Chapter Two

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“I can’t believe you’re really going,” she whispered, her eyes watering as she looked up at her Watcher.

“It’s best.”

“It doesn’t feel best,” she murmured, hugging herself tightly.

He reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders, squeezing them softly.

“I’m just at the other end of the phone if you need me.”

“Not close enough,” she sulked, knowing that she sounded like a petulant child even as she did so.

He sighed and pulled back, removing his glasses and wiping them before replacing them and looking at her again.

“Buffy, you’re the daughter I never had…but my place just isn’t here anymore.”

“Why not?” she asked, a tear escaping despite her efforts.

She brushed it away impatiently and forced her gaze to Giles’s again.

“I’m not needed anymore.”

“But you are,” she protested weakly, knowing that nothing now was going to change her Watcher’s mind.

He smiled weakly and she stepped forward, hugging him tightly.

“I’m gonna miss you so much.”

“And I you.”


“Hey, drinks anyone?”

She pulled away from her Watcher and turned to face Xander with a weak smile.

“Yeah, drinks are of the good.”

She felt Giles squeeze her shoulder and she threw him a tiny smile, before following Xander through to the living room. She took her drink and sipped it, standing close to the door as she watched her sister hug Giles tightly. He smiled and hugged her back before pulling back and talking to her with a smile. She was going to miss him so much.

“Swinging party.”

She jumped at the sound of Spike’s voice at her shoulder and whirled to face him with a frown.

“What are you doing here?”

“Got bored. Figured I’d come say goodbye to Watcher Boy,” he answered with a shrug, leaning against the wall next to her.

“Big Bad getting all sentimental?” she teased, drawing a scowl from him.

“Not likely. Glad the bugger’s off.”

“Charming,” came Giles’s voice and the vampire winced slightly, turning to her Watcher, “And here I was about to offer you what little whiskey I have left.”

“The good stuff?”

“Quite.”

“Well then, bon voyage and all that. Sure you’ll missed.”

“Thank you for the sentiment, Spike…however hollow.”

“Now, ‘bout that whiskey…”

Giles rolled his eyes but turned towards the kitchen and she smiled as Spike followed him through.



“Are you looking forward to being back in England?” Anya asked politely as they sat, scattered around Giles’s almost empty living room.

“Well, quite…It will be quite nice to see some old friends. Of course, I shall have to report to the Council.”

Buffy grimaced at the mention of them and she and her Watcher exchanged a small smile.

“They won’t send anyone out to replace you?” she asked worriedly.

“I sincerely doubt it.”

“Phew,” she replied, settling back on the chair.

“Will you miss the sunshine?” Dawn asked.

“Well, I guess…somewhat.”

“Not when he’s got Yorkshire puddings,” Buffy grumbled and she heard Spike laugh.

“Ah, yes, Yorkshire puddings…” Giles mused with a small smile.

“On a full roast with gravy,” Spike added and Buffy could have sworn the two Brits exchanged a look of understanding.

“What time’s your flight?” Willow asked.

“Two-thirty tomorrow. And I fear I still have so much packing to do. A lot of it’s staying, but I’m shipping some things home.”

“Hey, no worries,” Buffy spoke up, “We can sort that out.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yep, we’ll be little shipping elves. Just let us know what you want shipped.”

“Thank you,” Giles murmured with a smile.

“Anytime.”


Some time later it was time to leave but Buffy lingered at the door as the others left, Dawn and Spike hanging back to wait for her.

“We’ll come and see you off tomorrow,” she whispered.

“You really don’t-“

“We’ll be here. Don’t think you can just run away, Mister!” she exclaimed, pointing at him threateningly, even as she felt herself welling up again.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he conceded with a smile.

On an impulse, she stepped forward and hugged him again tightly.

“Buffy… my ribs.”

“Oh, sorry!” she got out, releasing him with a grimace “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” he gasped out.

“Buffy!” Dawn called out, “I’m getting cold!”

“Coming,” she called to her sister and then turned back to her Watcher, “Tomorrow.”

He nodded and reached out and squeezed her arm.

“Tomorrow.”

With a sad smile, she turned and joined her sister and the vampire to make their way back through Sunnydale. Spike left them at the cemetery and made his way to his crypt, leaving the two sisters to continue on to Revello Drive.

“I’m going to miss Giles,” Dawn exclaimed as they went into the house.

“Me too, Dawnie. Me too.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


They were a subdued group as they gathered in the airport to say their goodbyes to the Watcher who had been like a father to most of them.

“And you’ll call every day,” Dawn remarked, hugging the Watcher tightly.

“I’ll certainly try.”

She let out a little sniffle and then released the Watcher to move onto to Xander. They shared an awkward moment, not sure whether to shake hands or hug, but eventually decided to sacrifice their masculinity and hug. With a smile, Giles pulled back and patted the boy on the shoulder before turning to Anya, who enveloped him in a tight hug.

“I’ll look after your money really well.”

“I have no doubt you will,” he answered with a smile and Anya pulled back, moving to one side as he turned to the witches. He embraced Tara quickly and then moved to Willow.

“Willow, I don’t even know where to start...”

Willow bit back a sob and hugged him tightly, burying her head against him. With a sniffle, Willow parted from him and he turned finally to Buffy.

She stepped forward with a sad smile, biting her lip as she tried to hold back her emotions.

“Well, good luck. And if you need anything...”

“I know, right the other end of the phone.”

He nodded, removing his glasses and cleaning them before replacing them and looking at her again with a sad smile. She stepped forward and threw her arms around him, breathing in the familiar scent of Giles with a sad smile. He pulled away, his hands resting on her shoulders.

“And look after everyone… Make sure Spike doesn’t drink all my whiskey in one go.”

“Will do,” she answered, trying her best to give him a smile.

“And all my books are in the shop.”

“I know,” she answered, nodding slightly.

A tannoy announced the boarding for Giles’s flight and he stepped back, looking at all of them as he gathered up his carry-on luggage.

“Well... that’s me.”

He met all of their eyes once more and nodded slowly, before taking a deep breath and turning to make his way to the gate. He handed his ticket to the attendant and glanced back at the group one last time, his eyes meeting Buffy’s. She gave him a sad little wave and he smiled, taking his ticket and then with one lingering glance disappearing through the gate.