First chapter = disclaimers.

Short chapter alert. I normally update on weekends now, but I wrote up a little chapter and thought that I might as well share it now with you.

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"Buffy, I…" Giles began, but Buffy interrupted him.

"No, no. Its okay, this is normal type stuff. I mean you were really upset and acted out of your inner turmoil. I say we just pretend it never happened."

"Like we do with so many other things?" Giles shot back.

"Yes, exactly. When hasn't that helped us? Besides, we have much bigger problems right now. Your family is going to Sunnydale so they can become close to you and the life that you lead. Now, I'm going to have to call the gang and tell them that they have to pretend that we're engaged, oh and I'm going to have to call mom and talk her into the whole thing too, I suppose."

"Buffy," Giles tried interrupting.

'What is it Giles?"

"I, I, oh never mind. Why don't I call Xander and Willow. They can tell Anya and Tara. You call your Mum. I'm fairly certain that she will be harder to convince than the others."

"Great, wonderful," Buffy began to walk towards the door then paused. "Giles?"

"Yes, Buffy?"

"Are we okay?"

"I suspect not, but we will be."

"Oh, good," Buffy nodded once before leaving the room.

Giles closed his eyes in pain when she left. He was the biggest fool in California. Whether he was foolish for kissing her in the first place or not telling her about his feelings, he was not quite sure, but he was a fool nonetheless.

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The car ride back to Sunnydale was uncomfortable to say the least. On top of Giles' faux pas, Joyce had taken the news rather badly. In his mind's eye, Giles could easily imagine the reaction that Buffy's mother would have had if she had learned that he had indeed kissed her daughter. He enjoyed singing, but he did not wish to become castrated in order to hit the high notes.

Giles had volunteered to shelter his parents at his place. They would get to stay in his bed, and he would sleep on his couch. Buffy had talked her mother into allowing Nancy and Iris to stay at her house. It had taken a bit of cajoling to convince Joyce of the plan, but Buffy had promised regular 'mom' time and a few little white lies about how it would help her slaying by improving her relationship with Giles. George and his family had refused to participate too much in the new bonding exercise, and had decided to get an expensive hotel room instead of becoming closer to the family by sharing close quarters.

The Scoobies had thought it a grand idea. Xander thought it would be fun to go on the attack for the 'G-man', and Anya had naturally agreed with Xander's view. Willow had been excited about the opportunity to learn more about her favorite ex-librarian's past, and Tara had quietly agreed.

All of that, however, did not mitigate the effects of the kiss that Giles had given Buffy. They sat in silence during the car ride. Giles berating himself for kissing her, and Buffy trying to forget the myriad of conflicting flavors that made up Giles' kiss, trying to block out the way his lips had slid against her own and definitely trying to forget the whole lap thing.

It was in this fashion that they both set out for, and arrived at Sunnydale.

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"So, this is your flat Rupert?" Grace asked as Giles opened his front door.

"Ah, yes, it is a bit ummm, cluttered at the moment. I wasn't really expecting visitors," Giles mumbled as he moved about quietly shoving his more suspicious books out of sight.

"The walls are very… green," Robert said as he viewed the interior.

"They aren't that green. They are a very pleasant color I think. Better than white in any case. I find them quite soothing," Giles defended himself.

"Don't listen to you father, Rupert. He has the decorating sense of a blind house mouse. All he cares about are his precious books and making sure that they are stored carefully," Grace pointed out.

Giles shifted uncomfortably as his eyes automatically went to the multiple books on shelves littered about his home.

"Not, of course, that you don't share his love of books. You just seem to have thankfully added some more decorative touches."

"It is quite an avant-garde flat you have, Rupert. The bed is in an unusual place, isn't it?" Robert commented as he took a closer look about.

"Yes, I suppose it is."

Grace inspected his banister. "What happened to your rail?"

"Pardon?" Giles responded.

"You're railing has been fixed. It looks as though it was broken clear off."

"Ah, yes, that. Would you believe that I did that because of a rather bad hangover?" He asked sheepishly.

"What did you do, fall on it?" Robert laughed.

"No, I ripped it apart with my bare hands," Giles deadpanned hoping that his tone would end the conversation.

Grace eyed his books. "Rupert, I think you are worse than your father. I think that most of these books aren't even in English. And the only one in English that sounds fairly normal is a book of fairytales."

"Ah, yes, but if you look over here, I have succumbed to societal pressures and purchased a television, thereby adding shallowness to my character," Giles quipped uneasily.

Grace sighed and shook her head. "I think that I'm going to go sit outside while it is still light out. You and your father no doubt wish to talk about books now, and I have no wish to interfere with such a conversation."

Giles watched his mother leave. Robert waited until the door closed before he spoke.

"I've figured it out, you know."

"Figured out what?"

"You and Buffy. She isn't just your fiancée is she?"

Giles took his glasses off and began to polish them. "No, she isn't. I suppose that you are mad at me for the deception, but after the tone of our last meeting, I don't think that you should hold it against me."

Robert chuckled and began to leaf through the pages of a book. "I'm not angry with you. I'm just merely astounded by my lack of notice. I should have realized that the reason you were around such a young girl in the first place was because she was a potential. Obviously, she wasn't chosen, but you had already bonded and became closer as she matured. It is quite obvious now that I think of it. Why else would you willingly spend time with such a child."

"Buffy isn't a child, father, and I would appreciate it if you gave her some respect," Giles ground out.

"Come now, Rupert. I had a potential myself once, and I was very fond of her, but it was that same potential that caused your mother to think I was unfaithful. I am merely worried that you are acting out your past."

"Acting out my past would involve large amounts of alcohol a few orgies and a rather nasty fellow named Ripper. I live in the now, the here, not some bloody family drama that happened ages ago. My relationship with Buffy is one you could never hope to understand. I wish you would just accept that and wish me happiness."

"Well, I cannot wish you happiness because there might be a vengeance demon nearby that could be granting wishes."

Giles stared at his father. "Was that a joke?"

"It was. I have reached a 'cease fire' agreement with your Buffy. I merely desired to have one last shot of changing your mind."

"Well, it didn't work. Buffy knows me better than anyone, and we have forgiven each other much. She is the only reason that I agreed to this whole reunion. I thought that if Buffy and I could forgive each other, then there might be a chance with the rest of you. Don't prove me wrong." With that, Giles went out to sit with his mother and leave his father to contemplate.