PART V - "... but will the truth tear you apart?"
Author's Note: To avoid confusion when the Giles's are together, the Giles from the parallel world will be referred to as P-Giles, and the Giles from the main world will be X-Giles.
As everyone gathered around the table to listen to Quinn's explanation for all the weirdness going on, Willow realized that there weren't enough chairs for everyone. Ushering Xander to a seat, Buffy waited until he'd sat down before curling herself up in his lap. After trailing a line of kisses down his throat she made a suggestion to alleviate some of the seating problems. "How about all of the couples sit together? That way we'll have a couple of extra seats." Willow and Oz quickly agreed and snuggled together in a single chair. Following suit, Buffy snuggled deeper into Xander's arms, his hands naturally stroking the bare part of her back right above her waistline. Buffy purred her consent and whispered her love into Xander's ear.
It was all Xander could do to keep from returning the sentiment to Buffy. It wouldn't be fair to her to tell her how I feel. I'm not her Xander... Well, not technically. And after Quinn gets done I'll be lucky if she's still talking to me at all. Funny how her not being my Buffy doesn't even impact how I feel. It's like all my heart needs to know is that she's Buffy. And that means that I love her, no matter what world she's on.
While Buffy and Xander were getting cozier in their seat, the others were chuckling good-naturedly about Buffy's obvious motive for the seating arrangements. Everyone, that is, except for the two Giles's. X-Giles was preoccupied with the repercussions of the bomb Quinn was going to drop, while it seemed that P-Giles was holding the key to a devastating secret of his own.
Once everyone was seated, Quinn stood up and introduced himself and the other sliders, including his brother Collin, who was conscious and moving around, albeit a bit sluggishly. He then, with some interjections from Remmy to keep it simple, explained what sliding was, and the basic concept of parallel worlds. Everyone from the parallel world stared at Quinn in an open-mouthed gawk, but no one voiced any disbelief. After all that had transpired on the Hellmouth, why not parallel worlds?
Buffy was quick to notice, however, that X-Giles and Xander didn't look at all surprised. X-Giles not looking surprised was no major thing, but Xander acting like it was nothing newer than sliced bread gave her the wiggins. She turned around in his arms to face him, and she was a bit taken back by the guilt she saw in his eyes. "Xander, why aren't you surprised by what Quinn had to say?"
Xander hung his head in defeat. "Because I'm from a parallel world."
Author's Note: To avoid confusion when the Giles's are together, the Giles from the parallel world will be referred to as P-Giles, and the Giles from the main world will be X-Giles.
As everyone gathered around the table to listen to Quinn's explanation for all the weirdness going on, Willow realized that there weren't enough chairs for everyone. Ushering Xander to a seat, Buffy waited until he'd sat down before curling herself up in his lap. After trailing a line of kisses down his throat she made a suggestion to alleviate some of the seating problems. "How about all of the couples sit together? That way we'll have a couple of extra seats." Willow and Oz quickly agreed and snuggled together in a single chair. Following suit, Buffy snuggled deeper into Xander's arms, his hands naturally stroking the bare part of her back right above her waistline. Buffy purred her consent and whispered her love into Xander's ear.
It was all Xander could do to keep from returning the sentiment to Buffy. It wouldn't be fair to her to tell her how I feel. I'm not her Xander... Well, not technically. And after Quinn gets done I'll be lucky if she's still talking to me at all. Funny how her not being my Buffy doesn't even impact how I feel. It's like all my heart needs to know is that she's Buffy. And that means that I love her, no matter what world she's on.
While Buffy and Xander were getting cozier in their seat, the others were chuckling good-naturedly about Buffy's obvious motive for the seating arrangements. Everyone, that is, except for the two Giles's. X-Giles was preoccupied with the repercussions of the bomb Quinn was going to drop, while it seemed that P-Giles was holding the key to a devastating secret of his own.
Once everyone was seated, Quinn stood up and introduced himself and the other sliders, including his brother Collin, who was conscious and moving around, albeit a bit sluggishly. He then, with some interjections from Remmy to keep it simple, explained what sliding was, and the basic concept of parallel worlds. Everyone from the parallel world stared at Quinn in an open-mouthed gawk, but no one voiced any disbelief. After all that had transpired on the Hellmouth, why not parallel worlds?
Buffy was quick to notice, however, that X-Giles and Xander didn't look at all surprised. X-Giles not looking surprised was no major thing, but Xander acting like it was nothing newer than sliced bread gave her the wiggins. She turned around in his arms to face him, and she was a bit taken back by the guilt she saw in his eyes. "Xander, why aren't you surprised by what Quinn had to say?"
Xander hung his head in defeat. "Because I'm from a parallel world."