Title: "Macaroni Key," part two of the "Macaroni Drowning" trilogy
Author: LadyAvalon
Theme song: "Round Here," Counting Crows; "Rain King," Counting Crows
Disclaimer: The characters of the Buffyverse belong to 20th Century Fox, UPN and Mutant Enemy. The Backstreet Boys belong to themselves, Jive Records and are represented by The Firm. Remember: Me no own, you no sue.
The characters of Kira, Roberta, Toree, Autumn and Addie belong to the author, LadyAvalon, and cannot be used, quoted or referenced to without the author's express written permission. I understand copyright laws very well and would hate to have to use that knowledge for evil.
The author of this story assumes no liability for damages. She hopes you enjoys and that you leave a review. If you would like to contact the author: macaronibaked@hotmail.com.
Chapter Two: Rounding the Bases -- Tuesday
Toree sent Roberta to take Dawn back to school that afternoon at the lunch break in the hearing. "She doesn't need to be here. Listen, can you do me another fave?" She listed off several records she needed from the county clerk's office. "And could you pick up Dawn from school and take her home?"
"Sure thing," Roberta said.
"I so appreciate this. I hate that you're being made into messenger girl, but I can't really do this."
"That's why I'm here," Roberta said. "You just worry about the case."
Roberta found she had nothing to say to Dawn as she took her back to school, except to find out the time the teen would need to be picked up. Roberta couldn't shake the feeling that there was something not right about her. Besides, Dawn seemed distracted herself.
"Do you think that … my father will get custody?" Dawn asked Roberta quietly.
"I don't think you have anything to worry about," Roberta said, but it was all she could think to say. She worried about that as she stood in the records office at the courthouse. The tension at the house was incredibly high. She assumed because they were all so worried about Dawn. But Dawn's insecurity suddenly worried Roberta. She hoped Toree had covered all of her bases because she felt like there was more here than met the eye.
Outside of the courthouse, she stopped for a bit and smoked a cigarette. Checking the time, she realized she had about two hours before she'd have to pick up Dawn, giving her some free time. She tried returning Kira's call, but got her friend's voice mail. Hell, it was better that way. Roberta wandered the area a bit, quickly finding a place among the downtown shops that attracted her attention.
The bell on the door jingled as Roberta entered The Magic Box.
"Can I help you?" a young blond woman with brown eyes asked stiffly.
"Just here for a look," Roberta answered, moving off to her right towards the books.
"Well look. Look away," the woman said brightly. "Look and buy. And buy lots. Support the economy and the great U.S. of A."
Roberta stared openly at the woman. She looked normal, but she couldn't possibly be.
Willow came out of the back room. "Anya, what have I told you about.… Roberta?" she asked, seeing the woman who was staying at her house.
"Willow?" Roberta blurted.
"You're not?" they both asked together. "I should have known." They stared at each other in amazement.
Willow smiled as Anya looked on in confusion. "C'mon," Willow said cheerfully. "We have to tell Tara the good news."
"I knew I liked you," Roberta said, pleased as she and Willow passed by the counter to the back of the store.
Anya turned to Xander, who had just come up behind her. "Who was that?" Xander asked.
"Another witch I suppose -- just what we need," Anya said dryly. "Or maybe another lesbian." She stared at the three women who were giggling together like old friends.
Xander craned his neck to see. "Oh, that's Buffy's lawyer's friend. I met her last night. Her name's Roberta. I don't think she's a lesbian. Although she could be a witch."
"That's just great," she pouted. "Now she'll never buy anything. She'll be just like Willow and help herself to the stock."
"You don't know that," Xander defended Willow and Tara.
Roberta, Willow and Tara moved into the main part of the store. Willow stopped and grabbed several jars off the shelves. Anya stared at Xander, irritation written on her face. He just shrugged.
***
When Buffy, Toree and Giles returned from court, the gang was all at the house, cooking.
"Well this is a welcome surprise," Giles said.
"We thought you might need a show of support from your family," Willow said cheerfully.
"This is just like hanging out with Roberta and her roommates," Toree commented. "They eat together like this."
"Yeah, at a restaurant," Roberta said sarcastically. "Kira couldn't boil water without burning it. And Autumn and I don't want to cook every night."
Xander looked up from a copy of the Los Angeles Times. "Kira, that's a weird name. She's in L.A., right?" Toree and Roberta nodded. "Is this her? With Howie D.?"
The group crowded around at the photo on the "Seen & Heard" page of the newspaper at the black and white picture of Howie and Kira having a drink in a bar in L.A. Toree started to laugh. "Holy shit, that's Kira all right. And she does not look happy.".
"Your friend dates one of the Backstreet Boys?" Dawn asked with some excitement. "That's so cool! Can she get me autographs?"
"They're just friends," Toree explained. "But I'll ask her if she can get autographs for you."
"Can she get me one too?" Xander asked. The entire group stared at him. "I was just thinking it might be worth something."
Roberta turned back to Toree. Even she didn't want to comment on what Xander had said. "She called me last night, but I totally ignored it. I'll call her tonight to see what she's up to."
Tara pulled a pot off the stove. "Dinner's almost ready. Dawn, could you set the table for us?"
"I'll help," Anya said brightly. "I like to make the table look pretty."
As soon as Dawn and Anya were gone, Willow asked, "So how did things go today in court?"
Buffy looked to Toree, who spoke. "Well, I think. Buffy did a very nice job today of making her position clear, that she wants to take care of Dawn, that that was what Joyce wanted. What I need, though, are some character witnesses. I was thinking Giles, but I'm worried. I can't have you letting it slip that you're living in the house with Buffy and Dawn."
"I would be happy to do that and I won't let it slip where I'm living," Giles said. "Besides, I'm not living here, I'm visiting."
Toree frowned and ran her hands through her hair. "I'd be happier if you were in a hotel," she admitted. "If it's an issue of money, I'll pay for the room myself."
"It's not an issue of money," Giles said stiffly.
"I'll go make reservations for you," Buffy said.
Toree sighed. This was a tough situation -- as was the idea of Giles in a hotel room, alone, with her. It was a pretty powerful fantasy, she thought, considering she'd known him only about 24 hours. But her heart raced as she allowed the thoughts to linger. Then she quickly cleared her mind, realizing, very clinically, that she needed to focus on work, not pleasure. "I'm sorry. I know this sounds silly, but presentation is an issue, too. Now, for the second character witness, Xander, would you be willing?"
"I'd be willing," Willow said impulsively.
Tara stepped in, seeing Toree's conflicted face. "Will, hon, Toree can't let it get out that two lesbians are living with Dawn. That just gives Mr. Summers way more ammunition than he already has."
"Thank you Tara," Toree said. "You put that *way* better than I could have."
"You really think we should go too?" Willow asked, hurt.
Toree shook her head. Roberta jumped in. "You and Tara are both stabilizing influences in Dawn's life. She needs you as much as she needs Giles and Buffy."
"What did Buffy's dad say today?" Willow asked.
Toree looked around for Buffy. "That he could offer a better, more stable home. And a potentially less violent one. I have to prove that Buffy is already offering that and that the violence is an issue of the past. All of us here have to do what's best for Dawn and Buffy in this situation. I think the best thing is to have Giles and Xander talk about Buffy."
What Toree and Roberta weren't saying was that Buffy wanted Giles and Xander talking for her, not Willow. Toree was caught playing the referee for her old friend -- not a position she relished.
"So Giles, Xander, after dinner we'll go over your testimony," Toree finished.
"We can use my hotel room," Giles volunteered. "It will afford us more privacy."
Anya stuck her head into the room. "The dining room is ready when dinner is."
Roberta rolled her eyes when she saw that Anya had made place cards for everyone. Roberta found herself on the end, next to Giles and across from Willow. Toree was at the other end of the table, and Roberta noted that as dinner began with a conversation of Dawn's day at school that Giles's gaze was focused on Toree, not on the teen-ager. And Toree was just as focused on Giles.
"Y'no what this needs?" Willow asked several minutes into dinner. "This needs a glamour. Now, whose turn is it?"
Roberta had found this afternoon that her magic was more powerful here in Sunnydale. Without really thinking about it, she moved her hand and tiny fairy lights appeared near the ceiling in the room. Willow and Tara looked on, approvingly.
Giles looked on with surprise, then started cleaning his glasses. "You, you, you know witchcraft?" he stammered, putting his glasses back on.
"Yeah, we found out this afternoon," Willow said with excitement. "We've been up to no good all day today."
"Why am I not surprised?" Giles asked. Willow looked pained. "Roberta, are you a student or is this a profession?"
Roberta shrugged. "Aren't we all students?" she asked.
"Good point," Giles replied.
"But to answer your question, I'm a student of the occult in general. Vampires, werewolves, witchcraft, demons, hell dimensions and the like."
There was a stunned silence in the room. Only Toree seemed oblivious. "Then she's in the right place," Anya whispered. Xander shushed her and Buffy stared at her hard. Anya didn't seem to notice. "For lesbian stuff, too," she added.
Giles gave Anya a stare that read death, then turned back to Roberta with a bland face. "Any reason why?" Giles stumbled out.
"It started out as curiosity and then became an obsession," she explained, aware that she had the entire table listening to her. Of course, her friends all knew this about her, so she wasn't used to such surprise from an audience. It stunned her that they were all so interested. And they seemed sincerely so. Most people found her interests odd. "I understand there are some groups in England who study the occult and I'd like to study with them at some point."
"What are you doing now?" Tara asked.
Roberta grinned. "Temping."
Giles stared at Roberta for a moment. "I know of some of those organizations. I'd be happy to share more with you about them later this evening."
"Uh, we have testimony to practice," Toree reminded him.
"Then I'll talk to you about them later this week," he said. As dinner wrapped up, Giles rose from his chair. "Let me help you," he said to Buffy, reaching for the finished plates of those around him.
Buffy waited for the kitchen door to shut. "What are you planning, Giles?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"Yeah you do. What's up with telling Roberta you'd help her with those occult groups?"
"Got to go," he said abruptly. "I've got to practice testimony with Toree and Roberta."
Roberta followed Toree out to her car after dinner. Giles had already left for the hotel; Xander would meet them there shortly. "You OK?" Roberta asked, standing on the lawn.
"Jesus, this is a crazy situation," Toree swore, leaning against the car. "Do you have a smoke I can bum? I never have one when I need one." Both women lit up as Roberta's cell rang. "Is that Kira?"
"Yeah, but she can wait. So should I expect you back tonight or will I have the whole bed to myself?" Roberta teased.
"What?" Toree sputtered.
Roberta chuckled. "OK, am I the only one who noticed the heat between you and Giles? Because it's there. It was there all through dinner." Toree rolled her eyes. "And Xander too. Mmmm.... You could have a nice stable three-some."
"I am going to pretend I didn't hear that."
The phone rang again and Roberta answered it. Her cell had speakerphone; why not let Kira in on the fun? They sat down on the driveway. "What up bitch?" Roberta asked.
"Jesus, it's a madhouse here," Kira said. "Are you smoking?"
"Does a bear shit in the woods?" Roberta asked. Kira laughed. "Are you?"
"Out on the balcony right now, lit up and then some. What's up with you guys?"
Toree talked in extremely broad terms about the situation, about her client not really being 100 percent with this, about being used as a buffer, about the work she was doing, about the fact that Buffy had a man in his late 40s and two lesbians living in the house with her and Dawn and thinking this was OK.
"Lesbian witches," Roberta corrected.
"WHAT?" Toree shrieked. Kira laughed. "See, it's better if I don't know all this stuff. Then I'm not lying through omission, it's just ignorance."
"Poor thing," Kira said. "You'll be fine, Tor. You've got it together."
"No, she really doesn't," Roberta said. "Since she's got the hots for both the 45-year-old guy and the engaged one."
It was Kira's turn to shriek. "WHAT?"
"No, no, no," Toree said. "I don't have hots. I have lawyer stuff. I plead the fifth."
"They're just friends," Roberta said, digging at Kira.
"Shut up!" Kira exclaimed in disbelief.
"Listen, I've got to go," Toree said with relief, getting up off the ground. "Kira, I saw your photo in the LA Times. You looked good. So did Howie. You getting some yet?"
"Shut up to you too," Kira said. "If only you could see which finger I'm holding up right now."
"Which reminds me," Toree said, laughing. "My client's sister is a huge Backstreet Boys fan.…"
"Say no more," Kira said. "Just ask her what she'd like it on. A poster, a CD cover or what."
"Thank you. You're a sweet girl," Toree said in a sing-songy voice. "G'nite Kira."
"G'nite Toree."
Roberta chuckled. "G'nite Toree. Don't forget to wear a condom."
"Fuck you Roberta."
"Oh no. Let Giles. Or Xander. Or better yet, both."
Kira made a retching noise from her end of the phone. "Lay off the slash, Robbie. I've had enough." Toree got in the car and pulled away.
Roberta moved to the porch to continue talking with her friend. Kira talked about Addie, Nick and AJ for a bit, then Roberta observed that Kira wasn't talking about Howie. Kira mentioned the date they had, what a nice time it had been. Roberta thought it was odd that Kira wasn't whining about the situation, but didn't voice it. Best not to risk it.
Roberta mentioned her meeting of the mystery man the night before.
"I'm impressed," Kira said. "First night in town and already picking up a Brit."
"I didn't even get his name," Roberta protested. "I'll probably never see him again. Besides, what good does it do to get involved with someone that lives 3,000 miles away?" Roberta asked her friend.
"We're not talking marriage here," Kira said merrily. "We don't live forever. We're talking about a night of good, clean, nekkid fun."
***
A night of good, clean, nekkid fun was crossing Toree's mind as she stood before the door to Giles's hotel room. She had checked her lipstick and her mascara while in the elevator. She tried to write it off as habit, but she knew she was lying to herself. Rapping on the door, she took a deep breath and was surprised to see Xander open it.
"Hi," he greeted with a shy smile. "We've been wondering if something got you."
Toree laughed. "Believe me, I don't scare easy. Hi Giles," she said, putting her attaché case down. "Here's what I thought I would do. I'm going to go over the questions I'm going to ask you tomorrow, then I'll switch sides and ask some of the questions I expect Mr. Summers' lawyer to ask."
"This should be fun," Xander said sarcastically, rubbing his hands together.
Toree smirked at Xander, then gave Giles one of her gorgeous smiles. "Let's get this started, then."
When they wrapped it up, Toree closed her notebook. "I think that's it, guys. I think you're ready for tomorrow." She smiled at Giles.
"I'll walk you to your car," Xander said.
Sliding her notebook back into her bag, Toree surreptitiously looked around for some excuse to stay -- alone -- with Giles. She couldn't come up with one, so she looked up at Xander. "That would be very kind," she said flatly.
"Good night Victoria," Giles said, following them to the door. Toree felt his hand on the small of her back and was pleasantly surprised. She turned, making sure that her hand brushed his.
"Good night, Giles," she said, lowering her voice.
At Toree's car, Xander stopped. "So you think Buffy's got a good case?" he asked.
"I do," Toree said. "Now that Giles is in a hotel and I have the two of you ready to testify tomorrow, I think things are a lot better."
"That's good," he said, his voice shaking a bit. "Because Buffy's made a lot of, um… sacrifices to keep Dawn. We all have."
"I know."
Toree leaned back against the car, realizing that she was going to have to reassure every one of Buffy's friends that they were going to be able to keep Dawn. It was the strangest situation she'd ever seen – and she'd seen a lot of strange stuff in her life. Giles, oddly enough, was the only one who didn't seem to need the reassuring.
"So all I know about you is you're a lawyer in Washington and your friend is dating a Backstreet Boy." Toree laughed. "What else should I know about you?"
She shrugged. "It depends. What would you like to know?"
"Well, um, why don't you start at the beginning?"
"Like childhood, Xander?" Toree asked.
Buffy and Anya, on patrol, came past the hotel parking lot. Buffy was distracted amd Anya's steady stream of conversation was not helping. "Is that your lawyer?" Anya asked Buffy. "It looks like your lawyer."
"Shit," Buffy swore. "It is. Let's get out of here before she wonders why I'm not home with Dawn."
"Is Xander putting an arm around her?" Anya whispered, pissed.
Buffy shook her head insistently. "No, no, I don't think so," she lied.
"Xander?" Anya demanded loudly, as she saw her fiancé put his arm against the car and lean over the pixie-haired woman. "Xander!" she yelled.
"Anya," Buffy whined, following the woman.
Xander jerked away from Toree. "Anya! Buffy! We were just talking about your case after Toree grilled Giles and I with all sorts of tough questions and I'll stop running at the mouth now and kiss my fiancé." He reached over and kissed Anya.
Toree looked at Buffy. "All that in one breath."
"We were just out for a walk," Buffy explained, sounding guilty. "That's all."
Toree smiled, but looked nervous. "Oh. OK. Do you want a ride home?"
"Nah, I think I'll walk," she said. "See you in a bit." Buffy took off.
"Xander, Anya, do you want a ride?" Toree asked.
"What kind of question is that?" Anya demanded.
Toree looked confused. Xander pulled on Anya. "No, I think we'll walk, too. G'nite." He waved and they began walking away.
Toree unlocked the car and got into it, but sat with her hands on the steering wheel. She reviewed Xander and Giles's testimonies in her head, and something bothered her about Giles's. She opened the car door and put one foot out onto the ground, listening to the rhythmic but annoying beeping of the car, reminding her that the lights were on and the keys were in the ignition. Impulsively, she turned off the lights, jerked the keys from the car and headed back into the hotel.
Giles didn't seem surprised to see Toree standing at his door again. "Can I help you with something, Victoria?"
She nodded. "Can I come in? There's something I'd like to discuss with you." "It's very late…"
"I know, and I'm sorry. And if it didn't have to do with the case, I wouldn't bother."
Giles pulled open the door and she settled herself on the chair across from the bed. "I was thinking about your testimony and something you said bothered me."
"What's that?"
"When we were talking about Buffy's past and you mentioned that we all have interesting young adulthoods, but we leave them behind at some point...?" She let the question float off, hoping he'd take the ball and run with it.
"Yes, yes, I did say that."
Toree nodded. "What interesting young adulthood do you have to leave behind, Giles?"
There was a long moment of silence. Giles stared at Toree and she held his gaze. But it was hard – the man was very intense. "What exactly does this have to do with the case?" he finally asked.
"Just that I don't want there to be any surprises," she said, keeping her tone event. "The other side would be happy to reveal that the witnesses I chose are no better at judging Buffy than anyone else. I want to know what you might have done that would make you a less-than-stellar witness."
The strangest look crossed his face for a moment and Toree noticed how quickly it went away. She could not have known the years of history that blinked across his mind – from killing Ben/Glory back to his own youthful years in England, time that included Ethan Rayne. "There are things in my past that are not… I had some youthful transgressions, yes," he admitted. "But I think if anything, that would make me better able to judge Buffy."
"Why's that?"
"Because I've been there and now I am an upstanding legal resident alien of the United States."
Toree smiled at this. "So what were these – youthful transgressions, did you say?"
"I'm sure they were just like any other. You did some things in college, perhaps, that you're not so proud of."
Toree shrugged. "Yes, but I'm not testifying in court tomorrow."
"Then maybe I shouldn't."
"Maybe you should just allow me to be prepared."
They stared at each other again. "Victoria, it was the 1970s. It was Europe." Toree leaned back in her chair, well aware that she was making Giles incredibly uncomfortable. It took all of her doing not to grin at him in appreciation. He refused to look at her and hesitated when he spoke. "I have a past. If you would prefer, don't put me on the stand. I'll completely understand why you wouldn't."
He got up and walked away from her, towards the bar. "I'd ask for a stiff drink, but I'm driving," she said.
Giles looked as if he didn't understand her, then his face cleared. "Would you like something else?"
"Water would be good," she said. And a smoke would be great, she thought. "I want to put you on the stand, you know. You are the overriding adult influence in Buffy's life. If anyone should be able to make an appraisal of her ability to be a parent to Dawn, it's you. I just want to know what I'm working around."
He handed her the glass and she looked up into his eyes, pleased that he continued to hold the glass himself. "You use... such large words for a woman your age."
She laughed then. "And you are so dodging the conversation topic. Which is fun to watch, by the way."
He shrugged. "You're more worried about this case than you're letting on," he observed.
How did he know? And how could she explain to him that she felt like there was some big secret they were all dancing around, something that if she only knew now would save them a lot of trouble and heartache? "I think Buffy has a very solid case," she said, then yawned delicately.
"Maybe you should get back to Buffy's so that you'll be well-rested for tomorrow?" he suggested, trying to make it sound light.
Toree rose, realizing she wasn't going to get anywhere with Giles tonight -- at least not about his past. "That's probably a good idea."
Giles followed her to the door. Toree turned before he could open the door, so that her face was near his, his arm against her side. "What is it, Victoria?" he asked her.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then," she whispered, her lips moving closer to his lips as his moved to hers. They kissed, softly, but insistently.
Giles pulled away first. "I'm terribly sorry," he said, taking two steps away from her. "That... shouldn't have happened. It was a mistake."
"It's all right," she reassured him, still feeling his lips on hers, now feeling the cold air that was coming between them. "It was no mistake."
Giles moved forward and opened the door and she stepped through the doorway, looking back at him wistfully. His face was shuttered -- no emotion seeped through. He waited for her to take a few steps down the hall before he shut his door. She waited a few more steps before putting her fingers to her lips and shutting her eyes.