"I see," Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them, placing them back on. "Well, I wish you all the best."

"Thanks," Buffy nodded clinically.

"I presume you will ensure she is well looked after?" Giles asked Angel. Angel simply nodded. "Very well," he nodded. "We'll miss you, but I understand your decision."

"We'll be here for a few days and then we'll be off. Spike's coming with us. I'm not sure if Dawn will be back or not, she seems to be settling quite well in Ireland."

"I may phone Dawn and see what her plans are," he mused, unsure that Buffy's words about Dawn were true.

"Okay. Well, we have work to be getting on with," Buffy nodded. Angel watched as Buffy hugged Giles lightly before leaving. Giles was not surprised when he did not get a handshake from Angel.

"Dawn!" Angel called through the cottage. He watched as the eighteen year old bounced through from the lounge, hugging him. "You have a visitor and a sister outside," he smiled, watching her rush past. He smiled as Wesley appeared.

"Angel," he nodded.

"Hey," he studied Wesley closely, "Everything okay?"

"Nothing serious, but perhaps we could have a chat this evening? Or when you have a spare minute?"

"Of course," he nodded seriously, turning and smiling as Buffy came in with another bag. Leaning down he kissed her, glad when she complied easily. "I'll take these up the stairs," he nodded. Passing the front door he smiled as he heard Spike and Dawn chatting away as they headed inside.

"So, I hear you're going out with a geriatric?" Spike asked seriously, walking into the kitchen.

"Spike!" Dawn chastised.

"What! Scar face is a lot older than you," he said seriously, looking up at Wesley and giving him a wink.

"And you can't call him Scar Face either!" Dawn said annoyed.

"Well, he has a scar, and it's on his face…"

"Are you giving Wes twenty questions," Buffy frowned at him.

"Quite the opposite, I want to know if Dawn's good enough for her man," he said seriously, looking at Dawn. "Wesley here is top catch; intelligent, good humoured, most of the time, ruggedly handsome, so I'm told, lots of dosh in the bank, can speak multiple languages…what do you have to give?"

There was a pause in the kitchen before Wesley chuckled, "She's brilliant in bed and willing to spend my money and push my wheelchair around."

Spike grinned foolishly and laughed, "Well, I can't argue with that!" he smiled, pulling her close and hugging the embarrassed teenager.

"I can't believe you just said that," Dawn said mortified. Spike and Buffy watched as Wesley walked up to her, kissing her softly before heading out of the room.

"He's a keeper," Spike shrugged, walking through to the lounge and collapsing on the sofa.

/

"Hi," Spike nodded at the barmaid. "Can I get a pint please?"

"Of course," her Irish twang rang out. Working behind the bar she pulled his pint. Spike looked her up and down before looking over at a few regulars who were wittering in Gaelic. He looked back as she put the drink down in front of him, nodding his thanks and handing his money over.

"I haven't seen you here before?"

"Nope. First time. Hope it's good," he said steadily, lifting the drink to his lips and taking a sip.

"Are you here on holiday?" she asked smiling at him.

"I'm not really sure," he shrugged, "If I like it I'll stay around and if not I'll head off."

"Where are you from?" she asked intrigued by the blonde, dressed in a fitted black T Shirt and denim jeans.

"Born in England, stayed in America for a while and now I'm here. What about you? A beautiful girl like you born and bread here? I've always heard the Irish were pretty people."

She rolled her eyes, "Yeah. I was born and bred here."

"What do you do around here for fun?"

"If yer lookin' for fun, the best bet is an hour into town," she stated a little colder.

"Thanks, but I'm looking to avoid the bustling cities for a while; done that, been there, will no doubt do it again," he said a little bored. He stilled a little as the conversation paused with the locals and the door opened. "Can you get the lady an orange and lemonade please?" he asked the barmaid without turning.

"Sure," she asked glancing at behind him confused.

"You okay pet?" he asked seriously, looking at Buffy as she appeared next to him.

"Yeah," she nodded, "Angel wanted to speak to Wesley alone so I've got free reign," she chuckled.

"Where's Niblett?"

"Out a walk. She wanted some time to herself, which I guess has something to do with Wes wanting to speak to Angel."

Spike watched as the barmaid set down the drink in front of Buffy and handed her a note. "Can you do me a favour; tell your Gaelic speaking locals that if they mention the girl once more, they'll all be going home with a black eye."

"You and who's army?" One asked clearly.

"He doesn't need an army when he has me," Buffy said seriously. The men laughed as Buffy stood up off of the stool.

Spike looked at the barmaid, "She's not joking; she could take the four of them on herself and I could do it myself too."

The barmaid looked at her serious look in the girl's eye before turning and saying something in Gaelic.

"Sit back down pet," Spike said, "She's told them to behave."

Buffy glowered across before sitting back on the stool, exhaling.

"I never knew you spoke Gaelic?" she frowned.

"I don't. I understand it though," he shrugged. He looked pointedly at her sceptical face, "You think I could spend as much time with Peaches as I have without picking some up? I choose not to speak it."

Buffy smirked at his attitude, "Please don't tell Angel that."

"I will," he winked, "You'll have to pick it up, he'll be speaking a lot of it around these parts."

"I see you've met the barmaid?" Buffy teased.

"You never said you were staying in the cottage," the barmaid remarked intrigued.

"You never asked," he shrugged easily. "Buffy here has kindly offered me her sofa," he nodded at her.

"And what about Buffy's man?" the bar maid teased.

"He's a grumpy sod, but he oddly seems happy for me to stay at the moment," he looked deep in thought as he turned to Buffy.

"Obviously not scared that you'll work your charm on her?" she laughed lightly.

"Been there love, and I'm still convinced one day she'll come back," Spike said cockily, winking at a blushing Buffy.

"Spike," she warned him. "Don't go there."

"You know, if he doesn't please, I can easily take over," he said, smiling with a serious twinkle in his eye.

"Spike," Buffy said pointedly, "Don't go there."

They all turned to the door as it opened and Angel and Wesley walked in.

"What?" Angel asked Buffy, knowing that she was thinking something of importance.

"Nothing," she said gently, letting him sneak his arm around her waist and kiss her gently.

"God, give it a break!" Spike complained.

"Spike, what else did you expect?" Wesley asked a little exasperated. "It's the forbidden love un-forbidden," he pointed out.

"I know, but she'd be so much better with me," he half complained half joked.

"Sorry William, but it looks like she's made her choice," Angel smirked a little. Keeping his arm around his girlfriend he turned to the barmaid, ordering two drinks.

"Are we taking a seat?" Buffy asked, looking up at Angel.

"Sure," he nodded, allowing her to jump off of the chair as Wesley and Spike headed towards a table.

"So, what's up?" Buffy asked straight away, looking at Wesley and Angel.

"Dawn wishes to go to college to study law," Wesley said steadily. Buffy looked at him a little shocked. "I was looking for some advice from Angel on what he thinks I should do?"

"You asked Mr Run Away?" Buffy asked amazed.

Spike chuckled as Wesley smirked a little, "He actually suggested the opposite. I know Dawn deserves an education and opportunities, I just find the idea awkward when we have only been seeing one another for a couple of months. I know the student lifestyle and I have to admit I'm a little too old for it."

"Niblett's hardly a drunken yob though," Spike defended, "She's a lot older than most people her age."

"Where is she wanting to go? And law?" Buffy asked amazed.

"Galway," Wesley said. "So we're only speaking about a two hour drive."

"So you could see her at the weekends," Angel pointed out.

"It seems silly not to give it a chance," Buffy tried. "What does Dawn say?"

"She wishes for us to stay together, I'm just aware that there may be more obstacles than she expects."

"What do you want?" Buffy asked.

"I'm very fond of your sister," Wesley said steadily.

"What does that mean?" Buffy asked Angel.

"It means he's willing to give it a go pet. But he can't promise miracles," Spike explained.

The End

I'm working on a continuation of the story, set in the future, but it needs a bit of direction before it can go up.

Reviews are always good, including constructive ones.

Thanks