Title: Slayer Central chapter 23
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.



In the end, there was nothing for it. Buffy knew she would have to take whatever test the Council put before her.

"Even if I could just leave my father the way he left me all this time, I can't do it to Crystal."

"Of course not, luv."

"And even if I could do it to Crystal, I sorta have to do this for the kid. I mean, okay, granted Daddy isn't the most impressive example of American fatherhood on the market, but the kid still deserves a chance to know him. And our kid deserves one grandpa who's at least kinda nice when he thinks about it."

"Are you trying to convince me? Because, frankly, if it was my decision, I would whisk you away somewhere the Council couldn't find you and damn the consequences."

"But it's not, is it? Your decision, I mean. It's not even really mine. We've got that whole fate thing sorta going on here. As in our inescapable fate to never catch a break."

"So it would seem."

For a moment, they simply held one another. When Buffy drew back, she reached out a hand to trace the well-loved contours of Giles' face. Their eyes met, sharing all the love, and fear, and grief in their hearts. Buffy kissed Giles gently, then rose and locked the door.

"Then we're just gonna have to make one ourselves."

Giles raised one perplexed eyebrow and cocked his head to one side.

"Right now?"

"Yup. Right now."

"And if the others hear us...?"

"Not caring. And, hey, they're gonna hear it sometime. Why not now?"

"Well, if you're certain...?"

"Very certain."

Giles removed his jacket and placed it carefully in the closet as Buffy returned to his side.

"Then let's begin, shall we?"

*****

When Angel awoke, he found Wesley deep in research across the room.

"Good afternoon, Angel. Sleep well, did you? How was patrol last night?"

"How did you know I was awake? You didn't even look up."

Wesley made a note on the yellow legal pad before him as he replied.

"I can still hear sheets rustling and that little cough you make every time you wake up. You didn't by any chance suffer from any lung diseases during your life, did you?"

"I cough when I wake up?"

"Yes, you're a bit like Giles' car that way."

Wesley grinned and turned to see the result of his foray into humor. He was shocked when a flash of anger appeared briefly in the vampire's eyes.

"Angel? Are you quite yourself?"

"I'm fine."

The vampire rose and moved to the closet to retrieve the day's black on black on black outfit.

"You're also entirely naked. Wouldn't you be more comfortable if I left the room?"

"Don't you mean you, Wes? You'd be more comfortable if nobody ever took off their clothes, wouldn't you?"

"I'm sorry if my attempt at modesty offends you so much. Perhaps I'll go now."

Angel turned to his friend.

"No, Wes...look, I'm sorry. I guess I'm just a little...off today. Sorry."

The Englishman nodded warily.

"Apology accepted."

"You know I value your friendship. I - really, I'll be okay."

He pulled the Englishman into an awkward hug. After a moment, Wesley tried to pull back.

"Umm, Angel, really there's no need to...Angel!"

The vampire pulled back blinking as Wesley straightened himself.

"Your friendship is important to me, as well. You know that. But that's all it can ever be; friendship."

"What are you talking about, Wes?"

"Well aside from the fact that you've still got no trousers on, I rather object to the way you just licked my neck."

*****

The itsy-bitsy spider went up the waterspout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Out came the sun and dried up all the rain And the itsy-bitsy spider went up the spout again

"No, no no, Rupert! You're doing it all wrong!"

"I got the words right, didn't I?"

"But you're not making the rain right. You have to wiggle your fingers like this, see?"

Buffy demonstrated making the rain with her fingers.

"Try it again; just the rain part."

"Like this?"

"Right hand's better. Left hand is still all thumbs."

Giles flexed the offending digits gingerly.

"I'm sorry, Buffy, but those fingers sometimes trouble me in the winter. I'm not as young as I used to be."

Buffy's eyes widened. She took Giles' hand in both of hers and stroked it tenderly.

"You're not telling me the truth, are you?"

"I haven't lied."

"Not really, I guess, but this isn't just about you being a lot older, is it?"

"Buffy..."

"If I could have gotten you out of there any faster, I would have. The best I could do then was to make Spike make sure Angelus didn't kill you"

"Spike? But how...? I don't understand."

Buffy shrugged.

"He came to me. Turns out he didn't want the world to end any more than we did. I made a deal with him. He and Dru wouldn't be staked if you lived. I sorta gave them both a get out of Sunnydale free card."

"Why?"

"Because even then, I knew I couldn't make it without you. I could skewer Angel like a shish kebab if that's what it took to save the world, but I needed you to live."

She pulled him into her arms and whispered in his ear:

"I needed you more, even then."

*****

Cordelia surveyed her room with satisfaction. Everything was ready for her slumber party. The entire room had been cleaned relentlessly, the bed rejoiced in the prettiest sheets and comforter she owned, fluffy pillows lay in a heap ready to cradle the heads of every woman in the house, and her notepad and pen were at the ready on her nightstand.

"Okay. I can do this. I can spend the night making nice with Willow and Anya for the greater good."

Her eyes lit on the photograph of Wesley she kept on the dresser. For an instant, tears welled in them, but she blinked them back. No crying.

Not until she could let herself cry in his arms.

*****

When Joyce opened her eyes, it was to see Crystal gazing down on her.

"Hey."

"Hi. Is Buffy with you?"

"Nope. It's just us."

The younger woman brushed back a stray tendril of hair from her lover's face.

"And before you ask, she's okay and so is Rupert."

"And how are you?"

"Pretty okay. Especially now all those tubes are out of you. So I'm guessing you're feeling better?"

"I always do when I'm with you."

*****

Xander strolled the mall lost in confusion. He hated Christmas shopping. His own family hadn't exchanged gifts or put up a tree since he was eleven years old; the year his father had decided that he was too old for Santa Claus.

What a laugh.

He hadn't remembered spilling the beans on that myth when Xander was four.

Still, he knew that Slayer Central would be the sort of place where people pull out all the stops to celebrate.

And even if it wasn't that sort of place, Anya was that sort of girl. She would expect something nice from him; preferably something expensive.

As he passed the jewelry store, a flash of brilliance caught his eye.

He stared.

He swallowed hard.

He measured the pricetag against his financial reserves.

He went in.

*****

"You really know how to sew?"

Tara smiled crookedly as she carefully cut bits of fabric and pinned them together.

"My mother taught me when I was little. I always liked it."

"Wasn't it sorta...I dunno, boring?"

"Of course not. It's taking things and using their potential. It's sorta like magic that way."

Willow frowned for a moment as she watched her girlfriend deftly thread a needle and make tiny stitches.

"What's it gonna be?"

"A surprise. A Magnificence of Life Day surprise."

"Who's it for?"

"Someone very special."

"Is it me?"

Tara tried to frown and grin at her lover at the same time.

"Of course not. If it was for you, I wouldn't be making it with you in the room. It's for one of the little ones."

"You mean one of the babies? Which one?"

Tara surveyed her work critically.

"I think it's Buffy's baby. It looks like hers and Giles'."

"Lucky kid. It's pretty."

"Anyone who's loved like that is lucky."

"Lucky me, then."

"And lucky me."

*****

"I really ought to go back to the shop."

Giles made no move to leave.

"You probably should. Still, I think Anya will be okay by herself for another...hour maybe?"

She kissed her husband hungrily. Giles laughed.

"My God, woman; you're insatiable!"

"Hey, not my fault you're so sexy you get me all hot and bothered in the middle of the afternoon. Besides, you should carpe me now, for tonight I slumber party in Cordy's room."

"Must you really?"

"Chick solidarity calls, sweetie. I want her and Wes to be happy again, and they're both so damn stubborn this is the only way it's gonna happen."

"Call me selfish, if you must, but I wish you were going to be with me tonight."

"Maybe I can sneak away for a little while and get in some cuddle time with you."

"I'd like that, luv."

"And maybe we can do some cuddling right now?"

Giles laughed and moved to kiss Buffy deeply.

"I think something could be arranged."

"If you're sure. After all the shop..."

"Can take care of itself. Anya is perfectly capable of watching it for an hour or so."

"Okay. You're the boss."

"I love it when you admit that."

"Just don't get too used to it."


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