Title: Following His Heart 2/2
Author:Katy Hart
Disclaimers: Joss and them own all; I'm just borrowing for fun.
Silence followed his echoing statement. He had taken that last step and followed his heart. He hadn't meant to say it in this way. But she could be so infuriating at times. There was no taking it back. Neither knew what to say. Buffy just sat there. He worried that she would hate him; turn away with one of her patented `ewwws'. He started to get up, ready to leave. She put her hand on his arm.
"Took you long enough."
Now it was his turn to be stunned. A small twinkle appeared in her eyes and a smile played across her lips.
"What did you say?" he stammered.
"I said it took you long enough. Of course it took me a while to realize it too. When we went on that vision quest, the First Slayer said I was full of love. But that I was afraid to love for fear of losing it."
Giles remembered the quest very well and her mocking of the sacred ritual.
"At first I thought she was talking about Dawn. Then I walked back to you. There you were in that magic circle, waiting for me. That look on your face when you saw me, that's when I knew you loved me. That's when I started to realize that my feelings for you were changing. Course if wasn't until I was plunging to my death that it clicked. I love you Rupert Giles, all it took was me dying to get it."
She smiled at him, a bit of the old Buffy shining through. It took a moment for everything she said to sink in. She loved him. It was everything he hoped for, all his dreams come true. He reached out to touch her cheek. Her hand covered his and pulled him close. As he leaned in to kiss her his heart was beating erratically in his chest. She closed her eyes; she'd been waiting for this moment.
It was soft and sweet, gentle and questioning. He pulled her into his lap, wanting her closer. She wrapped her legs around him, arms draped over his shoulders. His tongue begged entrance and she opened for him. Passionate, burning, the kiss seemed endless. When they broke apart, they regarded each other with wonder.
"Wow," Buffy said finally. "I should have told you sooner."
"Too late to go back now. I have loved you for a long time Buffy. Now I know you feel the same way, I won't be going anywhere."
"Good to know," she chuckled. "A Slayer needs her Watcher, especially now."
He scowled, moving her back to the floor. She frowned at the loss of contact.
"I meant what I said earlier. You really shouldn't have to be doing this. You are the longest lived Slayer, you deserve to retire."
"But unless Faith dies and another Slayer is called, it ain't happening."
"I've been thinking about it, while I was in England. There is a way. If Faith were to technically die, like you did at the hands of the Master, another Slayer could be called. There is a ritual, very rare, virtually unknown in the Council. It would sever your connection to the Slayer powers."
"Giles no! We can't kill Faith; she's been working so hard towards her redemption. And what would I do without being the Slayer?"
"Finish college, find out where we stand, get married, have children, grow old."
"Being the Slayer is who I am, Giles. And Faith, I know I hated her for a long time, but….wait, did you say married?" she looked at him.
"Took you long enough," he smiled, throwing her words back at her.
"We just found out we love each other and you're talking marriage?"
"Buffy, I thought about it for so very long, I never imagined I would have that chance with you. But yes, that's what I want. I want to marry you, have children with you, and grow old with you. That's why I want you to retire, so you can have that, so we can have that."
He took her hand in his, his eyes pleading with hers.
"You want to marry me?" she whispered.
"More than anything. Would you Buffy? Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"
It was a step he was willing to take. He had followed his heart this far, why not further. She didn't deserve him, didn't deserve his love. But if the Fates were allowing her this chance at happiness, who was she to let it go?
"Yes, I'll marry you," she said, tears slipping down her cheek.
He wiped away the tear with his thumb, kissing her gently. He pulled off his onyx pinky ring and slipped it on her finger.
"Just for now, I'll get you something better later."
"I don't need anything else. It's yours so that makes it the best."
He smiled at her logic before kissing him again. She sighed against his mouth before pulling back and looking at him.
"So, tell me about this ritual."
They got married in the backyard a month later. The Scoobies had been overjoyed. They'd all known the couple belonged together. It was a small ceremony held in the evening so Spike and Angel could attend. Both vampires knew in their undead hearts Giles could give her everything they could not.
Angel had arranged a temporary release for Faith to attend. When they filled the L.A. group in on the ritual, the former rogue Slayer agreed to help. There was a pill she could take that would stop, but only long enough for her to be technically dead. Long enough for another Slayer to be called.
Two months later, when the Council found themselves with three active Slayers, they agreed to the ritual for Buffy. She would slowly lose her powers, but not before she could help the new Slayer adjust to living on the Hellmouth. She could now live her normal life.
Which is how the Scoobies ended up at Sunnydale Memorial nine months after that. Xander and Anya had a grand wedding, demons and the Harris clan aside. Willow had grieved hard when Tara was killed by a drunk driver, but was holding up well. Which was good considering Spike, giving up on Buffy, had developed an attachment to her. They made a rather interesting couple. Dawn was growing into a fine young woman thanks to all the positive role models she now had.
"Shouldn't they be out by now?" Xander asked, pacing.
"They come when they come. Babies take a long time to be born, especially first babies and Buffy's having twins," Willow pointed out.
"Do stop pacin' Harris, you'll wear a hole in the floor," Spike snarled. "`sides which, you're just worried cause it'll be your turn soon enough."
Anya sat calmly reading a magazine, her hand rubbing her pregnant belly.
"Yeah but we're only having one. Can you imagine having twins? They're gonna be the kids of an ex-Watcher and an ex-Slayer. Think they'll be special?"
"They'll be special regardless, because they're Summer Gileses." Dawn pronounced.
"Quite right," came the familiar tenor.
"Giles!" they all cried, jumping up.
"So tell us, how's Buffy?" Willow prompted.
"She's fine, she's wonderful," he smiled. "You can come and see them for yourselves."
The gang all followed and crowded around the bed. Buffy looked tired but radiant.
"Hi guys," she said. "Meet the youngest members of the Scooby gang."
She cradled a baby in each arm. Giles walked over and picked one up gently. The love surrounding them was plain for all to see.
"So what'd you name `em?" Spike asked.
"Well it took a while to decide, but I think you'll like them. For middle names we chose mom's and Giles' dad's names. For first names we went with Scoobies gone, but not forgotten. This is Tara Joy," she pointed to the babe in her arms. "And that is Daniel John," she indicated the babe in Giles' arms.
Willow had tears flowing down her face at the mention of her two former lovers. Spike desperately tried to calm her down. She wiped her tears with the tissue he offered. Then she looked at the happy couple.
"They'd be honored, I'm honored."
"I know, Will, maybe one day Oz will show up to meet his name sake."
"Well he'd have a lot to answer for if he does," Spike growled.
Everyone shot him a glare.
"What? Just trying to protect Red, she's been through enough heartbreak as it is; don't need wolfie causing any more."
Buffy was amused at his devotion to her friend. Giles wondered if he'd ever truly loved Buffy. Both agreed the witch and the vampire knew what they were doing and decided not to interfere, letting them find their own happiness.
"So does this mean we have to name our baby after someone here?" Anya asked, diffusing the tension.
"No An, it doesn't. It's just sometimes nice to do something like that," her husband replied.
"Oh good, I really didn't want to name our son Rupert or Spike, no offense."
Everyone laughed, taking no offense whatsoever. The Scoobies soon left to go home, Dawn staying with the Harris' for the night. The twins were sleeping in their bassinets, next to the bed.
"They're beautiful love," Giles said, kissing the top of her head.
"And they're ours. I like the sound of that, ours."
"Well they're yours for three o'clock feedings."
"Giles!" she hit him playfully.
"Kidding. I love you, Buffy."
"And I love you, Rupert."
They kissed gently, holding onto one another as it turned more passionate. Just then one of the twins started crying, soon followed by the other. Buffy and Giles separated sighing.
"Well you did want normal," he said, handing her Tara as he took Daniel.
"I know, and I couldn't be happier."
END