Soooo I have 20 Chapters written for Part One written, and there is a Part Two underway, but I am so excited for Chapters 18 & 19 because they will be snippets of Giles's point of view since Chapter 1 eek!

Chapter Seventeen:

Rose lowered herself gingerly into the chair at the library table, wincing as her muscles protested every movement. Her whole body ached after being thrown across the library during last night's battle at the Hellmouth. Despite the soreness, she knew she had come out the least injured—everyone else had taken harder hits. Everyone except Xander, whom they'd wisely left out of the fight to keep him safe. She tried to sit still, but even the slight movement of breathing sent sharp reminders of her bruises rippling through her.

"Here," came Giles's soft voice, his presence a calming contrast to the aches of the day. He held out a steaming cup of tea, the familiar scent of chamomile filling the air.

The warmth of the tea radiated into her palms the moment she took it. "Thank you," she whispered, her lips curving into a faint smile as she accepted it. Her fingers brushed against his during the handoff, a brief touch, but it sent a ripple of warmth through her that had nothing to do with the tea. It was a touch that lingered, sparking feelings she hadn't fully come to terms with yet. She forced herself to focus on the tea rather than the tugging sensation that always seemed to stir whenever Giles was too close.

Since that night on the porch, she and Giles had stumbled into what she privately called the "we're-just-going-to-forget-we-slept-together-and-be-friends-again" stage. It was safer that way, simpler. They acted as if nothing had happened between them. But it didn't stop the memories from clawing their way back at the worst times—like now. She remembered the heat of his skin, the weight of his hands, the way his eyes had darkened as if she was the only thing in the world that mattered. The intimacy had been brief, but the tension between them hadn't disappeared.

She shoved the thoughts down and cleared her throat.

Giles settled into the chair across from her, his own cup of tea cradled in his hands. He pulled a thick tome closer and began rifling through the stack of books spread across the table. "Hopefully we can figure out the final components of the unbinding spell before the others return from patrol," he said, his brow furrowing as he scanned the ancient pages.

"That would be nice." Rose winced as she shifted in her seat, trying to find a position that didn't send a sharp pain through her ribs. "I'm getting tired of not being able to pee without someone standing outside the stall door. There's a limit to how much 'safety' a girl needs."

Giles, just in the middle of a sip of tea, choked, sputtering as his cheeks flushed with a mix of surprise and embarrassment. "Yes, well..." He set his cup down quickly, clearly flustered, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "That would indeed be... quite uncomfortable."

Rose glanced up through her lashes, hiding a smirk. There was something endlessly amusing about catching Giles off guard, watching his formalities crumble just a little. She took another sip of her tea, trying to suppress the grin spreading across her face. "You're far too easy to tease sometimes, Rupert."

He shot her a sidelong glance, his expression hovering somewhere between exasperation and fondness. "Yes, well," he muttered, his voice carrying a touch of affection despite his attempt to remain stern, "some people are incorrigible."

A soft chuckle escaped her. "It's one of my better qualities, you know."

"Brat," he mumbled, but there was no real bite to it, just a familiar warmth, a fondness that made her heart twist in her chest.

For a while, the conversation faded into a comfortable silence, the soft sound of turning pages and the occasional clink of a teacup the only interruptions. It was a reprieve, a quiet moment that Rose found herself cherishing more than she'd ever admit. In these rare pockets of calm, it was easy to forget the complexities hanging over them—the unspoken feelings, the dangerous threats, and the inevitable battles looming on the horizon. Here, in the quiet, they could just be... them. Two people sharing tea and searching for a solution that would hopefully save them all.

Then, something in the passage she was reading snagged her attention. A spark of hope flared in her chest. "This... this might work," she muttered to herself, her eyes widening as she scanned the lines again, her pulse quickening.

"What is it?" Giles's voice was immediate, his focus snapping to her. His tea forgotten, he leaned forward, watching her with intense curiosity.

Without thinking, Rose shoved back her chair, the legs scraping loudly against the floor, and hurried over to his side of the table. She slammed the book down in front of him, leaning in so close that her shoulder brushed his. "Look," she said, her voice thick with excitement as she pointed to the passage.

Giles's eyes followed her finger, and he bent closer to read the text. His face was inches from hers, so close she could see the way his breath stirred the strands of hair near her face. His concentration was palpable as he scanned the lines, his brow furrowing. After a moment, his lips parted in a slow smile, the kind of smile that made her breath hitch in her throat.

"This… this could work," he said softly, a note of relief threading through his voice. He reached up, sliding his glasses off and turning to face her fully. His smile widened, a spark of triumph dancing in his eyes.

Rose's heart skipped a beat as she realized how close she was standing to him. She could feel the heat radiating from his skin, the subtle scent of his cologne mixing with the warmth of the tea. His gaze dropped, briefly flicking to her lips before snapping back to her eyes, and she felt the ground shift beneath her. Every instinct screamed at her to move, to back away before the moment slipped into something more.

But she didn't move. She couldn't. Her entire body felt like it was caught in some invisible current, drawn to him despite the warning bells ringing in her mind. The connection between them crackled in the air, too real, too close, and for a heartbeat, the world outside the two of them ceased to exist.

She could feel her pulse pounding in her throat, could see the soft twitch of his fingers as if he was fighting the urge to close the distance between them. And for one terrifying moment, she wanted him to. She wanted to let the dam break, to let all the tension and unsaid things spill out into the open.

But just as the tension seemed about to snap, the sound of laughter echoed from down the hallway, and the library doors creaked open.

Rose pulled herself back, instinctively putting some distance between herself and Giles, though her pulse was still racing. She tried to focus, but the want for him to reach up, grasp her cheek, and kiss her flashed vividly in her mind. She swallowed hard, pushing the thought aside as best she could. Clearing her throat, she turned to the group, offering a casual distraction.

"How was patrolling?" she asked, though her voice betrayed the slight tremor of someone who was far from casual, barely masking the intensity of her earlier thoughts.

"Boring. Seems like everything took the night off," Buffy replied, sounding almost disappointed as she unloaded her weapons into the cage.

"Maybe because we handled the Hellmouth last night," Willow suggested brightly, "all the big baddies were like, 'Oh, we can't take them—best move on to the next town.'"

"Or," Xander cut in with his usual sarcasm, "it's because Rose's creepy family was out in full force tonight." He threw himself into a chair, his tone more serious than usual.

A chill crawled up Rose's spine at his words. She grimaced, nodding in reluctant agreement. "I think they know they only have one shot. They're waiting for everyone to gather. They want it to be... perfect."

"You mean there's more of them?" Xander asked, eyebrows raised.

Rose rubbed her temples, feeling the weight of the coven's presence. "Yeah, I can feel them. Every time more of them get closer, it's like I'm... more connected to the coven's power. It's stronger." She glanced around at her friends, who watched her with concern. She wished she could tell them she was okay, but she wasn't sure that was true anymore.

Giles slipped his glasses off, the faint glint of worry etched into his features. "Well, hopefully we won't have to worry much longer. Rose may have found the spell we need to sever her connection to the coven, and take their power with her."

Willow's face lit up. "See? I knew that spell was in these books somewhere!" she said, bouncing excitedly on her feet.

Rose smiled weakly, but her heart wasn't in it. The closer they got to a solution, the more the dread inside her gnawed at the edges of her mind.

"There's a catch, of course," Giles added gravely, his eyes scanning the room. "The ritual requires it be performed on sacred ground. So we won't be able to do it in the protection of the house."

Buffy's resolve kicked in, her Slayer instincts kicking into full gear. "What do you need from us?" she asked, stepping closer to Willow.

Giles rose from his chair and disappeared into his office. When he returned, he had a notepad in hand, scribbling a list of ingredients. He tore the sheet off and handed it to Willow. "We'll need these things from The Magic Box tomorrow. Rose and I will stick together and gather the rest. It will take twenty-four hours of preparation for the potion to set."

"Can do," Willow said confidently, looking over the list. "They should have all this in stock."

"Then we'll meet at Buffy's home at noon," Giles said, glancing over at Rose. "And hopefully, by Sunday night, this will all be over."

"Is it really safe for the two of you to be on your own?" Buffy asked, the question holding a double meaning, it was not just their safety the Slayer was worried about but the fact that Giles and Rose still seemed to hold some more personal connection.

"There are some things I need to discuss with Rose about the ritual and the risks that go along with it, I think it would be best to have that discussion in private there are-" But Giles's voice became distant and soon Rose felt her thoughts slipping further away from the conversation. Her gaze drifted toward a scuff on the wall, her heart heavy with an unshakable fear. What if this didn't work? What if the separating herself from the coven wasn't enough?

An itch crawled up her spine, something dark stirring at the back of her mind. She could feel the weight of her family's sinister intent pressing in on her. They were biding their time, waiting to strike when she was most vulnerable. Her family needed to kill her in just the right way to preserve the power of the goddess for the coven. But if she cut herself off from the coven in another way... if she died before the ritual... would that stop them? That is why they kept her safe this whole time.

Her heart clenched painfully as the reality settled in her chest. Could she sacrifice herself? Could she end it all—her life, her bloodline, everything—if it meant keeping her friends safe? If it meant protecting Giles? Her thoughts swirled in an agonizing storm. She knew the answer, deep down. If it came down to it... she would do it. She would sacrifice herself, no hesitation. She would never let them hurt Giles. She would die before that happened.

Her breath hitched as the decision anchored itself in her heart, and the enormity of it left her trembling inside.

"Rose?" Giles's voice pierced through her haze, his hand lightly resting on her shoulder. The warmth of his touch startled her, pulling her abruptly from her dark thoughts.

"What?" she whispered, blinking up at him as if just realizing where she was.

Giles tilted his head, concern etched deep into his eyes. "Are you ready to leave?"

Rose stared at him for a moment, trying to shake the whirlwind of emotions coursing through her. The urge to reach out, to tell him everything, burned in her throat, but she couldn't burden him with that. Not now. Not when everything was hanging by a thread.

"Rose, are you alright?" Giles asked softly, his worry deepening as he searched her face.

She forced a smile, giving her head a small shake as if to clear the fog in her mind. "Yes," she lied. "I'm ready to leave."

Xander took Rose's car as the Scoobies made their way to the Summers' residence, while Giles, quiet and tense, held the door open for Rose to slip into the passenger seat of his own car. As soon as they were driving, Rose turned to study the man next to her. His jaw was tightly set, and his knuckles had gone white from gripping the steering wheel too hard.

"Rupert, what's going on?" Her voice wavered, sensing the tension, but Giles didn't answer. The silence felt heavy, ominous.

"Why aren't I going to Buffy's?" she asked again, her brow furrowing.

"Willow and I spelled my residence for protection," Giles replied, his tone clipped and unreadable.

"But that doesn't explain why I'm going there. Besides, The Magic Box has everything we need," she pressed, turning her body fully toward him now, desperate to understand why he seemed so troubled.

Still, no answer.

"Rupert..." she said softly, a hint of panic creeping into her voice, "you're scaring me." There was a fragile quiver in her tone, betraying the fear clawing at her chest.

His silence broke at last. "I thought perhaps," he began, his voice low and strained, "you would want to see your father. One last time... before everything."

Rose's confusion deepened. "My father? But you said your place?"

"When we performed the spell, your father was within the protective circle of my house," Giles explained, his voice measured, though tension rippled beneath each word. "Which means he's been able to come and go safely. As much as I despise Cole, I couldn't let anything happen to him. I didn't want to see you lose any more of your family than you already have."

Rose stared at him, her breath caught in her throat. His words hit her with the weight of a confession she hadn't expected. "You... you've been protecting my father?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, the enormity of it sinking in.

"Since Buffy's birthday, yes." Giles' tone was gruff, but there was no mistaking the tenderness behind his actions.

Rose felt a rush of emotions swell inside her—surprise, gratitude, guilt. Her chest tightened, and she blinked rapidly as moisture gathered in the corners of her eyes. "Rupert," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you..." The words came out broken, thick with the sudden realization of everything he had done for her. Giles had protected her father—a man he loathed—for her sake. He had sheltered him, ensuring his safety, even while knowing the depths of her family's betrayal.

In that moment, Rose felt something shift. Giles had taken care of her in ways she hadn't even realized. His loyalty, his devotion—there was so much more to him than she had ever allowed herself to see. The realization left her raw, vulnerable.

The rest of the ride passed in thick, contemplative silence. When they pulled up in front of Giles' home, Rose immediately felt the presence of her family nearby. Their magic hummed faintly in the distance, like a static charge in the air. As she gazed out into the darkness, she could make out shadowy figures scattered across the surrounding streets, sentries no doubt placed there to keep watch on her father's movements.

"Come on," Giles said quietly as he gathered a book from the back seat, then gently wrapped his arm around her shoulders. The weight of his arm was steady, grounding her, even as her mind swirled with uncertainty. Together, they moved toward the front door, his protection a quiet, constant presence beside her.

Inside the dimly lit house, Rose's eyes immediately found him—her father. Cole stood near the window, his figure tense, as though he had been keeping vigil. When his eyes met hers, something softened in his expression.

"Daddy," Rose whispered, her voice small, fragile. The formal tension in her posture melted, and before she could stop herself, she rushed across the room and into his open arms. All the anger and betrayal faded, if only for a moment, as she collapsed into the safety of his embrace. She let herself believe, just for a few precious seconds, that everything would be okay, that this was all just a nightmare she could wake up from.

"Rose," her father breathed, his voice heavy with guilt as he held her close. He pulled back, just enough to look down at her, his eyes filled with regret. "I'm so sorry... for everything."

Rose swallowed hard, her heart hammering in her chest. She wanted to forgive him, wanted to believe that the man who had once been her protector was still there, despite everything that had happened. Tears welled in her eyes as she blinked up at him, her resolve hardening. "It's okay," she whispered, though her voice shook. "I have a way to stop all of this."

Cole's gaze searched hers, worry creasing his brow. "How?"

"I'm going to stop the coven. I'm going to take away our magic... and put everything right." Her voice was steady now, determination coursing through her veins. She felt stronger than she had in weeks. She would end this—no matter the cost.

As Rose stood there, wrapped in her father's embrace, something profound settled over her. She realized that trust, once shattered, could be rebuilt—not through words, but through actions. Giles had protected her father for her. And now, standing here with him, she felt the warmth of that trust rekindle. She would save them all—even if it meant sacrificing herself.