Not Home but it'll do [Abby & Giles--Maybe others]

[that_was_ace]

Abby looked up at the derelict building, brow furrowed as she tried to figure out why the cab had stopped here of all places. Sure she hadn't seen her father in eleven years but this didn't appear to be the sort of place he'd reside

Comments

[loveme_fearme]

Rehab was on Defcom like, 23. Something wicked high

[bloodypriceless]

He nodded smoothly, wishing to keep her from worrying about the grand scheme of Cleveland forever. Unfortunately she would have to be informed eventually, and probably after she was fed and rested. Hopefully, it was true that teenagers sleep about 20 hours a day, maybe that would give him sufficient time to panic, regroup, figure out how to tell her and then panic again.

"Totally," said Jill's voice before she popped into the room, tray full of scones, tea and a bowl of jam. "They do that all the time, it's like a sisterly thing. I hope this is okay." Jill made a point to suppress the urge to jump up and down and act completely astonished that Giles reproduced. And the result had come out so freaking adorable.

[that_was_ace]

Abby might take pity on him and sleep 20 hours today but after that she'd sleep a normal amount. Usually 8 hours a day. She looked to Jill and hazarded a small smile. "Thank you. This is perfect." She bit her bottom lip. "Jill...right? You live here?"

[bloodypriceless]

"Yup, me and my sister Ja--"

Jill began to speak, but Giles interrupted her as swiftly as he could without being rude.

"Er, perhaps that's best explained after you've gotten settled?" he said, turning between the two and giving Jill what he hoped was a look that said 'hush up or face training with Hellboy again' and smiled his best polite smile. She got it, begrudgingly, and nodded.

"Right, yeah. I'm sure you guys wanna catch up, right? Uhh if you need me, I'll be -- around," Jill corrected, stepping back toward the door and slipping outside. After her footsteps faded down the hallway, Giles looked to Abigial again.

"Abigail, I'm not sure what your mother informed you of, but there is quite a bit of information I'll have to talk over with you." Giles hand a hand on his waist, in an effort to prop himself up when he felt rather like sagging to the floor and staying there awhile. "You're welcome here, of course. That is, err, well, as I said. Maybe we can speak more candidly when you've had time to recuperate?"

[that_was_ace]

Abigail watched the scene, aware she was missing something but not quite sure what. She watched Jill go then looked up at Giles with big eyes.

"You mean about vampires, slayers and you being the book guy?" she asked, aware it would probably surprise him that her mother had told her. "Don't be angry at her. It's not really her fault. I irritated her quite a bit about it before she finally revealed precisely what it was I had to kept safe from."

[bloodypriceless]

Giles stared, rather dumbly, down at his daughter, who'd just used the word 'slayers' seriously.

He began to speak, and then stopped himself. Rinse and repeat about 3 times before he simply looked impressed and sighed.

"Oh. Well. I suppose you're a few steps ahead of me, then." He wasn't angry or disappointed, like he'd thought he'd be. Astonishingly, he was quite relieved. "And you're...okay with it?"

[that_was_ace]

Abby shrugged in response to his question. The fish gaping thing was kind of fun to make him do. "It makes the world make more sense. I mean that there's real evil out there." She gnawed on her bottom lip, knowing her next words were going to make him feel guilty but there was no way around that.

"Its better knowing there was a good reason you left me. Otherwise it's just...you left me."

[bloodypriceless]

His face dropped a little at her statement. Giles hated hearing it, though it was the truth and he damn well knew it. Abigail deserved to say it, and she had a right to be all sorts of things: angry, disappointed, scared.

"There's nothing I can say. I can't apologize for it, Abigail. It's...perhaps it was a mistake and I do apologize for how I made you feel about it all. But I did what I thought was best." He tried choosing his words carefully, and even with how practiced he was at containing his emotions he still found it difficult not to cry.

He stood, awkward and uncomfortable, in front of her. Despite the somber tone to their conversation, Giles wanted to jump for joy at her arrival. He was finally going to be able to get to know his little girl.

[that_was_ace]

Immediately Abby wished she'd kept her mouth shut. She stepped forward and put her hand on his arm. "Hey...it's okay. I mean--I get it. I may not like it but I get it."

[bloodypriceless]

"Well," he smiled in an attempt to move on from the awkward moment, seeing that she was ready to as well. "I suppose we have some things to get you settled in for, then. Of course, when you're ready. We've some time for now."

[that_was_ace]

Abby nodded. "Okay. Some of my things from my old room should be here in a few days. I had them shipped. I hope that's okay."

[bloodypriceless]

"Of course. Is there anything you need until then? I might be called away, but you're welcome to accompany me. The er, older slayers? They're out, on, er, a mission of sorts." Giles' attempt to explain the general upset the facility was in, unaware that Abby had witnessed the slayer chase when she arrived.

He nodded toward her tray. "If you'd like I'll let you be for a bit. Or-or, I suppose I can stay if you'd rather." Yeah, Giles was not so much sure what the hell he was supposed to do at the moment. Definitely a fumbling dad.

[that_was_ace]

Abby shook her head. "Most of my things are in my suitcase. I'm pretty low maintenance, Mom says...said." She looked down for a minute, swallowing back tears then looked back up at Giles.

"I don't think they're going to get much done. They ran out of here fighting," she told him as she poured a cup of tea.

[bloodypriceless]

His brow knitted, partly from concern for her and the fact that she witnessed Buffy and Faith's little spat. "Oh, yes. They often disagree."

Giles poured himself a cup when Abigail was finished, and took a sip before continuing. "Well, regardless, we'll make sure you find yourself comfortable. I'll begin looking for a proper flat when I get a moment later, and I'm sure we'll be able to get you enrolled in school fairly easily, as I've at least been resident here for a time..." he thought aloud. Giles was now on a roll, imagining all sorts of things to set up for Abigail, not limited to her education and living situation. She'd need to make real friends and live a normal life as best as he could manage.

[that_was_ace]

Abigail nodded in response and curled up on the bed with her tea. "Do you think I'll have too difficult a time? I imagine American schools are rather different from British schools."

[bloodypriceless]

Giles mirrored her, making himself comfortable in the chair at the small desk and shaking his head. "That's true - it's quite possible that you're a year ahead, but if that's the case we can see if they won't allow you to move up a class. Although if I can find a suitable private school, you might be just fine. They tend to be a little more advanced than the public, though I don't exactly love those institution's attitudes." He rambled on for a bit about another librarian he'd had to contact and that she was very short with him and not at all polite.

Giles stopped himself when he realized what he was doing and smiled sheepishly. "Do you have any interests that I should keep in mind? Maybe certain extracurricular activities that you enjoyed back home?"