Chapter Four

Willow curled her legs under her as she shifted on the couch.  She had the phone at one side, a window at the other, and a pop-tab on her soda to fiddle with.  The accessories didn't make her any more comfortable, however.

"I went out on a date, only I didn't know I was.  It was a girl and we were waiting out a storm in a doughnut shop.  We were just talking, but then I suddenly found out it was a date because she…..well, now I feel like I led her on and I feel all bad."  She glanced out the window before resuming her attack on the pop-tab.  "I know, but I still feel bad.  Maybe I should have known.  It's Gay Pride days here so I could have guessed, and now I'm scared to walk down that way in case I see her.  You know what?  Sometimes I feel like there are these vast places where everybody else knows what's going on except me."  She paused, listening, then smiled.  "You too, huh?"  Willow stopped again for a moment.  "No, I'm sure because she….."  She lowered her voice to a bare awkward whisper.  "She kissed me.  I didn't see it coming.  I thought she was just reaching for the sugar.  And now I'm feeling all weird.  I didn't know I was leading her on.  I mean, I've never led anyone anywhere.  I've tried but it always comes out wrong."

She let go of the soda can as another smile went across her face.  Buffy, coming into the room at the side, halted at the sight.

"Yes, I'm all right.  Really, I am.  You don't have to come out here," Willow said.  "Anyway, you shouldn't come because….."

Buffy backed quickly out of the room.  In the kitchen, she exchanged a wide-eyed look with Xander and said softly, "She's on the phone.  Something *did* happen, Xan, because Oz is ready to drop everything and rush to her aid."

"It's got to be another guy then," he replied in the same quiet tone.  "I seem to recall someone making a promise over a three of hearts that they would do the Dragnet thing."

Buffy sat at the table.  "I can't do that to Willow."

"You've done it to me."

She shrugged.  "Yeah, that was fun."

Xander opened his mouth, then shut it quickly when Willow's raised voice came out to them.

"Oh no!  Why didn't you tell me?  Are you ok?  Did you need stitches?"

Xander and Buffy stared at each other as Willow continued unhappily, " I know you've staked vampires in the past, but this time you were all alone.  What if there are more?  Maybe I should get Buffy."  After a minute, she added, "I'll tell her.  Are you sure you're ok?…..All right.  I'll talk to you then.  Bye."

Buffy stood immediately when Willow came into the kitchen.  "Is he all right?"  Willow blinked and Buffy added quickly, "I didn't mean to hear….."

"He's fine.  He got scraped but he didn't need any stitches."

"We have to go there.  Where is he?  Can we get to him before nightfall?" Buffy questioned, all business, but stopped at the puzzled expression on Willow's face.

"He's in Sunnydale, Buffy."

"I thought Oz was touring."

Willow frowned.  "He is.  He's in Ohio."

Buffy caught Xander's look before asking, "Then, was that Giles?"

"No, it was Wesley.  Why would you think it was Oz or Giles?"

"Um," Buffy gave Xander a 'help-me' look but he shook his head quickly, eyebrows raised.  Buffy turned back to Willow.  "Your voice was, um, warm-fuzzy, Will, and I just thought….."

Willow flew back a step.  "Warm-fuzzy?  It was not!"

She turned to Xander who said, "Definite fuzzies there, Will, and quite a few warm spots.  I'd even say some were smoldering."  He abruptly straightened as it hit him.  "Wait.  You've been talking to *Wesley*?"

"Yes, in case something should happen in Sunnydale and he has to get hold of Buffy and there were *no* fuzzies!  We were only talking!"

Bewilderedly, Buffy said, "And *Wesley's* ready to leap down here to protect you, Will?"

"But that's what Watchers are like," Willow said.  "Giles is."

"Yes," Buffy said quietly.  "*Giles* is."

A whirl of emotions passed over Willow's face.  Finally she crossed her arms over her chest defensively.  To calm her down, Buffy said quickly, "I'm sorry, Will.  I didn't mean…..that is….."

She turned to Xander for support, but he could only repeat dazedly, "Wesley?"

Buffy tried again, "Will, I know you would never be unfaithful to Oz."

Willow abruptly deflated, as if Buffy's words had punched her.  Looking as though she might cry now, she said, "That's hardly possible at the moment."

Raising both hands helplessly, Buffy said, "All right, I don't have a clue what's going on.  This is me being seriously confused."

"I've been talking to Wesley because he's worried about you, Buffy, and you won't talk to him.  I guess that's kind of like going behind your back, but it isn't because I've been worried about you too, and….." Willow looked at Xander.  "And so has he."

Xander jumped.  "Only because you were doing that whole depression thing, Buffy," he said hastily.  "Which has cleared up nicely, by the way."

"Oh," Buffy managed.

"And Oz is….."  Willow trailed off.

"In Ohio," Xander finally finished.

"Oz is decent," Willow said.  "He's very, very decent."

When it didn't look like she was going to say anything more, Xander said, "Well, there you go.  No wonder he left."

"It *is* why he left," Willow replied softly.  "Something happened, Xander, that I never told you.  My parents…..caught me and Oz."

"Caught?" Xander asked.

"As in *caught*," Buffy emphasized.

A second later, he got it.  "Oh.  Oh!"  Then he added uncomfortably, "Oh, Willow."

"My parents, um," Willow took a breath.  "They said…..well, it wasn't good, and Oz and I tried to deal with it but, finally, he said he couldn't come between me and my parents.  When he left to tour, he *really* left.  He's coming back in September, to see me then.  He asked me to work out what was best for me, but he won't…..he refuses to make me choose between him and my parents."

Buffy took a step forward.  "Oh Willow, I'm so sorry.  I wish you'd told me."

Willow tried to shrug but it came out lopsided.  "Buffy, you were so down and I didn't want to make you worse.  I've been trying hard to…..God, why is everything so complicated?"

Buffy hugged her.  Xander rose and moved forward, but halted uncertainly.  Willow looked over at him, then at Buffy, and said, "Wesley and I aren't----"

"Sorry, Will," Xander said.  "It sounded that way, that's all."

"He worries too."

"I…..suppose," Xander tried.  "But he seems mainly worried about you, Will."

Buffy shot him a glare and he twitched.  "Hey, support here, Buff.  We were both thinking it."

"I'm supporting Willow right now," she said.

"You can do both at the same time."

"Guys!" Willow burst out.

"Sorry," Buffy and Xander said sheepishly, and Buffy added, "Ok, and getting back on track, I'm thinking I should return to Sunnydale because Wesley will get himself killed if he tries to patrol anymore, it sounds."

"We'll all go back," Willow said.

"You don't have to," Buffy said but Willow shook her head.

"Parental issues, remember?  Me and Xander alone here?"  Her expression changed.  "And, you know what?  I am *sick* of doing everything my parents tell me!  *I'm* an adult!  And if they can't trust me by now, then that's their problem, not mine!"

Buffy stared at her.  "Willow, uh, subtle approaches work too.  You don't have to go all out, in their face."

"I'm tired of this!"

"Ok, fine," Xander tried uncertainly.  "But I don't want to be an issue with your father 'cuz he's frightening when he does that stare-of-doom thing."

Willow sighed as she left the kitchen.  "I'm going to pack."

---

Cordelia eyed Giles as he came in.  "You're wet."

"It's raining."

"I guess both of us like to state the obvious, eh?"  But the humour fell flat.  "You're not getting grouchy again, are you?"

Giles shook his head.  "No, Cor."

"Look.  I made spaghetti," she said, leading him to the table.  "I wasn't quite sure how long to cook it, so some of it's a little sticky.  I put that part on your plate."

A quick smile ran across his face.

"The sauce comes out of a jar.  Are you supposed to heat it up because I didn't, but we could put it in the microwave.  Oh, and I was going to make garlic bread but I wasn't sure about the garlic part, so I made bread and butter.  Would you light the candles?"

He glanced at the table, at the precise way she'd laid the plates and silverware.  She'd even folded the napkins into little boats.  "It looks wonderful," he said, as he got matches.

"I know," she said, giving the table a quick once-over.  "I'm very good at the hostess part.  It's the cooking."

"I'm sure it will be fine."

They settled down to eat.  It wasn't bad, Giles found, and the sauce had warmed up somewhat from the noodles.  And she had made the effort.

"It's delicious," he said.

"No, it isn't."

"Yes, it is."

Cordelia smiled.  "Stay delusional.  It’s better for me."  She took a sip of her water.  "When we get home, I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor."

Giles put down his fork.  "Are you feeling ill?"

"No, duh.  It's what pregnant women are supposed to do.  I'm pretty sure, anyway."

"They also have food cravings and attend mysterious child birth classes," he mused.

"That last part we do together.  You're supposed to be with me when I'm in labour."

"The thought of being in a room with you while you're suffering extreme pain doesn't appeal to me."

Cordelia paused, shocked, then caught sight of a grin at the corners of his mouth.  "Rupert, you bastard!"  She hit him, and not gently.  "You're *going* to share in that beautiful moment if I have to tie you to my bed rail."

"I suppose my part will be ensuring sure you're well drugged during it."

"There is stuff for the pain, isn't there?"

He caught the small tremor under her voice.  Taking her hands in his, he said, "Don't be afraid, Cor.  I'll be there."

She relaxed under his touch and he assumed he'd said the right thing.  The rest of the meal and the evening passed easily, but, that night in bed, she suddenly turned to him and asked, "How bad do you think the pain is?"

"Oh, honey."  Giles dropped his book and gathered her to him, abruptly feeling ineffectual.  "We'll go to the doctor together, shall we?  I'm sure there are ways to make it easier and, at the end of it, you'll be holding our child."  He kissed her forehead.  "I'll be there with you.  I promise."

"Yeah, if something hellmouthy doesn't come along."

After a moment, he said, "There's Wesley.  Buffy can call him."  Giles' throat felt raw as he spoke, and he shut his eyes tightly as she settled against him.

---

Chapter Five