Title: Yule Traditions, Past and Future 8/11
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.

There was a slightly awkward feeling in the air most of the evening. Giles kept looking at Dominic as if he might explode at any moment, Aunt Min glared disapprovingly at Buffy several times, sure that she was the reason Giles wasn't doing her idea of the right thing, and Buffy couldn't help shooting glances at Olivia and wondering how she was going to compare when she got to Giles' bed that night. Olivia sent several puzzled looks Buffy's way, as well. She didn't know what was going on in the girl's head, but she knew she had something to do with it.

The only one unaffected by the tension in the air was little Dominic. He chattered and grinned at everyone around the table, occasionally remembering to put an actual bite of food into his mouth.

The rest of the evening was equally uncomfortable. All in all, Buffy was relieved when Olivia announced she was going to put Dominic down and Aunt Min said she was going to retire to bed, too, and read for a while.

"I guess maybe we should all call it a night, huh?" Buffy suggested.

"Yes, that sounds an excellent thought," Giles said.

"All right, Dominic," Olivia said, "kiss Daddy goodnight."

Giles' eyebrows shot up his forehead in panic. He really hadn't thought about kissing the boy, or cuddling him in any way. But there he was, being presented with a small, dark-skinned version of himself, expected to show it affection he wasn't entirely sure he felt yet.

He took Dominic in his arms tentatively.

"Goodnight, s-son," he said.

To Giles' amazement, Dominic threw his small arms around his neck and gave him a wet smack on the cheek. Then the boy reached for his mother. When Olivia took him, Giles was surprised at the stab of disappointment he felt at the loss.

Buffy moved quietly to his side and wrapped an arm around his waist.

"You okay?" she asked.

"I'm not entirely certain," he admitted with a breathy chuckle. "I think...I think it's beginning to sink in. I have a son."

"Yeah. You do. He's kinda cute, too."

"It's a lot to take in."

"Sure is."

"How did you do this? When you learned the truth about Dawn, how did you...did it take you very long to learn to love her?"

"No. But then, the monks made it so I already did. It was just sorta hard to spot sometimes through all the sibling rivalry. But when I found out that she...was a part of me...no. It didn't take long. It changed everything, but it happened fast." She pulled her lover tighter. "Just remember, you feel what you feel, and it's okay if you're confused. You're not like me, that way. You always think about it. Maybe it'll take you a little longer, but once you get there...Rupert, you'll love him, and you'll be a great dad."

"How can you be so certain?"

"You're Giles."

"And that makes me perfect, somehow?"

"No. It makes you you. You're just that kind of a guy. The kind that always stands up and finds the right thing to do. The kind that takes care of people, even when they're royal pains in the butt. You're the kind that cares until you bleed, and then cares some more. You don't love that many people, but you love them deep. And you love them forever."

"I want to love him, Buffy."

"Then don't sweat it. You will. Now why don't you come to bed and love me?"

She reached up for a kiss, which he gave her willingly.

"I do love you, you know," he said softly. "So very much."

"Right back at you, babe."

Hand in hand, they headed down the hall to the bedrooms. When they reached their destination, Buffy moved toward her own room.

"I thought you were coming to my room, tonight," Giles said.

"I am. I just need to slip into something a little more comfortable. You go get ready, and I'll be there in about a minute."

"Don't keep me waiting."

"I won't."

They kissed softly and Buffy slipped into her room. Giles stood watching her door for a few seconds, then went into his room. He undressed, then placed the condoms within easy reach atop his nightstand and turned down the covers.

He went to the mirror and looked at himself critically. Crow's feet, laugh lines, a little bit of spare flesh around the middle, grey hairs mingling with the brown on both his head and his chest...the beginnings of a slight sag at the jowls. No, he wasn't young anymore. Certainly compared to the vampires and young boys Buffy had been with he was nothing to brag about.

And yet, for some reason Giles could barely fathom, she was coming to his bed, planning to make love with him. She was talking about long-term commitment and eventual children. He pulled on a robe and sat down to wait for her. She might be mad, but she was finally his.

*****

Across the hall, Buffy also took a long look in the mirror. Country life and little need for her Slaying skills had resulted in some weight gain. For the first time in a long time, Buffy didn't see bones threatening to poke through her flesh. She even had breasts again, at long last. Still, she knew she was skinny and undeveloped compared to other women she knew Giles had slept with.

She thought of Jenny with her liquid eyes and exotic beauty, of Olivia down the hall with her warm, practical nature and ebony skin.

Why would Giles want a skinny girl less than half his age with no interest in books and more talent for death than life?

And yet, he'd chosen her. Faced with a child he'd never expected to have, he still wanted her to stay by his side and help him learn to be a father.

"I hope he doesn't mind an A-cup," she muttered to herself, "because I'm never going to be as curvy as Olivia."

She pulled on a nightgown, tossed a robe on over it, and slid her toes into her slippers. They might not look romantic, but they certainly kept her feet warm. At the last moment, she dug out clothes to wear in the morning, too, so she wouldn't have to sneak back across the hall in the wee hours in order to dress before Aunt Min got up.

One last fluff of her hair, and Buffy stepped across the hall.

As soon as she was inside, Buffy deposited her pile of clothes and other necessities onto the nearest flat surface, which happened to be the seat of a leather chair, turned to Giles, and kissed him soundly.

"Hey," she said when they surfaced for air. "Miss me?"

"Damnably."

He pulled her closer, covering her face with kisses. They maneuvered to the bed, dropping their robes as they went. Giles took a moment to pull Buffy's nightgown over her head. For a long moment, they looked at each other, marveling at each others' naked bodies.

"You're beautiful," Giles said.

"You're not so bad, yourself," Buffy told him. She ran her hands over his chest, giggling slightly at the feel of his curls under her fingers. "Nice."

He smiled and blushed slightly. Since he wasn't quite sure how to reply in words, he moved to the bed and lay down, pulling her to him. She immediately curled up in his arms and kissed his shoulder.

"Comfortable?" he asked.

"Very. You?"

"Tolerably, yes. I still can't quite believe this is happening."

"I know. It's great, but it still feels a little weird. I mean...we've known each other forever, but it's like we're meeting for the first time, too."

"I suppose in a way, we are."

"Then...hello. I'm Buffy." She stuck out her right hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Um...Rupert. I'm Rupert. How do you do?"

They shook hands and giggled.

"I'm great," Buffy managed through her laughter.

"You certainly are," he agreed in a throaty voice.

Buffy's laughter quickly turned to moans as Giles began to knead her breasts and nibble on her earlobe.

"So lovely...so delicious," he whispered.

They kissed and caressed for some time, their passion rising to dizzying heights. Hungry kisses muffled their groans. Buffy could feel Giles' cock rising against her thigh. As it grew hard and long, panic rose in her breast. She pushed him slightly away.

"I...Giles..."

"Yes?" he encouraged her. "Buffy, is there something wrong? Have I done anything to upset you?"

"No, of course not. I just...I have a confession to make."

"Confession?" Giles sat up and looked at her in confusion.

"Um...not like...I mean, I didn't do anything. It's more...that I haven't done something."

"What are you talking about? What haven't you done?"

"This." Buffy gestured at the bed. "I haven't done this...in a long time. This whole sex thing. I haven't...not since...since..."

"Since...when, Buffy?"

She met his eye steadily, but her voice came out in an apologetic whisper.

"Spike."

"Ah." He blinked a few times. "Well...that's...quite a while. But I don't understand why you think that's a problem."

"I guess it isn't, really. I just...might be a little rusty, y'know?"

To her confusion, Giles began to laugh.

"Hey! It's not funny!"

"Yes it is," he insisted. "Buffy, I don't think there's a man on Earth who would mind that. I know I certainly don't." He caressed her shoulder softly. "All I care about is making sure you enjoy this. And...while we're confessing to...recent inexperience...you should probably know it's been even longer for me."

"How long?"

"Let's just say...I considered buying my left hand flowers and chocolates last Valentine's Day, but I didn't want to look pushy."

"You mean...because you...um...wow. Really?"

"Don't you?"

"Well...yeah, sometimes." She blushed deeply. "I can't believe I just told you that."

"I think it's rather sexy." He kissed her neck. "Have you ever thought about me when you touched yourself?"

"Lately, it's the only thing I think about. What about you? Do you think of me?"

"For some time now, yes. I've thought about how you would feel, how you would taste, whether you would be playful or serious...all of it."

"And? How do I measure up?"

"Better than anything I imagined. So much better."

His hands began to roam her body again. Her breath caught when he grazed a nipple with his thumb. He touched it again, more firmly, rubbing little circles until Buffy groaned in delight.

She pulled his head down to her bosom. He quickly got the idea and sucked a hard, pink bud between his lips. Buffy put a hand against her own mouth to stifle her involuntary cry. She didn't want to wake Aunt Min, after all.

Moments later, it was Giles' turn to do his best not to make noise when Buffy pushed him lightly down and took hold of his stiff penis. She leaned down and took him into her warm mouth.

She sucked hard at him, her tongue flicking gently over the head. Giles moaned again and slipped a finger down Buffy's body until he found her moist center. She moaned around his cock when he pushed his finger inside.

With a gasp, Buffy redoubled her actions. She rocked back and forth over Giles' finger, whimpering at the delicious sensation. She moved one hand to fondle his balls.

Suddenly, Giles' entire body went rigid as he tried to hold back.

"Oh...Buffy...Oh!"

With that, his hips lurched up from the bed. Buffy did her best to swallow all of the warm liquid filling her mouth. When he was done, she licked the head one more time and moved to hold her lover. They both groaned when his finger slipped out of her warmth.

"I'm sorry," he whispered against her lips. "I really had hoped to last a bit longer."

"It's okay. I'm gonna take it as a compliment," she smiled. "Mr. Control didn't have much tonight."

"That's because you drive me mad."

"Feeling's mutual." She trailed a finger down his cheek, then giggled when he captured it between his lips. "You make me nuts, too. And one of these nights, you're gonna make me go off like a firecracker."

"I thought that was the plan for tonight."

"Tonight?" She rubbed his chest gently, hoping it would take the sting out of her words. "Aren't you...done? I mean, you sort of crossed the finish line without me. Not that I mind all that much. I mean, there'll be a lot of nights, so if this one's a little bit of a bust, we'll just deal, right?"

Giles rolled on top of Buffy. His eyes were dark with passion.

"What makes you think tonight is over?" he asked in a husky voice.

"Maybe the fact that you...y'know, finished."

"I'm far from finished with you."

He captured her lips in a hungry kiss that lasted a long time. His lips caressed hers. His tongue slipped inside her mouth and swept along the sensitive areas there. His arms tightened around her body, pulling her as close as he could without taking her inside his own.

Despite his recent orgasm, Buffy could feel how hard he was growing again. She hungered for him to fill her, to complete her. Of their own accord, her knees spread wider to accept him.

"Shhh...there's no hurry," he whispered. "We have all night."

"Maybe you do," she gasped between kisses. "I'm not so sure about me."

He chuckled and kissed her again. One hand drifted down to fondle her softly, the fingers slipping one after another over the most sensitive spot on her body. Buffy arched against the touch. She tried desperately to get him to ease the tension between her thighs. Still he teased her.

"Please," she begged, "please, Rupert."

She groaned in frustration when he removed his touch entirely from her. Then she shivered when she realized he was slipping down the bed until his face was down at her hips.

"Do it," she groaned. "Please do it."

She bit the pillow to keep from screaming when his tongue snaked out to taste her dripping nether lips. He traced each fold, each sensitive part of her sex. Buffy moaned and writhed and panted with every lick. The pleasure was excruciating.

"Yeah, oh God! Oh, Giles, yes!"

He lifted his head for a moment and looked up at her.

"Hush, Buffy, you'll wake the house."

"I can't help it," she panted. "It feels too good."

Giles giggled happily and slid up to hold her.

"I never knew you were so loud in bed," he said.

"How would you know?" she countered. "But I'm usually not. Loud. And I never knew you found sex so funny."

"It is rather silly, when you consider it. But it's a great deal of fun, as well." He rolled atop her. "Now, shall I continue, or are you going to wake Aunt Min and bring her running to see which of us is killing the other?"

"How are you gonna shut me up?"

"Like this."

He leaned down and kissed her hard, sliding his tongue into her mouth. Buffy gave a muffled groan and kissed him back as hard as she could. When he pulled back, she only had breath to say one thing.

"Now, Giles."

He grabbed a condom from the nightstand, sheathed his cock, and positioned himself above her. He captured her lips with his as he began to sink into her depths. Her desperate whimper made him smile even as he kissed her harder.

When he was completely buried in her warmth, he tore his lips from hers to look in her eyes. They shone with joy and love. Her fingers trailed down his cheek. He turned his head to nibble on her fingertips as his hips began to rock.

Buffy kissed every part of Giles she could reach. It was the only way to keep from yelling at the explosive levels of pleasure she felt in his embrace. She shuddered and moaned when he altered the angle of his thrusts slightly.

"That's incredible," she breathed. "You're sure you haven't done this in a while?"

"It's like riding a bicycle," he chuckled breathlessly. "But so much better."

He kissed her hard, their tongues mingling and dancing as they found their rhythm. Buffy could feel herself slipping over the edge. She redoubled her efforts at kissing Giles senseless. Her hips moved wildly. Giles pushed harder into her. She was there. She buried her face in his neck to muffle her scream of pleasure.

Giles moved faster, harder, more frantically. He could feel a loud shout rising in his throat as Buffy pulsed around him.

"Can't last much longer," he panted.

Her only reply was a strangled cry as her internal muscles gripped him again.

That was it. He plunged in one more time, swallowing his own vocalizations as best he could. One more thrust. Another. Blinding, agonizing, joyous release.

He fell on her with an exhausted sigh of satisfaction.

"Bicycle, huh?"

Giles pulled himself up and rolled off Buffy.

"Sorry?"

"You said doing it with me was like riding a bicycle. Should I be insulted when I have enough energy again to feel anything but seriously blissed out?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he laughed. "It's just an expression."

"I know." She rolled to his side and ruffled the curls on his chest. "But you definitely need to find something more romantic to say next time."

He kissed the tip of her nose.

"I'll try to think of something, but I can't guarantee I'll be able to while we're making love. It tends to turn my brain to jelly, I'm afraid."

"Bring some crib notes to bed," she suggested with a giggle.

He joined in her laughter and kissed her again. When he moved to get out of bed, Buffy raised a questioning eyebrow. He leaned over and kissed her yet again. It seemed he could never get enough of her kisses.

"Just going to the loo," he explained. "I'll be back in a minute."

She pulled up the blankets and nodded sleepily at him as he removed the used condom, put on his robe and headed out of the room.

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