TITLE: Over her (4/?)
PART: Stunned
AUTHOR: Gabriele Schulz
EMAIL: gabi@gschulz.de
RATING: PG (might go up)
DISTRIBUTION: Everyone who has my general permission. Others please ask first.
SPOILERS: Up to Selfless
FEEDBACK: Love it. Especially if you like the story ;-)
SUMMARY: On Buffy's 25th birthday Giles visits Sunnydale, finally over her. Or so he thinks.
COUPLES: Buffy/Giles, Willow/Anya, Dawn/OC (male), mention of Wesley/Faith, Cordelia/Angel
DISCLAIMER: The characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Productions, Kuzui Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Television, the WB Television Network, and whoever else may have a hold on them. I do not mean to infringe upon any copyrights.
DATE: 11/09/02
--------------------------
"Wow, Buff, you look gorgeous!"
"It's sexy, but also elegant. You don't look like a whore at all."
Buffy laughed at that. "Well, that's a relief." She turned around to award them with a view of the back of the dress.
"Stunning." At a look from the women Jack added, "not as stunning as you of course, Dawn."
Giles heard only bits and pieces from their talk. He had instinctively pulled Harris closer to him, so that he wouldn't drop her at the inevitable state of shock that he went into. Stunning indeed. Though it wasn't adequate to describe her.
The dress was quite simple really, black, low-cut, but not indecently so, and showing much of Buffy's perfectly aligned back. What made it so perfect was that it seemed as if it had been molded for her. It fit in all the right places. As if someone had sculpted it after her body.
Giles began an internal chorus of 'I'm over her, I'm over her...' which was answered with another internal voice.
~ If you ever were over her, you've just fallen in love again, you bloody old fool. ~
The thought acted like something of a cold shower. He looked away from her body to her head. One strand of hair had escaped her lovely hair-do. It fell down along her face. As she smiled at Dawn and Jack, she tilted her head a bit. She was every bit the woman he had come to love. The same body, the same person - the same unattainableness.
Being over her wasn't about her, it was about him. It was what he needed. It was what he'd have to be in order to continue his life. And he *would* move on.
"So what's the great thing?"
"Oh. Giles had news. Maybe-news."
"Maybe they're news or maybe Giles had them?"
"Maybe Giles should tell you himself."
Buffy turned her look to Giles.
"Ehm, yes. I... it's not sure yet, just so you know that y-"
"Giles."
"Yes, right. The Council has asked me to... has asked if I would be willing to go back to California."
She smiled, then her smile faltered a bit.
"Council? Not that I wouldn't love for you to be back, but usually if the Council wants something it's nothing I'm gonna like in... 10 out of 10 times. This is not some ancient text that prophecized my death, I hope."
"The hellmouth."
"The end of the world!"
"A BUNNY PLAGUE!"
"No, no. No prophecy, the hellmouth will stay closed as far as I know, the end of the world is not around. The bunny plague though-"
"Oh no!"
"He's kidding, baby. You *are* kidding?"
"About the bunny plague, yes."
"Then what's the what?"
Rupert hesitated. Somehow he had hoped that the diversion would make her forget about his news. It wasn't anything bad per se, but he knew that Buffy wouldn't take it well. The worry must have shown on his face.
"Giles, you're too relaxed for us to be in mortal danger, but your face tells me I'm not gonna like this news."
"It's nothing bad. It's... Wesley has asked for assistance."
"Faith."
"Yes, she's... she's pregnant."
There was a sharp intake of breath from Willow.
"Way to go Wes!" Anya definitely took the news better than Buffy.
Buffy's face was a carefully composed mask. Anyone who didn't know her as well as Giles would think she was unaffected by the revelation.
"Is it Wesley's?"
"Buffy!"
Rupert could understand Willow's outcry. Buffy's question implied that Faith could have cheated on Wesley. And Willow had softened considerably towards Faith. Especially after she had risked her life to save Anya.
He could understand Buffy as well. The romantic relationship of Wesley and his Slayer had only become official 5 months ago, so it wasn't entirely impossible that they had broken up. And Faith did have a less than stellar track record.
"Judging from the daily letters and phone calls to the Council requesting reading material on pregnant Slayers and anything remotely related, I'd say he definitely behaves like a father to be."
Buffy just nodded.
There was a heavy silence until Jack carefully spoke up.
"But... a baby is a good thing, right?"
"Oh, of course. A baby is a wonderful thing."
Willow patted Harris on the head. The little girl was getting sleepy. Plus she couldn't understand the ruckus about Buffy. She already knew her. This man on the other hand was interesting and new. He also had a very comfortable chest.
"Yes. A baby is great. I wish her all the best," Buffy said sincerely looking at Giles.
Her wishes might be sincere, but he knew that Buffy wasn't happy about the news. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn't know what to say.
"I'll better go upstairs again and get out of this. Want to keep it for a special occasion. Dawn, could you perhaps take care of the mess in the dining room and kitchen?"
"Sure thing."
"I'll help you."
Dawn and Jack left to clean up.
Buffy looked at the remaining people on the couch.
"Thanks for the dress. It's lovely."
"You're welcome, Buffy."
After giving them a forced smile, she turned around to go upstairs, leaving Giles and the others staring after her.
A/N:
Thanks to all reviewers :)
Chorlton: Thank you for your constructive criticism. Well thought out and gloriously composed. A gem of a review. (It's called sarcasm.)
KittenGal: The next chapter will have more B/G. At least as far as the people present. The shippiness will probably take some time.
trishv20: Thanks for defending me. Although I do think that *that* review pretty much spoke for itself.
Queen Boadicea: Xander is my favorite character on BtVS. The name Harris jumped into my head and seemed perfect. I'm growing quite fond of the little thing. She's so cute. I hope she's not annoying everyone.
EmryldWing: Ah, I'm sorry. I decided to go to bed early and post this in the morning instead. Here it is. I hope you like it :) And thank you for your kind words.
Sorry if Buffy seemed a bit bitchy in this chapter. She has issues. We'll talk about her feelings in the next chapter. To be exact Buffy and Giles will talk.
PART: Stunned
AUTHOR: Gabriele Schulz
EMAIL: gabi@gschulz.de
RATING: PG (might go up)
DISTRIBUTION: Everyone who has my general permission. Others please ask first.
SPOILERS: Up to Selfless
FEEDBACK: Love it. Especially if you like the story ;-)
SUMMARY: On Buffy's 25th birthday Giles visits Sunnydale, finally over her. Or so he thinks.
COUPLES: Buffy/Giles, Willow/Anya, Dawn/OC (male), mention of Wesley/Faith, Cordelia/Angel
DISCLAIMER: The characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Sandollar Productions, Kuzui Enterprises, 20th Century Fox Television, the WB Television Network, and whoever else may have a hold on them. I do not mean to infringe upon any copyrights.
DATE: 11/09/02
--------------------------
"Wow, Buff, you look gorgeous!"
"It's sexy, but also elegant. You don't look like a whore at all."
Buffy laughed at that. "Well, that's a relief." She turned around to award them with a view of the back of the dress.
"Stunning." At a look from the women Jack added, "not as stunning as you of course, Dawn."
Giles heard only bits and pieces from their talk. He had instinctively pulled Harris closer to him, so that he wouldn't drop her at the inevitable state of shock that he went into. Stunning indeed. Though it wasn't adequate to describe her.
The dress was quite simple really, black, low-cut, but not indecently so, and showing much of Buffy's perfectly aligned back. What made it so perfect was that it seemed as if it had been molded for her. It fit in all the right places. As if someone had sculpted it after her body.
Giles began an internal chorus of 'I'm over her, I'm over her...' which was answered with another internal voice.
~ If you ever were over her, you've just fallen in love again, you bloody old fool. ~
The thought acted like something of a cold shower. He looked away from her body to her head. One strand of hair had escaped her lovely hair-do. It fell down along her face. As she smiled at Dawn and Jack, she tilted her head a bit. She was every bit the woman he had come to love. The same body, the same person - the same unattainableness.
Being over her wasn't about her, it was about him. It was what he needed. It was what he'd have to be in order to continue his life. And he *would* move on.
"So what's the great thing?"
"Oh. Giles had news. Maybe-news."
"Maybe they're news or maybe Giles had them?"
"Maybe Giles should tell you himself."
Buffy turned her look to Giles.
"Ehm, yes. I... it's not sure yet, just so you know that y-"
"Giles."
"Yes, right. The Council has asked me to... has asked if I would be willing to go back to California."
She smiled, then her smile faltered a bit.
"Council? Not that I wouldn't love for you to be back, but usually if the Council wants something it's nothing I'm gonna like in... 10 out of 10 times. This is not some ancient text that prophecized my death, I hope."
"The hellmouth."
"The end of the world!"
"A BUNNY PLAGUE!"
"No, no. No prophecy, the hellmouth will stay closed as far as I know, the end of the world is not around. The bunny plague though-"
"Oh no!"
"He's kidding, baby. You *are* kidding?"
"About the bunny plague, yes."
"Then what's the what?"
Rupert hesitated. Somehow he had hoped that the diversion would make her forget about his news. It wasn't anything bad per se, but he knew that Buffy wouldn't take it well. The worry must have shown on his face.
"Giles, you're too relaxed for us to be in mortal danger, but your face tells me I'm not gonna like this news."
"It's nothing bad. It's... Wesley has asked for assistance."
"Faith."
"Yes, she's... she's pregnant."
There was a sharp intake of breath from Willow.
"Way to go Wes!" Anya definitely took the news better than Buffy.
Buffy's face was a carefully composed mask. Anyone who didn't know her as well as Giles would think she was unaffected by the revelation.
"Is it Wesley's?"
"Buffy!"
Rupert could understand Willow's outcry. Buffy's question implied that Faith could have cheated on Wesley. And Willow had softened considerably towards Faith. Especially after she had risked her life to save Anya.
He could understand Buffy as well. The romantic relationship of Wesley and his Slayer had only become official 5 months ago, so it wasn't entirely impossible that they had broken up. And Faith did have a less than stellar track record.
"Judging from the daily letters and phone calls to the Council requesting reading material on pregnant Slayers and anything remotely related, I'd say he definitely behaves like a father to be."
Buffy just nodded.
There was a heavy silence until Jack carefully spoke up.
"But... a baby is a good thing, right?"
"Oh, of course. A baby is a wonderful thing."
Willow patted Harris on the head. The little girl was getting sleepy. Plus she couldn't understand the ruckus about Buffy. She already knew her. This man on the other hand was interesting and new. He also had a very comfortable chest.
"Yes. A baby is great. I wish her all the best," Buffy said sincerely looking at Giles.
Her wishes might be sincere, but he knew that Buffy wasn't happy about the news. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn't know what to say.
"I'll better go upstairs again and get out of this. Want to keep it for a special occasion. Dawn, could you perhaps take care of the mess in the dining room and kitchen?"
"Sure thing."
"I'll help you."
Dawn and Jack left to clean up.
Buffy looked at the remaining people on the couch.
"Thanks for the dress. It's lovely."
"You're welcome, Buffy."
After giving them a forced smile, she turned around to go upstairs, leaving Giles and the others staring after her.
A/N:
Thanks to all reviewers :)
Chorlton: Thank you for your constructive criticism. Well thought out and gloriously composed. A gem of a review. (It's called sarcasm.)
KittenGal: The next chapter will have more B/G. At least as far as the people present. The shippiness will probably take some time.
trishv20: Thanks for defending me. Although I do think that *that* review pretty much spoke for itself.
Queen Boadicea: Xander is my favorite character on BtVS. The name Harris jumped into my head and seemed perfect. I'm growing quite fond of the little thing. She's so cute. I hope she's not annoying everyone.
EmryldWing: Ah, I'm sorry. I decided to go to bed early and post this in the morning instead. Here it is. I hope you like it :) And thank you for your kind words.
Sorry if Buffy seemed a bit bitchy in this chapter. She has issues. We'll talk about her feelings in the next chapter. To be exact Buffy and Giles will talk.