An origin story. The mug didn't always belong to Giles. Set sometime after Ted.

"It's perfect," Willow tells them with a small grin holding up the packaging to show her best friends what she's found.

"More like an apt description of what already happens," Xander considers it for a moment.

"Do we really think they need the encouragement?" Buffy asks, wrinkling her nose. "I walked in on them twice this week and she was already doing-" Buffy juts a finger at the mug, the words –"That."

KISS THE LIBRARIAN.

"This is why we hid the mistletoe."

"True," Xander agrees but... "We don't have any other ideas."

"And we're running out of time," Willow says, oh so helpfully.

They've been wandering through the mall for hours, surrounded by lights and decorations and people going crazy for the holidays. They braved the crowds and mind-numbing Christmas music, the same way they face demons, as they hunted for presents within their budget for their parents and Giles. And Miss Calendar.

She was the hardest to buy for. None of them knew what to get her, even Willow drew a blank. It wasn't expected, their teacher was probably going to be more surprised at getting a gift than not, they knew this. But they got a scarf for Giles and Miss Calendar was going to be there when they gave it to him so they were looking for something small for her, too.

Xander and Willow look at her expectantly. Despite being grossed out, she reluctantly admits this is the best idea they've come up with. She sighs. "Alright, fine, but we have got to talk to them about this. The grown-up smoochies are getting outta hand."

Buffy sits beside Willow on Giles' couch munching on a candy cane as their adults flirt-slash-bicker in the kitchen. She's got to admit she likes the fairy lights strung around Giles' living room and the wonky tree in the corner is kind of cute. She's pretty sure they were both Miss Calendar's idea.

She's trying not to watch them; really, she isn't. She can't help it though.

It's clear to Buffy that Miss Calendar has spent a lot of time at the apartment with Giles. Miss Calendar seems pretty comfortable; she isn't acting like a guest. They're in the kitchen getting snacks ready for the Christmas movies they've got lined up for tonight. Giles doesn't need to tell her where things are as she opens cupboards while he makes drinks for everyone. There's a familiarity as they move around each other as though they do this often. It's the kind of domesticity she hasn't seen since long before her parents' divorce.

Buffy watches Giles for a moment as he watches Miss Calendar fondly when she isn't paying attention to him. He's not actually beaming, but he looks pretty damn close. He looks happy. What surprises Buffy more, is his happiness is reflected in Miss Calendar. The computer science teacher steals glances at the watcher and shines when he looks at her.

Buffy looks away, smiling slightly.

Buffy's seen them like this before. Little moments that happen every day. Not just when they're kissing like they're the only people in the room.

When she makes him tea in the library when they're pulling an all-nighter. Or the way Miss Calendars' hand cups the nape of his neck, her fingers weaving through his hair when he's tired. Or when she patches him up after he gets hurt.

When Giles gives her his jacket when she's cold. Or when he reaches for her hand automatically. Or when it's easier for him to talk to her than any of them when she's there when the rest of them aren't.

Buffy wants this for Giles. She wants him to have someone who makes him happy and understands his life without having to hide who he is. She'd been so afraid they wouldn't get this back after Eyghon. But they did and they're closer than before, freer to express their feelings.

Buffy tries to stay out of their way as much as she can. Not because she's squeamish because they're adults, but because she wants him to have something that's his. Her life, her fate, is so interwoven with Giles' own, it's hard to separate sometimes.

She feels guilty if she interrupts their time together; they get so little. She hates taking that away from him even though Miss Calendar is willing and able to help with the rest of them, it's not the same as moments like this.

"Watch'ya thinkin'?" Willow says bumping her shoulder.

Buffy nods towards the couple who finished gathering snacks for everyone and are standing awfully close in the kitchen. This is usually the moment they cut and run. Except this time, they stay right where they are.

"They're pretty good together, aren't they?" Buffy explains quietly, so as not to disturb Giles or Miss Calendar when he says something they can't quite make out as he tucks her hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, but we're still going to give 'em hell about it, right?" Xander asks from his armchair.

"Oh, yeah," Buffy smiles. "Maybe not today though."

The adults join them a few minutes later. Miss Calendar tosses her and Willow a bag of their favourite chips before Xander can grab them so Buffy doesn't roll her eyes when she and Giles curl into the armchair together.

Gifts are exchanged and Miss Calendar is visibly touched when they present her with a gift bag. Then she opens it up carefully and starts laughing, looking at the cup as though it's the best gift she's ever gotten purely because of Giles' indignation. Miss Calendar leans in to peck him on the lips, cutting off the weak admonishment he's trying to give them. And blames the cup.