Title: B & B Weekend 11-12
Author: Gileswench
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly sought.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.



Giles sprang to the door as soon as he heard the light rap.

"Buffy, darling, I - oh, it's you." He regarded Wesley much as he might have a caterpillar in his salad.

"I'm afraid Cordelia has thrown me out of our room. Might I stay with you tonight, Mr. Giles?"

"Thrown you out? Why did she do that?"

"I, em, well, I asked her a question she didn't like. Not that I can blame her for not liking it. I should never have said anything, but I had to know. And now, well, here I am."

Giles sighed and stood back to let the younger man in. Once the door was shut, he sat on the bed, indicating the loveseat to Wesley.

"What did you ask her?"

"I should never have asked her."

"That's probably true, but what was it you said?"

"All day long, whenever I would try to ask about her vision, she...distracted me."

"Distracted you?" The light dawned. "You mean she initiated some sexual activity?"

Wesley nodded.

"She seemed to care about me. We even spoke of continuing the relationship after our return to Los Angeles. Then she told me she couldn't tell me what her vision was even though she'd already told Buffy. I had to know."

"If she went to bed with you because she wanted you or because she was distracting you. Dammit, man, are you insane? If you want a woman to love you, you don't ask a question like that."

"And why should I be taking advice for the lovelorn from you? Buffy showed up in tears at our door mere seconds before I was turned out into the night. What the hell have you been saying to the girl?"

"So Buffy didn't tell you about the vision?"

"No. Did she tell you?"

"Oh yes. It seems that Cordelia and Buffy are both convinced that the vision means that Buffy is going to have a baby."

"A baby? You mean..."

"Do I really have to spell it out to you? I shan't be giving any lectures on the birds and the bees this evening. If you don't know how it works, look it up."

The two glared at one another for a moment.

"You never have liked me, have you?" Wesley asked the question without rancor.

"Not especially, no. Though, to be fair, I have to admit it was sour grapes as much as anything. I'd have disliked anyone the Council sent to replace me."

"You were in love with her as far back as that?"

Giles nodded. "Of course I tried to keep it hidden. It wasn't appropriate. Probably still isn't. And now I've lost her."

"What precisely did you say to the girl?"

"That's just it; I've no idea. One moment she thinks I'm too excited about the idea of a child, the next she thinks I don't care enough. And apparently I'm supposed to have all of life's answers at my fingertips because I'm so old. She can't even make up her mind what I've done wrong. The final blow, however, was when I told her the decision was entirely in her hands."

"You said what?!"

"What was so terrible in that? I said I would respect her wishes and needs above my own. That's what I do."

"You idiot! You told a nineteen year-old girl that you will make no effort to help her in what will likely be the most important choice of her life! She has relied upon you for guidance since she was sixteen, and you won't even tell her what you would like now."

"I didn't want to influence her decision. What the hell was I supposed to do?"

"Tell her you want a child. Tell her you don't. Tell her you're delighted or panic stricken, or something that gives her an idea where you stand! Blueberry scone? You're a fine judge of maturity, you stupid man!"

"She never gave me a chance. I was supposed to know what I wanted without any consideration or warning. How would you react if Cordelia came in right now and said she was carrying your child and please make up her mind for her whether to have it?"

There was nothing to say, so they went back to glaring at one another.

*****

"So then he tells me the whole thing is on me, and he won't even give me a hint what he wants! How am I supposed to know what to do?"

"Yeah? Well Wesley's even worse than that. At least Giles was trying in a repressed and backwards way to be sensitive to you. Weasley actually had the nerve to ask if I slept with him because I was trying to distract him from the vision! As if I couldn't have come up with a dozen ways to distract him if that was all I wanted!"

"Men! What a waste of space!"

"You know what we need? Chick flicks and chocolate. I wonder where we can get some around here."

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

"Maybe that weird guy who runs this place will know."

The two girls headed out the door.

*****

"Lord in heaven, but I want a drink."

"I hardly think that would help matters."

"You know, Wesley, I really don't much care what you think."

"I don't imagine you do, but all the same, I would recommend against it."

"Something of a moot point since there isn't any liquor in the room."

"I wonder: does Buffy realize you're an alcoholic?"

Wesley was rewarded with a baleful glare.

"Does Cordelia realize that you're a prat?" Giles stood and shrugged on his jacket. "I don't know about you, but I'm going to find a bar."

The two left the room.

*****

The girls found Chip tidying the sitting room.

"Well, what can I do for you ladies? And where are those nice young men you're here with?"

Cordelia raised a hand as she answered. "I don't ever want to see Wesley the Weasel again."

Buffy nodded vigorously as she agreed. "And Rupert the Poop can take a flying leap, too! We want chocolate and chick flicks, and we want 'em now. Where do we find them in this hick town?"

"Don't you worry, girls. You can use the den. Thelma and Louise all right? Or are you more in a Waiting To Exhale frame of mind?"

"Thelma, and make it snappy." Cordelia didn't hesitate.

"And the chocolate?" Buffy's priority was clear.

"I'll have Betty make some cocoa for you. How about some popcorn to go with?"

The girls looked at one another, then at Chip, and nodded.

"I'll get right on that. Don't you worry your pretty little heads about a thing."

He scurried off on his mission.

"Okay. He's seriously not of the normal, but I think I'll let him live."

"I reserve judgment until we find out if his cocoa's as good as your moms."

*****

Giles grabbed Chip's shoulder as he hurried down the hall.

"Where is a decent bar in this town?"

"Now you don't want to go to a bar tonight, do you? Not when you've got that pretty little thing to cuddle up with. Don't you worry, she'll be back before the end of the night. She and her friend just have to show their independence a bit."

"Look you wretched little sod, I don't want your advice or your opinion. I want to go out and get stinking drunk. Then I want to beat the crap out of somebody. If you don't shut up soon, you will be that somebody."

"Please, Mr. Giles! Really!" Wesley turned his attention to the odd little man Giles was holding some four inches off the ground. "How do you know Buffy will forgive him tonight?"

"I can't tell you. I just know she will if he doesn't do something stupid."

"Well, too late for that. How about if he does?":

"Tomorrow, then."

"I suggest you put him down, Mr. Giles. Buffy won't like it if you injure our host. Not to mention the fact that an assault charge wouldn't look good to Immigration."

Giles put Chip down, looking defeated. "All right. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"Now, now, if I was having a fight with such a pretty thing, I'd go a little nuts myself. Don't worry. She and her friend are gonna watch a movie that makes them feel all strong and empowered and then they'll forgive you two. Now go back to your rooms and rest up; these kind of movies make women real excitable!" He gave the two Englishmen a wink as he scuttled away.

"Well, I suppose there's nothing else for it, is there?"

"No, Wesley, I suppose there isn't. See you in the morning?"

"Yes. Yes of course." Each man went to his own room, praying the strange little man knew what he was talking about.

*****

As the movie ended, Buffy began to think out loud. "May be we should go on a road trip. Just drive across the country avenging the wrongs men commit every...oh my God, I'm turning into Anya! This is so not of the good."

"Why are you channeling that fruitcake?"

"Probably because she and Xander have been dating for months now. It's even more twisted than when he was dating you."

Cordelia shuddered. "I thought she boogied right before Graduation."

"She came back. She wanted Xander. No one knows why. I think Leonard Nimoy is looking into the phenomenon."

"Okay, since we're doing Scooby updates, how are Willow and Oz? Still Hallmarking?"

"Not for a while. Oz got it on with a girl werewolf and left to commune with his inner beast. Willow's with another witch now. Her name's Tara."

"Willow's a lesbian? When did that happen? Oh my God! I had gym with her a couple times! She saw me in the shower! Ish!"

"Don't worry, Cordy. I don't think she goes for Gucci girls."

"Wow. You're gone for a year and everything changes."

"Well, yeah. I mean, a year ago if anyone had told me I'd be with Giles, I'd have laughed, and not in a happy way. Cordelia, I love him. I want to be with him. I think I might even want his baby."

"Duh! You've wanted him for a long time. You thought we didn't see those looks you used to give him, but we all did."

"What looks? There was looking? How come I didn't see it?"

"Because your entire fashion sense has always said 'no mirrors in my life'. You've always looked at him like he was a gooey chocolate cake that you couldn't wait to apply directly to your thighs."

Okay, so I wasn't as blind as I wanted to be. He was my Watcher. He was supposed to always tell me what to do and then I could ignore him and defy him, and he would forgive me because I'm Buffy, and I'm trying to turn him back into a Watcher again, aren't I? I've been turning him into the bad guy because I don't want to have to decide this whole thing myself. I've been really unfair to him, haven't I?"

"Yeah, well, I wouldn't know about that, but I think you're at least ready to talk to him now. Look, the whole thing really wigs me out, but you two seem to have something good going. And if the PTB are behind it, I say get going and get groinal again. You guys have a baby to make...if you haven't already."

"What about you and Wesley?"

Cordelia thought for a moment. "I guess he has a point. I did kinda suck his face every time he asked for a description of that demon. That could give a guy the wrong idea, couldn't it? Okay. It's time to be big and let him apologize to me. Let's go Thelma."

"Okay, Louise."

*****

Giles lay on the bed contemplating his earlier conversation with Buffy. A baby. Did he want a baby? Wasn't it a bit late in life to be wondering that? After all, he was forty-six. If he was planning on a family he should have started it years ago. And Buffy was only nineteen. Though, as she had pointed out, that was getting on a bit for a Slayer. What if she died young as so many Slayers before her had done? Would he be able to care for a child on his own?

And what would his relationship with Buffy be in the meantime? He hadn't given much thought to that question, either. Should he ask her to move in with him? He doubted that Joyce would be thrilled with the situation. She would probably be horrified to discover that he was dating her daughter, much less that he was planning on getting her pregnant. What the hell were they going to do?

The knock on the door startled Giles out of his thoughts. He was up and across the room in a flash.

"Buffy, dearest, I've been a - you're not Buffy." He looked in confusion at Chip.

"No, I'm not. Just thought you might want to have these on hand before she gets back here." He handed Giles a bouquet of daisies and a bottle of sparkling apple juice along with two champagne flutes. "Nothing says sorry like a big bunch of her favorite flowers! Am I right?"

"But - how did you know daisies are Buffy's favorite flower?"

"That's my job, son! I'll just get out of your way now." He turned to go. "Oh! I almost forgot!" He handed Giles a package. "No peeking, but you got her a present."

"I did?"

"Sometimes love needs a helping hand." The odd little man winked again and took off down the hall like a shot.

"Really, the people one meets in this country."

*****

Wesley had no idea how Chip had known that bearded irises were Cordelia's favorite flower, or what was in the package he'd handed the erstwhile Watcher, but he decided to trust the strange little man. Whatever was going on, he seemed to be pulling the strings behind it. Now if he could just get Cordelia to believe the sincerity of his apology. If only he felt sure she would take him back, he wouldn't care about anything else.

Only time would tell.

PART 12

This time, when he heard the knock on the door, Giles opened it to ascertain who was there before calling out his love's name.

"Buffy! I've been such a blind fool; can you ever forgive me?"

The girl threw herself into his arms. "No, Rupert, I'm the idiot in the room. I just freaked and took it out on you."

"No, no, luv. You needed me and I was too startled to be of any use. I'm sorry."

"So am I."

Their kiss quickly spiraled from forgiving to passionate. Finally the need for oxygen forced them to pull back slightly.

"I, um, I have something for you, Buffy" Giles told her as he handed over the flowers.

"Daisies! My favorites! Where did you get these?"

"Never you mind, luv. Oh, and there's this as well." He offered the girl the box Chip had given him. He sent up a silent prayer that whatever it was would be as popular with Buffy as the blooms.

"Rupert?" She stared into the box, blinking. "is this...what I think it is?"

*****

"Oh my God, bearded irises! How did you know? They're my favorites!" Cordelia squealed with pleasure.

"It was the least I could do. I behaved like a cad. Can you ever forgive me for doubting you?"

"You're right. You were a total jerk. You're lucky I have such a forgiving nature. And that you're so sexy."

Wesley crushed the girl to his chest and covered her face in kisses, which Cordelia eagerly returned. Suddenly she felt Wesley slip a box into her hand.

"Ooh, a present. We'll have to come up with reasons to make up more often."

"Go ahead, open it."

Wesley thought his heart would explode with the suspense. He could only hope and pray that whatever was in that box would please his most particular lady.

She held up the elegant gold bangle for inspection.

"It's beautiful. It's real. Okay, either Angel is paying you way more than I thought or you've turned to a life of crime."

"Is it...all right?"

"Wesley, it's perfect." He could hear how hard she was trying to hold her voice steady. "Thank you."

They embraced again, more tenderly this time.

"But, Wesley, how can you afford this? I can't take it. It's - it's too much."

He silenced her protests with a hard kiss.

"Nonsense. You'll accept it and you'll wear it. You deserve it. Please."

Not waiting for her to answer he slipped it over her hand.

"Just be with me, Cordelia. Be my love."

All she could do was melt into his arms and kiss him.

*****

Crystal Summers rolled over to face her husband in bed. Propping herself on one elbow, she gathered her courage to ask him the question she'd been asking herself all afternoon and evening.

"Hank? Do you really want the baby?"

"What are you talking about? Go back to sleep."

"No, Hank. I need to know."

"You're being silly, Honey. Get some rest."

"No!"

Hank sat up blinking.

"What do you mean 'no'?"

"I mean I want an answer." The girl shook inwardly. She had never been so insistent with Hank before.

"Of course I want the baby. Why wouldn't I?"

"You don't seem to want Buffy."

"Is this some hormonal thing?"

"No it isn't. At least, I don't think so. And Buffy told me how long it's been since you've seen her. Almost three years. I don't want that to happen to our baby."

"It won't. I told you."

"You told me lots of stuff. You never told me your daughter was older than me."

"Crystal, I'm tired and you're tired. It's been a long day. Go to sleep."

Tears welled up in the girls' eyes as she attempted to obey her new husband. Maybe she would be able to convince him to talk in the morning.

*****

"I'm leaving in the morning."

Ethan stared in surprise at his bedmate. "Why?"

"Maybe I can't have Ripper, but that doesn't mean I should be with you."

"Doesn't mean you shouldn't be either. What brought this on?"

"I have other choices. You don't strike me as a good one in the long run."

"You're probably right, but we could have so much fun in the short run, you and I."

"I don't want to see him with her."

"So it still comes back to Rupert and his Slayer. God you're pathetic. Why don't you just leave now?" Ethan snarled.

"Because it's dark. I can't go out there now that I know what it hides. I'll go in the morning."

*****

"Riley?"

"What?" he replied sleepily.

"That Buffy? She was more than just a girl in one of your classes, wasn't she?"

Riley sighed. Katie might not be perceptive when it came to sarcasm, but she had a sixth sense for old girlfriends.

"You're right. We dated for a while. But it was over before I came back to Iowa. I care about her, but I don't want to be with her anymore. I've got you now."

"I know", Katie said with a smug expression. "Anyway, she wouldn't take you back on a silver platter. She's where she belongs now."

"Huh?"

Katie shrugged under the covers. "They belong together."

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know. Just a feeling. I don't think anyone could get between them for long even if they wanted to. Just like us." She smiled at her husband.

Riley returned her smile. "You are one amazing woman, Katie Finn."

She drew him down for a kiss. "Besides, I heard them through the wall last night."

"You knew?"

"How many people in this place are named Buffy? Riley, they're happy together. Don't worry about it."

"I'm not worried. Just kinda confused."

"Don't be. I think they deserve this. I don't think they get too many breaks. And anyway, you said you don't want her."

"I don't."

"So stop thinking about her and concentrate on me."

"When did you get to be psychic?"

"I always have been when it comes to you. I love you."

"I love you, too."

*****

Giles blinked at the box, then felt a wave of calm enfold him. He suddenly felt more sure than he ever had been of anything in his life: this was right. He took the box from Buffy's hand and knelt before her.

"I love you, Buffy, and I want to spend my life with you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Buffy pressed her right hand to her trembling lips and nodded, blinking back the tears as she extended her left hand. Giles slipped the old-fashioned ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. Neither could take their eyes from the sparkling stone for a moment. Finally, Giles rose and enveloped Buffy in his arms as they kissed.

Eventually, he pulled back and smiled down at his love, swiping away her tears with his thumbs.

"I guess we really do have to call Mom now."

"Whenever you're ready, luv."

"Let's do it right now. Y'know, before we lose our nerve."

"And what about your father?"

"He got to find out we were together first. I think Mom deserves to be the first to hear about the engagement. Oh my God! Rupert! We're engaged!"

Giles laughed as he pulled Buffy close to his chest again, and kissed the top of her head. A sudden thought hit him.

"Buffy, luv? How are we going to call your mother? There isn't a phone here."

She gave him a withering look. "Rupert, Cordelia is next door. You know; She Who Goes Nowhere Without a Phone? We borrow hers."

*****

Cordelia pulled back from Wesley's embrace. "So when you say 'be my love', what exactly does that mean?"

"What?"

"Well, does it mean 'let's go out sometimes' or 'let's get married', or what?"

"M-married? Don't you think that's rather hurrying things?"

"I just want to know where things stand. Believe it or not, I'm in no rush to be Mrs. anybody."

"Why don't we take this one step at a time?"

"Yes, but what step are we on?"

"Well, I don't want to see anyone else but you."

"So, we're exclusive."

"Unless you don't want to be."

"No, I kinda like that idea. But we keep our own apartments. I couldn't leave Dennis."

"I wouldn't dream of asking that of you. I know how important he is to you."

"Good. So we're clear. And maybe we don't tell Angel for a while."

"I don't see that it's any of his business anyway."

"Good."

Wesley leaned down to kiss her again when there was a rap at the door. Cordelia gave him a small smiling shrug as she went to answer it.

"Buffy. Giles. What's up?"

The Slayer held out her left hand in answer.

"Oh my God! You guys are engaged? That's a really old ring." She looked up at Giles. "Couldn't you afford a new one?"

"It's an heirloom, actually."

"And I love it! I wouldn't want anything else." Buffy looked up at her fiancé with shining eyes.

"Congratulations to you both." Wesley shook Giles' hand. "May you have many happy years ahead of you."

"Thanks Wes. Cordelia, could we borrow your cell phone? We need to call my Mom and tell her the news."

"Y'know, maybe you guys should get a cell phone of your own." Even as she grumbled, Cordelia pulled her phone form her handbag and offered it to Buffy. "Look, if you want you can call Xander and Willow too. But anybody else is just gonna have to wait.."

"Thanks, Cordy, we owe you one."

With that, the happy couple retreated to their own room.

"That was very generous of you, Cordelia."

"Yeah, well, don't let it get around. I have a reputation to keep up."

******

Joyce Summers was roused from her sleep by the phone ringing. "This had better be important" she grumbled. She hated being interrupted in the middle of a dream about that guy from the old Taster's Choice ads. He was so sexy.

"Hello?"

"Hi Mom, did I wake you up?"

"No, Honey, I'm usually awake at" she glanced at the alarm clock "two a.m."

"Gosh, is it really that late? Sorry."

"Not that I'm not thrilled to hear from you, even at this hour, but what is it?"

"Well, I have sort of a confession to make, Mom."

"You and Giles aren't fighting any demon."

"Huh? How did you know that? We didn't tell anybody."

"Buffy, I'm not blind. I've seen how you two have been acting the last few weeks. Oh, and for future reference, if you don't want people to know about the romantic weekend you have planned, don't leave the brochure for the inn sitting on the coffee table with all your notes written on the back of a receipt from Victoria's Secret."

"Oops. But you don't mind?"

"I didn't say that. I'm not pleased about this, but you're grown up now and I have to respect the choices you make."

"Well, respecting's a good. At least, it's not a bad, anyway. And we've made another choice which I hope you're gonna be respecting " She drew a deep breath to steady her nerves. "We're getting married."

A stunned silence ensued.

"Mom? Are you still there?"

"Buffy, put That Man on the phone."

She handed the phone to Giles. "Brace for impact."

"Yes, hello Joyce."

"My daughter tells me you're planning to marry her."

"Yes, that's right."

"When?"

"As soon as she would like. We haven't had a chance to discuss that yet."

"I see. What about her education?"

"Of course she'll continue her education. There's no reason she can't go to school."

"I know I can't stop this, but I want to make one thing clear to you: if you ever hurt my daughter in any way, I will kill you slowly in ways you cannot imagine."

"If I should ever hurt her, I would deserve no less."

"As long as we have that straight."

"So, do we have your blessing?"

"Not really. But you have my truce, anyway."

"That's as much as we could hope for. Thank you."


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