Title: Age Ain't Nothin But a Number 2/?
Author: Nicole
Disclaimers: Sadly they do not belong to me. They belong to the
might Joss and all those other corporations. No copy right
infringement intended I'm just using them for my own fun. Please
don't sue.
Rupert woke up the next morning feeling well rested, well as rested as a person who is used to a different time zone. Tonight was the night of his sister's anniversary party her really did not want to attend. Then again if he didn't it would disappoint her to no end, after all he is the only family really left except for their grandmother. She is too old to travel, but sent her well wishes and a gift. He noticed the house was eerily quiet; enjoying this he got out of bed and went to shower. His mind kept drifting back to Buffy and how much she had grown. Everyone knew that she was going to be a heartbreaker when she got older. Shaking off those impure thoughts he was starting to develop, he finished his shower and padded back to his room. Looking through his bag he spotted a shirt and a nice pair of jeans. Looking at himself in the mirror he made his way downstairs to make a cup of tea. On the table was a note from Joyce.
Rupert,
I had to go into the gallery this morning. I will be home before the party, meeting Buffy to pick up my dress. Help yourself to whatever you like. Key is by the door.
Joyce
He put the letter down and made his way to the kitchen. Felling a little famished he made himself a ham and cheese omelet and some toast. Once finished he washed up the dishes he used and put them away. Taking his cup of tea he headed to the living room where he was taken back to all those memories of dinners, holidays, and birthdays. One particular memory stuck in his head.
"Uncle Giles why aren't you married?" Eight year old Buffy asked timidly.
Rupert lifted Buffy into his lap where she sat happily. He tried to come up with a way to explain to this precocious little girl.
"Well Buffy I haven't found the right woman yet. When I do and the feeling is mutual then I will get married. For now I enjoy being single."
He looked at her; she gave him a small smile. The answer seemed to appease her a little.
"Well if I am older and you are not married by then I will marry you hands down."
She gave him a million watt smile. One of those smiles that would light up any darkened mood. He smiled at her affectionately.
"Buffy when you get older I will be quite older than you. Besides some dashing young man will come and sweep you off of your feet."
"Uncle Giles age isn't nothing but a number."
She gave him a smile and jumped off his lap. Leaving him with a smile on his face and a little piece of his heart taken by this young girl.
Rupert chuckled a little bit at that memory. He was not married, but he did date silently he wondered if Buffy remembered that. Walking along the living room he took notice of all the pictures adorning the walls and mantle place. They were pictures of Buffy through the years, some of Joyce and Buffy, Buffy with friends. One picture caught his eye and that was one of Buffy and a little blonde girl. She couldn't have been more than two or three. A wave of sadness came over him at the thought that Buffy did indeed find that young man. Finishing his tea he put the cup in the kitchen and decided to pick up a tux for tonight. He left the house and walked down the street to his sister's house to see if she was home.
To his luck Jenny was already getting ready to leave when she saw him approach.
"Hey Rupert, I was just going to come and get you." She smiled at her brother.
"Really? If I would have known I would've stayed at the house."
He joked approaching the car. He could see the happiness all over her face; this was a woman in love.
"Get in little brother we have some shopping to do."
She slid into the driver's seat as he slid in the passenger's seat. They both put on their seat belts as Jenny started the car.
"We aren't going to stay out late today I have to get ready and what not. You know how we ladies are."
"Yeah I do." He gave her a smile.
They made the ride to the mall in comfortable silence. Jenny glanced over to her brother and saw that he was deep in thought.
"Something on your mind?"
"Yes actually there is, but I may need to ask Buffy though."
He tried to avoid the topic of what is on his mind. Jenny knew this technique bur persisted anyway.
"Why not ask me, besides I know more about Buffy than her mother does. Who do you think she confided in?"
He sighed. "I understand that, but this is rather personal and I doubt very seriously she would want us discussing her."
"No way Rupert don't pull that on me. Everyone knows how Joyce and I love to brag about Buffy and what she does. So tell me what you would like to know."
He felt real uneasy about this, but curiosity got the best of him. He needed to know who that little girl was.
"I saw a picture of Buffy and this little girl at her house. I was wondering who she was."
Jenny's expression lightened completely.
"That is Destiny she is Buffy's pride and joy."
He was disappointed when she didn't go into complete detail about the girl and her father.
"What do you mean pride and joy?"
"What else do you think I mean? Buffy loves that little girl so much actually I think she has been good for her."
The conversation stopped once they approached the mall. Jenny had stopped the car and they got out. Rupert really hated the mall, but he needed a tux hopefully he wouldn't run into anyone remotely familiar. Jenny left him at the tux shop while she went to run her errands. He picked it out and decided to go do some gift shopping he was terribly bad at it. He stopped at Ikea and picked out a lovely pot and pan set along with a couple of crystal goblets. Leaving Ikea he found his sister in the food court getting ice cream. Sometimes his sister was a complete kid; he laughed at her and walked over.
"You got your tux?"
"Yep I did and some other things. Could we go home now? I would like to rest up for tonight."
She noticed his little look of distress and decided to have mercy on him.
"Come on let's get you home. I still can't believe you haven't gotten over your contempt for being around a lot of people."
"Yes, I attend to agree."
They walked out of the mall and to the car. Once everything was secure they got in and Jenny drove them home. This time there was no silence they found plenty enough to talk about and none of it Buffy related. Jenny pulled up in front of the Summers house and Rupert got out. He told his sister that he would talk to her tonight. He got his parcels out of the trunk and went inside. Tonight he would face Buffy for the first time in eleven years. Let's just hope she remembers him.
**A few hours later**
Rupert was down stairs waiting for Joyce. Since they were both dateless they decided it was best that they went together. After all he didn't really know anybody and Joyce didn't like the choice of person who asked her. So there he was patiently waiting for her to make her presence. He didn't have to wait long because she came down wearing a stunning black evening gown. It wasn't showy or too young it was just right for someone her age.
Joyce was actually taking in the way Rupert looked. He looked very debonair in his black tux without the glasses and in his ear a gold hoop. To her he looked delectable, but she had eyes for someone else. He met her at the end of the steps and she turned around to give him a glimpse of her dress.
"You look beautiful Joyce you are going to be the belle of the ball."
He complimented her sincerely.
"You don't look so bad yourself Mr. Giles. You will definitely attract attention tonight."
He blushed a little, not used to the compliments.
"Well let's hope so. We better get going I don't want to upset my sister."
"Yes, we know how she can be if we are late. God help Buffy she never arrives anywhere on time."
They shared a chuckle on that one as they stepped out into the evening air. He opened up the passenger side of the car to let Joyce in then walked around to the drivers' side and let himself in. Once inside they made the five minute drive to the country club. It wasn't made in silence they talked about his job in England and her gallery. He actually missed being around Joyce she was like a breath of fresh air. They made it to their destination in no time. He got out the car and opened up the door for Joyce and helped her out. Making their way into the main room the party was already in full swing. Immediately Jenny and Ethan spotted them and made their way over.
"It's about time you two got here. I thought you would never come."
Jenny chided lightly.
"You have to forgive Jenny; she had been on edge all day. Wanting everything to be perfect. Welcome old man don't you look nice."
He shook Rupert's hand and then turned to Joyce.
"Joyce don't you look lovely tonight. Just as lovely as Buffy."
Rupert winced at the sound of Buffy's name. She was here and tonight he was going to meet her for the very first time in eleven years.
"Thank you Ethan, but Jenny you look wonderful. From what I see everything looks great."
She offered her a smile.
"Thank you Joyce, you have a very special visitor her for you."
Jenny teased, and Joyce went bright red. Rupert and Ethan took this as the sign that they needed to leave.
"Come old man, let's have a drink."
"Gladly."
The two men walked off.
"You mean William is here?" Joyce asked in surprise.
"But of course this is your time to actually talk to him. I know you two like each other I'm just putting the ball in motion. They rest is up to you, here he comes."
Jenny walked off as William walked up.
"Hello luv, don't you look beautiful tonight." He strolled up next to Joyce.
"Thank you, you look very nice yourself." Which he did despite his platinum blonde hair.
***Mean while inside the ball room***
Jenny and Rupert were talking when a little girl came walking up to them.
"Aunt Jenny, happy annibersary." She said in a little voice.
Jenny looked down and saw Destiny beside her.
"Thank you very much. Don't you look like a little princess tonight?"
She gave her a little hug. Rupert took the time to give the little girl a once over. She didn't look anything like Buffy. 'Maybe she looks like her father' he thought.
"Mommy picked out the dress for me. She said it makes me look like Cinderella."
"That it does. I want to introduce you to someone very special to me. I would like you to meet my brother Rupert Giles."
Destiny turned around and her green eyes met his. Immediately he was taken by her she had the little cherub face with expressive green eyes.
"Hello Mr. Giles. I'm Destiny Elizabeth Summers-Rosenberg"
She gave him a little curtsey and a smile.
"Well it's nice to meet you too little one. How old are you?"
She held up three little fingers, "I'm three years old." She stated proudly.
The two adults continued talking to the little girl whom they were taken with.
Buffy looked around the room franticly looking for Destiny. If she lost her Willow was going to kill her. Xander noticed his friends distress and decided to find out what was wrong. This wasn't an easy feat Anya was bone jealous, he had to appease her with a night of sex. He approached Buffy.
"Hey Buffster! What's with the distress?"
"I lost Destiny and now Willow is going to kill me. I lost my god daughter."
They looked around the whole room and came up empty that was until Xander spotted the little girl on Ethan's hip surrounded by Jenny, Joyce and some unknown man.
"It's not to worry. I found her she is over there with your mom, and Jenny. Willow is not going to kill you."
He walked off and back to Anya, she didn't look pleased. Buffy spotted her mother and went over to her. Joyce noticed her daughter approaching and gave Rupert a tap on the shoulder.
"Here comes Buffy now." She gave him a smile.
"Destiny there you are. How many times do I have to tell you not to wander off?"
"I'm sorry, but I saw Aunt Jenny and wanted to come wish her happy annibersary."
She gave her a puppy dog look. One Buffy herself used to use when she tried to get her way out of something. All the adults looked at this in aww.
"I'm sorry Buffy, I should have told you were she was."
Jenny said sympathetically.
"I understand oh happy anniversary aun I mean Jenny and Unc I mean Ethan."
They smiled at her some habits are hard to break. Rupert just stood there as straight as a bored. Hoping that she would not notice him, she was even more gorgeous up close. Those pictures did little justice. He couldn't believe that this was the same little girl who said she would marry him if he wasn't married.
"Oh I am so rude. Buffy I know you remember Giles."
Jenny smiled a little. Buffy turned around and was greeted by a very handsome man. She couldn't believe that this was the man she called Uncle all those years ago.
"Oh my god Giles it is so good to see you." She enveloped him in a hug.
He returned it in kind.
"It's so good to see you too. Last time I saw you, you were a little thing now look at you you're all grown up."
She blushed under his gaze. Something was brewing inside, but she didn't know what. He was feeling something also but couldn't put a name on it.
"Yeah it's hard to believe that I turned out so good looking." She teased.
She noticed Destiny getting antsy and decided to take pity on her.
"I would really like to catch up with you sometime. We should have lunch tomorrow."
He said before he even knew that the words were coming out. She gave him a smile.
"I would love to, say about one. I meet you at moms, now I need to go because someone is getting restless. Jenny Ethan, mother you look stunning tonight. I believe William thinks so too."
With that she was gone. Leaving two very shocked adults behind while one followed her until she disappeared.
"Tonight wasn't so bad after all." Buffy thought to herself.