* * *
Xander looked at Giles and cleared his throat. "When did Spike
become one of Buffy’s girlfriends?"
Giles sighed, turning his attention back to the young man. "I
don’t know, Xander. I’m not sure it’s entirely safe, either,
but
we both know how far my advice on such things goes with Buffy."
The door opened and Drusilla floated in, her long white dress
swishing along the stone floor as she whispered to the doll in
her arms. "Miss Edith tells me you are in need of guidance,
Rupert." Her dark eyes danced as she draped herself on the bed,
looking up at the two men.
"Giles, what in the name of all that’s holy is she doing in
here?" Xander asked incredulously.
"Well, I-she’s --" he sputtered.
"The moaning ones have asked me to help him. He was looking for
my Angel, but his head was full of the Slayer, and that made
Rupert burn like the sun inside. Now I get to turn the words for
him so he can help us go home. So Daddy will come back," she
trailed off, her eyes straying to a point just above their
heads. She seemed to be listening to something.
Giles, who had grown quite used to her insane ramblings at this
point, turned back to Xander. "She’s helping me translate the
prophecy papaers. Amazingly, she speaks a multitude of languages
fluently, having learned them, despite her insanity, during
travels with Spike and Angel."
"Okay, mega creepy that you’re macking on the whacko. But all
things considered -- with Spike painting Buffy’s toenails, she
has to have someone to ramble to. Where’s Angel in all this?"
"I haven’t seen him much. Drusilla seems to think he’s obsessing
over Buffy, but for some reason, he rarely approaches her."
"It’s kinda hard for him to spend time with her lately. What
with babysitting Drusilla, and Buffy disappearing with Spike to
puzzle rooms, neither of them have been very available. Oh!"
Xander exclaimed, remembering what he’d wanted to tell the
Watcher. "The other night, a ghost came into mine and Cordy’s
room. It said -- it said something about the Slayer and the
vampire must join as two. Like Cordy and I were." He realized
what he’d just said, and blushed furiously.
Drusilla jumped up and clapped her hands. "Uh-oh! Naughty Slayer
isn’t getting her toenails painted. Rustle, rustle, smack," she
said gleefully. Her eyes darkened, and she screamed. "It’s not
-- Oh, my Angel. The dark wants to blendd with the light, and the
spirits are singing with joy. Now there are two, and I’m alone
in the darkness," she sobbed.
"O-Okay. Well, on that note, I would normally leave," Xander
said, watching Giles escort the vampiress back to the bed and
hand her Miss Edith. "But I’m wondering if you think I should
tell the Buffster and her pet vamp about this."
"No, I don’t think you should tell Buffy and Spike just yet,"
Giles answered distractedly, trying to remember what he’d said
when he’d ordered Drusilla a cup of blood tea the other day.
"Um, G-man? Buffy and SPIKE? I think you meant to say Buffy and
Brood Boy, right?"
Giles’ looked at him in befuddlement, then shook his head. "Of
course I did. Did I say Spike? How very strange," he murmured.
Drusilla sat up and looked at the Watcher. "Poor man. The
ghosties are whispering to you now, too. I think I’d like a
cuppa tea again," she said, talking to the empty air in front if
her. And like that, a small tea cup with reddish tinted tea
appeared in her hands.
Giles smiled at her almost fondly, and went back to his books.
"Is that all, Xander?"
The dark haired teen looked at him uncertainly, then nodded.
"Yeah. I guess so. Tell no one; take a hike. Got it," he
grumbled, leaving quickly. **Maybe Cordy’s right. Maybe I AM
imagining things. Still, gotta wonder what the loon meant about
Buffy not getting her toes painted and being naughty.** he
thought.