Title: Peace on Earth
Series: Magic Season (12/12)
Author: Kerry Blackwell-Dustin
Email: magicbox@whitehats.co.nz
Pairing: B/G, W/T, S/Dawn
Further disclaimers etc in part 0
The house was finally silent; everyone snug in their beds. This one in particular was wonderfully comfortable - a huge king size with a prefect mattress, an abundance of pillows and a goose down quilt for warmth. Buffy snuggled closer into her husband's embrace with a happy sigh.
"So it was a good Christmas, was it?" Giles asked quietly.
"Wonderful," Buffy agreed drowsily.
"Even if we weren't at home?"
"Shut up," Buffy muttered, refusing to get into an argument. Giles had one arm wrapped around her and she was spooned up against his chest with her head resting in the crook of his other arm. It was much too comfortable a position for arguing.
She felt his silent chuckle, but magnanimously ignored it.
"We produced good kids, Rupert," she said suddenly. "I always believed you could do that - look at what you did for me and Willow and Xander - but I don't think I really believed I could be a good mother. We did a good job."
His embrace tightened for an instant. "We did," he agreed. "Our kids are doing a good job with their kids too. And I never doubted your ability to be a wonderful mother."
"I did," Buffy admitted. "I tried to pretend I was on top of it, but I was so out of my depth, especially getting two at once for starters."
Giles kissed the back of her head. "You were and still are a wonderful mother. Stop doubting yourself, love. The proof is in all the amazing human beings sleeping in this house."
Buffy giggled. "Our not. What do you think Hazel and her Greg are up to?"
"Since they're sharing a room with Melanie and Joy, probably not very much," Giles pointed out.
That made Buffy laugh harder. "Very true. Did you hear that Hazel had promised to go to Shedd Aquarium with Wes and Susan and the kids tomorrow? As soon as Miri figured out Greg was now a permanent part of the scene, she got him to promise to go too. That kid could persuade a vampire it wasn't hungry if she set her mind to it."
"Let's not test it," Giles suggested firmly.
"True," Buffy agreed more seriously. "So you really studied with Merlin, huh?"
"So it seems," Giles agreed in a bemused voice. "He was an amazing man and an amazing teacher, but I never would have guessed who he really was if I had a million years to try."
"He'll make Hazel happy, won't he?" Buffy asked. She was already ninety percent convinced he would, but she needed a little reassurance to get that last ten percent.
"Yes," Giles said simply. "Didn't you feel the magic in the room when they kissed? It doesn't matter if it's love at first sight, it's forever love. Don't worry about either of them, Buffy."
"Okay," she agreed, confident he was right. "Another happy ending. I like happy endings."
"Happy beginning," Giles corrected. "Falling in love was the beginning for us, remember? I'm sure it will be for Hazel and Greg too."
A mother's concern couldn't help sticking it's head up. "Do you think Joy will find some nice man one day?" Buffy reflected on the various relationships in their extended family. "Or woman, or demon, or something?"
"Yes," Giles said firmly. "If there's someone out there for her, she'll find him, her or it. True love wins though. Sometimes it takes time, but it wins in the end."
"Like us," Buffy agreed happily.
"Yes, like us."
Buffy stretched before snuggling up to Giles again. "I still can't believe we gave each other the same Christmas present. I guess great minds really do think alike."
"And fools never differ," Giles added unhelpfully.
Buffy snorted and rolled over to face him. "Love you, Rupert," she said softly.
He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Love you, Buffy. Merry Christmas."
She pulled his head down to her lips, immensely grateful that _they_ weren't sharing a room with anyone. "Merry Christmas," she agreed and kissed him.
--end, Magic Season