Giles and Buffy were snuggled up in bed. It was late, and the house was silent. They had spent the day together and then when Dawn had returned from school the three of them had went out to a nice dinner. Buffy’s heart was almost over flowing with love. This was her family. Giles, and Dawn were her family. Willow and Xander were her family as well, true, but this dinner was a quiet celebration of their love for one another.

Dawn was confused, but happy. She’d never seen Buffy so ‘glowy’ before. It also seemed like Giles was doting on her sister like never before. Dawn was quite pleased. She may be young, but she wasn’t all that innocent to not guess as to what had happened between the two. Secretly she thought it was about time.

There had been no more talk about diaries or Merrick until Dawn was tucked into bed. Now Giles held the diary in his lap, while his other arm had Buffy tucked by his side. A lone bedside lamp was the only light, barely enough to read by. It had been decided that Giles would read the journal to Buffy. She wanted to know, and Giles didn’t think a ‘cliff note’ version would be as healing. She should hear Merrick’s words for themselves. Giles would be there to comfort her when needed. He’d help to make her strong, so Buffy had finally relented.

“Are you ready, luv?” He asked her. She nodded and cuddled up against him. Giles slowly opened the first page of Merrick’s diary.

Buffy Summers, the Slayer? Perhaps there is a reason that the Council was not able to find her so readily. She is unlike any other slayer I’ve ever known, nor read about.

This pleases me to no end!

Last night she staked her first vampire. Her technique is shoddy and green, and she has a tendency to talk to them before staking. Covering up her nervousness, perhaps? That being said, she’s a natural. It’s easy to see she is The Chosen One for a reason. Call it instinct. Call it a rite of birth. I just call it…her…Buffy.

Giles paused and looked down at her. She had a small smile on her face. He bent down and kissed her forehead. “It seems he was quite fond of you from the very beginning, luv. I can relate to that.”

Buffy kissed his chest and then settled in. He turned the page and found the next entry.

Buffy has already had the dreams of the Vampire King, Lothos. We discussed him today when she arrived for training. She was not at all amused by our warehouse conditions. I’m surprised she didn’t put on the white gloves to inspect. But, as I told her, it suits our purpose.

Buffy was not entertained in the slightest to know she has a birthright, and a fate. She is inexorably connected to Lothos, as he is to her. It’s a dangerous connection, but there nonetheless. It is my duty to make sure she is ready for him and the others that are surely to follow.

Then I had the pleasure of seeing her do a cheer. I wanted to see what her strengths and weaknesses were. Unbeknownst to her, in the middle of her routine, I threw a knife at her head. She caught it with ease. Only the Chosen One could have done that.

“I was so upset with him when he did that, Giles.” Buffy’s face had a wistful expression. “He said he had to test me, and all I could think was that this strange man just threw a knife at my head!” She sniffled and Giles ran his fingers through her hair.

“Odd method, I would agree. I would never have done such a thing.”

Buffy tilted her head to look at him, seeing the teasing glint in his eyes. She rolled her eyes and muttered something about stuffy Brits.

Giles chuckled and put the diary aside. “Me? Stuffy?” He quickly rolled over so that his body covered hers. “Shall I show you how stuffy I am not?” He waggled his eyebrows at her before lowering his mouth to kiss her. Buffy gave a contented sigh and wrapped her arms around his neck. Once breaking the kiss he trailed his mouth over her jaw and down her neck and collarbone.

“You’re distracting me, Giles.” Buffy giggled. “I thought we were reading Merrick’s journal?”

“Later,” he mumbled. His hands ran up her sides and he was delighted to see her body begin to flush with heat and desire. “I do to much reading, you’ve always said.”

“Hmmm, that’s true,” she panted, arching up into him.

Giles was amazed at her loving. She was so trusting of him, letting him explore her body, as she explored his. Every time together was more sweeter than the time before. He’d never had that before. As he surged into her, crying her name, he wept tears of joy.

As their breathing slowed and their heart rates dropped, Buffy held him, stroking at his neck with her graceful fingers. It would be so easy for the both of them to stay there forever, never leaving the bed and the warmth of their loving arms. But duties called, and Buffy wanted and needed resolution. Without another word Giles rolled over and again picked up Merrick’s diary, picking up where they left off.

She punched me in the nose. It was powerful and amazing. Buffy is changing right before me into the Slayer she will become. No matter how much she fights it, or fights me, it’s her destiny. I only hope that I can be all that she needs for me to be as her Watcher. Tis a glorious day.

Giles reflected in silence for a moment before turning the page to read the next entry. He could relate to this Watcher in so many ways.

Bonding with my Slayer is quite unlike anything taught at the Council. We went miniature golfing today as she asked various questions regarding vampires and bats. Her mind is a curious and wondrous thing to behold.

While sparring it is easy to see that she is my superior in speed and strength, but she has much to learn in regards to following her instincts and projecting her moves. I easily trip her up, and for that I receive a Buffy glare.

She made me quite angry this evening, however. I was lecturing her on Lothos, and she patently ignored me. I became furious with her. Why will she not listen? I slammed my stake into her notebook and that finally got her attention. The girl exasperates me at times.

Buffy was quiet, recalling the memory. “I was listening, you know? I may have pretended I didn’t, but I was.”

Giles kissed the top of her head. “I know, luv. You’ve done the same with me plenty of times. I often wondered if you heard a word I said, and then later you prove to me you had listened and more. It’s your way, and in time, I’m sure Merrick came to know that.”

Buffy’s voice dropped an octave then as she whispered. “He didn’t get the time, Giles, and it was my fault.”

Giles set the book aside and held her close once again. “Buffy, that’s not true. After all that you’ve been through and accomplished, you must know that by now. Everything has a reason. We all have…a purpose in the greater scheme of things. Merrick’s duty was to find and introduce you to your calling. He fulfilled his purpose and more. He gave up his life for you. I would be proud to do the same.”

That was the wrong thing to say. Buffy leapt out of the bed, fury in her face. “Don’t you ever say that! Do you hear me? Don’t you ever say that again. I can’t….I couldn’t bear…” tears fell from her eyes and she couldn’t even go on. Before Giles could even react Buffy grabbed her robe and ran out of the room.

“Blast. Sodden idiot am I.” Giles threw back the covers and pulled on a pair of jeans. He found his glasses on the side table and pushed them onto his nose before hurrying out to find Buffy.