WDWG - Chapter 24: Sebastian

Anna had fitted Giles with the hard splint, and with the immobilization came both relief from some of the pain and from the frustration of wearing the sling. He would still need to elevate his hand periodically for the next couple of days, but that wouldn't be a problem now that they weren't constantly on the go anymore. The doctor had also offered him stronger pain killers, but her cousin had declined, insisting that the huge bottle of Advil he bought in the States was enough when taken on a proper schedule.

Giles relaxed into the old soft leather sofa next to his fiancée and watched as the two women became better acquainted. While the couple didn't know how long they would be staying at Greys Keep, Anna announced that she would be around for the next three days before heading back to London. Wanting to make Buffy feel at home, she convinced the Slayer to go riding with her the next day with a promise to show her around the estate.

As the afternoon wore on, Buffy started to relax and enjoy herself. Anna was a kind and gracious hostess in between bouts of picking on her poor beleaguered cousin, an activity in which his fiancée couldn't help but join in. It was almost like the times back in the Library or the Magic Box when the Scoobies would relentlessly tease the ex-Pat Englishman about his stuffy British mannerisms.

Giles took it all in stride, as he always did, periodically getting in his own teasing shots, though they were much gentler than those coming from the two ladies. He knew Anna in particular to be rather thin skinned and he was in no hurry to reacquaint himself with her trigger temper. Despite the affectionate ribbing the party enjoyed themselves, and it wasn't until William came in to tidy up the library that they were aware of the time. "Looks like we have just under an hour for dinner," Giles observed with a quick glance at his watch.

Buffy made her way over to William and asked him quietly, "Could you please show me to the laundry room? Gi... uh, Rupert and I need to do a few loads."

If the butler was amused by her ignorance on the way the house was run, he didn't let it show, responding only with kindness in his eyes, "There is a laundry bin in your bathroom, Miss. Just put your things in it and I will make sure Mary fetches them. Your laundry will be ready for when you retire."

"Oh... okay. Thank you, William, I appreciate it." He nodded in return and the young woman walked back over to Giles, took his right hand in hers and said, "I'm going to go up to our room and take a shower. I'm feeling a little grimy after the flight."

"I'll head up with you, love." Standing up, the Watcher turned to his cousin, "Anna, we'll see you at dinner?"

"Of course." His cousin replied watching them leave, amused at how attentive he was to his Slayer.

As they made their way back towards their rooms Giles said conversationally, "You and Anna appear to have become fast friends."

"Yeah, she seems pretty cool. You know I'm going to make an ass of myself tomorrow getting on a horse, though."

"Anna is an excellent teacher. Just let her know you are an inexperienced rider and she'll ease you into it."

"Well, if I fall, I'll have my own personal doctor right there on-call." Buffy remarked only half-jokingly.

XxXxXxXx

The Watcher and Slayer assembled in the library before dinner. While they had been told dinner was casual, Giles had changed into black Dockers and a blue dress shirt with white stripes and French cuffs, one sleeve rolled up over the splint that came up a third of the way up his forearm. Buffy had also dressed up a little, wearing a simple black skirt and white peasant top with her new favorite pair of black strappy sandals. She felt fortunate that she had coordinated so well, considering they were down to their last change of clothes.

As they waited for the Greys to arrive, William offered them an apéritif. While a bit formal, the casual Californian decided it was a very civilized custom, contentedly enjoying the cocktail of champagne and Chambord. Anna joined them right at 6:30pm, sweeping in with her usual grace. The more Buffy observed the older woman, the more she felt a kinship with her. She was independent, confident, and bold, never willing to back down from a fight. A force of nature in her own right. Buffy couldn't help but admire her spirit.

The two women resumed their conversation from earlier that afternoon while Giles perused a bookshelf for anything that might catch his attention. Five minutes later the doors opened and an older gentleman in his mid to late sixties entered the room. He was tall, had a full head of white hair and eyes so blue they resembled the color reflected off of icebergs. While older, he still was fit and strong, carrying himself with vigor.

"Ru, my boy, thank God!" Sebastian sighed in relief as he addressed his nephew, pulling him into a tight embrace. When the two men let go, the older gentleman looked Giles over, quirking an eyebrow at his injured hand, "Another wall?"

The younger man ducked his head in embarrassment, "I know, Uncle, I'm old enough to know better."

"Must've been something special that set you off. Last time you did this was when Quentin wouldn't listen to you about the troubles that ultimately were caused by the First. You need to learn to control that temper of yours, laddie."

"I didn't break anything that time," the younger man muttered in protest. "And the time before that, it must've been fifteen years ago. You and Anna make it sound like it's a frequent occurrence."

Sebastian clasped his hand down on his nephew's shoulder in comfort, a gesture Buffy immediately recognized. "No matter, Ru, you'll heal. Now, where is this heroine of ours?"

Giles extended his arm towards Buffy who self-consciously walked over to him and took his hand. The earl looked the Slayer over in awe. Physically, she was everything Rupert had described: beautiful, blonde, petite, and with a lovely smile. As a Watcher he was trained to notice things, little things: her battle scars, how she kept her fingernails neatly trimmed so as not to get in the way of her duty, and the underlying power he felt emanate from her. And even though she projected a sense of strength and serenity, her eyes betrayed her. They had seen so much during her tenure as guardian of the Hellmouth, and so much of it was loss, sadness, injustice, and death - including her own. All this he knew from talking with his nephew, but what he saw now was her nervousness, her uneasiness. And yet, despite all that, she was so radiant and full of life. He raised his ice blue eyes, tenderly meeting her forest green ones full on, "Oh my dear girl..." He whispered. It was then that he looked at Giles, lost for words. The younger Watcher nodded and when Sebastian turned his gaze back to the Slayer, he simply shook his head before speaking again, "You truly are a miracle... There aren't any words... It is genuinely an honor to meet you."

Buffy struggled for a moment, before suddenly remembering the Jane Austen movies she used to watch with her mother and sister. Wanting to make a good impression on Giles' uncle she gave a clumsy little curtsy and responded, "The honor is mine, Lord Banbury."

The earl flashed an amused smile and cupped her cheek as he would his own daughter's, his expression gentle, "No formality here, Buffy, please, call me Sebastian." He offered her his elbow and asked, "Shall we go eat?"

Buffy grinned and looked over at Giles before turning her attention back to the senior Watcher, taking his proffered arm, "Let's shall!"

Dinner was served in the formal dining room and they sat at one end of a very long table. The food was wonderful and Buffy was pleasantly surprised. Everything she had been told about English cuisine was that it was quite inedible, and should they venture out to eat, she was resolved to order fish and chips, shepherd's pie, or English fry-up breakfasts... oh, and to avoid curries like the plague since she detested Indian food. But, she knew Giles could cook. Everyone in Slayer Central had made it to the table when it had been his turn in the kitchen, no matter what meal it was. And they had managed Thanksgiving dinner together her first year in college without having it "turn out English" as Xander complimented afterwards, so there went part of the theory that all English cooking was bad. Of course, now she was in a very a grand house and Sebastian clearly had quite the talented chef.

Per his uncle's request, Giles recounted the events leading up to the final battle with the First and Buffy provided the details as to what had happened down in the Hellmouth with her, Spike, and the rest of their little army.

Sitting to Sebastian's right, the Slayer told of the horrors in the fight against the horde of Turok-Han vampires. It was the first time she had opened up in detail about the nightmare they had faced, even to Giles, and he sat in stony silence diagonally across from her as she provided her account of being run through with the sword, fighting the pain as well as thoughts of failure and death. She looked up when she felt her host gently take her left hand and saw compassion, respect, and genuine fear for her safety in the watery blue depths. Buffy continued the tale speaking of Spike's sacrifice, and their escape from Sunnydale, as he sympathetically rubbed the back of her hand.

Giles took over the rest of the story describing their recovery in the desert and L.A. as the final course was served. He had never provided any detail of their ordeal in the phone conversations when he spoke to his uncle, only that they had made it and that they were ready to face the next big challenge.

Sebastian knew it must have been bad, but he hadn't imagined... this. Couldn't have imagined how terrifying an ordeal the troupe had gone through, nor the losses they'd endured. Watching the reactions of Buffy and Giles to each others' versions of the story had also been an eye opener. They complimented each other in ways he had never imagined. Neither interrupted the other, but there was a lot of silent communication between them, indecipherable looks, sometimes haunted, sometimes encouraging, but their love and support for each other was always present, and they seemed to relive the battles through each others' eyes.

Both Sebastian and Anna listened with bated breath through their recounting of the war against the First and its aftermath and when Giles was finally done it was the doctor who spoke first, "You've healed, then, Buffy? I would like to check you over and make sure everything is fine."

Taking a bite of the odd, solid "pudding" that was set in front of her, the younger woman responded, "I was healed by the time I made it to the bus, I've never recovered that quickly before. I think it had something to do with the spell and the scythe, but, uh... you could make sure I'm okay tomorrow after our ride, I guess?" Her eyes met her fiancé's and he gave her a small nod in thanks.

"Where is the scythe now?" Sebastian asked, knowing such a weapon of power needed to be kept safe.

"Willow has it. She took it with her back to the Coven to study it and do more research on the spell she cast to activate the new Slayers." Giles answered and his cousin raised her eyes in question, "If you like, Anna, I can put you in touch with Willow to study the scythe."

There was an eager look on the doctor's face. "Yes, thank you."

Noticing that the younger woman didn't eat any more of her dessert, Sebastian asked, "Did you not like your pudding, my dear?"

"Umm... it's good, but it's heavier than what I was expecting." Buffy answered honestly.

"Ahh yes, your American pudding is more of a custard. If you would like something else..."

"No, thank you. Really, everything was wonderful and I'm stuffed. Anything more and you'll have to roll me out of here."

"Perhaps we should relocate back to the library then, and you can tell me about this beautiful ring adorning your finger." He stood up taking her hand and gave a wink to his nephew as they adjourned, leaving the two cousins in the dining room.

Buffy looked up at her host as he gallantly accompanied her through the ornately decorated hallway. Teasing him she said, "I thought men withdrew to the Drawing Room or some such to smoke cigars and drink, leaving the women folk to embroider and gossip."

"It is the women who retire to the Drawing Room, but if I let you do that, then Rupert and I would be deprived of your enchanting company, my dear, and that just won't do."

Buffy giggled and replied formally, "Then, by all means, my Lord, lead on."

As they entered the library, the white haired Watcher smiled down at his guest and requested, "So, tell me about you and my nephew."

The young woman shrugged, "Typical Slayer love story. Girl gets Watcher. Watcher annoys girl. Girl annoys Watcher. Girl dies. Girl is resurrected. Girl grows up. Watcher loses job. They drift apart, but girl realizes she needs Watcher. They become close friends. Girl dies. Again. Girl is resurrected. Again. They live apart miserably. Watcher comes back, they save the world one more time and they realize they can't live without each other. Watcher asks girl to marry him. Girl says yes."

"Succinctly put." Sebastian commented, leading her over to a huge antique leather chair. "Port?"

"Yes, please. Seriously, though, I'm so in love with him, it feels like my insides want to go all explode-y. You don't have to worry." Buffy added, wanting to allay any fears the patriarch might have about her relationship with his nephew.

"I don't worry. I can see how much the two of you love each other, Buffy," he said chuckling, with affection in his voice. "And I am so very pleased."

XxXxXxXx

After Giles stood up, he politely pulled out Anna's chair. She rose and threaded her hand through the crook of his right elbow, "I think you might have a run for your money, Ru. Seems Daddy is quite smitten with your fiancée."

The Watcher snickered as they exited the dining room, "I'm battle hardened. He won't stand much of a chance. However, I think you are wrong. From the looks of things, you might have a run for your money. He might just adopt her. Care to share him with a little sister?"

Looking at him fondly, his cousin sighed in mock resignation, "What's one more? I already share him with you, don't I? Besides, I like her. You've chosen well."

"Ah. Thank you."

"Not sure about her taste in men, though." Anna teased gently.

"Up until now, I would have agreed with you." Giles stated, giving her a small smile.

"You're... happy. Finally. That's all that matters."

The cousins entered the library to find Sebastian pouring glasses of port for everyone. Buffy was sitting in a huge leather chair, her shoes on the floor and her feet tucked up under her as she leaned against one of the arm rests. Giles could tell the events of the day were starting to catch up with her.

His Lordship passed out the glasses and, when handing Giles his, he clapped him heartily on the shoulder, "Congratulations, my boy, well done!"

Looking over at his intended, Giles stated, "Thank you, sir."

When they all had their drinks, Sebastian held up his glass, "Welcome to the family, Buffy." The Slayer, unable to find words, smiled graciously and raised her glass in salute.

The four sat around talking and joking for about an hour before Giles and Buffy cited exhaustion and bade Anna and Sebastian good night.

"Breakfast is at the usual time should you not be entirely jet-lagged, Rupert."

"Yes, sir."

XxXxXxXx

When they entered their bedroom, they found their clean clothes put away in the antique dresser and hung in the closet, as well as the bed turned down for them. Buffy pulled out a pair of pajamas and, watching Giles become more frustrated by the second as he tried to undo the buttons of his shirt, walked over to him and laid her hands flat against his chest, "Here, let me do that for you, Ru." She peered up at him shyly as she tested out the unfamiliar nickname and started unbuttoning his shirt.

Her future husband drew in a long breath and let it out, closing his eyes, visibly relaxing. When he opened them again, he lifted his good hand and brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Say it again."

Smiling at his acceptance she repeated, "Ru."

Giles gently threaded his hand through her hair to the nape of her neck, and pulled her in for a kiss. Deepening it, he stroked his tongue along hers, drinking her in. She ran her fingers along his bare chest and up to his shoulders, until she finally clasped them around his neck. When they broke apart panting for breath, he hugged her tightly, and whispered in her ear, "Welcome to the family, Buffy."