Buffy and Willow each sighed at the exact time, each glared at her.  "It's a NICE dress."

"Yeah, if you were Tanya Tucker."

Willow's forehead banged on the table. "I can't believe we're going over this AGAIN."

"You're not wearing that."

"It's OUR bridesmaid dresses." Buffy barked. "We can wear them if we want to."

"Not at MY wedding, you dolt."

Willow's head came up. "Speaking of which, who are you going to pick as a maid of honor?" Buffy's head swiveled to eye Cordelia.

Cordelia felt her eyes widen, and her form stiffen at the murderous and hopeful looks in both woman's eyes. Uh-oh. This was so a rock and a hard place, and definately not a decision she was going to make.

"Ummm.... Giles?" She called desperately, craning her head to the office.

His head popped out. "Hmm?"

"Sweetie, can you make a decision for me?"

The sugary tone put him on guard immediately.  "What?" He asked warily.

She gave him a winning smile. "Pick the maid of honor."

Buffy raised an eyebrow, while Willow stared at him beseechingly. Giles leaned against the door, regarding them both.

"There's a Greek legend that began the Trojan war." He began, removing his glasses and wiping them. "In which Zeus, the king of the Gods, is asked to choose a beauty contest between the Hera, the wife." He smiled lovingly at Cordelia. "Athena, and Aphrodite."

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Point being?"

He shrugged. "Zeus wasn't a fool."

"Okay, book guy. Point?" Buffy huffed.

"He gave the task to a lowly human, an utter idiot who didn't know any better."

Cordelia crossed her arms, and hid a smirk, knowing exactly where he was headed.  "Your euphemism, please." She said, a laugh behind her voice.

"Well, then, if I'm Zeus, then there must also be a fool, correct?" Heads nodded.  "My point? Ask Xander."  With that he winked at Cordelia and slid back inside the office.

He listened at the silence, and then felt himself smile when peals of laughter suddenly filled the library.

"GILES!" Buffy gasped at him from outside. "You are cruel!"

He chuckled softly to himself, before turning back to his books.  He felt his breath catch when hands slide around him and a body press to him from behind.  A wicked  grin floating on his features, he turned, gently lowering Cordelia to his lap, his arms about her waist.

She was giving him a mock glare. "So, you just insulted one of your groomsmen,  didn't help me at ALL with a problem that will make Buffy and my old catfights look TAME, and  completely insulted all of us, by akining us to petty goddesses that knew nothing about taste. And, it didn't help, Mr. Giles, that you made me the pettiest one, instead of being Aphrodite at least." She crossed her arms as she sat on his lap, glaring  at him even as a smile threatened to form at her lips.  "You happy now?"

"Truth?" He said. She nodded.  He grinned, leaning forward to kiss the spot just under her jaw and pulling her closer to him.  Five minutes, a thorough kiss and one flushed fiancé later, Giles finally answered.  "I could not ask for more."

Anxious didn't begin to describe what Wesley felt as he sat alone in  Cummings' office, waiting for the elder Watcher's arrival. He examined the  back of one hand, attempting to distract himself from the situation, but it  was no use-he felt like he was awaiting execution.

Upon arriving at his flat after his transatlantic flight, he had a message  from Cummings assistant: Come to his office at once. Not tomorrow morning.  Now.

"Maybe they'll still allow me to work in the stacks," Wesley mumbled to  himself. He sighed. "Maybe."  He shook his head as he thought over the last  few days. "Doubtful." He looked around the room again, the dark, somber  lighting matching his mood. He just wanted this all to be over.

"Mr. Price." Cummings voice cut into the silent room and Wesley jumped. "I'm  sorry I didn't mean to startle you," Cummings continued as he closed the door  and moved quickly to the chair at his desk.

Wesley ran a hand down his front, smoothing down his tie. "No sir, I'm-  fine." He gave a weak smile to Cummings who gave a dismissive wave.

"Mr. Price, I appreciate your haste in coming here to my office after your  long flight. I understand that you must be exhausted and so I will be quick  about this."

Wesley did nothing but nod and wait silently for what he knew was the end of  his life as he knew it.

Cummings stared intently at him. "I wanted to personally congratulate you on  a job well done."

Wesley looked at him speechless. "Sir?" he finally was able to eek out.

Cummings gave him a half smile. "Your work in this situation was quite  exemplary. Aside from your reports, which were quite informative and  thorough, your research into the prophecy and discovery of the addendum is  remarkable."

"Well, sir, I- I hope that you know that I did not intend to overstep any  boundaries or go behind your back regarding my research-"

"Mr. Price, I am not angry at all, nor do I have a right to be. We on the  elder council, as the Americans loosely term it, 'screwed up'.  We overlooked  information that could have allowed us to avoid involving Mr. Giles and Miss  Chase and the nasty situation they  were grappling with- How were they when  you left?" Cummings asked suddenly.

Wesley looked momentarily  lost. "Oh,  I… believe they were recovering. It  was quite a shock to get-one day they have a slayer for a daughter and the  next they don't-"

"Yes, well, we are sorry for what they went through," Cummings nodded  sympathetically. "But after some time, I'm sure they'll be fine."

"Yes, I believe they will be," Wesley nodded in agreement. He didn't know  what to make of Cummings mood. He was actually cheery. Jovial. And he hadn't  fired him.

"Mr. Price?"

Wesley blinked and focused again on Cummings. "I'm sorry sir, I-"

"No apologies needed Mr. Price. I understand that the last few days have been  rather taxing," Cummings got up and walked around his desk.  "Take the next  week off and rest."

Wesley stood up and followed Cummings as he moved to the door. "Sir, I  couldn't. I only need a few days-"

"No, Mr. Price you deserve it," he opened the door. "You were able to rectify  a situation  that the council had been mulling over for some length of time.  This vacation is a small way that we can thank you."

Wesley nodded and gave Cummings a polite smile. "Thank you, sir. I am glad  that I was of help to you and the rest of the elders." Cummings closed the  door after Wesley and let out a breath.

He never would have guessed that it would work out like this.

 Going to his desk, Cummings opened a drawer and removed a memo he had  received several hours earlier. He sat down in his chair as he reread the  sheet for the dozenth time, several lines jumping out at him.

…More text on the Eyghon scroll has been uncovered regarding the demon  slayer. As of now most is untranslated but preliminary assessment indicates  that it is an explanation of control and manipulation of her powers…

Cummings sat back in his chair. They could now control the slayer. The one  thing that had held the council back from allowing Mr. Giles and Miss Chase  from continuing their relationship was the fact that they had no idea what to  expect with their child being a slayer. She would have been powerful and they  couldn't take the risk of her existing if they couldn't control her.

But now things had changed.

Because of Price's diligence, they had found what they had been searching  for. Of course it would take time to properly translate and study the text,  but they would figure it out. It would have to be kept from Price. He'd  wonder why they were busying themselves with studying a prophecy that  supposedly had been shot all to hell.

But if the truth be told, that was not the case.

Prophecies were tricky things. One had to be careful with how they  interpreted what they read. Billings knew that. But Mr. Price did not.

Cummings looked up from the memo and smiled faintly. "Yes, Mr. Price. I'd say  you  were of great help. Yes, indeed."