Title: Surprise 6/6
Author: KrisB
Rating: Mostly PG13. Ch 5 is NC-17
Pairing: B/G, of course!
Spoiler Warnings: up to middle of season 5
Summary: AU, response to ODD's Challenge #67. Giles gets a surprise.
Disclaimer: All canon characters of Buffyverse belong to the awe-inspiring Joss, ME, etc. I'm writing this for free entertainment only.

CHAPTER SIX

Buffy giggled as he struggled to get his key in the lock of his apartment door. He refused to relinquish her hand, and so had some difficulty working with his right hand to manage the task.

"Sshh," he admonished in a stage whisper. "You'll ruin the surprise."

Buffy choked back another giggle, biting her lip in to show her attempt at silence. He finally got the door unlocked and carefully turned the knob, pushing the door open as quietly as possible. Xander and Anya were asleep on the couch, Rupert tucking into his play pen, also asleep.

"We're so late!" Buffy whispered. "They'll never babysit for us again."

"We'll return the favor when they get around to having children. It'll be fine."

Buffy crept around the couch and leaned over the wall of the play pen, gathering her son into her arms. Rupert grumbled in his usual, baby-like grunts. She hushed him with a few soft words, settling him before he could get too fussy. Giles gently shook Xander on his shoulder, waking him.

Xander, however, was having none of the Watcher's gentleness. He bolted upright, dislodging Anya from his shoulder as his hand shot out, grabbing hold of Giles' neck. The apartment was in near-darkness, and all he could see was someone holding the baby and a shadow hovering over himself and Anya.

"Put the baby down and get the hell out of here," Xander said gruffly.

"Geez, over-react much?" Buffy said. "Let go of Giles' throat you big goof."

Xander released the older man as if burned, glaring at the darkness. "You guys couldn't have just turned on a light or something?" Anya yawned, wiping her eyes as her nose wrinkled in annoyance.

"Sorry," Buffy said.

"You do know that I could dismantle your hold quite easily, don't you Xander?"

Xander blushed, his eyes darting up at Giles' shape in embarrassment. "I never claimed I'd be successful in hurting anyone, did I?"

"Ah, but I think maybe if you trained a little, you could. Construction has done wonders for your strength."

Xander blushed again. Getting praise from Giles was so rare for him he felt like he'd climbed Everest in a day. "Yeah, that would be cool."

"Why don't we start tomorrow? You can train with Buffy and I. I'd like to know that you can protect yourself and Anya if needed."

"Yeah, cool, Big G."

"Don't call me that."

"Xander? Can we go home now? I'm tired."

Xander grinned down at his sleepy girlfriend. "Yeah, let's get outta here."

Anya stood with him, her eyes wincing when Giles turned on the bright kitchen light. She looked from Giles, who was blushing and puttering in the kitchen, to Buffy, who was standing by the breakfast bar, staring at her Watcher with love and a grin.

"Oh, wow. You had sex?" Anya blurted. When Buffy and Giles turned startled eyes to her, she grinned. "Finally!"

Xander's eyes grew round and he spun to look from one blushing face to the other. "What?" he looked to Anya. "How can you tell?" He turned back to Buffy. "She's wrong, right?"

Buffy opened her mouth, then closed it again, unsure of how to answer. She looked to Giles, who was presenting a carefully neutral mask. It's up to you, his eyes seem to say.

Buffy turned back to Xander and Anya and shrugged slightly. "So what if she's right? It's not like it's any of your business who we sleep with."

Xander's eyes bugged out as his jaw dropped open. Then his breathing shortened when Buffy continued.

"We love each other, and we're thinking about going to the next level. Get your gag on now `cause this is the only chance you're gonna get. We're not putting up with it later, and I will make sure your training hurts if you tease him, Xander Harris."

Xander's jaw worked a moment, opening and closing, before he blew an exasperated breath out. He marched forward, and much to Buffy's surprise, he balled his fingers, poking his finger at her. "You just better make sure this is for keeps. I'm not dealing with a break up. I can't choose between you, and I know Willow won't be able to either."

Before Giles could come to Buffy's defense, he saw her face soften and she leaned forward, kissing the boy's finger.

"Don't worry, Xand. If there's a break-up, it won't be because of me." She frowned. "Unless I die." She bit her lip, looking up at her surrogate brother. "Which I hope doesn't happen any time soon `cause I'm really happy."

Rupert Giles, Watcher, former curator of the British Museum, realized that if he hadn't been coming to terms with falling in love with his Slayer, he would have right then. Somehow she still found ways to amaze him.

"Well, yay. Goody for you. Can we go now? I'd like to have sex before we go to sleep, too."

Xander blushed, stepping back as he tucked one hand in his pocket and the other around his girlfriend's shoulders. "Yeah, we're headin' out. Congrats guys. I'll, uh, see you tomorrow. Good night."

And they were gone, the door softly clicking shut behind them. Giles made his way out of the kitchen and around the corner, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed as he watched Buffy. She was pacing, rocking Rupert back to sleep. Her shoes were off, he realized, and her hair was a riotous mess of curls and waves. She was cooing at her son, alternating between sharing some of her adventures of the night and humming.

"I'd very much like to have at least two more children with you," he said, his eyes glowing. She froze, looking up at him in shock.

"Two? Do you know how hard they are to make?" She scrunched up her face. "Well, to get them started, it's pretty fun, but the nine months after that is a royal pain in the everything."

Giles chuckled and pushed himself off the wall, stepping toward her with a deliberate, slow pace.

"Yes, but I know how much Rupert will appreciate a brother and sister, and I know that I have always wanted a house full of children."

"And you think I just wave a magic wand and, poof, more babies?" She wasn't completely successful in hiding her teasing grin.

"Of course not. And as you say, the conception can be quite fun," he murmured, smiling as he stopped before her. He leaned down, his smile broadening as her eyes fluttered closed, her head tilted back in welcome. He kissed Rupert first then moved up, brushing his lips over hers.

"Buffy," he said, staring at her closed eyes. The lashes lifted, revealing her. "Marry me." Those eyes he admired so much widened as she gasped.

"I thought you wanted to go slow!" she accused. "When did you change your mind?"

His brow cocked and he leaned down, resting his temple to hers as his lips hovered over her ear. "As soon as I entered you." His tongue flicked out, tickling her lobe. "You made me yours tonight, and made yourself mine. I'm never letting you go."

She closed her eyes, relief flooding her features. "I love you," she whispered.

He wrapped his arms around her loosely, aware that the baby was still between them. "And I you." He kissed her temple and hugged her. They disentangled and walked together to the baby's room, tucking him into his crib.

As they stared down at him, side-by-side, Buffy's hand claimed his, twining their fingers.

"Don't you want to know my answer?" she whispered.

He tilted his head, smiling down at her. "Of course I do. But I also want you to be sure when you do."

"Oh," she said softly, returning her gaze to the crib. She felt his gaze on her face and looked up again. "What?"

"I do hope you say yes." He reached up with his free hand, cupping her cheek. "We are meant to be, you and I."

"You think so?" she asked, her voice full of hope. "I was kinda thinking the same thing."

"Oh yes. We are so much better when we're together than we've ever been apart."

Buffy grinned, her eyes twinkling. "Definitely." He grinned back, squeezing her hand with his.

They watched each other a moment, then turned to leave. Rupert made a small noise of distress. Before Buffy could do more than look that way, Giles stepped back to the crib and looked down into it, his hand brushing across the infant's head in a caress.

"Hush now," he crooned. "Sleep my little one." He leaned down and kissed the downy head, smoothing his fingers against the spot as he straightened.

Rupert yawned and turned his head away, his little lips puckering in and out as he slipped back to sleep. When Giles turned, he found Buffy staring at him, her eyes fairly floating and trembling fingers resting on her lips.

"Buffy, love, what – ?"

She shook her head, waving her hand from her mouth. "Nothing. These are good tears, I promise."

He frowned down at her, trying to decipher the mood swing.

She smiled a wobbly smile as she met his gaze, her eyes holding a serenity he'd never seen before. "I can't wait to marry you," she whispered. "I'll give you as many babies as you want, Watcher-mine."

Giles grinned and stepped closer, pressing her to the wall with his body. "Ah, but when would you work or slay?"

She rolled her eyes. "I didn't say I'd be at home raising them. That's your job, Brainy Guy."

He mocked a pout at her. "Oh, come now, Buffy –"

She silenced him with a hard kiss, pulling his breath from him with its intensity. "We'll work it out," she whispered against his lips. "Whaddya say we go finish my stevedore lesson?"

THE END