Title: Once In A Lifetime 21/24
Author: Karen Jephson
Disclaimer: Not mine, unfortunately. Want to adopt and treat them better
than their owners, but I don't have enough.
Feedback: Live for it.
Note: To Trich and Gail. Thanks for your nagging, your precise beta, and your
constant encouragement.
"So, did you get a chance to ask him?"
"Ask him what?"
Xander and Willow glanced at Dawn, weighing whether or not they should answer. It was hard to tell how much Buffy's younger sister understood, and what her reaction would be. The four of them were sitting in the Summers' living room. After she realized Buffy wasn't returning for the night, Willow had called Xander and Anya over to help her keep Dawn company. Xander finally answered. "I didn't get a chance. Buffy interrupted us just as I was leading up to it."
"Ask him what?"
"So we still don't know."
"Guys! Ask who what, and what don't we know?"
Anya sighed. "They wanted to ask Rupert when he fell in love with Buffy, to see if our Giles has inappropriate feelings for your sister."
"Oh. What? That's . actually that kinda make sense."
"So you're not wigged?" Willow stroked the younger girl's hair as she asked the question.
"Not really. I mean, look how many times he left then came back. And it's not like he moved to the next county, or even in the same country. And why else would he put up with all the crap Buffy dished."
"Wow." Xander shook his head. "I never thought of it that way."
"You know what I'm wondering?" They looked at Anya, expecting some embarrassing comment on Buffy or Giles. She surprised them all. "If Buffy didn't die, how did they defeat Glory?"