"Are you sure about this, beloved?" Ethan asked anxiously, settling his jacket more comfortably.

Giles sighed and leaned in closer, "Ethan, shut up about this being a Council occasion? It's New Year's Eve and, damn it, you're my- my *spouse* and I don't care what anyone else may say or do about it."

"Spouse?" Ethan raised an eyebrow.

"Would you prefer me introducing you as my wife?" Giles grinned.

The mystic considered the question with a mock serious expression before replying, "Only if I can wear the dress. I actually still have it, you know, stored in that little flat of mine. And before you can say it: yes, I know it's a rattrap but it serves my purpose! Oh, Ripper, shall I wear the dress? I know just the spell to grow my hair out! And we can have a grand old time laughing at everyone's faces." Dark eyes glittered at the thought.

"I think not," Giles countered hurriedly, "You are my partner for now and maybe by Valentine's Day they'll be ready for 'husband'. I don't really care so long as they know I'm in love with you. I wouldn't ask you to come otherwise."

The mystic sighed and let himself be persuaded, "So long as you don't half kill me for some terrible faux pas when it's all over." He caught the teasing look in Giles' eyes and grinned. "Unless you plan to make the punishment pleasurable?"

"I'm sure I can manage that satisfactorily," Giles agreed, "Though that's more your domain than mine."

"Ripper, old chum, everything about you is my domain, or did you forget that?" Ethan smirked, trailing a featherlight fingertip down his arm, "All of you! Oh, and may I restate for the record that I have played no part in any of your little plans for tonight? I do not want Buffy to smear me over the walls and I rather believe no but you in that room will lift a finger to prevent that happening."

"While I'm flattered that you think I'm any match for Slayer strength, I don't think you need to worry." The Watcher looked positively gleeful as he contemplated his scheme. "Buffy will probably be far too busy baking."

The reception was not somewhere Ethan was comfortable; not that he disliked occasions. He rather liked dressing up, making small talk and then introducing some daring subject with just the right touch of mischief to shock his politely haughty audience. And he had to admit that seeing his lover in a tux was worth it too! But this was, as he had been protesting for so long, a Council affair. And he was hardly ready to forgive the Council for all the wrongs it had done him. The sight of his three champions and new best friends- however expected this blossoming adoption was- was slightly soothing to the irritated itch of unease.

"Mr. Giles," a voice said in front of him and he averted his eyes from Willow's animated little face to a couple in front of him, the gentleman a solid mass of respectability and his wife a mass of languid boredom.

Giles made the conventional greetings for the season before turning to introduce Ethan. The man looked coolly over the Chaos mage and made some politely frigid remark. The woman's eyes widened as she clutched tighter on her husband's arm and said, "You!" with just the right touch of sheer panic to make Giles start.

"Excuse me?" Giles looked every inch the Head of the Council as he looked down at the woman who was shaking at the sight of Ethan. A quick look at Ethan seemed to set yet more suspicions in place because his lover was tense and stiff, wild delight and growing fear warring in his eyes.

"Something wrong?" Xander asked, walking quickly over and touching Ethan's shoulder. The mystic muttered something about needing air and made to flee; except Xander grabbed his arm and began to walk him out. "Yeah, I'll come with you; smoking's more fun in pairs," the younger man babbled loudly.

Giles shot a relieved look after Xander before turning back to stare enquiringly at Haversham and his wife. "What just happened here?" he demanded.

"He- he was Him!" the woman wailed.

"Ah," Giles said inadequately, "Perhaps we should take this somewhere quieter, Haversham. Come with me."

He led them away spitting curses inside his head and it was only half an hour later than he could rejoin his husband outside. Xander had done his best but Ethan was still shaking, arms wrapped around himself and absolute terror in his dark eyes. When Xander saw Giles approaching he nodded and left them alone.

"Ethan, love, are you all right?" Giles asked in concern, touching his arm.

"I'm fine," Ethan sniffed. "You know, I don't think I can do this! Why the hell I let you talk me into this I don't know!" There was silence for a minute as Giles settled himself in to listen. "I suppose she told you that I worked that revenge spell for her," Ethan said suddenly, "It- it seemed like a good idea at the time."

"A lot of things seemed good ideas at the time," Giles commented, "That doesn't make them right. But that also doesn't make you a terrible person. It's long past."

"Your Council won't see it that way," Ethan reminded him, "It was a blood spell and black magic in the extreme. And now you, Top Dog in the Council and everything, are *with* me- they won't like it at all. There'll be trouble for you; people will become suspicious and very likely all the old files will be dragged back up. You should just let me walk away from all this."

That, however, was not something Ripper would ever condone on Ethan's lips. Ethan's wrists were grabbed and clamped behind his back, eyes locked into a fierce green glare. "You will not- and I emphasize *not*- ever think that way again! There will be no walking away because of anyone else. If you want to leave me, say so. But this changes nothing for me!"

"My dear, it changes everything," Ethan snarled back, wriggling to break the grip on his pinioned hands, "Don't you see what's in front of you? You've worked too hard to give any of this up, you pillock! You can't throw it away for me."

"I can and will," Giles growled. The Watcher leaned forward and took Ethan's mouth in a searing kiss, savaging the soft skin and forcing his tongue into the other man's mouth. When the kiss broke, Ethan was wild-eyed and panting, slumped obediently against Giles in an effort to keep standing. "Will you come back inside now?" Giles asked gently.

"No," Ethan gasped, "Scandalize everyone- can't do that to you."

"Ethan," Giles said, letting the steel creep into his voice, "I don't care what it takes to iron out the balances later, but for the next hour I want you to play the domination game. I am your Master and you are my slave and you **will** walk back into that room at my side. All right?"

Ethan managed a smirk worthy of his past misdeeds. "I do believe you're misunderstanding the word 'no', mate."

"I do believe you're misunderstanding how deadly serious I am."

Ethan stared and then laughed weakly before shaking his head. "Why does it mean so much to you?"

Giles looked positively satanic when he replied gravely, "No one else is married to someone as pretty as you are. I want to show you off! Make everyone jealous!"

"I don't think they'll quite see it that way, old man," Ethan said affectionately, standing still while Giles pressed soft kisses against the bruises on his wrists.

"Ahem," a voice spoke up behind him. "Is this the way to a party I'm supposed to attend? Hey, Giles, how're you doing? And what is El Creepo doing here?"

"Cordelia," Giles sighed, firmly suppressing a strong desire to hex her, "I'm glad you could make it. And I'll thank you not to insult my- my-"

"Lover, partner, better half, significant other, bed buddy, husband," Cordelia supplied cheerfully, smiling at him.

"Yes, quite," Giles groaned, shaking his head at her, "Though I do prefer husband."

Cordelia laughed and hugged him before holding out her hand to Ethan. "I don't know you so I won't hug you; I don't want to catch some nasty disease, now do I? But hey! It's nice Giles finally stopped pretending he wasn't 'gay as' and got himself someone who won't end up dead or leaving him."

Ethan blinked at her in surprise. He wasn't often surprised by anyone- he tended towards a cynical, world-weary acceptance- but he'd never met Cordelia in full insensitive mode before. "Uh, thanks."

"So, is that whole plan still on, Giles?" Cordelia asked, getting down to business, "Xander hasn't gotten himself blown up or engaged since three days ago, has he?"

"No," Giles assured her. He looked her over with smile. "Is that the same dress he bought you for your Prom?"

Cordelia shrugged with an embarrassed expression. "Kinda sucks to wake up after being in a coma and find that none of your formal dresses fit you except the oldest one you have. It also kinda sucks to know the dress that's still suits you the most is the one your ex-boyfriend bought you. My life, in case you didn't get the message, sucks. I'm not sure this is a good idea, Giles. Where'd you get this kooky notion anyway?"

"Let's say I got an interesting Christmas present from the three of them," Giles sniggered, "And I thought a similar gift each for New Year was in order. Xander needs someone to stop him growing too morose and moody. And I think that you can do with someone who cares for you enough to help you find your own way in life. Whether the two of you can do that for each other is up to you." He looked past Cordelia to take in two more new arrivals.

"And why am I here?" Angel asked nervously, looking at home in a tux but uncomfortable in his skin. "How do you know Buffy will even want to talk to me?"

"She's done baking," Giles informed him with an ironic note in his voice, "She answered Spike to that effect three months ago. I think giving you her final answer will help both of you move on with your lives."

"And the reason I'm here?" Wesley asked, looking more confused by the minute.

"I'm told Angel restored your memories recently," Giles said carefully. Cordelia looked at her shoes and Wesley tightened his jaw but otherwise no one interrupted. "Willow needs someone who she can trust enough to understand what exactly she's going through."

"I've hardly used the dark arts to seek revenge for my lover's murder," Wesley said, unable to keep the slightly sarcastic frost out of his voice.

"You've had your own dark places," Giles reminded him, "I'm not suggesting any of you change their lives; it's impossible for anyone to do that. And God knows, I have no idea if this will work out for good or bad. But I have a score to settle and they need more help than I am capable of providing. Besides which, I really haven't the time any more. It's your decision to make, however, and should you want to, the door's open. If you don't, no one will be the worst for it."

Giles finished his little speech, smiled smugly at them all, took Ethan's hand and went back inside.

Three hours later, the hall reverberated with the cries of, "3- 2- 1- Happy New Year!" The sounds of Auld Lang Syne went up as everyone in the hall laughed and cried and celebrated. Two men stood aloof on the balcony and watched.

"Do you think I did the right thing, love?" Giles whispered, standing behind Ethan with his arms around him. Ethan was pressed back against him and the little shrug he gave was one Giles could feel all over his body.

"Don't know, beloved," the mystic sighed apologetically, "It could be one of the most interfering, self-serving and sanctimonious things you'll ever do. You really are playing with people's lives here, mate. At least with us, Buffy knew you weren't theoretically averse to the idea. What makes you think Xander will want anything to do with Cordelia; or that Willow will find common ground with Wesley? As for Buffy and Angel, beloved, you're playing with fire!"

Giles stayed silent, absorbing that point of view with a growing sense of uncertainty and guilt.

"That being said," Ethan continued, "I think that the delightful Ms. Chase could do with someone to fight with and Xander provides countless opportunities. Wesley will at least know enough not to push our little witch too far and maybe Buffy will stake Angel."

The rumbling chuckle from Giles echoed in his ear as Giles held him tighter. "And why would that be a good thing, Ethan?"

"He touched you," Ethan reminded him implacably, "And no one touches you without either my permission or your permission and you very well know that. If it wasn't for a healthy fear of your Slayer, I'd have placed a conveniently disturbing remembrance curse on him for that."

"Will you two stop playing in the shadows?" Cordelia called, strolling out at Xander's side, "It's creepy!"

"Cordy, play gentle with nice men," Xander cautioned, "Considering one of them is still capable of summoning evil demons and controlling them to his will."

Cordelia went red and she punched Xander on the arm, taking care to make sure it hurt. From Xander's yelp, it did. "Thanks for the remind, retard," Queen C glared, "I really didn't want to be reminded of how I was possessed by some spooky Higher Power and made to give birth to some mind-controlling bimbo who wanted to rule the world!"

"I wasn't reminding you of anything," Xander retorted, "Geez! Give me some credit! And for your information I don't think you should keep bringing that up because none of it was your fault in the first place! That's like me blaming myself for the whole hyena possession back in high school and eating a pig! *I* didn't eat a pig; that hyena spirit thing did!"

"Whatever," Cordelia said with withering scorn, "Like you can actually compare the two!"

"Cordelia, are you still fighting?" Wesley sighed, "I thought the journey was enough for you! You practically ripped the fashion sense of everyone on that plane to shreds!"

"Hey, that woman across the aisle was way too much," Cordelia defended, "I mean, God! What a complete dumb-ass!"

"Where's Buffy?" Willow asked, looking around, "If we're going to have a group 'Happy New Year' moment, then we need Buffy."

"The Buffster was dancing with Deadboy out there the last time I saw here," Xander supplied kindly, "They disappeared a while ago."

Wesley started and then smiled slyly. Giles watched interested as the intensely blue eyes began to laugh even while the man's face said nothing too much. Ethan wasn't very pleased with the interest in another man and poked him sharply in the ribs. "Stop that," Ethan hissed.

"I wasn't doing anything," Giles protested. Ethan pouted and received a kiss for his efforts, upon which Wesley smiled and looked politely away and the rest just hurriedly averted their eyes in horror.

Ethan licked his lips with a cat-got-the-cream expression and smirked around. "You know," he said, turning back to his husband, "I just thought of something. If you're considered the father-figure in this little family, what does that make me?"

"The evil stepmom?" Cordelia ventured. Then she watched interestedly as Ethan didn't bother listening to anyone else as he planted a rather good kiss on Giles lips. "Hey, where'd you learn to kiss like that?" she demanded.

It was Giles to turn to give a Cheshire-cat smile. "It took hours of serious practice, Cordelia; hours!"