Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I've got a little more for you today. Hope you like!
~Joy“So, New Year’s is coming up. What kind of crazy plans do you have for that night?” Xander asked across the circular table.
“I guess we’re gonna just watch the ball drop on tv, me and Mom and Dawn,” Buffy answered. “The usual staying in and having those little snack trays, pretty much the same way we do every year. Are you doing anything? We could make it a Scooby-fest. I know I’d enjoy it more with you guys there, and Mom would love company.”
He grinned. “I’d rather be not home for as long as possible, and hanging out at casa de Summers with you guys sounds like just the thing for some holiday cheer.” He snapped his current text closed. “It still feels really weird to be here during vacation. No one else is here, why can’t we get together at the Bronze or something?”
Giles turned a dubious gaze to Xander, eyebrows raised. “And do what exactly, do you suggest?” He nudged at his glasses with his thumb. “If you’d take a moment to remember, there are, of course, a great number of people there. Part of the reason we meet here is its, its secluded location. And then the research, when we’ve any to do, everything we need is right here.”
Willow nodded. “Yeah, but I mean, he kinda does have a point. Aren’t we sort of bringing attention to ourselves by being on campus during vacation? And the Bronze, okay, not exactly the best secret meeting spot.” She paused and smiled hopefully. “But maybe we could take a little break for a while and go to the Espresso Pump? It’s usually a little quieter there.”
“Ooh, cappuccino. I vote yes.” Buffy gave Giles the Puppy Eyes. “We
are gonna go, right? Lunch break? We’ve been in the books for…” she checked her watch, “… forty-seven minutes. And I know I haven’t seen any oogly-booglies that ring a bell yet. Maybe I got the wrong book again. Willow always gets the good books.”
“Well,” Xander piped up, “there was that one time when I got the good book. You remember, right?”
Giles sighed and removed his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. “They’re
all good books. Very useful, it just sometimes happens to be more a matter of chance as to which has the most pertinent information.” With a sigh, he replaced his glasses and nodded. “I can see we’re getting very little done here, so perhaps a change of scenery would be in order.” Before he could stand, all three teens were on their feet and halfway to the door. “No, that’s perfectly all right, go on without me. I’m certain I’ll manage to find you.” The doors swung shut without a word from anyone. “Don’t forget that I’m the one with the car,” he addressed the swinging double doors.
~~
“Hey, look, it’s Giles! Giles beat us here. How did he beat us here?” Xander wondered out loud. “And look, he’s already got his fancy tea and everything.”
“Wow, and he doesn’t even look out of breath. I’m impressed.”
Willow laughed. “He drove. See, we should have waited and we could have all got to ride in the Giles-Mobile.”
“Oh, come on, I could beat the Giles-Mobile if I sprinted,” Buffy commented as they approached the table.
The librarian ruffled his newspaper indignantly. “I’ll have you know there’s not a thing wrong with my vehicle. If it were as terrible as you make it out to be, I’d never make it anywhere, now, would I?” He cleared his throat and took a sip of tea. “And how did you enjoy the walk?”
“It was nice,” Willow said agreeably. “Kinda breezy though. Winter-ish.” The waitress approached the table and left a trio of menus. “Oh, hi Mary. How’s it going?”
“Hi Willow, Buffy, Mr. Giles. Xander.” The dark-haired young woman smiled amicably. “Everything’s good with me. You need some time before you’re ready to order?”
Xander nodded. “Yeah, a few minutes would be cool, thanks.”
“Hey, Mary? Think you could let Tara know I – we’re here?” the redhead asked.
“Oh, sure, no problem,” Mary answered before retreating to the kitchen. A few moments later, the golden-haired witch emerged from the same door, an exuberant grin on her face as she headed over to the Scoobies’ table.
“Hey, it’s the working girl! How’s Tara this afternoon?” Xander greeted her.
The young witch half-smiled and gave a shrug. “You know. Getting the bills paid. Thanks for stopping over!” Her tone was friendly to everyone, but her eyes kept coming back to Willow. “I saw Mr. Giles come in, but I didn’t get a chance to say hello. Hello, Mr. Giles.”
The Watcher nodded in greeting. “Tara. Nice to see you.” He was rather fond of the young woman – she seemed very clever and quite level-headed.
“I should get back to work right now, I’ve already taken my last break, but maybe we can hang out later?” she inquired of the group. “My shift ends at three, so maybe we could get together tonight?”
“If we’re still in research mode when you get out, I’ll walk you back to the library,” Willow volunteered. “We’re looking up this species Buffy ran into last night.”
The Slayer’s expression turned almost serious. “Small, but surprisingly tough. I’d kinda be interested in finding out if they travel alone or if we should expect some more of them. That way, if Faith hasn’t seen any yet, we can give her a heads-up if we think more are likely to be around.”
“All right, I’m in. If you’re still researching by then, that is. See you at three?”
Willow beamed. “Definitely. I’ll be here.”
~~
The elfin redheaded girl pushed her chair back from the library table. “I’m gonna go get Tara now, okay? We still haven’t cracked this and we could use the extra help.”
Giles distractedly agreed. “Yes, hurry back. I’m sure we’ll find something solid within the next hour.”
“Yeah, and if we don’t I’m gonna start to get cranky,” Buffy added. “Mean little suckers are taking up all my vacation time.”
Willow rose to exit the library, Xander all but pouncing on the book she’d just abandoned. “This time
I’m gonna find it.”
Trying not to rush, the young witch made her way back down to the coffee shop, arriving promptly at three where she met Tara outside the door. The taller girl couldn’t stop smiling. “Hi sweetie,” she said in greeting. “You look cold, want my jacket?”
Willow shook her head but slipped her chilly hand into Tara’s. “I’ll be okay. You can warm me up.”
“All right, but I thought we were supposed to go help research,” the blonde teased, warming her girlfriend’s hands with her own.
The flame-haired young woman looked startled. “I didn’t mean like that! You’re so bad!”
“Oh, you know you like me that way.” The pair headed off to the high school arm in arm.
Joy: The shapeshifter scared the poo outta me when it first came on!!!!!
tk: this whole speech about going back..wayyyyy back, to the beginning
Joy: the real beginning ... hopefully not the movie....
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Lookin 4ward to more! 
looking forward to reading more of your wonderful story
So glad to see this great fic up and running again! Sweet updates, Joy! Can't wait for more!
Can't wait 4 more! 
