TITLE: "What A Hoot!"
AUTHOR: ASH Watcher/Slayer Watcher
EMAIL: GGtheSlayer@aol.com
SPOILERS: Season Six, up to "Double Meat Palace"...spins off into AU
from there...
DISCLAIMER: Not my characters...otherwise B&G would be together and
Angel would be mine--sans the curse.
SUMMARY: After discovering the secret ingredient to the Double Meat
Palace's veggie-burgers, Buffy decides to find a different vocation.
Her new job is a secret...but not for long.
PAIRINGS: Buffy/Giles(eventually), Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya
RATING: NC-17 most likely. I'll rate each chapter accordingly.
DISTRIBUTION: Ash_WatchersFanfiction and Chosen Devotion, anyone
else, ask first.
DEDICATIONS: To Jen(Supermom11200) for the GREAT beta-ing!!! And my
Musey, Trish(TTrishaV)!! :)
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Ok, Dawn is living in L.A. and attending Hemery High
(courtesy of Hank-with Joyce's agreement). Giles is England--ya know,
so Buffy can stand on her own two feet. Tara and Willow haven't
broken up, Willow's going to Magicks Anonymous, Xander & Anya are on
their honeymoon in Puerto Rico. Spike who?? Joyce never died, and
she's remarried. Buffy is still going to UC Sunnydale, and sharing an
off campus apartment with Willow & Tara--and the Double Meat job was
for extra cash. This new mystery job, is for the same reason. Okay, I
think that covers everything. :) OH and Giles will be coming home to
Sunnydale, duhhhh. ;)
***************
"Will this night *ever* end?!" Buffy grumbled to herself.
Her new job was a lot of fun, most nights...but tonight, a group of
about ten single guys had come in. They were celebrating a Bachelor
Party for their "bestest westest buddy" Mark...who was getting
married the next day. Usually a group of guys didn't bother
Buffy...but this group had been drinking since walking through the
door...and had been especially "friendly" all night. She didn't know
how much more she could take, before forgetting the whole, "I'm the
Slayer...and as much as I want to hurt them, I know I can't" deal.
"Excuse me, Bufffffffffeeee?? Can we have another round of beers,
pleashe?" one of the partiers asked.
Buffy sighed, then headed towards the bar. Jake, the bar tender,
smiled sympathetically at the look on Buffy's face. He filled the
drink order, then handed Buffy the full beer glasses. She
waved "thanks", then walked back over to the table. She set the tray
down, then turned to leave...but one guy pinched her butt first.
Growling softly, she chose to ignore the groping, and instead went to
check on her other tables.
***************
Giles walked into the establishment. He'd been getting almost daily
phone calls, about his Slayer. It seems that she hadn't been seen
lately. Oh, she was still patrolling and attending classes, but as
Willow and Tara had explained, Buffy was never around anymore. The
two Wiccas knew she had left The Palace, but didn't know if she'd
gotten a new job. Buffy wasn't into sharing details about anything
new in her life...which is why they'd been calling Giles. Even Joyce
didn't know what Buffy had been up to lately. Of course, being a
newlywed, her attentions were focused elsewhere...but that didn't
mean she wasn't slightly concerned.
Since Joyce had married Ryan, Buffy and Joyce's relationship had been
getting stronger. That may have been due to the fact, that Dawn was
off living a new life in L.A., but who knew? So, Joyce too, had made
an over-seas phone call to Giles. She was worried about Buffy...and
that's how Giles found himself at Buffy's new place of employment.
Now granted, he wasn't even sure that Buffy *worked* here...and
seeing the atmosphere, he fervently hoped she didn't. Perhaps his
source was mistaken after all?
***************
"Hey Summers!" Jake yelled across the room.
"What?" she yelled back.
"Newbie at Table 12!"
Buffy nodded, then headed over to Table 12...she took a quick look to
make sure her shorts were still in the right place. And rechecked the
knot in her tight t-shirt...it was still tied under her breasts.
Grabbing a menu, she handed it to the "newbie" at the table. She
didn't bother making eye contact with the customer...she'd quickly
learned that it was easier on her, if she didn't. Lack of eye
contact, usually let the customers know that Buffy wouldn't take any
crap from them.
"Okay, here's your menu...do you want a drink while you decide on
what you want to eat?" Buffy asked...while looking at her shoes.
The customer looked at her, then ordered a Bud Lite. Buffy said she'd
be right back, then went and gave Jake the order.
***************
"Right this way, Sir," the hostess said, as Giles followed her.
He was shown to a small table, then was told that a waitress would be
right with him. He thanked the hostess with a kind smile. As he
waited for the waitress, he scanned the crowd, hoping, yet not
hoping, that he'd see a familiar face. Just then, the face he'd been
searching for came into view. She was walking towards the table
across from him and giving the customer her beer.
Buffy didn't see him, obviously...so he cleared his throat to gain
her attention. She spun around and froze in shock when she saw Giles
sitting there. He glared at her...she glared back at him.
"Cindy, I'm taking my break now!" Buffy yelled at her fellow waitress.
Buffy stalked outside, closely followed by Giles. Once she was sure
they were far enough away from prying eyes and ears, she let him have
it.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" she screamed at him.
"What am *I* doing here?! What are YOU doing here?!" he screamed back.
"Okay, for someone who's so smart, you sure are pretty dumb right
now. It's called *working*, Giles! You know, as in doing something,
and getting this green stuff called "money"....," she spat at him.
He rolled his eyes, then opened his mouth to give her some witty
reply...until he got a closer look at her work "uniform." Giles
couldn't believe his eyes...Buffy had on the smallest pair of shorts,
if one could call them that...and the smallest t-shirt he'd ever
seen.
"I know what working is, Buffy...what I meant, was why are you
working *here* of all places?"
"Well it's not like this was my first choice...I *had* a job working
at The Double Meat Palace in Sunnydale...but that sort of blew up in
my face. So, here I am...and in all actuality...this job is *way*
better than the last one. Now...*why* are you here...why aren't you
in England?" she asked.
"I'm here because your friends and family were worried about you. And
because you and I are close, they sought my help. Buffy, surely you
could tell them why you've not been around lately? Or are you ashamed
of this....job...?" he replied.
"I'm not ashamed...I *wanted* to work here...I mean, the people I
work with are so nice...and the customers are great! Well...most of
the time...but I'm not gonna get into that right now. I didn't tell
anyone, because I didn't want to. Just once, I wanted to have
something that was just mine...is that so bad, Giles?"
"Of course not, Buffy...how long have you been working here?"
"Um...three months, give or take...," she mumbled.
"Three months?? You mean to tell me, that you've been working here
for 12 weeks and *nobody* bothered calling me sooner about your
absence all of the time? Bloody hell!"
"Well hello! My mom didn't know I was the Slayer until two and a half
years after I was Called...so I'm not totally shocked she didn't know
I'd been "missing" for three months. As for everyone else...well,
Xander & Anya are on their honeymoon. Willow and Tara are busy with
school and the Coven they joined. Mom's busy enjoying her newlywed
status, as well as the house Ryan recently bought her. Everyone's
been too busy with their lives."
Giles frowned...then pulled Buffy into a hug. She was surprised by
her "stuffy" Watcher's moves...but returned the hug all the same.
"What time are you off, Buffy?"
"At 11:30...why?"
"Would it be all right if I picked you up and took you somewhere to
talk?"
"I guess so...sure."
"How'd you get here tonight?"
"I jogged half way, and took a cab the rest of the way..."
Giles frowned again. Then, she told him her break was almost over,
so he walked her back inside. She gave him a little wave goodbye and
he said he'd pick her up at 11:30. After she went back to work, Giles
headed for the nearest motel. He had to find somewhere to stay and he
had a few phone calls to make.
***************
"Hi, you've reached the home of Tara, Willow, and
Buffy. None of us can <giggling> come to the <hee>
phone right now. Please <laughing> leave your name, number, and
message after the beep."
"Hello Willow and Tara, this is Giles. I'm calling on the behalf of--"
"Giles?? It's Willow, sorry Tara and I just got home."
"Ah yes, hello Willow...."
"Hi, what's up? Didja find Buffy?"
"Yes, I did find Buffy. She's been in L.A., working."
"Working, in L.A.?? Where at?"
"Hooters."
Stunned silence on Willow's end...then a loud clang, as she dropped
the phone on the floor.
"Willow? Are you there? What's going on?"
"G-Giles? It's Tara...Willow's standing here muttering something
about "boobies" and Buffy. What did you say to her?"
"I simply told her that I found Buffy. She's working in L.A. at
Hooters."
"H-Hooters? As in the bar...with sometimes t-topless waitresses?
*That* Hooters??"
"Yes, Tara. That Hooters...oh, but small favors, Buffy's not
topless....though the shirt and shorts she wears are...oh never
mind...Look, just tell Willow that I'll be staying in L.A. tonight
with Buffy. All right?"
"Yes, okay Giles. I'll tell her....um, g-goodnight."
"Thank you Tara, and Good night."
***************
"Hello, Elliott residence, this is Ryan speaking, how may I help you?"
"Yes, hello...Ryan is it? Is Joyce available?"
"Sure, justasec..."
<few seconds later>
"Hello, Rupert?"
"Hello, Joyce. How are you?"
"I'm fine....have you found Buffy?"
"Yes, I have...she's in L.A. And she has a new job..."
"Oh that's good...what sort of job? Or do I really want to know?"
"<chuckle> Well, it's a waitressing job....at Hooters."
"Hooters? My daughter is working at...at HOOTERS?!?"
"Yes, for three months now, or so she told me."
"Three months?! Am I completely *blind* when it comes to her or what?
First, she's called as a slayer of vampires...and NOW she's
waitressing at some skanky place, called Hooters! That's it; I'm
coming to L.A. first thing in the morning. I'll re-schedule my
morning meetings and drive to, where is it she's staying?"
"I got a motel room, and she can stay with me tonight and I'll be
driving her home in the morning. I'll be certain to come by your new
house first thing, all right?"
"<sigh> All right Rupert, that'll work. Thank you....good
night."
"Good night, Joyce."
***************
At 11:30 on the nose, Buffy walked outside to wait for Giles. He
showed up about ten minutes later, and she got in his car. He said
hello to her and then they headed towards the motel. When they got
into his room, Buffy stood by the door, uncertain of where to go.
"Have a seat, Buffy...I'm going to freshen up a bit and then we can
talk. All right?"
"Sure thing...I'll uh, I'll be waiting right here....seeing as how I
have nowhere else to go."
He nodded, then sort of smiled, and then went into the bathroom.
Buffy sighed in relief when he'd closed the bathroom door behind him.
She thought of how her life had gone downhill since Giles had gone
back to England. Well, in retrospect, she supposed her life hadn't
gone *completely* downhill. She was gainfully employed and she was
passing all of her classes. Her mom was happily married to a really
great guy. Willow, Xander, Anya, Dawn, and Tara, were all in good
health. The only thing that seemed "off", had been the fact that
Giles wasn't in her life anymore. Okay, okay...maybe he was...he just
wasn't around anymore. He'd been the one person, she could really
talk to about slaying and now? Buffy sighed again. And then held her
breath, when Giles came back into the room.
He sat down on the bed, then patted the spot next to him. She smiled,
shyly, then sat down next to him. A few inches separated them, and
they sat there, in the awkward silence. Neither of them was willing
to make the first move, so the silence stretched on. Finally, Giles
cleared his throat, in preparation to speak.
"Urm, Buffy..."
"Yes, Giles?"
He took off his glasses and began polishing them with a handkerchief
he'd pulled out of his pocket. She smiled at the all too familiar
gesture. When he was done, he put them back on and in a totally
spontaneous move, leaned over and kissed her. Buffy froze in
surprise. Giles....was...kissing her?! Oooh, Giles was kissing her!
Waitasec...*why* was Giles kissing her? After a few seconds, he
pulled away. Then got up and began nervously pacing back and forth.
He glanced over at the bed, and was slightly amused at the stunned
look on Buffy's face. She was still sitting there, eyes closed, mouth
partially open. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and blushed when she
caught Giles staring at her.
When she managed to find her voice, she asked, "Okay...did you just
kiss me, or was that just a figment of my imagination?"
"Y-you di-didn't imagine that kiss, Buffy. I d-did kiss you...and I a-
apologize for it....I don't know what came over me."
She stood up, and walked over to stand by him. She reached up on
tippy-toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then leaned
up and kissed him passionately. He gasped and Buffy took the
opportunity to slip her tongue into his mouth. He moaned, then let
his tongue twist and duel with hers. In a few minutes, the kiss
ended, but only long enough for them to catch a breath or two. As
Buffy leaned in to kiss him again, Giles suddenly stopped her. She
pouted, then waited impatiently, for him to speak.
"Before we continue this...whatever this is...exactly where do you
want this to lead, Buffy?"
"Well...I kinda thought that the kissing would lead to, well, you
know....", she trailed off.
"No, I don't know. I do know where it *could* lead to, but I'm not
certain if where I want it to lead is the same place that *you* want
it to lead. If that even makes any bloody sense, that is."
"Giles...R-Rupert...wait, can I call you that? Nevermind...why don't
we just let the kissing go wherever it's meant to go? You
know...let's just go with the flow, so to speak. Unless...you...um, d-
don't w-want me, that is," Buffy replied cautiously.
"Oh Buffy...of course I want you...how could I not? You're beautiful,
smart, witty, and you have the most kindest and sweetest heart of
anyone I know. I...I want you more than anything, Darling. I...love
you, you silly girl...and I would love to show you just how much.
That is, if you'll allow me to?"
Tears streamed down Buffy's face as she launched herself into his
open arms. He laughed, delightedly and wrapped his arms around her
tiny waist. She peppered his face with wet kisses and then swooped
down onto his incredible lips for a hot and steamy kiss. He thrust
his tongue into her open mouth, and it swirled around hers in
imitation of what their lower bodies would soon be doing with each
other. He carried her over to the bed and without breaking the kiss,
laid them both down. Their arms and legs were linked together, and
the kissing continued on and on.
***************
TO BE CONTINUED...MAYBE? ;)
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