Pairing: Buffy/Giles and... a few other pairings, but telling would spoil the surprise! Rating: NC17 Spoilers: Through As You Were. Summary: Riley makes a wish... and accidentally sets a lot of things right. Author's Notes: WARNING: this fic contains references to bondage and sub/dom relationships. The references are fairly mild, but if it bothers you, don't say I didn't warn you. Dedication: To Kat, who is very, very sick, indeed, and to Rari Coss who has encouraged this madness every step of the way. Last, but certainly not least, to Fabrisse who gave me the idea that Riley's Wife-O-Matic 5000 might be a demon... and another term that really needed to be used. Riley sat staring into the fire, his mind miles away from his body. He barely looked up when Sam came to join him. "Here," she said, handing him a tin plate of rations. "Soup's on, Finn. Eat up." "Not really hungry," he said. "Come on," she cajoled, "tell me what's bugging you. It's that whole Sunnydale thing, isn't it? Seeing Buffy again really hurt, didn't it?" "More than I can say. And it's not even... I mean, I don't want... I'm happy with you, Sam. That part of my life is over. I just... I don't even know what it is." He poked the fire with a stick and sighed in frustration at his inability to put his feelings into words. "Then let me take a guess," Sam said as she put the two plates down out of harm's way on the ground. "You're upset at how unhappy they all seem. You don't want her back, but you want her to find someone who makes her happy." "Yeah, but not just Buffy. I want them all to... I dunno. It's crazy of me but..." "But...?" she prompted. "I just... I wish all the people I knew then would just go back and make some different decisions so they all get who they deserve to be with." "Granted." Riley looked up in shock at his wife. Her voice had turned guttural and her face was covered with ropey veins. "Uh oh." * * * * * April, 1997. Buffy's bedroom. Buffy handed Angel the plastic bag of food a bit awkwardly. She never quite knew how to behave with him. At least he seemed as awkward taking it as she was giving it to him. "It's a little plateless. Sorry," she babbled. "So, what did you do all day?" "Uh, I read a little. And just thought about a lot of things. Buffy, I..." Her eyes went wide. She grabbed up a book and stuffed it hurriedly in a drawer. "My diary?! You read my diary? That is not okay! A diary is like a person's most private place! I... you don't even know what I was writing about! 'Hunk' can mean a lot of things, bad things. And, and when it says that your eyes are 'penetrating', I meant to write 'bulging'." "Buffy..." "And 'A' doesn't even stand for 'Angel' for that matter, it stands for... 'Achmed', a charming foreign exchange student, so that whole fantasy part has nothing to even do with you at all..." "Your mother moved your diary when she came in to straighten up. I watched from the closet. I didn't read it, I swear." "Oh," Buffy said. "Oh." Angel hesitated before he spoke again. "I did a lot of thinking today. I really can't be around you. Because when I am..." "Hey, no big," Buffy stammered to cover her hurt. "Water... over the bridge, under the bridge..." "When I am all I can ever think about is how badly I want to kiss you." "...over the dam...Kiss me?" * * * * * October 31, 1997. An abandoned warehouse. Angel watched helplessly from the sidelines as Spike stalked his prey. Buffy whimpered and retreated. If only she could remember who she was, this would be over. As long as she was convinced she really was an Eighteenth century lady, she was helpless against their captors, and without a Slayer, so were the rest of them. Spike smiled cruelly as he neared the terrified girl. "Look at you. Shaking. Terrified. Alone. Lost little lamb," he gloated. Buffy had retreated as far as she could. Another step and Spike had her in range. He slapped her hard across the face. Buffy cringed and began to cry. "I love it," Spike smirked. Angel struggled uselessly against his captors. "Buffy!" he cried. Spike closed his hand around Buffy's throat. He grinned as he bent her back over the crate. He bared his fangs. * * * * * April 1998. Sunnydale High. Buffy stared in shock at the crumpled figure of Angelus on the ground below the balcony. She still held the gun in her nerveless fingers. As if in a daze, she went to the band room. She knew the record player was there, and she knew exactly what record was on the turntable. She turned it on and set the needle down. As the room filled with the mellow, melancholy strains of I Only Have Eyes For You, she steadied her nerves. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she thought of what she needed to do. Raise the pistol, squeeze the trigger. A nice even pressure would do the job. She raised her hand. Another hand covered hers and pushed it down. She looked up in shock to see Angelus, her Angel, and yet Grace Stanley there. She had no power to determine her next words. They didn't matter. She saw the one she loved. "Grace," she breathed. "Don't do this." "But - but I killed you." "It was an accident. It wasn't your fault." "Oh, it is my fault. How could I..." "Shhh," He soothed her, "I'm the one who should be sorry, James. You thought I stopped loving you. But I never did. I loved you with my last breath." All Buffy could do was shed the tears James had held in his heart for so many years. Tears of regret, of guilt, of love. Angelus tenderly wiped them away. "Shhh... No more tears." He bent his head and kissed her, just as Grace willed. James kissed her back with all the passion and all the love a teenager could give. Even as both felt the spell lift, the kiss continued another moment. Suddenly Angelus stiffened and pulled away. Buffy opened her eyes and stared at him, slightly dazed. "Angel?" * * * * * May, 1999. Sunnydale High Gym. Buffy looked around herself, pleased with her accomplishment if not exactly happy for herself. Sure she had a great dress and the hellhounds were all gone. She'd even gotten some completely unexpected recognition for her efforts as Slayer. She knew it was shallow of her to keep wishing Angel would somehow appear and at least dance with her, if not change his mind and stay, but sometimes hearts are shallow. Still, her heart was definitely lifted when Giles came over to her. He looked good in his tux. What's more, he looked so proud and happy when he saw her walk in. He was still smiling. She decided happy was a good look for her favorite Watcher. "You did good work tonight, Buffy," he told her. "And I got a little toy surprise," she quipped twirling the gaudy little parasol. Giles smiled shyly at her. "I had no idea that children en masse could be so gracious." "Every now and then, people surprise you," she reminded him. "Every now and then," he agreed. * * * * * June, 1999. Sunnydale High Library. Cordelia and Wesley packed boxes of books in a half hearted way. Each kept stealing glances at the other when they thought the other wasn't looking. At last, Wesley steeled himself to speak. He stood and turned to the girl. "Cordelia?" She spun around just a little too eagerly to appear as nonchalant as she wanted to. "Yes?" "You know that… when this is over…" "Yes?" "Uhm, well, should we prevail… I'll be going back to England." Cordelia turned away to hide the hurt she felt. Great. Another rejection. When had that become a way of life for Cordelia Chase? She plucked another book from the shelf and stowed it safely in a box. "I know." Wesley shifted awkwardly. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so nervous in his life. "With Buffy no longer working for the Council, there really is… no place for me here." He prayed that Cordelia would tell him he was wrong. He'd never wanted so badly to be wrong in all his life. "I guess not." Still, something in her tone gave him more hope than the blunt words could ever have done. He clasped his hands and advanced a step. "No… reason to stay." Cordelia turned and inched toward him. "No." He inched another step closer. He pulled off his glasses. "No. No… cause to hope that… I might be needed?" She looked up at him, glassy eyed. "Needed?" "Or wanted?" "Wanted?" They both leaned in. * * * * * May, 2001. Willow's dorm room. "D-don't you trust me?" Willow asked in a hurt tone. "With my life," Tara replied simply. "That's not what I mean." Tara was tired of arguing. Everything she'd said had turned out to be the wrong thing. "Can't we just go to the fair?" she pleaded. "I don't feel real multicultural right now." Willow stood and confronted her lover. "W... what is it about me that you don't trust?" "It's not that. I worry, sometimes. You're, you're changing so much, so fast. I don't know where you're heading." "Where I'm heading?" Tara blew out a frustrated breath at herself. "I'm saying everything wrong." "No, I think you're being pretty clear. This isn't about the witchcraft. It's about the other changes in my life." "I trust you. I just... I don't know where I'm gonna fit in... in your life when..." "When... I change back? Yeah, this is a college thing, just a, a little experimentation before I get over the thrill and head back to boys' town. You think that?" "Should I?" "I'm really sorry that I didn't establish my lesbo street cred before I got into this relationship. You're the only woman I've ever fallen in love with, so... how on earth could you ever take me seriously?" * * * * * February, 2002. Spike's crypt. Spike poked with his boot in the bombed out mess that had been his home for almost two years. It was all gone. Not that it had been much, but it was his until Buffy and Captain Cardboard exploded it to Kingdom Come. Just when he thought unlife couldn't get any worse, Buffy appeared. "So she's back," he said bitterly. "Thought you'd be off snogging with Soldier Boy." "He's gone." Spike raised his head hopefully. "So you've come for a bit of cold comfort?" He looked away, then back at her. "The bed's a bit blown up, but then that was never our..." "I'm not here to... and I'm not here to bust your chops about your stupid scheme either. That's just you. I should have remembered." "Oh this is worse, then isn't it? This is you telling me..." "It's over." He smirked slightly. "I've memorized this tune, luv. Think I have the sheet music. Doesn't change what you want." "I know that. I do want you. Being with you... makes things... simpler. For a little while." "Now I don't call five hours straight a little while." Every nerve in him screamed. She couldn't mean it this time. She couldn't do this to him. "I'm using you," she told him simply. "I can't love you. I'm just being weak and selfish." He moved closer. Maybe if he got right in her space... it'd always worked before. "Really not complaining here." "And it's killing me." Spike stared in confusion, but she was still talking. "I have to be strong about this. I'm sorry... William." She looked hard at him one more moment as he tried to will her not to turn around, to come back to his arms and break what few possessions he had left, and what little heart was still in his chest as well. She was all he had left. She couldn't walk away. And then she turned to do just that. * * * * * October, 2001. Magic Box. Training Room. Giles sighed. "Perhaps Anya's right. Perhaps I am trying to teach you as if you were..." "Human?" the Buffybot supplied brightly. "Yes," he responded uncomfortably. "I like your teachings. Every Slayer needs her Watcher." "I'm not so sure about that." "What do you mean?" the bot asked with a confused frown. "Nothing," he lied as he wiped his face with a towel. Lord, but he was tired! And the wretched thing looked so like Buffy, talked in Buffy's voice. He couldn't help confiding in it almost the way he had with his Slayer, except that he would never have dared say this to the real Buffy. "I just can't help but wonder if... she would have been better off without me. Buffy." "I don't think that's true," the machine consoled him. "You were very helpful to her." Giles laughed bitterly. "Right. Yes, I was a perfect Watcher. I did what any good Watcher would do. Got my Slayer killed in the line of duty." "Oh, that wasn't your fault." "Of course not. That's how all Slayer/Watcher relationships end, isn't it?" He put his glasses back on, signifying that all emotional sharing was at an end. "She's gone. I did my job." "Well, then why are you still here?" * * * * * Suddenly, he knew he wasn't. There. Anymore. Of course, he had no clue where he was, but he was sure it wasn't the Magic Box. He spun around, alarmed at the sudden change of venue. "Ethan," he seethed, jumping to a not entirely unlikely conclusion. "No, I'm not Ethan," a harsh, female voice informed him. "And don't bother looking for me because I'm not here, either. Nor are you, come to that." "What do you mean, I'm not here?" Giles demanded. The only thing that made him sure this wasn't an LSD flashback was the fact that he'd avoided the stuff like poison back in his Ripper days. "What is this place?" "You and the others are when and where you were, and you are here as well." "Stop talking in riddles and answer me!" "You, the four vampires, and the three girls have been pulled from time and space to find your true places, and your true mates. The wish has been made. It cannot be changed." "Wish? Are you a vengeance demon?" "Actually, I'm more of a dealer in temporal reorganization to bring order to the romantic aspects of the universe. Plus I do couples counseling." Giles shook his head. "You said there are others - vampires and some girls. Where are they?" "Do not fear the vampires. While they are in this place, they cannot harm anyone. You may mingle freely with them, if that is your wish." "Wonderful," Giles muttered sarcastically. "Just what I've always wanted. Four Spikes." He looked up and developed an odd expression on his face. "Or rather, two Spikes and two bloody Angels. My day is now officially complete." "Your day?" one of the Spikes said belligerently. "What about mine? Your bleedin' Slayer has only gone and blown up my crypt and broken up with me and run back to her nancy commando boy." The other Spike blew a disgusted raspberry at his counterpart. "Will you listen to that pathetic sap?" He slapped the other Spike - the one wearing the gold chain around his neck and the stupid, low necked tee shirt - in the head. His eyes widened in disbelief. "Hair gel?! Bugger! It's worse than I thought. I'm never becoming you, you sod." Giles stared in bewilderment. "Buffy broke up with you? Buffy was never with you... well, except for that one time when Willow did that spell, but that was only a few hours and she wasn't even dating Riley yet, so far as I know, and you lived in my sodding bath. None of this makes sense." "Lived in your bath, huh?" The Angel in leather pants laughed. No, Giles reminded himself, this was clearly Angelus. "Now that's just sad. And being the Slayer's pet vampire? Please! Can we say trying to fill daddy's shoes?" "You can't talk about Buffy that way!" Angel told the other three vampires. This really was Angel, much as he'd been when Giles first met him. "Who's talking about me what way?" Giles looked up at the sound of her voice, unsure whether to laugh or cry at it. This was really her, looking as lovely as he'd remembered her on Prom night. Angel and the wimpier Spike both moved to her, but Giles beat them both to the spot and pulled her into a nearly desperate embrace. "I can't believe it's you," he whispered against her hair. He suddenly remembered his audience and pulled back to look at her. She was smiling wryly at him, her eyes dancing with an amused confusion. "Who'd you think it was, tactile guy? A reject from Madame Toussaud's? She took a closer look at Giles, and then noticed the two pairs of identical twin vamps. "You look tired, Giles. And why are there two Spikes and Angel *and* Angelus in the same room? What's going on?" "Well, according to the disembodied voice that welcomed me here, it appears the universe has decided that we're all... romantically muddled in some way." "What? The six of us? And only one girl?" "She said there were two more women." "That still means sombody's coming out of the closet." "My money's on this one," the early model Spike pointed at Angel. Angelus joined in his laughter. "Mine, too." "He's not gay," Buffy defended her ex boyfriend. "As we all know much to our dismay," Giles grumbled under his breath. "I said I was sorry," Buffy said. "You don't need to remind me he got to you first!" The later Spike complained. "You didn't get to me at all, Spike," Buffy said. "And you never will." "You lay one hand on her," Angel threatened, "one finger on her, Spike, and..." "What? You'll sic your Slayer on me? You haven't had her in a long, long time, Peaches, and I've had her a lot more times than you have." With a furious cry, Angel lunged at the more recent Spike. Buffy grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him back. "Don't. He's just trying to upset us. And, God! Caveman much? You tell me two days ago you're breaking up with me and now you're going all Rambo on Spike because he tells you a lie about me?" "Breaking up?" Angel looked bewildered. "Buffy, we've never even gone on a date. Not that I wouldn't want... but we can't. You don't know what I am." "A vampire, I know that, Angel. I've known it for a long time. It's why it will never work between us." The earlier version of Spike, meantime, smacked his counterpart in the head again - gel and all. "You moron! We're vampires. She's the Slayer. We don't shag Slayers. We bloody well kill them!" "Face it, Spike... and Spike," Angelus taunted, "you never had what it takes to get the job done. Screwing her is as close as you'll ever get to killing her." Buffy let out a frustrated breath and moved to her Watcher's side. "So do we have any idea where the other two people are and how long it's gonna take us to get out of here? I sorta want to get back to my Prommy fun. I even thought a guy might be about to ask me to dance so I wouldn't be all wallflowery." Giles smiled a little sadly at her. "You'll get your dance, Buffy." She shook her head. In the background the vampires continued to squabble among themselves. Buffy ignored them. "Giles, I'm going to ask you something and I want you to be straight with me. When you come from... I'm not there, am I?" He dropped his gaze to the floor. She had her answer. "H-how long? From my time to... no time?" "About two years. I'm sorry." "Two years? Wow. I always knew I was gonna... so what do you think it is in Slayer years?" "Not nearly time enough." "Is that why you look so tired and sad? Is that why you hugged me like that? How did I... no. I don't want to know. I'll be second guessing myself all the time if I know." She wrapped her arms around her middle and blinked fiercely. Tears would do no good. They would only make her mascara run. "But everyone else is okay, right? Will and Xand and Oz and Cordy? And they're there for you, right?" "They're all fine," Giles assured her. "And they're taking care of Mom, too, right? You're helping her?" "Buffy... please don't ask any more." Her eyes widened. "You mean...? Did I get it? The thing that killed her, did I kill it?" "There was nothing to kill, Buffy; nothing to fight. You did everything you could." "It's never enough, is it?" "It's more than should be asked. And you might do better if...." he trailed off and stuffed his hands in his pockets with a frustrated breath. "If what, Giles? What am I doing wrong?" "No, Buffy," he hastened to reassure her. "It isn't you. You're doing a remarkable job. It's me. I'm the one who's doing things wrong. If it wasn't for me -" "If it wasn't for you, I'd be toast about a million times over. I keep telling you I can't do this job without you. You're the best Watcher there is." "No, I'm not." "Excuse me, but I think I know something here. I've had three Watchers, and I've known another two. Believe me, you're the best by a pretty impressive margin." Giles smiled tightly and pulled out his handkerchief to clean his glasses. The tough Spike gawked. "I don't bloody believe it." "Believe what?" Buffy snapped. "That hanky - it's not tweed!" "A tweed handkerchief would hardly be a practical item," Giles huffed as he replaced both his maligned hanky and his glasses. "Non-absorbent, itchy, and likely to collect all manner of lint. Only a complete idiot would carry one." "So, Spike," Buffy taunted both of them. "You got one?" Spike One raised a two fingered salute at Buffy. "Yeah. That proves your towering intellect," she said. "Look, I'm tired of being here and arguing with you guys and finding out my crappy future consists of not having one. I say we look for an escape, Who's with me?" "We can't do it, Buff. We're majicked in in a big way," came a new voice. "Will," Buffy said, "there has to be a way out. Ooh, I like the hair." "There really isn't," Cordelia confirmed. "We've looked everywhere, and Wicca girl here muttered a bunch of spells that only gave her like an industrial sized migraine and got us nowhere. I even broke a nail trying to pry open something that looked like it might be a door." Buffy sat on the floor and heaved a sigh. "So we're trapped." "Yeah, you're welcome," Cordelia huffed. "She does give up awfully easily sometimes," Spike Two confided to Angelus. "I know she gave *it* up awfully easy," Angelus snickered back. "To you, maybe. Worth the effort though. The things she does..." Spike's eyes glazed over at the memories. "What? Lying there thinking of England?" "Guess I'm the only one who brings out the animal in her." Buffy stormed over to the pair. "You're the animals! God, you're such pigs! You both make me sick." "Ah, good, you're all here, I see," came a disembodied voice. "Who the hell are you?" Buffy demanded. "That would be our captor," Giles told her mildly. "Why won't she come out and face us like a... thing?" "Those are the rules," the voice said. "Besides, in that room there are four vampires, a vampire Slayer, a Watcher, a powerful witch and... another person. The anger and strength are great." "Hey!" Cordelia interjected "I'm not just a person, lady! I'm... I'm... a cheerleader, and I was May Queen back when I was popular before I met these losers and I was the only one to notice those devil dog things were after formalwear. Without me, the Prom would have been turned into three hundred bowls of Kibbles and Bits." "She's not wrong about that," Buffy admitted. "Be still!" the voiced roared. "You try my patience and that of the universe itself. Each of you has a mate chosen for you by the fates. Not one of you is with that person. You have all been pulled here, out of time, out of space, in order that your eyes may be opened and you may change the destructive choices you have all been making." "You couldn't just fax each of us a copy of 'Soulmates For Dummies'?" Buffy asked. "And what becomes of free will, then?" Giles demanded. "We have the right to make our own decisions, for good or ill. You cannot take that from us." "Who's taking away your free will?" the voice asked. "No, no, we just like things to be a bit tidier than your choices are allowing the universe to be. I swear, I came to Sunnydale to show you all the way, and not only did none of you listen to me, most of you weren't even there anymore!" "Who are you?" Buffy asked. "A cosmic Martha Stewart?" "I'm thinking Mary Poppins with a major government grant," Willow grumbled. "And possibly some help from Professor Walsh's scientists." "Don't mention that bitch to me," the more recent Spike growled. "If it wasn't for her, I'd still be him." He pointed at his counterpart. "That one with no chip can bite people. He's a real vampire. I'm not even that anymore." "A chip?" the other Spike sputtered. "What? You let them neuter you? Crap! If it was me, I'd have staked myself. Or gone sunbathing. Only respectable thing to do. You're a bloody disgrace, you are, Disco boy. I'm not so sure you were ever me at all." "Please, everybody," Giles admonished. "We're getting off the point." He looked up and directed his questions to the ceiling. "What exactly is it you expect of us? We're not simply going to race into one anothers' arms because you tell us to. How are we to determine what it is you want and how to achieve it, even if we were to agree with your choices?" "Which we probably won't," Buffy added helpfully. "Is this the entire pool we're choosing from?" Cordelia asked. "Because if we are, color me so not interested. I mean, come on! Four vampires, two of whom are completely evil and one of whom is just pathetic, and an old guy. Even older than I remember." "Yes, well, you've aged, too," Giles grumbled. "As if. So unless you plan to drop Mel Gibson into this room pronto, I don't see anything on the menu I want." "And what about me?" Willow piped up. "I've already got a girlfriend I love. And, okay, we're not in the absolute best space we've ever been in, but - tiff. We'll make it up. I - I think." Buffy's eyes bugged out. "You have a *girlfriend*? A - as in 'hi honey, I'm home, come to my arms my red hot baby' girlfriend?" "Yeah, Buffy. You knew I was gay... or, a later you knew." "Wow. I'm guessing the final two years of my life are exciting." "That's nothing," said the chipped Spike. "Wait till you come back for your encore." "Bloody bint never did know when to say die," muttered the original Spike. "No, but when she saw you, she knew enough to say kill," Angel retorted. "Will you all just shut up?" the disembodied voice yelled, completely losing her cool. "I'm trying to answer a question here. No wonder you're all so fouled up. No discipline whatsoever." "Somebody didn't take their Prozac," muttered Cordelia. "We're listening," Giles assured their captor. "What is it you expect of us?" "Kiss." * * * * * The group waited impatiently for more. None was forthcoming. "What do you mean, kiss?" Willow asked. "Kiss who?" "Each other." "What," Buffy asked, "just random people?" "That's right." "And then what?" "When you choose the right person, and enough has been done, you will be returned to your original timeline where you will still have the free will to make the same choices, but you will also have the will in your heart to make better choices. That is all. And don't make me do this again!" When the voice was gone, the little band stared awkwardly at one another for a while. Nobody knew quite what to say or do. Buffy caught the more recent Spike looking at her cleavage and glared at him. "In your dreams," she told him firmly. "I dunno, Pet. Maybe I'm the one you're supposed to kiss." "If so, then I'm never getting back to the Prom." "Stop it, both of you," Giles scolded them. "Now clearly, none of us are going to get out of here until we do what's expected of us. Therefore, I suggest we start... well... kissing." The others all stared at him. "Well I don't see any of you coming up with anything better." Giles pulled off his glasses and rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. "Okay," Buffy said, "I'd rather have something to pummel, but if smoochies are gonna get us out of here, who am I to fight it? Angel, come here. Let's get it over with." "But didn't she say this is because we've all picked the wrong people?" Cordelia reminded them. "Shouldn't we pick people we're not already with?" "We broke up, Cordy. What if that's the mistake?" "And I've never dated her," Angel chimed in. "All right, if that's how you guys want to play it. But don't say I didn't warn you." Cordelia moved to one side and watched with one eyebrow arched as Buffy and Angel moved closer to one another nervously. "This feels so weird," Buffy laughed uncomfortably. "I know. But it'll be okay. I've wanted to do this for so long." "Kiss me in front of a big audience?" Angel shook his head. "Kiss you. At all." He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her gently. She kissed him back with all the passion of frustrated desire for her lost love. When they ended the kiss, both looked sad. Buffy looked at the floor. "You're not the one I was supposed to kiss, are you?" she asked miserably. "I guess not," he agreed. "So what do we do now?" "Here's what you do," the late model Spike said. "You stand over there and look like a git, Peaches, while I kiss the girl." He swung Buffy around and kissed her before she could protest. She pulled back as quickly as she could, gagging. "Eiww! Haven't you ever heard of breath mints? You could warn a girl before you decide to share that ashtray mouth." Spike just looked disappointed. "She's supposed to be mine. I love her." "You don't love her, you great, prancing poof," the earlier Spike informed him. "You want her. She's the one Slayer you've met you couldn't kill. This is a whole... whaddyacallit... obsession thing. Now me and Dru, we've got the real thing." Angelus snickered rudely. "All you've got of Dru is her ass when she's not sharing it with someone else." Spike went white with rage. "You take that back, Angelus." "Oh, of course, I forgot how pure and virginal Dru is. I wonder why that is? Oh, wait! I do know." Angelus pulled a piece of silk out of his duster. "Look what I've got in my pocket," he sang as he dangled the frilly panties in Spike's face. "Could we kindly stop with the display of vampire knickers?" Giles begged as he cleaned his spotless glasses. "We need to figure out who kisses who to get us out of here." "Go on, Buffy," Willow urged. "Kiss somebody else." "Like who, Will?" Willow shrugged. "I - I guess you could try with... me, if you wanted." Buffy looked nervously at Giles. He shrugged. "You might as well try it. It can't hurt anything." "Nice attempt at the nonchalant, Watcher mine. Have you been, like, waiting all your life to see two girls kiss each other?" "No, I've already seen that. I'm just anxious to get out of here, lord knows why." "'Cause this is real funky and it's wigging you out? And when did you see two girls kiss before?" "Will you just get on with it?" "Cranky. Okay, Will, pucker up. Let's try it." The two girls approached one another nervously. After several feints and retreats, they managed a tentative liplock. A moment later, both pulled back looking slightly relieved that it was over. "Well that was a disappointment," the original Spike said. "I was hoping for something with a bit more fireworks than that." "And they say redheads are passionate," Angelus said disgutedly. "That wasn't passionate." "Shut up!" Willow yelled. "I don't see you guys doing anything but making stupid cracks at each other. Why don't you try kissing each other, huh? See how you like it having to kiss someone you don't think about that way in front of a bunch of other people." "Yes," Giles agreed, "why don't you two kiss each other for us. Perhaps you're true soulmates and just won't admit it because of your raging homophobia." The two vampires actually managed to blanch at the idea. They started to demur, but found Buffy, Giles, Willow, Cordelia and Angel all gathered around them with folded arms and grim determination etched on every countenance. A short distance away, the other Spike giggled. "Go on, luvs," he told them. "Make with the kissey faces. You know you want to." Angelus actually growled, but found he couldn't even go into game face. Spike shrugged his shoulders and turned to face his Sire. "Bloody hell, but this is gonna be rough. You tell anyone about this - *anyone* - and you'll be kissing daylight about two seconds later even if it's the middle of the bloody night." With that, he took a deep breath for show and pulled the taller vampire's head down to his own. The kiss was bruising, but brief. When both parties pulled back, they wiped their mouths with the backs of their hands and spat identically. "And that leaves just two people who haven't tried kissing anyone at all," Buffy observed as her gaze fell on Giles and Cordelia. "No way!" Cordelia protested. "Cordelia?!" Giles yelped. "Oh grow up, you two. It's just a little kiss." "But he's so old," Cordelia said. "I believe you were the one who said something about Mel Gibson, Cordy," Buffy taunted her. "He's older than Giles... or if he isn't, he's about the same age, so just imagine it's Mel in some macho part and do it already." "First off, Mel Gibson is so not as old as Giles, and second, if he was, he'd still be way richer and more famous than Giles, so it'd be okay." "And I have no intention of... sucking face with someone as monumentally vapid and shallow as Cordelia." "Hey!" the girl fumed. "You take that back. Whatever you called me." "Oh, just shut up and do it already," Buffy ordered them. "I had to kiss Willow and Spike. Not to mention the humiliation of finding out Angel wasn't my get out of jail free card, after all. You guys can sacrifice something to the cause, too." Giles glared at his Slayer, who smirked back at him until the corners of his mouth began to turn up despite his best efforts. "Oh alright. Come here, Cordelia. Just imagine, as Buffy said, that I'm Mel Gibson, and I'll imagine you ever actually said something nice to me." He leaned down and took Cordelia into his arms. He pressed his lips against hers. Cordy gave a muffled groan and kissed him back. It went on for a while. Buffy didn't know why, but she began to really regret her suggestion. Watching Giles kiss Cordelia was creeping her out in a big way. Willow leaned over to Buffy and giggled. "I think we may have a winner here. Who knew?" "We don't. Yet. Know. How long are they gonna do this? Don't they need to breathe?" At last, Giles pulled back from Cordelia with a small smile. "Thank you, Cordelia. That was... um... very nice, actually." "Yeah. Nice," Cordy replied a little breathlessly. She turned to Willow and Buffy. "You guys should try it. For an old guy, Giles is a way good kisser." "That's it?" Buffy asked. "He's a good kisser? Nothing happened?" Cordelia shrugged. "Not really. I mean, it was nice, but that's really it. Nothing happened." "She's right," Giles agreed. "As unexpectedly pleasant as it turned out to be, it was just a kiss. Nothing more." Buffy wasn't sure if she was more upset or relieved by her friends' assurances. She knew it ought to be pure frustration, since it meant they were no closer to getting out of captivity, but there was a little piece of her heart that rejoiced at the lack of soulmateness between her Watcher and Cordelia. "Let's face it," Spike one said, "we're none of us getting out of here, because none of you is in love with anyone but yourselves. Wankers." "An interesting observation, Spike," Giles mused, "since you and Angel are the only ones in a position to actually kiss yourselves." "Hey, that's right," Buffy agreed. "There's two of you, Spike. Why don't you give it a try?" "Because I'm not a bloody poofter, that's why not." "Hey, I kissed a girl, and I'm not gay. Of course, if you're too scared..." "Yes, nobody would dream of asking you to do something that frightens you," Giles added blandly. "Frightened? Frightened? I'll give you frightened, mate." With that, Spike grabbed his counterpart and kissed him soundly on the lips. Both pulled back with dazed expressions on their faces. They smiled, then returned to their kisses. Hands wandered as mouths opened and tongues began a sensual duel. From nowhere a bed sprang up next to them. The sheets were black and the frame wrought iron. The matching vampires tumbled onto it and began to undress one another as the rest of the party looked on in horrified fascination. "Okay. Unexpected," Buffy observed as soon as she could find words at all. "At least now we know what happens when we find a match." Giles put his glasses in his pocket. "That's really rather disturbing. Not to mention the most advanced form of masturbation I've ever seen." "You've seen way too many kinky things, Giles," Buffy observed wryly. "So maybe that means Angel and Angelus should try it, too," Willow said looking away from the wrought iron bed where a pair of naked Spikes were now making the bedsprings creak with erotic ferocity. Angel turned an interesting shade of green and turned to his evil twin. "If we want to get out of here, I guess we have to try this." "Yeah, yeah, in a minute. I'm busy. Anybody got a video camera? I want to film this and put it up on eBay." The evil vampire adjusted himself in his leather trousers as he watched the early model Spike kiss his way down the later Spike's belly and take his twin's erect cock between his lips. Nobody liked to ask where the handcuffs that pinned the more recent Spike to the headboard had come from. "Or forget the camera; just bring me a big bowl of popcorn." "Angelus," Angel prodded him, "I'd really like to get out of here. Are you going to kiss me or not?" Angelus spun around and hit his other self on the cheek. "First things first, boy. I'm in charge here. You do what I say. Got it?" Angel's eyes went wide, then he began to smile. "Yes, master." Buffy and Willow shared an odd look at this turn of events. The vampires, however, were only getting started. Angelus pulled Angel flush with his body and rubbed his pelvis against that of his lookalike. "Feel that?" he asked. "You want that? Huh? Tell me you want it." "Yes, master. I want it," Angel whimpered. "Then you may kiss me," Angelus said. "This is seriously disturbing," Willow said. "No kidding. I'll be in therapy until I'm at least forty," Cordelia agreed. Buffy whimpered and Giles patted her shoulder comfortingly. Angel and Angelus, meanwhile, had begun to kiss - or possibly devour one another. It was unclear which they were trying to do. A bed appeared next to them. This one was made of ebony carved in fantastic, gothic shapes with blood red satin sheets gracing the mattress. Angelus pushed his lover onto the bed and ordered him to undress. Buffy turned and headed for the farthest corner of the room. She wasn't sure what was the worst; the fact that kissing Angel hadn't worked to get her out, or the fact that he seemed to get off on humiliating himself. Besides, she was coming to a disturbing conclusion about what she had to do to get out. * * * * * When Giles appeared beside her, she knew he'd worked it out, too. "I guess it's you and me, huh, Giles?" "I rather believe that's the only remaining option." He nodded to where Cordelia and Willow were already beginning to make love on their wicker bed with the 250 thread count Egyptian cotton designer sheets. Willow had taken one distended, rosy nipple between her lips and was suckling hungrily at it. Looking around the room, Buffy saw that the two Spikes were sixty-nining for all they were worth while Angelus had Angel on his knees before him and was ordering him to 'squeal like a pig, boy' as he pushed his cock into Angel's waiting backside. "So I guess this means we're the only ones not coming out of the closet on this one," Buffy joked. "Well, you did ask me to be straight with you earlier. I must admit, I don't think either of us had this in mind at the time." Buffy shrugged. "It could be worse. It could be Spike, or Angelus. Or I could have had to do this with Principal Snyder or something. At least I already like you." "Can you? Now that you know it's more than just a kiss?" "Not like I'm a virgin, is it?" "No, but you're so young. I admit, it rather gives me pause." "Giles, it's this or we stay in this stupid room forever. Don't you want to get back?" "I wish I could say I did." She reached up and touched his cheek. "Hey, if there's one thing I know, it's that whatever happens isn't your fault. It's probably because of some dumb idea of mine. You've tried to get yourself killed a few times, but you always do whatever you can to keep me safe. Besides, from what the one Spike said, it doesn't sound like I've gotten any better at staying dead. Hang tough for a while, and I'll be back and irritating you again before you know it." They shared a watery smile as Giles pulled her into another embrace. "We can make different decisions this time, Buffy. And I want you to promise me something." "Anything." He took her face in both his hands and held her gaze seriously. "Stay with me this time. I'm not asking for your love, but please don't ignore me. My life is empty when you're not in it." "Like anything can break up a team like us," Buffy scoffed. "You're stuck with me." "I certainly hope so." "Now maybe we'd better do this thing before we have too much of an audience. I really don't want anyone here to see us... y'know." "I think they're still far too busy to pay attention to us, but I do see your point." He began to lower his face to hers. At the last moment, she placed a hand on his chest to stop him. "Giles? You don't still work at the High School, do you?" "No. You might say I graduated with your class." "Good. 'Cause otherwise, this might have been a little skanky." "Ready?" She nodded a bit hesitantly, but firmly. Giles reached back and undid the rhinestone clip that held her hair in place. He smoothed out her tresses and hugged her again before he leaned down to kiss her softly. At least the kiss started off soft. His lips were sweet and warm against hers. Buffy found herself giving voice to an involuntary groan at the sensation, Giles smiled against her lips and wrapped his arms around her a bit tighter. She kissed him back, hungry for more. Her fingers clutched at the jacket he wore over his sweats. She shuddered slightly at the touch of his warm fingers at the bare skin of her shoulders and neck. There was all the hunger from her one experience with Angel, but without the desperation or the awkwardness. This wasn't giving in to temptation. This was a homecoming. An hour ago, this would have been confusing, even appalling to Buffy, but now it was the most natural thing in the world. When she felt his tongue flick out to request entry to her mouth, she parted her lips and welcomed him with a will. His soft groan when their tongues slid across one another for the first time electrified Buffy. She felt the heat building in her loins. Still, Giles kept kissing her, his lips soft and hungry against her own. Then he was moving, guiding her to the bed that had sprung up beside them. It was a classic oak fourposter. The wood was the color of dark honey which contrasted prettily with the crisp, soft, ivory linen sheets. There was a down comforter on top, also ivory in color, with variously shaped green leaves appliquéed to the surface. The bedding had been turned down and a foil condom packet sat atop each pillow, like a mint in a classy hotel. Giles sat on the edge and held Buffy to him for a moment, burying his face in the pink satin covering her belly. She could feel him kiss her gently through the fabric, and found herself ruffling his hair affectionately. He looked up at her and smiled. "Just stay right there a moment," he told her. "Okay. What are you up to?" "Getting rid of a few layers." He pulled back and shrugged off his jacket, then bent to remove his shoes and socks. Buffy looked curiously at his feet. "What?" Giles asked. "Has anyone ever told you you have cute toes?" He grinned through a blush and rose to take her in his arms again. "You're utterly mad, you know." "Well they are," she assured him. "And I want to see the rest of you, too." "And so you shall." Giles moved a couple steps back from her and pulled his tee shirt over his head to reveal his chest with its fine mat of tawny curls. Buffy put out a hand to touch them. "I like it," she said. "Very manly." He blushed again and hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his sweatpants to push them off his hips. Buffy giggled when she saw the athletic supporter underneath. "I was training," Giles explained. "Sorry," Buffy laughed. "I just really wasn't expecting that. And who were you training with if there's no me there?" "I'd really rather not go into that." "Grouchy. So are you gonna take that thing off, already? It's not exactly helping the mood." Giles did his best to glare, but he found he was entirely too happy to manage it. Instead, he just removed the offending item and stood naked before Buffy at last. She looked him up and down. "Nice," she finally said. "Very Giles." He smiled and moved to stand behind her. Just as she was about to ask what he was up to, she felt him unzip her dress. As it pooled at her feet, Buffy stepped out of it and turned to Giles. His eyes greedily took in her white satin bustier, matching panties and high heeled shoes. "You like?" she asked, well aware of what his answer would be. "Much prettier than my underwear," he managed. "But we still don't need this in the way." She unhooked the bustier and stepped out of both her shoes and her panties. Giles took her in his arms and began to kiss her hungrily again. He pulled Buffy off the floor until her mouth was level with his and ravished her lips. She hooked her legs around his waist and returned his kisses with passion and delicacy. Buffy could feel him harden against her, and redoubled her efforts. Giles trailed his kisses to Buffy's earlobe as she moved to taste his throat. "I want to make love with you, Buffy," Giles whispered. "Then let's do it," Buffy replied. Giles carried her to the bed and lay her down gently. He plucked the condom from her pillow and tore the covering open. Buffy looked at it in slightly embarrassed curiosity. "Did you want to do the honors?" Giles asked. She shook her head. "I - that is... I really don't know how. This is the first time I've seen one, really." "A penis or a condom?" he joked. "Um... both, really, I guess." "Then why don't you take a closer look?" He took her hand and guided it to his erection. As her slim fingers took his straining flesh, he groaned softly. He encouraged her to explore him, to stroke him and see how the foreskin covered and uncovered the head as she moved her hand. Encouraged by the pleased sounds he made, and the way his cock twitched in her hand, she brought the other to cup his balls. At first, she was almost afraid to touch them. She didn't want to hurt him, but he took her hand and pressed it harder against him. His soft sounds of arousal grew louder under her soft fingers and inquisitive touches. As Buffy continued to fondle his privates, Giles reached over and ran a fingertip across Buffy's nipple. He smiled when she gasped at the sensation. A moment later, he removed her hands from between his thighs. "Did I do something wrong?" He kissed her fingers. "Something so right I was about to lose control," he told her. "Really?" She looked pleased with her accomplishment. "Really." He leaned over her and kissed her wildly as he laid her gently down. He gazed at her with the halo of her hair fanned over the pillow. He kissed her cheeks, her nose, her chin, her forehead, then captured her lips yet again. His hands explored her breasts and hips tenderly as his lips began to journey south. Buffy moaned as Giles took one rosy nipple between his lips and ran his tongue over the sharp peak, lightly scraping his teeth across it as well. His fingers roamed between her thighs and pressed against the soft nest of curls. Her whimper made him smile, as did the way she ground her hips against his invading digits. He moved lower, kissing her all the way. Her breath came in shallow pants. He urged her legs further apart with his hands. Buffy tensed slightly when she realized what he was about to do, but she deliberately opened herself to him. At the first touch of his tongue to her nether lips, Buffy couldn't catch her breath. When her lungs allowed it, she gave a cry of pleasure. Giles groaned against her sex and lapped harder, drinking her juices as if he'd discovered a fountain of nectar. In the background he could hear the shouts and groans of the others assembled, but he tuned them out as best he could. Still, a piece of his brain couldn't help but wonder at the similarity to so many parties he'd attended in his Ripper days. He'd learned back then to treat the sounds of pleasure around him as a sort of erotic white noise. As for Buffy, she seemed too far gone to worry about anyone else. Her hips were lifting involuntarily with every flick of his tongue. Her fingers clutched at the bedcovers more and more frantically. Suddenly her entire body stiffened. She raised her hips higher than before. "OhGodohGodohGod," she whimpered. He fastened his lips to the stiff little clitoris and sucked harder at it, then flicked his tongue across the tiny bud again and again until Buffy gave a hearty shout and seemed to collapse on herself. Giles soothed the entire area with his fingers and lips until the pulses ceased. Then he slid up and took Buffy in his arms again. "Are you alright?" he asked her as he smoothed back the hair from her sweat-spangled brow. "Yeah. I think I know what Heaven feels like, now," she teased. He pulled her into a fierce embrace. "Hey, Giles, are you okay?" He nodded against her shoulder. "It's just a somewhat overwhelming comparison." "Wanna overwhelm me some more?" she asked. She picked up the forgotten condom and handed it to Giles. He sat up and rolled it on as Buffy watched. When he was done, she lay back and invited him into her arms. She felt a little nervous when he loomed over her, but only for a moment. The sense of homecoming filled her again as he pushed into her tight depths. Smiles and kisses were shared as they were joined intimately. The rest of the room had grown much quieter as the other couples finished their coupling and fell asleep one by one. Buffy and Giles rocked together harder and harder as their need rose. Their whispered encouragements to one another grew more intense as did their moans. Buffy's legs wrapped themselves around Giles' hips to pull him yet closer. "I love you, Giles," she whispered. He nearly broke his rhythm at her words. "You what?" "Love you. Less talk, more sex." "I love you, too. So very much." He bent to kiss her. When he pulled back she was smiling. "Keep going, Giles. I want it so much." He happily complied, thrusting harder than ever. When she began to tightened further around him, he felt his groin tighten too. With a harsh cry, he reached his release. Buffy held him still tighter as he came hard. When it was over, they stayed together for a moment, still kissing, still touching everywhere they could reach. At last, his softening penis forced Giles to pull away and dispose of the condom. He took care of that and returned to Buffy's arms. "So when do you think we'll have to go back?" "I don't know, Buffy. Soon, I should imagine." "I wonder if we'll remember this at all." "If we don't recall any of it, I think that would defeat the purpose. But I don't know how much we'll remember." Buffy snuggled closer to Giles. "I hope we remember it all." "So do I, love." After a few more kisses, they found themselves growing too tired to stay awake. "Love you," was the last thing Buffy said before she fell asleep. Giles pressed one more kiss to her forehead before he dropped off as well. * * * * * April, 1997. Buffy's bedroom. Angel blinked and looked around himself as Buffy spoke. "My diary?! You read my diary? That is not okay! A diary is like a person's most private place! I... you don't even know what I was writing about! 'Hunk' can mean a lot of things, bad things. And, and when it says that your eyes are 'penetrating', I meant to write 'bulging'." "Buffy..." "And 'A' doesn't even stand for 'Angel' for that matter, it stands for... 'Achmed', a charming foreign exchange student, so that whole fantasy part has nothing to even do with you at all..." "Your mother moved your diary when she came in to straighten up. I watched from the closet. I didn't read it, I swear." "Oh," Buffy said. "Oh." Angel hesitated before he spoke again. "I did a lot of thinking today. I really can't be around you. Because when I am..." "Hey, no big," Buffy stammered to cover her hurt. "Water... over the bridge, under the bridge..." "When I am all I can ever think about is... I... I'm gay, Buffy." She stared at him in disbelief. "Gay? You're gay? I don't believe it." "Believe it." "Why are you saying this, Angel? I know you like me." "Yeah. There's just this thing... where I'm gay." Buffy burst into tears. Despite her efforts to hide it, Angel felt his heart breaking. "Please, Buffy, don't cry..." "I'm not. I've got something in my eye," she told him stubbornly. "And I know you're not gay." "Buffy..." "No, I'll prove it!" She grabbed Angel and kissed him hard. She put her entire heart and soul into it. Soon despite his best efforts, Angel found himself unable to resist and kissed her back with every bit of passion he could muster. He stiffened and turned quickly when he felt his game face coming to the fore. "What? What is it?" Buffy asked. "What's wrong?" She turned Angel to face her and saw his vampire visage. She stood amazed for a moment, then pulled him into her arms. "See? I knew you weren't gay," she said as she leaned up to kiss him again. "I don't care if you're a vampire, as long as you keep kissing me like that." * * * * * October 31, 1997. An abandoned warehouse. Spike blinked hard as he found himself looking at a helpless, terrified, amnesiac Slayer. He grinned and advanced. Angel struggled uselessly against his captors. "Buffy!" he cried. Spike closed his hand around Buffy's throat. He grinned as he bent her back over the crate. He bared his fangs. Xander looked up from the demons he was fighting to see Spike. "Now that guy you *can* shoot," Willow yelled. Xander raised his M-16 only to discover it was, once again, a toy gun he'd bought at the costume shop. "What the..." All around him the demons turned back into little children. Frightened, confused little children calling for their mommies. Spike pulled on Buffy's dark tresses to discover he was now holding a cheap, brunette wig. Buffy sat up on her crate and smiled in a way that he knew boded no good for him. "Hi honey, I'm home," she quipped as she punched him in the gut. A brief struggle later, Spike managed to escape. He didn't stop running until he found his DeSoto and drove off into the night, a Sex Pistols tape blaring in the cassette player to soothe him. Forget Sunnyhell, forget bagging another Slayer, hell, forget Dru. She was already making time with a Slime creature in the sewers, anyway. Maybe New York would be more welcoming. He ran down the Welcome To Sunnydale sign on his way out, just because. * * * * * April 1998. Sunnydale High. Angelus looked wildly about him as he felt the spirit of Grace Stanley enter him again. There Buffy stood as well. "Grace," she breathed. "Don't do this." "But - but I killed you." "It was an accident. It wasn't your fault." "Oh, it is my fault. How could I..." "Shhh," He soothed her, "I'm the one who should be sorry, James. You thought I stopped loving you. But I never did. I loved you with my last breath." All Buffy could do was shed the tears James had held in his heart for so many years. Tears of regret, of guilt, of love. Angelus tenderly wiped them away. "Shhh... No more tears." He bent his head and kissed her, just as Grace willed. James kissed her back with all the passion and all the love a teenager could give. Even as both felt the spell lift, the kiss continued another moment. Suddenly Angelus stiffened and pulled away. Buffy opened her eyes and stared at him, slightly dazed. "Angel?" "Dammit! Not again!" Angelus shoved Buffy away with a furious growl and ran into the darkness. He didn't stop until he reached the mansion and could wash the humanity off himself. While he was at it, he decided to fuck Dru. Hurting her would make up for not hurting Buffy. At least it wouldn't be about love. * * * * * May, 1999. Sunnydale High Gym. Buffy looked around herself, slightly confused to find herself at the Prom again. Still, her heart was definitely lifted when Giles came over to her. He looked good in his tux. What's more, he looked so proud and happy when he saw her walk in. He was still smiling. She decided happy was a good look for her favorite Watcher. "You did good work tonight, Buffy," he told her. "And I got a little toy surprise," she quipped twirling the gaudy little parasol. Giles smiled shyly at her. "I had no idea that children en masse could be so gracious." "Every now and then, people surprise you," she reminded him. "Every now and then," he agreed quietly. She saw now that he was looking, not at her, but over her shoulder toward the door and that his eyes looked suddenly very sad. He took the gaudily decorated parasol from her hands. Buffy followed Giles' eyes. Angel stood uneasily in the doorway. When he spotted Buffy, he headed for her. She was both saddened and relieved to find her heart didn't do a backflip at the sight. She was ready to let go and move on. She turned and plucked the award out of Giles' hand. "Every once in a while." She met Angel halfway and handed him the parasol. "Hang onto this for me, will you?" She reached up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "You look good," she told him. Angel watched in stunned silence as Buffy returned to Giles and pulled her equally stunned Watcher out onto the dance floor. A moment later, he was startled to find Wesley standing next to him with an oddly sympathetic expression on his face. "Are you alright?" Wesley asked. Angel shook his head. "Yes and no. This is what I wanted, but..." "But Mr. Giles, yes I know. If it makes you feel any better, they did the same thing to me. Not that I was romantically involved with either one... look, why don't you stay nearby until the dance is over? I can't leave until my chaperone duties are fulfilled, but afterward I could take you somewhere and buy you a drink. The vampire nodded. His eyes remained glued to the lovely girl in the pink gown clinging to the school librarian who held her as if she was every bit as delicate as she looked. It hurt, but at least he could take her into the sunlight. "Yeah, Wes. Thanks. I'd like that." * * * * * June, 1999. Sunnydale High Library. "Cordelia?" She spun around, surprised at the sound of her name and found herself back in the library with Wesley. "Yes?" "You know that… when this is over…" "Yes?" "Uhm, well, should we prevail… I'll be going back to England." She plucked another book from the shelf and stowed it safely in a box. "I know." Wesley shifted awkwardly. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so nervous in his life. "With Buffy no longer working for the Council, there really is… no place for me here." He prayed that Cordelia would tell him he was wrong. He'd never wanted so badly to be wrong in all his life. "I guess not." Still, something in her tone gave him more hope than the blunt words could ever have done. He clasped his hands and advanced a step. "No… reason to stay." Cordelia turned and inched toward him. "No." He inched another step closer. He pulled off his glasses. "No. No… cause to hope that… I might be needed?" She looked up at him, glassy eyed. "Needed?" "Or wanted?" "Wanted?" He leaned yet closer. She did the same. He was so close to her lips. So close. Suddenly Cordelia pressed both hands to his chest and pulled her head back. "I'm sorry, Wesley. I just can't do this." "Y- you can't? Why not?" demanded the startled Englishman. "Look, I like you a lot, Wesley, really I do, but I just this minute realized this is never gonna work out. See, you're an older, handsome, sophisticated guy, and I'm... a lesbian." "You're a WHAT?" "Lesbian, Sappho grrl, dyke. Oh my God, I hope this doesn't mean I have to wear Birkenstocks and stop waxing my legs. Are you okay, Wesley?" "Actually, yes," he laughed in relief. "I'm sorry, Cordelia. I don't mean to laugh. It's just I've been questioning my own... preferences of late, and well..." "You and Angel, huh?" Cordelia guessed. "Don't look so surprised. You two have been totally vibing since the Prom." "But with his curse..." "If you take my advice..." "I know. Don't get involved. Angelus..." "Won't be any problem if you just make sure Angel knows who's boss." "How do you know that?" "Trust me, Wes. Go find your vamp." "After the battle, perhaps." "Oh, yeah. Right. Save the books and Sunnydale first, come out of our respective closets second. Good plan." * * * * * May, 2001. Willow's dorm room. Willow blinked sleepily and smiled when she became aware of the soft pair of arms around her middle. "Hey, Sleepyhead, ever gonna wake up this afternoon?" came a familiar, yet unexpected voice. "Cordy?" "Well who else would it be? You're not seeing someone else behind my back are you?" she teased. "Um... not that I know of." "Come on. Get up. You need to catch a shower and dress, pronto," Cordelia ordered. "Huh? Do I have class?" "Wow, you really were lost in Dreamland, weren't you? Remember? We have Dawn Patrol? Giles taking Buffy to romantic restaurant to get her mind off stuff? On a real date like we haven't had in way too long, and no, The Bronze doesn't count." "I know all that," Willow assured her. "And I promise I'll take you to that new Italian place as soon as my work study check gets here." "Good. Oh, and Xander called from LA. He had a vision about some vamp in a Pink Floyd tee shirt. Be careful of him." "Did he say why?" "Other than the terminally retro taste in both clothes and music, he didn't say." She leaned down and kissed Willow warmly. "Now come on. If nobody's there, we could even shower together." Cordelia grabbed a towel and headed for the bathroom. After a moment, Willow grinned, as the memories of the past two years readjusted to fill in the blanks where Cordelia had helped her come out and become her lover. It made sense. Nobody knew her like Cordy, when all was said and done. * * * * * June, 2001. Caritas. "Here we are," Xander announced. "Two mugs of frosty root beer goodness for a pair of crime fighting dudes." He set one mug at his own spot at the table, and placed the other before Gunn. "Thanks," Gunn said as he leaned over to give his lover a small kiss. "That the best you can do?" Xander asked archly. "In public, yes. I think even Mr. Greengenes here would frown on actual nookie on the tables." "You are so right about that," Lorne shuddered. "It's bad enough trying to explain a Chaos demon in the men's room to the health inspectors. You two lovebirds save it for when you get home." "What about us?" Fred piped up. "You and me, kid, we can go home anytime we want to. It's only a few steps to paradise." The girl wrinkled her nose and smiled as Lorne leaned over to kiss her. "Insulin! Insulin!" Xander shouted. "My kingdom for some insulin!" "Do be quiet, Xander," came a clipped English accent. The others looked up to see Wesley leading Angel into the club on a leash. They all looked away again. Angel turned to Wesley with a big grin on his face. "May I go to the men's room, master?" "I thought you went before we left." "Yeah, but I haven't seen the new graffiti in a few days. Please? Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleaseplease? I'll make your night miserable until you let me." "Oh alright," Welsey sighed impatiently. He let go of the leash and Angel bounded away like an overgrown puppy. Xander raise an eyebrow at Wesley. "I thought you said you weren't gonna do the leash thing in public anymore." "He insisted. He wouldn't go out without it." Gunn snorted. "I ain't sure which, but one of y'all has got a serious confusion about the whole sub/dom thing." Wesley shrugged. "Only in public places." "Sooo..." Xander said, "to change the subject with absolutely no attempt at subtlety, because I really do not want to know about what goes on when you two shut the door, how's about that Buffy? Defeating a God, no less, with no loss of life or limb to her crew. Is that not worthy of a toast?" "It certainly is," Wesley agreed. "Quite remarkable." "Nah. Just the Buffster." "The Buffster" the rest chorused as they clinked glasses. * * * * * October, 2001. Magic Box. Training Room. "Hey! Hello? Earth to Rupert?" Buffy snapped her fingers in front of his face. He blinked, startled. "Hmm? I'm sorry, Buffy, what were you saying?" He was confused. Was he back with the bot? No. This was really Buffy. His head filled with memories he'd never had before. Memories of dancing with Buffy at the Prom, of dating her when she graduated High School, of kissing, and touching and making love with her. His eyes glazed over again at the thought. She shot him a look of mingled frustration and amusement. "Are you gonna zone on me every time I talk wedding plans?" "Well... I... that is... what does it matter what I think?" "Oh come on, Rupert. Guys having nothing to do with their own weddings went out with the ice age. I'm a working and going to school bride. You gotta pull your weight with this stuff." "I just meant... you're so much better at this than I am, I thought we could safely leave it in your capable hands." Buffy laughed and shook her head. "You are so hopeless sometimes. Okay, I'll make the decisions and point you in the right direction on the day. Deal?" "Deal." "That's what I like to hear," she purred as she melted into his arms. He pulled her still tighter into the circle of his arms and squeezed his eyes shut to keep from losing his composure. She was alive and she was his. She was also talking again. "And since the wedding bores you so much, maybe I can raise your interest by talking about the honeymoon." She reached up and kissed him deeply. "Interest officially raised," he murmured against her lips. She wriggled against him and giggled at the truth of his statement. "Couch?" she asked. "Yes, please." He picked her up and took her across the room. He would be happy to train for the wedding night. * * * * * February, 2002. Paris. The sewers. "Spikey?" Spike closed his eyes and prayed he was dreaming. "Spiikey?" "What, Harm?" he snapped. "Is Karl Lagerfield a vampire?" Spike stared at his vapid lover where she sat flipping through a fashion magazine. "Who?" "You know. The designer? His clothes are so cute." "I don't know. Why don't you go ask him? You always did like a poofter, didn't you?" "You don't have to be mean about it! Baby, I'm hungry. When do we eat?" Spike thought a moment. The new memories were flooding in, replacing his old ones. He'd left Sunnyhell after his one defeat at the Slayer's hands and had never returned. No chip. No sodding chip! No embarrassing, dirty affair with the Slayer! He was free again! "It's after sunset, and I'm a might peckish myself. Let's go find ourselves someone to eat." * * * * * "Tell me about what it was like. In Sunnydale, the first time," Sam prompted. Riley poked at the fire with his stick again. "Well, I probably shouldn't mention this in defense of domestic harmony, but... when I first met Buffy? I sorta had a little crush on her." "Just a crush?" "I even asked Willow about her. But even then it was her and Giles. I'm sorta surprised they're still together." "I don't know," Sam shrugged. "They seem happy." "Yeah. It's just sorta weird. I mean, he's so old and stuffy, and she's so young and scattered about everything but the Slaying. But then, they're all sorta... different. I tried to fit in, but... it's like they have this little club they won't let anyone else into. Sure, they were nice and all, but I never really got them, if you know what I mean. And no matter what I did, it wasn't good enough. I wasn't used to that." "So you left?" "Yeah. But I did a bunch of stupid stuff first, trying to prove I was still something special; that just because I didn't have all the drugs and physical enhancements Professor Walsh gave me anymore didn't mean I was just another ordinary soldier. Took me a while to figure out that if I was just me, that's okay, too." "Very okay with me, Finn. And I don't think you're ordinary at all." "Spoken like a woman in love." Sam stood and held out a hand to her husband. "Come on, Finn. Morning comes early in the jungle. Let's go to bed."