He did not have the same luck with Buffy who had started to stir as soon as Xander moved his arm. She watched him with a yawn as he ran to get the phone before he caller hung up on him.
As he talked on the phone Buffy looked around the apartment still not believing that she was here. Now that the sun had gone down she was again freezing cold. She had found an old sweatshirt of Xander's that hung down to her knees. Xander had even turned the heat on in the apartment for her. Yet she was only comfortable when Xander again pulled her into his arms. Now that he was up again she began to feel the cold permeating her bones again.
"Buffy," Xander's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "I'm going to pick up Giles."
"I'll go with you, just let me wake up Dawn. Will you get me a jacket?" she asked him turning to Dawn.
"Dawnie, hun, we have to go pick up Giles" Buffy said gently shaking Dawn slightly.
"No wanna," Dawn mumbled as she rolled into a more comfortable position.
"Let her stay here Buff," Xander said coming back into the room holding an old Sunny Dale High letterman jacket. "From the swim team," he said when he noticed the surprised look Buffy was giving the jacket.
"You were on it for a week."
"I know. Come on we can call Tara and have her come over for and watch Dawn if you want."
"We won't be gone for long will we?"
"About twenty minutes tops."
"We'll leave her for now. No one can get in without a key right?"
"Yeah and that whole keep evil out spell we did that one day is still in place."
"Then let's go." Buffy said slipping on the jacket and going over to the door. "Are you coming or what?" She asked as she saw him standing there watching her?
"Coming, my love. Defiantly coming." He told her as he followed her out triple checking the locks on his door.
The airport:
They walked in holding hands, as they had been doing most of the way to the airport. It was Xander who spotted the tweed suit before Buffy did calling out for him in the crowd.
Slowly Giles came over to them and stood looking at Buffy unsure of what to do next. Tears flowed down his face as he looked at his adopted child back from the dead. Slowly he reached out and pulled her into his arms as if afraid she would disappear. When he was satisfied that she would not he gave her a bone crushing hug, both crying.
Xander stood back until both had calmed down before welcoming Giles back with a handshake that quickly became a hug. Passersby noticed the reunion and all came away with different ideas of who they all were, none of them guessing the real reason for the three people's welcoming of each other.
"I still can't believe it," Giles said as he drove them back to Xander's. "I wouldn't either, if I hadn't seen it all with my own eyes."
In the back seat Buffy sat huddled in Xander's arms as shivers racked all over her body. Still not wanting him to worry she steadied her voice, "what did the council want Giles?"
"My head on a plate for one, you are their
most valuable slayer and I let you --well. It is over now I failed their
review and have been fired again. At least they let me come back." Giles
told her not wanting to get into to many details about the council and
their review. She only needed to know one thing. "They know about Dawn."
"What?!" Buffy and Xander asked in unison shock
raising their voices several octaves.
"They figured it all, which was easy to do once
the found out how you died. They knew about the key and its power. Once
they realized you died closing the gate logic lead them to Dawn."
"I don't want the council near her Giles," Buffy
spat out vehemently. "I don't trust them."
"Neither do I Buffy, they will leave her alone,
I made sure of that." Giles told her pulling up to the apartment.
"I'll take you home Giles, then bring the car back."
Xander told him as he helped Buffy out of the car.
Giles watched as they talked to each other for a
few moments Xander finally giving Buffy a kiss before rushing back to the
car. As he got in Giles again felt a ripping inside of himself. Taking
a deep breath Giles focused on the young man that was climbing back into
the car, worry in his eyes.