Series: The Hellmouth Chronicles
Title: Winter Of Discontent 16
Author: Gileswench
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Date: 3/11/02
Spoilers: AU from early S5 of Buffy and the end of S1 of Angel
Summary: Delicate shifts all around and a few warm fuzzies.
Rating: PG-13 for mild sexual references, misguided magic, blatant misuse of employee privileges
Pairing: Buffy/Giles, C/Wes, W/T, X/Anya, Joyce/Crystal
Distribution: If you've had my permission in the past, you have it now. All others, ask and ye shall receive.
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. Notes: Yes, it's finally back. My sincere apologies to those who have been waiting for so long. I have slapped my own wrist, and will try very hard not to let it happen again.

"This is silly, Rupert."

"It's not silly; it's a precaution."

"It is too silly. And I can walk y'know."

"I know you can, but I want to take care of you."

Buffy sighed and quit protesting. As annoyed as she was at the thought of being carried all the way up to the bedroom and firmly tucked in whether she would or no, there was a little piece of her that was thrilled with the attention as well.

"You know, if you're gonna take care of me all day, I'm gonna run your butt off getting me stuff."

"Now you're getting the idea," he agreed blandly. "Here we are."

Giles carried Buffy into the room and set her on the edge of the bed. As soon as he'd closed the door, he turned to see her leaning down to untie her shoe.

"Stop that, Buffy."

"What? I can't take off my own shoes anymore? When did I get to be an invalid?"

"I told you, I'm taking care of you today, and that means in every way."

He knelt and removed her shoes.

"Rupert, stop it," Buffy ordered. "Look, I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a little bit of me that really wants to take advantage of you this way, but the rest of me is getting kinda pissed off. I'm a big girl now. I can climb stairs and undress by myself, and I really don't plan on letting you feed me mashed bananas with a spoon."

"I'm not going to feed you mashed anything. But you've been doing too much."

"You mean we did too much last night. As in way too much seriously wild nookie. And I think by that you mean you think that it's all your fault I ended up in the ER last night. But the way I remember it, it was a joint effort with a little help from somebody's special nookie magic. This isn't your fault, Rupert. Stop trying to make it up to me."

Giles sat next to her and took her hand.

"I'm sorry. For so many things."

"The only thing you need to be sorry for is trying to treat me like I'm Tiny Tim or something. I'm all grown up and I'm not dying. Could you please try to act like that's true? I'll even give you kisses."

"I rather think I could use one or two of those."

"Just as long as I get to take off my own shoes."

*****

Xander knocked on the doorframe.

"Did somebody call for a taxi?"

"Xander, Crystal, hi," Joyce greeted them. "I was beginning to wonder if anyone remembered I was getting out of here today."

"We did," Crystal assured her with a shy smile.

"I'll take the suitcase down to the car," Xander offered. "Don't try to leave as soon as my back is turned, either. Watch her, Crystal; she's a slippery one."

Xander winked as he left the room. Joyce laughed.

"It's going to be so good to get out of here. I feel like I've been here forever. Did Buffy and Rupert come?"

"No, just me and Xander."

"Oh."

"Is that okay?"

"Oh, no, honey, it's not that I don't want...I just thought maybe my daughter could find the time to come spring her old mom out of here. I'm glad you're here, though."

Crystal leaned over the bed and gave Joyce a soft kiss.

"She's at home. She kinda spent the night here last night, and Rupert took her home just a little while ago."

"Is the baby okay?"

"Yeah. Fine. So's this one."

Crystal rubbed her belly where a tiny kick had come from. Joyce took Crystal's hands in hers.

"I'm glad. You'll understand soon, what it's like to be a mother. I just worry about Buffy, that's all."

"I know."

"And I really am glad you came for me."

"When we get home, you won't have to do a thing, either. I'll take care of anything you need...or want...or whatever."

"Nurse Crystal to the rescue?"

"I just want you to be okay."

"I will be, honey. I'll be just fine."

The two women embraced. Crystal reached up for a small kiss. They broke apart quickly at a sound in the doorway.

"Chariot's ready," Xander announced as he helped the nurse guide a wheelchair into the room. "Madame, your carriage awaits."

"Thank you, kind sir," Joyce responded with a wry smile. "Are you sure this steed is safe with you driving it?"

"I'll drive," Crystal offered. "You'll be fine with me."

"I resent that remark," Xander said with a grin. "I was only planning to pop seventeen wheelies on the way down. See, it's the eighteenth that leads to certain death. Up to then, it's safe."

"Crystal..." Joyce began.

"Don't worry. I've got it. Hands off, Xander."

"Okay, but don't blame me when this isn't an E ticket ride."

"What's an E ticket ride?" Crystal asked.

"I dunno," Xander shrugged. "Something my dad used to say."

"Great," Joyce grumbled. "You found the perfect way to make me feel old."

"You, Joyce? Old?" Xander quipped. "It'll never happen."

The three set off down the corridor, still laughing.

*****

Angel looked up from his mug as Wesley entered their bedroom.

"Wes, where've you been? Still protecting the girls from me?"

"I might ask where you've been with more reason. I was here, protecting Buffy and the other residents of this house. I've hardly seen you the last couple days."

Angel put down his mug and stood awkwardly. He gave a sheepish grin to Wesley.

"I know I've been a little...off, lately. I just...it hit me hard, Wes."

"What did?"

"Buffy and...and Giles. I heard them. Hell, I smelled them. I kinda lost it a little. I just needed to get gone for a while, y'know?"

"You might have talked to me. You know I would have listened. And you knew perfectly well what they had become to one another. They're married, Angel. They're in love. And Buffy hardly had an immaculate conception. You knew all this."

"In my head, yeah, but here," he pointed to his still chest, "it wasn't really real to me until..."

"And they certainly are...vocal when they...yes, I know. Are you better now?"

"Maybe. I think so. I'm not mad at them anymore, so that's an improvement."

"A definite one," Wesley agreed cautiously. "Look, why don't you get some rest, Angel? We can talk some more this evening if you think it will help."

"Yeah, that's a great idea. It's been a long couple nights."

"It certainly has."

*****

"Let's see now...ah! I'll need one of those, and a bit of that...now where is...there is!"

Leo muttered to himself as he poked through the shelves of the Magic Box for ingredients. Anya hovered around him, wincing slightly whenever he chose something expensive. Giles had told her in no uncertain terms that Leo was not to be charged for anything he needed for the spell, but she felt sure Giles didn't know what was required. Surely he would never have let Leo have an Ionian Soulstone for free if he knew about it!

"Does Giles know what you need for this? Do you have a list I can double check these against? Some of these things cost a lot of money."

"Anya, what did Rupert tell you?"

"To give you what you want without charging - which I think is a very stupid thing for a businessman to do - and not make a fuss."

"You're fussing."

"Am not! I'm protecting my job."

"Your job is perfectly safe," Leo assured her. "Rupert couldn't get on without you here. Now we just need to make sure the people we live with are safe. You can't put a price on that."

"Yes you can. Home security systems are very expensive. I checked."

"And they won't protect you against dark majicks. Those are much more dangerous than burglars."

"I don't understand how that spell got through all the protection spells last night. That shouldn't have happened. We cast some very powerful ones."

"It also seemed to affect us wherever we were. Buffy and Rupert weren't even home when they were hit."

"And I was here. It was a good thing there were no goodlooking men in the shop when it happened."

Leo grinned and turned back to his search.

"Just one or two more things, and I'll have what I need. Anything after that, I promise I'll pay for. Deal?"

Anya tried not to give up her sour expression, but it was impossible to do when Leo poured on the charm. She found herself smiling in spite of herself.

"Oh, alright." She looked about furtively to make sure nobody was listening and dropped her voice so he could barely hear her. "And if you promise never to tell anyone, I'll let you use my employee discount. Just this once."

Leo schooled his face into a grave mask.

"Thank you, Anya. I swear no one will learn our secret."

He winked at her. She nodded gravely.

*****

Cordelia knocked on Willow's door and entered the room.

"Are we good to go?" she asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Willow answered. "Did you bring the stuff?"

Cordelia handed over the photograph of Wesley.

"The only one I had was a group shot with all the guys here. Is that okay?"

"As long as we only relate the words to him, it shouldn't be a problem. Does he know what you're doing?"

"Yeah, we talked it over last night. He's game."

Willow shook her head.

"He is so far gone for you. I bet Xander wouldn't do this for Anya. I wonder if Giles would for Buffy?"

"Are you kidding? He'd do this not for Buffy. He'd be in total research mode. But if Buffy asked him to do this, he'd cast the spell himself."

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

"Let's do some magic."

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