A/N: Some of the conversations are taken from the episodes, which means I do not own them, or the character obviously, I mean this is FAN FICTION after all, and a few were altered to fit the plot of my story. I'm sure you'll know the difference between what's mine and what belongs to the wonderful writers of the Buffyverse. All rights belong to Mutant Enemy.
Episode setting: Between episodes Doomed and New Man.
A/N: This is pretty much a filler chapter.
Tis The Season
"Mom, you….back?"
Joyce smiled at her daughter before pulling her into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're alright. I heard all about that laryngitis thing, I was so worried."
"Its fine, Mom. - I didn't think you'd be back for another few days."
"I couldn't stay away any longer. It's already been a month. You're aunt says hello by the way." Joyce smiled. "I went home and when you weren't there I just assumed this is where you'd be. I see you've been….busy." she said, glancing back at Giles over Buffy's shoulder.
"Yeah, we had a thing. But it's all fine now."
"Well, I can give you a ride home then."
"Ha…well, Sam's sleeping right now, I'd rather not….disturb him."
Joyce frowned looking between her daughter and Giles. "I don't think Mr. Giles is in any condition to be looking after a baby, Buffy. He looked likes he's been through a war."
"Well…that's alright, cause I was gonna stay here."
Joyce frowned, staring down at her.
"On the couch." Buffy clarified. "But….yeah, I guess Giles has been through a lot, he doesn't need me and Sam around." she said guilty. She knew she should just say it. Mom, me and Giles are together. Have been since High School. But she could just imagine the whirlwind that would come after, and Giles had already been though enough for one night. Taking a deep breath she turned an apologetic smile on Giles who nodding understandingly. "I'll just go and get him." she sighed, heading into the back room.
Giles stood nervously. "So….how have you been, Joyce?" he asked trying to break the tension between them. Things had never been the same between him and Joyce since Buffy had run away, he knew she'd blamed him. - And from the look on her face, she still did.
"Fine, thank you, Mr Giles. - Yourself?"
"Fine."
Buffy returned quickly with Sam bundled up in blankets. She paused a moment beside Giles, and they both desperately wanted to share a kiss goodbye. Something that had become so natural to them now. Giles ran a gentle hand over Sam head and murmured a goodbye, swallowing the quickly rising lump in his throat.
"I'll call you okay." Buffy nodded. "Night." she smiled regretfully.
"Of course. Goodnight Buffy. Goodnight Joyce." he said, closing the door behind them.
The drive back home was silent and uncomfortable, all Buffy wanted to do was tell her mom to turn the car around and take her back to Giles, because she was in love with him and they were moving in together. But she didn't have the courage, which she understood was ironic considering what she faced on an almost weekly basis. But she didn't want to see the disappointment and anger in her mom's eyes. She didn't want her to hate Giles. So it was easier to say nothing, despite what she'd told Giles and Willow, she wasn't so sure she could ever tell her mom. But she had to. - She knew she had to.
"So, have you got all of your Christmas shopping done yet, cause I was thinking that maybe we could hit the mall tomorrow."
"Oh….yeah, that sounds good." Buffy nodded with a forced smile.
"And I was thinking that if Xander and Willow aren't spending Christmas with their families, that maybe they'd like to come over for dinner."
"Yeah, I'll ask. - Though Xander will probably want to bring Anya."
"That's fine." Joyce nodded, turning onto their street.
"And maybe….I could ask Giles?"
Joyce stiffened slightly. "Of course." she forced a smile.
"Mom?"
"Yes."
"You like Giles right?"
"What?" Joyce frowned.
"I mean, you don't hate him. Cause you've been kinda weird around him since last year and well…..he's part of my life and I don't want you to hate him."
Joyce looked over at Buffy before pulling to a stop outside the house. "I don't hate Mr. Giles. - I just…." she shrugged. "I don't hate him." with that she pulled the keys out of the ignition and opened the door.
Buffy watched her with confusion. "This is not going to be easy Sammy. Not easy at all."
She carried Sam into the house and took him straight up to her room, tucking him into the crib she'd been using for him since he was born. He hadn't slept in it for a while now, not sine her mom had been away. Once he was settled she sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the phone to call Giles.
"Hello."
"It's me."
"Are you alright?"
"No. I…." she looked at the door. "I'd rather be there."
Giles groaned down the line. "I'd rather you were here too."
"I don't know if I can do this Giles. - Tell her I mean. She's so….weird about you. I know she's going to freak. And she gonna to hate you. I don't want her to hate you Giles. I don't want you two fighting because of me."
"Buffy, calm down. There's no rush. We'll do this when your ready. When you think it's the right time."
"And if I never think it's the right time?"
Giles didn't answer.
"We can't keep it a secret forever Giles. She needs to know if we're going to be together as a family."
"I know. And we'll tell her."
Buffy sighed miserably. "Giles?"
"Yes."
"Can….can we at least wait till after Christmas. Cause she's invited you and the guys over for dinner, and if we tell her before….it's going to ruin it and it's Sam's first Christmas, I don't want…."
"Buffy, it's fine. We'll tell her after Christmas."
Buffy exhaled slowly. "Thanks."
"Get some rest; you've had a hectic couple of days."
"You two. - I'll pop by when I can. - Mom wants to go Christmas shopping tomorrow, but after that."
"It's fine. I'd completely forgotten. I guess I should do some myself before there's nothing left on the shelved. What do you want?"
"You." she said honestly.
Giles chuckled down the line. "I think I can arrange that. - Go to sleep, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Night Giles."
"Night."
"Giles."
"Yes."
"I love you."
"I love you too. - And Sam."
There was a long pause before Buffy finally hung up, her chest aching. She looked over at Sam. "After Christmas, Sam. We'll all be together after Christmas."
~Don't Lie~
It was the coldest feeling waking up in her own bed, alone. She'd become so used to having the warm weight of Giles at her back. To rolling over in his embraces and kissing him good morning. Groaning softly to herself she turned over and stared at the empty space beside her. After Christmas. She told herself. After Christmas.
A sound from the other side of the room had her turning back over to smile as Sam, as he sat behind the bars watching her. "Morning honey." she said softly, pushing herself up in bed. "Hungry?"
He smiled at her, holding his arms up. Buffy lifted him out of the crib and carried him down to the kitchen where her mom was already pottering about.
"Morning mom."
"Morning sweetheart." Joyce smiled. "Coffee?"
"Thanks." she place Sam in his high chair and went over to the cupboard to start his breakfast but her mom seemed to have already done it. "Thanks." Buffy smiled as her mom handed over the small bowl.
"So, who's gifts do you need to get?" Joyce asked, leaning back against the counter with her mug between her hands.
"Oh, everyone's." Buffy replied, taking a seat opposite Sam. "I've kinda been a little busy over the last few weeks."
Joyce nodded understandingly. "Well, as soon as you and Sam are ready we can head out."
Buffy nodded.
"So, have you met anyone yet?"
Buffy's head snapped around. "Huh?"
"At college? A Guy? I know I should probably be telling you to concentrate on your studies but I'm not an idiot. So?"
"No. No one. I'm not looking."
Joyce frowned at her, taking a few steps to lean over the kitchen island to watch her daughter. "No one?"
"No. I don't…." she shook her head, fighting the words I'm already seeing someone.
"Well I'm surprised. - This isn't about Angel is it? You know you can't keep…."
"It's not about Angel, Mom. Me and Angel were over a long time ago."
Joyce nodded. "Good. I'm glad. Dating is part of the college life Buffy."
"I know, but I'm just….I not interested in dating anyone from college."
"Buffy…."
"Look Mom, my life isn't really conducive to dating. I tried it in high school and it didn't work out. Normal guy just don't get it, my work, my life. - And now I have Sam and no guy wants to date a girl with a kid."
"Buffy that's not…."
"True? Really. You said it yourself mom, college is about having fun. Who would want to date a girl who hangs out in cemeteries and talk none stop about her eleven month old son?"
Joyce sighed sadly, that look on her face so familiar to Buffy. It was the look that said 'this is why I didn't want you to have Sam.' and it made Buffy's gut tighten. She turned her attention to her son and finished giving him his breakfast. Thankful her mom hadn't pressed the subject any further.
She knew her mom didn't understand why her life had to be all secret agent-y but she's come to except it over the past couple of years thank heaven. They feel into casual conversation as far away from that of Buffy's supposed none existent love life. Her mom telling her all about her trip and how her aunt had gotten ill. While Buffy filled her in on the excitement of the past few weeks.
~Don't Lie~
"We've got to tell her." Buffy announced marching into Giles place that afternoon.
Giles shot up from his reclining position on the couch, glancing over at his girlfriend as she rolled the stroller through the door. "Pardon?" he frowned with confusion.
"Mom. We've got to tell her." she hit the break on the stroller and bent down to gently pull the little boy free, before heading for the couch. "I know I said I wanted to wait until after Christmas, but…." she let out a wary sigh. "…she spent hours quizzing me over my love life this morning, then spent the day trying to set me up with practically every guy at the mall."
Giles raised a brow. "Why didn't you just tell her you were seeing someone?"
"Because she'd want to meet him and there'd be questions, like is he alright with me being a single mom and does he know about the slayer thing and god…." she huffed, slouching back in the seat. "I don't know what's worse, knowing how she's going to react when we tell her or how she's acting now." Buffy shook her head.
Giles tugged her close into his side. "It's just a couple of more weeks. You don't want to ruin Christmas right?"
"I know. But I….I just want everything out in the open, even if it does ruin my relationship with my mom. I just can't keep lying about it." she sighed.
"Soon." he whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. "It'll all be over soon."
~Don't Lie~
Buffy's arm shot out in her sleep, her instincts still completely in tune with her surroundings in while unconscious. Her eyes flying open as warm rough fingers wrapped around her wrist.
"Buffy. It's me." Giles hissed in the dark.
"Giles?" she whispered back, opening her eyes. Glancing over at her clock. "It's 5AM."
"It's Christmas morning." he smiled.
"What are you four?" she smirked, pulling her wrist free of her boyfriends hold and shifting to sit up in the bed.
"I wanted to see you and Sam."
"You're going to be here in like six hours." Buffy frowned.
"I know. But then your mum's going to be there and I won't be able to do this." he whispered, leaning forward to press his mouth to hers. "Merry Christmas."
Buffy smiled up at him, bring her arms up to wrap around his neck and pull him back down. "Merry Christmas you."
Giles pressed her back into the mattress, his body slotting in beside her as they kissed, his hands roaming her body. The sound of movement in the hall brought an end to their make-out session far sooner than either of them would have liked. Buffy pressed her hand to Giles mouth as they listened to her mom move about outside. They realised their breath at the sound of Joyce's bedroom door closing.
"She'll be up properly in an hour." Buffy whispered.
Giles didn't reply, his simply lay beside her, his fingers combing through her hair and sweeping over her face and neck.
"Next year you won't have to sneak into my room." she said confidently.
Giles smiled regretfully. "I wish I didn't have to do it now."
"I know." Buffy brushed her lips against his jaw, before settling more fully into his embrace.
The pair lay in the early dawn light, Buffy wrapped in her lovers arms. Both their gazes on the sleeping child a few feet away, until they found sleep pulling them into a calm, warm and content abyss.
~Don't Lie~
"Buffy!"
The slayer shot up in bed, her vision still clouded with sleep. She blinked a couple of times to focus on the figure in the doorway. Her mom. When the bed moved beside her she remembered instantly that she hadn't been alone. Her mouth opened to speak only for her mom to interrupt her with a furious yell.
"What the hell is going on?"
The raised voice instantly woke Sam, who began to cry. Buffy scrambled out of the bed to get to Sam, not looking over her shoulder at Giles. "I can explain Mom. I…we…" cradling Sam to her chest she finally turned to send her lover a look, taking a breath at the reassurance in his gaze.
"Explain?" Joyce growled.
"Joyce…." Giles said softly.
"Don't!" she warned, aiming an angry finger in his direction.
"Mom. Please, just…."
"Get out."
"Mom."
"I said, get out!"
Giles looked from Joyce to Buffy before straightening his back and moving from his place by the window. Buffy watching him until he came to a halt beside her, his arm slipping over her shoulder. "I'm not leaving without Buffy and our son." he said firmly.
Buffy flinched at his blatant announcement. She'd hoped to ease her mom into the whole thing. To tell her about her relationship with Giles before bring up Sam's part in the thing. Now it was too late.
"What?" Joyce snapped furiously, glancing from Buffy to Giles to Sam. "You his…?" she shook her head. "You bastard! Get out! Get out now before I call the police!"
"Mom, please. Just listen."
"Out!" Joyce yelled.
"No!" Buffy yelled back. "And please stop shouting, your scaring Sam."
"I want that man out of my house now." Joyce said in a much calmer tone.
Buffy took a breath. Turning she handed Sam over to Giles. "Can you take him down, get his breakfast."
"Buffy I…." Joyce started only to be cut off.
"I know." Buffy nodded for Giles to go.
The ex-watcher looked reluctantly between the slayer and her mom before nodding and slipping silently past a furious Joyce.
Buffy waited a few moments before speaking. "I know your angry."
"Angry? Doesn't even cover it."
Buffy sighed, sinking down on the edge of the bed. She sat silently for a moment, just staring at her feet till she heard her mom coming closer and the bed shift next to her.
"How long?" Joyce asked with a tight voice.
Buffy looked at her mom with a confused frown.
Joyce took a calming breath. "I can do the math Buffy. I mean how long before….?"
"We weren't together. Not like…." Buffy sighed. "We weren't really together until after Sam was born."
"But he's the father."
"Yes."
Joyce made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat. "So he…..took advantage of you before…." she shook her head.
"No. I mean….it's not like that. It's complicated." Buffy sighed. "It kinda just happened. Me getting pregnant."
"He was your teacher Buffy. It doesn't just happen!"
"I know. I know that it was all kinds of mess up. - That's why I lied about Sam. I didn't want to get Giles in trouble."
Joyce grunted again in disgust and shot to her feet.
"Mom you don't know him! He would never have taken advantage. - He hated himself for what happened." Buffy explained, pleading for her mom to understand.
"But he let it happen!" Joyce snapped. "He should….is that why you ran away. Because of him."
"What? No! I ran away because I'd just killed Angel, and you'd kicked me out and I was confused. And sure, it might have had something to do with what happened between me and him, but it wasn't the reason. I just needed to get away."
Joyce was pacing the room like a mad woman. Buffy could almost see the steam coming out of her ears. "I can't believe this. He needs to be reported."
"Mom." Buffy sighed.
"I mean it Buffy. You were seventeen, that's rape in California."
"Mom, Giles didn't rape me!"
Joyce glared at her daughter. "Didn't he?"
"No. God!" Buffy shot to her feet. "I knew what I was doing." okay so she might not have been in the best head space at the time, but it wasn't rape. Giles hadn't forced her; he hadn't gotten her drunk or spiked her drink and then took advantage like Parker had. No. Giles had offered her comfort on the worst day of her life. Unlike Parker. "I wanted to be with Giles. And sure I know what happened between us wasn't legal but it happened and I don't regret a single second of it. - It gave me Sam!"
Joyce stopped pacing to stare at her daughter. "Buffy you don't understand what that man did to you. You're too young to."
"I'm almost nineteen. I have a son. I got to college. I kill monsters on a nightly basis. I understand the difference between right and wrong. And what happened between me and Giles wasn't wrong."
There was a tense silence as the two women stared at each other. The room filled with misleading sunlight.
"How long have you been hiding this relationship?"
Buffy released the breath she'd been holding as she slipped back onto the bed. "Since the middle of senior year." she answered quietly.
Joyce took a deep breath. "And who else knows?"
Buffy looked at her hands. "Just….the guys."
The tension was back, almost suffocating this time.
"And you've been together since then?"
Buffy nodded.
"And you think this will last?"
Buffy frowned up at her mom. "Huh?"
"He's old enough to be your father. - He's older than your father. You honestly think this won't end. That you're not going to want someone your own age."
"No!" Buffy snapped, on her feet once more. "I love Giles."
Joyce scoffed. "You don't know what love is."
"I know exactly what love is, because you told me. And I know that I've only ever loved two men in my life…."
"You nineteen."
"….Angel." Buffy announced ignoring her mom's comment. "And Giles. - And you know what. As wonderful as it felt to be with Angel, I always knew it wasn't going to last. That it was going to end painfully for me. I never honestly saw myself spending the rest of my life with him. - But you know what, I can't see myself not spending it with Giles." and she meant it.
Joyce stared at her daughter, uncertain and confused and still so angry. "And what am I meant to do? - You expect me to be alright with this?"
Buffy straightened her back. "I don't know. - But whether you except me and Giles or not, its not going to change us being together. It's not going to stop Giles being Sam's father, and wanting to be in his life. - And it's not going to stop me moving in with Giles."
"What?"
"We've been planning it for a while. I just…we wanted to tell you first."
"And this is your idea of telling me?"
"No. We were going to wait until after Christmas. I didn't want to ruin Sam's first Christmas with a fight."
"Really?"
"Giles just wanted to see me and Sam. We didn't mean to fall asleep or for you to find out like this. I didn't want this, mom. I wanted to explain it to you calmly."
Joyce shook her head in disbelief.
"But it wouldn't have mattered how you found out…." Buffy added. "…because this would have been your reaction not matter what. I knew it and that's why I've been putting it off for months. Despite everyone, including Giles, telling me that I had to tell you. I don't want you to hate me, or Giles. I don't want this…" she waved at the distance between them. "…I don't want us to go back to how it was when you found out about me being a slayer. - I just want use all to be a family." she sniffled.
Joyce turned away, looking out of the window, her arms folded over her chest. Finally she took a deep breath and Buffy knew she was calm. Well as near to calm as she was likely to get. "I don't know if I can ever forgive him for this Buffy. - He was in a position of trust…." she turned to look at her daughter. "…not only as a teacher at your school but as your watcher…." she shook her head.
"We're not the first mom. There have been others, like me and Giles. The bond between a slayer and her watcher is so….strong, so intense. No one in the world understands me the way Giles does. No one will ever love me the way he does. - It's like…" she smiled softly at her mom. "We were meant to be together. Destine." Buffy sucked in a breath at the revelation, because she'd never thought of it like that before.
"I need coffee." Joyce sighed warily.
"Mom?"
Joyce stopped on the threshold of Buffy's room.
"Can we….just try to have a nice Christmas? For Sam." she pleaded. "As a family."
Joyce closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath before walking away without a reply.
A/N: I was originally going to hold off on Joyce finding out until Faith's return, but I couldn't come up with any other reasons why Buffy and Giles wouldn't tell her, especially as it was having an impact on their plans. I hope you liked it. It's so hard writing angry Mom.