Title: Impassioned 6/6
Author: TweedEmpress
Rating: PG
Pairing: Giles/Jenny
Genre: Angst/Romance
Summary: Reworking of ‘Passion’. Jenny isn’t killed, but Angelus has his eye on another target.
**WARNING: CHARACTER DEATH**
Timeline: Season Two, spoilers up to ‘Passion’
Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with BtVS (unfortunately). Some dialogue is lifted from ‘Passion’. Any original characters and ideas are mine.
Distribution: FanFiction.Net, ODD, Mystic Muse, Ms. Calendar’s Site
Notes: A huge THANK YOU to Riley for her beta-ing skills, feedback and suport!
Dedication: To everyone on Ms. Calendars Group – for keeping the flame alive!

'Is this going to be much longer? 'Cos I have, like, a hundred better things to be doing.'

'Like what, Cordy?' Xander asked her. 'Your hair? Your nails?'

She glared at her boyfriend but didn't reply. None of the others paid any attention to this exchange. Cordelia had complained incessantly the entire evening, but showed no signs of actually leaving. She seemed to feel better playing the part of 'Queen C' at times of stress: the rest of the Scoobies quietly let her get on with it.

There is, however, the exception to every rule.

Wesley Wyndham-Pryce looked at his watch.

'Cordelia is quite correct, of course.'

There was a stifled groan from the blonde slayer.

'We're wasting time here. Buffy, you need to be patrolling within the hour.'

'Sure. Patrol-Girl, that's me,' Buffy replied flatly.

Wesley sighed. He had tried with Buffy and he felt sorry for the girl, he really did... But a Slayer who had seen off two Watchers wasn't the sort of person to inspire a great deal of confidence.

'Did Ms. Calendar say anything else in her e-mail?' Buffy asked plaintively.

Willow shook her head.

'She just said she had important news for us and that we had to meet her here. But I'm sure it will be a nice surprise,' she added. 'I mean, it's Ms. Calendar. She's not going to bring back a mean surprise from wherever she's been. Unless she's gone all psycho and scary from the whole grief thing. Oh God, what if she's gone all psycho and scary?'

Oz took hold of her hand.

'It's okay, Baby,' he said calmly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

'Yeah!' Xander added enthusiastically. 'Psycho computer teachers are nothing to us, right?'

He was met by a deadly silence. Xander glanced over at Cordelia for back up.

'Jeez, Xander, what the Hell is the matter with you?' she asked in disgust.

Wesley sighed and looked at his watch again, then looked across at Buffy meaningfully. She rolled her eyes and turned away. Wesley had been so proud when he had been sent to replace Buffy's last Watcher and he had worked hard on their relationship. But instead of Buffy opening up to him and things getting easier, they had got worse. Over the course of the weeks he had been in Sunnydale, Buffy had become increasingly remote. He could, of course, order her to leave the library. Or, at least, try to order her... He opened his mouth, about to speak, when the library doors opened behind him.

There was a little squeal from Willow, and Cordelia jumped down from her perch on the counter, the sudden excitement on her face quickly hidden behind a mask of indifference. Wesley glanced over his shoulder at the new arrival and then turned around slowly, his eyes drinking in the stunning brunette.

'Hey, everybody! Hi Buffy,' Jenny Calendar said brightly.

'Well, hello!' Wesley said. 'You must be the famous Ms. Calendar.'

He held out a hand which Jenny didn't take, but simply eyed suspiciously.

'Who are you?'

'Wesley Wyndham-Pryce-'

'The Council sent him,' Buffy put in, flatly.

'Council, huh?' Jenny looked Wesley up and down, noting the heavy tweed suit. 'I would never have guessed.'

Willow was practically bouncing up and down on the spot now, only Oz's hand firmly retaining her own was keeping her under some semblance of control.

'Hi Ms. Calendar!' She waved with her free hand. 'Welcome back. See, I got everyone here, just like you asked. Except for Wesley, but that's 'cos he just kinda found out, but he's on our side, more or less-'

'Willow.' Oz captured her other hand and held them both firmly. 'She's a little nervous.'

'Yeah, she thinks you may've turned into an axe-murderer or something,' Xander added. There were more deadly stares. 'What?'

Jenny looked at the room of young people and was fully aware that their lives were about to be turned upside down for the second time in a few weeks. For a moment, she wondered if it would be kinder to leave them be...

But then there was Buffy.

The change in the girl was so extreme it was almost frightening. She had lost a lot of weight and her once luminous eyes seemed dull. Almost lifeless. She remembered what Giles had told her about what happened to Watchers when their Slayers died - it had never really occurred to her what would happen to a Slayer when she lost her Watcher.

Jenny took a deep breath.

'Okay, I've got a lot to tell you, but I'm gonna try and make it as short as possible.'

She tried to to tell them, as succinctly as possible, all that had occurred, carefully editing out some of the more questionable details. There was a long silence when she finished.

Wesley, who had been eyeing her appreciatively since she had entered, had edged away as she spoke.

'I don't believe you,' Buffy said finally, hoarsely. 'You couldn't have done that. You couldn't!'

'Buffy-'

'No!' The Slayer stared at her, wide-eyed. 'He's dead! Angelus murdered him... Oh my God! Angelus turned him, didn't he? He made him a vampire and then you put his soul back in him!'

It was Jenny's turn to stare, aghast.

None of the other Scoobies felt able to talk - their heads turning from one to the other. If the situation hadn't been so desperate, it would have seemed comical.

'Buffy, that isn't what happened at all. Rupert isn't a vampire-'

'I don't believe you!' Her voice rose. 'I know what that Gypsy spell was for. Only it's not a spell it's a curse. How could you do that to him?'

'Now, Buffy,' Wesley stepped forward, making a vain attempt to placate his charge. 'I'm sure there's no need for that. Ms. Calendar is simply a little, er, overwrought.' He placed a hand on Jenny's arm.

'Overwrought? Willow was right - she has gone crazy!'

'Buffy, that's enough!'

They hadn't noticed the library doors open again. Hadn't noticed the tall figure in the doorway.

Cordelia gripped Xander's hand so hard he let out a little squeak of pain that matched the noise Willow was making.

Rupert Giles surveyed the group, his eyes landing on Wesley and the hand that was still on Jenny's arm.

'Let go of Miss Calendar, there's a good chap.'

There was no mistaking the steel in those eyes and Wesley hastily took a few steps back. Jenny grinned at him smugly.

'Oh God.'

'No, Cordy, that's Giles,' Xander said softly. 'I mean, if it looks like a Giles and talks like a Giles, then -'

'No, I mean oh God!' She pointed at Buffy.

The Slayer was holding a stake and there was an unearthly glint in her eyes. 'You can't live like that,' she said. 'Not you. You told me, if you were ever t-turned, you told me what you wanted me...'

'Yes...' He closed his eyes, remembering the promise he had extracted from her. 'But Buffy, you have to listen to me.'

Buffy shook her head dumbly.

He sighed, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose.

'I thought I'd trained you better than that.'

She returned his gaze uncertainly, her fingers flexing around the stake.

'Buffy, if I were a vampire, you would know. You would be able to sense it. Your, er, "spider-sense" I think you call it?'

She was taking great, shaky breaths that seemed to wrack her body. But as he spoke, her free hand unconsciously crept to the back of her head, her fingers pressing against the base of her skull. There was a vague sensation of something tingling deep beneath the skin, and a tightening in her chest. She remembered the first time she had felt it, standing on the balcony in The Bronze. He had wanted her to sense a vampire. But she had felt a connection. She had felt her Watcher's soul binding itslef to hers...

It was as though something dormant had suddenly sprung back to life, every nerve in her body hyperaware of it, before it settled back into its place, becoming part of her again.

'You left me,' she said in a small voice.

A sad smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. 'I know. I'm sorry.'

The stake fell to the ground with a clatter and Giles found himself nearly knocked over backwards as Buffy launched herself at him. He stood for a second and then, a little awkwardly, placed his arms tentatively around her.

'Buffy ... Oxygen...'

'Huh? Oh, sorry...'

The blonde loosened her hold slightly, but kept Giles firmly in her embrace. A second later, Willow - unable to contain herself anymore - threw her arms around Giles' neck. He disengaged an arm and placed a hand lightly on her head. From somewhere between the two heads, he managed to catch Jenny's eye and the couple shared a brief, heartfelt look.

'Now, really, this situation is untenable and-'

'Shut up, Weasely.'

He bristled. 'Wesley.'

Jenny rolled her eyes. 'Whatever.'

Wesley opened his mouth to protest and then shut it again. He had lost control of the situation and had no idea how to regain it: no-one was even listening to him. Only then did he begin to realise he had never, in fact, had control. It was not a happy realisation.

Cordelia and Xander were still standing by the counter. Cordelia Chase did not cry easily. She certainly wasn't going to cry over the Librarian, back from the dead or not. She looked at Xander. His emotions were always so clearly written on his face and now his dark eyes were swimming with tears. Cordelia raised a hand to his face and then pressed her lips against his cheek.

'I love you.'

He started slightly, his eyes focusing on her face but she turned from him before he could answer. She crossed the room , stopping in front of Jenny.

'Looks like you really did it, huh?'

Jenny smiled at her. 'Looks like it.'

Cordelia wrapped her arms around Jenny's neck.

'Thank you.'

She rested her head on Jenny's shoulder and the Gypsy held her tightly as she felt Cordelia's body shake with an uncontrollable sob.

In the middle of the library floor, Buffy finally surfaced from her embrace and looked up at her Watcher. She giggled soggily.

'Y'know, I can't believe I have to be grateful to Ethan Rayne.'

'Oh...' Giles sighed wearily. 'I wouldn't be too grateful. I'm sure that he's already working on a scheme to make us all regret we were born.'

*********************

Ethan Rayne stared into his beer, pondering the business proposition that had just been put his way. Or, to be strictly accurate, which he had just accepted. It was an intriguing proposition; the money was excellent and there was minimal danger to himself. As far as Ethan was concerned, it was the ideal type of work.

And, of course, it was in Sunnydale.

Ethan smiled to himself.

He had worked hard for Ripper and his Gypsy girlfriend, and this presented the perfect opportunity to remind both of them that he, Ethan Rayne, was not there just to do their bidding.

Not to mention the wonderful possibilities for Chaos...

His new employer needed him to incapacitate the adult population of Sunnydale. Incapacitate them enough that they would forget about annoying little trivialities like watching over their babies. He already had a plan on how to accomplish just that and the beauty of it was that it would bring Ripper - the real Ripper - out to play.

Ethan pushed aside his beer and ordered himself a large whisky.

And he made a silent toast in honour of Ripper and his sweet tooth...

*********************

The door was unlocked and swung open slowly. Giles walked in, gazing at his surroundings. Jenny followed, closing the door behind them and then crossing the room to switch on the lamp. She fumbled for a few moments, trying to locate the wall socket. It would have been easier to switch on the main lights, but she hated overhead lighting. Too harsh.

A warm, soft glow filled the room, showing a fine layer of dust that had settled over everything and the air smelt slightly musty. Giles ran one finger along the top of the sideboard and stared at it.

'Home sweet home,' he said wryly.

Jenny smiled slightly and watched him as he wandered around his apartment. To say that the evening had been emotional was an understatement. Their story had been told and retold numerous times, until Giles had finally claimed exhaustion and the gathering had broken up.

Although, as far as reunions went, it was entirely different to the one between Giles and his sister. Jenny was not certain how Alexa had known - either Ethan or Rupert had been able to contact her through whatever method it was that they used. Alexa Giles did not seem the type of person to be attached to a mobile phone. She had arrived as quietly and unexpectedly as the first time: appearing the day after Giles' restoration.

Jenny had expected hysterics, had anticipated seeing the taciturn brunette break down. But Alexa, as before, confounded expectations.

She had stood, silent, staring at her brother. The tension had drained out of her face and it was replaced by an expression of perfect calm and contentment. As though a missing piece of herself had ben restored. Giles had held out his arms to her and she had crossed the room to him, burying her face in his shoulder. And Jenny had found that she was the one with tears streaming down her face.

Giles turned to face her, a slightly puzzled expression on his face.

'Er, how is it that this place is still, er, well, mine?'

She laughed a little.

'I ... Well, you're one of those people who pay their rent in advance. Me, I only pay after my third reminder letter. Anyway, you still had about three months left on your lease, so I kinda told your landlord...' Jenny cleared her throat and shook the hair out of her eyes defiantly. 'I told him we were living together and as he already had the money upfront, he wasn't losing anything by letting me stay on here. Y'know, until I could find a place of my own.'

'You already have a place of your own.'

'Yeah, but he didn't know that.'

'Of course.'

There was a pause and Jenny felt a flush burn its way up her cheeks. She turned away from him, a little too quickly, and fiddled with the antique pens on the writing table.

'That may not be such a bad idea,' he said suddenly.

'What?'

'O-our, er, l-living together.'

Jenny's head snapped around. She tried to keep her tone light, but her heart had begun that familiar, erratic beating once again. Giles was staring at her with a slightly bemused expression, as though he were faintly surprised by what he had said.

'Are you asking me to move in with you, England?'

'N-no, I, er, I'm...' He walked over to her, taking her hand in his and looking earnestly into her eyes. 'When I was, well, younger, I tried very hard to go through life not thinking at all. A-and then after that I spent, well, I-I spent too much time thinking, I suppose.' He let out a shaky breath. 'Now, i-it's time to try to find th-the part ... in between. And if I'm going to find it all, it could only be with you.'

Her lustrous dark eyes were fixed on his face: her lips slightly parted, but unable to speak. He thought of all that had happened in the past weeks and the time before that, when they had been happy. And of the long years of his life before he had met her. He wished desperately for a chair or some other household implement to have practised on before embarking on this course.

'I love you, Jenny. And I-I can only ask that you would ... think of ... honouring me by allowing me to become your husband.'

Brown eyes met green and there was a long silence.

'You want to marry me?' She said at last in an awed whisper.

He searched her face, looking for either acceptance or rejection. Finding neither, he nodded dumbly.

'Yes.'

It was so softly spoken it could barely be heard.

'Ye..?'

A wide smile spread across her face

'Yes! Yes, Rupert Giles, I love you, I will marry you!'

There were tears and laughter and two people holding each other so closely, it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Giles pulled away slightly, cupping her face in his hands and gazing into her eyes.

'I love you. I don't know how to tell you how much I-'

'I do,' she put in quietly, raising her hands to rest over his. 'I know. Not so much with the thinking for you these days, remember?'

He smiled and lowered his head until their foreheads rested together.

Jenny suddenly let out a groan.

'Goddess, England, what are we going to do? I mean, back from the dead isn't gonna go down too well with the head-in-the-sand Sunnydale residents. How can we explain it? Unless we get Alexa to bewitch the whole town into forgetting it ever happened.'

'Oh, I don't think we need to go that far.'

'Rupert, I was just jo-' Her smile fade slightly. 'She could do that? Seriously?'

'Don't let Alexa fool you,' he replied, his eyes sparkling affectionately, 'she's immensely powerful. A quite formidable witch.'

Jenny was a little stunned for a moment. 'O-okay... Still, we don't even have to stay in Sunnydale! We could go anywhere! We could-'

'Jenny...' Giles interrupted patiently. 'I-I know that we have to sort all of that out, I do...' His hands slipped down to her waist and he pulled her closer to him, his eyes growing smoky. 'But why don't we forget about it for tonight and worry about it in the morning?'

FINIS

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