The two groups worked together for the next couple of hours, searching for the spells they would need.

While he methodically went through the bookcases in an effort to find all the possible tomes that could help them, Giles surreptitiously watched the interaction of those whom had never been a part of the core group surrounding the Slayer. He wasn't happy to note that not only did Joyce and Dawn seem to be studiously working but that Anya also appeared to be putting in a genuine effort. Tara was acting in a dual role, she was continuing to search but at the same time was making note of every spell and the book it could be found in that their group brought to her attention for future reference. Wesley had explained that he was setting up a cross referenced quick check data base so that they wouldn't need to waste so much time searching for spells if the need ever arose. Even Spike was participating and much to Giles' surprise, he was apparently multi-lingual.

Giles looked at his own group...well at least Willow appeared focused.

Buffy seemed to be alternating between a bored perusal of the same book that she had started with and her need to keep sending quick sideways glances at Spike, who was doing his best to let her think her actions were going unnoticed.

Xander, to all outside appearances, looked to be studying as diligently as Willow, however, Giles was fairly certain that the boy had a comic book hidden inside the tome he was holding, because as much as he himself may find a book titled Medieval Magic of the Celtic Regions fascinating, he doubted it would induce the stifled laughter that Xander was attempting to hide.

Giles sighed with long standing suffering then let his gaze drift back to where Joyce was having a quiet conversation with Wesley and narrowed his eyes in consternation. Was it really necessary that she sit quite so close to the little upstart?

When lunch time arrived, Joyce took Dawn with her to shop for sandwich making supplies and Giles breathed a sigh of relief that Wesley had chosen to remain.

Tara and Wesley moved into the training room with Willow to discuss the computer data base that Wesley wanted to set up.

When the doorbell tinkled only Giles, Buffy, Spike, Xander and Anya were in the main showroom.

"Ooh, what do we have here?" Spike said with a grin. "Where are the rest of the Knights that say ‘Ni'?"

Xander and Giles both shared a chuckle as they clearly understood the Monty Python reference then stared at Spike in surprise. Neither really sure how they were meant to behave with the vampire anymore and unused to him sharing his humour.

Buffy stared coldly at the knight that had entered the shop. "What do you want?"

The knight bowed deeply. "Greetings, Chosen. I am General Gregor, leader of the Knights of Byzantium. Our clerics have determined the defeat of the Beast, I humbly ask for the tale of this miracle?"

Buffy looked for Giles' approval then shared the events of the night before. Her interpretation of the events from her point of view convinced both Giles and Xander that the tiny slayer had developed a major size crush on the blond vampire. If it had of been possible Spike would have blushed deeply from her enthusiastic praise of his part in Glory's defeat.

The General stared in awe at the two super-beings. "You are the prophesized ones," he whispered before reverently dropping to one knee and bowing his head in veneration.

"Okay, seriously, don't do that, you'll give her an even bigger head," Dawn snarked as she entered the Magic Box and took in the scene. Joyce chuckled at the indignation on the face of her eldest.

Giles gently urged the knight to stand and join him, eager for what ever knowledge the man had in relation to the prophecy they were in the process of fulfilling.

Besides the scant information that they already possessed, the knight was able to confirm that the prophecy would not be completed until the two warriors mated. He also informed them of one more blessing that Spike would receive had he not already done so, religious icons would hold no power over him and neither would garlic.

The knight left soon after he made the comment in passing that now that the threat of the Beast and the Key had been removed the mission of the knights had been completed and they could leave and finally rest.

No one mentioned the fact that the Key was still very much among them.

As the afternoon progressed and no further progress in their search was made, Wesley suggested that a few of them return to his house and grab his books. Giles, Xander, Anya and Spike remained and the others headed off.

While Spike and Giles continued to search, Anya beckoned Xander into the training room. She was so confused. She knew Xander didn't really love her, or at least she thought she knew, but she had been so impressed with him when he had punched Angel. She could see that he was trying to accept Spike, trying to get over his long held demon hatred. She wanted to be with him so badly, but she was no longer willing to accept being relegated behind Buffy and Willow, and if Xander wasn't able to do that then it was over between them.

Xander watched in stunned silence as Anya walked away from him and out of the shop completely. He didn't know what to do. He loved her with everything in him but stood frozen in the place where she'd left him.

"Why are you still here, mate?" Spike asked his voice laced with gentle curiosity.

"Huh?" Xander replied, still in a daze.

"You've got something most people can only dream of. That woman loves you, and I know you love her, too. There is nothing more important in this world than love, Harris. I would walk barefoot over a bed of hot coals just for a crumb from the woman I love. You've got the whole bloody cake, mate. Your friend's will always be around for you, but if you don't pull your finger out of your arse, she won't be."

"I don't know how to convince her," the brunette whispered in anguish.

"You beg. You get down on bended knee and plead for her to give you a chance to make it right. You stop ignoring what she has to say and you start respectin' her. You can love your mates, but always remember who warms your bed, holds you while you sleep, in whose arms you wake. Always remember who comes first and make sure that every day for the rest of your life you let her know it."

Xander looked at the ‘man' talking to him, nodded his head in thanks and ran.

"That was perhaps the most insightfully romantic attitude I have ever had the pleasure of listening to," Giles announced as he looked in amazement at the being he had thought he knew fairly well. He had been wrong. "Would you join me? I would very much like to get to know the man you have become."

Spike chuckled lightly as he joined the watcher at the research table. "I'm never gonna understand you lot," he said with a shake of his head before his expression became hard. "I'm the same bloke I've always been, Watcher. It's just that you, the Slayer, Harris, and Red never took the time to get to know who was livin' in your bloody bath tub."

Giles had the grace to look ashamed. "You're right, of course. I look back on my behaviour in particular and I don't recognise myself. When did I become the sort of man that would, regardless of our past negative associations, treat a being who had come to us for sanctuary as a prisoner? Especially when the very reason for your re-entrance into our lives was because you had managed to escape from a tortuous concentration camp where you had already suffered at the hand of humans. The very fact that you showed the strength of character that was required to not only endure what they had done to you, but make the necessary changes and overcome the handicap, should have alerted me to your uniqueness. I truly was as blind as Willow suggested during her ill-conceived ‘Thy Will Be Done' spell and I owe you my sincerest apology."

Spike shrugged as yet uncertain and lacking in his usual confidence when dealing with anyone outside his ‘family'. "You tried to reach me."

"Do you mean when I approached you on the matter of redemption after you came to my aid when Ethan turned me into a Fyarl?"

Spike gave a sharp nod of agreement.

"Did what I said at the time resonate within you in any way?" Giles was curious and more than a little hopeful.

"I wasn't ready then. Truth be told, it took fallin' for the Slayer to really make me even think about tryin'," Spike told him honestly before locking his gaze with the watcher's and holding Giles bound with his intensity. "You gave up too soon, mate, might wanna consider not makin' the same mistake with Joyce."

"I beg your pardon," Giles spluttered in shock, not at all sure he was ready for this degree of sharing.

"Mind you, if you hurt the lady, I'll hold you down for the Slayer," Spike offered as if his companion had not spoken. He wiggled his eyebrows then smirked, extremely pleased with himself when the learned ex-curator of the British Museum managed to produce a very credible impersonation of a landed fish.