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-6-

The flight from LAX to Sunnydale took less than an hour so they were exiting the gates a little after 1.30 PM PST. Joyce smiled as she saw her daughter's Watcher standing to one side as the other passengers passed him. "There's our ride," she indicated leading her wife over to the smiling man.

"I can see why you had wild sex with him," Lorelai laughed quietly as they approached the man. "Can we do it on a police car?" she whispered.

"No," hissed Joyce. "Rupert, thank you for doing this," she said by way of greeting standing in front of him and trying to wipe away the image her wife had planted in her head. 'No that would be wrong!'

"It's my pleasure, Joyce," replied Giles.

"Rupert, this is Lorelai. Lorelai, this is Rupert Giles, he's a friend of the family's," Joyce introduced the two of them.

"Pleased to meet you, Lorelai," smiled Giles extending his hand wondering why Joyce had failed to give her companion's last name.

Lorelai took the hand with a smile of her own, "Likewise, Rupert."

"Hmmm I wonder are you in a hurry to get back to the shop?" asked Joyce. "I think we need to explain some things first. Could we possibly go to the coffee shop?"

"Of course, Joyce," agreed Giles. "Please allow me," he said taking both women's bags and leading them towards the coffee shop.

"Ooh a gentleman," chuckled Lorelai mischief dancing in her eyes. "And a hunk."

"Behave Lorelai," said Joyce attempting to sound stern.

"Sorry daddy," Lorelai whispered into her wife's ear.

"And stop calling me that," hissed Joyce as they followed the Watcher.

Giles raised an eyebrow having heard the whispered end of the conversation between the two women. Placing the bags next to an empty table, he schooled his features while looking down at the two women as they both took a seat. "May I get both of you something to drink?"

"Thanks, coffee please," Lorelai smiled up at the man.

"Yes, make that two, please Rupert," agreed Joyce.

"Very well then," nodded Giles heading for the counter.

After watching the man walk away and join the short queue at the counter, Lorelai turned to her wife, "Are you sure you want to tell him first?" she asked.

Joyce nodded, "He's been a big influence in Buffy's life since we came to Sunnydale... Even more than I have..." she trailed off for a moment. "Nothing sexual, you understand, just a father figure. In fact, he's been the father figure to most of her friends. Most of their parents never seemed to be around that much. I mean, I've met my daughter's best friend, Willow's mother once in five years because she is always on tour doing lectures."

"And you accused me of babbling," laughed Lorelai as Giles turned from the counter and headed back.

"Maybe I shouldn't be around Willow so much myself," chuckled Joyce before becoming serious. "If we get him on our side it will be easier to persuade Buffy that this is what I want."

"Well you know them, I don't," nodded Lorelai as Giles drew close. "Ooh muffins," she smiled happily, as he placed the tray on the table.

"Yes well I've had my share of airline food," smiled Giles as he took a seat and handed the two women their beverages and a muffin each before going about making his own tea. "So might I be the first to congratulate you both," he said having spotted the identical wedding bands on their fingers, knowing that Joyce at least had stopped wearing her wedding ring shortly after arriving in Sunnydale.

Lorelai sprayed coffee across the table, luckily only hitting the empty chair opposite.

Joyce rubbed her wife's back gently as she looked at the Watcher, "How?" she asked.

"The rings," supplied Giles. "You haven't worn a wedding band in almost the entire time you have lived in Sunnydale. Moreover, as I know you have just come from Massachusetts, where I believe they legalised gay marriage some time ago plus your whispered conversation just now. It was not that great of a leap," he smiled.

Joyce studied her daughter's Watcher for a moment before nodding, "Yes, we're married. You're not repulsed by the idea?" she asked curiously.

Giles chuckled, "No. You're entitled to make your own decisions. I'm not sure Buffy will see it that way! As I understand it, she talked Willow into breaking into the airlines computer to check out who the man was you were bringing home. I imagine the fact that you did not bring a man with you, will have confused her somewhat," the smile on his face changing to a smirk. "Although I think under the circumstances, Willow will probably guess."

"What do you mean?" frowned Joyce.

"Willow and Tara are gay," answered Giles. "You didn't know?" he deduced.

Joyce shook her head, "I had no idea! How long have they been a couple?"

"Maybe the tumour screwed up your gaydar," chuckled Lorelai.

"Quite," smiled Giles at the brunette. "I'm not privy to the exact date but somewhere around the beginning of last year I believe."

Joyce nodded mutely before brightening, "Maybe it will be easier coming out to the kids after all!"

"Willow and Tara, yes. And I doubt Anya will think it at all strange," Giles laughed then, "As for Xander, being around four lesbians may very well make his brain shutdown," he said before sobering, "But Buffy will be a different story entirely."

"I guess," sighed Joyce.

"So, I assume you wish my help?" asked Giles taking a sip of his tea.

"If you feel you can. I... We," Joyce amended glancing at Lorelai, "Would be very grateful."

"But not that grateful," smirked Lorelai trying to lighten the mood.

"Well quite," laughed Giles. "But congratulations. I hope you will be very happy."

"Thank you, Rupert. And we are," smiled Joyce grabbing her wife's hand.

* * * * *

"I'll leave you two to settle in," said Giles as he placed the two cases just inside the Summers' house. "Buffy agreed, somewhat reluctantly, to help Anya at the shop while I was away collecting you. I'll return with her and the others when we close up."

"Rupert, you should have told me that Anya needed help. We would have arranged to get a cab from the airport," Joyce pointed out as she and Lorelai stood with Giles on the porch.

"I assure you Joyce, it was my pleasure. I ah sometimes find it hmmm refreshing to be away from Anya for a little while," he chuckled. "And under the circumstances, I think keeping Buffy busy at the shop while you both settle in is the best thing. Goodbye, Joyce, Lorelai, I'll see you around five thirty then. And try not to worry; I'm sure everything will work out."

"I hope so, Rupert," smiled Joyce weakly.

"Come on hon. lets get unpacked and then you can show me where everything is," said Lorelai taking her wife's hand and pulling her inside closing the door behind them.

They carried the suitcases up the stairs, Lorelai smirking as she followed behind watching her wife's hips sway as she led the way. "Well this will be our room," explained Joyce as she opened a door on her right and dropped her case inside the door.

"Nice. Much tidier than my bedroom back home," commented Lorelai placing her own case next to Joyce's as she looked around. "This room is so you," she added as she looked at the décor.

"And how can you tell that?" frowned Joyce sitting on the bed and removing her shoes and beginning to massage her feet.

"It feels warm... homey and... tidy," smiled Lorelai as she kicked her own shoes off and hurried over to her wife, "Let me," she offered placing Joyce's feet onto her lap and beginning to rub and manipulate them.

Joyce laid back and moaned softly as Lorelai attended to her aching feet, "Where did you get so good at foot massage?" she sighed.

"Rory and I used to do each others feet all the time until she moved into a dorm at Yale."

"Well when I finally meet my new stepdaughter, I must remember to thank her," smiled Joyce. "Now all we need to do is get you out of the bad habit of leaving your things untidy," she nodded to the two shoes in different areas of the bedroom.

"Sorry, daddy," smirked Lorelai as she lifted one of Joyce's feet and kissing the top, "Maybe you should spank me again."

"I didn't spank you last night," smirked Joyce.

"Oh daddy owes me a spanking," chuckled Lorelai as she began kissing her way up Joyce's leg.

"Why do you continue to call me that?" asked Joyce as she caressed Lorelai's head as the brunette got to the hem of her skirt.

"Not sure? I think I read it somewhere when I was younger. I think it was about a younger woman moving in with an older woman!"

"Oh so you use to fantasize about lesbians," smiled Joyce. "You know we need to stop and get ready for everyone, don't you?"

Lorelai sighed dramatically as she sat back up with a pout to rival any teenager. "Yeah."

"Oh behave," chuckled Joyce as she sat up next to her wife and took her hand, "We'll have plenty of time later."

"Promise?"

"My god. Did you ever get past your teen years," laughed Joyce as she got up and moved to grab her case and start unpacking.

"Not if you listen to anyone that knows me," giggled Lorelai following Joyce to her own case.

* * * * *

"Buffy. Why don't you sit down?" sighed Riley as he came up from the Magic Box cellar store with Xander. Anya had railroaded both men into carrying some heavy boxes up into the shop for her.

"How would you like it, if you found out your mother was having sex with another man?" snapped Buffy turning on her boyfriend.

"Not much," agreed Riley. "Dad wouldn't be too happy either."

"Buff, you don't know your mum's even with a man," Xander pointed out. "Willow hasn't found a man sitting anywhere near your mum on either the flight from Boston or LA."

Having reminded the Slayer that her best friend was still hacking into the airline computer she turned to the redhead. "What you got, Will?" she asked looking over the other woman's shoulder as she sat with Tara.

"No more than I did the last time I checked for you," sighed Willow glancing up at Buffy. "Only two other people were on both flights. A Lorelai Gilmore of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, and a Roger Hemmings of Boston."

"So tell me about this Roger Hemmings?" ordered Buffy sitting on the redhead's other side.

"Buffy," sighed Willow. "He's sixty nine."

"So not likely that mum's having sex with him. Hmmm she did say she wasn't having sex with a man! He would be a little old for it," mused Buffy.

"Can I just say eew," grimaced Willow. "But he was a dozen rows behind your mum's seat but this Lorelai Gilmore was seated next to her."

Tara looked thoughtful at that but remained quiet.

On the other hand, Anya was another matter, "Maybe your mother has become a lesbian like Willow and Tara. Maybe this Lorelai is her lover?"

"My mother is not a lesbian," cried Buffy. She blushed at her two gay friends sitting with her, "Ah nothing against you guys, you're different. I mean no way could mum be gay without me knowing about it? I mean mum and dad got divorced because he was having an affair with his secretary. I mean she went out with Ted, and then there was the thing with Giles. No way she's gay."

"Buffy, hate to point it out to you, but I used to date Oz and had that thing for Xander most of my life before I went to college," replied Willow gently taking her friend's hand.

"Yeah, I know but mum can't be gay. I'd know if she were!"

* * * * *

Giles being the wise man Buffy and her friends thought he was, did not return to the shop until closing time so that his Slayer could not interrogate him. He braced himself as he opened the door as all eyes fell on him, "I'm sorry I'm late but I had a meeting in regards to the creature Glory and it took longer than anticipated." In fact, it had only taken him a little over half an hour after dropping Joyce and Lorelai off to finish his meeting. The remainder of the afternoon had been spent at the Espresso Pump.

"So Giles," pressed Buffy approaching her Watcher. "What's he like. Is he evil?"

"I'm sorry. Evil?" Giles frowned.

"Giles. Don't be coy. Is the man that you picked up with mum from the airport, Evil. A demon I can slay?" a glint coming into her eyes as the image of beating and killing the man that had dared touch her mother came into her head.

"Buffy. Your mother was not with a man, or demon. She arrived with a woman called Lorelai Gilmore..."

"Told you," clapped Anya. "Your mother is gay."

"My mother is not gay. Tell her, Giles. Mum's not gay."

"I am not privy to what your mother has been doing while on holiday," answered Giles. More than one of the gang noticed that he did not answer Buffy's question. "I believe it is time to leave. Your mother and her guest are expecting us at your house shortly. So shall we?" he gestured towards the door behind him. "Xander can you give Buffy and Riley a lift in your car and I'll take Willow and Tara."

Xander exchanged a look with Willow. Realising that the Watcher was obviously trying to avoid any long confinement with his Slayer, nodded, "Yeah sure, Giles." He agreed as Anya began turning off the lights.

To be continued...