Author: Sha

Disclaimer: Not mine, only this PC I write upon and my
sad, misbegotten truck are.OH, and my brain. hehehe

Rating: PG?

Notes: you really shouldn't challenge me. It may take
awhile but when I do respond, it's always...strange.

THE CHALLENGE-The point iS: Something weird goes through
Sunnydale and peoples dreams get mixed up. So
who dreams about stripping Oz? Who blushes to see
Willow in the morning? Who wakes up screaming from
strange nightmares? And why is Giles suffering from
insomnia?

Have fun! (This challenge was posted 12-8-99. I started
it and finished in a week but it took me until NOW to
type and send. OH, this sets better if you think BEFORE 4th
season. As usual, I changed a few things about the challenge
in my story. So it's not exactly like it was supposed to be,
but hey, that's how my muse works.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Bloody hell!" Running a hand through his sweat soaked
hair, Giles got up out of bed to answer the incessant pounding
at his door.

Stake in hand, he cautiously opened the door, surprised
to see Buffy and Willow standing there in their nighties.

"What are you two doing here at four in the morning? If
you banged on the door any harder you would have broken the
bloody thing."

Pushing her way past Giles, Buffy dragged Willow in behind
her.

"Giles, we have to talk. Willow sit down."

As she opened her mouth to speak,another knock sounded at
the door.This one a tad softer.

Muttering under his breath about the rudeness of youth
today, Giles opened the door once again.

Smiling sheepishly, Xander and Oz stood on the other side.

"Oh please, wont you come in?Lets make it a bloody party."

Walking past him, the two went into the livingroom.

"Hey Buff, Will.Looking babe-o-liscious in the nighties. What's up?"

Smirking, Buffy looked Oz and Xander over, replying "Judging from
your state of dress and panicked look, I'd say we're here for the same
reason you are. Wiggy dreams."

"Yeah, well ever since the other night, I've been dreaming...uh, wiggy
stuff."

Looking at Oz, she noted his passive face.Most people would pass him by, never
thinking another thought about him, thinking that he was just a calm, stoic
person. She knew him well enough to tell he wasn't exactly comfortable in his
skin just now.

"You too Oz?"

Raising an eyebrow, he nodded.
"Oh yeah."

Sighing, Giles groaned aloud.

"I hate to break up all this titillating conversation, but what are
you all doing here this time of night..or ehh, morning?"

Everyone looked at Buffy to be the spokesperson.

Clearing her throat nervously, she muttered, "we all seem to be having
strange dreams. Really strange."

Not quite understanding why they came to him, he looked at the four
faces surrounding him. Taking note of the pained, embarrassed expressions
he decided to inquire further.

"They are obviously strange enough to bring you here, so why don't you
tell me about it." Turning to Oz, he decided the werewolf looked the
least upset. "Oz? Why don't you go first."

Everyone watched in amazement as Ozs face turned red.

"I- uh. Xander, you owe me."

Snorting, Xander got up and began to pace. "Nope, sorry bud, he
asked you first, so first you shall be."

Walking over to him, Oz whispered something in his ear.

"So? I'll tell them myself, I'm not going first."

"Oh do shut up! Buffy, you go first and make it bloody quick!"

"Me?? No way! Willow, you do it."

The red head squeaked before slapping her hands over her mouth
while shaking her head.

"Oh for petes sake! At least tell me when they started."

Sighing in relief, they all spoke at once.

"Two nights ago."
"The other night."
"Couple nights back."
"What they all said."

Now his interest was peaked.

"So, they all began at the same time. Hmm, it's not affecting the whole
town so it must be related to something specific. Did anything in
particular happen at that time?"

Looking at each other, they all wracked their brains, trying to remember.

Oz spoke first. "Well, earlier we all watched Buffy kill that red and blue
demon."

"Yeah, that's right! Remember? We told you about it."

Chuckling, Giles rubbed his hand across the top of his head, "yes, now I
do. Wasn't that the one that went - poof- I believe you said, then a big
silver ball of smoke filled the air causing Xander to run screaming due
to a cancer scare?"

"Yep, that's it! We tried to catch him for a mile and even *I* couldn't match
his speed."

"Hey! Laugh all you want, but I'm telling you that the hellmouth is going to get
us one way or another."

Snickering, Giles went to his desk and got out a book.

"OK, I'll research it today while you're in class. It shouldn't be too difficult
since we know it was a biambolic demon so come back after dinner and I'll tell
you what I found."

Sighing in relief, the four left the ex-watchers house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they returned later that day, Giles met them at the door, book still
in hand.

"I- I found out what has happened, but I must know the nature of your
dreams. Specifically."

Looking at her friends, Buffy stepped forward, stoically volunteering
to go first.

"Ok Giles, lets go into the kitchen and I'll tell you mine first."

Taking off his glasses, Giles pinched the bridge of his nose before
answering, "I'm afraid that the nature of the demon suggests that your
subconscious thoughts are switched and you are playing each others wants,
fears and desires out in each others dreams. Therefore, it is imperative
that we know what each other is dreaming to see who as been having whose dreams.
If you were normal teenagers, I'd say go home, don't worry about it after tonight,
it will pass. Since the Slayer is involved and her dream could be a prophetic
one.... Buffy, please tell us your dream."

"Me?! Why are you always picking on me? We know MY dream isn't being had by me,
so why should *I* go first? Make Xander do it."

Ignoring Xanders outraged blathering, Giles glared at Buffy while taking a seat.

"Now Buffy."

"Fine, but whoever laughs, I'm staking. I uh, keep dreaming about cheese, puppies,
fuzzy green fridgerator monsters and...uh waking up next to a naked Willow. Oh! did
I mention the evil vampire who goes around stealing everyone's twinkies and sucking
the white creamy filling out leaving behind the dry, stick to your mouth cake?"

"The fiend! How dare he?"

Giving Xander a strange look, Oz raised his eyebrow at Buffy. "That's a... strange
dream all right."

"You are so understating. If it wasn't for the twinkie thing, I'd swear it was one
of yours."

Grinning slightly, he shrugged, "we all enjoy a good snack cake now and then."

Laughing, Buffy grabbed his hand, "yeah, but the fridge thing? And I'm fond of cheese
but man! Are you fond or what?!"

"I didn't say the dream was mine, just that we all enjoy a good snack cake."

Clearing his throat, Giles brought the rooms attention back to the problem at hand.

"OK, thank you Buffy. Willow?"

"Is that why you avoided me yesterday Buffy?"

Sighing in relief, Buffy hugged her friend before stepping back to say,"Oh Willow, I
can't tell you how relieved I am that it's someone elses dream. Not that I wouldn't
want to dream about you...in that...way. If I was a guy. Or gay.Or even bi. Which
I'm not, so ewwww."

"Is that ewww cause it's me as a girl, or ewwww cause of the whole I'm a girl thing?"

"Oh, the second one definitely."

"Please! I meant, tell us your dream." Shaking his head, Giles turned to Xander.
"Never mind, Xander do tell us your dream.At a fast rate of pace."

Grinning broadly, Buffy walked over to Xander, smacking him on the head.

"Tag, you're it!"

Sighing dramatically, Xander jumped to his feet."Well mine wasn't as cool but
knowing that it's not mine and I'm not like Larry said after all, here goes.
It starts out with me stripping Oz while I'm wearing a leather corset. After he's
fully naked, he does a dance, complete with juggling stakes, pencils and crosses.
When he's done, he bows and I reach out to embrace him when Spike and Giles come
through the door kissing and holding hands. Both are wearing sizable hickeys at
which point I wake up screaming from sheer terror."

The room was quiet for one heartbeat. Then, all at once, it exploded with noise.

"Buffy, you sound like a damn jack ass. Xander, that is quite enough from you as
well. Willow, when you can quit your braying, would you please put me out of my
misery and tell us your dream?"

Gasping for air, Willow giggled a time or two more before gaining control of
herself again. Sighing, she began, "I'm walking down a dark alley, alone, feeling
really happy when this big burley guy walks out and says 'goodbye freak show. You
just wont stay out the way will you?' Then he shoots me. Buffy comes running and
throws herself on top of me begging me not to leave her cause she finally realizes
that she loves me. She's so upset, she doesn't realize the guy is still there. He
puts the gun to her head and pulls the trigger. I wake up as she falls limp."

For once, the room was in complete silence.

Speaking softly, Giles turned to OZ, "Oz? That leaves you please."

Looking around, OZ shrugged. "Suddenly mine seems... Well, I'm with Xander
under a tree. We are having sex, which in it's self is odd but the talking cat
that I get on and ride sends it straight into the bizarre."

Snorting, Buffy had to ask,"when you say ride, do you mean as in ride a horse?"

"Actually, more broom than horse."

Burying his face in his hands, Giles asked, in a begging tone, "is that all?
PLEASE."

"Uh, did I mention the-" Seeing Giles desperate look, Oz nodded. "That's it."

Turning to Buffy, Giles briskly inquired, "was the getting shot dream yours?"

"Nope."

Nodding happily, Giles got up and shooed the group towards the door.

"Good, no real problem then. The dream mix-up will revert back to normal
after tonight. Now move along. I'm sure you all have other places to be,
other things to do. As do I."

"But we don't know who dreamed who's dream!"

"No matter. Buffy didn't dream the one Willow has been, so no worries. If
you want to know, ask each other. Somewhere that's not here. Good bye!"

Staring at the closed door, the four friends slowly turned to each other,
shuffling their feet.

"I- uh. Well, I'm sorry for the one who has been dreaming my dreams. Does anyone
want to fess up to their dream?"

Looking at the other three faces, Buffy nodded in understanding.

"Ok, then, I suggest we go and uh- wait until it passes. See ya!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chuckling, Giles padded up the stairs to his bedroom.

"It's about time the bloody chits left. So who does Buffy have the hots for?"

Turning to the blond in his bed, Giles removed his clothes before getting in next
to him.

"So you heard did you?"

"Yeah, it was hard not to. I missed who the bloody wanker that was stripping was
though.

"Oz."

"Told ya she had the hots for the werewolf."

"Spike? Do shut up and kiss me!"