Title: Never Easy
Series: The Unexpected Series (Story 10)
Author: M. Jade
Summary: The Giles family faces change
Rating: PG for slight language
Email: If you have comments or suggestions, email me at jaderozegirl@yahoo.com
Spoilers: You just have to read the series
Feedback: You know you wanna
Disclaimers: I am a lowly peasant in Sir Joss’s kingdom.
Distribution: My site, Strange Brew, any others only need ask
Notes: Part ten of the series. Follows “Butterfly Kisses” by about six months
“Have you seen her yet,” Rupert Giles asked his wife quietly as they made their way through the maze of people milling about the Valenti family home. They were surrounded by a sea of people, all dressed in black, their eyes red-rimmed. Some of them were sobbing, the others trying to embrace and comfort the others.
“I think she may be in the den,” Willow answered him, leading him to the quaintly decorated room off the kitchen, where every available chair was occupied by another misty-eyed man or woman dressed in black, as they themselves were. On the couch sat their daughter, Michaela Finn, dressed in a sleek black dress and hand in hand with her new husband, Neil, who was dressed in a black suit. Michaela’s eyes were red-rimmed and haggard, and Neil showed some wear himself as he held a protective arm around her shoulders.
“Hello, Michaela,” Giles greeted her, Mike rising to give him a hug.
“It’s good to see you, Dad,” she sniffled, then turned to give Willow a hug as well.
“How are you holding up,” Willow asked quietly, taking her daughter’s hands for a moment. Mike shrugged her shoulders as she sniffed again, Neil reaching out to squeeze her hand.
“I’ll be okay, but Gabby’s mom is taking it hard,” she informed them. Giles nodded, looking into her eyes.
“Yes, we gave Mrs. Valenti our condolences when we came in,” he assured her. A small flash of relief shone through her tired gaze.
“Thanks. She’ll appreciate that,” Mike answered.
“Do you know where Liam is,” Willow asked, trying to change the subject. Mike shook her head, then looked to Neil.
“I think he wanted some alone time after the funeral. Last time I seen, he was heading home,” the young man answered. Giles closed his eyes for a moment and said a silent prayer for what the man was going through.
“The death of a Slayer is … the most emotionally challenging thing a Watcher can think of,” he said in a hushed voice, and Willow took his hand. “I still… recall the nightmares I would have about … Buffy dying. Or the others,” he added in a whisper. Willow nodded, remember those nightmares, the ones that would wake Rupert up early in the night as well as the ones she would have herself. The foreboding, the misery, the absolute horror that came with living in constant fear of death. She hated to admit it, but when living on the Hellmouth, death was a harsh fact of that life, but one rarely experienced it on such a personal level, even for them.
“Please, Dad…” Mike began, then thought better of finishing the thought. Her father knew all too well what he was speaking about. “I know,” she amended. “I just… I thought… I thought Gabby would make it.” Her voice began to break with the last few syllables, and her eyes teared up. “She should have been able to make it,” she sobbed, Neil hugging her from behind. “She didn’t deserve to die that way,” she said, a harsh edge to her voice.
“Of course she didn’t,” Neil told her softly. “They never do.” His words clung in the air around them like a dense, early-morning fog.
“Yeah, well, if I ever meet whoever made that rule, I will gladly give them a very large piece of my mind,” Mike bit out.
“I’d rethink that, honey,” Neil told her calmly. Mike sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. “They may take it the wrong way,” he added wryly. “And I don’t think Gabby would want you to do that,” he finished seriously.
“I would have to agree with Neil,” Giles interjected gently. “Gabriella would want us to remember her and what she did, not mourn for her.”
“I know, it’s just … I still have this feeling like she’s going to be there. Like I can call her up and we’ll laugh about this in the morning. We’ll tell each other that this whole thing is one big mistake, that there was no vampire, and that we’re still the best of friends and that everything is okay. Only, it’s not.” Mike sniffed again, then looked back to Neil, who nodded. “ Why don’t we walk outside,” she offered. “I need some air,” she added and the four of them made their way to the rear door of the house, walking into the unoccupied backyard of the Valenti home. Mrs. Valenti kept a very neat lawn, the grass freshly mowed, the flowers all in their colorful bloom. It made for a light contrast to their dark moods. As Michaela watched a bird’s nest in a near-by tree, she made a quiet announcement. “I had a visitor come to the apartment this week. Tuesday to be exact.”
“Who,” Willow asked curiously. Mike turned back to her parents.
“Victoria Smyth,” she told them matter-of-factly, and Giles swore under his breath.
“Of all the bloody timing,” he began. “Why now? Why the bloody hell would those … prats at the Council send someone to talk to you now?” There was an edge to his voice, almost Ripperish, but not quite. It was more frustration then anger.
“Don’t blame the Council, Dad. They had absolutely no way of knowing what would happen to Gabby. Her death surprised them as much as it did us,” she added. “Do you honestly think they would have come to me if they had any idea that my best friend was about to die?” The sentiment of her words cut through the chilly late afternoon air.
“I wouldn’t bloody put it past them,” he bit out harshly, only to be shushed by Willow.
“Rupert, focus please,” she admonished him. She turned back to Mike. “What did she say?”
“Ms. Smyth offered me an official position as a Watcher. They’ll assist in a move to England and support any additional training I may need, which shouldn’t be much if any, and they’ve offered Neil a scholarship to a university in the area so he can continue his studies.” Her voice was firm as she lay out the details, but the look in Giles’ eyes said it all.
“You weren’t daft enough to take it, were you?” he asked incredulously.
“As a matter of fact, I told her I would think about it,” Mike answered him, her eyes challenging his reaction. Neil and Willow stood by as daughter glared at father and father returned said gaze with equal fervor.
“Michaela! Those people have wrecked more havoc in our lives that you could possibly imagine, and you’re ready to take the next bloody plane and follow their mindless traditions? Must I remind you how bloody foolish that it? You’re practically strolling into the lions den as we speak.” Giles had made his point, and neither Willow nor Neil wanted to step in at that exact moment. Mike was ready to give her answer.
“And need I remind you, father, that the Council is the only reason you are here today, married to mother, and quite possibly the reason that any one of us are alive right now. They started it, by assigning you to Buffy, and how things were handled after that.” Her voice was cold, her tone flat.
“Don’t play games with me, young lady,” Giles told her. “I have been around those self-righteous blaggards my whole life, and you have no place among them,” he hissed. Willow placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, but his gaze remained firmly focused on Mike.
“Don’t you dare pull that self-righteous bullshit on me, father. Just because they didn’t agree with the way you handled Buffy has absolutely nothing to do with my choice.” They eyes were locked, the look on either face frigid.
“It has everything to do with it!” Giles insisted. “They betrayed everything we fought for, nearly killed us all, and didn’t care one way or the other. As long as their precious tradition was uphold, they were happy. When it wasn’t, they fired me. I assure you, Michaela, they’ll do the same to you in a heartbeat if they see fit.” The vehemence of his protest only went to make Mike fight harder.
“The fact that you not only defied them but survived every odd you faced has made it impossible for that kind of Council to exist now. You and the others literally rewrote the rules they so cherished, and that is something that can’t be brought back. You and Buffy proved to the Council that a Slayer and her Watcher serve the greater good, not them, and certainly not their traditions. They have to adapt to that calling, or risk losing every Slayer from now on. I can chose to show them the way, the kind of cooperation and flexibility you should have had. I could make a difference, father. Does that mean nothing to you?” The look in Mike’s eyes was one of determination and the sort of fire that Giles knew well.
“I would wish for nothing more, Michaela, but at what cost? Your life? The life of a Slayer? The lives of those you care about? That is above and beyond any small measure of change you could hope to make.”
“That is a risk I’m willing to consider, father,” she replied firmly. For a few moments they glared at each other, father and daughter, the air between them calmed by the standoff. It was Neil who broke the silence.
“Mike, I think now would be a good time to go see Mrs. Valenti. She said earlier that there were some things Gabby would want you to have.” Mike nodded and silently followed her husband into the house. Giles watched her leave, still glaring in the direction after she had disappeared into the house.
“What was that,” Willow asked after a few moments.
“I bloody well don’t have to support her making such an absolutely rediculous decision!” Giles insisted, but Willow was not happy.
“You are her father, so you damn well have to support her decision, even if you don’t like it, Rupert. You have practically raised her to be a Watcher, just like you. Why do you have to such an ass about it?”
“Because, Willow, while one may say that I raised her to be aware of the role of a Watcher, I have never wished my own destiny upon my child,” he said softly. “I never wanted that life for her.”
“Well, you’re being unreasonable, and whether or not you wish it so, our daughter is more than qualified for that role. We have no one to blame for that but ourselves.” There was a certain sadness in her eyes as she said this. “We knew that was a risk when we chose to raise Mike in Sunnydale. She is my daughter and I love her, but I know that I cannot protect her from everything and everyone that would hurt her. All I can do is give her the best guidance I can and assure her that I will always love her and be there for her. That is what makes me her parent.” She looked in her husband’s eyes, eliciting the truth in her words.
“I understand that I can’t protect her from everything, but…” Willow cut him off with a gesture of her hand.
“There is no but, Rupert,” Willow told him. “If she chooses England, we smile and see her off, no fussing.” Giles shook his head in his defeat.
“God help her if she says yes.” Willow took his hand for assurance.
“She will be fine,” she said, placing her hand along his face. “And so will we.”
“Always,” Giles whispered in reply.
“Of course. Give Mike and yourself some time to calm down and you’ll work out your differences,” Willow assured him. “Meanwhile, your wife would appreciate a kiss from her husband.” Her eyes did little to hide her mirth.
“And how could I ever deny you, luv,” he said wryly as he bent down to kiss her.
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Three months later, Neil and Michaela gathered outside the airport gateway to say their good-byes to their parents. Buffy and Riley hugged their son, wanting to make the time before his departure last as long as possible. “I can’t believe my son is going to live in England,” Buffy said as the held Neil’s hand.
“We’ll be fine, Mom,” he assured her. “It’s not like we’re disappearing from the face of the Earth all together.”
“No, you’re just crossing fifteen time zones or so,” Riley remarked dryly.
“Don’t exaggerate, Dad,” Neil said with a smile. Mike stood by Neil, hugging her mother.
“I promise we’ll call and email you often,” Mike told Willow. Willow gave her a mock-serious look.
“You’d better. And don’t forget that you promised to come home to see us for the holidays,” Willow added. “We will not be afraid to hold you to that, young lady.”
“We won’t forget,” Neil promised them, then took a hasty look at his watch. “Looks like it’s almost time for us to go, Mike,” he said pointedly, raising his brow at his wife.
“And you will keep us up to date on the Council’s activities,” Giles added as he looked at Mike.
“I will, Dad, don’t worry,” Mike said with a smile. Neil practically jabbed her ribs. She chose to ignore him, still smiling at Neil.
“They’ll be boarding us soon,” he reminded her, but Mike kept her easy smile, the others not noticing the look that passed between them.
“Oh, Christmas seems too far away,” Willow complained as she smiled again at Mike. “I wish you could visit sooner.”
“You and me both, Will,” Buffy chimed in. “I don’t want my son coming home and sounding like Giles.” Mike grinned at them both.
“I heard that,” Giles said dryly as he looked at his former Slayer.
“And we do have the advantage of me being half English and from a great line of Watchers,” Mike remarked. “I’ll fit right in with them and charm their knickers off.” The other gave her a pointed look.
“We’ll just pretend you didn’t say that,” Giles said. “But I do hope that you visit us soon.” The look on Neil’s face was slightly pale, almost verging on frantic.
“We’ll be back in September,” Mike remarked casually. “I am not going to have the baby in England,” she added. The others, minus Neil, gave a look of perplexed shock. She leaned over and gave Giles a quick kiss on the cheek as the PA announced their boarding. “Love you!” With that, she quickly grabbed Neil’s arm and led him to the ticket agent at the head of the boarding ramp. As they left, the others could hear what Neil said on the way.
“I thought we agreed that was not the way to tell our parents,” he said frantically, and Mike shrugged.
“I improvised,” she explained casually, and Neil shook his head. “We agreed not to leave without telling them about the baby,” she pointed out. “Now they know.”
“My mother is never going to forgive us,” and with that they were out of earshot.
“Did she say baby,” Riley asked evenly.
“I’m quite sure she did,” Giles answered, his mind still reeling. With that, the four of them turned and began to walk out of the airport, leaving the thought for later.