Tuesday

Tuesday

One Tuesday out of every month was set aside as the guys’ day off. The older and more experienced Slayers took charge of the Cleveland house from dawn on Tuesday to dawn on Wednesday while the guys laid back and did whatever they wanted. Those Tuesdays were also when the lottery for the first date meet and greets happened.

“Whose turn is it?” Riley asked, plunking a bowl of corn chips on the table.

“Gunn’s, then Jonathon’s,” Xander said, leaning over to check the schedule.

“Congrats, Gunn. Salma’s got a date on Friday. Some lab tech from D.C. is up checking out the burial grounds for a serial killer or something. He looks like he scares easy enough,” Robin grinned.

“Damn. And here I was hopin’ for a challenge,” Gunn sighed.

“Don’t be too hard on him, man,” Xander said, “Salma’s just looking for a good time. She knows long distance relationships don’t work.”

“This is true,” Robin nodded. “Maybe we should give the guy a pass?”

“We give one a pass, their all gonna expect one,” Graham countered. “Besides, I had to vet Jarod.”

Xander cackled. “That kid’s messed up but he’s head over heels for Vi. Warnings probably weren’t necessary with him.”

“He came to date Rona,” Graham pointed out.

“Because Vi set him up with her,” Xander countered. “Not his fault she wanted him around but didn’t want to risk dating him.”

“We should all just be glad Rona figured it out before she got attached,” Giles said, shaking his head. “I’ve spent years dealing with teenagers and I still don’t understand them.”

Xander grinned. “You managed to do okay.”

“Yes, well,” Giles said, cleaning his glasses, “I had my share of false starts.”

“Who’s my target?” Jonathon asked eagerly, cutting into the conversation. His brief period of death hadn’t managed to dull his enthusiasm at all. Honestly, it’d just given him more confidence.

“Kelly’s got a date on Saturday,” Xander said, shuffling the deck of cards. “Some scientist for some hush hush government project. Hey,” he turned to Oz, “what did you say to that kid Vi was gonna go out with? Some General dude called, asking all kinds of questions. When I finally got him to answer some of mine, he said his nephew tipped him off. I told him to ask the President and hung up but, man, I think you put the fear of Oz into that boy.”

Oz’s mouth twitched, “Told him to think about it.”

“Tell me you didn’t wolf out,” Robin groaned, already reaching for his cell.

“Nah,” Oz shook his head. “Did a little target practice, though.”

Connor snickered. “You know we’re gonna pay for this, don’t you?”

“Hush up, Junior,” Spike snipped, “Some of us know who we want.”

“Don’t start,” Xander said, “Some of us don’t want to hear this argument again. Oh, and Connor?” Connor looked up from his cards in question. “A little birdy told me the most interesting thing. About a certain girl you’re thinking of dating?” Connor’s deer-in-the-headlights look amused the other guys. “Dawn’s the little sister I never got and I love her dearly. If you break her heart or make her cry, I don’t care who your father is or how much good you’ve done, I’ll make you suffer.”

Connor gurgled then rasped, “I understand.”

“Good,” Xander said and laid his cards on the table. “Royal flush.”



Author’s Note: This will be it for a while. My other story's decided to take on a life of it's own and needs a little tending. And the crossovers, in order, are X-Men, Stargate SG-1, The Pretender, and, mentioned in this chapter, Bones and Stargate Atlantis.