Title: Slayer Central chapter 15
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 beckoned Buffy away from the table. She went with a puzzled look on her face.

"Buffy, have you been in touch with Riley recently?

The girl blinked and folded her arms defensively across her chest.

"Why would I have been talking to him?"

"I thought, perhaps, since we met up with him..."

"Listen, what part of so over him it's not even funny don't you get? I went to that Inn as your girlfriend, and I left it as your wife. Riley is completely of the past. Don't you trust me?"

"Of course, I do, luv. I wasn't accusing you of any impropriety."

"Then why would you think I'd even know how to get in touch with him?

I'm not going to cheat on you."

"I didn't think you would. I just hoped..."

Xander came over and stepped between the pair.

"Guys, guys. What's the damage here?"

"Ask Mr. Snoopypants here."

"I'm thinking you're not comparing Giles to a lovable cartoon beagle here, are you?"

"If you please, Xander, this is between Buffy and me."

"And Riley? You think there's some sort of...of...love triangle going on, don't you?"

"Of course not, Buffy. Do stop being so childish and listen - "

"Childish? Childish? You're the one who's accusing -"

"I'm not accusing you of anything, if you'll only stop and listen!"

"Okay! Time out, both of you!" Xander yelled. "And what the hell does Riley have to do with anything?"

"Rupert thinks I'm seeing Riley behnd his back or something!"

"No I don't, Buffy. I wish to get in contact with him. I simply thought you might know how I could."

"Huh?"

"After last night's altercation with Spike, I thought it wise to see how much we can find out about his chip."

"Riley didn't make it. Professor Walsh did."

"Yes, and Riley was Professor Walsh's protégé. I doubt that he knows much about how it works, but he might know who else worked on the project, and how I can contact them."

"Oh. So you weren't going all Othello on me?"

"No. I trust you implicitly. So, do you know how I might contact Riley?"

"Nope. I meant it, Rupert. I didn't even want to know. He's the past."

"Well, it was just a thought. I'm sorry I upset you, luv."

He drew Buffy into his arms lightly and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"I'm sorry I was so awful, Rupert. Darn hormones, I guess."

"Don't worry about it."

Giles raised Buffy's chin with his fingers and lowered his lips to hers.

"Um, guys?" Xander interrupted. "Sorry to break the make up smooch, but I have Riley's number."

*****

Wesley brought a carefully balanced stack of plates into the kitchen.

"I believe this is the last of it."

"Thanks" Cordelia replied a bit stiffly as he set them next to the sink where she worked.

"Would you like a hand with that?"

"No, thanks. I got it."

He turned to go.

"Welsey?"

"Yes?"

Cordelia turned from the sink to face him.

"I got your note. Last night."

"Ah. And what did you think?"

"I think I need to think. To figure out what you can do. Y'know, to prove stuff."

"Of course. Well. Take your time."

"Yeah."

"Good."

"I just..."

"Yes?"

When she looked in his eager blue eyes, she found herself unable to recall what she had meant to say.

"I'll...get back to you."

"Of course."

For a moment, Wesley looked as though he might say something else. At last, though, he turned and left the room without another word. Cordelia gave a small, frustrated whimper and returned to her task. Stupid dishes.

*****

Crystal edged nervously into Joyce's room as the nurse finished checking the patient's vitals.

"Hey."

"Hi. Is there a reason you're standing all the way over there?"

The nurse smiled at the girl and left the room. Crystal immediately went to Joyce's side and took her hand.

"So today's the big day, huh?"

"The biggest. Is Buffy with you?"

Crystal shook her head.

"She had a couple appointments first. She and Rupert will see you a little later. They brought me along so I could stay with you til they could come."

Joyce twined her fingers through Crystal's.

"I'm glad you're here."

"Where else would I be?"

The girl stooped and brushed her lips across Joyce's mouth.

"I'll be here until they throw me out."

*****

"Amazing."

The doctor shook his head.

"I've never seen such a rapid recovery. There's barely a scar left."

"It's...an old family secret. We don't like to scar in our family" Buffy told him.

"Care to share the recipe? It would make you a fortune."

"Darn. And after I took that vow of poverty...and silence."

Giles smiled slightly.

"What my wife means is that she daren't say anything about it. The secret is rather jealously guarded."

"Well, if you ever change your mind, just let me know. We could go into business together and retire before the year is out."

*****

Willow frowned as she typed at her laptop keyboard.

"That can't be right."

"What can't be right?"

The redhead looked up, startled.

"Oh, Tara. I didn't hear you. Sorta involved...with homework. And stuff. Homework stuff."

"Relax, sweetie. I'm not even looking. It's sort of a time of year when

I do that even less than normal."

"It's not...I'm not even sure what holiday we're gonna be celebrating. Do you celebrate Hanukkah? No, wait, dumb question. You're not Jewish."

"We could celebrate Solstice, if you want. We can opt out of holidays altogether if you don't want. Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, all three or none at all, it's fine by me."

"That's probably the most laid back attitude to a holiday I've ever heard. What do you usually celebrate?"

"Me? Oh, I celebrate Magnificence of Life Day."

"I don't think I know that one."

"That's because I sort of made it up. See, it falls on the same day as Christmas, but it's not about religion. It's a happy day when you give gifts and try to be extra nice to people."

"I thought that was part of the deal with, y'know, Christmas, Santa Claus, and all that."

"But on Magnificence of Life Day, there's no one telling you how to do it. And it's not about department store sales or that stuff either. 'Cause the stuff you give people isn't store-bought. You give them things you made, or wrote, or hand written gift certificates for massages and stuff. It's all very organic."

"Sounds like my kind of holiday. I say we do the Magnificence of Life thing."

"That's settled, then. So, what were you working on?"

"Oh, it's just, well, Giles asked me to see if I could find Buffy's dad so Crystal can get a divorce."

"And?"

"He's not there."

"Um, not in Spain? I thought that was where he was last."

"Not Spain, and not anywhere else I can find. It's like he fell off the face of the Earth."

"Maybe he's hiding. If I was him, I'd probably hide before Buffy could find me...or Mrs. Summers."

"No, Tara, I can't find anything at all. Usually when someone tries to change their identity, there's some way to trace it back to who they used to be. But I'm not finding anything. Nada, zip, zilch. Diddly, and

I'm not talking Bo here."

"So how does a man like Buffy's father disappear that completely?"

"If you figure it out, let me know."

*****

"You haven't had any pain? any cramping?"

"No and no."

The doctor nodded as she finished her examination.

"Well, everything appears to be fine for now."

Buffy and Giles exchanged a silent question.

"So, Doc, does that mean I can get out of bed?"

"You should continue to take it easy for the next couple weeks, just to be sure, but I think you can return to a more or less normal life."

"When you say 'more or less normal', you mean...?"

"I mean you can take light exercise, but don't lift anything over ten pounds for a while longer. If you have any abdominal pain or cramping, get yourself to the emergency room immediately."

"And...um...y'know...?"

The doctor smiled knowingly.

"You mean sex, don't you?"

She had to smile at the perfectly matched blushes of the patient and her husband.

"Just don't try anything too exotic, and stop immediately if there's any pain or bleeding. Other than that, well, have fun. You can get dressed now. I'll see you next month."

As soon as the doctor was out the door, Giles leaned over to whisper in Buffy's ear. She giggled and playfully swatted his arm.

"Don't be silly, Rupert. We can't do that here. Tonight, though..."

Her kiss left him in no doubt as to what would happen when they went to bed.


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