Title: Odd Couples
Author: Gileswench

Date: 5/9/04
Spoilers: Through Restless
Summary: Sometimes love doesn't look the way you expect it to.
Rating: FRAO
Pairings: Buffy/Giles, Xander/Joyce, Willow/Anya
Category: Romance/Challengefic
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.

Notes: This one is brought to you by the Double Trouble 'Make Xander Giles' step-father-in-law' challenge which requires the following:

1. Xander is married to Joyce.
2. Giles is married to Buffy. (note, this does not have to be pre-fic, as I would love to see the bachelor party with the guys...)
3. Xander teasing Giles about being his father-in-law.
4. Giles must call Xander Dad, and Xander must reciprocate with Son.
5. Anya and Willow as a couple. (Oh, it's cute)
6. Somehow work the number 13 into it.

Bonus Points Given:
1. Dawn is included. I somehow think she'd be hilarious trying to cope.
2. One couple catching the other in the first couples bed.
3. Confusion at a restaurant as to who is married to whom
4. Anya asking about someone's sex life.
5. Willow does a spell (Whether it works or not is up to you)
6. Fraggle Rock. However you want to do it...

Notes 2: Special thanks to the good folks at Fraggle Rocker.com who helped a poor, beknighted soul who'd never seen the show get at least some of the details right.

Dedication: To the double trouble duo, who inspired this flight of madness - but I have no use for the tattered remnants of your souls. And to the fabulous Gail Christison in extremely tardy recognition of your birthday. May you have many more years of joy and peace, my friend.

Giles stared distractedly at the mirror as he adjusted his tie and thought about change. The past few months had been brimful of it, starting with the night he performed the enjoining spell with Buffy, Willow and Xander to defeat Adam. He wasn't quite sure if that was the catalyst, or if it was a coincidence that everyone in the group had almost immediately taken stock of their lives and come to some hard decisions.

Willow and Tara had broken up the next day. Nobody was entirely sure why, and nobody wanted to ask Willow. Tara left and not been heard from since.

It took another week of constant bickering, but Xander and Anya had finally decided to go their separate ways, as well.

Buffy had been the last holdout in the breakup marathon, but when Riley came back from his parents' farm in Iowa two weeks later with three unexplained hickeys on his neck, she told him to march himself right back there and stay out of her life.

As a result, the four original Scoobies had spent much of the summer together. They'd gone to movies and the beach. They'd stayed at Buffy's house and played games. They'd done research at Giles' apartment. Through it all, Giles found himself watching Buffy's every move with new eyes; eyes that saw the lovely, self-assured woman she'd become in the time he'd been trying to convince himself that she was just a girl. There was no longer any question: Buffy was all grown up and very, very attractive.

He smiled at the memory of watching her frolic on the beach in a tiny, pink bikini that showed off her curves to perfection.

There were more changes along the way, as well.

Xander had finally settled down from a long string of dead-end jobs he never held for more than a week, and discovered he had an innate talent for carpentry. The day a demon burst into the Summers house and smashed the stair railing, Joyce called Xander as soon as Buffy had killed the creature.

Over the next few weeks, Xander spent a lot of time repairing things at Buffy's house. Giles had even begun to suspect that his young friends might be looking at one another in a new light. He'd been miserable at the idea, but determined to put the best possible face on the situation. After all, if Xander was happy and - more importantly - Buffy was happy, well, that would simply have to be enough.

Then, one day, Buffy appeared on his doorstep, white-faced and stunned.

"Buffy, whatever's the matter?"

He'd herded her to the sofa and sat her down while he checked her for injury. She gently disengaged herself and shook her head.

"There's no beastie, Giles. I'm okay. A bit wigged, but I think I'll live. Maybe."

She'd handed him the note at that point. He read it, crossed to the breakfast bar, and poured them both a stiff drink.

"Xander...and...your mother...? Eloped?"

"To Vegas, no less. Giles, my best friend is becoming my stepdad by the power invested in Elvis right this minute."

She took a drink of Scotch. Her nose wrinkled in distaste and she put it down immediately.

"I know it's somewhat...disconcerting, Buffy, but I hope you'll try to make the best of this."

"What best of this? I can't believe they did this. It's so unfair."

"Yes, I understand you're upset, but really, is it so very terrible? I know there's a...significant age difference, but...."

"You think it's the age thing? You really think I can't handle that? Giles, I dated a guy who had a ringside seat for the French Revolution. A little age gap is no big deal to me."

"Then what has you so upset?"

"They didn't invite me," she said in a small voice. "I wanted to be there, and maybe get to catch the bouquet. How many chances do you think I'll have to see my mom marry a guy as nice as Xander? 'Cause I gotta say, this is looking like a keeper situation about now."

"So...it's not the marriage, per se, that you object to?"

"No way. You've seen Mom the last few weeks. There's been major glowage. Not that I want to think about why, but I'm glad it's there, if you know what I mean. Like I said, I'm just feeling a little left out. Not to mention sorta jealous."

"Jealous...? Do you...you don't have feelings for Xander, do you?"

"Feelings? For Xander? Of course I have feelings for him; he's one of my best friends in the world. He's brave and funny and he makes my mom laugh. I'm crazy about him. But if what you're asking is do I want him for myself, the answer is a resounding 'uh-uh'. Never did, never will. He's just not my type."

"Oh?"

"I like my men a little older, and a little more mysterious."

"Mysterious, eh? And there's no mystery about Xander?"

"Not when I've got you around to puzzle out. In all the time I've known you, there's still so much I don't know. I mean, I think I know about the worst of it, with Eyghon and all, but there's still a lot that's all hidden away. It's more of a challenge like that."

"So you like a challenge, do you? And what was that about older men?"

She reached over, pulled his glasses off his nose and placed them carefully on the coffee table.

"And smart, like you."

She leaned in and kissed him softly.

Just like that, everything had changed.

Coming back to the present with a start, he smiled as he saw Buffy approach from behind.

"So," she teased, "you ready to meet the parents?"

"I've known your mother and Xander for years," he reminded her gently.

"Yeah, but tonight everything changes."

He turned and took her in his arms.

"Nervous?"

"A little," she admitted. "I mean, it's a big step. And I'm worried about Mom. She might freak, big time."

"I thought that was why you chose a restaurant to break the news; so she wouldn't have access to her kitchen knives."

He lowered his head and kissed her deeply. When she gave a tiny whimper of pleasure, he reluctantly pulled his lips from hers and drew her into a closer embrace.

"Later," he whispered in her ear. "After we talk to your mother."

"I hate later," she pouted. "It isn't now."

He chuckled indulgently and pressed one more kiss to her forehead.

"In a little while, later will be now. And when it is, I have every intention of picking up where we left off. As long as your mother doesn't order steak. If she has access to one of the knives, I may not be...quite up to it."

"I'm ordering pasta, then, so I don't accidentally up the weapons count."

They laughed as they headed out the door together.