A/N: Hi guys! Quick update to close the weekend in grand stile! ;) I hope you enjoy Part 2. Seeya!

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Buffy waved Aaron over.

The boy approached them with a polite smile. "Hi, can you help us carry the drinks to the table?" she asked, batting her eyelashes.

"Sure," he agreed, still smiling.

As they waited for the rest of the drinks, Buffy began to set her plan into motion. It wasn't anything groundbreaking; just straightforward and to the point, much to Giles' dismay.

"Look, Aaron, we both know we didn't really hit it off, right?" she said bluntly.

Aaron stared at her, his mouth slightly agape in astonishment.

"Right!" she answered for him, leaving him no room to object. Giles lowered his head, covering his face with his hand at the sheer awkwardness of the situation.

"Well, I suppose we don't have much in common," Aaron stammered, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

"Don't worry, it's no biggie," Buffy reassured him. "The thing is, we have a favour to ask."

"Yeah?" Aaron replied, now looking uncertainly between Buffy and Giles, who was staring intently at the floor, clearly terrified of what Buffy might say next.

"We want to swap dates," she said, as if it were the most natural suggestion in the world.

"What?" Aaron nearly choked on the word, and Giles barely managed to suppress a yelp. His head shot up, eyes wide and fixed on Buffy.

"Swap dates?" Aaron repeated in a quieter tone, as though afraid someone else might overhear.

Their drinks were finally ready, and Buffy took charge, casually sorting through the cups. "Come on, Christina likes you. I've seen the way she looks at you," she bluffed, handing Aaron his and Christina's coffee.

"Um?" Aaron looked taken aback, trying to process what she'd just said.

Buffy picked up her hot chocolate and began walking back to the table, Aaron trailing behind her, still in shock.

"Buffy?" Giles called, his tone carrying that familiar mix of exasperation and authority she knew all too well—a tone that always hinted she was about to get a lecture.

She spun around, flashing him one of her thousand-watt smiles. "Ah, could you get some tiny marshmallows for me, Giles?" She added a cute wink for good measure. "Please?"

"Of-of course," he stammered, momentarily flustered by the playful manner of her request, the wink catching him off guard.

As they reached the table, Buffy practically nudged Aaron into the booth beside Christina and then slid into her seat across from them.

A few steps behind, Giles took the only vacant seat—right next to Buffy.

Aaron offered Christina her cup of coffee, earning a grateful smile from her. 'Maybe Buffy was right, maybe Christina likes me,' he thought hopefully, trying to convince himself but not dwelling too much on the matter. If Buffy and Giles were both fine with the swap, why shouldn't he be? After all, Christina was drop-dead gorgeous, and after a few exchanged words, he guessed she was pretty interesting too—despite being a bit tipsy. He chuckled at his own thoughts and resumed the conversation.

Giles handed Buffy the marshmallows, and she thanked him with a whisper. 'Was she trying to be seductive?' the thought briefly crossed her mind.

As surprising as it might seem, they all settled into easy conversation and began to relax. Oblivious to the situation, Christina would still occasionally flirt with Giles, causing the Magic Box owner to blush. Buffy noticed this and found it more unsettling than she cared to admit. 'At least Giles isn't watching Christina's cleavage,' she reassured herself, though the thought didn't entirely ease her discomfort.

At one point, Buffy cleared her throat, catching Aaron's attention, and made a subtle gesture encouraging him to be more assertive in his advances. However, it didn't quite have the desired effect; Aaron continued to be respectful, in stark contrast to the tipsy Christina. 'Did someone forget to tell her she's not supposed to hit on Giles anymore?' Buffy thought, growing increasingly impatient. Was she becoming too possessive of her Watcher? It was clear the other woman had no idea about the arrangement. What was wrong with her?

The conversation flowed smoothly until Giles suddenly choked on his tea, nearly spilling it. His body went rigid, like stone, and Buffy studied him from the corner of her eye.

Aaron continued with his story, unaware of the tension building at the table. Giles kept his gaze fixed on Aaron; the young man seemed quite confident that his tale was impressing Christina. But as the story went on, Giles' jaw clenched, and Buffy noticed Christina watching her Watcher intently. Something was definitely amiss.

Giles shifted uncomfortably in his seat, though he tried to be discreet. His left hand moved beneath the table, followed by his right. Buffy's eyes tracked the movement and saw Christina's foot caressing Giles's leg under the table. His hands were trying to capture her foot, to stop her from going any further. But her foot was inching dangerously close to a sensitive area, and Giles was clearly struggling to regain control.

"Oh my God, it's late, we've got to go!" Buffy suddenly exclaimed, already rising from the booth and practically dragging Giles with her.

"What?" Aaron asked, clearly confused by the abrupt change in plans.

"I mean... Giles and I have to leave now! You two stay... Please, stay." She waved her hands frantically, trying to emphasise her words, and hurried Giles out of the café; he barely had time to place some money on the table to cover thee bill before being whisked away.

Christina and Aaron were left behind without further explanation. "So... do you come here often?" Aaron asked, turning his full attention to Christina with a charming, win-over smile.

Outside of the Cafe...

"Oh my God, what was that? What was she doing with her foot?" Buffy asked exasperated. She sounded more like a jealous girlfriend than his long term slayer.

"She wanted to jump your bones so badly that she couldn't wait!" Buffy's arms flailed around as she spoke, starting to draw some attention from others nearby.

"We should go, Buffy, please." Giles gently placed a hand on her elbow, guiding them away from the entrance of the Espresso Pump.

"I can't believe you didn't do anything!" Buffy accused angrily.

"And what exactly would you have had me do, Buffy?" he bit back frustrated.

"I don't know... You could have done something... She way overstepped her mark."

"And you didn't?" he said sarcastically, "swap dates, what a brilliant idea that was!"

"Well, it could have worked," she defended herself.

"But it didn't."

"That's not my fault if she couldn't keep her—feet—to herself," she replied with a teasing tone. Giles gave a lopsided smile.

"And, by the way, I got her out of your hair, didn't I?" she added with a hint of smugness.

"Yes, that, you did." He couldn't suppress a giggle as he recalled the absurdity of the evening.

Buffy laughed as well, and soon the Espresso Pump was way behind them.

They walked in companionable silence for a while before Giles broke it. "Where are we going?" he asked her.

"I don't know, I was thinking of walking you home."

"Walk me home?" he asked, stopping in his track.

I was planning on doing a quick patrol tonight. I could keep you company on the way to your house and then head to the cemeteries from there I'm enjoying talking with you."

Giles regarded her with a curious expression, especially after hearing her last statement, but Buffy avoided meeting his gaze. "All right," he finally said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Escort your date home."

They glanced at each other, smiled, and resumed their stride.