An hour later, the Slayer and the Slayerettes were sitting quietly in Giles' living room, contemplating the night's events. Eliza had roused on the way home and had insisted on taking care of Giles single-handedly. They'd installed Giles in his bed upstairs. Eliza shooed them out of the room shortly thereafter. Xander had just checked on the couple and reported that Eliza was sitting in the chair by his bed, asleep, with her hand in Giles'. The Watcher was resting peacefully. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They had unanimously decided to remain; Willow had initiated the round robin to let their folks know that they were. . . where they weren't. The group settled down for the night, agreeing that each should take a "watch" just in case.
* * *
Eliza waited until Xander had tip-toed out of the room. She raised her head and gazed down at the man she loved. He stirred and groaned quietly, wincing in pain. His face and body was bruised and battered. His left ankle was horribly swollen, and Eliza feared that it might be broken. They'd immobilized the ankle, packing it with ice. Eliza held out four ibuprofen and made him swallow them down. He watched her through green eyes dark with pain. Eliza knew the pain was not merely physical.
"Eliza," he whispered raggedly. "Eliza, please. . . please forgive me. I shouldn't have left you. Shouldn't have doubted you."
"Hush, Giles. Please don't think of it now. We'll talk when you're feeling better, I promise."
"No, now."
"Of course, Giles. Tomorrow," she agreed. She rose to check the bandages. His hands gripped her arm tightly.
"Please, Eliza. Don't go. Don't leave me now. I need you." came the weak plea.
"Shush. I'm not going anywhere except to check your ankle. We'll see how it will be tomorrow. I think you've got a nasty sprain at least. I do hope you've got an ace bandage around here somewhere," she said.
"I do. Eliza," he insisted. Eliza realized that he would not be put off and girded her mental loins for . . . well, she wasn't sure what. She opened the door for the conversation.
"Now, Rupert, you're going to stress yourself beyond your endurance. Not that you haven't already." She paused for a moment and looked down at his body. Purple blotches were coming through on his arms, chest, and legs, evidence of the buffeting he'd taken. "And I'm grateful. Thank you for coming after me tonight."
"I could do nothing else. You see, I've fallen in love with you." Giles confessed quietly. Eliza stared incredulously, not daring to breathe, let alone speak, lest the words disappear like smoke.
"What did you say?" she whispered, and returned to the bed where he was struggling weakly to sit upright. "Wait, now, let me." She deftly, tenderly, lifted his foot and moved the pillows up so she could set the injured member down again. That done, she shifted him upward against the headboard and sat facing him on the edge of the mattress.
"I love you, Eliza. What's more, I don't want to make the same mistake I made with Jenny. I realize that my life as a Watcher presents certain difficulties to a relationship, let alone a life together. Nevertheless," he paused, taking her hand in his. "Marry me, Eliza. Please share my life with me, and let me share yours."
Tears gathered in her blue eyes and coursed down her cheeks. She swiped at the moisture, and saw his eyes darken in disappointment.
"Yes, well. I can't say that I blame you," he said dully and turned his head away. Eliza placed a finger along his chin and compelled him to look at her.
"I will, Rupert. I will gladly share your life and share mine with you. I love you too." She leaned forward and kissed his lips lightly and then sat back to watch the emotions play across his face as her answer registered. A hesitant smile began to bloom, and something akin to a combination of humble gratitude and desire burned in his eyes. He reached up and drew her down to him, kissing her. She eased onto the bed beside him and let him gather her into his arms. Snuggled together, they both fell deeply asleep.
Buffy was the next one on watch and went upstairs. Her heart clenched as she was at once happy and bitterly sad to find them thus. Again, she was the odd female out. Satisfied that they were both going to mend, she crept downstairs and out the front door for some fresh air.
The moon shone down on her blonde head as she breathed deeply of the clear night air. A figure stepped out of the shadows and wavered unsteadily before her. The man, if that's what he was, fell to his knees before her and uttered one word in hope and despair.
"Buffy."
She drew in a shuddering breath as she doubted her senses. The voice was his, but it couldn't be. The name in her heart surged unbidden to her lips.
"Angel?" she whispered. The figure raised its head and captured her green eyes with his dark brown. The moon lit his handsome features. "Angel!" Her soft cry was on the verge of a sob. She ran forward and knelt before him. "It's you. It is you."
"Buffy. I love you, Buffy," he whispered and lost consciousness.
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