A Different Life
By Rari Coss

For complete headers including Disclaimer please see part 1.

Joyce answered the front door when the doorbell rang. She smiled when she saw Xander and Willow. "Hi. Buffy's not here. She's training."

Xander and Willow exchanged a look. Willow spoke. "We know. We sort of wanted to talk to you."

Joyce's eyebrows rose. "Well, come on in. Do you want some hot chocolate?"

Xander grinned. "Got any marshmallows?"

"Of course."

"Count me in."

"Willow?"

"Yeah, that would be great." They both followed Joyce into the kitchen. Joyce had Dr. Rupert Giles' business card in her pocket. Buffy didn't feel safe just leaving it around, afraid it might get thrown away, and she refused to have it with her anywhere near Wes. He was always taking things away from her if he thought it was distracting her. Buffy was always complaining about all the books and magazines he'd taken away from her over the years. So, she had left it with her mom, with strict instructions to keep it safe.

Joyce bustled around the kitchen making the three of them hot chocolate. After she was done she sat down with them at the table. "So, what's on your mind?"

Again, Willow and Xander exchanged a glance. Willow wrinkled her nose. "Was Buffy sort of weird last night when she got home?"

Joyce pursed her lips. "What do you mean?"

Willow launched into her story. "Well, she just was acting kind of goofy last night like she didn't know anything about her life. She thought you were dead and that she had died when she jumped off that thing. She acted like she didn't even know that Wes was her Watcher."

Xander chimed in. "Which is the only thing that makes sense to me. You know, being in denial, about that." Xander went back to his hot chocolate. But then he remembered something else. "She didn't even remember who the school librarian was and that is not something that you could ever forget. Ever."

Willow gave Xander a look and picked up again. "And then she thought Xander was engaged and I was…well…never mind. She just seemed so confused and sad last night and well, we were sort of worried about her."

Joyce took a sip. "She thought I was dead?"

"Yeah, when she found out you weren't she took off so fast I didn't even see her go."

Joyce thought about what Buffy had been like last night when she had gotten home, the tears, the rib-bruising hug. She touched her pocket where the card was. "Buffy…"

Willow and Xander both leaned in. Willow encouraged her. "Buffy…?"

Joyce looked at the two of them. Buffy couldn't have stauncher friends. Joyce was constantly amazed and grateful at their dedication to her daughter. Nodding her head she pulled out the card. She held it up so they could look at it but she pulled it back when Xander reached for it. "No, you can't touch it. If something happens to this card Buffy will kill me."

Willow looked confused. "Who is he? Who is Rupert Giles, Ph.D.?"

Joyce let out a soft laugh. "Apparently, the love of her life." At the looks on their faces she laughed again and then she explained. She only told them about Buffy's life that ended up with her in London. She didn't want to talk about that other life. That would be Buffy's choice to share or not to share that with her friends.

When she was done Xander looked at her. "Do you believe her?"

Again Joyce laughed. "Xander, one of my daughters is a Slayer. Every night she kills creatures that 99% of the world doesn't believe in. My other daughter didn't exist until a year ago when some mystical monks made her to protect a key from a crazed god from another universe. They implanted an entire lifetime of memories in my head, in all of our heads. I remember giving birth to Dawn, holding her in my arms. I don't know what happened to Buffy, but I believe that something did."

Willow scrunched her face up. "Could she have dreamed it all while she was in that coma? She was in it for a while. Maybe she created this world for herself, because this one was kind of sad."

Joyce held up the card. "I would say yes to that, just like I'd say yes to almost any theory you might come up with, but it doesn't explain how she has this card." She turned it over. "It has his home number on it. Plus she knew who he was on the television. She knew things about him." She shrugged. "I don't know if any of them are true, but she seemed to think they were."

Willow was looking at the card. "What time is it in London right now?"

Joyce looked at her watch. "Almost one in the morning."

"So call the number, his office number. He won't be there at one in the morning. And if this is some sort of hoax, the number won't be his."

Xander nodded. "Someone might just be playing some major head trip on Buffy."

Joyce tapped the card on the counter, thinking. Then she reached for the phone.

***

Giles was still in his office. There was always plenty of work to do but the main reason he was still there was because he didn't want to go home. He didn't want to lie on his bed and think of Buffy. It was too painful. His phone rang. Looking at the source of the call he could tell it was the front guard. He pushed the speaker button. "Yes, Fred."

"Dr. Giles, I'm sorry to disturb you but there are two people down here who say they have to speak to you."

"Who are they?"

Giles could tell Fred was grinning by the tone of his voice. "One of them is Gwen. The other is a man calls himself Ethan Rayne. They say it's urgent."

"Let them in, Fred. Thanks. I'll come down to escort them up." After hanging up he looked at the clock on the wall. He couldn't imagine why they were there so late. Probably checking up on him. As he stood up and turned to leave his office the phone rang again. Assuming it was Fred again he quickly turned and hit the speaker button again. "Yes, Fred, what is it?"

There was a pause and then a woman's voice said, "Oh!" Giles heard whispering in the background. "What's the matter?" "Someone answered the phone." "Is it him?" "I don't know." "Ask him." Then the first voice spoke again. "Is this Dr. Rupert Giles?"

"Yes, who is this?"

Again the whispering. "It's him." A high-pitched squeal, "it's him?" "What do I say now?" "Ask him if he knows Buffy."

Giles' response to that was immediate. "Buffy? What do you know about Buffy? Who are you people?"

"You know Buffy? Buffy Summers?"

"Yes, where is she? I have to speak with her."

Joyce's voice was confused. "She's not here at the moment, but she lives here, with me."

"Who are you?"

"I'm her mother. Joyce Summers."

Giles sat down. "Her mother?"

"Yes. Something odd is going on and I thought…well I don't know what I thought but she seems to think she knows you so…"

"What do you mean, seems to think? Why is she there? Why did she leave London? Where are you?"

"In California. And as far as I know she wasn't ever there in London. She thinks she was. She has all these memories of an entirely different life that included going to school there in London and meeting you. Are you saying that actually happened?"

"Yes, we met a few days ago, on Saturday. We were supposed to meet for dinner on Wednesday night but she disappeared."

Ethan and Gwen burst into the office, a frustrated guard behind them. Gwen was waving a piece of paper. She spoke, her voice excited. "We found her. She's the Slayer, she lives in California, in a place called Sunnydale."

Giles' eyes opened wide. "She's the Slayer?"

At Willow and Xander's prompting Joyce had put the phone on speaker. At Giles' words all three sets of eyes across the Atlantic opened wide as well, although it was Joyce who spoke. "You know about Slayers?"

Giles looked up at Gwen. "Who's her Watcher?"

Ethan's voice was droll. "Wesley Wyndam-Pryce."

Giles snorted. "That prig?"

Joyce grinned. She loved this man already. Joyce spoke again. "Uh, Dr. Giles?"

Ethan looked at the phone. "Who's that?"

Giles shook his head in disbelief. "Buffy's mom. Joyce Summers."

Gwen spoke, disappointed. "You found her first?" She smacked Ethan. "We didn't have to break into the Council after all."

"No, she called me." Giles' brow furrowed. "How did you get this number?"

"Buffy had your business card. She saw you on television today and she started talking about you as if she knew you. Then when the report was done I asked her what was going on and she said…"

Giles prompted her. "What did she say?"

"Well, she said that she lived there as a student and the two of you met and fell in love. She said you gave her that card after you told her you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her." Joyce scrunched her face up waiting for his response.

"I did and I do." Giles still needed some more information. "So Buffy remembers coming here but you don't have any memory of it?" Giles sighed. "No one here remembers her either, except for me. I thought I was going mad." He turned to Gwen and Ethan. "Did you find anything else? Did the Council do anything?"

Ethan shook his head. "She's been the Slayer there for six years, although her first year she was in LA. Oh, there's a second Slayer too, named Kendra."

"How on earth is there a second Slayer?"

"Apparently Buffy died for a short time. She was revived but it was long enough that a second Slayer was called."

Giles' heart clenched at the thought of Buffy dying. He'd dreamed about it too many times. Joyce's voice interrupted his thoughts. "I don't understand. How do you know about Slayers and Watchers?"

"I used to be a Watcher. I quit the Council, though, about six years ago."

"She said you used to be her Watcher."

Giles' eyebrows lifted. "Excuse me?"

Joyce looked at Willow and Xander. "Apparently this life she's living now, it's her third. The first one was as a Slayer with you as her Watcher. The second one was with you in London and now she's the Slayer again but with Wes as her Watcher." There was a pause. "Somehow, she seems unable to live any life without you being in it, one way or another."

Giles looked at Gwen. "Gwen, please make me some plane reservations. I need to get to Sunnydale. Make it as soon as you can"

Gwen nodded and went to the office next door to use the phone. Ethan followed her. Giles reached for a pencil. "Before we do anything else, please give me your number. I almost lost Buffy because of that and I don't want to do it again."

Joyce gave him her number and her address. "Dr. Giles?"

"Rupert, please."

"Rupert, do you really love my daughter?"

"More than I've ever loved anyone. We belong together. I know that's a fairly existential excuse to give to a mother for stealing her daughter but it's true. I've been a lunatic since she's been gone. Did she tell you what happened? Why she left here?"

"Well, I'm not pretending to understand it all and Buffy can explain it better to you but apparently some demon granted Buffy a wish." There was a pause. "Her life as a Slayer with you as her Watcher, it wasn't easy for her. For some reason you had left…"

"I left her?" Giles was astonished. But then he remembered Buffy's dream. His voice was sad. "Buffy dreamed that while she was here. She dreamed that I left her."

"Well, this demon sort of fooled her into making a wish that she'd never been called and she ended up in the life with you in London. Then that night you were supposed to meet for dinner, the day you gave her the card, someone showed up and told her she'd have to go back. Actually they told her that you'd both have to go back."

"So why am I still here?"

"She refused to do that to you. A lot of bad things happened to you to as her Watcher. And apparently if you stayed a Watcher your sister would die, and quite a few of your friends would die and somebody named Ethan would go bad, although that might be the dog's name. I started getting confused after a while, plus I wasn't quite sure whether to believe her or not, to be perfectly honest. Anyway, she said you were happy in London and she told this person that they'd have to fix it so only she went back. And they did, which is why she has a third life now."

Giles felt tears prick his eyelids. Clearing his throat he spoke. "She did that for me?"

"She loves you too. She hasn't been happy for a long time, but when she talked about you, she was happy. She reminded me of how she used to be. You make her happy." Joyce paused. "I want my daughter to be happy, Rupert."

"I want her to be happy too. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"I believe you when you say you'll be here but how will that make her happy? You live in London. You're the Curator of the British Museum. She's the Slayer; she can't leave here. Your lives are on two different continents."

"Then I'll move there. I'm sure I can find something to do."

"You'd leave your life there for Buffy?"

"If that's what it took to be with her. I can't live my life without her." Giles leaned back into his chair. "Is she all right?"

"No, Rupert, she's not. But I believe she will be when you get here."

Gwen walked back in and handed him a piece of paper. "I'll be leaving for Los Angeles early this afternoon and I arrive at 6:20 tomorrow evening. How far is it to Sunnydale?"

"About two hours at that time of day."

Xander spoke. "I can go pick him up."

Gwen spoke up. "It needs to be a big car."

Giles looked up at his sister, suspicion on his face. "Why does it need to be a big car?"

"Well, we're going too."

"Gwen…"

"Forget it Ru, we're going. The tickets are booked."

Giles looked at her suspiciously. She sounded entirely too innocent. "Gwen."

"Okay, the dogs are going too."

"What?" Giles could hear giggles in Sunnydale. "Gwen, the dogs are not…"

"Ethan says they have to. He has a feeling about it, you know, one of those feelings." She emphasized the word those.

Giles frowned. Those feelings involved magic. And if Ethan felt the dogs had to go then… He spoke back into the phone. "Apparently I'm bringing an entourage with me. It might be easier to simply rent a car."

Xander shook his head. "Nah, I got plenty of room. Besides this way you'll get to Buffy faster."

That decided Giles. "Fine then, I appreciate it. I appreciate that you are taking so much on faith. You don't even know me."

Joyce spoke. "She knows you and she loves you. And that's good enough for me." There was a pause. "Rupert?"

"Yes, Joyce."

"What do we do about Wes? He won't approve. He'll try and stop it."

Ethan snorted. "Don't you worry about Wes. Ru here can beat the crap out of him."

Giles turned exasperated eyes to Ethan. "Ethan, could you please not help?" Turning back to the phone he sighed. "I'll deal with Wes. There is nothing he can do. Watchers are trained to do everything they can to keep their Slayers powerless. But the truth of it is that the Slayer holds all the power. Buffy can do whatever she wants. He has no way to stop her. The Council and Watchers can bluster all they want but they would never hurt a Slayer, except through manipulation and control."

"Is that why you quit? Because you thought that way?"

Giles shook his head. "No, I worked that out later, once I got away from them."

Joyce needed to say one more thing. "Rupert, she may not be as you remember her. In this life she's been a Slayer for six years. She's burdened by her life, it hasn't been easy for her."

"I'll make it up to her, I swear."

There was another long pause and then Xander spoke. "Give me your flight details. You said you get in at 6:20? What airline? Should I meet you at your gate?"

Willow spoke up. "I don't think they let you up to the gates anymore."

"Right, okay, I'll meet you at Baggage Claim. Or do we need to find customs? And what do you look like?"

Giles let out a soft chuckle. "Baggage claim is fine. We'll be going through customs in New York. United Airlines. And I'll be the one with the parade behind me."

Joyce chuckled too. "I'll put the news on. I'm sure there will be more reports about the dig and you should be on the news again." She paused. "That's very exciting news by the way. How can you just walk away from that?"

"I can still be involved as a consultant of some sort. I can fly to London when they need me, for that matter I can fly to Egypt. I'll probably get even more involved this way, I'll probably actually get to the dig site."

"And they'd just let you do that? Just switch like that?"

Giles knew how valued he was. "Yes, if it meant they could keep me around they'd work something out. I don't mean to sound immodest but…"

"No, I understand. You're clearly well thought of. I'm glad. I'm glad that being here doesn't mean that you'd have to walk away from all of it."

"It wouldn't matter. I would if that's what it took." Giles pursed his lips. "Will you tell her I'm coming?"

Joyce thought for a second. "No. I know you mean to come, and I do believe you plan to arrive here when you say. But on the off chance that something happens, if all memory of this phone call fades away, or I don't know, something happens that postpones your arrival, I couldn't do that to her. I couldn't break her heart more than it's already been broken."

Fear clutched at Giles at the thought of forgetting this conversation. He started writing words on a piece of paper in hopes that it would still exist and might prompt him. "So, who is picking us up? I didn't catch your name."

"I'm Xander. I'm one of Buffy's best friends."

"And I'm Willow. I'll be there too. I'm her other best friend. I'm about Buffy's height, with red hair and Xander's tall with dark hair."

There was a pause all around. Then Giles spoke. "Right then, well, we'll see you later tomorrow."

No one really wanted to hang up in case it all went away. Finally Joyce spoke. "I'm looking forward to meeting you and seeing a smile on my daughter's face." With that she disconnected.

Giles sat there staring at the phone, waiting for a few moments. Then he turned to Ethan and Gwen. "You still remember this? That we were just talking to Buffy's mother?" When Ethan and Gwen both nodded Giles closed his eyes and leaned his head back. "Thank God." Then he lifted his head up and looked at Ethan, his brow furrowed. "The dogs? The dogs have to come?"

"Don't worry, I paid for them."

"That wasn't what I meant and I would be perfectly willing to pay."

"I know. But you know I can afford it. Besides you'd have flown us all economy. I booked us all first class." He sat down across from Giles. "I just know they have to be there. You just need to trust me on this one."

Gwen grinned. "And I certainly wasn't not going to go. This girl's probably going to become my sister-in-law. Besides, if you move to Sunnydale, I will too, so I want to see it."

"Gwen, I don't mean for you to…"

"Ru, you're all I have. I'm not going to live 8,000 miles away from you. Besides, my job's sort of transportable. I can edit books wherever I live."

Ethan sighed. "That means I'll have to move too." At their expressions he made a defensive noise. "What, you two are my family. What will I do without you here to properly annoy?" He grinned. "Besides, I can afford to put us all up while you two look for jobs." His eyes gleamed and he rubbed his hands together. "And two Watchers I can harass, that's almost reason enough to go."

Gwen tried to hide her grin. "But look, your flight leaves at 1:00, which means we need to be at the airport at 11:00. You need to go home and get some sleep and pack. Not to mention calling Nathan and coming up with some excuse as to why you're leaving the country and leaving him to deal with the press. He'll never forgive you for that."

Giles looked dismayed. "No, he won't. I'll suggest he put Susan Chin on press duty. She's the natural person to take over for me if I leave here, anyway. It will be a good opportunity for her to see just how hot this seat can get." He stood and Gwen was so glad to see the light back in his eyes.

Gwen touched his arm. "I'm so glad you found her."

Giles pulled her in for a hug. "Me too, Gwen." He pulled back and looked at them both. "Thank you, thank you for believing in me. I know I must have seemed like a madman."

Gwen smiled at him. "Well, that's what sisters and best friends are for."

Smiling back at her Giles stood and shut off his office light. The three of them left the museum together.

***

Joyce, Willow and Xander sat in front of the television set waiting for news of the dig to appear. Joyce was on the couch, Willow and Xander sitting on the floor. Finally it was on and Joyce pointed. "There he is."

It was mostly the same stuff from earlier. Now that Joyce was seeing him in a whole new light she thought he looked sad too. It touched her heart for some reason. She was suddenly looking forward to seeing him smile. The whole thing seemed so surreal all of a sudden. Willow leaned towards the set. "He's kind of old."

Joyce glared at Willow. "He's exactly my age, thank you very much."

Willow made a nervous face. "Did I say old? I meant mature, wise." She looked at Joyce, hoping she'd said the right thing.

Joyce grinned at Willow, shaking her head. "I'm sure he does seem old to you, I'm sure I must seem old to you. But Buffy doesn't seem to care."

Xander pursed his lips. "He looks kind of important. Seems weird that Buffy would have such an important guy in love with her."

Willow smacked Xander. "She's like the most important girl in the world. Why shouldn't she have someone important love her?" She sighed. "He's awfully good looking."

Joyce nodded her head. "He is that, for sure." Joyce had sort of given up on the hope of a relationship. There was someone she was interested in but after all this time she didn't think it would ever turn into anything. "Very handsome." She was thrilled for Buffy and jealous all at the same time. "The Curator of the British Museum." She shook her head again. "I can't believe I just got off the phone with him."

Willow grinned. "I know, it seems so weird. I can't wait to see Buffy's face when we show up with him." She looked up at Joyce. "Do you think we'll have some sort of sparky thing? I mean we must have been in that life of Buffy's when this guy was her Watcher. Do you think he'll remember us?"

Joyce shrugged. "Willow, I have no idea. He doesn't seem to remember being her Watcher although he did dream about it, at least Buffy said he did." Again she shook her head. "Who knew that the Curator of the British Museum would be an ex-Watcher?"

Xander looked up at Joyce. "You seem really hung up on the British Museum thing."

Joyce grinned self deprecatingly. "I do, don't I?" She laughed. "I just love that museum. I don't suppose Buffy could have picked a guy with a job that would thrill me more."

Xander snorted. "Well, if he moves here, he'll probably be washing dishes with me, so don't get too excited. Not much call around here for ex-Curators of the British Museum."

Joyce poked Xander with her foot. "He could work at the Sunnydale Natural History Museum."

Xander snorted again. "I'm sure that would be a career challenge."

"Well, he could teach at U.C. Sunnydale. Buffy said he taught at the University of London."

"Again, quite the vertical career move."

Joyce gave up. "He said he didn't care. He said he'd figure something out."

Xander heard a nervous tone in Joyce's voice. "I'm sure he'll stay. I mean a guy who chases down invisible girlfriends that he's only known a few days, I color that committed." He grinned at Joyce. "I was just giving you a hard time." He pointed at the TV set. "A guy like that? He'll land on his feet." Xander got a speculative look on his face. "And maybe he'll take me with him. I could get used to having someone important as a friend." He took in Joyce and Willow's looks. "Not that you guys aren't important." Xander sighed. "Do you really think he'll beat up Wes?"

"I can only hope." When both Willow and Xander turned around to look at her in surprise, Joyce grimaced. "Did I say that out loud?"

Both Willow and Xander grinned and turned back to the TV. The section regarding the dig ended. Joyce stretched. "Well, now you know who to look for."

Xander nodded. "I still say the two dogs will be a dead giveaway."

Joyce looked at the two of them sternly. "And you may not say a thing about this to Buffy." She looked even more sternly at Willow. "Willow?"

Willow squinched her face up. "I know. I know. I'm just so bad at this. Maybe I better just go before she gets home. She'll know something's up just by looking at me." She stood and Xander stood as well.

Xander checked his pocket to make sure he had the flight information. "When next we see you it will be with your potential future son-in-law in tow."

Joyce looked a little stunned as she let Willow and Xander out the door. "The Curator of the British Museum my son-in-law. Oh my."

***

Giles watched as Gwen and Ethan went to look at his dogs. Smiling softly at their retreating backs he closed his eyes and tried to get some rest. The night before he had hardly slept because he had been too despondent. And last night he had hardly slept because he had been far too excited. Blowing out another breath in an effort to calm down Giles shifted again in his seat. At least they were roomy seats. Thank God for Ethan and his money.

Giles never took advantage of it but sometimes it came in handy. And Ethan had been spending plenty of it. The amount of money that had changed hands just since they'd been on the plane had stunned him. But Gwen was worried about the dogs so Ethan had worked it out for her to see them. Ethan was convinced that everything was available for the right amount of money, and he was generally right.

Giles had known him since they were young lads in school and he loved Ethan like a brother despite his vicious sense of humor. Giles had often hoped that Gwen and Ethan would…well, Giles supposed that would never happen. They'd all known each other too long and if lightening was going to strike it seems as if it would have by now. Shifting again in his seat he started trying to count sheep.

Ethan followed Gwen down the narrow aisle way. They were squashed together tightly as they took the small lift down to the lower hold. As the cabin steward showed them where Ethan and Rayne were being held Ethan discretely handed him a large note. After Ethan reassured him that they could get back up on their own, the man left.

Ethan rolled his eyes. Even though it was what he wanted he couldn't believe the steward had left them down here alone. They could rifle though everyone's belongings. Ethan didn't respect very many people. They all had a price and it wickedly delighted Ethan to sometimes find out what that price was. There had been few people along the way that he hadn't been able to eventually buy. Two of those few people were this woman in front of him cooing at the dogs, and the man still up in the first class cabin. There wasn't anyone that Ethan loved and respected more than these two.

Gwen opened the door of Ethan's crate. Both dogs had been given a sedative so they were pretty groggy but their tails were thumping quietly on the grate floor of their crates. Gwen leaned down and put her face against Ethan. She crooned at him. "Ethan, how's my handsome fellow? You're being so good. I love you." While she spoke she caressed him the length of his body.

Ethan watched her, sitting at her side, as she stroked the dog and her motion mesmerized him. Coupled with the fact that she kept saying his name while she was doing it made it seem so intimate. He knew it was the damn dog's name she was saying but he could feel his body responding. Ethan shook his head. He didn't understand why he was responding this way. He'd known Gwen since she was in nappies and he'd always thought of her as a sister.

And yet, last night, at the Council, as he had pressed her against the wall to avoid being discovered by the guards, he had felt her body, felt her breasts, and the juncture of her thighs and it had surprised him how tempted he'd been just to stay there, to kiss her and run his hands over her body. And then just now, in the lift, again she had been pressed against him and he'd wanted her. Ethan looked at Gwen, how she was bent over the dog, the lush curve of her derriere enticing him. He groaned and pulled his legs up to hide his erection.

Gwen looked at him. "Am I driving you crazy? I know you hate it when I gush over them."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Oh please, gush away. We're stuck here on this plane for hours and your gushing is much more entertaining than watching Rupert sleep."

Gwen grinned at him. "You talk to Ethan now, while I go play with Rayne."

Her words further fevered his imagination. Snorting at himself he sat down in front of Ethan's cage and watched as Gwen went through the same stroking ritual with Rayne. Ethan scratched his namesake's ears and rubbed under his collar. He really did love the dogs; he just hated their names.

Gwen watched him out of the corner of her eye. She sighed. She watched as he tenderly touched the dog. Gwen knew that most people approached Ethan somewhat warily as he delighted in making people squirm but she had always trusted him. And she had always hoped that when she grew up that he might take an interest in her but he had always looked at her as a little sister. Gwen sighed again.

Ethan heard her. "They'll be fine, Gwen."

Gwen smiled sadly at him. "I know."

"So why the sad face?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm a little jealous of Ru."

"Jealous about what?"

"Him falling in love. Finding someone just for him." She took Ethan's hand in hers. They had always touched a lot; she knew he wouldn't find anything odd in that. "It just makes me feel a bit lonely."

Ethan looked down at their clasped hands and he caressed her thumb with his. He looked up at her and saw that she was also staring at their hands. She wouldn't meet his eyes so instead he assessed her body. He was a master at figuring out what someone's body was betraying, information that people generally didn't want known. He noticed her faster than normal breathing, the slight flush of her skin, and the tenseness in how she held herself. Ethan felt his own heart rate increase. He caressed her thumb again. "Gwen, look at me."

Slowly she lifted her eyes and what he saw there was enough. He leaned forwards and captured her lips with his. She let out a soft cry and pressed against him. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her wondering how he could have possibly denied himself her sweetness for this long. She pulled back after a while. "This isn't just because I said I was lonely is it? You're not just trying to make me feel better?"

Ethan felt insulted. "What, me be kind? Please." He touched Gwen's cheek. "I've loved you your whole life, Gwen. Now suddenly I find myself wanting you as well."

Gwen grinned. "Well it took you long enough."

Ethan's eyes widened. That was an unexpected response. "What does that mean?"

"Only that I've wanted you for so long."

"How long?"

"Since my first training bra."

Ethan let out a loud laugh and pulled her in for another kiss. "You foolish girl. Wasting your whole life pining after a reprobate like me." Ethan couldn't believe he had missed it. Him, the expert at reading people, had been reading Gwen wrong for too many years to count.

Gwen kissed him back with her whole heart. "It was worth it, you're worth it."

He pressed his cheek against hers. "How can you say that? I'm not a very nice person, Gwen. You know that."

"You are to me, you are to Ru. You've always been wonderful to me. Will this change that?"

Ethan shook his head. "No, I love you."

"That's all that matters." She pulled away looking a little worried. "I don't want children, do you care?"

Again Ethan laughed. "You don't know how relieved I am to hear you say that. Somehow I don't see myself as father material."

"But I'll want to watch Ru's children all the time."

"As long as we can give them back when I'm sick of them."

"I'll want dogs."

"As long as we don't name them after me, you can have a dozen of them."

"Will you take me places?"

"I'll take you anywhere you want to go. Just stick a pin in a map and we're there."

"I love the fact that you have money." She grimaced. "Is that really shallow of me?"

Ethan laughed. "No, it's refreshing. I know you've never given my money a thought, nor have you ever asked me for anything. I'm delighted to think I can lavish my wealth on you."

"Just think of the things we could do to help Buffy and Kendra. I mean if she's going to be married to Ru we have to do everything we can to keep her alive." She turned anxious eyes to Ethan.

Still chuckling Ethan hugged her tightly. "You may spend my money however you see fit. It does make me very glad that I have a rather endless supply of it, otherwise I might be quite nervous."

"Even when I'm PMSing I couldn't begin to make a dent."

Ethan looked at her with a grin. "I don't know. You do more shopping than anyone I know when you're PMSing."

Gwen grinned. It was such a relief somehow that Ethan knew everything about her. Even what her cycles were like. "I can't wait to tell Rupert. He'll be so excited."

"He'll probably cut my balls off."

Cupping them softly she shook her head. "I won't let him." Ethan groaned. "He'll say something sarcastic but he'll be thrilled, trust me." She kissed Ethan again, her hand still fondling him. Without disengaging she latched the dogs' cages. Standing she started to pull Ethan towards the back, out of sight.

Ethan allowed her to pull him but he raised his eyebrows in disbelief at the naughty look in her eye. "Gwen, you can't possibly…" Gwen shut him up with a kiss and she began to unbutton his shirt. Ethan threw caution to the wind and helped her.

***

A long time later they returned to their seats. Giles heard them and he opened his eyes and then he opened them wider. Giles took in the fact that the two of them were holding hands. He looked at them both and then again at Gwen as she settled in next to him. "Gwen, the cargo hold?" He glared at Ethan but Ethan just grinned back, unrepentant. He shook his head. "Assuming I ever get to sleep I shall now assuredly have nightmares. Thank you both so much."

Gwen leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you, Ru."

Giles smiled at her and squeezed her other hand. "I love you too." Glaring at Ethan one more time Giles settled in his seat again and closed his eyes. He could hear Ethan and Gwen settle closer together and as he finally started drifting off to sleep he had a smile on his face.

***

Giles had managed to get a few hours of sleep. Ethan and Gwen had gone down twice more to see the dogs. Gwen was glad the plane was landing as the sedatives had completely worn off and the dogs were going stir crazy. Someone had the dogs waiting for them in the jetway as they were getting off the plane. Giles raised his eyebrows but figured that this was just more of Ethan's money in play. Gwen was delighted and the dogs were beside themselves to see Giles.

After the happy reunion was completed Giles, Gwen, and Ethan with dogs in tow headed down towards baggage claim. Between the three of them they had six suitcases. One each for Giles and Ethan and four for Gwen. As Giles wrestled another one of hers off the conveyer belt he looked at her askance. "Honestly Gwen, what did you bring with you?"

"Well, Ethan just got us one-way tickets. I have no idea how long we'll be here before I get to go back and get more stuff. I had to bring something for everything. Plus I packed the dog bowls and some food for them."

Giles rolled his eyes. "Gwen, I am sure they sell dog food here. As well as bowls."

"But it may not be the sort they like. And things will be different enough for them without making them eat new food." She saw another one of her suitcases coming down the belt. She attempted to hand Rayne's leash over to Ethan but it dropped to the floor and that was all Rayne needed. He was desperate for a run. Taking off down the baggage claim concourse like a flash it was only a moment before they couldn't even see him anymore. Ethan handed the leash for the other dog to Giles and sprinted after Rayne. Giles just covered his eyes and groaned. Gwen nudged him. "Do you see him?"

"No, I don't want to look. Just tell me when it's over and to whom I owe damages." Giles could just imagine the passengers who were now lying on the ground, little old women with broken hips, children traumatized by being knocked askew by the racing dog.

"I'm hoping this belongs to you." Giles removed his hand, opening his eyes and saw a young dark haired man holding Rayne's leash.

Giles nodded and then looked at the young man again. Then he noticed the petite red head next to him. "Xander, Willow?"

Willow grinned. "In the flesh." She grimaced. "What does that mean anyway? It's kind of gross given what we know and all, you know, about things that actually eat…" Willow noticed Gwen. She leaned towards Giles. "Does she know?"

Giles grinned. "Yes, she knows." He introduced his sister. "This is my sister Gwen Giles. This is Xander and Willow. I'm sorry I don't know your last names."

Xander pointed at himself. "Xander Harris", and then pointing at Willow, "Willow Rosenberg." He noticed that Giles was looking at them intently. "Do I have something on my face? We ate right before we got here."

Giles let out a silent chuckle. "No, you both just seem so familiar. I had a few dreams when Buffy was in London and you were both there, in my dreams." He shook it off. "I can't really explain it."

Willow was willing to try. "Maybe those dreams were from Buffy's first life when you were her Watcher. I mean me and Xander were there too. Maybe you just remembered part of it."

"Do I seem familiar to you?"

Willow looked at him, her head cocked to the side. "Yes, you do. I mean not so I would have stopped you on the street, but with you standing here in front of me I just feel comfortable with you, really fast. And I'm not usually that comfortable with people I don't know."

Xander nodded. "She has stage fright even when she's not on stage."

Ethan came running up, bending over to catch his breath. "I couldn't…" He caught sight of Rayne. "That blasted dog, where did he come from?"

Xander grinned. "I caught him outside, looking a bit confused."

Gwen gasped. "He was outside? Oh my God." She got onto her knees in front of Rayne and threw her arms around his neck. "You could have got yourself killed."

Ethan stroked Gwen's head. "He's all right, Gwen." He followed the leash up to Xander's arm. Holding out his hand he spoke. "I assume you're Xander?"

Xander nodded. "Xander Harris, and this is Willow Rosenberg."

Ethan shook both their hands. "I'm Ethan Rayne." He turned to Giles. "Do we have all the luggage?"

Giles raised his eyebrows. "I have no idea, I was too busy imagining myself in court for the rest of my life to worry about luggage." He looked at Ethan. "Did you notice any moaning bodies around on your mad dash through the airport?"

Ethan grinned. "Nary a one. But perhaps we should take the dogs outside in case anyone is looking for them."

Giles nodded. "Good idea." He prodded Gwen. "You need to get the rest of your luggage. I don't remember what your other suitcases look like."

With one last hug to Rayne, Gwen got up and started looking at the bags going by. Giles went and got a luggage cart for Gwen and then left her and Ethan at the carousel while he, Willow and Xander took his bag and the dogs outside.

Giles was starting to feel impatient. He blew out a breath. Xander grinned. "She's fine. Don't worry."

Giles grinned, and shook his head. "Am I that transparent?"

Xander nodded, decisively. "It's like you're glass."

Willow looked up at Giles. "What should we call you? Buffy seems to call you Giles but isn't that your last name?"

Giles pursed his lips. "It is. But somehow it feels fine when Buffy calls me that, as if she always has. But, please, call me Rupert, or Ru."

Xander grimaced. "Rupert. Did your father hate you or something?"

Giles glared. "It's a family name and I'll thank you to treat it respectfully."

"You got it, big guy." He looked down at the dogs. "Who are these guys anyway?"

Giles pointed at first one dog and then the other. "Ethan and Rayne."

Xander's brow furrowed. "Isn't that guy's name in there Ethan Rayne?"

Giles grinned. "Yes it is."

Ethan walked out pushing a loaded luggage cart. "Yes, it is my name. And I had it long before Rupert here got the idea of pawning it off on a couple of mongrels."

Xander looked at Willow. "Promise me if you ever get two dogs that you won't call them Xander and Harris."

Willow nodded seriously. "I promise."

Gwen came to Giles' rescue. "Now wait a minute. Ru only named the dogs after Ethan because Ethan played a terrible joke on him. It was a fitting and just revenge."

Xander's eyes lit up. "What did you do to him?" He grinned when he saw Giles cover his face with a hand.

Ethan grinned back. "I got him very, very drunk one night and took pictures of him dancing on the tables. Then I blew them up into poster size and put them on all the office doors at the museum."

Xander choked out a laugh and gave Ethan a look of pure admiration. Willow looked horrified and she glared at Xander. "If you ever did anything like that to me I'd buy two rats and call them Xander and Harris."

Giles let out a sigh. "Yes, well now that you've all had a laugh at my expense may we please move on?"

Willow tucked her arm in his and grinned. "We're parked this way."

Giles grinned down at her and patted her hand. "You'd buy rats, you say?"

"Ugly rats."

"I wish I'd thought of that."

Willow giggled as she directed Giles to where the car was parked.

***

Wes was annoyed with Buffy. Which was nothing unusual, except that tonight he was particularly annoyed with her. She'd been very distracted the last two days during training and both days Kendra had come out the victor in every sparring match the girls had. It was humiliating. Wes was the senior Watcher here, so his Slayer should be superior at all times.

He decided that he better go out on patrol and watch his Slayer in action. If her slaying technique while out in the field was as sloppy as her movements over the last two days then he was really going to have to step up her training. He knew he had been too lax by allowing her to spend time with those two friends of hers. Not wanting to have it interfere with his necessary sleep regimen he decided that they should all go out on an early patrol so he could observe her.

So far it had been a fairly quiet night and other than being able to make some snide comments about Buffy's atrocious use of the English language he'd had no satisfaction at all from it.

***

The closer they got to Sunnydale, the more nervous Giles became. Willow kept patting him on the leg and despite her kindness Giles was starting to feel like one of the dogs. It was a tight fit between all the passengers, the two dogs and the luggage. That wasn't helping either. Rayne was practically sitting in his lap and he wasn't a small dog by any stretch of the imagination.

He tapped Xander on the shoulder. "Could you drive a little faster? I know I'm being a nuisance but…"

Xander looked at his speedometer and grimaced. "It's about maxed out. This baby doesn't do much over 65."

For about the tenth time Giles wished he had just rented a car. A very fast car. Curbing his impatience he looked out the window. He knew that it wouldn't really have got him there any faster because he'd have had to take the time to rent it and then work out where he was going but it frustrated him to be this close and yet so far away. And he couldn't seem to ease past the tension in his gut that something was going to go wrong.

***

Joyce kept looking out the window waiting for them to arrive. Wes had shown up unexpectedly and insisted that Buffy go out early to patrol. Without spoiling the surprise there was no reason for Joyce to refuse. She did get a somewhat tenuous itinerary out of them.

She blew out a breath and let the curtain fall. Joyce was almost sorry she had let Dawn sleep over her friend's house. She could have used the company. She wished she had thought of having Xander call once they connected. For all she knew Xander and Willow were still at the baggage carousel waiting for a phantom to arrive.

***

Giles almost gasped with relief when they passed the sign that said Welcome to Sunnydale. Xander looked in his rearview mirror and grinned. "Almost there, it takes about ten minutes to get to her house from that sign."

Giles smiled tightly in return and nodded. He knew he was being a nervous wreck but he couldn't help it. There was still so much that was unknown. She'd lived another entire life. Suppose she was too changed. Suppose she found that once faced with him that she couldn't love him, suppose she had a lover. That thought made Giles grit his teeth. It was almost worse being this close, this close to the thing that mattered most to him in the world and with no idea how things would turn out.

He was grateful that Gwen and Ethan were with him. If things turned out badly he wouldn't have to make the return trip alone. He had to grin when he thought about the two of them. Giles wasn't quite sure what had triggered the change in their relationship but he was thrilled. Gwen would be safe with Ethan. And Ethan would be a better man for Gwen.

***

The vampires came out of nowhere. They rarely congregated in these numbers but Wes couldn't even count them. Not that he tried very hard. Buffy and Kendra were in the thick of it punching, kicking, working off each other. Sam was standing over by Wes, watching Kendra closely, wanting to be available to her if she should need him. He held a stake in each hand. Wes was taking notes, shaking his head and making tsk tsk noises.

Sam shook his own head. Sometimes he couldn't stand Wes. Sam took it upon himself to watch out for Buffy as well and he continued to watch the girls fight, unconsciously mimicking their movements by the shifts of his body. It seemed as if they were getting the best of the vampires. One suddenly loomed over him but before he could even get his stake up Kendra was there turning the vampire to dust. Sam flashed her a grateful look. He offered her another stake as that last one had gone to dust as well. She took it and he pulled out another one.

***

Joyce let out a cry of relief when she saw Xander's car pull in the driveway. She pulled open the door and waited to see who would get out. The first ones out were a man and a woman that she didn't recognize. Then two dogs got out and ran up to her, circling her with delight. Then they promptly went and peed on her lawn. Finally she saw him. He got out the other side of the car and she watched him blow out a breath and square his shoulders.

Xander and Willow got out of the front seat and Xander waved at Joyce. "The British reinforcements are here."

Joyce grinned nervously. She headed over to the car wanting to greet Rupert first. He lifted his head and saw her. Walking quickly around the car he held out his hand. "You must be Joyce. She looks so much like you."

"Welcome to Sunnydale, Rupert. I can't believe you're really here. I was just watching you on the television again."

Giles let out a short laugh. "I'm afraid I've left my staff somewhat stymied by my abrupt and somewhat unprecedented departure. It will take them a couple of days to rally and send a new victim out to face the press. Then my face will be gone, at least for the time being."

"Do they know why you're here?"

"No, I told them it was a family emergency and that I'd contact them when it became clearer as to how long I might be gone."

"For instance, the rest of your life?"

Giles grinned somewhat ruefully. "Exactly. I'd rather make that sort of announcement in person and with a plan already in place, with all the right people already forewarned. They expect I'll be back, at this point." He glanced up at the house and his brow furrowed. "Is she here?" Giles was beginning to think that she wasn't.

Joyce let out a frustrated noise. "No, Wes came by and decided he wanted to observe her patrolling. And that means an early patrol. They left about 30 minutes ago."

The nervousness in Giles' gut increased. He tried to shake it off and went to make the rest of the introductions. "This is my sister Gwen Giles, and my friend Ethan Rayne. This is Joyce Summers, Buffy's mum."

Gwen gave her a hug. "Isn't this exciting? I've never been to America and for it to be for such an adventure just makes it even better."

Joyce hugged her back, already feeling that she and this woman could be good friends. She shook hands with Ethan and took in the fact that Gwen and Ethan were obviously a couple. Giles finished with the dogs. "And this is Ethan and…" He looked around, "…and that's Rayne." Off her look he explained. "Yes, they have the same name as my friend. It's a long story which I'm sure, to my utter humiliation, will be thoroughly explained to you." Giles sighed.

Joyce stared at him. He was even better looking in person. He still wasn't looking happy, though. More nervous now than sad, but not happy. Hopefully that would be rectified soon. She pointed to the house. "Would you all like to come in while we wait?"

Giles hesitated. "Do you know where she is?"

This time it was Joyce who hesitated. "I have a rough idea, but Wes doesn't like anyone to intrude unless it's an emergency." She scowled. "Or rather something he would consider an emergency important enough to interrupt him."

Giles looked at her seriously. "I know this sounds mad, but perhaps no madder than the rest of this tale, but I fear something has gone wrong. I feel as if Buffy needs my help. It is beyond presumption to ask but will you show me where she is? I'll accept full responsibility for Wes' wrath."

Joyce saw the seriousness on his face and nodded. "We can take my car." As she looked at the determined faces around her she raised her eyebrows. "We'll need to take both cars if everyone wants to go." She went in the house and retrieved her keys. Giles went with Joyce with the two dogs in the back seat. Ethan and Gwen followed with Xander and Willow.

***

In one moment it changed. Buffy was fighting the last vampire, Kendra was talking with her Watcher and Wes had filled up several pages of his notebook. Then the vampires struck again. All four of them were attacked and separated. Kendra and Buffy worked their way to their Watchers to clear the vampires away. As Kendra got to Sam's side he managed to stake the vampire that had been seconds away from biting him. He gestured Kendra away. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Go help Buffy."

Wes was screaming. A vampire had latched onto him and was attempting to stop the squalling creature he had a hold of long enough to get to his neck. Wes didn't even have a stake on him so all he could do is flail at the vampire. Buffy finally fought her way clear and grabbed the vampire by his collar and yanked him off of Wes, staking him. Wes kept yelping and brushing himself off as if the vampire dust was burning him.

Kendra let out a yell and Buffy turned to see her fellow Slayer inundated with vampires. Sam was trying to pull vampires away from her and getting beaten for it. Buffy left Wes to go help. Wes screamed out. "No, don't leave me." He crouched down and hid behind a tombstone, his eyes darting all over the place.

Buffy staked a vampire just as it was about to grab Sam. "Sam, take Wes and get out of here."

"No, there's too many of them. We all have to leave."

Buffy kicked a vampire in the face and finally she and Kendra were standing back to back. The vampires were circling them. Kendra kept one eye on the vampires, and one eye on Sam who was trying to stay nearby and yet out of sight. Kendra spoke softly. "There are so many, why are there so many?"

Buffy shook her head. "I don't know. We need to get out of here."

"We'll never make it. You and I might but we'll never get our Watchers to safety."

"You and Sam can make a break for it. I can watch your back."

"Then you and Wes will die."

"Better than all of us dying."

"No, I think I will stay. I will not leave you to face this alone."

Buffy smiled even though she knew Kendra couldn't see. "Then let's go down fighting. Are you ready?"

"Ready."

Both girls jumped the vampire nearest to them. The element of surprise was briefly on their side but they were already tired and there were too many of them. Sam leaped into the fray and got a couple of vampires himself before he too found himself surrounded.

***

Giles was gripping the seat tightly. Joyce noticed his grip. "Am I driving too fast?"

"No, not fast enough." Joyce looked at Giles. He was sweating. His eyes closed and he let out a moan. "Hurry, Joyce. We don't have much time."

Joyce stepped on the gas. Fortunately it didn't exceed the speed available to Xander's old car and both vehicles hurtled through the neighborhood. They had already tried two cemeteries without any success. Joyce was trusting to luck as opposed to the brief itinerary she'd been given and was racing towards the closest cemetery. Joyce didn't know if she could also tell that Buffy was in trouble or if she was merely picking up on Giles' anxiety but her own heart was beating hard within her breast.

Giles pointed. "There. Stop the car." All he could see were vampires. Whoever else was here, and Giles knew that included Buffy, they were in serious trouble. He gave a quick mental prayer of gratitude that Ethan had insisted on bringing the dogs. They hated vampires almost as much as vampires hated them. As Joyce came to a screeching halt he turned to her. "Stakes, do you have stakes?"

She pointed to the glove compartment and he snapped it open grabbing a handful. Shoving a couple in his pocket he held one in his hand as he opened his car door. He quickly opened the back door gesturing to the dogs. They were already snarling. He gave them an order. "Protect." Both the dogs took off.

***

Buffy knew she was going to die. There were too many. Three of them had her pinned down and a fourth was punching her. She knew it would only be a minute before it decided to feed. She could hear Kendra's cries and longed to go to her aid but as soon as she got one limb loose they'd grab her again and restrain her.

***

Ethan was out of the car before Xander even stopped. He looked back in. "Stakes, crossbows? What do you have?"

Xander leaped out of the car. "All of the above." He opened the trunk and Ethan's eyes lit up. He grabbed a crossbow for Gwen and one for himself. Then he shoved a stake in his pocket. Grabbing Gwen by the arm he warned her. "Stay close. I mean it, Gwen. No heroics."

Gwen nodded. Xander had grabbed a few stakes of his own. He tossed one to Willow and Joyce. Joyce heard Buffy scream and her heart froze in her throat.

***

The vampire had grown tired of beating the Slayer and was ready to feed. Turning Buffy's neck he leaned down over her. Suddenly two shapes appeared as if from nowhere and knocked him off of her. Buffy let go with a scream before she could help herself. They had moved too fast for her to see what this new danger was. The attack had taken the vampires by surprise and they let their grips loosen in the confusion and that was all Buffy needed. She yanked free and sprang to her feet only to find herself surrounded by two labs, one golden and one chocolate. Their barking hurt her ears and they looked deadly as they stridently barked out their displeasure at the unholy ones around them.

Buffy couldn't stop looking at the dogs. It was too much to hope for but they looked just like… She lifted her head and saw that several other people had joined the fight. Shaking off the mystery she moved quickly and staked two vampires in rapid succession. She noticed Wes still cowering by a tombstone, clearly having not considered that perhaps he might come to her aid. She looked for Kendra and saw that she was being helped by Sam and two people Buffy didn't recognize. Then she realized that she did know the woman. She gasped as she recognized Gwen.

And then she saw him. He was running towards her. One of the dogs had started harrying a vampire, herding him towards Giles. Giles stopped to stake him, an easy kill as the vampire was focused entirely on the dog. Giles took a second to praise Rayne. Rayne took off to find another vampire. When Giles looked up again it was to find Buffy staring at him.

Most of the vampires were dead or on the run now. As the action died down more heads turned to watch the reunion. Tears were running down Buffy's face. Giles walked the rest of the way to her. He lifted up his hands and wiped her tears away with his thumbs. It was all he could do not to break down and cry himself. It had been so close. If they'd arrived only a few seconds later she might have been dead. Buffy looked at him in wonder. "You're here."

"Where else could I be? You're here."

"You remember me?"

"Oh Buffy. I haven't had a single other thought in my head, but you."

Buffy shook her head in disbelief. "How did you find me? How can you remember me? I didn't even go to London."

Giles cupped one of her cheeks in his hand. "We're meant to be together, Buffy. I don't think anything could keep us apart, not for any length of time."

Rayne and Ethan were snapping at another vampire. Buffy's eyes opened in alarm as he got dangerously close to Giles. Suddenly a crossbow bolt shot through the vampire and he exploded. Buffy looked for the source and she saw Gwen grinning at her.

Buffy grabbed Giles' arm to keep her balance as Ethan knocked into her as he raced by. Giles laughed. "He's doing it again."

Buffy looked up at him, confused. "Who's doing what again?"

"Ethan, knocking you down."

It finally sank in. "You really are here. You're really standing right here in front of me." A smile started to form on her face.

Giles grinned, the knot in his stomach finally melting away at the look on her face. He reached for her and she leapt into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time and placing kisses everywhere she could reach. Giles spun her around and just held her tight.

Joyce let out a sigh, as she fought back some tears. That was the look she wanted to see. Sheer happiness. On both their faces. A shadow loomed over her and a vampire knocked her to the ground in his efforts to be rid of Rayne. Joyce was about to let out a scream when Sam was there shoving a stake through the vampire's heart. He reached down a hand to help her up.

She gasped a little. "Oh, thank you Sam. I didn't even see him." She began to brush the vampire dust off of her body. As her hands ran over her breasts Sam averted his eyes. Smiling tightly at her he moved over to stand by Kendra. Joyce's eyes followed the black man as he walked away.

Ethan moved to her side. "You'll have to tell him."

Joyce turned startled eyes to him. "Excuse me?"

Ethan gestured with his chin to Sam. "You'll have to let him know you're interested. There are too many reasons for it not to happen, racial reasons, cultural reasons, Watcher reasons. He would never presume."

"What makes you think I…"

Ethan just looked at her and Joyce found herself dealing first hand with Ethan's disconcerting ability to read into a person's heart and mind. Then he grinned. "He's interested too. But you need to let him know." Moving over to Gwen he put his arms around her as Gwen just stood there grinning watching her brother make a fool of himself in public.

Xander and Willow were grinning too. It had been a long time since they'd seen Buffy this happy. Willow leaned into Xander. "We did a good thing."

Xander put his arm around her. "We are the champions of unsucking our best friend's life."

Wes had finally pulled himself together. He looked around and saw that thankfully no one seemed to be paying any attention to him at all. Then just as quickly he found himself annoyed by that. He could have been hurt. Looking around his eyes searched for his Slayer. His jaw dropped as he found her embracing a man and…and kissing him.

Wes stormed over to the two of them and tapped the man on the shoulder. "Unhand her at once."

Buffy could feel the tension shoot through Giles. Giles spun around and thrust Buffy behind him. "Now you protect her?" Giles had seen Wes cowering behind a tombstone. Cowering in fear while his Slayer was about to lose her life.

Xander prodded Willow who was talking to Joyce. "Hey, watch this, this ought to be good." Both Willow and Joyce looked up. Everyone snuck in a little closer, not wanting to miss a word.

Wes sputtered. "What do you think you're doing? I insist that you let her go."

Giles hit the pad of paper that Wes had in his hand with enough force to send it flying to the ground. "Why, so you can take more notes?"

"Those notes are essential. They could save her life one day."

Giles leaned towards Wes. "She almost just died and you did nothing to help her."

Wes waved his hand, totally unaware of the danger he was in. "Slayers are always in danger. She would have been fine."

"How would you know? You were sniveling behind a tombstone."

Wes drew himself up to his full height. "I was doing no such thing. I was merely staying out of the way. I might have gotten hurt. A good Slayer always puts her Watcher…" Wes didn't finish his sentence as Giles finally gave in to temptation and punched him, knocking him to the ground.

He was livid. "A good Watcher always puts his Slayer first. Always." He looked around and found Sam. "Sam was helping Kendra. Where the hell were you?" As Wes tried to get up Giles put his foot on his chest and he bent down. "Wes, I've never liked you. You are a sanctimonious prig with delusions of grandeur. And now it is appallingly clear that you are also a coward. You don't deserve to have a Slayer."

Kendra started to go protect Wes but Sam held her back. Sam pursed his lips and looked at her. He had kept quiet too long. It was time for him to sit down and have a long talk with Kendra. She needed to learn to enjoy a few things, and to stop thinking that slaying was all there was to life and that Wes was the last word in Watcher wisdom.

In disgust Giles moved away from Wes taking Buffy with him. Buffy looked back nervously at her Watcher still lying there on the ground but then she nestled closer to Giles. Joyce was watching Giles with her mouth open. Xander punched him in the arm. "Boy, when you say you'll take care of Wes, you're not fooling around, are you?"

Giles let out a disgusted noise. "I can't abide him." He turned to Sam and put out his hand. "Sam, it's been a long time."

Sam grinned and took Giles' hand. He had always liked Rupert and had been sad when he had quit the Council. "Too long. Are you planning to stay?"

Giles looked down at Buffy and smiled. "Yes, I'm staying."

Sam laughed. "Well, this will make things interesting." Still laughing he walked over to Wes to help the man up.

Giles was explaining to Buffy that Gwen didn't remember her and then reintroduced them. Gwen swept Buffy up in a hug, which Buffy was very glad to return. Then Giles introduced her to Ethan. She hesitated when she saw him. Looking up at Giles she found him grinning at her. "He's okay. That was just a dream."

Buffy shook her head. "Not for me."

Giles' lips tightened. "I'm sorry. But he really is okay in this life. He's a friend, one I trust."

That was good enough for Buffy, at least for now. Buffy smiled at her mom. "Mom, this is Giles." Just saying it was enough to make Buffy start to cry again. Giles held her from behind, pulling her in tight against his chest.

Joyce smiled at her daughter. "We've met."

Buffy turned confused teary eyes up to Giles. He smiled down at her. "She called me. Your mum called me."

Buffy turned her eyes back to her mom. "You called him?"

Joyce turned to Willow and Xander. "It was Willow's idea."

Willow wanted to share the credit. "Yeah, but Joyce told us about him and showed us the card."

Xander grinned. "We just got back from picking him up at the airport."

Buffy let out a cry and launched herself at her mom, hugging her tightly, grinning over her shoulder at her friends. Joyce caught Giles' eyes and the two of them grinned at each other.

Wes and Sam were walking up to the group. Wes was whispering loudly. "Rupert Giles, the Rupert Giles, the one that left the Council and is the Curator at the British Museum? What is he doing here?"

Sam couldn't keep the grin off his face. "Well, apparently he and Buffy are…" He searched for the right word but couldn't find it, as he himself didn't really understand what was going on. "Well, apparently he is going to be staying here."

Wes looked horrified. Then frowning he marched back up to Giles. "I should have you arrested for assaulting me."

Xander grinned. "Who assaulted you? I didn't see anyone assault you." He looked around. "Did anyone see someone assault Wes?" Everyone was shaking their heads. Kendra looked as if she might speak up but a look from her Watcher silenced her.

Giles grinned. "I'm crushed that you didn't remember me when you first saw me." He indicated Ethan. "Maybe you'll have better luck remembering Ethan."

Wes blanched. He did remember Ethan. Ethan may have played some practical jokes on Giles but they were nothing compared to the practical jokes he'd played on Wes. Wes practically stuttered. "How long are you in town for?"

Ethan grinned wickedly. "Oh, didn't Sam tell you? I'm moving here too." His eyes sparkled. "Yes, we're going to be one big happy family."

Wes turned back to Giles. "I'll call the Council. I'll tell them you're interfering."

"Please do. I'll be glad to talk to them and share a vision of how you comported yourself this evening." Giles got in Wes' face again and poked his chest with an index finger. "I shan't interfere with your Watcher duties unless I feel they are against Buffy's best interest. You may schedule a reasonable training program, and she will of course have to patrol and deal with any supernatural threats, but the rest of her time, and what she chooses to do with her life, are none of your concern. If you are wise you will see that you now have many more resources at your command, all of which will be leant towards keeping Buffy and Kendra alive. But push me and I will make your life miserable."

Joyce still held Buffy in her arms and she watched the two men fight. She wanted to get down on her knees and thank God for bringing Rupert Giles here. He was saying everything she had wanted to say to Wes but had been too fearful to because of her own lack of information. But this man knew what he was talking about. He'd been a Watcher. And he liked Sam, and Sam clearly liked him and as far as Joyce was concerned that was a high recommendation. Joyce gave Buffy a squeeze. "I like him, this man of yours."

Buffy had been watching the exchange with wide eyes. She knew that she never would have stood for Wes in her old life, in fact she hadn't. She had quit the Council rather than work with him. But in this life she had been somewhat cowed by him. She felt the chains start to fall away, Giles' words beginning to unlock her own power. Looking up at her mom she giggled. "Isn't he wonderful?"

Joyce's heart leaped for joy at that giggle. She looked up and saw Giles standing there, having turned again away from Wes. Joyce let go of Buffy and turned her. "Yes, he is." Joyce gave her a little push and Buffy moved into Giles' arms.

She breathed him in. "I still can't believe you're here."

He held her tight. "Neither can I."

***

Sam tried to offer Wes a lifeline. Things could only get worse if he couldn't walk away with some dignity intact. "Wes, why do you suppose there were so many vampires? Some research might be in order."

Giles knew what Sam was doing and he walked away so as to not interfere.

Wes nodded. "Yes, I think perhaps we should. It was most unusual. I just received some new books, perhaps I can see if there's anything of use in them." Realizing that he was about to walk into Ethan, Wes hurriedly moved around him.

Sam nodded. "Do you require any assistance? I know you often work better on your own. I'd hate to interfere with your concentration."

Wes pursed his lips. "Yes, you're quite right. I'd best have a go at it alone first. I'll contact you if I need some assistance." Wes looked for Buffy and his eyes narrowed as he saw her again in Giles' arms. "Buffy, training tomorrow at 2:00. Don't be late."

Buffy kept a tight hold on Giles. "I won't." Wes humphed his general displeasure and stiffly walked away. Buffy looked up at Giles and grinned. "Down boy. After all, despite his general ookiness he is my Watcher. I don't think I should let him get punched more than once a day."

Giles let out a laugh. "I can't believe I did that. I usually have a bit more control than that."

Ethan let out a laugh of his own. "Don't you believe him. When someone that he cares about is in danger it's best just to get out of his way."

Buffy looked up at Giles. "I'm glad you did it, although I suppose that doesn't make me a very good Slayer. It made me feel all protected and girlie. And as a Slayer, that doesn't happen very often."

Everyone started heading back to the cars. Buffy pulled Giles back. "Can we walk home? So we can talk?"

Giles touched her face. "Of course." Buffy walked over to her mom and told her that she planned to walk and Joyce just smiled and gave her a hug.

Ethan joined him. "You look happy."

Giles smiled. "I am happy." He looked at Ethan. "Thank you, thank you for everything."

Ethan shook his head. "You never have to thank me, not for anything." He gestured towards Buffy and Joyce. "Will you spend the night there or should I book you a room?"

Giles shook his head. "I haven't thought that far ahead." He let out a short laugh. "She lives with her mum. That presents some practical difficulties."

Ethan laughed. "You mean how do you have sex with Buffy with her mum down the hall?"

Giles scowled at Ethan and ran a hand through his hair. Then he grinned, shaking his head at his friend. "The thought had crossed my mind."

Ethan slapped him on the arm. "Better you than me. I, on the other hand will be enjoying…"

Giles put up a hand to stop him. "Don't say another word or I'll have to punch you too."

Ethan just grinned. "I'll leave a message with Joyce as to where we're staying. I'll book a room for you just in case. You'll need one eventually anyway. If we don't hear from you tonight we'll hook up tomorrow."

Giles nodded and them smiled as Buffy walked back over to him. He pulled her in tightly. "Everything all right?"

She smiled and let out a satisfied sigh. "Everything's perfect."

Giles said goodnight, thanking them all again and then he and Buffy headed off on foot, Ethan and Rayne happily trotting along.

Buffy looked down at the dogs. "They're pretty handy to have around."

Giles looked at them. Rayne was barely a shadow in the darkness. "That they are. They always know when a vampire is around and they're excellent at matchmaking." He grinned down at Buffy and she grinned back. They walked for a bit and then Giles stopped and looked at her. "The Slayer." He smiled sadly at her. "Joyce tells me that in one of your lives that I was your Watcher. And that I left you and went back to England." He shook his head. "I'm sorry for that."

Buffy rested her head against his chest. "It wasn't entirely your fault. I was…" She looked up at Giles. "Can we not talk about this now? Because that whole last bit of that life…really, really sucked. And right now, I really want to be happy."

Giles smiled softly down at her. "We don't ever have to talk about it. I just brought it up because I want you to know that I won't be going back to England this time."

"You're staying here? How can you stay here? What about your job? You love your job."

Giles moved them to a bench. He wasn't worried about vampires, knowing that the dogs would alert them if any were around. "Buffy, I do love my job. But nowhere near as much as I love you. I can always get another job but when I thought I'd lost you, I nearly went insane." He kissed her. "Your mum told me what you did for me. That Gwen and Ethan…" He turned away for a moment, overcome with emotion. Buffy laced her fingers through his and he turned back to her. "I can't ever thank you enough for that, although I would not have chosen for you to pay this price."

Buffy held his hand tightly. "Just like I couldn't choose it for you. How could I have asked that of you, after seeing how close you and Gwen are? How much you love these dogs of yours. I know I just said I didn't want to talk about it but you have to understand that that life, with you here as my Watcher, it was bad for you. You were so unhappy. So many bad things happened to you, mostly because of me. Someday I'll tell you about it, if these memories stay in my head. I sort of wish they'd go away. I don't understand why I have them all. I don't understand why you remember me." She touched his face. "Once I got back here I really didn't think that you would have any memories of me at all." She laid her head on his chest again and he wrapped his arms around her.

"I knew something had gone wrong. Even before I got to the restaurant. I knew it. I waited there for the longest time before I finally went home. Then Gwen didn't remember you and the next day neither did Nathan or Susan, or even the school. They had no record of you ever having been there. It was as if you had dropped off the face of the earth." He squeezed her tightly. The memories were still painful but were fading with her in his arms. "I had no where to turn to, I wondered if I was going mad. I could still feel you in my arms, remember making love to you." He shook his head.

She pulled back and touched his face again. "I saw you on the TV. I started talking about you to my mom. Good thing I'm the Slayer and she has to believe a lot of unbelievable things or I'd probably be in the nuthouse right now. It hurt so bad to see your face and know that I'd never see you again or touch you again."

Giles lowered his face and kissed her. The kiss grew passionate and Buffy was practically crawling into his lap to get closer to him. Their tongues mated as their hands explored each other. Giles groaned as his hands fisted in the fabric of her shirt behind her back. As one of the dogs began to bark he reluctantly pulled back to see if there was any threat.

Giles peered into the darkness for a while and then turned back to Buffy. "False alarm." He lowered his head to kiss her again.

Buffy put her hand up to stop him. He looked at her, curious. She smiled shyly at him. "I need to tell you something." She covered her face with her hands and let out a moan.

Giles grew concerned. "Buffy, what is it?"

Buffy took her hands away and scrunched up her face. "I'm a virgin." She covered her face again.

Giles' eyebrows rose high on his face. "How…?" He stopped. "You never…?" Then he started to smile.

Buffy braved a peek. When she saw that he was smiling she brought her hands down and frowned at him. "What's that smile for?"

Giles had the grace to look a little ashamed. "Well, as loathe as I am to admit it I find that the fact that you are still a virgin delights me."

Buffy shook her head. "Why are you loathe to admit that?"

"It makes me feel as if I'm little more than a caveman. I thought I'd progressed past that point in my evolution."

Buffy giggled. "Why does it delight you?"

"Because it means that you will entirely belong to me. That I'll be your first and your last." He grinned at her. "Do I sound hopelessly romantic? Gwen is always telling me that I am."

Buffy laughed a little breathlessly. She answered the only way she knew how. "I love you. I love you so much."

He swept her up in a hug that would have been painful if she hadn't been the Slayer. "I love you too."

Buffy's eyes were bright when she pulled out of the hug. "Suppose my mom hadn't called you? Suppose you hadn't been on TV?"

"It wouldn't have mattered. Ethan had already broken into the Council and discovered that you were the Slayer. He arrived to tell me that, he and Gwen, just when your mum called. She just made it easier but I would have found you. Nothing would have stopped me from finding you."

Buffy let out a happy sigh but she was still curious. "Suppose he hadn't broken in. What would you have done then?"

Giles pursed his lips. "Well, Ethan has an obscene amount of money. I probably would have asked him to hire someone to find you."

She ran a hand down his face. "You really were going to find me, weren't you?"

"If you were in this universe. That was my biggest fear, that you had never really existed at all, or that you were from the past or the future, or someplace where I would never find you again." He laid his forehead against hers. "That thought was unbearable to me." He began to kiss her again and again the passion rose. Giles pulled away.

Buffy moaned and tried to pull him back. "Where are you going?"

Giles let out a frustrated laugh. "Well, if you were the same woman I met in London I'd probably take you behind that crypt and push you up against a wall but you're not and it changes things."

Buffy felt a warmth flow through her at his words. "Why does it change things? I still remember making love with you. I still remember all the things we did."

Giles let out a groan. "Buffy, please, I'm trying to be a gentleman and you're making it very difficult. I'm not rutting with you in a cemetery for your first time. And I can't imagine your mother would think very highly of me if my first night in town I spirit you away to a hotel room. Nor do I feel comfortable deflowering you with her right down the hall."

"Even if I promise to be very quiet?"

Giles barked out a laugh. "Based on the last time we were together I find that an unlikely promise."

Buffy blushed but then she moved closer to Giles. "I don't want to wait."

"Trust me Buffy, neither do I, but we're going to." He stood. "In fact, let me get you home."

Buffy let out an unhappy sigh. "I liked it better when you were a caveman."

Giles laughed. "We may have to wait a little while but I promise you that as soon as I can I will be kissing every inch of that delectable body of yours and I plan to keep on doing that until I'm in my grave."

Buffy reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss. "Don't make me wait too long."

Giles groaned again against her lips and pulling her towards him tightly he kissed her deeply. And while the two dogs kept guard they kissed and slowly all the fear and anguish of their separation slipped away.

***

Epilogue: 2 years later

Wes didn't know what had happened to his life. He knew the when and who of it but not the what or why. The who was Rupert Giles and the when was the day that he moved to Sunnydale. But he still didn't understand why Giles' arrival had somehow taken his orderly and fairly predictable life and scattered it to the winds.

He put his finger in his collar and ran it around his neck to try and get more comfortable. If this trend continued he'd have to buy a tuxedo of his own. Three weddings in two years.

The first had been his Slayer. Married. It was unheard of. He'd fully expected to be fired when he informed the Council. They'd gotten married a month to the day that Giles had first arrived in Sunnydale. The Council had certainly not been pleased but there wasn't much they could do about it. And Wes had not been fired much to his relief.

Wes might not have liked it but he knew when he was outgunned. And he wasn't a stupid man even though it had taken him a while to get past his pride. But he had and he had taken advantage of Giles' offer and the resources that now flowed his way were stupefying. And the improvements in Buffy's slaying skills took his breath away. Along with her independence had come a fire that Wes hadn't even known was there and it made her so much stronger. He was ashamed that he had kept it doused so long. Of course, these days she wasn't slaying much.

The next wedding had been Ethan and Gwen. Now that had been a grand wedding. Ethan would have put on an equal fete for Giles and Buffy but they had wanted something simple. Not Ethan. He loved the spectacle and no expense had been spared. And again, Wes had been invited to be a part of the wedding party. He knew they were all working together to soften him up and he had to admit it was working. Life seemed better these days.

He felt an arm thread through his and he looked down. Willow stood on her tiptoes and kissed him gently on the mouth. "You look very handsome."

Wes smiled. "Well, I'm glad you think so. That's the one good thing that can be said about it."

Willow grinned at him. "I do think so. You look very yummy. I can't wait to get you home alone."

Wes blushed. He looked around. "Willow."

Willow giggled. "Sam was looking for you. It's time for you to go do your best man stuff."

Wes nodded. "I'll see you afterwards then, shall I?" Willow nodded and lifted on her toes again to kiss him and then she headed towards the back of the church as Wes headed for the front.

***

Buffy stood in front of her mother. "You look so beautiful." Her eyes were bright with tears.

"Not as beautiful as you look to me." Joyce rested her hands on the pregnant belly of her daughter.

"I feel silly walking down the aisle when I'm as big as a house."

Arms closed around her from behind. "Don't be. You look wonderful." Giles grinned at Joyce. "And you do look lovely, Joyce. Sam is a lucky man." Buffy turned her head to get a kiss from her husband.

Gwen moved to stand next to Joyce. "Besides don't feel bad. You won't be alone." Gwen ran her hands down her even larger belly.

Giles grinned at his sister. He still found it quite amusing that she would be the first of them to have a child. And while Ethan had been a nervous wreck at first, now he had graduated to mother hen, to both Gwen and Buffy. "Where's your shadow?"

Gwen glanced quickly at Joyce and then shook her head at Giles as if to keep him quiet. "He's just taking care of something."

Giles rolled his eyes and just hoped that whatever Ethan was up to that it was something good. Ethan liked to arrange things. And moving to Sunnydale had been right up his alley as there had been so many things to arrange. He and Ethan had talked at great length about his career options. Giles had been right and the museum was willing to keep him on in any capacity. He went to England as a consultant every couple of months and had been a frequent visitor to several of the museum digs.

But he had needed to find something here in Sunnydale and after long deliberation Giles decided to try teaching full time. It was something he had always loved to do in London. When he showed up at UC Sunnydale to meet with the Dean he had found that Ethan had gotten there before him. Coincidentally someone had just made a staggering endowment to set up a new school of History, Classics and Archeology. The Dean had been somewhat dazed to have been given so much money and then have someone with the credentials of Rupert Giles show up in his office but he had rallied and hired Giles on the spot as Department Chair.

Giles let his eye roam over the rest of the assembled group. It had taken Joyce a while but she had finally talked Kendra into being a bridesmaid. With her Watcher prodding her on one hand and Buffy setting an example on the other, Kendra had slowly been coming out of her Slayer enforced shell. She was still quiet and, when possible, chose to be in the background. But that was becoming more difficult these days as finally she and Xander had started dating and he liked the limelight.

Giles grinned at Willow as she bounced around visiting with everyone. Giles loved Willow. And Willow had been so good for Wes. She had seen something salvageable in him much sooner than the rest of them had, and Giles was grateful to her for that. Giles had changed his mind about Wes and decided that he wasn't a prig after all. Giles was actually proud to have him as a friend these days.

Ethan came in and shut the door behind him. He winked at Gwen and she grinned back. Joyce and Sam would be riding to the airport in style. He looked at Joyce. "Are you ready? I think everyone's here." There were quite a few guests. Many of Joyce's clients were here as well as her personal friends. Courtesy of a chartered flight that Ethan arranged Sam's family and friends from Jamaica had also made it to the wedding. And Sam was well thought of at the Council and quite a few fellow Watchers were here to celebrate the day with him.

Joyce nodded. The women lined up in order of their progression. Gwen would be going first, then Kendra, Willow, and then Buffy as the maid of honor. Ethan kissed Gwen, pressed his hands to her belly and after Xander kissed Kendra on the cheek the two of them hurried to their seats.

The music started and at a nod from the wedding coordinator Gwen started her march. As the women slowly made their way down the aisle Giles took his place next to Joyce. He had been somewhat stunned and extraordinarily honored when she had asked him to walk her down the aisle. He looked at her, his eyes bright with affection. "Thank you again for this honor."

She smiled at him and shook her head. "It seems fitting, somehow, doesn't it? It all happened because of you."

Giles shook his head. "It all happened because of Buffy, and she happened because of you."

"Rupert, you've made her happy and you've made her laugh again, and now you're making me a grandmother. You've made so many of my own wishes for her come true. There isn't anything else you could have given me that matters to me more."

Gently taking her arm and weaving it through his he rested her hand on his forearm, covering it with his other hand. "I feel the same way. You gave me your daughter."

She blew out a shaky breath. "Don't make me cry, my mascara will run."

Giles laughed and kissed her on the cheek. And as he received the signal he stepped forward and walked Joyce down the aisle.

***

That night Buffy and Giles shared another dream. Giles knew where Buffy was even though he had never been there because she had spoken of it so often. She was curled up on the couch where in her first life with Giles as her Watcher, the two of them had had so many of their conversations, including the one when he told her he was leaving.

Her eyes were open but she wasn't looking at anything in particular. It was quite evident that she was feeling sad and that her thoughts were far way. She didn't even notice as the door to the training room opened.

A voice spoke. "Buffy?" She didn't respond so he spoke louder. "Buffy?"

Buffy's eyes opened wide and she sat up straight, her expression stunned as she took him in. "Giles?"

He smiled. "Yes, it's me."

Without conscious thought she was up and across the room and throwing herself in his arms. Giles' arms closed tightly around her and they held each other for a very long time. Finally she pulled back and stared up at him. "You're back." She touched his face in wonder. "I can't believe you're here." Buffy frowned. "Was I supposed to know you were coming?"

Giles let out a silent chuckle. "No, it was a surprise, even for me."

Buffy's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I tried to stay away. I tried to make a new life for myself. But how could I when you're here? My heart is here, with you." Buffy's eyes filled with tears. Giles wasn't finished. "So, I'm back. I'm back if you'll have me. I know I hurt you by leaving."

Buffy hugged him tightly again. "I don't care. I don't care about anything as long as you're here and as long as you're staying." She began to cry, the first tears she had cried in a long time.

Giles walked her over to the couch and he sat down, bringing her with him. He enfolded her in his arms, letting her cry herself out against his chest. His eyes were damp as well as he rested his cheek on the top of her head. "I missed you so much."

Buffy sobbed out the words. "Nothing's been right since you left."

"I'll never leave again, I swear it."

Buffy just cried harder, crying out all her pain, and all her loneliness. "So, you'll stay, for real?"

"I'm here to stay. I understand it now. I belong here with you. I never should have left."

Buffy wanted to crawl inside of him. Instead she just held on tight, feeling her connection to life and to wholeness start to grow again.

***

Buffy and Giles both woke from the dream with tears on their faces. Giles pulled Buffy in and hugged her so tightly she could hardly breathe. Pulling away from him she touched his face, wiping away his tears. "Did you dream that too?"

Giles nodded and wiped her tears away.

Buffy's realities superimposed themselves. Her hand stayed on his cheek, staring at him in wonder. "You came back. You came back to me."

Giles looked at her, his heart so full of love. "I belong with you Buffy. No matter what life you have, no matter how different it is, my place is with you. It always will be."

Buffy let out a cry and holding his face in her hands she kissed him. She closed her eyes as she felt something shift inside of her, the memories of her first life somehow coming to closure and growing more distant, those wounds finally able to heal. And as he kissed her back she let his love for her sweep her clean of those hurts and fears and filled with joy, she claimed this life.

The End

January 18, 2002