WDWG - Chapter 11: Hank Part 2

"Giles. Where to begin?" She stalled. "Umm, I met him the first day of school at Sunnydale High. He was the librarian there. My friends and I would hang out in the library and he sort of became our leader. We were all outsiders. I guess him more than most, being English and all. He helped me study for my SAT's and arranged for me to come back to school after I ran away when Mom's efforts failed."

"Was he your mom's boyfriend?"

"No. She didn't like him much at first, but they came to a friendly understanding. A lot of people didn't understand the relationship the gang and I had with Giles. I mean, what's an adult doing hanging around socially with a bunch of high school kids? But he was our mentor, friend, father figure to a few, I suppose."

"And to you and Dawn?" Hank asked with a twinge of jealousy.

"Not to me. I have a Dad, and the two of you are nothing alike. I think Dawn views him that way because she was so young when you took off. But she also had fantasies of her real daddy coming to save her from bad situations. I think that's why she's here now." She saw hope in her father's eyes at that statement. "You can rescue her, Dad. Just don't get mad at Giles for the way she sees him."

"I've got no one to blame but myself, I know," he sighed lacing his fingers together in his lap as he leaned against his desk. "What about your relationship with him? You seem very close."

Drawing a breath, the young woman felt it best to be honest with him, especially since she had the upper hand. "We are. I need you to not wig out, Dad. I know this may come as a shock, but I don't think Mom would have freaked about this. In fact, she probably saw it coming even if I didn't allow myself to. He's my soulmate. I love him with an intensity I have never felt before and I know he loves me too. We only just told each other how we feel. With Sunnydale collapsing into the earth, it kinda makes you think about what's important. I'm not sure what comes next, but I know I want us to be together always."

"I kind of figured it out by the way he comforted you and how you drew strength from him. I can tell he's a good man. If I had my way, I wish you would find someone younger, but then, I don't think you'd find anyone better from what I've seen. He's extremely protective of Dawn as well, looking after her future like that. How were you going to manage tuition? I am sure a school like that costs an arm and a leg."

"When we talked, Giles said not to worry about it, so I'm assuming that either he will handle it, or that there's some sort of scholarship."

Pursing his lips, Hank spoke with a certain intensity, "Well, that's my prerogative, not his. Go ahead and enroll her. I'll take care of the tuition and make sure she's on the plane a week before school starts so she can get her bearings and settle in."

"Thanks, Dad. It really means a lot to me." She said sincerely shoving her hands in her pockets to keep her distance, hoping she could trust him to keep his word.

"Hey, Buff, got all my stuff. Oh, go me, I rhymed." Dawn announced with a wide grin, walking back into the big corner office.

"Where's Giles?" The older sister asked.

"Had to make a stop. He should be here in a minute. So, are you guys like ok now?"

"Things that needed to be said were said, Dawn." Her father told her pointedly. "Buffy and I understand each other and we're going to be civil and work together to take care of you. Speaking of, I will need a power of attorney drawn up for emergency purposes while she is in my care."

"I can have that taken care of." Giles answered, stepping through the door. "I have a good lawyer, if you want to use him, Buffy."

"Sounds good." Buffy agreed, taking his hand in hers. Giles quirked his head to the side raising an eyebrow and she tilted her head indicating that she told Hank about them.

"Then that's settled. I'll call him later and we'll have the papers drawn up. We can have the papers signed and notarized at the hotel and then arrange to bring it over."

"When you have the document ready, why don't we all go out for dinner? We can meet at my place, you can check to see how Dawn and I are getting along, and then head out and enjoy a nice meal together before you leave." Hank offered.

The couple looked at each other before Buffy turned to her father and replied, "That would be nice. I'll give you a call when we have everything settled on our end." Then she walked over, gave Dawn a hug, and said, "You've got our cell numbers if you need us. Have fun and I love you."

Dawn returned the hug, "I love you too."

Giles shook Hank's hand, "We'll see you in a couple days, then. Take care of her." Though his tone was polite, there was a hint of a threat behind it as he motioned towards the girl.

"I would say the same, but I see that you already do." Came the father's rueful response, making a slight gesture in his older daughter's direction. "I just hope one day, she'll forgive me."

"Buffy has a tremendous heart, Mr. Summers. You'd do well to remember that." And with that, he closed the conversation, turning to his girlfriend, "Are you ready, love?"

Buffy broke the embrace with her sister and strode over to where the men were standing, circling her arm possessively around Giles' waist, "I am ready." Still refusing to touch her father, Buffy smiled thinly, "See you soon, Dad. Thanks."

"Until later, Buffy." Hank managed, crestfallen at the cool reception he received from her. He watched the duo leave his office hand in hand and turned to Dawn smiling, drawing up on the feelings of happiness he had for having one of his daughters return to him, "So, I think I am entitled to some time off. What would you like to do first?"

XxXxXxXx

"Are you alright?" Giles asked as he held the door to the rental car open for her. He wasn't surprised that they had left the office in silence since he expected Buffy to mull over the encounter much in the same way she did after a particularly nasty fight with a demon.

"Yeah. Can we go back to the hotel, maybe get some room service, and just chill for a while?"

"Of course. Do you feel like talking about your father?" he prodded.

His Slayer gave him a small smile. "Later. Right now, I just need to process."

"Alright then."

The drive back to the hotel was also a quiet affair, until Buffy remembered the envelope that she put in her pocket. She pulled it out and opened it, "Oh my God!" She exclaimed.

Looking over at her with concern, Giles saw the stunned expression on her face, "What is it?"

"He gave me a check. Said I earned it. No strings attached... Damn him!"

The Watcher found a parking lot to pull into so that he could give his undivided attention to the matter at hand. "Buffy, what's gotten you so upset?" He asked with concern when they stopped, moving a lock of her hair behind her ear so he could see her face better.

Her green eyes were misty as she passed him the check worth $100,000. "I don't even know what to think about this."

"That's quite a bit of money."

"Too much. Giles, I can't take this! I mean, it's guilt money. And no matter what he says, I would feel like I owe him something if I did... and right now... ugh, I am still so mad at him! I mean, we cleared the air some, but I can't forget that he hasn't been there for us." Her tears started to fall.

"Oh, Buffy!" He said pulling her into an embrace. "I don't think he expects you to forget and I don't think he intended to buy your forgiveness. I am sure part of his reason to gift this to you is borne out of guilt, but he is right, you have earned it... and then some. And I can tell you that the other things you earned today are his respect and admiration. Your father saw you for the strong, beautiful, confident, capable, and responsible young woman that you are."

When she didn't respond, Giles gently pushed her from him and rested his hands on her shoulders. Searching her face, he brought up a hand to wipe a tear from her cheek, "Hank is helping you invest in your future. Let him do that. It's what he should have been doing all along. You don't have to let him back into your life until you are ready, and if that is never, then he will have to respect that."

"I guess I really do want to talk now. He said he wants to pay for Dawn's tuition and that he would make sure she joins us a week before school starts."

Giles was quiet for a moment, taking in that new bit of information. Sending Dawn to school was supposed to be his gift to the girl and he couldn't help but feel some resentment for the man. Still, he realized that this was a father's privilege and no matter how he perceived his relationship with the younger girl, she was not his, even if he was the man who had helped raise her. As painful as it was, Giles responded dispassionately, "As it should be."

Picking up on his slight hesitation, Buffy looked, up and saw hurt in his eyes, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I'll make a call to the school later to get the enrollment started -"

"Please, it's clearly something. Tell me?"

"It's silly, really."

"You wanted to do this for her."

"Yes... but he should." Giles admitted focusing his attention out the window over her shoulder.

"Yeah, he should. Besides, it saves you the expense." She grinned.

"That doesn't concern me, really." The disappointed Brit dismissed, shifting his gaze back onto her face.

"Well, when Dawn comes home, you can take her back-to-school shopping. She'll love you for it. But, it's probably a moot point anyway. Dad will more than likely lose interest in our lives inside of six months and we'll be back to making do without him." She stated flippantly.

"I think he might surprise you, Buffy. I hear there is a special bond between fathers and daughters." Giles said quietly. "Now, it's getting late, shall we get some dinner and head back to the hotel?"

Buffy just nodded in agreement. She wasn't sure if she would touch the majority of the money at this point, but at the very least, she would have funds to draw on until Giles could set up her salary with the Council.

They talked more at dinner of the encounter with Hank and what transpired between Buffy and her father when Dawn and Giles went to retrieve the younger girl's things. She felt better voicing her concerns about the encounter and after some reassurance, Buffy had come to grips with her conflicting feelings regarding her father.

Upon arriving back at the hotel, the couple was approached by Willow and Xander to join them for a moviefest, but they requested a rain check citing exhaustion. It had been a busy and highly emotional day.

After entering their room, Buffy changed into her jammies and relaxed in front of the TV, while Giles pulled out his notebook to update his to-do list. With a sigh, he grimaced as he looked at the growing list, adding notes as he went over it. When he was satisfied, he called out, "Are you ready for bed, love?"

Hearing no answer, he walked over to the couch where he found her curled up asleep. Taking in her peaceful countenance, Giles smiled, pausing a moment to admire her, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest with the knowledge that Buffy loved him after everything they had been through: all the pain, all the hurt, all the mistakes on both sides. She was a miracle. Gently lifting her off the sofa, he carried her lovingly to bed. Joining her after he changed, he indulgently wrapped his arms around her before falling asleep.