Title: A Family Way 1/?
Author: Hayley
email: hayleylamb2000@yahoo.com
Summary: Sequel to 'Spellbound'.
Rating: Nothing too shocking, but just for grins I'll give it an overall "R" (Better Safe Than Sorry)
Disclaimer: The bad news is they aren't mine. The good news is what Joss don't know won't hurt him.
Feedback: Would make me do a happy little Snoopy Dance all over my study
. . . .
Distribution: Ooh! Just as likely as feedback to make me Snoopy Dance!! Just let me know where and it's yours. . . .
Spoilers: None really. . . .
Author's Notes: This story was posted here previously- but now that there are new parts I'm reposting it. New parts should be up soon.
*~*~*~*~*
"Lia, please stop fidgeting." Giles pleaded in vain. Cordelia had been primping, preening, fidgeting, pacing, for the past hour while they sat at the airport.
Seeing the nasty glare his beloved sent him, Giles patted the seat next to him. "Cordelia. Come here."
With a final glance over her shoulder at the clock, Cordelia did as she was asked.
"You've got no reason to be nervous. They are going to adore you at first sight." Twining his fingers with his fiancee's, Giles lifted their hands to his lips gently kissing her fingers. "And if they don't I'll simply turn them into toads."
His brothers had been warned to be on their absolute best behavior, and he'd made certain they knew the ramifications would be dire.
"They're your *family*." Cordelia wailed softly. "And I couldn't have met them *before* I was ten million months pregnant and looking like a hippo, or *after* the baby was born. Oh no. I get to meet them when I'm fat and ugly and my ankles are too big to fit into any DECENT shoes. And I just want you to know that this is all your fault."
Giles bit the inside of his cheek to stem the small wave of laughter that threatened to turn into a tsunami at Cordelia's ranting. At barely five months pregnant she was slightly more filled out than before their child's conception, but it only added to her beauty and vitality, and privately he was hoping that she would keep whatever weight she gained from the pregnancy.
Of course Rupert Giles was too wise a man to *EVER* say those words aloud, knowing full well that his lovely fiancee would kill him on the spot.
"You know, if their flight doesn't arrive soon I say we go home, lock the doors and spend the entire evening in the garden." Giles suggested, bringing their twined hands to rest on his thigh. "Light the grill, perhaps some of that roast eggplant you like so much. . . ." He leaned in closely and brushed the most innocent looking kiss against her jawline, sending shivers through Cordelia's entire body.
"Ooh. . . . will you play for me?" Cordelia asked hopefully. With the Hellmouth actually QUIET for once, Cordelia couldn't think of anything more appealing than laying in her hammock stuffing her face while Giles sang under the stars.
"I was rather hoping to play *with* you." Giles murmured wryly.
"Why Mr. Giles! What sort of woman do you think I am?"
"The woman who happens to be carrying my child." Giles answered grinning like an idiot. He couldn't help himself the idea that Cordelia was his at all was a marvel, but to have the love of his life, and a child as well. . . .it all seemed too marvelous to be true.
"Don't start going all cave-ish on me Watcher man." Cordelia muttered bemusedly. Everytime Giles said the words 'carrying my child' she could practically see him in a loin cloth thumping his chest. "I mean it. One chorus of 'Havin' my baby' and I am soooo out of here."
"Yes dear." Giles replied with mocking meekness.
"Good boy." Cordelia leaned forward and brushed her lips across Giles in a brief salute which quickly blossomed into a full, passionate kiss..
"Can't leave him anywhere."
"Always one to make a public spectacle of himself."
"Shameless really."
"A man his age no less."
"Not an iota of self-respect."
"But what he lacks in restraint he makes up for in taste."
"Good point. I suppose that we could be respectful and wait for him to finish. . . ."
"Or we could offer a standing ovation."
"Trevor, Devon." Giles groaned slightly and released Cordelia. Helping her to her feet, Giles stepped forward to embrace his brothers. Dr. Trevor Giles, in his early 50's was almost an exact replica of his brother Rupert. Sharp, intelligent features with crystaline green eyes.
Devon Giles was the youngest of the three men in his late thirties, his hair lighter than his brothers he had pale blue eyes, but similar bone structure.
"You must be Cordelia." Trevor smiled and immediately leaned forward to kiss Cordelia's cheek. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I hope that for Rupert's sake you're Cordelia." Devon's grin was just as dangerous and charming as Ripper's.
"It's nice to meet you both. Giles has been trying to tell me all sorts of terrible things about you, but I wouldn't let him until you were herre to defend yourselves." Cordelia instantly felt her tension easing away.
"Let's collect the bags, and be on our way." Giles kept one hand posessively on the small of Cordelia's back, and slung one arm cordially around Devon's shoulders.
"Not quite yet old man." Trevor shook his head.
"Rupert?"
Giles blew out a slow breath and silently wondered what he'd done to irritate the fates *this* time. Of course he'd invited his father to come for a visit, but the invitation had been purely for show. Once offered he had known that his father would refuse it, appearences would be upheld, and both men would be satisfied.
"Sir." Giles turned and approached a man in his seventies with pure white hair, wire rimmed glasses, and a stiff, almost corpse like posture.
Cordelia felt a small shiver run up her back. This had to be her soon to be father in law. The man Giles never mentioned, and blatantly refused to talk about. It was like looking at the man Giles *could* be if he were to ever have all the life, warmth, kindness and tenderness sucked out of him, leaving only an empty husk.
Watching the men shake hands stiffly, Cordelia silently promised that she would never let Giles' relationship with their child turn so cold, and formal.
"Yes. I re-arranged my lecture schedule." Neville Giles responded frostily. "I'm assuming this is the girl?"
"Cordelia Chase. It's very nice to meet you." Cordelia instantly adapted her tone to meet Neville's clipped words.
"Let's get our bags and head over to the hotel." Devon offered taking Cordelia's arm easily.
"Hotel?" Cordelia looked to Giles. This wasn't in their plans. When Giles had talked to his brothers just two days ago, they'd agreed to stay at the house.
"Yes. I'm afraid that prolonged exposure to Rupert will lead me down the path to darkness and sully my otherwise impeccable reputation." Devon exclaimed. "Plus there is the little matter of not wanting to afflict you with Trevor's snoring. Loud enough to wake the dead. Although, given our present location on a Hellmouth, that isn't saying much."
Devon continued to chat with Cordelia leading her away from Giles and Neville.
"I'm glad that you decided to come afterall Father." Giles lied politely, lifting his father's carry-on bag.
"Yes. There's a great deal that I wish to speak to you about and I realize that waiting for you to return home was pointless."
Giles felt the slow steady throbbing in his temples. "I haven't considered England my home in a good many years. My home, my work, my life are here now, and have been since I was assigned a slayer." As for anything that the old man wanted to discuss, Giles knew it wouldn't be pleasent.
As his brother and father approached, Trevor smiled. "We've got a battle plan. I'm going to take Father and all our luggage to the hotel, get checked in, and then we'll meet you, Devon and the lovely Miss Chase at a restaurant for dinner."
"That sounds like an excellent plan." With Neville engrossed in the business of renting an acceptable car, and Devon and Cordelia chatting like old friends, Giles mouthed a silent 'thank you' to his older brother. If his father *had* to come, he was grateful that at least Trevor would help relieve some of the stress.
And he got the distinct impression that the tension was just beginning.
hr
Mexican Restaurant
"So there was my big brother. My idol. The one I worshipped and looked to for moral guidance as bare as the day he was born except for some hastily grabbed brances, while young ladies who were members of a neighboring school's bird watching society were looking for a Yellow Belted Horn Swallow."
Giles groaned and slipped further down in his seat, his eyes promising retribution.
"Oh God. . . ." Cordelia struggled to breathe. "I can't believe you did that!"
"My honor was at stake." Giles retorted taking a long pull of the Mexican beer in front of him.
"Actually, a little more than his 'honor' was at stake." Devon interjected, unwilling to let the whole story go untold. "Seems that the branches he grabbed to protect his modesty were sumac. . . "
Cordelia was sent into another fit of giggles. "Oh that's too precious. . . . that's one I've got to share with the gang." Turning to Devon, her hazel eyes twinkling she pleaded. "Please tell me that you're going to write these down for me? All of them?"
"It's easy for you to laugh, I was the one who had to explain it to the nurse." Giles recalled morosely. "And if any of these stories get back to the rest of your friends I will find ways to make you pay, and pay dearly Cordelia."
"Oooh. . . promise?" Cordelia winked and blew him a kiss before easing out of the booth. "Excuse me."
Both men automatically stood, then returned to their seats once Cordelia was out of sight.
"I would appreciate it if you would try and control yourself Devon." Giles muttered grumpily. "I don't think that Cordelia really needs to hear every embarassing moment of my life up until the point we met."
"Agreed." Devon nodded affably. "Just the *really* amusing ones. And that story about you in the sumac is always a crowd pleaser."
"I hadn't realized that Father would be coming with you."
The expression in Rupert's eyes clearly said how he felt about it too. "Neither did Trev or I until he arrived at the airport." Devon assured him. "Trevor even tried to have him called back to the Council on one of our layovers. No such luck."
"I don't give a damn what his opinion of me is. In fact, I don't give a damn what his opinion is on a great many things, but one word, one utterance about Cordelia and I will load him on the first plane back to England."
"He's been uncharacteristically quiet thus far."
"Any chance that the shock killed him and his body just doesn't know enough to stop moving yet?"
"You always were the optimist in the family old boy." Devon ordered another round. "Speaking of old, how old is the future Mrs. Giles?"
"Do you really want to go there Dev?" Giles arched his eyebrows and widened his eyes in mock innocence.
"Oh you can't scare me off that easily Rupert." Devon's laugh was rich and warm. "She's a delightful little thing, and if I didn't know you were such a ruffian I'd attempt to spirit her away from this Godforesaken wilderness. . . . "
"Ooh. Are you guys done talking about me? Or should I come back later?" Cordelia approached the booth and placed a hand on Giles' shoulder. "And did you take notes?"
"Rupert admitted to being your devoted love slave."
"Oh, well that's nothing new or secret." Cordelia slid into the booth and twined her fingers through Giles'.
Just as Giles brought her fingers to his lips, Trevor approached the table. "I was starting to wonder if you'd gotten lost." Giles remarked, noticing his brother's slightly flushed face.
"Father sends his apologies. He was more tired than he realized, and he's going to take his meal in the hotel room." Trevor slid into the booth next to Devon.
"Well you just got here in time. I was telling Cordelia about Rupert's adventures."
"Yes, and now he's all done with that." Giles aimed a quick kick in the shin under the table, while looking perfectly innocent.
Not wanting Giles to cripple his brother before she had the chance to pump him for more humiliating stories, Cordelia quickly changed the subject, and asked Trevor about his medical practice.
By the time dinner was through Cordelia had to wipe away tears of laughter. Devon was a live wire, always ready with some smart ass quip, or joke. Trevor was more like Giles, more quiet, reserved, but with a sly humor and dry wit. And the brothers were so familiar with one another, that frequently she had to butt in and demand that they let one another finish their own sentences so that the new girl could understand them.
It was right then that she decided that her baby wasn't going to be an only child. The closeness between the three brothers made her realize how much she'd missed being an only child.
Mentally she began calculations. If this baby was born in September, then she should be well enough to get pregnant again in January. They kids couldn't be *too* spaced out age wise. She wanted Giles to be able to enjoy them as much as possible. And anyway, when they graduated from Highschool she'd only be 37.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a piercing pain in her skull exploding behind her eyes.
Giles felt Cordelia's fingers clamp down on his hand, and her entire body go stiff beside him. "Lia?"
Not answering, Cordelia clenched his hand harder and tried to catch her breath.
"What's the matter?" Trevor was instantly out of the booth, and reaching for her wrist to check Cordelia's pulse.
"She's having a vision." Once Cordelia's grip eased slightly on his hand, Giles touched the side of her face. "Cordelia?"
"I have to call Angel and Wesley."
"Here. Use my cell phone." Giles handed it to Cordelia, keeping his hand stroking her hair soothingly.
"Are they always like that?" Trevor frowned wondering what prolonged psychic visions could do to the girl.
"Yes." Giles replied quietly. "Sometimes worse."
"Has she ever been examined?"
Giles' lips pressed together as he shook his head. He'd tried to convince Cordelia to submit to testing, but she had a deep rooted hatred of hospitals, and wasn't going to go in unless it was absolutely necessary.
Cordelia handed Giles' cell phone back to him, and took a long drink of ice water. "Sorry about that. I guess I should be grateful that I didn't drool."
"What did you see?"
"Some really ticked off demons. Wesley and Angel were about to walk into a trap. Now they know better. I *hate* not being able to help them." Cordelia gnawed on her lower lip.
"You did help them Cordelia. You quite probably saved their lives." Giles soothed.
"But I still feel like I should be doing more." Shooting an apologetic glance at Trevor and Devon, Cordelia grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I'm not normally such a flake."
"Well I wouldn't go that far. . . ." Giles chuckled earning a pointed elbow in the ribs.
"I don't suppose that your visions also deliver stock tips?" Devon queried casually.
"Oooh! I wish they were that useful! But no. They're usually just demons and other icky things that go bump in the night."
"What a waste of a perfectly good paranormal talent."
Paying their bill the foursome split up at the door, with Trevor and Devon planning to meet Giles at his office at the museum in the morning.
hr
Giles and Cordelia's
"Head still hurt love?" Giles asked dropping his car keys on the table next to the front door, and removing his jacket.
"It's getting better." Cordelia dropped her purse on the table as well and instantly kicked off her shoes allowing her feet to sink into the plush carpeting.
This was her favorite part of any day. No matter what was going wrong, or what evilness went on outside in the world, just being in their home was like an instant cure.
The house was a perfect blend of its occupants. Modern. Comfortable. Practical. Stylish. Beautiful. Elegant. Welcoming. Refined.
It hadn't been easy to find a house that would suit their needs, and the needs of their professional callings. But when the realtor had shown them the tri-level, house within walking distance to the museum, and the college campus, with five bedrooms and a fully finished lower level, a large back porch and swimming pool they'd fallen in love with it. Of course they'd told the realtor they were planning on an enormous family instead of the truth; they needed the extra space for a library of books on how to save the world from vampires and other demons. Or that they liked the fact there was a small refridgerator in the basement so they could store pop for the Scoobies and blood for their vampire allies. Or one of the features Cordelia liked best. The sliding glass door in the basement that meant the Slayerettes could come and go whenever they wanted without dragging slime, goo, or demon parts in on her carpeting.
The basement was the working base for the Slayer and her friends. Two computers, all of Giles' books, records of vampiric activity in the area, and a special laptop with the entire demonology database on it.
There were also magic supplies, and two small sectioned off corners with cots in case Angel or Spike got trapped there during the day.
The couple made their way up the stairs past the guestrooms and the unfinished nursery to the master suite in companionable silence, Giles keeping his hand on the small of Cordelia's back, until she was settled at her vanity.
"I really like your brothers Giles." Reaching up, Cordelia unpinned the crown of hair, letting it fall past her shoulders, then began to remove her makeup.
"The feeling was very mutual Luv." Giles called from the walk in closet. "In fact, I think Devon would snap you up in a second if he could."
"They're both so sweet, how come neither of them are married?"
Giles emerged wearing the silk, midnight blue pajamma bottoms Cordelia had bought him right before she confiscated the top. "Trevor was married for ten years, but after Amelia passed away, he's just never had the heart to date again."
"That's so sad. . . and Devon?"
Chuckling, Giles slid between the cool sheets of their bed. "Devon's a tramp." He declared affectionately. "The word 'commitment' gives him hives."
"Ahh. Sort of like you." Cordelia teased slipping out of the room to change into her sleepwear. A pair of boxers and a t-shirt.
Giles frowned at that comment, and was still frowning when she returned. "That's not true."
"What?" Oblivious, Cordelia lifted the covers and slipped in between the sheets.
"I am *not* the person afraid of commitment in this relationship Cordelia. I believe that my first five proposals of marriage were rejected out of hand."
Hearing the genuine irritation in his voice, Cordelia folded her arms under her breasts and glared at him. "It took you six tries before you could get that one sentence out without turning a terrible shade of GREEN!" She accused. "The first one was in the doctor's office when we found out I was carrying your baby. And the other ones were just as awful." When Giles opened his mouth to protest, Cordelia cut him off with the ease of a woman used to dealing with Wesley Wyndam Price. "Look, Giles. I love you, you love me, and we're going to be a great big happy family. The marriage thing will be nice, but it's not why I'm here with you. I'm here because I love you. With or without rings. Baby or no baby. So you don't have to pretend that marrying me was your first choice."
Watching Cordelia snuggle down in the pillows, Giles turned out the light and lay awake thinking about what she'd said, until sleep claimed him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Hayley
email: hayleylamb2000@yahoo.com
Summary: Sequel to 'Spellbound'.
Rating: Nothing too shocking, but just for grins I'll give it an overall "R" (Better Safe Than Sorry)
Disclaimer: The bad news is they aren't mine. The good news is what Joss don't know won't hurt him.
Feedback: Would make me do a happy little Snoopy Dance all over my study
. . . .
Distribution: Ooh! Just as likely as feedback to make me Snoopy Dance!! Just let me know where and it's yours. . . .
Spoilers: None really. . . .
Author's Notes: This story was posted here previously- but now that there are new parts I'm reposting it. New parts should be up soon.
*~*~*~*~*
"Lia, please stop fidgeting." Giles pleaded in vain. Cordelia had been primping, preening, fidgeting, pacing, for the past hour while they sat at the airport.
Seeing the nasty glare his beloved sent him, Giles patted the seat next to him. "Cordelia. Come here."
With a final glance over her shoulder at the clock, Cordelia did as she was asked.
"You've got no reason to be nervous. They are going to adore you at first sight." Twining his fingers with his fiancee's, Giles lifted their hands to his lips gently kissing her fingers. "And if they don't I'll simply turn them into toads."
His brothers had been warned to be on their absolute best behavior, and he'd made certain they knew the ramifications would be dire.
"They're your *family*." Cordelia wailed softly. "And I couldn't have met them *before* I was ten million months pregnant and looking like a hippo, or *after* the baby was born. Oh no. I get to meet them when I'm fat and ugly and my ankles are too big to fit into any DECENT shoes. And I just want you to know that this is all your fault."
Giles bit the inside of his cheek to stem the small wave of laughter that threatened to turn into a tsunami at Cordelia's ranting. At barely five months pregnant she was slightly more filled out than before their child's conception, but it only added to her beauty and vitality, and privately he was hoping that she would keep whatever weight she gained from the pregnancy.
Of course Rupert Giles was too wise a man to *EVER* say those words aloud, knowing full well that his lovely fiancee would kill him on the spot.
"You know, if their flight doesn't arrive soon I say we go home, lock the doors and spend the entire evening in the garden." Giles suggested, bringing their twined hands to rest on his thigh. "Light the grill, perhaps some of that roast eggplant you like so much. . . ." He leaned in closely and brushed the most innocent looking kiss against her jawline, sending shivers through Cordelia's entire body.
"Ooh. . . . will you play for me?" Cordelia asked hopefully. With the Hellmouth actually QUIET for once, Cordelia couldn't think of anything more appealing than laying in her hammock stuffing her face while Giles sang under the stars.
"I was rather hoping to play *with* you." Giles murmured wryly.
"Why Mr. Giles! What sort of woman do you think I am?"
"The woman who happens to be carrying my child." Giles answered grinning like an idiot. He couldn't help himself the idea that Cordelia was his at all was a marvel, but to have the love of his life, and a child as well. . . .it all seemed too marvelous to be true.
"Don't start going all cave-ish on me Watcher man." Cordelia muttered bemusedly. Everytime Giles said the words 'carrying my child' she could practically see him in a loin cloth thumping his chest. "I mean it. One chorus of 'Havin' my baby' and I am soooo out of here."
"Yes dear." Giles replied with mocking meekness.
"Good boy." Cordelia leaned forward and brushed her lips across Giles in a brief salute which quickly blossomed into a full, passionate kiss..
"Can't leave him anywhere."
"Always one to make a public spectacle of himself."
"Shameless really."
"A man his age no less."
"Not an iota of self-respect."
"But what he lacks in restraint he makes up for in taste."
"Good point. I suppose that we could be respectful and wait for him to finish. . . ."
"Or we could offer a standing ovation."
"Trevor, Devon." Giles groaned slightly and released Cordelia. Helping her to her feet, Giles stepped forward to embrace his brothers. Dr. Trevor Giles, in his early 50's was almost an exact replica of his brother Rupert. Sharp, intelligent features with crystaline green eyes.
Devon Giles was the youngest of the three men in his late thirties, his hair lighter than his brothers he had pale blue eyes, but similar bone structure.
"You must be Cordelia." Trevor smiled and immediately leaned forward to kiss Cordelia's cheek. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I hope that for Rupert's sake you're Cordelia." Devon's grin was just as dangerous and charming as Ripper's.
"It's nice to meet you both. Giles has been trying to tell me all sorts of terrible things about you, but I wouldn't let him until you were herre to defend yourselves." Cordelia instantly felt her tension easing away.
"Let's collect the bags, and be on our way." Giles kept one hand posessively on the small of Cordelia's back, and slung one arm cordially around Devon's shoulders.
"Not quite yet old man." Trevor shook his head.
"Rupert?"
Giles blew out a slow breath and silently wondered what he'd done to irritate the fates *this* time. Of course he'd invited his father to come for a visit, but the invitation had been purely for show. Once offered he had known that his father would refuse it, appearences would be upheld, and both men would be satisfied.
"Sir." Giles turned and approached a man in his seventies with pure white hair, wire rimmed glasses, and a stiff, almost corpse like posture.
Cordelia felt a small shiver run up her back. This had to be her soon to be father in law. The man Giles never mentioned, and blatantly refused to talk about. It was like looking at the man Giles *could* be if he were to ever have all the life, warmth, kindness and tenderness sucked out of him, leaving only an empty husk.
Watching the men shake hands stiffly, Cordelia silently promised that she would never let Giles' relationship with their child turn so cold, and formal.
"Yes. I re-arranged my lecture schedule." Neville Giles responded frostily. "I'm assuming this is the girl?"
"Cordelia Chase. It's very nice to meet you." Cordelia instantly adapted her tone to meet Neville's clipped words.
"Let's get our bags and head over to the hotel." Devon offered taking Cordelia's arm easily.
"Hotel?" Cordelia looked to Giles. This wasn't in their plans. When Giles had talked to his brothers just two days ago, they'd agreed to stay at the house.
"Yes. I'm afraid that prolonged exposure to Rupert will lead me down the path to darkness and sully my otherwise impeccable reputation." Devon exclaimed. "Plus there is the little matter of not wanting to afflict you with Trevor's snoring. Loud enough to wake the dead. Although, given our present location on a Hellmouth, that isn't saying much."
Devon continued to chat with Cordelia leading her away from Giles and Neville.
"I'm glad that you decided to come afterall Father." Giles lied politely, lifting his father's carry-on bag.
"Yes. There's a great deal that I wish to speak to you about and I realize that waiting for you to return home was pointless."
Giles felt the slow steady throbbing in his temples. "I haven't considered England my home in a good many years. My home, my work, my life are here now, and have been since I was assigned a slayer." As for anything that the old man wanted to discuss, Giles knew it wouldn't be pleasent.
As his brother and father approached, Trevor smiled. "We've got a battle plan. I'm going to take Father and all our luggage to the hotel, get checked in, and then we'll meet you, Devon and the lovely Miss Chase at a restaurant for dinner."
"That sounds like an excellent plan." With Neville engrossed in the business of renting an acceptable car, and Devon and Cordelia chatting like old friends, Giles mouthed a silent 'thank you' to his older brother. If his father *had* to come, he was grateful that at least Trevor would help relieve some of the stress.
And he got the distinct impression that the tension was just beginning.
hr
Mexican Restaurant
"So there was my big brother. My idol. The one I worshipped and looked to for moral guidance as bare as the day he was born except for some hastily grabbed brances, while young ladies who were members of a neighboring school's bird watching society were looking for a Yellow Belted Horn Swallow."
Giles groaned and slipped further down in his seat, his eyes promising retribution.
"Oh God. . . ." Cordelia struggled to breathe. "I can't believe you did that!"
"My honor was at stake." Giles retorted taking a long pull of the Mexican beer in front of him.
"Actually, a little more than his 'honor' was at stake." Devon interjected, unwilling to let the whole story go untold. "Seems that the branches he grabbed to protect his modesty were sumac. . . "
Cordelia was sent into another fit of giggles. "Oh that's too precious. . . . that's one I've got to share with the gang." Turning to Devon, her hazel eyes twinkling she pleaded. "Please tell me that you're going to write these down for me? All of them?"
"It's easy for you to laugh, I was the one who had to explain it to the nurse." Giles recalled morosely. "And if any of these stories get back to the rest of your friends I will find ways to make you pay, and pay dearly Cordelia."
"Oooh. . . promise?" Cordelia winked and blew him a kiss before easing out of the booth. "Excuse me."
Both men automatically stood, then returned to their seats once Cordelia was out of sight.
"I would appreciate it if you would try and control yourself Devon." Giles muttered grumpily. "I don't think that Cordelia really needs to hear every embarassing moment of my life up until the point we met."
"Agreed." Devon nodded affably. "Just the *really* amusing ones. And that story about you in the sumac is always a crowd pleaser."
"I hadn't realized that Father would be coming with you."
The expression in Rupert's eyes clearly said how he felt about it too. "Neither did Trev or I until he arrived at the airport." Devon assured him. "Trevor even tried to have him called back to the Council on one of our layovers. No such luck."
"I don't give a damn what his opinion of me is. In fact, I don't give a damn what his opinion is on a great many things, but one word, one utterance about Cordelia and I will load him on the first plane back to England."
"He's been uncharacteristically quiet thus far."
"Any chance that the shock killed him and his body just doesn't know enough to stop moving yet?"
"You always were the optimist in the family old boy." Devon ordered another round. "Speaking of old, how old is the future Mrs. Giles?"
"Do you really want to go there Dev?" Giles arched his eyebrows and widened his eyes in mock innocence.
"Oh you can't scare me off that easily Rupert." Devon's laugh was rich and warm. "She's a delightful little thing, and if I didn't know you were such a ruffian I'd attempt to spirit her away from this Godforesaken wilderness. . . . "
"Ooh. Are you guys done talking about me? Or should I come back later?" Cordelia approached the booth and placed a hand on Giles' shoulder. "And did you take notes?"
"Rupert admitted to being your devoted love slave."
"Oh, well that's nothing new or secret." Cordelia slid into the booth and twined her fingers through Giles'.
Just as Giles brought her fingers to his lips, Trevor approached the table. "I was starting to wonder if you'd gotten lost." Giles remarked, noticing his brother's slightly flushed face.
"Father sends his apologies. He was more tired than he realized, and he's going to take his meal in the hotel room." Trevor slid into the booth next to Devon.
"Well you just got here in time. I was telling Cordelia about Rupert's adventures."
"Yes, and now he's all done with that." Giles aimed a quick kick in the shin under the table, while looking perfectly innocent.
Not wanting Giles to cripple his brother before she had the chance to pump him for more humiliating stories, Cordelia quickly changed the subject, and asked Trevor about his medical practice.
By the time dinner was through Cordelia had to wipe away tears of laughter. Devon was a live wire, always ready with some smart ass quip, or joke. Trevor was more like Giles, more quiet, reserved, but with a sly humor and dry wit. And the brothers were so familiar with one another, that frequently she had to butt in and demand that they let one another finish their own sentences so that the new girl could understand them.
It was right then that she decided that her baby wasn't going to be an only child. The closeness between the three brothers made her realize how much she'd missed being an only child.
Mentally she began calculations. If this baby was born in September, then she should be well enough to get pregnant again in January. They kids couldn't be *too* spaced out age wise. She wanted Giles to be able to enjoy them as much as possible. And anyway, when they graduated from Highschool she'd only be 37.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a piercing pain in her skull exploding behind her eyes.
Giles felt Cordelia's fingers clamp down on his hand, and her entire body go stiff beside him. "Lia?"
Not answering, Cordelia clenched his hand harder and tried to catch her breath.
"What's the matter?" Trevor was instantly out of the booth, and reaching for her wrist to check Cordelia's pulse.
"She's having a vision." Once Cordelia's grip eased slightly on his hand, Giles touched the side of her face. "Cordelia?"
"I have to call Angel and Wesley."
"Here. Use my cell phone." Giles handed it to Cordelia, keeping his hand stroking her hair soothingly.
"Are they always like that?" Trevor frowned wondering what prolonged psychic visions could do to the girl.
"Yes." Giles replied quietly. "Sometimes worse."
"Has she ever been examined?"
Giles' lips pressed together as he shook his head. He'd tried to convince Cordelia to submit to testing, but she had a deep rooted hatred of hospitals, and wasn't going to go in unless it was absolutely necessary.
Cordelia handed Giles' cell phone back to him, and took a long drink of ice water. "Sorry about that. I guess I should be grateful that I didn't drool."
"What did you see?"
"Some really ticked off demons. Wesley and Angel were about to walk into a trap. Now they know better. I *hate* not being able to help them." Cordelia gnawed on her lower lip.
"You did help them Cordelia. You quite probably saved their lives." Giles soothed.
"But I still feel like I should be doing more." Shooting an apologetic glance at Trevor and Devon, Cordelia grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I'm not normally such a flake."
"Well I wouldn't go that far. . . ." Giles chuckled earning a pointed elbow in the ribs.
"I don't suppose that your visions also deliver stock tips?" Devon queried casually.
"Oooh! I wish they were that useful! But no. They're usually just demons and other icky things that go bump in the night."
"What a waste of a perfectly good paranormal talent."
Paying their bill the foursome split up at the door, with Trevor and Devon planning to meet Giles at his office at the museum in the morning.
hr
Giles and Cordelia's
"Head still hurt love?" Giles asked dropping his car keys on the table next to the front door, and removing his jacket.
"It's getting better." Cordelia dropped her purse on the table as well and instantly kicked off her shoes allowing her feet to sink into the plush carpeting.
This was her favorite part of any day. No matter what was going wrong, or what evilness went on outside in the world, just being in their home was like an instant cure.
The house was a perfect blend of its occupants. Modern. Comfortable. Practical. Stylish. Beautiful. Elegant. Welcoming. Refined.
It hadn't been easy to find a house that would suit their needs, and the needs of their professional callings. But when the realtor had shown them the tri-level, house within walking distance to the museum, and the college campus, with five bedrooms and a fully finished lower level, a large back porch and swimming pool they'd fallen in love with it. Of course they'd told the realtor they were planning on an enormous family instead of the truth; they needed the extra space for a library of books on how to save the world from vampires and other demons. Or that they liked the fact there was a small refridgerator in the basement so they could store pop for the Scoobies and blood for their vampire allies. Or one of the features Cordelia liked best. The sliding glass door in the basement that meant the Slayerettes could come and go whenever they wanted without dragging slime, goo, or demon parts in on her carpeting.
The basement was the working base for the Slayer and her friends. Two computers, all of Giles' books, records of vampiric activity in the area, and a special laptop with the entire demonology database on it.
There were also magic supplies, and two small sectioned off corners with cots in case Angel or Spike got trapped there during the day.
The couple made their way up the stairs past the guestrooms and the unfinished nursery to the master suite in companionable silence, Giles keeping his hand on the small of Cordelia's back, until she was settled at her vanity.
"I really like your brothers Giles." Reaching up, Cordelia unpinned the crown of hair, letting it fall past her shoulders, then began to remove her makeup.
"The feeling was very mutual Luv." Giles called from the walk in closet. "In fact, I think Devon would snap you up in a second if he could."
"They're both so sweet, how come neither of them are married?"
Giles emerged wearing the silk, midnight blue pajamma bottoms Cordelia had bought him right before she confiscated the top. "Trevor was married for ten years, but after Amelia passed away, he's just never had the heart to date again."
"That's so sad. . . and Devon?"
Chuckling, Giles slid between the cool sheets of their bed. "Devon's a tramp." He declared affectionately. "The word 'commitment' gives him hives."
"Ahh. Sort of like you." Cordelia teased slipping out of the room to change into her sleepwear. A pair of boxers and a t-shirt.
Giles frowned at that comment, and was still frowning when she returned. "That's not true."
"What?" Oblivious, Cordelia lifted the covers and slipped in between the sheets.
"I am *not* the person afraid of commitment in this relationship Cordelia. I believe that my first five proposals of marriage were rejected out of hand."
Hearing the genuine irritation in his voice, Cordelia folded her arms under her breasts and glared at him. "It took you six tries before you could get that one sentence out without turning a terrible shade of GREEN!" She accused. "The first one was in the doctor's office when we found out I was carrying your baby. And the other ones were just as awful." When Giles opened his mouth to protest, Cordelia cut him off with the ease of a woman used to dealing with Wesley Wyndam Price. "Look, Giles. I love you, you love me, and we're going to be a great big happy family. The marriage thing will be nice, but it's not why I'm here with you. I'm here because I love you. With or without rings. Baby or no baby. So you don't have to pretend that marrying me was your first choice."
Watching Cordelia snuggle down in the pillows, Giles turned out the light and lay awake thinking about what she'd said, until sleep claimed him.
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