Giles
Rupert Giles sat in his darkened living room, clutching a bottle of scotch in one hand and a tumbler the other.
Every now and again, he'd pour himself a finger or two and gulp it down. The moments between drinks were
spent cursing himself.
He'd let Buffy down.. He couldn't find a way to defeat Glory not requiring her death, or that of Dawn. And
now, Buffy was dead, lying cold in her grave. Those thoughts ran through his head over and over, never ceasing
, never allowing him the peace he craved more than the alcohol he was drinking.
For seven days, this was how he'd spent his evenings. Giles seemed unable to pull himself out of his
depression, going so far as to avoid the Magic Shoppe. It held too many memories of Buffy.. Buffy, the
daughter he wished he'd had. So, the task of running the store had fallen to Willow and Tara.
Beneath the fog of scotch, he almost felt guilty for leaving the two young witches with the burden of his store
. Yet he knew that they needed a distraction from their own grief. Unfortunately for Giles, he had no such
distraction. Olivia had severed their on-off relationship just before the showdown with Glory. He didn't
have research to bury himself in. Hell, he didn't even have Spike chained to the bathtub, yelling at him to
change the channel on the telly.
Thus, Rupert Giles was attempting to drink himself into a stupor. It wasn't really working, as he was still
thinking coherently. So, he sat in the dark room and prayed for something to take his attention away from the
pain..
Alex pounded on the door loudly, shaking the wood with the force of his blows. "Hey G-man! We got a problem
here!"
Giles forced his head up at the frantic pounding on his door. "J-just a moment," he called out, working his
way through the words slowly. Carefully, the ex-Watcher stood up and placed the tumbler and Scotch on the
coffee table. Just as cautiously, he made his way to the door.
Giles opened it, not particularly caring if the person behind it were friendly or a newly-risen vampire.
When he saw who it was, he blinked, then blinked again. "Xander.. E-either I'm very drunk or there are two of
you today." Giles swallowed carefully, feeling the thick tongue of drunkenness threaten to overtake him.
"Please, tell me I'm drunk."
He was suddenly very aware that he reeked of Scotch and that he was leaving the boys to stand on his threshold.
"I'm, I'm sorry. Come in."
Rupert moved back from the door, allowing him/them entry. //Gods, let me be very drunk right now..//
The smell of alcohol only got stronger as Alex guided Xan through the doorway ahead of him. It hit him like a
slap in the face. ~Fuck! This is so not good. Couldn't you schedule your drunken binges a little better,
Giles.~ He grimaced and frowned at the older man. He knew that Buffy's death had hit the older man hard.
But dammit! It had hit them all hard! "Giles, I really hope you’re not that drunk. We're..." He gestured
at his twin. "havin’ a major problem right now. And need research guy on line." He ticked points off on his
fingers. "First, how come we're splitsville again? And second, can you reintegrate us. And make it stick
this time around!"
Xander felt a flood of adrenalin when he smelled Giles. He was getting serious wiggins from the guy. He body
was screaming FEAR and RUN AWAY, but his mind was confused, Giles would never hurt him, so why should he run?
As he got closer he could tell that Giles had been drinking even more heavily then he had thought. “Jeez
Giles,” Xander twitched nervously, “I can smell the scotch all over you, and it had to be at least 80 proof.
With the amount gone in the bottle on the table it’s amazing that you’re still standing and coherent. This is
not good”, Xander thought, “not good at all.” Alex glared his twin, Xander catches the glare and winches.
“I said that all out loud didn’t I?” Xander glanced around nervously checking the exits, to make sure that
there was nothing blocking any of the possible escape routes.
Giles flushed, and looked away from twins. His guts twisted at the
thought of any of the Scoobies knowing how low he had sunk.
Alex could see the fear and panic escalating in his twin's eyes, babble and body language. ~Crap! Not now!
Do not freak now!~ He took a big breath, willing himself to be calm. To not be angry with Xan. It wasn't
Xan's fault. None of this was his fault. ~Okay. Time to calm myself down.~ Ignoring Giles for the moment,
he took his 'little brother' by the arm. Smiling, he laid a gentle hand on his twin's cheek, rubbing his thumb
across the cheek. He spoke softly, hoping it was soothing. "It's okay. It's gonna be okay. Why don't you go
make Giles some coffee, or tea, or something? Can you do that?"
Xander nodded hurriedly, and quickly backed into the kitchen, his eyes on Giles the whole time. He
mechanically began to make tea for Giles having done it a hundred times before. He mulled over his reaction.
Now that he was no longer in the same room with Giles and the smell had faded to near non-existence, it was
easier to think.. There was still an under current of fear, but he could think around it now. “Why would I be
afraid of Giles? Okay, yeah he did the Ripper thing, but he hasn’t been that bad in awhile.” Xander mumbled
to himself as he made the tea. “That smell, though, I can still smell the scotch, it’s so similar to Dad tha-”
That was it! “It’s the alcohol! The smell reminds me of Dad!”
Watching as Xan nodded his head violently, Alex was almost worried that his twin might injure himself. He
watched worried as Alex backed out of the room, not turning his back on Giles. When he turned to face Giles
again, all the gentleness and calm he had summoned up for Xan evaporated. His face settled into a harsh scowl.
He was furious. Giles was not either of his parents! Giles was smart! How could he sit in a dark room and
drink himself into a stupor. And he had terrified Xan. Alex had no doubt what had been going on in his
other's mind. It was written all over his face. Moving quickly to within inches of him, Alex's voice was a
low harsh growl. "Pull yourself together! I get enough of this crap from my lousy excuse for parents. I
don't need it from you! And your terrifying Xander...And that is so not a good idea..."
Rupert stepped back from this aspect of Xander. He had never dreamed that such ferocity existed within the
young man. His mouth moved silently for a moment or two, then his brain kicked in. //Gods.. I'm failing them
all, aren't I. Not just Buffy..//
That thought alone was enough to sober him up. Tears rose to his eyes, brought on by his drunkenness and the
enormity of his betrayal of Buffy's memory. He blinked them away, praying that they hadn't been seen.
"I'm going to go upstairs, and very quickly wash up. Once that's done, I'll come and down and try to answer
your questions."
Giles disappeared up the stairs, into the lavatory. He splashed his face with cold water, hands shaking.
//Look at you, Rupert. What happened to the man that handle the Hellmouth?//
He stared into his reflection, stunned by the age he saw there. Shortly, he felt that he was braced enough to
face the Xanders..
Back in the living room, he put away the Scotch and took the tea offered by the shyer aspect. "Thank you,
Xan.. Er.. What should I call the two of you while you are separated? I hardly think that Xander One and Two
would be appropriate."
Discovering that the shyer one preferred Xander and the one who had nearly accosted him had chosen Alex, Giles
nodded. "All right then. Um.. The two of you obviously woke up this way. I have to admit to being somewhat
of the loop, and the two of you know why," he said, gesturing to the cabinet where he'd put the offending
bottle.
"What exactly has happened in the last week?"
Alex took the lead, describing the pain of Buffy's death and Anya's departure.
"Anya left?? Oh, gods.. I'm so sorry! I-I should have been there for you." Giles closed his eyes, mentally
berating himself.
Still, his mind kept working. "I would make a guess that the pain became too much for you to bear as an
individual, so that the spell that Willow and Tara did to reintegrate you simply became unmade." The words
came slowly, and Giles cursed the thick tongue brought on by the scotch.
"As to how to put you two back together, I'll have to get a hold of Willow and Tara. I need to know exactly
what they did in order to rejoin the two halves of you." He removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his
nose.
"I have to warn you both. Whether or not I can rejoin you depends entirely on what they did to do so
originally. I'm honestly not really sure of what they referenced to create the spell. I'll need to know that
before I dare to attempt any solution."
Giles grabbed the phone and dialed the Magic Shoppe, knowing that one or the other of the witches would be
there. By sheer luck, Willow answered. He detailed the situation and she promised to send Tara down with the
notes they had taken during the construction of the original spell. Giles thanked the gods that he'd finally
been able to convince them of that particular necessity. They'd made so many mistakes in their early
exploration of witchcraft, mistakes left to Giles to clean up, that he'd demanded that they take concise notes
of what they used as references, spell materials and chants.
The three of them waited in tense silence for the blond to show up. When she finally arrived, Giles was in
such a mood that she simply handed the notes over and fled. Not that it bothered him much. Rupert knew that
he was in no mood to coddle her shyness.
The next half hour or so was spent by the twins waiting for the ex-Watcher to read the notes. Finally, he
looked at them.
"I have bad news. I can't rejoin you. The spell they cobbled together states, in a rather obscure demon
dialect, that you should remain together until such time that it is more beneficial for you to be separate
entities once again. Apparently, the Powers That Be feel that the two of you serve a better purpose or will
function better as two separate people."
Pacing the room, Alex's head snapped up. "You've gotta be fucking kidding me!?! How are we better like
this!?!" The anger, that had settled into a slow burn, twisted inside him, clawing at his guts. He wanted to
lash out. ~God dammit Wills! You said you fix this...~ He clenched his fists glaring at Giles. "You're
wrong. You have to be...That or a different spell. This has to be fixable." Frowning, he tried to unclench
his fists, and forced out desperately. "This isn't like the last time. I didn’t feel like this last time."
Giles was about to apologize, to promise he'd do what he could to find an answer when Xander began laughing
hysterically. He watched Alex do what he could to comfort and calm Xander, feeling completely inept.
Two separate people! Xander could feel the hysteria build. I don't think I can function like this, this fear
that almost tears at me. He watched his brother? twin? other half? Rant at Giles. He could see the anger in
every taunt line of his body. Xander stared at the bunched fists. Flinching whenever Alex showed any
inclination to move. He could feel the panic try and over-take him, Alex's words drifted to his ears “…feel
like this last time.” Gods, he was so mad. And the hysteria bubbled over, Xander giggled a bit insanely.
The hysterical laughter cut through his mind killing whatever else he was going to say to Giles. His twin was
shaking just like he was, but not from anger. Fear and hysteria painted like a mask over his own features.
He could almost smell it, drifting off the other, his twin, like the predator he'd once been. He held out his
own shaking hand. "Xan?"
Xander stared at trembling hand before him. He looked up into his twin's eyes. He could still see the anger
in them, but he could also tell it wasn't directed at him. He placed his own hand in his brother's. He was
almost afraid that if he didn't accept the unspoken command that his twin's anger would turn on him.
The tentative grasp of his hand. The hesitation of making eye contact. ~He's afraid of ME!~ Alex's mouth fell
open. "Oh shit...Xan." He pulled his twin into his shaking arms. Gathered him close and stroked his hair.
He mumbled softly for his brother's ears only. "M'sorry. Not you. Don't be scared. We'll figure something
out. Please don't be scared of me."
Xander slowly relaxed into his twin's embrace. The part of his mind that gibbered with fear moments before
calming under brother's gentle hand. He listened to his twins soothing words, and revealed in his touch. He
sighed. “Don't worry, always forgive you. Always.” Xander whispered back.
Alex shuddered at the absolute forgiveness in his twin's voice, and then smiled a little, as he realized Xan
was in essence forgiving himself. They were both Xander, or at least part of him. ~If you can't forgive
yourself... Oh, wow. His hair is so soft...When did that happen?~ Still stroking Xan's hair, he twisted a
little to look at Giles, the anger was still there only held in check by concern for his twin. "G-man? Little
help here..."
Giles grimaced a little at the use of the nickname, but moved to the twins' side. He put a hand each on Xander
and Alex's shoulders.
"I promise you.. I'll find a way to put this right. Somehow or another, I won't fail you. I promise, I won't
fail you like I did Buffy," he said softly, unwittingly revealing the reason behind his drinking.
Carefully, he pulled the boys into a rough embrace, then released them. He coughed to cover his moment of
emotion as he pulled back.
Xander flinched slightly in the unexpected embrace, but returned it whole-heartily when his unconscious figured
out that even though Giles smelled like Dad, he wasn’t actually him. The corners of Xander’s mouth turned up
at Giles British cough. He didn’t know how Giles managed to cough British, but he had.
The rough embrace caught Alex off guard, and he tensed. He could feel Xander relax into the hug. Not wanting
to upset his twin, he forced himself to relax and not pull away from Giles. He wondered if they weren't all
a little insane at the moment. He'd always wanted Giles to hug him that way, show his some fatherly like
support. Not like what he'd gotten at home. Not releasing his supportive hold on Xander, he listened
carefully to Giles' promises to help. That actually pulled a small sharp smile out of him. "All we can ask
for G-man."
"I'll go over the notes again, find out exactly what Willow and Tara did. They used one demon dialect. Maybe
another race of demons had something to er...'cure' this sort of thing. I can't promise immediate results, but
I will do my best."
He offered the boys a half-hearted smile. "Twinkies, anyone?"
“Giles, haven’t you learned anything about keeping secrets! When were you going to tell us about your
addiction to Hostessy Goodness?” Xander exclaimed. "What other deep dark snack food related secrets have
you been keeping there, G-man?" Alex snorted sarcastically. He sighed. "Yeah. Twinkies of the good. This
is gonna take a while isn't it Giles? What can we do Giles? To help I mean." Xander nods that he too wishes
to help.
Giles smiled sadly, glad he'd been able to elicit smiles from them. He moved to kitchen, answering Alex's
question as he removed various Hostess boxes from several different cabinets.
"Yes, this will take a while. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of demon races. What spells
have been recorded are often fragmented or deliberately confusing."
He set about a dozen types of sweet rolls, including a full box of Twinkies, on a tray and poured three glasses
of milk. He took these into the living room and deposited his offering on the coffee table.
"As for what you can do.. Try to lead your lives as normally as possible for now. Maybe simply finding peace
for yourselves will allow you to rejoin." His voice betrayed his doubt in that solution.
"There's always research.. But I know how much you hate that.." He sighed and unwrapped a cupcake. Biting
into it, he mumbled something about chocolately goodness.
He threw them each a Twinkie. "But for now, eat!"
Xander eagerly bit into a Twinkie, taking a moment to savor the flavor of one of his favorite treats. He
mumbled around his second bite, “I like researching. Nothing bad happens, nothing evil attacks you, unless,
Giles is there such a thing as a demonic book? One that could bite you hand or something? Saw something like
that in a movie once. Never mind I don’t want to know. Ruin one of the few safe activates in Sunnydale that’s
actually safe.” Xander reached for another Twinkie.
Alex snapped his fingers and exclaimed. "Army of Darkness! That was such a cool movie..." Alex smiled and
watched as his twin happily snacked. He unwrapped a Twinkie slowly and bit into the moist treat.
Giles smiled at the movie reference. He'd never admit it, but Army
of Darkness, and the other movies in the series, were amongst his favorites.
Frowning, Alex looked at the snack food. It just didn't taste as good as he thought it should have. ~Such is
my life. Thank you Hellmouth! I can't even find solace in junk food... ~ He handed the treat to his twin and
resumed his pacing of the room. Not knowing what to do with himself. "Xan. It's getting late. Maybe we
should head home. Gotta go to work tomorrow. Who's gonna go to work? Me, I guess. Can't really get into the
book thing..."
Xander turned and nodded to his twin. “Giles I guess I’ll see ya at the Magic Box, bright and early tomorrow.”
Xander stood up and reached for several more treats, pocketing them about his person and heading for the
door, “See ya later, G-man.”
"While I'm still not used to the idea of the words "bright and early" being in your vocabulary, yes, I will
see you at the store in the morning."
~Xan hasn't realized it yet, but you don't think you can solve this do yah, G-man?~ Alex stared heavily at
Giles for a moment, then nodded and silently followed Xander out the door.
Giles met Alex's eyes for a few moments. He knew that the young man was more perceptive than his "twin," and
knew what he was thinking. However, the ex-Watcher honestly wasn't sure how to admit that he didn't think
there was a solution, or that if there was, Giles would long be dust in the ground before it was found.
He watched the boys take their leave and went to the cabinet where he'd stored the scotch. Rupert held it up
in a farewell salute, then proceeded to pour the contents down the sink..
Tomorrow, Rupert Giles determined, would be a new start for himself, and the Scoobies.
And with that solemn thought, Giles took himself upstairs to sleep off the alcohol..
An ex-Watcher was on the phone. He'd attempted to get some sleep
after Alex and Xander left, but his rest had been disturbed by
chanting. While hearing chanting in his sleep wasn't abnormal for
Rupert Giles, to hear it in the voices of Tara and Willow was.
Upon waking, and feeling nauseous and headachy, Giles had called the
two witches at Willow's parents' house.
"What sort of spells are you doing?"
"Um.. what do you mean, Giles?"
"All right. Let me put it this way. What sort of spell did you two
do on me."
Willow hemmed and hawed for a few moments, but couldn't hold up under
the stern glare she imagined Giles would have given her. "Tara and
I.. we sorta cast a spell on you to bring you back some of your
youth."
She took a breath, and on a hopeful note, said, "Did it work?"
Giles sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Honestly,
Willow.. I've no idea if it worked or not. But what have I told you
about performing spells without having me check them over first?
Now, we have no clue as to what the spell really did.."
He heard a pounding on his door, and groaned. Just peachy. Another visitor.
"Willow.. I've got to go. BUT--I'll need the notes for this spell
too. Don't feel that you've got to run them over right away."
Giles hung up and opened the door.
"Spike."
Spike tried to smile, but it faded as he caught a whiff of the alcohol off of Giles. <looks like I'm not the on
ly drowning my sorrows.>
He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up further. Giles looked terrible and he knew he probably did as
well.
"Safe to come in?" He asked quietly. "I..um.. I'm out of..." He trailed off. <Out of my mind, coming here.>
"Sod it." He whispered and turned to leave.
<They won't want yer bloody useless arse around anymore, Spike.>
Just before Spike turned to leave, Giles saw something in his eyes.
It reminded the Watcher of how he felt -- desperately in pain.
He put out his hand before he realized what he was doing. "Come in,
Spike. If you're hungry, I've some blood packets in the fridge."
Spike stepped in and shut the door. It felt ...odd... to have Giles reach out, physically and ...well a touch
kindly to him. He took a few steps further in, unsure if he should follow or just go sit down on the couch.
<Great. Now I am standing in the foyer like a fuckin' lost sales man. Argh!>
He started to head into the living room, when Giles came back with a mug of blood. He blinked. He knew Giles
only did that under duress, like the whole bathtub beddown.
<Shake it off, Spike! Grr remember? Big Bad... oh who the unholy hell you kidding?>
He crooked a smile and took the mug. "Er, thanks. Was what I was missin' at the crypt. Kinder taped out right
now."
He started to take a sip and stooped. "Have I missed any demon uprisin's or End Of The World goings on?"
<have you needed my sorry arse? Anyone else die?>
Giles retreated into the kitchen, not sure if Spike was following him into the flat. He grabbed two packets
from the fridge, and the largest mug he could find.
Normally, he found the task distasteful, but at the moment he had no problem preparing the blond vampire a meal
. The blood was warm in seconds and he headed back toward the door..
Giles sat down, deciding on honesty. "I've been rather out of things this last week, so I wouldn't have any
idea the world is about to end again this year."
He gestured toward the couch. "Sit down, Spike."
Spike sat. Very strange Giles not knowing what was going on. <Roight. You smelt him. Surprised much? No. and
ew...Scooby talk.> He watched Giles carefully, feeling strnage having a cuppa on the
couch instead of in the tub.
As he did this he noticed that he'd left the snack treats and milk glasses out. Waving his hand toward them,
he said, "Although Xander did stop by, as you can see. Or rather.. I should say, the Xanders."
His brow furrowed in puzzlement, he continued. "Xander seems to have split into his separate aspects once
again, though I don't understand why or how."
Spike almost spit blood. "Wot? 2? How the.. roight you don't know." He shook his head and quickly gulped his
blood.
<2 Doughnut boys? Must be Apocolypse. Shoulda stayed at the crypt.>
"Where are they now? I mean... you let them leave?" Spike asked. "Should I..er... go find...aw never mind,
he's a big... they're big boys, I guess."
<Spike to brain..shut up please.>
Giles thought about it. Did he want Spike, of all people, going to look after Alex and Xander? Alex seems more
than capable of taking care of them both, and yet, could it hurt?
He looked at Spike and was surprised to see the confusion, worry and hurt there. All trying to be hiddened by
infuriating over-coollness that Spike always... his behind. Giles mulled that over. How could he have missed
that? Because Spike, chipped or not, was a vampire and, therefore, an enemy.
<One day, perhaps the day you die, you will stop being so surprised.> He thought.
He ran a hand over his face,, still feeling a touch muddled by alcohol, multiple Xanders and whatever mischief
the spell the girls had tried on him. <Bring back some of my youth? Not bloody likely. Still tired.>
"Er, perhaps.." He began. "You could just make sure they got home safely? And one, you should be able to figure
out which, prefers 'Alex' over Xander. And take some more of the blood, I am sorry about letting it..."
Spike waved a hand. "Lettin' it go, for now. We've all been a bit...out of it, eh?"
He stood and went to the kitchen and grabbed out a few more pack of blood. He smiled at the idea that, even in
his grief, Giles had been thinking of keepig him fed. <Or, more likely, just hadn't dumped 'em yet.>
He stalked back to the living room. "I'll go make sure the welp...welps haven't gotten their bums busted by
sommit. But mind you," He shook a finger at Giles. "Things aren't just gonna get better 'round here. Only
worse."
With that, he whirled, coat flapping, and headed out.
Giles watched the vampire go, knowing that Spike had been speaking the truth. Life was definitely going to be
more complicated from now on, and trouble promised to be lurking at the horizon.
He sighed and went to make himself some tea. //Tea and Hostess snacks.. the comforts of old age// he thought
to himself as he set the kettle to boil.
As he waited for the tell-tale whistle, Giles pondered returning to bed. But he couldn't.. he was worried
about the Xanders, and the nagging issue of the spell performed on him continued to irk.
And so.. Giles waited for word from Spike or the newly-made twins, and sipped his tea.
Giles was on his fourth cup of tea, and quite wired as a result, when the door bell rang. //Oh, please let it
be good news this time..// he thought frantically as he pulled on his robe. Not that he needed it, he was
wearing pajamas that covered him from neck to ankle.
He opened the door.. and his jaw dropped.
"OZ!"
"Hey." Oz replied. Not quite the reaction he hoped for, but it's not as if he told anyone he was coming.
Giles took a moment to process that it really was Oz standing at his stoop. Then, taking even himself by
surprise, he hugged Oz fiercely.
He's hugging me! Giles is hugging me!
"When did you get back? Have you talked to Willow yet? How are you?" Giles would have continued barraging
the werewolf with questions, but he stopped himself and offered Oz a wry grin.
And he's babbling too. Oz smiled back cautiously
"I'm sorry.. Come in."
Oz smiled back cautiously and entered, looking around.
//Thank the gods.. I was afraid it was more bad news. This-this is of the good!// He groaned inwardly as he
realized that Xander-speech was infiltrating his thoughts.
Turning back to Giles Oz noticed the Englishman looked tired, stressed out. Which of course he would be after
the last week. And the expression on his face was a mixture of relief and bewilderment.
"So. I'm back." Oz smiled. Way to go Oz! Could you be any lamer?! You're here to offer support, not confuse
the poor man! The poor cute man who smells so good and...Oz closed his eyes, willing his inner animal to shut
up for a minute.
Giles shut the door, and forced back a giggle at Oz's comment. Oh, dear, a giggle.. He really was losing it.
"So I see, Oz. It /is/ good to see you again." He took a look over the werewolf. Oz seemed.. older. No that
was the wrong word. Tempered, yes that was it. Tempered by the events of the last year.
Oh wow, that look in his eyes. Warm, assessing. It was
like coming home.
He fetched tea for the both of them and sat on the couch. "Take a seat, please. And tell me what's happened,
what's brought you back. I assume you've heard about Buffy.."
Oz took a deep breath. Get a grip, Oz, the man's grieving. If you feel that bad, there's always Dev, leave the
man alone. even if he is looking at you with that expression on his face. Sitting, he looked closely at Giles,
to see how he took his answer.
"Yeah. Dev rang. I came straight here. Willow and me talked. I'm here for good if you'll have me." Oz, what
are you doing?! you're here for support, not that! What's he gonna think?!
Giles nodded thoughtfully and chewed his lower lip. He was struggling to push back some rather impure thoughts
regarding the young man in the room with him. //Here to stay.. That could have some *pleasant* connotations
to it. And if I'll have him. Hmph. If only he knew the ways I'd like to have him.//
"Uuh, to help! I mean, to help." Oz said quickly. Now you have the wiggins, in front of the one person you
shouldn’t!
Giles laughed softly. "To help.. So I gathered, Oz. We'll need you. Things are going to be rough around
here without Buffy. Once news of her death has spread through the demonic community, we're bound to be under
siege."
Oz nodded. Dev had told him a little of what had already happened in just a week...and he wasn't one to pay
attention to that side of Sunnydale much.
He stared at the cooling tea in his cup, and decided to tell Oz something of the truth.
Oh boy, that expression on his face...what's the big?
"The truth is, Oz, *I'm* going to need your help." He raised his pain-filled eyes to Oz's. "I've spent most
of the last week at the bottom of a bottle. Tonight's actually the first time I've been sober since Buffy
died. It's going to be very hard, very, very, hard remaining on the wagon, and I'd much rather that I had a
friend close at hand."
*Giles wants *me* to help him? What about the others? No, he doesn't want to lean on them, but me. Oz moved a
little closer to the man and put a hand on his knee.
"I'm here then. First, we get rid of temptation." Wait a minute, what did he just say? How come Giles was
making him feel so confused all of a sudden. Taking another deep breath and shutting his eyes, he smelt...Giles
, and he smelt good...apart from the underlying alcoholic aroma that was.
//Get rid of temptation.. Right. A bottle of scotch never looked as good as Oz does right now. STOP THAT!!
He'd never think of you as anything other than a friend, if that. Besides, he's much too young!// Giles had a
hard time convincing himself of the latter of his thoughts, with Oz's hand on his knee.
"The alcoholic temptation, I mean." maybe the babble wasn't a Xander thing but a Hellmouth thing. How come it never
affected him before then? At least he had experience in this with the band. His wolvy sense of smell meant he could
find any hidden bottles to toss out.
"I've already emptied out the alcohol I had," he said. "I just need someone there to remind me that there is life
outside of the bottle. I fell into that trap once before this, and I can't bear to think that I might fall into it
for a third time."
"Okay, I can do that. Why don't we go out? Ah, I mean, do things to, I mean with, each other." Oz stood up and walked
over to stare at one of Giles's bookshelves. Maybe if he didn't actually look at the man he wouldn't keep saying things
like that.
Giles cocked an eyebrow. What was behind Oz's slips of the tongue?
Not that Giles would mind slipping Oz the tongue. //STOP THAT!!
This is not the person to be having orgasm-friend thoughts about!//
The ex-Watcher immediately blushed at that particular thought.
Orgasm-friend thoughts?? Well.. yes.
Carefully, Giles said, "I'd appreciate that, Oz. Thank you."
And what was that look in Giles's eyes about anyway? Sighing, Oz grabbed a book out at random and stared at it. If he
didn't know better he'd think Giles was interested...but, Giles wouldn't, couldn't be interested in him. Could he?
He was about to move to Oz's side, and ask him directly what was going on in that head of his.. But there came a knock
at the door. Giles sighed.
"I'm certainly popular tonight."
He crossed the room and opened the door.
Oz watched him go to the door with relief. He just knew that Giles would have asked him what was going on.
"Spike! Are the twins with you?" He noticed that there was only one person with the vampire.
Oh yeah. That was the smell of cigarette's and dry dusty things, but the only other person he could smell was...Giles.
"And who would this be?" Giles peered at the figure, and gasped when his features came into focus.
Oz stared, dropping the book to the floor. I hope that wasn't expensive or cursed...
"Oh, dearest gods!"
Well, that explains why I can only smell Giles and Spike.
"Huh." Same old Hellmouth, it never stops.
Ripper echoed the words on a groan.
//This is what I turn into?// He gave the other Rupert Giles a thorough, exasperated once-over. Glasses, starchy clothes, short hair.. He'd become his father!
At this moment, Ripper wanted nothing more than to sink into a hole in the ground.
Giles turned to Spike. "Please, tell me this is nothing more than a horrible coincidence."
Oz stared from further back in the room. As if Giles hadn't had enough shocks and now that...that *vampire* had done *this*
to him.
The ex-Watcher could think of nothing more horrifying than to be confronted by his past, literally.
How was he going to help him stop drinking when shocks like this turned up? A younger, rougher version of Giles stood
there in front of his version.
The..the boy standing before him was everything he'd ever wanted to forget, an all to vivid reminder of the life he'd
shared with Ethan Rayne.
Ripper closed his eyes, as if to shut out the image of his future.
It looked to Oz as if both Giles were in shock, while *Spike* looked ready to laugh! Somehow Oz just knew it was all
*his* fault.
Oz began to growl.
"Spike.. Can we leave now? You've made your point. There's no way this man can NOT be me, in the future anyway."
Spike tried very hard to keep a grin off his face and failed. This was better than Passion re-runs! He shoved his hands
into duster pockets and rocked back on his heels.
Oz picked the book back up and carefully placed it back in the shelf. And as he listened to Spike, removed his clothes.
No need to ruin another lot.
"Found him in the ice cream shop while I was lookin' fer the twins. Who, by the way, want nothing to do with yer truly,
so’s I expect Alex.." He pulled a face. "Is taking Xander home. Bleh." He said to Giles.
To Ripper he said, "Sorry. I know it's a bit of a shock. But there ya go. Life's odd that way. Musta been the Watcher drek
he got into. You want to leave then we will. But I dunno where you wanna go... me crypt's kinda damp at the mo."
Oh yeah, the vampire did it on purpose all right. Closing his eyes, Oz concentrated on that part of his body that made
him Change.
He suppressed a giggle. Giggles were not very Big Bad. He'd not quite counted on the looks of shock and horror the
Gileses were giving each other but they were priceless. He wished he'd had a camera.
Poor Giles was devastated, just look at the expression
on his face.
To them both, he said "Look, I know it's freaky. Lookin' fer me own bloody double at this point, but just thought you
both should know, right?"
He stopped and listened... 3 heartbeats... he sniffed... who the hell was that? Smelled wild and almost feral.... like
a...His eyebrows raised. "Got comp'ny?"
It looked to Oz as if both Giles were in shock, while *Spike* looked ready to laugh! Somehow Oz just knew it was all *his*
fault.
Oz began to growl.
Damn. The vampire had picked him. Ah well. He had changed all the way now anyway. Growling, Oz leapt towards the startled
vampire.
Giles barely heard the growls through his shock, but he opened his eyes just in time to see Oz going after Spike. AND Oz
had changed.
"Oz! No!" Not thinking at all, Giles leapt between Spike and the werewolf.
"He's one of us, now!" Giles yelped as he found himself grappling with an armful of angry wolf.
Ripper had watched in horrified fascination as the wolf charged for Spike. He'd known that werewolves existed, but never
seen one before.. Then his mind started working, and he, too, stepped between Spike and the wolf.
Truth to tell, he was more than a little relieved when it was the older Giles that ended up trying to actually hold off
this Oz..
"Spike, what do we do now?" Ripper asked.
'WE bloody well do THIS!" Spike said, and shifted to gameface.
Spike had heard the growling and dismissed it. He wouldn't make that same mistake twice. He shoved Ripper out of the way
and tore Giles and Oz apart.
Ripper gasped as Spike's face shifted. //He is a vampire!!// He backed himself up against a convenient wall. Wishing he
could click
his heels together three times and just GO HOME!
"Out of the way, Rupes!" He snarled. He shoved him towards his younger self. "My job, remember?"
Rupert careened toward Ripper, and the younger man caught him. A
little dizzy, Rupert managed to say, "Don't hurt him, Spike, please.."
Confused, OzWolf struggled. Pack Leader said he was...Pack member? But...he smelt like death! He was the Enemy!
Ripper meanwhile stared at the face of the man so close to him. There was no denying that this was him, some thirty years
into the future. Oh, there were age lines galore, but Ripper couldn't lie to himself.
OzWolf whined. The Enemy was not acting like that at all. He smelt like death but acted to protect the pack leader and the
one who smelt like him.
The chip actually pinged just a bit, as if trying to decided if Spike meant harm. It must have concluded he didn't as no
searing pain ripped through his head.
OzWolf snarled in confusion. If he was protecting, he must have been accepted into the pack. But he was the Enemy!
He squared off towards the snarling werewolf. "Right, puppy. You think I'm gonna let you tear up Giles? Don't think so.
Scratch him and yer a throw rug! You want me? We take it outside, away from the humans."
What was he saying anyway? OzWolf tilted his head to the side and watched him make those noises used to communicate.
The younger Rupert stared at the two combatants, not sure if he could
do anything. //That's right, Ripper, just throw yourself between two
supernatural beings.//
And now the other, who also smelt like pack Leader, also stepped between him and the Enemy. But...not Enemy?
Spike growled. He didn't really *want* to hurt Oz, but he sure as
hell wasn't going to just *take* a beating.
OzWolf began to panic. If pack leader said the Enemy was not the Enemy, then what? He was confused but didn't want to
hurt the pack leader.
"Then call the dog off." He snarled. "Or I will do more than hit his bloody nose with a newspaper!"
But if the Enemy was not the Enemy then why hurt the pack leader? why did the Enemy grab him like that?
Giles shifted his gaze to the werewolf. "Oz, please, change back. There's no reason to fight Spike. Please.." He
stumbled over the word, suddenly feeling very broken and wanting a drink oh so badly. "Come back, Oz, change back.
I need you.. to change back." What had happened to make Oz change? Why had he attacked Spike?
OzWolf turned to stare at his pack leader. Now he was making those noises humans make. OzWolf liked his voice, it was
soothing.
He reached out an entreating hand to the wolf.
Ripper looked over the living room, but didn't find what he wanted. "Do you have a tranquilizer gun?"
This other one's voice was almost the same, as good.
OzWolf like his pack leader's better though.
Giles turned to him in surprise. He'd nearly forgotten that the boy was there. "What?"
Their voices sounded good together, though. And now
the Enemy…other pack member was quiet he was calming
down.
"A tranquilizer gun," Ripper repeated slowly.
Why had he gotten so upset anyway?
"Oh.." Giles closed his eyes and tried to think. Did he still have one, or was a trank gun one of the things lost when
they blew up the high school. "No, not anymore."
Oh yes, his other self had seen a threat. But the threat wasn't real after all.
"Damn."
OzWolf yawned. Time to let his other, human self out, then. He would understand what was happening.
Giles looked back at the werewolf. //Come on, Oz. I know you change back.. Please..//
Oz moved slowly in front of the Englishman and began the Change back.
Back in his human form, he inspected himself. Glaring at Spike as he remembered why he had changed, he moved closer to
Giles, in front of him.
"You tried to hurt Giles!"
Spike's mouth dropped open, fangs and all. "I WOT?" He exclaimed.
He morphed back to normal visage and continued to stare confused at
Oz. "You tell me how knockin' on th' bloody door counts as trying to
hurt Rupes? Here I thought I was doin' the right thing by bringin'
Ripper over and... aw sod it!"
"He was upset and you were laughing!" Sniffing, Oz could smell the vampire's confusion. He was telling the truth?
He then blinked. Oz was dangly bits to the wind. His eyebrows rose into his hairline almost. "Nice navel ring, Pup."
Oz looked down at himself. Oh yeah. Clothes. He smiled back up at the confused vampire and stretched.
"Thanks. I got it in Nevada." He walked slowly over to where he had put his clothes. It's not as if they were important or
anything, he didn't care who saw him naked anyway.
Giles gulped, suddenly faced with an amazing view of Oz's ass. He forced his eyes to focus on the back of the young man's
head, and tried to get his brain working again. When it finally did kick into gear, he processed what Oz had said.
He heard Giles make a small noise and looked over his shoulder. The Englishman was staring at him, his ass anyway. Turning
back, Oz slowly bent over. After all, he did have to reach down to pull his jeans up.
Did that mean that Oz had changed in an attempt to protect him? If so, what did THAT mean?
He swallowed, and was finally able to speak. "Spike has been helping us quite a bit since you left, Oz."
"Ah" Oz began to see, a little. Spike was helping, but he was still evil.
Ripper piped up, still standing beside Giles. "Spike brought me here so that we could figure out WHY I'm here."
Oz loooked at the younger version. Yeah. Good looking, but he liked his version better.
Spike resisted, barely, the urge to stick his tongue out childishly at Oz.
"Things have changed." He said to him, instead.
<And have they. God, someone shoot me will ya? That actually pleased me.>
He gestured to the older version of himself. "Obviously, this is neither my time nor place. Earlier this afternoon, I
was in London and it was 1977. Now, I don't know exactly what year it is, but I do know that this is Sunnydale,
California."
"1977.. That was just after I left Ethan and the others. I was twenty-three.." Giles mused. He gave Ripper an inquiring
look. "But what were you doing in London? I immediately went home after Ethan and I went our separate ways."
I knew it! Giles and Ethan, hey? So at least Giles is interested in guys. What am I thinking? I've only just figured out I
am. Well, apart from Dev, anyway. that's kinda a mutual thing though, does it count as being gay if it's your best friend?
Ripper blushed and looked away. "It doesn't matter what I was doing! But.." he looked back at Giles. "How were you able
to return home? Father disowned me after that entire mess."
Giles' eyebrows crawled into his hairline.
"Why don't we all sit down? There's a lot to figure out."
I'll say. I wonder if this is the spell Willow did?
That would explain the blushing, anyway.
Spike rolled his eyes. He wanted a smoke. He wanted to go back to his crypt. He wanted a drink. Well, more drinks. Several
more. Anything to get the weird feelings out of his head. The pain, he could barely deal with. Or not deal with, depending
on how you veiwed his past week. Drunk and hungry and crying.
The bit of the old fire, facing off with Oz, that he thought he could deal with as well. Made him feel....grrr. Possibly
still useful. Just possibly not the complete fuck-up he had come to think he was lately.
The feral scents and faint traces of lust... that was something different. Alex and Xander's scents had come close to
making him nuts and now... oh well. Ripper's weren't helping. All new leather and the tiniest touches of old London....
He wished he could get a head cold right about now. Block them all out.
"Right." He said and took out a smoke. He stuck it, unlit, between his lips and slouched down in an armchair.
Giles would snap at him about smoking or throw him out. Either or... Ripper would light one too.
Oz wrinkled his nose. He knew vampires had a stronger sense of smell too, why would Spike want to smoke?
<Give this a bit an' then go make sure the... heh.. twins are all right. Hmmm Alex has a nice growl on him for a human.
Nummyboy Xander looked like he was ready to cry. What is up with that?>
Giles perched on the couch and ran his hands through his hair. He would have snapped at Spike, but he saw Ripper lighting
up too. Ripper just looked at him and took a long drag, daring Giles to say something.
Oz stayed silent, watching them all speak. When Giles sat down, he sat next to him, close enough to feel his body heat.
The ex-Watcher sighed, and fetched an ashtray. "I stopped that nasty habit after I went home, you know."
And he smelt really good too. All fresh and clean, unlike Spike and Ripper. Though both versions had the alcohol around
them, too.
Ripper barked a laugh. "Well, I didn't get to go home, thank you very much."
Ripper though, Ripper smelt like youth, and smokes, and sex...with lots of different partners.
"Yes, so I gathered. Tell me, why were you disowned?"
"You mean you weren't?" Giles shook his head, and Ripper sucked on the fag as if it would save his life. He held the
smoke in for a long moment, then released it.
"When Ethan and I broke- parted ways, he wasn't too thrilled with me. And he was didn't have a pot to piss in. He had
some pictures.. of me in various sexual indiscretions. Ethan sent them to Father, threatening blackmail. Dad solved the
problem by disowning me. That was ten months ago. Since then, I've been living in London." Ripper stubbed the cigarette
out viciously, wishing he could do the same sort of damage to Ethan.
Boy, Ethan was scum to do that! No wonder Giles was so mad at him when he turned up. Willow had told him about Halloween
and he had seen for himself how the adults were with those chocolate bars.
Giles buried his face in his hands. This was more than he wanted Spike, Oz, or anyone to know. "You mean you didn't get
them when you left the house?!? They were in his nightstand, where he kept all of his pornographic material!! Er.." He
looked sideways at Oz and Spike, having unwittingly given away a yet another clue as to his history.
Go Giles! Smart to do that! But why didn't Ripper?
"So, that's where we differ. We're living each other's what if." He gave a sardonic smile. "One small thing.. and our
paths diverged."
Ripper thrust a thumb towards his bags. "I need fresh air--I'm going to talk a walk. Don't expect me back anytime soon,
but I'll leave my bags here." Then he was out the door, head bowed so no one would see the tears in his eyes.
Oops. Ripper smelt sad, and Oz could smell salt too. That would suck. One simple action meant that his life would be
totally different.
Giles sat in stunned silence. That young man was living out the life he would have had if he hadn't remembered the
pictures at the last moment. He'd literally been at the threshold of the house he and
Ethan had shared when the thought of them had popped into his mind.
Giles looked sad, too. Oz moved even closer, almost sitting on top of him. He promised to help Giles, and he would, even
from himself if he had to.
Then he remembered the spell.. "Gods.. If I ever let Willow and Tara do a spell again, it'll be too soon. I'm more than
half tempted to perform a binding on them!!"
"So it was them. When I saw Willow earlier the place stank of magic." Oz said. And maybe a binding would be a good idea.
And THEN he realized that Ripper had just walked out into the Sunnydale night. "Damn.. Spike, would you do me a favor
and make sure he's all right. He seems to trust you. If you don't want to, I'll follow him."
"If you do go, I'll go with." No way was he going to let Giles go alone out there!
Giles gave Oz a weary smile. "Thank you, Oz. I appreciate that."
Smiling back Oz replied "You asked me to be there. I said yes." Oh hey, I got him to smile again. Good.
He gave the young man a squeeze on the knee, then looked back at Spike.
Oz decided to go for it and leaned on Giles, almost sitting in his lap. Giles is...comfy...I'll sleep well in bed with him.
Oz shot up at that thought and moved away, staring at him. And now I'm wanting to sleep with him already?! Attracted yes,
lust yes, now this?! What is going on with me?! He frowned, and put an arm around Giles for comfort as he moved back close
to him again.
Oz shot up at that thought and moved away, staring at him. And now I'm wanting to sleep with him already?! Attracted yes,
lust yes, now this?! What is going on with me?! He frowned, and put an arm around Giles for comfort as he moved back close
to him again.
"I'm sorry to have asked you to follow Ripper. You really don't have to. I'm sure that baby-sitting my younger self isn't
at all what you want to do right now."
Heh, if only you could smell what I can, Giles, Oz thought before putting his head down on the Englishman's shoulder and
shutting his eyes. Making the Change at will was handy, but it was tiring.
And there was the not understanding humans too, but Oz was sure that could be worked out. Giles could figure it out.
Giles went still when Oz put his head on his shoulder. He knew that he was attracted to the young werewolf, but did this
mean?? No.. it couldn't, could it?
Feeling the Englishman stiffen Oz frowned a little and moved his arm up, holding onto Giles. He thought he had seen signs
of Giles liking him, maybe he was wrong and really upsetting him? Maybe he should leave, go back to Dev's?
He put an arm around Oz's waist, refusing to let his mind wander down that particular track any further. Well, for right
now anyway, what with his younger double wandering Sunnydale alone and unaware of just what cohabitated the town with the
humans.
Feeling Giles move his arm around him made Oz feel safe. For the first time in months, he felt as if he could sleep
without dreams. That'd be nice. No Initiative, no Wolf, just Giles. Yawning, he rubbed his face up and down Giles.
Giles smiled again. He hadn't really expected Oz to take to him as a real friend.
He waited for Spike's answer, hoping that the vampire would agree to look for Ripper. Giles wasn't sure he could take
another dose of what if.
Oz wished Spike would answer Giles already. At this rate he would have to wake up to protect Giles properly if the vampire
decided not to go look for Ripper.
Spike sighed. "Yeah yeah, don't get yer knickers in a twist. I'll go keep an eye on him."
<Well well, looks like Dogboy and the Watcher are getting quite cozy.> Spike raised his scarred eyebrow. <No wonder the
pup went a bit off.>
Oz kept still as Giles moved. Maybe it was just something about Spike that seemed to annoy Giles like this? They'd have
to work on that, get Giles to relax more.
Giles shifted uneasily at the look on Spike's face. He knew what that knowing look meant, and it wasn't fair! He hadn't
even done anything to, or with, Oz.
He threw himself up out of the chair and lit his smoke before heading out after Watcher the Younger. "Ta kids. Don't wait
up." He said over his shoulder.
Oz listened to Spike go and felt the tension in Giles seem to let go a little.
"Just don't eat him, Spike," Giles said testily, but the door had already closed. "Not that you could anyway.."
Good. The vampire was gone and he could sleep...
He turned his attention to Oz, who appeared to be dozing now. He shook him gently.
Oh, now what? He was so comfy, why shake him?
"Oz, are you awake?"
Giles wants to talk. Opening his eyes, Oz looked up at Giles. "Yeah. You want an explanation." Oz stated rather than asked.
Giles laughed softly. "Well, I had actually thought that you might want to sleep in something resembling a comfortable
position and was going to offer you my bed for the night."
"A bed does sound good." I'm tired, Giles. And not just from Changing earlier. Oz smiled up at him.
He ran a hand through Oz's bright orange hair. "But if you'd rather talk, we can do that too."
"Talk we should. But today's been big." I went to Buffy's grave, had a big talk with Willow, Changed...not to mention this
attraction for you, Giles.
Giles nodded. He knew there was a lot unsaid between the two of them. He knew why on his part, but on Oz's. But, it
could all wait until morning.
Oddly enough, Giles was finding Oz's presence to be soothing.. It was quite pleasant actually. For the first time in a
while, he wasn't focused on the should-have-beens..
"Let's go to bed." Oz lifted his hand and placed it on Giles cheek, smiling at him.
His mouth dropped open, and stayed that way for a moment as he searched for words.
"Oh..er.. I had rather thought I'd be sleeping down here on the couch, a-and you could have the bed." Giles nodded
frantically throughout the entire sentence. Then he realized that he'd just assumed that Oz wanted to sleep with him.
He turned beet red and tried to find a polite way to say what he should have said.
Oz stared up at him, thought about what he'd said and how he'd said it and blushed too. Giles looked really cute when he
was all flustered like that.
Wait a minute, maybe he had been reading the signs wrong. And Giles would be too polite to say anything. Sitting up, he
moved away from the Englishman, frowning.
Giles winced. Now he'd gone and hurt the werewolf. //Good going, Rupert. Now you've managed to push Oz away too.//
"Of course. What did you think I meant." he said flatly, watching him carefully.
"Oh dear, um. I mean, not to assume that you WANTED us to sleep in the same bed.. Oh, gods."
"Ah." What was that supposed to mean? And why was it so important all of a sudden? Was it only this afternoon he had been
feeling so bitter about Willow?
Giles bent his head forward into his hands. //Why do I have to be such a prude??//
Oh great, now he's upset. Moving back next to him, Oz put his hand on Giles's knee.
"Maybe we better talk a little after all?" Before we both get hurt.
Giles looked down at the hand on his knee, then put his own over it. "I just don't want to make any assumptions about
what you want, Oz. Especially since the things that I want right now shouldn't be stated in public."
"Assumptions." Oz stared at their hands, touching each other. So he hadn't read the signs wrong. Yeah, assumptions could
be of the bad, alright.
Wait. What Giles wants can't be said in public? Oz smiled a little and leaned on Giles again. He was just the right size
for leaning on.
"We're not in public now." Oz hoped he could get the words across. He wasn't good with words. Not speaking them aloud,
anyhow.
Giles automatically adjusted himself so that Oz could lean more comfortably against him, then put one arm around his waist.
He knew that Oz wanted to hear about the things that he wanted, but.. Giles was British, for crying out loud!!
"Er.. I won't go into detail, but.." Giles could feel his body heat rising as embarrassment swept through him. "What I
want generally involves y-y-you uh.. er.. Naked."
Oz felt his face going red again in reaction to Giles's own blushes. Smiling up at him, Oz put a hand on Giles's chest and
began to play with the buttons of his shirt.
"That sounds nice. But only if you join me." Now that flustered look on Giles face was cute!
"M-me too, o-of course."
Cool. he'd gotten Giles to stutter. Oz remembered suddenly that one of the things he had been missing was hearing Giles
make that little stumble suddenly in his voice.
"Good. I'd like to see that as well, Giles."
Oz began to slowly unbutton the Englishman's shirt. Then he stopped and looked up at him again.
Giles just about stopped breathing when Oz started in on his shirt, and it took a lot for him to drag his attention away
from the younger man's fingers to his words..
"Wait a minute. What is going on here exactly?" Things were moving quickly here, maybe too quickly? What if this was a
Hellmouth thing?
"Giles, I like you. but before tonight I never even thought about doing anything like this...well, no more about you than
anyone else. What if this isn't real?"
He sighed and put his hand over the one Oz had on his chest. "I honestly don't know if I'm on overload or what, right now.
Things have NOT been easy this last week, and I don't know why I've been feeling the things I have."
Oz stared at him. That was just the way he was thinking! He had thought about guys, yeah, and even doing a few things,
okay, quite a bit, with Dev, but no one else. And that was after knowing him for years.
This thing, whatever it was, with Giles, came on so fast!
"Giles, It's the same with me. One week I'm in Nevada, figuring out the Wolf, the next, I'm in Sunnydale again. And things
are moving so fast, as usual. But this time it's this. Me and Dev, we've...been together, done a bit, but that's it. Him
and Willow. I have never felt that way about any other person, woman or man."
Giles nodded. He certainly could understand Oz's words. Funny how
so much life could be triggered by the death of someone important..
Giles licked his lips and pondered his next words. "I do know that I've always been attracted to men, as well as to women.
So the fact that I'm attracted you as a male isn't really a surprise. The fact that it's you, IS. I never thought of
myself as a cradle robber."
Oh no, he wasn't having that! Giles was *not* old! Oz sat up and glared at him, mildly.
"When you asked me to be there for you, I didn't realize you needed protection from yourself as well. You, Rupert Giles,
are older than me, enough to be my father. So? All couples have an older and a younger member. Age is not why I'm worried
about this. I have never moved this fast before in my life on something this important. Doing it here and now like this is
making me worried it's not natural."
That brought a smile to Rupert's face. "Couple..? It sounds kind of right, but you're correct. This IS moving fast, and
I'm not used to that at all. I've never leapt into a relationship before."
Taking deep breath, Oz sighed. He's not upset. Oh God, that's a relief.
Oz took a deep breath. He'd never been able to get the words out like this before, except to those he really cared for.
"I'm beginning to care for you, Rupert Giles, alot. I grew up with Dev, and we sort of just fell into being with each other,
loving each other, having sex even. Willow...I saw her, and was amazed, but it was some time before I even spoke to her,
asked her out on a date, let alone do anything else. I have known you for a few years, yes, but this? To come back and all
of a sudden to feel like this? Is this me? Is this the real thing then?"
Oz hoped Giles would know he wasn't rejecting him, he just didn't want either of them to get hurt.
Giles nodded. "I'm starting to care for you as well, Oz. I mean, beyond the paternal thing I've always had for the
Scoobies. Maybe it's the real thing, maybe it's not. I'm not really sure. I've never spent too much time analyzing my
emotions. But, I'm willing to take the chance that we can develop something good if you are."
"Yeah. I am. This feels good, better than what I've felt before. You know why I had to ask though, don't you? I don't want
to get hurt. And I don't want you to be hurt either."
Oz moved back over to Giles and stood in front of him where he sat. Placing his hands on Giles shoulders and looking him
in the eyes, he decided to take that chance.
"Shall we try again? Let's go to bed."
Giles nodded. "Yes, let's. But first, I'm going to turn on the porch light. Spike knows where the spare key is, but I
don't want my younger self stumbling over the plants."
"Good idea." Though Oz had his doubts about them coming back tonight.
Distracted as he was, Oz had seen the looks snuck between the two and felt they were more likely to go looking for
excitement elsewhere.
The ex-Watcher got up and opened the front door. Whenever he turned on the porch light, he had to watch and make sure it went on. The damned bulbs were subject to burning out at the oddest times.
Oz watched him move about. Giles looked good, from behind as well as the front. And seeing him stretch slightly like that
as he looked up at the porch roof was good. He smiled to himself. Talk about moodswings. Ah well, guess I can put it down
to tiredness.
He caught a glimmer of movement from the bushes.
Oz got up to walk next to Giles as he looked outside. He sniffed, trying to get an idea of what it could be...friend or
foe. Wait a minute...
"Giles? Whoever it is, smells kinda familiar." He stared as he saw one of the bushes moving and moved closer to Giles.
"But who would be lurking in my bushes?" Completely puzzled, Giles moved toward the foliage in question, and peered over
them.
Oz followed close behind him, trying to see too.
"Buffy!!!" Giles squeaked, stumbling backwards in his shock.
Oz grabbed Giles to stop him from falling. "That's who the smell is?!" Letting go of Giles, Oz moved closer to the girl.
/Well it does smell like her all right...but she's supposed to be dead!/
He plastered himself against the brick wall, stuttering, "T-tell me
I'm h-ha-llucinating!"
/Great! Now Giles is having a wiggins./ Oz went over to him to try and calm him down. /If I didn't have this sense of smell
guess I'd have that expression on my face too...full blown panic./
"You're not, Giles, she's real." Moving slowly, he held his arms out
so Giles would see what he was doing.
Buffy was dead!! He'd seen the body, before and during the funeral.
But if she was dead, who was the girl in the bushes.
Putting his arms around Giles's waist, Oz held tight on as he began to shake. /Guess I'm having a wiggins after all. Who or
what is that?/
Giles felt Oz's arms around him and the panic-sticken tremors finally started to subside. They didn't fade away entirely,
but at least he could function. Reflexively, his own arms went around the younger man. He peered at the figure still
lurking in his bushes.
With Giles arms around him , Oz felt just a little better. Enough to stop his own shaking that was. He looked over to the
figure Giles was looking at before peering up at Giles face. There was a kind of desperate hope in his eyes.
If it was true.. if it really were Buffy..
"Buffy?" he asked, plaintively. "Please, say something."
Buffy's lips trembled, desperately trying to form a word.
/I don't know how much more Giles can handle at the moment./ Oz stared at the figure as well. /If this is some kind of
fake, though.../ Oz felt a growl start to rise. /Not again. No more wolf tonight, please./
Looking at the figure turn, Oz was at first annoyed. /Why won't she say anything?!/
Then his stronger sense of smell detected salt /She's crying.../
"Giles...I think it may be hard for her to say something." Taking a deep breath, Oz let go of Giles and began to walk
slowly towards the girl.
"You smell like Buffy, do you sound like her too?"
Giles followed Oz, half afraid that he was dreaming, and half afraid that he was.
"Why don't you help her inside, Oz? Maybe.. maybe something to drink will help.."
Buffy, still not facing her friends, felt a hand touch her shoulder. The touch made her flinch, but she turned to walk
towards the apartment.
He wanted to reach out and touch the girl.. To reassure himself that it was Buffy, alive. But WHY was she alive, if it
really were her?
Giles moved toward the door, stealing hesitant glances at the all too
familiar face.
The Slayer walked past Giles, emotionless, and entered Giles' living room.
Giles watched Buffy walk into the living room, utterly confused. He gave Oz a desperate look.
"I don't know how much more I can take," he said. He could FEEL his
world turning itself upside down.
Oz walked over to him and stared up at the taller man.
"Giles, *you* don't have to take it. You're not alone here. Remember? I said I would help. And I will. Whatever you
decide." Puttinh his hand out, he grabbed a hold of Giles and squeezed it before letting go. He would be there for Giles,
but he had to do this first. The ex-Watcher slowly followed Buffy in, then, and stood just a few feet from the door staring
at her. Then, he shook his head and fetched a glass of water and pressed it into her hands.
"Gods.. I just-I mean.. Oh, please let this be real. Please have really come back to us, Buffy."
Oz stood in the doorway and watched them. He was close enough to support Giles if he needed it, but far enough away if
they needed privacy for this, whatever it was. Reunion, confrontation, reconciliation?
/This better not be some Hellmouth evil. Giles has been hurt enough...we all have, by this./
Buffy looked at Giles when he said this, and her eyes welled up again.
"Oh, Giles" Buffy drew the ex-Watcher in for a hug. She didn't want to let go.
Giles choked on a sob. "B-buffy.." he breathed as his arms went around her. He held her close, afraid that if he let go,
he'd be left with the mists of a dream.
"Welcome home," he said softly, still holding the young woman he'd come to see as a daughter.
Buffy smiled back. Then she realized that Oz was still there.
"Hey, Oz."
He'd watched them from the doorway, so they'd at least have a little
privacy, but he kept near in case this was a trick.
/But it isn't a trick. It seems to be really Buffy./
"Hey."
/So far so good. And Giles looks a lot happier now already./
He came in closer and stood in front of them both.
/Do I hug too? I want to./ He looked at them and led out his arms.
Giles smiled and held out one arm to pull Oz into a group hug. He was ignoring the rational, thinking part of his brain
that kept telling him that this shouldn't be happening, that Buffy was dead and buried. And yet, he was holding her.
He'd seen the tears in her eyes. And he desperately WANTED to believe.
Being held by them both, Oz felt safe. He put his arms as far around the two of them as he could and shut his eyes.
/What a day. I go to Buffy's grave, I have *that* talk with Willow, fall into this whatever it is with Giles, attack
Spike...and now Buffy is back too. Alive. How? Why now? Why not earlier?/
Yawning, he opened his eyes to look at them. Giles looked so happy now, Buffy made him complete, it seemed. Good thing he
wasn't jealous.
/Well there was that Xander thing but this is different, I know the love Giles has for Buffy is paternal, not something
induced by years of longing, then suddenly having, like Willow did with Xander. Why am I thinking about that? This is big.
Real big/
"Do we call the others? Or wait till tomorrow?" They would want to know, but it was late. On the other hand, after the whole
Faith deception of 'Angel is bad again' thing a couple years back keeping things from them was of the bad. They should be
told right away.
Giles slowly let go of Oz and Buffy. He nodded. "I probably should, even though I don't have any idea how THIS happened.."
He moved away slowly and headed for the phone, and went through the list.
Willow was ecstatically suspicious.. One didn't live long on the Hellmouth by NOT looking the gift horse in the mouth.
Spike was with Ripper.. Gods only knew where those two had ended up. So.. The twins.
He dialed the number slowly, hoping they had made it home safely.