As he pulls up he pays the taxi driver and steps out, the ground beneath him already giving way to his thoughts, memories flood him and he feels like he's in the last reel of a really bad Barbara Streisand movie. He shoves the tears back again as Xander emerges from the house. The look of stunned excitement gives way to a gloomier acceptance as Xander remembers why Giles has come. They embrace sadly and he grabs one of the older man's bags. He had always held a deep respect for Giles. In some ways he was more of a father to him than his father was. Without a word they turn toward the house. Xander appears tired, haggard and yet somewhat wiser. He also appears preoccupied which is not a huge surprise given the circumstances. The boy had grown up a lot since he had seen him, Giles thinks to himself.
As Giles enters the house, the familiar smells overwhelm him and he is immediately thrown back to a happier time. A time when this vacant old house had been a home. There had once been life in this house, now just sorrow and pain. The gentleness of the Summers' women had been replaced with the cold, uninviting shadow of death. He takes a moment to control himself before stepping into the living room, where nothing has changed and yet nothing remained the same. Willow lies on a couch by the window, clutching VAMPYR to her chest. Giles kneels beside her and gently removes the journal from her grasp. She mutters something about Buffy in her sleep and moves slightly. Giles smirks sadly and places a kiss on her forehead.
"It's not your fault," he whispers.
Somewhat ironic, he thinks to himself, given the conversation Willow and he had after she had brought Buffy back. He shakes his head and follows Xander upstairs. Only in Sunnydale would that make any sense at all. He clutches the journal to his chest as his mind begins to wonder where the third Summers lady is. He is so tired that all he can think of clearly is a bed and of course Buffy.
"So much for happy reunions." Xander says as he shows him to his room.
Giles' eyes soften as he looks at the boy. It is in this moment that Giles realizes how much rides on Xander's shoulders since he'd left. He sighs, acknowledging the joke and pats him on the shoulder and then slips into the room.
