A Trio Of Four: Part 10
by R A S
I don't own anything but this story. Joss and the WB own everything else.
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Part Ten
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Giles and Ms. Calendar drove by Willow's house. There wasn't a light on inside, but Giles knew he had to chance it. Getting out of his old, 'get one that goes faster car' (as Buffy had said) he walked up to the door and rang the bell. Minutes passed. No one answered. Knowing that it was clearly against the law, even in a place like Sunnydale, he tried the knob. To his surprise, the large object swung wide open, a cold and damp atmosphere greeting him.
"Rupert!" Ms. Calendar called from the passenger seat inside the vehicle. "What are you doing? That 'is' considered breaking and entering you know."
"They may be in trouble," he told her.
"It's dark in there. I doubt you're going to find--oh hey...I'm beeping." She pulled off her pager and looked at the returning number. "Rupert!!! Buffy just paged me!!!" She called to him.
"What!!! Right now you say?"
"Yes. It's her home number. I'm sure of it. Find a phone in there and try calling. Trust me."
"Yes. Alright." He disappeared into the house. Soon, a couple of lights flooded the space. Ms. Calendar followed shortly after.
"Buffy?"
"Giles? Where are you guys?"
"Willow's. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. Xander and Cordelia are here," she told him. "And Cordelia is making a total fool out of herself in front of Angel. You should see-"
"Angel's okay?" Giles seemed relieved.
"Yeah. A little shaken. But alright. We saw its true form, Giles. Angel says it's called a jinn."
"A jinn? A genie of some sort you mean?"
"Willow had an inscription on that lamp. We need to see it. She says it's in her bedroom by the PC."
"PC? I don't know if I-"
"Computer," Buffy told him. "Get over here and I'll explain everything, alright?"
"Well. Yes...yes of course. Good plan."
"I thought so. See you soon."
"Yes. Yes, goodbye."
Ten minutes went by, before Giles and Ms. Calendar arrived at the Summer's residence. Giles held the lamp within his grasp and handed it over to Willow, as soon as he saw her. Buffy told him what her and the slayerettes had figured out.
"Well, I must say. You have impressed me, Buffy."
"What, can't I have information sometimes?"
"Coming from the slayer...it surprises me...is all. Um...d...do you have any tea?"
"Do you ever drink anything else?" Cordelia asked him.
"It would be wise to keep our opinions to ourself...hmmm?"
"Okay. Alright. God." Reaching in front of her, Cordelia neatly claimed a miniature chocolate chip cookie and took a small bite out of it.
"So. Plan of action guys?" Xander asked, leaning comfortably in one of the Summer's armchairs, his feet perched casually upon the coffee table.
"I will have to do more research," Giles agreed. "But...in the meantime, we must try and get some rest. It shouldn't try anything more tonight."
"And what if it does? What then?" Willow asked.
"Am I thinking slumber party with Buffy Summers?" Xander questioned, looking pleased with himself.
"Xander," Buffy warned.
"Well...yes. Why don't you all stay with Buffy...or...at my place?" Giles suggested.
Everyone looked in his direction, mindlessly shaking their heads. "Or...not."
"So...where do you keep the stash?" Xander wanted to know.
"Stash?" Cordelia looked at him like he had two heads.
"Food. Munchies. Can't have a slumber party without the cheesy chips."
Ms. Calendar offered a smile. "His idea of a party sounds good."
"I guess I'll be leaving too," Angel said softly. "I can hide somewhere-"
"You're staying here," Buffy finished. "That's the end of it."
"Do I sense conflict and major kissage entering this room?" Xander quipped.
"You are so-" Cordelia started, then stopped. "Angel's staying here?"
"Give it up, Cordy," Xander told her.
"Oh, right Xander. That's coming from a guy who has never had a date on Saturday night."
"I resent that!"
"Maybe he just isn't looking in the right places," Willow hinted.
"Yeah!!!" He agreed.
"I'm retired for the night," Giles spoke up. He walked to the door. "C'mon Jenny. I'll take you home."
"Okay Rupert. See you tomorrow guys."
"Be careful," Giles advised.
"We will," Buffy agreed. "A slayer is never careless. You taught me that."
"Sometimes I wonder."
He left then with Ms. Calendar. Buffy calmly shut the door behind them. She turned to the slayerettes. "Who has the couch?" She called out.
"How about Willow," Angel brought forth. "She did have a pretty close call today."
"That's fine with me," Willow said.
"I get the floor?' Cordelia sounded devastated. "Where's your mom's room?"
"Oh...okay. But don't touch anything. Xander, the floor by the couch?"
"Sure," he agreed. "Oh, and let me guess. Angel gets first choice on the slayer's room?"
Buffy rolled her eyes at him, and motioned for Angel to follow her upstairs.
Xander grabbed for a pillow and blanket, as Buffy came down a second later and threw it to him.
When everyone had gotten settled, and all was dark, Willow opened her eyes and thought a moment. "Xander?"
"Hmmm?" Came the response from the floor.
"Do you ever wish...you could be somebody else?"
"Who did you have in mind, Will?"
"Anyone. Someone whose life is exciting...and boyfriendly."
"Then Angel," he said. "He may be undead, but he has the one thing I never will."
"What's that?"
"Buffy," he told her. "If only I could become him for a day...and see what it's like to have the slayer's heart."
"Do you think you'd have more feelings for me...if I were Buffy?"
"Will. My feelings for you are strong 'now'. You're me best friend. Don't ever change. I like you just the way you are."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Really. You'll always be my study buddy."
Had there been light, Xander Harris might have been able to catch the big smile that drifted by Willow Rosenberg's face...
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