FIC: Is This Really Happening?

[montevallo64@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Hi!
Sorry it took so long, but here is the next part.

DISCLAIMERS: In the first parts, leave me alone anout them.
NOTES: [ ] thinking; "" speaking
THANKS: to honoured fool for checking over my work.


Giles absently stirred his tea while in thought. [How could Joyce 
treat Buffy this way? Buffy has managed to have a life, protect and 
save the world on two seperate occasions! Let alone the fact that she 
is one of the oldest slayers in history.] Giles set down his tea and 
rushed out to his car.


The morning light bathed two figures in sunlight. Buffy held Willow 
close, just watching the woman she loved sleep. [God, I can't believe 
I almost lost her!] The red head snuggled in closer to Buffy, leaving 
the slayer to try and calm down her ecsatic heartbeat. [I wouldn't 
have been able to let her leave forever. I was just so upset, but 
it's okay we're together.] Buffy told herself this again and again, 
and had been since Willow had fallen asleep. [But there is still one 
problem: Mom.]

Joyce Summers straggled into the kitchen, trying to start her day 
right with her jumbo cup of coffee.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

[Who would come here this early?]

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"I'm coming! Just a minute!" Joyce opened the door. "Hello Mr. Giles. 
What do you want?" Giles's eyes widened at the lack of emotion from 
the woman.
"Yes well, hello. Could I come in? I would like to talk to you."

The Sunnydale Mall was packed with Christmas shoppers frantically 
searching for the perfect gift. "I'm sure glad that I already got you 
guys your presents." Willow said on fear, as she watched mad mothers 
fighting over toy dolls and fathers searching for a decent gift.
"Speak for yourself Wills. I, for one, find it very fun to go 
shopping at the last minutw! I-Ow! Anya?!"
"You haven't gotten my present yet?!" Buffy grinned when Xander 
looked at her for help.
"Payback's a bitch." Buffy grabbed Willow's hand and pulle dher away 
from the arguing couple before she atrted laughing. "So my lovely 
Wicca,what are yo doing for the holidays?"
"I was thinking of telling my parents that I want you to come over 
for the holidays." Buffy stopped walking.
"Are you serious?!" Willow put her hand on the slayer's shoulders, 
effectivley ending the would have been rant.
"Buffy my parents wouldn't ever notice anything between us! You know 
how they are!"
"I don't know Wills. What if they actually pay attention to you this 
Chr- Chanukah. See we don't even celebrate the same holiday!" 
"Buffy." The blonde stopped and dropped her hands, which she had been 
gesturing with. "You're coming over for the holidays and that's that. 
See? Resolve face. Now lets go find Xander before Anya hurts him too 
badly."
"Yeah. I bet you he finds a present for her real soon now."


What had started out as a strained, but calm conversation had quickly 
turned into a screaming match. "I can't believe anyone would be as 
callous as you have and just disown their daughter! Again!" Joyce 
reeled back as if she had actually been hit.
"What gives you the right to talk to me like that?! Your not even 
family, it doesn't matter what you think!"
"Well it might not matter to YOU, but to BUFFY my opinion counts for 
just as much as yours! And I think right now she would be inclined to 
agree with me. Right now your daughter is miserable because of how 
you handled all of this!" Joyce glared at the Watcher, fixing hin 
with her best death stare.
"I told her what she has to do. Now I don't want to see ouy, or that 
other one, or anyone else from your little group! Not until Buffy 
comes back to hr sense! Until them get the hell out." Giles stared at 
the woman standing before him, wishing he could change how she felt.
"Fine then. I hope you can live without your daughter, because unlike 
you, there is no way she or Willow will give up theire love for each 
other. I hope you have a nice, normal life without your daughter in 
it."

Xander opened the door opened the door to Giles's "I don't think we 
have enough...Oh, Wow!" All around the room there was Christams 
decorations, garland, mistletoe, and a menorah. Xander dropped the 
bags he was holding when he saw the tree. "I- I-" Buffy walked into 
Xander, then turned in a circle taking everythin in.
"Either Giles was really bored, or ther is a weird new demon." Willow 
swatted her girlfriend on the butt.
"Don't be so critical. I think its lovely. Look, a menorah, a big 
tree, and mistletoe! Come on let's go and stand under it!"
"Why?"
"Well I know I'm not the expert on Christmas, but when two people 
stand under mistletoe they ARE suppose to kiss." Buffy blushed.
"Yeah, well I don't need any excuses to kiss you, but what the heck."
What's taking so long? How come nobody came back to get this bag?" 
Xander smiled and grabbed Anya.
"Because we knew sooner or later you would."
"Well don't do it again. It was heavy!" The group sat their bags down 
on a vacant couch, or in Xander's case picked them up off of the 
floor. Buffy took another lok at the decoration,"I can't believe 
Giles did all this!"
"Yeah, its really beautiful Buff." Giles walke ddown the stairs,"Yes 
well, I'm quite glad you approve of it. I had hoped you would."
"It's really nice Giles. How did you get this all done so fast? 
Yesterday this place was Tweedville and now..."
"Yes well, thank you for the compliment Buffy. As for the time I just 
worked on it this morning Would you like something to drink?" Xander 
plopped down on the couch that was present free.
"Naw. I think we'll just stay here during Christmas. This is way 
better than ny place." Giles looked at his friends. [No not just 
friends Rupert, family.]
"I was rather hoping you would stay actually."
"Like as in for Christmas?" 
"As in for the rest of the holidays."
"Wow! Uh, thanks Giles!" 
"This is so much better than Xander's basement." Giles waited for 
Buffy and Willow's answer. Buffy looked a bit sad.
"I'd love to Giles, but I'm spending the holidays at Willow's." The 
red head saw the disappointment on her gilrfriends face, and the pull 
of her own heart. 
"Buffy we could stay here. Let's just ask my parents."
"Are you sure?" Willow walked over to the phone and dialed her number.
"Hello?"
"Hi mom!"
"Hi WIllow."
"Listen I was wondering-"
"Willow honey I've got to tell you something. Your father and I are 
going out of town today and we'll be gone for four weeks. How did 
your exams go?"
"They went well-"
"Honey I've got to go."
"Oh. Okay, happy-" **DIALTONE** "holidays."Buffy looke at Willow, a 
smile on her hopeful face, the first in days. [Dman you Joyce.]
"Well can we stay?!"
"Yeah!"
Giles smiled. "Alright then. Xander and Anya can have the first floor 
guest room, and Buffy and Willow yours will be upstairs. I'll show 
you the way."