Title: Slayer Central chapter 5
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.



"Well, we made it through the first day with no serious casualties. I think that was pretty successful."

Giles smiled indulgently at Buffy as he donned his somewhat minimalist bedclothes.

"I thought we were about to have our first staking when Spike wanted Cordelia to kiss him and make him better after Angel dumped him on the floor."

"Tell me again: why are we letting Spike stay at all?"

"God knows at this point. Probably because no one has thought to actually throw him out."

By this time, Giles' robe hung open from his shoulders and he'd gotten his guitar from its stand.

"Now, then, luv, what shall I play for baby tonight?"

The nightly ritual of singing for the baby was something Buffy looked forward to all day long. She wasn't entirely sure it did the baby any good, but she loved hearing Giles sing, and he seemed quite convinced that it would result in a child with good musical taste and an ingrained knowledge of its father's voice. Besides, it made the whole thing seem more real to her. There were still times when Buffy couldn't quite grasp the idea that she really was pregnant.

She ran a hand over her flat belly.

"Maybe something quiet tonight. There's been a lot of stuff going on for days now."

"Something quiet it is, then."

As soon as he'd finished tuning, Giles began the familiar strains of Blackbird. Buffy lay back and allowed her husband's mellow voice to envelope her. Whatever the nightly ritual did or did not do for the baby, it certainly made Buffy happy.

*****

As Crystal headed down the hallway to her bedroom, she heard Giles singing. She stopped for a moment to listen, then hurried to her room, her eyes stinging with tears.

Once in her room, she allowed herself to cry quietly, so no one would hear.

*****

Angel and Wesley stalked their way around the park. This was the third night in a row that they had seen no demons or vampires in Sunnydale.

"I don't get it, Wes. Where are they?"

"Aren't there seasonal variances in vampiric activity? Perhaps this is simply a quiet period."

"Things lighten up in the summer, but this is December. This is like...all you can eat season. The days are short, the nights are long, and people are starting their Christmas shopping. They're out at odd hours, and they get careless. Believe me, vampires love Christmas as much as major retailers do."

"And, of course, in Southern California, it's warm enough that most people never wear scarves or particularly heavy coats. Yes, I see. Easy access to food. So if they aren't out feeding, where are they? And why?"

"Just what I was going to ask. I think it's time to bring Giles and his books in on this."

*****

"Can't we go out to eat? Please? I'm so hungry baby."

"Not yet. We have to wait for just the right moment. This is too big to blow because you want a snack."

"That's what you said last night! And the night before."

"Shut up, Harmony."

Parker turned his back on his Sire and began to jot notes on a pad of paper. Harmony sighed and began to roam the crypt restlessly.

"I'm hungry," she whined.

"Then have a bag of blood, Harm. That's what we stole it for."

"I don't like it. It tastes funny."

Parker snarled and leapt to his feet. A second later, he had Harmony pinned to the wall.

"I don't care how it tastes. It's all we eat until the plan goes down. Got it, nitwit?"

"Okay! Okay! I got it!"

Parker returned to his notes as Harmony rubbed at the sore spots on her throat and wrist.

"What is it with you men? I try and I try but all you can ever think about is the stupid Slayer. What does she have that I don't?"

"A brain, for starters. Plus she's a better lay than you'll ever be."

*****

Giles pulled Buffy close and kissed her as soon as he was under the covers. A second kiss quickly followed. On the third kiss, Giles felt Buffy's tongue snake out to beg entry at his lips. He allowed himself a brief moment of bliss before he reluctantly pulled back with a sigh.

"Hey, don't stop now; I was just getting warmed up."

"And I'm entirely too warm at this point, Buffy." He brushed his knuckles across her cheek as he smiled ruefully at her.

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't really think about that. I've mainly been thinking about how frustrated I am. This must be really hard for you, too...and could I have found a worse way to put that? I think not."

Giles chuckled in a strained manner.

"Worse? I doubt it. More accurate? Not a chance."

"How much longer do you think it will be before the doc says we can have smoochies again?"

"I wish I knew." He pulled Buffy closer, so her head rested on his chest, her thigh brushing against the proof of his frustration.

"Y'know, if you need to take care of that, it's okay."

"No, it's fine" he assured her somewhat breathlessly.

"Stuffy."

"Tease."

Buffy poked him in the ribs. Giles yelped as he flinched. He glared at his wife.

"Hey, you should never have let me know where you're ticklish. And I mean it, Rupert. If you don't want me to watch, the bathroom's right next door. No point in both of us being frustrated."

"Nonsense. I'm fine."

"Yeah, you're fine. And everything on you is in good working order, and it's driving you crazy not to be able to do anything about it, isn't it? Admit it."

"I'll admit that it's somewhat...tiresome now and again."

"Understatement much? Rupert, I know what your sex drive is like. It's a sex overdrive. You must have...taken things into your own hands before. All I'm saying is it's okay to do that now."

"And I appreciate both your frankness and your consideration, but I would much rather just lie here and hold you tonight, no matter how frustrating it may be."

"Mushy guy."

"Vixen"

*****

"Oh God, yes, Xander! Oh, yeah!"

"An, what are you yelling for?"

"Just play along. Pretend you're having sex with me."

Xander sat up and regarded his girlfriend, not for the first time, with confusion.

"Why?"

"Because. Cordelia is in the next room." She threw back her head and moaned loudly. "Xander, that's soo gooood!"

"And again, I ask the very good question 'why'?"

Anya glared at her boyfriend.

"You used to date Cordelia. You scorned her. Have you forgotten that that's why I came to Sunnydale and lost my powers? Now she's living in the room next to ours. She doesn't have a boyfriend right now, and she probably wants you back."

"Okay, first off, I don't think Cordelia wants me. I don't think she would take me back on a bet. Second, I don't want her back. And third, when are you going to get it through your head that I won't scorn you?"

"You scorned Cordelia."

"When I was very young and very foolish and hadn't met you yet. I didn't know what I wanted then."

"And now you do?"

Xander kissed Anya thoroughly for several minutes.

"Does that answer your question?"

She regarded him with glassy eyes and a huge smile.

"What question?"

The next time she cried Xander's name, it was without thought of Cordelia on the other side of the wall.

*****

Cordelia turned again and pulled the pillow over her head. She hadn't believed Buffy and Willow's stories of what Xander and Anya were like together until this. If the squeak of the bedsprings was any indication, they were even more enthusiastic than Buffy had said.

It was no use. She wouldn't be able to get to sleep until those two got it out of their systems for the night.

With a deep sigh of self pity, Cordelia threw off the bedclothes, pulled on her robe and headed down the two flights of stairs to the kitchen. At least she could have some hot chocolate.

She was just sitting down with her mug when Angel and Wesley returned.

"Cordy? What are you doing up?"

"Nothing, Angel. Just getting a drink." She pointedly ignored Wesley.

"At this hour? Something must have disturbed your sleep."

The girl glared at her erstwhile lover.

"Well under normal circumstances, you sleep heavily, so one can only assume...sorry."

"Interesting" the vampire mused. "So what was it, Cordy? Was it a vision?"

"No it wasn't a vision. And thanks a lot, Wesley, for telling the world what I'm like in bed."

"But...I...Cordelia...what did I say?"

Cordelia just shook her head and stalked back upstairs. Wesley sat heavily and looked after the girl. Angel laid a cool hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Come on, Wes. We need to talk to Giles."


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