A Place for the Night - August 18
Twisted Shorts August Fic-a-Day Challenge - Day 18
Title: A Place for the Night
Author: hermione2be
Rating: PG/FR13/K+
Crossover: BtVS/Gilmore Girls
Disclaimer: I do not own any of BtVS/Angel or Gilmore Girls people, places, or ideas. This fiction is done simply for pleasure and I receive no profit.
Summary: As they backpack through Europe, the Gilmores meet some interesting people.
Notes: This happens during the summer immediately after Chosen.
Seasons: Post-Chosen/Between Seasons 3 & 4
Word Count: 1837
Lorelai put her thumb out when she heard a vehicle approach them on road near Bath, England. The SUV slowed.
“Hi, there,” Lorelai said as she got a look at the driver. A young man with shaggy hair and an eye patch. “Can you really drive with that patch?”
“Missing eye,” he replied, “no choice.”
“Oh, sorry,” she winced.
He shrugged. “You need a lift?”
“How far are you going?”
“About thirty miles.” He glanced passed her. “We’ll be able to put you up for the night.”
“You and a creepy old woman?” Lorelai asked, only half joking.
This time the man smiled. “It’s a mansion owned by the Council. There will be about a dozen women your daughter’s age.”
“Mom,” Rory said suddenly, “let’s go with him.”
“I’m trying to make sure he’s not a homicidal-maniac,” Lorelai replied.
The man’s demeanor changed a moment and he stuck out a hand. “My name is Xander Harris. I’m 23 and I’m only offering you a ride because if my best friend passes you and sees I didn’t stop she’ll turn me into a toad.”
Lorelai smiled and shook his hand. “I’m Lorelai. This is my daughter, Rory.”
“Throw your packs in the back.” He pressed a button and the trunk opened for them.
They both tracked around back and looked at the various things stacked in the trunk.
“It looks like you’re starting a hotel,” Rory said looking at the pillows, blankets, and plates.
“In which case, I’m manager, maid, and concierge,” Xander griped.
Lorelai looked at everything. “Anything breakable?”
“Nope, just shove it in and slam the lid.” They complied and were glad the trunk closed.
“Rock, paper, scissors for the front seat?” Lorelai whispered to Rory as she held out her fist.
“Mom.” Rory rolled her eyes but complied. She lost a moment later.
“You sit up front.”
Xander was watching them with a small smile as Rory climbed in the front seat. “So did you win or lose?”
Fire climbed up her face.
“Complimentary Scooby Doo toothbrushes?” Lorelai asked as she looked over the things she had to move to get in her seat behind Xander and buckle the belt.
“No, those are mine,” Xander replied. “The pink, purple, and blue ones are for our people.”
“You said your company is called the Council?” Rory asked.
“Actually it’s got a much older roots. We’re new management. Took over from some old fogies who got outed by the competition.”
“But the business is still intact?”
“More or less, we’re thinking about rebranding. A little more charity work a little less tradition.”
“What kinds of charity?”
“We help girls and young women realize their full potential.”
“Religiously?” Lorelai asked.
“No!” he all but shouted. “We have a strict no religion policy.” He rubbed his cheek under his missing eye. He glanced at the startled women. “Sorry, bad memories.” He tried to recover. “We train girls to defend themselves, to think on their feet, and how to take control of their power.”
Both women looked skeptical.
“Rory,” he addressed the young woman. “Make a fist.” She did and he immediately scoffed. “You do that and you’ll break your thumb.” He put his hand on hers and pushed her thumb over. “That’s how you make a fist.”
“We’re not fighting women,” Lorelai explained. “We tend to be talk it out types.”
“Or yell it out,” Rory pointed out. “There was also the mime incident.”
“Mime incident?” Xander asked.
“Laryngitis,” she explained with a smile. “I think I was nine.”
“Oh good, not real mimes,” he shuddered. “I hate them as much as clowns.”
“So how long have you been doing the charity work?” Rory asked.
“About six years.”
“I wish I could have filled my college application with that much stuff.”
He gave her a grin. “You get in somewhere without all that stuff?”
“Yale,” Lorelai said excitedly, “and Harvard.”
“Congratulations.”
“I start Yale this fall,” Rory said proudly.
“Every cute girl I meet is a super-powered or superbrain-y,” Xander gave her a full smile.
“Hey, yeah, her mother, still back here,” Lorelai said.
Xander focused on the road, his cheeks a little pink.
88888888
They pulled up to a great mansion and got out. The garden had clearly been neglected, but only recently. The building had to be over two hundred years old.
“This is it,” he told them.
“Do you happen to know someone named Emily Gilmore?” Lorelai suddenly asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” Xander replied. “Why?”
“No reason.”
“You really think Grandma set up a guy to meet us on the side of the road during out no itinerary backpacking trip?” Rory asked.
“I put nothing passed that woman.”
A group of women between 15 and 25 walked out. There had to be more than a dozen of them. They were all talking excitedly.
“Rona, Charity, Chao-Ahn get the stuff out of the trunk. Carefully, it’s unstable. Kennedy, Sophie, Bev everything tied down on top. Anyone else who wants to be helpful, there’s stuff in the backseat.”
A girl with long brown hair bounced up to Xander. “New recruits?”
“Hitchhikers. Try not to scare them off.”
She studied them critically for a moment before offering them a hand. “I’m Dawn.”
“I’m Rory. This is my mom, Lorelai.”
“Geez, one of you doesn’t look your age,” Dawn stared at both in disbelief.
“I had her when I was sixteen,” Lorelai replied with a smile.
“Oh,” she studied them both again. “Well, why don’t you come in and we’ll see about finding you some food and a bed.”
“These yours?” an older girl asked holding both their packs.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry.”
“No problem.” She smiled widely and headed back to the trunk.
Dawn led them into the mansion as a large van pulled up and more girls ran out to help. “I’d give you a tour but Buffy has a thing about dinners and everyone being at them.”
“We’re okay with the cheap tour,” Lorelai promised.
“Let’s get you settled and I should be able to get us to the dining room before the girls claim all the food.” She led them up the stairs and down two hallways before pushing open a door. “Hope you don’t mind sharing.”
“Not at all.” They dumped their bags on the bed and turned back to Dawn.
She grinned at them and led them out the hall and down a set of narrow stairs. They ended up in a pantry which opened into a very busy kitchen.
“Don’t slow down,” Dawn whispered, “or we’ll be put to work.”
They made it only to a foot into the kitchen before a very harassed woman in her mid-40s stopped them. “Dawn, don’t you even try to enter that dining room without taking some of this food.”
“Marie, I’m just showing our guests.”
“I give no mind if your guest is the Pope,” the woman replied. “Start loading the table, gel.”
Dawn grimaced and grabbed a huge container filled to the brim with what looked like stuffing. Rory stepped up to grab a huge plate of chicken and gaped at the weight of it. Lorelai followed the lead and grabbed two bowls of vegetables.
They all quickly left the kitchen, desperate to deposit their heavy burdens on the large table setup in the center of the dining room.
“Oh my god,” Lorelai said as she set the dishes where Dawn indicated. “How many people do you feed?”
“About thirty. But the table can seat a ton more. Tables like this were designed to host huge parties a hundred plus years ago.”
There was a general chatter as more dishes were delivered and several young women arrived. Most ignored the new arrivals and focused on waiting for everyone to arrive.
Finally an older man came in with Xander and blond woman, the entire table went quiet. Xander took a seat next to Rory. The blond woman stood at the head of the table and the older man sat to her left.
“We all here?” she asked.
A redhead and two younger girls took the open seats. “Sorry,” the redhead said as she across from Xander.
“We have guests for the night.” She waved at them, “I’m Buffy.” Then she addressed the rest of the table, “Please don’t disturb them.” She eyed a few of the girls meaningfully then gestured. “Let’s eat.”
“I like her,” Lorelai said, “short and to the food.”
“She’s known for her speeches,” Xander said with a small smile.
Dinner was a loud and ruckus affair. And when it was over a group of girls was assigned to clear and another to clean.
“Wow,” Rory said. “We need a group of them for our house.”
Xander laughed. “They don’t take orders this well all the time. It seems we need to have more guests so they behave.”
“I can escort you back to your room,” Dawn offered.
“I could sleep,” Lorelai said. “Being around all you young people is exhausting!”
“I should…” Rory started.
“Stay. Enjoy yourself. These may be the last people your age you see until school starts,” Lorelai encouraged. “Have fun.”
“Come on,” Xander said. “I know for a fact there is a lesson going on in the Delta room you should probably see.”
Rory smiled and followed him to a ballroom. Mats had been laid out on the floor. And about ten young girls were going through basic steps.
“Faith,” he greeted the dark headed woman. “I’ve got a new student for you.”
Faith gave Rory a hard onceover. “Isn’t she the hitchhiker you picked up?”
“She starts college in the fall and can’t even make a fist,” he countered.
“Okay,” Faith sighed. She turned to the teens. “Team up and take turns running the full set. No contact. Watch each other for flaws.” Then she turned back to Rory. “Let’s see what we can do about you.”
Two hours later Rory was good to go by Faith’s reckoning. She may be unable to do a lot of damage but she would be able to injure a mortal and defend herself against drunk frat boys.
“Wow,” Rory said when Xander instructed her to sit in the library as he grabbed a bottle of water. “You guys have some intense training.”
“We do what we can,” he told her as he sat next to her on the couch.
“Do all the women you teach go through that?”
“And a lot more. We believe in self-defense as a basis for everything else.”
“Why teach me though?”
“So that if I were to try to kiss you, you could lay me out or at least leave me limping while you got away.”
Rory swallowed. He wasn’t that much older than her. And he was handsome in a roguish way. “K-kiss me?”
He smiled. “It’s just an example.”
She licked her lips because now her brain was stuck on the image. She wanted to channel her inner-Lorelai and make a move. But she was unable to summon the courage. She stood suddenly. “Good night, Xander.”
Title: A Place for the Night
Author: hermione2be
Rating: PG/FR13/K+
Crossover: BtVS/Gilmore Girls
Disclaimer: I do not own any of BtVS/Angel or Gilmore Girls people, places, or ideas. This fiction is done simply for pleasure and I receive no profit.
Summary: As they backpack through Europe, the Gilmores meet some interesting people.
Notes: This happens during the summer immediately after Chosen.
Seasons: Post-Chosen/Between Seasons 3 & 4
Word Count: 1837
Lorelai put her thumb out when she heard a vehicle approach them on road near Bath, England. The SUV slowed.
“Hi, there,” Lorelai said as she got a look at the driver. A young man with shaggy hair and an eye patch. “Can you really drive with that patch?”
“Missing eye,” he replied, “no choice.”
“Oh, sorry,” she winced.
He shrugged. “You need a lift?”
“How far are you going?”
“About thirty miles.” He glanced passed her. “We’ll be able to put you up for the night.”
“You and a creepy old woman?” Lorelai asked, only half joking.
This time the man smiled. “It’s a mansion owned by the Council. There will be about a dozen women your daughter’s age.”
“Mom,” Rory said suddenly, “let’s go with him.”
“I’m trying to make sure he’s not a homicidal-maniac,” Lorelai replied.
The man’s demeanor changed a moment and he stuck out a hand. “My name is Xander Harris. I’m 23 and I’m only offering you a ride because if my best friend passes you and sees I didn’t stop she’ll turn me into a toad.”
Lorelai smiled and shook his hand. “I’m Lorelai. This is my daughter, Rory.”
“Throw your packs in the back.” He pressed a button and the trunk opened for them.
They both tracked around back and looked at the various things stacked in the trunk.
“It looks like you’re starting a hotel,” Rory said looking at the pillows, blankets, and plates.
“In which case, I’m manager, maid, and concierge,” Xander griped.
Lorelai looked at everything. “Anything breakable?”
“Nope, just shove it in and slam the lid.” They complied and were glad the trunk closed.
“Rock, paper, scissors for the front seat?” Lorelai whispered to Rory as she held out her fist.
“Mom.” Rory rolled her eyes but complied. She lost a moment later.
“You sit up front.”
Xander was watching them with a small smile as Rory climbed in the front seat. “So did you win or lose?”
Fire climbed up her face.
“Complimentary Scooby Doo toothbrushes?” Lorelai asked as she looked over the things she had to move to get in her seat behind Xander and buckle the belt.
“No, those are mine,” Xander replied. “The pink, purple, and blue ones are for our people.”
“You said your company is called the Council?” Rory asked.
“Actually it’s got a much older roots. We’re new management. Took over from some old fogies who got outed by the competition.”
“But the business is still intact?”
“More or less, we’re thinking about rebranding. A little more charity work a little less tradition.”
“What kinds of charity?”
“We help girls and young women realize their full potential.”
“Religiously?” Lorelai asked.
“No!” he all but shouted. “We have a strict no religion policy.” He rubbed his cheek under his missing eye. He glanced at the startled women. “Sorry, bad memories.” He tried to recover. “We train girls to defend themselves, to think on their feet, and how to take control of their power.”
Both women looked skeptical.
“Rory,” he addressed the young woman. “Make a fist.” She did and he immediately scoffed. “You do that and you’ll break your thumb.” He put his hand on hers and pushed her thumb over. “That’s how you make a fist.”
“We’re not fighting women,” Lorelai explained. “We tend to be talk it out types.”
“Or yell it out,” Rory pointed out. “There was also the mime incident.”
“Mime incident?” Xander asked.
“Laryngitis,” she explained with a smile. “I think I was nine.”
“Oh good, not real mimes,” he shuddered. “I hate them as much as clowns.”
“So how long have you been doing the charity work?” Rory asked.
“About six years.”
“I wish I could have filled my college application with that much stuff.”
He gave her a grin. “You get in somewhere without all that stuff?”
“Yale,” Lorelai said excitedly, “and Harvard.”
“Congratulations.”
“I start Yale this fall,” Rory said proudly.
“Every cute girl I meet is a super-powered or superbrain-y,” Xander gave her a full smile.
“Hey, yeah, her mother, still back here,” Lorelai said.
Xander focused on the road, his cheeks a little pink.
88888888
They pulled up to a great mansion and got out. The garden had clearly been neglected, but only recently. The building had to be over two hundred years old.
“This is it,” he told them.
“Do you happen to know someone named Emily Gilmore?” Lorelai suddenly asked.
“No, I don’t think so,” Xander replied. “Why?”
“No reason.”
“You really think Grandma set up a guy to meet us on the side of the road during out no itinerary backpacking trip?” Rory asked.
“I put nothing passed that woman.”
A group of women between 15 and 25 walked out. There had to be more than a dozen of them. They were all talking excitedly.
“Rona, Charity, Chao-Ahn get the stuff out of the trunk. Carefully, it’s unstable. Kennedy, Sophie, Bev everything tied down on top. Anyone else who wants to be helpful, there’s stuff in the backseat.”
A girl with long brown hair bounced up to Xander. “New recruits?”
“Hitchhikers. Try not to scare them off.”
She studied them critically for a moment before offering them a hand. “I’m Dawn.”
“I’m Rory. This is my mom, Lorelai.”
“Geez, one of you doesn’t look your age,” Dawn stared at both in disbelief.
“I had her when I was sixteen,” Lorelai replied with a smile.
“Oh,” she studied them both again. “Well, why don’t you come in and we’ll see about finding you some food and a bed.”
“These yours?” an older girl asked holding both their packs.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry.”
“No problem.” She smiled widely and headed back to the trunk.
Dawn led them into the mansion as a large van pulled up and more girls ran out to help. “I’d give you a tour but Buffy has a thing about dinners and everyone being at them.”
“We’re okay with the cheap tour,” Lorelai promised.
“Let’s get you settled and I should be able to get us to the dining room before the girls claim all the food.” She led them up the stairs and down two hallways before pushing open a door. “Hope you don’t mind sharing.”
“Not at all.” They dumped their bags on the bed and turned back to Dawn.
She grinned at them and led them out the hall and down a set of narrow stairs. They ended up in a pantry which opened into a very busy kitchen.
“Don’t slow down,” Dawn whispered, “or we’ll be put to work.”
They made it only to a foot into the kitchen before a very harassed woman in her mid-40s stopped them. “Dawn, don’t you even try to enter that dining room without taking some of this food.”
“Marie, I’m just showing our guests.”
“I give no mind if your guest is the Pope,” the woman replied. “Start loading the table, gel.”
Dawn grimaced and grabbed a huge container filled to the brim with what looked like stuffing. Rory stepped up to grab a huge plate of chicken and gaped at the weight of it. Lorelai followed the lead and grabbed two bowls of vegetables.
They all quickly left the kitchen, desperate to deposit their heavy burdens on the large table setup in the center of the dining room.
“Oh my god,” Lorelai said as she set the dishes where Dawn indicated. “How many people do you feed?”
“About thirty. But the table can seat a ton more. Tables like this were designed to host huge parties a hundred plus years ago.”
There was a general chatter as more dishes were delivered and several young women arrived. Most ignored the new arrivals and focused on waiting for everyone to arrive.
Finally an older man came in with Xander and blond woman, the entire table went quiet. Xander took a seat next to Rory. The blond woman stood at the head of the table and the older man sat to her left.
“We all here?” she asked.
A redhead and two younger girls took the open seats. “Sorry,” the redhead said as she across from Xander.
“We have guests for the night.” She waved at them, “I’m Buffy.” Then she addressed the rest of the table, “Please don’t disturb them.” She eyed a few of the girls meaningfully then gestured. “Let’s eat.”
“I like her,” Lorelai said, “short and to the food.”
“She’s known for her speeches,” Xander said with a small smile.
Dinner was a loud and ruckus affair. And when it was over a group of girls was assigned to clear and another to clean.
“Wow,” Rory said. “We need a group of them for our house.”
Xander laughed. “They don’t take orders this well all the time. It seems we need to have more guests so they behave.”
“I can escort you back to your room,” Dawn offered.
“I could sleep,” Lorelai said. “Being around all you young people is exhausting!”
“I should…” Rory started.
“Stay. Enjoy yourself. These may be the last people your age you see until school starts,” Lorelai encouraged. “Have fun.”
“Come on,” Xander said. “I know for a fact there is a lesson going on in the Delta room you should probably see.”
Rory smiled and followed him to a ballroom. Mats had been laid out on the floor. And about ten young girls were going through basic steps.
“Faith,” he greeted the dark headed woman. “I’ve got a new student for you.”
Faith gave Rory a hard onceover. “Isn’t she the hitchhiker you picked up?”
“She starts college in the fall and can’t even make a fist,” he countered.
“Okay,” Faith sighed. She turned to the teens. “Team up and take turns running the full set. No contact. Watch each other for flaws.” Then she turned back to Rory. “Let’s see what we can do about you.”
Two hours later Rory was good to go by Faith’s reckoning. She may be unable to do a lot of damage but she would be able to injure a mortal and defend herself against drunk frat boys.
“Wow,” Rory said when Xander instructed her to sit in the library as he grabbed a bottle of water. “You guys have some intense training.”
“We do what we can,” he told her as he sat next to her on the couch.
“Do all the women you teach go through that?”
“And a lot more. We believe in self-defense as a basis for everything else.”
“Why teach me though?”
“So that if I were to try to kiss you, you could lay me out or at least leave me limping while you got away.”
Rory swallowed. He wasn’t that much older than her. And he was handsome in a roguish way. “K-kiss me?”
He smiled. “It’s just an example.”
She licked her lips because now her brain was stuck on the image. She wanted to channel her inner-Lorelai and make a move. But she was unable to summon the courage. She stood suddenly. “Good night, Xander.”