Happy Birthday, Dear Slayer
By Gileswench

The Scooby gang, minus the Slayer herself, sat around the tarot table in the Magic Box. Their faces were glum. No matter how they tried, none of them could think of a solution to their problem.

"You're sure you can't think of anything, Giles?" Willow turned large eyes on the Englishman as though proving her sincerity might inspire him.

"I'm afraid not, Willow. Frankly, I'm at the end of my resources. A year of unemployment followed by the purchase of a new car and a business has left me utterly strapped for cash. And then it's so soon after Christmas. I really can't afford to buy anything significant for Buffy's birthday."

"Don't look at me. It's winter, and even in California, that's the slow season in the construction industry. People don't even seem to want indoor work done right now. I'm barely making the rent." Xander slumped further in his chair.

"And my parents decided I needed to be taught responsibility and they cut my allowance twenty percent. I'm responsible. And with the class load I'm taking, and my Scooby duties, I don't have time to get a job." Willow leaned against her girlfriend in a dejected manner.

"My father cut me off completely when I wouldn't go home with him." Tara rested her head on Willow's.

"I spent all my money on Xander's Christmas present. Which reminds me, Giles, I need a raise."

The man in question removed his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose. "Anya, I can't afford to give you a raise right now. I believe you heard my reasons."

"Fine, if that's how you're going to be."

"Maybe we're looking at this all the wrong way around." Everyone turned to look at Willow. "I mean, maybe Buffy doesn't even want a big expensive present. That's just stuff. Maybe she'd like something that isn't y'know, stuffy."

"You know Willow, I believe you may be onto something. She's been so dejected what with Joyce being ill, and Riley leaving, and all. Perhaps what she'd really like is simply to have one carefree day." Giles put his glasses back on and picked up a book from the table. "I have an idea. Buffy told me some time ago that she wished just once her birthday would be warm enough so she could have a picnic. If I recall correctly, there's a spell in here that could provide her with her wish."

"And Tara and I could perform the spell as a present and you guys could all bring stuff for the picnic! It'll be great!"

"What'll be great?"

The group turned as one at Buffy's voice.

"A...new line of merchandise I'm thinking of carrying. Nothing you'd be interested in, Buffy. Oh, by the way, what are you doing on Saturday?"

"Saturday? I dunno. Birthday stuff? 'Cause it's my birthday."

"Yes I know, and I'm sorry, but I've found a prophecy involving some demons you'll need to slay down in Palmer's meadow. It shouldn't be too difficult. Probably won't take more than a couple hours to deal with. I promise I'll have you home in time for cake and ice cream with your Mum and Dawn."

"Sure. I'm there. Figures some stupid demon wants to come out and play just when I should be partying. Y'know, sometimes destiny really bites."

"So you've been telling me for the past four years. I'll pick you up at one o'clock on Saturday then."

"Okay. So, anything else I should know about these demons?"

"Nothing very much. Oh, except that they can affect weather patterns. You might want to dress...er...in such a way that you're prepared for anything."

"All right...so if I put on a bikini under a parka I should be okay?"

Giles's eyes glazed over momentarily. He shook his head.

"Dress how you will. It's simply a precaution."

"Fine. See you Saturday."

Buffy hadn't missed her Watcher's discomfiture. She smiled to herself as she left the shop.

*****

Giles arrived at Buffy's house punctually at one o'clock, fully prepared to wait some time for Buffy. He smiled at Joyce as she opened the door for him.

"Hello, Joyce. It's good to see you up and about again."

"It's good to be up and about. Are you sure Buffy has to slay these demons today? I was really hoping she could have a day off from killing things."

"Certainly I'd love to let her have an ordinary birthday. Unfortunately, well, we do live on a Hellmouth, and Buffy is the Slayer. Her, um, her father hasn't...?"

"Not even a phone call. But she did get a card from Angel. Wesley and Cordelia signed it too."

"That was nice of them."

"Oh, and she got this package. Buffy seems pretty sure it's from somebody named Ethan. She said she didn't want to open it until you had a chance to check it out."

"If it's from Ethan, that's a wise precaution. Why don't we take it along? That way, when she's finished with the demons, we can make certain it's safe well away from you and Dawn."

Giles took the slim package somewhat gingerly.

"Hey Giles! Let's go get our civic duty out of the way so I can have some fun."

Buffy came bounding down the stairs, ready for action.

"Come on then. I promise I'll have Buffy home safe and sound in a few hours time, Joyce."

"Bye Mom. I'll see you tonight."

*****

"Why does it have to rain on my birthday?" Buffy grumbled as she peered out the window of Giles' car.

"I should think you'd be glad of a little rain. It's been a dry winter even for Southern California."

"Yeah, but this is my birthday. Shouldn't there be some perks for saving the world? Just a little sunshine on my special day; is that so much to ask?"

"Whose birthday would you rather spoil?"

"Oh, great, now you're bringing logic into it." Buffy smiled slightly despite her grumbling. "So, these demons I'm slaying, what're they like?"

"Blue and demony."

"O-kay. And is there anything special I need to slay them?"

"No. Decapitation will do. I've swords in the boot."

"We call them trunks here, Giles, not boots. You've lived here four years. Come over to the dark side of the English language. What do these demony demons want, anyway."

"Chaos, destruction; the usual."

"And they rate their own prophecy because...?"

Giles sighed. "Whatever happened to the days when you never wanted to know anything other than how to make the bad things dead?"

"I grew up, Giles. In case you haven't noticed."

"I had, actually."

"So what's really going on here?"

"Wait and see."

"Oh come on, Giles! Tell me what this is, really."

"You'll see soon enough, if you'll just have a bit of patience."

"Giiiles!"

*****

Despite Buffy's continued cajoling, pleading, even her pout, Giles held firm. When he pulled off the road at Palmer's Meadow, Buffy gasped.

In the meadow, there was no rain; not even a cloud in the sky.

"So there really are weather-controlling demons?" Buffy sounded disappointed.

"Of course. Why don't you go say hello to the two down there? Their names are Willow and Tara."

"Omigod! You really did it for me! Thanks Giles!" She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. "I can't believe you knew!"

Giles allowed himself a brief moment to enjoy the embrace before pulling back.

"You did actually tell me about this, you know."

"Yeah, but I never expected you to remember. I only ever said it once and I was sorta thinking out loud at the time."

"Shall we go join the others?"

"Okay, magic man."

The pair exited the car and ambled down the slight hillside to the meadow below. For the first few steps, they were glad of their coats, but soon the outer layers were shed. By the time they had reached the others, Buffy had stripped down to a tank top and shorts that Giles could have sworn wouldn't have fit under her other clothes, and he had removed his jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeves. They sat on the grass next to Willow and Tara, and Buffy immediately pulled off her shoes and socks as well.

"I can't believe you guys did this for me! This is so perfect."

"Thanks, Buff. See? We made it all sunshiny." The young witch glowed with pride at her accomplishment. "But it was Giles who told us about this and found the spell. So it's really from him, too, as much as it's from us with the casting and everything, and...I'm a little all wound up now."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure she doesn't have any caffeine" Tara assured the others. "That was a really powerful spell, though, and I might need someone to make sure I don't have too much sugar, too."

"It's okay, Buff. I'll watch their backs." Xander was enjoying the chance to play such an important role in the success of the day. "Plus Anya and I brought food. Lots of it. Nobody goes home hungry today."

"Giles wanted to bring food, but we were afraid he would want us to eat lots of strange English things." Anya was as tactful as ever.

"I'm sure it would have been okay, but I know you and Xand brought lots of good things."

"Sure did. We got three kinds of sandwiches, cheesy chips, fresh fruit for the health nuts, Twinkies, HoHos and other assorted goodies for those who prefer to be preserved with preservatives, soft drinks and a special thermos of tea for our own Great Brit."

"Oooh, pass me a sandwich. I've got a craving for cheddar, if you have."

Xander handed the sandwich to the Slayer with a flourish. "For Mademoiselle, le grand fromage."

With that, the little group fell to eating with a will.

*****

After lunch, the Scoobies lay, sated, on the grass.

"So how long does this weather spell last? I mean, it's not gonna start raining on us again any minute now, is it?"

"Don't worry, Buffy. It lasts about six hours, and we'll have to be gone before then, since it'll be dark." The blonde witch tickled her sleeping girlfriend's nose with a wildflower. Willow reached up lazily and swatted it away.

"Wow. A whole afternoon of sun to play with. What should we do with it?" Buffy looked over at her Watcher. He looked relaxed in a way she'd never seen before.

Giles lay on the grass, one arm tucked under his head, the other holding the book he was reading. It was warm enough that even he had abandoned his shoes and socks. He'd even gone so far as to roll up his pant legs and unbutton his shirt a bit further than he normally would. When Buffy saw what he was reading, she had to smile: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

She went over and flopped on her stomach on the grass next to him.

"Okay, I know you're book guy, but this is a picnic. We don't read during the glories of nature. And since when do you read kiddie books?"

"Since Dawn insisted I needed to read Harry Potter. Much to my surprise, I'm quite enjoying him."

Buffy plucked the book from his hands unceremoniously.

"Fine. Read them all you want, but not now. I'm the birthday girl and I want some quality time with my favorite Watcher."

Despite his best efforts to look annoyed, Giles' face glowed with pleasure at the thought of Buffy wanting his attention.

"And what activity do you have in mind for this 'quality time'?"

"How about a walk? There's a creek over there and we could cool our toes in the water."

"That's not much of a walk. It can't be more than fifty feet away."

"That's what makes it such a good picnic thing. We're taking a walk and being lazy at the same time. Come on, Giles."

She bounded to her feet and headed off, knowing he would follow her lead. He did.

The others watched them go.

"What's taking those two so long? Why aren't they kissing yet?"

"Riley only left a couple weeks ago, Anya." The redhead reminded her.

"Yes, but he was the rebound guy. You all said."

"And she spent a year with said rebound guy, An."

"But she was already turning to Giles before Riley left. Even I could see that. Why doesn't she just tell him she wants to have sex with him?"

"Probably because the only place you'll find success before work is in the dictionary." Tara nodded wisely as she spoke.

"What the hell does that mean?"

The blonde witch smiled. "She's ready, but she needs to work on him before he believes it."

"I thought Giles was supposed to be smart."

"He is. He's the smartest man I've ever met. But that doesn't mean he can't be dumb about some things. I think he thinks Buffy still sees him as old, but she hasn't looked at him like that in a long time." Willow sighed as she watched the pair amble down to the water's edge and dangle their feet off the bank. "And is it just me, or is that really cute?"

*****

Giles looked across the water, keeping a neutral expression on his face.

"What was it you wanted to talk about, Buffy?"

She looked at him, startled. "How did you know?"

"I know you. What's wrong?"

"I know you don't want to hear this but...I think there's something wrong with Angel."

"What makes you think that?" The Englishman purposely kept all emotion out of his voice.

"I got a card from them. From the agency."

"Yes, your mother told me. She said Wesley and Cordelia signed it too."

"Well, what she didn't say is that Cordy signed for Angel. He didn't sign it at all."

"What do you think it means?"

"I don't know. Something's wrong."

"You don't think...?"

"No. If he'd lost his soul, somebody would have called us by now. Or something would have happened. But I think maybe we should call Cordy or Wes and see what's the what."

"We could go down for a visit if you prefer."

"You really do read my mind sometimes, Giles." She laid her head on his shoulder. After a moment, he awkwardly wrapped his arm around hers.

*****

"Hey guys, why don't we have a game of Frisbee?"

"Don't you ever need to just be lazy in the grass, Xand?"

"Come on, Will. It'll be fun."

After some considerable whining on Xander's part, the girls all agreed to the game.

At first it was fairly quiet, but soon Anya started grabbing others before they could catch the flying disk. Then Willow started working minor spells so it would veer off in unexpected directions as they chased it up and down the meadow. Nobody noticed that they were working their way closer and closer to the stream until Xander leapt into the air to make what he expected to be a spectacular catch, and landed in the stream with a huge splash.

"Oh my God! Xander! Are you alright?" The former demon sounded frantic with worry.

"Xander? Where are you?" Willow peered about for her friend.

Then a triumphant arm raised itself from the water, followed by a dripping young man, grinning from ear to ear.

"Behold! I bring forth Excaliber from the bosom of the lake!"

"What on earth are you lot up to?"

"Just playing Frisbee, Giles."

"Well do it someplace else, would you?"

"Yes sir. Sorry sir. Didn't mean to interrupt, sir. Just what am I interrupting, sir?"

"You're not interrupting anything" the Englishman replied with some asperity as he removed his glasses. "You have, however drenched us both to the skin, thank you very much." He now turned his attention to wringing out his pant legs.

"Sorry. I'll - just be gone now." Xander waded out of the shallow stream and back to the other Scoobies.

Buffy hunched over, her arms folded across her chest, her cheeks scarlet.

"Buffy, are you alright?"

"Um...yeah, Giles. Just peachy."

"Why are you sitting like that? You're not cold, are you?"

"No. Not really."

"Then what's the problem? Have I said something to upset you?"

"God, no, Giles. You've been great. It's just..."

"Yes?"

"Ididn'twearabraandnowI'mallwetandIcan't....y'know...or..."

"Oh. Quite. Yes, I see." Giles' cheeks flamed at the idea of Buffy's exposed nipples under the pale pink cotton. "Hang on a bit while I see if I can find something to help."

He stood and hurried back to the picnic site only to find the others had gone leaving nothing but the blanket and a pair of raincoats.

"I don't bloody believe it!"

There was nothing for it but to gather up the smaller coat and bring it back to Buffy.

"A raincoat? What happened to my shirt?"

"It seems we've been abandoned with nothing but a pair of these and the blanket."

"I'm so gonna kill Xander!"

Giles placed the coat over Buffy's shoulders without comment. Not that he thought Xander innocent. On the contrary. He simply felt a strong need to concentrate on what he was doing so he wouldn't think of the desire he kept feeling for his Slayer.

Safely ensconced in the coat, Buffy sat up.

"Okay, I'm too hot like this, but at least I'm decent. So how are we gonna sneak me home in this?"

"Oh lord! I hadn't even thought of that."

"Yeah, well, I'm the one she'll be grilling. Though, come to think of it, you'll probably get a turn on the spit. Is there some way we can put off taking me home?" She turned big eyes to Giles, hoping he would understand her meaning.

"I suppose we could go to my flat for a bit. I might have a shirt or something you could borrow. Or we could call Willow from there and ask her to bring something over for you to wear home."

Buffy grinned. "Sounds like a plan."

*****

Giles rummaged through his shirts until he found one in a soft blue he thought Buffy would like. He could hear the girl downstairs in the kitchenette; the familiar sounds of tea being brewed. A rueful smile tugged at his lips. It really was too easy to weave fantasies around Buffy. That she felt for him what he felt for her. That she craved his touch as he craved hers. That he would be allowed to hold her in his arms at night, and wake to her smile.

Buffy smiled as she puttered about the tiny kitchen. It had felt so right cooking alongside Giles that disastrous Thanksgiving. Now it took so little to dream that she stood in this kitchen beside him every night. That she tugged a volume from his fingers every night and led him to bed. That his face would be the first thing she saw each morning and the last she saw at night. She lit the burner.

"Here you are, Buffy. It'll do until Willow gets here."

"Thanks, Giles." She took the proffered shirt and headed for the bathroom to change.

A few short moments later, she had returned feeling somewhat nervous. Her soaking tank top and shorts were draped across the towel bar, leaving her very aware of the fact that all she had on under Giles' shirt - his shirt! - was a minuscule pair of silky panties. She was hyper-aware of the scent of tea, leather, and books that had always signaled Giles' presence. The suggested intimacy of wearing the lightly starched oxford cloth made her feel both safe and uncertain at once. Hopeful, yet frustrated.

As for Giles, his brain shut down entirely on seeing the vision before him. How many times had his guilty dreams concocted precisely this image to tempt him? He suddenly felt it would be wise to sit down.

"Well, Buffy, what shall we do until Willow gets here?"

"Um...I should probably mention that Will didn't answer her phone when I called. I left a message on the machine, but I don't know when she's gonna get it."

"Ah. I see." Dear God how was he going to make it through without making a fool of himself?

"Tea's ready. I'll go get it."

The girl busied herself with the convenient distraction. When she got back, she realized Giles was still wearing the wet clothes he'd had on at the picnic.

"Maybe you should go change, Giles. You don't want to catch a cold."

Numbly, he followed Buffy's advice, going into the bathroom to change. That was when he saw her clothes. His brain shut down entirely. All the blood had drained elsewhere.

*****

"Giles? You ever coming out of there?"

"Just a moment, Buffy."

"Hurry up. The tea's getting cold, and I still don't know what Ethan sent me."

Ethan. That name worked like a cold shower, allowing Giles the dignity to leave the bathroom.

"I thought that'd get you out here." Buffy sounded smug.

"Where's the package?"

She handed it to him.

Giles inspected it from every angle, shook it and listened, sniffed at the wrapping, and finally pronounced it seemingly safe. He handed it ceremoniously to Buffy.

"Great. What am I gonna do with this?"

Buffy held out the box. It was the 25th Anniversary DVD of The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

"Not a film you care for, I take it?"

"Actually, I do sorta like it" Buffy admitted. "The problem is, no DVD player. And with medical bills raining down like manna from Heaven, I'm guessing there isn't one in my near future."

"Perhaps...well...you could watch it here with me."

"With you, oh Luddite Watcher of mine?"

"Don't scoff. I bought a DVD player recently. Don't tell Xander. He'd be over here at all hours."

"And you really like Rocky Horror?"

"You forget when that film came out. It was the tag end of my Ripper days. And I've seen the stage show as well. There was a fellow played Frank N. Furter in the West End a few years back who was quite good. Some of my friends said he looked a bit like me, but I didn't see the resemblance."

"Okay, then, fire it up!"

Giles got out the DVD player and hooked it to his tiny television. The pair settled themselves on the sofa, Buffy deliberately sitting a bit closer to Giles than she usually did. She took up her tea, and handed Giles his cup. Their fingers brushed and their eyes met for a second. Then they both turned their heads to the glow of the tv screen.

As the movie played, the two moved even closer together. They laughed at the movie, yelling out the audience lines they remembered. Soon Buffy had worked up the courage to nestle close to Giles' side, encouraging him to curl an arm around her shoulder, as she wrapped one around his waist.

It was sweet torture to Giles. He was finally allowed to hold the girl of his dreams, but he didn't know if she wanted him as a man or as a substitute father. While he'd never tried to be a father to Buffy, others kept insisting that it was the only role he could logically play in her life. He'd finally grown to wonder if that was how she truly saw him. Now here she was, holding him, demanding that he hold her, and he needed to know how she meant it before he either broke her trust or blew the opportunity of a lifetime.

He was sure she must be able to feel him trembling beneath her gentle touch. She must feel the pounding of his heart, the increasingly ragged breaths he took. He looked down, only to meet the hazel depths of her eyes. In that moment, without a word, his question was answered.

His left hand traced the contours of her face as the right continued to hold her to him.

"Are you certain?"

Buffy nodded and turned her face to kiss the palm that stroked her cheek.

Giles lifted her face to his and kissed her. At first, his lips nibbled softly at hers, teasing her and himself until he felt her lips part to invite him in. He took the lower lip gently between his teeth, grazing it softly before letting it go, then met her full on, introducing the tip of his tongue to hers.

Soon the two were far better acquainted as they danced across one another. Buffy moved to straddle Giles lap, allowing the thin shirt to ride up her thighs. She held his head as they explored each others mouths, his hands moving south to run along the muscular legs that held him captive.

Giles cupped Buffy's butt as he rose from the sofa. He trailed kisses to her ear and nuzzled into it. "Shall we go upstairs, then?"

"Yes."

The Englishman had something of a struggle turning off the tv, locking the door and moving up the stairs with an armload of squirming Slayer caressing him, nibbling his ear, and generally making him forget his own name, but somehow he managed to get them both up to the loft.

Giles placed his lady carefully on the bed, kicking off his shoes before joining her. He simply held her for a moment, letting her know through his touch how much he cherished her. He rained gentle kisses across her cheeks, forehead, and chin before recapturing her lips.

Buffy returned his caresses with surprising gentleness, and a passion he'd never imagined. Her hands wove through his hair then plucked the glasses off his nose, depositing them on the nightstand with a giggle. He playfully kissed her nose before pulling her close and plundering her mouth with renewed energy.

Soon they divested one another of clothing, leaving only Buffy's frivolous silk panties and Giles' pale blue boxers as a barrier. Giles slid between Buffy's legs and ground his erection against her thigh as he moved to nurse at the tiny pink rosebuds of her nipples.

She gasped and moaned as he swirled his talented tongue over the sensitive nubs, then sucked each in turn into his mouth. She dragged him up her body so she could kiss his mouth again.

She'd never been with a man with hair on his chest before, and was surprised and delighted by the feel of the crisp hairs teasing her sensitized nipples further. Her panties were soaked through, and she could feel his cock seeking her through his boxers. It twitched as she rocked against Giles, large and hard and demanding. She craved it. Needed it inside her.

"Please, Giles" she begged.

She felt him smile against her lips as he brushed back her hair from her face.

"Patience, luv. All in good time."

"Great. So a stevedore is just a great big tease?"

"Not a tease, for I shan't leave you wanting. But I'll be slow, and thorough, and leave you very, very satisfied."

With that, his lips traveled down her body again until he reached her hips. Removing his mouth, he reached up and hitched his fingers into her panties and slowly pulled them down her legs. Then he knelt between said legs and began kissing her again, this time at her toes. When he'd kissed each one, he moved to kiss the instep of each foot, then her ankles, and on up, each kiss moving him closer to his goal.

It seemed an eternity to Buffy before she felt his mouthing kisses on her inner thighs. Every touch of his lips and tongue was a sweet torture as she trembled awaiting ecstasy.

Finally it came. Giles spread Buffy's thighs and took a moment to gaze enraptured at the dew soaked nest before him before diving in hungrily. He licked, he sucked, he fingered, and he drank deeply of the sweet nectar she produced in such quantity. Buffy cried out again and again as climax after climax tore through her. Finally she had to beg Giles to stop.

He moved up her body to hold her as she regained her composure. He stroked her hair and murmured endearments in her ear.

"God, it's never been like that before" she breathed.

"Are you ready for more, luv?"

"Not just yet. Would you hold me for a minute?"

"Of course, Buffy. I'll hold you forever if you let me."

He kissed her deeply as he held her. She returned it with enthusiasm. After a short time, Buffy began to urge Giles on to more energetic pursuits.

His hands, lips, and tongue were everywhere at once, eliciting erotic responses from spots Buffy had never realized were so sensitive before. She returned his caresses hungrily. Finally, she took Giles' face in her hands and kissed him deeply before reaching down to remove his boxers.

She took his hard length in her hands, working back the foreskin before engulfing him into her wanton mouth. His hips bucked involuntarily as she swirled her tongue around the head, pumping the shaft with one hand while the other fondled the heavy sac of balls at the base.

All too soon, he reluctantly signaled Buffy to stop.

"I want to be inside you, Buffy."

"Then come on in. It's what I want, too."

She lay back as he reached into the nightstand drawer for a condom. He sheathed his cock and positioned himself between her legs. Before entering her, he caressed her cheek softly.

"I love you, Buffy."

"I love you, Giles. Be with me."

They kissed gently as he guided himself home.

At first his strokes were long and slow. Over and over, he pulled his length almost entirely out before working himself back in until the coarse pubic hairs met and mingled again. After a time, though, their movements became more urgent, his thrusts shallower and quicker until neither could hold back.

As Buffy tightened around his penis, Giles felt the first throb of his own orgasm. He rode her hard, bound for ecstasy, as his seed gushed forth in seemingly unending torrents.

When it was over, they kissed and cuddled, murmuring words of love and devotion all the while.

"Mmmmm, I think I'm spoiled for anybody else now."

"So am I, luv." He kissed her temple softly.

"So I guess it's official; you're stuck with me."

"I can't think of a more pleasant fate."

She kissed his chest as she snuggled closer.

"So have you enjoyed your birthday?"

"It was the bestest ever Buffy birthday bash. And I liked your present best of all. I hope you're gonna give it to me again soon."

"But I haven't given you your present yet."

"So what was all this? A party favor?"

He kissed her and handed her a square box.

"Happy birthday."

Buffy squealed in delight when she saw the stuffed pig.

"It's a Mrs. Gordo for Mr. Gordo! Okay, it's official: you've given me everything I ever wanted for my birthday. A sunny picnic, incredibly hot sex with the sexiest guy I've ever met, and a honey for Mr. Gordo. You are the God of boyfriends."

"Sexiest? God of boyfriends? I think I could live with that."

*****

"Are you sure it's safe to go in there? I mean, there's a lot of repressed sexual energy between them." Tara looked concerned.

"Please! Giles is like, fifty, and Buffy's not the kind to turn into bunnywoman after just a few smoochies."

"As crude as Xander's being, and that's pretty crude, I gotta agree with him. I think we're talking smoochie heaven, not, y'know, whatever the appropriate term would be for a two-person orgy."

"You've got to be kidding. Buffy has the stamina of ten men..."

"Could we please make that women, An? The other way is too disturbing for me."

"Okay, Xander, women, and Giles is the one who trains her. I say we're walking into something man was not meant to see."

"So why are you in such a hurry?" The redhead was not going to let Anya win if she could help it.

"Oh, please! I'm not a man. I'm a woman and a former demon. I can see these things. Besides, I bet Giles knows some moves I could teach to Xander."

The other three rolled their eyes as they approached the apartment. Willow tried the door and found it locked. The four shared significant glances as the witch knocked instead.

Inside they heard a muffled cry of "Blast!", some feminine giggling, and a more polite cry of "Just a moment", followed by rustling cloth, more giggles, and hurried footsteps. Giles peered around the door as he opened it. He was wearing his heavy velour robe, his face was flushed, and his hair was mussed.

"Yes?"

"Hi Giles. We, um, we brought some clothes. For Buffy. Because you called and said she needed some. Clothes, that is. And...here they are." Willow thrust the bag into Giles' hand. "And...maybe we'll be going now."

"Yes...er...thank you, Willow. Much appreciated."

"Okay. So, bye."

"Wait up, Will!"

Buffy bounded down the stairs, wearing Giles' shirt again. When she reached the door, she pulled Willow into a bear hug.

"I just wanted to say thanks for the best birthday ever, guys. Now go away, 'cause I've been promised another present."

The four turned away as the door closed. Inside, the giggling started up again.

 
The END