Title: Yule Traditions, Past and Future (1/11)
Author: Gileswench

Date: 12/20/04
Spoilers: Through Chosen. The first scenes take place shortly after Ted.
Summary: The more things change, the more Buffy and Giles discover they need each other.
Rating: FRAO
Pairing: Buffy/Giles, brief B/A, G/Jenny, mention of past G/Olivia, B/Spike
Category: Challengefic, romance, holiday fic
Distribution: If you've had my permission in the past, you have it now. All others, ask and ye shall receive.
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome. Praise abjectly sought. Disclaimer: It all belongs to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc., etc., etc. I just let them have all the fun Joss won't. I own nothing except my twisted mind which you really don't want. Please don't sue.

Author's Note: This one comes to you courtesy of Joann's Christmas challenge from 2003
(Liz's Note: the challenge details are included at the end of the story).
Author's Note II: I started this well before The Girl In Question aired. It's been well and thoroughly Jossed, but I like my version of events better. So there. Also, there were one or two challenge options I just didn't manage to work in. Hopefully, this won't be a problem. I did fit in most of them, if that helps.

Dedication: To Joann. I hope this is good enough, and that you didn't mind waiting so long for this story. Also, to the madcap mob at the GRB. You guys keep me on my toes, and wallowing in Gilesy goodness. Merry Christmas, and a peaceful New Year to you all.

December, 1997, a few days before Christmas, Sunnydale Mall

"I bet he doesn't." Buffy took another sip of her latte.

"He's got to...doesn't he? I mean...English. Dickens and all that stuff."

"Will, English doesn't cover everything. Anyway, he's never said anything to me about it."

"Did you ask?"

"Not...as such," Buffy admitted. "But I hinted."

"When does Giles ever take a hint?"

Buffy seemed to deflate slightly. She glared across the Starbucks table at her best friend.

"Well he should say these things," she pouted at last. "And he never talks about his family or anything. I bet he doesn't have anybody at all to spend the day with. Or the eve."

"What about Miss Calendar?"

"She's out of town. I heard her say something about some pagan festival she always goes to. There were disturbing hints of adult nakedness. Giles was way diplomatic when he said no."

"So, he's got plans, because otherwise, he'd be going with his sweetie, wouldn't he?"

"To some naked pagan ritual? Do you even remember who we're talking about here? I train with the man five days a week, and I didn't know he had hair on his chest until that whole Eyghon thing last month."

"H-hair? On his...y'know?" Willow stammered and blushed. "How much?"

"I dunno," Buffy shrugged. "It's not like I saw him with his shirt off, or anything. Just...a little unbuttoned. A couple buttons. But we're not here to talk about Watcher nakedness. We're here to address Watcher loneliness and holiday lack of cheer."

"Lack of cheeriness for the holidays?" Xander quipped as he and Cordelia came up behind Willow. "Buffy, if there's anything I can do to ease your Christmas Blues, just say the word."

Cordelia poked him in the ribs with a sharp elbow.

"Ow! What? I just meant I could do her a Snoopy dance."

"He does really nice Snoopy dances," Willow grinned.

"Oh, I thought that was some sort of veiled 'let me have my way with you, Buffy' reference," Cordelia said. "But if it was a goofy dance, I don't mind. As long as I don't have to watch."

"Anyway, I'm not the one who needs thinking about - incredibly generous and scary as the offer of a Snoopy dance may be."

"Then who?"

"Giles."

"Giles?" Cordelia sniffed. "Why are we worried about Giles?"

"Because he's like a million miles from home and the only offer of holiday cheer we know he's gotten involved public nudity among the technopagans," Buffy explained. "I just thought maybe we could surprise him on Christmas Eve with a little party or something. Y'know, deck his halls, mistle his toes - that sort of thing."

"Okay, I'll participate in hall decking if I have to," Cordelia allowed, "but I am not coming into contact with Giles' feet under any circumstances."

"I don't think that was exactly what Buffy meant," Willow said. "But count me in, toes and all...which didn't sound as good in reality as it did in my head."

"Don't worry, Will," Xander assured her as he stole a sip of her mocha. "At the first sign of shoe removal, I'll throw myself on him and superglue his footwear to his feet permanently."

"I don't think you'll need to do that, Xander, but the offer is appreciated," Buffy said through barely-repressed giggles. "So. Christmas Eve? Giles' place? Holly jollyness in a big way?"

"Why Christmas Eve?" Cordelia asked.

"Because...it's the eve of Christmas?"

"It works for me," Willow said. "Not that I usually celebrate Christmas, but for Giles...'cause he's so far away from England. Even my dad couldn't object too much to that, if I was going to tell him, which I'm not. I'll just say I'm hanging out with a friend. Oh, and I could probably talk Oz into coming, too."

"Count me in," Xander nodded. "It's either that or the annual campout on the lawn to avoid the yearly airing of the family skeleton closet."

"Dad was supposed to visit, but he bailed on us," Buffy said. "It's just me, Mom, and our Christmas stockings in the morning. Cordelia?"

"What?"

"Christmas Eve at Giles'; yes or no?"

The little band all looked intently at her.

"Okay, okay," she sighed with a roll of her eyes. "I'll come to your little loser convention. But you all owe me for this one."

"See?" Xander said. "Cordy can do the Spirit of Christmas Present thing with the best of them, when she puts what we laughingly call her mind to it."

"Just make sure you all do the Spirit of Christmas Presents thing," Cordelia said with a jab of her finger into his ribs, "or next year, I won't bother to play 'baby-sit the librarian' during the holiday skiing season."