Disclaimer in part 1.
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“That’s all he said?” The slayerettes were seated at the library table. Xander had just finished reciting his conversation with Giles.
“Yeah. I know he was trying to tell me something. I just can’t figure what.”
“That’s cause you’d have to use a brain.”
“Cordelia!” Xander rushed over to his girlfriend. “You know, I even missed your insults?”
Cordelia welcomed his crushing hug. “Yeah. That’s cause you know they’re true.” She looked towards the others. “Hey Willow.”
“Welcome back Cordelia.” And she meant it too. Wow.
“I would have been here sooner, but Daddy and I had a ‘conversation’.” She grabbed Xander’s hand and led him back to the table. “Seems that somebody warned him about Giles. He was the ‘unsavoury influence’ Xander, not you. The whole school thing was to protect me.”
Oz was getting more confused. “But who warned him?”
“Some assistant to the mayor.”
Willow felt the gears in her brain begin to click. “Somebody who knows about us. And our relationship with Giles.” She felt the excitement build. “Somebody from Giles’ past.”
“Ethan Rayne.”
“Buffy?” Cordelia looked at her boyfriend. “Was there something you forgot to tell me?”
“Hey Cordy. I’ve just had a heart-to-heart with my mother.” She couldn’t let go of the bitterness. “Ethan’s behind this.”
Xander hit his hand against his forehead. “Of course. This stinks of him.”
“Excuse my ignorance. But who’s Ethan?” Oz felt that he had missed out on the moment, somehow.
“Ethan Rayne. He and Giles used to be friends.” Buffy forgot Oz wasn’t part of the gang during Halloween.
“Now, they’re not?”
“No. There’s a lot of history there.”
“Oh. Okay. Now what?”
“Now, I go to the police and say it’s all a big mistake.”
“No!” She looked at Xander. “Giles said he didn’t want you to do that. He wants you to lay low for a while.”
“Why?”
“Because the police won’t believe you.” Now Willow understood what Giles meant. “Ethan works for the mayor. He obviously has them believing his lies. They won’t believe you any more than they would Giles. Not yet.”
“Well we can’t just leave him there. We’ve got to get him out. And destroy Ethan.”
“I could drop the charges.” They all turned to stare at the newcomer. They couldn’t believe she was there, or what she’d just said.
“Why?”
“Because, for once, I’m going to trust you. And have faith in you. If you say Mr. Giles is innocent, then he is. And I’ve been part of a gross miscarriage of justice.”
“You know, it must be an adult thing. For a moment there, she sounded just like Giles.”
Willow admonished. “Quiet Xander.”
Buffy looked at her mother. It couldn’t be so easy. It was never this easy. Not for her. She took a tentative step forwards. As her mother’s arms lifted and opened, she ran into them. “I’m sorry, Mommy.”
“Sh, sweetheart. It isn’t your fault. I’m sorry. I should have believed in you from the beginning.”
Oz smiled at the reunion. “Now, that is a moment.”