“Riley's invited me on a picnic,” Buffy revealed to Willow. They were strolling through a graveyard, combining girl talk with culling the vampire population. She went into some further detail about Riley, and the prospective picnic, and then moved on to talking about her recent trip to LA to see Angel. It had gone well at first; then, after an interruption by a quickly-slain demon, Angel had become morose, and the visit had degenerated into Buffy moaning at Angel about the way he had avoided her during his visit to Sunnydale, and Angel sulking. “It just brought back to me all the pain,” Buffy revealed. “But I can't help thinking - isn't that where the fire comes from? Can a nice, safe relationship be that intense? I know it's nuts, but part of me believes that real love and passion have to go hand in hand with pain and fighting.”
A vampire leaped out at her, and Buffy staked him without breaking stride. “I wonder where I get that from?” she mused.
“I wonder,” Willow agreed, glancing at the vampire's settling dust. “So you think Riley is maybe a bit too, well, safe?”
“Maybe,” Buffy agreed. “Enough about me, Will. How are you dealing?” She knew Oz had just sent for his things, and it seemed definite that he wasn't going to be returning to Sunnydale. She expected Willow to be upset about it, and was prepared to be called upon to comfort her friend.
“Oh, things are going great.” Willow gave a wicked little grin. “I'm planning on putting a major move on Spike next chance I get.”
“On Spike?” Buffy repeated, disconcerted. It wasn't what she had expected to hear at all. “Willow, are you sure about this?”
“What's wrong with it? Don't you think he likes me?” Willow asked, sounding hurt. “You don't think I'm attractive enough for him?”
“No, no, not that at all,” Buffy hastened to reassure her friend. “It's just, he is a vampire, remember. Are you sure it's a good idea?”
“Maybe not, but - carpe diem. I miss sex, you know. I kinda got used to boinking. I get this feeling about Spike that it could be really good. He's got that trim body, and that neat butt, and the muscles, and I think he's kinda big, know what I mean?”
“Willow!” Buffy exclaimed, shocked, and her friend laughed.
“Yes, you do know. And he does like me, and we've got so much in common. I was such a fool at the Frat party. He was wanting to be with me, and I just wanted to be mopey girl, and I kept turning him away. And he ended up with that Julie all over him, which is why I went back to the room.”
“And you told Harmony you were just friends,” Buffy reminded her. “She'll kill you.”
“What's she going to do, have a really bad headache at me?” sniffed Willow. “Her thinking me and Spike were doing it is what really started me thinking I could get somewhere with him. He's made it clear to her that it's all over. I don't see why I shouldn't make my play. Seize the day.”
“I just hope you don't get hurt, is all, Will.”
“Spike would never hurt me,” Willow said confidently.
“You're probably right,” Buffy admitted. “At least not on purpose.” She staked another vampire. “Come on, let's call it a night.”
“This situation is hardly ideal. In fact it is becoming downright unsatisfactory.” Giles looked at his unwelcome houseguest, and sighed.
“I'm sorry, Mr. Giles,” Harmony gave him a winning smile. “I'm doing my best to keep out of your way. If you could just let me have a little TV for my room I'd be even less bother to you. And a set of headphones for my CD player, then you wouldn't hear my music. I really don't want to be any trouble.”
“I accept that you are trying,” Giles said. He glanced at his more welcome visitors. Spike's grin told him that the English vampire had caught Giles' double meaning. “It's just that - well, I'm a crotchety old bachelor, and you're an attractive young woman, and it's just inappropriate for you to be staying here. And you used my razor on your legs.”
“Well, I won't need to do them again for another month,” Harmony pointed out. “It grows really slowly now I'm a vampire. I didn't bring my own, sorry.”
“If you hadn't filled your suitcase with unicorns you could have brought your own razor,” Giles complained. “You keep leaving various undergarments on the bathroom floor. You leave mugs encrusted with dried blood all over the house. And your habit of adding sugar to pig's blood turns my stomach.”
“But I don't like pig's blood. I don't like beef blood. You won't get me any human blood,” Harmony whined. “Isn't there anything else I could try? What about cat? I think I might like eating pussy.”
Spike, Buffy, and Willow all fought desperately to keep their faces straight. Giles heaved another sigh. “And your constant sexual innuendo has become very wearing. I'm not sure how long I can take this.”
“I really am sorry, Mr. Giles. I'll do better, I will. I'll wash all my mugs right this minute, watch me.” Harmony put on her most innocent expression and began collecting up the dirty crockery.
“You're lucky in a way, mate,” Spike told Giles. “I like mixing my breakfast blood with Weetabix. Gives it texture. Doubt if you'd appreciate seeing that in the morning.”
“You had to tell me,” Giles groaned. “Dear God, I'm not going to be able to eat anything ever again.”
“It must be hard on you, Giles,” Buffy commiserated, and then collapsed into giggles as Harmony gave an exaggerated nod and meaningful smile from behind Giles. Willow laughed too. Spike managed to keep a straight face, but it was a struggle.
Giles rolled his eyes. “Heaven preserve me from this monstrous regiment of women.”
“Poor Giles,” Buffy sympathised. “We'll have to find somewhere else for her to go. Could we get her to her parents' place? They can't keep people watching it for ever, surely?”
“They don't need to, Buffy,” Spike informed her. “Me and Xander took a stroll that way while you were in LA and checked it out. There are CCTV cameras covering the place. Maybe the blokes Harm spotted the day she came here were fitting them rather than just watching. Her parents' house is right out.”
“She could go back to her own lair if we arrange to drop blood off for her, surely?” suggested Willow.
“She is unwilling. She is terrified of falling back into the hands of the organisation that experimented on her, and I don't blame her. I am not enthusiastic about the prospect myself,” Giles admitted. “Apart from the ethical issues, there is the point to consider that she knows far too much about us. It is inevitable that they would interrogate a recaptured escapee. Would you be comfortable with the prospect of this organisation finding out about Spike?”
Willow was horrified. “No, we can't risk that!”
“Not exactly thrilled with the idea myself, pet.” Spike gave her a warm smile.
Giles looked around for Harmony, saw that she was not in the vicinity, and lowered his voice. “I am still wondering just how much of the story she told us was true. The quickness of mind and resourcefulness she claims to have displayed seems hard to believe. After several days in her company I am finding it even more difficult to credit her with such ability. She may be withholding information about allies in her escape. Or other information that could be important. I would not put it past her to have blackmail in mind, or sensational revelations to the press.”
“That's why they want her back so badly,” Willow realised. “They don't want her showing up on ‘60 Minutes’ and blowing their cover wide open.”
“Probably. Anyway, I would feel happier if I could be certain of her intentions, and of the veracity of what she has told us.”
“What about a truth spell?” Willow suggested. “I'm not positive it would work on a vampire, but we could try. Make her 'fess up.” She grabbed one of Giles' reference books and began scanning the index.
“A truth spell. Of course. Why didn't I think of that?” Giles smacked his forehead.
“Because you had your hands full with the Clueless Undead?” Willow found the item she was searching for, read through it quickly, and passed it to Giles. “This should do it. Seems pretty simple. I'll stop by the Magick Shop, pick up the ingredients, and be round in the morning with motherwort and donuts.”
“Yes, that would be most helpful, Willow,” Giles acknowledged.
“Okay, see you then. Buffy and me will be hitting the mall. You staying here, Spike?”
“No, pet, I've got to get back to college. I've got sixty sets of lecture notes to photocopy, and then some marking to do. I'll see you this evening.”
“I gather you are accompanying the young people to the Bronze tonight, Spike,” Giles remarked, as the two girls left and Spike made ready to follow.
“Ooh, can I come too?” Harmony begged, re-entering the room carrying a tray of mugs. “See? All spotless. I'll put them all away exactly where they came from. I like the 'Kiss the Librarian” one, it's cute. I've been good. Can I go?”
“And what makes you think that the Bronze will be a safe haven from the commandos?” Giles reminded her.
The blonde vampire's face fell. “Oh, shit, I didn't think of that. Looks like it's another night in front of the TV, then. Can we watch ‘Sex and the City’?”
“I'll think about it.” Giles went with Spike to the door. “You see what I have to put up with?” he groaned.
Spike laughed. “Cheer up, mate, could be worse. Maybe I'll take over sitting duties for you some time and give you a night off. See you, Watcher.”
Harmony was listening to every word. She heard Spike's suggestion, punched the air, and mouthed a silent “Yes!!”
Willow made a quick stop at the Magick Shop to pick up the spell ingredients then dragged Buffy round every fashion outlet in the mall. Outfit after outfit was examined, tried on, and produced for Buffy's opinion.
“How about this one, Buff?” Willow asked. “Spike likes red, right?”
“Not with your hair. I'd go with the green,” Buffy advised her.
“The black was nice. Not too clichéd. Or was it?”
“It was. Vampire Willow would have loved it. I think you should stick with the green.”
“You don't think the neck's too high?”
“Too high? If it was any lower you'd get arrested. This is a whole new look for you, Willow.”
“Yeah, I think it's about time. No more fuzzy Willow. Ooh! A garter belt. Think I should wear a garter belt? Or what about this bustier?”
“Will,” Buffy felt compelled to warn her friend, “Don't you think you're building this up a bit too much? Spike might not be ready for anything more than friendship. You might scare him off.”
Willow laughed. “Scare off the Big Bad himself? Don't think so. Oh, isn't that thong adorable? And it matches the bustier.”
“I know Spike likes you, but are you sure he more than likes you? I mean, you haven't even been out on a date with just the two of you yet. You're acting like you expect him to be unwrapping you like a Christmas present. I mean, do you even know for sure that he isn't seeing anyone else?”
“Pour cold water on my happy thoughts, why don't you, Buffy?” Willow complained. “Spike really likes me, I know it. I mean, he was all ‘let her go you pillock’, and rushing to my protection, and going all postal on those guys, remember, Buffy?”
“Well, yes, Will,” Buffy admitted. “But so was I. And I'm not planning on any Willow smoochies any time soon. All I'm saying is, take it slower. Be ready for disappointment.”
“Which is why you had that totally boring picnic with Riley,” Willow retorted. “Safe, safe, boring. I've had it with disappointment. I'm going to seize the day. Make him an offer he can't refuse. Don't wait up.”
Blink 182's ‘All The Small Things’ was playing and the dance floor was heaving. Spike and Willow bopped happily together, smiling broadly at each other. “Maybe I was wrong,” Buffy muttered to herself as she watched them.
“What's that, Buff?” Xander asked, from where he sat with his arm round Anya, scooping up peanuts with his free hand. “Feeling like a fifth wheel again?”
“Maybe a little,” Buffy conceded. “I went for a picnic with Riley, and we had a good time, but there wasn't much in the way of sparkage. Still, it's what I want right now. Slow, and steady, and so not like jumping into bed with Parker. It's just not as much fun as - well, that.” She gestured at the couple on the floor.
“Yeah, they look to be having a wonderful time. I mean, I heard from Devon that Oz sent for all his things, and didn't even call Willow, and I thought she'd be all depresso girl, but just look at her go.” Xander grinned approvingly.
“I was spending some happy times thinking about what vengeance I would wish on Oz for her if I had my powers back,” Anya commented, “but it seems I wasted my time. Pity. I rather liked the one where he turned into a wolf spider at the Full Moon, and got paralysed by a wasp, and it laid its eggs in him, so he got eaten from the ...”
“Anya!” Xander interrupted. “Please! Not while I'm eating.”
“Oh, sorry, Xander. Anyway, it's all unimportant now. Willow is happy, and Spike is happy, and everything's fine.”
“I'm not so sure,” Buffy mused. “Willow's the one doing the asking, and making with the touchies, and Spike's not making any of the moves. She's doing the chasing, but is she catching?”
The couple left the dance floor and rejoined their friends. They sat side by side; Willow sat so that her leg pressed close against Spike's, and Buffy noticed Spike shuffle slightly and look nervous for a moment.
“So how's the work going, Spike my man?” Xander asked the vampire.
“Not bad, but there's one Hell of a bleeding backlog of stuff to catch up on,” Spike replied. “I was given this set of Spanish papers to grade, and there was a paper in there from Don Diego de la Vega.” He grinned. “So, what could I do? I gave it the mark of Zorro.”
Everyone laughed. Willow took hold of Spike's arm possessively and rested her head against his shoulder. “Charm, sexiness, and wit too,” she said. Buffy watched Spike closely, and again noticed a fleeting look of nervousness and discomfort.”
“Well, I'm halfway there,” Xander claimed. “At least with the wit part.”
As the resultant chuckles, and Anya's protestations that Xander was certainly more than halfway there with the sexiness, died down, Buffy announced that she was going to freshen up. The other girls accompanied her. In the restroom, Buffy addressed Willow. “I think you should back off a bit, Willow. You're pushing too hard.”
“What do you mean?” Willow asked, looking hurt. “It's all going fine. He told me I was looking gorgeous, and he's dancing with me, and sitting with me, and everything's going really well.”
“Willow, he's dancing with you because you're asking him to, and you're making sure you sit with him, and you're not giving him a chance to do anything else. I don't think he looks comfortable with it.”
“He does too. You're just jealous because there's no sparkage between you and Riley. There is sparkage between me and Spike.” Willow glared at Buffy. “I think you want Spike for yourself.”
“Spike? You're kidding. I just don't want to see you hurt again, Will. The way you're going your setting yourself up to be hurt, and it won't be Spike's fault. It won't be anybody's fault but yours.” Buffy forced herself to calm down, and spoke gently. “Look, Willow, I'm not saying don't try to make time with Spike. I'm just saying, slow down. Give him a little space. Go for the goodnight kiss at the end of the evening, not the hot naked sex with the bustier and the stockings. Although that wouldn't be naked sex. I mean, just give him some time.”
“Jeez, Buff, I've known him for two years already. Time enough? And he told me that night in the factory that he wanted to have me, and I said there would be no having of any kind. Well, I've changed my mind.” Willow flounced out.
“I hope you're wrong,” Anya said, joining Buffy at the washbasins.
“I'm not.” Buffy sighed. “Willow's setting herself up to be hurt.”
“I hope you're wrong,” Anya said again. “I really hope so.”
While the ladies were away, Xander and Spike had been talking.
“Looks like Willow has you in her sights, Spike,” Xander grinned. “You won't escape.”
“It's not funny, mate,” Spike frowned. “I don't think of Willow that way. I don't want to lead her on. I shouldn't have let her talk me into that last dance.”
Xander's grin disappeared. “So, you and Willow, is not you and Willow?”
“That's right. She's got this thing for me, and I just don't feel the same way about her. Don't want her to get hurt, y'know, but it's a bit hard to know what to do. She's my friend, maybe my best friend after Joyce, and I don't want to slap her down. Maybe I should just go now.”
“Not good, Spike. You leaving without saying anything, definite hurting of the Willow.” Xander shook his head. “You're sure there's nothing there? A few Willow smoochies not going to change your mind?”
“Dead sure. I don't want there to be any snogging. Only make things bleeding well worse. Bloody Hell, what am I going to do?” Spike stared glumly at the dance floor, where couples were now swaying in close embraces as a slow number played.
“Ooh, I love this song,” Willow announced, rejoining them. “Dance with me, Spike.”
“Not this time, pet. Think I'll just sit this one out.”
“Then I will too.” Willow sat down beside Spike, and snuggled close to him, as Buffy and Anya arrived.
Spike moved decisively away from her. “Look, Willow, you're getting a bit over-excited. I think perhaps I'd better call it a night.”
“And walk me home?” Willow suggested. From the look in her eyes it was obvious what she had in mind.
“No, I think best not,” Spike said firmly. “Get a grip on yourself, pet. Calm down a bit.”
Willow looked as shocked as if he had slapped her. “But ... I thought you liked me,” she quavered.
“Oh, bugger. I do like you, pet, I couldn't like you more if you were my own sister. But I don't like you the way you seem to want me to. I'm sorry, Willow. I don't want to hurt you.”
“Well you fucking well have!” Willow shouted, shocking her friends who had never heard her swear before. Tears came to her eyes. “You let me think you wanted me, and you were just leading me on. Bastard!”
“Hey, Will,” Xander protested. “Spike hasn't done anything wrong. He didn't mean to hurt you. He was asking me how he could let you down gently just a moment ago.”
“Stick together then, you - you - men! Be on his side, see if I care. You're just a loser who lives in a basement ...” Willow's tirade against Xander was cut off as Buffy grabbed her arm and hauled her bodily away from the table.
“Okay, that's it!” Buffy snapped. “I'm taking you home whether you like it or not.”
Willow struggled futilely in the Slayer's grasp. “I don't want to!” she protested. “Let me go!”
“You'll thank me when you still have friends in the morning,” Buffy told her. “Xander has done nothing wrong. Neither has Spike. Home. Now.”
Willow's anger spent itself and she collapsed against Buffy, sobbing her heart out. Buffy helped her out of the club and took her back to the dorm room, where she tried her best to comfort her friend. Willow was in no mood to be comforted, and went to bed, where she lay staring at the ceiling and refusing to talk to Buffy. Eventually Buffy gave up and went to sleep.
Willow watched Buffy until she was certain her friend was asleep, then rose from the bed. She opened her chest of spell components, gathered a careful selection, and sneaked out to the bathroom. “Sick of things not going my way,” she sobbed quietly. “Nothing goes the way I want it. Well, that's going to change.”
Willow laid out a pentacle, a circle of candles, an incense censer, a goblet, and herbs arranged on three trays. She began her mystic incantation.
“Harken all ye elements, I summon thee now. Control the outside, control within. Land and sea, fire and wind. Out of my passions, a web be spun. From this eve forth, my will be done. So mote it be.”
Willow refused to get up the next morning. Buffy tried pleading, she tried ordering, she appealed to Willow's love of education, but nothing worked. At last she gave up and went to classes by herself.
Willow remained in bed until lunchtime. The phone rang several times, but she ignored it, and ignored the messages Giles left on the answering machine. Eventually she rose and ate something, but still stayed away from her classes. Buffy came back during her lunch break, but Willow refused to speak to her, and Buffy went away again.
Willow took a carton of ice cream from their freezer, sat on the bed, and ate her way through it. When it was empty, she stared mournfully at the bottom of the carton. “It is my will that this ice cream be full once more,” she commanded. Nothing happened. “It is my will that my heart be healed of all this pain,” she went on. She felt no change. Sobbing, she threw the empty carton into the waste bin and lay down on her bed once more.
In the middle of the afternoon a knock came on the door. She rose, and opened it. Giles stood there, looking worried. “Giles!” Willow exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
“I'm a little concerned about you, actually,” Giles told her. “You had promised to come round this morning with the components for the truth spell, but you never arrived. I rang, but you didn't answer. Spike tells me you and he had something of a falling out yesterday, and Buffy tells me you weren't feeling up to going to classes. I'm here to see if there is anything I can do. And to pick up the components for the spell too, while I'm here.”
Willow gave Giles an accusing glare. “Oh, that's it. You're in a hurry to get the truth spell done so you can get rid of Harmony, and you can't wait while I deal with my pain, so you come here to get the stuff and you think you'd better ask how I am while you're here.”
“Willow, that's not true. You are my main concern. I see no harm in killing two birds with one stone, certainly, but I wouldn't have come if I hadn't been worried about you. I could have waited. I gather you feel rejected by Spike. I don't believe he meant to cause you any pain, but I understand how you might feel otherwise. Please believe that I only want to help.”
“Spike didn't mean to hurt me. You say that, he says that, Xander says that, Buffy says that. But he still did hurt me. You're supposed to be a Watcher. You're not supposed to be on the side of a vampire! I'm the one who's hurting here.”
“I see how you must feel, Willow,” Giles began.
She cut him off short. “No you don't! You don't see anything!” For one brief instant a blue glow lit her eyes. Giles didn't notice. “Now, take your precious spell components and get out.” She fetched the package she had purchased from the Magick Shop the day before, thrust it into his hands, and almost pushed him from the room.
Bewildered, Giles stood in front of the door. His vision blurred, and he removed and cleaned his glasses, then replaced them. It didn't help. A bright after-image filled his field of vision, as if he had looked directly into a spotlight. Sure that it would pass, he made his way out of the dorm building, with some difficulty as he could see clearly only with his peripheral vision. Getting home was even more of a struggle, but he managed. The blind spot obstinately refused to clear, and indeed grew bigger.
He had taken advantage of Harmony's vampiric habit of sleeping during the middle of the day to slip out, and was surprised to find her up and about when he returned. He was even more surprised to find that she had tidied and swept the entire apartment, and was actually cleaning the work surfaces when he entered. His surprise knew no bounds when she reacted to his visual problems by fussing over him, making him a perfect cup of tea by following his instructions implicitly, and offering to cook him a late lunch. She was pleasant, helpful, and seemed genuinely concerned about him. He didn't know whether to be pleased or worried.
“Is it like migraine?” Harmony asked him, as she poured out another cup of tea. “Aura at school had this thing where she got these attacks, and she couldn't see properly 'cause there were like flashing lights wherever she looked. She took Imitrex for it. I could like go and get you some, except there's this problem where I burst into flames.”
“It's not dissimilar. I do suffer from migraine headaches occasionally. In fact I believe I have some Imitrex in the bathroom cabinet.”
“I'll get them for you,” Harmony offered, and scampered off eagerly. In the bathroom she slipped off her panties before searching for the medication. When she returned to the room she made sure she gave Giles a full flash of her naked pussy as she sat down, then again as she rose to get him a glass of water for his tablets. He didn't react in the slightest. ‘Cool,’ she thought as she sat down. ‘Giles is as blind as a bat. If I can talk him into calling Spikey over before sunset, it'll be just as good as if I was left alone with Spike.’ Her fingers briefly caressed the hilt of the razor-sharp wood chisel that she had hidden down the side of the sofa while Giles was out, and moved on to the wooden stake tucked beside it. ‘And then - Showtime.’
Giles rang Spike's cell phone, with some help from Harmony, as soon as the time came for classes to have finished. The vampire Teaching Assistant responded immediately, and not long afterwards his gleaming black Dodge DeSoto drew up in front of the Watcher's apartment.
“Christ, mate, you ought to see a doctor,” he advised Giles.
“I will, if it hasn't cleared up by tomorrow morning,” Giles promised. “Harmony thinks it's probably a form of migraine, and she may well be right.”
“Bloody hope so.” Spike went to the table, and opened the spell book that lay there. “So, you want me to do this truth spell on Harm, then? I'm not really one for the mojo, but I'll take a look at it.”
“Yes, that would be very helpful. I must say Harmony has been very cooperative, but I'd still like to be certain that her story corresponds to all the facts. Then we'll have a better idea of how we can arrange a more suitable shelter for her. I have a guest coming to stay in a week's time, and I really must have Harmony out of here before then.”
“Yeah, see your point. Okay, looks straightforward enough,” Spike decided, reading the instructions for performing the spell. “I'll have a bash.”
Behind him, Harmony slipped the chisel and the stake from the side of the settee, and tucked them into her waistband. Giles couldn't see what she was doing, and had no reason to warn Spike as Harmony approached. The Watcher didn't even realise that Harmony had morphed into game face. ‘Yes, you will have a bash, Spike’, Harmony gloated. She pulled out the chisel, and gripped it tightly to add weight to her blow as she punched Spike at the base of the skull with every ounce of her vampire strength.
Spike was knocked forward onto the table, momentarily dazed. Before he could recover Harmony seized his arm, held it against the table, and stabbed down with the chisel as hard as she could. She drove the tool right through his arm and deep into the wood, pinning Spike to the table, and bringing a cry of agony from his lips. She released the chisel, grabbed his hand, and tugged free the Gem of Amara. Triumphantly she slipped the ring onto her own finger and pulled out the stake. She raised it high. “Goodbye, Spikey.”
Giles stumbled forward blindly to help his friend, tripped over a chair, and went sprawling. Spike twisted to grab the hilt of the chisel, looked up, and stared death in the face. Defiantly he raised his free arm to try to parry the blow, knowing it was futile. He was helpless.
Harmony began to bring down the stake, and then hesitated. She remembered Thanksgiving, Spike throwing himself in front of her as the arrows struck, shielding her with his own body. Her game face melted away, and she threw aside the stake, turned, and ran from the room. She had already packed her suitcase and stashed it near the door; she snatched it up, opened the door, and stepped out into the evening sunshine. “I'm sorry,” she called over her shoulder. “Goodbye, Giles.” She ran to the Watcher's old Citroen, pulled out his keys from her pocket, opened the door, and threw in her suitcase. Seconds later she had started the car and was pulling out of the drive.
Spike heaved on the handle of the chisel, pulled it out of the table, and then drew it from his arm. Blood poured from the wound. “Christ!” he swore, staring at it. “That fucking hurts!”
“What happened?” Giles gasped, climbing to his feet. “Harmony attacked you?”
“She took the fucking Gem, Giles. Stabbed me through the arm, and took the Gem. Fucking bitch!” He heard the car engine starting, raced to the door, and watched in helpless frustration as Harmony made her escape. The weak evening sunshine held him prisoner, and there was not a thing that he could do to prevent her getaway.
“Oh dear. This is extremely unfortunate,” Giles commented in magnificent understatement.
“You could say that. Or you could say that I am completely and totally fucked.”
“I'll call Buffy,” Giles decided. “I'm not sure there's anything she'll be able to do, but she's our only hope.”
Buffy sat on her bed and watched Willow, who was playing with her pet rat. Amy the rat had once been Amy Madison, classmate of the two girls and trainee witch, until she had turned herself into a rodent to escape a perilous situation and been unable to turn herself back.
“I know I was a fool,” Willow confessed. “You warned me, and I didn't listen. I just wanted it so much, you know. I thought I could make it happen just by wanting it. Didn't work, huh? I'm just pathetic.”
“You're not pathetic, Will. Just hurting.”
Willow shook her head. “I suck as a sex kitten, just like I suck as a witch. Nothing works out for me. You know, I even did a spell after we came home last night, to make things go the way I want them to, but it was a complete bust.”
“You put a spell on Spike?” Buffy exclaimed, horrified. “You can't make someone love you with a spell!”
“I know. I wasn't going to do that. Just make him give me a chance. Or just make myself stop hurting. Didn't work. Supposed to be ‘My Will Be Done’, but it couldn't even give me a refill of my ice cream. I'm useless. The only real witch here is fuzzy little Amy.”
“You're underestimating yourself, Willow. You are a real witch,” Buffy told her, remembering Willow successfully restoring Angel's soul. “You should just take care what you use it for.”
Willow wasn't listening. “She's got access to powers I can't even invoke,” she said, meaning Amy. “I mean, first she's a perfectly normal girl,” Willow went on. As she spoke, the rat transformed into a naked girl sitting on Willow's bed. Amy Madison raised her hand and stared at it in delighted wonder, and opened her mouth to speak. “Then - poof! - she's a rat.” Willow felt the bed shake and looked round. There was nothing there but the rat, standing up on its hind legs and squeaking. Willow picked it up and stroked it. “I could never do something like that,” she finished.
”Just as well,” Buffy remarked. “It didn't do Amy a lot of good, did it?” She had been looking at Willow during Amy's transformation, and had missed the whole thing.
The phone rang, and Buffy picked it up. Willow continued to stroke Amy, not even listening to Buffy's side of the phone conversation.
“I have to go,” Buffy told her, hanging up. “Harmony attacked Spike and ran off.”
“He's not hurt, is he? And is Giles okay?” Willow sat up, concerned.
“No, they're both fine. But they want me to help find Harmony.” Buffy decided not to tell Willow about Harmony's theft of the Gem of Amara yet. The red-head was in a fragile enough state as it was; learning that Spike's whole ability to mix with human society was in extreme jeopardy would only upset her more.
“And you're going? Now?”
“Sorry. Spike needs me.” Buffy hurriedly pulled on her boots.
“I mean, what's the big rush? Harmony can't hurt anybody, right? And I figured, since I'm kinda grievey, we could, uh, you know, have a girl's night. We could eat sundaes, and watch ‘Steel Magnolias’ and you can tell me how at least I don't have diabetes.” Willow pouted winningly at Buffy. It didn't work.
“Will, I'm not going to hang with you until I catch Harmony. You know that. Duty comes first. I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise.” Buffy donned her coat and left the room.
“I don't see the big,” Willow muttered as the door closed. “She's probably headed right here. She'll find her in, like, about thirty seconds.” A blue glow flickered deep within her eyes.
Buffy stepped out of Stevenson House and straight away saw a familiar car pulling up outside. She raced to it, jerked open the driver's side door, and reached in to where a bewildered looking Harmony was frantically trying to restart the stalled engine. “Out!” Buffy ordered, seized the blonde vampire by the collar, and dragged her out of the car. The other girl aimed a punch at Buffy, but cried out in pain before the blow could land, and clutched at her head.
“So, the microchip or whatever is still working,” Buffy said grimly. “God, Harmony, you're dumb. Coming straight here? What were you thinking?”
“I don't know how I got here,” Harmony replied, shaking her head and looking around in confusion. “I was heading for LA. I must have missed a turn.”
“Too bad. Okay, Harmony, hand over the ring before I break all your fingers getting it off you.”
Harmony stared in horror at the setting sun. “No! Please, Buffy, no. I'll die! I'll give it back to Spikey, I promise, but don't make me take it off now. Spike made you promise not to kill me.”
“We promised you'd be allowed to leave Giles' unharmed, provided you didn't harm anyone there. You've already left. And I think you've broken the ‘not harming anyone’ clause.” Buffy took hold of Harmony's left hand and began forcing the fingers open. Harmony began to cry. “Oh, shut up, Harmony. I must be going soft. Get back in the car and drive me to Giles'. We'll let him and Spike decide what to do with you.”
“Well, Harmony Kendall, what are we to do with you?” Giles glared sternly at the young vampire, or at least at a blurred shape he assumed to be her.
“Dust her?” Buffy suggested. She looked at Spike, who was once more wearing the ring, and who was examining the holes in his shirt sleeve where the chisel had pierced him.
“She could have killed me,” Spike pointed out. “She had me pinned like a butterfly, ring off, and a stake poised over my heart. Couldn't have bloody stopped her. But she stopped herself, threw the stake away. She's broke her part of the promise, can't regard you as bound by yours any more. But I'd rather you didn't kill her.”
“I don't want to,” Buffy admitted. “I should have done it outside the college. That would have been like in a fight. But after bringing her back here alive, well undead, it seems like murder again.”
“It pains me to say it, but I also would prefer you not to Slay her,” Giles put in. “We have learned something valuable about the device today. It prevents her from hurting humans, but not demons. Or at least not vampires. And the Gem of Amara does not protect the wearer from its effects.”
“I stabbed that monster bear that the Indian turned into,” Harmony revealed. “It didn't hurt. That's how I guessed I would be able to hurt Spikey.”
“I think the matter of Harmony's escape from the underground facility has also been clarified somewhat,” Giles declared. “I was sceptical of her account because I couldn't believe her capable of carrying out a bold and daring plan. The events of today seem to have proved me wrong.”
“Bold and daring right up to the point where I took a wrong turn and drove right up to the Slayer's building,” Harmony said. “Still can't believe I did that. Anyway, enough about me. How's your migraine now, Mr Giles?”
Her attempt to change the subject was successful. “Worse,” Giles confessed. “And I'm not sure that it is a migraine. I'm not suffering any pain at all. Just something seems to be blotting out my vision.”
“You're sure you don't want to go to a doctor?” Buffy asked him.
“I'll go in the morning,” Giles assured her. “Right now, I could use a drink.” He blundered towards the kitchen. Harmony moved to take his elbow and guide his steps.
Buffy examined the gouge in the table made by the chisel. “Right through your arm, huh?” she commented. She looked Spike directly in his eyes, and was struck again by how blue they were. “Are you all healed up now?”
Spike didn't reply. Instead he got down on one knee and looked up at the Slayer. “Buffy Summers,” he addressed her, “I love you more than words can describe. Will you marry me?”
“I - I - it's just so sudden. I don't know what to say,” Buffy stammered.
“Just say ‘yes’, and make me the happiest man on Earth.”
“Oh, Spike!” Buffy cried delightedly. “Of course it's yes!”