"Joyce, Rupert why don't you too pair up. This is the first meeting for both of you" the two adults looked at each other both wondering how they'd gotten talked into coming to a single parent's support group. The tall woman led the two parents to a table in the back of the meeting room where she sat them across from one another. "Why don't you both start off talking about what brought you here." She then walked off to help others leaving the awkward couple alone. The man took off his glasses and polished them and the woman sat chewing on her bottom lip. The man put his glasses back on and smiled shyly. "Hum, I think we should start properly." The woman looked at him with new interest she had thought he was handsome enough but now she knew he was English. "My name is Rupert Giles it's very nice to meet you…" The woman took his hand. "Joyce Summers." Rupert Smiled more confidently at her this time. "Well Ms. Summers…"

"Joyce please"

"umm Joyce do you feel as awkward here as I do?"

"I imagine so; a friend of mine talked me into coming. What about you I noticed you don't sound like you're from around here?" Joyce probed curiously.

"No I just moved here with my son from London." Joyce nodded her head. "My girls and I moved here from LA a few years ago. That was only a couple hours I can't imagine moving to another country."

"Yes it is a big step but I got a job at the university here as an English professor. To tell the truth I am worried about my son."

"How old is he?"

"William is seventeen."

"Oh my Buffy is seventeen. Will he be going to Sunnydale High School?"

"Hopefully yes." Rupert looked a little down trodden. Joyce noticed this and wondered if she should pry. She debated in her head. Finally she settled…she was here to lend support to other single parents. The man in front of her was obviously having some kind of trouble, he was new in town, and he had a teenage son. Being the caring soul Joyce was she realized that her problems might not be as sever as his and she opted to pry. "Hopefully? Is there a problem?"

"Oh dear I'm so sorry I didn't mean to go on about my problems." Rupert was defiantly being either very male or very British and Joyce would have none of it. "I understand if you can't talk about it, but that is what we're here for: to help each other. I know what it's like being new and I had all sorts of problems with my daughters when their father left us and we moved. I particularly had problems with Buffy my seventeen year old. But she came around and met some nice kids and is doing really well. Really turning into a beautiful woman. So please go on maybe I can put some of my experience to use." Rupert shifted in his seat. He couldn't imagine why anyone would leave such a charming woman. But how would she react to his story… well there was only one way to find out.

"Well if you really don't mind." Joyce reached out and patted the man's hand "it's alright."

"Where do I start it seems like William's whole life has been one drama after another. The boy has defiantly had it hard no matter how much I've tried to help ease it. You see much to my family's dismay my wife was Irish, Catholic, and a, there is no other way to describe it, gypsy. I met her in Cambridge. She was well educated beautiful and worldly. We fell in love and married. My parents were furious, they sent us away. I moved with my wife's family learning their customs and traditions. I didn't speak to my family again until William was born two years later. And as a Grandchild often does he softened their hearts and we were allowed to come out of exile. So I spoke to them regularly and sent them pictures but I didn't bring my wife and child to meet them. We were happy we traveled with the gypsies. I taught their children.

Then when William was five the gypsies decided to stop back in England and my wife begged me to let William meet my side of the family. She thought it would be for the best, I knew better. William was a happy child, intelligent, cunning, wild, a little reckless, but caring and kind. I took him to meet his grandparents. Though I loved them I had come to realize their faults. They stood my son in front of them and in their pompous arrogance they picked him apart: like vultures. They called him scruffy and complained that he took after my wife looking every bit the gypsy. They said I should leave my wife or at very least take my family and leave the gypsies so that they could re-teach William while there was still time. William stood there silent the whole time. He was a shy boy in front of strangers. He puts on a good front now but he's still shy. Well William finally got up the courage to speak up. Something was bothering him, he addressed my father "Grand Da, have I done something wrong?" My parents looked at him horrified. You see William had an Irish accent than. He's since learned to change his accent to suit his purposes: which has come quite handy with my parents. His Grandparent's outburst at the poor boy's simple question so frightened him that I don't think he spoke in their presence with out being addressed till he was in his teens. After that we went back to my wife's family but things started falling apart there. First my wife's brother and sister in law were killed in an explosion in Dublin. Leaving my nieces and nephews parentless. They stayed with us for a while till my mother and father in law took them in. When William was seven my wife decided William needed some stability that the traveling life couldn't give him. So we decided to move to London. My wife was a painter, I taught, and William went to school. I course when ever his cousins came to visit I'd find them grifting in the tube or the street corner or even the pub. William's a bright boy, his teachers always said so. But he's very sensitive and when provoked the Irish blood in him kicks in and he fights. When we first moved to London he was always in fights mostly because many of the kids would tease him and if there's one thing you don't do to a gypsy it's tease him. My wife's family taught their children to fight as soon as they learned to walk. William is quite the scrapper but that's beside the point. William's been in and out of trouble. Then about seven years ago my wife got sick. It was cancer. William eleven at the time and he took it really hard. They were very close to each other, they had quite the bond. She always knew how to handle him. I wish I did. My wife went through treatment after treatment. Then her father passed on, that was a huge lose. He was a good man and William really looked up to him. My wife was treated for four years. Then one day William got into another fight at school I don't know what it was about. The school called the house for someone to pick him up. I was in the middle of a lecture so my wife decided she would do it. So she goes and picks the boy up and on the way home it's raining and dark and some fool with out his lights on runs a traffic light and hits my wife's car. I get a call and go to the hospital. My wife sustained only minor injuries. But in her weekend state they could be fatal. The car hit William's side of their car. He was in critical condition they weren't very hopeful that he was going to make it. After hours of surgery William was put into ICU. My wife insisted she go be with him. The doctors and I said it wasn't a good idea but we wound up relenting. Should would go and be with her boy even if it killed her. She stayed by his side for three days she was urged back to bed but… it was…to late…she didn't make it throw the night. On the fifth day my son woke up. That day was both the happiest and saddest day of my life. My son was going to live but my wife had died. And then having to tell the boy, he was already so broken. He was always such a strong boy. But there he was lying in the hospital looking so broken. I had to tell him. I couldn't just let him believe she was alive waiting in the next room to see him. That would have been just as cruel. I told him she had died. I probably should have waited till he was a little better but I don't think I was strong enough to have to lie to him when he asked where his mother was. He cried it seemed like he cried forever. I didn't know what else to do but hold him. That was the last time I saw him cry. He didn't cry when the doctors told him he'd probably never walk again. After that first night he was very quiet, he barely spoke. He spent months in the hospital. He wasn't able to attend his mother's funeral. After a few months he was well enough to come home. He was in a wheel chair. The following year his Grandmother on my wife's side died and my niece and nephew were sent to LA to live with an aunt of theirs, another reason we've moved to California. I would have moved us then but William wasn't well enough.

With much therapy over the next two years William slowly learned to walk again. He's worlds better today than he was three years ago. But even though he really keeps to himself I know he blames himself for his mother's death. His guilt is really starting to take its toll. He's all but given up eating. I'm hoping the move does more good then harm. I'm worried for him. His cousins may visit soon and I think that will be good for him. I just wish there was more I could do to help him. I'm really at a lose as to what to do next." Rupert finished his story and sipped his coffee. He and Joyce had relocated when the meeting had ended so that they could continue their conversation. "I'm so sorry for your lose, she sounded like a wonderful woman." Joyce was amazed by Rupert's story, she wasn't expecting such a fantastic drama. What could she do? She really felt for Rupert's son the poor boy must be in a lot of pain. Here were these two people far away from home in a new place. That settled it Joyce's maternal instincts switched on "are you and William doing anything Friday night?" It was Tuesday night so that gave everyone plenty of time to get ready. "Well no, we haven't got any plans."

"Good than you can come over for diner." Rupert started but Joyce hushed him. "We'll keep it casual it'll be more of a pot luck, I'll make a salad, hot dogs, hamburgers, macaroni casserole, potatoes salad. Oh and for dessert have you had pretzel salad before? Ok this'll be good. I'll have Buffy rent some movies and invite her friends Willow and Xander so William can meet some kids. They're good kids. Don't look at me that way I won't take no for an answer. Think of it as a welcome to America diner." Joyce got a pen out of her purse and grabbed a napkin. Here's my address and my phone number call me if you need anything. Let's shoot for 5:30 Friday that sound good?" Rupert was struck speechless. "I'll take that as a yes, great. Don't worry about bringing anything I'll take care of it. OK then I'll see you Friday give me a call to let me know how things are going." With that both Joyce and Rupert went there separate ways, both knowing something special had just happened.

He and Joyce had talked for a couple hours after the meeting. Rupert hadn't planed on not getting home till ten he hoped William hadn't gotten into any kind of trouble. Rupert knew his boy and if there was one thing his boy knew it was trouble. Rupert had worked with children most of his life he knew problem kids and what caused them to be that way. William had always had a hyperactive streak not that that was a bad thing it just ment that sometimes it was harder to get through to William and to keep his attention where it should be.

The first thing Rupert noticed when he got in the house was it was totally dark. Rupert through his keys on a table by the door and proceeded to trip over a bow as he went over to turn on a lamp. "William?" Rupert called. Hearing no answer and finding no William downstairs Rupert headed up stairs. William's room was the first on the left at the top of the stairs the door was closed so Rupert knocked. When no reply came Rupert's heart skipped a beat. He opened to door. The room was dim a lamp was lit on the bed stand and an unmistakable bleach blonde form lay on the bed. Rupert relaxed. His son had fallen asleep with his head phones on and a copy of La Morte De Arthur resting on his chest. Rupert looked over his son in his soccer shorts and white tee shirt as opposed to his usual black tee, black jeans, black boots, and black leather duster that had once been his grandfather's. The boy looked unsettlingly thin almost frail. It hurt knowing that his son was in pain and he didn't know how to make it stop. At least sleeping now he looked peaceful Rupert had a sinking suspicion that his son didn't sleep well most nights. Making his way through the sea of cardboard boxes that covered the floor over to the peninsula of a bed his son lay on. Rupert removed the head phones and the book (not losing the page) and placed them on the night stand. He gently repositioned his son's legs so he could pull the covers up. He turned off the lamp. As he turned back to his son he placed his hand on the top of William's head and kissed his fore head. And with a voice scarily audible he whispered "I love you William." Careful to retrace his path through the boxes Rupert made his way out of the room. He took one last glance at his son sleeping looking so young and innocent then closed the door. It had been an eventful night and his internal clock hadn't adjusted yet either in London it was already four thirty in the morning.

When Joyce pulled into the driveway she noticed every light in the house was on. She was defiantly going to have to have a talk with those girls about the electricity bill. She knew they'd both still be up hopefully they hadn't killed one another. When she went into the house through the front door she found both girls sitting in the living room playing Monopoly. Dawn was the first to jump on Joyce "Mom Buffy isn't playing fair. I think she's stealing my money when I'm not looking."

"Shut up Dawn it's not my fault you can't count." Joyce set her purse down on the couch. "So Mom meet any hot looking single men? You were out awful late." Buffy teased. "Actually yes." Joyce smiled at her daughters hoping their reactions would be pleasant ones. "Yes what?" Buffy dropped the dice she was holding. "Yes I met a nice man. His name is Rupert Giles and he and his son William just moved here from England." Well it wasn't going badly so far "Oh does he have an accent?" Dawn at least was getting excited. "Yes he does and William is your age Buffy." Joyce decided she should use a different tactic with the rest of the information so she grabbed the empty glasses off the coffee table and headed to the kitchen. "I've invited them to them to diner Friday night." Both Dawn and Buffy reacted at once: Dawn with "Oooh, we get to meet them." And Buffy with "What?!?" Joyce turned back to her Daughters "I've invited the Giles for diner Friday night." Dawn was now jumping up and down all over the place, while Buffy look absolutely and utterly disappointed "But mom I was suppose to go out to the Bronze Friday with Willow and Xander."

"You have all summer to go to the Bronze. Wouldn't you like to meet someone new? Besides Willow and Xander are invited to diner too. You remember what it was like moving here and not knowing anyone. I think it would be nice if you introduced William to some nice people. His dad said he's been having a rough time sense his mother died. Diner is at 5:30 we'll have a cook out. So that'll leave you plenty of time to get to the Bronze. Maybe you'll even want to take William with you. Oh and you can rent some movies. So is it settled?" Buffy had obviously been appeased. "You drive a hard bargain Mom but I think I can deal and Willow and Xander will probably be cool with it too." Joyce let out a sigh everything was going to be good.

Rupert had been up since six. He had gone out and gotten a newspaper and a few groceries. He'd checked his e mail and was now making breakfast. When he heard William on the stairs he put down his spatula and grabbed a glass out of the cupboard. William came in still in his shorts and tee shirt. His hair was sticking out all over the place. He had put his black leg braces over his ivory legs. William sat down at the kitchen table and Rupert brought over a glass of orange juice. "Good morning William." Rupert put on his best cheerful visage for his son. "Morning" William automatically replied as he ran a hand over his face and then back through his hair. Rupert started fixing a plate for his son. He set down the plate of scrambled eggs with cheese, bacon, and buttered toast with jelly in front of his son then grabbed his cup of tea and sat down next to the boy. Rupert studied his child. The boy had his head in his right hand while he stared at the food he was pushing around the plate with his fork. Rupert didn't know quite how he should open the conversation so he opted for small talk. "How are you this morning?" William looked up at his father "fine" then he went back to what he was doing. Rupert was about to ask something else when William looked up again "Why do you always have to ask that? I hate that question. How am I? Why do you need to know? It's the bloody stupidest question in the English language. It's like people really never want to know how you are when they ask it and if they do they're too bleeding nosy. I'm sitting here so I not dead so life is fine you don't need to ask me to get that. It's just stupid and I asked you not to ask me that…I am so sick of that question." William's rant died down. "William that is the most ridiculous rot. There is no plot to drive you insane through small talk I was merely trying to get you talking so we could have a civilized conversation. And I am interested in how you are. I noticed you were asleep when I got in last night." William eyed his father "Yeah so what?"

"Nothing. It's just that I wanted to tell you that we've been invited to diner Friday night at the home of a woman I met last night. She's a very nice lady and has a daughter that's your age." William's frowned and his lip curled in discussed. His whole body spoke volumes of teenage misery "and yes William you are going."

The week past slowly for William. It was filled with unpacking and putting things away. Some things William wished he could have just left packed away where he would never have to be reminded of them and the painful past again. His father was constantly nagging him. He was anxious about this diner thing his dad had set up. William didn't want to go but he knew if he argued too much or found some excuse to get out of it his father would worry which in the long run would cause major back lash. So he tried not to think about it or anything for that matter.

The week was going too fast for Buffy. She had invited Willow and Xander to the cook out and they were both stoked. Buffy thought she should get a new out fit at least a new shirt just in case the boy was cute: she'd want to make a good first impression. She discussed the choice of movies to watch with her friends. They thought they should steer clear of any movies about America and the British fighting. They didn't know what William had already seen and nothing good had come out lately so they decided on some old favorites. Monty Python and the Holy Grail, British humor was always a good ice breaker. Star Wars New Hope action, adventure, incest, young Harry Ford. And Night mare on Elm Street because well horror yeah and but mostly for gorgeous young Johnny Depp. With the movies picked out there was only the discussion of how to ditch the guy if he was a total loser. Buffy had Friday's meeting on the brain.

Joyce and Rupert were both excited. Joyce busied herself with food preparation. While Rupert worried about second impressions. He had really liked Joyce at their first meeting and hoped that they would have a lot in common to talk about. Joyce wondered the same thing. She hoped everyone would get along. They spoke on the phone Thursday night. Joyce said her girls were excited. Rupert said William wasn't that thrilled. Joyce assured him that everything would be fine.

Friday had arrived it was now 4:30 and William was stepping out of the shower. He heard his dad call for him to hurry up and get ready. Rupert had been ready for at least an hour. He was dressed as casual as he ever got which wasn't casual by most people's standards since his outfit still involved tweed. Tweed, William cringed at the thought. He wiped the fog from the bathroom mirror and stood with his towel around his waist admiring himself. He looked pretty good well better than he had not too long ago. He went about brushing his teeth, spiking his hair. Then he went to pick out something to wear. He figured he'd wear his usual black. Why break tradition now? Maybe he'd wear that red silk shirt over his tee shirt for a little color. His pants didn't fit as tight as they once had so he grabbed a belt. His jeans being slightly baggy didn't bother him: it meant he could wear his braces under his pants. That way he wouldn't have to answer stupid questions about them. He pulled on his black boots, cursed the weather in California that kept him from wearing his beloved duster, and took one last look around his new room stopping briefly on the picture of his mother that sat on his night stand before heading down stairs.

5:10 Joyce and Xander were in the backyard getting the grill ready. Willow was putting everyone's name on a Styrofoam cup. Buffy was getting the ketchup and mustard our and Dawn had been sent into the Living room because she kept eating the chips. "So what do we know about these people again?" Willow asked as she rolled William's cup in her hand. "My mom didn't say much, just that she met Mr. Giles at her single parents group and that he and his son William who is our age just moved here from England. She did mention that William's mother had died. Other than that I guess we'll just have to find out."

"OH ok so we don't know if he's going to be cute." Willow looked sideways at Buffy. "Well no but my mom said his dad had an accent so there's a good chance he will too."

"Ooo British guys are hot."

"Yeah I'm hoping this one lives up to that."

"Maybe he'll take the edge off that break up with Angel."

"Please let's not mention the "A" word." Xander and Mrs. Summers came in. "Where's the burgers I'm feeling manly I need to grill something." Joyce grabbed the plate of hamburger patties and a metal spatula and handed them to Xander "Here you go knock yourself out."

"Thank you Mrs. Summers seeing as I'm the only man here right now I'll go tend to the man's work. Hey Will you want to come watch me at my manly work?"

"If by manly work you mean Flipping burgers till they're over done lumps of charcoal: sure why not." Willow and Xander went back out to the grill. Buffy was adding more chips to the bowl Dawn had snacked on when she heard Dawn shout from the other room. "They're here! There here!" Buffy and Joyce both dropped what they were doing in the kitchen. Willow and Xander came back in the house. Joyce went to answer the door and the kids all peeked out the window as the Giles walk up the driveway. "Oh my! Buffy he's cute." Willow elbowed Buffy. "Yeah he is" Dawn agreed. "But what is with his hair, his clothes, and that walk."

"Lay off Xander."

"I'm off I'm off I'm just saying."

"Let's try not to judge till we meet this kid." Buffy wasn't sure what to make of him at first glance.

"Rupert how are you? Welcome!"

"Joyce so lovely to see you again. Thank you for having us. This is William." Rupert put his hand on William's Shoulder and moved the hesitant boy past the threshold. "Hello William." William nodded "Ello" Joyce ushered them in "this is Dawn and Buffy Willow and Xander." Each gave a wave or a nod or greeting as Joyce introduced them. "I think Rupert and I should go check on the burgers maybe throw a few hot dogs on. Why don't you kids put a movie on?"

William joined the others in the family room. He sat down in a chair while the others sat on the couch or the floor. Xander played with the VCR. Buffy looked at William out of the corner of her eye. Dawn was flat out staring at the boy, Willow was fidgeting and William looked around the room: looking everywhere but at the others. "So William will you be going to Sunnydale high with us?" Buffy throw out. "It's Spike."

"What's spike is that some British Slang?"

"Spike's my name and it's not British." William or rather Spike focused on Buffy. "What kind of name is that?"

"Mine"

"Ok Spike, are you going to go to school with us?"

"Yeah"

"So where did you move from in England?" Willow ever the peacemaker, had been watching the two blonde's volley and she could see this wasn't going anywhere pretty. Spike didn't want to be given the third degree and Buffy wasn't about to just let him sit there.

"London"

"Can you answer with more than one word or is that a British thing?" Buffy was not liking the attitude this kid had "I'm not British."

"What do you mean you're not British you sound British and you moved here from London."

"My dad is British and I'm just not ok." Spike turned away from the others they all knew the conversation was over but they none knew what they said wrong.

"Alright. Xander are you going to put in a movie like today?"

"Is Star Wars cool with everybody?"

(hope you've liked it so far. I'm looking for impute and direction. If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them thanks!)