see part one for disclaimers
sorry it took so long STOP been working on the other parts of the page STOP have buckled down now STOP hopefully have part 6 soon STOP
“So, Giles, your dad said something about Watcher Initiation to me. Did he say anything to you?” Willow was in the sitting area of Giles’ suite, calling in to him as he changed out of his dinner clothes. He had the door to his bedrrom closed, and she could barely hear his reply, muffled as it was by 2 inches of antique oak.
Giles winced. He knew that Watcher Initiation would come up eventually, but he had been sure that it would come after he and Willow had been fully training for at least a year. He’d hoped that he wouldn’t be her initiator. Or had he?
Watcher Initiation was a series of complex rituals that awakened more fully the potential in a human being to withstand both physical and psychic trauma. It also tended to speed along the development of supernatural powers, such as spellcasting, true divining, and conjuring. The ritual itself wasn’t frightening, per se, but it required in some instances the initator and the Watcher-to-be to be as close to one another as possible. As intimately close to one another as possible.
The Watcher groaned. He’d just have to explain to his father that there was absolutely no way he could initiate the girl. Absolutely no way!! He could not in good concience make love to Willow under those circumstances...though he had been initiated himself by his mentor, Marcus. And that had been a bit unpleasant.
“Actually,” he called in reply to the girl, “he did.” He dragged his undershirt off over his head and rummaged in his luggage for something more comfortable.
Willow knocked on the door. “May I come in?”
He quickly pulled a cotton t-shirt on and answered. “Come on in, then.”
She opened the door and peeked inside. “You decent?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” She hadn’t changed out of her dinner attire yet, and the apple-green dress seemed to hum in the low light of the bedroom. She inhaled deeply, trying to imprint the scent in her brain. Giles always smelled of old books, dust, and leather, but tonight he had some musky cedar cologne on that seemed to totally complement him. Willow smiled and said. “I think that this is the first time you and I have been totally alone together. Weird. Buffy would say something witty, you know.”
“Well, neither you nor I possess the same kind of...ah...charm...that she does.” Giles said wryly.
Willow grinned and added, “And neither of us has our mind in the gutter all the time.”
“Well, it is common for a Slayer to have a highly active...appetite for....ah...”
“You can say it, Giles,” Willow interjected. “She’s got an overactive sex drive. It’s probably part of having superhuman strength and stamina. Wow, superhuman stamina. She could probably go for hours...”she realized what she was saying just as she noticed the twinkle beginning to form in his eye.
“I’ll shut up now.”
Giles reached for another oxford shirt. Pulling it on, he smiled at the blushing redhead. “It is rather reassuring to spend time with someone whose mind isn’t always on matters of the loins.”
“Why are you putting on another shirt? Isn’t one enough?” Willow asked as he began to do up his buttons.
“If you hadn’t noticed, Miss Rosenberg, it’s freezing in here!” he replied.
“Wait,” said Willow, switching gears, “Do Watchers have above average strength and stamina and stuff like that?”
“Some do.” he answered absently.
“Especially those who Watch Slayers?” she continued.
“Yes, usually.”
“And they tend toward overactive sex drives?”
“Uh-huh -- What?!”
“You heard me. I knew it! You and Buffy! No wonder you two have been doing so much “training” together!” Willow smirked gleefully and clapped her hands. “Don’t worry, Giles, your secret is safe with me!”
Giles’ expression was that of a doe caught in headlights. “Wha? Me and Buffy?”
“No, you and Xander!”
Giles snapped out of it immediately. “You’ve misinterpreted, Willow.”
“Have I?” she said. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.”
“Of course I have. Two people can’t spend so much time together without some kind of imagining going on.” he sighed. “But it’s forbidden.”
“You’re kidding.” Willow said. “She could potentially hurt someone with her strength! Imagine! Snapping some poor guy’s head off one night!” she collapsed on the floor in a fit of giggles.
Giles himself had to laugh at that. “Let’s go into the sitting room.” he said after a few moments.
Willow sat on the sofa as Giles turned on the gas fireplace, and then sat down. They both settled in with glasses of warm mulled cider, and began to talk.
“Let’s talk about initiation.” Willow said. “And why you don’t want to initiate me.”
Giles blinked in surprise. “How--how did you know that?”
Willow tapped a finger to her temple. “Perceptive. What’s up? Are we going to be naked or something? Don’t try to tell me you’ve never seen a naked girl before.”
“Yes, we will be naked. And don’t you,” he said, tweaking her nose,”try to tell me you’ve seen a nude man before. I’m not sure I want it to be me.”
Willow blanched. “I was kidding about the naked. No one told me naked.”
“It’s true. Strangely enough, it’s a way to establish trust between the Watcher and the initiate. It establishes closeness. Believe me.” Giles fidgeted with his glasses. “What do you think of Rosehaven?”
“Don’t try to change the subject on me, Giles.” Willow said sternly. “I’ve had enough wine to make me honest with you for once, and here it is:” she moved closer with each word, finally coming nose to nose with her mentor, and said in a low, tremulous voice, “ I don’t care what is involved in the initiation! I want to be a Watcher. I know that my descendents forever are going to be Watchers too, and I don’t care! I’ve seen what you do, I know the risks, and I’m ready for it! So whatever it is, will you just tell me! It can’t be that bad!”
“It can.” He said, looking down to avoid her eyes, “It is that bad.”
“Then spill it...we’ll figure something out together. We’ve figured out ancient prophecies and internet demons toegether, haven’t we?” She put her arms around him and hugged him gently.
“Can I ask you a question, then?” he said.
“Is it going to be on topic?” she replied.
He nodded, and she gestured for him to ask. “Would you, under any normal circumstances, consent to...that is...would you be acclimated to, um...would you be inclined to, that is....”