Title: Surprise 4/6
Author: KrisB
Email: krisbotha@gmail.com
Rating: Mostly PG13. Ch 5 is NC-17
Pairing: B/G, of course!
Spoiler Warnings: up to middle of season 5
Summary: AU, response to ODD's Challenge #67. Giles gets a surprise.
Disclaimer: All canon characters of Buffyverse belong to the awe-inspiring Joss, ME, etc. I'm writing this for free entertainment only.

The next morning, breakfast was a quiet affair, their usual friendly banter all but nonexistent. Buffy focused on Rupert, leaving Giles to continue his nervous silence as he watched on. He felt farther away than he'd ever felt before. She seemed so unattainable, miles away, rather than mere feet.

When she looked up and locked eyes with him, her emotions weren't any more discernable than his own. How could a single afternoon wreak such havoc on their relationship?

Rupert made a few baby noises, trying to get his mother's attention, and managed to blow a minor bubble as his lips opened and closed, which popped and dribbled drool down his chin. Buffy chuckled and used a corner of his blanket to wipe the mess away. She began humming without really thinking about it, rocking his carrier. It was the song Giles sang for them. Rupert's eyes slowly drifted shut, then open, a few times, lulled by her.

"Did you enjoy the song?" Giles asked, looking down at the infant's reaction as well.

Buffy nodded. "I think that's my new favorite. It's special, something just for us."

"I'm glad you liked it so much. I hope you and Rupert continue to enjoy it."

Buffy looked up, her eyes oddly hurt. "I meant all three of us," she replied in a small voice.

"Oh." He looked at her then, taking in her hopeful features. "Yes, well, you can be certain I'll be singing to him more often now I've found he has no adverse reactions to my voice."

Buffy smiled. "Giles, I don't think there is a person alive that could have an adverse reaction to your voice," she said, her tone and accent mocking his.

At his grin, she blushed and looked away, plopping a strawberry in her mouth and humming around it as she tickled her son under his chin.

"I love Sunday breakfasts. They're always so much better than the weekday rush," she commented with her usual talent for changing the subject. She forked a piece of sausage between her lips. "I mean, things get so busy. It's nice to just enjoy a little peace with my family."

Giles smiled, taking a sip of tea. "I agree. It's my new favorite time of the week as well."

"Yeah, I'm sure. Cooking these huge meals for us." She looked up then, her face forming a frown. "Giles, you don't ever have time alone. Don't you want to go out, ever? Have some grown-up time?"

He ducked his head as he took another sip of tea. "I've not been an evening person for some time now."

Buffy's frown deepened, then sadness spread across her features. "I'm sorry about Olivia. And J... I'm sorry that I take up so much of your life."

His gaze shot up at the name she'd nearly spoken. He could see her guilt and regret, their presence darkening her spirits enough to make Rupert begin to fuss. She looked down at her plate and carefully pushed the half-eaten contents around. Her lip caught in her teeth and her cheeks reddened under his scrutiny.

"Buffy, you mustn't blame yourself for Olivia... or Jenny," he said. He heard a pitiful sniffle flutter up to him, and her shoulders slumped even further.

"Buffy..." She slowly brought her eyes up, unable to hide their shine. He rose and walked around the small table, kneeling at her side so that he had to look up to meet her gaze. "You have to let it go, Buffy. Neither situation was your fault."

She turned to him, her features dark with self-loathing.

"But they are! You know it and I know it," she said, trying to keep her voice soft so she didn't upset Rupert. "If I hadn't slept with Angel, Jenny would still be here for you. A-and Olivia would still be willing to visit if you didn't have to deal with the local monster population every day – or house your Slayer and her kid."

"That would leave a rather complicated situation wouldn't it?" he asked in an soft tone, looking up at her with his gentle smile.

"What?"

"Well... I may have romanticized my feelings for Jenny due to her death. If she had never been attacked, how would our relationship continue? Would I ever have forgiven her for her betrayal of you, of us? She could have gotten you killed with her deception. If you'd died because of her... Well, I don't know what I would've done." Buffy opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off, and took her hands in his.

"But, let's assume for whatever reason that Jenny was still here. Then Olivia drops by on impulse last year, looking for a little comfort from an old friend. I already have a questionable relationship with Jenny. Would Jenny be a jealous woman? Would Olivia? Or, would Jenny already be out of my life, as fate may have it? So, Olivia comes and I am alone. You're... not here, for whatever reason. Buffy, do you think I'd stop caring about the innocent people of the world because I didn't want to scare my lover?"

Buffy shivered, shaking her head as she closed her eyes.

"So you see, you can't have the blame. You're as much a victim of circumstance as I, and your love life has just as much heartache, if not more." His fingers slowly pulled up to her face, tracing the line of her jaw. "You mustn't continue hating yourself for something you had no control over."

A tear slipped out of her lashes, rolling down her cheek and onto his thumb. He smoothed the track away, cupping her face tenderly.

"I'm still sorry, Giles."

"And I'm still here."

Buffy hesitated a moment, her lip dipping behind her teeth yet again, then she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight.

"I do love you," she murmured by his ear. "Sometimes I can't even figure out how much, but it's always there, just like you."

Giles returned the embrace, shuddering himself. "And I you," he replied.

Rupert let out a squawk and kicked hard enough to give his carrier a bit of motion. Buffy leaned back and sheepishly looked over her shoulder. "You're gonna have to learn when to mind your business, little guy."

Giles chuckled and watched as she turned back to her son, her movements lively and her voice brighter. A light knock on the door pulled him from his perch at Buffy's side, but before he could take more than a step away, it opened and Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya strode into the apartment, laughing and talking.

"Hey guys!" Willow greeted them. She bounced a little and hurried to the table, pushing her finger into Rupert's carrier. "Hello Rupert!" The baby gurgled at the familiar sound of Willow's voice and she unbuckled him, pulling him up into her arms. She waggled him away from her body, and her head leaned in to rub noses in an Eskimo kiss. "How's my favorite little Rupert Bear? Have you been good for Mummy?"

"Mummy?" Buffy's brows shot up and she looked from Willow to Giles.

"Rupert Bear?" Giles echoed.

Willow blushed as she received amused expressions from the pair. She hugged the baby close and looked to Buffy first. "When Giles watches him, he calls you Mummy. I didn't want to confuse him, so I started doing that, too."

"Yeah, and so did we, `cause, you know, Willow started it," Xander chimed in from his spot on the couch.

Willow looked to Giles. "And you've never been Rupert Bear. You're Giles." She turned the baby boy in her arms around, cradling him. "This is my Rupert Bear."

"Yes, I'm certain you're the first person to ever tack on `Bear' after a name steeped in history and tradition," he replied dryly. "I was in fact called Ru Bear when I was very young. Mostly by my mother." The other people in the room simply stared at him, surprised by this unprecedented sharing of personal information. "Well, it was only for a very short while. My father insisted she not coddle me and I was called Rupert from then on."

Buffy's smile faded away. How dominating his father must have been. Then shame burned her cheeks as she realized she'd never tried to glean any kind of information about her Watcher's family. She decided she'd have to rectify that as soon as possible.

"Hey Buff, we're going to the Bronze tonight. Wanna come?" Xander asked, slipping his arm around Anya.

Buffy shook her head. She looked to Giles and her eyes grew wide with excitement.

"No, but hey, could one of you babysit Rupert for us this weekend?" she asked, looking from Xander to Willow.

"Sure. What's the what?" Xander sat forward, stuffing a few peanuts in his mouth. "No big brewin' evil, is there?"

"Only of the Giles-and-I-need-grown-up-time variety. I was just talking about that, actually," she said, smiling.

"Er, Buffy –"

"So where are you two going?" Xander asked, cutting the older man off unintentionally.

"I'm taking Giles out to dinner, and maybe a movie. We could both use a little time out of the apartment for a while, you know?"

"Oooh, date-night for our very own Watcher-Slayer team! Stay away from the park, you two crazy kids, you."

Giles shot a glare over his shoulder since he wasn't in a position to object to Buffy's offer. He couldn't embarrass her with a refusal of her invitation in front of her friends.

"Then it's settled. Friday, please?" Buffy asked, smiling sweetly. Xander and Anya nodded and cuddled closer.

"We'll be here. Let us know what time," Xander added. He smiled at Giles, who was still glaring at him for his previous wise-crack.

"Thanks!" Buffy said, smiling at Giles as if he'd just given her a shopping spree courtesy of his credit card.

*******

During the week, Giles couldn't find an appropriate time to bring up the outing Buffy had arranged. Friday loomed and he wondered if he shouldn't just go out with her. He'd simply have to keep control of himself.

That could work.

*******

It would never work.

Friday afternoon found Giles pacing the apartment as Rupert quietly played with one of his toys on a blanket spread on the floor.

"Think, man!" he growled. The baby attempted to blow a raspberry, and only ended up humming through his lips, making him sound rather like a mini, high-pitched motor of some kind. Giles stopped and looked down at the boy, grinning.

"What was that?" he asked, bending down. Rupert's hands were fighting for entrance to his mouth now, drool glistening on his small fingers. Giles gently pulled the hands away and wiped the spittle up before picking the baby up and cradling him against his chest.

Rupert stared up with his wide chameleon eyes, perfect copies of his mother's, kicking his feet as his hands fisted under his chin.

"Everyone is at your mercy, you know," Giles said, resuming his pacing. "Do not be tempted to use your power for evil, young Rupert."

Rupert responded by squawking again; one small fist rose up in an offering. Giles accepted the fist, pacing aimlessly as he spoke in low tones to the child. "You must tell me what you think of your mummy taking out such an old man."

He began to hum a nameless tune he'd written in university, deep in thought as he stared at the baby in his arms. All too soon Rupert opened his mouth wide and yawned, his tiny chest rising impressively. He settled back and fell asleep in the trusted embrace.

"I suppose you'll get back to me later," Giles murmured, grinning to himself. He sank onto the couch and watched Rupert sleep in his arms.

*******

About an hour later, Buffy came in the front door, her purse swinging from her arm.

"Hey! You'll never guess –" Her thought train slammed to a screeching halt as the scene registered in her brain.

The sight of Giles stretched out on the couch was odd enough, but when she realized he was asleep, holding a likewise blissfully sleeping Rupert, she almost cried from the sweetness of it.

She closed the door and lowered her bag to the floor as quietly as possible. After tip-toeing to her bedroom, she found the disposable camera she'd used for Rupert's first trip to the park. There were four photos left on the roll she intended to use.

She edged the back of the couch and very slowly opened the blinds of the living room windows, bathing the room in a warm glow of late-afternoon sunlight. She made sure the flash was turned off and snapped the first one. The click was loud enough, however, to wake Giles.

His eyes opened, noting first that somehow the blinds had opened, and finally focused enough to see Buffy standing over him with a camera in her hands. Her smile was the biggest, goofiest one he'd ever seen her wear. She moved the camera up to her face and took another photo.

"Buffy?" he asked, his voice low and husky from sleep. He cleared his throat and moved to sit up.

"No, not yet," she pled, her hand coming down on his shoulder. Giles looked down and realized he still held the baby.

"I must've dozed ah-" yawn "off," he mumbled, then yawned again.

Click. Another photo – this time of his face winced and his mouth open wide in a yawn.

Rupert's legs and arms started wriggling as he slowly came into consciousness as well. Giles looked down just as Rupert opened his eyes. The baby cocked his head just so, and Buffy took the last shot, satisfied that she'd captured the moment to the best of her ability.

"Okay, you're free," Buffy said, taking a step back. I'm going to go get these developed so we can pick them up on our way to dinner. Can you watch him for another twenty minutes?"

"Of course," he said, fighting another yawn.

"Okay, I'll be right back!" She scooped up her purse and went right back out the door, leaving Giles and Rupert to stare after her, lost in their own thoughts.

*******

Giles stared at his reflection, wondering for the thousandth time why he didn't just tell Buffy he didn't want to go to dinner and a show with her.

And for the thousandth time, he answered himself, albeit aloud this time. "Because you want to go." He sighed, straightening his jacket and smoothing his shirt.

"Did you say something?"

His heart relocated to his throat as he jumped, turning on the spot. Buffy was on the landing, half-way up the stairs to his room. Her dress looked like moving water, silky smooth and made for her curves. It was a pale blue dress, flaring at her hips and stopping just past her knees. Her hair was swept up, a few stray tendrils framing her face and curling down her neck

"N-no, just talking to myself," he replied belatedly. His lungs refused to cooperate with him.

Buffy, however, didn't notice his upset due to her own respiratory issues. She'd come up just as he was finishing dressing, pulling his jacket over his shoulders and straightening the lapels. A dark charcoal suit jacket over a midnight-blue button-down and matching charcoal pants.

"Nice suit," she managed. "Was it, um, tailored for you?"

He shook his head, looking down at his clothes. "No, actually. Is it alright?"

Buffy smiled, meeting his eyes again. "Almost perfect. Here, I got you something." Moving up the last step, she approached him with her hand out, a small box presented with a bright red bow.

"What's all this?" Giles asked in soft surprise. "I wasn't aware of a special occasion."

"Giles, just open it," she ordered playfully, her hands clasped behind her back.

He removed the ribbon and lifted the box lid. Nestled inside was a small, white gold, hoop earring.

"I haven't seen you wear one in a while, so I thought if you had, you know, a selection to choose from, you would wear one more often."

"You shouldn't have –"

"What would be the fun in presentless dinners, Giles?" At his startled glance she chuckled. "Don't worry, Tact Guy, I didn't spend a fortune. It's one of mine."

He smiled and pinched the hoop out of the box, handing the wrapping to her as he turned to the mirror. With deft fingers, the hoop was soon in place.

"Now you look perfect," she murmured, smiling up at him when he turned. "Ready to go?"

"More than," he replied, offering his arm. Buffy grinned and curled her arm with his, walking side-by-side down the stairs.

"Wow, you guys." Xander's hand stopped half-way to his mouth, the cookie forgotten. And he was staring.

"We should be back before midnight. Emergency numbers are on the fridge."

"Uh... yeah. Sure thing." Giles and Buffy moved to the door and heard him call out as it closed, "Have a good time!"

*******

Buffy stepped out of the chemist – drug store, Giles corrected himself – her purse tucked under her arm. She already had the photos out of their cardboard pack and was shuffling through them as she walked to the car. He watched her as she climbed in, her frantic movements freezing.

He grew alarmed when he saw a tear slip down her cheek in the light of the street lamp.

"Buffy, are you alright?"

She sniffed, nodded, and leaned over, tilting the picture for him to see.

"Isn't this the greatest picture ever?" she asked. He stared at himself and Rupert, looking at each other in equally amusing, groggy greetings. She ran a finger down the cheek of Rupert, then himself. "My guys."

His heart tugged in his chest and his throat tightened. He cleared it slightly and smiled when she looked up in concern.

"You're quite the photographer," he murmured, nodding his head at the photos in her hands. "Have you considered taking it up as a hobby?"

Buffy shook her head and looked down again. "When would I have time?" she wondered aloud.

He started the car and drove them to the restaurant in silence, pondering at the sad sound of her voiced question.

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