Rupert Giles was a man of the world, knowledgeable on the ways of life, the mystical and the other worldly; but still he found himself learning. Learning about those who he thought he had always known. On this occasion, he visited the home of his Slayer and her...husband. The arrangement, the marriage, was not one of which he had originally approved. But slowly, he was learning.
The house was covered in a silent darkness as he headed to the kitchen for a glass of water, but an unexpected sight before him caused him to stop dead in his tracks. The...husband of his Slayer stood in a pool of moonlight, cradling his new baby girl and feeling her from a bottle. Giles couldn’t help but shift uncertainly, not wanting to interrupt this intimate scene between father and daughter. His eyes were drawn to the way the cold moonlight shone on the baby and her father’s bare chest, melding them together as one. The image pulled him back into a memory he had long since forgotten.
A rough grip on the leather lapels and he slammed the vampire against the shelves.
“We are not your friends. We are not your way to Buffy. There is no way to Buffy.”
He felt his stomach lurch at just how wrong he’d been and he made to turn away.
"Something I can help you with, Watcher?"
His voice rang out a gentle murmur, but still caused Giles to jump.
"No, no. I just had some trouble sleeping."
The man’s eyes shone with an understanding warmth and he smiled gently, looking down on his baby.
"There's a lot of that goin' around. Isn't there, baby girl?” He cooed, rocking her carefully in one arm and stroking her cheek with his thumb. “Yeah, who's Daddy's little girl?"
The little blonde cherub gurgled happily up at her father, blue eyes wide open and dainty fingers grasping at his pinky.
Giles took some tentative steps closer, peering down at the baby. "She's very beautiful."
"Takes after her mother.” He moved his daughter closer to her Uncle Giles, passing him her tiny clenched hand. She gripped onto Giles’ finger for a second, before reaching for her father’s familiar hand with an amused cry. “Stubborn too," he added with a chuckle.
"She's got your eyes," he whispered in wonder. Giles could feel himself getting lost inside those young, innocent pools of baby blue and another memory flashed before him.
“There’s a connection. You rely on him, he relies on you. That’s what’s affecting your judgment.”
He felt a lump rising quickly in his throat, tears welling in his eyes. He wondered how he could have been just so wrong. He wondered how he could have been so sure of himself, so unwilling to see things through the eyes of his Slayer. And for the first time, he heaved a sigh of relief that he’d been so mistaken.
"She's certainly her father's daughter.” He swallowed hard, clearing his throat. “You should be very proud."
“I’ve never been more proud, mate. After all,” he touched his nose lightly against hers. “This shouldn’t have been possible, but she found her way to us.” He let out a light-hearted laugh when she giggled contentedly against his chest. “Who’s a clever girl?”
The two men were silent for a moment, content simply admiring the little girl when a soft voice called out.
"Spike? Is everything—Oh, Giles!"
Spike gave his wife a tired smile and turned their baby her way to let her place a gentle kiss on her forehead. They murmured their adoration when the little girl stretched her limbs and let out a tiny yawn.
“I think she’s ready for bed again,” Spike said cheerfully as he suppressed his own yawn. “Better get back upstairs. Night, Watcher.” He gave Giles a respectful nod of the head before kissing his beloved and making his way out of the kitchen.
“Your feelings for him a colouring your judgment. I can hear it in your voice. And that way lies a future filled with pain. I don’t want that for you.”
Giles felt his heart racing, knowing that he had to make amends. He wanted to make sure that she knew he’d acknowledged his mistake and knew how sorry he was for doubting her decisions. He wanted to tell her how proud he was of the young woman, the Mother, that she’d become.
"Buffy, I—it’s nice.” She turned to him, brows raised pleasantly in question. “To see you so happy.” He took her hand in his. “Spike...he's a wonderful father. And I—I’m sorry for—"
She cut him off with a raised hand and a gentle smile.
"Please, Giles. That was a lifetime ago. We’ve all changed.” She moved to seat herself on a kitchen stool before adding quietly, “I think he was always meant to be a Father, I even get jealous at how well he does it sometimes. He’s such a natural; but fate made him a vampire and...” Trailing off, she sighed and shrugged. “I’ve been so lucky." She looked up at him suddenly, sitting straighter.
“Look, Giles. I’ve been meaning to ask you. Spike and I, we don’t really have much by way of blood-related family. Just got Dawn, really. And you’ve always been like a Father to me...” She bit her lip nervously. “I wanted to ask if you perhaps...wanted to be her Grandfather? Or an Uncle with Grandfatherly status? Whichever one you’d prefer.”
“Oh, Buffy,” he gasped and pulled her in for a tight hug. “That would make me incredibly happy. It’d be my pleasure.”
This was it, his second chance to make things right. And he’d make sure he’d do right by Buffy and her little girl and Spike.
Yes, he’d make thing everything right again.
Fin~