Title: Gift of a Future 12/?
Author: Gileswench
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly sought.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.

Giles drummed his fingers against the steering wheel of his car. He'd driven Buffy to the school so they could pick up Dawn and take her safely to the Magic Box. He wondered what on earth could be taking so long. His head filled with dire images of Glory appearing in a classroom, abducting Dawn from under their noses. Giles knew if that happened, Buffy would likely have a breakdown. She'd been through so much in the past few months, and been so brave - too brave, now he took the time to think of it.

Through Joyce's illness and death, Riley's betrayal and departure, the Council's review, her father's continued refusal to take part in her life, Dawn's understandable emotional fragility in the wake of the discovery of her supernatural origin, and the ongoing threat of fighting a Hellgod, Buffy had hardly even cried, let alone admitted any human weakness. As the months had passed, Giles began to expect the tightly coiled, carefully emotionless behavior and had ceased to worry much about it.

But watching the young boys and girls stream out of the school, laughing, joking, breaking up into small, tight knit groups and doting couples, he found himself remembering the early days with Buffy, Willow and Xander in the library. Had they all really been so innocent back then? Buffy's insistance on trying out for the cheerleading squad and her constant demands for nights off to go to parties, Willow's shy demeanor and amazing computer skills, Xander's hapless goofiness that hid the astonishing courage at his core; where had these things gone? Giles had to admit ruefully that he had changed a great deal as well, and not entirely for the better.

He'd lost much of his enthusiasm and optimism, even, perhaps, the remains of his innocence, battling the forces of darkness day after day, night after night. He could accept it for himself, even expected it was about time he grew up and faced reality. But for Buffy and her - no, their - young friends, it was wrong. To see them robbed of their youth so early in life was unacceptable. Perhaps he could do something to make their lives a bit less grim.

Yes, as soon as Glory was defeated he would do something for them all. Take them on a trip to someplace pleasant. Nothing extravagant, but he could take a pair of cabins in the woods or a condo by a beach for a few days and let them all blow off some steam, be young for a week or so. He felt sure he could bribe Spike to watch the hellmouth for a week with enough blood and cigarettes. And vampire activity was always down in the summer with the shorter nights.

His musings were interrupted by the sound of arguing teenagers.

"You are so grounded for the rest of your life!"

"Oh come on, Buffy! Like you never ditched a class."

The Slayer whirled around to face her sister.

"There's a difference, Dawn. When I cut class it was to save the world. When you cut, it's because you don't feel like being there. Get in the car. We're taking you to the Magic Box and then Giles and I have to go look for the bot some more."

Dawn slid into the back seat and folded her arms across her chest sullenly. Buffy took her post next to Giles and blew out a breath in frustration.

"Not one word, Giles," she snapped before he could draw breath to speak.

Giles knew better than to argue when Buffy used that tone. Dawn, however, had not learned that lesson yet.

"I don't know why I have to go to school, anyway," she grumbled as Giles pulled out of the parking lot. "Keys don't need an education. Energy doesn't need to know algebra."

"Dawn," Buffy growled, "if you say one more word, you'll be grounded for your next three lives."

Dawn flopped back into the upholstery. She muttered something under her breath. Giles decided he'd better intervene before bloodshed could ensue.

"Would either of you like something to eat?" he asked. Food was usually a good distraction for both girls.

"What I'd like," Buffy snapped, "is for someone to pay a little bit of attention to what she's supposed to be doing. When I got to the school, the principal wanted to have a word with me. It turns out Dawn doesn't think she needs to be in class. In fact, Dawn is so sure of this that she's in danger of flunking most of her classes. Giles, she's flunking art. How do you flunk art? All you have to do is show up and doodle - emphasis on that showing up part."

"I'm right here," Dawn huffed. "You don't need to talk like I'm not here."

"Well you won't be for long if you don't go to class."

"What? I'm gonna just disappear like I appeared if I don't pull straight A's?"

Buffy half turned in her seat to impress the importance of her words on her sister.

"If you flunk your classes and keep on ditching school, Child Protective Services will decide I'm unfit to be your legal guardian and take you away where I can't protect you."

Dawn paled.

"Where would they take me?"

"I don't know. Maybe Dad? Maybe a foster home. The point is, wherever you go, you'd be in danger and I wouldn't be able to protect you - or whoever you're with. Just...work with me here, would you?"

"You never said that could happen before."

"Well, I'm saying now."

"Can they do that? Really?"

"They can and they will if you don't straighten up."

"Well that doesn't sound very fun," said Q as he appeared in the back seat next to Dawn.

"Shit!" Giles exclaimed as he swerved in surprise.

"Giles!" Buffy yelped. "Eyes on the road! And who the hell is that in the back?"

"Giles!" Dawn squeaked. "I can't believe you said that in front of me!"

"Giles!" Q mocked. "Nobody ever wants to admit they know me. I thought you'd be different, but no. You're just as bad as Jean-Luc."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Giles growled.

"Checking on your progress," Q said affably. "You never said you spend your days surrounded by beautiful women. Aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Beautiful?" Dawn piped up.

"Ravishing, my dear," Q assured her.

"Hands off my sister," Buffy warned the entity. "She's fourteen years old, and not up for grabs."

"Feisty!" Q said as he looked the Slayer over. "I like her, Giles. She's a little skinny, and her nose is a funny shape, but she's got moxie."

"Was there something you wanted, Q?" Giles asked with no little asperity.

"What's wrong with my nose?" Buffy obsessed.

"I'm here to tell you the clock is ticking. You don't have much time left to figure it out. I'm disappointed in you, Giles. Jean-Luc is moving faster than you. I really thought you'd get it first."

"Get what?" Giles demanded. "If you've something to say, just say it. What is it you want of me?"

Q shook his head.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You don't get it yet, do you? This has nothing to do with what I want and everything to do with what you want."

"Huh?" Buffy asked.

"What on Earth are you talking about?" Giles asked.

But Q was already gone.

*****

Picard pulled back at long last.

"Beverly...what are we doing?"

"I didn't think it had been that long, Jean-Luc. It's called kissing."

"I know perfectly well what it's called," Picard huffed.

"And you do it pretty well, too."

"Thank you...so do you. But it's hardly appropriate. I'm your commanding officer."

"Even commanding officers are allowed to be happy, Jean-Luc. Even with their own Chief Medical Officers."

Picard slid his hands up to disengage Beverly's from behind his neck. Still, he kept ahold of them, bringing one to his lips for a soft kiss.

"I just think we need to consider this a bit. It isn't only Starfleet I'm concerned about. There's Wesley. And what happens if one of us gets transfered to another assignment? Starfleet is no great respecter of romance."

"Wesley adores you. Since we've been on the Enterprise, he's come to think of you as the father he never had. And if Starfleet sends us to opposite ends of the galaxy, there's always shoreleave. Or you could take early retirement."

"Retirement?" Picard exclaimed, aghast. "What would I do with myself then?"

Beverly took advantage of his momentary distraction to slip her arms around his waist and lay her head on his shoulder.

"You could do whatever you like. Go on archeological digs and unearth treasures, write a book about your travels...prove to me that even if you're retired from Starfleet, you're still ready for adventure of the right kind. Whatever you like, as long as you're happy and I get to share some of it."

Picard took a deep breath, but did nothing to move Beverly.

"Dr. Crusher," he said with a smile, "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"Am I succeeding?"

"You might be."

He moved slightly, keeping his arms around her.

This time he initiated the kiss.

*****

Xander grabbed Wesley by the arm and steered him out of the street before he could be hit by a Buick.

"Jeez, can you try a little harder to get yourself killed, Spaceboy? That's the third time I've had to remind you that those metal things people ride in hurt a whole lot when they slam into you."

Wesley giggled.

"Pull the rotary harder," he informed his companion.

"Riiight. No more video games for you, Buddy. I'm cutting you off."

"Video games!" Wesley shouted excitedly. "Video games!"

"Later, maybe, when you stop acting funny."

He tried to pull Wesley in the direction of the Magic Box, but the boy resisted.

"Come on, Punk Rogers. Time to see your mom and let her deal with you for awhile."

"What seems to be the trouble?"

Xander looked up, startled. He relaxed a little when he realized it was Riker with Troi on his arm.

"Boy am I glad to see you guys," Xander greeted them."Maybe you can tell me if this is normal behavior for Wesley here."

"What's he doing?" Riker asked.

"He keeps getting into dangerous stuff and talking about things I can't understand. And it's like he doesn't listen to a word I say."

Riker and Troi shared a bemused smile.

"I wouldn't worry about it, Xander," Riker said. "That's just life with Wesley."

"So you're sure there's nothing wrong?"

Troi looked carefully at Wesley. At last she gave her verdict.

"I sense nothing out of the ordinary."

"You're sure about that?" Xander fussed.

"Positive," Riker assured him.

"Okay. 'Cause I was getting worried there for a minute. Not that I was panicking or anything, but, y'know...oh, and Will, if I could have a little word with you. Man to, y'know, man?"

"Of course."

Riker allowed himself to be maneuvered to one side. Xander whispered in his ear.

"I don't think Deanna's lipstick is really your shade, if you know what I mean." He pointed to the smudge on Riker's cheek and another on his lips before returning to his charge.

"Oh yeah," he muttered. "Whole lot of loving going on! Come on, Wes. Let's see if Anya's in a better mood yet."

He hauled Wesley away from his intense inspection of a garbage can and down the street to the Magic Box.

*****

Part 13

Notes and Disclaimers with Part 1

Data led the Buffybot into the house on Revello Drive. She insisted on continuing to hold his hand, and occasionally brushing imaginary lint off his clothes in a gesture of intimacy. Her smile was broad, her eyes were luminous, and she was very, very relaxed.

When she recognized the house, the bot stopped in her tracks with a worried look.

"This is where Buffy lives," she protested.

"You will be safe here," Data assured her.

"But she wants to kill me. I won't be safe here. You promised you'd take me somewhere safe."

"Buffy is not here at present, but two of my collegues are. They will help me protect you until we can convince Willow that you should not be deactivated. There is nothing to fear."

The bot searched Data's face for signs of treachery. After a minute of serious concentration, she smiled again."

"I'm not afraid. You'll make sure the others don't kill me. And maybe we can have sex again."

"If you would like, then we certainly can," Data replied dispassionately.

He led her into the living room where Geordie and Worf sat on the sofa, channel surfing. Geordie looked up when Data entered the room, but Worf became engrossed in a commercial about hair care products.

"That woman seems most...excited by the shampoo she is using," the Klingon observed.

"Data! Buffy," Geordie greeted them. "Any luck finding the robot?"

"Yes, Geordie. I have found her. I have offered her sanctuary."

Geordie looked at the bot and swallowed hard. The bot smiled brightly and waved.

"Hi. Data said you would save me from Willow. I like Data. He's even better at sex than Spike."

"Oh boy," breathed Geordie. "I think we have a problem."

*****

Once Dawn was safely settled at the Magic Box, Buffy and Giles went out to continue their search. As they strolled through Pinecrest Cemetery, Buffy frowned and was unusually quiet. After some ten minutes without a word from his chatterbox Slayer, Giles decided it was time to speak.

"Buffy?"

"Hmm?"

The girl looked up, startled.

"Where are you, Buffy?"

She gave a self deprecating laugh and ducked her head.

"Sorry, Giles. I was just thinking."

"Deep thoughts?"

"Sorta. I was trying to figure out what that Q guy meant earlier. About what you want."

Giles stuffed his hands in his pockets and quirked an embarrassed smile.

"I don't suppose he meant anything by it."

"You sure about that? 'Cause he made it sound like that's the whole big enchilada when it comes to stopping Glory."

"He's fond of speaking in riddles that don't seem to have answers of any consequence."

Buffy nodded silently. The pair continued their search, but Buffy seemed distracted. At last she came to a halt and addressed Giles again.

"So what do you want?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"What do you want, Giles? You must want something."

"I'm not entirely certain I understand your question."

"Come on, Giles. You speak ancient Sumerian. You speak German and Latin and Gaelic. Considering you come from England, English shouldn't be much of a stretch. What do you want?"

"In terms of...?"

Buffy rolled her eyes and blew out a frustrated breath.

"How should I know? You never say."

"When was the last time you asked?"

Buffy glared at Giles.

"Would you have answered if I did? If this is anything to go by, I'm guessing the answer is no."

"It does help if you're specific in your question," he pointed out mildly.

"There was a time when I didn't have to ask; when you'd just...say stuff to me. Stuff about you. I - I sorta miss it."

"You do?" Giles asked in genuine surprise.

"Well, yeah. It made me feel like we were really friends. Special friends, 'cause I know you never told that stuff to Willow or Xander. It was just for me. It made me feel like...like we were...I dunno, like we belonged to each other. I'm not saying any of this right."

She ducked her head. Giles reached out a hand and lifted her chin. He was surprised to see tears glistening in her eyes.

"Buffy...you're...why are you crying?"

"Because I think I lost you."

"No you haven't. I'm right here. I will always be here for you."

"But...it's not like it was before. Before Angel and that stupid test and The Initiative and all the other crap I put you through."

Giles smiled slightly in a pained manner.

"As I recall, I was the one who put you through 'that stupid test'."

Buffy shrugged.

"You wouldn't have had to if I wasn't the Slayer. Anyway, most of the stuff that happened is my fault. I didn't lose you. I pushed you away, didn't I?"

Giles guided Buffy to a large headstone and sat them both down.

"You haven't lost me, Buffy. And you won't. Over time...relationships change. People change. There are things I miss about that time, as well, but we can't go back. We can only move on."

Right. Move on. Giles, too many people in my life have moved on lately. I don't have many left."

"I didn't mean it that way," Giles assured the girl as he laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "What I meant was...our history will always be a part of us and any relationship we have. That past includes evasiveness, dishonesty, both deliberate and accidental cruelty, betrayal - on both sides. We can't change that, no matter how much...well, it'll always be there. But that doesn't mean we can't learn from our past mistakes and build something better."

"If it's that crappy, why would you want to?"

"Because that hasn't been the entire story. Yes, there have been mistakes on both sides. Large ones; some pretty disastrous ones, in fact. But there has also been great loyalty, sacrifice, kindness at unexpected moments, laughter, and...well...there's been..."

He trailed off, uncertain how to continue.

"Something special," Buffy finished for him. "Something that doesn't go away no matter how many stupid things we do to ruin it."

"I think that about sums it up," Giles replied with a warm smile.

Buffy surprised him by leaning her head against his shoulder. After a moment, he gathered his wits enough to wrap an arm around her and pull her closer.

"Mmmm...this is nice," Buffy purred. "Why don't we do this more often?"

"Do what?"

"Touch. Y'know, when it's not all about training or big emotional meltdowns or anything like that."

"I suppose it never seemed appropriate. If I'd done this sort of thing when you were in high school, I'd have been arrested and deported, which wouldn't have done much good for either of us."

"Giles," she chided, "I haven't been in school for a long time. I'm all grown up. Single mom and everything. If I have to accept that, so do you. Nobody's going to throw you out of the country if you give me a hug under non-life-threatening circumstances."

"I know, but old habits die hard."

"Do me a favor and slay the look but don't touch thing, will you?"

"If you like."

"Uh uh, Giles. You're not turning this one into what Buffy wants, Buffy gets. What does Giles want? What does Rupert want?"

Giles started slightly.

"Rupert?" He said with a small frown.

Buffy looked up at him nervously.

"Did I just cross a line there? Do you not want me to call you that?"

Giles looked down at Buffy. He was a bit bewildered at what he saw in her eyes.

"A - actually...I find I rather like it. Would you...do you think you could try calling me Rupert from now on?"

"It might take some getting used to, but I think I could do that for you. See?" she teased gently. "It's really not that hard to tell people what you want."

"So it would seem," he agreed.

"So, Rupert Giles, what do you want?"

*****

Willow and Tara trudged wearily into the Magic Box. Inside, they found Anya, Xander, Wesley, Dawn, Riker and Troi in various stages of anxious boredom.

"Hey Will," Xander called. "Any word on the Buffybot? You didn't find it hanging out in Victoria's Secret by any chance, did you?"

Anya reached across the counter and swatted her boyfriend.

"That isn't funny, Xander," she insited.

"We didn't find her at all," Tara said as she slid into a chair at the tarot table.

"Not anywhere," Willow added. "And I guess since you had to ask, nobody else found her, either."

"Not that we know of," Riker agreed. "It wasn't in the park or the business district."

"Of course, there are still three parties to check in," Troi reminded them. "Perhaps someone else had better luck."

"Luck...lucky duck," Wesley muttered. Not that anyone noticed.

"Or maybe it went to Spike's after all," Dawn piped up.

"I hope Giles gets back soon," Anya said, "or he'll owe me overtime. On second thought, he's with Buffy so it'll be fine if he stays late. That way, I make more money."

Xander smiled at his girlfriend.

"That'll be great, An," he said. "But I don't think Captain Picard took a stake with him and it's gonna be dark soon. I hope he and Beverly get back unbit."

Just then, the door opened and all heads turned to see Spike enter the room hurriedly with a blanket over his head. Smoke wafted from underneath the fabric, but the vampire was still unsinged when he threw the cover to the floor in a heap.

"What the bloody hell is going on around here?" Spike demanded.

"That's a damn funny question coming from you," Xander retorted. "What do you mean, what's going on?"

"A demon friend of mine dropped by for a pint of O neg just now, and do you know what he told me? He told me he'd been by Restview and do you know what he saw there?"

"No. I don't know. Dazzle me, peroxide boy."

"He only saw the Slayer, your virginal little pal, playing hide the sausage with some yellow-eyed git. Couldn't even identify the species of demon. Now I ask you, I saved her ass last night from that Glory bitch, and now she's taking time out to do it with a soulless creature of the night? Well, afternoon. Is it right? I ask you, is it right?"

The others looked at one another in confusion.

"Data?" Troi ventured. "Could it have been Data?"

"The bot was a little...tense, earlier," Willow said. "It said Spike usually takes the tension away."

"And we think we know how," Tara added uncomfortably.

"You mean...they have sex?" Dawn asked. "That is so gross."

"Yeah, Will, but Data's a robot. I don't think..."

Xander stopped in his tracks when he saw the look that passed between Riker and Troi.

"Is Data programmed to...y'know?" Xander gestured vaguely and turned slightly green.

"His inventor, Dr. Sung, wanted Data to be capable of the full range of human experience," Deanna said. "And that naturally included...well, sexual capacity."

"Oi!" Spike protested. "That's my robot! He better keep his metallic paws off her! Besides, Slayer doesn't like the thing. Wants it dismantled. So that's what I want, too."

"Does Buffy know you've been doing it with a robot that looks like her?" Dawn asked."She is so gonna kick your ass for that."

"Wait a minute," Riker said. "If Data found the bot, why didn't he bring it here? Those were the orders. Find the bot, bring it here, deactivate it. Captain Picard was very clear."

"It's not like Data to disobey orders without a good reason," Deanna added.

"I had a very good reason," came a voice from the doorway.

"Data!" Troi exclaimed.

"And what was this 'very good reason' for disobying orders?" Riker asked in his best command voice.

"Yeah," Spike added. "Why the bloody hell didn't you just smash the thing to bits?"

"I could not do that," Data replied calmly. "The Buffybot has requested sanctuary and I have provided it."

"But we were going to deactivate it," Tara protested. "That's what Buffy wants."

"The Buffybot does not wish to be deactivated. She does not wish to die."

"It's not alive," Xander pointed out. "It's a bunch of circuits and gizmos. It's just a robot."

"That is a common misnomer," Data said. "In point of fact, the Buffybot is an android, like me. She has desires and independant thoughts. She does not wish to die. I cannot allow you to kill her."

NEXT