Allison helped pull Carolee up from the floor and enveloped her in a huge hug. Buffy smiled at them, and grabbed Willow’s hand and gave it a slight squeeze. Willow, surprised, turned to Buffy, and then returned her smile. In that moment, all the wounds from the past were healed. Friendship and love was all that mattered.

Giles took a step back from the group. He was relieved more than he could ever say that Carolee was back and she was safe. He planned on keeping it that way. He quietly made his way out of the room to find the others. It was time to go back to Whispering Pines.

It didn’t take long to gather everyone up. They were all ready to get out of this gloomy place. Many hugs went around to celebrate Carolee’s safe return, but she didn’t fail to notice that Giles was not among them. She tried to catch his eye, but he wouldn’t look at her. It was obvious he was trying to put as much distance between the two of them as possible. The pain that lanced through Carolee’s heart then caused her to gasp. It became hard for her to breathe, but she tried to not show her pain as Xander wrapped her in a big hug. “Good to have you back. Now, can we just get out of here?”

As they were piling into the Suburban Lorne ran up, holding his hat down firmly on his head. “Hey, that must be the missing link. Glad to have you back, sugar pie.” He winked at Carolee. She gazed upon his green skin with amazement, then nodded and almost bumped her head as Dawn shoved her into the car.

“Oh, so you are all heading back to Whispering Pines then?”

“Yes, but you are welcome to join us there if you’d like? Or do you need to return to LA?” Giles asked the green demon.

Lorne frowned, wary of his conversation with Cordelia. He glanced at Willow and Buffy. They were giggling about something as they climbed into the van. He had to tell at least Willow about the Allisonbot. “I’ll follow you in my car.” He turned to climb into the black Dodge Viper that Angel had lent him. Giles glanced at the Suburban, noticing the empty seat next to Carolee. He didn’t look into her hopeful gaze. Instead, he nodded at Xander, throwing him the keys. “I’ll go with you, Lorne.” He climbed into the Viper with a surprised Lorne.

Carolee was crushed, but she just turned her gaze out the window, looking out at the darkening skies. She wondered why it wasn’t raining. Rain would fit her mood. Allison scooted over to sit closer to her friend. She didn’t know what exactly was going on, but whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Spike climbed into the passenger seat, much to Xander’s chagrin. Spike grinned and winked at him, and then turned the radio up as they headed back home to Whispering Pines, singing along loudly and off tune to The Ramones.

It was very late when they returned home. All of them immediately went to bed and asleep. Carolee was exhausted, but she didn’t sleep well that night. She tossed and turned. She kept replaying everything that had happened between her and Giles since they met. Did she do something wrong? Was it something she said while in the other dimension? Was it that kiss? She had thought everything was so perfect. She thought he had really cared for her. Obviously, she had been wrong. Tears ran down her face as she finally fell into a fitful sleep.

She woke up pretty early the next morning, and slipped out of the room to head to the backyard to train. Carolee started with her stretches, and then went into her kicking techniques. Finally she did her first, second, and third Poomses. She kept glancing to the porch hoping to see Giles.

He never came.

Breakfast was a loud affair. Buffy and Willow and Xander joked around just like old times. Spike enthralled Allison and Dawn with stories from his past, and Lorne entertained them all with a song now and then. He still hadn’t had time to talk to Willow. He promised himself that he would the first chance he got.

Carolee sat and ate quietly, occasionally glancing Giles way. But he never looked at her. He hid behind a newspaper, occasionally grunting at something the kids said. He was the first to leave, throwing down his paper and making some excuse about needing to research. He went into his den and did not return.

Allison and Carolee wondered when they would be shipped back home. Now that the apocalypse was averted, they didn’t see that they had any need to be there. But neither of them wanted to leave, so they didn’t mention it. Surprisingly, neither did anyone else.

As after most battles, Buffy and the gang were in the mood to do something as a group. They rented movies and ordered pizza and everyone was forced to watch, including Carolee and Allison. They were thrilled. They laughed and laughed at the movies Xander had picked out. It was a comedy marathon, and Carolee was happy that “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” had made the cut. That was one of her all time favorite funny movies. She never noticed Giles peek his head out of his den to listen to her laughter. He smiled behind his books. Buffy caught him, and gave him a wink. He sobered immediately, nodded at her, and then closed the door to resume his research in silence. What he was researching he couldn’t quite say. He just needed to be alone right now.

After the movie marathon, Carolee felt the need to get out. She went to her room and grabbed a sweater. As she exited the bedroom, Allison caught her in the hall. “Where are you going?”

“Just for a walk. I need some air.”

“Can I join you?” Allison was worried about her friend.

“Sure.” Carolee waited as Allison went in the room to grab her own light jacket, and then the two went outside through the back.

Buffy noticed the two girls leaving, and glanced outside. The sun was beginning to set. She grabbed some stakes and her jacket, and then poked her head into Giles’s den.

“Giles, join me on patrol?”

Her Watcher looked up from his book and nodded. “Certainly.” It was rare when Buffy asked him to come with her while she patrolled, so he took the opportunity whenever it was offered.

With Buffy and Giles out and about, and Carolee and Allison absent as well, Lorne decided his opportunity had come. “Willow, can I talk to you about something?” The red head smiled at him as she gathered the dishes and headed towards the kitchen. “Sure, but you get drying duty. I’ll wash.” She filled the sink with soap and listened intently as Lorne told his tail.

Xander ran into the kitchen when he heard breaking glass. “Everything okay in here?” Willow was standing in front of the sink, a broken glass on the floor between her and Lorne, and a look of horror on her face. She turned towards Xander. “No, things are definitely not okay.”

* * *

Buffy and Giles walked towards the nearest cemetery in silence. Every once in awhile Buffy would glance his way, but he didn’t notice. He was lost in his own thoughts.

“So, why such aloofness lately, Giles?”

“Hmmm? What do you mean?”

Buffy smiled at him. “You, basically the smartest man on the planet, don’t know what I mean? Come on, Giles. It’s pretty obvious you’ve been avoiding Carolee at every opportunity. And it’s just as obvious by the looks she gives you that she adores you, and I think you feel similarly about her. So why the avoidance game?”

“It’s not a game,” he snorted. “I’m just…protecting her.”

Buffy quirked her eyebrow at him. “Protecting her? Or yourself?”

Giles stopped walking and leaned against a tombstone. He tore off his glasses to polish them as was his habit. Buffy waited patiently for him to answer. He replaced his glasses and looked up at her. The pain in his eyes was evident, and she took a step closer to him. “Giles?”

He looked past her and into the dark night. They were not often open with each other. It was difficult for him to share his feelings, especially lately. But if he did, perhaps it would lift the heaviness that now surrounded his heart.

He inhaled deeply and sighed. “Buffy, you know more than anyone how dangerous our lives are. I think it best I keep her at arm’s length. I cared for Jenny, and…she was killed because she became close to me. I can’t let that happen again.”

Buffy came and stood beside him. He scooted over so she could share the tombstone, sitting beside him on it’s base. She was quiet for a moment as she gathered her thoughts. “Jenny was not your fault, Giles. If it was anyone’s, besides Angels, of course, it was mine. But, that’s the past. It doesn’t do us any good to bring up that stuff. What does matter is what you said about our lives being dangerous. That’s true. And I’ve learned something throughout everything we’ve gone through, and that’s that life is precious, and we need to take the happiness when we can get it. I know that Xander regrets every day that he didn’t marry Anya. She died, and he lost her, without ever committing to that relationship. I also learned something else this past year. Giles, I would never have survived as long as I have, if not for you and my friends. It’s because of you all, my family, that I fight, and that I win, and that I keep going on. You once told me that without passion life wasn’t life. It’s obvious Carolee cares for you, like I said. And if you feel the same way, and I think you do, then you should grab onto that with both arms and never let go.”

Giles swallowed the lump in his throat and peered at Buffy from the corner of his eye. “Throw my words back at me now, will you?” She smiled at him. “You bet.”

He ran his fingers through his hair and said, “I don’t know what she sees in me.”

Buffy held out her fingers to count off his various attributes. “Handsome, loyal, selfless, strong, intelligent, sarcastic wit, sexy accent, a dark side…girls always like bad boys you know, pretty good dresser, and one of the truest souls I’ve ever known.” She held up her ten fingers. “I could go on, but I’d have to take my shoes off.”

“That’s quite alright.” He grinned at her, touched by her words.

She placed a hand on his arm. “Giles, seriously, I know you don’t know each other that well, but I think you should give it a chance. I care about you, and I don’t want you to be lonely anymore. She knows a lot about you because of the show, and you know a lot more about her than she knows because of the research we all did before that latest apocalypse. This could be your chance at happiness, and I think you should seize it.”

“Seize the day and all that?”

Buffy stood up to resume patrol. “Yup. Just remember though, you will always be my Watcher.”

“Indeed.” His grin broadened.

“Just give her lots of smoochies, and I’m sure she won’t mind.”

He blushed at that, and was almost thankful when a Borka demon fell out of a tree and attacked them. He was in the mood for a good fight.

Meanwhile, across the street, Carolee and Allison had their own conversation.

“Are you okay?”

Carolee shrugged, her arms crossed tensely in front of her chest as they walked down the sidewalk. Her head was bent so that Allison couldn’t see the sadness on her face.

“You’d think I’d be used to men going hot and cold on my by now. That’s basically been the story of my life.” Carolee hated to wallow, but this was her best friend, and she was hurting. Allison would understand that.

“Oh, Carolee.“ Allison’s heart broke for her friend. She didn’t really understand what was going on with Giles. He had seemed so desperate to find Carolee when she was gone. He really had seemed to care. Even Allison couldn’t help but see the way he would look at her covertly once in awhile. Now he was being so distant. She didn’t understand it either. It made her angry. How dare Giles hurt Carolee like this.

Carolee shrugged off her friend’s concern. She uncrossed her arms and shoved her hands into her jean pockets and took a more determined stride down the pavement. The wind began to pick up, blowing leaves among their footsteps. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t know why I’m so surprised. Some people are meant to find love, and others aren’t. I’m in the latter category. I’m meant to be alone. That’s the plan. I don’t understand it, but that’s the plan. I just need to get used to it.”

Allison had no words for her friend. Right now, she just wanted to be there for her, by her side, giving what little comfort that she could. But as they walked deeper into the night, Allison began to get more angry. Finally she stopped walking, causing Carolee to pause and look back at her. “What?”

She glared at Carolee. “That’s just dumb, and I think you know it. Of course you are not meant to be alone. No one is. I think you just wait around too much for things to happen. You need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and act. You like Giles. I think it was pretty obvious he liked you. Now he’s being a stupid man and you need to quit pouting and do something about it. You need to ask him what the heck is going on in his head right now, and tell him how you feel. I mean, really, what do you have to lose?”

Carolee looked sharply at Allison and frowned. Then she looked down at her feet, smiled, and then began to laugh. Allison’s frown slowly turned up into a small impish smile. “What is so funny?”

Carolee was bent at the waist, roaring in laughter. Allison placed her hands on her hips, her smile widening with surprise and confusion. “What?”

Finally, in between gasping breaths, Carolee straightened up and answered her. “You are so cute when you get angry, you know that? I’ve never seen you so mad before. Well, except that one time when you tried to yell at your kids when I was over for a visit.”

Allison grinned. “Yes, and if I remember correctly, you laughed at me then too.”

“Well, it’s just that you think you are yelling, but you aren’t, and it’s just so cute. I can’t help it.”

They giggled together as they crossed the street and entered the Whispering Pines cemetery, looping their arms around each other. Allison and Carolee had a special friendship. They always knew how to cheer the other one up, and laughter was the best medicine for anything that ails you.

“I am right, you know.” Allison glanced at her.

The giggles had surpassed, but Carolee’s mood was definitely improved. “Yes, I know you are. I guess I’m just afraid of rejection. But, like you said, I really don’t have much to lose.”

“Oh yes you do. Your lives.” The vampire jumped out from behind a crypt, an evil grin on his face. Carolee and Allison jumped in surprise, and then started to giggle again. The vampire, his hands up, his dirty fingernails waving in their faces, frowned. “What’s so funny?” He was expecting them to run for their lives. Instead, they stood there and giggled at him.

“Check out that get up.” Carolee pointed at the vampire’s attire. The vampire looked down at his red and white poke a dotted shirt, and white Levi jeans, complete with black cape.

“The black cape is so unreal.” Allison snickered with agreement.

“Can you imagine Spike in that outfit? He’d be outraged!” Carolee said, causing them both to fall into another fit of hysterical giggles. The vampire dropped his hands, stared at the two of them, and glared. “Prepare to die.” He shouted. They laughed harder. He was just poised to attack when Buffy and Giles ran up behind the girls.

Giles was relieved to see they were fine, but was quite confused as to their amusement. He glanced at Buffy and raised his eyebrows. Buffy shrugged and leaned in to ask Allison what was so funny. “Girls? You know that’s an evil vampire don’t you? Why the giggles?”

“But Buffy, look at his clothes? That cape? Can you picture Spike in that?” Buffy looked closely at the vampire for the first time, and also busted out laughing. “Spike would rather be dusted than wear that!”

“We know. Hence the laughter.” Carolee had sobered a bit at Giles’s presence. Buffy and Allison stood between him and her, but her heart was pounding being even that close to him. She couldn’t see that he was looking her way fondly. He was proud and amazed that she nor Allison showed any fear. Perhaps Buffy was right. If anyone could understand his life and his calling, it was Carolee. And with continued training, he could be more confident that Carolee could take care of herself, and he wouldn’t have to worry so much about causing her to be in constant danger.

Who was he kidding. He constantly worried about the ones he loved, and Carolee would be no exception. He smiled slightly as he glanced at the vampire. No, Carolee would be no exception, and that was okay.

“Um, Buffy, don’t you think you should do something?” He nudged his Slayer.

“I don’t know. He looks kind of harmless, and he’s definitely watched too many horror movies.”

The vampire opened his mouth to protest, and then immediately turned to dust. Startled, the group was amazed to see a Chinese man appear in the cloud of dust, holding the stake he had plunged into the vampire’s back. He looked a bit startled by the dust, and then his eyes moved up to meet the glances of the group.

“Howard?” Allison gasped to see her husband standing there.