Author's Note: I'm back! This one's kind of short because I was working on my series of Valentine's Day ficlets. Which you should go check out, by the way!

"Mrs. Gi-iles!" Buffy shouts, hammering on the door as Faith stands awkwardly next to a grinning Willow. Both Willow and Buffy have had a persistent smile on their faces ever since Giles called Buffy and told them that his wife was back in town. Faith finds it more than slightly creepy. "We've brought the new Slayer to meet you! Giles told you about Faith, right? And Willow has software!"

The door remains resolutely shut.

"I know you're in there, you technopagan you," Buffy calls cheerfully.

"It's the bloody weekend, Buffy, let her get some sleep," says Giles, wrenching open the door and glowering at the girls. "She just got back from her technology convention, and she has jet lag, and—"

"New Slayer?" says an eager (albeit drowsy) voice.

Faith was expecting some British lady with the same stuffiness about her as Giles, maybe a little more warm and maternal but still inherently well-mannered. The woman (American) peeking around Giles at her has tousled dark hair and is wearing a tank top and what might be men's boxers.

"Dear," says Giles, sounding slightly embarrassed, "I'm not sure that this is the first impression you want to make on Faith."

"Rupert, she's a girl," scoffs Mrs. Giles, the last word giving way to a yawn as she stretches. "It's not like Xander's here to make lewd comments about my legs," she adds. "So you'd be Faith?"

"Yeah," says Faith. Mrs. Giles steps around her husband so that she's now standing next to him, and yep those are men's boxers. Faith would wager her nonexistent savings on those boxers belonging to Giles. "I've heard a lot about you," Faith quips.

"Really?" says Mrs. Giles, sounding genuinely surprised.

Faith has to grin. "Nah. But Giles wears a wedding ring."

Mrs. Giles nods, not looking at all surprised, and says, "He isn't one to over-share." She sticks out her hand. Faith takes it. Mrs. Giles doesn't have a very strong handshake, but there's a confidence she holds herself with that makes her grip seem stronger than it is. "It's nice to meet you, Faith," she says, smiling.

Faith smiles back. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. G," she says.

Mrs. Giles drops Faith's hand with a last polite smile. As she turns to Willow, her cordial smile abruptly becomes warm and bright.

Faith feels a pinprick of jealousy. So Mrs. Giles plays favorites, just like her husband. She doesn't hold it against the lady, though. At least here, it's clear that they have something in common. Apparently Mrs. Giles teaches computers or something.

"Willow!" Mrs. Giles says, and gives Willow a fierce hug.

"Ms. Calendar!" Willow says delightedly, and hugs her back. Pulling away, she adds, "Um, I mean, Mrs. Giles now, obviously. How was New York?"

"Didja bring us back anything?" Buffy hopefully adds.

"I can give the stuff to you tomorrow. I think the souvenirs are still in my suitcase." Mrs. Giles glances sideways at her husband before reluctantly adding, "I haven't unpacked yet."

"Jenny," says Giles reprovingly. "You said you were planning on—"

"I will! It's just that you do such a better job of putting everything back," Mrs. Giles wheedles, arms draping around Giles's neck. Giles wraps his arms around her waist and tugs his wife close. He's got this gooey look in his eyes that's more than reciprocated by the lady wearing his boxers.

Gross, really. Faith glances over at Buffy and sees that the other Slayer has this resigned expression on her face. The kind you get when you're around lovebirds who happen to be your friends, and you get used to the gooeyness being there, but you're still a little grossed out by it.

Faith makes a face at Buffy.

Buffy's resigned expression dissolves as she smirks back at Faith. "You're gonna have to get used to it," she says. "They're like this all the time."