For the Slayer Who Has Everything

by GylzGirl

Disclaimer: Fox owns the rights. I own the story. I'm pretty sure I got the worst of that deal.
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: B/G, W/T, X/Anya
Timeline: Season 6. December Holidays 2001. Post-"Wrecked"
Author's Notes: Thanks to Karen and Gail for beta and encouragement. Thanks to Cindy for her good-natured stalking :)

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"Owww! This sucks!" A loud whine drifted into the basement headquarters of the latest entities intent on taking over Sunnydale.

Warren quickly threw a sheet over the top of his newest creation and turned toward the voice. Jonathan came in clutching his jaw. He glared as he sat down heavily in the chair. Behind him followed Andrew. He looked no happier.

"What happened?" Warren asked.

"Buffy, that's what. She caught us trying to knock over the jewelry store."

"She didn't see you, did she?"

"No," Andrew said. "Jonathan turned back into the Be'toth Demon. She kicked his ass a little bit but we got away."

"Tell him the rest," Jonathan grumbled.

Andrew cast his eyes down. "We're pretty sure she got the license plate of the van."

"What?"

"It's not a big deal. I'll just cast a spell to change the plate," Jonathan said.

"That's not going to help when she gives the number to Willow and she hacks into the DMV database." Warren began to pace.

"I didn't think about that."

"Well does she even do that anymore?" Andrew asked.

"I'm sure she's capable."

"So I'll just cast a spell that makes it come up belonging to somebody else. Or wipe it from the files. Whatever. Now can somebody please get me an icepack?" Jonathan complained.

Andrew got up and walked to the refrigerator. "We've got to do something about that Slayer."

"We've tried to defeat her. It's like the Kobayashi Maru."

Warren smiled. "You've hit upon my plan perfectly Jonathan. True, we may not be able to win but like the great Captain Kirk himself, we can try to reprogram the situation to our advantage."

"I don't get you." Jonathan looked to Andrew.

The blonde threw the icepack to his friend and took a seat next to him. "You're not alone there."

"What if instead of trying to outwit her, we simply keep her too occupied to go out so much? Then she won't be stumbling onto all our endeavors."

"How are we supposed to do that?" Jonathan winced as he pressed the ice to his jaw.

"By giving her something she's way more interested in than poking her nose in where it doesn't belong."

"Like?" Andrew asked.

Warren turned and took hold of a fistful of the sheet covering his project. "Behold," he said, whipping off the material.

Andrew and Jonathan rose, mouths open. Before them stood a male human figure, green eyes staring wide and lifeless; it was over 6 feet tall with slightly wavy dark blonde hair and dressed in blue jeans, a soft grey sweater and a well-worn brown leather jacket.

"Mr. Giles?" Jonathan squeaked.

"Gilesbot," Warren corrected.

Buffy kicked the front door closed behind her. In her hands, she sorted the mail. When she got to a blue envelope, postmarked from England, her face lit up for a moment, then fell into sadness.

"What's the glum chum?" Willow walked from the living room to meet her.

"It's from Giles," she said quietly.

"Well... so you never wanted to hear from him again?"

Buffy's eyes were overbright when they met those of her friend. "It's not the kind of envelope a letter comes in." Willow shrugged her shoulders. "It's a card. You don't usually mail a Christmas card if you're coming to visit. You'd bring it with you."

Sympathy filled Willow's green eyes as realization dawned. She reached forward, touching Buffy's arm.

"Giles isn't coming home for Christmas?" A small voice at the top of the stairs demanded their attention.

Buffy looked up to her sister. "Giles is home for Christmas, Dawn. He's just not coming here."

"Well... well maybe he didn't know... you... you should call him and invite him."

"He knows he's welcome."

"But does he know he's wanted? Maybe he thinks you're still mad or maybe..."

"He's not coming, Dawn. Accept it," Buffy's voice was cold as she shut down right before their eyes.

"God, don't you feel anything anymore?! Call Giles and tell him to come back! To come back and stay here. We need him!"

"He doesn't want us to need him. He wants to be left alone."

"That's bullshit!" She was shaking, shrieking and crying. "He hates being alone. He does like to be needed, just... just... You don't want him to help you, you want him to DO everything for you... You choose him because you know nobody else would put up with you... not because you want him...."

"How would you know?"

Her eyes glistened with tears, and anger. "Maybe because I asked him Buffy. Did you ever try that?"

Buffy's eyes narrowed. "Go to your room."

More tears spilled over Dawn's lashes. She turned, stomping her way back up the stairs. A loud door slam signaled that she reached her destination. Buffy walked to the living room and sat heavily in the chair.

Willow walked up behind her. "Maybe you oughta open the card and see if it was worth all that?"

Her soft voice brought a rueful smile to Buffy's face. "Would you go up and see if she's okay?"

She shook her head. "Dawn's still kinda in barely tolerate mode with me. I'll um... I'll call Tara and ask her to. And I'll find somewhere else to be when she comes. I don't need to add to the tense vibe."

"Thanks."

"What are we doing for the holidays anyway?"

"Well... everything. Tree... Menorah... Yule Log. We'll work it all in. And hopefully everybody will be speaking by then," she gave Willow a meaningful look.

"I know... I just... need to be more together before I talk to Tara again. I have to ask her to come back to stable Willow, not to help me clean up the mess." Buffy nodded. Willow rose. "I'm gonna go call."

As the redhead made her way out of the room, Buffy slipped her fingernail under the envelope's flap.

In a flat in Bath, England, a telephone rang. Giles jogged past a short stack of unopened crates and reached for the cordless phone. "Hello?"

"Mr. Giles?" A female voice on the other end, but not the one he'd hoped for.

He sighed. "Yes?"

"This is Miss Burton. With your travel agency?"

"Oh... yes. How are you?" He walked the phone back over to the crates and sat down upon them.

"I'm just fine. I wanted to tell you that I've been able to assemble some of the special rates we spoke about. There's really quite a variety. I'm preparing a packet and wanted to know if you'd like to come pick it up or if you'd prefer me to have it sent over by messenger. Or I could always email you the..."

Giles cringed. "The...the messenger would be fine."

"Wonderful. I can have it to you tomorrow morning, or if it's urgent I can catch our courier and we can get it to you this evening."

"Anytime tomorrow will be fine. Really."

"Grand. I'll get this finished up then. Just give me a call whenever you make your decision and I'll handle all the arrangements for you."

"Thanks very much. Good-Bye." He set the phone back down and looked at his living room. He really hadn't expected the travel agent to be able to pull things off so fast, especially given the time of year. Giles broke into a smile. He decided to take it as a sign that he'd made the right decision after all, but it also meant he had a lot to do. He stood, stretched, and walked to the kitchen.

Buffy took a deep breath and pulled the card from the envelope. On the front was an overly cute smiling teddy bear wearing a Santa hat. On the inside, was printed "Beary Merry Christmas". But it was the inside cover that caught Buffy's attention, as it was covered in Giles' penmanship.

Buffy,

I'm hoping to be there for Christmas and am doing my best to arrange it. If you'd rather I didn't, please call and let me know as soon as possible. Until then, I'm going to assume that you're not as mad at me as you were when I left, and that it's safe to come and see you. I may have a surprise for you when I get there. I don't want to jinx it so I'll leave it for when I see you again. I'm really looking forward to it. Hope this finds you safe and happy. Though, I'd settle for either one. Give my love to Dawn.

Giles

She smiled as she replaced the card in its envelope. They really were going to have a nice holiday after all. Buffy looked around the room and her smile disappeared. She shot to her feet. She had so much to do! 'He didn't even say when he was coming!' She didn't know how long she had to get the place looking like one of those Home and Garden holiday photo spreads. At the same time, she knew she had to get uber-organized with her adult responsibility stuff so that she could show Giles tangible proof that she was doing better with the things she had disappointed him on; doing well enough that he could come back home to stay. Buffy ran up the stairs to get changed.

Tara knocked on the door of the Summers' house. When she got no answer, she tried the handle and let herself in. "B-Buffy? Dawnie?" She closed the door behind her and started into the living room. She stopped and turned when she heard footsteps coming up the hallway.

"Buffy? I'm going to get going now. I called Tara and she's on the...." Willow stopped short when she rounded the corner and found her former girlfriend standing before her. "Oh! You're here."

"Yes," Tara's eyes shifted uncomfortably between the floor and Willow's face.

"I'm sorry. I was planning to be gone. I know you don't really want to see me right now and I can't bla..."

"N-no it's okay. H-how are you?"

"I'm better. I mean I'm getting better."

"You haven't been doing spells?"

"Not much."

"Oh." Tara sounded disappointed.

"Just, you know, wards for the house. Trying to keep away the beasties that don't need an invite to barge in. Oh and one potion to get rid of these nightmares Dawn was having, but she asked me to do that one. And she knew about it when she drank it."

Tara's eyes finally stayed focused on hers. "Oh, well that sounds very... responsible."

Willow nodded her head. "That's what I want to be. I know how to do things with the magick. Things that can help us. Things that are good. But that has to be what I use it for. For a purpose." Tara nodded. "I'm getting better Tara. I'm really trying."

The blonde smiled for what seemed the first time in weeks. "Then you'll succeed."

Hesitantly, Willow stepped closer. "Do... do you think that maybe we could... go out sometime this week? You know just if you have some time and you wanted to. Just to talk for awhile? I... I miss you."

Tara smiled bashfully. "Like a date?"

"Well... if you wanted to call it that... I suppose I wouldn't be really upset." Happiness danced in the redhead's green eyes.

"I guess that would be okay."

"How about tomorrow night? We could do dinner and then go and see Harry Potter and if things go well, maybe the Espresso Pump after?"

She nodded. "I'd like that."

"Well, I probably should go. Dawnie's upstairs."

"Okay, I'll try and get her calmed down."

"Good. Thanks for coming over."

"For Dawn? Always."

Willow tentatively touched her fingers to Tara's own. "Okay then...um I guess I should..."

Tara gave her hand a quick squeeze and then released her. "I'll see you tomorrow night."

Willow nodded, turned, and left the house.

When the front door shut, Tara exhaled deeply and smiled. Really starting to feel happy for the first time in a while, she walked to the stairs and was nearly knocked over backwards by Buffy running down them. Both startled, they held onto each others arms for a moment until their heart rates slowed back to something resembling normal. Then they started to laugh.

"Sorry about that."

"No that's okay. Are you g-going out?"

Buffy nodded. "I'm going to the mall to get some decorations. Get this place looking more holiday spirity."

"For Dawn?"

"Dawn, Giles, all of us."

"Giles?"

"Yeah. He wrote. He's going to try to come back for the holiday."

"Oh! Well Dawn must be happy."

"She doesn't know yet. Tara, do me a favor and let me tell her okay?"

"Sure Buffy. She's still upset?"

"I'm afraid I got pretty growly with her earlier. If you could just get her to move a little past the part where I'm a huge butthead, I think I can take over from there when I get back."

"I'll do my best."

"Thank you." Buffy walked to the front door. "Oh hey wait... what are you doing tonight?"

"T-tonight? Nothing that I can think of."

"Well if you can, stick around. I think the massive amount of stuff I'm bringing back with me is going to require an impromptu tree trimming party. I'll bring home dinner too."

"That sounds too good to pass up."

"Great! See you later!" Buffy was out the door in a flash.

Andrew and Jonathan paced a circle around the Gilesbot. Warren had its shirt off and had opened a panel in the side of the machine. "Will you two sit down? You're making me nervous and I'm gonna accidentally crosswire something here."

They sat as instructed, but continued to gawk up at it. Jonathan finally spoke. "Why isn't it saying anything?"

"Because I haven't finished it yet. It'll be done this afternoon."

"What's left?" Andrew asked.

"Well to start with, there are some programming gaps. Since we no longer have videotape footage of Giles from our Buffy surveillance..." He glared at Andrew.

"What did you expect me to do?! You never said anything about needing those again and they were having a V marathon on Sci-Fi."

"Anyway," Warren continued, "there are things about his personality we're going to have to improvise. And we'll have to do some guesswork to fill in the intricacies of his relationships with Buffy and her friends."

"So... do you guys think Buffy and him were like... doing it?" Andrew asked.

"Totally," Warren said.

"Totally," Andrew agreed with a giggle.

"No way," Jonathan said firmly.

"No?" Warren arched his eyebrow. "I guess you knew Giles better than the rest of us, so maybe you'd know. You really don't think so?"

"No. Because, if they were, he never would have left."

"Ah.... but do think they wanted to?"

"Oh totally!" Jonathan smiled.

"Good," Warren turned his attention briefly to the open panel again, tweaking something within. "Then we can go ahead and keep that subroutine. Now... about his personality. How do we fill that in?"

"Well...he's an older British guy, that the girls at school used to think was handsome, and he knows a lot about weapons and stuff..." Jonathan thought out loud.

"Hey, it sounds like we should program in some Bond!" Andrew said in a rush.

"Hmm, that's actually not as dumb as it sounds," Warren said.

"I concur, but it should be Roger Moore." At the disgusted looks from the others, Jonathan spoke again. "Well Giles is not Scottish!"

"He could be Timothy Dalton." Andrew said. The others groaned. "What?!"

"Andrew if you're going to insist on continuing to be a girl, we're going to make you wear a little pink dress," Warren said.

"Shut-up! Fine." He pouted and moved to one of the farther away bean bag chairs. "Do whatever you want."

Warren and Jonathan locked eyes. "We'll blend Connery and Moore."

Jonathan smiled. "It'll be like a SuperBond."

Andrew laughed. "That sounds like some kind of glue." The other two shot him withering looks until his smile faded. "Well what about him being her Watcher? All the mystical mumbo jumbo?"

"Hmm... an interesting quandary. Professor Van Helsing?" Warren suggested.

Jonathan wagged his finger. "I don't think so. We need someone who understands the training of the mystical, as well as the physical. There is only one great teacher I can think of who meets this requirement. Yoda."

"Awesome!" Andrew shouted.

"Good call," Warren said, as he continued to fiddle with the machine's wiring. "I think all of that should give him a broad enough spectrum of experiences to draw from."

"What else do we need?" Jonathan asked. Warren looked puzzled. "Well you said the programming gaps were to start with. What's still missing?"

Warren smiled. "Oh yeah." He reached around the Gilesbot and undid its belt and fly.

Andrew left his chair and approached. Jonathan's eyes grew wide as he too stood. "What are you doing?"

With a tug, Warren pulled the robot's pants down around its knees, leaving it bared for all to see.

"OH!" Jonathan and Andrew said in unison.

Dawn looked up with a glare as the door to her room opened. "Knock knock," Tara said as she peeked around it.

"Tara!" Dawn hopped up off the bed, her misery temporarily forgotten as she wrapped her arms around the blonde and hugged her as hard as she could. Tara hugged back just as hard. "What are you doing here?"

"Willow called me. Said you and Buffy kinda had a fight and she thought maybe you'd like someone to talk to?"

"Oh... well that was nice of her."

They made their way to the bed and both crawled up to rest against the pillows. Dawn lay on Tara's arm as the older girl smoothed her long brown hair. "So what happened?"

"Oh nothing. Just... Giles isn't coming for Christmas."

"For sure?"

"Well, Buffy doesn't seem to think so."

"Well sometimes Buffy is wrong. Why don't you just wait and see what happens?"

"But Tara, he has to come back. When he was here... I mean in the house here, not after he moved out to the hotel, Buffy was almost Buffy again. She was the happiest I've seen her since she's been back. He's gotta come. She misses him. *I* miss him. He's gonna be all alone on Christmas and she's gonna be all sad and distant and..."

"Hey now," Tara squeezed her closer. "You're getting way ahead of yourself there. Buffy's out right now buying stuff so all of us can decorate the heck out of the place tonight."

Dawn's smile brightened. "Really?"

"Absolutely."

"Giles is coming for Christmas!" She sprang up off the bed.

Tara blinked. "I never said that."

"You didn't have to. Honestly Tara, you're just the worst secret keeper ever. Wait and see what happens, plus suddenly Ebenezer Buffy is all jazzed up? Giles is *so* coming back."

Despite herself, Tara smiled. "You're an evil child."

"I promise I'll act surprised when Buffy tells me." Dawn came over and took her hand. "Am I forgiven?"

Tara arched her eyebrow. "Quasi-Evil."

"Good enough." Dawn tugged on Tara's hand and pulled her from the bed.

Buffy smiled as she pushed her shopping cart with the one wobbly wheel through the bustling crowd of irate shoppers. She decided that nothing short of another forthcoming apocalypse was going to ruin her mood, and then made a mental note to knock on the first bit of wood she found. Her basket was filled with garlands, wreaths, tinsel and ornaments. She'd also picked up some chips and soda for the gang to munch on as they helped her deck the halls. She turned a corner and her smile grew even bigger. "Hey! What are you guys doing here?"

Xander turned around and grinned, then nervously jumped in front of his basket. "Hey Buff, nothing much."

Anya rolled her eyes from her position behind the basket. "We're shopping for Christmas presents and yours is in the basket right now. So leave."

"An!"

"Sorry. I meant please leave or you'll ruin the entire holiday."

Xander looked back at his girlfriend. "Thanks honey, that was so much better."

Buffy laughed. "That's okay. I'll leave you to your shopping. I'm just glad I ran into you guys. I was going to call you and invite you to a tree trimming party tonight. The whole gang. I'm even springing for take out home cooked food."

"We didn't have anything planned."

"Yes we'd love to come. Now leave."

Xander sighed. "We'll be there. Wait a second... whole gang?"

"Don't get your hopes up, but I think Tara and Willow might be talking again."

He grinned. "Talking is great. Talking leads to other things... like maybe smooching."

"I don't think they're quite back up to the smooching level yet, but it looks like they're definitely in chat mode. And..."

"And?"

"Giles is coming back sometime soon to spend the holidays with us."

Xander nodded with a smile. "So that's what's up with the glowy Buffy."

"Shut-up. I am not glowy."

"He's right. You really are very shiny. Like Rudolph's nose... but you know, without the mucus."

"You know, I think I am going to leave." Buffy poked Xander in the stomach. "Six O'clock, okay?"

"We'll be there."

"I've narrowed it down to these three," Warren said as he opened a cabinet and set a tray down in front of his two companions.

"Hmm." Andrew pondered the choices and then held up the smallest of the choices on display. "This one."

Warren scrunched his nose. "Why?"

He shrugged. "Well... you know... Librarian."

Jonathan rolled his eyes. "We said we wanted him to keep her occupied."

"So?" Andrew asked.

"So if she gets that far, *that* is not going to do the trick." Jonathan held up the largest of the choices. "Any objections?" Timidly, Andrew raised his hand. Jonathan sighed. "What now?"

"Well... if you still want to keep making Buffy our loveslave as one of our long-term goals, you might want to reconsider that choice. Cause after that, I don't think any of us would be able to keep her occupied either."

Jonathan slowly lowered the object back onto the tray. "Good point."

"Middle of the road then?" Warren said, collecting the medium-sized option. The others nodded their agreement. "Right. While I'm attaching this, you guys should get started on those no communication spells to keep any calls or letters from the real Giles from getting through."

"On it." Jonathan led Andrew away to get their supplies together.

Warren knelt before the lifeless automaton he had crafted into Giles' image and started to work.

The door to the Summers' house opened to admit four people with their arms just overflowing with shopping bags. Buffy, Xander, Anya, and Willow weaved their way inside, sitting their burden down in the living room. Tara and Dawn emerged from the kitchen.

"We've got popcorn ready for stringing and I've got cookies in the oven." Tara said brightly.

Xander grabbed Willow and Anya by the hands and began dragging them back outside.

"Wait a minute, where are we going?" Willow asked.

"Xander we've talked about this fantasy of yours," Anya grumbled.

"Relax. You're being shanghaied into helping me get the tree off the top of the car."

As they exited, Tara gave Dawn a little shove toward Buffy. "I have to go and check the cookies." She retreated back into the kitchen.

"Hey," Dawn said.

"Hey. Still mad at me?" Buffy asked.

She shrugged. "Maybe a little."

"I'm sorry I got angry with you earlier. I was just disappointed about Giles not coming back. But... I've got good news."

"Oh?" Dawn tried to sound disinterested. She looked down at her shoes.

"Giles is coming for the holidays."

"Oh Buffy! That's great!" Dawn was grinning wildly at her sister.

The Slayer narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "You already knew didn't you, you little twerp?!"

"No I didn't!"

"Honestly Dawn you're the worst liar ever. What did you do, grill Tara until she broke?"

Dawn pouted. "No. I guessed it. Tara didn't tell me."

Buffy couldn't help a smile. She held her arms open and Dawn moved into the embrace. "It doesn't matter."

The brunette shook her head. "No. Just as long as we're all together."

"That's right."

"Promise me you'll try and get him to stay?"

"I'll talk to him Dawn. But it's his choice. Don't hold your breath. I asked him not to go in the first place."

"I have faith in you."

Buffy squeezed her sister tighter. "I'll try to live up to that." A weak knock on the door startled Buffy. "Oh the tree!" She let go of Dawn and opened the door. On the other side, Xander was wresting with a large evergreen foe.

"Wouldn't say no to a little Slayer-strength right now!"

"Oh right!" She rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward. "Where's Willow and Anya?"

He spat branches away from his mouth. "Willow's on the thin end... unless of course the tree's won by now. Anya is supervising."

"Great. Dawn honey, get the base and set it in the corner where the tree goes."

"Tara and I already got it ready. I'll go move the bags out of the way."

"No peeking Dawn!" Buffy hefted the majority of the tree's weight with her hold on the trunk, the others now simply helping her with the bulky length of it. They guided it through the entryway and into the living room. "Now help me tilt it up and then Willow, kneel down and help guide it between the pins."

With a little maneuvering, the three friends were able to properly erect the bare Christmas tree into its base. They carefully backed away from it, watching for any signs of it tilting or falling, and pulling pine needles from their hair.

Buffy put her arm around her sister's shoulders and looked at Xander, Anya and Willow. "It's our first official Scooby Christmas."

Dawn laughed. "We should see if we can't get a light up Scooby-Doo for the top."

"Nah. We'll stick with our star. But I did get some new Scooby ornaments."

"Really?" Dawn rushed over to the bags.

"You stay out of those! Some of those are officially off-limits for you poking your nose in." Suddenly, Buffy felt a cold draft and looked to the entryway. "Duh! We left the door wide open." She walked toward it, talking to her friends as she went. "Aren't we a good example. We merry band of stalwart heroes, who know better than to think every bad in town has to have an invite to walk right in and here we go leaving the d..." As Buffy's hand touched the door, she stopped speaking, startled by the sight before her.

Rupert Giles stood smiling down at her. He was dressed in blue jeans, a soft grey sweater and a well-worn brown leather jacket. Buffy gulped.

"Well I assume I wasn't one of the bad things you were referring to." His smile widened as he stepped across the threshold. "I hope I'm not crashing your lovely party."

Buffy smiled and rushed forward, hugging him tightly. He closed his arms around her and slowly stroked her long blonde hair.

"You're home," she said quietly.

"I'm home," he repeated.

Chapter Two

Giles brought his cup of tea over to the table. As he sat, he reached for the large envelope the courier had dropped off earlier. He opened it and drew its contents out, spreading the paperwork out before him. He slowly finished his tea as he read through the papers, occasionally stopping to fill out the odd form within the pile.

When there was no more tea and the last blank was filled, he stood up, stretched, and walked over to the phone. Fighting off a smile, he dialed the number for the Summers' residence in Sunnydale, CA. The line clicked and a nasal female voice came over the line. "We're sorry but service to this area has been temporarily interrupted due to the inclement weather conditions currently present. Please try again later."

"Hmm." He hung up the phone and dialed Xander's number only to get the exact same recording. Hoping it was nothing more than a heavy thunderstorm or strong gusts of wind that had taken out some of the lines, he instead dialed a local number.

"Nortrans Shipping," a male voice answered the line.

"Hello, I need speak with Jason Brierly please."

"Speaking."

"Oh yes. Hello. My name is Rupert Giles. I was referred to you by Rachel Burton over at Blythe World Travel."

"Oh yeah, Rach said you would probably be in contact. Did you get our informational packet?"

"I did. And I've filled out the forms. I'm really quite anxious to get this started."

"I can send someone over to collect the papers and if everything's in order, we can have a crew come by as soon as you like."

"Would tomorrow morning be possible?"

Giles could hear the mirth in the other man's voice. "You really are anxious aren't you?"

"You've no idea."

"We'll do our very best for you. Our courier will be there in less than an hour. Rach gave me your information."

"Wonderful. I'll speak to you soon then. Bye."

As Giles hung up the phone, a big smile appeared on his face.

"So are you going to hog him all night or do the rest of us get our turn?" Buffy moved away from Giles to see her little sister standing there with her hands on her hips.

Buffy flashed a smile up at him. "Sorry."

"Not at all." He released her and held his arms open to the younger Summers. She ran forward and squeezed him tightly. "I've missed you Sweetheart," he said as he kissed the top of her head. His eyes then found Buffy's and locked. "I've missed all of you very much." His voice took on a slightly deeper tone than normal.

It made Buffy shiver a little, which surprised her for a moment. Normally, this would be the cue for her old self to kick in and excuse it as moving past the fear of never seeing him again and accepting that he was really here. But, the new Buffy was very well aware of what had caused that reaction, of how much she almost lost when Giles went away. She would do everything she could to make sure he stayed. She cleared her throat. "You're just in time for cookies. And as the tallest, you're nominated to put the star on the top of the tree."

He released Dawn and approached Buffy again. Gently, he touched her cheek with his fingertips. "I think I'd rather lift you up and let you do it."

There was that shiver again. He took her arm and wound it around his own, walking her into the living room.

A figure stood on the lawn of the Summers' house, peering at the proceedings through the windows. "Aww look at that now. Naughty Ripper. Looks like you've dropped the 'I only watch her because that's my job' pretense." His eyes followed the couple as they moved into the living room, joining the others. "Like he never snuck a peek at that firm nubile little... Oh there she is," he breathed as his focus settled on Willow. "There's my little beauty. That's the one who's been radiating magick and chaos like a bloody beacon. Don't let dear old Rupert scare you away my pet. Your Uncle Ethan has games to show you that you've scarcely conceived of yet."

In the crisp air of a December night in Sunnydale, Ethan Rayne smiled.

In an hour's time, bellies were full of nog and cookies, lights, ornaments and tinsel adorned the tree, and smiles were helping to warm the room. Buffy walked to Giles' side carrying the star. She touched his arm. "So, were you all talk or does the offer still stand?"

Giles smiled, coming to stand behind her and letting his arms loosely trail along her waist. He moved his head so that his lips gently brushed her ear. "Tell me if you need me to hold you any tighter," he whispered.

Buffy licked her lips and tried to return her breathing to some semblance of normal as Giles effortlessly lifted her up to place the star at the top of the tree. Once she had straightened it, Giles slowly let her petite body slide down the front of his own as he set her on her feet again.

Pretending not to notice the way Giles' hands lingered on her hips before letting go of her completely, Buffy cleared her throat. "Hey do you guys have any plans for the rest of the night?"

"What is this? You're using us for our decorating skill and then giving us the old heave ho?" Xander smiled.

"No. No ho. I just thought maybe you guys would like to carry on with the party, while I go do at least a couple of rounds of patrol. If you all don't mind that is." When they all chimed in their assent, Buffy smiled. "Great. There's pizza money on the table and provided our pointy toothed friends decide to play nice, I won't be too long."

When the gang's attentions once again turned to each other, she took Giles by the hands and led him into the entryway. "Dawn's got the guys here to look after her for the evening. Would you maybe... like to come on patrol with me?"

"Just the two of us?" His smile made his eyes twinkle adorably.

"Us two... and any vampires that decide to show up. Then it's us plus dust."

He took her coat off of the banister rail and held it out for her. She turned her back to him, putting in one arm then the other. Under the pretense of closing her jacket around her, he once again slipped his arms around her waist. "Sounds like fun," he purred in her ear. "I can't wait to see what kind of wonders you work with that hard length of wood in your hand."

She could feel herself blush. She almost couldn't believe that this was her Giles. He was so brazen and seductive. He was behaving exactly the way she'd fantasized he be brave enough to try on her, but never ever thought he actually would. 'He must have been so alone in England,' she thought.

He moved away from her. She turned toward him in time to see him open the door and gesture for her to go ahead of him. She smiled and proceeded forward. 'If I do this right. If I do this just right. Neither of us will have to be alone ever again.'

Warren walked through the room carrying a jingling box of spare components. He observed his two companions watching Star Trek: Deep Space Nine on their big screen TV.

"What are you guys doing?"

"Watching Dr. Bashir chase Jadzia," Jonathan said.

Distracted for the moment, Warren asked. "First season?" Jonathan nodded.

"I like Dr. Bashir," Andrew stated.

"Yep," Jonathan smiled. "You want to have his baby."

"I do not! I just... relate to him is all." A moment of uncomfortable silence stretched across the room before Andrew spoke again. "It was ONE fic! And it was not a Mary Sue! Garak had the baby!"

"Don't you mean a Marty Stu?" Jonathan teased.

"Yes! I meant that. I mean I meant that it wasn't that." Again, it was quiet. "Shut up!" Andrew stuffed a fistful of popcorn into his mouth.

Warren shook his head. "You guys need to get up off your asses and help me load the van."

Jonathan blinked slowly. "Why are we loading the van?"

Warren rolled his eyes. "Because if something tips Buffy that Giles is actually a robot, she's going to know exactly who made him and right where to come to kick the ass of said person... or persons."

Both Jonathan and Andrew got to their feet. "I see your point," Jonathan said as he picked up an empty box and began filling it full of DVDs and videos. Andrew started carefully laying action figures in a plastic carrying case.

"Besides," Warren said, "you guys have got to see the house I got us with the some of the money we've brought in. It's massive."

"The size of a small moon?" Andrew smiled.

"It's definitely too big to be a space station," Warren replied.

"Princess Leia so wants me," Jonathan said, ignoring the disbelieving looks from his friends.

"So that concludes our nostalgic tour of Restfield Cemetery. As you can see, not much has changed. Little granite. Little marble. Lots and lots of dead." Buffy smiled up at Giles.

"Has activity been up lately?"

"Nah. About the same as usual. I seem to be getting a little better at knowing where to be to catch them as they rise. There've been a whole lot less already vacated graves that I've come across."

"Ah yes. You're learning to stretch out with your feelings."

She smiled. "To hone."

"Pardon?"

"That's what you've always called it. Hone."

"Oh. Yes I suppose I have."

"You know you have. I used to tease you about it all the time." She looked at him strangely. "Are you okay?"

In a flash, he had pulled her to him, his mouth descending on her own. It took her only a second to respond in earnest. She looped her arms up around his neck. When they parted, she was panting softly and he was smiling.

"Sorry. I've been wanting to do that all night." He gently stroked her hair.

"Don't be sorry. I've been wanting you to do that all night. Actually, it's been a lot longer than just tonight."

"Being back with you here. I can't imagine why I ever left."

"Because of me."

"Surely that's the best reason to stay?"

Buffy looked up into his eyes. "Don't go back? Please?" She looked down. "That was supposed to come out a lot less begging. I was gonna just show you how well I've accepted responsibility and gotten myself together and all this other stuff. And the truth is that I have, but I don't care about any of it. I just don't want you to go away again. Please?" She held onto him tightly and hoped she wouldn't crack his ribs.

"I'm not going anywhere." He kissed the top of her head.

She began to cry into his sweater-front as he held her tighter.

Ethan remained outside the windows of the Summers' home. He was waiting for Willow to be alone and so far that hadn't proved very productive. Having barely missed being seen by Buffy and Giles when they left, he again had to dodge Xander and Anya when they went as well. "Come on. Say goodnight to your little friend. It's freezing out here!"

He observed the young brunette girl hugging both remaining older girls goodnight and heading up the stairs. Ethan blew hot air into his hands. He looked both ways over his shoulders and then turned his attentions back to the blonde still inside with Willow. "Bedtime seems quite a good idea. Somniculous," he said as he pointed his finger at her. Instantly, Tara yawned.

Ethan smiled to himself and tried to pull his jacket collar up closer to his chin. "I'll have to remember to call ahead next time."

"We're sorry but service to this area has been temporarily interrupted due to the inclement weather conditions currently present. Please try again later."

"Dammit!" Giles slammed down the phone and began to pace. He'd been trying Buffy's and Xander's alternately all day long and always got the same recording. He ran his hands back through his hair and sat down. Suddenly, he stood right back up again and took hold of the phone, frantically dialing.

"Espresso Pump. This is Gail."

"Gail? Hello. It's Rupert."

"No really, I thought it was this other British guy we used to pay to sing here. For goodness sakes, how are you?! Where are you?! You haven't been in in months!"

"I'm in England actually. It... its a long story. Anyway, I was planning to come back soon and I'm trying to contact some of my friends in town, but I keep getting a recording about the lines being down because of the weather and..."

"What weather?"

"I don't know. It says inclement weather conditions."

"Rupert honey, the weather's been totally clear. I mean, yeah, it's quite chilly. But there isn't a cloud in the sky."

"You sure that's not just in your part of town?"

"No, I mean only the sky actually over the Pump. Yes, the whole town silly."

"That's very odd then."

"I'd say so."

"Gail love, I'm going to have to let you go. Thanks for the help."

"Don't thank me. Come sing for me when you get back sometime."

"You have my word. On the house too. Bye."

He hung up the phone and quickly dialed again.

"Blythe World Travel."

"Miss Burton? It's Mr. Giles."

"Oh, hello."

"I need a seat on the next available flight to Southern California."

Chapter Three

Buffy and Giles walked through the door to the Summers' house together. Her arm was looped around his waist, and his around her shoulders. As they entered the living room, Tara and Willow passed them on their way to the front door.

Tara yawned. "I'm sorry Willow. I'm just very tired all of a sudden."

Willow smiled. "Too much nog in your noggin. Are...are we still on for tomorrow night?"

The blonde nodded shyly. "I-I'm really looking forward to it. Goodnight."

"Bye." Willow closed the door behind her and sighed.

"Check out smiley Willow," Buffy said. "So what's tomorrow?"

"Oh nothing," the redhead said in a singsong voice. "Just going on a date. That's all."

"Well that's certainly progress," Giles said.

"Night."

"Night," Buffy said, smiling after her friend as she ascended the stairs. "You know, demons could have busted down the door right now and she wouldn't have even noticed."

"Love is grand."

Buffy sighed. "Wouldn't know."

"Perhaps you should learn."

She looked up at him. "Meaning?"

"Do you think we could go out tomorrow night?"

"For...patrol?"

"For a date." His eyes met her stunned expression unwaveringly.

She blinked. "You want to go out with me?"

He lightly ran his finger along her jaw. "I'd rather stay in with you, but I suppose we should follow the established procedure for this sort of thing." She simply continued to stare at him, openmouthed. "That's your cue to say yes."

She shook herself out of her stupor. "Sorry. Yes." She smiled. "Very yes." He bent and lightly brushed his lips against her own. She returned the kiss briefly then pulled away with a smile. "Uh... st-stay right here. I'm going to go get your whimsical sheets."

Outside, Ethan kicked at the small shrub growing near the base of the tree he'd been hovering behind all night. "Bugger. I don't know why I come back to this town." He began walking down the street, back toward his motel room. "Tomorrow it'll be my turn. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Oh Janus, now I've got that crap song stuck in my head...."

The next night, Willow had just about decimated her closet looking for something to wear on her date. When she finally decided on something, she opened the door and crossed the hall. "What do you think of this one?" Willow walked into Buffy's bedroom and spun slowly, displaying the green satin dress she wore.

The blonde smiled. "You look beautiful Will. Tara will be sufficiently dazzled, I'm sure."

Buffy herself wore a simple slip-dress, royal blue with small silvery sparkles. Her hair was pulled on top of her head, held with a rhinestone barrette.

"You don't look too bad yourself," Willow commented.

Buffy smiled. "You think he'll like it?"

"I think he'll love it," came the masculine voice from her doorway. Buffy looked up at a smiling Giles and blushed a little.

"I'm gonna just go and get my makeup on. Have fun tonight guys." Willow made a hasty retreat. Giles entered the room.

"I'm almost ready," Buffy turned and grabbed her handbag from the edge of the bed.

"You look like the night sky, only more beautiful."

She blushed again. "You know, if you weren't right in front of me, I'd swear all of this attention was from someone else."

"Is it making you uncomfortable?"

"No. No it's really not. Things feel good for the first time since... for the first time in a long time." A knock sounded from downstairs. "That should be Xander and Anya to watch Dawn."

Giles offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

With a happily possessive look in her eyes, Buffy wrapped her arm around his and allowed him to lead her from the room.

As Buffy and Giles exited her house and began to walk toward town, Ethan stepped out of the bushes across the street. Extinguishing his cigarette with his heel, he snorted at the sight of the two of them. "I knew it. No matter what you said Old Boy, I knew it."

He turned to the house once again to wait for Willow to emerge. When he did, he gasped and jumped back, startled by the tall figure standing there. "Ripper?!" He blinked at the man, noticing him looking down the street at the retreating couple and then back to him, and not looking very happy as he did it. Ethan blinked again, looking down the road and back again himself. "How the..."

Before he could finish, Giles had punched him in the face, hard enough to drop him to his knees. As his vision blurred and he could taste the blood in his mouth, he felt Giles grip him by the collar and drag him back into the bushes. "What have you done this time Ethan?"

Chapter Four

Ethan sputtered as he was rudely awakened with a splash of freezing cold water on his face.

“Wake up you bastard,” Giles said harshly.

“It might be easier for me to wake up if you didn’t bloody well knock me out in the first place y…” His sentence was cut off by Giles punching him in the ribs.

“I’m not playing around with you this time Ethan. Conjuring a doppelganger and unleashing it on my Slayer? What the Hell are you playing at?”

“Doing what? What are you talking about?”

Giles hit him again. “That’s enough! Call it off. Call it off right now!”

“What? I…What are you… I can’t.”

Giles mouth tightened in anger. “Wrong answer.” He hit Ethan a few more times until the man slumped unconscious again. Irritated, Giles released him and let him sink to the ground. “This is going to take all bloody night at this rate.”

“That was quick,” Xander said as Tara and Willow walked through the door.

Willow was holding her stomach with a miserable expression on her face. Tara simply looked at the redhead adoringly.

Dawn looked concerned. “Was Harry Potter so scary that you had to leave early?”

“Too much chocolate malt,” Willow said by way of an explanation.

“We never made it to the movies Dawnie. We got as far as the ice cream shop and the tummy monster struck.”

“Ah, as one who has experienced your pain, my condolences.” Xander nodded sagely. “Damned Tummy Monster. Where’s a Slayer for one of those?” He looked to see if he had gotten a smile from her. It was more a sort of half-hearted wince. “Do you want me to get you something to settle your stomach?”

Willow shook her head carefully. “Right now it’s all I can do to keep air down.” She sank into the chair slowly.

Tara ran her hand over Willow’s forehead and brushed her hair back. “Poor baby. Y-you guys can bail if you want. I’ll stay here and look after them until Buffy and Giles get back.”

“Are you sure,” Xander asked.

“Yeah. We’ll be fine.”

“Good. Thank you.” Anya grabbed Xander’s hand and began towing him out the door behind her. “See that worked out. You can go to bed early and we still have time to get some sex in.”

With a helpless look on his face, Xander followed his girlfriend out the door.

Dawn smiled and sat on the couch. Tara came and sat beside her, putting her arm around the girl’s shoulders. “So, what do you want to do?” The blonde asked.

“Um…well… they’re showing Evil Dead 2 on channel 10 tonight.”

“Dawnie…”

“Please? It’s on T.V. Tara. It’ll be all cut up. Totally safe. I promise. No nightmares.”

“Willow?”

The redhead lazily waved her hand. “As long as it doesn’t involve me moving for the next two hours, I say, go Evil Dead.”

Again, Ethan found himself being brought around by having water dumped over his head. Still a little groggy, and milking that for all it was worth, he asked weakly, “D-drink?”

“Certainly,” Giles answered far too civilly. Pressing his wet fingers against the other man’s lips, he tipped the water he held cupped in his hand into Ethan’s mouth. “After all, I just brought it from the gutter.”

Ethan spat the water out of his mouth and wiped his chin with the back of his hand. “You bastard.”

“Well… it sounds to me like you’re good and awake. Let’s pick up our conversation where we left off shall we?”

Tara held Willow’s hair as she bent over the toilet, saying goodbye to the tummy monster. Dawn stood in the doorway. “Is she okay?”

The blonde ran a soothing hand over the sick girl’s back. “She will be. I told you Evil Dead was a bad idea.”

“It wasn’t the movie. It was the malt. Besides she was just fine until that part with the eyeball, when the girl…”

Suddenly, Willow felt the need to reacquaint herself with the toilet.

“Sorry,” Dawn pouted.

“Dawnie? Xander?” Buffy called as she hung her jacket over the banister. She turned to face Giles as he shut the door. With a shrug, she smiled. “Looks like no one’s home.”

“Do you think everything’s all right?”

“Oh yeah. The house isn’t wrecked so I’m guessing ice cream run, or maybe they decided to take her to the movies.”

“So we have the place to ourselves?”

“For now,” she said. Giles offered her his hand. She took it and allowed him to lead her into the living room and onto the sofa. “I had a really nice time tonight.”

“Me too.”

“Looking up at the stars on the way home… it was very romantic.”

“There were stars? Hmm… let me see. I remember looking at you and… well no… no stars that I can recall.”

Buffy blushed and looked away from his eyes. His hand came up and cupped her cheek gently, tilting her head up to meet his gaze again.

She licked her lips and tried to force herself to speak. It came out barely above a whisper. “I had…I’m having a really good time tonight.”

“Me too,” he repeated, softly.

“I…I don’t want it to end.”

“Me too.” He smiled.

“Would you… would you stay the night?”

He leaned closer, lips almost touching her own. “Yes.”

“With me?” She breathed.

“Yes,” he answered before moving to kiss her. She wound her arms around his neck and offered no resistance as he leaned her back.

Tara helped Willow onto the bed and covered her up. “I think Buffy and Giles are home,” Dawn said as she went to open the door.

“Dawn wait. Let’s give them some privacy for awhile?”

She smiled. “They have been kinda snuggly haven’t they.”

“And y-you’re okay with that?”

“Wigged a little at first… sorta. But it’s the only time she’s happy. And if it means he stays, what’s not to be okay with?”

Tara grinned. “That’s very mature of you.”

“That’s me. I’m very mature for my age. Oh hey look, candy!” Dawn rushed over to the desk and picked up a jar next to the computer. “Willow, you want some jelly beans?” She offered the jar as she stuffed her mouth full.

Willow got a momentary look of panic, then threw off the blankets and ran for the bathroom. At Tara’s annoyed expression, Dawn shrugged. “Sorry.”

Giles grabbed Ethan by the shirtfront, not disguising the fact that he was going to have another go at him. Ethan held up his hands. “Look mate, I keep trying to tell you. It’s nothing to do with me. Honest. I came looking to talk to the redhead about her magick… nothing to do with your Buffy.”

“And I’m just supposed to accept your word when something as chaotic as a doppleg…”

“I don’t know anything about it! I thought it was you! It’s not like I got bloody well close enough to sense it was a shade! I come here and all I see is you drooling all over your Slayer… only blatantly for a change. And she’s drooling back and I thought ‘Well good for the old sod! He’s finally going to get some after all.’ And I didn’t give it another thought. I was here to see Willow. And that was it.”

Giles loosened his hold of the other man. “Strangely enough, I think I may believe you.”

Ethan sighed. “Thank God.”

Giles smiled. “Weird isn’t it? How that only makes me want to kick your ass a little harder?” He tightened his fingers around Ethan’s shirt.

Ethan gasped as Giles punched him in the stomach for the umpteenth time that night. As he straightened himself back up, he caught a glimpse of Buffy’s living room window over Giles’ shoulder while the other man drew back his fist for another shot.

“Hate to spoil your fun Ripper but your Slayer and your twin are getting fairly cozy over there. Perhaps you’d enjoy saving her more than beating the crap out of me?”

“Do you really expect me to fall for that?”

“Um… only if you care to avert actual penetration. Take a look.”

Keeping a tight hold of Ethan, Giles turned and looked. What he saw made him release Ethan. He didn’t even blink at the sound of the other man’s speeding footfalls as he ran away. All he could see was himself, or rather his double, on the couch with Buffy. He was halfway on top of her, pressing her back against the pillows of the sofa, placing carnal, open kisses on her neck. And she was smiling. Hell, she was holding him to her! A him that she thought was HIM!

Giles charged across the street.

Chapter Five

Buffy smiled as Giles moved his kisses from her neck to her cleavage. She blinked away the start of tears that she wasn’t about to let fall and make the moment awkward. She could hardly believe how miserable she had been just a few days ago, and how now, here in Giles’ arms, everything was finally okay. More than okay. Almost too wonderful to even accept.

She gasped slightly as she felt Giles move the straps of her dress down her arms. He pushed the material down to almost her waist, exposing her breasts to his questing mouth.

In the role of lover, Giles was proving more and more surprising. He had always seemed tentative with any kind of physical contact with her, and now, his hands knew no shame or hesitation in what they sought to conquer. Even as his mouth worked her nipple into the highest realm of sensitivity, his hand slid up the silky expanse of her inner thigh.

Not wanting him to think her any less enthusiastic than he was, she began to unbutton his shirt. She felt him smile against her skin. He moved his hand from her leg and Buffy stopped opening his shirt, suddenly worried that she had maybe moved too fast for him. Soon, she heard the sound of a zipper being lowered. He looked up and his playful green eyes locked on hers. Seeming to sense her confusion, he took her hand in his and brought it down to the front of his trousers. Besides the evidence of his passion, she could feel that he had unfastened his pants to allow her access. She quirked a smile and, not taking her eyes from his, slipped her hand through the gap in the material, wrapping her fingers around his solid length.

Just as their lips touched for another kiss, the sound of the front door being kicked open caused them to jump apart.

Stunned for the moment, they simply watched the entryway for the intruder to reveal themselves. Not even living in Sunnydale for 6 years could have prepared Buffy for seeing the man sitting beside her also entering the room.

“You get the hell away from her!”

This Giles sounded so angry… so protective of her. Her natural suspicion of things that made her happy began to reinstate itself. She covered up her bare breasts with her hands as the truth of the situation slowly became obvious.

The Giles on the couch scowled at the newcomer. “What the hell are you? Some kind of doppelganger?”

Already somewhat flustered as it began to sink in that he’d just seen Buffy half-naked, Giles blinked at this accusation. “Doppelganger? I’m not… You’re the bloody doppelganger.”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

Buffy cleared her throat. “Um boys?”

“I said I’m no doppelganger!” The Giles beside Buffy stood up. As he did so, his unfastened pants slid a little ways down his thigh, exposing him to the room’s inhabitants.

Buffy peeked out of the corner of her eye, hoping it didn’t look like she was looking. The real Giles gawked at the other him’s exposed organ with an expression something akin to horror.

“It’s a robot! A bloody robot! You couldn’t even tell the difference between me and a robot?!”

“Well…” Buffy shrugged as best she could and still keep herself covered.

Gilesbot quickly pulled up his pants and refastened them. “I’ve had enough of this.” He strode forward determinedly. Giles punched him in the face as soon as he got close enough. The robot quickly shook that off and delivered a blow of his own.

Giles flew back across the room, a potted plant in the corner breaking his fall. He stood carefully, brushing off shards from the shattered pot. The robot advanced.

“Hey just a minute!” Buffy called, holding one arm across her chest as she tried to put her dress back on.

“Don’t worry Love, I’ll handle this,” the Gilesbot said.

“Don’t call her Love you tin-plated bilgebin!” Giles picked up the straight wooden chair from the desk and broke it over the robot’s head. It went down, but almost as suddenly, it stood right back up again.

“Bu-Buffy? What’s going on down there?” A voice called from upstairs.

“Dawn?” Buffy ran over to the bottom of the stairs and yelled up. “Get back in the room and lock the door! Don’t come out until I come up and get you!” Once she heard the door slam shut and the sound of the lock clicking into place, Buffy jogged back into the living room.

Giles managed to hit the robot with what was left of the chair two more times before it completely fell apart. Buffy rolled her eyes, trying to focus on Giles not going the way of the chair but silently totaling how much the repair bill was going to be this time.

As Giles looked around for something else to hit him with, the Gilesbot took advantage of the momentary lull and grabbed hold of the front of his shirt. He again threw Giles to the other side of the room.

“Oh look out for the…!” Buffy covered her eyes as she heard the crash. “Tree,” she finished quietly as she looked between her fingers. The decorated fir that had cheered up the room was definitely DOA. She only hoped that her Watcher had fared better.

Taking a few steps for momentum, she landed a spin-kick to the Gilesbot’s chest. It looked shocked and just a little hurt. “Buffy! Why are you defending that creature?!”

She forced herself to look away from that face that both was and wasn’t Giles. “That creature is my Watcher!”

“Thanks,” Giles quipped as he staggered to his feet.

“Sorry,” Buffy said. She faced the Gilesbot with her fists raised. “He’s the real Giles. My Giles. And I won’t let you take him away from me. I won’t let anyone do that ever again!” She kicked him in the chest. The robot staggered backwards, placing it directly in range of Giles

Buffy watched as her Giles delivered an impressive jump kick to the Gilesbot’s torso and sent it sprawling backwards into the banister. It hit its head on the rail and as the wood splintered beneath it, blue crackles of energy began to spiderweb across its skin. When it finally slid to the ground, its eyes slowly closed and it was motionless.

They fell into step side by side and stood looking over it. “Well... doesn’t that look familiar?”

Unbidden, a tear rolled past Buffy’s lashes. “It’s horrible. It looks too real.” She turned and walked back into the living room. Giles followed. Unnoticed by either, Buffy’s jacket slipped from the broken railing and landed over the Gilesbot’s head.

Buffy kicked at the star from the top of the tree, now lying broken on the floor. “So much for the happy holidays.” Giles walked past her. “How um… how did you know it was a robot Giles?”

He spun on her, furious. “How did you bloody well not?!”

She took a step back at his unexpected anger. “I…”

“For god’s sake Buffy, I’m here for six years… six bloody years and in all that time you let me know in no uncertain terms where I belong in your life. Neutered and only to be taken out at your convenience… and that damned… monstrosity is here what? How long?” When she didn’t answer, he moved forward quickly and grabbed her arms. “How long Buffy?”

“A day,” she said in a small voice.

His eyes widened in surprise and he forced himself to release her. “One day…one… and I find you here half-naked with him all over you.”

With difficulty, she met his eyes. “You.”

“What?”

“Not him. You. I thought he was you. I thought it was you who I was letting… nevermind.” She turned to leave the room.

He stepped into her path. “Why? Why him and not me?”

“He…he said I was beautiful. He kissed me, and held me, and told me he wouldn’t leave me again… he made me think that you…he,” she met his eyes again, “that you loved me.”

“Would that be so very hard to believe?”

“You left me Giles,” she said softly. “You left me. And I understand why you felt I was mistreating you. I know when I came back I was all screwed up and I acted wrongly. But you were wrong too. I needed you so badly. I needed you so much that I couldn’t even formulate the right words to say it.”

“You needed me to take care of you.”

“Yes. I needed you to take care of me. And to help me. And to give me a reason to care that I was brought back. I asked for you all the time those first few days back, did you know that? All I wanted was to have you here. And then you came and I was happy, for a little while. But as my sense of who I’d been came back to me, it conflicted with who I knew I was now. I was confused and I handled everything wrong…but you didn’t give me a chance Giles. You left…you just left me.”

“Buffy.”

“And then suddenly you were back and I had the chance to not just tell you I loved you, but to prove it to you so that you’d believe me when I said the words. And the way you act…it acted… I let myself believe that you loved me too.”

Giles swallowed around the tightness in his throat. “And you think that I don’t?” He bent his head and slowly kissed her lips. At first, she responded. Then she pulled away, putting her hand over her mouth as though her lips had been burned. Tearing up, she ran for the kitchen.

Giles pursued her and stopped her before she reached the back door. He gently held her arms and turned her towards him, leading her away from the door and near the counter. “Buffy…”

“Don’t. Please. I can’t… I can’t let myself start to believe this just so that you can leave me again. Don’t say these things just to make me feel better.”

“I’m not,” he whispered and kissed her again. This time, she put her hands on his chest, curling her fingers into his shirt at first, then pushing him away.

“I love you so much Giles.” His heart soared at the words. She took a deep breath, tears free-flowing now. She didn’t even care if she sounded as desperate as she felt. None of that mattered now as long as he knew the truth. “When you went away, I didn’t care anymore. I didn’t care if I lived or died or what happened to me. I knew that if you’d finally given up on me I must be so horrible that…”

“No,” he said, his hands caressing her face. “I never gave up on you. I was terrified. I was terrified you’d give up on yourself. Having you alive, even half a world away…it was all that counted for anything. The idea of losing you again… I couldn’t bear it. The more you depended on me, the less you relied on yourself. That scared me away. Not you. Not ever you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No.” He kissed her. “No. I am. We’re so stupid both of us. Stupid and bloody-minded and unwavering in our ability to screw up happiness the minute it’s within our reach. We were both so wrong.”

She smiled. “The perfect pair.”

He grinned and brushed her tears away with his fingertips. This time when he kissed her, she held him to her. He put his arms around her and lifted. She wrapped her legs around his waist and laced her fingers through his hair. With a single swipe, he cleared the countertop by backhanding the contents to the floor. Metal bowls and cooking utensils clanged noisily to the ground as he sat her on the counter. She pulled away and smiled. Even as she worked to open his shirt, she didn’t loose the grip she had on him with her legs.

Dawn looked at Tara gloomily. “They’re not are they? I mean, you don’t suppose… Not in the kitchen? I mean, I thought they were fighting. She told me to stay up here and lock the door and… Oh.”

Tara smiled and patted her hand. “I think there’s still a sleeping bag in the closet if you want to stay in here tonight Dawnie.”

Giles threw off his opened shirt and smiled at Buffy as she started to unfasten his belt. For his part, he had removed her shoes, taken down her hair, and now teased them both by toying with the straps of her dress. He brought his mouth to her shoulder, alternating kisses, licks and gentle bites. He loved listening to the way her breathing changed depending on what he did.

She moved her hand to the button on his pants, opening it and tugging down the zipper. Finally, he lowered her straps and pressed their bared chests together, taking her mouth with his own once more. She smiled beneath his kisses then opened her eyes. “Mrrrphle.”

He broke the kiss and blinked at her. “Pardon,” he said with a sly grin.

“I have to know. How did you realize it was a robot and not a doppelganger?”

He raised one eyebrow. “And you have to know this now?”

“Well you seemed to think that I should have known and I want to know how I should have known it.”

He sighed, trying not to laugh at the ridiculous sexiness of the determined expression on Buffy’s face as she sat topless on the kitchen counter with her legs wrapped around him.

“Very well. A doppelganger, Buffy, is an exact copy of the original. Every hair, every dimple, every last DNA strand,” Giles said.

She smiled. She was half-naked and she managed to work a lecture out of him. This was definitely her Giles. “So you noticed something that was different from you on him?”

He blushed a little. “Y-yes.”

“Well don’t keep me in suspense. What was it?”

He cleared his throat and looked away. After taking a deep breath, he met her eyes again. Gently, he took her hand in his and guided it down the front of his open trousers.

As her slim fingers curled around exhibit A, her eyes grew very wide. “Oh,” she said simply.

Giles’ grin was feral. He quickly kissed her again. She closed her eyes and tightened her hold of his member. He moaned against her mouth as she began to stroke him.

He pulled away from her and carefully removed her hand from his pants. At her confused look, he spoke softly. “Lie back.”

She grinned and did as he said. As she did so, he disentangled himself from her legs and guided her dress the rest of the way off of her body. Taking only the briefest moment to appreciate the barely there black lace panties she wore, he slipped his fingers beneath the waistband and tugged them down her shapely legs. He shoved his pants to the floor and stepped out of them, kicking them away.

Giles pulled himself up onto the counter and placed his knees between Buffy’s legs. A tingle of desire spread through his bloodstream as she rubbed his bare hips with the inside of her knee and raised her arms to beckon him down to her.

Balancing his weight on his knees and elbows, he lowered himself until his body covered hers completely. She curled her leg behind him, trying to pull his pelvis closer to her own.

He kissed her lips then moved on to her chin and neck, before stopping at her breasts. As his mouth closed over one nipple, his hand came up to tease the other.

“Giles?” Buffy breathed in his ear. “Giles do you love me?”

That she even had to ask nearly broke his heart. He looked her in the eyes. “How could you ever doubt it?”

“Maybe because… because you’ve never actually…”

He closed his eyes for a moment. “You’re right. And I’m sorry. I love you Buffy. I love you more than I have ever loved anyone or anything in my life. I love you more than I ever knew I could. I feel like I’ve loved you as long as I can remember… and I know that I will love you with my dying breath.”

She kissed him and once again brought her lips to his ear. “Boy when you say something, you really say it right don’t you.”

He laughed against her cheek. She raised her hips until his tip rested against her opening. He looked to her and she smiled at him. “I love you Giles.”

Kissing her again, he pushed forward into her. She gasped at the sensation of fullness. She gazed into his eyes and found a perfect mirror of what she was feeling. It was as if she was finally being made whole after having been broken for so long.

Giles kissed the end of her nose and tilted his head until his forehead rested upon her own. She brought her hands up into his hair as he pulled back and began to thrust into her again.

Buffy ran her hands down his back, beginning to press him closer, encouraging him to let her support more of his weight. She loved the feel of him so completely shielding her. He accommodated her as much as his chivalry would allow him to.

Moment by moment, the sweet friction he created within her began to build in intensity. At first, she merely felt it. Then she was surrounded by it. Then it pulled her helplessly into an earth-shaking climax.

“Breathe Buffy,” a soft English voice in her ear instructed. She obeyed and managed to open her eyes just in time to see that same tsunami of pleasure wash over the face of her Watcher.

Panting in each other’s arms, they nuzzled and kissed as the sweat on their bodies caught the room’s cool air.

“Guys?” Dawn’s voice drifted to them from the upstairs hall. “Everyone’s all snuggled into Willow’s room for the night… so no one would notice if certain people wanted to take certain other people to their room to do certain things with them that shouldn’t be done in a kitchen where other people have to eat!”

Giles and Buffy’s eyes locked on each other. The door to Willow’s bedroom slammed shut. Immediately, they fell apart laughing.

When their breathing was, again, somewhat back to normal, Giles hopped down to the floor and lifted Buffy to stand beside him. She sighed. “I won’t be able to get her to eat food from this kitchen for a month now.” As she put her panties on, Buffy caught his eye. “I’ll go up and talk to her.”

“Perhaps I should…?”

“Nah.” Buffy picked up her dress and slipped it over her head. “Vwahla, I’m already dressed. You just finish covering up that gorgeous tushie… and I’ll take care of Dawn and then think up ways to uncover it again.”

Stealing a quick kiss from a helplessly smiling Giles, Buffy left the room. Picking his clothing up item by item from the floor, Giles dressed himself as quickly as he could, worried Willow might come down to give Dawn and Buffy some sister time. He was just starting to button his shirt when Buffy re-entered the room with a strange expression on her face.

“Buffy? What is it?”

“The um… the Gilesbot.”

“Yes?”

“It’s gone Giles.”

Chapter Six

"Careful Numbnuts," Jonathan yelled at Andrew. "That tape you have in your hands contains a bootleg copy of the actual "Revenge of the Jedi" trailer."

The blonde boy looked up from the box he was unpacking and stared at the case in his hand. He set the video cassette down reverently. "Where did y…"

"E-Bay."

"Can I… I mean, can we?"

Jonathan swaggered over and put his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. "When you are ready, young Padawan."

Andrew swallowed convulsively and gazed up at Jonathan. "And how do I become ready, Master?"

Jonathan pondered a moment. "You can go out to the van and get the action figures box. I have their habitat all set up for them now."

Andrew grinned madly and took off like a shot out the door. Warren rolled his eyes and turned to the window to watch him scramble out to the van.

Jonathan looked around the room. "You know, we’re gonna need some furniture and stuff to fill this place up. And I was thinking about getting one of those life size Darth Maul statues cause that would be way co…" He stopped speaking when he saw that the other boy’s attention had never come back from the window. "What’s wrong? Did he drop the box?"

"No, not that. It’s just, there’s this car parked across the street."

"So?"

"Well, that house is empty. I mean, that’s one of the reasons I picked this location. Older neighborhood, large mansions with big lawns to spread things out a little, and no neighbors to the immediate sides of this house."

"Good thinking."

"So why is that red car there?"

"Red?"

"Yeah. Red convertible."

Jonathan smiled. "Sounds like the car Mr. Giles had before he lef…"

The two exchanged worried looks just as Andrew bound into the room carrying his box. "Did you guys see the blonde that came in that red car? I mean, I only saw her from the back but wow! Total total hottie."

Warren licked his suddenly dry lips. "Giles?"

"And the Slayer." Jonathan said.

"Huh? What’s the Slayer?" Andrew looked from one to the other and back again.

"Andrew?" Warren said.

"Yeah?"

"Pack up the van, we’re leaving!"

"What?"

"Do as you are bidden, Padawan!" Jonathan yelled, unceremoniously throwing his videotape back into the box where Andrew had found it.

"Giles?" Buffy called out into the darkened mansion, shining her flashlight ahead of her.

"In here, Buffy."

She followed his voice toward a room at the end of the downstairs hallway. She saw the light of a candle flicker across the floorboards and slid the doors all the way open. Across the room, she saw Giles. "Hey, why’d we stop here? Do you really think the bot would come here?"

"Come over here for a moment won’t you?"

She walked in and crossed to stand by his side. "What is it Giles? Do you see something?"

He smiled down on her. "No, it’s something I want you to see." He flipped a switch on the wall beside him and three chandeliers lit the darkened room. The chandeliers were large and draped in teardrop-shaped crystal. The walls were covered in what had once been vibrant red wallpaper with a golden fleur-de-lis pattern. The floor was a dark-colored hard wood. The room was completely empty.

"What is this place?"

"I believe it’s what used to be referred to as the ballroom."

"No, I mean, why are we here?"

"Well I wanted to get your opinion. I thought our tree should go over in that corner just there." He motioned at the farthest corner, near the bay window.

"Our tree?" she asked, looking up at him in wonder.

"I wanted to surprise you on the actual holiday, but with everything tonight... I’m moving back to Sunnydale. For good. I just… I just bought this place."

Her eyes filled with warm tears and she launched herself into his arms. "Giles! But how could you aff…"

He pulled away a little and grinned down on her. "Honestly Buffy, how do you think I managed to be unemployed for a year, keep up expenses on the condo and food and pay for repairs to the poor old place after every wandering demon happened to pass by and then buy a shop out of the blue? Not to mention flying back and forth from England whenever I needed and handing over a very generous check to you."

"I just figured… well the Council…"

"Even after they fired me? No, no. My family left me quite taken care of. I’m not frivolous about it, obviously. One never knows when bad times could easily sponge up even a meticulously maintained nest egg. But, once I chose to move here permanently, I decided, just this once, perhaps I should go all out."

"Giles," Buffy choked, blinking away a fresh bout of tears.

"It’s practical too. We’ve got plenty of room to set you up a private training suite. Room for you and Dawn to settle in. Space for any of the others to stay should the need arise. It’s almost as defendable as a fort, so that should come in handy. I just…" His sentence was cut off by her kiss.

As they moved apart, his hand gently touched her cheek. "Do you like it?" He asked.

She grinned at him. "You’re staying. You’re really staying. I’m so happy Giles."

He laughed. "May I take that as a yes?"

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too. I hope so much that you’ll be happy here."

"As long as I’m with you, I could be happy in a cave." She finally let herself take in her surroundings as something his…theirs… "Though as caves go, this one would be pretty hard to top."

"Do you think Dawn will like it?"

"I think Dawn will hyperventilate."

They walked out of the room together, switching on lights as they went to get a feel for the place. "I know you’ll want to keep your mother’s house. I thought you might like to think about renting it to bring in some extra money? Perhaps Xander and Anya would be interested?"

She sighed happily. "This is really… I mean all this… ours?"

"Ours," he confirmed with a smile.

"Our house," she said. A wicked smile crossed her face. She clasped his hand tighter and began to run back toward the ballroom.

"What’s wrong?" he said breathlessly as they stood at the entryway.

She turned and faced him, still smiling. "Before this place gets overrun with excited little sisters and awestruck Scoobies, I think we should make it our own." She placed her hands on his shoulders and jumped up, wrapping her thighs around his hips. His large hands came to her bottom to support her. "We have to break in this place."

"Room by room?" He grinned.

"Yup. Even if it takes all night." She kissed him again as he carried her into their ballroom.

The road leading east from Sunnydale was deserted at 2 a.m. save for one lone car. The rented vehicle sped along the unimpeded freeway as though it must be headed toward some imperative mission.

Ethan Rayne tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and looked out at the straight stretch of road that lay before him. The truth was he wasn’t sure where he was going to. He just wanted to quickly put as much distance between himself and Ripper as he could. He rolled down the window to allow the breeze to help keep him alert and switched on the radio.

He checked his rearview mirror out of habit and seeing no one following him, took the junction for the desert highway. He turned up the radio when a song that was a particular favorite of his came on. Looking to his right, he smiled. "Comfy?" he inquired of his companion.

"Sunshine of your your you… Eric Cla-Cla-Cla… Cream," the Gilesbot stammered. The skin on his face was sooty from the places where his circuits had the most damage. He blinked at Ethan helplessly as though he knew he was not functioning as he should be, but couldn’t quite put his finger on why that might be so.

"Indeed it is." Ethan noted that this seemed to please the Gilesbot and he no longer looked quite so worried. "Don’t fret now Mate. I have quite a few contacts that owe me favors. We’ll get you fixed up in no time. And then me and you can see what we can stir up to amuse ourselves, alright? How does that sound?"

The robot smiled contentedly, happy to be with as good a friend as Ethan Rayne.

THE END