__Possibilities__
By Jolene Beasley
Monday Morning
"So, what're you wearing?"
Buffy jumped, startled. "What?"
"C'mon, Buffy, join us in the real world! We're talking important stuff here! What're you wearing to the prom?" Willow fixed her friend with a troubled gaze. "Is something wrong? You look tired. Have you been getting enough sleep?"
Buffy shrugged, stretched and yawned. "Guess not. Okay, back to the subject... Uh, let's see. Mom and I went shopping again Saturday, and I gotta choose between midnight blue backless, black backless, and red... well, you'll have to come over tonight and see the red one. I have no words!"
Xander scooted forward to the edge of the bench eagerly. From his spot between the two girls, he offered,. "Can I come? I'll be glad to help you pick out the perfect one... ow!" He yelped as they both socked him solidly at the same time. He rubbed his abused upper arms, whimpering.
Willow smirked at him, then continued, "Mom's really gettin' into this prom stuff... She wants to pay for a limo and the whole thing! I told her the guy was supposed to pay for that, and she went all Momish on me, and..."
Buffy's thoughts drifted away, and Willow's happy voice faded into the background. She had big thinking to do... what with her imminent graduation coming up, her life was taking a decidedly new turn. Warm fuzzies invaded her thoughts as she contemplated future possibilities. In a few weeks, there would be fewer obstacles between her and the object of her affection. Obstacles were still there... Mom, for one. Age difference, for another. And there was college, his new job, the Watcher/Slayer thing, and... She stopped herself. Nothing she could think of was totally insurmountable. The only unknown was what Giles would do. She knew how he felt, of course. The Bond made sure of that. But knowing how another person feels doesn't mean you know what he'll do...
Willow's voice faded back in, and Buffy heard her say, "...and then, antlers grew out of my head, and I turned into Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, and flew around the world in one night. Quite a trip."
Buffy snorted, trying to act like she'd heard everything, which she hadn't, of course. "Cute, Will. Okay, I'm a little distracted right now... nothing you haven't seen before."
"Yeah, and it usually means the end of the world, so pardon me if I worry." Willow was wearing her 'I'm your best friend and you have to tell me everything' face, so Xander tried to play peacemaker. "Uh, hey, why don't we take this up after class, okay? We don't wanna be any later than usual, right?" He smiled a desperate smile of appeasement. He stood, motioning for them to join him. They did, reluctantly, and the trio made their way down the hall.
******
"So, you won't go to the prom with me? Giles, I'm hurt." She tried to pout, but couldn't. His expression of discomfort was too choice. Why she got such perverse pleasure from teasing him, she didn't know.
Giles was feeling trapped. 'No easy way out of this, old man,' he thought grimly. "Buffy, despite what you might think, I still have to work here several more weeks. I wouldn't stand much chance of doing that if I went to the prom with a student, would I?" He hoped he was appealing to her common sense. "We need to be extremely discreet until summer, then we'll both be free from Herr Snyder's grasp." He was looking forward to leaving his perch atop the Hellmouth behind. Thankfully, the University needed a new professor of antiquities next year... it was a chance to actually put his dusty old doctorate to good use.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's okay, I can always go stag. That way, I dance with whomever I please! You should volunteer to chaperone, though... y'know, go undercover. Incognito. Like a spy, or something. You'll have to wear a tux. Do you know any secret codes? You could write me steamy love notes in code, and slip them under my plate!"
Giles blushed furiously, but grinned in spite of himself. "No, I don't know any secret codes, unless you count Latin and Sanskrit." He looked up at her leaning over the table in front of him, smiling her best heart-stopper of a smile, and gave in. "Very well, I'll play reluctant chaperone one more time. Thank God it'll be the last. Every time I go to a school function, I somehow wind up getting knocked unconscious. It's a wonder I can still feed myself."
Buffy planted a kiss on his forehead. "You are such a sweetie!"
He raised his hand in warning. "Buffy, we agreed..."
"I know, I know. But you're a sweetie, anyway." She gave him another quick smooch on the head. "I gotta go. Willow's gonna help me pick out a dress. You'll never know what hit you, I promise!" She dashed out the door, waving cheerfully before it swung closed.
"I haven't since first meeting you." He said softly, a gentle smile lighting up his face.
Monday night
The light was on in Buffy's room that night far past her bedtime. Willow lay on the bed, propped up with pillows, holding Buffy's stuffed pig, Mr. Gordo, in her lap. Buffy had just finished modeling her choices... they had decided on the absolutely-to-die-for red satin gown, with matching shoes and tiny purse. Buffy was ecstatic... four days to go, and she'd already decided what to wear! The rest was all downhill from there. The girls were busily discussing earrings and hair styles when they heard the front door slam.
Surprised, Buffy looked at the clock by her bed. "Wow, Mom's sure been staying out late a lot. She used to have a cow when I did that. Ever since she started dating again, she's been Miss Party Animal. Maybe I need to give her a good talking to!" The girls laughed at the thought of Buffy lecturing Mrs. Summers about anything.
A knock on the door silenced their laughter. "Uh, Buffy, mind if I come in for a minute?" Joyce's head peeked inside the door.
"Nope, enter when ready. It's just us girls."
Joyce stepped into the room with the reluctance of a person going before a tribunal. She obviously had something important to say, and was not sure just how to say it.
Tuesday Morning
The next day, before she even set foot inside the school building, Buffy was surrounded by her friends, all begging for details. Willow had already dropped the bomb for her, apparently. Buffy stopped the babble of questions with a quick gesture, then announced, "I only wanna say this once, and I wanna tell Giles, too. So save it until we get to the library, okay?"
Once in the library, she called Giles over, and they sat at the main table, unconsciously arranging themselves from long habit in typical order. Willow and Oz sat at the far end, discreetly holding hands under the table. Cordelia was conspicuously absent... since she and Xander were officially history, she had wasted no time in excluding herself from their activities. That left Xander, seated to Buffy's left, and Giles, in his usual manner, hovering protectively over their shoulders. She motioned for silence, and began her synopsis.
"Okay, here's the sitch. Mom walks in last night and announces that she's getting married this fall. He's some big-wig chairman-of-the-board professor guy at the University, and he's pushing sixty. They've been dating for a couple of months now, but I didn't know it was that serious. She's gonna sell the house and move to Encinada with him. I either gotta get a job and a place, or move. Since I'm starting college in the fall, I guess I'm gonna get a job. End of story."
Silence filled the room as the magnitude of her words sank in. Giles cleared his throat, then spoke cautiously. "And, and this uhm, big-wig fellow... you've checked him out thoroughly, I suppose?"
Buffy clenched her teeth slightly at the memory of her mom's last boyfriend. "Not yet, but with Willow's help, we'll know how many times a day he brushes his teeth before we're done."
"It's quite possible that he's just what she says he is, Buffy. Not everyone who lives near a Hellmouth is a demon."
"I know, but I just wanna make sure she doesn't get hurt again." Buffy's face was determined.
Willow sat up in her seat, and smiled a bright research-girl smile. "Okay, where do we start?"
Tuesday Afternoon
After a few hours of Willow's exhaustive (and possibly illegal) research, Buffy grudgingly conceded that Wilton Bernard, Professor and Big-wig, was not a demon, a vampire, a warlock, or an android. As a matter of fact, his credentials were impressive. He seemed like a normal older guy... widowed at forty-five, two grown kids and a grandson, guest house in the desert, home in the nice part of town. And, he wasn't bad looking, either. Her opinion of her mom's taste in men was rising, albeit slowly.
Now all she had to do was get through Wednesday night.
Wednesday Night
Joyce insisted on formally introducing Buffy to Wilton immediately, and Wednesday night was the night. Buffy had cajoled Giles into coming with her for moral support. He arrived a few minutes early, and she admitted him with a warm smile. Joyce was still upstairs fussing over herself, so Buffy took advantage of her absence to pull Giles into the hallway and kiss him nearly senseless. He barely had time to compose himself when the doorbell rang.
Joyce came flying down the stairs dressed to the nines, her eyes bright, a happy smile on her face. "Okay, be on your best behavior starting now. Oh, sorry, Mr. Giles, that was directed at Buffy, not you!"
Giles laughed uncomfortably, looking askance at Buffy, but didn't comment. Buffy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms defiantly. Joyce stopped with her hand on the doorknob, and gave Buffy the "withering stare" that had served her so well in the past. She only hoped it would work this time. She didn't seem the least bit worried about Giles' presence. Apparently she felt sure he would behave!
Fifteen minutes later, awkward introductions out of the way, the two men stood in the center of the sitting room, where they shared a drink and some enthusiastic shop talk. Giles seemed particularly pleased... Wilton Bernard knew his archaeology and artifacts almost as well as Giles himself did. They seemed to get on quite well at first glance, their manners polite, but genuinely friendly.
Bernard was a handsome fellow, only an inch or so shorter that Giles, with silver hair, an easy smile and the grace of a gentleman. They're a lot alike, Buffy mused as she watched them. They seemed to have more in common than being much older than their respective girlfriends... she almost laughed at that thought. She looked over at her mother. The expression on Joyce's face was one of pleased relief. She caught Buffy's eye, and motioned toward the kitchen door. The look on her face said, 'let's talk'.
Joyce and Buffy excused themselves and retired to the kitchen, ostensibly for more ice, both of them itching to compare notes. Buffy was a little hesitant to begin. The only issue she could have argued about was age, but her outlook on that issue had changed dramatically in the last few months. She decided to let her mom start things off.
Joyce didn't take long to do just that. With a nervous smile, she turned and faced her daughter. "Well... what do you think? I know, he's a lot older than I am, but somehow that doesn't make much difference when we're together. He makes me happy, and I thought I'd never feel that way again." She looked down at her hand, admiring the gargantuan engagement ring displayed there. She had never worn a three-carat diamond before. It was a little overwhelming. "I feel... lucky, I guess. I had just about given up on men in general. I guess I was just looking at the wrong generation."
Buffy frowned thoughtfully as she refilled the ice bucket. "Mom, I've grown up a lot in the past year, and I'm beginning to realize that age isn't that big a deal. Some guys are mature at twenty, and some are babies at fifty." Her expression changed to a wistful smile. "If the professor there makes you happy, then go for it! You're happy, the prof is happy, I'm happy, even Giles is happy; he's found a buddy." Coming around the counter, she sat the bucket on the table, and looked at Joyce fondly. " So, how about a toast?" She raised her glass, and intoned with a serious face, "Here's to older men...they never have to worry about zits."
Joyce burst out laughing, and touched her glass to Buffy's. "That was the most original toast I've ever heard!"
They sipped for a moment in silence, then Joyce nonchalantly said, "I'm so glad you're being mature about this, honey. It seems you have done some growing up. I guess Mr. Giles' influence isn't as bad as I thought it was last summer."
Buffy nearly choked on her drink. Coughing a few times, she managed to clear her throat "Uh, yeah, Mom. He's a real force for good." She looked at her mother tentatively. "But, somehow I get the impression that's not what you meant."
Joyce set her drink down and rested her hands on Buffy's arms. "Your old Mom isn't totally out of it. I can see it in your eyes... when you talk about Mr. Giles, when you look at him. You're in love with him, aren't you?"
Buffy looked down, then sighed. "Yeah, I guess I am. No, strike that, I know I am. Does that make me a pervert?" She looked straight at her mother, wanting, yet fearing, her honest reaction.
Joyce laughed, surprising Buffy and putting her more at ease than she had been in a long time. "Honey, compared to your last boyfriend, he's practically a baby. You could do a whole lot worse... he's really a good man, and I know he'll take care of you. At least you won't have to make up excuses for staying out all hours at night." She hugged her daughter, then patted her arm comfortingly. "If he makes you happy, honey, that's what really counts, remember? The rest is just details." She put her arm around Buffy's shoulders and started back to the sitting room. "Come on, let's go check up on our menfolk." She remembered to grab the ice bucket as she went out of the kitchen.
Thursday Afternoon
Buffy bounced into the library, full of bubbly good cheer and Cheetos. She tossed the empty bag into the trash can behind the check-in counter, and turned toward the desk. Frowning, she stopped short as she realized that the desk was covered with... moldy old stuff. Giles was nowhere in sight, but she could feel his presence nearby through their shared connection. An empty packing crate sat on the floor, smelling of dust and mildew.
She couldn't resist commenting out loud. "Ewwww, Giles, do all your toys have to smell so bad?"
She wandered around the desk, examining the various unknown items she encountered. She cautiously picked up a length of twisted rope, discovering two round wooden weights tied to each end. She was hefting their weight experimentally when Giles stepped up behind her.
"It's a bolo." He said, placing a warm hand on her shoulder. The Bond created a comfortable current of empathy between them, and she smiled contentedly.
"Hmmm... interesting toys you have." She raised her eyebrows slyly at Giles. He shot her a warning look.
"So what's it do?" She turned the wooden ends over in her hands. She handed them to him, and he began untangling the long rope strung between them."It's quite an effective weapon. It's main use is in capturing free-range animals, such as cattle and llamas, from horseback. South American cowboys have been using them in place of lariats for centuries."
"Well, Yippee-ti-ki-yay, Senor!"
He chuckled, then moved to one side to demonstrate the proper use of the bolo. "You hold the rope by its center, here, and swing the weights around thusly." He gave a few slow, cautious loops around his head and stopped carefully. "It takes a bit of practice, but when it is thrown properly, it can take down a running animal quite effectively."
"Or a running vampire." She commented, impressed. "Never thought of throwing balls at one of 'em before." She took the bolo out of his hand and began to experiment with it. "This isn't so hard." She scoffed. The bolo began to whistle as it picked up speed. "Oooo, cool sound!"
"Uh, um, Buffy, best be careful with that... it is a powerful weapon, and there really isn't enough room in here to... careful, just... slow down, you're going to..."
A loud crash accompanied the demise of one of the desk lamps.
"Oops! Sorry! They're dangerous, aren't they?" She started to slow the bolo, but not quickly enough.
"Here, you have to..." He took one step toward her just as she dropped her swinging arm to her side. The bolo caught them both, slamming them together, the weights spinning around faster and faster as the ropes shortened. In seconds, they were wrapped together tightly. They both yelped in pain as the hard wooden weights banged against their shins. Losing their balance, they crashed to the floor. They found themselves trussed together from waist to foot, with Giles on top and only Buffy's left arm free.
For a long moment, they lay there, almost nose to nose. Giles glasses sat wildly askew on his face. Buffy's hair was in her eyes and in her mouth. She looked up at him with a perfect expression of embarrassment. "Go on, say it." She said, resignation in her voice.
"Say... what?"
"Say, 'I told you to be careful with my balls.' Go on, get it over with so we can get up."
He opened his mouth to say something, and was interrupted by the telephone ringing. Suddenly, the absurdity of their situation began to sink in.
Buffy started grinning. "The phone's ringing, Giles."
A high-pitched giggle escaped his lips, surprising her. "It'll just have to ring, then. I'm afraid I'm all tied up at the moment..." He began to giggle in earnest, resting his forehead on the floor beside her.
"Who would have guessed?" She tried to wiggle, but there was no leeway to move.
"You're a Closet Giggler!" She slowly smiled a wicked smile. "I've sure learned my lesson... Don't play with Rupert's balls in the library!"
His body shook with spasms of laughter, and she started to laugh along with him, her heart melting. Hearing him laugh always made her a little giddy inside."I, I suppose I'd better keep them out of sight..." he managed, then resumed giggling helplessly.
"But they're too much fun to play with..."
"Oh dear oh dear, my sides are killing me..."
She began to calm down a little, and started trying to reach the ends of the bolo with her one free hand, hoping she could unwrap them. Giles continued to chuckle, unable to assist. She addressed him sternly. "Rupert Giles, stop that and help me get this stupid thing untangled!"
He sobered slightly, then began to struggle, trying to free an arm. "Quite an effective weapon, wouldn't you say?" He snorted, then began giggling again, a tear running down one cheek.
She reached up with her free hand and straightened his glasses. She ran her finger down his nose and tapped it lightly. "You're just too cute, you know that?" She said softly.
"There's no such thing as 'too cute.'" He said, still grinning madly. Looking down into her eyes, he rubbed his nose against hers, turned his head slightly, and kissed her. He looked at her with a quizzical expression. "You know, you taste like Cheetos."
"Uh huh." She murmured dreamily. He kissed her again, more thoroughly this time.
"Mmmmmmmm..." She responded, running her free hand through his hair. They forgot all about where they were, reveling in the simple pleasure of kissing each other. They couldn't really do anything but kiss, bound as tightly as they were. As they relaxed, Giles managed to slide one arm up and out of the ropes. Instead of working on getting free, they instead gave themselves over to the more enjoyable task of invading each other's mouths.
After a few intensely engaging minutes, Giles glanced over his glasses toward the front doors, and began giggling again.
"What now, Chuckles?" She asked, her voice husky with emotion.
"Willow just walked in, and walked out. Oh, dear. She looked rather startled." He tried very hard not to start laughing again.
"I hope she didn't leave. We're probably gonna need her help to get untangled..." She looked into his eyes again, and said, seriously, "Your balls have gotten us in a lot of trouble."
Friday Night
The prom was already in full swing, music blaring, when Buffy arrived at the gym. Stopping just outside the doors, she glanced around, making sure the coast was clear. She knew he was there, but couldn't see him. "Where are you?" She whispered. "Giles? I'm not standing out here all night."
He cleared his throat behind her. She smiled and turned slowly, giving him a tantalizingly complete view of her attire. His eyes widened as she turned, and he found himself breathless as she faced him.
"You like?" She said softly.
He had never seen such a dress... deep red, clingy and shiny, with a plunging back, and, he noticed as his eyes drifted downward, an equally daring front. The color seemed to bring out the green in her eyes and the gold in her hair. The lady in the dress looked as though she should dance with kings instead of high school librarians. Her hairstyle reminded him strongly of the way she wore it in their last, most intense shared dream. Delicate ruby earrings and matching necklace completed the ensemble. He had never seen her look so... elegant was the word. His eyes slid over her slender, yet definitely feminine form. One shapely leg peeked out from a high center slit... he suddenly remembered to breathe, and gasped for air. He started to speak, but couldn't. So he just looked at her, spellbound.
"I've never seen you speechless before... I'll take that as a compliment." She said, leading him a short ways away from the doorway. "Now, your turn. Let me look at you." She circled him, trailing a hand along his broad shoulders, taking in his classic tuxedo... a perfect fit in basic black, with black tie and cummerbund. A tastefully pleated shirt with onyx cufflinks completed the look. Formal dress complimented him. He looked fit, trim and absolutely delicious.She smiled her approval, and caressed his cheek lightly. "Very tasty... but I'll hold that thought until later."
He smiled and looked down, immeasurably pleased. "Thank you," he managed, barely.
"Meeting out here first was a good idea. If I saw you cold turkey in there, I might have way embarrassed us both."
He nodded in mute agreement as his eyes met hers. The adoration in them was unmistakable.
"Are you ready to make your grand entrance?" She teased gently. "You better go in first to keep up appearances."
He nodded, regaining his composure, though still wearing a bemused smile. "All right. But don't be long." He leaned over until she could feel his breath against her cheek. "I'll miss you." He lingered for a split second, his lips nearly touching hers, then turned and walked slowly toward the doors. Her heart began to misbehave, pounding wildly. Suddenly it was her turn to try and catch her breath. As he walked away, she put her hand on her throat and swallowed.
"Wow." was all she could say. How on earth did he do that... turn her to jelly with a single gesture, a few words? She found herself wishing that the prom was over and done with. She wanted to feel his breath on her skin again...
Buffy spent most of her evening talking and laughing with Willow and Oz, and dancing with anyone who asked. Xander had asked Faith to accompany him, though everyone knew it was just for show. Faith knew he needed cheering up badly, so she turned on the charm, making him laugh with her wild Slayer tales and comments about the band. Still, his glance kept drifting toward the far side of the room where Cordelia and her cronies held court.
Buffy made it a point to dance with Xander as often as possible, but she found her gaze returning again and again to the tall figure standing guard over the noisy, youthful crowd. As the emcee announced the last dance of the evening, Buffy made a beeline for Giles and found him in the far corner surrounded by fellow teachers, cup of punch in hand. She tapped him on the shoulder,interrupting what had to be a fascinating conversation about beetles with the new Science teacher, Mr. Bruce.
His eyes met hers, sparkling with anticipation as she raised her voice over the din. "Hey, Mr. Giles, would you like to dance?"
"Why, thank you, yes." He put his cup down on the table carefully. 'Mustn't appear too eager.' He thought, knowing she heard. A surge of affection answered him as she led him onto the floor.
Behind them, Willow and Oz were getting ready to join them, when Oz stopped her with a hand on her arm.
"What is it?" She asked, not comprehending.
Oz smiled his enigmatic smile. "I don't think they need company." He said, surprising Willow with his insight. She kissed him happily, and stepped into his arms as the music began, slow and sweet, full of words of lasting love and happiness...
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Buffy and Giles moved together, holding each other loosely, keenly aware of where they were. Still, it seemed so perfect. He held her gently, that devastating quirky smile never leaving his lips. Her hands were placed properly on his shoulders, but, as the song played on, she longed to rest her head against his chest and let the feeling take her away.
Their minds began to paint a wonderful picture for them, one of being far away, in an elegant ballroom not a high school gym, in a place where they could be together freely, with no spectators present to inhibit their expressions of love. Her fingertips played idly with the collar of his jacket, caressing the material so slightly that no one else noticed. He felt it, just the same, andquivered inside at her touch. She became engrossed in the fantasy, feeling lighter than air... The Bond gave them perfect communion, making conversation irrelevant, and they knew at that instant the love they felt was real. For the span of three minutes, Heaven touched them.
As the song finished, they turned, applauding with the rest of the dancers, and without a word he reluctantly escorted her back to the table. As he began to walk away, Willow came up beside her with a knowing smile. "Have a nice time?" She asked in her most innocent tone, then grinned hugely as Buffy sighed a most satisfied sigh.
"Oh, yeah." She smiled, as Oz returned with the last two cups of punch. He handed one to Willow, and one to Buffy. "Thanks, Oz." Buffy looked at him and sipped her drink, wondering at his thoughtfulness.
"You looked like you could use one." He explained with a shrug and a smile.
"So, where to now? We can't go home, it's not even two o'clock yet. You're supposed to stay out all night on prom night, aren't you?" Willow drained the last of her punch, and tossed the cup away. "I'm up for an all-nighter, if you guys are!"
"I don't know... I'd feel like the fifth wheel." Buffy looked longingly over at Giles, who was graciously helping the hostesses clear away cups and plates."Besides, you'd probably be all moony and preoccupied, which would be really boring." Xander appeared behind them suddenly, Faith in tow. "You'd only poop the party." He looked at Buffy with eyes full of understanding. She suddenly felt close to him again for the first time in a long time, and smiled a grateful smile.
"You're right. I think I better just head home. We'll do The Gang's All Here later, I promise." Buffy kissed Xander on the cheek suddenly, then hugged Willow and patted Oz on the arm. "You guys are the greatest." Flashing a smile at Faith, she started for the door.
She stopped at the doorway and looked around for Giles, but he was already gone. She knew from the whisper of warmth inside her head that he was waiting outside. With a happy sigh, she slowly walked out of the gym, swinging her ruby sequined purse at her side. She kept her gaze toward the ground until she got to the sidewalk, and there a figure stepped out of the shadows to walk with her. She didn't even look up, just smiled and took his hand. Together, they disappeared into the night.
********
His mind began to slowly rise up through layers of pleasant, cozy sleep. Reality seemed to be rudely shaking his shoulder, and he turned away from the intrusion with a grumpy growl. Then, years of Watcher training kicked in, and his eyes snapped open, taking in his attacker at a glance.
"Joyce? What on earth..." He started to get up, and realized where he was...
sitting on the couch in Buffy's living room with her mother leaning over him. He shook his head slightly, and felt a warm, soft weight against his side. Turning his head, he smiled as he saw Buffy curled against his chest, still wearing her red prom dress, asleep and looking completely at peace. He froze, not wanting to wake her, and lowered his voice. "Good Heavens, what time is it?"
Joyce tried her best to look stern. "After six am. What are you doing here? Or should I be afraid to ask?"
Giles began to feel decidedly uncomfortable. It reminded him of being interrogated by his father after a wild teenaged night out. "Ah, well, uhm, as I understand it, the, ah, tradition among graduating seniors is to stay out all night on prom night. And, well, Buffy wanted to, to uphold that tradition, but she was concerned I, well, that I might feel a bit out of place with her usual crowd. So, she decided we would come here, and watch the all-night classic movie marathon on TV." He yawned, recovering his glasses from the end table. "I suppose we broke tradition... we must've fallen asleep during 'My Fair Lady.' At least, that's the last thing I remember." He smiled down at the slumbering form beside him. "Sweet of her to try to include me. I tried to talk her into going on with her friends, but she would have none of it."
Joyce noticed the empty popcorn bowls and the melted ice and watery soda remaining in two glasses, and smiled a little. Popcorn and soda... Buffy's mandatory late night TV snack. The TV was still on, revealing a black and white Walter Brennan hobbling across a dusty farmyard, scattering chickens left and right.
The smile slowly spread across her face, tinged with sadness. "She does love old movies... we've sat up late many a night watching them together. Nice to see you're keeping up with our family traditions, even if you can't manage the teenager ones." She felt a sense of loss, as if she knew her part in the tradition was coming to an end.
He suppressed a snort. "I try." Straightening slightly, he began to slide out from beside Buffy. "I really should be getting home. It's almost breakfast time."
A hand on his shoulder stopped him cold. "Don't move, you'll wake her up. Why don't you just stay put, and I'll make us all breakfast before I go to work." It began to dawn on his sleep-addled mind that Joyce wasn't ranting or raving. She wasn't even upset. She was smiling with what could have even been approval and affection. Amazed, he watched the woman leave the room and heard her rummaging around in the kitchen. He sighed, snuggling his sleeping love against him more comfortably.
After a few minutes, Buffy began to move, sliding a small hand over to rest on his chest. As if the feel of pleated tuxedo shirt beneath her hand surprised her, she sat up, blinking. She rubbed her head and stretched luxuriously. "Mmmmm... morning, I guess." She smiled muzzily up at him, turning his heart to mush. "What time is it?"
He consulted his watch, lifting his arm above her head. "Six fifteen. Your mother is making us breakfast."
Complete shock was plain on Buffy's face as his words sank in. "What!? She's what? Breakfast? You're kidding, right?"
"No, actually, she woke me just a minute ago, and volunteered to make breakfast for the three of us."
Her eyes widened, and she broke into a huge grin. "Miracles do happen, Rupert. You just witnessed one, in the flesh. Mom never does breakfast... maybe Pop Tarts and juice on a really good day." She leaned over against him and kissed him sweetly, causing 'butterflies' to take over his already growling stomach."'Scuse, me, gorgeous, but I have to go upstairs and change. Don't wanna get eggs on the satin." She rose gracefully, trailing a finger along his cheek and smiling back at him, then shattered that graceful image by taking the stairs two at a time.
He couldn't help chuckling at her unlimited energy... something he wished he had now. He stretched, groaning, feeling his back and neck protest at a night spent in a less-than-ideal position.
Perhaps he could talk Buffy into another one of her marvelous back rubs. After Joyce left, of course.
He stood, straightened his jacket, and began singing softly to himself, "I've grown accustomed to her face... she almost makes the day begin..."
* * *