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Waiting for the Inevitable
In response to the challenge set by Shona and Matt to write a fic of no more than a thousand words, to be set at Halloween with the
appearance of a pumpkin and to include the words 'gusset' and 'praxis'
Set the Halloween after Chosen (no spoilers) with a rating of PG. Also it is the day after
'Like Oil And
Water' Xander's head is back to normal and no one else knows of Dawn's misadventure.
Disclaimer. All familiar characters are owned by JW and ME.
"Giles, do you want any more pumpkin pie?" Buffy called from the kitchen.
Seated on the sofa in the living room of his new apartment a look of fear crossed the Watcher's face. "Er...no thanks, I'm full," he called back. He'd already eaten three slices. "Any more and I'll be sewing gussets into my jacket," he muttered.
A few moments later Buffy appeared in the doorway. "Sorry, what did you say?"
Giles shook his head. "It was nothing."
"Ok but if you're getting fat don't blame my pie. Maybe you've had it too easy of late," she teased.
The Watcher smiled but had to admit she was right, things had been very quiet since they'd left Sunnydale. Still he wasn't about to let her get away with taunting him like that. "By the way you do know the praxis is to serve pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, not Halloween?"
"Oi! I'm the American here I know when to serve pumpkin pie," she told him with mock anger, and then shrugged. "There was all this pulp from the carved pumpkin heads going to waste so I thought why not?"
"And very nice it was too."
Buffy beamed. "Why thank you kind sir, are you sure I can't interest you in another slice?"
"I'm sure," he replied with a smile.
"Oh well, it'll keep." She joined him in the living room.
"So are you going to tell me why you're here, keeping an old man company instead of out having fun with Xander, Willow, Dawn and the others? They're at a Halloween party aren't they?"
Buffy nodded. "And you should have seen Faith's costume...er...on second thoughts maybe its better that you didn't. It was barely legal."
Giles could well imagine. He cleared his throat, perhaps it would be better if he didn't do that either. "And what about Xander?"
"He could hardly stop himself from staring. If his eye had opened any wider when he first saw her I swear it would have popped right out of his head."
Giles snorted with amusement. "No, I meant what was his costume."
"Oh!" Buffy blushed with embarrassment. "A pirate obviously."
"Of course." He should have guessed. "And what about Willow and Dawn, what were their costumes?"
"Willow was an astronaut and Dawn" her expression darkened "was a witch. I'm not sure if she was dropping hints to me or Willow but there is no way she is going to learn magic."
"I see." He wished Buffy luck in trying to stop her. From his experience when someone wanted something as badly as Dawn wanted to learn magic they usually got what they wanted. One way or another. He shook his head, that was a problem for another time though. "So what was the reason why you aren't out having fun? You've been driving yourself too hard Buffy."
"I know," she sighed, "but there's just so much to do. The girls need to be looked after and someone has to teach them."
"Yes but Buffy you're trying to do everything yourself," he told her gently, concern apparent in his voice. "You've got friends who want to help, let us."
"You're right I know. I just feel so responsible for them."
"Well it's about time you gave yourself a break. A night out would do you a world of good."
"There's nothing I would like better but not tonight."
"Why not tonight? Halloween is the perfect opportunity, vampires and demons will be taking the night off, so should you."
Buffy's laugh had little amusement in it. "You say that every year Giles and each year something bad happens." She sat back and put her feet on the table. "No, this year I'm not gonna have my plans ruined by a rogue sorcerer, a random demon or a band of ignorant vampires."
The Watcher smiled. It did seem to be that way. The evil creatures of today had no respect for tradition. "So what are we doing?" he asked his one time charge.
"We're waiting Giles," she replied.
"For what?"
"We're waiting for the inevitable."
"Maybe this year will be different, the demons and vampires have been conspicuous by their absence of late." He looked at his watch. "It's gone nine o'clock and nothing has happened, maybe it really will be quiet. There's still time to join the others."
"I don't think so, as soon..."
A loud crash from outside stopped her in mid sentence. A moment later it was followed by several more, each one louder and closer than the last, and then by a blood-curdling howl.
Buffy sprang to her feet poised for action. "I'm not one for saying I told you so Giles but" she smiled grimly " I told you so."
Giles sighed. "I'll get the weapons."
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