his way through it while constantly refilling Giles' glass in male solidarity. The two men continued their drinking and animated discussion while Willow and Buffy disappeared into the kitchen. When they came back, they were startled to find Giles and Spike snarling at each other while defiantly knocking back drinks. The converstation had moved to football and it appeared that Spike was a Manchester United supporter whiles Giles supported Chelsea. They exchanged barbs which left the girls quite bewildered, bantering names of players and managers back and forth until Giles suddenly started chanting, "Stand up if you hate Man U! Stand up if you hate Man U!" and stood up, brandishing his glass.

Engaged, Spike leapt to his feet and snarled, "You know sweet F.A. about footy, you bloody toff! Chelsea are shite! Pants! Only ponces support them!" He suddenly crashed the bottle over Giles' head and Giles swayed towards to the floor.

"Oh no, not again!" Buffy exclaimed, rushing up to catch him.

He blinked at her and then blinked again, shook himself and scowled, pointing at Spike, "That plonker over there wants sorting." He started to shrug her off, "And I'm gonna sort him."

"You and what army, mate?" Spike glared at him.

Willow grabbed Spike's arm, "Come on, Spike, we're late."

"For what?"

"For leaving."

"Not until I kick the stuffing out of him!"

"NO ONE is doing any kicking. If you don't come now, you're on your own tonight."

She dragged him out the door while he was still snarling at Giles who was glaring back at him. Spike glanced at Willow's hair and then grinned triumphantly back at Giles, "I'm leaving with *Red*."

Giles looked at Buffy and muttered, "You should be wearing blue."

Buffy sighed, "Men and sports. Must be in the male genes or something." She noticed that he had cut his forehead which was bleeding. "Sit down, Giles. You've got a cut." She looked at the glass on the floor. "On second thought, the other room or there may be more cuts."

"The bedroom?" he said with a sudden huskiness in his voice.

Her breath caught. "How much have you had to drink?"

"Not that much. I'm not pissed." He swayed a little and added, "Maybe quarter-pissed." He obediently followed her into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed.

She cleaned the cut and said, "It's not much of a cut."

"'Course not. He's a twat."

"Giles, how hard did he hit you? And again, how much did you drink?"

"Not as much as Spike. Sorry, feeling a little odd." Buffy was suddenly suspicious. Did Willow put anything in the drinks the men were having? She noticed that he was looking around the room. "So this is the infamous bedroom where they get up to all the rumpy-pumpy. Vampire colours. Bloody typical sodding vampire taste." He lay back on the bed and looked at the ceiling. "No ceiling mirror. This sort of decor needs a mirror, but, mind you, with a vampire, it might be redundant. On the other hand..."

While Giles was rambling on, Buffy had been removing most of her clothes. She asked in a purr, "And does this go with the decor?"

"What?" he asked, pushing himself on his elbows. He gulped. She was wearing a very thin red chemise which left very little to the imagination. He swallowed hard and stopped breathing. He nodded distractedly, having lost the power of speech.

She stepped between his legs and ran her hand over the now evident bulge in his trousers. "I'll take that as a yes," she said. He nodded again, still speechless. Putting her hands on his shoulders she bent over and kissed him. His hands came up to the back of her thighs and ran up and over her bare ass and he suddenly yanked her towards him as their tongues battled breathlessly.

"You're overdressed," she whispered as she started to unbutton his shirt while he undid his tie, never taking his eyes off her. "Stand up," she ordered. He obeyed and she pushed the shirt off his shoulders and undid his belt and trousers and pulled them down together with his boxers, kneeling to remove his shoes and socks at the same time.

Wrapping her hands around his legs, she slowly raised herself up his body, smiling at him when his penis caught momentarily between her breasts on the way up. She ran her hands through the hair on the chest. She heard a low growl coming from his throat and he suddenly grabbed her and threw her on the bed. In an instant, he was straddling her, holding her head in a vicelike grip while he plundered her mouth.

Grabbing the bottom of the chemise, he pulled it up over her head and grabbed one of her breasts in his mouth, sucking, biting and licking roughly. She ran her hands through his hair but he grabbed her wrists with a grunt and held them down while he attacked the other breast with equal ferocity. He started to rub his penis against her wetness while he licked and nibbled at the breast. Eventually she remembered to breath and whispered, "Ru-Rupert, don't stop, please."

"Not a chance," he growled, nibbling at her neck and licking inside her ear. He released her wrists and started to stroke her folds. She gasped as she felt a finger enter her while he continued to stroke. Then a second. He started to rub her clitoris and then stopped and then repeated the frustrating process. She felt his fingers stretching her, then arousing her, then stretching again. Eventually she thought she was going to explode.

"Please," she panted.

He smiled at her, and with a kiss, pushed inside her. "Ah!" she gasped, wrapping her legs around him. Resting on his forearms, he started a steady rhythm, studying her face while he thrust. Her eyes were closed and her head was thrown back in concentration. When he realised he was close, he used his finger to rub her clitoris and lowered his head to her neck. When he heard her scream, he let himself go and bit her shoulder. She screamed again and thrust her hips up against him, every muscle contracting.

He rolled to one side, still holding her inside him, waiting for her to recover.

She opened to her eyes and looked at him, "That was phenomenal ... and you ... you bit me!"

He grinned. "Not only vampires bite." He licked her shoulder. "Good thing, you've got Slayer healing or you'd have to explain that bite. What if Spike and Willow come back?"

"They're not. They're spending the night in a motel."

He attempted to give her a stern look, but failed. "This is a set-up."

"And I'm not sure that Willow didn't use a little magic."

"And that sexy red number?"

"Willow made me buy it."

Chuckling and still holding her, he rolled on his back so that she was on top of him. "Willow. Once she's set on something, God help anything or anyone that gets in her way."

"Well, last night I got as far as your door and chickened out. Willow decided to take things in hand."

"Doomed," he murmured, stroking her thighs. "So why did you chicken out?"

She pushed herself up and started to rock slightly. "I thought you might reject me?"

"What? Reject the bravest and most beautiful woman I know? Do you think I'm mad?"

"Did you just say 'woman'?"

"After seeing you in that chemise, I would definitely say 'woman'." Smiling in delight, she started to rock harder. "Are you planning to make a habit of this?" he asked.

"That' s the plan," she said.

"It's a good plan," he replied, "a very good plan indeed.

BROKEN SHIELD