Title: Odd Couples
Author: Gileswench

(notes and disclaimer with part one)

That night, two very different parties convened in two very different places across town. In Joyce's living room, there were ribbons and flowers and heart-shaped balloons and tiny sandwiches filled with such exotic delicacies as watercress and smoked salmon with fresh dill. A tumble of prettily wrapped boxes sat on a folding table, most no doubt filled with a mix of satin and lace temptations meant for the honeymoon and practical items for the kitchen.

In a private room in the back of The Bronze, a group of men sat drinking beer and whiskey or - in the case of the underage host - Coke, and eating Buffalo wings, onion flowers and stuffed potato skins. They spoke in loud voices and gestured broadly.

The only thing the two parties had in common was the nervous discomfort of the guests of honor.

Willow had invited some college friends to Buffy's shower, with the result that Buffy had to censor herself and pretend that any reference to stakes was some arch sexual pun. Nobody had actually raised the question yet, but she was hyper-aware of the need to be discreet, which always made her feel as if she wanted to get on the coffee table and yell to the room all about vampires and demons and things that go bump in the night. That virtually guaranteed that she'd make a verbal slip at some point. Added to that, Willow had - for some reason passing understanding - invited Cordelia to the party. Despite time and distance, She wasn't sure how comfortable she was with that. As for how Cordelia would react when she discovered her ex-boyfriend had married Buffy's mother, well, that was anyone's guess.

As for Giles, Xander had done his best, but throwing a bachelor party for someone who has essentially no male friends in the country makes it difficult to draw up a guest list. Thus it was that Spike, Angel, and Wesley were all invited to the festivities. Wesley had even brought along a friend - a young black man called Gunn - to make up numbers.

Then, too, Angel had brought expensive cigars for everyone. While Giles appreciated the vampire's attempt to be gracious as he watched another man marry the girl he loved, the smoke was another added difficulty. In his Ripper days, Giles had been a two-pack-a-day man. When he'd had money, he'd paid. When he hadn't, he'd stolen. When Ethan could get cigars, he'd luxuriated in them. He'd given up the habit years ago, but the longing was still there when he smelled smoke. Now the room was heavy with it. The feeling, he supposed, must be something akin to the feeling an alcoholic would experience on entering a busy bar.

He sat in a corner, nursing his beer and longing for the party to end so he could go home and read a good book.

"Quite a party, eh?"

Giles looked up at Wesley with barely-concealed distaste.

"If one likes this sort of thing," he said quietly.

Wesley nodded and sat.

"I know it must be awkward for you, having Angel here. And I know you've never cared much for me, either. Whatever our past relations, though, both of us wish you well."

"Thank you."

They sat silently for a while. Wesley felt a desperate need to fill the silence.

"Xander seems to have matured a good deal since last we met," he offered.

"Yes. He's found himself in the past few months. Marriage agrees with him."

"Marriage...? Ah. I suppose he married Anya."

Giles chuckled.

"Actually, he married Joyce Summers. He's not only my friend and a Scooby; he's about to be my father-in-law, as well."

"Joyce? But didn't you...at one time...?"

His voice petered out, but Giles heard the rest of the question hanging unsaid in the air.

"Fancy her? No. No, I didn't. And she quite frankly detested me for a very long time. Over the years, though, we've...we've reached a friendly truce, one might say. Given a bit more time, we may finally become friends. At least she's raised no objection to my marrying her daughter; a gracious gesture for which I'm truly thankful."

Wesley shook his head.

"Still...Joyce and Xander? I would never have guessed it."

"I don't suppose it's any more surprising than Buffy and me."

"Trust me, it's a great deal more surprising than you and Buffy. I knew, even then."

"I'm sorry?" Giles puzzled. "What did you know when?"

"At the Prom. When you called me a blueberry scone. You were talking about yourself then, weren't you? And I did notice that before the words were entirely out of your mouth, you were taking your own advice."

Giles took a long look at his companion. At last he nodded slowly.

"You know, Wesley, there may be hope for you yet."

"And possibly even for you."

The two men laughed and toasted one another with their plastic beer cups.

*****

Buffy did her best to stifle a sigh of boredom and frustration. she knew Willow was just doing her maid-of-honorly duty by planning a very traditional shower, but it wasn't the sort of gathering Buffy enjoyed. Everything was scheduled down to the minute. So much time for food, so much for stupid, embarrassing games, so much for present-opening, and so much for idle chatter until it was time to say good-bye. If she could just get through the games, she felt sure she could ignore the urge to hit something.

She'd come in dead last in every game about housekeeping and cooking. Particularly embarrassing was the game where small amounts of common kitchen spices and ingredients were passed around in paper bags and everybody had to guess what was in the bags by smell. When she had failed to identify Giles' favorite tea and even lemon peel, she felt incredibly stupid. All she could think was if there had been samples of dirt from each Sunnydale cemetery, she'd have won hands down. If they'd been offered vials of blood from different demon species, she'd have had no problem with that. But faced with cumin and dill and turmeric, she was utterly stumped. Worse, Anya was doing better than she was. Anya. The girl who hadn't even been human two years ago knew more about spices than Buffy who had been very human and very mortal all her life.

And Willow looked pleased with that result. What was up with that? Willow and Anya had hated each other from the first. Now, suddenly, they were being buddies and it wigged Buffy.

Worse even than that was realizing that the only other person in the room bothered by it was Cordelia. Being on the same side as Cordy was a not a feeling she'd ever relished.

At last the games were over and Willow announced that the present-opening portion of the night's festivities could finally begin.

Willow picked up a notepad and pen. So did Anya. Buffy frowned.

"What's with the scribiness?" she asked.

"I'm going to write down who gave you what, so you'll know for sure when you write the thank-you notes," Willow announced cheerfully. "Y'know, in case any of the cards get lost or stuck with the wrong thing."

"Oh. Yeah. Good idea. And Anya?"

"I'm writing down the first thing you say about every gift."

Buffy blinked.

"And you're doing this because...?"

"Then I'm going to read it out at the end and tell everyone it's what you're going to say on your wedding night with Giles when you have sex. It will be hilariously inappropriate."

Buffy made a strangled sound in her throat and looked to her mother for assistance.

"Now you know why Xander and I eloped," was all Joyce said.

Cordelia sighed, got to her feet, crossed to where Anya sat and plucked the pen and paper from her hands.

"We're just going to skip that game," she announced, her eyes daring anyone to object to her pronouncement. She turned to Buffy and smiled. "I think it's safe to open them now."

Across the room, Buffy watched Daphne Giles stifle a laugh and smile in her direction. She smiled back a bit shyly. Perhaps she had a potential friend in Giles' mother, after all.

*****

Giles chatted with Wesley for a while, and was surprised at how much he enjoyed their talk. The younger man had matured since his time in Sunnydale. So much so that Giles wondered what had happened to him. Whatever it was, he suspected it probably wasn't terribly pleasant, but had done wonders. Perhaps all Watchers needed to be fired to find themselves. The system coddled them in an odd way. He knew he had grown most as a person in the time he'd spent with Buffy and her friends. Too much had happened to retain the strange naiveté he'd displayed when he'd assumed the Slayer would be eager to resume her duties simply because he shoved a book in her face.

Looking back, he had to admit he'd been a bit of a prat himself when Buffy walked into his library and turned his world upside down. He'd presented himself as the adult and the voice of authority, but he'd long had the sneaking suspicion that she was the one who made him grow up.

He was roused from his thoughts when he became aware of another presence at his side. Despite time and distance, he couldn't help stiffening just a little as his new companion sat down.

"Angel," he acknowledged.

"Giles," the vampire returned. "You didn't take a cigar."

"No, I didn't."

"Is it...is it because of me?"

"No, no," he hastened to assure his guest. "Nothing like that. It's just I packed it in a long time ago, and I don't wish to start smoking again. I know you meant well, but it's a bit like offering you a pint of fresh human blood."

Angel nodded.

"Too much and never enough," he said. "Sorry. I just...I wanted....look, about Buffy...."

"Yes?"

"You know she's the most important thing in the world to me. If there was any way I could be with her, I'd never have let her go."

"Yes, I know that," Giles said with a soft sigh.

"I can't be with her, but I have to make sure she's okay. I have to know she's happy. Is she? Is she happy?"

"Yes, Angel, she is. She's happy with me."

The vampire nodded a bit glumly.

"Yeah," he said. "I guess she is. She called when you guys got engaged. Didn't want me to hear the news from someone else. She was trying to do me a favor, I know, but...it wasn't. Not really. I could hear it in her voice - how happy she was. How much she loves you."

"Then why did you have to ask me?"

Angel shrugged.

"Guess I just needed to hear if you felt the same."

"Did I pass your test?"

"With flying colors, Giles. Just like I knew you would."

The vampire rose and slid away without a backwards glance.

"What an odd fellow."

Giles jumped slightly at the sound of his father's voice.

"How long have you been standing there?" he asked.

"Not long. Long enough to know you and that chap have a history. And long enough to know he has one with Buffy as well."

"That was Angel."

Ernest glowered.

"Whose potty idea was it to invite that bloodsucker?" he huffed.

"I haven't many male friends over here, Dad. And if it's any consolation, Xander doesn't like most of the guest list, either."

"If you'd like a bit of advice from me, you'll make a few friends. This isn't much of a stag night. Watching you glare at the guests isn't entertaining. And you won't even have a smoke after that vampire spent good money on cigars. I've seen more cheerful funerals. If the stripper doesn't get here soon, I'm off to see if Buffy's shower is more lively."

"No you bloody aren't! I need an ally here tonight. Since they're in short supply, you'll have to do. And to the best of my knowledge, there isn't going to be a stripper."

"No?"

"No."

Ernest took a long puff on his cigar.

"It's not a proper stag night until somebody gets their kit off."

"You're damn well leaving yours on."

"At least you're not taking yours off. I remember a time when you'd have been the first one dancing on a table, smoking anything you could get your lips around and offering to interfere with the stripper. It's a wonder you weren't arrested."

"I was nineteen years old, and rather disgustingly drunk at the time. And they tried to arrest me, remember? Someone made the coppers forget why they came."

"Well, I could hardly let them lock you up in a cell, could I? You were my only son. It would have hurt your career."

"I did far worse, later."

"And I took care of it. Rupert, those were dark days for all of us. Your mother can't think of that time without crying. To this day, she suffers because of it. And, I imagine you do, too. Lord knows I prefer not to think of it." He shook his head, as if to force the memories out of it. "The important thing is we're all still here. And you made something of yourself. Something...well, not perhaps what I'd imagined when they told me I had a son, but...you might have done a great deal worse with your life, Rupert. You might easily have let the darkness swallow you whole until it killed you. You didn't." He patted Giles awkwardly on the knee. "Now, let's forget about all that. It was a long time ago, and it's done with. Tell me more about Buffy. If she's going to be my daughter-in-law, I want to know everything there is to know."

Giles grinned from ear to ear.

"She's amazing, Dad. I've never known anyone like her. She's got one of the highest kill ratios of any Slayer in modern times...."

"Not that," Ernest scolded. "I can read that in the reports. Tell me something interesting about her."

Giles' eyes got a happy, faraway look. His smile widened.

"She's the most dreadful taste in music, for a start...."

*****

Buffy untied the ribbons on yet another box. All around her on the sofa were open boxes spilling their contents of satin and lace teddies, nightgowns, camisoles, and bustiers. Nestled among these frothy dainties were more practical gifts: wooden spoons, a pretty pitcher for cool drinks, his and hers matching bathsheets, an elegant silver picture frame, some tea-related items.

This box, however, made her a little nervous. This was the one from Giles' mother. She opened it, half expecting to find a chastity belt and a tweed-covered etiquette book inside.

She didn't.

"Woah." Her breath caught. "This is...it's gorgeous."

"Well?" Willow prompted. "Let us see."

The gown was a shade of pink so pale it was almost white. The fabric was hazily sheer and silky to the touch. Buffy guessed that the hemline would fall just to the tops of her feet, but both the front and back had very low necklines. There was a matching negligee dotted with raised silk flower petals that looked almost real and tiny crystal seed beads that sparkled and winked in the light. By candlelight, this would be even more spectacular.

"Oh my God," Cordelia breathed. "That had to be way expensive. Workmanship like that does not come cheap."

"True," Daphne said, "it cost me a good few hours, but time passes quickly when one is doing something one enjoys."

Everyone looked dumbfounded.

"You - you mean...you made this yourself?" Buffy squeaked.

"Well, one doesn't like to boast, but yes, I did. From my own design."

Joyce was the first to recover enough to speak.

"You don't happen to do maternity wear, do you?"

*****

When Giles got home that night, he was surprised to see a light on inside. He moved in cautious silence to the door. It was unlocked. Opening it as quietly as he could, he slipped inside and took a firm hold of the baseball bat he kept by the entry for emergencies. Candles flickered in his bedroom, but he couldn't see who was there. He made as little sound as possible on his way up the stairs.

At the last moment, he leapt into the room with a fierce battle cry.

No one was there.

He looked more carefully.

Still no one.

He snorted in disgust when he heard a the toilet flush downstairs. Heading down, still brandishing his baseball bat, he flipped on the lightswitch just as Buffy came out of the bathroom. She jumped.

"What the...Rupert! Don't startle me like that!"

"And what about the fright you gave me?" he demanded. "I nearly had a heart attack just now."

"Yeah, well, then we're even," she grumbled. "I wanted to give you a nice surprise."

"What sort of surprise? Skyrocketing blood pressure?"

"Well, raising your blood pressure was sort of part of the idea, but in a good way."

He grinned wolfishly and set down the bat.

"What good way is that?"

"A preview of wedding night nighties, courtesy of tonight's shindig at my mom's. Guess what I'm wearing under this."

He held her at arm's length and scrutinized her soft sweater and suede skirt. His eyes danced as he considered what scraps of lace, silk, and spandex might be hidden underneath.

"I've not the faintest idea," he said at last, "but whatever it is can't possibly compare with what's underneath that."

"Smooth, evasive, yet incredibly romantic," she giggled. "Come on upstairs and I'll show you."

"Give me ten minutes to take a shower," he said. "Angel brought cigars and I imagine I smell rather appalling."

"I didn't want to say, but you aren't at your shower-fresh best. Did you have a good time? Is there a stripper somewhere I need to tell to get her paws off my guy?"

"No, no stripper. I think Xander was worried what your mother would say to that. How was your party?"

"Demon-free, unless you count Anya, and she's an ex. It's the first party I've been to in a long time where no dead people showed up. That puts a big check in the plus column. And your mom is really something. Wait until you see what she gave me."

"Are you wearing it under that?"

"Saving it for the big night. Now go. Shower. Then come up to bed and tell me all about your bachelor bash."

He leaned down and kissed her.

"Sure you won't join me?"

"Tempting, but I think I'll pass this time. Don't keep me waiting long."

She smiled at him as she moved to the stairs. He watched for a few steps, then turned and headed for the bathroom.