Title: Changes, Past and Present
Author: Gibberish

(notes and disclaimer in part one)

Sunnydale, 1999

Giles was slowly getting the translation out of Ethan.

London, 1977

Ripper woke up on his own couch. It took him a moment to remember why he was sleeping on the couch. Buffy. Hell. He heard the shower and a wicked thought came to mind, followed by a wicked grin. He stood and stretched his stiff muscles. Then, grin still in place, he headed for the bathroom.

Buffy finished rinsing her hair. She let the hot water run over her one more time before she shut it off. She opened the curtain and found Ripper holding the towel for her. She grabbed the towel and held it in front of herself. "What do you think you're doing?" She asked indignant. Then she realized that he wasn't wearing anything.

Ripper's grin widened, "Just waitin' for the shower Luv."

Buffy couldn't keep her eyes from peeking down. "Couldn't you have waited in the other room?"

"Wouldn't 'ave been as much fun." Ripper answered. He felt his body respond to her gaze.

Buffy couldn't help being impressed with what she saw. And every time she looked down, he was more.... Impressive. She stepped out of the tub and wrapped the towel around her. "You're a pervert."

"Just a healthy male." Ripper assured her. He leaned towards her, "Very healthy."

"I can see that." Buffy said, then flushed bright pink.

Ripper put his fingertips to her throat. Barely touching her he slid them down 'til they met the towel. "Where's that blush start?" He asked. He tucked his fingers the towel and her chest, then slowly pulled her towards him.

"None of your business." Buffy told him shakily. She was mesmerized by the look in his eyes.

He leaned down and touched his lips to hers in feather like kiss. When he felt her arms slide up his chest and around his neck, he released the towel from around her and pulled her flush up against him as he deepened the kiss.

They jumped apart when the bathroom door crashed open. They turned and found Deirdre glaring at them. Ripper stood in front of Buffy protectively.

"I knew it." Deirdre said in disgust and anger.

"If you knew, why the 'ell did you just barge in?" Ripper asked in rhetorical anger. "What do you want De?"

Buffy bent down and picked up the towel and wrapped it back around herself.

"Why did you bring the little tramp back here?" Deirdre demanded.

"Get out De." Ripper said coldly.

"What?" Deirdre screeched. "You're going to throw away years for that ... "

"Enough De!" Ripper said harshly.

"Excuse me." Buffy said coldly. She grabbed her clothes and stalked out of the room. A moment later, they heard the bedroom door slam.

Deirdre looked triumphant.

"Who do you think you are?" Ripper hissed. "Come into my flat, uninvited and insult her. I didn't throw away anything De, you did. Now get out."

"Rip..."

"I said get out!" He grabbed her arm and dragged her to the front door. He opened it and shoved her out.

"You only met her yesterday. Why is she important?" Deirdre asked before he slammed the door.

Her words echoed in his mind after he slammed the door. The truth was, he didn't know what it was about Buffy that drew him. What made him care. He just knew that he did. There was a connection like he'd never felt before. He had a feeling that he never would again, not with anyone else.

He went over to the couch and grabbed his jeans. He pulled them on hastily and headed for the bedroom.

He found Buffy, dressed now, sitting on the bed, knees drawn up to her chest and her head resting on them.

"I need to go home." Buffy said in a small voice. She didn't raise her head. "Before I do any more damage. I can't go to Ethan, God knows what he'd do with the information should he find that spell now. And you ... I don't know what to do about you."

"What do you want to do?" Ripper asked.

"Part of me wants to run." Buffy said.

"And the other part?" Ripper asked next.

Wants to never leave. But she didn't say it. She looked at him then. "I need to get home. Giles needs me. I need him."

"Lucky bastard." Ripper commented.

"No." Buffy said. "It isn't ... We don't ... I ..." She looked away.

Ripper moved and sat on the bed next to her. "It's not what I meant. I've never had anyone that cared that much about me. My old man wanted me to be a Watcher, it's all 'e cared about. What I wanted didn't matter. Tradition. Bloody hell, I was ten years old. All the other kids were playin', but I had to study. Vampires, demons, curses. They took my childhood. Do you know what that's like?"

"Yes," Buffy said quietly. She looked up at him. "I wasn't as young as you. I was fifteen when Merrick found me. The Slayer that slipped through the cracks. I lost my friends, had to lie to my parents and I got Merrick killed. I got kicked out of school because I couldn't tell anyone that I burned down the gym to kill Vampires and save their lives. I lost my childhood, but I got to save the world. So far, I've only died once."

"You died?" He asked shocked.

"Once." Buffy answered. Her eyes saw the memory. "A friend brought me back." She reached out and touched his cheek. "A prophecy. The Master would rise and I would die. You tried to go in my place. I had to knock you out to keep you from going."

Ripper shook his head, "I'm too selfish to 'ave done that."

"You're the least selfish person I know." Buffy told him. "You gave up everything for me. Lost everything because of me." She said sadly.

"Not everything." Ripper said. "I still have you."

"I need to get home." Buffy said again.

"I know." Ripper said. "I'll get some books, research, see what we can find." He didn't understand why she smiled at the mention of research. He stood. "Stay here."

"At the flat or in the bed?" Buffy's eyes twinkled as she asked.

"Either or both" Ripper responded.

"You should know, I don't take orders very well." Buffy told him.

"Somehow Luv, I'm not surprised." Ripper said, then left.

Sunnydale, 1999

Giles took a break from Ethan. He went home, showered and changed. His thoughts focused on Buffy. Once Ethan had pushed her through the vortex, there were memories. Ripper and Buffy, they had tried to find her a way home.

Deirdre had been obsessively jealous, even though he had never had a relationship with her, just occasional sex. That's all it had ever been, sex.

And Philip, he'd been like a puppy. Not that he could blame him. And Ethan, he had wanted Buffy as much as Ripper had. Almost. He didn't think anyone could have wanted Buffy as much as he had, then or now.

He could remember her so clearly. How, as Ripper, he had felt an almost instant connection to her. Buffy had been there just three days, but ... Ripper loved her as he loved her now. And she had loved him. He didn't know why, but she had, What would happen between them when she returned? He was almost afraid to find out. But the memories ... Whatever the outcome, he'd have those.

London, 1977

Buffy waited, but she nearly went crazy. Patience had never been her strong suit. When someone knocked at the door, she answered it as if it were a lifeline. Then wished she hadn't.

The man, distinguished in a suit, was in his fifties. The woman with him had to be well into her seventies, if not more. She was just as distinguished, but not as forbidding. "Can I help you?" She asked politely. But, she had a sinking sensation as to who this pair must be.

"Where is he?" The man demanded as he strode in past her.

"Won't you come in?" Buffy said not bothering to hide her sarcasm.

The woman almost smiled, but the man glared at her.

Buffy realized that if she had been anyone else, this man would be very intimidating. He was tall, taller even than Giles. Broad. Dark hair, sprinkled with silver and cold blue eyes. Buffy, however, had seen and done too much to be bullied by anyone. "He isn't here." She said flatly.

"When will he be back?" He asked next.

"Didn't say." Buffy told him.

"It's very important that we speak to him." The woman said firmly, but kindly.

"I'm sorry." Buffy said, her eyes softer for the woman. "I'll tell him you were here."

"We'll wait." The man stated firmly, coldly.

It was Buffy's turn to glare. "I can see that what manners he has, he didn't get from you." She closed the door.

Mr. Giles blinked, momentarily taken aback by the acid in her tone. Aware, now, that despite how she was dressed, this was not just another of his son's tarts.

"Just the stubbornness." Mrs. Giles commented.

"Mother." Mr. Giles exclaimed, aghast that he and his son had anything in common.

"Do be quiet Edward." Mrs. Giles told him. One of the very few people that would dare. She looked at Buffy. "We heard about the death of one of ... What does he call himself? Oh yes, Ripper. One of Ripper's friends."

"Randall." Mr. Giles ground out. "We want to know what Rupert did."

Buffy glared at him again. "Do you always use that tone when referring to your son?" She asked. "No wonder he left. He'd get more concern from a statue."

"How dare you!" Mr. Giles practically bellowed.

"How dare you?" Buffy returned. "He's your son. Don't you care about anything other than whether or not he joins the family business?"

Mrs. Giles sat on the couch and sat back. She would enjoy the show. She watched the girl with a speculative eye.

"What could you possibly know about it?" Mr. Giles asked nastily. "You aren't even English."

"Some time after the war, you know the one that we Americans won. We started family businesses of our own." Buffy didn't want to cause a bigger rift by mentioning Watchers. "You have no right to try to force it on him."

"I'm his father." He stated.

"That doesn't give you the right to make him give up all of his hopes and dreams." Buffy said angrily.

"Hopes and dreams." Mr. Giles said in contempt. "He's just rebellious."

"Rebellions often occur in a fascist state." Buffy returned. Giles would be proud of her use of words. "Did it ever once ask *him* what *he* wanted? Did you even care? He's a person. He's smart and he's funny. He cares so much more than anyone realizes, even him. He hides it, buries it, because every time he cares, it's taken away. Quit trying to mold him into your idea of the perfect son and try getting to know him for who he is. Who he really is. You might be surprised."

Mrs. Giles looked at her with something akin to awe. Mr. Giles, while still angry, felt a dawning respect. The room was silent.

They all turned at the sound of the door being closed. None of them had heard it open. Ripper stood there, his arms full of books.

Buffy went over to him and took the books. She gave him a look of apology before she went into the bedroom.

"Quite a little defender you have there Rupert." Mrs. Giles said as she stood back up.

Ripper looked at his old man. "What are you doing here?"

"We heard about Randall." Mr. Giles said, careful to keep his voice even.

Ripper studied him, "So, you came here to say 'I told you so’?" He asked.

"Perhaps I did." Mr. Giles said quietly. He surprised all three of them. "But you can't go on like this Rupert."

"I know." Ripper said. His turn to surprise.

"Come home Rupert." Mrs. Giles urged.

"I can't." Ripper said. "Not yet. It would be too easy. I have to find my own way. I have to ... "

"Have to what?" She asked.

Ripper looked at his father. "I have to clean up after myself. Then I have to make a decision."

"You can do that at home." Mr. Giles told him quietly.

"No, I can't." Ripper said. "I have to do it this way."

They're quiet a moment.

"Who is she?" Mrs. Giles asked.

Ripper looked to the closed bedroom door, then back to his grandmother.

"Redemption. Hope." He paused. "A reason to change."

"I can't think of a better reason." Mr. Giles said with a small smile.

Ten minutes later, they had left. Ripper made his way to the bedroom. He opened the door and saw her. She sat on the bed with a book in her hands. He looked at the book and smiled.He walked over to her, took the book and turned it right side up, before he placed it back in her hands. "That might help."

Buffy looked chagrined and set the book down.

Ripper sat on the bed so that he faced her and their right legs touched. He reached out and put a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks."

"For what?" Buffy asked confused.

"Not many people stand up to my father." He said. "My grandmother is the only person to stand up to him for me." He looked down and took her hand in his.

"You're welcome." She looked like she wanted to say more, but didn't. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Then, unable to resist, she kissed his mouth.

Sunnydale, 1999

Giles remembered that day as he drove back to the mansion. The images as clear as if they had happened yesterday. The softness of her skin, the way she touched him, as if he were loved. Never had a woman touched him like that. Passion, lust, yes. Loved, never.

She'd looked like every male fantasy and tasted sweeter than honey. He'd made love to her with a gentleness that he hadn't known he possessed. A reverence that he'd only known with her. In the end, when she'd cried out his name in pleasure, it had drove him over the edge as well. She hadn't called Ripper, or Giles, but Rupert. It was the first time the name had felt as if it had belonged to him. For the first time in years, he'd felt whole.

London, 1977

Buffy and Ripper spent the day alternating between research and making love. That night they met Ethan, Deirdre and Philip at the old abandoned building they had met before. Buffy stood off to the side and watched the foursome.

Deirdre jerked her head towards Buffy. "What's she doin' here?"

"I wanted her here." Ripper said coldly. No one mentioned it again. "We're here to discuss Randall."

"What about Randall?" Ethan asked. "Not a whole lot we can do. He's dead. We need to move on."

"Move on to what?" Philip asked. "I'm not helping to raise anymore demons."

"They'll be no more demons." Ripper stated. "I think we've done enough damage."

"You've gone soft." Ethan said with a laugh. "One day with the little Slayer and she has you whipped."

Ripper grabbed Ethan by the throat, much as Buffy had done the night before. "I don't need a demon to kill you Ethan." He tightened his grip. "Best remember that."

"All right." Ethan choked out. Ripper released him and he put his own hand to his throat and massaged it. "Little touchy, aren't we?"

"No more demons." Ripper repeated.

"He's right Ethan." Philip said. "We can't control it. It killed Randall, doesn't that matter to you?"

"Randall wasn't strong enough." Ethan said callously. "That's all. He paid the price." He looked from one to the other. "What were you expecting? Roses. We all knew what we were doing. Who we were calling. No one went into it blind."

"You're right," Ripper said. "But tell me Ethan. Were you expecting Randall to die?"

Ethan didn't answer.

"You bastard." Deirdre spat.

Buffy's eyes narrowed and her hands clenched into fists.

Ripper's fist connected with Ethan's nose, he hit the floor, nose bleeding. "I thought I was a cold hearted bastard. I'm bloody Mother Theresa compared to you." He pulled Ethan to his feet and hit him again. Then again.

Buffy moved and stood in front of Ripper and held him back. "Get out Ethan. Before he does to you, what you let Eyghon do to Randall."

Ethan managed to get to his feet and ran out of the building.

Ripper shoved her away. "Why'd you stop me?"

"You should have let him..." Deirdre words died at a glare from Buffy.

"Then he'd be no better than Ethan."

Buffy told them. She looked at them. "Have you ever taken a human life? Have you?" They just stared at her. "I have. Believe me, you don't want to experience it. Killing a person, no matter how evil, will eat at you. If that's what you want, then go ahead. I won't stop you again." She turned and walked out.

They watched her go. Ripper didn't even look at the other two before he took off after Buffy.

Ripper found her about a block away. She sat dejectedly on a bench and stared straight ahead.

Ripper dropped onto the seat next to her. "Want to tell me about it?" He asked gently.

"No." Buffy responded. "I've dealt with it. But I don't think I'll ever get over it." She looked at him. "I don't want you to ever have to go through that."

Sunnydale, 1999

Giles had finally called for help. Willow and Oz showed up at the mansion. They were stunned at the sight of Ethan, chained to the wall and bleeding.

Giles looked at their young faces, "It's not as bad as it looks."

They jumped and looked at him wide-eyed. They took in Giles' rumpled appearance. He had given them a minimum of information over the phone. Just that Ethan had done something to Buffy.

"What happened?" Willow asked.

"Ethan sent Buffy to the past." Giles told her, both of them.

"Where? When?" Willow asked next.

"1977." Giles said. "He won't translate the spell to bring her back."

"I translated it." Ethan moaned.

Giles glared at him. "I do know a few words in Gaelic. Enough to know that you were lying." He looked back to the young couple. "I need you to keep an eye on him, make sure that he doesn't get away. I don't know how long it will take for me to find someone that I can trust to translate the spell for me." He looked at Willow, "Do not let him loose or get to close to him." He instructed. "I have to find a way to get Buffy back."

"We'll watch him." Oz assured him. He heard the underlying urgency, even if he wasn't sure that he understood it. Buffy was everything to Giles, that much, he did know. "Do you know where she is?" He asked. "Is she in danger there?"

Ethan laughed harshly, "She's in London. With Ripper."

"With you?" Willow asked relieved, as she looked at Giles. Her knowledge of Ripper was limited, but she didn't think Buffy would be in any danger from him.

Giles nodded. "And Ethan." He looked from Willow to Oz, then back to Willow. "She's all right." He assured them.

"How can you be sure?" Willow asked.

"I remember." Giles said. "As soon as she went back, I had memories of her being there."

"Why don't you tell them about some of those memories Ripper?" Ethan asked in a sly, yet exhausted voice. "I'm sure they'd be fascinated."

Giles glared at him. "It would do you well to remember that she stopped me from killing you."

"You wouldn't have." Ethan said. "Your conscience wouldn't have let you."

"Don't bet on it." Giles said, the tone and the look were pure Ripper.

"Giles?" Willow said, hesitantly. She was frightened by the look in Giles eyes. "What happened?"

"Willow, she wasn't even there three full days." Giles said as he tried to calm himself. He and Buffy would have enough difficulty when she returned without Willow and Oz knowing just what happened. "Mostly, she just wanted to get home."

Ethan snorted, then groaned as the pain shot through him. "Are you afraid to tell them Ripper? You didn't used to mind bragging." Although he never had where Buffy were concerned.

"She isn't here to stop me this time Ethan." Giles threatened coldly.

"She's always there Ripper." Ethan said. "Deep inside. She always will be."

"What would you know about it?" Giles asked harshly. "All you ever cared about was yourself. At least I outgrew it. You have no clue as to what it means to care about anything or anybody."

Ethan didn't say anything, he just returned Ripper's look steadily.

London, 1977

Ripper had left her at the apartment, flat he called it. He needed to see some people and didn't want Buffy exposed to them.

He'd only been gone ten minutes, when someone knocked on the door. After the last time, Buffy was cautious when she answered. She opened the door just enough to peek out.

Ethan saw half of her face, including one big green eye through the crack in the door. He saw her surprise. "I need to speak to you."

"Why?" She asked without opening the door any further. "What do you want?"

"I need to know why you stopped him." Ethan said.

"I stopped him, what else matters?" Buffy asked.

"It matters." Ethan said.

Buffy sighed, but opened the door.

Ethan walked in, he was used to feeling hesitant. "Why did you do it?" He asked as he looked at her.

Buffy closed the door and faced him. "Why do you think I did it? For you?" She shook her head.

"You're a Slayer." Ethan pointed out. "Stopping people like me is your job."

"Oh, I have no doubt that letting him kill you would have saved me a lot of trouble." Buffy said. "But he would have gone through hell. Quite frankly, you aren't worth it."

Ethan pulled back. "You don't pull your punches, do you?"

"Why should I?" Buffy asked. "The shame is, that you could have been so much more."

"And what could I have been?" Ethan asked in contempt.

Buffy looked at him serious and thoughtful. "Anything you wanted."

Ethan looked at her silently. Then he walked out the door.

Sunnydale, 1999

Ethan watched Ripper leave, then looked at the pair entrusted to watch him. They were so young. "Have you figured out what he's trying to keep from you yet?" He asked.

"If we need to know, he'll tell us." Willow responded.

Ethan laughed.

"I think it best if you just keep your mouth shut." Oz said in warning.

Ethan looked at him knowingly. "Ah. You have, haven't you."

Oz looked him straight in the eye. "Do you want me to gag you?" He said in a very low, threatening tone.

Willow watched them wide-eyed. "Oz?"

Oz looked at her and his face softened. "Don't worry Will. Giles will get Buffy back."

"But ..." Willow started. "What's he talking about?"

Oz looked at her. If what he suspected was true, Damn. It wasn't his business. Now, Ethan had Willow worried. "It's nothing to worry about."

But Willow worried. She had a feeling that she knew what Ethan was talking about. She just couldn't quite accept it. She wanted Oz to tell her that she was wrong. Buffy and Giles?