Viva Las Vegas 

Willow lay stretched out on her bed balancing a book
on the soles of her feet. This was a personal
record... Nearly 100 Hippopotamuses. The Hellmouth
hadn't made a peep in weeks, and the Vamps seemed to
be taking a vacation. Trying to alleviate the thudding
boredom was everyone's new pasttime. Ignoring Xander's
constant "Orgy!" suggestion, Willow had found very little
to help pass the time. Book balancing was her latest.

"96 Hippopopatamus," she said her voice tight with
concentration. "97 Hippopotamus. 98 ---"

RING RING

She jumped at the sound, and the book went flying off
her feet and into the dresser. "Arghhh!"

She frowned and straightened up, grabbing for the
phone. "Hello? -- Speaking." Her eyes went grew
big with excitement, and she started to bounce up and
down. "Oh! Right!" She reached over and turned down
the volume on her radio.

"K-C-U-F, plays the hottest hits under the Sunnydale
sun!" she screamed.

She couldn't contain herself and climbed up onto her
bed again, so she could bounce higher. The phone was
swinging wildly. "Really? Really? Really?" She stopped
bouncing. "Sorry," she said sheepishly. "But you're
not kidding me, right? I mean that would be really
cruel. I mean I never win anything and if this--- Is
this Xander?"

Her face fell, but only for a minute and then re-lit
like a flame. "Oh, never mind. You mean... I really,
for realsies, won?" She tried to listen carefully, biting
her lower lip. "I am?" she squeaked. "You are?!" she said
her voice rising in excitement. "I can!?!" she screamed.

"Sorry," she whispered and swallowed hard and tried to
regain some semblance self-control.

"Yes, thank you," she said politely. "I'll do just
that. In the mail, right? Yes, thank you."

With seeming calm, she hung up the phone and sat on
the edge of her bed, the shock finally setting in.

When Buffy finally came back from class, she
still hadn't moved.

"Hey, Wills," Buffy said brightly as she came in and
set her books down, but Willow remained still and
quiet. "Wills?" Buffy asked again, looking sharply at
the redhead. Now concerned, she knelt down next to
her friend. Her voice rose. "Willow? Willow! What's
wrong? Is it a spell? Blink once for no, twice for
yes!"

Finally, Willow seemed to break out of her trance. A
smile slowly lifter her face. "I won."

"That's great," Buffy said automatically, not sure if
she should be relieved or not. "Won what?"

Willow's eyes slowly came back to life and focused on
Buffy. "I really won."

"Repeating.. that's great... won what?'"

Willow sprang to her feet, her body instantly filled
with nervous energy. "Remember that
radio contest thingy we filled out at the mall?"

Buffy's jaw slackened. "Vegas?" she croaked.

Willow nodded, a huge grin covering her face. "Pack
your bags! We're goin' to Vegas!"

"No!" Buffy said excitedly, jumping to her feet.

"Yes!" Willow countered, starting to bounce again.

"No!"

"Yes!"

They kept the back and forth as they jumped up and
down, spinning around the room. They didn't even
notice when Xander joined in, jumping up and down with
them, yelling "Maybe!"

His presence finally registered with Willow. She
managed to stop jumping. "Xander?"

Buffy stopped, but Xander kept jumping and spinning.
"What are we jumping for? And can I stop now, I think
my Chalupa's gonna repeat on me soon?"

Buffy put her hand on his arm, and he finally
managed to settle.

"So what's with the bouncies?" Xander asked. "And
thank you both going braless today, by the way."

Willow hit his arm, but her smile gave her away.
"Xander," she chided.

"What?" he asked innocently.

"Maybe we shouldn't tell him," Buffy offered.

"Oh, no fair," he whined. "I'm braless, too." He
lifted his shirt to give them proof.

Willow rolled her eyes and grinned at Buffy. "Oh, it's
nothing really," Willow said casually. "I just won an
all-expense paid trip to Las Vegas. That's all."

"No!" Xander yelled.

"Yes!" Willow yelled back, as they all started to
bounce again.

"No!" Xander cried and then suddenly stopped bouncing.
"Can I go?"

Willow, still bouncing, nodded. "I can take two
friends.. One... Two!" she said pointing at Buffy and
then Xander.

"We're going to Vegas!" Xander screamed as he resumed
bouncing.

Buffy started giggling until she had a bad thought.
"Uh-oh."

"No, Buffy. No uh-ohs. Only yays and yippees are
allowed. Definitely, nix the uh-oh," Willow said
anxiously.

"I just thought of something. Who's gonna tell Giles?"

They all sighed. "Well," Xander reasoned. "What can he
say?"

"If I know Giles, it'll be something like.." Buffy
pursed her lips and looked down her nose. "Absolutely
not!"

*****

"Absolutely not!" Giles stated firmly.

"I knew you were going to say that," Buffy deadpanned.
"And I just have one question," she said and then put
on her pouty-face. "How can you say that?" she wailed.

"Easily. I'll say it again if you like. Absolutely
not!"

"You did say things were quiet, right?" Willow asked
logically.

Giles frowned and regarded the three. "Well, yes. I
did." Everyone's face lit up. "But that could change
at any minute." Their poor little faces fell again.

"Gi-iles," Buffy whined.

"Oh, come on G-Man. Have a heart. Vegas. Women. Money.
Women with money..." Xander begged.

Willow knew they definitely had to try a different
tact. She got up off the sofa and walked to stand in
front of Giles.

"Giles," she said softly. He looked down into her eyes
and nearly let a sigh escape his lips. As soon as he'd
looked into her eyes, he knew he was lost. He tried to
look away, but it was too late. "Please? We're only an
hour away by plane. And well," she said looking down.
"I've never won anything in my life and..." she let
her voice trail off sadly.

Giles' brow furrowed. He found it increasingly
difficult to deny her anything and when she looked
like this, his heart just melted. "All right," he said
softly.

Willow's face brightened. "Really?"

He shook his head, knowing he was going to regret
this. "Have a good time."

The trio started to bounce again.

"But!" Giles interrupted.

"How did I know there was a but," Xander said
worriedly. "You've always got to stick a big but in there
somewhere."

Giles rolled his eyes and sighed as Buffy and Willow
stifled a giggle. "You have to promise me you'll check in,"
Giles said sternly. "Often."

Willow nodded enthusiastically. Forgetting herself,
she hugged him.

Giles awkwardly hugged her back, trying futilely to
push down his true feelings. He couldn't tell them the
real reason he didn't want them to go. He didn't dare
reveal how he felt about Willow. But the thought of
her in that Sodom and Gomorrah!! It was going to be a
very long weekend. Very long indeed.


Part Two

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on a tricycle!" Xander
exclaimed as they were shown into their suite. "Would
you look at this!"

"This is one sweet suite, Wills," Buffy said in awe,
but her eyes kept straying to the very cute bellhop.

"Are you sure this is the right room?" Willow
nervously asked the young man.

He smiled. "Sure thing, Miss Rosenberg. The radio
station's taken care of everything," he said as he
took their bags off the large cart. He held up a
particularly large one and asked, "Which room?"

"Oh," Buffy said brightly. "That's mine. I don't know?
Willow, which room do you want?"

Willow just shrugged, letting it all sink in. She
still couldn't believe she'd actually won. And it
wasn't like she won free tickets to a movie nobody
wants to see. I mean, this was big - free airline
tickets to Las Vegas, a huge suite at a really nice
hotel, and a thousand dollars cash. There was only one
thing missing, but she figured it always would be.
Giles. She sighed sadly.

Xander saw her and threw his arm around her shoulder.
"Come on, no sighs. This is Las Vegas, baby!"

She giggled and nodded. There was no use in crying
over things that could never be. Xander was right,
this was Las Vegas - Fun City, USA.

"And besides," Buffy added. "I think he likes you."

"What? Who?"

"I put your bags in the master suite, Miss Rosenburg,"
the bellhop said as he re-entered the large living
room.

Buffy elbowed her and gave her a waggley eyebrow.
Willow just giggled.

"Thank you. Oh!" she said rummaging in her purse.

"S'all been taken care of," he said. "There's
champagne compliments of the management in the fridge
and if you should need anything - anything at all
-just ask for me. Name's Carl. Don't hesitate to
ring," he said with a grin. "I hope you enjoy your
stay here at Caesar's Palace."

"Thanks!" Willow said with huge smile, as the bellboy
left them to their own devices.

"I think I heard something about champagne!" Xander
said as he ran into the kitchen.

"It's only two in the afternoon," Willow scolded him.

"Wills, first rule of Vegas. Time is irrelevant. Once
you're in the casinos, which should be mere minutes
from now, you won't know if it's day or night. And you
won't care."

She sighed. "I guess so."

"There is no guess so. We're here to cut lose. No
'rents, no teachers, no Watchers. Just three friends
out on the town. Footloose and hellmouth free!"

"Oh, that reminds me... Weren't we supposed to
call Giles once we were checked in?" Willow said
looking for the phone.

Xander sighed and shook his head. He leaned over Buffy
who had joined him in the kitchen. "We're gonna have
to work on this Miss Responsibility thing."

"I know. Be patient," Buffy said. "It's up to us to
show her how much she needs this break. Trust me
inside that level head is a sex-o-matic venus freak."

Xander nodded as he watched Willow dial Giles' number.

"Giles?" Willow said into the phone. "It's Willow,
calling from Las Vegas."

Xander shook his head and pulled the champagne out of
the fridge. Buffy grinned in anticipation.

Willow smiled as she told Giles about the plane ride,
the limo drive, and the trip up in the elevator. "Oh,
we will," she said sincerely.

Xander popped the cork loudly, earning a scream of
delight from Buffy.

"Hmm? Oh that was just the champagne," Willow
answered Giles, as he couldn't help but hear the
ruckus. "I know it's only two," Willow said a frown on
her face. 'He thinks I'm such a child.' "I'm not a
child you know! This is ---"

She listened to him lecture for a long moment, the
frown growing on her face, before she interrupted
him. "Well... I plan on... well.... doing things..." she
said indignantly, "Things! Bad things,
maybe. I-I-I might even... debauch!... I can too
debauch. I know how. I've seen Showgirls!"

Xander arched an eyebrow. Reverse psychology, the
G-man was good. Even if he didn't know it. Xander
nodded in appreciation and then frowned. "When did
you guys rent Showgirls and why wasn't I invited?"

"Oh, yeah!" Willow said angrily. "Well, fine! Fine!
Good bye!" She said as she slammed the phone down.
"How dare he? I am never speaking to him again!"

"Okay," Buffy said carefully.

"That man---" she said struggling for a word. "He's
so---- poopy!" She spied the champagne and marched
into the kitchen.

"I'll show him who's childish!" She grabbed the bottle
and drank a long swig. She coughed little and then
slammed it down on the counter. Buffy and Xander
watched in wide-eyed shock.

Willow turned to them both and wiped her mouth
delicately. "Oh yeah.. we have to call him again at
six."

*****

"That woman!" Giles growled to his empty apartment. He
shook his head and then huffed, falling heavily onto
his sofa.

He sighed deeply. An innocent like Willow in place
like Las Vegas, well - no good could come of it. And
with Buffy and Xander along, there was sure to
be trouble.

Willow, liquor, men. He groaned. Men. It didn't bear
thinking about. And yet, somehow, was all he could
think of.

And he'd done a fine job of shoving her down the path
of depravity. "Don't be so childish. I expect you to
behave responsibly," he said savagely imitating
himself. 'Oh, bloody brilliant!'

What was a Watcher to do? He was deeply, madly, truly
in love with Willow, and if he'd had an ounce of
courage - he would have told her. He could avert the
apocalypse, but face a beautiful young woman that made
his knees weak? Pathetic did not even scratch the
surface.

He suddenly wondered how Anya and Riley, who had
actual claims on two of the parties involved, were
dealing with this little sojourn.

Misery loves company. So, Giles dialed Anya's number.
Nobody shared misery like Anya.


Part Three

The sounds and smell of sex and money were in the air.
Figuratively speaking. The only thing you could
actually smell was cigarette smoke and the slightly
arid sense of overly oxygenated air.

The three young travelers walked through the giant
casino. It seemed to stretch on forever. One large,
opulent room leading to another. Suffering from
sensory overload, all they could do was drift through
the crowds.

The electronic sounds bubbling out of the slot
machines sang a siren's song, echoed by the cheers
from groups at the gaming tables. Everything about it
was inviting, calling to the visitor to pull up a
chair and stay for a while. And then stay a little
longer.

A cocktail waitress, dressed in a very short roman
toga, her breasts spilling out, passed by giving
Xander smile and a wink. Without thinking, he turned
and started to follow her, until Buffy grabbed his arm
and pulled him back.

"D-d-did y-y-you see that?" he gasped, eyes
practically popping out.

"I saw them," Buffy said, unconsciously pulling on the
neckline of her blouse.

"Wow," Willow said softly.

"That's what I was thinking. Why would you..."
Xander started.

"He's beautiful," Willow interrupted as the object of
her gaze came closer.

"Holy crap," Buffy said in awe.

A young man, absolutely, positively, drop-your-drawers
gorgeous, was approaching them. He too was dressed in
Roman regalia - Vegas' version of a Senator. His toga
was also short, showing off some mighty fine, tanned,
muscular legs. His hair was short and wavy - hints of
blond touching the darker brown. He was tall, just
over six feet, and walked flanked by two centurions.
His eyes searched casually through the crowd, until he
saw Willow. He smiled, flashing a broad white
smile, said something to the soldiers and headed
straight for the trio.

"Oh -- my --- God," Buffy whispered. "He's coming over
here. Is my hair all right? How's my breath?" She blew
into Xander's face.

"So *you* ate those olives? Cause I thought they were
just garnish," Xander said making a face.

Willow stood frozen in place, her mouth slightly open,
head titled back and lips barely parted.

The Senator came to a stop in front of them, bowed
gallantly and smiled again. It was even better close
up. Somehow behind the performance smile, was genuine
pleasure.

"Forgive my impertinence, but are you Miss Rosenberg?"
he said in smooth baritone.

Willow took a deep breath and licked her suddenly dry
lips. Xander frowned at the innocent sexuality,
coughed and nudged her. "Wills?"

"Hmm?" she said dreamily. "Oh, you're forgiven."

He chuckled smoothly and bowed again. "May I introduce
myself? I am Sextus Aurilius. And I am your humble
servant."

"Sex-tus," Buffy whispered.

Willow giggled. "Hello."

Xander frowned, although he did move to stand a bit
behind Buffy. "How did you know who she was?" he asked
suspiciously.

Sextus grinned back, addressing himself only to
Willow. "Word of your coming was brought to my
attention."

"The radio contest," Willow said realizing this was
part of the royal treatment. And how!

He nodded in confirmation, but maintained his pleasant
charade. "May the fates continue to bless you with
good fortune as you enjoy the gaming tables of the
palace."

Willow giggled again.

"I am afraid I must leave you now. Pressing matters in
the senate. I'm sure you understand," he added with
another disarming grin.

"Oh, of course," Willow said sincerely.

"Perhaps we can share a glass of wine later? After the
feast perhaps?"

"Perhaps," she said shyly.

He nodded again, and with a final bow, he waved to his
companions and continued through the casino.

"That was -- so very strange," Xander said as they
watched them disappear into the crowd.

Buffy elbowed Willow gently. "Willow, Vegas agrees
with you. You are now officially a babe magnet."

"He's just doing his job. He does do it very well
though, doesn't he?" she said with a bright grin.

"Well, if you two are finished," Xander said
impatiently. "I think it's time we spent some of
Willow's money!" Xander said excitedly.

"How right you are!" Buffy chimed in and turned to
Willow. "Well, what'll it be?"

Willow reached into her pocket and pulled out a
quarter.

"Last of the big spenders," Xander grumbled.

Willow ignored him and walked over to one of the
slots. She took a deep breath. "Okay, here goes." She
slid the coin into the slot, crossed her fingers and
pulled the arm down. The rolls spun wildly for a
moment, then the first stopped on a large firecracker,
then the second roll stopped - firecracker. Finally,
the third stopped - firecracker.

"Is that good?" Willow asked. There was a slight pause
and then the light on top of the machine started
spinning and a loud bell started ringing. The gamblers
nearest them all turned to look, before sighing and
returning to pump quarter into their own machines.

"Oooo-oooo!" Xander screamed. "Jackpot! You-you hit
the jackpot!"

"I did?" Willow asked numbly staring at the machine.

Buffy and Xander did a little snoopy dance until the
attendant arrived.

"Congratulations," she said as she pulled a key from
her waist and put it into the wailing machine.
Abruptly the cacophony stopped.

"How much?" Xander screamed from behind her.

"Are we rich? I mean is she rich?" Buffy put in.

"Well, two thousand dollars isn't bad," the woman said
with a smile before turning back to Willow. "If you'll
wait here, I'll get your money."

Willow nodded. Xander hugged her fiercely, then turned
to hug Buffy and then hugged Willow again. He raised
her hand above her head and started to chant.
"Will-ow! Will-ow!" The crowd was less than
enthusiastic, and he finally stopped. "This is so
great," he whispered loudly.

*****

"This is so lame," Anya said bitterly. She and Riley
had joined Giles to commiserate.

Riley nodded sadly.

Giles continued to brood quietly, punctuating his lack
of conversation with grunts and few grumbling
incoherent invectives.

Riley looked at Anya and then back to Giles. "Not that
it's any of my business, Mr. Giles. But I know why
I'm less than thrilled, and I know why Anya is -- unhappy,
but why--"

Giles glared angrily at him. "You're right. It's none
of your business."

Anya sighed dramatically and rolled her eyes. "He's in
love with Willow. Idiot."

Riley's mouth fell open, but he had the good sense to
close it quickly and keep it shut.

"Don't be absurd," Giles hissed.

Anya made a disgusted sound. "Men. You really are
so pathetic."

Giles was about to rebut that, but just sighed
heavily.

"So you and Willow are-are together?" Riley asked
carefully.

"Please!" Anya said shifting in her seat, flinging her
legs over he arm of the chair. "If they were together
do you think he'd have let her go off alone to
someplace like Las Vegas."

"We did," Riley said.

Anya frowned. "Good point."

"What time is it?" Giles asked tersely.

"Six thirty, "Riley answered.

Giles stood up and started pace. "She was supposed to
call a half hour ago. What the hell could they be
doing?"

*****

"Another cocktail?"

Willow stopped spinning on her stool and faced the
waitress, a sloppy grin on her face. "Yes, please."


Part Four

"Yes -- uhm. Willow Rosenberg's room please?" Giles
asked anxiously as he checked his watched yet again -
nearly nine o'clock.

He paced back and forth as far as the short cord would
allow.

"Well?" Riley said impatiently.

"It's ringing." Giles frowned as he waited for someone
to answer.

"Yo! Joey's House of Funk and Chicken. Joey speaking!"
said a slightly slurred male voice.

"E-excuse me?"

"Whaaazzzuuup?"

"Whazzup?" Giles echoed in confusion.

"Just ask for Willow," Riley interjected.

"Right," Giles said. It was hard to hear over the
thrashing party sounds in the background. "I'm trying
to reach Will-ow Ro-sen-berg! Is this her room?"

"Who?"

"WILLOW ROSENBERG!!" Giles screamed.

"Oh, cute redhead? Fine little number?" Joey asked.

"Yes, yes fine. Is she there?" Giles asked struggling
to contain his temper.

"Yeah. She's here."

Pause.

Giles sighed. "May I speak with her?"

"You from England?"

"Yes. Willow. Would you put her on the phone?" Giles
bit out.

"Jeez. Take it easy. Freakin' limey."

Giles could hear the phone being set down and Joey's
voice calling out. "Hey Red! Phone! Some prissy dude's
calling from like England or something!"

"Well?" Riley asked coming to Giles' side.

"She's coming, I think."

"Hello?" Willow said cheerfully.

"Willow," Giles sighed in relief.

"Giles? What are you doing in England?"

"I'm not. I'm still.. oh, nevermind. Are you all
right? You were supposed to call hours ago," Giles
said worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I guess we just kind of
lost track of time. There aren't a lot of clocks
here."

"Ask her about Buffy?" Riley prompted.

"Ask her about Xander?"

"A-are Buffy and Xander there with you?" he asked, but
the reply was muffled. All he heard was something
about you'd be surprised what floats in a hot tub and
mirrors on the ceiling. "I'm sorry, Willow. You'll
have to speak up."

"What? I can't hear you! You'll have to talk louder!"
Willow yelled.

"Yes," Giles sighed. "Yes! A-are you having a s-some
sort of party?"

Willow giggled and then gave a small scream. "Sextus!"

"What?! S-sex what?" Giles yelped. "W-willow?"

"Buffy?" Riley asked leaning in toward Giles.

"Xander?" Anya put in, straining to get her ear next
to the phone too.

"Giles?" Willow called out a bit breathlessly. "I can
barely hear you -- Stop that!"

"Are you all right?" The vein in Giles' forehead was
starting the throb.

"Put me down!" Willow cried. "Sextus! Can you... Oh!"

Giles heard a bit of a scuffle. "Willow!"

"Giles? I've gotta go. We'll call you tomorrow. Bye."
And the line went dead.

"Willow? Willow!" Giles called uselessly into the
phone before setting it back into its cradle. A deep
frown covered his face, his eyes darkening.

"Well?" Riley asked impatiently. "What happened?"

Giles ignored him and pursed his lips. He took a deep
breath and grabbed his car keys off the counter.

"Where are you going?" Anya asked, as Giles took his
jacket from the rack.

"Las Vegas."

"I'm going too," Riley said quickly as he strode for
the door. "Let me get some stuff."

"Oh, that's a good idea," Anya said sarcastically.
"That'll really show them how much you trust and
respect them."

"Xander was in the hot tub," Giles said plainly.

"Meet back here in 15 minutes?" Anya asked.

*****

"Hey Wills, who was that on the phone?" Buffy asked as
Sextus set her down on the kitchen counter. "And where
can I get one of those?" she added with a grin a
Sextus.

The young Senator smiled, but turned his attention
back to Willow. "You all right?"

Willow smiled a bit wanly. "Fine."

"I'll make sure he's off the list," he said. "You
having a good time?"

"Oh, yeah," she said with manufactured enthusiasm.

He smiled gently. "I've got rounds. But I'll check in
again later."

"Great!"

Buffy watched Sextus leave with a frown. "Okay, give
Willow. What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Who was on the phone?"

"Giles," Willow said softly.

"Come on," Buffy said as she put an arm around her
friend's shoulder. "Don't let it get you down."

Willow sighed. "I know. I just wish-"

"Your wish is my command?" offered a nice looking
drunkard with a courtly if wobbly bow.

Willow hesitated.

"Come on, Wills," Buffy urged her.

"Okay. Uhm. Another human pyramid?" Willow said with a
small smile.

"Pyramid!" he called out.

"That's the spirit!" Buffy said brightly.

*****

"I still think we should have taken my car," Giles
grumbled as he and Anya struggled for shoulder room in
the cab of Riley's pick-up truck.

"No offense, Mr. Giles. But your car -- Well, it's a piece
of crap," Riley said bluntly.

Giles snorted.

"Would you move over? I'm the one straddling the hump
here!" Anya wailed in Giles' ear.

Giles took a deep breath, ready with a wicked
rejoinder, but swallowed it. They still had four hours
to go. Four, long, excruciating hours.

"Does this thing have air conditioning at least?"
Giles asked, pulling on the collar of his sweater.

"Uhm, no," Riley said sheepishly.

"Piece of crap," Giles mumbled.

"Well, roll down the window!" Anya commanded. "Why do
men smell so badly? It's a wonder women ever want to
get sweaty with you."

Four, very long hours.


Part Five

"...and then after sex, we both get really hungry.
Which makes sense, but I mean sometimes Xander just
kind of lies there and I kneel--"

"Please!" Giles interrupted her again. "Please, Anya.
I am *begging* you not to finish that sentence."

Anya frowned and sighed. "Is Xander going to be this
repressed when he gets old or is it just a British
thing?"

Giles closed his eyes and tried to remain civil, but
after an hour of Anya's stories, he was ready to go
mad.

"As I was saying," Anya continued and then frowned.
"No wait, I've lost my place. Let's see. Okay, did I
tell you about that time," she started to giggle.
"That he barked like a dog, right in the middle of-"

*****

"Do you think she'll be all right?" Riley asked
nervously, as he climbed back into the truck.

Giles took a deep breath and closed his door. "She'll
be fine." He cast a quick glance over his shoulder
into the bed of the truck.

Anya was tied up and covered with tarp, just her head
sticking out, a gag in her mouth.

"We've wasted enough time, "Giles said impatiently.
"Let's get going."

Riley started the truck and pulled out.

Giles sighed contentedly. "Ah, much better."

"She was getting pretty annoying," Riley admitted with
a smile. "I mean the way she could just keep talking
and talking. I've never met anybody that could keep
going and going like that."

Giles turned a suspicious eye on him.

"We couldn't even get a word in edgewise."

Giles watched him for a second, but he didn't say
anything else. 'Finally, some peace and quiet,' Giles
thought.

"I mean Buffy can talk a blue streak," Riley started
up again. "Not that I need to tell you that. You
probably know her better than anybody. But sometimes
we'll be sitting there and... Well take last
Saturday night for instance, we were-"

Giles groaned and leaned his head out the window.
Maybe a cactus would knock him out.

*****

Buffy saw Willow heading for the door, so she quickly
pushed through the crowd. "Wills! Where are you
going?"

Willow smiled a bit wanly. "Just gonna get some fresh
air."

Buffy nodded. "Yeah, it is a bit much in here isn't
it?"

They both turned and observed the party. People, some
conscious, some not, some alone, some... not, were
scattered all over the room.

"It's a good thing they let us move the party here. I
found some guy trying on my clothes," Buffy said
distastefully.

"Really? That's icky."

"Yeah, he looked better than I did in them," Buffy
said with a frown. "You wanna go back to
our room now?"

"Naw, let's just--"

One tightly packed group gave a loud yell and
suddenly a body was birthed from their ranks.

"Xander!" Willow cried as he stumbled toward them, his
hair wet and his eyes a bit wild.

"What happened to you?" Buffy asked as he tried to
catch his breath.

He shook his head, then nodded. "I -- do -- not --
know."

"We're going for a walk, wanna come?"

Still gasping for air, he managed a nod. Buffy and
Willow giggled and each took an arm. Straightening,
Xander ran a hand through his hair.

"You have a--" Willow started as she reached up. "A
cherry in your ear." She took out the small berry and
handed it Xander.

"A cherry? Oh. OH!" he exclaimed as his eyes went
round with realization. "Walking is good," he said
nervously with quick glance over his shoulder.

"Where's my cocktail?" came a deep voice from the
crowd as a huge female pro-wrestler pushed her way to
the edge.

"Running is better!" Xander squeaked as he pulled
Willow and Buffy out the door.

*****

"Here we are," Riley said brightly as they pulled off
the freeway and onto the strip.

"Thank God," Giles muttered through clenched teeth. He
was ready to kill. After four hours with these two, he
was sure no jury would convict him.

They finally found a parking spot in one of the rear
structures of Caeser's and untied Anya.

"You are so going to regret doing this," she
warned them.

"What are you going to? Bore me to death? Again?"
Giles snorted.

She stiffened. "I spent 1100 years making men's lives
miserable - wanna see me do it again?"

"Did you ever stop?" Giles spat out and stalked away.
Riley took over undoing the knots. "He's pretty uptight,
isn't he?"

"That's because," she answered loudly. "He's too
afraid to make Willow an orgasm friend."

"Shh," Riley hissed.

"I'm not afraid of the big, bad Watcher," she said
defiantly.

Giles turned around menacingly and grinned.

Anya swallowed. "Much."

"Come on." Riley suggested evenly. "Let's see if we
can find them."

Giles grunted and turned started toward the hotel.
Riley and Anya exchanged worried looks. Best to stay
out his way for a while, they agreed. And so,
gathering the luggage, they followed at a safe
distance.

A mile and half later, they reached the front desk.

"Willow Rosenberg's room number please?" Giles asked.

The clerk punched in a few commands on the keyboard.
Then a few more. "What was that name again?"

"Willow Rosenberg," Giles said with a sigh. "With an
e."

That really threw her. "What's with an e?"

"Rosenberg," Giles explained.

"Oh." The girl punched in another long serious of
commands, a frown covering her face. "Is the first 'e'
the 'e' or the second 'e' the 'e'?"

"Both," Giles said, his patience starting to tear away
completely.

"Both?"

"Yes, there are two e's and they're both... e's," he
finished lamely.

The clerk's eyes narrowed. "Riiiight," she said
suspiciously. She pushed a few more buttons and looked
for her supervisor. This guy was not well. "Would you
excuse me for moment?"

"Uhm, can't you just -" Giles started, but she was
already gone.

After a few minutes an even younger clerk appeared.
"May I help you?"

"Please. I'm trying to find Willow Rosenberg.
R-O-S-E-N-B-E-R-G," Giles said as evenly as he could.

The young woman typed in a long serious of commands.
"Ah, Ms. Rosenberg."

"Wonderful."

"Are you on the list?" the young woman asked.

"What list?" Giles asked in confusion.

She smiled with false solicitude. "Name please?"

"Rupert Giles, but-"

Another long series of keystrokes. "I'm sorry, sir.
There's no one with that name on the guest list."

"Guest list? I don't think you understand, I-," Giles
started.

"I'll check again. Your name?" the girl said
mechanically.

"Rupert Giles," he said tersely. "But I doubt I'm on
your list."

"Then why am I looking you up?" the girl shot back.

"I have no idea!" Giles bellowed. Riley put an arm on
his shoulder, but Giles shrugged him off. "I just want
Willow's room."

"Well, I'm sorry sir. If you're not on the list,
then--"

"I just want her room number!"

"Then why did you ask about the list?" the girl asked
peevishly.

"I didn't! I don't even know what the hell list you're
talking about!" That vein was throbbing again.

"Security!"

"I'm sure that's not necessary," Riley intervened,
with his most charming smile.

"Is there a problem?" said a deep voice attached to a
gigantic guard-type person.

"No, everything's fine," Riley said, trying
desperately to appease them.

"He's not on the list," the girl said pointing to
Giles.

"You can take your bloody list and --" Giles started.
He'd reached the end of his rope. He reached across
the counter and turned the computer monitor. "Just let
me---" Before he knew what hit him, he was in a
headlock and being physically escorted from the
premises. Riley sighed followed them to the door. This
was starting off well.

The desk clerk sighed and straightened her hair. "Name
please?"

"Me?" Anya said innocently. "Oh, no. I was just --
passing through." Anya slipped off to gleefully watch
the big security guard manhandle that uppity Watcher.

This was going to be fun.

Part Six

Anya watched with barely restrained glee, oh, all
right - there was no restraint, just a lot of glee -
as the security guard threw Giles out of the hotel.
She just loved the way he rolled across the sidewalk.

"Could you do that again?" she asked the burly man as
he re-entered the casino.

Riley leaned forward to offer Giles a hand up.
Rupert just sneered and ignored it. He brushed
off his clothes and stood up straight. "I have never
been so--Oof!" His suitcase caught him
right in the ribs. He managed to dodge the next bag,
but the last one clipped him in the side.

"You've lost my business! I can tell you that!" Giles
yelled indignantly.

Anya sighed. "Fall down again. At least that was
funny."

Giles glared at her.

"Well, it was." She shrugged.

"What do we do now?" Riley asked.

"We're going to that party," Giles said intently.

"But--"

Giles waved his hand dismissively. "I have a plan."

*****

"Ow," Giles groaned as the held the glass of scotch
rocks to his bruised chin.

"Does it hurt much?" Anya asked.

"Not too much," he said.

"Then would you stop groaning? It reminds me of
Xander," she grumbled.

Giles frowned at the scary visual place and
winced.

"No offense, Mr. Giles, but but *you're* supposed to
be the guy with the plans? That first one wasn't so
bad, if *she'd* have done her part --"

Anya snorted. "It was a stupid plan."

Riley ignored her and continued. "But those last two
plans... you were just making it up, weren't you?"
Riley asked as he pressed a tall beer glass to
his own eye. He was hoping to avoid the same color
spectacular that was occuring on the face of the
ex-librarian. Besides, the bar at the Mirage casino
was really nice, and he hoped they didn't get thrown
out of this place, too.

"Pretty bad?" Anya echoed. "Were you there? Try
colossally inane!"

"I didn't hear you spouting any helpful ideas," Giles
ground out. "Or doing anything helpful for that
matter."

"That's because, if my only idea is incredibly stupid,
I keep it to myself."

Giles sighed heavily and threw back the dregs of his
drink. "I'm open to suggestions."

"Well, Mr. Giles, I---" Riley started.

"Stop calling me that, would you? Just Giles or
Rupert. Please?"

"All right. R-r.. Giles. But I'm afraid you're not
going to like it."

"No doubt," Giles sighed. "But... go ahead."

"It's almost four. I think we should just take our
losses and call their hotel room in the morning."

Giles snorted derisively.

"Maybe he's right," Anya added. "I mean, we're.. well,
*you're* just making an ass out of yourself and as
much as I appreciate the entertainment value of that,
it's not getting me any closer to Xander."

"You two can give up if you want, but you didn't hear
that-- that orgy over the phone. It was --."

"What are you going to do?" Anya asked. "I mean you
might as well just stand up on the barstool and yell
her name." She cocked her head to the side and then
stood. "XANDER! XANDER HARRIS!"

"Shhh," Giles rasped, pulling her back into her chair.
He looked apologetically at the bartender and then
turned to glare at her. "Are you insane? This isn't
some tv show... That never works --"

"Anya?" A voice said from behind.

"Xander!" she said squealed, jumping into his arms. He
held her, smiling in confusion. He stumbled back a
bit, the hours of drinking and gambling having taken their toll.

"Where's Buffy?" Riley asked quickly.

"She... she... Riley?" Xander queried somewhat
drunkenly. "Hey buddy, how are you? How have you
been? Long time no see..."

"Good to see ya. Buffy?" Riley was urgent. If Xander
was this drunk, Buffy could be...

"Uh, Doing Caribbean Stud," he said absently.

"What!"

"What?" replied Xander.

"What Caribbean Stud? You left her with some guy?!
You know we're..." Riley was frantic.

"P-poker. It's a kind of poker," Xander added hastily.

Riley laughed, a bit embarrassed. "Right. Poker." He
nodded a few times and then came back to himself.
"Thanks," he said with a grin and hearty slap on the
back.

"Ow," Xander said with a wincing frown.

"Really, thanks. I'll see you guys later," Riley said
as he left and started scanning the room for the poker
tables.

"What are you guys doing--"

"Willow," Giles said insistently.

"What?" Xander said confused again. And Anya's
wandering hands weren't helping his concentration any.

"Where is she?" Giles asked anxiously.

"I don't know. I lost her about--"

"Lost her!" Giles cried grabbing the boy by the
shoulders.

"Hey!" Anya said slapping at his hands. "He bruises
easily."

"Lost her?" Giles repeated angrily.

"N-not l-lost-lost. She's here," he said quickly and
Giles loosened his grip. "Just follow the sounds of
victory. Can't miss her. All she does is win," he said
with a sigh, turning to Anya. "Win. Win. Win. And I'd
be pretty jealous, if she didn't give me all this
money!" he added showing her a fistful of chips.

"Ohh," Anya cooed as Xander pulled her back into the
casino.

"Wanna watch Daddy lose someone else's money?" Xander
said with a grin.

Giles sighed heavily and threw back the last of
his Scotch. He heard a bell ringing and headed for the
flashing light. The closer he got to the sound, the
thicker the crowd. He managed to push his way towards
the winning machine. There in the midst of it all was
Willow, his Willow.

"Willow!" he called out.

She smiled dreamily to herself and sipped her latest
Midori sour. 'I wish Giles were here,' she thought
wistfully. 'I really miss him. It's like I can almost hear
him.'

"Willow," he repeated, touching her shoulder.

"Hi Giles," she said casually. "Giles!" She jumped to
her feet and spilled her drink, what there was left of
it.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

She stood still in disbelief for a moment and then
shook her head to clear it. "I'm going back to Vodka,"
she said with a frown. Giles looked like he was
*right* there, but he looked so different. More like
the way he looked in her dreams. So deliciously frazzled.
His hair was all messy and adorable and those jeans, well,
those jeans were snug just where it....

Giles reached out and touched her again. "Thank god I
found you... I--I was... er..." he trailed off. Now
that he'd found her, he didn't have the slightest idea
what to say. He looked at her helplessly.

"Giles? Is it... What are you... Is everything all
right... Did the Hellmouth open?" she asked excitedly
finally focusing in on the fact that he was actually,
truly here. She noticed the bruise on his chin. "Oh my
God, what's wrong?"

Giles smiled a bit weakly. "Well..."


Part Seven

"Thank you," Willow said with a grin as the waiter set
down her Midori Sour. The small restaurant was just
adjacent to the casino.

"I'm not sure I understand it all, but if you say
you're okay," Willow said with a hazy concern,
absently tracing the scratches on Giles' hand.

"It's fine. I-I don't even feel it," murmured Giles.
He was mesmerized by her touch. He thought that he
could sit like this for hours, her touching his hand.

"It was really sweet of you to keep an eye on Riley
and Anya. I can't imagine the trouble they'd get
themselves into if you weren't there," Willow said with
a smile.

Giles smiled back weakly. "Well, yes. I..."

"Here ya go," said the waiter, handing Willow her
Midori Sour. She dropped Giles' hand and eagerly
reached for the drink.

"Thank you," she said with a grin.

"I think we both need something to eat," Giles said
with a frown.

Willow grinned sloppily. "Drink now. Eat later."

Giles swallowed hard, everything about her was oozing
sexuality.

"We're meeting the others in an hour. We can eat
then," she said taking a sip from her drink.

Giles watched her lips mold to the glass and sighed.
"Mmm," she purred. "So good. Sweet and sour... kinda
like an all day sucker."

Giles started to sweat and cleared his throat.
"Waiter! Scotch neat!"

Willow smiled slyly across the small table at him. "So are
you going to tell me why you really came?"

"Uhm, Willow... I--" he started uneasily. What could
he say? "I... Willow--"

"I love it when you say my name. Say it again," she
said with dreamy smile.

He smiled in return, bemused, but complied. "Willow."

"Mmmm," she sighed. "You have a wonderful voice, did
you know that?"

"I--I do?"

She nodded slowly. "But I think it's your lips," she
said reaching across the table and running a finger
across the seam of his mouth. He opened his lips and
struggled for control.

"Willow," he whispered.

She smiled again, her fingers still dancing across his
mouth. "It's like you're going to kiss me."

"I am," he said softly, but pulled himself up short.
"I--I mean .. it does?"

Willow pulled back her hand and looked at him oddly.
"Giles?"

"C-call me Rupert. I know it's not the sexiest name,
but Giles... I feel like everyone's bloody butler."

Willow laughed softly. "All right... Rupert." She
uttered his name like a caress, and he felt his jeans
grow suddenly tight.

The waiter set down his drink, and he took a deep
swig.

"Wanna see a trick?" she asked suddenly.

His eyes flashed, as all sorts of tricks crossing his
mind. He nodded slowly, unsure of his voice.

Willow grinned and took the cherry from her drink.
"Want my cherry?" she asked innocently.

Giles coughed violently for moment before he regained
himself, and focused on the plump berry she held out
to him. He leaned forward, his eyes glazing over as
she fed him the fruit. He used his teeth and pulled it
from the stem.

"Not much of trick," he said with a mock frown.

Willow licked her lips and grinned as she put the stem
in her mouth.

Giles' small frown faded into oblivion as he watched
enraptured as she swirled the stem around her mouth.
He could see her small tongue press up against her
cheek. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat as her
emerald eyes met his. His mind was awhirl with
libidinous thoughts as she continued to manipulate the
stem inside her mouth.

He'd imagined a moment not unlike this one, many, many
times. Of course, they weren't in public and they
weren't dressed, and...

Finally, she grinned triumphantly, and her tongue
pushed the small stem out between her teeth. She
leaned across the table, and Giles reached over and
took it from between her pink lips. It was tied in a
knot. 'Sweet Jesus,' he thought.

She arched an eyebrow. "I have a very talented
tongue."

Giles nodded and took another deep drink of his
Scotch. The warm liquor slid down his throat as all
his blood rushed south. He gasped for air for a moment
before losing himself and perhaps his fears too, in
the wake of her innocent eroticism.

"Can you do any tricks?" she asked.

He smiled enigmatically.

"Show me?"

Her blazing sexuality finally gave him the courage to
respond in kind. He grinned sexily and she felt her
insides go puddly. "I will, love. I will."

She smiled coyly. "Promise?"

He reached across the table and took her hand small in
his. He rubbed the soft skin with his thumb. "I
promise."

She sighed happily and looked at their joined hands.
She turned his palm over and slowly ran her slim
finger up and down his lifeline.

He groaned and took her firmly by the wrist. His eyes
were like jade, dark and wet. "You're quite the tease,
aren't you?" he smirked.

Willow frowned suddenly and pulled her hand back
angrily. "Tease?"

"I--I didn't mean---" Giles stammered, caught off
guard by the edge in her voice.

She quickly stood from her chair, sending skittering
backwards. "Is that what you really think?"

"Willow, I--"

She narrowed her eyes. "Let me tell you something.
I've wanted you since the day I met you! And you were
just like the rest of them. Sweet innocent Willow.
Well... poo on that and.... and... poo on you!" She
practically shook with frustration. "I got your
innocent right here!" she wailed as she stormed out.

"Willow!" Giles called out after as he rushed to
follow her. The waiter grabbed his arm. "Hey, you
gotta pay for this shit, you know!"

Giles growled at him, but took out a twenty and tossed
it onto the table. He raced out of the small restaurant,
but Willow was nowhere in sight. She'd disappeared into
the large crowd.

"Damn," he grunted and set out to find her. Who knows
what she'll do now? And God help the bastard she does it with!


Part Eight

"That woman," Giles said in an exasperated voice, as
he hopelessly scanned the casino for Willow. He knew
she couldn't have gone far. And he was damn well going
to find her before she went *too* far.

He moved quickly through the crowd. "Willow!" he
called out. "Willow!"

"You lost her already?" Anya said, materializing
suddenly at his side.

"Have you seen her?" he demanded.

Xander put his arm around Anya's waist. "That's the
last of it." He raised empty, chipless hands. "Oh,
hey, G-string."

Giles grunted.

"You're pissy," Xander said and then snorted. "And I'm
pissed. Pissy and Pissed. Sounds like a new comedy
team. And next for your dining and dancing pleasure--
the comedy stylings of Pissy and Pissed. So tell me,
Pissy, did you see--"

Giles grabbed the younger man by the collar. "Where is
Willow?"

"Uhm... is this a trick question? Cause I thought she
was with you?" he said nervously.

"He lost her," Anya said with a sigh. "And let go,
you're wrinkling him."

Giles pushed Xander aside with a grunt. "We've got to
find her."

"Is something wrong?" Xander asked in concern. "Is she
all right?"

Giles scowled. "She's fine. He, however..."

"He who?"

"He, whoever, does it really matter..." Giles said
through clenched teeth. All he could imagine was
Willow throwing herself into some man's arms, proving
her lack of "innocence".

Xander shook his head to clear it. He knew he'd had
too much to drink, but...

Anya sighed and leaned in whispering in Xander's ear.
The young man's eyes went wide. "You love Willow!" he
accused Giles.

Giles began to protest, but couldn't quite seem to
manage it. "Maybe," he said challengingly.

"Whoa. Hold the phone. Y-you..." Xander frowned. "You
don't 'maybe' love my Wills. You either do or--"

"Your Wills?" Anya interrupted.

"Just a sec, honey," he said. He really needed to
clarify this Giles loving Willow thing.

"No. I think not. I think now. I thought you were over
her," Anya demanded.

"I am.. I mean, I was..." Xander stammered.

Anya looked ready to kill.

"It's just Willow isn't just anybody and you don't
just really get over her-over her. I mean you get over
her but not really... *over* her," Xander said.

Giles' eyes narrowed. "You're in love with Willow?"

"That... that's not--" he protested.

"Hey, guys. What's the haps?" Buffy said brightly.

"Xander's in love with Willow!" Anya cried.

"I thought Giles was in love with Willow?" Riley put
in.

"What?" Buffy screamed. "Giles is in love with Willow?
What the Hellmouth are you talking about?"

"I--I--" Riley sputtered.

"You had better not be in love with her," Giles warned
Xander.

"B-but sh-she's... Willow," Xander sputtered lamely.

"Xander," Anya said. "You told me I was your pookie
bear."

"Y-you are--"

"So pookie bears are just a dime a dozen to you!"

"N-no!"

"Giles is in love with Willow?" Buffy said weakly,
consentrating on the freaksome-to-her part. "How could
this happen?"

"Well, she's a beautiful woman. I remember that day
she wore the red--" Riley's voice trailed off as he
looked from Slayer to Watcher and back again, not sure
who to be more afraid of. He laughed nervously.
"Xander's in love with her," he added quickly pointing
at the poor lad.

"I-- Hey!" Xander squealed as the gang closed in
"Just wait!" he commanded. The group stopped. "Thank
you. I love Anya. Riley loves Buffy. And Giles..." He
looked nervously at the older man. "And Giles
something's Willow."

Buffy turned on her Watcher. "Giles? What kind of
something are we talkin' here? Is this, you know, Care
Bares and puppies .. or is this '9 1/2 Weeks' fruit
and other things?"

Giles cleared his throat and blushed.

"Ohmigod," she gasped. "You guys had sex?"

"N-no," he assured her. "Not yet."

"Yet?" she squealed.

'N-now, see here!" Giles said, finally remembering
what he was supposed to be doing "adult". "No one's
going to be having sex with anyone until we find Willow."

"Giles!" Buffy cried, going visibly pale. "Y-you're like a
sex fiend."

"That's not... Oh, never mind. Willow and I had a bit
of a misunderstanding."

"You said something stupid," Anya translated.

"Yes..." he glared at her, but continued. "Yes. I..
Regardless, she's angry and well..."

"Smashed," Buffy put in, trying to put the images of
Willow and Giles sprawled out across the crap table
out of her mind and concentrate on the matter at hand.

"Right. And I'm afraid she might do something rash."

"More like 'or someONE'," muttered Anya, not quite
under her breath.

"What did you say to her?" Buffy asked.

Giles shook his head dismissively. "She completely
misunderstood. I said she was something of a tease--"

Buffy and Anya gasped in shock, while Xander and Riley
whistled in awe at the severity of his faux pas.

"And he's the smart one," Xander quipped.

Giles frowned. "We've got to find her before she does
something... untoward."

"Toward who?" Buffy asked.

"That's the rub," he grunted.

"There's rubbing?" Xander asked anxiously.

Giles sighed heavily. "We can cover more ground if we
split up. We'll meet back here in one hour." Everyone
nodded. "And if there's trouble," he said in deep
voice, his face darkening. "I'll handle him."

Knowing better than to argue with him when he had that
look on his face, the group broke up and started
searching for their lost Willow.


Part Nine

Buffy and Riley walked aimlessly through the casino.

"You see her?" Buffy asked.

Riley shook his head. "Nope."

They stood for a moment and scanned the room. Slowly,
Buffy started to let the swift beat of Diana Ross
impersonator get to her. First, her feet began to move
a bit, just small steps, then her hips began to sway--
the lure of the disco beat, a siren's call.

Riley noticed her moving to the music and grinned
appreciatively.

Buffy smiled back. "You know, she could have gone into
that club," Buffy said tilting her head toward the
music.

"Well, I guess we'd be remiss if we didn't check it
out," Riley agreed with a smile.

"We don't want to be remiss," Buffy said with mock
frown. "That would be bad-- right?" she added unsure
but more than willing to be convinced.

Riley chuckled. "Very bad." He held out his arm.
"Shall we? Uhm, just to check for Willow, you
understand."

Buffy raised an eyebrow and grinned sexily. "I
understand."

*****

Xander frowned and sat down on a stool. "This is
hopeless."

"Then we can stop looking?" Anya said hopefully.

"Willow--"

"Willow, Willow, Willow! Is she all you think about?"
Anya hissed and then smiled sweetly and ran her
fingers through his hair, gently massaging a
particularly sensitive spot. "Don't you think about me
at all?" she said coyly.

"S-s-sure--" Xander stammered, until Anya's tongue
found his earlobe. "Wh-what were we supposed to be
doing?"

"I know what I'd rather be doing," Anya whispered into
his ear and Xander's face turned beet red and a
confused frown covered his face.

"O-on the roller-coaster?" he squeaked.

Anya nodded and grinned.

"Wow.... Now that's waht I call an E ticket," Xander said as
all his blood rushed south, leaving his brain a little
oxygen deprived and all thoughts of Willow gone.

*****

"Her name's Willow," Giles said with a dreamy sigh. He
took the small, cropped photo from his wallet and
handed it to the casino employee.

The woman held it and smiled, but shook her head.
"Sorry, haven't seen her. She's pretty."

Giles smiled wanly and looked at the photograph. He'd
taken it a few months ago at one of Willow's mandatory
non-slayage group outings; this one to the local
mountains. They'd hiked and picnicked while Xander and
Anya discovered the hazards of outdoors nookie - in
the form of poison ivy.

Giles sighed again and nodded. "Thank you anyway."

"Wait a sec," the woman said as she saw a co-worker
pass by. "Hey, Phil. You seen this girl?" she asked
showing him the picture.

Phil grinned and whistled appreciatively. "Oh, yeah.
She's a winner."

"Excuse me?" Giles said menacingly.

Phil shriveled a bit under the Watcher's icy glare.
"I-I mean she wins all the time. Sh-she's got the
touch."

Giles' eyes continued to bore into the smaller man.
"Touch?"

"I-I mean, she---"

"Where is she?"

"Uhm, I don't know. L-last I s-saw she w-was at the
r-roulette wheel," Phil sputtered as he pointed Giles
toward the right table.

"Thank you," Giles ground out as he snatched the photo
back and strode toward the wheel.

*****

"How about six and nine?" the young man asked with a
wink.

Willow laughed nervously and smiled, until she felt
his hand snake around her waist and drift
not-so-subtly down. She was about to pull away when
she saw Giles.

She wanted to show him she wasn't a tease, she was
follow-througher! And this groper was an
object lesson waiting to happen. Leaning in closer,
Willow giggled softly and finger-walked up his chest.

He grinned broadly as his hand slipped down over her
rear. He leaned forward, about to kiss her. "OW!" he
gasped.

Willow frowned and followed his gaze to...

"Giles!" she cried out.

His eyes were like steel, his mouth tight in a
constricted smile. "Don't touch," he said icily.

The man winced and nodded looking down at his poor
wrist, locked in Giles' painful grip. "N-no harm done,
buddy," he said quickly stepping away as Giles
released him. "I didn't... I didn't know sh-she....
bye!" he said and quickly slipped into the crowd.

Giles turned to Willow, who stood watching this
territorial display with a mixture of shock and
take-me-now!

"Willow," Giles growled. "What do you think you're
doing?"

Willow suddenly remembered she was mad at him and
frowned. "I don't see how that's any of your
business," she said defiantly and turned to make a
sweeping exit. Unfortunately, she walked right into a
cocktail waitress. The full tray of cold drinks
spilled all over the front of Willow's sweater.

"Oh!" she wailed in frustration and instinctively
pulled the sweater off and tossed it aside in a fit of
pique. She turned to Giles angrily. "You see what you
did!"

Giles stood motionless... well, most him anyway. In her
haste and inebriated state, Willow seemed to have
forgotten that she didn't have a shirt on under her
sweater... or a bra.

His mouth hanging open, his eyes glued to her small
round breasts, all Giles could do was sigh. "Oh my."

Part Ten

Giles stared dumbstruck by Willow's spontaneous nudity.
She stood angrily in front of him, her hands on her hips,
her breasts there for all the world to see. And see they did.

"Wow, nice rack," said one impressed bystander.

Willow turned to look at him in confusion. Giles was
still rooted to his spot, unable to speak or look
away.

"What?" Willow asked in confusion.

"Kinda small," said his companion. "But pert. I like
pert."

Willow frowned and followed their stares. Slowly, she
looked down. "Eep."

In a panic, she looked up and saw Giles staring at
her. "Double-eep!" Quickly, she tried to cover herself
and darted back and forth, like a duck in a shooting
gallery.

She tried to go to the left but she was blocked by the roulette
table, then she tried to the right, but the group of onlookers
was in her way. Then she kind of spun in a circle helplessly.
Finally stopping, she cried in a panicked and strangled voice,
"Giles?"

His eyes had finally drifted up to her face, a dreamy
sort of smile on his face, until he saw her frightened
expression. "Good lord," he said and stepped forward
pulling hard against his chest.

They both sighed at the intimate contact before Giles
realized he was holding a half-naked Willow. His
fingers were spread widely across the warm skin of her
back.

Willow hugged Giles around the waist, trying to keep
her body pressed as tightly against his as possible.

"What do we do now?" she asked, her voice muffled by
his sweater.

"Hmm?" he said absently, as he tried vainly not to
find this incredibly erotic. The sensations of her warm
soft skin under his hands, her breasts crushing against
his chest, were short-circuiting his Watcher brain.

Willow tilted her head up. "What do we do now?" she
whispered loudly.

Giles looked down at her and smiled. Her emerald eyes
were so huge and her mouth so close. "Well... oh, uhm.
Yes... Stick close to me."

"Don't worry. That will not be a problem."

"Right. Uhm... Here, walk with me," he suggested.

"Don't turn..," she started in a panic again.

"I won't. Just -- " his voice trailed off as he
noticed the small crowd gleefully watching the free
show. He looked meaningfully at the crowd. "Move
along, nothing to see here."

"Not now, but if you'd just--" started one of the
gamblers with a leering grin.

Giles bared his teeth and growled. Actually growled.
The crowd quickly dispersed.

He looked back down at Willow, who was smiling up at
him.

"What?"

"Nothing. That... that was just very grrrrr," she said,
her eyes flashing with pure lust.

"Really?" he said, genuinely pleased.

"Really."

The desire in her eyes was drawing him in like a moth
to a flame. Her could feel her skin heating under his touch.
Forgetting himself, and just about everything else, Giles
grinned and simply stared down at her.

After a long moment, Willow sadly remembered her
state of undress and sighed. "Uhm, Giles? Could we deal
with my nudity first?"

"Hmmm? Oh, right," he said with a rueful smile. he looked
around and quickly formulated a plan. "Let me walk us over
to that wall." He noticed how unsure she looked and smiled
in reassurance. "Don't worry. Just like dancing."

Willow smiled and nodded.

"Ready?" He asked. She nodded again, and he smoothly
walked her backwards until she was trapped between his
body and the wall.

"Now what?" she asked, not really sure she wanted to
leave this spot. With the wall pressing her from
behind, she could feel Giles better and he felt
awfully good.

"Well," Giles said, as he gazed down into her flushed
face.

Willow moved a bit, rubbing against his hips and
things.

"Uh-huhuhu...." Giles sputtered and cleared his
throat. "We need to...uhm... we need..." He knew there
was *something* they were supposed to be doing.

"Cover me up?"

"Right," he said brightly and then realized he'd lose
this, well, connection and frowned. "Right. Here's
what we'll do. Slip your hands down and grip the
bottom of my sweater, but keep your... uhm, front
pressed to me."

Willow smiled and blushed a bit. "And then?"

"I'll slowly pull the sweater over my back and I think
if we lean our foreheads together..." The image of her
mouth so close to his again temporarily made him lose
his train of thought. "Uh, then... then we can simply
pull the sweater over my head and onto yours."

Willow beamed. "That's brilliant."

"Yes, well..." he stammered. "If it works. Ready?"

Willow nodded and Giles tried not to sigh at the
feeling of her hands running along his torso, making
their way to his hips. "Got it?" he asked huskily.

"Yup."

"All right." Giles reached behind his back and grabbed
the material of the sweater and slowly worked it up,
taking care to keep the front part snugly secured
between their bodies.

"Lean... lean in," he said as he bent his neck down so
his forehead was resting on hers. He could feel her
warm soft breath playing on his chin. He swallowed
hard and tried to concentrate.

He reached over his head and stretched the back of the
sweater over Willow's head, and pulled down until the
neck hole passed over his head and onto hers.

Once he was free, he pulled it the rest of the way
onto her body. "There," he said triumphantly and
stepped back.

Willow ran her fingers through her hair to get it out
of her face. Giles grabbed her by the shoulders and
admired his success. "It's a bit big, but otherwise
quite charming."

Willow giggled and looked up, and her jaw dropped.

Her giggle instantly died in her throat as she
realized that she was looking at Giles' naked chest.
He wasn't wearing his usual undershirt and stood there
bare from the waist up looking absolutely edible.

When she finally found her voice all she could do was
sigh. "Oh my."

Part Eleven

Willow stared at Giles' naked chest. A devilish smile
came to her face and she bit her lower lip and reached
out to touch him.

Her small hand laid flat against the warm skin of his
chest. "Wow," she whispered.

"W-w-w-w-w..." Giles sputtered helplessly. The feeling
of her touching his skin was enough to make speech
impossible.

"You're naked," Willow said with a grin. "Almost anyway,"
she added as she let her fingers play with the soft sprinkling
of hair.

"W-w-w-w-w..." Giles just couldn't seem to get words to
coalesce.

"What do you think you're doing?" a voice asked.

"Hmmm?" Giles said never taking his eyes from Willow's.

"Come on buddy," the voice said as Giles turned to see
yet another security guard. "You can't walk around in here
without shirt. Come on. Take it outside," the man said as
he took Giles by the arm.

Willow dropped her hand and stepped back shyly.

Giles turned toward the guard. "Can't you see you're
interrupting," Giles ground out. "Be a good guard and
run along." He started to turn back to Willow, but the
man tightened his grip.

Giles' eyes flashed dangerously as his lips curled in
a mirthless smile. "Let go of me."

"Listen, bub. Don't make me get rough," the guard said
tensing for action.

Giles grin widened. "Don't make *me* get rough," he
said smoothly in a voice that did nothing to belie the
menace behind it.

"Uh-oh," Willow muttered. She knew that look.

"Is that a threat?" the guard said as he stepped forward.

"If you like," Giles said with a sneer.

"Giles," Willow said as she touched his arm. "Don't... Please?"

Giles was really spoiling for a fight. He and Willow were just
about to... well, something and this damn berk had to interrupt.
But the feel of Willow's small hand on his skin seemed to help
him refocus. All he really wanted to do was be with her.

"Please?" she asked again.

How could he deny her anything? "All right, love," he said with
smile. "For you."

Willow felt all puddly. As if calling her "love" weren't enough
to make her squirm, the look in his eyes was.

They held each other's gaze for a long moment. "I'll get you a
shirt and meet you out front," Willow said.

"Come on, buddy," the guard said again.

Giles spun around, his eyes flashing with barely supressed
fire. "Just...a....bloody...minute," he ground out and turned back
to Willow his expression immediately changing. "Don't be long,"
he purred.

Feeling bold, Willow smiled and stepped forward, closing
the distance between them. She could feel the heat coming
of his body. Pushing herself up on her tiptoes, she whispered
in his ear. "I won't. I promise."

Giles groaned softly as she left his side.

*****

Giles stood outside the Mirage waiting for Willow. He
crossed his arms over his chest and stood near the
entrance as a constant flow of people came and went.

He was thankful it was so warm and very thankful that
the rest of the gang was inside and unlikely to-

"Giles?"

"Shit," he mumbled and turned to see Xander and Anya
peel out of the crowd and start toward him.

"Look, I'm telling you," Xander said as he tried to flatten
out his windblown hair. "The hand rail is for your hands."

"But my---" Anya started, but then noticed Giles wasn't
wearing his sweater. "Did you get thrown out again?"

"No. Well, yes---"

"And you're not wearing a shirt cause--?" Xander prompted.

"Well..."

"Your shape is very appealing," Anya said with a smile.
"Less bulky than Xander."

"Bulky?" Xander squealed.

"Well, you do consume fatty---" Anya started.

"Please," Xander begged and turned his attention back to
Giles. "Let's get back to why are you're standing out here
half naked? Did you find Willow?"

Giles couldn't keep the smile off his face. "Yes, I found her."

"Did you lose your shirt before or after that?" Xander asked,
narrowing his eyes.

"Maybe he finally told Willow he loves her and she was so
happy she tore his clothes off," Anya suggested. "That's
what I'd do."

"Anya!" Xander wailed.

"What?"

"Giles?" came a soft voice from behind them.

"Willow?" Giles gulped.

"How long have you been standing there?" Xander asked,
but her expression was answer enough. Her eyes never
left Giles.

"Oh, this should be good," Anya said with a grin.

"No. No good. I don't want to see this," Xander said nervously
as he started to pull Anya away.

"That because you still want her, don't you?" Anya accused.

"That's not what I meant…" Their argument faded into the
background as they disappeared into the casino.

Giles and Willow had been oblivious to everything but
each other's presence. Finally, Willow stepped closer.

"What did Anya mean?" she asked softly, almost afraid.

Giles swallowed hard. He opened his mouth, but nothing
came out.

Willow took another step forward. "Do... do you... really...?

"Love you?" Giles finished in a whisper.

Willow nodded, her heart practically bursting.

This was it. The moment of truth. He closed his eyes
for a moment. "Oh yes," he breathed.

Willow stood perfectly still as the shock from his
admission seemed to paralyze her.

Giles frowned and began to stammer. "I- I didn't mean.
Of course... if you..."

Luckily, he didn't get very far as Willow launched herself
into his arms, crushing his apology back with a passionate
kiss.

Giles wrapped her tightly in his embrace as she tried to
practically crawl up his body. One hand wound its way
into her hair and held the back of her head, so he could
guide the kiss. The other hand slid down her back, pressing
her body firmly against his.

Willow's hands moved quickly over his shoulders and
brushed along his neck, reaching his cheeks as
she tried to hold onto him, never wanting to let go.

Around them a sea of humanity passed. And like stones
in the river, Willow and Giles kept their own time as the
currents of people washed around them.

After a breathless eternity, Giles relaxed his grip and
eased out of the kiss. He stared down into her smoky
eyes, trying desperately to believe she was real and,
more importantly, that she was his.

Willow beamed up at him and gently brushed his
lips with her fingertips.

Giles grinned and kissed her again, brief and tender
yet filled with infinite promise.

"Hello," she said softly as though really seeing him
for the first time.

"Hello," he said in an equally dreamy voice as he continued
to hold her in his arms.

Willow's hands slid down Giles' chest and he groaned.

"Perhaps we should get off the street," he said with soft
grin as he brushed the hair away from her face.

Willow nodded and grinned. "Definitely."

Part Twelve

Giles moved in for one more kiss before turning and
hailing a cab. The taxi managed to squeal its tires as
it skidded to a stop, half on and half off the curb.

Willow looked uneasily at the cab and then at the
traffic on the strip, a complete parking lot and
sighed. She leaned against Giles. "We could walk," she
suggested as he held the door open for her.

Giles smiled and shook his head. "I can't do this and
walk." He trapped her body between his and the cab and
held her face with one large hand. Grinning, he dove in
for another kiss. It was fierce and messy.. and she
loved it!

"You gettin' in or vat?" the cabbie yelled, breaking
the spell.

Giles pulled back and grunted in frustration, but his
ire melted away as he saw Willow leaning back against
the car, her head tilted back, eyes closed and lips
swollen and smiling.

"Walking's over-rated," she said as she opened her
eyes and gave him a wink.

"Uh-huh," he muttered, mesmerized by her coy
sexuality.

He shook his head to clear it, and eased her into the
cab. "Caesar's," he told the driver and then turned
his attention back to Willow. "Now where was I?"

Willow leaned back against the Naugahyde and raised an
eyebrow. She grinned and patted the empty space on the
seat cushion next to her.

Giles groaned and took up a little space.

*****

"He was naked!" Xander exclaimed.

"Naked?" Buffy screeched.

"Yeah! Well.. not 'officially', but he didn't have his
shirt on and-"

"And he has very firm muscles," Anya added. "Did you
know that about him? Cause it's news to me."

"Well, we do train a lot..." Buffy said and then felt
Riley's eyes boring a hole into her head. "But... I
never... Really? How firm are we talkin, 'cause-"

"Buffy!" Riley exclaimed. "This is... this is Mr. Giles!"

"That's true," Anya conceded. "Most men in their
forties don't make me feel all tight and fluttery. You
know down-"

"Anya!" Xander was visibly pale. "Okay. Please. God.
Please. Can we stop with Giles sex-o-rama. I am so... in
serious denial. Help me out here?" he pleaded with
Riley.

Riley nodded firmly. "I've gotta agree with Xander."

Buffy frowned and ran her hand up his chest. "About
what?"

Riley's brow furrowed in thought for a moment and then
he looked up helplessly. "I... I don't remember."

Buffy giggled and leaned into his chest. "Men are so..."
She frowned. "What were talking about?"

Xander was lost in the feel of Anya's wandering hands
and could only sigh.

"Oh, I remember!" Riley piped up. "Mr. Gi- I mean
Giles and Willow... Right?"

"Right!" everyone chorused.

"We saw them outside the lobby," Xander offered. "I
bet they go back to the hotel."

"Then we should go to the hotel and stop them before
they do something," Buffy said uncertainly. "Right?"

"Exactly! I mean... he's probably putting his Watchery
lips all over her, right now," Xander said in obvious
distress.

"He does have very attractive lips," Anya said with a
far away look.

*****

"Oy! Easy does it!" Giles cried as the cabbie managed
to lurch forward a few feet and then slam on his
brakes, sending Willow skittering off the seat.

The driver grinned and turned around. He didn't stop
driving mind you, just craned his neck to gawk at
Giles.

"Are you all right, Love?" Giles asked as reached out
to help Willow off the floorboards.

She giggled and nodded. "I think so."

"So you in town for to gamble? I hear you can lose
shirt in casino but you the first one I see who did."
The driver's head bobbed up at down as he laughed at
his own joke.

"Do you mind?" Giles asked irritably.

"Mind vat?"

"Oh, I don't know," Giles bit out. "Something insane
like watching where the hell your go-"

The car slammed to a stop, nearly missing a Shriner,
who are faster than they look. A few choice words later,
they still weren't going anywhere.

"So... vere are you two lovebirds from?" he asked with
another grin.

*****

Somewhere around the middle of the cabbie's life
story, Willow slid into Giles lap.

"Maybe we should put on our seatbelts?" Willow said as
she looked over the cushions.

Giles grinned and gripped her more securely. "Never
mind that. I've got you."

Willow smirked and slipped her hand under his thigh.
"But I'm not finished looking yet."

"Uhuhuhuh." Giles closed his eyes and laid his head
back. Her hand brushed against his leg, perilously close
to his ever growing erection. "Safety first."

"Back in Soviet Union days, ve had to use rope to
seatbelt... and even dat ve had to steal from KGB."

The meter moved faster than the cab and pedestrians
streamed past them. Between the halting stops, the
jerking starts, and the stories of his comrade's
struggle to successfully smuggle quality one-ply Nice
'N Soft toilet paper into the Baltics, the cab ride
was one of those incredible David Lynch moments we all
find ourselves enduring from time to time.

Sadly, to all good things... Finally, the cab driver
turned around and slid back the glass partition.
"Eight fifty."

Giles sighed and slid Willow ruefully off his lap and
fished out a tenspot from his wallet. He handed it to
the driver and slid out of the car.

"Bolshoe spasibo, thank you. Schastleevo!"

"Goodbye, Sergi," Willow said with a smile.

Giles reached back in and helped her out. She stumbled
slightly and fell against his chest, his still bare chest.

Willow ran her fingers through his chest hair and
sighed.

Giles bit back a groan and cleared his throat. "Let's
... uhm... let's get to the room."

Willow grinned and Giles felt all the blood that was
left in his brain make an exodus to the south.

"But first," she said cocking an eyebrow. "As much as
I hate to do it..."

Giles reluctantly stepped back. "Hate to do what?"

Willow sighed. "Make you wear this," she said as she
handed him the T-shirt she'd bought in the Mirage gift
shop just after Giles had been escorted off the
premises.

He looked at it and groaned. "Willow... "

She smiled sheepishly. "I know, but you had to have
something and I was in hurry to get back to you," she
added as a finger trailed over his torso.

Giles cleared his throat, trying desperately to stay
miffed, but her touch short-circuited any hope of
that. "All right. But I'm doing this under duress," he
said as he pulled the T-shirt on.

Willow swore to herself she wouldn't giggle, but she
also swore she wouldn't cry during the fifth viewing
of The Yearling either. It was quite a shirt... there
was a huge black and white sequined tiger on the back
and "Sigfried and Roy do it with animals" emblazoned
across the front.

"Oh God," he groaned.

*****

They were waiting for the elevator when Giles pulled
Willow closer. It was a two fold plan, cop a feel and
hide the T.

He was just bending down to nibble on her ear when he
thought he heard a man's voice call for Willow. He
ignored it and went back to the business of tasting
her delicate lobe.

"Sextus?" Willow eeped.

"Soon, Love," Giles purred, but he noticed Willow had
wasn't looking at him, but over his shoulder. "Willow?"

Giles turned and followed her gaze. Standing behind
him was an incredibly handsome roman senator.
"Willow," he said with a courtly bow. "I have been
searching all through the palace for you."

Giles frowned as he saw Willow blush and duck her
head. "I... I was.. down the street at... well, another
palace."

Sextus' grin broadened. "Of course. A beauty like
yours must be shared with all the Empire."

Willow giggled and Giles snorted. Sextus arched an
eyebrow at the older man and Giles gladly met it with
a sneer.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Sextus. This is Rupert Giles. G-..
Uhm, Rupert, this is Sextus. He's a senator," she
added brightly.

"So I see," Giles said dryly. "Although, it is well
established that senators of Caesar's period did not-"

"Rupert!" Willow interrupted. "Please?"

Giles sighed and shrugged, but there was still a glint
of steel in his eyes.

"Was there something you needed, Sextus?" Willow
asked.

"If it would be convenient. There seems to be a small
trifle. One of our historians would like to make a
record of your visit."

Willow's mouth quirked in a smile. "Radio station
contest winner gets the royal treatment, etc ... "

"Precisely. You as Cleopatra, Queen of the Nile," the
stud added with a kiss of her hand, ignoring the grunt
from Giles. "Gracing the senate. Caesar and few
others."

"I'm afraid we were just going-"

"It won't be long. An hour at the most," he continued
with that disarming smile.

"An hour?"

"Willow," Giles said tightly. "I don't think this is a
good idea."

"Why not?"

"Well... b-because... You..."

"The others are waiting. I assure you it will be quick
and painless," Sextus added with another incredible
smile.

'Goddess he could light a small city with that smile,'
Willow thought.

"If it won't take too long. It would be good to have it
out of the way I suppose," she reasoned.

Giles huffed, but Willow took his hand and pulled him
closer. "I'll try to make it up to you," she
whispered.

Giles' resolve melted and all he could do was nod.

Sextus grinned and held out his arm. Willow was about
to take it when Giles interceded. He glared at the
younger man who merely nodded once in polite
acquiescence.

"This way," he said as he escorted them to a small
ballroom.

The room was set up as the throne room in the palace.
Well, there was a throne and a few plants anyway.

Willow was led off to be costumed as Cleopatra while
Giles waited impatiently as more and more toga-clad
beefcake "senators" arrived for the photo shoot. He
sulked against one the large pillars and only perked
up when someone offered him another scotch.

About fifteen minutes later Willow emerged dressed for
her part. Her eyes were kohl rimmed, emphasizing their
emerald brilliance. Her lithe figure was clear beneath
the sheer white gown she wore. All in all she was
breath-taking.

Giles stood awed by her, barely able to move.

"Like to show her my asp," one of the senators mumbled
with a leering grin as he passed behind Rupert.

That was his first mistake.

Giles growled low in his throat and turned to teach
the man a lesson, when he heard Sextus complimenting
Willow. The distraction cost him his chance and the
lucky bastard walked over the craft service table.

Giles regained himself after a good long glare at
Sextus and casually walked over toward the same table.

The idiot sneered at Giles. "Nice shirt."

Second mistake.

Giles smile was a travesty, but the fool was too busy
gawking at Willow to notice. "She's hot."

Giles grunted and the young man laughed. "I've tasted
every "Cleo" we've had... but this one.. this one's
gonna be a sweet. I'm gonna-"

Last mistake.

The man never saw what hit him. Luckily no else
noticed when Giles dragged the unconscious man back
behind the huge row of potted plants.

A few minutes later, the photographer called everyone
to their places. Slowly the senators took their marks
around the lovely Cleo. There was a bit of shuffling
and reshuffling as the men got in position.

Finally, an older man dressed as Caesar made his way
to the main chair and sat down heavily. He turned to
Willow with a sloppy smile and hiccup. "My-my dear."

She wrinkled her nose and turned away only to notice
the Senator to her right. "Rupert?"

"Perfect!" cried the photographer. "Hold that."

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Keeping a bloody eye on you, that's what!"

"Huh?"

"Cleo! Please. Darling. Turn to Caesar... it *is* his palace,"
the man behind the camera whined.

"S-sorry." She turned toward Caesar. "Why?"

"That is the question, my (hiccup)..my dear," Caesar
sighed.

"Smile for Christ's sake. Please! I have three
weddings after this!"

"You look beautiful," Giles whispered.

Caesar smiled wanly. "Thank you."

"Just a few more!!! Done. Break it down! The
Leibowitz's are waiting!"

Willow immediately turned to Giles, ready to tell him
what for, but lost everything when she saw him. He'd
put away his glasses and he looked ten years younger,
which fit perfectly with the way his body looked. He
did a lot for a toga. His broad shoulders bare to her
eyes, one clutch of material swung across his chest.
The man he'd stolen the outfit from was considerably
shorter than Giles and the already short hem was
practically indecent. Lovely.

Willow's gaze drifted down his strong muscular legs
and then back up, lingering along his thighs. She
couldn't keep the moan from escaping her lips. She
looked up in embarrassment but found Giles staring at
her hungrily.

Knowing the toga wasn't the best at hiding his
attraction to Willow and needing desperately to do
something about it, he did the only thing he could
think of.

He stepped forward, grabbed Willow by the waist and
tossed her over his shoulder. Without waiting for a
response he strode out of the room and toward the
elevator, but then veered toward the front desk.

"What are you doing?" Willow demanded.

Giles stepped up the front. "Key."

He turned his back to the desk so Willow was facing
the right direction. She pushed herself up a bit,
using the ledge of his butt for a handhold. "Hello,"
she smiled at the clerk. "Willow Rosenberg. Could I
have an extra room key please?"

The clerk yawned and after a moment handed her a key
card.

"Thank you," Willow said demurely as Giles retraced
his steps for the elevator.

Thankfully, the doors opened just as he arrived and
the other patrons, thinking this was some sort of
skit, let them pass and take the elevator alone.

Willow giggled and Giles held her tightly. She
squiggled a bit and he playfully spanked her.

"Hey!" Willow protested half-heartedly.

He gently massaged her bottom. "Sorry."

"Mmmm, s'okay. You can put me down now, you know."

"Not yet. Not taking any more chances. Only place I'm
setting you down is on a bed."

"Ohhhhh," she cooed.

They reached the proper floor and Giles toted her down
the hall. Willow handed him the key and giggled as he
put it into the slot.

"Finally, some time alone," he growled as he stepped
into the room.

"I can't wait to see what Roman's wear under their
togas," Willow giggled.

"Bollocks!" Giles groaned.

Willow's giggles grew. "Rupert!"

"Giles!"

That voice was way familiar. "Buffy?"

Part Thirteen

"Giles!" Buffy cried. "Wh-what are you doing in a
toga? And... and is that Willow?" she continued,
tilting her head trying to get a look at the girl over
his shoulder.

"Oh yeah," Riley and Xander answered in unison.
Apparently they didn't need to see her face to
recognize her. A fact that wasn't lost on either Anya
or Buffy.

"Hi guys," Willow said softly from her spot on top of
Giles. "Is... is everyone here?"

"I'm afraid so," Giles grumbled.

"Oh."

Reluctantly, Giles bent forward and gently set Willow
down on the floor. He looked down at her flushed face
and whispered, "Am I ever going to get you alone?"

Willow looked down shyly and a soft eep escaped her
lips. Giles looked at her quizzically and then noticed
her eyes were huge round saucers. She was staring at
his... well... let's just say the tent was pitched and
there was room for four!

"Oh God," he gasped and quickly cupped his hands over
his embarrassing situation. He stood frozen for a
moment looking a lot like a footballer waiting for a
particluarly vicious free kick.

"You two okay?" Xander asked suspiciously, trying to
peer around Willow.

"Hmmm?" Willow said still unable to look away.

"Y-yes. W-we're fine!" Giles squeaked in a shrill
voice.

"Going through the change, Giles?" Xander quipped.

Clearing his throat, Giles managed to glare at Xander
over the top of Willow's head.

"Hey, how come you're dressed like that, Wills?" Xander
asked. "And are there more downstairs in those
ourtfits?"

Anya glared at him.

"What?" he asked innocently.

Anya frowned and looked back at Willow. "Come to
think of it... that outfit looks just like the ones the
temple prostitutes used to wear back in Babylon.
Now that was a party town."

"Wasn't that a bit before your time?" Riley asked.

She shrugged. "I saw etchings."

"You know you can see right through that toga thing,
Wills?" Buffy said.

Riley nodded. "Yeah. Right through."

"Riley!" Buffy yelled.

Finally tearing herself away, Willow started to turn,
but in doing so was revealing Giles in all his
splendor to the rest of the room.

Feeling the prickles of panic, Giles uncupped and
grabbed Willow by the shoulders and pulled her back
against his body, effectively using her as a human
shield.

"Oh my," Willow gasped softly as she felt him press
against her.

"Wills?" Xander asked in concern. "Are you sure you're
okay?"

"I'm fine," she said breathlessly as she unconsciously
wriggled a bit along Giles.

For his part, Giles had completely lost the ability to
communicate and was fairly surprised he was still
standing. Of course, if he had his way, they wouldn't
be.

Buffy recognized that half dazed look Giles had in
his eyes. Riley looked just that way when he was about to...
"Gaahhh," she gasped as it all made sense.

Riley looked at her questioningly as she choked a little
and regained herself. She waved him off.

Riley frowned and turned back to Willow and Giles.
"Are you sure you're okay, Willow? You both do look
kind of flushed," Riley offered. "Maybe you should
lie down."

Giles perked up, and I do mean up, at that idea.
"That's a very-"

"No!" Xander interrupted. "Bad idea. Very bad. You...
you just probably haven't eaten is all? Right? When
was the last time you guys ate?"

Willow frowned. "Uhm..."

"If you can't remember, it's been too long... and I
know I've got the need to feed." He looked at the
others for backup.

"I am pretty hungry," Riley admitted honestly.

"Okay," Buffy agreed and then leveled Giles with a
withering gaze. "And over breakfast, you two can tell
us just exactly where you've been."

Giles cleared his throat. He knew that look. When his
Slayer had that look on her face there was no way out
of it.

"All right, but I have to take a shower and change
first," Giles said.

"Shower," Willow sighed as thoughts of Giles, soap and
very small washcloths came to mind.

Buffy's eyes narrowed, but there was a glint of humor
in them and Willow smiled shyly in return.

"Come on Wills. Giles can use Xander's room. Their
bags are over there," Buffy added with a toss of her
head. "I'll help you change."

Xander's eyes glazed over at the image that provoked.
"Need any help?"

"No!" chorused the rest of the room.

Xander shrugged and smiled helplessly. "Just a
thought."

"Make sure you keep it just a thought," Giles said
coolly. With Willow gone he needed some sort
of cover and he bent to pick up his bag. When he turned
back around, everyone was staring at him.

"What?" he asked in confusion.

"N-nothing," Buffy sputtered and turned to Willow
with a raised eyebrow. Willow merely smiled.

"We were just admiring your butt," Anya offered.

"Anya!" Xander yelped.

"What? We were... You looked, too."

"I... I..." Xander sputtered, blushing profusely.

"I don't want to know," Giles said evenly before
looking across the room at Willow, his eyes instantly
softening. "I'll see you soon."

Willow smiled back dreamily.

Giles sighed and clutched his bag a bit more tightly
in front of his body. He really, really needed that
shower.

With one last forlorn glance, Giles made his way into
Xander's room. Willow and Buffy went into Willow's,
leaving Riley and Xander alone with Anya.

"Do you think his butt is more appealing than mine?"
Anya asked Xander. "What about Riley? Do you want
to see his butt, too?"

*****

The only thing more amazing than an all you can eat
Las Vegas buffet was Xander at an all you can eat Las
Vegas buffet. Long after everyone else had thrown
in the towel, Xander was still going strong.

It was an international breakfast buffet, not to be
confused with a continental breakfast, coffee and a
muffin. Oh no. This was food of every continent. He'd
made his way fairly easily through North America, hit
a bit of a snag in Europe, but had muscled through and
was now finally beginning to lose steam deep in South
America.

Xander returned with another tray piled high with
food. "Who knew pigs in a blanket were breakfast food
in Brazil?"

Okay, so the dishes weren't exactly authentic, but
what they lacked in accuracy and quality they more
than made up for in sheer volume.

Finally, somewhere near Paraguay, Xander stopped.
Mercifully.

The gang left the buffet and stood at the foot of the
casino.

"You still feeling lucky, Wills?" Buffy asked.

Willow smiled and slid her hand into Giles'. "More
than ever."

Giles squeezed her hand and gazed down at her.

Buffy shook her head and sighed. "You know. I've got
to admit that part of me is still in the eeww. But
then part of me is in the aaww. It's kind of an
eeww-aaww thing."

Giles smiled at his Slayer. Her acceptance, even
tacitly, was a huge relief. "Thank you... I think. I
know this will... take some getting used to, but..."

He turned to Xander, knowing he would be harder to
convince. "Xander, how do you feel?"

"I think Peru's repeating on me," he said with a
stifled burp.

Giles laughed and shook his head.

Willow stepped closer to Xander and looked at him
seriously. "Are we all okay here? I need us to be
okay."

Xander smiled and sighed. "Yeah." He shifted his gaze
to Giles, about to lay some big brotherly type warning
about how you treat a Willow, but when he saw the way
Giles was looking at her, he knew he didn't have to
say anything. "We're okay. It's all good."

Willow dropped Giles' hand and hugged Xander. "Thank
you."

Xander sighed and wrapped her in his arms.

Giles and Anya smiled at each other, until the hug
went on just smidge too long.

"Okay, okay... break it up!" Anya said, as she pulled
Xander away from Willow. "We're all thrilled Giles has
a new orgasm friend. Maybe he'll loosen up. Did I tell
you what he did to me on the way here?"

"About a dozen times," Xander sighed.

"Oh."

"Not that I want interrupt or anything," Riley began.
"No. Okay, that's a lie... this is me interrupting,
but... uhm... anybody else feel like gambling?"

He gestured toward the large casino that sprawled out
in front of them. One-armed bandits waited to be
pulled, dice waited to be thrown, money waited to be
won. And lost. You could see the dollar signs flash
in people's eyes.

The lure of a Las Vegas casino is one even Odysseus
couldn't have resisted.

"Wills?" Buffy asked hopefully.

"Come on, you're like Titus, you've got the golden
touch!" Xander bubbled.

"Midas," Willow corrected.

"I thought that they were that they were those auto
service experts?" Xander said in confusion.

Giles shook his head and sighed.

"What?" Xander asked in confusion. "They are. I got my
Uncle Rory lubed... I mean... his brakes... he was
already lubed."

"So what do you say, Wills?" Buffy asked with a grin. "Ready
to show 'em how it's done?"

Willow giggled and looked up at Giles, who had a gleam in
his eyes that had nothing to do with gambling.

"I don't know... I mean..." Willow stalled. Now that the gang
had accepted her and Giles as couple, well... they were both
ready to do a little coupling.

"P-p-please?" Xander pouted. "We can't do it without you."

Giles frowned a bit and thought, 'Well, neither can I."

Willow noticed his frown. "Rupert?"

"Whatever you'd like, Love," he said with a gentle
smile.

'I'd like to take you where you stand,' she thought and
giggled at herself.

She looked a bit self-consciously at the rest of the
group and sighed.

Willow took Giles' hand and gazed at him. "Maybe we could
gamble for a little while. We have the whole weekend."

"And then some," he added as he kissed her hand and
led her further into the casino. "And then some."

Buffy and Anya couldn't help but sigh. It was just so
romantic.

Suddenly Anya smacked Xander on the shoulder. "Why
don't you ever act like that?"

"Ow... Pain..." he gasped.

"Yeah," Buffy chimed in, glaring at Riley.

"I... I love you... you know that..." Riley said
quickly. "I think... I think you're swell."

"Swell?" Buffy ranted before storming off.

"You are so in trouble," Xander giggled, as Riley
dashed off after her. His laughter died as he felt the
eyes of his own personal ex-vengeance demon boring
into him. "Pookiebear..."

Part Fourteen

The gang wandered around a bit aimlessly, waiting for
Willow to get that lucky feeling again and start
gambling.

A loud cry from a nearby craps table caught her
attention.

"Seven out!" the stickman called, as he raked in the
dice from the far end of the table.

There was a mixture of grumbling and laughter from the
players that lined the edges of the table.

"It was good run," a tall Texan said, as he thumped
his portly friend on the back.

"New shooter," the stickman announced, as he scooted
the dice down to the tall Texan.

Willow peered around the bystanders to get a peek at
the action. The Texan smiled at her. "Hello, little
lady."

She smiled back tentatively.

"Wanna blow on my dice?" he asked with a grin.

Willow eeped and Giles, who had up until this moment
been content to watch Willow watch, stepped forward a
hard look in his eyes. "I beg your pardon," he
growled.

The Texan leaned back a bit and grinned, slapping
Giles hard on the back. He laughed a deep hearty
guffaw. "Just a figure of speech, son!"

Giles' eyes narrowed.

The Texan sobered and leaned in. "But I like your
style," he added with wink. He took off his Stetson
and bowed slightly to Willow. "No offense intended,
little lady."

Willow giggled, winning a frown from Giles and a huge
grin from the Texan, who noticed her keen interest in
the game. He pushed his portly friend aside to make
room for Willow at the table. "Ever throw the dice before,
ma'am?"

"No," she said with a shake of her head, obviously
intrigued.

"Never?" the portly man interrupted.

"Nope."

"Virgin!" the portly man cried. "We got a virgin
here!"

Willow paled and gripped Giles' hand more tightly. For
his part, Giles wasn't sure what to do or who to hit.

The Texan had actually "Yahooed!" and waved his hat in
the air, while the rest of the table was tossing money
and chips onto the table in a frenzy.

People from all around crowded the table as the cry of
"Virgin!" echoed throughout the casino.

"I thought she and Giles did it in the cab?" Anya
offered helpfully.

Xander blanched and shook his head. "Honey, please.
Don't-"

"Don't what?"

"Don't... anything."

"They did it in a cab?" Buffy asked shaking her head.
"What is it with him and cars?"

Riley just shrugged, figuring discretion was the
better part of valor here.

"Virgin!" the portly man kept babbling until Giles
found his focus and gripped the portly man's arm a
little too tightly.

"Stop that," Giles said darkly.

The man's eyes were pure innocence. "B-but, sh-she is,
isn't she?" he sputtered.

Giles started to say something, but realized he
actually didn't know the answer. With an uneasy look
he turned to Willow.

A silence fell over the table as everyone looked at
Willow. She bit her lip nervously and looked from face
to face. Xander was still a little pale, but his eyes
held an unmistakable flicker of hope. Anya was.. well…
bored. Riley was looking a little too interested and
Buffy was shooting daggers into him with her eyes.

Finally, she looked at Giles and his expression was
mixture of anxiety and nuclear desire.

Willow smiled secretly, finally understanding what was
really going on. Very deliberately she said, "I have
never played craps before."

Her announcement was met with equal measures of
frustration and elation. The crowd broke into another
frenzy and the betting grew tenfold.

The Texan chuckled and gave her a wink. "You're good
luck then, darlin'."

Willow grinned and glanced at Giles whose expression
promised that this subject was closed only
temporarily.

She grinned up at him, that tantalizing mixture of coy
and sensual, and he felt his mouth go dry and his
jeans shrink.

The stickman shoved the dice along the table until
they rested in front of Willow. The Texan and a few
other men placed bets for her.

She looked at the money and chips with a frown.
"Shooter's have to have bets down," the tall man
explained. "You just roll those dice and let us worry
about the money, ma'am."

Willow smiled and reached down to take the dice. She
took a deep breath and shot them down the table.

Her lucky streak hadn't ended and roll after roll she
made money for the table, a generous portion of which
was hers.

Buffy and the others had joined in on the action and
were getting into the spirit of the game. The money
and the booze were flowing in equal and generous
measure.

"So... so... what do I do now?" Xander asked
excitedly.

"Place a bet on the come line," Riley suggested.

Xander giggled uncontrollably. "The come line?
That's... that's... oh man... Place that bet the hard
way," he added, with an exaggerated waggling eyebrow.

Suddenly, he noticed a waitress passing by and quickly
tried to bury the geek and assumed his, a
work still in progress, Joe Cool façade.

"Can we have another round, honey?" he asked as he
tossed chip onto her tray. Only the chip
missed and ricocheted onto the floor. Xander fell to
his knees trying to find it. He scrambled along the
carpet. He crawled between people's legs in his
frantic search. Pausing only once as he was momentarily
hypnotized by the swirley pattern in the rug.

As the crowd watched in stunned silence, he spotted
the skittery chip. "Aha!"

It had rolled next to the Texan's Ostrich skin boots.
Xander grabbed the chip and stood up triumphantly.
He turned and handed it proudly to the waitress.

She sighed, but took the money.

Xander turned back to the group, a smug grin on his
lips until he saw everyone was about bust out into
gales of laughter. "What?"

"Very smooth," Buffy assured him.

Willow giggled and turned to grin at Giles. Her
laughter died in her throat.

He was standing back slightly from the table just
watching her. But it was the way he was watching her.

Hungry.

Very hungry.

His eyes looked darker than normal and slightly
narrowed. They were a deeper shade of green and lit
with spark that made her knees weak. His lips, those
delicious lips, were curved in just the slightest
smile that promised all sorts of things. All sorts of
wonderfully, naughty things.

His smile grew wider when her eyes met his and the
rest of the hustle and bustle of the casino seemed to
fall away.

"Wills?" Buffy asked excitedly. "You're up. Come on,
baby needs a new pair of shoes... A new pair of
Manolo Blahnik Calfskin Halter Pumps."

Willow didn't react, she just kept smiling at Giles,
until Buffy jumped in between them. Apparently Slayers
have a latent gambling gene as well as super strength.

"Come on... You can't stop now!" Buffy explained as
she pulled Willow back to the table.

"But..." Willow protested, trying to get back to
Giles, but Buffy would have none of it... and what the
Slayer wanted, the Slayer got. "Buffy... ow!"

"Sorry," Buffy said with a sheepish grin. "I guess I
don't know my own strength."

"That's a rich one," Xander giggled. "Cause if
anybody would you'd think the Slayer would. I
mean..." his voice trailed off into oblivion as he
felt the heated glares from the gang. "Never mind."

Anya rolled her eyes and looked tiredly at Willow.
"Are you going to continue? Because clearly the
odds are against you. No one can win so much
without the converse happening eventually."

Xander looked at her blankly.

"Her luck's bound to run out," Anya explained wearily.

"Oh."

"Maybe, but--" Buffy began before noticing Sextus
approach. "And speaking of butts... Hello."

Sextus grinned, the woman sighed, the men grunted. It
was the natural order of things.

The young senator bowed slightly. "Willow, I'm so
pleased to have found you."

Willow smiled and then eeped as she felt Giles press
himself against the back of her.

"Are you?" Giles ground out.

Sextus merely smiled and nodded. "Indeed I am. I
wanted to make sure you received your passes to the
show," he said as he handed her a small envelope.
"Caesar's Palace has only the finest entertainments.
I'm sure you'll enjoy this evening's performance."

"Thank you."

Sextus gave Giles a quick nod and bowed again to
Willow before acknowledging the others with a smile as
he excused himself. "Ladies."

Willow cast a quick look at Giles, but his delicious
smile was gone now. She sighed and turned back
to the group.

"So... so," Buffy asked excitedly. "What are they?"

Willow opened the envelope and read the slip. "Four
front row seats to the Ricky Martin concert."

"Ricky Martin!" Buffy squealed. "I love him!"

"He is... well packaged, "Anya admitted.

Xander frowned, but Anya, as usual, ignore him.

"Too bad you only have four tickets," Riley said
hoping to hide his pleasure. "Looks like we'll have to
sit this one out."

Buffy immediately went into pout mode.

"No, no," Xander chimed in. "Couldn't let you do that.
Buffy loves good old Rick. Anya and I will bite the
bullet and let you guys go."

"No really," Riley said with a hard edge. "You two go.
By all means."

"Wouldn't dream of keeping you and Buffy away from a
chance to see Ricky," Xander offered with a steely
gaze.

As those two faced off, Buffy and Anya traded thoughts
about Ricky Martin's leather pants.

"When he was in Menudo... I thought I would die."

"I know… Menudo? Isn't that tripe?"

"Guys?" Willow interrupted.

"Tripe? That's pig guts."

"Uhm, guys!"

"What?"

"Look... you guys should go. I mean... I've gotten so
much already," Willow offered sincerely.

"But Wills... Ricky Martin," Buffy reminded her. "La
Vida Loca... and those hips. They swivel! And things!"

Willow giggled and made a convincing show of being
disappointed. "No really. You can tell me all about
it... My... my wrist is tired from all that dice
throwing."

Buffy frowned, but was secretly thrilled. "You mean
it? You're not just saying that?"

"Who cares?" Anya blurted out. "Take the tickets."

"Thanks, Wills," Buffy cried as she grabbed the
tickets and hugged her friend. "I won't forget this."

"Yeah," Xander added with a frown. "Won't forget
this."

"Not for a long time," Riley added pointedly, as they
were dragged off.

Willow watched them go and then turned back to Giles
triumphantly.

He stepped forward and put his arms around her waist,
that promising smile back in place. "Beautifully done."

Willow grinned and ran her hands up his chest.

He frowned and took one of her small hands in his.
"Your wrists are tired, are they?"

"Not that tired," she said with a smirk.

Giles virtually purred and leaned down for a kiss.

Somehow he managed to rein in his baser desires and
pulled out of the kiss before his glasses melted.

"Looks like we'll have the room to ourselves for a few
hours," Willow said coyly.

"Mmmm," Rupert groaned. "A few hours... well..." He
sighed dramatically. "I suppose it will have to
suffice." He leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"For now."

Willow felt her insides warm as she felt his hot
breath against her neck. She stood on her tiptoes and
returned the favor. "You'd be surprised what I can do
in a few hours."

She felt the rumble in his chest as he groaned and
couldn't seem to keep herself from nibbling on his
earlobe.

He gasped and pulled her down, a wicked grin,
promising a delightful sort of retribution, on his
face. "What are we waiting for?"

Giles grasped her hand and started to lead her toward
the promised land of their empty hotel suite when
they ran smack into a bubbling Buffy.

"I'm so glad I caught you guys," the Slayer said
brightly, but Willow and Giles looked back, angry
and frustrated. "Don't pout, Buffy's about!"

Giles let out a long sigh, and Willow leaned against
him, trying to be patient.

"I know how much you guys..." Buffy looked at Giles
and frowned and then grinned at Willow. "Okay, how
much you wanted to see the one and only Ricky Martin.
Well, guess what?"

Giles was about to say something when Willow's elbow
quieted him.

"I ran into Sextus... He is so fine... Anyway, I told
him what you did. Giving us the tickets and everything
and he... are you ready? Scrounged up two more
tickets!" Buffy squealed in delight. "We can all go!
Isn't that great?"

"Wow," Willow said blandly. "Great."

"I know... you're stunned. But it's true," Buffy
giggled. "And we have to get ready. You don't want
Ricky to see you looking like that!"

With that, Buffy pulled Willow away from Giles and
dragged her toward the elevator, already planning her
makeup and clothes.

Willow looked back helplessly. Giles watched them go
and sighed.

A waitress passed by and smiled at him. "Can I get you
something to drink, sir?"

Giles sighed again. "Scotch." He watched Willow's body
move further and further away. "Better make it a double."

Part Fifteen

After tossing back his double scotch, and making a
quick stop at the bar for more Dutch courage, Giles
decided to face the music, well, Ricky Martin's
anyway... such as it was.

He made his way up the suite, trying desperately to
let the alcohol take hold and dampen his, well blazing
desire to throw Willow into a bed, any bed and have
his wicked way with her.

He knocked on the door, realizing he still didn't have
a keycard of his own and found Riley and Xander
brooding and drinking.

"Where's Willow?" Giles asked.

Riley sighed and nodded his head toward the bedroom.
"In there with Buffy and Anya. Helping her find
some clothes..." He squinted and turned to Xander. "What
did Buffy call them?"

"Slutapalooza," Xander drawled.

Riley shook his head. "No, that's what you said."

"It is?" Xander asked in a blurred haze. "Oh, yeah."

"Slutapalooza?" Giles asked uneasily.

"Yeah, you know, like..." Xander said. "Vampaplaooza,
a pleathora of vampage... vamposity? Lots and lots."

"I see," Giles said and then frowned. "Good God, I
understand Xander-speak."

Xander smiled in sympathy. "Bound to happen G-funk."

Riley turned back to Giles who had gone to the bar and
was pouring himself another drink. "Anyway, It's
all about less being more. I mean you see some of the
things Buffy wears. I have handkerchiefs that have
more material."

"I don't," Xander sighed.

"Don't what?"

"Have any handkerchiefs. I mean, what the hell kinda
word is that anyway? Hand-ker-chief? That's messed
up," Xander said in disapproval.

Riley frowned, but shook his head and decided to talk
to Giles again. "You've seen the little black leather
skirt she wears?"

Giles nodded and stared down into his drink.

Riley sighed dramatically and took a swig of his own
drink. "That one does things to me. Non-gentlemanly
things, if you know what I mean?"

Giles sighed. "I know."

Riley sat forward too quickly and felt lightheaded,
but his sudden rush of jealousy focused him. "You do?
You look at Buffy and get all squiggly inside?"

Giles groaned. "Oh, please.. I simply meant... I
know what you mean. I... Willow's so ... so..."

"Oh yeah," Xander agreed and saw Giles' eyes flash.
"But she's your so... I'm just... " he frowned.
"Nothing... I'm certainly not thinking about how Willow
looked when she dressed up in that leather corset. And
how her boobies were just spilling out and her
butt was..."

"Xander," Giles growled.

"Oh yeah," Riley said leaning back against the couch
with a smile. "I heard about that."

"Riley," Giles menaced.

Riley scrambled to backtrack. "Oh, just.. not about
her boobies... I mean breasts... I mean not about that,
but... not her butt either... I -I didn't mean
butt-butt... I mean it was about the fighting and the
goodness beating the evilness... that's what I heard
anyway."

Giles sighed. Images of Willow as she'd been that
night, dressed as her doppelganger, raced through his
mind, undoing any sort of numbness the alcohol might
have achieved. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

Buffy and Anya came back into the living room.

"Where's Willow?"

"Taking a shower," Buffy said with a grunt. "Washing
off the makeup I just spent the last twenty minutes
putting on her, and doing a fabulous job, I might
add." She took Riley's drink and downed it. "I mean it
was fantastic, wasn't it?"

"Well, there was a lot of it," Anya conceded.

"See?" Buffy said in triumph before falling back
against the sofa. "All my hard work, down the drain.
Oh well... what were you doing?"

"Talking about Willow's breasts," Xander said without
thinking.

"Excuse me?" Anya huffed.

"Yeah," Buffy chimed in, glaring at Riley. "Huh?"

"It wasn't like that... I mean it's not like we were
talking about, you know... how soft and firm they...
shutting up now."

Giles groaned and finished his drink. "I'm going to
take a shower."

"But you just took one, "Xander reminded him.

"Well," Giles hissed. "Now, I need another one."

"Oh... Oh!" Xander's eyes went round with realization
before the giggles got the better of him. "Don't do
anything I wouldn't do."

"What does that mean?" Anya demanded. "Are you saying
I don't satisfy you?"

"No..."

Giles rolled his eyes and headed off to the bathroom
adjoining Xander's room.

*****

Giles stepped into the warm spray and debated turning
the faucets to cold. One way or another he had to
something about this ache.

He decided that he might as well find some release, at
this rate there was no telling when he'd finally
manage to get Willow alone. He reached for the soap
when he noticed a phone on the wall just outside the
stall.

'A phone in the bathroom? Americans,' he thought with
a sigh. But then a wicked idea occurred to him. If
he had a phone, perhaps Willow's bath had a phone too.

He thought about it for a moment and threw caution to
the wind. If he couldn't touch her, at least he could
hear her. Reach out and touch someone, the ads had
said. 'I'm no quite sure this is what they mean, but...'

He picked up the receiver and was pleased to see a two
digit extension number printed on the base. If his
room was 16 then it would be logical that she was 15.
His fingers shaking a little, from nervousness and
anticipation, he punched in the numbers.

*****

Willow practically had a heart attack as the phone
rang. She rinsed the shampoo from her eyes and poked
her head out of the shower. She spied the phone on the
wall and frowned.

With a shrug she picked it up. "Hello?"

"Willow?" Giles asked tentatively.

"Rupert, is that you? Where are you? Is everything all
right?" she asked anxiously.

He laughed and sighed in relief. "I'm all right. I...
I'm... in the shower."

"In the shower? " Willow eeped and reflexively looked
around her bath.

"In Xander's bath. I... I saw the phone... and..." Giles
voice trailed off, suddenly he felt absolutely
ridiculous.

"You're in the shower too?" Willow asked, starting to
understand.

"Y-yes."

"Mmmmm," she purred.

Giles groaned. The sound sent all his blood directly
south, do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars.

"You still there?" Willow asked softly.

"Oh yes. I'm... I'm here," Giles breathed.

"Good," Willow said with a grin. "Are you all wet,
Rupert?"

Giles moaned. "Very."

Willow bit her lip. This was fun.

"Are you?" he asked in a husky voice.

"Uh-huh," she sighed. "I am... I definitely am."

Sensing she was enjoying this as much as he was, he
decided to take it a step further. "Is the water warm,
love?"

"Very."

"Good."

He heard her moan and it sent shivers up his spine.
"What are you doing, love?" he whispered.

"Touching myself and wishing it were you," she
admitted softly.

"Oh, Willow," Giles sighed. "What I wouldn't give to
be touching you right now."

"Really?" she said coyly.

The sexy innocence in her voice made his erection
surge and he reflexively began to stroke himself.
"Really," he said in a deep throaty voice. "I can just
see you standing there. Your skin so soft."

"I can almost imagine you caressing me," she said. "I
can feel your strong hands touching me... arousing me..."

He could hear her breathing speed up and closed his eyes
as his own hand quickened its pace. "Oh, Willow..."

"I want you so much," she gasped, as she ran her small
hands across her soapy body, trying desperately to
simulate the feel of a lover's touch.

"Oh, God," Giles groaned as he got closer and closer
to the edge. His breathing was hard and fast as he
struggled against the inevitable.

"R-rupert."

"W-willow... ohhh..."

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!!!

"Giles!" Xander cried as he pounded on the bathroom
door, causing Giles to drop the phone.

"Jesus wept!" Giles cursed and grunted.

"Are you coming?" Xander shouted.

"Almost," Giles muttered and looked down sadly at the
broken handset and another near miss.

"Well, hurry up!" Xander bellowed. "That stupid
concert starts soon!"

Giles took a deep breath and sighed. This was going to
be the longest night of his life.

Part Sixteen

Even the though the sign out front said "Ricky Martin
in Concert!!", Giles was sure it was the seventh level
of hell.

Aside from what passed as music, there were thousands
of squealing women and more than a few squealing men.
The two cocktails he'd managed to drink before they
left the suite and the one in the elevator obviously weren't
enough. Anything short of a coma meant he had to actually
be conscious for the concert.

To make matters worse, Willow was wearing one of Buffy's
dresses and it barely touched the top of her thighs. All
through the concert, she'd self-consciously pull on the hem;
clearly it made her as uncomfortable as Giles, just in a
different way.

There was one upside to their front row VIP
seating - cocktail service. Just after Ricky finished
what had to be the dance-club-remix-house version of
"La Vida Loca" (twelve undulating, ungodly minutes!),
there seemed to be a pause in the program, and Giles
ordered another round of drinks.

Ricky had really worked the crowd into a frenzy, and
it took several minutes for them to calm down enough
to hear him again.

"Hello, Las Vegas!" he yelled.

The crowd went wild again.

"It's great to be here at Caesar's Palace. A beautiful
hotel, and you're a fantastic audience!"

More wild applause.

Giles sighed heavily and slumped back in his chair.
Willow giggled and took his hand. "Don't worry, the
worst is over," she said with a grin.

Giles tried to frown, but the feeling of her hand in
his again made it impossible. He pulled her closer and
whispered in her ear. "We could sneak out, you know."

Willow sighed. His breath was warm, and she could feel
the need in his voice. She felt it, too. She grinned
wickedly and glanced over at Buffy and the others.
Xander and Riley were playing hangman on a cocktail
napkin, while both Anya and Buffy were completely and
totally entranced as Ricky talked to the audience.

"They won't even notice," Giles whispered persuasively.

Willow bit her lower lip and turned back to Giles.
"Let's do it," Willow said, eyes flashing with excitement.

Giles could only grunt his assent. The thought of
finally having her alone and the mischievous grin she
was giving him had driven all coherent thought from
his brain.

He grinned slyly and tightened his hold on her hand.

"And while everyone's a winner here at Caesar's
Palace," Ricky said with his thousand watt smile. "We
do have someone in the audience who's really got the
golden touch."

Giles stood and pulled Willow out of her chair.

Ricky shaded his eyes and peered into the crowd.
"Willow? Willow Rosenberg? Where are you?"

"OH... MY... GOD!!!" Buffy screamed, while Anya
started what can only be described as keening.

"Willow?" Ricky called from the stage.

"Wills!!!" Buffy cried, as she clamped onto her best
friend. "Here!" she yelled out waving her hand
frantically. "Here she is!"

Ricky spotted her and grinned. "Dulce! Come on up!"

Giles glared up at the stage.

Buffy pulled Willow's arm, but Giles wouldn't let go.

"Ow!" Willow cried as she was nearly split in two by
the Slayer and her Watcher.

"Giles," Buffy hissed. "Leggo! This is Ricky!!!!"

"No!" Giles bellowed and tried to pull Willow out of
Buffy's grip.

"Ow!" Willow cried again.

Luckily as Buffy and Giles were squaring off, a huge
security officer arrived. "Miss?" he rumbled in a
voice that seemed to come from the center of the
earth.

The guard glared at the threesome. Buffy smiled in
triumph at Giles and let go, but Giles wasn't so
easily persuaded.

"Willow..." he said firmly.

"Come on up, Willow. Let's give her a hand," Ricky
said, exhorting the crowd.

Willow sighed and looked sadly at Rupert. His head
fell forward in defeat and he, oh so reluctantly, let
go of her hand.

The crowd screamed as the guard lifted her easily up
onto the stage. Ricky gave her a helping hand that, as
far as Giles was concerned, was a little too helpful.

Ricky gave her hug that she tentatively returned.
Buffy was hitting Riley's shoulder in excitement and
jealousy, as Anya kept wailing.

Xander didn't mean to, but instinct took over and he
leaned forward and giggled when he realized he could
see Willow's underwear.

Giles was ready to yank Willow off the stage, and only
a meaty hand on his shoulder kept him from making a
scene. He grunted at security and angrily sat back
down.

Willow looked out at the huge crowd and blushed
furiously, trying to walk away, but Ricky held onto
her and smiled. "Oh no. You're too beautiful, isn't
she?" he asked the audience, who roared their approval.

Giles' ground his teeth and gripped the armrest
tightly.

Ricky held Willow's hand and turned to her. "This is
for you, Willow," he said with a grin and the band
began to play "Shake Your Bon-Bon".

Ricky went to one knee, his leather pants straining,
as he began to sing.

I'm a desperado
Underneath your window
I see your silhouette
Are you my Juliet
I feel a mad connection
With your body
Shake your bon-bon

Ricky stood and shook his booty. The crowd roared its
approval. It was all Riley could do to keep Buffy from
storming the stage.

Shake your bon-bon
Shake your bon-bon

Willow smiled shyly and stood off to the side trying
to be unobtrusive, but Ricky was a showman and knew a
good thing when he had one. He took Willow's hand
again and sang to her, slowly winning her over.

I wanna be your lover
Your only Latin lover
We'll go around the world in a day
Don't say no, no
Shake it my way, oh
Shake your bon-bon

He stepped behind Willow and helped her move her hips.

Shake your bon-bon
Shake your bon-bon

At first, Willow was tentative, but much to her
surprise and Giles' ire, she gave herself over to the
beat and was soon wiggling, swiveling and generally
gyrating.

Hola Amiga, Hola Amiga
You're my temple of desire
We'll go around the world in a day
Don't say no, no
Shake it my way, oh
Shake your bon-bon
Shake your bon-bon
Shake your bon-bon

Ricky fanned himself as Willow really started to let loose.
The crowd loved it.

Giles did not.

You're a Mata Hari
I wanna know your story
In the Sahara sun
I wanna be the one
That's gonna come and take you, make you
Shake your bon-bon
Shake your bon-bon
Shake your bon-bon

Giles frowned as he couldn't seem to remember the last
line to that spontaneous combustion spell.

Willow and Ricky swiveled in unison and crowd cheered
madly.

Riley and Xander shifted unconfortably in their seats.
They tried not to pay attention, but, uhm, parts will be parts.
Before long they were sitting hands clasped in their laps,
hoping to hide their newfound attentiveness.

Up in the Himalayas
C'mon I wanna lay ya
We'll go around the world in a day
Don't say no, no
Shake it my way, oh
Shake your bon-bon
Shake your bon-bon
Shake your bon-bon

Ricky ended with a flourish - spinning Willow away
before pulling her back to him, tightly to him. He
sang the last line and dipped her dramatically.

The audience whooped and hollered. Buffy was barely
restraining herself from jumping up onto the stage,
while Anya finished her keening with passionate
wailing collapse. It was really quite spectacular.

Ricky pulled Willow back up and kissed her soundly.
"Wasn't she great?" he said grinning to the audience.
They agreed and went wild again.

Willow blushed, suddenly remembering herself, and
quickly dashed off into the wings.

Giles didn't waste any time and immediately headed for
the stage door.

He found it without trouble and pounded on the heavy
steel door. Another huge (where do they find these
guys?) security guard flung the door open and
was about to teach Giles some manners when Willow
came skittering down the stairs.

Giles gripped her hand and pulled her down the hall.

"Rupert?" she asked in confusion.

"No more talking," he rasped. He'd done enough
talking. It was time for action.

He wanted to take her where she stood. Knowing they'd
never make it all the way back to the room, he took
advantage of what they had.

He strode across the casino and pulled back the
curtain to a small kwiki-photo booth. He led her
inside and yanked the drape closed.

"Rupert-"

Giles shook his head. "No more talking. No more
waiting," he panted as he pressed her up against the
wall of the small room.

Giles groaned as he felt her rub her hips into his.
Years of waiting, days of frustration, had finally
sent him over the edge. He had to have her, and he had
to have her now.

His hands slid around her hips and down to cup her
bottom. He squeezed her and pulled her against his
aching groin. His lips dove down onto hers, ravaging
her mouth. His kisses were demanding, passionate and
overwhelming.

He couldn't get enough of her. His mouth needed more
of her taste, his hands needed more of her body... he
needed more of her.

Banging his elbows against the panels of the booth,
Giles managed to find the zipper to her small dress.
Between panting breaths he lowered it and peeled the
material over her shoulders. Like a starving man, he
roughly kissed his way down her neck and along her
collarbone. Small bites and long wet licks.

Willow groaned and struggled with his belt. Finally,
she undid the buckle and began tugging at the
waistband of his pants. She growled in frustration but
managed to get his trousers undone. She yanked his
shirt up and ran her fingernails over his heated skin.

"Uhhnn," Giles grunted and in one fluid motion, he
reached down to pull the hem of her dress up and slid
his hands down her backside.

Willow purred at the feeling of his strong hands
kneading her willing flesh. She lifted up his shirt
and lightly bit down on one of his nipples.

Giles gasped in surprise and delight and pushed his
hips roughly into hers.

She gripped his waist in her small hands and pulled
his pants down over his hips. She reached forward and
eased him away just enough. She slipped her hand under
the waistband of his boxers and freed his straining
erection.

The feeling of her small hands touching him was almost
more than he could bear. Then she began to stroke up
and down, and he thought he was going to lose what
little control he had.

Even in the darkness, he could see her beautiful
emerald eyes shining up at him, filled with passion,
desire and love. A wave of powerful emotions swept
over him, and he stilled her hands. He stared down at
her and then shook his head.

He wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anyone, but
this wasn't right. He could hardly believe he was
stopping, but he knew that there would be time for
moments like this. If he had his way, a lifetime.

"What's wrong?" she asked breathlessly.

He just shook his head again and let out a long
breath. He placed her small hands on his chest and
sighed again. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her
tenderly before pulling the hem of her dress down over
her hips.

"Rupert?" she asked in confusion.

"Oh, love," he sighed as he kissed each shoulder
before easing the material of her dress back into
place. "Not like this. Not here."

Giles pulled his boxers back up and started to fasten
his pants.

"Why?" Willow said softly. "I-I thought you..." her
voice became very small and trailed off.

Giles took her into his arms and kissed her. "I do
want you... so... so very much... But...I don't want
our first time to be a quick fumble." He tilted her
chin up. "When we make love for the first time, I want
it be beautiful."

Willow's breath caught. "Oh," she gasped, overwhelmed
by the love she saw in his eyes.

"Let me love you the way you deserve," he said with
another kiss and then smiled wickedly. "Then we'll...
experiment."

Willow blushed and ducked her head down, but Giles
eased it back up. "I love you."

Willow sighed. "And I love you." She stood on tiptoes
and kissed him.

Giles grinned and managed to do up his pants. They
both tried to smooth their hair and clothes before
Giles pulled back the curtain.

There was a short line of people waiting for the
booth. "Jeez, took ya long enough," said the first
guy.

Giles cleared his throat and gripped Willow's hand.
"Yes, well... It's all yours."

He began to lead Willow away when the man called out.
"Hey, don't you want your pictures?" he asked as he
held up a thin strip of photos.

Giles lunged back over and ripped the pictures from
his hand. He glanced at them, his face coloring. They
must have been so enthralled that they didn't even
notice the flash.

Willow peered over his arm and eeped. "Oh boy!"

Giles coughed uncomfortably and stuffed the photo
strip into his pocket and glanced down at Willow. She
was unsuccessfully trying to fight the giggles.

"Willow," he scolded.

"You're... you're very....photogenic," she said before
bursting into laughter.

Giles tried to glare at her, but it was useless. They
walked arm in arm laughing as they made their way
through the casino.

Part Seventeen

Willow and Giles made their way through the casino,
when abruptly Willow came to a stop.

"Something wrong, love?" Giles asked.

Willow shook her head. "No, I'll be right back," she
said, as she dropped his hand and start off.

Giles frowned and grabbed her. "Oh, no you don't. I've
nearly lost you too many times. Wherever you're going.
I'm going," he said in silky voice.

Willow quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"Really," he said pulling her closer.

"Even the ladies' room?" she said, nodding at the
sign on the wall.

He nodded. "Even the... Willow," he said in
embarrassment.

She giggled at the look on his face and quickly
kissed him. "I'll be right back."

He watched her disappear into a nearby alcove and
sighed. She was looking more than a little ravished,
and it couldn't have been sexier. Realizing he could
probably use a little straightening himself he ducked
into the men's room.

A few minutes later and looking far more presentable,
he found a spot along the edge of the casino and
waited for Willow. He hadn't been there for more than
a minute when he heard a purring sound coming from his
left.

"You know what that does to me," he said with a grin
as he turned around. But instead of Willow, he was
face to face with a woman in her fifties. She was
wearing a short spangled western outfit and white
cowboy boots. Her platinum blonde hair was piled high
in freaky sort of bouffant, her skin was unnaturally
tanned and her bright red lipstick and blue eye shadow
completed a picture worthy of a commemoration on black
velvet.

"Good lord," Giles choked out in fright.

"Just little old me," she said as she smiled wickedly,
her eyes flashing. She reached out and ran a long
finger down Giles' chest. "Mmmm. What can I do for
ya, honey? Cause you're doin' things to me."

Giles flinched and tried to back away, but the woman
kept on advancing. "E-excuse me."

The woman grinned broadly and raised an eyebrow.
"Ohhh, aren't you cute?"

"No... No...W-would... w-would y-you--?" he said desperately
trying to stay on step ahead of her wandering hands.

"What's wrong, honey?"

Giles coughed and gave a nervous bark of laughter.
"I... I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else. I'm
really..."

Unfazed the woman just grinned wider and stepped a
little closer, causing Giles to step back, but there
was no more room. He was trapped. "Who would like me
to be? I can be anybody you like, honey."

Giles cleared his throat again. "I... I'm sorry. I'm
afraid-"

"No reason to be sorry, sugar. In fact you're about as
far from sorry as I've seen in a dog's age," she said
with an appreciative look up and down his body.

"Th-thank you," Giles said uneasily and strained to
look for Willow. "I really should be-" Giles started
as he tried to extricate himself.

"Don't run off, darlin'. It's just getting interesting,"
she purred as she pushed him against the wall.

Somewhere between shock and far too much Scotch, Giles
was lost. He'd never been goopd with this sort of thing and
couldn't seem to clear his brain.

The woman placed her palm on his heart and smiled
slyly as she brazenly ran her hand down his chest.
"Oh, and you've got hidden treasures, don't you?"

Giles tried to bat her hands away. "Madam, I'm-"

The woman's eyes went wide and she stepped back and
glared at him. "Madam? I'll have you know I am no such
thing!" the woman said loudly, clearly affronted.

"I... I didn't mean that sort of madam... not th-that
k-kind," he stuttered. "I-in E-England... I.. that is to say...
I certainly meant n-no..."

Instantly forgiving him, the woman moved in again.
"All stumbly, bumbly... and grrrrrr. Aren't you
tasty?"

"No, no I'm not. I'm ..." Her lightening quick mood
changes, mixed with all the scotch he'd had at the
concert were confusing him to no end.

"Oh, yes you are, and I'd love to taste you," she said
licking her lips.

"I'm for someone else to taste," he blurted quickly.

Ignoring his protests, she moved in closer still. "I
run a little western shop on the border. And I would
pay money... to see you... in a pair of chaps... and
nothing else," she whispered.

"Really... I..." Giles gasped in shock.

"Course, we'd need fittings... Lots of fittings...
don't want any chaffing, now do we?"

"I'm sure I don't..."

"Chaps can rub in all the wrong places if you aren't
careful," she said with a hungry grin. "Here," she
said as she showed him where. Giles' eyes went wide in
shock.

"Or here." Giles jumped a little.

"And definitely not here." Giles gasped and took
hold of her hands before they found any more places.

"Please..."

"Am I interrupting something?" Willow said with
forced calm.

"Yes!" Giles cried his voice at least an octave too
high.

"We're busy," the older woman hissed.

"Really?" Willow said, her eyes narrowing.

"No! Of course not," Giles assured her. The fact that he
was still clasping the woman's hands didn't add much
to his protest. He finally noticed and dropped them
like a hot potato.

The woman grinned snottily. "You want something, kid?"

Willow's eyes flashed. "Oh yes."

Giles knew that look. It wasn't good. "Willow..."

"First, I'm a woman," Willow said edging closer to the
poacher. "Second, that's my man."

The older woman flinched. It wasn't the words, she'd
heard much worse. It was the spark in Willow's eyes
that unnerved her. It promised bad, bad things.

For his part, and much to his chagrin, Giles was
incredibly turned on by Willow's reaction. He watched
her claim him; wanted nothing more than to let her do
just that. Again and again.

"I was just lookin', honey," the woman said quickly.

"And touching," Willow reminded her and then shook her
head dramatically. "No touching."

"S-sorry," the older woman babbled, knowing that she
was dealing with something way out her league here. As
quickly as she'd arrived, she disappeared into the
crowd.

Willow watched her go and clenched her tiny fists. "I
could turn her into a rat." After a long moment, she
turned to face Giles, her eyes still sparking with
jealousy. "What was that all about?"

Giles pulled her into his arms and kissed her. He
watched some of her pique melt away and smiled. "I
think she wanted to fit me for a pair of chaps," he said.

Willow's anger started to resurface as she pictured
that woman coming on to Giles wearing only chaps.
Chaps... Hmmm... Chaps... anger fading...

Willow's eyes fluttered closed as she imagined Giles
wearing nothing but a black cowboy hat and matching
chaps. 'Is that a six-gun or are you just happy to see
me?'

"Willow?" Giles asked worriedly.

"Hmm... sorry..." she mumbled and then remembered she
was supposed to be mad at him, but darn that Giles, he
was nuzzling her neck and it made it so very hard to
think. "I think I'd better get you up to the suite,"
she said a little breathlessly.

"Mmmm. Good idea," he whispered. He kissed her lips,
gently, promising more before slipping his arm around
her waist and starting to lead her toward the main
bank of elevators.

"There you guys are!" Buffy cried out.

"Slayer or not, I am going to kill that girl," Giles
mumbled.

Buffy bounced to their side. "Where did you guys go?
That was amazing!" She was bursting with energy.
"Ricky is a muy atractivo hombre! Hey...I speak
Spanish... Who knew?"

"Where are the others?" Giles asked tiredly.

Buffy shrugged and tossed head over her shoulder.
"They're comin'."

Riley was shuffling his way across the carpet,
obviously brooding over Buffy's reaction to the
concert, while Anya and Xander were arguing in not so
hushed tones.

"I did not flash him my boobies," Anya said in an
exasperated tone.

Xander rolled his eyes and grunted.

"They're breasts," she clarified.

"You see!" Xander wailed to no on in particular.

"Everyone saw," Riley offered as the trio joined the
others.

"Men," Anya sighed.

"So what are we gonna do now?" Buffy said, ready to
party. "Ohh, let's go to the Bellagio!"

"Good idea! You have fun," Giles said quickly seeing
an opening. "Willow and I were thinking about just
going back to room..."

"Oh...let's go back to the room and... oh, I don't know...
we could... hmmmm... maybe play..." Xander growled.
"Whose breasts are these?"

Anya rolled her eyes. "You're so pedantic."

"I am not!" he huffed, then paused thinking about it.
"What does that mean anyway?"

"Narrow-minded, boring, obsessed with the trivial,"
Riley explained with a sigh.

"Oh, okay," Xander said with a shrug.

Anya wrapped her arms around him. "It's so sexy."

The others watched in bewildered awe as the Bizarro
World couple made up.

Xander giggled as Anya whispered something in his ear.
"With a stencil? Really?" he grinned and turned back
to the gang waggling his eyebrows. "So who's up for
going to room?"

"You mentioned something about the Bellagio, Buffy?"
Giles said quickly.

*****

It was the last show of the night and a considerable
crowd had gathered along the edges of the enormous
manmade lake that graced the front of the Bellagio
hotel. At regular intervals during both the day and
evening, a fifteen-minute music program was piped out
onto the sidewalk. Moving in beautiful syncopation
were dozens of water spouts, some shooting as high as
seventy feet. The tall sprays of water moved in a
choreographed ballet to the music.

The show was fun and exciting, but above all
incredibly romantic. The music was a pleasant mixture
of swinging standards (Sinatra), culminating in the
hotel's trademark, the soaring ballad, "Con Te
Partirò" by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman

Each couple found a spot along the promenade that
overlooked the water. A low, smooth granite wall ran
the length of the lake (more than 200 feet). Willow
leaned against the cool stone, and Giles pressed up
behind her, wrapping her in his embrace as they
watched the show.

Willow was in heaven. The swaying of the tall streams
of water, the romantic music, and Giles whispering in
her ear were conspiring to make her whole body ache
with need.

As the end drew near, the water was undulating madly,
reaching higher and higher into the night sky, the
music building to a fever pitch of passion. Willow
turned around, still encircled by Giles' strong arms
and gazed into his eyes.

The smoky look in her eyes nearly did him in then and
there. He looked down at her lips, waiting for him.

With a soundless growl, he took them. 'Mine,' he
thought.

Willow's arms slid around his neck, pulling him closer
as his mouth hungrily devoured hers, crushing against
her in a wonderful sort of desperation.

His mouth worked its way across her jaw and down her
neck, biting gently at the tender skin before his
hands grasped her head and pulled her into and even
more heated kiss. Possessive and dominating.

Willow's hands slid down the planes of his chest and
moved around to feel the broad muscles of his back.
Caressing him, her hands edged down to rest on the
small of his back and pulled him closer, urging him
on.

Giles tangled one hand in her hair and used the other
to mimic her gesture, forcing her body against his as
tightly as possible. Willow wriggled in pleasure and
Giles growled in response.

Most of the crowd had already left, but Willow and
Giles were oblivious. The rest of the gang stood by
silently watching the kiss waiting for them to pull
apart. One minute stretched into another and another...
and still they kissed.

"Show's over," Xander finally grumbled.

"They're putting on a pretty good show of their own,"
Riley said with amusement.

"All right, break it up!" Buffy cried, as she thumped
Giles' on the shoulder. To his credit, Giles didn't
miss a beat, or a lip, and kept right on kissing
Willow for all he was worth.

"Come on," Xander tried. "She's already had her
tonsils out."

Willow and Giles just kept right on.

"Nothing," Xander said with a sigh.

"Why don't you ever kiss me like that?" Anya asked
petulantly.

"I do!"

"Not like that," she said. "Look he's doing something
special with his tongue."

Xander frowned and leaned in to get a better look.
"He's just swirling. I swirl. I swirl all over the
place."

Anya sighed. "Maybe he could give you lessons."

"Okay, eewww."

Buffy sighed and looked over at Riley who was enjoying
watching this just a little too much. She elbowed him
hard in the gut.

"Ow!"

Buffy thought for a long moment and then her eyes lit
up as she came up with a plan. Slowly she walked over
to stand right next to the couple and then yelled
"Vampire!"

Instinctively, Giles pulled out of the kiss and tried
to yank Willow behind him as he searched for the
danger. "Where? Where?"

Buffy shrugged. "Sunnydale."

Giles grunted and glared at her. "Damn it, Buffy!
That's not cricket," he ground out.

Buffy sighed. "It was either that or the jaws of life.
Come on... the night is young and so am I..."

"Buffy, why don't you go..." Willow started and stopped
herself before she said something she's regret.
She sighed and counted to ten. "Why don't you go...and
have a good time?"

Buffy whipped out the industrial strength pout. "Come
on, Wills. This is our last night in Vegas. You two
can do..." she grimaced."...that stuff back home.
But we're here now... let's live!"

Willow sighed and slipped her hand into Giles. He
looked down at her with a wan smile. She leaned
against him. "All right," she said in resignation.

"Brill!" Buffy cried happily. "Let's live that Vida
Loca!" She shimmied her way down the street, the others
reluctantly in tow.

Part Eighteen

"Come on, Xander," Buffy whined.

"Who died and made you Cruise Director?" he asked
as he took another swig of his pina colada.

"I never did like that Julie person," Anya said with a scowl
as she leaned back against the small wall that lined the
outside of their latest stop for refreshments.

"How can you say that?" Xander wailed. "She understood
me."

"You watched The Love Boat?" Riley asked Anya.

"One of the perks of being a 1200 year old demon, you
watch a lot of TV," she explained and then frowned, turning
to Xander. "Understood you?"

"Yeah. The way she looked so pert and... understanding," he
said with a far off look.

"You're scaring me," Riley chimed in before seeking solace
in the bottom of his margarita.

"Look, Julie was a helluva lot better than that other girl.
I mean Love Boat was good until they switched, then
they jumped the shark."

"Exactly!" Buffy screamed too loudly. "Life was never the
same after Fonzie did that... Happy Days just went.. pppppptttt."

"Julie.. Julie.. Julie..." Xander sang softly.

"Come on Xan, come back to us," Buffy said with a shrug. "And stop
trying to change the subject. You said your two women, now you
have to name your two men."

Xander paled. "But I told you, if I were on a desert island with two
other guys we'd be building huts and radios out of coconuts,
not... you know..."

"It's a game, Xander.. come on...." Buffy begged with a pouty face.
"If you were stranded on desert island, what two men would you want
with you?"

"Fine.. but this does not leave this circle... this circle of stupidity."

"Promise."

"George Clooney and Chow Yun Fat," Xander mumbled quickly.

"Oooohhh," Buffy said appreciatively. "Good ones."

"Can I change mine?" Anya asked. "I like his."

"It's like Africa hot out here," Riley said pulling his T-shirt
away from his sweaty body and slurped down the last of his
drink.

"Okay, Wills... Your turn."

"Hmmm?" Willow said from her perch on the wall as she
leaned against Giles. "Oh.. Uhm... Alan Rickman and
Sean Connery."

Giles turned to her with a grin. "Really?"

"They remind me of someone I know," she said with a smile
as he leaned in for yet another kiss.

"Okay, okay... and your two women? You can think about
it if y-"

"Kate Winslet and Juliette Binoche," Willow said easily and resumed
kissing Giles, who for his part smiled and whispered something
in her ear that made her giggle.

"Who else is in a very happy visual place?" Xander asked
dreamily and Riley raised his hand. "Can I just watch her island?"

"I want to change mine," Anya whined again.

"It is a woman's prerogative," Giles said absently as he
pushed a stray lock of hair away from Willow's face. She
smiled knowingly and blushed.

Buffy frowned. "How come they've been together for like a
nanosecond and they have inside joke thingies already?" She
turned on Riley. "We have private jokes, right?"

"Sure... remember the time..." he frowned. "Well, there was
that... Well, oh yeah... Remember that time we were going to the
beach and... wait that wasn't you-"

Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and her frown deepened.
"And who exactly was it?"

Riley paled a little and smiled weakly. "Who needs another drink?"

*****

A few pitchers of margaritas had done the trick and the gang
was happily giggling again. Having had their share, okay, more
than their share of tequila, the gang decided to continue on down
the strip. Well, actually they'd all decided that it was better to humor
the drunk Slayer and continued what was secretly known as Buffy's
Trail of Beers.

Giles eased off the wall and started to help Willow down when
he got an idea and grinned. "Want a ride?"

Willow smiled slyly. "What sort of ride?"

Giles moaned and sighed again... "If only..."

Willow kissed him and smiled. "We could sneak off-"

"Hurry up!" Buffy called out.

"Or not."

Giles brushed his knuckles across her cheek wishing he could
throw her over his shoulder and take her to a spot suitable for ravaging.

"Come on, love," he said finally pulling himself back from his naughty
thoughts.

Willow held our her arms and grinned. "Carry me."

Giles laughed. Willow, his Willow, was so utterly charming he
could barely stand it. "As the lady wishes. Piggy back?" he added
with a grin.

"But of course," she answered regally.

"My pleasure," he said turning so she could easily slip onto his
back. He held her legs as she wrapped her arms around his
neck and leaned in to give him a kiss.

He shifted her weight easily and squeezed her thighs. "Comfortable?"

Willow gave his earlobe a small nip and whispered. "Very."

Giles moaned and gave her legs another promising squeeze before
starting down the street and easily catching up with the others.

"Oh, piggy back!" Buffy cried when she saw them. "I want one!"
she said as she jumped onto Riley's back without warning.

"Piggy back?" Anya asked. "Is this a mating ritual? I want to be
a piggy."

Xander bit his lip. "Too easy," he muttered.

"Hmmm?"

"Nothing... actually... I'd be the piggy and--"

"Oh, that's much better. Kneel, piggy."

"An-" Xander protested as she forced him to his knees and slung
herself unceremoniously onto his back.

"Forward, piggy!" she cried happily as she bounced up and down.
"Giddyup, piggy!"

"Easy or piggy might drop you," Xander ground out as he hurried
down the street.

Finally, he caught up with the others.

"Faster, piggy," Anya giggled.

Xander grunted and complied.

"Hey!" Buffy cried out from her perch. "Oh, you wanna race, do ya?"
she said as she squiggled around on Riley's back. "Come on,
Riley," she added as she gave him a good heel in the thigh.

"Ow!"

"Come on, they're winning!" she screeched as she gave him another
swift kick.

"Ow!" Riley cried as she stumbled forward. "I think you broke
my leg," he said as he limped to a halt.

"You big army sissy man." Buffy slid off his back and turned away
from him and held out her arms. "Come on."

"Come on and what?" he asked as he tried to massage out
his charley horse.

"Get on," Buffy ground out. "We're not gonna let them win."

"Buffy-"

"Get on!"

"Don't you think it's gonna look a little strange with me on your
back?"

Buffy turned back and glared at him. "We're wasting time. Are
you getting on or not?"

"I really don't have any choice, do I?"

"If you love me," Buffy said. "You'll climb on my back."

"Fine, but I'm doing this under protest."

"Whatever, just get on."

Riley sighed one last time, checked his manhood at the door
and climbed on.

Without missing a beat, Buffy took off down the street and
streaked past Xander. "Suckers!" she cried in triumph as
she flew past them.

Instinctively, Xander raced after her. The two couples
charged down the crowded sidewalk at full tilt. They seemed
to hit some sort of traffic jam and turned back, still running
full bore. Anya whipped Xander with a rolled up strip club
flyer while Riley tried to "think invisible" as Buffy toted
him through the throng.

"Last one to Caesar's is a rotten egg!" Buffy yelled as the pair of
piggybackers streaked past them and headed for the front fountain
court of the hotel.

Without missing a beat, Giles adjusted course and started
after them, still at a slow leisurely pace.

"I suppose we should hurry," Giles said with a sigh.

"Hmmm?" Willow asked softly as she kissed his neck.

"Mmmm, I-I... s-suppose..."

"Hmmm?" she mumbled between kisses. "This is nice."

Giles moaned as she continued to torture him. "This isn't
fair."

"Are you complaining?"

"No, but... I have a better idea," Giles said with a smile. "Relax and
trust me."

"What did you-- Eeep!" Willow cried as Giles quickly spun around
so that she was facing him. "How did you do that?"

"Where there's a will..." he said as he took advantage of the new
position and kissed her.

"Ohhh..." she sighed. "Ohhh," she purred as she felt his strong hands
kneed into her bottom. "Ohhhh...."

Giles kissed her deeply. "Much better," he said as he got
a comfortable grip and resumed walking. Willow rested her head
on his shoulder and nibbled on his neck.

"Sigh," Willow said softly.

"Was that a good sigh? Or a bad sigh?"

"A good one," she assured him. "My sad sigh sounds like this...
sigh... completely different."

Giles chuckled. "Of course."

"Where are we going anyway?"

"Back to the hotel, I think."

Willow perked up and leaned back so she could look into
Giles' eyes. "Really?"

"Although we'll undoubtedly be the rotten egg, yes..." He caught
the gleam in her eye. "What are you thinking?"

"Oh.. well.. hotel.. our hotel... we could... maybe.." she bit her
lower lip and smiled suddenly bashful.

"Ah..." Giles said with a darkening eyes. "We could."

"We could?"

"I would... w-would you?"

"I would," she assured him.

His eyes flashed with passion. "Then we should."

"Definitely should."

Giles leaned in to kiss her when...

"Run!" Buffy yelled as she ran past them, leaving a stream
of water behind her on the pavement.

"Wh-what's wrong?" Giles asked as she fled down the
street giggling.

"Security's coming!" Riley cried as he streaked past, his tennis
shoes squishing.

"Fountain police!" Xander spouted as he pulled a soggy Anya
past them.

"Fountain police?" Willow wondered as she looked back toward the
hotel... and sure enough heading straight for them were two badge
wielding, sourpusses.

"You two!" called out the pudgier of the two. "We wanna talk to you!"

"Bloody hell," Giles sighed.


Part Nineteen

"I think we finally lost them," Buffy said as they finally
came to a stop around, yet another corner.

"G...g...good..." Xander panted. "Cause I've... I've
got some... serious chaffage happening," he added as he
tugged on his soaking wet jeans.

"I heard that," Riley said with a grimace as he tried to
shake out a few important parts.

"Would you ... mind telling.. me..." Giles said huffing for breath.
"Just.. why we were running?"

Buffy giggled and bounced around the group. "Well, I won the
piggyback race," she started and then caught Riley's frown. "I mean,
we.. we won... cause I couldn't have done it without Riley."

Riley sighed as he tried to forget the humiliation and de-wedgie his
shorts.

"Anywho..." Buffy continued. "We won and when we got to the
hotel.. we were so hot and there was this big fountain with all
this shimmery water and everything..."

"And shiny coins on the bottom," Xander supplied.

"Right. So between the shimmery and the shiny... we sort of
jumped in."

"Jumped in?"

"Well, technically," Anya added. "Buffy jumped. I was pushed."

"An-"

"I.. I think there was magic in the water... you know, like an
enchanted fountain full of pixies and... and water sprites.. what
are they called?"

"Water sprites," Willow answered.

"Right!"

"Definitely sprites," Xander said firmly. "That or the last
two pitchers of margaritas... one of the two is clearly
responsible."

"And security?" Giles asked.

"Apparently," Buffy explained. "They frown on fountain frolicking.
How un-American is that?"

Giles just shook his head and finally a small laugh began to
bubble out.

Buffy grinned, and turned to Willow giving her a wink. Giles was
definitely more easy going already. Willow was a good influence.
A happy Watcher, meant a happy Slayer... all of the good.

"So what do we do now?" Riley asked.

"Well, we could gamble," Xander suggested.

"I didn't bring much money," Willow apologized. "I didn't think we-"

"Tut-tut," Xander said with a smirk. "While some of you were busy
frolicking, others were busy collecting." He pulled handfuls of wet
coins from his pockets.

"Isn't that stealing?" Willow asked.

"I like to think of it as recycling. The casino gave somebody the
money. Somebody gave it to the fountain. The fountain gave it
to me. I give it back to the casino."

"That's beautiful, man," Riley said with a tear in his eye.

Xander sniffled and wiped his eyes. "Thank you." Then grinned.
"So who's gonna help me?"

*****

The group found a casino just down the block. It wasn't one of
the higher end strip casinos, but a midlevel not quite downtown
sort of establishment. The smoke was a bit staler, the machines
a little bit older and the felt a little more warn. But the booze was
still free and the sirens call still came through loud and clear.

Xander had given everyone a fistful of coins to spend and each of
them set out to find their "special" machine.

Xander and Anya argued over why the cherry was chosen as the
winning fruit.

"Why not the apricot? Or a prune?"

"I got nothing against apricots," Xander said. "But prunes?
Come on."

Buffy and Riley lost their money in about 3 minutes
at the wheel of fortune slot and were nursing drinks in the
bar. While Willow was slowly walking the main floor waiting
for a machine to speak to her.

Truth be told, if the machines were talking, she wasn't really listening.
She was too intent on the man at her side, whose hand kept creeping
up to rub the back of her neck in an incredibly distracting way.

"Can't find one you like?" Giles asked.

Willow grinned and turned to him. She reached up and
tenderly touched his cheek. "Oh, I have. One I like very much."

Giles smiled, his heart in his eyes.

"I don't know how I ever got so lucky," she said softly.

Giles leaned down and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. "I know
exactly what you mean," he whispered leaning his forehead against
hers.

"YAHTZEE!" Xander cried and ran over to them. "I just made
a 400% profit!"

"That's great," Willow said with forced enthusiasm.

She felt Giles' hand spasm around hers. He was going to go
postal soon, she could feel it.

"Yup. One quarter. Now one whole simolean!" Xander said
proudly. "Helloooo!"

"That's great Xander," Willow said as she turned him back from
whence he came. "You better get back there. It's a lucky machine.
Don't want someone else moving in on it."

Xander's eyes went wide. "Right!" With that, he dashed back to his
machine, and gave an elderly lady a mild hipcheck. Just a warning
should she get any funny ideas about whose slot is whose.

Giles sighed heavily and Willow could hear him grinding his
teeth. She squeezed his hand and smiled up at him.

His expression softened. "When I get you alone," he said intently.
"When I *finally* get you alone... we are locking the door, ripping
the phone out of the wall and quite possibly casting a spell that will
knock the rest of the world unconscious."

Willow's eyes flashed and she bit her bottom lip. "Is that a promise?"

He couldn't stifle the moan that escaped. "The first of many, love....
The first of many."

"There you are!" Buffy cried out as she wove her way over to
them. "Thought you two might have tried to give us the slip," she
slurred. "Not gonna happen. Just gonna have to live with it. I'm
slipless. I'm the slipless Slayer."

Giles frowned and looked to Riley, who shrugged and held up
an empty glass. "151."

"What's that?" Willow asked.

"Nummy rummy," Buffy giggled. "You should have some. You *must*
have some," she said as she pulled Willow toward the bar.

Giles' frown evolved into a scowl. "I'm not sure-"

Riley put a hand on his chest. "Don't even try."

Giles sighed. "I suppose we'd best ..." he trailed off and headed
off toward the bar.

"Where's everybody goin'?" Xander asked as he tossed
his empty coin cup aside.

"Can't fight 'em... join 'em," Riley answered and followed
Giles to the girls.

Xander watched him go and looked at Anya, who showed
him her empty pockets.

"My work here is done," he said with proud grin, then slung
his arm over her shoulder and they went to join the
damned.

*****

"Kitty toes!" Buffy said with a sloppy smile as the group
wandered aimlessly down the street.

"Oh... they are so cute... I love it when they get all sleepy
and their little toes wiggle," Willow said as she demonstrated,
by wiggling her own bare feet.

Giles watched her through narrowed eyes. He felt funny. Never
had a foot fetish before, but Willow's naked feet were ... well...
naked.

Buffy nodded sagely and leaned into Riley's side.

"I've always liked monkey knees," Anya said thoughtfully.
"Knobby and hairy... like Xander's."

Hiccup. "Thanks, hon."

"Argghh," Riley said for no reason at all.

"Hmm?"

"I was just feeling piratey," he said with a grin.

"Must be all the rum... they had the right idea, those pirate people."

"I'll drink to that!"

"Yeah, but we don't have any more," Willow added sadly.

Giles pulled her to his side. "Tragic."

"Maybe they have some in here," Xander said as he motioned
the group into a doorway. "Pretty, pretty sign," he added with a
soft burp as the group entered The Viva Las Vegas Wedding
Chapel with adjoining Heartbreak Hotel Divorce Court.

*****

The next morning came.

And went.

It was early afternoon when the maid dared to knock, finally
ignoring the hastily scribbled "Do Not Disturb - Orgy In Progress"
sign thathung outside.

KNOCK KNOCK. "HOUSEKEEPING!"

"Oh, dear God."

"Am I dead?"

"Who's standing on my tongue?"

"HOUSEKEEPING!!!," the maid thundered again like like a drill sergeant,
as she jangled her keys loud enough to wake the dead and the
nearly dead.

"Please, please... not so loud," Xander begged as he tried
to push himself into a sitting position.

"You're supposed to be checked out," the maid informed
them.

"Oh.... ohhh...." Willow groaned. "Ohhhh..kay.... we'll...
we'll...."

"Call the the front," Giles supplied, his eyes still not open.
"Could... could you come back later?"

The maid rolled her eyes and looked at the disaster that was
once a room. "This is gonna take forever to clean."

"Please?" Xander asked. "If you have an ounce of humanity,
you'll come back."

"All right... but you have to call the front and tell them," she
admonished, shaking her head as she left.

"Bless you... you're a saint among... cleaning people."

Once the maid had left, the group finally began to stir and take
stock. It wasn't pretty.

"I don't feel so good."

There were groans of agreement all around.

Sitting up was far too much of a strain for Willow, so she
lay back down across Giles' lap on the end of the couch and
hit her head on something metal. "Ow!" she cried and sat
up again.

"Not so loud."

"Pain...."

"What was that?"

"Are you all right?" Giles asked helping her rub the back of her
head.

Willow turned and saw the culprit. A big red "STOP" sign leaned
against the edge of the sofa.

"What is it?" Xander asked, trying to blink life back into his
dry eyes.

"It's stop sign.. and there's something written on the bottom... but
the letters keep squiggling.. Stop moving, letters," Willow pleaded.
"Almost focused... says... in the name of love."

"That's cute," Xander with a giggle that he quickly regretted.

"Something horrible has happened," Anya said anxiously.

"What?"

"I don't know," she said with growing panic. "That's just it. I... I
can't remember. Tell me what happened last night."

"Uhm, we... we were....it's kind of a blur," he admitted.

"Guys..." Riley said from somewhere behind the couch. "I think
we've got a bigger problem."

"What?"

"Buffy's blue."

"Yes, well... we're all a bit depressed. I don't-"

"No.. I mean she's blue."

Slowly, they all moved to look at the still sleeping Slayer. And
sure enough she was blue. From head to toe.

"Wow."


Part Twenty

"Good lord."

"Slayer smurf!" Xander said with a big smile. "Not that I.. I'm
Smurf knowledgeable or anything... just.. wow.. she's blue."

Buffy finally started to wake and was more than a little disconcerted
to find everyone staring down at her. "What's wrong?" she asked
nervously and sat up too quickly. "Besides the little men doing the
anvil chorus in my head... Ohhh..."

"You're... you're dyed."

"I died!?! I'm dead? No wonder I feel like this..."

"No, you *were* dyed..." Riley tried to explain, but Buffy just stared
back blankly. He held up on her blue hands so she could see it.
"You're a lovely shade of blue."

"Indigo, I think," Giles said casually as he started toward the
kitchen.

"Oh," Buffy said weakly. She looked to Riley who just shrugged.
Buffy's eyes narrowed and she pointed at his chest. "What's that?"

"What?"

"That," she said poking his chest. "You've got schplucka
on you."

"Schplucka?" Riley looked down and coughed. "Oh my god."

"It's a tattoo," Buffy said with the glee of discovering she
wasn't the only one.

Riley pulled back his shirt to reveal a large tattoo of what
might be charitably called a Spanish Galleon with the words
"Yo Ho Ho" emblazoned beneath it.

"Tell me this is henna," he pleaded.

"It's henna."

"It is?"

"I don't know," she said testily. "Let's refocus here... Who's blue?
Hello... That would be me!"

"I think everyone should drink some tomato juice," Giles said
as he found cans of V-8.

"That's very helpful," Buffy bit out.

"It will help with your hangover.. I hope," he added as he handed
a glass to Willow.

She smiled her thanks and took a sip. "Just what did happen
last night?"

Giles frowned. "I... I really can't seem to remember."

"Last thing I remember was running from the fountain
security guards."

"Then we went to that casino. Remember?... Used my quarters,"
Xander supplied.

"Right," Riley chimed in. "Then...."

"This is very disturbing... I don't like not remember. Anything
could have happened and I'd never know," Anya said growing
more agitated by the minute.

"Yeah.. well... Buffy was dyed blue. Riley got a lovely pirate ship
tattoo... anyone else change?"

"My feet!" Anya cried and looked away in agony. "They're swollen
and... and grotesque."

"Those are shoes, An," Xander said.

Anya dared to look down. "Well, they're grotesquely ugly shoes...
and certainly not mine."

"They look like men's shoes from the fifties or something."

"Anyone else?"

Willow and Giles inspected their persons and found the usual
bits in the usual places.

"Weird," Xander said as his stomach growled loudly. He smiled
sheepishly and rubbed his belly. His smile faded and a frown took
its place. "Uh-oh."

He lifted his shirt to reveal two gold rings pierced into his belly button.
He quickly lowered his shirt and shook his head in denial. Slowly, he
raised it again and peeked down through one eye. "Oh, no... Looks
like I'm first mate on Riley's Ship of Fools."

"Thanks very much," Riley bit out.

"At least you're captain."

"Is there anything else? Wills?"

She shook her head and Xander narrowed his eyes. "Giles?"

"I seem to be intact," he said putting his arm around Willow.

"Uh-huh."

"And just what does that mean?"

"Nothing... just that you two are the only ones who seem to get
through the night without anything happening," Xander answered.

"I wouldn't go that far," Riley said as he read a piece of paper.
"Wow."

"What is it?" Willow asked.

Buffy snatched the paper out of Riley's hands and her eyes practically
bugged out as she read it. "Oooo..."

In turn Xander grabbed the paper and his face paled as he read it.
"Gha..."

"Well?" Giles demanded.

"Kinda makes my belly rings seem not so bad," Xander said.

"Xander!"

"Know what ya mean," Riley said and was rewarded with a
painful swat from Buffy.

"Hey!"

"I'm just sayin-"

"I know exactly what you're saying..." she said through pencil thin
lips.

"Well, that makes one of us," Giles ground out. "Would you please
tell us what the *bloody* paper says?"

"Uhm..." Buffy mumbled. "Well..."

"Oh, for God's sake," Giles said as he strode across the room and
took the paper. "What could possibly be....so....oh..."

"What is it?" Willow asked anxiously. Giles looked like he was gonna
fall down.

"W-we.... w-we're..."

"Married," the rest chorused.

Willow laughed. "Are not."

Xander nodded seriously.

Willow looked to Buffy, who smiled weakly. "Congratulations?"

Willow moved to Giles' side and sure enough. It was a marriage
certificate and she was the bride and Giles was the groom.

"Maybe it's a fake," she suggested. "Look at the witness' signature."

"Elvis Aaron Presley," Giles read and brightened a bit. "Surely this
is some sort of joke."

"I don't think so," Xander said with a frown. "It's sort of coming back
to me... I remember seeing Elvis..."

"And he was singing..." Riley said trying to remember.

"Fools Rush In," Anya added helpfully.

"Apropos," Giles muttered, winning a frown from Willow. She wasn't
sure how she felt about being married, but she was pretty sure she
wasn't too keen on Giles' attitude.

"It's starting to come back to me," Buffy said slowly. "I.. I remember
Elvis... and... he was pretty good."

There was a general chorus of agreement from everyone except
Giles who looked stricken and Willow who was thinking unkind
thoughts about her new husband.

"I think I've got it!" Xander cried. "It was a wedding... see... Something
old," he said pointing at Anya's shoes.

"Something new," Buffy added pointing to Riley's chest.

"Something borrowed," Anya said as she picked up the stolen
STOP sign.

"And something blue," Riley finished not really needing to point
at Buffy.

"K... that makes sense in a Bizarro World sort of way... But what
were you?" she asked Xander.

He lifted his shirt and showed his belly. "I was the ring bearer."

Buffy noticed that her Watcher hadn't even looked up from the
certificate yet. "You okay, Giles?"

"Hmmm? Oh, yes. I.. I'm sure we can get this annulled."

"Annulled?" Willow cried.

"Yes, of course..." he said and then looked in her eyes. "I didn't
mean-"

"Oh, I think you made yourself perfectly clear," she said angrily.

"Willow-"

"I.. I.. I really need to go home now," she added quickly before
she could burst into tears. She sure as heck wasn't going to give
him the satisfaction.

"Willow, I..." Giles started, but couldn't seem to make the words
come out.

"Just don't," she said as she hurried into the bedroom.

Giles sighed heavily and started after her, but was quickly stopped
by a strong arm slayer.

"Buffy.. if you don't mind..."

"I do mind. I mind alot," she said angrily.

"I.. I didn't mean to..."

"Tear her heart out and squish it like bug?"

"I..I..."

"Where do you get off treating her like that?" Buffy demanded.

"I-"

"Do you have any idea how much a wedding means to a woman?"

"I-"

"He doesn't have a clue," Buffy said turning to Anya.

"Men," she said shaking her head.

Meanwhile Riley and Xander managed to melt into the
floorboards, hoping to fly under the female rage radar.

"Men... Too bad we can't bury all of you in a ditch!"

Anya looked confused. "Yes, you can."

"Tempting," Buffy ground out.

"I knew another man who betrayed his wife on their
wedding day... I gave him puss boils," Anya said.

"I like it," Buffy chimed in.

"On his parts.. you know... *those* parts."

"Even better!"

"I.. I.. I realize you think I'm... I'm a boor-"

"Being boring is the least of your problems, buddy!" Buffy bit out.

"No, I meant-" Giles started, but then thought better of
correcting the angry Slayer.

"Why don't you tell us what you meant," Buffy said tapping her
foot impatiently.

"I-"

"Another one I turned into a sow... in labor.. he gave birth to a record
22 piglets... very painful."

"Please, I-"

The door to Willow's bedroom opened and a red-eyed redhead appeared
holding her suitcase. She raised her head and sniffled. "I am going home,"
she managed, then her chin began to tremble.. "B-buffy..."

Giles started forward again, but Buffy and Anya shot daggers at him
and he had the good sense to stay put.

"We'll go with you downstairs," Buffy said gently as she took her suitcase
and opened the door. "Come on, Wills."

"But I-" Giles tried again and this time was met with a slamming door.
He heaved a despairing sigh and turned to Riley and Xander. "Thanks
so very much for your support."

"Hey... I'll fight a 40 foot snake for ya.. grapple with zombies and
demons galore.. but not that," Xander said in all seriousness.

"You got that right," Riley echoed.

"And.. you... well... you did act like butt head.. I mean, this is Wills,"
Xander said sadly.

"I know... Please," Giles begged. "Let me explain..."


Willow sighed again.

"Come on, Wills," Buffy said. "It'll be okay."

"Yeah," Willow said with another sigh.

Buffy led Willow down the aisle of the plane. "Our seats are
right up here."

"People are staring at me," Willow said. "They must know I'm a loser."

"I think they're staring at me, Wills."

Willow sighed. "Why wouldn't they stare at you. You're blond and
beautiful-"

"And blue..."

"Oh, yeah."

Buffy smiled at Willow and glared at the gawking passengers.

"Where's Xander?" Willow asked.

"He said he'd meet us... had something to do." Buffy
looked at Willow's oh-so-forlorn expression and hoped Xander
was knocking some sense into a certain poopy English poop.

"Oh," Willow answered listlessly. "Here I am walking down the
aisle again... I wonder if the stewardess will ask me to leave...
Annul me right off the plane?"

"Oh, Willow... Here we are," Buffy said and let Willow slide into
the window seat. "Can I get you a pillow? Or a blanket? Maybe
some peanuts? Salty goodness."

Willow shook her head and her face got just a little bit longer.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Buffy patted Willow's
leg gently. "Well, if you wanna talk about it-"

"That's exactly what I'd like to do," said an all too familiar voice.

Willow shrank back into her seat and forced herself to look out
the window. She was so not ready to face him.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy snapped.

"I'd like to talk to Willow," Giles said evenly.

Buffy looked to Willow who shook her head and gripped Buffy's
arm.

"I don't think she wants to talk to you."

"Buffy, please-"

"Where's Xander? Or did you do something mean to him too?"

"Buffy..." Giles began and then took a deep cleansing breath and
took the aisle seat next to her. "Xander gave me his ticket, so that
I could have the chance to explain to Willow."

She wasn't impressed.

Giles cleared his throat and leaned forward. "Willow, please-"

"Buffy," Willow interrupted.

"Yeah?"

"Would you please tell Mister Giles that I don't want to talk to him."

Buffy nodded and turned to Giles. "She doesn't want to talk to you."

Giles sighed. "Willow, please... Let me explain."

"Tell Mister Giles, that there's no need to explain. His intent was
perfectly clear."

Buffy nodded again. "She says that-"

"I'm not deaf," Giles ground out, but Buffy's expression told him he'd
be more than deaf if he didn't play along... shaking his head at the
absurdity of it. "Y-you were saying?"

Buffy smirked. "Willow says that there's nothing to explain."

"B-but there is... She... Willow," he said leaning further forward to
see around Buffy. "Willow.... I do want the marriage annulled-"

Willow gasped. "So you admit it!" she burst out and then caught herself
and sat back in her seat and turned to Buffy with forced calm. "Tell
him that I won't contest the... annulment..."

"She won't contest-"

Willow barreled on, "And he's as free as a bird.. as free as a big mean
Willow-hating b-b-bird..." Whatever composure she had crumbled and
Buffy glared at Giles while she put her arm around Willow's sobbing
shoulders.

"Willow, please.." Giles begged, reaching for her hand, but Buffy
slapped it away. "Ow... " He took a deep breath and forged ahead.
This was not exactly how he'd wanted this to go, but he couldn't
afford to waste any more time. "Willow..."

"Tell him I'm not talking to him," Willow sniffled.

"She's not talking to you."

"That's fine," Giles said. "Because all I want you to do is listen."

Willow grunted and Buffy dutifully echoed it, arms crossed over
chest for emphasis.

"I know when I found out that the marriage certificate was ours, I
reacted badly. I was surprised.... of course.. but I was.." He
frowned looking for the right word. "I was... disgusted."

Willow gasped and Buffy looked ready to slay.

"W-with myself," he added quickly. "Th-that I would do something
so... so unsavory."

Willow sobbed again and Buffy turned up her glare another notch.
"Okay, I don't know what that is. But if you want to savory your
butt, you'd better do a helluva lot better than this."

Giles waved her off. "I'm not explaining this very well."

Willow bit her lip to keep from wailing. Not only didn't he want her,
she was unsavory. She lacked savor. Was there anything worse?

"I felt sick," Giles continued.

And the wail escaped. It might have been a keen. Hard to tell really.

"Willow-" Giles said anxiously, trying to assure her. "I'm sorry I-"

"I think you need to leave now," Buffy said brooking no argument.

"Buffy-"

"Really.. Go.."

"We've already taken off. Where do you expect me to go?"

His answer was a raised eyebrow and wicked smirk.

Giles let out a deep breath and tried to calm down. "Buffy. Please.
Let me speak to Willow privately?"

"Hmm..." Buffy tilted her head to the side in mock consideration.
"No."

Giles sighed again. There was nothing for it. He didn't want an
audience, but apparently he had no choice and forged on.

*****

"Willow, what I'm trying to say and doing a miserable job of it is..
I love you... and... I wanted our wedding to be something
we couldn't forget... not something we couldn't remember."

"O-our w-wedding?" Willow asked softly.

"Our wedding?" Buffy echoed.. "I mean.. your wedding?"

"Yes," Giles said with a sigh. "I wanted it to be the perfect
day, not some drunken haze... I know it's selfish, but I wanted
to be able to remember the way you looked when you walked up
the aisle to my side.. I wanted to be able to sit back in my old age
and remember the way your voice sounded when you promised to
be my wife."

"Really?" Willow asked tentatively.

"Really?" Buffy said dreamily.

"I wanted to be able to tell our children how beautiful their mother was
on our wedding day."

"Wow," Buffy and Willow said at the same time.

"I've actually spent a... well.. an indecent amount of time
thinking about what our wedding would be like. What it should
have been like."

"Really?" Willow asked.

Giles reached across Buffy and took Willow's hand. "What
it will be like?" he asked tentatively.

Buffy's head pingponged back and forth between the lovers.

Willow's lips went suddenly dry. "Y-you... you mean..."

Giles took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes." He cleared his throat
and met her eyes with his. "Will you marry me?... Again?"

Buffy sniffed. "Yes... I mean... yes, she will... won't you.. she?
I mean you," she added turning to Willow. "You will won't you?"

Willow's eyes filled and she managed a nod.

Buffy sighed in relief and turned back to Giles. "She says
yes."

"Thank you, Buffy.. I think we can manage from here."

"Hmm? Oh.. right! Sorry." Buffy squeezed Willow's arm and
whispered, "Way to go, Wills." Then she inched her way past
Giles and into the aisle of the plane.

Giles slid over and took both of Willow's hands in his. He brought them
to his lips and kissed them tenderly. "Thank you," he said his voice
catching with emotion.

Willow smiled through her tears. "Why didn't you just tell me all this
before?"

Giles frowned and wiped away her tears. He shook his head and
looked down at their hands as a blush stole over his cheeks. "I'm
afraid I was embarrassed.... and things managed to spin out of control
so quickly."

"They do have a way of doing that, don't they?" Willow said with a smile.

Giles managed a soft chuckle. "Yes, they do." His laughter subsided
and he gently brushed his knuckles along her cheek. "I'm sorry."

Willow grasped his hand and leaned into his touch. "No more sorry.
We're done with the sorry."

"We are?"

"Yup. We're moving directly to the making up stage," she added with
a sly smile.

Giles felt his pulse race and his mouth go dry. He licked his lips and
leaned in closer. "Making up," he purred. "Any ideas where we should
start?"

Willow bit her lower lip. "I know where we should finish."

Giles groaned and took her mouth in a passionate kiss. He pulled her
closer, but the damn airline seats were not built for making up. He growled
his frustration and finally lifted her onto his lap. The last few hours of
anxiety and days of frustration fueled their passions.

Danger! Flammable.

"Just checking to see-" Buffy said and then stopped and covered her
eyes. "Or not to see."

Willow giggled and Giles grunted. Buffy peeked out from between her
fingers. "Is it safe to look?"

"Buffy," Giles sighed.

"What? You two were practically joining the Mile High Club."

"What's that?" Willow asked innocently.

"Yes, Buffy," Giles said, hoping to force the Slayer away.
"Why don't you explain it to us?"

"Oh, uhm..." Buffy hedged. "It's a club... you know with... secret
handshakes... and buttons and... you know, I'm just gonna go... go
back to the bathroom line... alot.. alot of nice people down there."

With a deepening blush, Buffy made a hasty retreat and Willow and
Giles went back to making up.

****

Buffy tapped Giles on the shoulder. "Cab's here."

He reluctantly came away from Willow's lips. "Hmmm? Oh, yes."
He kissed Willow again for good measure and then helped her
into the back seat. Never letting go of her hand, he slid in next to
her.

Buffy stood on the curb and watched the driver put the bags in
the back. "Not that one," she said as she grabbed her own suitcase.
"Take these two to the Four Seasons," she added as she closed the
door.

"Buffy?" Giles asked in confusion as he rolled down the window.
"What are you doing?"

"It's not what I'm doing. It's what you two are gonna do before you
pop a blood vessel. Go to the hotel.. I called from the plane, made a
reservation. So... go... do.... whatever.... and I'll see you both tomorrow,
okay?" Without any further explanation, she tapped on the roof of the
cab and the car pulled away.

*****

The room at the Four Seasons... well.. it was a room at the Four Season.
Capital P, Plush. But neither Willow nor Giles noticed the elegant decor
as they hurried into their room.

Giles was nibbling down Willow's neck when she pushed him away.

"I'm sorry... I... I..."

Giles lifted her chin. "What is it, love?"

"I guess.. now that it's happening... really happening and no one's going
to interrupt and we're really alone and... I guess I'm a little... nervous?"

Giles laughed and shook his head. "It's all right, love. Why don't you
take a shower and I'll join you in a few minutes?"

The smile she gave him as she left almost broke him. Shy and
wanton at the same time. He cleared his throat and shook his
head.

He busied himself for a few minutes, trying to give her a chance
to relax. The last thing he wanted to do was frighten her, but the
sound of the water and images of her under the warm spray were
finally too much. He stripped off his clothes and knocked on the
bathroom door.

"Come in."

He slid back the shower door ready with a witty remark sure to put
her at ease, but the words died on his lips as he saw her.

Her creamy skin was rose tinted from the warmth of the shower and
glistened, slickly wet. Her body was so very beautiful, but it was the smile
on her face and the look in her eyes that drew him in like the tide.

With both hands he reached out. Cupping the edges of her jaw with the
palms of his hands he stepped closer, drawing ever so nearer. And with his
hands gently bringing her mouth to his, he drank her kisses in like a man
lost in the desert.

The kiss was so overwhelming Willow needed to hold onto his broad
shoulders to stay standing. She leaned into him and felt his erection
trapped between their bodies.

They kissed under the warm spray until Giles finally pulled away to admire
her again.

Willow smiled under his scrutiny and returned the favor. He was amazing.
Her eyes traced his body and with a sigh she said, "You are so beautiful."

Giles laughed and shook his head "No, you're beautiful," he said and then
moved under the water to wet his hair. "I'm just damn lucky."

Willow watched as he tilted his head back and ran his fingers through
his hair working in some shampoo. She loved the way his chest muscles
moved and couldn't keep herself from touching them.

He gasped as her hands ran across his torso. Quickly, he rinsed and
took hold of her hands before she drove him mad. He kissed her again
and knew he'd better get her to the bed... and fast.

They toweled each other dry and then Giles picked her up and carried
her into the bedroom.

"I can walk, you know," she protested weakly.

"I know... I... Well... I like carrying you," he said sheepishly as he
laid her down onto the bed.

Willow grinned and pulled him to her side. "That's good... cause I like
being carried," she said with a kiss. "... and kissed..." She ran her
hands over his body. "...and things."

Giles groaned. "I'm quite partial... to things myself."

"Are you?" she asked as she licked his adam's apple.

"Oh yes," he sighed.

"Mmmm."

Giles couldn't wait any longer and eased Willow onto her back.
He slowly moved down the bed and gently brushed his hand over
one breast. He watched the nipple tighten and gave it a tender
lick as his hand moved to the other side. He tasted her skin, placing
soft kisses across her chest.

Willow could feel his arousal rubbing against her leg as he suckled
at her breasts. The drop of pre-cum eased the friction, but none of
the need. She could feel the heat growing in her belly and she drew in
a ragged breath filled with anticipation.

Giles moved back up to her side and took her mouth in deep kiss.
Willow ran her hand down his arm and found his hip. He gasped when
she took his length into her hand. He pulled back from the kiss and
looked into her eyes.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to last much longer," he said ruefully.

Willow smiled. "We have a lifetime together."

Giles nodded and smiled tenderly. "A lifetime."

He kissed her once more as he moved over her. "Are you sure
you're ready?"

"You have got to be kidding."

Giles laughed and took her mouth in a brief kiss. "I love you, Willow."

"I love you too."

Slowly, he filled her. The moment was everything they they'd dreamt it
would be. Everything they knew it would be.

With desperate slowness, Giles eased in and out of her. But with each
stroke his heart beat faster and faster, his own pulse urging him on.

He could tell she was close to the edge. Her eyes began to flutter and
her breath came in short gasps. She grew impossibly more beautiful.

Moments later, he felt her begin to tighten around him and knew he
was lost. The taste of her on his lips, the feel of her body surrounding
his were finally too much. Giles cried out her name as he filled
her with his soul.

Finally, the lovers were together and nothing would keep them apart
again.... until their honeymoon and that little problem with fifty Cuban
soldiers, Fidel Castro and the big illegal can of Spam.

The End