(Untitled)

[oh_dear]

The flight was long. And I swear it got longer every time I took it. Or maybe I was just getting old. Strangely, even Xander was quiet on this trip. We didn't go via normal lines, we took the Council plane. Mostly because we needed things that might not go through customs

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[the_golden_girl]

Closing my eyes once again, this time in hopes of not falling asleep and just resting my eyes, the phone rang. My hand snapping out to snatch it up and press it to my ear. "Hell...." I yawned at the tail end of my greeting, "...ooooo?" I finished. Maybe room service was calling for information on what we may want for dinner.

[oh_dear]

"As always, I knew I could count on you for a wonderful greeting." I smiled, though she couldn't see me.

[the_golden_girl]

That voice! God, it was such a relief to hear him on the other end. "You know me! I always did things beyond the calling." I grinned into the phone and sat up Indian style. "You here yet?" I wanted to know. I wanted to go and get him, myself.

"I've got the girls all here. Well, Dawn and Joyce. As well as Jane being with me and you will never guess who else." Oh, he easily could. I knew he had hid the whereabouts of Tara from us. I just wasn't mad. Not right now anyway. "Tara, but you knew that." I said matter-of-factly. Not snippy at all.

[oh_dear]

"I'm on the ground here in Sunnydale, with Xander. We could use a little help with bags."

I held my breath. Tara had made herself known. Xander knew, of course. But I hadn't told anyone else. Not Buffy. Not Dawn. And dear god, Willow doesn't know either.

"Buffy about that...I was respecting her wishes. And, Willow doesn't know."

[the_golden_girl]

"I get it Giles, I do." Afterall, I had done it once. Even if those were completely different circumstances. Angel wasn't someone who asked to have his presence still secret from everyone, I knew. Tara did. It had been Tara's wishes to keep her life from us. For whatever reasons they were, they were her own. Giles keeping them was a burden, I know

[oh_dear]

"Buffy!" Xander yelled for her first. Even with one eye, he had remarkable vision.

Then again, I'm wearing trifocals now.

I held out my arms, ready to hug the daughter of my heart. And to find yet another way into Sunnydale, a place it seemed none of us could ever abandon, even after we blow it up.

[the_golden_girl]

I don't think I recall having my name shouted by such welcomed people as I had it done for me today. Turning around I spotted the two men. Instantly my smile widening. "Xander! Giles!" I hollared back over the crowded airport. My feet instantly racing me towards them. Grabbing Xander into a hug first.

"Giles must seriously be working you." Squeezing his upper arms after pulling away I winked. He was definitely not the same Xander by looks as he was from high school. He was a man now. And speaking of another man... My body pivoted towards Giles on the balls of my heels and instantly I wrapped my arms around him. Clinging for dear life.

"I missed you." I whispered just as the tears started to well up in my eyes.

[oh_dear]

"I missed you too. More than I can ever say." I put my arms around her, cane and all. She wouldn't let me fall. "You're still so very strong."

[lack_of_cool]

I laughed at the little joke. "No kidding. I have to lift him up four times a day, just to stay this way." He glared at me, and I laughed. It was good to be home, even though it was the place of some of my worst nightmares.

Not all of them though. Again, it made me almost wish Anya were here. I've missed her so much. I made a mistake, way back when, and never got a chance to fix it.

I looked at Giles and Buffy. She missed him so much. He's been a father figure to us all. But there was something else. He looked grey.

"Buffy, I think we better get daddy dearest here back to the hotel. He looks like he's going to drop any minute." I held a slight joking tone in my voice, but I was serious.

I bet Giles didn't tell her how sick he was. That he had leukemia, and was not as strong as he appeared to me. He'd sworn me to secrecy. Didn't want to worry them, he said.

Doesn't matter. If it comes to it, I'm going to tell them. We help each other. That's what Scoobies do.