New York 38/??: A footnote - Giles/Xander

[drsquidlove]

New York
by Dr Squidlove
drsquidlove@@@livejournal.com

Summary: Xander is thirty-seven. Divorced. Two kids. 4000 miles from Sunnydale and his Hellmouth childhood. Also, straight. Only someone forgot to tell Giles. In fact... where the hell is Giles?

Comments

[skargasm]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I need to rush and get ready for work!

[drsquidlove]

Thanks skargasm! As long as your priorities are in order.

S.

[mulder200]

Riley's voice was quiet for the rats below, but he made it feel loud, the way he pressed the words. "Xander, you fought alongside her for six years. You were Buffy's world. You brought her back from the dead, you researched through countless nights; hell, you and Willow and Giles melded with her to defeat Adam. How many people do you think have been as close to her as you three?"

Xander wanted to say 'plenty', but as Buffy said something that made Giles smother a smile and adjust his glasses like he had a few hundred times in the library and the Magic Box, he remembered what Sunnydale life was like, and the truth was, there probably hadn't been many at all. Probably Faith and Wesley and a few others that were part of her life now, and maybe some more people in between, but not plenty. He knew Buffy better than that.Ah! Riley! That's just what Xander needed to hear

[drsquidlove]

I wibbled for a long time about who would say this to Xander (I knew someone had to) and was really happy when I realised Riley was hanging around with nothing to do. Riley got to step in and be part of the team back in Sunnydale, so he knew what it meant, and he had far more practical notions of team than Buffy.

But then, of course, Buffy has her own wisdom, as well.

Thanks mulder!

S.

[katekat1010]

mean mean mean mean mean. MEAN.

and i loved the conversation between buffy and xander - no more apologies, just good sideswipes at acknowledgement :D

[drsquidlove]

Oh, Kate. So much flattery. I'm blushing.

If Buffy and Xander really took apologising seriously, they'd be at it for weeks. Best to just call it a draw and move on.

Thank you!

S.

[lil_miss_maddie]

So many nice moments in this one!

Riley really impresses me. I like this line "I was a pinch hitter for you guys for one year way back when, and I still brag about it." Because it's a cool comparison for Xander. He did it for six years, and that's no small feat.

I thought Buffy had some keen insight to the Willow situation. She made such a good point of the fact that you can over analyse everything you've ever done, but in the end individuals make choices.
When Xander thought about how Buffy lost all three of them within a year my heart broke a little.

Nice though that Xander called Mary his wife in "You don't get it, do you? This is my wife slipping away." Because at that moment 'ex' really wasn't relevant, and I feel it showed Xander's emotional panic very well.

This made me laugh "Riley was hacking away like a guy who really hated rats."

I do hope Giles is ok!

[drsquidlove]

Hey maddie!

Yeah, I really wanted someone to give Xander a 'You're not just a footnote,' speech, and I was so happy when I realised Riley was there to do it. He was just the right person: he'd carried a few of those insecurities himself, but he also knew the value of a team and he'd had a smaller part than Xander.

Yeah. The year of losing everyone must have sucked for Buffy. I like to imagine Dawn stepped up and got all protective.

Xander never completely lets go of anyone he loves. And it didn't seem to be a moment to be fussy about word choices.

Thank you!

S.

[il_mio_capitano]

Oh love the talks with Riley and Buffy but, wow, Bravo on the action sequences. Totally envious.

[drsquidlove]

Thank you mio capitano!

I'm so proud that the action sequuences didn't bore everyone cross-eyed.

S.