Downstairs Giles was sitting on the sofa, staring into space. He wondered how Buffy could be so calm after what had happened in the kitchen. If she was right, if his source was right, he wouldn't be young for very much longer. Really he should take advantage of the situation. He wondered what she would say if he told her he wanted to forget researching, take her upstairs and make love to her for the rest of their time together. He watched her come back down the stairs and she looked beautiful. He looked at her more closely that she looked resigned, even as she was trying to smile.
"Buffy?"
"So, lead me to the books, I'm ready to have my two friends back." She picked up a book and began to flip through it looking for the amulet.
"Your two friends?"
She looked up at him, "you too Giles. Things were...well, things were easier the way they were before. Where's Willow?"
"Asleep on the floor, I didn't really feel the need to wake her up." He was a little hurt that she just wanted things to go back the way they were. "Tea?"
"Yeah, sure." Buffy continued to flip through the book. Every thing was nearly figured out. Part of her wanted to stop researching and just keep things as they were, enjoying her moment of motherhood, but another part of her wanted it to end that night so she could show Giles how mature she was. The mental torment ended when she looked down at her book and was confronted with an image of the amulet. She read the words around it.
'A wish granting object that allows the person to live out their wish from midnight of the new moon to midnight of the full moon. Because of this it is best that the wish be made on the new moon for the person to receive the full benefit and duration of their wish.' Well it looks like Giles' source was correct. 'The amulet also exercises its power within the confines of the room it's in. It will affect all of those who magic it touches, but if one is removed from the room during the critical period the spell will not have the full affect.' And that explains why Giles wasn't a toddler, Buffy had pulled him back into the kitchen. 'It is also important to be specific in one's wish otherwise it could have unintended consequences.' And that's probably why they ended up as toddlers in the first place. No doubt one of them just wished they were young again and didn't specify an age.
"Giles, where's your calendar?"
"On the wall by my desk," his voice came from the kitchen while he prepared the tea.
Buffy walked over to the calendar and looked for the next full moon. It was tonight, of course. Buffy felt like she was going to cry. Tomorrow morning she would wake up and Willow and Xander would be all grown up. She wouldn't be able to use them as way to avoid deep discussions with Giles. That was a lot to think about. She needed to get out, get some perspective. She put the book down leaving it open to the page with the amulet on it and slipped on her shoes.
"Buffy, would you like something to eat with your tea?" Giles came out of the kitchen. "Buffy?" She wasn't there. He went to the coffee table and saw the book. He read the passage on the amulet and then re-read it. So the end to this was near. He would've gone to the calendar to figure out the next full moon but just then Willow came out rubbing her eyes groggily.
He drew the little one onto his lap. "Did you have a good nap love?"
She nodded, "Mama?"
"I don't know where she went sweet, but I hope she comes back."
"Sleepy papa." Those words, so innocently spoken brought him to his knees. He began to cry. He cried for his Slayer, for everything she was giving up, for everything she would never get to have, and he cried for himself. All he could do was clutch Willow tightly to him while he let the tears stream down his face. Gently she patted him on the head, "no cry papa, no cry."
Giles had thought about having children. He didn't think it was possible, not with his calling. Perhaps if he hadn't lived on a hellmouth, the opportunity would've presented himself. Many watchers had families, even he was the son and grandson of a watcher. He had told himself over and over that someday he'd meet the right woman. Now he knew that he had but was too frightened to say anything to her. He loved Buffy, with a powerful, all consuming devotion. He knew that even if she could never return his love he would be by her always, to love and protect her.
Buffy looked at her watch. Everything would be back to normal in a few hours. She wondered if they would remember their brief stint as children? Would Xander remember that he had called her mama? She hadn't given much thought to having children, but now she ached inside at the thought she might never have one.
And what about Giles? She had watched him fall ever more in love with them during the week. Why was he still a single old bachelor, when he had so much love to give. She knew why, deep in the back of her mind, she knew that living in Sunnydale and taking care of her had been too consuming for him, he never would've allowed himself to bring an innocent life into that world, not after what happened to Jenny. All the times she drove him away, why didn't he stay away? Why didn't he take his chance at a normal life?
Buffy sat in the park thinking about these questions and many more until the sun began to set. She was stiff from sitting and hungry. She wondered how Giles had done without her but figured things would be quiet after their exciting morning. Standing up she stretched and watched the sun dip below the horizon. Only a few more hours until life returned to normal and she didn't want to waste any more of it. She began to walk back to the house.
She hadn't gone far when two vamps stepped out from behind a bush. She felt a brief moment of panic when she realized she hadn't brought any weapons with her, but it only last a moment, she was the Slayer, she would improvise. She was able to fend off their attacks, but when an unsuspected third vamp showed up it became more of a struggle. They managed to get a few good hits in, but she rolled with them. She broke a branch off the tree and dusted one. The other two circled her warily aware of the fact that an armed Slayer, no matter the fashion, was infinitely more dangerous. The rushed to attack her. She took on the bigger one, bringing him down with a roundhouse kick to the head before driving the stake through him. Seeing him defeated the third began to run away. Buffy contemplated letting him go but when she looked down to see her clothes crumpled, ripped and stained she changed her mind. She turned and threw the branch at the retreating vamp's back, smiling grimly as it hit its mark and the vamp gave one anguished howl before disintegrating.
Giles had managed to keep the children entertained all day without too much damage to the house. He wished that Buffy was there to talk to at least, but he knew better than most that Buffy needed some time alone. However his worry increased as the sun set. He was fairly certain she hadn't taken anything with her and soon it would be dark. An hour later his worries seemed to confirmed when she came in, streaked with dirt and carrying a few fresh cuts and scrapes.
"You're back." She stared at him. He was holding a pot in one hand, and there was a dishrag over his shoulder, he was in the process of serving dinner while Willow and Xander waited semi-patiently. She had never seen anything so heartwarming in her life.
She made her way to the table and kissed each of the on the head. Xander held his hand up for her to look at, "Boo, boo."
She kissed it, "all better." He smiled at her and turned to his plate. "I'll be back down in a second, I'm just gonna change into some clean clothes."
Giles watched her go before following her upstairs. "Buffy?" He opened the door to his room and stopped, she had taken her shirt off. At first he felt bad for walking in on her, but that guilt was overridden by worry when he saw the marks on her body. It didn't matter that they would be gone in the morning, they were there now and they were obviously painful. "Buffy! What happened?"
She held her shirt against her chest for modesty's sake. "Just a couple of vamps they caught me unprepared." She flinched as she reached for her nightshirt."
"Buffy let me help you. They need disinfected." She sat down on the bed in acquiescence. "Are you okay?"
"Nothing a good night's sleep won't cure."
"That's not what I was talking about. Buffy, I saw what you found out about the amulet. How do you feel about that?"
She winced as he applied the iodine to her cuts. "It's what we want isn't it? They get to go back to being their normal adult selves, I get to be the mature, childless Slayer. The aunt that people invite for the holidays because it's wrong for anybody to be alone during that time of year and she gives good presents." She couldn't hold back the edge of bitterness in her voice.
"Yes, well, I must say, I wouldn't mind staying this age."
"Of course, give yourself more time to find the perfect woman to settle down with, have a family of your own."
"I very much doubt that Buffy. However, it would be nice to be able to join you in your battles without having to dose myself on pain medications afterwards. I think I can safely say that I will not be settling down any time soon."
She could hear the touch of sadness in his voice. "I'm sorry Giles, I keep forgetting how hard this must be for you. Can I ask you a question?"
"You can ask me anything Buffy."
"What would you have done if there hadn't been a way to reverse this?"
"There's always a way to reverse things Buffy."
"But if there weren't? If Willow and Xander were doomed to go through their childhood again and you were only a few years older than me, what would you do?" He thought about it for a moment. "Would you leave us?"
"Of course not." He wouldn't leave them or her while there was still breath enough in his body.
"Would we all live here?"
"I suppose we'd have to get a bigger place so they could each have their own room."
"'We'd' get another place?"
"Of course Buffy do you think I would turn you out? Or make you go it alone? I would stay with you and them until the end and we'd make our own family."
Buffy was elated by his response. She forgot the cuts and bruises on her body as well as her modesty as she crushed him in a loving embrace. "Thank you Giles." She kissed him all over his face, "Thank you so much." She kissed him again, this time on the lips, gently, tentatively. He didn't react, but he didn't pull away either. She kissed him again and suddenly his arms were around her, pulling her close, tangling in her hair.
He pushed her back onto the bed and began to caress her gently. She responded to his touch, reaching for the hem of his shirt to pull it off. It was awkward for a moment as his head became stuck, but he freed it and crushed his mouth to hers, delighted to feel their flesh pressed together. He drew one leg up between her two and pressed his thigh against her heated center and she gasped. He could feel Ripper rising within him and dug his teeth into her neck.
She felt his hands slide downward, dipping below the top of her pants and then beginning to fumble with the button. She wanted this, and more to the point she wanted him. She surged against his touch, moaning his name in his ear. She was ready to get lost in him when a distant sound from downstairs reached her hearing. Groaning she sat up, using her slayer strength to overpower Giles. She put his shirt on and began to leave the room.
Confused Giles watched her as she made her way to the door. "Where are you going?"
"I'm putting them to bed. I'm tired of being interrupted all the time."
"I'll come down and help you."
"No, you stay right there, I'm not letting you get away again." She winked at him then shut the door behind her.
He waited for her, but he knew that it would be impossible for her to get them to bed as fast as she obviously wanted to. He pulled a t-shirt on and joined her downstairs. She had cleaned up Willow and was now working on Xander. Without saying anything he took Willow up to the bedroom, put her pajamas on and tucked her into bed. Buffy followed a moment later with Xander. They both sang to them before kissing them each. Buffy felt the now familiar tug on her heart, as much as she was glad she would be able to enjoy Giles uninterrupted, she was going to miss them. They both stayed with them until they closed their eyes and their slow breathing assured them they were both asleep.
Buffy looked at Giles across the bed. She could see the hesitation, the concern, but she also saw the desire and want they hid. She took his hand and led him from the room, making sure to shut the door behind them. She didn't let go of his hand until they were both behind the shut door of his bedroom. Then she drew nearer to him, brushing some of his hair back from his forehead. She kissed him, reassuringly, questioningly, gently running her tongue along his lower lip.
"Buffy...maybe we..."
"Shhh, let me have this. If nothing else Giles, let me have this one night with you."
He could not resist her implorations any more than he could stop his reaction to finally feeling her touch on his body. He removed his shirt and watched as she did the same. She followed with her pants then stood shyly before him, clad only in a tiny pair of panties. He quickly shucked his pants, then stood uncertainly before her, his erection making a tent in his silk boxers.
Seeing her uncertainty he took her hand and pulled her to the bed. He kissed her before laying her back on the bed. He covered them both with the blanket then began to explore her flesh with his fingers. He traced the curves of her body, stopping to kiss her scars like he had wanted to do the first time he had seen her nearly naked. She clutched at his shoulder, at his head, quietly whimpering as his caresses ignited her.
He let his hands slide between her legs, feeling her shudder as he pressed against her most sensitive areas. She was hot and moist and seemed to grow more so with each passing second. He parted her lips and gently slid a finger into her. She gasped and arched her back. "Giles, please!"
He chuckled, "in time love, in time." He pulled her underwear down, and then his own. He moved back up her body, letting his aching member press against her thigh while he took first one and then the other nipple in his mouth. She bucked under him, her hips trying to get under him, to guide him home, but he only laughed and held her legs tighter with his own.
The teasing continued until Buffy couldn't take it any more. Using her strength she rolled him over and straddled him, smiling triumphantly. His cock bounced against her ass as she leaned forward to kiss him. She stopped and smiled at him before levering her body until he was poised at her opening. Slowly she began to ease herself down and he groaned. "Buffy, wait...I don't..."
She paused, savoring the feeling. "Giles, I'm okay, whatever else happens, I'm not going to regret this." She resumed her downward slide.
"It's not that...oh God that feels good...I haven't...a long time...I don't..." he groaned, "I haven't any protection." He was impressed that he had managed to complete a sentence.
"I don't care." She knew he was safe, and beyond that she didn't care, she wasn't going to stop so one of them could run to the drugstore.
He saw the truth in her eyes and it unhinged him. Slayer strength or no he rolled her onto her back, plunging deep into her smiling as she cried out. His hands sought out her most sensitive spots as he worked in her, bringing her to the edge then pulling back until she whimpered. As much as he wanted to attain his satisfaction he wanted it to be something she never forgot. Feeling himself tighten, pulled her to him in a blistering kiss, sending her over the edge while he followed..
When he was finally able to focus again he saw her staring into space with a dreamy expression. "You're okay aren't you? I didn't hurt you?"
She reached out to touch his face. "That was..." she couldn't think of the word. He smiled and rolled onto his side, letting his slackening member slide out of her. Immediately she rolled to him, shaping her body to his. "I've never felt anything like that before."
Her admission shocked him but he didn't let it show. "Then you haven't had a very good lovers." He let his hand stroke her back.
"Giles?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do it again?" She smiled as he growled and rolled on top of her.
Buffy opened her eyes and stared at the clock on the nightstand, four o'clock. She rolled to look at the man next to her. In the glow of the alarm clock he looked the same. She touched his face, feeling the creases at the corner of his eyes, and the laugh lines on his cheeks. Back to the Giles she had known and loved. She kissed him, watching to see if he would wake up. His eyes were still closed but she could see a smile tugging at his lips and feel his arousal as it grew along her leg.
He opened his eyes to stare into hers. "Aren't you tired? I did keep you up for most of the night."
"Slayer remember?" She smirked at him.
"Well, let's see if we can't exhaust you."
Already sated he was able to draw their lovemaking out this time. He focused his attention on her, giving her as much pleasure as she could take, delighting in her calling out his name. He pressed into her, amazed at how tight she was after their previous illicit adventures. He watched her, staring deep into her eyes as he pushed her to the top, and only at the peak did she close her eyes, crying out to the darkness, "Giles I love you!"
Finally with a quiet cry his passion spilled into her. He continued to move, staring down at her, deep into her blue-green eyes. He wondered if she had meant it, or if it had been something said in passion. She smiled at him drowsily and he thought it was worth the risk, "I love you too."
Buffy nestled into him and they both fell asleep. In the morning things would be different she knew. In the morning they would do it again he thought. He tried to count the days since the last full moon, but he was asleep before he'd gotten very far.
She was staring at the ceiling, watching the shadows from outside that moved across it. She was beginning to wonder how much longer she had before this peace was disturbed. A returned to silver haired Giles slumbered peacefully next to her and she was certain that a grown up Xander and Willow were in the bed across the hall. She was placing wagers with herself about who would wake up first. She felt the man next to her stir, and turned to look at him, smiling at his beautiful green eyes. "Good morning, lover." She smiled and kissed him lightly.
"Mornin'," he pulled her to him for a deeper kiss. "Sleep well?"
"Oh yes," she began to slip to the edge of the bed.
"Where are you going?"
"Put the kettle on, I'm ready for breakfast."
He groaned and pulled her pillow over his face. "Of course, the terrible two."
She smiled, "I don't think they'll be much of a problem today." She grabbed his sweater and put it on, pulling on some jeans as well. She was about to leave when she turned and came back to the bed. "Giles?" She took the pillow off his head and made sure he was looking at her, "Giles. I love you." She put plenty of emphasis on the words before leaning down to kiss him.
"Sod breakfast," he pulled her down to him, kissing her passionately, hoping she would forget the kettle, the breakfast and the two year olds slumbering across the hall. However, the world had other ideas and the moment was ruined by a scream, a loud thump, and another scream.
Buffy sighed. "I'll go, put your clothes on, we don't need to shock them again."
"What do you mean again?" She didn't answer and just left the room. Groaning and cursing he dug out some clothes, noticing that Buffy had once again made off with one of his sweaters. Once dressed he made his way into the room, and nearly fainted. A nearly naked and fully grown Xander was pressed against the closet door, the bed sheet wrapped around him while Willow held the pillows against her naked form. "Dear god, it's been undone."
