Giles nodded, setting the phone on the coffee table. "Yes, everything's fine. Just some of Joyce's friends and colleagues, inquiring about the funeral." He sighed when he felt Jenny sidle up to him, connecting with him from shoulder to thigh.
"It's almost over," she told him, rubbing his knee.
He shook his head. "No, it's not. There's still quite a ways to go, Jenny. The-the funeral is just one small portion. Buffy has... so very much ahead of her to worry about, Jenny, and-and... with her not even allowing herself to grieve, frankly I'm not certain she'll be able to handle all of it."
"She'll have her grieving time, Rupert," she assured him. "We just gotta get her through this funeral stuff, and... maybe help out with finances a little. To be honest, it's Dawn I'm worried about."
At that, he furrowed his brows. "Why? She's well-immersed in the grieving process."
"I know, but with her, it kinda feels like waiting for the other shoe to drop." She shrugged, still rubbing his knee. "I dunno, I just feel like maybe she's gonna try to do something stupid."
"Well, surely that's impossible. She's fourteen, what could she possibly do?" he quipped, and smiled at his wife's soft glare.
**
The funeral service went rather smoothly the next day. Buffy was still holding up surprisingly well, shaking hands with everyone to offer their condolences while Dawn remained sullen and mostly stared at the ground.
The children were all somber, Anya unusually quiet and respectful. Giles suspected that perhaps Xander had had to speak with her beforehand about funeral decorum, but she did quite well. She still practically tackled him for a hug, but other than that was quite demure.
When it was time for the burial service, they all stood together in the cemetery, the minister saying a final prayer for Joyce. Jenny sniffled beside him and he gently held her hand, interlocking their fingers, as the minister continued.
Once the service had ended, they all eventually dispersed. He and Jenny gave long hugs to each of the girls, Jenny dabbing at Dawn's tears with a tissue while the girl continued to cling to her sister.
"If you two need anything tonight," he told them, "anything at all, Jenny and I are of course just moments away."
Buffy nodded, squeezing both of his hands. "Thanks, Giles." She looked to Jenny then. "And thanks, Jenny. Both of you. Thanks for everything, I mean it."
"It's almost over," she told him, rubbing his knee.
He shook his head. "No, it's not. There's still quite a ways to go, Jenny. The-the funeral is just one small portion. Buffy has... so very much ahead of her to worry about, Jenny, and-and... with her not even allowing herself to grieve, frankly I'm not certain she'll be able to handle all of it."
"She'll have her grieving time, Rupert," she assured him. "We just gotta get her through this funeral stuff, and... maybe help out with finances a little. To be honest, it's Dawn I'm worried about."
At that, he furrowed his brows. "Why? She's well-immersed in the grieving process."
"I know, but with her, it kinda feels like waiting for the other shoe to drop." She shrugged, still rubbing his knee. "I dunno, I just feel like maybe she's gonna try to do something stupid."
"Well, surely that's impossible. She's fourteen, what could she possibly do?" he quipped, and smiled at his wife's soft glare.
**
The funeral service went rather smoothly the next day. Buffy was still holding up surprisingly well, shaking hands with everyone to offer their condolences while Dawn remained sullen and mostly stared at the ground.
The children were all somber, Anya unusually quiet and respectful. Giles suspected that perhaps Xander had had to speak with her beforehand about funeral decorum, but she did quite well. She still practically tackled him for a hug, but other than that was quite demure.
When it was time for the burial service, they all stood together in the cemetery, the minister saying a final prayer for Joyce. Jenny sniffled beside him and he gently held her hand, interlocking their fingers, as the minister continued.
Once the service had ended, they all eventually dispersed. He and Jenny gave long hugs to each of the girls, Jenny dabbing at Dawn's tears with a tissue while the girl continued to cling to her sister.
"If you two need anything tonight," he told them, "anything at all, Jenny and I are of course just moments away."
Buffy nodded, squeezing both of his hands. "Thanks, Giles." She looked to Jenny then. "And thanks, Jenny. Both of you. Thanks for everything, I mean it."
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