Oz stepped into the small study and stared at Giles in his natural setting. The room seemed almost stereotypical. There was the roaring fire and the old leather bound books. The tapestry hanging on the wall behind the desk was a nice touch. The slayer in all her medieval glory. How long had the Giles family been serving the slayer?

Giles tilted his head, waiting as Oz looked around. The man did power well. Oz swallowed nervously.

"Giles, do you have a minute?" He sighed as Giles nodded and shuffled papers on his massive desk.

"I always have time for family." The edge to the final word made it very clear that Oz's inclusion in said family might be in doubt.

"I've been working on the words for hours, but nothing says it the right way." Oz looked up at him and then just slumped into a chair. "I haven't felt so unsure of myself in years."

"I imagine the dichotomy of your existence has made this situation far more difficult than it need be." Giles sat in the chair next to him.

"Actually, my dichotomy isn't a problem. I've come to terms with what I am." Oz took a deep breath. "I am the wolf and the human all the time. I retain control because I no longer force myself into molds that don't fit."

"Buffy's human." Giles tilted his head.

"For the most part, she is, but she's a predator, too. I suppose you see dichotomy there as well." Oz shifted in his seat and looked Giles square in the face. "Or maybe you don't. Buffy is good at disguising that side of herself."

"I've known about the nature of slayers longer than I've known Buffy." Giles pursed his lips. "She does do an exceptional job of concealing it. Have you bitten her?"

Oz shifted in his seat. This was not a conversation Buffy would appreciate. It was unavoidable, but she would hate it all the same.

"I'm answering this because I get it." Oz took a deep breath. "I have bitten her, but I haven't broken her skin."

Giles nodded, but Oz could see the question in his eyes.

"It makes a difference." Oz shrugged. "The magic in the bite isn't necessary for a mating. I didn't have to make her a wolf."

"Then why is she avoiding chocolate and caffeine?" Giles steepled his fingers and touched his lips with them.

"We are fully mated." Oz swallowed. This was agony, talking about such private matters.

"How exactly is that a response to my question?" Giles took his glasses off and began polishing.

"She's avoiding them because not all wolves tolerate chocolate well." Oz closed his eyes, hoping Giles would let the topic rest.

Silence stretched between them. Oz swallowed.

"You didn't take precautions?" Giles's voice exploded in the small room. He stood and moved to stand by the fireplace. "How could the two of you be so irresponsible?"

"There aren't a lot of options, Giles." Oz grimaced. "There are herbs she can take in the future. I can get them, but she'll need to be on them for a lunar cycle before they're effective. We didn't have that kind of time."

"You could have continued on as you were." Giles crossed his arms across his chest. "You could have waited for a month."

"We might have been able to do that, but it doesn't matter. Might haves aren't constructive. I have no regrets, and Buffy is happy." Oz smiled. "She wants to be pregnant."

"So, you're sure?" Giles fussed over the garland on the mantle.

"No. The hormonal changes are subtle this early on. I should be able to smell it soon though."

"You sound certain." Giles moved back toward him.

"She was ovulating. I could smell it." Oz met Giles' narrowed gaze. "The chances are good."

"She knows." Giles sat.

"She knows." Oz smiled. "She's happy."

"She's happy?"

"Yes, she hums when I play lullabies. She perks up when there are babies on the television. She even showed me an add from one of her magazines because she liked the baby's outfit. It's adorable."

"She'll need to take it easy for a bit." Giles smiled. "That will be challenging."

"Should be fun." Oz rubbed his hands on his jeans. "Which is all I want to say about that. I don't need the nightmares at the moment."

Giles chuckled.

"I realize that we have done this all very quickly, and I accept that you may have reservations about our relationship." Oz took a deep breath. "But, I love her. I have for longer than I realized, and I want your permission to ask her to marry me."

"Damn, I owe Ethan five quid." Giles shook his head. "How does he figure all this out?"

"I have no idea how he does it, but I..." Oz bit his lip.

"You need to know how I feel about you marrying my slayer." Giles frowned and his brow creased. "Do you have a ring?"

"No. I have picked up trinkets for her along the way, but nothing like that." Oz shook his head. "I never imagined her accepting me."

"Would you like to look at the family rings?" Giles smiled and Oz felt dazed.

"Family rings?" Oz managed.

"The Giles family ends with me. Buffy is my heir. The rings will be hers one day, as will most of the family jewelry. Tradition is important to me. More so as I age. I would be honored if you chose one of them for her."

Oz nodded. Words weren't enough at the moment. Giles put a hand on his shoulder.

Ethan breezed in with a tray of ring boxes and tilted his head at their bewildered expressions.

"I am claiming beloved uncle status. Besides, the two of you would come up with some plodding boring way to pop the question. That just won't do."

"How in bloody hell did you get into my safe?" Giles tossed his hands in the air.