The Growing Up Series
By Selenay

AUTHOR: Selenay
TITLE: Growing Up
SUMMARY: Events over the summer after graduation change the relationships in the Scoob Gang, leading to guess what...?
SPOILERS: I'm in the UK so I'm basically not going to refer to any of the major stuff in season 3 (I hope). Therefore no Trick, Faith, Wesley or Ascention. Sorry for the people who like all those.
RATING: NC-17
E-MAIL: selenay@talk21.com
DISTRIBUTION: Please ask first.
FEEDBACK: Do I have to beg?

Prom - Part 1

The school gym was covered in sparkling streamers and tiny fairy lights. It looked like a magical grotto, as it should from the amount of time that Cordelia and her team had spent on it. There were tables around the edges leaving a clear dance floor in the middle and a band played on a stage at the end. Unfortunately it was a full moon so Willow had chained Oz up in the cage he had fitted in his basement. She, Xander and Buffy had gone to the Prom as a group, but none of them had lacked in dance partners. As the last song began she sat down at a table to watch everyone else wistfully. Angel had arrived a few minutes ago and he was dancing with Buffy. They were so caught up with each other they barely noticed when the rhythm of the music changed and slowed.

Giles stood at the edge of the room, doing his duty as chaperone and enjoying the chance to join them all in one of the most important events in their school lives. He watched, bemused, as Xander approached Cordelia. He had already seen him look at her several times over the evening and he had seen Willow pushing him in Cordelia's direction. She looked surprised but took his hand as he led her to the dance floor. They had both come to their Prom with groups of friends and no dates, the significance of which was not lost on Giles. Although they were not seeing each other, he was sure they still cared for each other. He hoped that this gesture would begin the healing of the rift in what had been one of the most surprising, but at the same time most 'right', relationships in the group.

His attention was drawn back to Buffy and Angel. That was another 'right' relationship, but one that could never be. There were just too many problems attached. He knew Angel had decided to leave after tonight, and could not help feeling relieved now the decision had finally been reached. As the music drew to a close Angel placed a kiss on Buffy's forehead and left the room. Willow stood and walked over to her friend. He saw them talk, then they hugged, linked arms and left the room.

Giles looked around, waiting for the rest of the teenagers to leave so he could. He planned to pick up some notes in the library, then go home and get some sleep. Being around several young people preparing to graduate could be a strain even without his duties as a Watcher added in.

***

"He's gone then." Willow stated.

"Yeah." Buffy said. "It hurts, you know?" Willow could see the unshed tears in Buffy's eyes.

"I know," she said, think of the day she had decided that she wanted to be with Oz, even though she knew she loved Xander almost as much. It was the almost that had decided her. She hugged Buffy, to let her know she was not alone, grateful that it was 'that time of the month' so she could look after Buffy without feeling guilty about Oz.

Willow pulled back and looked at Buffy.

"What would I do without friends like you?" the tiny blonde asked.

"Probably die," Willow grinned.

"I have some chocolate cake in the library. With lots of chocolate frosting. Between your lack of Oz tonight and Angel leaving I figured we'd need it."

"Chocolate cake can make almost anything better. Xander has occasionally got the right idea."

They both grinned at that. They linked arms and marched out of the hall in the direction of the library.

Buffy had hidden the cake under the counter, so she retrieved it while Willow hunted out a knife and some plates.

"This must be the only library that keeps cutlery on site," Willow commented from Giles' office.

"Yeah, but this is probably the only library where teenagers have all night research parties with the librarian," Buffy replied.

"We're weird," Willow said coming out of the office, "but in a good way," she added.

"Yeah Will, you said it." Buffy looked sad for a moment, then she brightened. "Come on, we have a cake to eat."

Buffy cut them each a large slice and handed Willow one of the plates. They both bit into the cake at the same time and made identical groans of pleasure.

"This is really good Buffy," Willow said through her mouthful.

Buffy simply nodded and grunted her acknowledgment. Within minutes they had finished their first pieces and were on to seconds. They both had chocolate frosting round their mouths and sticky hands, but they looked happier than they had in the hall.

"Oh!" exclaimed Giles as he walked in and saw them. "I-I didn't expect you to be here."

"We were too depressed to go straight home, and Buffy made cake," Willow explained.

"Cake?"

"Yeah, you know. Chocolatey thing, kinda spongy, tastes good," Buffy teased.

"Thank you Buffy," Giles said, deciding not to rise to it. "You're planning to eat the.whole cake?"

"No, just most of it," Buffy said.

"We've got ice cream at my house," Willow added. "We're creating a new post-Prom tradition - overdosing on calories."

"Oh." Giles said again. His brain did not appear capable of higher functions at the moment. It could have had something to do with Buffy's dress, a subject he had been trying to keep his mind off all evening, or the smudge of chocolate on his Slayer's cheek. Keeping his feeling under control tonight was proving harder than he thought.

"Giles, sit, have a piece," Buffy commanded. "With you to help, there may not be any left for the others tomorrow and we'll still have room for ice cream."

"I-if you insist," Giles said, smiling. < Good job old boy. You can speak again. Keep this up and you may make it, then she'll be back to normal tomorrow. >

For several minutes there was silence as they concentrated on consuming the cake.

"This cake is really q-quite good," Giles said eventually.

"Why thank you," Buffy said, smiling at the complement. "It's an old recipe I found. Called chocolate spice cake, but I preferred the chocolate fudge icing from another cake." Seeing Giles' look Buffy said, "I do actually read sometimes. Voluntarily. And I can cook. Not many things, but I can."

Giles shook his head, smiling. She always seemed to be finding new things to surprise him with.

Buffy looked at the remains of the cake. "There's enough for one piece each," she said. "Think you can still handle the ice cream after it?"

"Definitely." Willow confirmed.

Buffy quickly cut the rest of the cake up and handed it out.

Now that he was past the initial shock of finding the girls in what he had thought would be his nice, quiet, empty library Giles was coping better. He had always known that Buffy was beautiful, and that he could care for her very deeply if he let himself, but it had never hit him with force it had when he came in and saw her. Her lovely silver dress complemented her figure, making it hard to believe she was only eighteen, but the chocolate round her mouth and on her cheek made her look terribly young at the same time. It was completely her. A mixture of mature woman and fun-loving child that was a potent combination. At times like these Giles found it more difficult than ever to keep his growing feelings for her in check.

Willow and Buffy finished their cake and looked at each other. They both giggled and reached for napkins to clean up. Giles also grabbed a napkin to clean the frosting off his fingers. He noticed that Buffy had missed the smudge on her cheek and without thinking reached over and wiped it gently away.

Buffy was surprised when he reached towards her, then felt him gently wipe away the frosting. < He has to be one of the most considerate men around. > she thought, wondering why that thought was such a surprise. She did not realize she was smiling gently at her Watcher, although he did.

"I-I suppose you girls are going to find your ice cream now, hmm?" Giles asked, busying himself with clearing away the dishes and trying to forget Buffy's expression.

"Yeah. I'm still really in the mood for major pigging-out," Buffy said. "We've got some really cheesy movies too. Care to join us? Mom's out of town." Buffy was not sure why she offered, but with school drawing to a close it seemed appropriate.

"I can't. I still have to work here for another few weeks, and the school board would not approve."

"Maybe another time." Buffy was not sure why she felt a faint stab of disappointment at his refusal. "Ready Will?"

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