Title: Family
Author: Rari

(notes and disclaimer with part one)

Family: Part 2

Giles had been in England for a full day but hadn't connected with Willow yet. He'd just visited the small suite she and Tara were sharing on campus but neither of them had been there. When he had gotten back to his office he had found a young man waiting for him, a Watcher in training that had been assigned to him as an apprentice. He was tall and slender, hair almost black, in a short cut that did nothing to hide a tendency to curl. His eyes were astonishingly blue and distinctly annoyed. Giles bit back a smile as he took in the sullen young man before him.

"Benjamin Stoddard?" The young man nodded his head. Giles thought for a moment. "I assume your father is Benjamin Stoddard as well?" The young man nodded his head again. Giles cocked his head to the side. "Your father doesn't like me very much."

"I know."

"I assume he's told you stories about me."

The young man nodded, his brow furrowed. Giles suppressed a wince. He could only imagine the stories the man had told his son. Stoddard had been one of his most scathing detractors when Giles had been fired and biggest protester when he had been rehired. "I see. So, you've already tried and sentenced me, have you? Like father like son?"

Benjamin looked up to find Giles' eyes looking at him and he had the grace to blush. Benjamin looked down at the floor, unsure of what to say.

Giles spoke again. "Does your father know you've been assigned to me?" Benjamin looked up again, his eyes rueful. He nodded. Giles softly laughed. "I'm sure he's thrilled."

"Not exactly."

Giles nodded. "Watcher training is hard enough. If you would like me to, I can arrange for you to be reassigned. I don't mind." Benjamin looked back up at Giles. He expected to see anger in the Watcher's eyes but instead only saw compassion and humor.

Suddenly he was ashamed of himself and his father. He knew that the other apprentices were green with envy that he'd been assigned to Mr. Giles. He decided that maybe there was a reason for that. He shook his head and said, "No, I'll stay."

Giles smiled and the warmth in both his smile and his eyes warmed Benjamin. "Good man." Giles clapped him on the arm. "Tell you what. We'll give it a few weeks and if you aren't happy I'll arrange for a transfer. All right?" At Benjamin's nod Giles looked at him. "What do I do with you, anyway?"

Benjamin looked startled. "Anything you want." His eyes widened and his face began to turn red as he realized how that had sounded. "I mean, not anything, I mean, you know, papers, or errands, or that kind of anything." He closed his eyes, appalled at his babbling, expecting to get yelled at. Most of the Watchers yelled. He opened his eyes again when Giles chuckled.

"You'll have to work harder than that to bother me. I've spent the last 10 years raising a pack of teenagers. If I could have a pound for every time the wrong words came out of their mouths I'd be retired right now." He grinned at Benjamin and was relieved when Benjamin grinned back. "So, Benjamin, do I teach you as well?"

Benjamin nodded. "Whatever you think I need to know."

Giles nodded. "Ever met a vampire?" Benjamin's eyes widened and he shook his head. Giles nodded. "Come on then. Let's have your first lesson." He stood up and opened the top left drawer of his desk. He withdrew a couple of stakes and handed one to Benjamin, who took it as if it were alive. Giles saw his expression and let out a half laugh. "Just put it in your pocket. Hopefully we won't need it." Giles picked up a crossbow as well and a couple of crosses.

Giles led Benjamin outside and they started walking. Benjamin felt nervous when he saw where Giles was heading, as they'd been warned to avoid certain areas in his orientation material and this was one of them.

They walked deeper into the darkness and suddenly found themselves face to face with three vampires. Benjamin couldn't believe how quickly they appeared. He saw his death in each and every vampire visage, especially when he saw them start to grin. Giles brought around his crossbow and shot one of the vampires so quickly Benjamin didn't even realize he'd done it until he saw him explode into dust. Then Giles pulled his stake out of his pocket looking for all the world as if he were about to use it to stir his tea. Without looking at Benjamin he said, "I would recommend removing your stake from your pocket."

Benjamin hurriedly reached into his pocket, but before he could retrieve it one of the two remaining vampires attacked. Benjamin swallowed a scream as he saw Giles jump into action.

Before the vampire even knew what hit him Giles had plunged the stake into his heart. He turned into dust in front of Benjamin. Giles flashed a grin at the sickly look on Benjamin's face. Then his eyes widened as the last vampire wrapped a hand around his neck. Giles elbowed him in his gut and when the vampire staggered back, Giles staked him. He brushed the vampire dust off his jacket. "One thing about the vampires in this area, they're not used to anyone fighting back. Makes them absurdly easy to kill."

Suddenly, two more vampires arrived. Giles glanced around, looking for more. "However, there do seem to be an awful lot of them." Giles swore. "Damn, I wish I had my sword." He looked at Benjamin. "Next time remind me to bring my sword." He reached into his pocket and brought out a couple of crosses, which he handed to Benjamin. "Here, put these out in front of you and keep them busy while I reload the crossbow." Benjamin was afraid he might throw up but he put his arms out, each hand armed with a cross, and watched in amazement as the vampires hissed their displeasure and backed away.

Benjamin thought they might actually make it out of there when one of the vampires moved in and with a kick sent one of the crosses flying. He let out a warning and Giles raised his crossbow, preparing to shoot the one heading for Benjamin when another vampire appeared in their midst and staked him first.

"Watcher. Having fun?" Giles grinned at Spike, then pointed behind Spike as another vampire charged. Spike spun and threw a high kick that connected with the vampire's jaw. The vampire went flying. Spike turned back to Giles. "I've been looking for you. What took you so long?"

"I went home to see Buffy and Dawn."

"And how is the Slayer and the little one?"

"Wonderful. Although Dawn is hardly little anymore, as you well know. She's as tall as you. Did you know that Buffy is dating another butthead?" He grinned. "Dawn's words, not mine." This had been a regular topic of conversation with Giles and Spike as well.

Spike's eyes widened. "Bloody hell." That statement was in response to a punch from a vampire. "I'm trying to have a conversation here." He lunged forward and staked the vampire. While he was doing that Giles staked the last one.

Benjamin stared at them both, incredulous that Giles had been chatting as vampires tried to kill them all. And chatting with a vampire to boot. He finally wrestled the stake out of his pocket.

Spike turned back to Giles. "Yes, I threatened to kill him if he hurts her."

Giles laughed. "I told Buffy the same thing. She made a point not to let me meet him." He looked at Spike and they grinned at each other. Suddenly Giles remembered his manners. "Ah, Benjamin, this is Spike, Spike, Benjamin Stoddard, my apprentice."

Spike gave Benjamin a long appraising look. Then he pointed in Giles' direction. "This one's a good one. Stick with him and you'll be one of the best." Giles smiled at the praise.

Benjamin's jaw dropped. "Spike? Spike, the vampire who killed two Slayers?" His voice came out as a squeak.

Spike rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, hands in his pocket. He smiled, pleased that his reputation had preceded him. "That's me." Benjamin looked like he might faint.

Giles rolled his eyes and smacked Spike on the arm. "Put the game face away, you're scaring him."

Spike grinned but complied and his human face replaced his vampire visage. He started to stroll and Giles fell into step beside him, Benjamin following behind. Benjamin watched them talking and laughing. He started to recall some of the rumors he had heard about Giles. Most of it had been from his fellow students and he had discounted most of it as wild, unsubstantiated legend. As he watched Giles and Spike walk along Benjamin began to wonder how much else he'd been told might be true. He started to smile. Whatever else this year might bring, it certainly wouldn't be dull.

As they were walking Spike noticed another vampire trailing them. Spike turned to Benjamin. "Ever kill a vampire?" He had noticed the young man's death grip on his stake.

Benjamin shook his head, his eyes alarmed. "No."

Spike walked over to him. "Come here." Benjamin looked at Giles in alarm but Giles encouraged him. Spike adjusted his grip on the stake and then he showed him on his chest where he needed to strike. "You're not a Slayer, so you need to use speed and your weight to thrust it through as you're still having to get through bone." Holding on tight to Benjamin's hand he spun him and lunged at the vampire Benjamin hadn't even known was there. Spike guided the stake into the vampire's heart. Benjamin let go of the stake in surprise and then watched as the vampire turned to dust.

He stared at the dust on the ground in stunned disbelief and then he looked at Giles and then at Spike. "I did it. I staked a vampire."

Spike rolled his eyes. "With a little help."

Giles slapped Benjamin on the back. "You've just killed one more vampire than most of the Watchers in the Council."

They strolled a little farther but in time Spike and Giles parted ways and Spike strolled off into the darkness. Giles headed back to the Council building. He seemed lost in thought and Benjamin stayed quiet, not wanting to disturb him. Finally he spoke. "Mr. Giles?"

Giles looked at him, eyebrows raised. "Yes, Benjamin?"

"Do you think I can stake a vampire on my own some time?" Benjamin wasn't sure if he wanted him to say yes or no.

Giles smiled. "Yes, that can be arranged. We'll go find some gravesites and try and catch one newly risen. They're generally awfully stupid and disoriented when they first rise. All they can think about is feeding so they don't pay much attention, although the hunger does make them quite lethal."

"How many vampires have you killed?"

Giles thought for a moment. "I have no idea. Hundreds I would imagine."

"Why haven't you killed Spike?"

Giles glanced at Benjamin. "Spike? Well.Spike is special. He's.well.he's a friend. It's complicated." He didn't think that Spike's chip was anyone's business unless Spike wanted it to be.

Benjamin could tell that he wasn't going to get any more out of Giles about Spike, at least not tonight. As they started up the sidewalk to the entrance to the building, something jumped on the ground and Benjamin startled back. When he saw it was a frog he laughed at himself and then looked up at Giles and saw that Giles was looking all around at the ground. Benjamin looked as well and saw that there were frogs everywhere. They all looked to be the same shape and size. Giles' brow was furrowed. He looked at Benjamin and Benjamin just shrugged.

Suddenly, the doors opened and a couple of people ran out yelling. Giles picked up his pace and walked inside. There were frogs everywhere inside as well. Hundreds of them. They all seemed to be coming from one direction. Giles started walking against the flow, carefully avoiding stepping on any of the creatures. Benjamin followed closely behind him.

As the flow of frogs got thicker Giles suddenly halted. His eyes closed and he concentrated, feeling for magic. Benjamin watched him, wondering what he was doing. Suddenly Giles' eyes opened up and Benjamin watched in amazement as Giles shook his head with a smile on his face. Giles started walking purposefully up the corridor. He stopped before a door in the students' apartment wing. Pushing the door open he revealed a panicked young woman in a room full of frogs. The woman saw him and sagged in relief. "Giles."

Giles took one look at the room and at Willow and the pot on the floor from which more frogs were trying to escape and he started to laugh. He laughed until he was doubled over with it and had to lower himself to the floor. Benjamin stared at him and then he stared at the young woman in the center of the room who was blushing a deep red. Finally Giles stopped laughing. He inched his way over to Willow. She looked at him. "Make them stop. I can't make them stop. I don't understand what I did wrong."

He tried hard not to laugh again but he couldn't help it. In between his laughter he said, "What spell did you do? And why on earth are you conjuring frogs?"

Willow blushed again. "I ran into a young boy outside who was crying because he'd lost his frog. I thought I could get him another one."

Giles shook his head at her. "It never occurred to you to just try and catch one?" She grimaced and he took mercy on her. "What spell did you do?" Willow told him. He bit his lip to keep from laughing and she smacked him on the arm.

"Stop laughing at me."

Benjamin couldn't believe she'd hit him. No one hit a Watcher.

Willow looked around the room and shivered. "I hate frogs."

Giles started to laugh again. "God, I've missed you." Willow just grinned at him and then poked him.

"Just help me, and if you laugh again I'll turn you into a frog."

"You wouldn't like me as a frog. I'd be a big frog. And I'd haunt you."

She rolled her eyes and pointed to the pot as another frog leapt out. She let out a cry. "Hurry."

Giles put his hands over the pot and incanted a few words. Benjamin could feel a small jolt of power shake the room. The frogs all disappeared. Giles looked at Willow and asked, "Why were you willing to conjure a frog if you hate them so much?"

"He was unhappy. I thought I could conjure one and he'd stay in my pot and I could carry him downstairs. Who knew there'd be so many and they'd be so leapy." Giles bit his lip hard to keep from laughing again. Willow saw him and smacked him again. "Okay, so I'm stupid girl." She scowled at him and looked around. "Where'd they all go?"

"I was able to send them back because you had just conjured them. If they'd been here much longer I wouldn't have been able to." He looked at Willow. "Can you guess what you did wrong?"

She had listened to him say his spell. She grimaced. "I'm thinking I shouldn't have used the word for duplication." She looked at him. "Right?"

He nodded. "I can see where you might use that because you wanted to duplicate the image in your mind but the word in this spell means something quite different, as you clearly saw." She nodded and then she noticed Benjamin.

Giles introduced them. Then Benjamin asked Giles, "Are you really a sorcerer?" That had been one of the rumors too. Willow nodded her head emphatically.

"Yes, and he's really good." She looked at Giles with admiration and he rolled his eyes.

"I've had to be to keep you out of trouble for so many years." He smiled lovingly at her.

Benjamin gaped at the redhead. "You're that Willow?" He looked at Giles. "She's that Willow?"

Giles looked at him. "Well if by 'that Willow' you mean Buffy's best friend, then the answer would be yes." Giles looked at Willow again. He was tickled to see her and pleased that she'd be underfoot even if it included magic spells gone awry. Giles glanced up at Benjamin and asked, "I trust you can keep this incident in confidence?"

Benjamin nodded, but then he spoke, hesitantly. "I felt something when you did that spell. What was that?"

Giles looked surprised. "You could feel that?"

Benjamin nodded.

"Any magic in your family?"

Benjamin shook his head no.

Giles pursed his lips. "Maybe there is now. We can do some testing later if you'd like."

Benjamin grinned. "I might have magic?"

Giles hastened to caution, but there was a twinkle in his eye. "It's possible. Most people can't sense magic unless they have some."

Benjamin was in seventh heaven. "Wow." He looked at Giles, remembering how just a few short hours ago he'd been appalled that he had to be his apprentice. Now it felt as if this was the luckiest day of his life. "Wow."

Giles looked at him and grinned back. "I think you've had enough excitement for one night. I'd like to speak with Willow, so I'll see you in the morning."

Benjamin just nodded and walked off in a daze. Willow looked at Giles and laughed. "Another addition to the I Love Giles fan club." Giles shook his head, gently dismissing her words.

He sat on her couch. "So, tell me what's going on apart from frog conjuring? And where's Tara?" She started chatting, filling him in and he sat there listening to her words, soaking them in, glad she was there. When Tara showed up an hour later, the reunion continued late into the night.

End Part 2