Series: The Hellmouth Chronicles
Title: Winter of Discontent 30/?
Author: Gileswench
Contact: gileswench@yahoo.com
Date: 11/30/04
Spoilers: Through the start of S5 for Buffy and the end of S1 for Angel...but it's gone pretty AU at this point. Oh, and no Dawn.
Summary: It's been a long night, and there are going to be a lot of consequences in the morning.
Rating: PG-13 for grieving foo, frank discussion of alternative sexuality, fallout from disloyalty.
Pairing: Buffy/Giles, Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya, Joyce/Crystal
Category: Soap opera
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 couldn't believe how long it had been since I updated this one. Sorry folks, and thanks to everyone who has kept clamoring for more. And for those of you who have no idea what's going on, you can find the entire saga thus far at:
http://www.vampirecows.com/odd/authors/wench/HC/hellmouthcrons.html

"Brownies?" Leo finally managed. "I'm not sure there are any left. Would ginger snaps do?" He pushed the remains of Gertrude's midnight snack toward Amy. "How about some tea?"

Any sat and took a cookie in both hands at once. She began nibbling at it, wriggling her nose slightly as she chewed. Leo sent an inquiring look Tara's way. The young witch shrugged and looked puzzled back.

"One minute she was in her Habitrail, all snug and warm, and the next...poof! Naked girl," she explained as best she could. "I don't know how it happened. I didn't try any spells and Willow's...she's out."

"Tea?" Amy reminded her host. "You said there was tea."

"Yes, yes, of course," Leo said. "Right away." He turned to Tara. "Why don't you go get some sleep now? I'll take care of young Amy here. Of course we're rapidly running out of rooms at the inn, but I'll come up with something."

"Sure, Leo. I'll just bring down something she can sleep in."

*****

"An? Are you asleep?"

"No. You?"

Xander chuckled softly and pulled her closer.

"No, I'm not asleep," he said.

"So...we could have sex again?"

"If you want to, yeah. I think I could rise to the occasion."

She rolled atop him, kissing her way down his throat.

*****

Cordelia heaved a sigh of frustration and pulled her pillow over her head. She glared at Wesley when he gently removed it.

"You're going to suffocate if you try to sleep like that," he said mildly.

"At least I'd be sleeping," she grumbled. "Don't those two ever knock it off?"

They listened in silence to the thumping noises and moans emanating from Xander and Anya's room.

"And you know what the worst of it is?" Cordelia demanded. "Do you?"

"I expect you're going to tell me whether I do or not, so you may as well."

"We can't make the same kind of noise back."

"Actually, we could. We've chosen not to."

"Which only makes it worse!"

"I don't follow you at all," Wesley said as he ran a fingertip down his love's arm. "I thought you felt we should wait a while."

"Well, yeah. Until we figure out if we goofed or not, I don't want to take more chances. I just wish I didn't have to be so frustrated while we're waiting."

Wesley gathered her closer and mouthed gentle kisses along the nape of her neck. Cordelia shivered. She could feel her heart and body opening to him, wanting him, wanting to give him pleasure.

"You do know," he whispered between kisses, "that there are options."

"You mean...like...ooh, oral stuff?"

"Among other things." His hand moved to caress her buttocks. "Has anyone ever made love to you here?"

"You mean you want to do me up the ass?"

"A crude, but accurate, assessment."

She sat up suddenly.

"Yuck! No way! That's...that's...gross," she said, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "I can't believe you want to do something so skanky."

Wesley sighed and flopped back on the bed.

"It isn't skanky or gross," he said. "It's simply another way of expressing our love. But if the thought disgusts you, of course I won't insist."

"But you want to. You want to do my ass."

"Well I would hardly have suggested it if I didn't. But if I'd known it would revolt you so, I wouldn't have made the offer."

"You call it an offer, but I call it sick. God! That's what guys do with other guys." She grimaced. "I wonder if Giles has made Buffy do it that way yet. Ick!"

*****

Giles cradled his wife in his arms. It had been at least two hours since he'd helped her into bed, but neither had slept yet.

Buffy hadn't cried, hadn't made a sound. She just shivered, lost in a private Hell Giles couldn't follow her into or pull her out of. Again and again she saw the plume of dust that ended all trace of her father's existence. Again and again she felt her own hand around the stake that had created that dust cloud. Vaguely, as if through several layers of thick wool, she felt her husband's arms around her, heard him whisper soothing words to comfort her. It was good of him to do this, she knew, but she couldn't hear exactly what he was saying or feel the strength in his arms.

He was too far away.

*****

Willow stared into the darkness as she walked slowly home. She wasn't sure whether Tara would welcome her back. If Amy had been successfully de-ratted, how was she going to explain how it had happened? But if Amy was still a rat, then Willow had cheated for nothing.

She made up her mind that she wouldn't go back to The Bronze for a while. That way Julia would get the message that their night together had been a one time thing.

Maybe she should bring Tara a present...but that might just be an even bigger hint that she'd done something she was sorry for.

"Why do I do this?" she asked herself. "Didn't I learn my lesson with Xander and Oz? Am I really this bad a person?"

"Willow? Willow, what are you doing out at this hour?"

She looked up, startled at Angel's voice. There he was, though, with Spike at his side.

"Oh..hi. I...Tara and I...we had this fight, but I'm going home now...and what are you doing here? With him?" She pointed at Spike. "I thought you weren't being a bad guy. Are you Angelus again?"

"No, I'm not. It's just...look, Buffy had a rough night, and Giles is kinda not wanting me around. And I ran into Spike. We're not together, or anything."

"Well, that's his story," Spike drawled. "But Peaches is right. Tasty little bite like you shouldn't be out this late, Red. There's lots of things that would just love to bump you in the night."

"Shut up, Spike," Angel said in disgust. He turned to Willow. "He is right, though. You shouldn't be alone right now. C'mon, we'll walk you home."

With a dramatic billow of his leather coat, Angel stalked off into the night. With a shrug, Willow followed obediently. Spike dropped his cigarette, crushed it out, and joined the parade.

It had been a very long night, and he couldn't wait for it to be over.

*****

Amy was curled up on the sofa, asleep when Willow tiptoed into the house. The witch stared down at her one-time friend. Part of her exulted at having finally managed to bring Amy back. The rest of her, however, quailed at the thought of trying to explain it to Tara.

"What am I gonna do?" she asked herself yet again.

Again, nobody answered.

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

She started sadly up the stairs. Hopefully, Tara would be asleep when she got there. That might make it a little easier.

*****

As soon as Willow was safely in the door, the two vampires turned to go.

"Fancy a pint at Willy's?" Spike suggested.

"Why not?"

"Then maybe a nice, long shag?"

"Shut up, Spike."

"Oh, don't tell me Little Angelus is feeling floppy tonight. I'm so very disappointed."

Angel sighed. It was going to be a long day before he could try to get back to the house.

    TBC
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