Who, What, Why, Where, When?

CHAPTER 10

When he pulled up outside the Bronze he gasped and looked at the car he had parked next to. "What's wrong?" Willow asked anxiously, scanning the group of people outside the club to spot any danger.

"The car" he said and pointed to the spitfire parked next to them. "That's the one I saw you in" he said and turned to look at her.

"When?" she asked a little bemused.

"Remember I told you about the dream I had of you and I driving in an open top sports car?" he got out of his own car and moved to gaze into the interior of the other.

"Vaguely" she said and followed him. "Are you sure this is the car?" she asked.

"Positive" he said. "I used to own one just like it years ago and I haven't seen one since I came to America. I wonder who's it is?"

"Perhaps the guy on the door saw who drove it in?" she suggested. She shook her head as he headed off at speed to ask him then laughed a little when he turned round, headed back to her and held his hand out for her to take.

"Sorry" he said and smiled at her. "I got a little carried away, forgive me?"

She pulled him to her and kissed him quickly. "I've forgiven you everything up to now haven't I?"

He gave her a fierce hug and whispered in her ear. "I promise never to give you anything else to forgive"

He pulled back and looked into her eyes, surprised at the depth of emotion he saw there then a little concerned as worry lines appeared on her forehead and he saw her frown. "What's wrong?"

"Are you OK about everyone knowing" he looked a little puzzled. "About us I mean?"

He laughed gently and pulled her into a hug again. "I think everyone knew about us before we knew ourselves. I doubt this will be a surprise to any of them"

She smiled and pulled back, taking his hand as she headed for the front door. "You're right, it'll probably be more of a relief for them that we finally did something about it".


When they finally made it inside they saw Buffy first of all, anxiously scanning those entering. Giles raised his hand and waved at her, giving Willow's hand a final squeeze before they finally met up with her.

"Where were you guys?" Buffy asked a little anxiously. "We rang your apartment and the dorm, we were worried” and she looked at Willow for an explanation.

Willow sighed and let go of Giles' hand, pulling Buffy off to one side to explain exactly what she had been doing when Buffy called.

Giles looked after them a little nervously, unsure whether he wanted his love life to be a topic of conversation between his girlfriend and his slayer. He shook his head a little, realising that he finally had a girlfriend again and knew there was nothing he could do to stop the conversation they were obviously having.

He was half way across the dance floor, heading for Xander and Fraser, when he heard Buffy squealing and turned to see her hugging Willow and jumping up and down excitedly. As he reached the two men they both looked at him a little surprised. "What's up with Buffy?" asked Xander.

"Isn't that Willow with her?" asked Fraser and looked at Giles. "Ohhhh" he said and held his hand out for Giles to shake. "Well done, you finally made her realise that a classic old car is better than a shiny new one?"

"Something like that" Giles admitted, blushing slightly and hoping it wouldn't show in the darkness of the club. "By the way is that your car outside?" skedsked.

"The spitfire?" Fraser asked and smiled when Giles nodded. "Yes, I just got her a couple of weeks ago, she is a beauty isn't she?"

"She is indeed" Giles agreed. "I may have a favour to ask from you later tonight" he leaned over and cryptically whispered as Buffy and Willow joined them.

"What is going on?" asked Xander, aware that there was a crackle of electricity in the air but not sure why.

Willow stood next to him and whispered in his ear. He stared at her for a moment, noting the glint of determination in her eyes and the slightly raised eyebrow as if she was waiting for his answer.

He grinned and held his hand out to Giles. "Congratulations G-Man, you better look after her!"


Buffy squealed again and hugged Giles. "I'm really happy for both of you". He looked a little helplessly at Fraser and Xander and then at Willow, who was struggling to keep a straight face.

Fraser finally took pity on him. "Perhaps I should get us a round of drinks to celebrate this happy occasion?" he asked. "Rupert do you want to give me a hand?"

Giles smiled his thanks and gently disentangled himself from Buffy's grip. "Thank you" he said as they headed for the bar.

"No problem" Fraser answered. "It was getting depressing seeing you with every beautiful woman in the room hanging on your arm anyway"

Giles laughed. "I'm sorry about not letting you know about Willow and I but this has happened suddenly" he stared at Fraser's face as he ordered the drinks to see how upset his friend was.

Fraser turned to him and smiled. "Suddenly?" he said incredulously. "Rupert that girl has been in love with you for months. I knew I never really had a chance with her but perhaps my suggestions otherwise helped you to make your mind up?"

Giles looked at him aghast for a minute. "You were playing mind games with a patient who had severe head trauma and amnesia?"

"There have to be some perks for the long hours and rotten hospital food!" Fraser smiled as he accepted a tray of drinks from the barman.

After several toasts, and much arm punching and double entendre from Xander, Giles finally managed to drag Willow onto the dance floor. "You always said you didn't dance" Willow whispered as she smiled up at him.

"It was the only way to get you alone and discuss how much you told Buffy?" he asked a little anxiously as he shuffled a little to a slow dance.

Willow looked speculatively at him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean" he whispered fiercely. "How much did you tell her about what we were up to when she phoned?" He glanced back over at the table and saw Fraser lead Buffy onto the dance floor. "I don't really want our love life to be the general topic of discussion among the extended membership of the Scooby Gang"


She buried her head against his chest and laughed. "She guessed some of it but we didn't go into details" she assured him. "Although next time you better let me answer the phone, at least I won't sound as out of breath as you did!"

"Are you saying I'm not in good shape, young lady" he asked in mock indignation.

She just smiled and pulled him down to kiss her. They didn't notice the music stopping until Buffy tapped him on the shoulder.

"You are wigging out the freshmen old man" Buffy sternly told him then smiled. "How about a dance with your slayer?" she asked as the music started up again. She noticed his hesitation and sighed "I promise you can have her back once Fraser has finished with her!"

He looked over Buffy's shoulder to see Fraser twirl Willow off to the other end of the dance floor and felt his heart tighten. Buffy could sense his discomfort. "Giles it's OK, I had a chat with him earlier and he doesn’t really have a thing for her you know"

"I know Buffy and I'm sorry" he admitted as he awkwardly took her hand to begin a slightly more energetic shuffle. "I just can’t bear to have her out of my sight right now, do you understand?" he asked as he finally looked down at his dance partner.

"I know exactly what you mean and, although it hurts like hell, I hope that feeling never leaves you Rupert" she said softly and moved closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

He was a little taken aback but then gently put his arms round her waist and swayed with her, thanking god that they had survived long enough to have this unspoken but nevertheless unbreakable bond between them.

As the music ended and they headed back to the table Xander was talking to some old school friends.

He slapped a few shoulders and made a few 'witty' remarks, which everyone groaned at, then headed back to the table where the others were waiting. "I don't want to worry you guys but I think we're back on duty"

Fraser noticed the atmosphere change and felt as if the temperature had dropped by several degrees. Everyone had stopped kidding around and laughing and moved closer to the table to hear what Xander had to say.


"Couple of guys from school said they just saw Harmony out there with a couple of biker types"

Everyone nodded and Giles turned to explain to Fraser. "I think I mentioned the Graduation Day/Ascension event?" he asked. Fraser nodded. "Good, well we know that Harmony was definitely taken as a vampire that night and she's been popping up every now and then to annoy us ever since"

Buffy was having a quick discussion with Xander and Willow then she turned to Giles and Fraser. "You guys stay here and Xander and I will go outside and see what's happening"

Giles was about to argue when she took him aside. "I know you want to be involved but we need to have you and Willow stay here for now in case they get into the Bronze. How much does Fraser know?" she asked as she quickly took her jacket off and slung her large handbag over her shoulder.

"He knows enough to keep out of our way" Giles whispered and she nodded.

"Good. Do you have any weapons?" she asked as an afterthought.

"Never leave home without him" Giles said, opening his jacket to show her the stake in his inner pocket. "I also have the bag of training weapons in the boot of the car"

"We may need them, give me the keys and Xander will bring it back in to you". He nodded and handed her the car keys.

"Buffy" he said as she moved off. "Be careful" he said as she turned round.

"Giles, I'm planning on being chief bridesmaid at your wedding, how could I not be careful?" and with this she touched Xander's arm and they both headed out the door.

Giles was stunned at her comment, my god they had Willow and him married off already! He hoped that she had been making a joke to relieve his anxiety but a deeper part of his mind was already picturing her in a bridesmaid's outfit and he shook himself to get rid of the mental image. Turning round he saw Willow urgently whispering to Fraser and pointing out the fire exits with quick hand signals.

He moved back to the table and took a large swallow of his beer. "Willow got you up to speed on everything?" he asked.


"Yes, I'm 'number one evacuation guy' apparently" he nodded and, to Giles' surprise, didn't look too concerned. Giles hoped he wasn't underestimating the seriousness of the situation but decided that a baptism of fire would soon cure him of this, should he survive the night.

He turned to Willow. "Have you got a stake?" he asked.

She shook her head and looked a little embarrassed. "My mind was on other things when I got changed this evening" she whispered fiercely but not quietly enough that Fraser didn't hear her. He nearly choked on his drink and coughed for several seconds. Willow grinned ruefully and slapped his back. "You didn't hear that" she said with a smile.

"Yes, well, ehm, perhaps" Giles coughed a little himself before recovering his composure. "Xander is retrieving the weapons from my car so make sure you get yourself something suitable?"

She nodded at him and leaned over the table. "I love it when you get all watchery with me" she said and kissed his nose. He sighed and leaned over the table as well to capture her lips. They only broke apart when Xander coughed politely.

"I leave you in charge for one minute and you go all 007 on me" he exclaimed then realised that Fraser and Giles were staring at him in incomprehension. "You know, scent of danger in the air and the suave British guy kisses the first beautiful woman he meets in the bar?" He gave up and dumped the sports bag at Giles feet with a clatter. "I give up, my popculture referencing talent is wasted on you guys"

Buffy returned a short time later as Willow was concealing a wooden cross in her purse and trying to decide where to keep a large stake. Eventually she pushed it into the wasteband of her skirt and lifted her blouse over it to conceal it. Fraser nodded to Giles. "Remember that's in there later or I'll be pulling splinters out of interesting parts of your body all night!"

Xander snorted and was about to add his own comment when Buffy put a hand on his arm. "Sorry to interrupt guys but Harmony has company in the form of four very large vampires". Everyone sobered and looked to Buffy who started to smile. "Either there's a Village People convention in town or these vampires were taken when leather jackets, chains and big moustaches were in!"

Everyone now looked at Giles who shrugged. "I never had chains on my leathers!" he said, then grinned a little. "Well not many any way"


Buffy smiled at him. "Alright, how bright can they be to team up with Harmony? I can take two of the big ones out fairly quickly but someone needs to distract the other two and Harmony" She looked at Xander and Giles. "My two best guys feel up to a work out?"

"I'm sure we can manage to keep them busy for a short while" Giles said dryly then turned to Fraser. "You and Willow will need to keep everyone in here. Make up some story to keep people from getting into the car park"

Willow nodded and pulled Fraser over towards the bar. Giles sighed inwardly and knew he was glad that she hadn't made a fuss. He also knew that the feeling of excitement coursing through him was a natural reaction to the adrenalin seeping into his system but he still felt guilty.

The three of them slipped out a back door of the club and Willow arrived at the bar with Fraser. "OK, are you sure you're OK with this?" she asked as she signalled the barman over.

"I'm sure" he grinned and leaned over to speak quietly to the barman. When he nodded Fraser turned to the club and raised his voice to be heard. "We just got engaged - drinks on the house for everyone!"

There was a second of silence then a queue of people waiting to pump his hand up and down and be his best friend for as long as the drink flowed. Willow laughed, well Giles had said to keep everyone inside the club!

Xander and Giles split up from Buffy at the end of the alley behind the club. Xander had grabbed two stakes and Giles had chosen a small hand axe. He gently flexed his hand around the handle and tested the weight. Xander glanced at him "Ready big guy?"

"Ready when you are" Giles nodded and they headed for the car park.

Buffy ran round the outside of the club and came upon the car park from the opposite direction. She staked one vampire before they knew she was there and the other was so surprised at her appearance as she vaulted over his shoulder to land in front of him that she dusted him before he could blink. She turned round, ready for the others when she saw the scene before her and started to laugh instead.


Xander had his head covered with his arms as Harmony rained blows from her tiny fists on him. "Will you stop that" elleelled and pushed her away. She landed in Giles arms and he grabbed hold of her before she could turn towards him. Instead she stamped down with her high heel on his left foot and he was soon hopping around cursing and holding his foot. Buffy finally noticed that the other vampires were nowhere to be seen and ran towards Xander.

"Where'd the leather boys go?" she asked.

"We dusted them first thing" Xander said a little breathlessly. "We got one each and then Harmony sta to to whine and I tried to get her too, just to shut her up, when she started all that girly fighting stuff"

Buffy laughed and moved over towards Giles, who was leaning on the bonnet of his car and gingerly rubbing his foot. "Xander said you got one of the vampires, you OK?" she smiled.

"Yes I'm fine thank you, you?" he asked and winced slightly as he put his foot down again.

"Peachy" she announced and put out her arm for him to lean on. "Harmony ran off but I thought I'd leave her for you to get your revenge next time?" she smiled up at him. "Did you use the hand axe?" she asked with professional interest as they headed for the front door of the club.

"Yes" he nodded as Xander joined them. "It has a nice weight and is quite adequate for most vampires if you get a good enough back swing"

Xander was about to enter the discussion on the merits of a hand axe versus stakes, when they all stopped and stared, open mouthed, at the scene before them.

Fraser and Willow were sitting on chairs that had been placed on top of the pool table. Everyone in the club was singing a very bad, karaoke version of 'Love and Marriage' at them and toasting their general direction with drinks of every imaginable colour and variety. Several of the younger revellers were cheering as Fraser downed a beer in one go.

"What the bloody hell!" Giles growled and limped determinedly towards the table. He elbowed several people out of the way and stood looking up at Willow. "What are you doing?" he shouted at her.

She grinned rather stupidly at him. "It's all my fault and it's just gotten a bit out of hand"


He was starting to upset several of the revellers. "Hey buddy, leave the happy couple alone!"

Buffy and Xander had collared an acquaintance and gotten most of the story by this time. They shook their collective heads and moved to extricate Willow and Fraser before Giles could get to them.

As the happy couple left, witny sny shouts and cheers of goodwill from the assemblage, Fraser was trying to explain everything to Giles. He wasn't succeeding, mainly because Buffy, Xander and Willow kept breaking into gales of laughter.

Eventually Willow realised how agitated he was getting and pulled him towards the alley. Buffy and Xander walked Fraser to his car, Buffy trying to find out if the Doctor was in a fit state to drive.

Willow held onto Giles' hands as she reached up and kissed h He He wrinkled his nose a little at the smell of alcohol on her. "How much did you have to drink?" he asked quietly.

"I only hae bue but when Fraser announced our engagement and free drinks for everyone to celebrate I got splashed by a few passers-by" she explained quickly. "Before either of us knew what was happening, they had hoisted us onto the pool table and started singing that stupid song". She lifted her right hand, still holding his, and kissed the palm of his left hand. "I'm sorry but it was my idea, please don't take it out on Fraser"

"I'm just relieved we all made it through tonight safely" he sighed. He had felt a tingle down his spine when she had kissed his hand and knew that the adrenalin that had slowed to a drip feed was starting to make him want her more than ever. "Let's go home?" he said a little breathlessly. She nodded and led him back to the others.

Fraser looked a little sheepishly at him through bleary eyes. "I'm sorry Rupert, are you two OK?"

Giles smiled and patted his shoulder. "Thank you for keeping her safe for me Fraser, perhaps Xander could drive you home?"

Fraser nodded and handed Xander his car keys. The young man's face lit up but Giles took the keys out of his hand and replaced them with his own. "Xander use my car to get Fraser and Buffy home, I'll take Fraser's to drop Willow off"


Fraser looked at him, a little surprised. "Remember the favour?" Giles asked him quietly.

"Of course" Fraser nodded and lost his balance a little. "I'll use your car for a few days?"

Giles smiled and nodded. "I'll get this little beauty back to you on Monday" he said and walked Xander and the Doctor over to his own car.

Buffy hugged Willow. "I'll see you on Monday then?" she said with a quirky smile.

"I guess so" Willow nodded and blushed a little.

"Just be gentle with his left foot" Buffy whispered in her ear and then hugged her again before heading for the other car. She passed Giles on the way and gave him a hug as well. "Give me a call and let me know when your mind's back on training" she said and left him standing, looking after her.

He had his arm round Willow, opening the car door for her, when Xander shot out of the car park in his car. The tyres screeched and they could hear the stereo blaring as Xander headed down the street.

When he sat in the driver's seat she rested her hand on his thigh. "You know he's only teasing you, the car will be OK"

He nodded. "I know but he didn't do it right" Giles sighed. She didn't understand until he said "Buckle up" and threw the car into gear. The car headed straight for the wall of the Bronze and she was sure they were going to hit it until he pulled on the handbrake and the car screeched in an impossibly tight turn to face the exit from the car park. He turned to grin at her and dropped the handbrake off again as he put his foot down. Admittedly her eyes were closed but she was sure that the exit through the gates was a pretty close call.