Authors note: Well it's certainly been a while since I updated on this story! I'm

                         sure everyone out there will understand as well as I the perils of

                         having a busy life and trying to write at the same time! Sometimes

                         you need to put a story away in order to stay true to it, however

                         I've finally been able to give in to Giles' nagging.

Apologies: I would just like to apologise for the mix up with Giles' eyes. The only

                   thing I can say for my defence is that I must have been caught up in

                   my fiancés own – rather lovely – sparkling blue eyes. That is the only

                   defence I can muster for such a poor slip. As for the smoking issue,

                   my thoughts on the matter went as so : - As Giles was such an

                   accomplished smoker when he was younger he would automatically

                   assume that he could slip back into the habit easily, obviously

                   forgetting that with any cigarette the first drag is the hardest to take.

                   However, as he had not smoked since being a teenager (Band Candy

                   non-withstanding) Giles did struggle with that first treacherous puff.

                   However, after that the habit returned to him as it often does in such

                   cases. Hope that helps me to explain myself!

The silence of a heart

It was quiet, a stillness hung over the cemetery like a child's blanket, shielding the dead from whatever horrors the living had to bring. Buffys footsteps seemed to echo, bouncing from one mossy tombstone to another. It was likely to be a quick patrol tonight, a few fledgling vampires and not much else. The slayer didn't find vampires to be much of a challenge anymore, her explanation was that a girl who had died twice didn't really see much need to be scared of death anymore. A small humourless smile graced Buffys face at that thought, as a slayer she didn't really have any more fears left to confront. Not of her own anyway. A rustling behind her stopped the blonde woman in her tracks for a moment, her hand instinctively increased its grip on the wooden stake in her hand for a moment, and then she relaxed.

"Spike." She stated, more to herself than the uncaring graves.

"Slayer." Spike strode up behind her, only stopping when he reached her shoulder. "Cold night tonight."

"What are you doing here Spike?" Buffy said resignedly, striding forward once again.

"A guy's allowed a night-time walk around his own cemetery." Spike easily matched the smaller woman's steps. "Anyway I wanted to inquire about that watcher of yours, see if he still had a headache." The vampire chuckled to himself.

"Go away Spike," Buffy sighed, feeling a sudden, unwelcome, tiredness wash over her.

"Why? I got as much right to walk here as you." Spike said indignantly, thrusting his hands deep into his pockets as he strode onwards.

"No, you haven't. I'm a slayer, you're a vampire, that means I pretty much get a good say in where you go." Buffy increased her speed again, knowing almost instantly that it was futile. Spike easily fell into step beside her.

"Where do you get off talking to me like that?" He demanded, an angry frown crossing his face. "I've been there for you, I've listened to you, when you couldn't tell anybody your secrets who did you come to? Me, that's who and now you think you can brush me off without a second thought. Well sorry slayer." He grabbed her arm, forcing the petite woman to turn and face him. "I don't do moping puppy dog quite as well as your whipped ex."

"What do you want Spike?" Buffy found it hard to muster up enough anger into her voice to make her sound sincere. She gave up, her eyes instantly became devoid of light, or warmth.

"Just to be treated as something more than a bloody pet." Spike stated, letting go of the slayers sleeve.

"Fine." Buffy walked on as soon as she was set loose. Spike walked alongside her in silence for a while.

"So what did you do to your watcher then?" The vampire inquired. "Not that I'm complaining mind, it's the one thing about pissed watchers, it's bloody good fun to watch!"

"What do you mean what did I do to him?" Buffy shot back.

"Come on, moping around, getting drunk," Spike raised an eyebrow at her "It's what blokes seem to do when you're around, or had you not noticed?"

"I don't have time for this Spike." Buffy strode on determinedly.

"See! There you go slayer, always with the put downs, those sarcastic little quips no wonder you can't find love."

"What would you know about love Spike?" Buffy said heatedly, "You don't know anything."

"I know more than you think." Spike retorted, Buffy snorted detrimentally, Spike gave her a defensive look." I do!" He stopped dead, Buffy carried on walking as Spike stared after her back. "I love you! Doesn't that count for anything." Buffy spun around and stared at the blonde vampire.

"You don't love me Spike, you don't know what love is." Buffy stated quietly.

"I know that I love you." Spike's speech became more controlled as he slowly walked towards the prone slayer. "And I bloody well wish I didn't 'cos things would be a hell of a lot simpler I tell you, I was happy before you came along and messed me up." Buffy couldn't remember when she had stopped walking, she just knew that she was standing still, watching the creature she thought she knew stealthily approach. "Now look at me, too much of a beast to be a man and not man enough to fight the beast. I'm nothing Buffy, I'm what you've made me – a pathetic tame pet for you to pick up and play with then toss aside." Buffy's heart quickened. The vampire was getting close, and he was a vampire – she suddenly realised with a shock – not harmless old Spike but a creature, a dangerous creature. "Well one of these days slayer, you're going to realise." His eyes burned into her. "Little girls shouldn't play with fire, they get burnt."

Buffy suddenly found herself being pulled towards the vampires torso, a low growl shook the air between them before he hungrily pressed his lips onto hers. Spikes hands gripped her sides hard enough to bruise, the pain shook her senses, she felt more alive than she had for weeks. Buffy returned the kiss just as ferociously, she felt as though she were burning with need. She needed lips, scratches down her body, bruises on her thigh, she needed him. A hand slid underneath the slayers top. It was cold, too cold, the lips on hers weren't burning into her as she imagined, they were freezing her, drawing her own warmth from her.

The slayer re-found her strength. Pulling back she put her hands under the vampires ribs and pushed. He stumbled backwards and stared at her from under his heavy, aroused lids. Before either of them knew what was happening Spike drew back his fist and swung it forward, striking the blonde woman across the cheek. Buffy gasped, more out of shock than pain. Her jaw hardened and she quickly spun on her heel, using her slayers speed to propel her towards the cemetery gate.

Spike stared after her, fright pulsated through his veins but he wouldn't show it. He said nothing.  

Giles pushed his broom wearily around the shop floor, not particularly caring if he got rid of dust or just moved it to another position within the shop. He had stayed late tonight, delaying his return to his home as much as he could. His back was aching dully through the haze of the alcohol he had gradually consumed throughout the day. Giles didn't care to dwell much on his drinking, preferring instead to count the delay between the one drink and the next. He wasn't quite sure when the amount he drank had crept up to the startling amount it now was but he didn't dwell on it much. He found another drink soon made that irritating voice in his head disappear.

As the watcher switched of the lights and slowly made to collect his coat he heard a faint noise in the distance. Any other man may well have ignored it but Rupert Giles found his senses instantly heightening and his brain calculating where the nearest weapon could be found. By the umpteenth knock on the head Giles had started to become a little cautious around strange noises.

Picking up a heavy orb Giles crept his way through the shop floor. The moon shone through a gap in the curtains framing a tall silhouette. Giles frowned gently to himself and slowly pulled the curtain across the door back. A pair of intelligent brown eyes smiled back at him. Blinking in shock the watcher fumbled with the chains

"Hello?" He asked uncertainly.

"Hi," The brunette woman smiled confidently, "I was in the shop earlier, remember? I bought an orb to rid me of an, erm…. Unwelcome guest."

"Yes, I remember." Giles coughed to himself, "How… how did that go?"

"Well, he took a little persuasion but it was worth it." Giles had barely noticed when the handsome woman had pushed herself into the threshold of the shop. "I mean, what else can you expect when your boyfriend gets turned into a Rali beast?" She smiled again at him, showing pearly white teeth that gleamed in the moonlight.

"R…Rali beast?" Giles stuttered, barely registering just how much of a fool he sounded. The woman was approaching him now, growing ever more close. Giles licked his dry lips and wondered when women had become so forward as to approach a lone man with such a feral look in their eyes. Such big eyes, Giles felt as though he drowning in their bottomless entity. He could feel the soft caress of the brunette's breath on him.

"So anyway," The woman's eyes were now locked on his lips with an obvious intent of devouring them. "I was thinking that maybe we should get to know one another, go out to dinner maybe, or just stay here, whichever."

As Giles gulped he dimly registered what sounded like a fire alarm clanging in the back of his head, but for the moment he ignored it. The bell became louder and more insistent as the woman approached nearer and nearer, despite the man's attempt to dislodge it. By the time one soft hand had appeared out of no-where to caress his shoulder it sounded more and more like the frantic chimes of Big Ben rattling his senses.

"Look, I'm terribly sorry Miss…" Giles began with all the best intent in the world, before he was suddenly silenced by a pair of full, soft lips pressing onto his own rather dry offerings. The watchers senses dizzied as his hands and lips suddenly grew a mind completely of their own. The council part of his mind sat back and watched in interest as a hand, seemingly independently, wandered up the brunettes back to caress her hair. As he felt it's silky softness run through his fingers Giles sighed slightly and opened his eyes.

The soft waves of silk were ash in his hand, Giles' eyes widened in horror as grey dust trickled through his fingers from the prone, dead body in front of him.

Giles gasped and pulled away.

"Mr Giles?" The attractive woman was staring at him, worry marring her pretty eyes. "What's wrong."

Giles frowned, he could have sworn…. The woman's thick hair gleamed mockingly in the dim light at him. Big Ben was growing more and more insistent in his mind.

"I'm sorry." Giles spluttered," He stared at the woman in shock. "It's not right, you're not… I mean I can't…" He trailed off helplessly. "I think you should leave." He finished off lamely.

The woman pouted and turned towards the door.

"Ok Mr Giles." She called over her shoulder. "But it's your loss."

Giles watched, dumbfound, as the brunette walked briskly out of his life. Just as she left his view he dimly registered that performing the right of agustis was well known for leaving one in a heightened sexual state. Big Ben stopped chiming with a sigh of relief.

The suddenly aged man deflated. He didn't know what had caused him to react in such a way. When the woman had begun to kiss him he'd suddenly thought that he was betraying Buffy, betraying her memory.

Rupert Giles didn't need much in this life, but right now he needed another drink.

Until next time mes amis.