Title: Deceptions and Betrayals 2/21
Author: Ness
Contact: sessa1_2@yahoo.com
Written: 09/08/2003
Spoilers: Nothing after "Wrecked" in season 6 on BtVS and anything before "Sleep Tight" on AtS. But this is completely AU.
Summary: This one is a sequel to "When You Least Expect It". If you didn't read that one, this will probably confuse you.
Pairings: Cordelia/Giles and Buffy/Wesley
Rating: PG most of the time but there are NC-17 parts.
Distribution: Anyone that already has permission. Anyone else, please ask first.

Disclaimer: We all know who owns 'em and it ain't me. Joss and Co. are gods in their universe, I'm just a peon in mine.
Thanks to Suzanne for the beta. It is much appreciated, Chica. *G* A/N: I did a bit of juggling with this after Suz saw it, so any and all mistakes are mine--as usual. ;-)
Dedication: This one is for Kerrie. She gave me the idea that ended an almost six month block. She read this puppy even though she didn't normally read these pairings. Now, I've corrupted her or that's what she says anyway. *G* Thanks darlin', you're the best.

"Dennis, I'm home." Cordelia dropped her purse on the hall table.

She saw a glass of iced tea floating towards her. The spell had worked just as Giles' friend had predicted, and Dennis had settled in, but he still seemed nervous for some reason. Cordelia had talked to Giles about it and he seemed to think Dennis was just getting acquainted with their new home. After all, he hadn't been out of the apartment in over 55 years.

As she took the tea and moved into the living room, she had to admit that this house was much, much better than her apartment. For one thing, it had a den with three walls of built-in bookshelves. Her bookworm husband had almost drooled at that little perk. There was also a basement that had been converted into a large playroom. They'd remodeled it into a training room that they could use when they trained together or when Buffy came. The Slayer had decided that Dawn needed to know self-defense and had asked Giles to help her train her younger sister. Naturally he had agreed, so the room would definitely get used often. The house had three large bedrooms in addition to the master bedroom. It had been perfect. When Cordelia asked Giles how he had found it, he explained that it belonged to Robert's parents. They had decided to rent it when they had moved to a smaller house and discovered that none of their children had wanted the larger home. It would have been foolish to sell it in the current real estate market, when they could afford to buy another home without selling their old house. After meeting the older couple, it didn't take long for Cordelia and Giles to sign a lease.

She finished her tea and went into the kitchen to start dinner--well, to make a salad. Giles would take care of the rest.

****

Cordelia was washing the lettuce in preparation for the salad when the phone rang. "Hello?"

"Cordelia?" a familiar voice came over the line.

"Hey, Buffy," she greeted the Slayer. "What's up?"

"Not much. I just needed to talk to Giles. Is he home?"

"Not yet. It'll probably be a half hour or so before he get here."

"Okay." Buffy sounded disappointed. "I guess I'll call back then."

"Is there anything I can do?" Cordelia asked as she began to chop the lettuce.

"No, not really." A sigh was heard on the other end of the line. "I just needed some advice about Dawn."

"What's wrong with Dawn?"

"Nothing major. She's just acting like a typical teenager and I'm ready to strangle her. I thought maybe Giles could help me."

"What's she doing?" Cordelia wondered what Dawn was doing to cause Buffy parental headaches.

"Same old, same old." Buffy blew out a frustrated breath. "She's arguing with me about everything. If I say the sky is blue, she'll swear it's green. She's still doing okay in school and I don't want that to change. She's already got one strike against her because she's my sister."

"I see," Cordelia said, and she did. Buffy had been branded a troublemaker in school. The school, like the rest of the town, had worn blinders about what *really* went on in Sunnydale. Snyder had been a tyrant, and a troll, and the rest of the faculty, other than Giles and Miss Calendar hadn't been much better.

"I don't know what to do!" Buffy sounded frustrated.. "It's like she ignores me just on general principal. Now I know how mom felt." Buffy heard a chuckle from the Seer.

"That's right," Buffy said good-naturedly. "Laugh in the face of my pain."

"I'm sorry." Cordelia managed an apology between giggles.

"Oh, yeah. I can tell." The blonde teased.

"Well, if there's anything I can do, let me know," Cordelia offered. "I'll tell Giles you called."

"I will and thanks. Tell Giles I'll talk to him later." Buffy was about to say goodbye when Cordelia stopped her.

"Buffy?" Cordelia's tone was hesitant.

"Yeah?" Buffy was curious, she hardly ever heard Cordelia sound unsure about anything. Brash, bordering on rude, yeah. But unsure? Never.

"Have you talked to Wesley lately?"

"No. Not for a week or two. Why?" Buffy's defenses immediately came up.

Cordelia didn't know how to approach the subject, so in typical Cordeliaesque-fashion, she just said what was on her mind.

"What's going on with you and Wesley?"

The silence lasted for so long Cordelia was beginning to think that Buffy might have hung up.

"What do you mean?" The voice that finally answered was quiet.

"I mean that--I just wanted to know--." Cordelia took a deep breath. "Hell, I just wanted to know when you and Wesley became friends."

"When--or why?" was the defensive question.

"Both."

"Why do you want to know?"

Cordelia took a deep breath and plunged in. "Because the last I knew, you and Wes could barely stand each other. I come home from my honeymoon and find you and him talking like bosom buddies."

"Did you ask him?"

"Yeah."

"What did he say?" Buffy's tone was no longer careful, she was curious.

"He just said that you had called after one of my weekends in Sunnydale and you two had talked."

"Well, that's true. But I've talked to Wes a lot since then." The Slayer paused for a moment. She wasn't sure that she was ready to explain her friendship with Wesley just yet. But she also knew that Cordelia, being Cordelia, wasn't going to let it go until her curiosity was satisfied.

"And?" Cordelia prompted.

"And we're friends."

"That's not what I meant and you know it."

Buffy sighed. "I know," she replied. "Cordelia, Wesley and I talked. We talked about everything that happened in Sunnydale when he was here. Neither one of us was blameless in the matter. I mean, you have to admit, he was a real jerk when he first came here. He was a bossy know-it-all and he wouldn' t listen to anything anyone else had to say."

"And?" Cordelia prompted again.

"And, I was a jerk too. I was mad at Giles for what happened on my birthday, but in my mind he was still my watcher. I didn't want somebody else. I didn' t give Wesley a chance. When I had a problem, I went to Giles. That didn't help my relationship with Wesley." She took a deep breath. "Add to that the situation with Faith and we both acted really crappy."

"And now?" Cordelia knew that Buffy had changed, but the fact that Buffy was willing to admit that she had treated Wesley less than great was unbelievable.

"Now? Now Wesley and I have ironed out most of our differences and I realize that he is a good man. A man that I'm glad I can call my friend. Although he can still get on my nerves sometimes," she added.

Cordelia laughed.

"Buffy, he still gets on *my* nerves sometimes. Hell, I love Giles, but there are times I could cheerfully strangle even him."

"I know what you mean. Well, I'd better let you go. Tell Giles I called and I'll talk to him later."

"Will do. Bye, Buffy."

"Bye, Cordelia."

****

Giles came through the door and dropped his briefcase with an exhausted sigh. The day had been long, he wasn't feeling well and he'd had to deal with board members that could have coined the word evil. He was happy to be home. A dizzy spell at work that had lasted almost ten minutes had left him feeling weak and nauseated. Robert was concerned and had wanted to contact Cordelia immediately, but Giles managed to talk him out of it. The Englishman wasn't sure what was wrong, but he didn't want to worry Cordelia needlessly. Giles promised Robert that he would make an appointment with a doctor next week for a complete physical.

Cordelia heard Giles come in and came out to check on him when he didn't go into the kitchen. She found him leaning against the front door, as Dennis put his briefcase in the hall closet.

Giles opened his eyes to find Cordelia standing in front of him.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her eyes dark with concern.

Giles tried to shake off the lethargy that had taken hold of him.

"Nothing." He tried to ease her concern. "I'm simply tired."

Cordelia eyed him suspiciously, not buying that for a second. But she also knew that it was pointless to try and get him to tell her something if he didn't want to or wasn't ready to.

"How 'bout we do delivery tonight?" she asked.

"That sounds excellent." Giles responded gratefully.

Another warning bell went off. Cordelia knew he enjoyed the time they spent together preparing meals. That he was so willing to give up that time told her more than words could have about how he was feeling. She nodded and made the call.

****

Giles walked into the Hyperion the next day looking, and feeling, much better. Wesley was coming out of his office as he entered.

"Hello, Giles."

"Hello, Wesley. Have you seen my wife?" Giles asked him.

"As a matter-of-fact, I have. She asked me to tell you she would meet you at home. She tried to reach you at the museum, but you had already left." Wesley shelved the book in his hand.

"Where did she go?"

"She and Fred went shopping. Gunn is taking Fred on a special date tomorrow evening and Cordelia decided Fred needed a new dress for the occasion."

Giles watched the younger man for any signs that this news distressed him. He saw none. For months, Wesley had been telling everyone he was over Fred. Perhaps he truly was.

Wesley knew that everyone expected him to be distraught over the social engagements of Fred and Gunn. Admittedly, it had hurt--tremendously. But, slowly, healing had taken place. He would always care for Fred. That was something he neither could, nor ever would, want to change. But the pain of her choosing another man had long since departed. He made a quick decision. "Would you like to go out for a drink? Knowing Cordelia, they will be gone for quite some time."

Giles wasn't sure what to make of the invitation. But decided to take it at face value. "That sounds fine. Do you have a specific place in mind?" Giles asked.

"There is a pub not far from here that is a taste of home." Wesley answered, retrieving his coat.

"Then, by all means, lead on." Giles followed Wesley out the door.

****

A few blocks from the hotel, Wesley led him into a nondescript building. The moment Giles stepped inside he felt as though he had been transported back to England. There were dartboards on one wall; the bar was full, and he could hear a waitress calling back drink orders. Wesley interrupted his thoughts.

"I see a table in the corner. You go claim it and I'll see about some pints. Is Guiness alright?"

"That sounds fine." Giles replied absently. He was still overwhelmed by the fact that Wesley had found an English pub, or as close to one as he was likely to find, in L.A.

Wesley made his way to the bar.

"Wesley! How are you, mate?" The bartender called out to the ex-Watcher.

"I'm fine, Graham. And you?"

"Couldn't be better. What'll it be?" Graham asked as he made his way down the bar to Wesley.

"Two pints of Guiness."

"Two? Did you bring someone with you?" Graham looked over Wesley's shoulder. Wesley was a regular here, but never brought anyone with him. And while he was popular with everyone, he tended to be somewhat of a loner.

"A friend," was all Wesley said.

Graham was no fool.

"Two pints of Guiness coming up. Sally'll bring them out to you."

Wesley nodded and made his way back to Giles.

The table that Giles had chosen was situated in a corner, therefore neither man had to sit with his back to the room. Call it their nervous nature, but both preferred to have a wall to their backs.

"When did you find this place?" Giles asked as the waitress served them their drinks.

"Actually, I found it just recently. I was on my way home and noticed one of the waitresses was having difficulties in the parking lot with an inebriated customer. I stopped to offer my assistance. When she told me what kind of establishment it was, I had to see what a Californian would think an authentic English pub was like. To my surprise, it is actually a great deal like the ones at home."

"Indeed." Giles said as he took a drink of his pint.

"Of course, when I found out that the proprietor was actually a transplanted Englishman it made much more sense." Wesley took a swallow of his Guiness.

"Is he really?" Giles was fascinated. It had been a long time since he had been in a pub. When he had returned to England after leaving Buffy, he had buried himself in work to try and forget his pain. He had stayed away from alcohol because, for him, the two did not mix well.

"Yes. Apparently he had wanted to travel the world. So he did. When he was finally of a mind to settle down in one place, he happened to be in California. He found that as much as he missed England, he did not miss the cold, damp weather. The sunny part of Sunny California had taken his fancy. Running a pub had been a family tradition for years, and he missed certain aspects of England. So he decided to combine the two things and bring England to California." Wesley reached for the bowl of pork scratchings Sally had placed on the table.

"Well, he certainly succeeded. I feel as though I have stepped back into my old stomping grounds in London." Giles said.

"I shall have to tell him that you approve." Wesley said with a grin.

Giles' cell phone rang just as he was about to reply.

"Hello?"

"Hey, handsome," his wife greeted him.

"Hello, Luv." Giles smiled.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be late getting home."

"How late?"

"I'm not sure. Fred found a dress, she's good to go that way, but now she wants to go out for some girl time together. I knew you wouldn't mind, so I said yes. But I wanted to let you know."

"I appreciate that. As a matter of fact, Wesley and I are sharing a pint as we speak."

"He dragged you to that pub he found, didn't he?" Cordelia laughed.

"He most certainly did. And I am most put out that you didn't tell me of it before." Giles teased.

"I just didn't want my man spending every night in a bar." Cordelia quipped.

"I can assure you that my nights would have been spent at home." Giles' voice was low and silky.

"Ooh, maybe I should tell Fred to skip the girl's night out." Cordelia's breath hitched at the image that popped into her mind.

Giles chuckled. "That won't be necessary. I'm sure we'll find time for our--activities. Wesley and I will make a night of it and I'll see you back home."

"Sounds good. Love you."

"I love you too. Goodbye."

"Bye."

Giles disconnected as Wesley motioned to Graham for two more pints.

"I assume that you now have no need to rush home," Wesley said as the waitress set their drinks down.

"No. Fred and Cordelia have decided to spend a bit of time together. It seems I am free for the remainder of the evening."

"I just heard you tell Cordelia that you and I would be making a night of it." Wesley cocked an eyebrow at him.

"I simply told her that so that if she wished to spend time with Fred she could. That in no way obligates you to entertain me." Giles replied.

Wesley watched him for a moment before chuckling.

"Giles, if I had no desire to spend time with you, I would not have invited you here. In actuality, I would like to get a chance to know you better. You have captured the heart of a dear friend of mine and I know she would like it if we were closer friends."

Giles inclined his head in agreement.

"What say you that we forget our unfortunate past in Sunnydale and begin anew." Wesley suggested. "I think we could be great friends if given the chance."

"I agree." Giles lifted his glass for a toast. "To new beginnings."

"To new beginnings," Wesley concurred as he lifted his glass to Giles'.

****

Several hours later, the two of them had cemented their growing friendship with several pints. Giles had lost count around the sixth or seventh round. Wesley was slightly better off. He could still count by the eighth or ninth round.

Of course, by that time they were singing something that at one time must have been a legitimate tune. At this point, however, it had become so mangled; it bore no resemblance to any known song.

"Wesley?" Giles stopped singing suddenly.

"Yes Giles?" Wesley wasn't happy that the duet had been interrupted.

"What time is it?"

Wesley peered at his watch. For some odd reason, his watch had developed a twin. He tried to focus on one of them, but it still didn't help. Finally he closed one eye and it helped him to see only one, albeit blurry, timepiece. He squinted his one open eye and managed to discern the time.

"I believe, if my watch is to be believed, it is one a.m.," Wesley answered.

"I think your watch can be believed, mate," Graham said as he came to stand by the two men. Wesley had introduced Graham to Rupert Giles.

Graham chuckled. They were potted.

"Hello, Graham," Wesley said cheerfully. "Did you come to have a drink with us?"

"No. Sorry, mate," Graham declined. "I came to let you know we're about to close up."

"Should we call Cordelia?" Giles posed this question to Wesley. Before the ex-Watcher could answer, Giles turned to Graham. "Cordelia's my wife," he said, with a silly grin on his face.

Yes, I think you've told me that once or twice this evening," the bartender said as he motioned Sally to lock up.

"Why don't I take you boys home? No need to drag your pretty wife out this late," he suggested as he helped the two men gather up their belongings.

"You're a true friend, Graham." Wesley told the bartender with all the seriousness that an inebriated man could muster.

"I'm pleased you think so." Graham ushered the two of them out the door. He took them to his car and got them settled in before he went back to the pub door and waited for Sally to come out.

"You can take them home. I'll be fine." Sally insisted.

"No. I'll take you home and drop them off on my way home. I won't have you out this late alone." Graham had never told the pretty redhead, but she had taken his fancy the first time he had met her. He had made it his private mission to make sure she was safe.

"Okay. Let me get the door and we can go." Sally knew better than to argue with him. She never won.

After locking up, they made their way back to the car, only to find Wesley and Giles passed out in the back.

"Well, at least we won't have to listen to their singing," she laughed.

"Absolutely," he agreed heartily.

****

Graham had dropped Sally off at her apartment and made his way to Wesley's. He had gotten the addresses out of the two men before they had passed out. He left Giles in the car and got Wesley home. He found Wesley's keys and opened the door. He got him into the bedroom and dropped him on the bed, grunting because he was heavier than he looked. He removed the sleeping man' s shoes and socks, and then pulled the bedspread up to cover him. He drew the line at undressing him. Being the friendly neighborhood bartender only went so far. He found a piece of paper and left a note telling Wesley how he had gotten home and that he could pick his bike up tomorrow.

He locked up behind him and went back to his car. Rupert Giles was still where he had put him. He drove to the address Giles had given him and knocked on the door. He figured that since Giles had a wife, she might be willing to give him a hand getting the man out of the car. He was getting too old and tired for this.

He lost his tongue for a moment when a beautiful brunette opened the door.

"May I help you?" she asked him politely.

"Um, is Cordelia Giles home?" Graham found his voice.

"I'm Cordelia." She sounded--cautious.

"Hello. My name is Graham Nichols. I'm the bartender at the pub where your husband spent most of the night." Graham smiled wryly.

"I take it my husband couldn't see himself home?" she answered, relaxing a bit.

"No ma'am. I already dropped Wesley off at his apartment; neither of them were in any shape to drive."

"Why didn't you call me? I could have picked them up."

Graham shifted nervously from one foot to the other. He wasn't sure himself why he took the time to get them home.

"I didn't want you having to come out this late to pick them up. If you'll help me get him out of the car, I'll help you get him in."

Cordelia wasn't sure what to make of this man. But she knew that he wasn't coming in her house--or her going outside--until she found out who, or more to the point, what--he was. She'd give a lot to have Buffy's spidey-sense going for her right now. The only way she could think of testing him involved a certain amount of risk. Her wedding ring had crosses engraved on it. Giles had found it and decided that she could never have too much protection. She knew that the ring had at least enough power to burn a vamp if it touched him. She had been sparring with Angel one day and had forgotten to remove it. She had gotten a punch through his defenses and the ring had touched him. It had burned him. But in order for it to work, she had to touch this man. Therein lay the risk. If he *was* a vamp, he could pull her outside once he had hold of her hand. But, if he was a human, she couldn't very well let him stand on the doorstep until sunrise. She stuck her hand out.

"Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Cordelia Giles, it's nice to meet you."

Graham took her hand and shook it.

"It's a pleasure."

Cordelia breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn't a vamp. If he was any other type of demon, she was going to have to risk it.

"Let me slip some shoes on and I'll help you get my wayward husband in the house," she said as she turned to look for her shoes.

Graham nodded and stood patiently at the door. Soon, she was back and ready to help. It took them both to get Giles out of the car. He was only slightly awake. He was feeling talkative, however.

"Graham, thish is my wife, Cordelia," he stated the obvious.

"Yeah, mate. I've met her," was the good-natured response.

"Cordelia." The drunk man swung his bleary gaze to his wife. "Thish is Graham. He's a good bloke. He brought me home, you know," he said this as though imparting the wisdom of the ages.

Cordelia just shook her head and laughed. "Oh, my love. You are *so* going to feel this in the morning."

Between Graham and Cordelia they managed to get Giles up the stairs and into bed. He was out before they had even removed his shoes. Cordelia motioned to the bartender and they left the room.

"Would you like some coffee?" she asked as soon as they were downstairs.

"Thank you, that would be great." He had forgotten how much work it was to get drunks home in one piece.

He sat at the kitchen table and watched her as she made the coffee. He wondered how Rupert Giles had gotten so lucky.

Cordelia was aware of Graham's scrutiny.

"I appreciate you bringing my husband home," she told him as she set his coffee in front of him. She put the sugar and cream container on the table in between them.

"It's not a problem. I don't think they meant to drink quite as much as they did." He took a sip of his coffee.

Cordelia chuckled. "I'm sure they'll be saying the same thing in the morning."

Graham laughed.

They talked for a few minutes before he looked at his watch.

"I really must be going." He stood up. "Thank you for the coffee."

"You're welcome. Thank you for playing taxi driver," she said as she showed him to the door.

"You're welcome. Tell Giles that I locked up his car and he can stop by and pick it up tomorrow."

"I'll do that. Goodbye."

"Goodbye." Graham walked down the sidewalk to his car.

Cordelia watched him to make sure he made it to his car alright and closed the door as he drove away.

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