I, Banduraqueen, am also commenting on "Stalwart and True". This story grew out of the many discussions Dollsome and I had about the character of Giles and season 7 of Buffy. We were originally going to write it together, but I just didn't have the time. It turned out for the best, however, since Dollsome wrote something much better than I think I could have. Although I still contributed a lot to the development of the story. I'll be pointing out the things I wrote.

Does it ever get easy?

You mean, life?

Yeah. Does it get easy?

What do you want me to say?

Lie to me.

The "Lie To Me" speech, which comes directly after this quote, is where the title of the fic comes from. Originally, I started the fic with the little speech, but then I decided that I wanted Buffy's question, "does it every get easy" and her request, "lie to me" to be more in the reader's mind, because that's what sets up the call back in chapter six. Also, ending the quote at "lie to me" points up the references to the episode titles I was trying to make. "Lie To Me," "Lies My Parents Told Me," and "Stalwart and True."
But back to the speech itself, I think it's one of the best quotes from the entire show; the exchange sums up not only Season Two, but the series as a whole. It's an excellent bit of dialogue, and a key moment between Buffy and Giles. Because it's so central to the series I wanted to come back to that discussion in this fic, which I do. The title was my idea. I fought for it. Dollsome thought she could come up with a better one, but couldn't. The title also refers to the line from Giles' song in "Once More, With Feeling" that goes "Wish I could stay here, your stalwart standing fast."

I think you’ve taught me everything I need to know. And I go from one of the best Buffy and Giles moments to the worst. They'd grown so far apart, and I wanted to bring them back together in some sense.

Giles stared blankly at the door.

She can’t… doesn’t mean… I’ll talk to her, make her see reason…

He continued to stare, compulsively clenching and unclenching his left fist to keep the circulation in his arm going, as had become a habit for him since the Council was destroyed.That's key, the destruction of the Council, on top of everything else, really ratcheded up the stress in Giles' life, and that's taking a physical toll. I'll come back to the Council next chapter.The fist-clenching thing was also my idea, intended to clue people in that Giles has been having mini heat-attacks. I don't know if someone really would do that, though. Oh well.

Anger began to well up inside of him. Anger at Buffy for being so bloody blind and pig-headed; thoughtlessly choosing Spike’s counsel over his own. If the vampire were unlucky enough to have been there, Giles would have throttled him in an instant.Spike's not there. He doesn't appear in this fic at all. That's one thing that doesn't really fit with canon, but including him would have been really awkward. Just pretend he's in the basement the whole time. The presumptuous, parasitic, evil blighter had stolen the last thing in Giles’ life that had meant anything. Had usurped his place at the side of the Slayer – no, at the side of Buffy.This first half of the chapter is different from the rest of the story in that the narrator's voice is very much Gile's. I originally wasn't planning to get this much into any character's head. I was going to have Giles overhear Scooby dialogue from downstairs, that would be somehow relevant to him and Buffy, and that would help move along his re-evaluation of their relationship, and his outlook on life. But I couldn't think of good dialogue for the Scoobies, so I went the easy way and made it all internal.

How? How had Buffy been able to choose Spike over him, her Watcher, who had come to see her as a daughter? As the answer came to him, Giles slowly turned away from Buffy’s door and walked pensively towards the stairs, filled with guilt and disgust and a steadily growing sense of loneliness. He had pushed her away.

But it had been for her own good, he hadn’t meant to alienate her so. And then he forced her to choose. If he hadn’t…

Well, this isn’t the end, he thought desperately. She’s angry with me now, but given a day or two she’ll see, she needs me, as I need her. She must. Things can’t stay like this between us. They can’t. And that's just what this story is about. How things kinda do stay like that, but they kinda don't. If you're feeling really sorry for Giles at this point, I've done my job.

By the time he reached the stairs Giles felt oddly out of breath. He was suddenly dizzy; the stairs seemed to loom before him. He leaned against the wall to steady himself, still clenching his fist compulsively. His breath caught in his throat, and he felt a painful tightening in his chest. He grimaced, struggling to breath through the pain. As he slid down the wall to the floor, the Summers’ house faded from view…

Blackout. End Teaser. Roll Credits.

Giles opened his eyes and saw that he was lying on the floor at the top of the stairs. The pain had subsided and he was still breathing. He got shakily to his feet and took a moment to regain his balance before slowly making his way down the stairs, stopping at the bottom to catch his breath.It's important that we're not in Giles' head anymore, so the reader doesn't know what he's thinking, how he's reacting, what he plans to do next.

“Giles! Are you alright?”

He glanced to his right to see Willow coming towards him from the living room, concern etched on her face. She was followed by Xander and Anya.

“Yes, I-I’m fine.”

“What happened? Is Buffy –”

“Nothing’s happened,” Giles cut her off. “Buffy’s fine. I’m simply not feeling very well.”

“You look like hell.”

“Yes, Anya, thank you for that observation.”

“She’s not wrong,” said Xander, taking in Giles’ unsteadiness and ashen face. “Look, you want us to drive you to the hospital?”

“That won’t be necessary,” Giles answered shortly as he began to walk towards the front door.

“At least let one of us drive you to the hotel,” Xander persisted. “You shouldn’t be on the road by yourself.” I just realized that Giles wouldn't be on the road by himself anyways, 'cause he doesn't have a California State driver's licence anymore (see "The Killer in Me"). He'd take a taxi.

“I said I’m fine,” Giles snapped. “I just want to be left alone for a while. Is that too much to ask?” He's being snippy. I was worried that some people would wonder why he isn't more concerned about blacking out, but no one's raised that question as yet, which is good.And it's totally true to canon that he wouldn't tell the Scoobies about it either. Their communication skills are the suck season 7.

“We… we’re just worried, is all.” Willow said meekly.

Giles looked around at all their faces, their concern evident, and his countenance softened.

“I know. I’m sorry,” he said sincerely. “Thank you.” He studied each of them thoughtfully in turn. “You do all realize that I’m very proud of you?”

His comment was met with three looks of scepticism.This is actually the last chapter I wrote. Having written everything else, and knowing how the story would end, I made myself cry when I wrote this scene. Then I got carried away with the sentimentality and there were hugs and much more worry, and it was just too much. So I cut all that. Now, instead, they just look at him funny.

“Okay Giles, now you’re acting scary,” Xander said carefully. Giles responded with a small, wistful smile. “You sure you’re okay?”

“You don’t have to go back to the hotel tonight, you know,” Willow suggested. “You can stay here.”

“Thank you for the offer. But there really are some things I’d like to get done, and it is rather difficult to think in this house.”

“Yeah, that’s true,” Willow conceded reluctantly.

“Well…” Giles looked around at Willow, Xander and Anya one last time. “Goodnight.” I also worried that "one last time" would be too much of a give-away, but I think it works.I think it's something that you wouldn't really think about the first time you read it, but you'd definitely pick up on on repeat readings. A very good way to end the first chapter.