Part 1…A Watchers Goodbye
The clouds were dark and dreary that day in Sunnydale. Unusual weather for Southern California. But this day was not like others. It was rainy and cold. The birds did not sing, and the sun did not shine. That day, one of the greatest heroes was put to rest.
That hero was none other than Alexander Harris…the White Knight of The Slayer. Devoted friend to all.
As per his request on his dying day, his friends, those nearest and dearest to him, were told to share the memory of their lost friend.
Giles was not big on public speaking. He rarely spoke in front of large crowds since his days as the curator of the British museum. Yet here he was…about to speak about the man he considered a son.
He nervously walked to the podium in front of the funeral home, cleared his throat and began his speech.
*****
"Good morning. We all here to remember our dear friend Xander Harris," Giles began with tears forming in his eyes.
"What can you say about Xander? To me, he is one of the finest young men I've had the pleasure of meeting."
Giles looked towards Xander's family. Most of them showed no emotion. His aunt was crying a little, as was his mother, but Mr. Harris just sat there with a blank look on his face. Unreadable.
"He could be annoying sometimes with his jokes. He told them at the worst times, but they were always in good intent. To help us not be consumed by the death and darkness of what we did. He was our light, especially towards his friends," Giles said gesturing towards the Scoobies.
"I remember this one time a couple years ago…I was prepared to leave Sunnydale. I thought I was of no use to Buffy anymore. But Xander was the one who convinced me to stay. It was shortly before Buffy's 19 birthday party."
****Flashback****
"G-Man," Xander called as he entered the Watcher's apartment.
"Thank you so much for knocking," Giles said as he was flipping through one of his old tomes.
"Sorry…got kind of bored. Got fired again."
"What is it this week?"
"Starbucks," the young man said. "Wasn't fast enough and I'm not the best at making special coffee's. Ordering them is another story. You guys made me an expert last year."
"Yes, well I am sorry we left you out so much last year. We just didn't want you getting hurt."
"I know, and I appreciated your concern, but I can take care of myself…sometimes. It just hurt, being treated like I wasn't important to the group," Xander said somberly.
"You are important. I thought I was, but Buffy seems to be doing fine on her own now."
"Yeah, but she still needs you…you're her Watcher. And I know what your are going to say…'Buffy no longer has a Watcher'" Xander said in a British accent.
Giles glared at him.
"The point is…no matter what the Council says, no matter if she quit the Council or not, to her, you will always be her Watcher. Her Mentor. Her friend. She needs you around."
"Thank you Xander," Giles said. "You don't know what that means hearing that."
Xander glances towards the kitchen.
"Got any good snacks? Parents are making me pay for food now."
"Go. Hunt," Giles said.
Xander got up and headed to the kitchen in search of snacks. If he had seen Giles, he would have watched Giles walk to the table and rip up a plane ticket.
****End Flashback****
"I never told him, or any of you that," Giles said. "He kept me here because he knew how important I was to all of you. He always had a knack for saying the right things at the right time…sometimes never knowing how selfless he was being in the process."
Giles stopped and glanced towards the casket.
"Xander was a devoted friend like that. He was always there for his friends and I when we needed him, never asking for anything in return."
Giles took off his glasses and wiped tears out of his eyes.
"He is the son I always wished I could have had. You will truly be missed Alexander," Giles said towards the body.
Giles walked towards the casket and pulled a special looking ring out of his jacket pocket.
"My father gave me this ring, before I went to work with the Council. He told me that if I ever had a son to give it to him."
Saying that, Giles took the ring and put it on Xander's finger.
"Until we meet again Mr. Harris," Giles whispered.
Giles stepped down and went to his seat next to Buffy. He gave her a reassuring hug as Dawn went up next.
End Part 1
The clouds were dark and dreary that day in Sunnydale. Unusual weather for Southern California. But this day was not like others. It was rainy and cold. The birds did not sing, and the sun did not shine. That day, one of the greatest heroes was put to rest.
That hero was none other than Alexander Harris…the White Knight of The Slayer. Devoted friend to all.
As per his request on his dying day, his friends, those nearest and dearest to him, were told to share the memory of their lost friend.
Giles was not big on public speaking. He rarely spoke in front of large crowds since his days as the curator of the British museum. Yet here he was…about to speak about the man he considered a son.
He nervously walked to the podium in front of the funeral home, cleared his throat and began his speech.
*****
"Good morning. We all here to remember our dear friend Xander Harris," Giles began with tears forming in his eyes.
"What can you say about Xander? To me, he is one of the finest young men I've had the pleasure of meeting."
Giles looked towards Xander's family. Most of them showed no emotion. His aunt was crying a little, as was his mother, but Mr. Harris just sat there with a blank look on his face. Unreadable.
"He could be annoying sometimes with his jokes. He told them at the worst times, but they were always in good intent. To help us not be consumed by the death and darkness of what we did. He was our light, especially towards his friends," Giles said gesturing towards the Scoobies.
"I remember this one time a couple years ago…I was prepared to leave Sunnydale. I thought I was of no use to Buffy anymore. But Xander was the one who convinced me to stay. It was shortly before Buffy's 19 birthday party."
****Flashback****
"G-Man," Xander called as he entered the Watcher's apartment.
"Thank you so much for knocking," Giles said as he was flipping through one of his old tomes.
"Sorry…got kind of bored. Got fired again."
"What is it this week?"
"Starbucks," the young man said. "Wasn't fast enough and I'm not the best at making special coffee's. Ordering them is another story. You guys made me an expert last year."
"Yes, well I am sorry we left you out so much last year. We just didn't want you getting hurt."
"I know, and I appreciated your concern, but I can take care of myself…sometimes. It just hurt, being treated like I wasn't important to the group," Xander said somberly.
"You are important. I thought I was, but Buffy seems to be doing fine on her own now."
"Yeah, but she still needs you…you're her Watcher. And I know what your are going to say…'Buffy no longer has a Watcher'" Xander said in a British accent.
Giles glared at him.
"The point is…no matter what the Council says, no matter if she quit the Council or not, to her, you will always be her Watcher. Her Mentor. Her friend. She needs you around."
"Thank you Xander," Giles said. "You don't know what that means hearing that."
Xander glances towards the kitchen.
"Got any good snacks? Parents are making me pay for food now."
"Go. Hunt," Giles said.
Xander got up and headed to the kitchen in search of snacks. If he had seen Giles, he would have watched Giles walk to the table and rip up a plane ticket.
****End Flashback****
"I never told him, or any of you that," Giles said. "He kept me here because he knew how important I was to all of you. He always had a knack for saying the right things at the right time…sometimes never knowing how selfless he was being in the process."
Giles stopped and glanced towards the casket.
"Xander was a devoted friend like that. He was always there for his friends and I when we needed him, never asking for anything in return."
Giles took off his glasses and wiped tears out of his eyes.
"He is the son I always wished I could have had. You will truly be missed Alexander," Giles said towards the body.
Giles walked towards the casket and pulled a special looking ring out of his jacket pocket.
"My father gave me this ring, before I went to work with the Council. He told me that if I ever had a son to give it to him."
Saying that, Giles took the ring and put it on Xander's finger.
"Until we meet again Mr. Harris," Giles whispered.
Giles stepped down and went to his seat next to Buffy. He gave her a reassuring hug as Dawn went up next.
End Part 1