Chapter 3

"Can you let Spike know I'll be there as soon as I've finished work? I don't really want to go back in there, but I like my job." Anya fidgeted uncomfortably. She hated the idea that she just might be placing herself in front of a firing squad, but at the same time she was relieved to have finally called them on their ignorance. It was something she'd wanted to do for a long time.

"No, don't feel guilty about that, dear. Your job is important. We'll be sure to tell Spike," Joyce assured her with a smile.

"Spike's going to need some time anyway, Anya. We need to replace all the blood he's lost. He should be much better by the time you arrive." Tara added. With a quick jut of her chin towards the shop, the blond asked a question, "Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine," she replied with an abrupt nod and a brief smile. Saying a quick goodbye, Anya turned and re-entered the Magic Box.

Joyce and Tara moved to return to Wesley's with only one stop on the way, the butchers. Spike's weakened condition was foremost in their minds, but both wondering what they'd left the other girl to face.

The tinkle of the bell above the door heralded Anya's return and the flustered group watched her in silence, unsure of how to approach her as she quietly worked at the counter, completely ignoring them all.

Giles cleared his throat in am attempt to gain her attention. When that didn't work, he made an attempt to broach the subject on all their minds. "Er, I think we need to discuss all that was just said, Anya," he ventured hesitantly.

Anya replied without even looking at him. "I won't even begin to discuss it while that bigoted bully is here, Giles." Whirling on the unsuspecting slayer she continued. "Why is he still here, Buffy? You don't love him. Your self esteem can't possibly be so low that you'd still want him around after he cheated on you. He's not going to change, you know. He's always going to be jealous that he's not as strong as you, that he's not the boss, not the slayer."

"And he's right here," Riley spat out furiously.

Turning cold, hard eyes towards the blustering ex-commando, Anya responded with a chilling smile. "I still have contacts in the vengeance world, Riley. Would you like me to find out how quickly I can change that?"

With the sinking feeling that everything was quickly spiralling out of his control, Riley focused on Buffy and blurted out the only thing he could think of. "The army wants me back."

Mistaking the reason behind Buffy's look of wide eyed shock as fear of losing him, rather than shock at his complete lack of a clue, the ex-soldier continued. "If you can't commit to me, I'll be leaving at midnight tonight."

Buffy's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe him. Images and thoughts flashed through her mind at a frightening pace, fuelling her anger until an icy calm settled over her.

"Riley, I owe you an apology."

He let out a relieved breath of air and waited for her to continue.

"I thought I could forgive you for sleeping with Faith, but apparently not. The only thing I can think about right now is that this is the second time you've cheated on me. Not to mention the danger you put us all in by cheating on me with vamp ho's. Nobody, but nobody, risks my family, Riley."

With quiet dignity and unflinching determination, she met his confused gaze. "Good bye, Riley. Have a safe trip."

Riley crossed his arms and gave a bitter little laugh. "Oh this is rich! Just like always, put the blame on someone else. I slept with you, and I only have your word for it that you weren't there at the time. How convenient. Just like now; you push me away, treat me like I'm not important to you, like you don't need me, and then wonder why I turn to someone who does need me? You're a real piece of work, Buffy."

Giles took one look at the guilty expression on the face of the daughter of his heart and let Ripper out. The group gasped as the normally mild-mannered Englishman's pale blue eyes turned black and flashed with fire. Electricity sparked at his fingertips.

"HOW DARE YOU!" the angry sorcerer hissed. "Buffy is not now and has never been to blame for your faults, Agent Finn. The only thing she can be faulted for is continuing to see you after she discovered you were a part of that vile Nazi internment camp. You may have fooled the rest, but you never fooled me, you self-righteous little prick. You are a small-minded bigot whose hatred is fuelled by your jealousy and lust for power. You have never witnessed a fraction of this Slayer's power, as she has been too busy catering to your ego, yet you treat her as if her calling was something to be ashamed of. You have the hypocrisy to call the being you paid to feed from you a person, but insist on calling a being that aids us a thing. I agree with Tara; you disgust me. At this point, I believe that Spike is a better individual than you. In fact, I would prefer Buffy date him than have anything further to do with you at all."

"Finally," a delighted Anya broke in.

"Get. Out. Riley," the Slayer snarled. She waited till the dejected brunette left before turning on her Watcher. "Don't even joke about dating Spike, Giles. So not of the funny."

"Don't worry about it Buffy, as soon as Spike is returned to his rightful state as an Angel, you won't be worthy of him, so it's not as if it's a real problem," Anya offered with calculated innocence, knowing full well that her vampire friend wouldn't stop loving the Slayer just because he gained his soul and wings, but maybe a little matchmaking wouldn't go astray.

"What do you mean I wouldn't be worthy?" Buffy asked indignantly.

"Angels are compassionate beings who love purely, Buffy. When have you ever shown compassion to Spike?" Anya replied with a nonchalant shrug.

"He's a vampire, Ahn, he wouldn't understand compassion," Xander addressed his girlfriend as if he were speaking to a small child.

"He's been true to his nature," she snapped. "You all need to take a long look at yourselves and ask if you've been true to yours. If you have, I feel sorry for you." With that parting shot, Anya made her way down to the basement, shaking with anger.

It was going to be long afternoon.