Return to Sender
Series: The Written Word
Author: dword
Rating: G
(sequel to Dear Giles)
Spoilers: Tabula Rasa and Smashed
Disclaimer: Joss, UPN, Fox, Mutant Enemy, etc own all, I own nothing (even my car belongs to the bank) I'm just borrowing...
Dedication: To Jac, Ewie, Tag, and my Hunny Bunny. To all the writers that have posted such lovely fic this week. To everyone that sent feedback, it has spurred me on to get this next part out faster.
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear Anya,
Thank you for the ledger sheets. I must say that you really are very good at the retail business. I am extremely happy with the shop's bottom line, as I am sure you are as well. However I just want to remind you that while profit was a primary consideration when I purchased the Magic Box, it was not the * only * factor involved with the decision. Please try to maintain a good relationship with the community. Also be ever watchful of all that goes on. Some small unusual occurrence coupled with the purchase of specific items from the shop could very possibly give you a valuable warning to a major demonic convergence.
I am not criticizing, Anya, just reminding. I trust you. Otherwise I would never have gone into partnership with you. I want you to know how proud and pleased with you I am. I know with patience and a bit of effort you will be able to use the knowledge and experience you have acquired during your many years as a vengeance demon to help and protect those I hold dear. And make no mistake, Anya, that I count you among them.
I would be honored to walk you down the aisle. Just be sure to give me enough time to make my arrangements. Thank you very much.
I look forward to hearing from you again.
Fondly,
Rupert Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear Tara,
Please know that there is no need to apologize. I understand completely. It was actually a relief not to have to go through a big goodbye scene again. The first had been painful enough.
It was with great pleasure that I received and read your letter. You are dear to me too. I was sorry to read about your break-up with Willow. Is there no hope of reconciliation? If there is anything I can do to help please do not hesitate to contact me. Day or night - call me. I too am concerned about the path Willow travels.
We can now only wait and hope that OUR Willow will ultimately be able to resist the pull of the dark magicks. It may have been your relationship that brought you to us, but it was YOU that made a place for yourself in our hearts. I consider myself fortunate to call you friend. Your sweet nature and loving heart has been a blessing to us all.
Take care and keep in touch.
With affection and friendship,
Rupert Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear Xander,
Ha bloody ha! Is that not the expected response to that blasted nickname? Actually I miss hearing you call me that. Don't get me wrong… I miss you not the nickname. I miss your ready smile and your zest for life.
If I failed to make it clear how I feel about you let me correct that oversight now. No true father could be prouder of his son than I am of you. I have watched you grow from a boy, unsure of himself, awkward, saddled with an unfortunate homelife… into a loyal, kind, caring, responsible young man. In spite of everything you have gone through, you are a good man. And it has been an honor to have you in my life.
I can understand you feeling `jittery'. Marriage is a huge step. The most important thing is to be honest, with yourself and with Anya. You must deal with your insecurities not hide them. If you are meant to be together as man and wife you will be. I have all the faith in the world in you, Xander.
Thank you for the news of Buffy and Dawn. It is heartening to know that even though I had to leave, you will be there to keep an eye on my girls. I know that you will give them all the support and love that they may need.
Be well, be safe, and be happy. Keep in touch.
With deepest regards,
Rupert `G-man' Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dearest Willow,
Whatever am I to do with you? Did you actually think that by keeping your letter short and sweet that I wouldn't know something was wrong? It is often the things that are omitted that reveal the most.
Congratulations on restoring Amy to her human form. Give her my regards. However I fear that your magic use is taking you down a very dangerous path. I blame myself. If I had been more forthcoming about my past and my own magic use, if I had been a better mentor and friend to you, perhaps you would understand why Tara and I are so very concerned. In the hopes that I may in some small way redeem myself I have enclosed several of my journals. They are my personal diaries from my time shortly before Eyghon to just after my official induction into the Watchers. All my thoughts and feelings are included in these volumes. I kept a record of the thrill and the high of magic use, the horror and the pain as we realized that we had no control, the terror, the horror and the pain as Randall died in my arms. The shame and the ridicule when I returned to Oxford, having to constantly fight the lure of magic, having to do everything twice as well as anyone else to overcome the stigma of my sojourn to the realm of dark magicks; all this is included in these journals. Please read them. I am entrusting you with a very personal part of myself in the hopes that it will help you to avoid the mistakes I made.
Willow please never for a moment, think that there is anything you can do that will make me care about you less. I could not love you more if you were my own daughter and I only want the best for you. If you need to talk, if you need anything promise me you will, night or day, call me.
Please don't freeze your friends out. We all love you and want to help. But you must let us.
Love,
Rupert Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear, sweet Buffy,
I am sorry for the way I handled things. My timing and the abrupt way I let you know of my plans to leave was very unfortunate. I had to leave immediately before my feelings once again blinded me to what was necessary and made me stay. We both know that if I had given you any real time to react to my news you would have been able to convince me to stay, even against my better judgement. As much as I want to be there for you, I truly feel that I am holding you back.
My first instinct... inclination... whatever you want to call it, is to take care of you, make things easy for you in any way I can. This would be wrong. You need to face your problems on your own, to deal with your life yourself rather than have me do it for you. Only this way can you grow into the strong independent woman that I know you can be. That your mother raised you to be. But I didn't do this just for you. I did this for Dawn as well. You are the only real family that Dawn has. She needs you. She needs you to set an example for her that will help her to grow up with proper values. And to be perfectly honest, I also had to leave for me. You have been pushing me away, putting distance between us and it hurt. I felt like I was an afterthought, a convenience, but not a true part of your life. I realize that you had a lot to deal with but so did I and your withdrawal hurt me. I had to get some distance, some perspective before my feelings for you became affected. I did not want to come to resent you.
I am very proud of how far you have come. How much you have grown. I knew you had it in you even if you didn't. I hear that you are doing well. I am glad that you were able to reach inside yourself and put your stompy foot down to Dawn and with your father. Your mother would be proud too.
I will always treasure the time I spent as your watcher. I think I learned more from you about duty and honor and living than I taught you. You truly are the greatest Slayer that ever was.Please forgive an old man his concern as I request that you be careful. Remember your training and don't try to do it all on your own. Let the others help. I know you still bear some resentment towards them, but they are your friends and they want to help. They need to help. What they did they did out of love.
Yours always,
Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear Dawn,
Forget you? How does that saying go? "As if!" But I do thank you for the many wonderful photographs. They will be rather helpful as I bore my friends and the other watchers with my many tales of my life in the States. I have also put one of each of you on my mantle. A gallery of my loved ones, so to speak. That lovely one of you and Buffy graces my desk in my office. A man works better when he has photos of his family nearby. At your request I commissioned a friend to take my portrait, I have included several copies in various sizes for you to distribute amongst the gang. Assuming of course they want them. Do not shatter my illusions if they do not. I have also sent you quite a number of snapshots of my home and the surrounding countryside. When I went to London, I took some tourist type shots just for you Peanut. The icing on the cake are some copies of old photos of me in my youth. Perhaps someday I'll tell you the stories behind them.
I am very happy to know that you and Buffy are working things out. You do know that she loves you very much, right? Well, Peanut, she does. She also needs you to show her that you love her just as much. Don't roll your eyes. You know that sometimes she doesn't see things, no matter how obvious we may think they are.So Buffy is trying to use my glare? It must be something since Xander mentioned it as well. Buffy should actually be very good at it. She saw it often enough. And for the record, Buffy was not the only Summers woman to use the `Pout' on me. It was my Achilles heel and you both shamelessly used it to your advantage.Buffy may seem isolated right now, but give her time. She just needs to adjust to being back and to being the grown-up. She has had quite a lot to deal with in the recent past. I'm sure she will be fine.
I really miss you too. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Love,
Giles
Series: The Written Word
Author: dword
Rating: G
(sequel to Dear Giles)
Spoilers: Tabula Rasa and Smashed
Disclaimer: Joss, UPN, Fox, Mutant Enemy, etc own all, I own nothing (even my car belongs to the bank) I'm just borrowing...
Dedication: To Jac, Ewie, Tag, and my Hunny Bunny. To all the writers that have posted such lovely fic this week. To everyone that sent feedback, it has spurred me on to get this next part out faster.
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear Anya,
Thank you for the ledger sheets. I must say that you really are very good at the retail business. I am extremely happy with the shop's bottom line, as I am sure you are as well. However I just want to remind you that while profit was a primary consideration when I purchased the Magic Box, it was not the * only * factor involved with the decision. Please try to maintain a good relationship with the community. Also be ever watchful of all that goes on. Some small unusual occurrence coupled with the purchase of specific items from the shop could very possibly give you a valuable warning to a major demonic convergence.
I am not criticizing, Anya, just reminding. I trust you. Otherwise I would never have gone into partnership with you. I want you to know how proud and pleased with you I am. I know with patience and a bit of effort you will be able to use the knowledge and experience you have acquired during your many years as a vengeance demon to help and protect those I hold dear. And make no mistake, Anya, that I count you among them.
I would be honored to walk you down the aisle. Just be sure to give me enough time to make my arrangements. Thank you very much.
I look forward to hearing from you again.
Fondly,
Rupert Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear Tara,
Please know that there is no need to apologize. I understand completely. It was actually a relief not to have to go through a big goodbye scene again. The first had been painful enough.
It was with great pleasure that I received and read your letter. You are dear to me too. I was sorry to read about your break-up with Willow. Is there no hope of reconciliation? If there is anything I can do to help please do not hesitate to contact me. Day or night - call me. I too am concerned about the path Willow travels.
We can now only wait and hope that OUR Willow will ultimately be able to resist the pull of the dark magicks. It may have been your relationship that brought you to us, but it was YOU that made a place for yourself in our hearts. I consider myself fortunate to call you friend. Your sweet nature and loving heart has been a blessing to us all.
Take care and keep in touch.
With affection and friendship,
Rupert Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear Xander,
Ha bloody ha! Is that not the expected response to that blasted nickname? Actually I miss hearing you call me that. Don't get me wrong… I miss you not the nickname. I miss your ready smile and your zest for life.
If I failed to make it clear how I feel about you let me correct that oversight now. No true father could be prouder of his son than I am of you. I have watched you grow from a boy, unsure of himself, awkward, saddled with an unfortunate homelife… into a loyal, kind, caring, responsible young man. In spite of everything you have gone through, you are a good man. And it has been an honor to have you in my life.
I can understand you feeling `jittery'. Marriage is a huge step. The most important thing is to be honest, with yourself and with Anya. You must deal with your insecurities not hide them. If you are meant to be together as man and wife you will be. I have all the faith in the world in you, Xander.
Thank you for the news of Buffy and Dawn. It is heartening to know that even though I had to leave, you will be there to keep an eye on my girls. I know that you will give them all the support and love that they may need.
Be well, be safe, and be happy. Keep in touch.
With deepest regards,
Rupert `G-man' Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dearest Willow,
Whatever am I to do with you? Did you actually think that by keeping your letter short and sweet that I wouldn't know something was wrong? It is often the things that are omitted that reveal the most.
Congratulations on restoring Amy to her human form. Give her my regards. However I fear that your magic use is taking you down a very dangerous path. I blame myself. If I had been more forthcoming about my past and my own magic use, if I had been a better mentor and friend to you, perhaps you would understand why Tara and I are so very concerned. In the hopes that I may in some small way redeem myself I have enclosed several of my journals. They are my personal diaries from my time shortly before Eyghon to just after my official induction into the Watchers. All my thoughts and feelings are included in these volumes. I kept a record of the thrill and the high of magic use, the horror and the pain as we realized that we had no control, the terror, the horror and the pain as Randall died in my arms. The shame and the ridicule when I returned to Oxford, having to constantly fight the lure of magic, having to do everything twice as well as anyone else to overcome the stigma of my sojourn to the realm of dark magicks; all this is included in these journals. Please read them. I am entrusting you with a very personal part of myself in the hopes that it will help you to avoid the mistakes I made.
Willow please never for a moment, think that there is anything you can do that will make me care about you less. I could not love you more if you were my own daughter and I only want the best for you. If you need to talk, if you need anything promise me you will, night or day, call me.
Please don't freeze your friends out. We all love you and want to help. But you must let us.
Love,
Rupert Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear, sweet Buffy,
I am sorry for the way I handled things. My timing and the abrupt way I let you know of my plans to leave was very unfortunate. I had to leave immediately before my feelings once again blinded me to what was necessary and made me stay. We both know that if I had given you any real time to react to my news you would have been able to convince me to stay, even against my better judgement. As much as I want to be there for you, I truly feel that I am holding you back.
My first instinct... inclination... whatever you want to call it, is to take care of you, make things easy for you in any way I can. This would be wrong. You need to face your problems on your own, to deal with your life yourself rather than have me do it for you. Only this way can you grow into the strong independent woman that I know you can be. That your mother raised you to be. But I didn't do this just for you. I did this for Dawn as well. You are the only real family that Dawn has. She needs you. She needs you to set an example for her that will help her to grow up with proper values. And to be perfectly honest, I also had to leave for me. You have been pushing me away, putting distance between us and it hurt. I felt like I was an afterthought, a convenience, but not a true part of your life. I realize that you had a lot to deal with but so did I and your withdrawal hurt me. I had to get some distance, some perspective before my feelings for you became affected. I did not want to come to resent you.
I am very proud of how far you have come. How much you have grown. I knew you had it in you even if you didn't. I hear that you are doing well. I am glad that you were able to reach inside yourself and put your stompy foot down to Dawn and with your father. Your mother would be proud too.
I will always treasure the time I spent as your watcher. I think I learned more from you about duty and honor and living than I taught you. You truly are the greatest Slayer that ever was.Please forgive an old man his concern as I request that you be careful. Remember your training and don't try to do it all on your own. Let the others help. I know you still bear some resentment towards them, but they are your friends and they want to help. They need to help. What they did they did out of love.
Yours always,
Giles
*-*-*-*-*-*
Dear Dawn,
Forget you? How does that saying go? "As if!" But I do thank you for the many wonderful photographs. They will be rather helpful as I bore my friends and the other watchers with my many tales of my life in the States. I have also put one of each of you on my mantle. A gallery of my loved ones, so to speak. That lovely one of you and Buffy graces my desk in my office. A man works better when he has photos of his family nearby. At your request I commissioned a friend to take my portrait, I have included several copies in various sizes for you to distribute amongst the gang. Assuming of course they want them. Do not shatter my illusions if they do not. I have also sent you quite a number of snapshots of my home and the surrounding countryside. When I went to London, I took some tourist type shots just for you Peanut. The icing on the cake are some copies of old photos of me in my youth. Perhaps someday I'll tell you the stories behind them.
I am very happy to know that you and Buffy are working things out. You do know that she loves you very much, right? Well, Peanut, she does. She also needs you to show her that you love her just as much. Don't roll your eyes. You know that sometimes she doesn't see things, no matter how obvious we may think they are.So Buffy is trying to use my glare? It must be something since Xander mentioned it as well. Buffy should actually be very good at it. She saw it often enough. And for the record, Buffy was not the only Summers woman to use the `Pout' on me. It was my Achilles heel and you both shamelessly used it to your advantage.Buffy may seem isolated right now, but give her time. She just needs to adjust to being back and to being the grown-up. She has had quite a lot to deal with in the recent past. I'm sure she will be fine.
I really miss you too. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Love,
Giles