Title: Et in Arcadia Ego 7/7 - Epilogue
Author: TweedEmpress
Disclaimer: I do not own Giles, Jenny or anyone else – I just wish I did!
Feedback: yes please. I’m needy ;-) I take full responsibility for any mistakes (spelling or otherwise) in this fic.
Buffy knocked sharply on the door, not bothering to wait for a reply before she bounded in.
'Giles!' She beamed at the figure straightening up behind the breakfast-bar and fought back the urge to throw her arms around his neck. 'You're back!'
'Either that or I'm my own evil doppelganger,' Giles replied, smiling patiently.
'Nu-uh. No evil doppel-thingies would survive half a round with my Watcher!'
Buffy cringed inwardly. She was, she knew, rapidly turning into babble-girl. The last few days had been amongst the longest and most frustrating of her life: but the instant she had seen Giles, everything slipped back into place and she was able to draw the first clear breath since he had left. Everything was back to normal. Well, almost normal. The turmoil of emotions was still there, but it didn't seem as overwhelming. Something to be filed away and discussed with him at a later point. Like when he wasn't slightly jet-lagged.
'So, how was Mexico?' Buffy hopped up onto one of the stools. 'Did you bring us any souvenirs?'
Giles smiled to himself. He should have known that his Slayer would sweep into his home like a tiny blonde hurricane only a few hours after his return.
'Mexico was wonderful, thank you. And, er, yes I did.'
He bent down and retrieved something.
Buffy blinked at the gaudily painted donkey that was placed on the bar.
'A piñata?'
'It was either this or a complete set of Day of the Dead posable skeletons,' he replied dryly.
'Good call on the piñata!' Buffy stroked its nose and smiled. 'I've never had one of these.'
Giles leaned against the breakfast bar. 'I-I thought that it was something you could all enjoy together. You can take turns, well, er.hitting it. A-and then-'
'All partake of the chocolaty goodness when it breaks!' Buffy finished. 'But we'll have to fight Xander for the candy. You do know that, right?'
'The thought had occurred to me,' Giles replied and they shared a knowing grin at the expense of their absent friend. 'I'm also half-expecting to receive a lecture from Willow defending the rights of chocolate-filled papier-mâché donkeys everywhere.'
Buffy giggled - the vacation had evidently not removed the layers of acid from Giles's tongue.
'Even she has to admit that a piñata's role in life is to be hit with big sticks.' She narrowed her eyes as a thought struck her. 'Wait a minute, this is just part of your on-going mission to make me do more target-practice, isn't it?'
Giles laughed. 'And I thought I was being so subtle,' he teased. 'Would you like some tea?'
Buffy shook her head. 'Not tonight, Josephine. And none for you either. That's the other reason I'm here - I am to escort you to the great Scooby reunion.'
'Reunion?'
'Uh-huh. You, me, Will and Xander - the original and best. We decided that it's grown-up time at the Espresso Pump - or, at least, it's Giles-time. They're waiting for us so you can tell us all about the vacation.'
Giles looked at her eager face and felt a rush of affection. He had no plans for the evening beyond unpacking, and he had, more or less, done that already. Maybe it would do him good to get out of the house for the night - it wasn't as though Buffy would leave him much of an option anyway.
'All right. Just let me get my jacket.'
He started to move around the breakfast bar.
'I'm glad you're back!' Buffy blurted out suddenly. She dropped her eyes and fiddled with an invisible something on the bar. 'I-I missed you.'
She slid off the stool and started to walk across the room, but Giles had caught her hand and pulled her gently toward him. Buffy's eyes widened as her resolutely non-touchy-feely Watcher dropped a kiss on her forehead.
'What was that for?'
He smiled. 'For your suggestion. For persuading me to go. Thank you, Buffy.'
Giles rested a hand lightly on her shoulder and Buffy automatically took hold of his wrist, holding his gaze. For the first time, she looked at him properly. Giles looked different: there was something in his eyes. Buffy realised, with a jolt, what it was. A shadow that had fallen across his eyes on that horrific night so many years ago. It had been there for so long that Buffy had stopped noticing. Now, she noticed it by its absence. Or not quite absence: it had not lifted completely, but it had receded. Instead, his eyes had regained something of the hope - almost innocence - that had gone away when his love had died.
Giles gave Buffy's shoulder a gentle squeeze and dropped his hand, walking past her and up the stairs.
'I won't be a minute,' he called over his shoulder.
'Uh-huh,' Buffy responded numbly.
She could hear him moving about upstairs and leant heavily against the banister, more confused than ever.
Giles ran his hands through his hair, thankful that he had showered and shaved after his flight. At least he would look presentable. He pulled the jacket on and felt something heavy knock against his hip. For a moment, he hesitated, uncertain, and then delved into the pocket. Giles pulled out a handful of rose-coloured stone and stood, staring at it. The moments ticked by until, with a deep shaky breath, Giles walked across to the dresser and resolutely placed the necklace on it. He spread it out, lovingly running his fingers over the delicate quartz. For one more moment he looked at it, his hand still hovering over the cool surface and then, squaring his shoulders, he turned. It was fleeting - only a split second - but out of the corner of his eye, Giles caught a flash of gleaming dark hair. Smiling, he descended the stairs, tendrils of gold-flecked bronze tightening slightly around his heart, and rich gypsy laughter echoing in his ears.
FINIS
Et in arcadia, ego - I, too, have been in paradise.