Series: The Hellmouth Chronicles
Title: Winter of Discontent 29/?
Author: Gileswench
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Date: 3/23/04
Spoilers: From the usual spots for this series
Summary: Varied reactions to death, divorce, and re-humanization
Rating: NC17 for smut (at long last!), grief foo, exposition in a hopefully not entirely ham-fisted way
Pairing: Buffy/Giles, X/Anya, W/T, 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: I've been asked for a brief recap of where the hell we are in this series. I'm not going to cover the whole nine yards, because anyone joining in at this point had really better read the entire saga from the beginning. Still, where are we right now?

About here:
Buffy and Giles are married. Buffy is pregnant. The Council is unhappy about the situation and the INS is trying to deport Giles because they don't believe it's true. Joyce had her brain tumor removed and has entered into a secret affair with Crystal, Hank's child bride, who is also pregnant. The AI gang is in Sunnydale closing ranks to keep Buffy and her baby safe, but Angel himself is acting a bit strange these days. The entire gang has moved in with Giles' old friend and one-time Watcher mentor, Leo Baird, who also teaches at UC Sunnydale. Wesley and Cordelia have had a very bumpy road to romance, but finally seem to be working things out. Spike moves in and out of the house. Willow has allowed herself to be literally seduced by a strange girl called Julia who is encouraging her to throw all caution to the wind, magicwise. Amy has been de-ratted, and we'll see whether or not she still acts like one. Hank was turned and Buffy had to stake him...but nobody seems to care that Parker is still out there being a bloodsucker.
Confused? You won't be after this week's episode of:
Winter of Discontent!

As soon as they got home, Giles carried Buffy into the bathroom. He sat her down on the toilet and started a shower for her. She was silent now. Tears rolled down her cheeks, but no sound escaped her. He pulled her into his arms while he waited for the water to warm up sufficiently.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "So very sorry."

She didn't answer, but her arms tightened around him. He pulled back slightly after a moment and smoothed her hair gently.

"Would you like me to stay? Or would you prefer to be alone?" he asked.

"Stay," she said in the tiniest whisper he'd ever heard from her. "Please don't leave me."

He pressed his lips softly to her forehead, then began to undress her.

"Of course I won't leave, so long as you want me to stay."

*****

Xander couldn't seem to stop kissing Anya. As soon as they'd rinsed off the vampire dust, they retreated to their bedroom, hands roaming over one anothers' bodies all the way. They bumped their way through the door and Xander closed and locked it behind them. By the time he'd turned around from doing that, Anya's clothes were on the floor.

"Hurry up and undress," she ordered. "Then come to bed."

Xander eagerly complied. His hands moved to knead her breasts as she nibbled on his earlobe.

"Now," she demanded. "I'm ready."

When he moved one hand to the juncture of her thighs, he found her wet and open to him. He moaned her name as he entered her in one hard stroke. He forced his eyes to open so he could watch his lover. Anya stared back at him. Their eyes remained locked on one another as their bodies thrust together.

The world hadn't ended. They were still alive, and this was proof.

*****

Tara stared at the naked girl in the remains of the Habitrail.

"Y-you're...not a rat, anymore," she finally managed.

"Who are you? Where's Willow?" Amy demanded.

"I'm Tara. Willow's girlfriend. She's...out. I don't know when she'll be back." She got off the bed and moved to the dresser. "Would you like to borrow some clothes? It looks like we might wear about the same size."

"Yeah. That would be good. And maybe some food."

"Oh, of course. What would you like?"

"Anything that doesn't have cheese in it."

*****

Giles carefully worked the shampoo into Buffy's hair, watching intently for drips. He worried about how still she was. Since her whispered plea for him to stay, she hadn't uttered a word or made a sound. He moved her under the spray to rinse her hair. She accepted his guidance, but made no move of her own volition.

As was now usual, his penis had begun to stir as soon as he opened the taps. For once, however, he was unable to do anything about it. In fact, shortly after they got into the shower, he'd completely lost his erection. Buffy's silence and stillness concerned him entirely too much to think about sex.

"Come along, luv," he said softly when her hair was rinsed completely. "Let's get you dry."

Buffy allowed herself to be guided out of the shower. She did nothing to take care of herself, but made no move to stop Giles when he began to towel her off. Once she was fairly dry, he ran a quick towel over himself, bundled them both up in fluffy terrycloth robes, and led her back to their bedroom.

He helped her into her pajamas, pulled on his own, and turned down the covers. When she moved nearer to him in bed, he held her close. Pressing a soft kiss to her temple, he prayed she would sleep soundly.

*****

Gertrude dropped into a chair in the kitchen.

"I thought I might find you here," she said wryly.

"I knew you would come," Leo said. "You always did."

"And you were always here, holding court."

They smiled at one another.

"Tea?" Leo asked at last.

"Thanks. I'm too fagged to make it. I forgot what a wretched business this vampire hunting is." She watched her companion work for a moment. "Buffy's good."

"Buffy went on the hunt tonight? Is she insane? Is the baby alright?"

"Yes, yes, and yes, in that order."

"I have a good mind to turn her over my knee," Leo grumbled. He sat heavily. "Then again, that's Rupert's job, I suppose."

"As her husband or as her Watcher?"

"That's up to him. I wash my hands of that question." He smiled at Gertrude. "It really is good to see you again."

"And you. It's been a long time."

"Nearly thirty years."

"And another wife after me, I understand."

"After you, she never stood a chance."

"Nonsense! I never stood a chance, either," she grinned. "You were a terrible husband."

"So I was," he agreed affably. "You're not the only one of my ex-wives to say so. Some men aren't weren't cut out to be lovers, I think." He rose and poured the boiling water over the tea leaves. "Your brother seems to be doing a tolerable job of marriage. Far from perfect, but the relationship is solid. They've both made some bad mistakes, but they always seem to work it out."

"In two months? Even you didn't start really making a mess of it until we hit the six-month mark." She reached for one of the cookies Leo set out for her and took a bite. "Mmm. You know how I love ginger snaps."

"I know. I'm sorry, Gertie."

"Sorry? For what? Not for our ill-advised attempt at matrimony all those years ago?"

"Actually, you're the only one I never regretted marrying. I only regretted the way I treated you."

"There was fault enough to go around, you know," she said softly. "I had no business saying 'I do', either. I was hardly more than a child. You were joining the ranks of the middle-aged then. We had so little in common; so few interests or experiences to share. I'd barely put away my last soft toys, and you'd already been divorced twice. I was selfish, you were obsessive, and we were both stubborn as hell."

"It didn't help that the Council kept meddling." He poured tea for Gertrude. "That's what scares you so much, isn't it? All the parallels?"

"Don't tell me they don't worry you?"

"Of course they do. Buffy and Rupert won't have an easy time of it. I've never seen two people so completely different, and yet so absolutely alike. On the other hand, I don't think I've ever seen two people so determined to be together, or so much in love."

"So you're telling me to let them alone and just accept it and go home?"

"Oh, I wouldn't say that," he chuckled. "Those two thrive on adversity. I'd say to wait a few days, let them recover from the last round of insanity, then hit them with another small roadblock. Gives them a sense of purpose." He leaned in further and took her hand. "Besides, after all this time, I was hoping we could get to know each other again. Maybe even become friends this time."

"We are friends, Leo. Remember what you said when we signed the last of the divorce papers? How you'd always be here for me?"

"How could I forget? I've been waiting almost thirty years."

"I hope not in this kitchen the entire time." Her eyes danced with amusment for a moment, then she sobered. "It may be decades since we spoke face-to-face, but you've been a tremendous friend. The letters, the calls...the Fortnum's hampers sent to outrageously obscure locations scattered throughout the Middle East. We may have made a pig's breakfast of being married, but you're very likely the best friend I've ever had. Certainly, you're the best ex-husband I've ever had."

"Have you been having other ex-husbands behind my back?" he teased.

"No. You spoiled me for marriage."

"Now that's something to regret."

"Don't. I think I'm no more cut out for romantic commitment than you are. And it's not as if I've been lonely. In fact, to come here I left behind a charming native boy called Abdul. Can't have been more than twenty-two and such a pretty thing. But it was time. He should settle down with a pretty native girl and make pretty native babies. Perhaps they'll name one after me in thanks for all the things I tought him about how to make a woman very happy."

They laughed. Gertrude stood.

"Well, I'm completely knackered," she said. "I think I shall enjoy the novelty of sleeping in a real bed. Goodnight, Leo, and thanks. For the ginger snaps, and the trip down memory lane." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "It really is wonderful to see you again."

"Gertie?" He took hold of her hand and looked her in the eye. "I meant it. I'm sorry for what I did to you."

"And I meant what I said. You didn't do anything so horrible to me. We simply...well, we didn't suit. Nobody's to blame for that. I've had a good life, Leo. No regrets."

She gave his hand a soft squeeze, then left the room. She was barely gone when Tara's head peered around the doorway.

"Um...Leo? There's someone you should probably meet."

Amy moved nervously into the room, now dressed in a blouse and jeans belonging to Tara.

"Hi," she said in a voice that cracked slightly with trepidation. "Do you think I could have a snack? Maybe brownies?"

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