-Clark-

 

 

 

 

I follow Mr. Giles to the kitchen, feeling a little uncomfortable. But, as nervous as I am, I want to make things work. After all, I am Willow's husband. I want to get along with her friends.

 

 

I spot the kettle on the stove and grab it. As I walk to the sink to fill it up, I can feel Mr. Giles eyes on me. I try to ignore it, as I go back to the stove and put the water on to boil.

 

"So, Clark."

 

I don't even like the way he says my name. The way Willow described him he seemed really nice. I imagined this stereotypical uber-polite British guy. But he strikes me as seriously intimidating.

 

"Yes, Mr. Giles?"

 

"You're 18, correct?"

 

"Yes, Sir."

 

"Not even of legal age to be drinking." He says it casually as he gets out mugs, but it still sounds somehow threatening.

 

Suddenly, I wish that I had stayed with the others in the living room. At least Buffy and Xander were straightforward with their hatred for me. Mr. Giles sounds like he could be talking about the weather, and not the fact that I married the woman who is like a daughter to him.

 

"I realize that, Sir. I don't normally drink."

 

"Really?"

 

He says it so scoffingly, that it sort of pisses me off. I don’t normally drink. Ignoring my actions under the influence of the red Kryptonite, I haven't been drunk before.

 

"Look. You don't like me, and I understand that. But I'm not a bad guy. I don't normally drink. But I had just seen my best friend kissing the girl I've been in love with for years, and I was just a little bit upset."

 

From the look on his face, I feel that I said the wrong thing.

 

"So," Mr. Giles says, turning to face me. "Not only did you get drunk and marry Willow, but you did it because you got slighted by some girl. Tell me, did you come up with the plan to stay married to Willow in order to spite this other girl?"

 

I should never be allowed to speak. Ever.

 

"Look...I...That's not what I..."

 

He takes a step closer to me, and I find myself backing up against the stove. For all my powers and strength, this guy intimidates me.

 

"Listen to me," Mr. Giles' voice is deadly quiet. "Willow has been hurt in the past, and I won't stand for seeing her hurt again. She may not be perfect, but she deserves so much better than you. If you hurt her...If you hurt her on accident, or if you do it on purpose, I will devote the rest of my life to destroying the rest of yours."

 

He takes another step, getting right in my face. "Do you understand me?"

 

I don't say anything, not sure what I should do.

 

"Do you understand me?" He grabs the collar of my shirt and stares directly into my eyes.

 

"I understand."

 

He lets me go and turns around, tending to his tea mugs once again.

 

I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding. I had known that Buffy and Xander were protective, but I wasn't expecting this from Mr. Giles.

 

"Look, Mr. Giles..."

 

He doesn’t even bother to turn around, "Clark, do you really think that there is anything that you can say that will make me want to kill you any less?"

 

Yeah. From now on I'm just keeping my mouth shut.

 

Not saying a word, I make my way back the living room. Obviously Willow and the others are having a pretty serious conversation, but when I enter, Willow looks about. I guess my discomfort is pretty obvious, because concern immediately crosses Willow's face.

 

"I'll be right back, guys," Willow says as she stands up.

 

She grabs my hand and pulls me into another room.

 

"Are you okay?"

 

I shake my head. "I'm fine, Willow. Really, I am."

 

"Giles went Ripper on you, didn't he?" Her tone of voice might be sympathetic, but she also looks like she's trying not to smile.

 

"Ripper?" I ask, more than a little confused.

 

"Giles may be all proper and stuffy Watcher-type now, but he wasn't always like that. He used to be pretty wild. Sometimes when he thinks that someone that he loves is threatened, his old self comes out to play." There's that little smile again.

 

"Are you enjoying this?"

 

"No!" Willow exclaims, shaking her head. "Look, I'll talk to him. He really is a sweet guy. He just doesn't want to see me hurt."

 

"I'm not going to hurt you!" I exclaim. She gives me a look, and I can't help but feel guilty. I already have hurt her. But it was a heat of the moment thing. Yeah, I made have said that I don't like her much, but I don't think she really likes me either. She's a good person; I know that. And she's smart and cute. And when she loosens up, she can be a lot of fun. The problem is that she doesn't loosen up around me.

 

Pretty much everyone I know has a better relationship with my wife than I do, with the exception of my father. She seems to love my mother. She gets along with Chloe, and with Lex. In fact, Lex and Chloe have been coming around a lot lately. Coming around together, but I'm sure I'm just reading into that situation. I can't see Chloe being involved with Lex. She's not his type. Chloe likes...well, she likes me. At least she used too.

 

"Willow, maybe I should just go to a motel or something. It's a big city, there has to be something around somewhere."

 

Willow gets a determined expression on her face, one that I'm already all too familiar with.

 

"No. I'm talking to Giles. Come on." She grabs my wrist again, but this time I hold back.

 

"Wait, you want me to go with you?"

 

"Yep."

 

That seems like a horrible idea. I don't really want to be caught between a resentful Willow and a pissed off Mr. Giles.

 

"I think that's a bad idea."

 

"Come on." She ignores my protests completely, and despite my better judgment, I follow her.

 

Mr. Giles is now in the living room with the others. Willow crosses her arm over her chest. "Giles. Kitchen."

 

I see Dawn smile, "Uh oh, Giles. You're in trouble." She winces as Buffy leans over and slaps her arm, hushing her.

 

"Willow..." Mr. Giles begins.

 

"Now!"

 

-Next: Dawn-