Epilogue

Xander proposed to Anya three days after Braden was born. She accepted readily and immediately began making plans for their wedding. Three weeks before the wedding, Xander sat Anya down and tried his best to explain that though he loved her, he wasn’t quite ready for marriage. He wanted to postpone it for a few months, but Anya angrily declined. Instead, she broke off the engagement entirely and moved out of the apartment she shared with him.

A couple of months after the breakdown of Xander and Anya’s relationship, the gang pulled together and held an intervention for Willow. It had been noticed by everyone, especially Oz and Giles, that she was delving too much into magicks. Willow had broken down, sobbing as Giles spoke candidly to the group for the first time about his own addictions when he was younger. She vowed that she wouldn’t allow that to happen to her and, with Oz and her friends by her side, started the long road to recovery.

Oz had released the wolf only once and that was when Willow was in danger. He had transformed quickly, his teeth ripping through the demon’s throat. Worried that he had lost control of the beast again, he locked himself in the cage for the next full moon. His control held and the wolf was again suppressed. It was at that moment that it was realized how useful the beast could be. He began training with Giles and Buffy, learning more about himself than he ever had before.

Braden Rupert Giles was two years old when Sunnydale imploded. Though if he were asked his name, he’d reply “L’il Ru”. He wasn’t there to witness the carnage as his parents had sent him with his grandmother when she fled the doomed town. He sobbed uncontrollably as Joyce drove out of town.

Buffy and Giles fared no better as they watched the Jeep turn the corner. Both of them feared the worst…that they’d never see him again. They also hoped for the best…a defeat of the First and the Turok-Han.

As they stood on the precipice of the crater, Buffy pulled out her cell phone. She swore loudly when she realized that there would be no reception…there were no towers left. Giles stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her against his chest.

“We’ll be able to call soon.” He whispered softly.

“I just…I need to hear his voice.” Her voice trembled with raw emotion.

“I know, darling.” He bent his head and kissed the top of her head. “I know.”

Oz stared at the crater, wondering how many people hadn’t been able to make it out alive. He felt Willow slip her hand into his and he turned his head, giving her a gentle smile. Looking into her eyes, he took a deep breath and dropped to his knees.

It was there that he asked her to marry him. With tears rolling down her face, she smiled brightly and nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small diamond and slipped it onto her finger.

Xander glanced at Anya, who had barely survived the fight in the high school, and cleared his throat.

“Maybe we should get out of here.”

Giles nodded in agreement and pulled Buffy away from the remains of Sunnydale and towards the bus. The surviving Potentials, now fully active Slayers due to the spell that Willow had successfully performed, followed behind the core Scoobies.

Giles ushered them back onto the bus, handing the keys to Xander so that he could tend to his wife’s wounds. He cleaned and bandaged the gash in her side, whispering soft words to her when she grimaced. He smiled softly when he realized that her Slayer healing was already beginning to work. He held her in his arms, thankful that she had once again been spared in battle.

An hour and a half later, Xander pulled into a motel and killed the engine. He turned around and met Anya’s eyes.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded slowly and then began to sob. Xander pulled her against him and led her off the bus. As the others noisily followed them into the motel, Giles whispered Buffy’s name.

She opened her eyes and looked up at him. “Where are we?”

“I’ve no idea. A motel…but, I don’t know the name of the town.”

She rubbed her eyes as she stood up and stretched. Her hand automatically moved to her side. “Huh.”

“Are you alright?” His tone conveyed his worry.

“Yeah…apparently, now I have super Slayer healing.”

He chuckled softly and took her hand, allowing her to pull him up from the uncomfortable bench seat.

* * *

The rooms had been paid for, courtesy of the Council funds that Giles was still able to access. The phone call to Joyce had been made and they had spoken with their son. Braden had giggled happily when he heard his parents’ voices. With a promise that they would see him the next day, the call was reluctantly disconnected.

They shared a hot shower and tender kisses in the steam. After inspecting her wound once more, he carried her to the bed. As he laid her on the mattress, he gazed into her eyes.

“I believe you scared me today more than you ever have before.”

She pulled him over her and kissed him softly. “You almost waited too long to leave.”

“I didn’t want to leave when I did. I didn’t know where you were. I knew you were still alive, but I…” His fingertips grazed her cheekbone. “Until I heard you jump on top of the bus, I was afraid I’d never see you again.”

“There’s no way I’m leaving you and Braden. Not without a huge fight.”

He smiled down at her and knelt between her thighs. “I think the fight has been covered for now.”

She combed her fingers through his hair and looked into his eyes. “How long has it been since we’ve made love?”

His fingers brushed over her nipple as he moved his hand down her body. “Weeks. A couple of months if you discount the episode in the laundry room.”

“Mm.” She raised her knees, resting them against his sides as he leaned over her. “As fun as that was, it really wasn’t anything more than a quickie, was it?”

“No, it wasn’t.” He placed his hand over her healing wound. “Are you sure you’re feeling up to this?”

“I’m feeling fine, Giles.” She arched her hips, rubbing her warm core over his erection. “See?”

“Mm-hm.” He closed his eyes in pleasure and rocked his hips against her. “Dear Lord, Buffy…I’ve missed you so much.”

She moaned as the tip of his cock nudged against her clitoris. Reaching down between them, she rubbed the palm of her hand against the glans. She grinned as his hips jerked and he let out a groan.

“Giles?”

He opened his passion-glazed eyes and stared at her. “Yes?”

“I really need you to make love to me. Right now.”

He grasped his erection and guided it to her entrance. He grunted softly as he sank into her warm depths. “Buffy…”

“Oh, God…” She wrapped her arms around him and pulled herself up, running her tongue across his Adam’s apple. “Let’s not wait this long again…ever.”

“It wasn’t my idea.” He pushed her back down and moved his mouth to her collarbone. “But…I agree.”

She lifted her hips to match his rhythm, meeting each of his thrusts with her own. Realizing it wasn’t going to take long for either of them to reach orgasm, she urged him to move faster. When he hesitated in compliance, she laid her hand on the side of his neck and looked into his eyes.

“Close…so close…”

He swallowed and moved his hand to grip her thigh. “Too soon…”

She shook her head in disagreement. “We have all night, honey. Please…”

He maintained his pace for a few more thrusts before giving her a nod. “I love you.”

She groaned the sentiment back to him. He smiled and pushed himself up, holding her hips as he lengthened his strokes. He waited until he felt the quiver of her inner muscles and then he slammed his hips against her.

She screamed his name, not caring who could hear her. He grinned and repeated the action with a greater ferocity. Her fingers gripped the sheets, twisting the material until it ripped.

“Giles!”

“Oh, God…yes, Buffy…let me feel you come…”

She groaned loudly, writhing beneath him as he brought her to orgasm. When he felt her juices coat his cock, he growled and let his upper body cover hers. His mouth latched onto her neck, sucking the flesh hungrily.

As she came for the second time, he released her skin and called out her name, flooding her inner walls with his semen. He fell to her side and pulled her into his arms, covering her mouth with his and sweeping his tongue inside.

Her body trembled against him and she pulled from the kiss, gasping for air. “Jesus…”

He chuckled and brushed her damp hair back from her face. When she opened her eyes and looked at him, he smiled.

“You’re so beautiful at any given time. But, I still don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as beautiful as you after we make love.”

“Still with the words of the sweet after three years together.”

He held her closely as they calmed down from their exertion. A thought crossed his mind and he cleared his throat.

“Buffy?”

“Hm?”

“This may seem a bit…well…”

She tilted her head and smiled. “What is it?”

“With everything that’s been going on…” He ran his fingers down her arm, smiling as she shivered. “How many times did you forget to take your birth control pills?”

Her eyes widened as she tried to remember. “I…don’t know.”

“Do you…well, uh…now that you’re no longer the only active Slayer…would you like to have another baby?”

She smiled as she relaxed in his arms. “Is that your way of saying ‘don’t bother with the pills anymore’?”

He pulled the blankets over their cooling bodies. “Only if you’re acceptable to the idea of adding to our family. I vividly remember you telling me that if I ever came near you again you’d rip my heart out.”

She laughed loudly. “Never try to comfort a woman in labour.”

He joined in with her laughter. “Yes, I’ll have to pass that wisdom on to Xander by the looks…” He gestured towards the wall. “And sounds of it.”

“Maybe we inspired them.”

“You never cease to inspire me.” He rolled onto his back and pulled her on top of him. “Would you consider having another child with me?”

She wriggled lightly and grinned when she felt him begin to harden beneath her. “I think I can be persuaded.”

* * *

The rest of the night was spent making love, whispering their plans for the future. When Giles asked where she would want to live, Buffy thought for only a moment before smiling.

“England.”

The surprise shone in Giles’ green eyes. “Are you sure?”

Buffy nodded and ran her fingers through his sweat-drenched hair. “Definitely. I want you to show me your home. I want our son to see his father’s country. And who can show us that better than you?”

Giles leaned down and kissed her softly.

“And…I’m sure that Amelia would want your help with rebuilding the Council.”

Giles nodded slowly as he caressed her cheek. “Yes. However, I think I’d prefer not to discuss work right now.”

Feeling him harden against her thigh, she grinned. “What would you like to discuss then?”

He slid his hand down her leg, smiling as she lifted it and draped it over his hip. “How much I love you.”

She groaned softly as he slowly sheathed his erection within her once more.

* * *

The sun was just beginning to rise, the sky a light shade of purple, when he collapsed on the bed beside of her. He was getting ready to suggest that they try to get some sleep when their eyes met. There were twin gasps of surprise followed by loving smiles and caresses.

As the light filtered through the curtains, they made a decision.

They would name him Lucas Ewan Giles.

~ End

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