That afternoon, Buffy met her mother for lunch. She had kept her word about seeing each other frequently. Sometimes Joyce teased that she saw Buffy more often now, than she ever had while she lived with Joyce.

Over lunch they chatted, but Joyce could tell that something was wrong. "Buffy? Is there… something that you want to talk about?" Hoping not to hear that there was a new apocalypse.

Buffy started to say no, but really looked at her Mom, seeing how much she really wanted to help. "Mom, its not death and destruction, I promise. It’s just… well," she stopped, not knowing how to finish. She and her mother had grown closer lately, but she wasn’t sure if her mother could handle this. "I’ve been… well… having feelings… for…." She stopped again.

"For Rupert," her mother finished. Buffy just looked at her, shocked.

"Wha…how… how did you…? How?" Was all she could manage.

"Honey, I’ve seen how you two are with each other. Blind I may be in some areas, but this… this is relatively normal."

"Normal? I’m falling for my forty-something Watcher. That’s normal?"

"No. You’re …falling … for the man who cares more about you, than he does himself. The man who let’s you pound and pummel him every day to keep you in shape to stay alive. The man who has had two opportunities to leave and return to England and whatever life he left behind there, and yet stayed here. For you. The man you married." Joyce finished. Buffy stared at her, mouth agape.

"So it’s…okay?"

"Sweetie, I never said that."

"Oh," Buffy’s face fell.

"Buffy, I…I saw this coming for a while. Since before. And I have had some time to grow accustomed to it. I don’t have to like it. He will never hurt you. That I do like. He’ll take care of you. Your relationship was already so… intimate."

Buffy blushed, "Mom, we’re not having sex."

Joyce almost laughed. "Honey, there’s a lot more to intimacy than sex. You can be intimate without having sex." Buffy blushed again, remembering last night. They hadn’t had sex, and that was pretty… intimate.

Joyce continued, "you and he have always had that intimacy. And now you’re sharing a home, a bathroom, and things like that." Joyce balked at mentioning that they were sharing a bed. It just wasn’t something she wanted to think about. "Living together has brought a new awareness. I think you’re starting to realize that your Watcher, your friend is also a man."

"God, Mom, when did you get so… perceptive?"

Joyce smiled. "Like I said, I may seem oblivious to Slayer stuff, but I‘ve seen how you two are together. The trust, the respect, the affection. And now the awareness." She hesitated. "What are you going to do?"

"I have no idea. I guess… just play it by ear." She shrugged. "When did it all get so complicated?"

Joyce looked at her. "You know that you can always come home. If things get… out of control, or whatever. Always."

It was the first time they had mentioned Joyce telling Buffy that she couldn’t come home last summer. It was almost an apology. Joyce reached for Buffy’s hand.

"I know, Mom. I’ve always known that." Buffy squeezed Joyce’s hand.

Lunch passed pleasantly after that. They chatted some more and parted.

That night as she was patrolling, Buffy kept running it through her mind. On the one hand, Giles was much older than she was. She’d been that route. And he was awfully stuffy sometimes. His clothes sucked. The Scooby-gang would tease her unmercifully. She thought for a few more minutes. <That all you can come up with? Is that the best you can do?> Apparently.

So, on the other hand, he was not only older, he was mature. Not a silly boy like Xander, and other’s she knew. She’d never have to lie to him about where she was going at night, or what she was doing. He knew her deal. And he respected who she was, and what she did. They had very few secrets. He was stuffy, but one of them had to be the responsible one. She sure didn’t want to be. His clothing had improved, and she’d bet that she could get him to loosen up a little. Although, in all honesty, she didn’t want him to change too much. The tweed suited him. He looked good in his suits. <And out of them> Came an errant thought. One she couldn’t deny. And she had felt him pressing against her. Everything seemed… functional.

She was so distracted by that line of thought, that the vampires that attacked caught her completely by surprise. It had been a long time since that had happened. There were six of them and they fought hard.

When she finished off the last one, she stood for a minute, shocked, before heading home. By the time she got there she was shaking from reaction. She stumbled in the door, and Giles came to her, eyes wide in horror.

"Are you all right, my dear?" He asked anxiously. She could barely nod. "Are you hurt?" She shook her head, no. He grabbed the blanket from the couch and wrapped it around her. Then he rubbed her arms and shoulders, trying to get her blood moving. Finally he left his arms around her and led her to the couch. He urged her to sit but she clung to him. He scooped her up, and settled with her on his lap, arms holding her tightly to him. She looked up to his face, and the expression there made her breath catch.

Fear, caring, and love. And something deeper. And in that moment, everything crystallized for Buffy. How had she thought this was complicated? It was the simplest thing in her life. Her shaking stopped abruptly. She loved him, he loved her, she wanted him, he wanted her, and they were married. What could be simpler than that?

She had the same feeling of calm, of rightness that she'd had when she had decided that she should be the one to marry him.

Giles was stunned by her expression. He had never seen her look so...serene. He opened his mouth to speak, but his brain couldn't force a single word out. She watched him struggle to catch up to her for a few seconds then, slowly, deliberately, she leaned up and kissed him. It was tender and undemanding, yet filled with love and desire. She pulled back and looked at him, a placid smile on her face. His face the very picture of wonder and amazement.

"Buffy." He said simply, just before he cupped her face and pulled her in for another kiss. This kiss was gentle to start with, but deepened quickly with their mutual need. When Buffy felt his tongue begging for entry, she complied.

His tongue brushed hers and her stomach gave an odd little thrill. As his mouth ravished hers, she vaguely realized that it was a good thing she was sitting. Her knees would not have held her, being all puddly. Then she had a muzzy recollection of wondering how he would kiss her if he meant it. <Now I know> was her last coherent thought for hours.

His hands started to explore her willing body, sliding down her back, drawing her closer still. She carefully raised herself up from him and resettled straddling his thighs, letting the blanket fall to the floor. He groaned as she pressed against his erection. Feeling him, knowing that she had caused such a reaction excited her beyond anything in her admittedly limited experience. His hand glided to her front, sliding up from her waist to cup her breasts. She arched into his hands with a moan. He rubbed and kneaded her for a few moments before gently pinching her nipples. They were both breathing heavily, as he slid her tank top off of her. She went to work on his buttons, making short work of them. By the time she had them undone, he had removed her bra as well, and they were bare chest to bare chest.

She rubbed her sensitive nipples against his chest hair, moaning his name. His hands cupped her butt, bringing it even closer to his erection. She pressed against, her body seeking more. Suddenly he stood, holding her to him. She wrapped her legs around him, and he started for the stairs. She dropped small nibbling kisses on his neck and shoulder. It took them several minutes to make it all the way upstairs. He kept stopping to kiss her more thoroughly.

By the time they finally made it to the bedroom, he could barely stand, his body was humming with desire. He slowly released her onto the bed, and stood next to it slowly removing the remainder of his clothes. Once he had finished, he moved onto the bed. He took off her shoes and socks and threw them on the floor. He reached for her trousers and slid them and her panties off of her. He sent them the way of the rest of their clothes.

He stared at her nude body for a full minute, taking in the golden perfection that was his love. She filled him with awe. She was looking at him with a similar expression. She reached out and with the first hesitation she had shown, encircled his penis. His breath hissed in pleasure, every nerve ending in his body focused on her, and her warm hand. She gently stroked him. He just enjoyed it for a moment then, stopped her with a rueful smile, knowing that it would be over all too quickly if he let her continue.

His lips captured hers again, as he slowly eased her back onto the bed, covering her with his body. He continued to kiss her, hands roaming, finding the places that gave her the most pleasure. He kissed and nibbled and loved every inch of her body. When he finally returned to her lips, she was a quivering mass beneath him. She squirmed under him, and he finally positioned himself between her legs. Slowly, watching her face the entire time, he guided himself home. They didn't move for the briefest of moments, then he pulled out with agonizing slowness, then slid back into place. Her body rose to meet his, thrust for thrust. Moan for moan, their sighs of pleasure melding into one voice.

Finally, Buffy could hold back from the edge no longer, and calling his name, went over. Feeling her tighten around him, he let go of his control and followed her into ecstasy. They lay for a long while afterwards, cuddled and slick from their loving. The words of love that they hadn't needed, now spilling forth.

They eventually dozed off in each others arms, only to wake twice during the night to start all over again.

####################################

Sunnydale High School-June, 2008

Jonathan walked into the gym of the new high school with something akin to fear. He hadn't been to Sunnydale since graduation and he wasn't quite sure what to expect. He looked around the reunion, to see if he could recognize anyone. <Is that Aura?> he thought, staring at a woman with a balding middle aged man in tow. She gave Jonathan a haughty look and kept walking. <Yep. That was Aura> She headed for a chubby red-head, who could only be Aphrodisiac.He was feeling pretty much as he had for most of high school, left out, when suddenly he saw a wonderful sight. Buffy Summers, standing alone. He didn't even realize that he was moving until he stood in front of her, shyly.

Buffy looked up from studying the floor, when a pair of shoes came into view. She looked up. "Jonathan! It's great to see you." She said with sincerity, and a quick hug. "How have you been?"

He stammered in his surprise. "I-I-I... fine. Great, really. And you?"

"Better than I ever hoped...." She broke off as Willow and Oz joined them They both greeted Jonathan like they were old friends. He supposed in the face of time passed they were. Sort of. They'd had never teased or tormented him. That was a big plus for Jonathan.

Willow spoke, "so Jonathan, what do you do? Are you married now? Kids?"

Oz stopped her. "You pretty much have to stop asking questions, if you actually want him to be able to answer." He said in amused affection. She just smiled.

Jonathan answered in order. "I'm an engineer. Yes married. One daughter. Beth stayed home with her, she had a soccer tourament this weekend."

"And don't you wish that you were there?" Buffy said fondly. He grinned his answer. Then asked a few questions of his own.

"What about you guys? Willow and Oz are you....?"

"Yep." Willow said happily. "Six years now, two kids, one of each." He looked at Buffy, but before he could ask her anything , Xander came up to them

He greeted the women with hugs. And Oz and Jonathan with back-slapping handshakes. It was only as Xander stepped back that Jonathan realized that Buffy was pregnant. Xander must have realized it at the same time, because he said, "geez, Buffy. Haven't you guys ever heard of birth control. What's that like six for you guys?"

"Ha ha, Xander. For the record, if we didn't use some protection, we'd have a lot more than the four and a half that we do have, rest assured."

"Eeww. I so didn't need that visual." Said Cordelia as she and a tall man joined them. The all smiled warmly at her. She was more pregnant than Buffy was, though still relatively slim. If you ignored the large roundness of her stomach. She actually looked as if she could go any day. Of course, Jonathan didn't pretend to be an expert. She greeted tham all warmly, even him. "Jonathan, have you met my husband?" When he shook his head no, she introduced him as "Wesley Wyndom Price." They shook politely. "Speaking of spouses. Buffy, Xander, where are yours?"

Xander answered first. "Anya wanted to freshen up. Wanted to look her very best." He shrugged at the foibles of his wife.

"Mine's checking on the kids. Randall and the baby have colds, and Mr. Worrier Guy read that it can turn ugly fast in small children. So he's bugging Mom for quarter hour temperature updates." They could all tell that she wasn't nearly as blase about her children being sick as she pretended. And it was obvious that she wasn't at all displeased by the caution of the mysterious "Mr. Worry Guy".

Just then Jonathan saw Mr. Giles, who use to be the Librarian, approach with a woman. As he recalled, this group used to be pretty chummy with him. Was that young woman his wife? Oh well, none of his business. He was surprised when the woman walked up to Xander and he introduced her as his wife, Anya. But he almost had a stroke when Mr. Giles stood behind Buffy, with a possessive hand on her stomach. "Hey," Buffy greeted him. "How are my babies?"

"Your son broke no less than two unreplacable artworks. But the temperatures are coming down. Except Joyce's" He added with a grin.

"Not Will?"

"No, Randall." He said with a laugh.

"And the girls?"

"Alexa and Grace are both fine. Grace's temperature was down to 99.2 when I called." Buffy relaxed visably.

"Okay, then let's dance."

"Now, luv...."

"Now. Humor a pregnant woman. Get close while you still can." She laughed, and he grinned. They moved onto the dance floor. The other couples moved to join them. As Buffy and Mr. Giles held each other, Jonathan could see the deep rooted love fairly screaming from them. He smiled.

END