Disclaimer: Not mine. Don't sue! =)
Thanks: Doc Tom, who picks apart my stories and tells me what I need to hear. *G* Love ya bud.
Dedication: To Brian...First of all, for reasons known to just me and you, but also because you are the sole inspiration for most of my ideas. You share invaluable humor and insight. But most of all, because you have a pure heart and an honest soul, and because you're "more romantic than the next guy". This one's for you Brian. =)
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Giles stood in front of the full length mirror, adjusting his tie. It was as if here, in the sanctity of his small dressing room, the pain and heartache of the last four years didn't have to exist, and he wasn't really about to go out there this tonight. As he dressed, he thought back over all of the events that had come together to bring them all here to this day...this hour.
* * *
Buffy and her mother had grieved long and hard when Buffy's father had died. Giles thought of the sadness of that time, of the lost hollow look that corrupted her features every time he saw her.
The cause of death had been a simple heart attack; a quick, abrupt ending to the man's life. Originally, Giles had thought that the 'normal' manner of death would somehow make it easier for Buffy to deal with...at least it hadn't been a demon or something undead...but the opposite turned out to be true. Buffy needed someone to blame, a living, breathing thing to lash out against for her loss, but there was none. A medical condition wasn't something you could really hate. Because there was no one else to project those feelings onto, she slowly but steadily turned in on *herself*. Too considerate to bog down her friends with her burdens, she politely but firmly refused all offers of comfort and solace. Everyone was worried for her, but it seemed there was nothing to do but to allow her to deal with her pain in her own way.
Giles himself was not inclined to refuse her requests to be left alone, but he couldn't fathom not doing something to help her get through her father's death. He knew of only one wish, one thing that her heart had always desired. Even though it was the one thing that he didn't really want, he made it his mission in life to give it to her. She wanted Angel.
Giles remembered the long nights...the hours spent awake and poring through every mystical text he could get his hands on, determined to find a way to allow her and Angel to be together. The very idea went against everything he had held as gospel during his training. He had been taught that bringing together a Slayer and a vampire would be an entirely unnatural union...the lion and the lamb lying down together. What right had he to play god? And also, caring about her as he did, could he willingly put her into the hands of a being that had taken so many lives, acted out so many horrors?
It seemed as though she could read his mind, even though at the time she had actually known nothing of his intentions. Every time these doubts had started to creep their way into his head, she would stop by the library and look up at him with those big soulful eyes, or he would see her walking in the hall, sandwiched protectively between Xander and Willow, yet never really noticing that they were there. It was during those moments that he was sure that what he was doing was right.
Then there was the actual task of 'curing' Angel. He already knew that it was impossible to make him living again, but he had finally come across an ancient complicated ritual where the vampire, if he participated willingly, would be free forever of a craving for a Slayer's blood. The night Giles had found the book with the ritual in it, he had finally switched off his lamp and gotten sleep for the first time in awhile.
// "I'm doing this because I *love* her. But why are *you* doing it?"// Angel had asked once.
// "For the same reason you are." //
Angel's initial reaction had been one of disbelief, but when he had heard the whole story he was happy to comply with whatever Giles deemed necessary to make it successful. Much like Giles, Angel had been shut off by Buffy since her father died. All he wanted was her safety and happiness. If Giles could free him of that ever-present craving for her blood, then he and Buffy could have a chance for that safety and happiness *together*.
Giles smiled a bittersweet smile at himself in the mirror as he thought of the day he and Angel had gone to tell Buffy about the ceremony; that it was complete. It had taken some convincing...Buffy's heart had been locked away for a long time. When she finally dared to be hopeful about the prospect of a life with Angel, a tiny bit of that haunted look faded out of her eyes. Giles stepped back quietly to watch the embrace, the hesitant kiss. He left the room when the scene changed to whispered words and soft caresses.
He had gotten no 'Thank you' then, but need for gratitude wasn't the reason he'd done it. He did love her, in his own way, and her happiness was enough.
She *had* come to him the next morning though. He remembered that so clearly... perhaps the most vivid of all his recollections. She had glowed with a healthy blush and wore a beautifully peaceful smile, leaving little doubt in his mind as to where Angel had spent the previous night.
// "Giles, how can I ever thank you for what you've given me?" //
// "There's no need to, Buffy. // he had replied.
She had graced him with another soft, mature smile and a quick kiss on the cheek. Their conversation had continued amiably over tea after that, leading to the very request that led him to be standing here today, dressed in a tuxedo and lost in old memories. Apparently, the engagement had been quick in coming to them after that... he had no idea that he was merely giving them the key.
* * *
Just as he got his tie right, a light distinctive tap sounded on the door. "Decent?" she called with a laugh.
He would've known that voice anywhere. With a deep breath, he opened the door, only to have the air stolen from his chest by the vision before him. She wore pure white, face shrouded by her veil. Her gown was of the traditional style: fitted bodice and a long elegant train...not what he would've expected from Buffy's wild tastes...but she looked beautiful no matter what she wore. He smiled.
"You look like a princess."
Her features lit with a smile at the compliment. "Thanks."
Giles looked away from that light in her eyes. "Buffy..." he sighed, her name whispered like a prayer. He looked up again. "This began as a duty...you are the Slayer and I am your Watcher. But I just want to tell you that for once, my actions weren't because of obligation to duty. They were out of loyalty to you."
Tears filled her eyes and she took his hand. "I know," she whispered. She wiped at her tears with careful fingertips. "Oh, now you're going to make me mess up my makeup, don't say things like that." She finished fixing herself up and peered up at him. "It's almost time...are you ready?"
Giles wasn't sure whether she was asking him or herself. "Certainly."
He offered her his arm, and they stepped out of the room together. They headed outside into the pale light of the moon. The beams caught her hair and lit it with a silver radiance that was perfectly angelic, and therefore very fitting for the occasion. They stopped at the head of the aisle that had been set up, and she turned to face him, looking at him with that 'little girl' expression for the last time.
"I love you." She whispered. Her eyes filled with tears again, makeup forgotten, but she still had a smile on her face. The people around them got panicked looks...what was she saying? But Giles and Buffy both understood, and that was all that mattered anyway.
"I know, Slayer...I love you to. Now come, I have an aisle to walk you down."
She grinned through more tears. He squeezed the little fingers that gripped his arm with his other hand as the old time honored music started to play, and they took their first step down the long red carpet.
Angel stood at the other end, waiting patiently through their goodbye. He owed Giles a lot too, and neither one of them would ever forget his help.
Buffy held Giles's arm with both hands and let him lead her to Angel. They approached him and he smiled at his bride while the priest spoke to Giles.
"Who gives this woman's hand in marriage?"
Giles took both of her hands in his and gave his reply.
"I do."
Giles threatened silently as he placed Buffy's hands in Angel's.
Angel gave him a look that clearly said
The pair finally stood before the world, joined together in every way. Giles stepped back, struggling to let her go, feeling more like a father at that moment than he thought he ever would.
The ceremony ended with a sweet kiss. Giles didn't take part in all the birdseed nonsense that Willow and Xander seemed to be enjoying so much...he just stood off by himself and watched them drive away.
* * *
From that day forward, things changed. Of course he saw Buffy every now and then...but things were different. He wasn't really needed like he had been before. Essentially, he had lost his little girl. When she had a young husband like Angel to look after her, a Watcher was really quite obsolete as far as slaying went. He passed them in the park yesterday evening, talking and laughing, linked arm-in-arm. He wanted to call out her name but he didn't, afraid that he was merely a reminder of the dark time when she had mourned her father, and when there had been no hope of the kind of life she wanted.
On a quiet Sunday afternoon, Angel made his way to the Watcher's house. Giles couldn't help but feel that old familiar twinge of panic...his mind too long trained to recognize the undead...when he saw the man at the door. The feeling faded quickly.
"Angel! How nice to see you. Come in! Is your...is Buffy with you this morning?"
"No, no, she was tired, she's sleeping right now. I just wanted to tell you...I mean, I thought you'd like to know..."
"What? What is it?"
"Nothing serious, really...it's just that she still has the dreams, even after all this time. I try to comfort her but I really don't know what to do; I guess that was your field. I thought you'd like to know that every once in awhile...when she wakes up from a nightmare...she wakes up crying for you, she calls your name out loud." Angel looked away.
"I...I don't really know what to say to that, Angel."
"Do you ever still think about her Giles?"
"I still do sometimes...every once in awhile."
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