Title: Surprise 3/6
Author: KrisB
Rating: Mostly PG13. Ch 5 is NC-17
Pairing: B/G, of course!
Spoiler Warnings: up to middle of season 5
Summary: AU, response to ODD's Challenge #67. Giles gets a surprise.
Disclaimer: All canon characters of Buffyverse belong to the awe-inspiring Joss, ME, etc. I'm writing this for free entertainment only.

CHAPTER THREE

When they entered the Espresso Pump a little over an hour later, Buffy ignored the curious looks she received by those inside. Some where students she recognized from UC Sunnydale, some from Sunnydale High. But most of the people in the coffee shop were older people she didn't know at all. She heard someone call "Rupert!" and turned, hugging her baby closer and wondering who it was.

Giles turned and shook a tall, thin man's hand. "Hello, Joe, how are you?"

"I'm peeved!" Joe exclaimed, waving his hand at the other end of the caf=E9. "You promised you'd let me know when you were back in town! People have been asking after you for months, man!"

Joe turned curious eyes to the young blonde standing with his friend, and realized two things at once. One, she was holding a baby, staring at him with something akin to distrust, and two, she, too was once a regular of his little coffee shop.

"Hey, and you brought one of my regulars back!" he said with a smile. He stuck his hand out, his eyes crinkling behind his square, black framed glasses. "I don't think I've been formally introduced, though. I'm Joe Martin. I run the place."

Buffy took in his black turtleneck sweater, beret and the thick frames of his glasses as she shook his hand. His personality didn't fit his clothes at all. Weren't Beatniks supposed to be quiet and reflective? "Yeah, I've seen you around town. I'm Buffy."

"Nice to meet you, Buffy. And who do we have here?" he asked, motioning at the baby.

"This is Rupert."

"Oh, are congratulations in order?" Joe asked, turning surprised eyes up to Giles.

Giles blushed predictably and shook his head. "No, she named him after me, but –"

"– but he's only the godfather. My boyfriend was in the military. He's... he was killed in the line of duty."

Joe's face softened to polite sympathy. "My apologies, kiddo. You couldn't have picked a better guy to name your kid after, though. He's a real hit around here." Joe patted Giles' shoulder. He turned back to the Englishman, hope lighting his features. "Hey, you should do a set tonight!"

"No –"

"I won't take a no, Rupert. Consider it payback for not letting me know you were back in town." At Giles' continued hesitation he cajoled him with a plea. "Come on! I'll still pay you..."

Buffy smirked at Giles' discomfiture. "Giles, if you want to do a set, go ahead. We'll be okay."

Giles shook his head with a soft laugh. "We'll see, Joe. Let me think on it?"

Joe clapped him on the shoulder again and pointed him towards the seating area. As they turned, they heard Joe yell out, "Hey Cheryl! Rupert's back! Usual house discount, alright?"

Giles blushed again, his head stooping a bit as they sat at a nearby table. Buffy situated the baby carrier into one of the two free chairs and watched Giles as he took his seat. "House discount?"

His blush deepened and he looked over his shoulder, his voice lowered. "Joe likes to give me free drinks. He seems to think I can be bought out with a bit of caffeine in my system."

Buffy chuckled. "Most people can," she said. "I had no idea you were a local celebrity."

He turned back to her, smiling as well. "No celebrity. Just enjoyed by the regular clientele."

A waitress appeared with a tea pot and two mugs. She eyed the baby but kept any comments to herself. "Don't let `im fool ya, honey. He's always been too humble for his own good."

Buffy chuckled as she spooned sugar into her mug. "I'm beginning to get that," she said. She turned to the waitress and shyly smiled. "Could you heat up some water?" she asked, raising an empty baby bottle to the woman. The waitress nodded as she took it from her.

"Whatever you need, honey."

"Thank you, Cheryl."

She winked at Giles in response and swished away.

"Giles!"

"What?" he turned to Buffy, his brows raised.

"She was totally flirting with you!" Buffy whispered, teasing.

"Ah, but she is sadly unavailable. Such a tease," he said, holding a hand over his heart.

Buffy giggled and poured tea in both mugs as she glanced at Rupert, confirming that he was still asleep. "So what do they mean by doing a set?"

He'd wondered how long it would take her to question the term. "I sang here on occasion. Didn't the others mention it to you?"

"Oh, yeah! Willow and Tara went on for days." Her face broke into a wide grin. "You must've been pretty good to get a couple of lesbians lusting after you."

He sputtered and choked on his tea. "You're joking."

She shook her head, taking her own cautious sip. "Nope, they were definitely gushing."

Giles sat a little straighter, his grin self-assured and wide. When it faltered, she lowered her cup, her brow wrinkled in concern.

"Something wrong?"

"Your mother just arrived. She doesn't look pleased for some reason."

Buffy turned and watched her mother's stiff approach. When Joyce came to a stop at their table, she very carefully avoided looking at Giles. "Buffy... I didn't realize Mister Giles would be here, too."

Buffy frowned as she looked to Giles, who looked equally perplexed. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"Because I didn't invite him?"

Giles' face darkened and his back straightened to a painful, rigid line. Buffy could see the storm brewing in his eyes and rushed to speak up.

"Well, if you don't want to talk with him, you don't have to. But he's gonna stay." She looked to him, her eyes pleading. "You are gonna stay, aren't you?"

He nodded once, and waited as Joyce slid into the only available seat. He turned away from her, keeping his features neutral as he removed the sleeping child from his carrier. It was an incredibly juvenile gesture, but it showed her with some finality that he had access where she had none. She'd yet to even see her own grandson, let alone hold him. Joyce's shoulders slumped, but she knew she deserved it.

"So?" Buffy asked, drawing Joyce's attention back to herself. Joyce fidgeted and opened her mouth to speak when Cheryl reappeared, plopping the bottle down in front of Buffy.

"Get you anything, ma'am?" Cheryl asked, eyeing the other woman's pinched face with interest.

"No, thank you," Joyce answered, staring at the bottle. Buffy pulled the formula from the baby bag and prepped it. Squeezing a drop on her wrist before showing her satisfaction, she handed it to Giles, who very easily woke Rupert with a few soft words and some rocking. The baby gurgled, his little feet kicking out, and he was rewarded with the nipple of his bottle. Cheryl smiled down fondly before leaving them, wanting more than anything to listen to whatever was being said at that table.

"I'm sorry," Joyce murmured, her eyes glued to her grandson. "I'm so sorry, Buffy."

"Well, that's good, I guess." At her mother's baffled glance, she shrugged her shoulders, her face blank. "Hey, I didn't ask for an apology. I asked you to accept the truth."

"And just what is the truth?" Joyce asked, turning to face her.

"I told you the truth. You just didn't want to hear it." She lowered her eyes. "You weren't there when I needed you."

"Oh, honey..."

"Look, I'll accept that it's hard to believe. It's not every day you hear something like that. And I realize that Giles is not the ideal candidate to help me in your mind." Buffy looked up, determined as ever before. "But it's not your decision to make. We've never been together like that, but Giles has been there for me even when he wasn't on the same continent." She lowered her voice. "How many Slayers do you think make it to twenty? How much do you think is me, and how much is Giles?"

"Buffy, that's not –"

"Fair? No, it's not. But there you go." She looked to Giles, who was watching her. I'll step in, any time you need me, his eyes said. She nodded before locking eyes with her mother again.

"And now, you want to be a part of something you turned away. It's going to take time. And you've got a lot of things to make up for. But we can work out a truce until I'm over it." She smiled across the table at her Watcher. "No matter how often the relationship changes between me and Giles, he'll help me take care of Rupert. I may not live with him forever, or I might die tomorrow, but he'll always be there. He loves us."

Buffy was about to say something else, watching his eyes fill with emotion, when a shrill, excited voice interrupted their little world.

"Hey, aren't you the guy that used to sing here?" the woman asked. At Giles' cautious nod, the woman waved at her friends. "It is him! And he has a baby! Oh my gosh, are you gonna sing tonight?"

Joyce gawked at them all, not sure how to take this development.

"I-I'm not sure."

"Oh, you've got to sing! Anything! Just one song, pleeeease?"

"Right now?" he asked incredulously.

"Yeah, we want to hear you before we go. Please?"

Buffy bit her lip to fight off the grin that tried to surface. Giles turned to her and quirked a brow in silent question to her.

She nodded. "Go on. I'd kinda like to hear you, too."

"Any requests?" he asked next, standing and handing the baby to her.

"Something for Rupert," she said, smiling up at him as her son settled into her arms.

Giles thought for a moment, then his eyes lit with pleasure. "Bring him up to the stage, love, while I find out about a guitar."

The girls crowed and cell phones were flipped open. They babbled happily: "That guy is going to sing again, get down to the Pump fast!" Joyce watched on, all but forgotten as Buffy rose as well, and went to the small clearing at the other end of the caf=E9. Within ten minutes, Giles was tuning a guitar on the stool there, and the Espresso Pump was packed. People of all ages were present. By the time he was ready, only standing room was available.

Joe was delighted beyond belief.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Giles said, speaking into the microphone with an enigmatic smile. "I have a very special young woman in my life. She has given me the great pleasure of naming her son after me, and has asked me to be his godfather."

Much applause and cheering began, but he held up his hand, silencing them. He waved to Buffy, who was holding Rupert with a proud grin. "I've a song I'd like to sing for them, and some of you may know it... `Beautiful Boy' by John Lennon." Plucking a simple introduction to the tune, he closed his eyes and began pouring his heart out to the crowd.

Close your eyes,

Have no fear,

The monsters gone,

He's on the run and your daddy's here,

Beautiful,

Beautiful, beautiful,

Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,

Say a little prayer,

Every day in every way,

It's getting better and better,

Beautiful,

Beautiful, beautiful,

Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,

I can hardly wait,

To see you to come of age,

But I guess we'll both,

Just have to be patient,

Yes it's a long way to go,

But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,

Take my hand,

Life is just what happens to you,

While you're busy making other plans,

Beautiful,

Beautiful, beautiful,

Beautiful Boy,

Darling,

Darling,

Darling Son.

The caf=E9 was quiet for a breathtaking moment, and then everyone was standing, clapping and cheering. Mothers in the audience were wiping their eyes as they watched Buffy struggle to wipe her own cheeks with full hands. Cheryl laughed as she clapped, speaking over her shoulder to Joyce. "He's such a good guy," she said, and turned back to the stage, missing Joyce's odd look.

Several people in the crowd called for more, and Giles shook his head, leaning in towards the mic. The room quieted as quickly as possible, and he laughed into the microphone, shy and contented. "I'll resume a regular schedule as previously agreed upon with the owner. You can come see me perform on Wednesday nights from nine to eleven."

"Only one night?" one woman called out, a pout in her voice even though no one could see her. Buffy chuckled wetly along with the rest of the small audience.

"Well, that would need to be discussed with the owner," Giles replied, his grin wide. "But for now, I'm going to enjoy my godson's company, as well as his lovely mother. Thank you all for your support."

He stepped down from the stool and bowed his head before handing the guitar to Joe.

"What about doing a Saturday show, Rupert?" Joe asked. "You know you'd love it."

"We'll talk," Giles promised, though not agreeing, Buffy noticed. He cupped her elbow and led her back to their table through the crowd. Giles endured much of the embarrassing claps on his shoulder as he avoided Buffy's eyes, and was finally able to assist her to her chair. Joyce sat there staring at the tea pot, unsure of how to continue after all that'd been said and done.

"Giles," Buffy said, finally able to speak when he sat down, "that was... wow. So great. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Buffy."

"You called her love," Joyce blurted. She looked up to Giles, her face wincing in confusion. "Do you?"

Giles's throat tightened and he offered a half-smile. "Of course."

Joyce turned to Buffy, who was smiling contentedly at her Watcher. "And you love Mister Giles?"

Buffy simply nodded.

"Alright," Joyce said. "Well, I'll take what I can get. Anytime you'd like to visit, just let me know when and where. I'll be there." She stood, clutching her purse to herself. "I do love you, Buffy. Both of you." And she was gone, swallowed by the thinning crowd.

Buffy and Giles' eyes met across the table. "Why do I think she didn't get it at all?" she asked with a solemn frown.

"You can't force her to believe anything, Buffy. Just let her come upon it at her own pace."

Buffy smiled down at Rupert, already dozing after all the excitement. "I guess I have to. Wanna go home?"

"Let's take a walk," he offered. "Get some fresh air."

"Okay, but if you get asked to do a street performance I'm going home, with or without you."

Giles chuckled. "Fair enough."

*******

Buffy lay in bed that night, staring at the ceiling. Giles' song circled her brain. She fought another urge to reach down and rub away a quick release of the tension in her belly. She knew that she'd feel guilty afterwards, the least of which because her infant child was in a crib across the room, sleeping. She looked to the ceiling again.

Giles was upstairs, sleeping, and she was obsessing about his voice.

His mildly sexy singing voice.

Okay, his very sexy singing voice.

Her mind reviewed all the vague terms he used when referring to her – terms that couldn't be pinned down to one meaning. Love. A very special girl. It could go one way or the other. While the thought should bother her, it did nothing but harbor a hope she hadn't even known existed.

What did Giles think of her? Was she a ward, someone he wanted to look after? Or a potential lover?

Or just... used goods?

*******

Giles lay in bed staring at his ceiling. He'd nearly been announced a fool this afternoon. How could Joyce be so perceptive and so damnably ignorant at the same time? Of course he loved Buffy. But could they ever have what she thought they had? Ever be more than close friends? He had no idea.

Not a bloody clue.

Buffy's languid non-answer brought up a war in his mind he'd never thought he'd be contemplating about his Slayer.

She'd insisted she was grown, that she was a woman, ever since she'd sent Angel to hell.

And now she was. A mother and a woman, already owning a sexual history, a broken heart, and more than one dead lover.

But what of her feelings of him? She didn't comment on his singing after she thanked him. Certainly didn't "gush" as she'd described young Willow and Tara having done.

"You are an old fool," he muttered to himself, and wondered not for the first time what he could do to repay Joyce for opening Pandora's Box in his mind. He punched his pillow and turned on his side, cursing at the woman under his breath for his wayward thoughts and the very physical manifestation of his frustrations.