TITLE: The Language of Flowers
AUTHOR: Laura Curtis
PAIRING: B/G
RATING: G
SUMMARY: I was reading Gilesbabe’s Haiku’s on Allthejellies Yahoo Group and my mind went on a journey and this is the result. It fits one of the words of Mrsdrake’s Writing/Fanart Prompt Set 2, Book, so here it is. Let me know what you think.
DISCLAIMER: Don’t own them, just the ones I make up. Don’t know them. Not making any money. I’m just having fun with them. I promise to return them unharmed.
As she walked into Buffy and Giles’ house Willow heard a loud crash from somewhere up stairs, and a voice yell, “DAMM”. She started to run up the stairs when Buffy’s voice called down.
“Dawn have you found the book yet?”
The voice of Dawn came from the living room. “No not yet. Could it be in the attic?”
“Maybe; the boxes with Mom’s stuff in it either went into the attic or the basement.”
Dawn yelled back, “I’ll try the basement next.”
“Ok, I’m gonna try the attic,” called Buffy.
Her curiosity peaked Willow continued on up the stairs to find Buffy. When she got to the top of the stairs another crash came from Buffy’s room so she headed in that direction.
When she got to the room she saw boxes everywhere. The room was in rather a mess at the moment. She was about to call out to her when Buffy came from the closet.
“Hey Wills!”
“Hey. Loose something?”
“Yea, a book.”
“Must be some book?’
“Oh it’s not the book itself as much as the information inside. It’s a list of flowers and there meanings. Dad gave it to Mom when they were dating along with a dozen flowers and a list of the flowers. He told her that the meaning of the flowers was in the book, she just had to look them up. And from then on every anniversary he sent a dozen flowers and its list. It became a game to find the hidden meaning to them. Some English woman in the 1800’s wrote it.”
Willow’s eyes lit up. “Like the flowers and the list I got today.”
Buffy smiled. “They were from Rupert weren’t they?”
“Yea, I wondered why the note didn’t wish me a Happy Valentines Day.”
“It did only in a different way. Did you bring the note with you?”
Digging into her back pocket Willow brought out a piece of paper. “It’s right here. I was hoping Giles was here so he could explain it.”
Buffy dug into her back pocket and brought out four pieces of paper and showed them to Willow. “These are mine and he sent one to Dawn as well.”
Willow looked at Buffy’s notes. “That’s only four, did he forget a day? And look at this; mine has a website address on it. I wonder why?”
Buffy smiled. “No, the flower shop we order from is closed on Mondays so he made up for it today. I got two dozen instead of just one today. Now about the website, he found last year that he couldn’t find some flowers that said what he wanted to mean so he had one of the Watchers with computer skills look them up on the net. Some flowers have modern meanings, so we’ll check between the two, the book and website.”
Willow nodded her head smiling then she looked around. “Have you looked everywhere in here?” When Buffy nodded Willow tilted her head. “Let’s go look in the attic. I want to know what message Giles sent me.”
They left the bedroom and headed for the attic door at the end of the hall when they heard the basement door slam and Dawn running yelled, “I found it!”
Buffy and Willow looked at each other and started down stairs. Once they reached the bottom Dawn was headed into the living room towards the computer holding a small book.
As they got near Dawn she was already looking in the book to see what her flowers meant. “Ok my flowers mean,
Daisy… Innocence
Lilac (white)… Youthful innocence
Rosebud (white)… Girlhood
Woodbine… Fraternal love
Dawn smiled, “That is so sweet. I have to give Giles a hug for them. Ok Willow how about yours now.”
Willow got her paper. “Ok my flowers are,
Enchanter’s Nightshade… Witchcraft
Holly Herb… Enchantment
Circaea… Spell
Angelica... Inspiration
That last one doesn’t seem quite right. It doesn’t go with the rest of the meanings.”
Dawn nodded her head. “Your right. Let’s look on the website to see if it has a modern meaning.” Dawn searched the site she had pulled up before they went searching the house for the book. “Here it is and it fits. Angelica, it also means magic.”
Willow smiled. “They all have magic meanings. Perfect Giles, you’re getting a hug from me also. Ok Buffy, your turn. What do your flowers mean?”
Buffy pulled out her notes. “Ok, here is the first one,
Spanish Jasmine… Sensuality
Gooseberry… Anticipation
Peruvian Heliotrope… Devotion
Cabbage Rose… Ambassador of Love
And the second one,
For Get Me Not… True Love
Daffodil… You’re the only one
Peach Blossom… I am your captive
Iris Yellow… Passionate love
The third one,
Daisy (colored)… Beauty
Chrysanthemum (Red)… I Love You
Clover, four-leaved… Be Mine
Rose… Love
And finally the forth,
Fleur de lis… Message
Pink (double red)… Ardent Love
Red Tulip… Declaration of Love
Honeysuckle… Bonds of Love
Linden… Conjugal Love
Ivy… Wedded Love
Straw (Whole)… Union
Myrtle… Love
That last one doesn’t quite fit with the ones above it. Check the website for another meaning.”
“Here it is, Myrtle… Hebrew emblem of marriage”
Buffy’s eyes widened. “Is he asking what I think he is asking?”
Willow and Dawn both nodded their heads. “I think he is asking you to marry him.” Dawn said.
“I am.”
All three jumped at the sound of Giles’ voice from behind them. He had come in quietly while they were looking up the meanings. When they turned to look at him he was down on one knee with some flowers in his hand.
“Dawn, the meaning to these flowers are on the site. They’re Orange Blossoms look them up.”
Dawn turned quickly back to the computer and after a moment found it. “The meaning that fits is Bridal festivities.”
Giles still looking at Buffy asked again. “Buffy, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Buffy, with tears running down her cheeks, walked up to Giles, took the flowers from his hands and wrapped her arms around him. In a choked voice she whispered in his ear, “Yes!”
Giles pulled Buffy into a hug, stood up and turned round and round with her. After a moment he looked to the other two and smiled. “She said yes!”
Dawn and Willow both walked up to Buffy and Giles and hugged them.
Giles looked at Buffy. “Tomorrow we’ll talk about a date. Tonight I want to take you three out to celebrate.”
He started to turn with Buffy when both Willow and Dawn said, “Giles?”
When he looked at them they both hugged him again and said “Thank you for the flowers.”
He hugged them back. “You’re welcome. Now lets go, we have celebrating to do.”
They all left to go to their favorite restaurant in all of England to toast the pair.
The End!